The World Travel Market (WTM) in London is seen by many as the most important global tourism industry event together with ITB Berlin. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for many years was seen the gatekeeper and utmost authority in the World about tourism. Not this year. The previous UNWTO Secretary Taleb Rifai had a hands-on approach traveling the world and never left out an important opportunity to showed great understanding, mentorship, and left no opportunity...
Giovanni Bastianelli Direttore Esecutivo Enit Valerio Schonfeld bussolaeventi Bianca Trusiani Presidente Comitato Tecnico BWI Antonio Percario Presidente Skal International Roma Erika Gottardi Direttore Woman and Bride Viola Making a wedding, the most beautiful day of life, has turned into the most expensive one, despite separations and divorces being on the increase. Only in Italy, in 2014 – (according to the latest ISTAT data), the marriages market rose to 5.2 billion euros with an...
World Animal Protection Research launched today exposes a shockingly high number of the world’s travel trade associations lagging in providing animal welfare guidelines to travel companies, with the majority of associations doing nothing to prevent wildlife cruelty in tourism. Research commissioned by World Animal Protection from the University of Surrey shows: • Just 21 of the 62 travel trade associations researched had a page on their websites on sustainable tourism. • Of...
Muslim travel sector to contribute $183 billion to global GDP by 2020 The GDP impact of the global Muslim travel sector is projected to reach $183 billion by 2020, up from $148 billion in 2017, according to new research released today at London’s World Travel Market. The industry will directly and indirectly employ 5.6 million people worldwide by the end of the decade and have a projected tax impact of $24 billion, the ‘Global Economic Impact of Muslim Tourism and Future Growth...
Russia and China reveal prototype of new wide-body long-haul airplane Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has revealed a prototype of a wide-body long-haul airplane that has been developed in cooperation with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, a state-owned aerospace manufacturer. A model of the CR929, a jointly designed jet, was demonstrated at the opening of China’s largest airshow, which began in the coastal city of Zhuhai on November 6 and is set to last until...
Travel to and within the U.S. grew 1.6 percent in September Travel to and within the U.S. grew 1.6 percent year-over-year in September, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s latest Travel Trends Index (TTI)—marking the industry’s 105th straight month of overall expansion.But U.S. Travel economists add several strong caveats to the overall positive trend. Growth in domestic travel is leveling off, for example. That segment had been strong in recent months, buoyed by robust...
Speaking at the launch of the African Tourism Board, Professor Geoffrey Lipman co-founder of SUNx – the Strong Universal Network said, “It’s time for Travel & Tourism to intensify preparations for the terrifying inevitability of Climate Change.” Quoting Einstein, Lipman, who is a former leader in IATA; WTTC and UNWTO said “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over believing you will get a different result. By that definition our industry...
Runaway train travels 57 miles across Western Australia without driver Mining giant BHP Billiton was forced to deliberately derail a 268-car freight train, loaded with iron ore, after it had traveled an alarming 92km across Western Australia with no one on board. The driver alighted to inspect one of the wagons at approximately 4am on Monday when the train, reportedly consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons, took off for Port Hedland before he could get back on board, the Western...
Thousands of Catholics, other Christian and non-Christians gathered at Tanzania’s coastal tourist town of Bagamoyo on Sunday to mark 150 Jubilees of evangelism and development of social services in East and Central Africa. Apart from Tanzania, the gathering t that took place in the Indian Ocean tourist town of Bagamoyo had attracted visitors from Africa with special guests from Europe and other parts of the world. The tourist, historical town of Bagamoyo is located 75 kilometers from Dar...
The first board meeting for the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis management center concluded at the Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel in London today. Tourism Resilience discussion included Climatic and Seismic, Pandemic, Security and Cybersecurity Management, Entrepreneurial management, digital transformation, human capital development, policy, communication and advocacy. Under the leadership of the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism Jamaica, and Dr. Taleb Rifai former UNWTO...
There is no doubt that Africa remains one of the most natural resource-rich continent in the world. In the wake of competition for these resources, it is imperative that biodiversity – wildlife, in particular, is preserved for posterity. To manage these resources implies that governments, civil society and individuals must come together and ensure that the resources are used wisely so that the resource base (the natural environment) stays healthy and maximum returns are generated without...
by Dr. Elinor Garely, editor in chief of wines.travel I waited on a very long line to get a cab back to Manhattan from LGA. Naturally, the driver’s first question, “Where to lady?” The second question, “Where have you been?” I told him I was back in NYC after visiting Sarasota for a few days. “Oh, Saratoga! Isn’t that in upstate New York?” I added more information, “I was in Sarasota, Florida.” “Oh,” commented the driver. “I did not know there was a Saratoga in Florida.” Under the Radar It...
The People’s Republic of China and Africa relations in the last few decades have become one of the most progressive and dynamic on the political, social and economic partnerships in the world. In Africa projects worth billions of dollars have been planned for implementation ranging from road infrastructure, airports, energy, water and sanitation, aviation, manufacturing, mining and indeed, generous assistance to multi-lateral donations of infrastructure such as the construction of a multi...
AI lie-detector to screen visitors in Hungary, Latvia and Greece Trials are underway of an EU-funded scheme where AI lie-detector systems will be used to scan potentially dodgy travelers coming from outside the bloc. Too Orwellian? Or just the latest step towards smoother travel? Commencing from November 1, the iBorderCtrl system will be in place at four border crossing points in Hungary, Latvia and Greece with countries outside EU. It aims to facilitate faster border crossings for travelers...
A doubling of air passengers in the next 20 years could support 100 million jobs globally The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed that present trends in air transport suggest passenger numbers could double to 8.2 billion in 2037. The latest update to IATA’s 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast shows that an increasing shift Eastwards in the center of gravity of the industry is behind the continued strong growth. Over the next two decades, the forecast anticipates a 3.5%...
Ethiopian Airlines Connecting the U.S. West Coast with a non stop to West Africa is a first. Star Alliance member Ethiopian Airlines is taking the initiative and changed the ultra-long haul route from Addis Ababa to Los Angeles to transit through Lome, Togo as of 17 December 2018 and will start new route from Addis Ababa to Dublin via Madrid as of 15 December 2018. The new route will be the only and first of its kind to connect West Africa with the West Coast of the USA with a...
This new airport is a project every Turkish Citizen can be proud of, and it’s impressive, and unfortunately also deadly. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has inaugurated a massive new airport project in Istanbul, which, once complete, is expected to become one of the world’s largest. More than 50 foreign dignitaries from at least 18 countries on Monday attended the lavish opening ceremony of the first phase of the new facility, called Istanbul Airport, local media...
75% of Venice flooded Water levels in Venice rose more than five feet (156cm / 61.4 inches), with residents and tourists wading their way through flooded areas. City’s iconic piazzas are covered in water, not pigeons, as three-quarters of the city is submerged, following a storm system that brought strong winds, rose water levels, and toppled trees. The peak level of the water on Monday was the highest reached since December 2008, according to city statistics. The water levels even...
Tanzania e-vehidle Tanzania, the East African natural resource-rich country, has endorsed a maiden rollout of electric safari vehicle at its flagship national park of Serengeti, in an effort to reduce emission. Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club (MKSC) is a pioneer tour company operating in Tanzania’s soil to release the first 100 percent electric safaris car (e-car) in East African region, in its latest initiative to bring down vehicular pollution within the national parks. Inaugurated over...
Suicide bomber strikes in Tunisian capital’s tourist district A woman has blown herself up in an apparent terrorist attack in Tunisia’s capital, reportedly injuring eight police officers. People were seen running for their lives after the bomb exploded on a busy street. The explosion took place on Habib Bourguiba avenue, central Tunis, near the city’s Municipal Theater. Witness Mohamed Ekbal bin Rajib said that he was “in front of the theater and heard a huge explosion...
Seychellois businesses in the field of tourism have been urging the Government of Seychelles to efficiently identify and harness the tourism resources of the islands to create sustainable development for Seychelles. This call is not new, but recently the tourism industry players have been meeting leaders to put their case on the need to consolidate tourism, the industry that remains the pillar of the Seychelles economy. Meetings with VP Meriton by some, and with Heads of Government Authorities...
PetroSeychelles, a state-backed oil company, said its negotiations with oil minnow Sub Sahara Resources (SSR) should conclude shortly, while the planning process could complete within the next two years. Seychelles could fast-track permission to hunt for oil in the waters of its archipelago of tropical islands within weeks, paving the way for drilling by the end of the decade. Chief executive Patrick Joseph said: “If there are no big issues – which I don’t...
Appeal to U.S. Travel and Tourism Industry professionals: For god’s sake, walk, crawl, run, hike, drive to the polls and vote democratic. This is the message by Geoffrey Weill, president of the New York-based PR and marketing company by the same name. He echoed sentiments by many working in the travel and tourism industry in the United States. After learning about the deadly attack in Pittsburg on a house of worship he said: “When a horror story like this happens is...
IATA names Qatar Airways CEO its new Board Chairman EThe Government of Qatar does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of Human trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated increased efforts compared to the previous reporting period. This was published by the U.S. Department of State earlier this year. Today Qatar Airways issued a press-release stating it is the sponsor of the first Middle Eastern airline to sponsor a national...
Kenya Airways has launched daily flights between Nairobi and New York in on Sunday, looking to open up East African skies to the United States, marking a milestone development in travel and tourism business between the East African states through air connection in Kenyan capital of Nairobi. The long-awaited inaugural flight was launched mid-morning on Sunday, bringing the Kenyan air carrier among the fast growing and leading airlines from Africa to enter the US skies directly from the African...
Hong Kong Tourism is about to turn pink. and the Hong Kong Tourism Board has nothing to say about it. The upcoming Miles of Love conference attendees at the Eaton Hotel in HongKong, China will be the epic center. Hong Kong Tourism is speechless when eTN called the Los Angeles office of this government agency in charge of promoting tourism to this specialized Chinese region. When eTN asked about the upcoming event there was no response, and this may have been expected. The...
Award-winning dietitian, writer, and culinary explorer, Gina Keatley comes to Amazon Prime as the host of a new series, Deliciously Diverse: Malaysia, premiering on Sunday, October 28, 2018. Watch as this dietitian goes off the beaten path and searches for nutrient diversity in some exotic and fascinating communities. From fishing villages to cosmopolitan cityscapes, join Gina as she explores how to “Be Fearless, Be Full.” Deliciously Diverse: Malaysia is a culinary journey that...
by Dr. Elinor Garely, special to eTN Wealthy South Africans know how to enjoy their wealth. According to the Credit Suisse’s Global Wealth Report 2017, there are 58,000 South Africans, or 0.2 percent of the population, that qualify as millionaires with 84,000 belonging to the top 1 percent of global wealth holders. Financial services firm Allianz, using data from national accounts, estimates in their Global Wealth Report (2017), that the richest 10 percent of South Africans owned more than 70...
New “Keep NYC Trash Free” posters amuse New York tourists, irk Trumpers Signs, resembling Sanitation Department posters, depicting Trump-supporting middle-Americans as “trash,” have appeared across New York City. One of the posters in the series depicts an overweight ‘redneck’ type, arm tattooed with a Confederate flag, wearing a red ‘Make America Great Again’ hat and slurping from a Chick-fil-A cup. The other features his female counterpart...
SWAT crew at the Tree of Life synagogue on Wilkins Avenue in Pittsburgh A suspect has been detained following a shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At least eight people have been reported dead and three officers injured. Police radio chatter suggests the suspect told officers that “all these Jews need to die” and he “doesn’t want any of them to live” before being detained. The shooter was carrying an AR-15 and a Glock pistol. An additional weapon...
