Category - Feature

A tourist bus carrying 60 Russian citizens overturned on the Siena-Florence highway in Italy, killing one and injuring at least 10 people, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a representative of the Russian Embassy. “The embassy received a signal from the Italian Department of Civil Protection about an accident involving a tourist bus,” said the diplomatic mission’s representative. According to preliminary data, there were 60 people on the bus...

The PATA Annual Summit 2019 (PAS 2019), under the theme ‘Progress with a Purpose’, opened in Cebu, Philippines on May 9 with 383 delegates from 194 organisations and 43 destinations attending the four-day event. Delegates also included local and international students, as well as student chapter representatives, from 21 educational institutions hailing from eighteen destinations. Generously hosted by the Department of Tourism, Philippines, the event included the Association’s...

This presentation is about Seychelles, the people, our hopes and our dreams.  It is from the people and for the people and about our heritage.  It is about our families, our children and what we all strive for.  It’s about our future and about our Islands, our Home. It’s about Our Country writes Seychelles Business Man Basil J.W. Soundy, managing director of BODCO LIMITED,  a leading construction company on the island. He continues in his address: The people of...

Airlines for America (A4A), announced today that it expects a record 257.4 million passengers — an average of 2.8 million per day — to travel on U.S. airlines between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2019. That number is up 3.4 percent from last summer’s record 248.8 million passengers. Airlines are adding 111,000 seats per day to accommodate the additional 93,000 daily passengers expected during the summer travel period. This will be the 10th consecutive summer to see an...

Thomas Cooks shares are effectively worth nothing right now. Thousands of British tourists looking forward to their holidays are not sure if they are really traveling anywhere. On Sunday the British tour operator was trying to raise confidence. Thomas Cook wants their clients to be confident they will travel as booked this summer season, also Thomas Cook wants to raise confidence to their suppliers they will get paid for services. The travel company’s earnings outlook is worse than...

Today Tourism Ethiopia joined the African Tourism Board as an observer. Tourism Ethiopia (TE) is a national organization under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; The mission Tourism Ethiopia has is to transform tourism of the country in general by developing tourism products to world standards and marketing them to the global market. In charge of the new cooperation with ATB is Musa Kedir, the  Tourism Destination Development Senior Officer Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most...

The Eurovision contest in Tel Aviv Israel was a nonstop tourist party but not without controversy. Many were protesting against Israel’s settlement and occupation policies and human rights abuses. The 5th time in Eurovision history, the Netherlands have won the Eurovision Song Contest. After his victory was confirmed, ‘Arcade’ singer Duncan Laurence appeared in front of hundreds of journalists from around the world at the Winners’ Press Conference to tell them about his...

Strong recognition for the Solomon Islands on the international tourism stage and huge kudos for Tourism Solomons with CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto invited to join the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) executive board. The move follows Mr Tuamoto’s attendance at the ‘PATA Annual Summit 2019’ in Cebu, Philippines, last week where, taking part in a leadership debate, he gave an impassioned presentation on the United Nation Sustainable Development...

First impressions can go a long way. When it comes to owning and operating a vacation investment property like an Airbnb, the guest’s first impression of you as a host can either make or break their decision to rent a property. Traits such as trust, the host’s online profile and even the host’s gender can play a role when booking. 2,000 Americans who have stayed in an Airbnb were asked about their feelings toward Airbnb hosts in an online survey. Here’s what they had to...

The African Tourism Board is currently working hard to build partnerships within the aviation industry. “Seeing Africa as one destination is perfect for any airlines wanting to partner with us”, said Juergen Steinmetz, Interim Chairman of  ATB. When speaking to eTN, Mr. Vijay Poonoosamy echoed the importance of the Airline Industry for the African Continent and said: “I am most impressed by what the African Tourism Board has achieved in this very short time! I am...

Guests having booked the Hilton Hawaiian Village may be in for a surprise. The Hilton is the largest hotel in Waikiki. Tomorrow, Friday a rally of a Hawaii Union UNITE HERE Local 5 members who work at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, with support from community allies and fellow members from other Local 5 hotels, will demand for a better contract and job protection. One Job Should Be Enough was the slogan when a massive number of hotel workers stopped working on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. A 51-day...

Today the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Baghdad ordered a partial evacuation of their American staff.  In the meantime, the travel warning for Americans wanting to visit Iraq reads: Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed conflict.  This is the warning by the U.S. State Department for travel to Iraq, even though Iraq authorities had tried to promote the country as ready for tourism.  Erbil in Iraq was chosen as...

Tourism is booming in Tel Aviv this week with hotels sold out, residents staying with relatives to rent their rooms and apartments for inflated rates – and almost every rate is accepted. Tel Aviv in Israel is known to be the place to party, to enjoy some of the best beaches and the best food in the world, and now the city is the center of the European Music world – Eurovision. Currently, more than 10,000 tourists are in Tel Aviv for the ongoing  Eurovision song contest...

The US Embassy in Iraq has issued a security alert, warning US citizens of “heightened tensions” in the country and advising against travel there. The advisory warning was posted on Twitter on Sunday night. It comes at a time of rising tensions in the Middle East between the United States and Iran. The warning follows a surprise visit to Baghdad by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo which he said was aimed at demonstrating US support for the government in Baghdad. The US says it has...

At the ongoing Indaba travel industry trade show in Durban, African Tourism Board Vice President Cuthbert Ncube met with Lindiwe Rakharebe, the Chief Executive Officer of the e Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Complex in the city center of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ATB VP Ncube said: “Our discussion centered on a need for a more robust approach in aligning so much diversity in terms of products from the region that can play a catalytic role that will...

Heathrow recorded its busiest ever April as the Easter getaway sent passenger numbers soaring, securing the airport its 30th month of consecutive growth Figures reveal the UK’s busiest airport welcomed 6.79 million passengers last month (+3.3% on last April) averaging 226,600 daily passengers or the equivalent of the population of Aberdeen North America was the most popular market with new flights taking off to Nashville, Pittsburgh and Charleston helping to push up passenger numbers by 7...

Jaime Alberto Cabal Sanclemente of Colombia may have enough serving as the deputy secretary General for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). He started his job only in June 2018. There will be an official and an un-official version when the former Colombian Ambassador to Austria and candidate for the UNWTO Secretary-General will say goodbye as the Deputy leader of the UN- Tourism Agency. According to sources he accepted a job in the private industry. According to UNWTO sources, the...

According to the European Travel Commission’s latest quarterly report, “European Tourism – Trends & Prospects 2019”, Europe kicked off 2019 on a positive note following an impressive 6%[1] growth in 2018. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, a more moderate rate of expansion is expected for 2019 (around 3.6%), with short term risks, such as the slowing global economy, trade tensions and political uncertainty weighing on growth projections. Despite challenges, the...

A Biman Airlines’ Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft has skidded off the runway at Myanmar’s Yangon International Airport, losing its wings and breaking into three parts. Pilots were attempting to land as the accident occurred. Although conflicting reports exist, a Biman Airlines spokesman told Bangladeshi news site BDnews that four of the 33 people on board were injured, including the pilot. Photos shared on social media show the extent of the wreck. The plane was landing at Yangon Airport...

A Biman Airlines’ Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft has skidded off the runway at Myanmar’s Yangon International Airport, losing its wings and breaking into three parts. Pilots were attempting to land as the accident occurred. Although conflicting reports exist, a Biman Airlines spokesman told Bangladeshi news site BDnews that four of the 33 people on board were injured, including the pilot. Photos shared on social media show the extent of the wreck. The plane was landing at Yangon Airport...

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura submitted her letter of resignation to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras last week. She resigned to win a seat in the European Parliament. Elena Kountoura was seen as one of the most active and outspoken tourism ministers in the world. She closely worked with Jamaica Minister Ed Bartlett and former UNWTO Secretary-General  Taleb Rifai on the board for the Global Tourism Resilient Center. In the letter of resignation, she warmly thanked the prime minister...

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura submitted her letter of resignation to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras last week. She resigned to win a seat in the European Parliament. Elena Kountoura was seen as one of the most active and outspoken tourism ministers in the world. She closely worked with Jamaica Minister Ed Bartlett and former UNWTO Secretary-General  Taleb Rifai on the board for the Global Tourism Resilient Center. In the letter of resignation, she warmly thanked the prime minister...

Travel industry jobs lead to higher wages and a permanent foothold for financial success, outpacing compensation in both manufacturing and health care, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s Made in America: Travel’s Contribution to Workforce Development. U.S. Travel released the study against the backdrop of the 36th annual National Travel and Tourism Week. The report—the second in U.S. Travel’s “Made in America” series spotlighting the importance of...

Despite Trump administration’s pressure on Cuba and threats to impose a “full and complete embargo”, US tourists have been flocking to the country in record numbers, according to data provided by Cuban authorities. According to Trump’s regime, Cuba is a villain that impedes the ascent of democracy in Venezuela by keeping the crisis-hit country under “occupation.” However, that doesn’t seem to do much to discourage US tourists from swarming the...

The South African Deputy Minister of Tourism, Honorable Elizabeth Thabethe in partnership with  African Tourism Board represented by Vice president Cuthbert Ncube, took an initiative to bring back African pride to students at Pretoria Schools. The minister took the initiative to address staff members regarding the role of Tourism on the African continent as the Mega drive in economic development and a need for the public and private sector to join hands and work towards uplifting societies...