Chinese tourists in Thailand – Photo copyright Andrew J. Wood An urgent review has been called by the Thailand Prime Minister (PM) and the Governor of Phuket to halt the wave of cancellations from Chinese tourists to Phuket. Phuket’s tourism industry is worried that the current spate of advance booking cancellations could be worse than first reported in the aftermath of the Phoenix boat disaster, which killed 47 tourists earlier this month. A record of poor safety standards; lack of...
Rain forces cancelation of 670 flights at Beijing Capital International Airport Torrential rains have disrupted transportation in northern China on Monday, with some 670 departures of domestic flights cancelled in the Beijing Capital International Airport alone. Bad weather has also brought traffic to a standstill in the capital. The Beijing Meteorological Bureau said the heavy rain could continue for as long as 18 days. No major incidents or fatalities were reported amid the poor weather...
Mleiha Archaelogical Centre Most of us remember the excitement of visiting archaeological sites when we were children, an activity which is unarguably one of the most enriching and humbling for human communities around the world. Sharjah’s premier archaeological and eco-tourism project, Mleiha, offers visitors an unforgettably authentic journey back in time where we can explore what the Emirati lifestyle would have been up to 130,000 years ago. It’s Just 55 km to the east of Sharjah...
For many families, the Kruger National Park is a must-see destination at least once. In fact, the park saw more than 250 000 visitors through its gates during the last festive season alone. For locals, this diverse area – spreading across Limpopo and Mpumalanga – is right on our doorstep and a worthwhile school holiday destination. The park is home to hundreds of free-roaming species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Both the park itself, and the area in which it is located, are rich...
Carol Weaving The World Travel Market is only major travel trade event under the brand of Reed Exhibition. The newly founded African Tourism Board has a new Board member. Carol Weaving, managing director of Reed Exhibition, the world’s largest and most respected exhibition company joined the African Tourism Board as a Board member. “The African Tourism Board has been formed to grow and benefit tourism on the whole of the African continent. Knowing how important tourism is...
If an airport in the Caribbean wishes to be an international hub, or even a regional hub, it is probably well advised to drop departure taxes and other passenger taxes. Passenger taxation is ‘swamp taxation’ because no one besides the receiver wants it, and it sucks. “Dutch Government ditches passenger ticket tax in efforts to halt declining traffic at Amsterdam International Airport, the media reported in 2009. It was first camouflaged by the name ‘eco’-tax. ...
African-Americans on trip in Tanzania to discover their ancestor’s roots have wept after having witnessed the horrific photographic images of enslaved Africans at a Zanzibar’s Slave Prison. A group of 36 African Americans visited the slave market and dungeon in Zanzibar where they encountered an ugly face of slavery in Africa, prompting them to become tearful. In historical Prison Island popularly known as the Changuu Island that lies 30-minute boat ride from Unguja...
Фото Юрия Стефаняка 26.01.17 Днепр. Музей АТО There is a new tourism attraction in Ukraine. In Ukraine they call it terrorism. The war in Donbass is a hot subject in Ukraine. The Eastern Region of the Country and the Cities of Luhansk and Donetsk proclaiming to be independent and are cut off from the rest of Ukraine...
” Extreme alert: Ballistic Missile Threat for Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” It was the message on every mobile phone, on every TV screen at 8.07 am on Saturday, January 13 this year. Now Hawaii has a new travel and tourism attraction not yet known to many of Hawaii’s visitors. Hurry this attraction may disappear at the end of July. The tourism attraction, equally interesting to locals is “38 Minutes” and it’s shown at the Kumu...
Photo courtesy of Angelo Abear International tourism is rapidly on the rise, experiencing a 7% increase in the last year according to data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. In response, countries are preparing for the tourism boom and the increased revenue that comes with it. However, backpacking across the world come with a price tag attached, with the round the world trip being estimated at anywhere between $20,000- $30,000. However, before setting off on your round the...
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, describes the soon to be introduced Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme as an act of a Government and people who recognize the value of a set of workers who have been on the wrong end of equity for a long time. Listening intently are (l-r) Jhanelle-Rae Bowie, Economist in the Ministry of Tourism; Camille Needham, Executive Director of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association; and the Hon. Daisy Coke, Chair of the Tourism Workers’ Pensions...
Italy Tourism meeting: L-R – President of Federturismo Gianfranco Battisti & New Tourism Minister Gian Marco Centinaio “I am aware of the responsibilities in taking up the leadership to tourism, and I know that we cannot make any more mistakes. I will not take the merit of a tourist season that is proving very good for our country, and I intend to take advantage of these weeks to hear all the categories of the sector. By the fall then I will pass to concrete actions,” said...
2018 AIPC Annual Conference in London UK The 2018 AIPC Annual Conference in London UK and its component General Assemblygenerated a series of key decisions and announcements arising from associationbusiness. Amongst these were; • The Valencia Conference Centre in Spain was declared winner of the 2018AIPC Apex Award. The selection was made as a result of an analysis of client surveysfrom 17 finalist centres made by the international market research firm Ipsos under arigorous set of...
Niue Tourism chief executive Felicity Bollen said the country had set aside the next 12 months to wean itself off the habit of a lifetime. Ms Bollen said Niue had learned from the experience of Vanuatu which implemented a ban on single-use plastic bags, straws and polystyrene boxes on 1 July. Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It’s known for its limestone cliffs and coral-reef dive sites. Migrating whales swim in Niue’s waters between July and October. In the...
With its ideal location between Australia and New Zealand, it is not surprising that the number of cruise passengers in New Caledonia has increased by over 300% in the last ten years. New Caledonia is a French territory comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific. It’s known for its palm-lined beaches and marine-life-rich lagoon, which, at 24,000-sq.-km, is among the world’s largest. A massive barrier reef surrounds the main island, Grand Terre, a major scuba-diving...
IMEX America IMEX today issued an urgent warning to visitors, delegates, and exhibitors planning to attend IMEX America in Las Vegas from October 16-18, 2018. The message sent by the IMEX team today reads: We’re contacting you today to inform you about hotels and travel organizations sending fake room reservation confirmations. It has been brought to our attention that there have been several unsolicited companies contacting IMEX America exhibitors, asking for contact and payment details...
Hippo The proposed hippo culling spree in Zambia’s world-renowned Luangwa Valley has a dodgy tender process at its core and appears to be an attempt by Zambian Government to cover up a contract-gone-wrong. This is according to a source close to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), saying the Department was sued by Mabwe Adventures Limited, the hunting company contracted to execute the cull. A recent court ruling in the Mabwe’s favour fueled the Department’s...
Massive explosion rocks Cairo International Airport A massive explosion has occurred in the vicinity of Cairo International Airport. Images shared on social media show large plumes of smoke rising up in the air. Civil defense authorities deployed to the scene are battling to bring the blaze under control. Ambulances, police vehicles and security services also rushed to the area of the incident. The explosion, which happened around 10:30 pm local time, occurred at two fuel storage tanks outside...
ITS World Congress Connected and Automated Driving (CAD) is evolving quickly thanks to innovations such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and artificial intelligence. As a result, CAD is expected to increase safety, maximize comfort and stimulate business opportunities for a range of mobility services in the coming years, and the market size is expected to reach 50% market penetration by 2035. In light of this, it is no surprise that CAD will be a key topic for discussion at the 25th...
Hawaii disaster officials caution quake damage not immediately evident Residents of Hawai’i County who have felt the ground rumble beneath their homes as a result of the ongoing Kilauea eruptions and earthquakes are encouraged to look carefully for damage. Signs of earthquake damage are not immediately evident and can be cumulative. Even small quakes can cause damage. Residents should check their property periodically and document any damage. Look for: • damages to foundations, piers...
When it comes to safari holidays, there are options aplenty in Africa, especially in the eastern portion of this massive continent. Yet, despite all the competition it faces, Rwanda is among the top destinations for those headed on safari. Why is this? Consider the following points, and you’ll understand why this nation has become such a popular place to visit. It possesses beautiful terrain Rwandans call their nation ‘the land of a thousand hills’ – soon after arrival, you’ll understand...
A new style of Chinese tourist arrives on the scene More adventurous and better-off Chinese tourists are eschewing regular package deals and demanding customized tours that include exclusive visits to film locations, Michelin-star restaurants, ancient sites off the beaten track, and prestigious sporting events. According to joint research by ForwardKeys and the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI), China outbound bookings for the summer are ahead 13.5%. The demand for customized...
IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that, as part of its strong support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it will introduce new pricing of most of its training courses to make them more accessible to developing nations. “Aviation is the business of freedom and a catalyst for development. A well-trained aviation workforce is essential to realizing the industry’s potential to support social and economic growth—critical enablers of the...
Europe saw a 7% growth in international tourist arrivals in the second quarter of 2018 over the same period last year and accounts for 50% of the share of tourist arrivals worldwide. According to the European Travel Commission’s latest report, “European Tourism – Trends & Prospects 2018”, growth in visitor arrivals has been recorded by all 33 reporting destinations, with 1 in 3 enjoying increases in excess of 10%. Despite signals of a slowing global economy and...
Colorful Caribbean map with countries and capital cities In the past three weeks, politicians and industry leaders at a number of summits in the Caribbean have expressed the urgent need for better air connections and more reasonable prices. Sorry folks. That’s an old hat to say the least. There may even be a skeleton in the closet. In 2007, Ministers of Civil Aviation in the Caribbean and other tourism and travel officials drafted the ‘San Juan Accord’, which called for...
Summer vacations at risk due to overtourism & ticket price increases In early June, the International Air Transport Association reduced its 2018 profit forecast by 12%, blaming rising fuel and labor costs and in response, air carriers including American Airlines, Delta and United, announced that passengers should prepare for higher ticket prices. In addition to the price increases, the industry lacks new pilots, causing many planes to stay on the ground, and labor unions to raise their...
Latin American travelers opt to explore own countries A new study reveals that Latin American travelers are mindful of their budget when planning a trip, but they prioritize trip activities and unique experiences over price. Sixty-four percent are taking trips within their own country, illustrating that Latin Americans are more likely to travel domestically than go abroad. The findings, from a survey conducted by Northstar Research Partners, spotlight the behaviors, preferences and influences...
US Passport If you have a seriously delinquent tax debt, the United States IRS can certify that debt to the State Department for action, and that department generally will not issue a US passport to a potential traveler after receiving certification from the IRS. This is all in plain print at the IRS website: Upon receiving certification, the State Department shall deny your passport application and/or may revoke your current passport. If your passport application is denied or your passport...
MGM Resorts MGM is one of the largest multi-concept restaurant operators in the world. As such, it is our responsibility to do our part to help eliminate debris from landfills and waterways,” said Cindy Ortega, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, MGM Resorts International. “The elimination of plastic straws is the latest addition to MGM’s comprehensive environmental responsibility program and can further enhance our efforts to protect our planet.” MGM...
World Cup fever delivered London Heathrow Airport its busiest June on record, as more than 7 million passengers traveled through the UK’s hub (+5.4% vs June 2017) On June 26th Heathrow saw a 50% increase in the number of passengers traveling to Russia, compared to the same time last year, as fans traveled out for the football Parliament voted overwhelmingly to expand the airport in a vote that saw 415 MPs back the project that will deliver for the whole of the UK Africa saw the most...
