tatw monthly 6 june 2014 edition

Since 1997 volume 17, issue 6, June 2014

SQUID JIGGING… IN TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA!

LONDON TOP DESTINATION

EMERGING CITIES OF THE FUTURE

CHINESE POLICE PATROLING IN PARIS STREETS

HAWAII TOURISM REDUCING AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. PABLO RAMON, FOUNDER OF…

IATA-NEW RULES FOR BAD BEHAVIOUR

AIR SERBIA NEW BEIRUT ROUTE

KAYAKING THE MYKONOS WAY

PARIS THE WORLD’S LEADING CITY FOR INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES LARGEST INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONFERENCE EVER IN JAPAN

20th MITM AMERICAS & 6th CULTOURFAIR TAKING PLACE IN PUEBLA, MEXICO CARIBBEAN BRINGS IN RUSSIAN TOURISTS

BIGGEST HOTEL PROJECT IN YANGON THAILAND TO ATTRACT TOURISTS FROM EUROPE AND MIDDLE EAST

Tokyo, Japan - TATW Monthly 2014 © www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Kuala Terengganu, the Capital .

Squid Jigging…

in Terengganu, Malaysia! by Dimitri Laspas - publisher & founder

Many of us know that Malaysia is a top Asian tourist destination, but I bet you never thought it was a place to go ‘squid fishing’!

An annual season when the squid migrate inland to lay their eggs in

shallow waters, gives the ideal opportunity for some squid fishing; it is one of those ‘thing’s to do’ in life, at least once. Of course it’s not all sea, squid and fishing, and this year TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY headed out to the best squid fishing destination in Malaysia, Terengganu.

Located in the South China Sea on the eastern coast of Malaysia, Terengganu is a must-see state in Malaysia for anyone wanting to discover more than the famous capital of Kuala Lumpur. With a coastline reaching 225km from Besut in the north to Kemaman in the South that offer beautiful unspoilt white sand beaches, crystal clear water, paradise islands, a coral reef, charming fishing villages, as well as mountains, lakes, virgin tropical jungle and forests and amazing waterfalls, there is much to see and do in this serene state of Malaysia.

One thing you will notice when in Terengganu is the unhurried way of life, there is no hustle and bustle. Tereagganu is home to some of Malaysia’s best cultural heritage like the lilting Gamelan and the ‘Ulek Mayang’ dance. It is also an ancient region with a strong Malay history dating back to the 1st century. Throughout its long history, it has always been ruled by just 16 Sultans. It carried out trade with China the Majapahit Empire and the Khmer and is thought to be the first Malay state to embrace Islam.

Tereagganu is home to

some of Malaysia’s

best cultural heritage

It became an independent Sultanate in 1724 and in the 19th century became a state of Siam, where it prospered and was given a lot of autonomy. It was under British rule in 1909 but was given back to Siam by the Japanese after WW2. Terengganu became a member of the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and a state of independent Malaya in 1957.

‘Ulek Mayang’ dance .

Kuala Terengganu is the capital of Terengganu. Although seeing great modernisation and changes to become one of the hubs of the region, it still has plenty of old world charm and character. The central market is one of many around the city as well as shopping centres. Pasar Payang, the central market, is located by the river with boats selling freshly caught fish and street sellers offering handicrafts, textiles, brassware and household items, glassware, fruits, vegetables, spices, etc.

Terengganu is well known for its batik fabrics, silks and ‘kain songket,’ a brocade fabric embellished with gold and silver threads. There are special places to go to see these wonderful textiles, like the Noor Arfa Craft Complex, the Malaysian Handicraft 2 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Letter from the Editor

Dear Friends,

Hello and Welcome to the June edition of TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD Monthly.

It is already half way through the year and so much has happened already and there is still so much more to come!

In this edition we have a focus on Tourism and Accessibility, a sector which needs much more awareness and support from all areas of the industry. This year sees an exciting new event; the 1st world summit

‘Destinations for All’ to take place in Montreal, Canada from 19-22 October.

With several aims, the summit hopes that the creation of a common strategy aimed at making ‘One World for Everyone’ will allow destinations for all to be a priority for all involved in tourism world-wide. With many key organisations and national tourism boards already on board to push forward the necessary changes, the UNTWO is key to helping the summit succeed. Just like Tourism around the World Monthly, spread the word… www.destinationsforall2014.com/en.

Enjoy the June edition of TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD Monthly.

Caroline-Artemis Laspas editor & co-founder

Pulau Redan, Terengganu, Malaysia

Center, the Suterasemai Silk Gallery and Kraftangan Malaysia, which also has an exhibition about kain songket and its history.

The park also offers facilities for M.I.C.E. and

dining.

China Town or the colourful town is a small area of buildings built before the war. Most were inhabited by Chinese who came to Malaysia in the 19th century. Most of the houses have kept the distinctive wooden carving around the windows and the heavy wooden front door. The use of these buildings today ranges from coffee shops to small businesses and souvenir

shops. For keen photographers, the long colourful roof offers a great place to shoot the setting sun and enjoy one of the best Espresso Italian Coffees at Star Anise!

Taman Tamadun Islam (Islamic Civilization Park) is an ‘edutainment’ park where many of the world’s most important mosques have been recreated in miniature. It is the only one of its kind in the world some of the mosques include the Great Mosque of Xian, the Sultan Suleyman Mosque, the Taj Mahal, Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca, Mohammed Ali Mosque in Cairo, The Prophet's Mosque in Medina and the Abu Nasr Shrine. The best one has to be the Crystal Mosque which is stunning at night. The beautiful Crystal Mosque is a big attraction for all, irrespective of your religious believes, due to it being made, not of crystals, but of high-quality glass resembling crystals, due to the very high price of constructing a mosque if it was made from the real thing. The park also offers facilities for M.I.C.E. and dining.

The Tengku Tengah Zahara (Terengganu State Mosque) or more commonly known as the Floating Mosque is located on the estuary of the Terengganu River. It is a stunning building and its wonderful design, built on a floating platform gives the impression that it really is floating on water, with its white colour. There is a lovely park opposite the Mosque which is great view point in the evening to watch the sun shining on the mosque as it starts to set.

Kenyi r Lake, Terengganu, Malaysia

The Perhentian Islands, offer unspoiled sandy beaches, rain forests and clear, blue waters with healthy coral gardens and abundant marine life. Diving, snorkelling, sailing and kayaking are on offer from many of the islands. Divers often opt for Kapas Island with its many WW2 shipwrecks to explore. If you time your visit right, then make the journey to Rantau Abang, 60km south of Kuala Terengganu, down on the beach for the annual migration of huge leatherback turtles laying their eggs which can be witnessed throughout the night.

For a spectacular waterfall, head for the Sekayu Waterfalls at Kuala Berang. It has 7 cascades surrounded by lush jungle as well as a fruit orchard, a mini zoo, a bird park and a flower garden. Pulau Redang, just 45km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu, is the largest of a group of 9 protected islands and is part of the Pulau Redang Marine Park. As such the waters are crystal clear, the marine life amazing as are the beaches. It is a hot spot for divers as there are also WW2 ship wrecks to see too.

One of the regions newest attractions is the Kenyir Elephant Village. A visit to it prior to its official opening allowed us to see the care taken to rescue these wonderful animals as they become increasingly vulnerable.

3 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

The elephants at the Kenyir Elephant Village are rescued from all over Malaysia. Feeding them sugarcane was a particular highlight especially the baby elephant. With just 9 elephants in residence in April, the aim is for approx 30 to be calling the village home when at full capacity.

Terengganu State Mosque

The annual Terengganu International Squid Jigging Festival takes place in April and August and sponsored by the government of the state of Terengganu. The festival aims to both introduce, as well as relive the old tradition that was once the livelihood for many along the coast of Terengganu. Today it is a recreational activity loved by people of all ages. The 2014 festival saw international participation with many varied activities on offer – but all squid based! Running alongside the festival the ‘1Malaysia Green 1Malaysia Clean’ campaign aims to promote the beauty of the state’s coasts, beaches and islands to encourage more tourists and investment. TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY took part in this year’s festival and enjoyed the calm squid fishing, bobbing up and down on the sea, we also visited the sights mentioned above and discovered that Malaysia has much more to offer than its modern capital city. Of course the Malay hospitality was wonderful and as always, it was an enlightening experience to see how others live and conduct their lives and welcome visitors to their villages. The simplicity of life combined with amazing nature mixed harmoniously.

Terengganu is an amazingly beautiful, tranquil place and a part of Malaysia that must be explored. Whether into squid or not, make Terengganu must be your next stop in Malaysia.●

TOURISM News

The financia l distr ict of London, UK

LONDON TOP DESTINATION WITH 17 MILLION INTERNATIONAL VISITORS The

UK capital, London welcomed over 16 million international visitors in one year for the 1st time ever, making it one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Whether it be for exhibitions, royal palaces, fine dining, world sporting events, visitors from all over the world have come to London. Many attractions, including the British Museum, Natural History Museum and National Gallery, have seen big increases in visitor numbers. The British Museum, boosted by exhibitions such as ‘Life and death in Pompeii and Herculaneum’, was the most popular attraction with over 6.7 million visitors, their most successful year on record. Following the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee, the city has experienced a boom in visitors, with 16.8 million people arriving in 2013, over a million more than in 2012 (up 9%). Visitors spent a record £11.2, (EU€13.80) billion on shopping, hotels, restaurants and visiting attractions, over UK£1, (EU€1.23) billion more than in 2012. 2014 expects to see figures grow more with Historic Royal Palaces seeing a record breaking Easter period of visitors and a new ‘Glorious Georges’ season is attracting visitors to new displays and events at Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace.

GREECE REMAINS A BIG ATTRACTION In recent years, the Greek Capital,

Athens has been the focus to stage the global economic crisis but it is still a cultural hub and offers new and exciting cultural experiences in the face of adversity. From June the National Museum of Contemporary Art will open a series

The Kariatides, at the Acropol is Museum, Athens, Greece (photo, cour tesy of the Acropol is Museum)

of exhibitions on international art, mid-career retrospectives of contemporary artists and historical retrospectives in the form of paintings, installations, photography, video, new media and ‘experimental’ architecture. The venue for this unique display is the old Fix Brewery on Syngrou Avenue. Another must see is a new feature at the Acropolis Museum, on how the restoration of the famous

‘Karyitid statues (the statues of the long haired ladies holding up the ancient temple in the acropolis). Athens, the Capital of Greece and Hellenism, will surprise you!

EMERGING CITIES OF THE FUTURE The city of Jakarta has been cited as the

most likely emerging city over the next 10-20 years. The city was top among 34 global cities likely to come to the forefront of the international business scene due to its young workforce, good business activity and innovation. The other cities were; 2-Manila, 3-Addis Ababa, 4-Sao Paulo, 5-New Delhi, 6-Rio de Janeiro, 7-Bogota, 8-Mumbai, 9-Nairobi and 10-Kuala Lumpur. Cities within Asia made up half of the top 20 reflecting the change of focus globally with business of all kinds looking to Asia for growth. Indonesia as a whole has been growing in strength regionally and internationally in business and politics. Jakarta and Manila are benefiting from the emergence of the Asean Economic Community. Five Indian cities were in the top 20. Beijing was ranked 12th ahead of Johannesburg and Caracas. 4 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

TOURISM A FOCUS FOR SIR BANI YAS ISLAND AND AL GHARBIA The

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority is to upgrade the status of the Sir Bani Yas Island airport and add cruise stops in 2 years time due to rising tourist demand. The Tourism and Culture Authority of Abu Dhabi will also set up a development committee for Al Gharbia and a visitors’ centre at its border outpost Al Gweifhat, where most overland visitors from Saudi Arabia arrive from. The area represents 60% of Abu Dhabi’s landmass but less than 10% of its population. It currently has just 9 hotels across the region. There is a need for more flights for the region due to the increased number of tourists as well as more hotels (which are in the plan) that can offer more than just water sport activities. The National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCTH), which manages 2 hotels, is investing Dh100 million in the building of a 110 room hotel.

Since starting to become a tourist destination in 1996, its tourist status has been growing and investment in new properties is starting with some mega-projects. A hotel in the shape of a sand dune, called the Ridge, located in Ruwais, will offer 200 rooms and 35 chalets along the coast. Another project is the Al Dhafra Inn with 120 rooms and 20 chalets in Madinat Zayed City and is expected to open in 2 years. Abu Dhabi’s hotel operator Rotana, which has 13 properties in the emirate, does not yet have any properties in the region. With some hotels seeing visitor number double compared to the same figures from a year ago, new properties are much needed to meet a sudden huge demand. One problem the region faces is the average length of guest stay, which is currently only 2.64 nights with average occupancy at 65%. However, with more on offer as a destination, this is already showing signs of increasing with occupancy rates up 12% from last year. Mirfa’s fishing villages and the sand dunes of Rub Al Khali in Liwa are drawing in many tourists and the Delma Island and Gayathi town are also highlighted for big potential. Tourism currently generates around UK£32, (EU€40) million of the region’s GDP. Within 20 years, it expects to attract 2 million visitors, mainly from overland tourists from the nearby Gulf countries.

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/hotels

TOURISM News

La Madeleine Church, Paris, France

CHINESE POLICE PATROL PARIS STREETS Apparently, it will become ‘normal’ to see

Chinese police officers joining forces with local police in European capitals, as for example, from this summer in the French capital’s streets, there will be joint police forces at main tourism spots across the city in order to encourage more visitors from China to assist them whenever necessary. 1.4 million Chinese visit France each year (mainly Paris) and the country wants to double that figure to help reduce its trade deficit as Chinese visitors spend on average UK£1,220, (EU€1,500) per visit. Due to the assumed large cash they carry with them, several Chinese have been targeted by robbers. Chinese tourists are the 2nd biggest group of visitors to France after those from the USA. Additional encouragement for Chinese to visit France is the quick approval time (48hours) for visas which has resulted in a 40% rise year on year in applications.

ANGOLA IS BECOMING A POPULAR DESTINATION Angola is a huge patchwork of

everything you could want in a tourist destination from different climates, landscapes, cultures and colours. From mountains to vast plains, white beaches to thick tropical rainforest, huge waterfalls to amazing rock formations. The Leba Mountain offers spectacular views of the Namibe desert, while the Calendula waterfalls have to be seen to be believed. Angola could become an ideal tourist destination, especially for those interested in eco-tourism. Despite its potential, there is a huge lack of infrastructure to support tourism. With the civil war over, a new future for the nation is opening up. The number of foreign visitors is increasing with revenue generated by foreign visits to Angola in 2001 reaching UK£15, (EU€18,36) million. There is a vast amount of work needed to make Angola a real tourist destination especially in its national parks where wildlife has been reduced hugely by poachers and war. The most famous wildlife reserve is the Kissama National Park. In 1950, there were 450 lions in the reserve but by 1997, there were only 5. The number of elephants decreased from 1,200 in 1970 to just 20 in 1997. However elephant numbers have increased due to a project called Noah's Ark which involves bringing wild animals from other southern African countries into Kissama. There are other parks across the country but the largest is the Iona Park in Namibe. It will take time and great investment to get Angola back on track let alone as a tourist destination, but as many nations have shown, tourism is a great and successful way to do it.

RUSSIA RECOMMENDS HOLIDAYS IN CRIMEAN The Russian government is

encouraging state-owned corporations and big businesses to treat their employees to a vacation in Crimea. With many Crimean resorts empty of Ukrainan tourists, the initiative is to help prevent the collapse of the peninsula's tourism industry. In very clear terms many of the companies that received the notification will either pay wholly or partly for the holidays or the labour unions could organise the holiday packages! Crimea's economy is greatly dependent on its tourism industry. Over 70% of their tourists were Ukranians before the split. It is also tourists from other countries that are

Gromovo Beach Cr imea

not keen to visit the region. In 2013, six million tourists visited Crimea. If the tourist industry is not to sink, Russia will have to send millions of tourists to keep Crimea's tourism industry going. Domestic tourism is the key to this and already school trips have been organised this summer with the government paying the full cost UK£4.8, ( EU€5.90) billion. In addition, at a state exhibition recently, Crimean tourism professionals were invited to promote their products and services at the Moscow event for free.


TOURISM News

The Queen El izabeth Olympic Park, London , UK

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK, LONDON NEW ATTRACTION London’s

newest visitor destination is the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Since July 2013 when part of the park opened, over a million visitors have been there. Now the south of the Park has opened to the public. A visit to the park will allow you to enjoy beautiful parklands and waterways, world-famous sporting venues, arts and events and spectacular views from the ArcelorMittal Orbit. The Orbit is the UK’s tallest sculpture at 114.5m tall. With 2 observation floors, at 76m and 80m, the ArcelorMittal Orbit provides visitors with stunning views over the Park and across London’s famous skyline. It is both a work of art and a thrilling experience. The Canal Park which will be complete by the end of 2014 offers a beautiful new natural space and waterfront with varied landscapes and plants including woodlands, meadows, coppices, reed beds and green walls. From this summer there will be several tours available, allowing exploration of the Park in ways you had never even considered! Currently on offer are walking and coach tours. There are playgrounds and cafés in the park, making your visit a wonderful day out!

Luxemburg, the old br idge, Alzet te River

FULL HOTELS IN LUXEMBOURG Overnight stays and occupancy rates have seen

considerable growth across Luxembourg's hotels during the first 4 months of 2014. Overnight stays rose overall by 4.5% compared with the beginning of 2013. Biggest growth was of 7.2% by hotels in the south and the Ardennes region, up 5.1%. The average occupancy rate was 65% and increase of 3% from the previous year. The growth comes even with a rise on the cost of accommodation with the average room rate rising by 2.9%. The camping sector is already doing well with a 12% increase in overnight stays reported. Luxembourg saw an increase in the number of US nationals staying in Luxembourg (18.8%) as well as Japanese (14.2%) and Chinese guests (12.3%). Within Europe, it was Dutch guests with the greatest rise at 9.3% followed by France at 7.8%. Tourism has a direct or indirect impact on 6.5% of Luxembourg's GDP.

HAWAII TOURISM REDUCING The island of Hawaii is seeing a stagnant tourism

sector at present with a drop in tourist spend and no growth in arrivals. A combination of stronger competition, a strong US$ against other currencies and other economic factors are taking its toll on the sector. To bring new tourists to the island, promotions have been carried out in the markets of Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Taiwan and Latin America.

ALBANIA TO BECOME A TOURIST DESTINATION The Albanian government aims

to turn its country into a tourist destination as outlined in a new strategy for 2014-202. New laws will make it easier to invest and develop areas for tourism. The aim is not only to attract tourists, but to generate employment, help develop the economy and improve citizens' welfare. Albania’s tourism is defined by an archaeological heritage from Illyrian, Greek, Roman and Ottoman times, unspoiled beaches, mountains, traditional Albanian cuisine, Cold War era artefacts, unique traditions and hospitality, and the wild atmosphere of the countryside.


RAIDING EGYPT’S ANTIQUITIES

Although museums all over the world seem to have authentic Egyptian antiquities on display from times gone by, it seems a new era of looting is taking place in Egypt. Three years after the revolution, the illegal selling of artefacts is now causing a huge problem for the country that relies on its historical tourism. What also does not help is that wherever you dig, you will find something and gangs are taking this opportunity due to there being a lack of force from the police.

TOURISM PROMOTIONS ON MADRID & BARCELONA TRANSPORT Tourism

Ireland has joined forces with Spain’s largest online travel agent, eDreams for a joint promotional campaign, by wrapping Barcelona’s trams in a giant Ireland advert to boost travel to Ireland this summer. Some 1.3 million people use this Barcelona tram route each month and millions more will see the ads as they pass the trams. The 4 week campaign also includes online advertising. Tourism Ireland is also working again with one of Spain’s largest tour operators by targeting potential holidaymakers in Madrid with 140 eye-catching billboard adverts in metro stations around the Madrid, as well as radio and print adverts. The campaigns are timed to take advantage of the late booking pattern among Spanish holidaymakers.

BULGARI HOTEL TO OPEN ON JUMEIRAH BAY ISLAND-DUBAI

Bulgari Hotels and Resorts is to open its 5th property in Dubai. There are already hotels in Bali, London, Milan, and Shanghai (2015).

With Dubai already full with luxury hotels, the Bulgari Hotel will stand out above the rest as it will be located on the prestigious Jumeirah Bay Island in Dubai. Covering over 1.7 million sq.ft, the Bulgari Hotel will be surrounded by green landscaped gardens and offer 100 rooms and suites in the main hotel buildings, as well as 20 hotel villas and a full range of luxury hotel facilities. The Bulgari Hotel will offer a mix of traditional and modern themes through its architecture design and will blend with the style of the surrounding area. The project is part of a larger plan to create a stronger presence in the GCC.●

INTERVIEWING

In an interview with Mr. Pablo Ramon, Founder and Responsible for Communications of NATIVE HOTELS & ACCESSIBLE TOURISM, here we discover how the company started and how the tourism industry is adapting to the needs of tourists with a wide variety of disabilities in order to offer them access to all destinations!

How did you and your fellow journalists come up with the idea for NATIVE Hotels? The trigger was listening to a radio

interview with a blind girl from Madrid. She spoke with joy and good humour about the extremely complicated daily life in the big city. In my ignorance, I wondered if she could ever use the internet. I thought, distressed, if she would spend her whole life living with her mother or if her boyfriend would chose a place to go for a get-away; a favourite hotel. Don’t forget, I have been an editor of magazines on travel and responsible for communications for hotel clubs for 20 years! I phoned a webmaster who introduced me to a world I never knew existed. From that day, I knew that blind and other disabled people can browse the Internet. And I decided not to communicate anymore through no universal codes.

What is the aim of the company? Our goal is to facilitate for

anyone to be independent to choose their holiday destinations on the internet and to ensure that the chosen hotel – we usually select nice establishments, not necessary expensive, are able to provide a pleasant stay for them, as for all other customers. We provide our establishments with Braille signage in transparent vinyl, multi-language and Braille door hangers, orientation plans in relief and Braille, as well as restaurant menus in Braille and other elements.

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How do you think the tourism industry as a whole, copes with offering its products and services to those with special needs? The tourism industry, like the rest of the

activities or the villages and cities, shows a real apartheid that doesn’t make things easy for elderly and disabled tourists. We can find great examples of how to do things right, such as in Costa Rica: No room suitable for wheelchairs, No License to open a hotel. And shameful cases, such as Brussels, where we find hotels with over 100 rooms and a staircase as the only access to the street. It is the political heart of Europe but allows hotels to show an imaginary poster ‘Customers in wheelchairs are not welcome’. This reality is simply contrary to the laws and contrary to morality.

How big is the global market for tourists with a disability and what are the key challenges they face that prevents them from travelling and being a tourist? Over 10% of the

population needs to have comfortable spaces, because of their advanced age or disability; approx. 600 million people. There is big problem of adapted transport, especially for physically disabled people. Then there is the poor standard of public leisure spaces; how many restaurants in the world, including the most luxury, enable a customer in a wheelchair to go to the toilet? Too few. How many hotels have rooms really adapted? No more than 1 in 20. Many hoteliers believe that it is enough if the main entrance has no stairs and the bedroom door is wide. The root of the problem is ignorance. Do we know the complexity for a wheelchair user to move from the chair to the toilet? And what about from a chair to the bed? Neither the architects and interior designers know that from a wheelchair it is impossible to hang shirts on a rail at 1.90m high in a closet. The bathroom mirror is too high for shaving for wheelchair clients. The list goes on... the shower controls or the instructions as to how to leave the building in case of fire. Architects and designers are responsible for the current situation in buildings and cities. It is an active apartheid.

‘Access for All’ is a growing focus for the tourism industry. What are the top 3 things would you like to see change in the sector to facilitate travel for those with special needs? Accessible information in the internet, better

options for accessible transport and no barrier spaces in restaurants, hotels and public spaces.

Do you think enough is being done at the National / Regional Tourism Board level to oblige hotels and tour operators to offer products and facilities that are truly accessible for tourists with special needs? Obviously not.

But obligations should be not necessary. The mere fact of business should facilitate decisions where complicated access to its services to 10% of the population is just not profitable. On the coast of Antalya a new hotel has just opened with 300 rooms, 80 of which are adapted to wheelchair.

At the moment accessible tourism seems to be a ‘choice’ made by hotels, resorts, tour operators. Would you agree? Well, let's say an extremely modest choice, evaluated

in general. But welcome, of course.

Native Hotels has pioneered a new system for using its website in order to be accessible for everyone. How will this work? We have taken existing tools and adapted them

for our web platform and our hotels. For example designing with PUNTODIS our signage in Braille and relief. Or by joining INCLUSITE to allow a user to not need to see the screen, touch the keyboard or talk to the computer to choose his

continuing on page…9

www.tour ismaroundtheworld.co.uk

INTERVIEWING

continuing from page…8

favourite hotel online. Now we have the system of international protocol W3C/WAI and a revolutionary system that allows anyone to surf the web just by blowing lightly onto the headset microphone. I could have no mobility in my hands and be blind and now still choose my favourite hotel from the NATIVE website. This tool confirms that everyone is entitled to enjoy leisure on equal terms, even from the time of search for information. For us, our new website with its double accessibility system should be adopted by a global entity to be an even cheaper service. Even to become a totally free service. Personally, that’s my dream. Currently a hotel enjoys all the services for just €400p.a, which is the actual cost of translations, material and printing braille or our presence in tourism fairs, etc. NATIVE is a non-profit association. We are more associated Hotels, we pay less.

Ideally accessible tourism should be in second nature to all destinations world-wide, where is it working best at present and where can you see the focus on accessible tourism growing in demand in the next few years?

Demand grows with the offer. Today the limitation is that only certain countries have taken accessibility seriously, like the U.S. and central and northern Europe, with exceptions like Costa Rica, as mentioned previously. With a global aging population, this in itself will make everyone at all levels understand that accessibility is good for everybody, not just for people with severe disabilities.

When we think of facilities for people with disabilities, one might think of the use of Braille signage, ramps into buildings and transport, lifts, what other simple things can be done to assist tourists with disabilities? How far reaching is the need for more focus on this tourist sector? Well, the streets, buildings, roads or beaches should

be friendlier to the wheelchair, deafness or blindness. But I must confess that in Italy, an interview of 15,000 users of accessible tourism revealed that 95% of respondents gave the highest score in the questionnaire to the item "personal treatment received". I find it exciting. And a fact for reflection.

Finally, where is your favourite place to go on holiday and why? I have no mobility limitations, but my favourite

country to travel to would be Morocco, where I lived for several years with my family.●

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global e-news for tourism, travel, m.i.c.e, exhibitions & aviation

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY is a global e-journal for the travel and tourism, M.I.C.E, exhibitions and aviation industries.

It provides accurate, detailed, information and is produced in English.

Started in 1997 it has an ever-growing circulation. It is the official global media support for several key exhibitions within the industry.

www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk


AVIATION News

The Business Studio in Et ihad A380

UNPARALLELED LEVELS OF LUXURY, COMFORT AND SERVICE ON ETIHAD’S NEW A380 AND B787 By Pamela McCourt Francescone

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, unveiled the new product and service offering on its Airbus A380 and Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of May, raising the bar on the airline’s pledge to transform air travel and make every guest journey a remarkable one.

Of all the new products the most spectacular is The Residence by Etihad™, the world’s most luxurious living space in the air, available only on the airline’s A380 aircraft, due to enter the fleet later this year.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “These new living spaces will raise in-flight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travellers’ expectations of in-flight comfort and luxury forever. Etihad Airways’ A380 and B787 will deliver the most advanced airline cabins in the industry, while meeting all weight, range and cost targets at our desired seat count. This will allow us to offer products unparalleled in quality and style, yet at competitive prices across all three cabins.”

The Residence will be the breath-taking and completely new forward upper-deck cabin on the A380. Accommodating single or double occupancy, it features a living room, separate double bedroom and en-suite shower room. Guests in The Residence will have the services of a personal butler throughout their flight. These fully-trained service professionals will receive specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London, and The Residence guests will also have a dedicated VIP Travel Concierge team who will ensure every detail of their travel experience, including ground transport, cuisine, and amenities, are tailored to their requirements.

The A380 will also feature the revolutionary First Apartments, which are fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed, as well as a chilled mini-bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe. And First and Business Class guests will be able to relax in The Lobby which is a relaxing and socialising lounge and bar area located between the First and Business cabins with a semi-circular leather sofa, a marquetry table and a large TV screen.

On both the A380 and the B787 Etihad Airways will also launch its new Business Studios which provide 20% more personal space than the airline’s current business class seat. Configured 1-2-1 in a forward and aft ‘dovetail’, the Business Studios all have aisle access and the seat converts into a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long. With its privacy, ample storage and surface space, the Business Studio has been designed with the diverse needs of the premium business or leisure traveller firmly in mind.

DELAYS BUT ORDERS FLOODING IN China's 1st locally produced commercial

jetliner, the C919 will not be seen in the skies until 2018 due to design difficulties. The aircraft is hoping to compete with Airbus and Boeing. The first flight was hoped

for this year with deliveries in 2016 on orders. Now its maiden flight will be late 2015 with deliveries from 2018. Despite the delay, the manufacturer has secured orders for 400 of the C919 jets from 16

customers, mostly Chinese airlines and other aircraft-leasing firms. GE Capital Aviation Services, the world's biggest aircraft lessor by fleet value is the only foreign buyer, with an order for 20 jets.


HEATHROW AIRPORTS NEW T2 OPENS London’s biggest airport,

Heathrow has started its soft opening following the completion of the UK£2.5, (EU€3.10) billion new terminal. Only United Airlines have flown into T2 till now. The slow opening allows for any technical problems to be fixed. The new terminal was built on the site of the original building of the airport, the Europa building, dating back to 1955. It was designed to cope with 1.2 million passengers a year. The new terminal

can now cater for 20 million passengers. The new terminal uses a new ‘world-first’ check-in system where passengers can self check-in using any kiosk in the building. Approx. 70% of passengers using LHR already check in either online or by self-service, so this enhances this shift. HM Queen Elizabeth II will officially open T2 called the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Terminal’ on 23 June. Air Canada will start operating from the terminal later this month with 26 other airlines running from the terminal by the end of 2014.

DOBROLET: HIGH PRE-LAUNCH TICKET SALES Dobrolet is the new low-

fare airline of Aeroflot Russian Airlines. The new airline will launch operations this month and already more than a half of all tickets offered by Dobrolet for June were booked during the 1st day of sales. Within the first 24 hours 13,700 tickets were booked on the initial Moscow-Simferopol-Moscow route. From 11-22 June the load factor on flights from Moscow to Simferopol is 99.9% and from 27-30 June 100% of seats are booked. Simferopol is in the newly annexed Crimea. Aeroflot owns 100% of the shares and projects it will invest UK£59.50, (EU€73.20) million in the new company in the 1st two years.

IATA-NEW RULES FOR BAD BEHAVIOUR New changes to the Tokyo

Convention 1960 were put forward at a recent diplomatic conference where over 100 governments were in attendance, in respect to passengers who’s unruly or disruptive behaviour lead to physical assault or poses a threat to the safety of a flight. The new protocol would deter such behaviour by making the consequences clear and enforceable.

AVIATION News

BATTLE IN THE SKY FOR FASTER WiFi Access to the internet while at 35,000ft has

not been possible until recently and now airlines are focusing on this as a way to win customers ahead of their rivals. One problem has been the speed of the connection to the internet while flying, it being not as fast as when on the ground. The rules across the aviation industry have recently changed allowing passengers to use tablets and mobile phones while taking off and during landing, this has led to much faster and newer technology being on offer for airlines to install on their fleets. The number of commercial airlines with WiFi and mobile services is currently 4,000, but this is expected to more than triple over the next decade to 14,000, with much of the growth in Asia. Even with 14,000 planes offering the services, only half of the worldwide fleet would be wired up to offer the service by 2022. Satellite technology will speed up onboard connections hugely from today’s speeds to about 70 megabits per second by 2015, fast enough to download a 2 hour high definition film in about 4 minutes.

JETBLUE AIRWAYS AND SINGAPORE AIRLINES CODESHARE Singapore Airlines

and JetBlue Airways have applied for a bilateral codeshare agreement. Singapore Airlines and JetBlue have been interline partners since 2011. The expanded partnership would offer customers seamless connections between the 2 airlines, combining flights on both carriers and easily facilitating one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in. If approved, the new codeshare would offer Singapore Airlines customers access to 16 destinations in the U.S., while JetBlue customers would have access to 5 new cities in Europe and Asia.

IMPROVEMENTS FOR AIRPORT CHARGES A European Commission report on the

implementation of Airport Charges Directive has come under attack by the top airline associations AEA, ELFA, ERA and IACA for the EC not proposing more solid steps to solve the issues raised in the report, when cost-efficient airport charges that are set out in a transparent way and agreed between airports and airlines is what is needed. At present this cannot be achieved and therefore improved legislation is necessary. Airport charges account for a significant proportion of airlines’ operating costs, and by bringing them down it would increase the competitiveness of airlines to the ultimate benefit of the European consumer.

UNITED AIRLINES AIMS TO FOR GUAM-SHANGHAI ROUTE United Airlines has

applied to operate a nonstop Guam-Shanghai (Pudong) route twice a week. United is stopping its Los Angeles-Kelowna, British Columbia route from September (as it has switched to the San Francisco hub) as well as the Los Angeles-Bakersfield route from 19 August. It is also stopping its seasonal route Newark-Moncton from mid-September.

ICELANDAIR FLIES TO ENGLAND Icelandair is to start scheduled flights to

Birmingham, England from February 2015. Birmingham is Icelandair’s 5th destination in Great Britain, and the 25th in Europe. Icelandair currently offers a service to Iceland from Boston, New York (JFK), Washington (Dulles), Seattle/Tacoma, Denver and Toronto (Pearson), with seasonal services from Newark, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Sanford (near Orlando), Edmonton, Vancouver, Halifax and Anchorage. Connections through Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport are available to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the U.K. and Continental Europe. Only Icelandair allows passengers to stopover in Iceland for up to 7 days at no additional airfare.

NEW HAMAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- DOHA The new Hamad International

Airport (HIA), located 16km from the centre of Doha has finally started operating after many delays. The new airport will be able to handle an annual passenger count of 50 million passengers a year once operating at full capacity. HIA offers 41 widebody aircraft contact gates (which will rise to 65 on final completion), together with over 25,000sqm of retail space (104 retail outlets and 30 cafes/restaurants), passenger lounges and parking. Other features include an airport hotel and 100-room transit hotel.


AIR SERBIA NEW BEIRUT ROUTE Air

Serbia has launched a new route between Belgrade in Serbia and Beirut in Lebanon, with flights 5 days per week.

Bei rut , Lebanon

The new route offers many connections through Air Serbia's Belgrade hub at Nikola Tesla Airport to many destinations across Europe including Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Stockholm, as well as regional connections including Podgorica, Skopje, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Ljubljana, Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia. From 1 July the Belgrade-Beirut flights will be operated as daily services using Airbus A319. The on-board services are also upgraded offer more choices for passengers flying with Air Serbia.

PAL AIRLINES OF CHILE SUSPENDS OPERATIONS PAL Airlines has had its Air

Operator Certificate (AOC) suspended by Chile’s Civil Aviation Directorate due to not meeting technical requirements that may increase a risk to the operational safety of the airline. Not all PAL Airlines operations were stopped and PAL Airlines is working to resolve the problem and gain back its AOC.

NEW REGIONAL MEXICAN AIRLINE

Following the closure of Mexicana, the new Mexican carrier TAR Airlines has begun operations. TAR is based in Queretaro and connects Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and Durango. Especially exciting is the Vallarta and Zihuatanejo routes which allows convenience to combine a colonial destination with the beach. TAR will also start to fly from Toluca from the 2

nd half of this year.

NORWEGIAN FLIES FROM LONDON GATWICK Norwegian is expanding

further its network of routes from London Gatwick with the launch of 2 new routes to Warsaw and Berlin. From mid-September, Norwegian will offer 6 weekly flights from Gatwick to Warsaw and Berlin. The airline has also increased the number of flights between London Gatwick and Copenhagen from 4 to 5 daily departures. In May 2013, Norwegian started its UK base at Gatwick and has seen its market share for the 1st quarter of 2014 reach 10% at London Gatwick Airport.●

EXPERIENCE

KAYAKING THE MYKONOS WAY

The Greek island of Mykonos is known for its wonderful beaches, bustling nightlife and typical white cube architecture. The pure mix of blue and white, the brightness of the sun, the clean air and wild nature are attractions that make people return to the island time and time again.

But next time you go there, why not experience Mykonos in a different way. Why not see it from the sea. Experience the natural beauty of the island in a fun and eco-friendly way by discovering hidden gems all from the safety of a kayak.

Mykonos Kayak are experts in offering outdoor adventures and activities on the Island. Their day trips allow you to experience a sense of freedom and discovery, whilst relaxing and offering a sense of well-being. Get off the beaten track and discover tucked away sights along the island’s turquoise coast and marvel at the dramatic rock formations.

With daily trips, in small groups, that allow you to swim and snorkel on beautiful remote beaches, see a diverse wildlife and even try a local delicacy - sea urchins, as well as enjoying a delicious homemade picnic. While on the water you also have the chance to get close to the sea life like dolphins or while on land find a crocodile lizard; island life can easily please!

With a dedicated team that are passionate about kayaking, the trips are safe, fun, educational and environmentally friendly! Kayaking is also not physically demanding, so almost anyone can do it and you can decide how long you kayak for, when to stop and rest. You do not need to know how to kayak as lessons can be given with special kayaking packages on offer to suit your own needs.

There are kayak excursions for families with children aged 14 years+ and ones for families with younger children, that way everyone can go at their own pace and with ‘sit-in’ double seated kayaks and ‘sit on top’ style kayaks, there is something to suit everyone. There is also the option for those joining from a cruise ship to leave the tour earlier and choose whether to be dropped back to their ship or to Mykonos town depending on their timing and plans.

Your kayaking adventure will take you on a journey around the island, but you are not restricted to being with your kayak. You can snorkel, lazy around on the beach, take a walk and of course there are plenty of opportunities for wonderful photographs to be taken. You will pass by the famous windmills just outside Mykonos town as well as kayak through ‘Little Venice’ or even visit the island of Bau.

A kayaking adventure through Mykonos is a great way to experience the beauty of Greece. So, with an open mind and your swimsuit, sea shoes and sun cream in hand, get ready for a new exciting adventure at sea! www.mykonoskayak.com ●

13

FLYING FEARLESS!

With more and bigger airports, bigger planes and more travellers, our exploration of the world is today dominated by taking any trip by

Plane. It is something most of us don’t think about much and see it like jumping on a bus to get to our destination.

However for some, the idea of flying is enough to prevent those visiting friends or family in faraway places or go on a dream holiday and it can severely limit the career of a businessperson by preventing them from travelling on work-related business.

At least 1 in 6 adults has a fear of flying and it is estimated that 35% of all pilots and cabin crew have a fear of flying or are afraid of heights!

Air travel is the 2nd safest mode of mass transportation in the world. The 1st is travel by escalator! The chances of you being involved in an aircraft accident are approximately 1 in 10 million. Your chances of dying in a plane crash is 1 in 45 million while your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5,000.

The fear of flying has many causes including the most common fear of crashing and ultimately death. Claustrophobia, fear of heights, not being in control, travel sickness, fear of hijacking, turbulence as well as flying over water or at night. People react in different ways to these fears, but you can often notice the nervous flyer when on board.

Turbulence is common during a flight and 99% of turbulence injuries are caused by unfastened seatbelts or falling luggage. The cause of turbulence can be from a change in air pressure or jet streams. Aircraft are so much safer these days than they ever used to be, but to increase your chance of survival by a huge 30-40% make sure you read the safety card in your seat pocket and note where the exits are. Where you sit, also has little effect on your safety, although the closer to the exits you are the quicker an exit would be.

Those who fear of the plane breaking down mid-flight and plummeting to the ground without any engines running should not worry. A plane, just like a bird, can glide at altitude for approximately 150km before it needs to land. Another concern passengers have is when the planes feels like it has slowed down just after take-off, before reaching cruising speed. The pilot often reduces speed once airborne usually to comply with noise restrictions, and this causes a distinctive drop in engine noise and a sensation of slowing down. The aircraft is still climbing to altitude just more slowly than initial take-off.

In order to assist those with flying fears and concerns, however minor and incorporating all ages, many airlines offer courses to help overcome the fear. British Airways is offering this course and it is run by its pilots and crew, with the support of a clinical psychologist. It also includes a short flight at the end of the day so you can practise everything you have learned throughout the day. Over the past 25 years, the programme has helped over 45,000 people and has a 98% success rate.

Still nervous? Don’t be. Scientists have worked out that you could fly every day for the next 100 years and still be safe. So, book your flight and fly the world, is a paradise!●


M.I.C.E News

PARIS THE WORLD’S LEADING CITY FOR INTERNATIONAL CONGRESSES Paris

has taken 1st place in the ICCA rankings for cities that welcomed the most international congresses in 2013. The 9th survey of congress activity in Paris and the Paris region carried out by the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau presents a record number of 1,055 congresses and 752,300 delegates for 2013. Paris hosted 204 international congresses in 2013 ahead of Madrid (186 congresses), Vienna (182) and Barcelona (179). In 2013, the economic benefits in Paris and the Paris region linked to the congress segment were estimated at more than UK£950 million, (EU€1.167 billion) (+13% on 2012 figures) which represented over 20,000 full-time jobs. Direct expenditure (linked to the organisation of a congress) was estimated at 24% and indirect expenditure (accommodation, restaurants, leisure, shopping and transport on site) at 76%. In 2013, congresses generated 1.9 million hotel overnights. There are 240 venues in Paris and the Paris region (203 in Paris, 37 in the Paris region). Paris hosted on average 88 congresses every month: some 3 per day! There was a big increase in the number of congress attendees estimated at 752,300, (20% more than in 2012). With an average of 10 nationalities, the average number of participants at congresses was 715 in 2013 compared to 620 in 2012. The average duration of a congress remained the same in 2013 as for 2012, i.e. 2.3 days. In 2013, Paris hosted 17 congresses with more than 5,000 participants. Although they represented less than 2% of congress activity, they accounted for 19% of participants - 124,343 congress attendees. Although congresses in the medical sector remain the most predominant, other sectors showed a strong presence; technology, economic and scientific. Congress centres and scientific venues hosted the same proportion of congresses (34%). Congresses hosting between 500-900 participants increased by 23% to 165 congresses, and those hosting between 1,000-4,999 increased by 42% to 155 congresses. This latter figure is due to the increase in the number of international rotating congresses, which almost doubled, 24 in 2013, and 13 in 2012. Smaller events with less than 200 participants were still the most numerous at 28% (296 events).

LARGEST INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONFERENCE EVER IN JAPAN The World

Ophthalmology Congress 2014 (WOC2014) was held in conjunction with the 29th Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO2014) and the 118th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society (118th JOC). The approximately 20,000 attendees recorded the largest-ever international conference held in the capital city, making it the biggest medical conference in Japan ever. 9,000 international guests came to Tokyo as part of their participation in the WOC2014, APAO2014 and 118th JOC in April. For the 1st time ever the facilities at the Tokyo International Forum and Imperial Hotel Tokyo were totally dedicated to the global event. The many social activities and functions also highlighted the delights of Tokyo. The hosting of such a series of events together was a truly united effort by all concerned. One welcoming feature was the street-side flags designed exclusively for WOC2014, and sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The city government developed 16 trails to choose that showcased Tokyo’s famous sightseeing locations. An addition programme with 6 options focused on Japanese Cultural Experiences that saw over 1,000 overseas guests enjoy.

SINGAPORE IS ASIA’S TOP CONVENTION CITY Singapore has kept the title as

Asia’s Top Convention City for the past 12 years running, with figures out from the ICCA. In 2013, Singapore hosted a record 175 ICCA events, a 16.7% increase from 150 in 2012, achieving the strongest year-on-year growth since 2005. This top award comes following Singapore tourism having a record year welcoming 15.5 million visitors who generated UK£11.16, (EU€13.73) billion in tourism receipts. M.I.C.E also performed well. In 2013, BTMICE visitor arrivals hit 3.5 million with an estimated expenditure of UK£2.60, (EU€3.20) billion.


TBEX 2014: ALL EYES ON ATHENS, GREECE This October, Athens will

host TBEX Europe 2014, the world’s largest gathering of approx 1,000 travel bloggers, writers, new media content creators and social media travel industry professionals. The 3 day event includes meetings, educational seminars and presentations run by industry experts. There is also a varied networking programme that will showcase the host destination of Athens. Athens offers a wide variety of choices for editorial content that the attendees of TBEX are looking for, from history to culinary to family-friendly and more. Diversity is what can be discovered all over the city. Athens is wanting to show that despite everything it is still here, it’s open for business so come and visit. Destinations that host TBEX, receive enormous and immediate promotion through all online platforms for social and professional networking, (blogs, podcasts, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr, Google +, etc.), which cumulate millions of views, reports and posts, before, during and after the meeting. TBEX is supported by the Greek National Tourism Organization and will take place from 23-25 October at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre.

KUALA LUMPUR CONVENTION CENTRE WINS 10 MORE BIDS The

Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has confirmed 10 more events for 2014/16 with an expected total attendance of 10,000 plus delegates. The bid wins

include 2 national, 3 regional and 5 international meetings. The Centre attributed the wins to international associations and meeting planners’ continuing confidence in Malaysia as an attractive and value-for-money destination for business tourism and the Centre, as the country’s premier convention facility. The wins come following a record breaking performance in 2013 with 1,565 events; the most (events) held in a year since opening in June 2005. In addition to an 8.5% jump in number of events hosted, from 1,442, the venue welcomed 2 million delegates who contributed UK£129, (EU€157) million in economic impact against 1.7 million delegates and UK£109. (EU€133) million in the previous corresponding period (2012). Expansion plans are being finalised for completion by early 2018. Once complete an additional 12,500sqm of flexible and multipurpose space will be added to the Centre’s current 22,659sqm.

M.I.C.E News RENDEZ-VOUS CANADA 2015

Rendez-vous Canada is to hold its 2015 edition at the Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagaria Falls from 26-29 May 2015. Face-to-face meetings between international buyers and Canadian sellers of exceptional tourism products take place at Rendez-vous Canada annually. Last year’s event concluded deals close to UK£218, (EU€268) million, supporting close to 610,000 jobs in Canada that depend on tourism spending. Niagara Falls is an amazing destination to host the biggest tourism trade show in Canada, especially as it is so iconic and the birthplace of Canadian tourism known around the world and a tremendous attraction for visitors. It will be a fantastic opportunity for some of the world’s top travel buyers to experience 1st hand the amazing tourism experiences Canada has to offer. Tourism is one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in the world, with global travellers spending over one trillion dollars annually—or two million dollars every minute.

PCMA GLOBAL MEETINGS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced the recipient of the Global Executive of the Year Award as Phelps R. Hope, CMP, Vice President, Meetings & Expositions, Kellen Meetings. The annual award, celebrates meeting executives who demonstrate a vision, commitment and passion for the advancement and education of the global meetings industry. Mr Hope typifies the spirit of the award, having planned meetings and conferences in 27 different countries on 6 continents, and overseeing 50+ global meetings per year. Over his 30+ years of experience he has demonstrated the ability to successfully move his clients into new global arenas and help achieve organisational successes. Mr. Hope is an active member of PCMA serving on a number of committees over the years including the Global Task Force and the Annual Meeting Program Committee.

THAILAND WELCOMES GLOBAL HOTELIERS TO INVESTMENT CONFERENCE The Thailand Hotel

Investment Conference, which sees approx 250 hotel investors, owners, developers and master planners from 26 countries meet took place recently at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok. The different regions of Thailand can offer a variety of destinations, each with their different characteristics waiting to be developed by investors to meet the

Prague, Czech Republ ic

needs of tourists’ preferences. The north for example has the potential of uniqueness in culture while the Northeast is a connecting destination to ASEAN countries. The Thailand Tourism Authority plans to ensure its promotional campaigns covers every region of the country and that means extensive hotel investment being made in properties outside Bangkok, especially in boutique hotels. With Thailand remaining at the forefront of the Asia-Pacific tourism industry its future with further development and hotel investment will bring an even brighter future.

COPENHAGENS NEW CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL Copenhagen’s largest hotel

chain will open the new Tivoli Hotel 6 months ahead of schedule. The new hotel, located in conjunction with the Tivoli Congress Center, will be ready to welcome guests from late 2015. With over a million guests already having stayed or visited the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center since it opened in 2010, expansion is needed and the new themed business hotel with 288 rooms, will form an integral part of the existing Tivoli Hotel. The hotel will offer 25 new meeting and conference rooms, and 288 guest rooms. The combined hotel capacity of the Tivoli Hotel will be 700 rooms, plus meeting facilities that can accommodate 6,000 guests. Located just 5 minutes from the Copenhagen Central Station in direct conjunction to the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center and the 510 rooms at the budget hotel Wakeup Copenhagen. The overall congress complex will be able to offer a total of 1,210 rooms. Some parts of the hotel will meet the specific needs of guests from China and Russia. Copenhagen is the world’s 8th most popular congress city.

BRISBANE’S NEWEST CONVENTION CENTRE The Royal International Convention

Centre (Royal ICC) has seen its busiest week since opening 15 months ago. Royal ICC chefs’ have fed over 50,000 people in a week at events. More than 7,000 eggs, 3,000 rashes of bacon, 3,000 Danish pastries and 600 Western Queensland grass fed eye fillets were served to Royal ICC guests attending various events. Over the week a variety of menus were cooked ranging from an upmarket, classic French 3 course meal for 800 guests; 2,200 guests had a delicious breakfast and in addition they also served dagwood dogs and hot chips to Brisbane Showgrounds visitors. The state-of-the-art Royal International Convention Centre (Royal ICC) officially opened on 2 March, 2013 and it has seen a busy 1st year of business with back to back events.

ICCA CONGRESS HEADS TO PRAGUE Prague has been announced as the host city

for the 56th Congress of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in 2017. Prague, represented by the Prague Convention Bureau team, and representatives of the City of Prague – the Mayor of Prague, the Deputy Mayor, competed with another 2 candidates; Gdańsk in Poland and St. Petersburg in Russia. The candidacy of Prague was based on the importance of congresses and conferences for the strategic plan of the development of the city and the whole Czech Republic. The Mayor of Prague commented that they want to inspire ICCA delegates with the story of the city's success on the international meetings market, which has occurred not just because Prague is a great cultural and tourist city, but because international meetings is at the heart of its economic development and knowledge economy strategies. The modernisation and extension of the Prague Congress Centre, the only congress facility in the Czech Republic for prestigious international meetings with the participation exceeding 1,500 delegates also helped win them the hosting rights. Prague has returned to the list as being one of the best congress destinations. In 2010, it was ranked 19th destination in the world; today the city is ranked in 11th place worldwide.● 16 www.tour ismaroundtheworld.co.uk

EXHIBITION News 20th MITM AMERICAS & 6th CULTOURFAIR TAKING PLACE IN PUEBLA, MEXICO Puebla's Tourist

Office will be the official sponsor of the 20th edition of MITM Americas and the 6th edition of CULTOURFAIR, to be held simultaneously in the city of Puebla, Mexico, from 3-5 December 2014. MITM Americas, Meetings & Incentive Travel Market, is the pioneer international MICE tradeshow in B2B appointments system in the Americas and the Caribbean. The same is true for CULTOURFAIR, International Cultural Travel Fair, which is the 1st international fair specialised in cultural tourism and is exclusively for professionals. The city of Puebla is perfectly located and features great congress and hotel infrastructures, as well as architectural richness that, along with its gastronomy, which is some of the best in the world, make Puebla the ideal venue to hold both fairs. The fair will consist of around 100 international VIP buyers, including MICE companies, incentive houses, events agencies, marketing companies, meeting planners, association executives and product managers from tour operators specialised in cultural travel (wholesalers and travel agencies). The notarized evaluation from the exhibitors of the last MITM & CULTOURFAIR edition was: Excellent 57%; Good 37%; Fair 6% and Poor 0%, highlighting the quality of the attending buyers and considering the trade show an ideal forum to generate business. This is a guarantee that the next edition in Puebla will also be a success.

TOP HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY EXPERTS GATHER AT 5TH ANNUAL RESORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN MACAU Around 140 participants from

Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Oman, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Island, UAE, and US attended this event last year. With the success of the previous conferences, marcus evans will run its 5th Annual Resorts and Entertainment conference from 25-26 September 2014 in Macau, China. The Event will revolutionise innovative ideas shared by influential hospitality leaders in the process of continuous developments and expansion of world-class resorts to remain at its forefront in the ever competitive industry. Experts from the hospitality industry like MGM Grand Paradise, Macau, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Macau, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Taiwan, Sands China Ltd., Macau, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Singapore, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, China, Far East

Consortium International, Hong Kong, Minor Hotel Group, Thailand and Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hotels & Resorts, China will be joining the conference. The 2 days conference includes a choice of 2 streams; 1. Focusing on Master Planning, Design & Technologies and 2. Commercialisation and Future Development. Given the multi-billion dollar investment and close cooperation required to achieve a vision of world-class resorts, precise thoughts and meticulous planning must be implemented in assuring the success of these project pipelines. Tourism around the World Monthly is proud to be an international media partner for this key conference.

SITE JOINS IT&CM EVENTS’ SUPPORTING ASSOCIATION LINE-UP IT&CM Events has

teamed up with Site, the global network for travel and event professionals, encompassing Site’s support on several fronts – educational programme, publicity, editorial and delegate support - for the upcoming IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific show happening on 30 September to 2 October 2014. As well as organising the IT&CM Events educational forums, SITE will also bring MICE buyers (SITE members) from incentive companies, corporate planners, destination management companies, convention/tourism authorities, hospitality, and travel suppliers. SITE speakers took part at IT&CM China’s tailored Corporate Performance forum in Shanghai. The association helmed the topic ‘A Global update on Incentives – China Focus’ that discussed current best practices and new emerging techniques needed to be successful in building and delivering incentive travel programmes. Their panel of speakers spotlighted international and China representatives of Site including First Incentive Travel, Inc’s Chairman & CEO, Joost de Meyer, IME Consulting Co., Ltd’s General Manager, Alicia Yao and China Star Ltd’s CEO Liu Ping.

10TH COTTM ENDS IN SUCCESS China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market (COTTM)

celebrated its 10th anniversary as China’s leading outbound travel exhibition after the 3 day event. The show is the only business to business event and saw 400 exhibitors from 65 different countries take part. There were more destinations and travel services showcased than ever before and trade visitors reached over 3,200 leading outbound tour operators from all over China. COTTM 2014 welcomed brand new destinations such as Georgia, Jordan, Mauritius, Reunion Island, Rwanda, Sharjah and the South Pacific Islands. The show welcomed back, Croatia, Jamaica, Maldives, Mozambique and Zambia. There was an increase in hosted buyers by 4.6%, a 29% increase in pre-registered trade visitors. In order to meet demand for luxury travel, the Luxury Travel Showcase returned for the 3rd year running with a massive 62% increase in the number of high-end luxury buyers. COTTM 2015 will take place from 14-16 April at the New Hall, National Agricultural Exhibition Center, Beijing.

CUBAN TOURISM FAIR - ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT The focus at the

recent FitCuba, the nation’s international tourism fair was to take advantage of opportunities provided by the new Foreign Investment Law to increase the competitiveness of the tourism industry, which is the island’s 2nd largest source of income. The new foreign investment law is designed to attract more foreign capital through tax breaks and flexible labour policies, as Cuba heads towards a modern socialist system. In 2013 Cuba had wished for 3 million foreign visitors, but missed the target, however international arrivals were up 5% already for 2014 compared to 2013. During FitCuba, France was the guest country with 10 stands. Havana was the city chosen to be promoted through the fair with the slogan ‘the country's most complete" destination due to it being able to welcome conventional tourists, as well as events, businesses, cruise ships and health tourists, who come for medical treatments, among others. In 2013, international tourism brought Cuba UK£1.07, (EU€1.32) billion in income. Canada is the biggest tourist source market for Cuba with over 1 million tourists in 2013, followed by Britain and Germany. ●


LATIN AMERICA News

Caracas, Simon Bol ivar Avenue

MEXICO INVESTS FURTHER IN TOURISM Mexico plans to invest UK£8.20,

(EU€10.13) billion in tourism infrastructure to turn the country into a global power in the industry. Indeed, Mexico has everything to reach this goal. Mexico is the largest and most visited tourist destination in all Latin America. It is the No. 2 tourism destination in the Americas and the only Latin American country that ranks in the top 25 most-visited nations in the world. The Mexican government plans to engage in a 3 pronged strategy to develop its tourism infrastructure to include the beaches and colonial districts in the country’s main tourist destinations to be renovated, and the ‘Magic Towns’ programme to be expanded to 100 locations across the country. New offerings are to be developed at Meso-American heritage sites, with sustainable areas being created in Chichen Itza, Palenque, Calakmul and Teotihuacan. Convention centers and 20 new public parks are to be built at Mexican beaches. The 3rd element in the strategy is to modernise and refurbish Mexico’s ports and airports to make them more attractive for arriving tourists. Mexico welcomed 23.7 million foreign tourists in 2013. Tourism is Mexico’s 5th source of foreign revenue. It is the only Latin American nation and among the top 10 countries that spent the most UK£2.50, (EU€3.08) million in 2013 on tourist promotion in the U.S.A, one of its top source of tourists.

VENEZUELAN TRAVEL AGENCIES PROTEST OVER UNPAID TICKET FEES Many

travel agents have been protesting for the government to pay billions of dollars in ticket fees owed to international airlines. Cadivi Foreign Exchange is the government’s agency for collecting Venezuelan Bolivar’s from ticket sales, and airlines are having difficulty converting that money to dollars for repatriation due to currency controls. In response, airlines have restricted ticket sales in Venezuelan Bolivars since August 2013. The situation has now put over 250,000 jobs at risk across the South American country's entire tourism industry, as ticket sales drop hugely. Some airlines have decided to suspend services, like Air Canada and Alitalia, while other airlines have reduced their flight frequency until this issue is resolved. Venezuela's government has held several meetings this year with foreign airlines and assured them that it will pay the money corresponding to 2014 ticket fees and review the debt corresponding to 2013.

WORLD’S HIGHEST CABLE-CAR IN BOLIVIA The world’s highest cable-car

system, has begun carrying passengers between the capital of Boliva and the adjacent city of El Alto at an elevation of 4,000m (13,115ft) above sea level.

The transport system gives the roughly 440,000 people who travel each day between these 2 cities in Bolivia’s western highlands a significantly faster alternative. The project cost UK£140, (EU€172) million and consists of 11 stations, 443 10-person cabins and 3 lines, only one of which is currently in service.

When running fully, the cable-car system will run for 10kms (6.2 miles) and be able to transport up to 3,000 passengers p.h in each direction. It is also expected that the new transport option would provide a boost to tourism.

CARIBBEAN BRINGS IN RUSSIAN TOURISTS In 2013, Jamaica received 12,000

tourists from Russia, a 600% increase from 2012. Russians see Jamaica as a unique tourist destination and more will come to discover the island with the opening of more direct flights from Moscow to Montego Bay this autumn/winter season. Russian tourism to Jamaica first received a major boost in 2012 with the start of a non-stop service from Moscow to Montego Bay by Transaero. Cuba has traditionally been the top Caribbean destination for Russians, but as they diversify their destination, Jamaica is next on their ‘to visit’ list! The Dominican Republic as also seen huge increases in Russian tourist arrivals in the past few years. 18 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

ECUADOR CELEBRATES RETURN OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE FROM ITALY Ecuadorians have celebrated the

return to the country thousands of archaeological pieces from Italy, with the presence of H.E. the president of Ecuador, Mr. Rafael Correa.

More than 4,600 archaeological pieces were returned which mainly came from the Tolita culture. These national heritage pieces were plundered from Ecuador due to no controls being in place at the time, but now with new leadership the pieces are being returned.

CARRIACOU-GRENADA AIRPORT EXPANSION Grenada has given the job of

its airport expansion to the China Harbour Engineering Company. The expansion of the Lauriston airport is on the island of Carriacou. Once complete the new runway hopes to receive LIAT’s 72-seater aircraft. It will make travel to the island easier and allow for aircraft to land during the night. It will also help attract new investment to the island and increase tourism. China Harbour is not new to projects in the region with several other projects already complete across the Caribbean in recent years.

USA CONNECTED THROUGH MEXICO

A new privately funded international port of entry that links San Diego directly to Tijuana’s A.L. Rodriguez International Airport is to go ahead. Once operational, it would allow departing airline passengers to park their cars in San Diego and walk across a bridge to board a plane in Tijuana. For arriving passengers, it would provide a U.S. Customs inspection facility that allows them to cross directly to the United States from the Tijuana airport, and thus avoid lengthy waits at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry. The unique new port of entry, on the U.S.-Mexico border, is a for-profit private venture that would be financed through toll-paying ticketed airline passengers who fly into and out of the Tijuana airport. The plans involve a 525ft long pedestrian bridge leading from the Tijuana airport terminal to a 65,000sq.ft structure on the U.S. side that includes an inspection area staffed 7 days a week. For both countries, this project will give easy access to new air travel markets and will put San Diego on the tourism map.●

ASIA News BIGGEST HOTEL PROJECT IN YANGON A consortium from South

Korea have started to built the Daewoo Amara Hotel, which is expected to be finished by late 2016.

The project is to cost UK£131, (EU€161) million and the project is being built under a build-operate-transfer agreement by the Myanmar Investment Commission, offering a 70-year lease on the site. The Daewoo Amara Hotel will include a 15-storey luxury hotel and a 29-storey serviced residence, located close to Yangon’s Inya Lake. The hotel would offer 346 rooms and 315 serviced residence, making it the biggest hotel project to date in Myanmar. There will also be a convention hall, indoor/ outdoor pools, a fitness centre, a spa, restaurants, all-day dining eatery and a club lounge.

EUROPEAN MUST THINK MORE CHINESE European tourism experts

have advised that in order to attract more Chinese tourists, language is not just the only issue; we need to think more in terms of their culture and customs. With about 100 million Chinese citizens expected to make an international trip in 2014 alone, the Chinese Friendly organisation raises awareness of the needs of Chinese tourists globally at a conference in Zaragoza, Spain. Adapting to the needs of Chinese visitors can range from having more Chinese food on menus, employing Chinese-speaking staff and making information available in Chinese. Also being able to make tea in the hotel room or to have noodle soup at breakfast maybe small moves, but allow Chinese tourists to feel as if they are at home. 2013 saw more than a 30% rise in the number of Chinese visitors to Spain. With outbound tourism from China on the rise and rapidly, there is a need more than ever to participate at international exhibitions that are organised by the local tourism authorities across China, to enable us all to get a share of the market who are most eager to visit, discover and shop!

THAILAND TO ATTRACT TOURISTS FROM EUROPE AND MIDDLE EAST

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to launch several campaigns and special tourism activities for the Europe and Middle

The Erawan Shrine, Bangkok, Thai land

East markets to retain tourists’ confidence and ensure the growth of the country’s tourism industry. So far this year, Thailand has faced several volatile factors including the ongoing domestic political situation, but overall the European market has remained strong and positive although the Middle East market has become stagnant. Therefore the new strategies and activities will help make sure that Thailand remains a must-visit destination among travellers from these 2 markets, as well as other markets. The number of travellers from Europe to Thailand during January-April, 2014, was up 7.63% to 2.7 million visitors. During the first 4 month period, Russia contributed the highest number; 823,233 visitors (up 12.32%), followed by the UK at 341,448 travellers (up 5.75%). TAT is working with airlines and tour operators to launch special promotional tour packages as well as cooperate with online travel agents. The Amazing Thailand road shows will run in various European countries as well as expanding the Thailand Fan Club network through a range of proactive customer relationships management activities. For the Middle East market, TAT estimates that the number of visitors for 2014 to maintain the same growth as the previous year at 2.18%. One factor hindering the growth in the number of visitors from the Middle East to Thailand is the change in policy by European countries that allows Arab tourists to enter Europe without a Schengen visa. In the first 4 months of 2014, Thailand welcomed a total of 171,323 visitors from the Middle East. The new campaign will see TAT partner with Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways to organise 3 familiarisation trips for media and travel agency representatives in the Gulf countries. In 2013, Thailand welcomed 6.3 million visitors from Europe, up 11.62% over 2012, and 627,435 from the Middle East, up 3.63% year-on-year. The kingdom recorded a total of 26.7 million tourists from all markets in 2013, a 19.6% increase over 2012. The target for 2014 is to reach 28.01 million international arrivals.

SRI LANKA TOURISM UP WITH HELP OF CHINESE TOURISTS Sri Lanka's tourist

industry saw over half a million tourist arrivals in April, with a healthy 136% growth in Chinese travellers. Tourist arrivals in April grew by 39.5%, compared to the same month last year, to 112,631 and the large numbers brought the total during the first 4 months to 534,132, an increase of 27.6% over 2013. April arrivals were boosted by good performance from both traditional and emerging markets. China, represented 36,803 arrivals up to April, a growth of 136% whilst in April itself Chinese tourists rose by 170% to 8,005. Overall the East Asian region generated 91,055 tourists up to April, a growth of 55% while in April alone it rose by 61% to 18,416. Arrivals from Western Europe rose by 48% to 37,369 in April with UK arrivals up 43% to 12,380. Visitors from Germany were up 59.6% to 8,137. France with 5,970 arrivals, up 43% compared to April 2013. Earnings from tourism rose by 34% from 2013 to UK£362, (EU447) million in the first 3 months of 2014. Sri Lanka’s tourism has boomed since the end of the war in 2009, attracting over 1.2 million tourists and earnings of UK£1 (EU€1.25) billion. The target is to reach 2.5 million arrivals by 2016, helped by the fast increase in numbers from China. In 2012, just 27,627 Chinese visited the island, by 2013 this figures rose to 54,288, making China the 3rd largest course of tourists behind India and the UK as well as being the fastest growing market.

CHINA OFFERS CASH TO TOURIST WHO VISIT RESTIVE XINJIANG With a 40% fall in

tourist arrivals to the western region of Xinjiang, the Chinese government is offering UK£47, (EU€59) bonuses to travellers willing to visit the region, following several terrorist attacks. The region is well known for its beautiful landscapes with mountains, desert oasis towns and ancient ruins. 19 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

ASIA News

Okinawa, Japan

TOURISM INVESTMENT IN ASIA Asia is the place to be for investment at present. It

is thought that Asia will account for half of global GDP by 2050, while projections say that Asia-10’s GDP will be UK£13.32, (EU€16.43) trillion by 2020, UK£6.84, (EU€8.44) trillion larger that it is today. Asian capital markets have grown hugely and now rival that of the US and Europe. With economic growth come better airline connectivity and a growing middle-class that are contributing to a boom in tourism investments in Asia. Global travel and tourism contribution to direct GDP is also on the rise globally. Forecasts expect that by 2021, China will overtake the USA to invest more in travel and tourism annually than any other country. India is expected to overtake Japan to become the 3rd highest global travel and tourism investor, while Singapore is set to rise from 13th to 6th position in the global ranking. Without doubt the rapidly growing middle class population with a higher disposable income have contributed to the growth of domestic and regional travel in the Asia Pacific. In a recent study, by 2020, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian middle and affluent class travellers alone, will contribute UK£178, (EU€221) billion in outbound travel spend. The nations in Southeast Asian are attracting lots of investor attention with their growth opportunities generated by the continually rising middle-class. Many tourism destinations in Asia are beginning billion-dollar investments in the development of tourism infrastructure. For example, Singapore’s Downtown MRT rail line, which will open in stages from 2013 – 2017; the Singapore Sports Hub will be open this year and Changi Terminal 4, will be operational by 2017. Plans are underway for a new Terminal 5, which will double Changi Airport’s current capacity by the mid-2020s. Infrastructure investment is especially vital for emerging markets which face rapid urbanisation. Internal investment is being supported by global investment in Asia, particularly in the hospitality sector. Record visitor arrivals in Vietnam are resulting in hotel investment in the country as well as in neighbouring Cambodia and Myanmar. These 3 Southeast Asian countries are attracting many investors through their growing tourism industries, which is as a result of improved air transportation and infrastructure. In 2012, all 3 countries saw double-digit tourism growth. Myanmar’s tourism grew by 55% compared to 2011, while Cambodia’s and Vietnam’s increased by 25% and 15%, respectively. Another sector that is rapidly expanding the region is cruise tourism. Predictions show that by 2017, total potential cruise guests could reach 3.7 million and over 7 million by 2020. This would result in Asia representing more than 20% of the global cruise market by 2020. Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre aims to cater for the increased demand which doubled Singapore’s berth capacity with facilities for the new larger vessels. Investments such as this provide the region a much needed boost in infrastructure and will help unlock Asia’s potential as a major growth market for the cruise industry.

CULTURAL GOA AND BEACHES OF COURSE Goa tourism is a destination known

for the sun, sea and sand, but in order to attract tourists from other countries besides Russian and Europeans, Goa must look to diversify its tourism product, to promote cultural, nature, adventure, culinary tourism, etc. It has much to offer; just little is known about it.

NEW ‘HOME HOTELS’ IN JAPAN Japan has an aging population and with that

comes a surplus of vacant houses. At present that figure is about 10% but it is expected to increase to 30% by 2030. In order to not have so many houses left vacant, new laws are being implemented that will make it easier for homes to be rented out to tourists. Already a Japanese real estate company has joined forces with a home rental website to match up homeowners to prospective overseas tourists who want to experience a more authentic Japan. As well as helping out property owners, opening up the hotel industry may boost the local economy when the new ‘hotels’ have to be furnished, cleaned and decorated.●

20 www.tour ismaroundtheworld.co.uk

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tatw monthly 6 june 2014 edition

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