tatw monthly 8 august 2014 edition

Since 1997 volume 17, issue 8, August 2014 LUXURY TRAVEL – THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

PAPUA NEW GUINEA OPENING FOR INVESTMENT

‘pay what you want’ A NEW TOURISM INCENTIVE IN PARIS

SPACE TOURISM PORTS IN UK

TRAVEL & LIFE INSPIRATIONS AT…

CATCH A TRAIN FROM LONDON TO BEIJING MYANMAR AIRWAYS GROWTH DOMESTIC TOURISM ADDING TO PERU ECONOMY BEIJING INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO 2014 - REVIEW PUERTO RICO-NEW CUSTOMER ADVISORY BOARD 1

ST CHINA XIAN SILK ROAD INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO

St. Mary Church at Twickenham upon Thames, Middlesex, UK - TATW Monthly 2014 © www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Since 1997

Volume 17, Issue 8, August 2014 edition

Contents

4 Luxury Travel – The Sky Is The Limit!

5 ‘pay what you want’ A New Tourism Incentive In Paris

5 World Largest Shopping Mall –Dubai, UAE

6 ‘Very Macedonia’, Very Greek

6 Gibraltar Attracts Cruise Business

7 Travel & Life Inspirations

9 North Korea Opens Flights…

10 Maldives Sees Growth In…

11 Malaysian Airlines, A Global Airline

11 Myanmar Airways Growth

13 Papua New Guinea Opening For Investment

16 Beijing International Tourism Expo 2014 - Review

17 China Xi’an Silk Road International Tourism Expo

19 Puerto Rico Launches New Customer Advisory Board

19 MCI Open New Office In Chile

20 Interview With Soha El Torgoman, Hilton Hurghada

21 Guatemala: Promoting Peten Region!

21 Nicaraguan Diversity

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Let ter f rom the Edi tor

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the ‘Summer’ edition of TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD Monthly.

With two thirds of the world covered in water

that means we have many thousands of miles (kms) of coastline circling continents, nations and islands. These sometimes narrow strips of land are transitional areas between the land and sea noted for their very high biodiversity and they include some of the richest and most fragile ecosystems on earth, like mangroves, coral reefs and animal nesting sites.

They are also highly popular as destinations for tourism as well as the chosen place to live by over half of the world’s population, who live in a coastal area (within 60km of the sea).

We are all well aware of pushing forward the message of responsible tourism, but there are still many countries that are using their valuable coastal areas, for aggressive tourism development, to the detriment of vulnerable communities, causing displacement and loss of livelihood, as well as social and environmental issues.

While tourism as an industry is becoming more vital as an economic pillar to many nations, it must be achieved in collaboration and harmony with communities and nature to make the most of its opportunities.

If massive numbers of tourists arrive to a relatively small area, it has a huge impact. They add to the pollution, waste and water needs of the local population. In many areas, massive new tourist developments have been built. Tourism overdevelopment often has a greater impact as the developments are located at or near fragile marine ecosystems.

Coastal areas are also the most visited by tourists. In the Mediterranean region, international tourist arrivals to the coastline in 2013 reached 280 million and that figure is expected to rise to 346 million by 2020. These figures have a huge impact on the coastal areas resulting in any number of problems, ranging from loss of marine resources, pollution of marine and soil degradation and loss of land resources, air pollution, climate change, etc.

It is more important than ever to make responsible tourism second nature for the future success of the tourism sector. Educating everyone including travellers, to ensure that they are supporting and protecting the places they visit be it a temple, a tribal village, turtle nest, ancient forest, endangered wildlife, etc. Our Planet is our home, but it does not belong to us for just today, but for the entire human race.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading too!

Caroline-Artemis Laspas editor & co-founder

www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Santorini Island, Greece

Luxury Travel – The sky is the limit! by Caroline-Artemis Laspas - editor.

As the luxury travel sector continues to grow and more affluent and super rich are travelling, their requests and the available luxury on offer is also growing to meet the sometimes very specific needs and desires.

There is another strongly emerging level of traveller too which is happy to rent your sofa for the night, or a spare room in a bid to save money on their equally valuable vacation!

The gap between how most of us travel and how luxury travellers vacation around the world is growing and in response, the hotel industry is adapting to meet the high quality luxury needs of the super rich. While many hotels offer suites, there is now a super-suite level of accommodation often with helipad, private entrance and private elevator as part of the basic amenities.

Mandar in Oriental , Paris, France

Luxury hotels are catering to new super rich travellers from Russia, China, Brazil and the Middle East. Whether its private planes, luxury yachts or private villas, the cost involved is mostly irrelevant, as long as it is glamorous. The competition is also growing among suppliers too. Luxury hotels are also targeting the upper-upper class, who are just considered below the super rich, but who still wish for value for money but with some pampering. Hotels like the Four Seasons is opening a new resort at Walt Disney World with 68 suites, including a 9 bedroom royal suite, with a 93sq.m private terrace, overlooking the theme park. It has also added the words ‘and residences’ to its Canadian mountain resorts aiming at families seeking a more home environment combined with pampering.

At the other end of the scale, holiday makers wishing to economise while having the best holiday they can are finding new ways to do so. All over the world, travellers are abandoning over-priced and unappealing hotels in favour of smaller and more homely accommodation, creating a travel revolution in the renting of spare rooms! Hotels are also not missing out on this end of the clientele either with several hotel chains offering ‘limited service lodgings’. The Marriott’s Fairfield Inn, Hyatt Place and Holiday Inn Express, offer free Wi-Fi and breakfast, but no porter, concierge or restaurants. The aim is to offer good accommodation to travellers who feel they are out priced of full-service hotels. There is also a growing number of websites that offer cheap accommodation options, often offering the same number of rooms as an international hotel chain can offer and they are attracting many clients. Almost all the rooms cost far less than the cheapest hotel room and some people are even offering their own homes as a way of creating a business. The reaction from ‘guests’ is also positive with many feeling they are helping the room owners rather than supporting a major corporate company. Other luxury online accommodation services specialise in luxury boutique hotels and privately owned homes in major cities of the world, while not wishing to be too associated with the word ‘hotel’ to describe properties. Luxury amenities on offer usually include ‘5* linen’ and designer toiletries, iPhone’s for guest use and an optional maid service. Couchsurfing.org on the other hand aims to ‘make the world a little smaller, a little friendlier’ by offering a free sofa to sleep on around the world.

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Mainly used by backpackers, but it is a great way to meet ‘friends you haven’t yet met’!

Back on the luxury front, the location of the private helipad is also crucial as is the growing number of super-rich travellers who book last minute, sometimes within an hour. Hotels are often receiving calls from a private helicopter or jet circling nearby and asking for the biggest available suite and they land within an hour to check-in.

Even with hotels pampering to the needs of this new elite, demand is still out-stripping supply, like with the opening recently of the Rosewood London’s Grand Manor House Wing. The 6 bedroom complex offers 3 living rooms, a library and a dining table for 8, with its own street entrance and private elevator. The cost is UK£24,740, (EU€31,000) a night and there is a constant demand. In terms of services offered, it is thought that some guests in this high flying group make requests purely because they can and wish to see if it can be done, rather than the need for the item or service requested.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airpor t, the Privium Lounge

However the luxury does not stop at the accommodation, now airports are taking advantage of their luxury clientele by offering exclusive lounges with fine dining as well as relaxation and work areas, with complimentary Wi-Fi. The lounges also cater for children with games rooms and staffs are on hand to assist with anything from restaurant or theatre bookings at the client’s final destination.

Whether it’s millions of dollars or a few UKPounds/Euros a night, the choice is wide and extremely varied for making any holiday a magical experience. So, get packing and discover the world! ●


TOURISM News

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A hotel , in Paris, France

’pay what you want‘ A NEW TOURISM INCENTIVE IN PARIS A new and interesting

project has been launched in Paris, France which will last until 10 August 2014. The project involves 5 hotels greeting their customers with the following commitment ‘Spend a night in a hotel in the heart of Paris, paying what you want!’ Guests can go to the hotels participating in the initiative without having booked at www.payezcequevousvoulez.net. Just choose the date and hotel, located outside the centre of the French capital, in the 9th and 11th district. Upon checking-out they just pay what they think is right, depending on what they think about the hospitality and services provided to them. As with many hotels, there are many levels and prices, but why should one pay UK£79, (EU€100) one day and UK£238, (EU€300) the next. If the projects find reasonable prices are paid and there are no cheaters, the project could be expanded. The number of rooms available at the 5 hotels is limited, just 2 or 3 rooms. On the first day of the project there were 30 reservations.

GREEK TOURISM TARGETS INCREASED With demand rising more than original

targets, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) is expected to increase its tourist’s arrival forecast for 2014. It is anticipated that tourism receipts for 2014 will reach UK£10.70 (EU€13.5) billion an increase of half a billion on original targets for the year and tourist arrivals to reach over 19 million, up half a million from original estimates. Greece aims to reach 24 million tourists by 2021. The figure of 19.5 million was the target estimated for 2018. With increased figures, Greece needs to expand in terms of additional infrastructure if it is to succeed with these figures. Investment opportunities are varied and many in the tourism sector. It aims for investments of UK£19, EU€24 billion by 2021 equating to UK£2.60 (EU€3.3) billion per year. Greece will require an additional 150,000 beds in 4 and 5 star hotels and an additional 100,000 beds in upgraded units to meet demand. The capital city, Athens expects to receive 800,000 more tourists in 2014. Increased tourists are also making an impact with visitors to museums in the first 3 months of 2014 seeing a 13% rise and revenue was up by 8.4% for the same period in 2013. Archaeological sites have also recorded increased visitor numbers for the first 3 months of 2014, up 24.6% with revenue up 13.1%.

SAUDI HERITAGE PROTECTED Saudi Arabia has implemented new legislation which

will protect the country’s antiquities and heritage. Heritage conservation is vital to safeguarding any cultural legacy and it also helps to promote and preserve key tourism assets which are vital to making a distinction between destinations all around the world. Cultural tourism is growing at an unprecedented rate, as the tie between culture and tourism means important income generation for destinations but also conservation. However, the growth must be managed in a responsible and sustainable manner. Recently the Jeddah Historical Area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, recognising the old city’s cultural value and unique model with its distinguished urban heritage. Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah, was among the 26 new inscriptions decided at the 38th session of UNESCO recently. The important linkages between tourism and culture are fundamental for sustainable tourism development and will be at the heart of the upcoming international UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism being held in February 2015 in Cambodia, the 1st ever to bring together Ministers of Tourism and Ministers of Culture to debate new models of partnership.

YOUNG PEOPLE BUSINESS HOLIDAY CAMP Young business minded people aged

12-15 can attend an exciting camp, located in Germany to help develop their creative, business and presentation skills, with the help of professional coaches, teachers and entrepreneurs. The ‘Summer Camp for Entrpreneurial Teens’ is a residential course organised by Matrix Consulting and The Corporate Horse Listener in English. Part of their training is to learn through interactive partnering sessions with horses. The attendees will also learn about farm life and the uses of nature around them. The dates left on offer are 17-23 August and 24-30 August.


TOURISM News

Gibral tar , UK

SPACE TOURISM PORTS IN UK The UK’s first commercial spaceport is expected to

be inaugurated in 2018 following the announcement of 8 possible sites for the spaceport. Six of the locations are in Scotland. The spaceport would be used to launch tourists into space as well as commercial satellites. The locations obviously need to be a safe distance from densely populated areas and accommodate a runway of over 3,000m. The UK government aims to take 10% of the worlds space market by 2030, opening up a very specialise tourism sector worth UK£40 billion. The potential locations are: Campbeltown airport (Scotland), Glasgow Prestwick airport (Scotland), Llanbedr airport (Wales), Newquay Cornwall airport (England), Kinloss barracks (Scotland), RAF Leuchars (Scotland), RAF Lossiemouth (Scotland) and Stornorway airport (Scotland).

GIBRALTAR ATTRACTS CRUISE BUSINESS Gibraltar has introduced new port fee

discounts to help boost the competitiveness of the Port of Gibraltar. The incentives include reduced fees for vessels taking on supplies or crew on the east side of the Rock and a discount on port fees for ships that complete re-fuelling operations within their allocated time slot. The port believes the eastern anchorage will become more attractive as a waiting area for vessels calling at Gibraltar for bunkers and for ships requiring other services. The new fees are part of a plan to add to the attraction of the port and the wide range of professional services that it already delivers as a leading port in the Mediterranean. WORLD'S LARGEST SHOPPING MALL – DUBAI Dubai is to build the world’s 1

st

temperature controlled city measuring 4,458,000sq.m ‘The Mall of the World’. It will include the 73,000sq.m shopping mall, the world’s largest indoor theme park and 100 hotels. Once completed, the city will become a year round destination welcoming approximately 180 million visitors a year. With tourism as a key driver of the emirate’s economy, the project will help to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the region. Dubai welcomed over 11 million tourists in 2013, a 10% increase from 2012. Dubai aims to reach 20 million visitors by 2020 when it will host the World Expo.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL TOP HOTEL COMPANY The internationally known

FORTUNE 500 has announced that Marriott International is the top hotel company in the world in the hotels, casinos and resorts category. FORTUNE magazine’s annual selection of the USA’s largest companies, are ranked by revenue. Marriott is also in the publications list for ‘The Best Places to Work’ and the ‘World’s Most Admired List’ Marriott recently became the largest hotel company in Africa. Marriott has more than 4,000 properties and more than 690,000 rooms in 78 countries and territories around the world. It also has more than 200,000 rooms in its global development pipeline, a 35% increase on 2013.

‘VERY MACEDONIA’, VERY GREEK In a new promotional campaign, the Region of

Central Macedonia, located in northern Greece, is promoting the region with the renewed tourism identity message of ‘Very Macedonia’. The campaign focuses on the arrivals area at the airport ‘Macedonia’ in Thessaloniki. The very visual promotion shows the relative merits of each regional section of Central Macedonia to all welcoming Greeks and foreign

Thessaloniki , Central Macedonia , Greece

visitors arriving at the airport. Also visitors can visit the regions website promoting tourism at www.verymacedonia.gr

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SUCCESS DUE TO EXCELLENCE So far

this year it has been a wonderful business year for Mideast, with the biggest growth in all its history. To start with a new corporate identity was launched, communicating the 5 pillars of activity which first operate autonomously:

Business & Leisure, Destination Management, M.I.C.E, Luxury and Weddings & Events. The company has also expanded into the Chinese market, as it aims to expand its specialisation in Asian markets (after success in India). Another great achievement and honour is that Mideast has been selected as a partner of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. As the GSA for Iran Air, the company saw the 1

st of Mahan Air flights

to and from Tehran. The company has also been nominated for 2 World Travel Awards; ‘Greece's Leading DMC’ and ‘Europe's Leading DMC’. This year the awards, are taking place in Greece, and Mideast is taking official and sole sponsor of travel services for all the needs of guests who come from all over the world. The company has also received 2 new certifications from reputable organisations in the field of conferences. Finally, the company has opened 3 new branches; Glyfada, (southern suburb of Athens), Mykonos and Istanbul aimed at 3 key target markets. With such prosperous business, even in the difficult situation Greece is in, in 2010 Mideast increased its employees by 50%.

TOP SPOT FOR LONDON This year

London is expected to welcome 18.7 million tourists, making it the world’s No.1 place to visit, ahead of the 2013 winner of Singapore. Since the 2012 Olympic Games the magic of London has been spreading around the world and more people are wishing to come and see it for themselves! Tourists are attracted by many things, like the nation’s heritage, arts, culture, the London way of life as well as being able to host many international events, like the Tour de France, Wimbledon, the Rugby 6 nations, etc. Other cities aiming for the top spot include Singapore, Hong Kong, Mumbai, New York, Paris and Berlin. Now that London has reached the top spot, it has to maintain it!●


TRAVEL AND LIFE INSPIRATIONS AT WWW.MSJMDELARAMA.COM Ms. Jm dela Rama or Joanne-Marie is a freelance travel and lifestyle photographer, writer, and host from the Philippines. She is passionate about travel and inspiring people to dream big and live heartily.

Ms. Joanne-Marie dela Rama

She named her website after her nickname following the title ‘Ms.’ to make sure that people will know that JM is a woman and not a man’s name. This also makes her website more personal and approachable. Her newly launched website serves as an avenue for her to reach out and share to many people from her country and abroad about life and travel.

Her dream and love in travelling started when she was a little girl. But she only had her first official international travel after getting her bachelors degree in Hotel, 7

Restaurant and Institution Management and upon getting work in the year 2007. Since then, she had at least one or two international travel and a few more around her beautiful country in the Philippines.

Not only does she love to travel, but she also likes to learn from other people’s experiences and stories. Travelling also made her contribute to different magazines and self-publish her own coffee table book online, which was also sold at a Café in Manila, Philippines. This eventually led her to start her blog and have her own website.

What’s unique about her website is how she does everything – from her photography, writing, and even to the design of her own logo; she makes sure that everything is personal and relatable to other people. Her bold and big photos encourage people to be involved inside her travels and her writing makes people experience her travels and life as well. Being a host on her own travel segment at a local radio FM station in her country, called Lite Bites on 103.5 Klite FM, gives her an avenue to answer questions from aspiring and like-minded travellers as well. Her radio segment, which is played randomly all throughout the week, can also be heard via live stream anywhere in the world. And if anyone missed her segments, they can also play the previous ones anytime from her podcast page on her website.

Her website’s goal is to make travelling and life an inspiration to others. She hopes that her photos, articles, and travel segments will help people aspire more to see the world and travel in a different light. She wants to share stories that won’t dictate but will guide and lead people to the best destinations, valuable travel tips, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Part of her online features will also include hotels and resorts, spas, airlines and airports, special destinations, and even tourism events. In her future articles on her website, features will be written in a way that will not intimidate but will encourage people about the advantages of travelling.

The website www.msjmdelarama.com is definitely one of the online homes that we can expect more travels, food, lifestyle, culture, events, and even life lessons and personal stories that will visually and emotionally connect people to live and travel to the fullest.

As many of my website visitors, say "Clean, simple, elegant, a wealth of information yet clutter-free. Perfect blog to go to every now and then, with a coffee in hand, sit back relax and enjoy reading. Engaging. Bookmarked!!! Keep up the amazing work, you!!" - Viki Verma-Managing Director (Plus Tours India).

Visit her website at www.msjmdelarama.com or get in touch with her at hello ( @ ) msjmdelarama.com ●


http://www.msjmdelarama.com/

8 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

ASIA News NORTH KOREA OPENS FLIGHTS TO SUPPORT TOURISM GROWTH

North Korea is to restart some domestic scheduled air routes, as there are signs that the ‘closed’ nation is opening up and tourism is showing growth. The scheduled flights will be the first in approx 6 years, and North Korea has been importing jet fuel from China to meet its needs for the national airline, Air Koryo to start operations. To travel to North Korea before, tourists went via charter flights or via road and rail. Most tourists to North Korea were from China; 237,000, in 2012, double the number in 2010. Although no public figures are known, it is estimated that approx 6,000 western tourists visit North Korea each year, compared to 700 a decade ago. Investment in tourism infrastructure has been positive in recent months including a new ski resort near the country's east coast and water parks in the capital, Pyongyang.

NEW CRUISE SHIP COMING TO AUCKLAND From September, over-

night and day cruises from Auckland will be launched aboard a 44m catamaran ‘Ipipiri’ which is New Zealand's largest permanently-based cruise ship and the Auckland-based cruise business.

Hauraki Blue Cruises can cater for cocktail events for up to 100 people and has a restaurant for up to 80 people. There are 30 ocean view cabins, with en suites facilities. The overnight cruises will sail into the vicinity of Waiheke Island. There are also lunch cruises in the inner harbour. By being based in Auckland, it can target a bigger, local audience with special events being a focus, like weddings.

XISHA’S INHABITED ISLANDS OPEN The islands around the

inhabited reefs of the Yongle Islands, located in Sansha City, Hainan Province, have opened for business, providing convenience for fishermen on the islands and means shipping channels in the Xisha Islands are also in operations. Over the coming years, Sansha City is to construct ports around the islands to help build up tourism as well as build harbours and be able to supply ships. Sansha City located on Yongxing, one of the Xisha Islands, became the administration HQ for the islands of Xisha Zhongsha and Nansha island groups.

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Cape Hapchin-ri , Wonsan, North Korea

CHINA PLACES GREECE AS GETAWAY TO AFRICA AND EUROPE Following the

successful trip to Greece recently, by the Chinese Prime Minister, he stopped off again, this time on the island of Rhodes en-route to Latin America for business. Greece welcomed the Chinese Prime Minister remarks that China wishes to continue to build stronger ties with the south Mediterranean nation. It is a new era for the 2 countries' to cooperate and China attaches great importance to its ties with Greece. In turn, Greece has invested a great deal in developing ties with China in an effort to boost its economy and move on to the future and build the nation and China is receptive to this. China also sees Greece as a commercial gateway to Europe and Africa. The ties between the two nations are not only to meet the needs of each nations, but both hold huge respect for the other in terms of their huge contribution to mankind in their past histories and cultural heritage.

MALDIVES SEES GROWTH IN CHINESE TOURISTS The paradise islands of the

Maldives, have seen over 600,000 tourist arrivals for the 1st six months of 2014, with Chinese tourists showing a 20.2% growth from 2013 figures. Overall, arrivals increased by 11.5% for the same period in 2013. China represents the largest number of tourist arrivals from a single country with 171,249 Chinese tourists coming to the Maldives so far in 2014. Most of the other tourists are from Europe (279,886). Germany represents the most from a single country with 43,188 tourists. Tourists from Asia and the Pacific region come in 2nd place for arrival numbers, and with a growth of 22.3% for the 6 month period. On average, tourists spend 6.3 days in the Maldives. Tourism is a top industry for the islands and accounts for 28% of the Maldivian GDP and generated 38% of the government’s revenues in 2012.

CATCH THE TRAIN FROM LONDON TO BEIJING! China’s high speed rail network is

bigger than that of Europe and the USA put together and it is about to get bigger. As part of China’s economic strategy to make it easier to trade with central Asia and Europe, it is about to start building a railway stretching right into the heart of Europe! Up until recently exports would leave China via Shanghai on the east coast of the country, it meant a journey east before goods then went west by sea, taking about 6 weeks. With extensive development already of the railway network, this journey time has been cut down to just 2 weeks, with trains heading straight for Europe via Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. From Poland the cargo will be distributed by road to their final destinations. China’s railways have until now been engineered by foreigners, but now their own engineers are leading the world in railway advancement. Railway development has already transformed many Chinese regions. With a comprehensive national network, China now plans to take its railway lines abroad, by funding and building high-speed lines from west China through Central Asia to Europe and from south-west China through South East Asia to Singapore. Although primarily aimed at freight, it will not be long before passenger trains take up the tracks too and that will open more wonderful tourism opportunities, especially as it could mean that to travel from Beijing to London by rail could be achieved in just 2 days!

UK WANTS MORE CHINESE TOURISTS In a bid to attract more Chinese tourists to the

UK, a number of initiatives are underway to achieve this including improving and simplifying the visa application services. There are now 12 application centres across China. In 2013, nearly 300,000 visitor visas to Chinese nationals were issued, a 40% increase from 2012 figures, and 96% of people who applied for visas were successful. Chinese visitors can now use a single form to apply for both British and Schengen visas, which will allow travel to 26 European countries. In addition Chinese tourists with an Irish visitor visa will be allowed to travel to the UK and visa versa. The UK also plans to launch a new ‘super priority visa, able to be issued in just 24 hours.●


AVIATION News

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES We send our deepest sympathies to all those who lost family and friends in the recent air crash of MH17. May they rest in peace. We also send our support to Malaysian Airlines, who, despite recent events this year, remains one of the safest airlines in the world to fly with and have an excellent service. May they continue to operate successfully as a leading global airline.

WORLD’S BEST AIRPORTS The Air Transport Research

Society (ATRS) has issued its annual list of best airports in the world. Copenhagen Airport won the top productivity and highly efficient airport in Europe. In the small/med-size airport category, Athens International Airport took the ‘Top Efficiency Excellence’ Award. For the 11th time, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport won the ‘Top efficiency excellence’ award. Making it a role model of serving air travellers, airlines and their regional community most efficiently. In North America, Charlotte and Oklahoma City airports won awards while in Canada, Vancouver and Calgary International Airports were top for Canadian airports. After many years of sharing the top few positions, Singapore’s Changi, Seoul-Incheon and Hong Kong International airports have been beaten by 3 smaller Airports all managed by the Korea Airports Corporation (KAC). KAC’s Gimhae International Airport, Busan, South Korea, won ’Top Asian Airport Efficiency Excellence Award’; KAC’s Jeju International Airport was 2nd most efficient airport in Asia. Seoul-Gimpo airport was ‘Top Efficient Airport in Asia’. Sydney Airport was ‘Top productivity and efficiency’ in Oceania; Sydney’s 4th win in a row. ATRS also awarded Excellence Awards based on specific aspects of

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each airport’ excellence achievement: A Cost Competitiveness Excellence Award for Riga International Airport, Latvia; A Revenue Source Diversification Excellence Awards for Keflavic International Airport, Iceland; Top Asian Airport Revenue Diversification Excellence Award to Seoul-Gimpo Airport of Korea Airport Corporation; Top Oceanian Airport Revenue Diversification Excellence Award Gold Coast International Airport of Queensland Airport Ltd, Australia; Airport User Charge Excellence Award to Luxembourg International Airport, Europe. Also in Asia, for efficient operation and management of airports is Haikou International Airport. Awards for a per passenger basis, London’s Heathrow and Gatwick (peak period) landing fees are highest, with Tokyo Haneda and Sydney airports also charging high landing fees in Asia and Oceania. For European airports, Luxembourg and Riga charge the lowest average charges for the combined landings and passenger services per passenger. For Asian airports, Taipei-Taoyuan airport charges the lowest fees while Osaka-Kansai charge the highest. In USA, Charlotte (NC) has the lowest fees while New York-JFK has the highest fees. In Canada, Victoria (BC) charges the lowest fees while Toronto Pearson airport charges the highest.

HAINAN AIRLINES ORDERS 50 BOEING 737 MAX 8S China's

Hainan Airlines has confirmed an order with Boeing for fifty 737 MAX 8s, which is a favourite for the carrier with its all-Boeing single-aisle fleet. The order is worth over UK£3, (EU€3.8) billion at list price. The 737 MAX is Boeing's fastest selling aircraft with 42 clients globally and offers the latest technology, engines for an aircraft in the single aisle market.


AVIATION News

HEATHROW AIRPORT Following the

opening of the new Queen Elizabeth II Terminal (T2), London’s main airport, Heathrow has received more passengers travelling through the airport in the month of June than ever before. In June it saw 6.6 million passengers use the airport, with seats per plane up by 0.4% to 203.5. This was helped by the continuing growth in additional numbers from emerging market destinations. However, the debate continues as to what London should do about expanding its airport capacity. Options are new runways at both London Heathrow (a 3rd runway) and a 2nd runway at London Gatwick, located south of the city. The biggest option and of course the most expensive, but which would cater for growth indefinitely would be the construction of a brand new airport located to the east of the city in the Thames estuary. Apart from funding issues, the length of time to take building the whole infrastructure, etc, that would also be required to support such a project, it has been reported that such a huge project would seriously disrupt wildlife habitats and put planes at risk of ‘bird strike’; where birds get sucked into jet engines and cause crashes. The government’s decision on plans will be announced after the election of the next government in May 2015.

NEW AIRLINE: US-BANGLA AIRLINES A new airline has launched

in Bangladesh; US-Bangla Airlines (Dhaka), which started operation in July with 2 Bombardier DHC-8-402s (Q400s). The airline is a joint venture deal between the USA and Bangladesh. The airline will fly from Dhaka to Chittagong and Jessore, with additional services being planned for routes to Barisal, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Saidpur and Rajshahi.

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TIANJIN AIRLINES BUYS NEW PLANES Embraer SA based in Brazil, has signed a

deal for 40 aircraft; 20 Embraer E-Jets and 20 E-Jets E2 with Tianjin Airlines. The deal is estimated to be worth UK£1.24, (EU€1.56) billion at list prices. Tianjin Airlines is now the 1st Chinese airline to order the E-Jets E2 model. The E-Jet will be delivered in 2015 with the 1st E-Jet E2 scheduled for delivery in 2018. The E-Jets E2 offer state-of-the-art engines combined with new aerodynamic wings, full fly-by-wire flight controls among other new benefits which will see great improvements in fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, emissions and external noise levels. Embraer and Tianjin Airlines have a good history together with Tianjin Airlines being the 1

st customer of the E190 in China and

operates the largest E-Jets fleet in Asia with 50 E190s. It has also been appointed the 1st carrier in China as an Authorised Service Center for Embraer aircraft in the country. Tianjin Airlines was launched in 2009 as China's 1st real regional airline. It has since developed and now aims to become a medium to large-size international airline. The airline has received numerous awards like 'Best Regional Aviation Airline in China' and 'Global Four-star Airlines' awards from Skytrax for its outstanding achievement. The fleet currently has a fleet of over 80 jets offering 90 domestic and international cities and carries over 8 million travellers each year.

FIJI AIRWAYS GOOD PROFITS The Fiji Airways Group, which comprises of Fiji Airways

and Fiji Link has seen an increase in profits for the 1st half of 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. The Group, legally known as Air Pacific Limited, comprises of Fiji Airways (Fiji’s National Airline), its subsidiary Fiji Link and a 38.75% share in the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island. The profit was US$17.2 million. Fiji Airways’ load factor increased by 10% in the first 6 months of the year, but also more efficiency and streamlined management attributed to the positive results.

THAI AIRWAYS RECEIVED 1ST DREAMLINER Thai Airways has taken delivery of its

1st Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The addition of the 787 to the airlines fleet is a major milestone and for the country. It is the 1st of 8 Dreamliners that Thai Airways will lease; 6 x 787-8 to be delivered 2014-2015, and 2x 787-9 for delivery in 2017. The new plane offers 24 lie-flat seats in its Royal Silk Class and 240 economy seats. The aircraft can fly further and with greater fuel efficiency combined with an interior to make all flights more comfortable for passengers in all classes.

MYANMAR AIRWAYS GROWTH Myanmar’s national airline Myanma Airways is to

change its name to be Myanmar National Airlines. It has also ordered 6 new generation

ATR 72-600s with options for 6 additional aircraft. The order is part of the airlines move to become a major carrier in the region. The new planes will be delivered between 2015 and 2017 and will replace the existing fleet enabling the airline to open new routes, increase

frequency and better service throughout to its passengers.

EMBRAER'S MARKET OUTLOOK Brazil’s top aircraft manufacturer and space research

company Embraer forecasts over the next 20 years that a demand for 6,250 jet aircraft in the 70 to 130-seat capacity category (2,300 aircraft in the 70-90 seat segment and 3,950 aircraft in the 90-130 seat segment). The replacement of old aircraft will represent 56% of new deliveries and 44% will come from market growth. The world fleet in service of jets with up to 130 seats will increase from 3,850 aircraft in 2013 to 6,580 by 2033. The value of all deliveries is approximately US$300 billion (list price). The geographical spread of this sector of aircraft orders will come from; North America - 32%; Europe 18%; China 17%; Latin America 11%; Asia Pacific 8%; CIS 6%; Middle East 4%; Africa 4%, (total worldwide=6,250).●


The Poreporena Vi l lage Papua New Guinea

PAPUA NEW GUINEA, OPENING FOR INVESTMENT by Dimitri Laspas - publisher. Papua New Guinea is part of a huge arc of mountains stretching from Asia, through Indonesia and into the South Pacific. It is located north of Australia, just below the equator. Papua New Guinea is a colourful culture; there are over 600 islands and 800 indigenous languages, so there is plenty to see and learn!

With high mountains, heavily forested lowlands, savannah, swamps, coastal plains, picturesque islands, active volcanoes and coral reefs, there is a wide variety of terrain to

Papua New Guinea’s

diverse natural

landscape and tribal

cultures provide niche

tourist segments

discover. One can trek remote jungle tracks, cruise the mighty Sepik River, surf the waves of New Ireland, fish in the fjords of Tufi, birdwatch in the Highlands, or dive amongst the coral reef coastline.

Papua New Guinea’s diverse natural landscape and tribal cultures provide niche tourist segments and adventure seekers unique experiences on the final frontier. Papua New Guinea is well-positioned to take advantage of the global rise in demand for ecotourism.

Dancing Festival ‘Sing Sing ’

Papua New Guinea, has a rich ancient heritage dating back over 50,000 years. The main island of Papua New Guinea was discovered around 1526 by European explores. In 1884, then known as New Guinea, it became under German control and became known as

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German New Guinea, as the Germans started trading in Coconut oil. In 1914, Australian troops occupied German New Guinea and it remained as such until 1921. Then the British Government, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, took over, naming it New Guinea. In 1941 Japan invaded. After they surrendered at the end of WW2 and the civil administration of Papua and New Guinea was restored, the islands joined forces and became the country of Papua New Guinea.

Many inhabitants still live in small communities living from agriculture, gardening, fishing, hunting and craft making. Much of the islands population originate from island countries like Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, Solomon Islands. The traditional Melanesian cultures are still very much a part of life and are seen in many festivals and ceremonies.

One festival not to miss is the annual Sing Sing show, where villagers from all over the country demonstrate their singing, dancing and elaborate ‘bilas’ (traditional costumes). The shows a t Goroka and Mount Hagen are most impressive, and attract many spectators.

The Royal Papua Yacht Club Marina Port Moresby

In a bid to further develop tourism, Papua New Guinea’s Vision 2050 and Development Plan places tourism as a prime economic provider and to achieve this, the government has implemented tax incentives for business and investment.

The incentives for tourism investment are being managed by the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, with support from government agencies and industry partners such as the Investment Promotion Authority, Internal Revenue Commission and Papua New Guinea Tourism Industry Association.

Tourism infrastructure still needs development particularly in transportation. Greater international air connections to more of the islands is needed, as many only access the capital Port Moresby, and scheduled domestic transfers are limited. The road network is also being developed in order to give both business travellers and holiday-makers more destination options.

There are many opportunities for tourism investment across many areas like hospitality, transport, food and beverages, tourist attractions, travel retail services and infrastructure. Investors can


Jungle Houses, Papua New Guinea

tap into prospects offered by the development of ecotourism and develop products and services catering to other targeted tourist sectors like luxury tourism, inland adventure tourism, ocean marine adventure tourism, wildlife tourism and health and wellness tourism.

The refurbishment and expansion of well known Port Moresby hotels; the Airways Hotel which has added 63 new suites, retail space, a day spa, coffee shops and conference facilities as well as the upgrading of the Gateway Hotel, the Ela Beach hotel, as well as the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels have helped boost tourism. Also in Port Moresby, which has lacked quality business accommodation, is the Coral Seas Hotel Group which operates the largest chain of hotels in Papua New Guinea. Their property combines residential and short-term apartment accommodation, a sector of the hotel industry which is popular with other developers like Kingfisher Apartments and Reef Apartments. Other cities like Madang, Kokopo and Lae have also been targeted for development in recent years, with new hotels and upgrades.

Given its location between Australia and Asia, Papua New Guinea is in the middle of 2 high-growth source markets, giving it the untapped potential as a major tourism and business destination.

Papua New Guinea

will impress all its

visitors

With the booming economies of Asia on its doorstep, Papua New Guinea can also easily become a regional centre for M.I.C.E., further boosting business arrivals. The majority of conference facilities are located in Port Moresby, Madang and Lae.

Cruising is the fastest-growing area of tourism in Papua New Guinea. International cruise ships often stop in the more remote areas of Papua New Guinea, providing a boost to local economies as visitors purchase local arts and crafts and participate in local activities and tours. In addition to international cruise liners featuring Papua New Guinea waters, Papua New Guinea’s own cruise operators offer opportunities for visitors to travel up the mighty Sepik River or enjoy island hopping around the country.

Trobr iand Island, the Kaibola beach

From all over the world, there are leading publications and organisations who are increasingly rating Papua New Guinea as among the best travel & adventure destinations in the world. The islands have won numerous awards like ‘Best 2014 Beaches and Small Islands for Travel’ Award; from the white sandy beaches of New Ireland, the yellow-ochre beaches of Milne Bay to the ash-grey beaches of

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East New Britain, the coastal regions of the Southern, Momase and New Guinea Islands Papua New Guinea’s beaches offer something for everyone.

It has also won an award for being among the Top 5 Exotic Honeymoon Destination for 2014, ranked 4th for the ‘World’s Best 15 Rivers for Travellers’ for the Sepik River in the East Sepik Province; has been listed as one of the ‘Most Unusual Destinations for 2014’ and in the luxury field, in the top 5 ‘Amazing Islands in the Asia-Pacific region’.

The island nation also won the award for the ‘2014 International Year of Small Island Developing States’ and their contribution to the world. Papua New Guinea is the 2nd largest island in the world and is known for its cultural diversity and spectacular environment. As islands, its marine landscape and remoteness make it both stunningly beautiful, pristine and tranquil – the perfect place for tourism investment and a great holiday! ●

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International-UK Marketing and Representation Agency tourism, m.i.c.e. and

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We BML International-UK brings growth

to your doorstep!


http://www.papuanewguinea.travel/newireland

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EXHIBITION News

REVIEW: 11

th BEIJING INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO (BITE) 2014 From the

27-29 June 2014, the Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) was held for the 11th time, attracting over 985 exhibitors from 81 countries and regions, as well as 27 local provinces. With a gross exhibiting area of over 22,000sq.m, the 3 day tourism fest showcased a diverse range of new travel products, services as well as unique and exotic destinations.

Attended by diplomats, government officials, exhibitors and other guests, BITE 2014 was kick-started with an official opening reception, providing a valuable opportunity for exhibitors and buyers to interact amongst themselves in a more casual setting. The opening ceremony was also graced by

this year’s exhibition

effectively combined the showcase of destinations

and on-site selling

important national tourism representatives from various countries, including the Minister of Tourism of Israel, Mr Uzi Landau and Deputy Minister of tourism development of Yemen, Mr Omar Babelgheith.

Packed with more exciting activities, BITE 2014 saw a year of breakthroughs. Firstly, there was the addition of medical tourism, RV camping, luxury and customised travel in the domestic halls which were well received by visitors. Secondly, this year’s exhibition saw greater networking between trade professionals in the form of increased business to business transactions and on site sales. Thirdly, organisers of BITE took its exhibition services a notch higher by introducing a media area, an exhibitors and buyers lounge as well as a prayer room for its Muslim exhibitors. Fourthly, this year’s exhibition effectively combined the showcase of destinations and on-site selling. Between local and international buyers and exhibitors, business transactions reached more than UK£504, (EU€637) million. As for on-site sales, 33 travel agencies sold tourism products and travel packages to 100,000 visitors, more than 26,000 people placed travel reservations worth more than UK£5.99, (EU€7.57) million.

Apart from the above highlights, the International Hall was highly vibrant and bustling with life. Countries such as Hawaii, South Korea, Russia, Yemen, Japan, Greece and Sri Lanka offered an interesting variety of entertainment and performances for visitors. These included traditional dances from Hawaii and Sri Lanka, henna tattoo artwork at the Yemen booth, makeover and photo shoot opportunities in traditional

wear at the Japanese and Korean pavilions, as well models in ethic costumes of Russia, Thailand and Sri Lanka going around the hall to promote its destinations.

Apart from the interesting showcase, the International Hall @ BITE 2014 helped to serve as an ideal platform that facilitates international and regional travel collaborations through various activities. For example, ‘Buyers-meet-Sellers’ sessions were organised on the eve of the exhibition’s official launch to provide a conducive environment for international exhibitors to engage in one-on-one discussions with local buyers. Local trade visitors were also issued ‘Discover the World’ passports, where they redeemed special gifts upon their completion of their ‘journey’ in the International Hall of visiting the various international booths. Destinations’ Presentation Sessions were also scheduled on the first 2 days of the expo to help international exhibitors promote their travel packages and destinations to all interested buyers. Participating exhibitors for the sessions included Tourism Authority of Thailand, Brand USA, Voglia d'Italia Tour s.r.l, Greek National Tourism

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Organisation, JTB Communications, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Hawaiian Airlines and Moroccan Government Tourist Office.

To conclude BITE 2014 on a high note, a special awards ceremony was held on the last day to celebrate yet another year of success as well as to recognise the efforts of exhibitors in showcasing their countries and destinations. The awards included ‘Most Organised Booth’, ‘Best Exhibition Booth’, ‘Best Designed Booth’, ‘Most Creative Booth’, ‘Most Popular Booth’ and ‘Best Product Sales Booth’.

Partnering with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, BITE 2014 proved itself again as a delightfully staged presentation of domestic and international travel products and destinations. A unique platform for international players to propel themselves into China’s lucrative outbound tourism market, the BITE series will continue to be a place where strong travel business partnerships among international exhibitors, local trade buyers and industry stakeholders are formed.

BITE 2015 will be held in June 2015 at China National Convention Centre.

MEET INDIA'S KEY TOURISM PROFESSIONALS AT IITT 2015 Travel

and tourism is one of the largest industries in India and is booming with a growing affluent middle class. Not only is India a popular destination, outbound tourism flow is growing. 15 million Indians annually travel overseas and this is set to increase to 50 million by 2020. The IITT - India International Travel & Tourism Exhibition is designed to allow visitors and buyers to meet with India’s key tourism trade. By exhibiting you can gain a valuable insight into India's travel industry and conduct business in India's niche tourism sectors, including M.I.C.E. The first 2 days of the show are dedicated to trade only.


EXHIBITION News

MTEC 2014 KIEV, UKRAINE The 2nd

MTEC.Kiev 2014 medical tourism exhibition and conference will gather over 150 exhibiting companies and a quality target audience from around 15 countries. MTEC.Kiev is a powerful platform for the development of medical and healthcare tourism, which is aimed at uniting industry specialists, the exchange of experience and raising the professionalism of specialist doctors.

The MTEC.Kiev is an international event with a unique format which takes place alongside the Public Health and Ukraine International Travel Market (UITM) exhibitions. The shared venue helps to increase the target audience as tour operators on one side and medical professionals on the other can access both exhibitions. MTEC.Kiev exhibitors will include companies that are not only providers of medical tourism services, such as medical centres, recovery and physiotherapy centres, private clinics, hospitals, sanatoria, thermal resorts in Ukraine and abroad, spas and medical tourism agents. Foreign marketing centres are also becoming involved in medical tourism, with complete service packages. The size of the global medical tourism market is valued as UK£235, (EU€298) million per year. More than 60% of this market is comprised of clinics in the USA, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Israel. However, Turkey, India, China, Thailand and Malaysia, and more recently Hungary, Czech Republic and the Baltic Countries are competing in the sector and can provide their services at much cheaper prices, while still with a high quality of service. The VIP Hosted Buyer Programme

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guarantees a quality target audience for the medical tourism sector in all fields.

The scientific and business programme of MTEC.Kiev 2014 will feature the 2nd International Medical Tourism Congress; a global and practical platform for the discussion of the most important issues in the development of medical tourism in the CIS and other Russian-speaking countries. The programme hosts nearly 100 experts from different countries and attract up to 500 attendees.

MTEC.Kiev 2013 saw 22,458 visitors (including Public Health and UITM), more than 50 exhibitors, 2000sq.m of exhibition space, 12 exhibiting countries (Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Greece, India, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine). The VIP Hosted Buyers Programme saw 2,500 business meetings take place, with more than 100 delegates from 11 Russian-speaking countries.

AIRPORTS AND AVIATION INDONESIA (AAI) 2014 AAI’14 – Airports and Aviation

Indonesia, held in conjunction with IABF’14 – Indonesia Aviation Business Forum, will serve as the business to business and business to government platform where industry leaders showcase solutions and set strategies for driving sustainable solutions to meet the demands in anticipation of ASEAN Open Skies. AAI’14 offers unprecedented opportunity for the industry leaders to develop new business with both public and private sector decision makers that are driving Indonesia’s massive airport and aviation growth. This is the only exhibition with a dedicated focus on civil airport infrastructure and aviation support services and technologies to meet the challenges ahead, fully supported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, leading state owned enterprises and trade associations. During the event, participants can showcase their products and services before Indonesia’s airport and aviation leading stakeholders responsible for Indonesia’s massive airport and aviation expansion plans; present your services and technologies at the technical seminars open to thousands of infrastructure related trade visitors; network with airport project planners, buyers and suppliers and meet aviation industry leaders and procurement officers to establish new business relationships and identify supplier and service opportunities. The AAI’14 is taking place from 5-7 November 2014 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

CHINA’S SILK ROAD - OPEN FOR OUTBOUND TOURISM BUSINESS China Xi’an Silk

Road International Tourism Expo (CXSRITE) is China’s 1st international tourism event with a unique theme. It is taking place from 19-21 September 2014 at the Xi’an Qujiang International Conference & Exhibition Centre. Strongly supported by governmental authorities, CXSRITE will provide the ideal, one-to-one, business-to-business networking platform for international and domestic tourism and travel industry players. Shaanxi Province located in central east China has Xi'an is its capital city and has a population of over 9 million. The Shaanxi region’s population is over 35 million. With several airlines now offering direct flights connecting Xian this is good news for its outbound tourism sector. At the CXSRITE you can meet quality buyers and trade visitors and explore the lucrative business opportunities in North-West China’s tourism market. Xi’an is the origin of the ancient Silk Road route that connected orient and western civilisations. It is also the hometown of the Terracotta Warriors. Tourism in a key economic pillar of Xi’an and in 2013, the region hosted 3.5 million inbound tourists. Xi'an is the 3rd most visited city of China after Beijing and Shanghai by overseas visitors. By exhibiting at CXSRITE you target a new market of Chinese outbound tourists that would not be targeted at events in other parts of China (like Beijing & Shanghai).●


M.I.C.E News PUERTO RICO LAUNCHES NEW CUSTOMER ADVISORY BOARD (CAB) Meet Puerto Rico (MPR), the

group responsible for bringing groups and conventions to Puerto Rico continues its growth and ideal for excellence, with the announcement of the new MPR Customer Advisory Board (CAB). It includes 11 professionals representing a diverse mix of companies - from associations, corporations and 3rd party planners and will act as a sounding board and idea generating body to analyse and critique and then provide feedback regarding critical sales, marketing and operational issues impacting Puerto Rico. The aims of the CAB are to improve the use of sales, marketing and operations in terms of planning and spending; explore new revenue opportunities and creative programmes to reach customers; establish deeper and more meaningful relationships with key accounts and enhance customer loyalty. The first group ,meeting took place in July over 3 days and discussed key subjects like destination and current marketing reviews and updates; the importance of social media to meeting professionals, attendees and key stakeholders and the competitive landscape and sales booking motivators. Discussions regarding destination best practices and recommendations on ways to provide enhanced products and services to meeting professionals and attendees were also reviewed. Meet Puerto Rico has reached its annual target of reaching 189,109 room nights for 2013-2014, which equates to 409 groups and over 100,000 delegates who, in the next few years, will visit the island either for a meeting, conference, convention or incentive travel, providing approximately UK£65, (EU€82) million to the local economy.

BTC TARGET INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS & EVENTS WITH ITALIAN DEMAND BTC, the one and

only Italian exhibition dedicated to the meetings & incentives industry, held in Florence at Fortezza da Basso from 11-12 November, is a good opportunity for foreign exhibitors interested in Italian demand. In a recent survey demand for meetings in Italy primarily depends on the corporate segment (64%), then scientific associations (13%), political bodies (12%) and other associations (11%). As a result, Italy is the destination for a full range of formats: conventions, incentive trips and team-building events, as

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well as professional conferences, especially in the medical sector, which accounts for a substantial portion of revenue for Italy’s meetings industry and political and association congresses. The corporate segment has provided the national industry with a constant flow of work, accounting for up to 48.7% of total conference attendance. It is therefore not surprising that many new exhibitors come from abroad, like the Dominican Republic and Switzerland, who are increasing their presence at BTC.

THAILAND HOST SEVERAL M.I.C.E. EVENTS Thailand Convention and Exhibition

Bureau is to host several major international M.I.C.E. events during the second half of 2014 and 2015, like the 74th FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2014, supported by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), which represents 3 million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists worldwide, of which over 2,000 members will be at the congress in Bangkok. The World Puppet Carnival will be held in Bangkok and expects to draw more than 30,000 attendees. In addition, the Unicity International Global Convention will hold its annual meeting and incentive travel programme in Thailand in October 2014. The event expects to welcome over 50,000 business travellers to Thailand. These new events confirm the growing international confidence in the Thai M.I.C.E. sector.

MCI OPEN NEW OFFICE IN CHILE Since 2009, MCI has seen its expansion growth

Latin America, with 5 offices in Brazil and Argentina. Chile ranks as the 3rd leading destination in South America for events, conferences and meetings and has seen growth of 8.1% in 2013. Therefore, MCI have opened their 6th office in Santiago, Chile, enabling it to offer its unique solutions to local organisations and global clients looking to expand in this fast-growing market.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE SYDNEY NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AEG Ogden has appointed Samantha Taranto as the International

Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) Communications Director. A senior communications and public relations professional, Samantha’s 14 years of experience spans communications consulting and in-house corporate affairs. Samantha brings a wealth of corporate, industry, government and community engagement experience to the role, having delivered award-winning campaigns and communication strategies for large-scale development projects along the East Coast of Australia. Opening in December 2016, ICC Sydney presents Australia’s largest and first fully-integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment centre, further highlighting Sydney’s place as one of the world’s most desirable business event destinations. ICC Sydney is located on Sydney’s waterfront with a rich arts and dining scene and just a moment’s walk from the CBD, Circular Quay, Central Station, Chinatown and a number of institutions of learning. It is well supported by ground transport, including train, bus and light rail, and is just 8kms from international and domestic airports.

FRANCE: M.I.C.E. PLACE – FOR THE MEETING INDUSTRY In Paris, Lille, Lyon and

Marseille, M.I.C.E. Place events are 4 exhibitions including business meetings dedicated to the meeting and incentive travel industry. The events gather event organisers from all over the world with suppliers from the event and M.I.C.E. industry. The Hosted Buyers Programme of M.I.C.E. PLACE is an exclusive opportunity for qualified buyers coming mainly from European capitals to find solutions to organise their events. Prior to the show, each participant is contacted by our team to be qualified. Consequently, M.I.C.E. Place proposes a perfect match making between offer and demand. Exhibitors coming from France and International and include convention & visitor bureaux, destinations and tourist offices, hotels, conference venues, destination management companies, services suppliers, technology providers, transportation companies, etc There are 2 ways to visit the show; the Hosted Buyer Programme or a simple visitor.●


INTERVIEWING…

Ms. Soha El Torgoman

Soha El Torgoman, general manager of the Hilton Hurghada Resort, talks to Pamela McCourt Francescone about her life with the 5-star hotel group, how hotels are coping with the crisis that has hit Egyptian tourism, and the priorities for today’s travellers.

“I joined Hilton Worldwide as a student in 1981 as a Front Office Agent at the Cairo Ramses Hilton, and went on to hold two prestigious senior positions: Director of Business Development at Ramses Hilton, and Director of Central Reservation Office for Hilton Egypt. Since 2002 I have been general manager of the Hilton Hurghada Resort, in charge of overseeing all the operational activities as well as developing and accomplishing a wide range of business objectives.”

In 2007, on World Tourism Day, you were named the First Egyptian Female General Manager by the U.N. World Tourism Organization. What are the challenges facing a lady GM in a male-driven society?

“Whilst it was a proud moment for me to be recognized as Egypt’s first female GM, it’s not something I spend too much time thinking about. There are many talented women coming through the ranks here at Hilton Worldwide and I have no doubt it will not be long before female GMs are no longer considered a rarity. As a GM you are responsible for leading large and diverse groups of people, the key to success is to be able to motivate and engage Team Members from across a broad spectrum of backgrounds, this is the important challenge faced by all GMs, regardless of gender.”

How has the Hilton Hurghada Resort stood up to the crisis that has hit Egyptian tourism?

“Hurghada has been less affected by the current downturn than other areas of Egypt, and we have made every effort across all of our marketing promotions to campaign for Hurghada, the city, as well as our hotel. We continue to do what we are good at: focusing on the unique experience we provide for our guests and staying true to our mission to be the preeminent global hospitality company - the first choice of guests, team members and owners alike.”

Do you think the authorities have been successful in handling the damage-control in these difficult times for tourism? Is there something more they can or should do?

“I believe the appeal of Egypt as a global tourism destination is still strong. But visitor numbers are down, and so I think the authorities’ top priority should be to ensure we constantly maintain high standards across all tourism sectors and strive to ensure our guests enjoy the best possible hospitality experience.”

What are guests looking for today?

“Expectations of guests travelling to a resort destination differ from those of cultural and business travelers. Lately, and especially for families, properties with water amusement parks and extensive children’s activities are more in demand. Value for money, diversified facilities and entertainment, and quality service are, in my opinion, the 20

top priorities for today’s travellers. Later this year we will add a new swimming pool with a full range of water amusement equipment and we will also start the first phase of room renovations planned over a two-year period.”

What is the Hilton Hurghada Resort’s commitment to environmental sustainability?

“We are now using natural gas in place of diesel in our kitchens. And we are working with the local authorities to clear the Red Sea Governate from hunger by the end of 2016. The practice is to collect all remaining untouched food on buffets from hotels and restaurants in sealed foil trays which are then delivered, through a certified NGO, to needy people in the area. Up to this large quantities of food have been thrown out on a daily basis while people in the area have been going hungry.

What, and where, is Soha El Torgoman's perfect holiday?

“If it is a short break I would definitely spend it in Cairo at the stables with my horses, but if I have a long vacation then I would go to the Maldives.●

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 and is the official global media support for several key exhibitions within the industry.



LATIN AMERICA News ARGENTINA TOURIST NUMBERS RISE Foreign tourists arrivals to

Argentina have seen a 16% rise in May compared to May 2013. The number of Argentines leaving the country in May has also risen by 14.2% compared to the same month of 2013. The South American nation is now able to measure inbound and outbound tourism by all methods of transport, i.e. by land, river, sea or air. A total of 394,812 tourists visited in May. 24% less people arrived by boat, 6.7% more arrived by air and a huge 46% more people arrived by land. In April 2014, 32% more foreigners spent 2.9% more than in April 2013, yet despite the increase in travellers; they spent 6% less than in April 2013. Argentines spent UK£166, (EU€210) million outside the country in May 2014, 13.5% more than in May 2013. 162,179 locals left Argentina by car or bus, a 28% rise on 2013 figures and 39,311 left by boat, a 10.6% increase. In a bid to slow down the depletion of currency reserves, new high surcharge taxes of 35% were put in place last December on credit card transactions abroad. To date, Argentines’ spending abroad increased 21.1% in January, another 14.6% in February, dropped 2.2% in March and by 10.3% in April and rose again in May by 13.5%. US tourists dropped by 9% in May 2014, while 26.4% of Brazilians came to visit and 41.3% more Uruguayans visited too.

NICARAGUAN DIVERSITY As the

largest country of Central America it offers incredible beauty and a rich culture as well as a place bringing you closer to nature, with its glistening lakes, sandy beaches, forests and volcanoes. Nicaragua offers something for everyone. A trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of León or taking a zip-line ride in the rainforest could not be more diverse. Take a horse draw carriage around the city of Granada. Or take a hike into the pristine, cloud forest of Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve to see tropical birds and howler monkeys. Travel to the top of the Masaya Volcano crater and experience the stunning views, or take a trip to the middle of Lake Nicaragua and explore the island of Jicaro. For beaches relax on the golden sands of Manzanillo Beach at Guacalito de la Isla or head for the huge private beach community located on Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast which is perfect for total relaxation. For a wonderful luxury stay, there are several hotel resorts that make any trip to Nicaragua is totally perfect vacation.

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Leon Cathedral , Nicaragua

DOMESTIC TOURISM ADDING TO PERU ECONOMY Domestic tourism in Peru is

responsible for UK£4.41, (EU€5.60) billion per year. The domestic tourism sector has seen steady growth and is changing along with the rest of the Peruvian economy. With such positive signs, Peru now needs to build its online accessibility so potential travellers can easily find information about services and destinations. At present 77% of Peruvian travellers look for information online and they are between the ages of 18-35, but the 35+ age group is also seeing an increase of online growth. There are plenty of tour operators packages available online to explore and experience the best that Peru has to offer with over 10,000 tourist attractions and 4,000 geo-located places registered on Google Maps.

BEIJING OFFICE FOR BAHAMAS The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism plans to open a

Beijing office, to tap directly into the 100 million outbound Chinese tourist market. It is part of the Bahamas aim to become more well known in Asia. The Beijing office will be is Asia base to tackle South Korea, Japan and Australia. The main sector the Bahamas are aiming to attract is the luxury and premium business. The Ministry of tourism are also looking to target M.I.C.E. business and the overseas wedding market. At present the air connectivity is crucial to gaining more Chinese tourists, which will be solved soon.

TOURISM UP IN ECUADOR Up until June 2014 foreign arrivals to Ecuador, have seen a

14% increase on 2013 figures. In order to maintain the growth in the tourism sector, the Ecuadorian government has invested UK£389, (EU€491) million until 2017 to help boost the sector. In the 1st half of the year 749,410 foreigners arrived to Ecuador. A 33% from Colombia, 23% from the U.S.A., 14% from Peru, 7.1% from Argentina, 5.7% from Venezuela, 5.4% from Chile and 4.1% from Spain. Tourism is the 4th most important industry in Ecuador after bananas shrimps and other sea products. In 2013 tourism generated UK£737, (EU€932) million. Forecasts for arrivals in 2014 are expected to be between 4-4.5%.

GUATEMALA: PROMOTING PETEN REGION The Guatemala Tourist Board has

launched a new promotion to attract more visitors to the Peten region in the country’s northern region with the development of new facilities and the promotion of tourism products. The region is known as the home to the Maya Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected area in Guatemala, as well as important Maya sites like Tikal. New tourism facilities in the town of San Andres in the Carmelita community are underway, which is the starting point for the 2-day hike Carmelita-El Mirador tourist circuit. El Mirador National Park features two major architectural groups: the Tiger

Complex, which includes a large 60m high pyramid with a base of 58,000sq.m, surrounded by 2 smaller ones; and La Danta Complex, which reaches a height of 75m and stands out on the hilltop. The El Mirador National Park offers a great day out of exploration with different Maya monuments and roads as well as the Maya Biosphere. Smaller Maya sites in the area are also well worthing visiting, like El Tintal, La Florida and La Wakna. There is also another trek of 50km; The Maya Trek, lasting 3 days that goes through the Maya Biosphere Reserve incorporating different archaeological sites and protected areas between the community of Cruce de dos Aguas and Tikal National Park. The route also takes in the Buenavista Valley, one of the main commercial routes in the Pre-Classic and Classic Maya Periods (from 800BC to 1200AD), controlled from the city of El Zotz. Other fascinating places to visit in this stunning region of Guatemala are Yaxha, PIedras Negras, Nakum, El Ceibal, Uaxactun, Aguateca and Dos Pilas.●


tatw monthly 8 august 2014 edition

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