tatw monthly 9 september 2014 edition

Since 1997 volume 17, issue 9, September 2014 FRESH AIR TOURISM?

LONDON’S SUMMER SUPER-RICH TOURISTS

IS HISTORY ABOUT TO BE RE-WRITTEN?

COLOURFUL COPENHAGEN

MYANMAR INTRODUCES E-VISA TO BOOST TOURIST ARRIVALS

AN INTERVIEW WITH MS. MARÍA INMACULADA OLIVERO CORRAL VANCOUVER SEES RETURNING CONVENTION EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF TOURISM VENEZUELA COULD BE ISOLATED A LUXURY RETIREMENT DESTINATION CRUISE SHIPPING ASIA-PACIFIC

‘Feeding’, photo, by Dimitris Spyropoulos, Photo report - TATW Monthly 2014 © www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Since 1997

Volume 17, Issue 9, September 2014 edition

Contents

4 Fresh Air Tourism?

5 London’s Summer Super-Rich Tourists

6 Part Of World History Is On Its Way To Be

Written Again

8 Colourful Copenhagen

9 Asean Upscaling Its Marketing Effort With Pata

10 An Interview With Ms. María Inmaculada

Olivero Corral

12Everything In The Name Of Tourism

13 Dubai Aims To Be Regional Incentive And

Conference Hub Of The Region

15 Aegean Airlines Ordering 8 Airbus A320

16 Falklands Tourist Board Plans Strong UK

Presence At Events

17 MITM Americas & Cultourfair 2014

19 Still Spa Attracts?

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Let ter f rom the Edi tor

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the start of Autumn and the September edition of TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD Monthly.

The main summer holiday season is coming to an end in the Northern hemisphere; schools are

re-opening and the day to day business of daily life returns.

While on holiday in Greece this year, not only is it like home from home for us at TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD Monthly, but each visit heightens our senses to the Mediterranean smells, the light, the cuisine, the sights and sounds that make Greece what it is and one of the best destinations for a vacation any time of the year.

Knowing the capital Athens so well, this year I decided to ‘put on my tourist hat’ and make sure I didn’t miss any of the delights on offer. Equipped with an excellent Athens map, that I picked up from the airport along with the free Athens guide which was packed with things to do and see and advice, I discovered many new attractions which had always been on my doorstep, some that I had seen from afar but never investigated close up; like the walk up the Phillopapous Hill, with spectacular 360° views around the whole of Athens; the City of Athens Museum; a Jazz concert in the courtyard of the Numastic Museum; the Olympic Games Museum at the Panathaniko Stadium, displaying the official flame holder and adverting poster for each modern Olympic Games since 1896. Of course there were also new places to indulge in my favourite Greek cuisine, like Greek yoghurt drizzled with honey, souvlaki, ice cream, loukamardes (fried doughnuts with syrup and cinnamon on the top), and refreshing iced coffees, among many others!

It was also a delight to no longer see illegal street sellers trying to sell their products on the streets and beaches.

There is always something new to discover in Greece and of course no trip to this nautical nation is complete without a trip on a boat to an island either for a few hours or for a few days or more. From Athens, and for a taste of island life, the nearby island of Aegina is delightful and well known for its pistachio nuts. For a real ‘Greek’ island feel, the unique island of Hydra is stunningly beautiful with its neo-classical houses and its only transport around the island being donkeys or small boats travelling from port to port. Over the past few years, rightly or wrongly Greece has been at the forefront of the world economic crisis, but it is still a premier global tourist destination attracting many new and repeat tourists, who know that when it comes to meeting all ones holiday needs and desires, quite simply, Greece is the word!

Enjoy the September edition of the e-journal!

Caroline-Artemis Laspas editor & co-founder

www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

The Faroe Is lands

FRESH AIR TOURISM? by Dimitri Laspas - publisher.

Polluted capital cities, stifling air, recycled air, air conditioning units, exhaust fumes, factory smoke, are all things we have become used to living within our modern industrial lives. The solution we have been sold is the magic words of ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘green-zones’. How can a car truly be eco-friendly, when it has already caused more pollution in its production stage than it will ever produce in its life a car! With global competition so high, factories and companies aim to produce more, sell more and as a result are polluting more, and for things we don’t need, but are made to desire and make more money but reduce our fundamental need… Air, Fresh Air!

Air pollution has been a hot subject in many parts of the world, especially in Europe with targets set for reaching fewer emissions by a certain deadline. How? Well one way is to ask other nations, eager to develop and grow, to build and produce our products, thereby causing their own pollution levels to rise and then we condemn them, (as once our countries were the main polluters with the famous ’industrial revolution’!)

Despite efforts, air pollution levels are still too high. In 2012, approximately 7 million people died (1 in 8 of total global deaths) was as a result of air pollution exposure. This is much higher than originally thought and confirms that air pollution is the world’s largest single environmental health risk. So, by reducing air pollution means millions of lives could be saved.

The Saronikos sea, Greece

By consuming at the levels we currently do, the pollution levels will continue to rise. If we stop and think, we can instantly reduce the pollution levels. Almost every 3 months there is a new mobile phone on the market, a new car model, a new kind of household gadget, a new TV, etc. How many of these do we need? We need to encourage the reduction of mass and regularly over produced items that are not necessary for our survival or wellbeing and aim to keep our home/planet earth as clean as possible for present and future generations.

So how does air pollution connect with tourism, well with so much pollution, people are keen to go away not only to see something new and different, but they are keen to feel the fresh air on their faces, and see the clarity of things in a clear, crisp, fresh, pure air. Fresh Air Tourism has been born.

With many major cities around the world suffering with extremely bad air quality, tourists are now not only keen to get out of their big highly polluted cities, but they dream of big open blue skies elsewhere. In fact, so acute is the problem of air pollution, that it has been noted that ‘clean cities and blue skies’ were a main reason for visiting Europe, by Chinese tourists.

With China being one of the most visited countries in the world, it has been seeing

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fewer tourist arrivals due to worsening air pollution. In particular visitors to big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, as some days you cannot see one end of Tianamen Square to the other due to pollution. With 3 decades of rapid development and growth it is not surprising that China has pollution issues. In 2013, the number of foreign tourists visiting Beijing fell by 15% in the first 6 months of the year to 1.9 million, as they had experienced very heavy pollution levels. The biggest drop was among Japanese visitors; 55% fewer came to the capital in the first 6 months, while American tourists declined 4%. Although not wholly responsible for tourist decline, air pollution is definitely a key factor that needs to be urgently addressed if tourist figures are to rise again in the cities.

International tourism is the largest and most rapidly expanding industry in the world. Many of the most popular tourist destinations depend heavily on the natural environment for their appeal. There has been a huge increase in air traffic demand, allowing the growing middle class tourist to fly, as well as many low cost airlines appealing to new clientele. As a result, tourism now accounts for more than 60% of air travel and is therefore responsible for an important share of air emissions. There are no signs that air travel is going to decline either. Currently, aircraft account for around 3% of all emissions globally. This figure is expected to increase by up to 7% by 2050. Air pollution from tourist transportation also has an impact on a global level, especially from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to transportation energy use. Hybrid vehicles, electric cars, low emission planes, are all helping, but it might not be having the desired and necessary effect quickly enough.

So, take a breath of fresh air and do your own bit to reduce global air pollution, being a responsible tourist, a responsible citizen of our home, our planet! ●


http://www.forbes.com/europe-news/

TOURISM News

Saint Paul Cathedral , London, UK

LONDON’S SUMMER SUPER-RICH TOURISTS As Londoners head off on their

vacations in August, the capital city is far from empty. The annual arrival of the worlds super rich Arabs descends on Knightsbridge and the King’s Road, with their ultra-amazing sports cars and amazing wealth on display. It is proof that London continues to be a global luxury destination welcoming the worlds richest, to live, work and play. While the Arabs arrival in August, the Chinese will arrive in October, with the Chinese ‘Golden Week’ national holiday where luxury good brands are top destinations for the world largest outbound tourist market. With 72 billionaires; 10% of the world’s total living in London, only helps to make it a more luxurious destination and one that continues to draw in the super-rich, who find that London meets all their needs from attractions, cuisine options, shopping, culture, etc. London saw record visitors in 2013 and figures are positive for this year too, especially as it acts as a port of entry for 40% of visitors to Britain.

CONGO OPENS DOOR FOR TOURISM! The Republic of Congo has been changing

over the past few years with many new projects and investments. It is now ready to show its charm and culture to the world and is opening its doors for tourism. Following the conflict of the 90’s it has been rebuilding and recovery and now has a brand new statue of liberty in the capital city of Brazzaville, to replace the one destroyed during the civil war. A new international airport is open and an International Center for African Arts is to be built in the city of Pointe-Noire. The port city once served as the main embarkation points for slaves bound for Brazil, Columbia and Cuba. Congo’s capital is

Maya-Maya Brazzavi l le International Ai rpor t

getting ready to host the 10th Pan-African Music Festival in 2015. Held every 2 years, which draws musicians and artists from all over the continent and overseas.

HASTING HOTELS: BOTANICAL ROOF GARDENS SUPPLY THEIR KITCHENS The

Hotel chain based in Northern Ireland with 6 properties has a roof garden on the top of each hotel which provides the herbs, used by the kitchen of the hotel. The herbs include laurel, thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, coriander, chives and peas. Hasting Hotels sources local produce for all its catering and displays this from its website through to brochures giving the supplier name and product history. The botanical gardens reflect the continuing commitment of Hasting Hotels in organic food source. Ireland also has a proud heritage in agriculture, livestock and fisheries. The hotel chains wishes to give all guests a true taste of the products Ireland has to offer.

GHANA TO BOOST TOURISM Already a popular tourist destination, opportunities for

investing in the Ghana tourism sector are still of huge potential. With stunning natural beauty, a rich culture and artistic tradition, the vibrant capital of Accra, and its warm and friendly citizens make it an attractive destination for Africa-bound travellers from the USA. With peace stability and good security, and high tourism investment potential, tourist numbers are on the increase with tourism receipts trebling from UK£507, (EU€636) million in 2005 to UK£1.52 (EU€1.90) billion in 2012, accounting for 3% of GDP and the 4th biggest industry earner after gold, cocoa and remittances. Forecasts predict tourism contribution to GDP will rise to 5.4% by 2022. Apart from leisure tourism, business tourism is also on the rise. The nation’s future growth will be driven by tourism and in order to succeed, it needs private investment, particularly in hotels, resorts, transport, airports, roads, water, electricity, and sanitation.

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TOURISM News EGYPT TO BUILD NEW SUEZ CANAL IN 5 YEARS Egypt is

planning to build a new multibillion UK Pounds Suez Canal alongside the existing historic waterway as part of a major project that would expand trade along the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

The Suez Canal, Egypt

The Suez Canal earns Egypt about UK£3.1, (EU€3.80) billion a year. The whole project aims to see the Suez port and shipping facilities expand to make it more competitive and to become a shipping hub. The new canal would be 72km long.

LUXEMBURG, THE ‘CAPITAL OF ROSES’ Today Luxembourg is more

known for its banking than roses, but it used to be called the ‘Land of Roses’ due to the cultivation of the flower in the 20th century. The Limpertsberg Plateau is now a delightful residential area, but in 1855 it was a huge rose plantation started by two gardeners. With their expertise in rose cultivation and derivation of new roses, the gardeners created a unique nursery that soon became world famous and won international acclaim and attracted wealthy clientele.

By 1880 Luxembourg was established as a prestigious rose growing centre. Limpertsberg soon became home to 3 of the biggest global rose producing companies, shipping across the world and even supplying royal households across the globe. Today there are only a few rose gardens left in Luxembourg, but they offer a wonderful aromatic step back in time, like the ‘RosaLi’ walking circuit where you can discover the horticultural heritage of Limpertsberg. 6

Gateway to the tomb of Alexander the Great , Greece

TOURISM IS TOP EARNER FOR UGANDA Uganda’s top industry has become

tourism as for the first time it is Uganda’s biggest export earner after it achieved UK£850 million, (EU€1.06 billion) last year, up from UK£668, (EU€838) million in 2012. Coffee is Uganda’s main traditional cash crop and earned about UK£252, (EU€316) million between April 2013 and March 2014. Tourism was boosted by glowing reports of the country’s attractions among international tourism companies. Uganda is regarded as Africa’s best destination for bird enthusiasts, boasting over 1,058 bird species, accounting for 11% of the globe’s total, and half of Africa’s. Uganda has also been ranked in the list of top 10 places to visit. It holds the source of the river Nile, is where savannah meets the vast lakes of East Africa, and where snow-capped mountains bear down on sprawling jungles. Uganda is Africa condensed, with the best of everything the continent has to offer packed into the small, but stunning destination.

TUI LINE ORDERS NEW VESSELS AS GERMANY SET TO BE EUROPE'S MAIN CRUISE MARKET In a joint venture between Germany's TUI Cruises (TUI AG) and

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is to see an investment of UK£1.6, (EU€2) billion on 4 new ships in order to meet increased European demand for cruise holidays. TUI Cruises expects Germany to overtake the UK as Europe's largest cruise market. TUI Cruises already has on order two 2,500-passenger ships for delivery in 2016 and 2017, with options for another two vessels.

The total deal would double TUI Cruises’ fleet to 8 ships. In Germany and Europe cruises holidays are increasing as new customers segments are being found and catered for. The new cruise liners will be sister ships of the previous new-builds Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4: 295 meters long spanning 15 decks with 1,250 cabins. The majority of the ‘well-being’ ship’s cabins, 90%, will be outside cabins with 82% having balconies. The new vessels will carry approx. 2,500 guests based on double occupancy.

IS HISTORY ABOUT TO BE RE-WRITTEN? A new discovery in Greece could change

the history books following the discovery of what is believed to be the tomb of Alexander the Great. The archaeological site of Amphipolis, in Northern Greece could hold the answer to the biggest mystery in archaeological history. When Alexander the Great died in 323BC, it was never known for sure where his body was buried. Current history tells that while Alexander’s body was on its way back to the homeland, his body was stolen. Here the story ends and the search has been on to locate this great leaders remains. The excavation of this new burial mound, measuring 497m across and an almost compete circle of carved marble, is the largest ancient tomb to have been discovered in Greece. So, is this the end of the mystery? What is inside the tomb; Alexander’s wife, Roxanne, his son or daughter or ‘hopefully’ the Great man himself. Since the discovery of the tomb and the excavation of a grand doorway decorated with sculptures of lions, thousands of local and foreign visitors have come to see the tomb for themselves.


7 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Nyhavn canal , Copenhagen, Denmark

COLOURFUL COPENHAGEN, by Caroline-Artemis Laspas - editor.

Landed! ‘Welcome to Copenhagen’ the steward announces.

We have just 6 hours in the Danish capital before catching our connecting flight down to Athens. Six hours to discover the best Copenhagen has to offer. What a great opportunity, enough time to see a new destination as part of our summer vacation!

The Frederic’s Church and Frederick V, Copenhagen, Denmark

A quick 13 minute metro journey from the airport takes us into the heart of the city. With our ‘Copenhagen Card’ (which gives free transport and entry to many attractions or discounts) at the ready, we head straight for the highly popular one hour canal tour, especially if we are to see as much of the city as possible. With hazy sunshine warming the day, the open topped boat gently glides through the many canals and shows off the splendour of Copenhagen along the way. With commentary from tour guide ‘Elizabeth’ in English and Spanish, the secrets of the city unfold as she tells tales and facts and the history of the city, all with a smile and some fun comments too. The stunning Danish architecture shines out as do the wonderful colourful painted facades on many streets and the wonderful variety of sailing boats, yachts and fishing boats that we pass along the way.

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After the tour of the city by boat, and once back on land, we head for a traditional ‘street hot dog’, which is served from small kiosks found on many street corners. With the city packed with tourists, all taking in the Danish way of life, we soak up the

Gefion Fountain, Copenhagen, Denmark

atmosphere watching the world go by and enjoy street entertainers along the way. Next stop ‘Nyhaven’ – the famous street with its brightly coloured houses and add to the charm of this part of the city. With many traditional sailing boats moored along each side of the canal and cafes and restaurants galore, every table was full with chat and laughter, but there was plenty of choice and space for everyone.

With the heat of the day upon us and time ticking by, we walk to the Frederic’s church with its striking green dome and decorative gold embossed designs. It is the largest dome in all Scandinavia. Then across the road to the Royal courtyard.

Frederic’s Palace at Amal iaburg Square, Copenhagen, Denmark

The palaces of Amaliaburg are 4 identically built palaces, each facing into a square courtyard. The royal guards stand to attention as photos are taken from all 4 angles!

By mid afternoon and thoughts of airport check-in, there is just enough time for a delicious ice cream, some last minute photos before the metro takes us back to Terminal 3 and onto Athens.

A magical few hours discovering Copenhagen, left us knowing there was still much more to explore and that a return visit is a must in order to delve deeper into all that is ‘Colourful Copenhagen’! ●


ASIA News

Fishing boats, Terengganu, Malaysia

MORE FOREIGN TOURISTS VISIT VIETNAM The number of foreign tourists visiting

Vietnam increased by 9.5% month-on-month in August 2014, with an estimated 619,000 foreign tourists, bringing the total number of tourists in the first 8 months of the year to 5.47 million, a 12.2% year-on-year increase. The figures showed that the number of foreign tourists seeking leisure and entertainment increased by 10.5% year-on-year to 3.3 million while those on business increased by 12.9% to 919,800. Those visiting relatives increased by 15.8% to 941,500, and those arriving for other purposes rose by 18.2% to 307,300. Tourists from Hong Kong made up the majority of foreign visitors, followed by Germany, Russia and Spain. Visitors from Laos, Cambodia and the United Kingdom we also up. The total number of domestic tourists in the first 8 months is expected to have a year-on-year rise of 6.9% to 30.1 million. The tourism industry saw a year-on-year increase of 20.4% in revenue to UK£4.55, (EU€5.70) billion and expects to serve an estimated 8-8.2 million foreign tourists and 37.5 million domestic tourists this year and earn UK£68, (EU€86) billion as a result. Vietnam is applying a 30-day visa exemption for citizens from 9 of the 10 ASEAN member States, with tourists from 7 other nations being granted a 15-day visa exemption. Asian nations covered by this exemption are Japan and the Republic of Korea, while Russia joins the European nations of Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden in enjoying the same privilege. It is thought that 42% of foreign tourists to Vietnam to date came from countries using the visa exemptions which it is expected to help increase tourist numbers of foreign visitors in the next few months. There are also proposals for the visa exemptions for visitors from France, Germany, Italy and Spain, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India.

MYANMAR INTRODUCES E-VISA TO BOOST TOURIST ARRIVALS Myanmar'

has introduced an online electronic e-visa for all foreign tourists in a bid to boost tourist arrivals to the country. Tourists visiting Myanmar will get an e-visa within 5 days. In the first 7 months of 2014, Myanmar saw tourist arrivals reach 1.6 million, up 43% from the same period of 2013. It aims to reach 3 million tourists by 2015 and over 7 million by 2020. Foreign visitors from Asia accounted for 70%, with others from Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East also grew. Also helping increase arrival figures are tourist wishing to visit the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, which saw 245,586 visitors in the first half of 2014, up 30,000 from the first half of 2013. Foreign exchange receipts also increased from UK£324, (EU€406) million in 2012 to UK£562, (EU€ 704) million in 2013 and with projections for over UK£607, (EU€760) million in 2014. Myanmar's hotels and tourist sector currently contributes 3.7% to the country's GDP, with estimates it could reach 9.5% by the end of 2014.

PLANS TO ATTRACT MORE TOURISM IN THAILAND With the aim of further

boosting tourism, the Thailand Immigration Bureau has allowed citizens of 48 countries and Hong Kong SAR to get a 30-day extension on their stay in Thailand after the expiry of their normal period of stay. Effective from 29 August 2014, the new rule applies to visitors holding travel documents of Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Vietnam. Citizens of these countries and territories who normally get Visa Exemption as tourists for a 30-day stay permit, will get an extension of stay for a ‘one time’ only for no longer than 30 days from the expired date. Visitors will need to apply for the extension and if denied, they will be required to leave the kingdom within 7 days after the expiry of the normal period.

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ASEAN UPSCALING ITS MARKETING EFFORT WITH PATA COLLABORATION

This new upgrading of its cooperation comes through participation at PATA’s upcoming Annual Travel Mart (17-19 September in Phnom Penh), one of the most renowned and established tourism tradeshows in the Asia Pacific region. For the 1st time ASEAN will take part in this Travel Mart and promote the region as a single tourism destination to the world. In addition to the ASEAN booth, six ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs); Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand will also present their tourism products, separately. Furthermore, the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations have been working side by side with the Pacific Asia Travel Association developing a TV commercial to promote Southeast Asia’s tourism, highlighting 5 tourism product sectors; Nature-based tourism, Culture & Heritage tourism, Community-based tourism, Cruise & River-based tourism, and Health & Wellness tourism. Furthermore, in conjunction with the Travel Mart, the 6th ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF), hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia will be convened on September 18. This Forum is meant to give investors from around the region and the globe a better understanding of the intra-ASEAN investment climate. Tourism authorities, the private sector and investors will present ASEAN as an integrated investment region.

NEW GENERAL MANAGER AT HOTEL COCO BODU HITHI-MALDIVES The

new general manager at the hotel Coco Bodu Hithi in Kaafu Atoll in the Maldives is Mr. George Papazoglou, of Greek origin. His appointment hopes to ‘elevate the hotel to new heights of excellence on the experience of its customers'. Mr. Papazoglou is a graduate of Hotel Management School Les Roches International in Switzerland, and has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry in hotels and resort chains such as Hilton, the Club Med and Starwood. The 100 room hotel is located on North Malé Atoll and offers modern comforts, villas with private pools and free Wi-Fi. There are free activities like yoga and cruises. The luxury villas have flat-screen TV and DVD players. There is a spa and Tai Chi and a beauty salon and there are a number of different places to eat.

CHINA'S RAILWAYS RECORD During

the summer period, more families used the Chinese rail network to travel and in July China’s railways saw a record number of passengers; a total of 226,500,000 passengers, a year-on-year increase of 12.3%. ●


INTERVIEWING…

The Cathedral de Santa Cruz de Cádiz, Spain

Cadiz is located in the south of Andalucía, Spain. Cadiz has something di fferent to that of the rest of Spain, it is ‘small’, peaceful, shiny, offers an easy life, with very friendly people, combined with lots of entertainment and an excellent local gastronomy.

Over the last few years, the province of Cadiz, has been doing its best to put itself on the international map not only for l eisure holidays, but also to attract more business tourism and mainly to attract more from the M.I.C.E sector. During 2014, the Province of Cadiz, hosted one of the most major events in the Mediterranean region, the MITM Euromed that took place from 11-13 June.

In an interview with Ms. María Inmaculada Olivero Corral, Vice president of Cadiz Tourism, she reflects on Cadiz’ tourism strategies and the challenges that Cadiz is facing with other provinces and regions within Spain and other Mediterranean countries.

This interview waspresented by Dimitri Laspas - publisher of Tourism around the World monthly, during the MITM Euromed exhibition.

Ms. María Inmaculada Ol ivero Corral What makes Cadiz different from the rest of Spain? Its

location between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, as a gateway to Europe, gives the Province a set of particularities, natural, geographical, cultural and historical, that make Cadiz unique and different. It is a tourist destination that has developed but not in excess, and its natural resources are its main asset and attraction.

How do you think the economic crisis that Spain is doing its best to over pass, has affected tourism in Andalucía and mainly in the Province of Cadiz; how is the tourism sector coping with the situation?

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The advantage of Cadiz is that our tourism industry is mature and taken care of. This has enabled us to cope with the crisis much better than other destinations, since our province is a consolidated destination that learnt to make the most of things when the situation was good and to resist better when the situation became more complicated. Fortunately, the crisis is part of the past now.

In your opinion what is the level of the conference infrastructure in the Province of Cadiz and how would you rate the level of services on offer? I would rate it very

high. It is not only about the conference infrastructure, but also everything around it. Our infrastructure is the best, but what really makes us stand out is all the side services and products we offer to anyone coming to a attend a conference: golf, beaches, shopping, culture…a whole world of activities to enjoy.

What do you think the future holds for conference tourism in the Province of Cadiz and why should one select Cadiz as the destination for events and conferences? We are very confident of this sector because it

is very profitable for the Province and it is very useful for a destination that receives most of its tourists during the spring and summer months. We can offer a great deal in terms of hotel and conference infrastructure as well as in parallel services. And of course, then there is a huge effort invested in promotion. We work hand-in-hand with businessmen and the administration.

5. From where does the majority of M.I.C.E. business come from within Europe and globally? Most come from Europe,

thanks to its proximity. You can reach the Jerez Airport in just 2 or 3 hours from anywhere in Europe. We are also visited by conference tourists from outside Europe, especially from America.

continuing on page 11


INTERVIEWING…

The interview with Ms. María Inmaculada Olivero Corral, Vice president of Cadiz Tourism, the Province of Cadiz, Spain

continuation from page 10

How do you see the future of Cadiz tourism in attracting European tourists and tourists from other countries? We

have a series of consolidated markets that are our priorities: Germany, the UK and France. These are the most loyal, and also the ones issuing more visitors. Other countries like the Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Holland, Portugal or Italy are also very important for us and we have great hopes placed in them.

Last but not least, Eastern European countries are really taking off in tourism terms and we must of course take them into account.

The Plaza of San Juan de Dios, Cadiz, Spain

In 2014, Cadiz hosted the international event MITM Euromed 2014. Please tell us why The Province decided to host this important event and how Cadiz hopes to benefit from the organisation of the event and how will the area exploit the opportunities. We wanted to position

the Province of Cadiz as a reference for conference tourism, and we decided to do this with this action because it is the most prestigious one. Also, people were extremely satisfied with the Seville edition and they didn’t want to leave Andalucía.

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Are there any particular markets that the Cadiz Province wishes to target for tourism or M.I.C.E. e.g. from Latin America or Asia? Purely for proximity, we are more

interested in targeting Europe. Our Province is well known in Germany as a destination for sun and beaches and we aim to achieve the same level of recognition for the M.I.C.E sector.

How do you see the overall tourism sector of Cadiz in comparison to the rest of Spain? We are part of Spain, and

therefore follow the same general trend. When things go well for tourism in Spain as a whole, they also go well here in Cadiz; and when things are gloomy, the Province of Cadiz also experiences this. After some difficult years, we are now back on track and growing, contributing to Spain’s economy.

Last but not least, can you describe Cádiz in 25 words (+/-)? Cadiz is light, joy, sea, beaches. It is a region full of

contrast: parties and quietness, luxury and tradition, beaches and mountains. ●

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.



M.I.C.E News A POWERFUL TOOL FOR MOTIVATION Incentive travel can be

a great way to motivate staff and boost employee morale. To success and gain the best results is to enlist the help of the free assistance of a destination marketing organisation (DMO) or a convention and visitors bureau (CVB). As local experts, they can recommend facilities and experiences that match a group’s personality and budget. They can help companies get better value out of their meeting or incentive programme investment. Incentives are one of the most easily proved value propositions and they can also be used to reinforce a company’s brand. Incentive trends are changing too in order to meet more specifically the activities that are key motivators for different teams. Extreme experiences are becoming more popular, while the luxury sector is also a favourite. There are also organisations with programmes that reward top performers and include opportunities for them to give back by working on Habitat for Humanity, building projects, planting trees or repairing bikes for inner-city kids. The world is a small place and even long haul exotic destinations are seeing increased incentive business.

NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRAGUE CONVENTION BUREAU

Aleš Hozdecký has been appointed new managing director of Prague Convention Bureau. Aleš Hozdecký has extensive experience in the tourism sector.

Previously, he worked as the Head of the Department of Tourism in Turnov, Chairman and Director of the Bohemian Paradise Association and has also participated in the management of the Association of Tourist Regions of the Czech Republic (ATUR). Until March this year he was director of the Tourism Department of the Ministry of Regional Development. Lenka Žlebková continues to work in the field of tourism by working in Hotel & Garden U Holubů in Čeladná, the popular recreation area in the foothills of Beskydy Mountains, North Moravia. 12

Cullen Bay, Darwin Austral ia

MISSY HIGGINS TO PLAY AT DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE The Darwin

Convention Centre is to host the multi-platinum-selling singer and song-writer Missy Higgins to start her one-off Australian tour. The tour will bring to the centre and the city a wide fan base. The international standard facility is growing a reputation as a premier entertainment venue with the ability to meet the sophisticated and complex needs of any major event – from family shows to experiential live acts, concerts, and sporting events.

VANCOUVER SEES RETURNING CONVENTION The Vancouver Convention

Centre and Tourism Vancouver are getting ready to host the Association of Computer Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques. This is a returning event for the city which last hosted the event in 2011. SIGGRAPH is recognised as the world's most respected technical and creative programme focusing on research, science, art, animation, technology, gaming, interactivity, education and the web. It also includes a 3-day exhibition of leading products and services from the computer graphics industry, as well as an interactive marketplace. SIGGRAPH 2014 is expected to welcome over 16,000 participants from over 60 countries, generating an estimated UK£22, (EU€27) million in direct spending to the local economy.

DUBAI AIMS TO BE REGIONAL INCENTIVE AND CONFERENCE HUB OF THE REGION Dubai has built itself into an amazing musts visit destination with a mix of Arab

and modern lifestyle attracting business and leisure travellers alike from all over the world. Over the past 20 years its infrastructure has grown and tourism revenue accounts for 30% of the emirate’s economy, while crude-oil exports have shrunk to just 3%. A new Dubai is taking shape with the goal of creating a lasting, healthy economy for its 1.2 million residents. ‘The merchant’s city’ is welcoming international visitors with sights and experiences found nowhere else in the world. It is a convenient meeting point, with direct flights from most European capitals and other major cities. It is also a great business hub with a good infrastructure making it easy to service the region. Beyond business, the people are friendly, the beaches are beautiful, there are great historic sites, and the surrounding desert offers tranquillity out of the city. Dubai is safe and secure, new and different, with variety and excitement with professional destination management services and luxury hotels. The Dubai Convention Bureau provides a full range of services too. Dubai recently launched a new brand identity and announced the creation of the Dubai Association Centre (DAC) is a new legal platform that will allow international associations to establish their regional headquarters in Dubai, and grow their membership numbers not only in the UAE, but also in regional markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The establishment of DAC will also result in a boost for the business tourism industry, with more major meetings and large exhibitions taking place in the emirate. Under the Tourism Vision 2020 strategy, the emirate hopes to double visitor numbers from 10 million in 2012 to 20 million in 2020.

SINGAPORE ASIA’S M.I.C.E. HUB The garden city of Singapore has always been a top

Asian destination with its compact size, sightseeing, catering, entertainment, business events and exhibitions which together create an integrated tourism chain. Singapore facilities have helped make it a prime M.I.C.E. location in Asia with venues such as World Resort Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore, Merlion’s Park, Suntec Singapore and Singapore EXPO. At the heart of Singapore’s central business district is the Marina Bay Sands; a landmark in Singapore’s M.I.C.E. market. The integrated resort offers hotel, meeting, dining, entertainment and shopping, all at one place. With over 120,000sq.m. of flexible space with 250 meeting rooms, a full service business centre and the capacity for 2,000 exhibition booths, the Sands Expo & Convention Centre can host up to 45,000 delegates at one time. It also has Southeast Asia’s largest ballroom able to cater for up to 11,000 delegates theatre-style or 6,600 banquet-style. The hotel is welcoming and experienced in handling international M.I.C.E. groups from all over the world. ●


Al Mar jan Is land project , Ras El Khaima, UAE

AL MARJAN ISLAND RAS EL KHAIMA, UAE, EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF TOURISM by Dimitri Laspas - publisher We have seen the Middle Eastern nation of the United Arab Emirates establish unique and amazing developments like the ‘Palm Tree’, which quite literally grew out of the sea, as well as the neighbouring ‘World’ complex. The UAE have 4 man-made islands and now a new one is being built in the north of the country in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).

Ras Al Khaimah is just 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport and has positioned itself as a premium luxury holiday destination. With year-round sunshine, sweeping white sand beaches and world class resorts it is a unique destination for everyone. It has beautiful mountains, red sandy desert and lush green plains along with creeks and lagoons. Ras Al Khaimeh has a rich Arab heritage dating back 5,000 years, which can be seen in its many historical sites, forts and abandoned villages.

The Al Mar jan island, project

It new pull for tourists and business is the ‘Al Marjan Island’ which aims to become a destination for ‘affordable luxury’. The project will add 21km of beaches and prime real estate to Ras Al Khaimah existing 64km of natural beaches.

The Island is a group of 4 man-made islands connected by a peninsula extending 4.5km into the sea. Each island will have a different purpose and clientele. Island one and the peninsula will serve as the gateway to the other islands, with major commercial and community spaces; Island Two will be mainly residential; Island Three will be for entertainment and finally Island Four will have several major hotels and resorts to offer.

The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is building the biggest luxury hotel and resort complex on the island, allocating 50% of its tourism development budget, to the development of the ‘Bab Al Bahr Resort’.

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Rixos Hotels will manage the 657 room resort. The resort will feature leisure facilities including a golf course, gardens, beaches and restaurants.

Hilton Worldwide is to open the DoubleTree Resort on Al Marjan Island and will offer 484 rooms, including 45 luxury chalets located on the resort’s private beach. It will be one of the 1st hotels to open on the peninsula that connects the islands to mainland RAK. InterContinental Hotels Group is developing a 442 room Crowne Plaza Resort. Most of the other hotels being developed are to open this year.

Residencia l area at Al Mar jlan island

The Bin Majid Group is to open one of the highly anticipated resorts ‘The Santorini Hotel’ which will have 410 guest rooms and suites. With stunning scenery and an elegant modern design, Santorini Hotel is a 7 story complex with a variety of facilities and amenities to enhance its luxury hotel experience and unique location, but with a premium focus on privacy.

The Al Marjan Island is attracting many luxury brands and its new hotels will help increase the Emirates room capacity by 10,000 by 2016. By 2021, RAK hopes tourism will account for 20% of its GDP. Ras Al Khaimah attracted 1.1 million tourists in 2013 and generated UK£97, (EU€122) million compared to 853,000 in 2012 who generated UK£66, (EU€82) million. Inbound and domestic tourism is expected to increase by 5% in 2014, with business travel increasing by 3%. ●


AVIATION News

VENEZUELA COULD BE ISOLATED The International Air

Transport Association (IATA) has advised Venezuela that if it does not settle its debts with international airlines, it would become isolated from the world. The Venezuelan government is in a dispute with 24 airlines with debts totalling over UK£2.50, (EU€4.12) billion. To date, just UK£257, (EU€323) million has been authorised to be paid to a few airlines. Out of the 24 airlines affected, two; Air Canada and Alitalia has stopped flying to Venezula while others have reduced services by nearly 80%.

ANA & ASIAN WINGS DEAL STOPPED A planned co-

operation between All Nippon Airways and the Myanmar airline, Asian Wings, has been cancelled due to viability concerns. The agreement was signed in August 2013 which allowed ANA, Japan’s largest airline group, a 49% stake in Asian Wings. It was the 1st deal between an international airline and a domestic carrier and would have offered a fleet of 10 Airbus A320 aircraft in operation by 2018. The deal is now off due to the small Myanmar domestic market as well as strong competition from 10 other domestic carriers. Asian Wings Airways is a privately owned airline and launched its flights in 2011 to 13 domestic destinations with 2 aircraft.

9th ROUTE FOR EMIRATES TO THE USA Emirates Airlines

has started a daily flight to Chicago, its 9th destination in the USA. Earlier this year the airline launched a daily flight to Boston. As well as passengers, cargo is a big part of the new route and improves a direct trade and tourism bridge between the two cities with Dubai.

ALITALIA SAVED BY... ? Etihad Airways and Alitalia have

signed an agreement giving Etihad a 49% stake in Alitalia for an investment of UK£1,403 (EU€1.758) million aimed to rebuild Alitalia as a competitive and profitable airline. The strategic business plan will allow Alitalia to fly new long haul routes from Milan and Rome and focus on the Italian tourism and trade promotion, while new global connections will boost inbound tourism. Etihad also sees its investment in 75% of the Alitalia Loyalty Spa, which operates MilleMiglia, the airline’s frequent flier programme, and the purchase of 5 pairs of slots at London’s Heathrow Airport valued at UK£48, (EU€60) million. The slot pairs will be leased back to Alitalia. By Summer 2015, Alitalia will start connections between other Italian cities and Abu Dhabi, with direct flights from Venice, Catania and

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Bologna, etc. Rome Fiumicino will become a larger European intercontinental hub, with 5 new routes over the next 4 years, while long-haul flights from Milan Malpensa will more than double to 25 flights a week by 2018. Alitalia’s fleet will also see upgrades in line with the new network plan.

THE JOSE JOAQUIN DE OLMEDO AIRPORT SERVES GUAYAQUIL AND THE REST OF THE WORLD The José

Joaquín de Olmedo Airport has been recognised as the best in its category of terminals that receive between 2-5 million passengers per year. The Guayaquil Airport Authority (AAG), in charge of managing the José Joaquín de Olmedo Airport of Guayaquil, has the key mission to safeguard the contract for running the airport and to create the future development of the airport. AAG currently manages the future plan to design Guayaquil’s new airport in the Chongón-Daular area.

The location is exceptional in terms of aeronautical and meteorological points of view and will have 3 parallel runways, capable of operating simultaneously, guaranteeing enough capacity for the rest of the 21st century. There are only 6 airports in the world with this capacity at present all in the USA.

AIR FRANCE 5-DAY STRIKE Pilots of French airline, Air

France are planning a 5-day strike due to big changes in the airlines short and medium haul flights. If the protest goes ahead from 15-22 September, it will affect domestic and European flights. The proposed changes would see some flights move to Air France's regional arm Hop! and its low-cost carrier Transavia.

AEGEAN AIRLINES ORDERING 8 AIRBUS A320 Aegean

Airlines, the fast-growing Greek airline, has placed a firm order for 8 A320s, with options for an additional 12 A320 aircraft. The new A320s will replace older aircraft in Aegean's fleet, and also be used for expansion on both domestic and international routes from the airline's main bases at Athens and Thessaloniki. Aegean Airlines is the most dynamic airline in Greece growing on average 20% per year during the past 5 years. Aegean is the 1

st Greek airline to offer electronic tickets to the market

and the only one to be internationally awarded by ERA with the Airline of the Year gold, silver and bronze awards. Aegean offers flights to 14 Greek destinations and 7 other European destinations. ●


http://www.worldfolio.co.uk/companies/autoridad-aeroportuaria-guayaquil-ecuador

LATIN AMERICA News

The fishermen, Hai ti

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES TO BUILD TOURISM PORT IN HAITI

Haiti has signed a UK£42, (EU€53) million dollar agreement with the US-based Carnival Cruise Lines to build a tourism port on the island of Latortue north of the island. The project will help improve the lives of the residents in the area by reducing poverty. The project is the 2nd largest cruise tourism investment in Haiti and will employ nearly 1,000 people. Haiti recorded a 20% increase in tourist arrivals in 2013, although lower than neighbouring nations like the Dominica Republic, Cuba and Jamaica who on average receive 3 million visitors. However, Haiti registered the biggest growth rate in tourist arrivals in the Caribbean, meaning there is growing interest for the destination and that will continue to grow and develop as the country develops and expands its facilities and infrastructure. Recently, Haiti, in partnership with several national and international groups, launched the project to turn the island of Ile-a-Vache (Cow Island) in the southern part of Haiti, into a direct international tourist destination with an international airport and other tourist infrastructure.

FALKLANDS TOURIST BOARD PLANS STRONG UK PRESENCE AT EVENTS The Falkland Islands Tourist

Board (FITB) is working to present a strong presence at key events in the UK in coming months. The first being their attendance at The British Bird Watching Fair that takes place on the nature reserve at Rutland Water. The nature reserve is a RAMSAR and Special Protection Area and is managed by The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. The aim of the Fair is to get birdwatchers together to celebrate birds, to develop a commercial fair for the bird watching industry and to support international conservation projects.

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Over 20,000 visitors attend the annual Fair and over 300 exhibitors display their products, with BirdLife International and its partners receiving the profits for conservation projects. More than £2 million has been raised to help save birds and their habitats in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. Bird Fair attracts exhibitors from all over the world promoting businesses as diverse as eco-tourism, optical equipment, old/new wildlife books and bird-feeding products. It is must event for the Falklands given the Islands unique wildlife offering and this year FITB is one of the main sponsors of the event. The next event is the trade show, World Travel Market. This year FITB will focus on ‘destination awareness’ and have incorporated a large illuminated map of the Falklands within the stand. The booth also has six 60” plasmas which loop a video feed of the Falkland Islands non-stop throughout the event. There will be a reception at the event where all of the major tour operators, travel agents, travel trade publications and media outlets will be invited.

INVESTING IN COLOMBIA Barranquilla in Colombia has been ranked 8th out of the top

10 major cities with the best Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategies in the Americas. Two Colombian cities are included on the list made up of 126 cities; Barranquilla (for the 2nd time) and Cali. The other cities on the list were Managua, capital of Nicaragua, Chicago and Phoenix in the U.S., Guadalajara in Mexico, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. This achievement is good for Barranquilla and Colombia in general as it is not just local or regional investors who know about the city now, bigger international investors are within the city’s reach. This also means that the city has to be ready in terms of transportation and facilities to support the investments. Colombia has had a longstanding democracy, one of the longest in South America – and its economic policies clearly show that investors are welcome and that they have the guarantee of investing in a stable, rapidly growing country. Barranquilla is on the road to becoming one of the cities that better show the welcoming policy that reigns in Colombia. The geographical location of the city also helps its aims as it is located at the point where the main waterway of the country, the Magdalena River and the Caribbean Sea meet. This means Barranquilla connects Colombia to the world and the world connects to Colombia via Barranquilla. This will allow the city to grow more quickly. In the meantime the local government are working hard on all aspects to make the city as welcoming as possible for foreigners as well as a better place to be for its citizens.

A LUXURY RETIREMENT DESTINATION Ecuador is not the first place you might think

of retiring to, but when you look at all it has to offer, you will wonder why you are not already living there! It is a small Latin American country packed full of diversity, light, life and colour. There is a huge cultural mix as well as handicrafts, snow capped mountains, beautiful beaches, islands and a mega-diversity of flora, fauna and geography. It is here at the Caribbean-style resort on Ecuador's Guayas coast, called ‘Karibao’, that a little piece of luxury retirement is on offer. Ecuador is placing itself on the retirement destination map with developers creating idyllic communities where expats will feel at home, while enjoying all the enchantment of Ecuador’s varied and exotic climate, geography and cuisine, as well as its warm hospitality. Aimed at up-market foreign retirees, the Karibao is a ground-breaking development for the country. Due to its climate which has been declared the 2nd best in the world by UNESCO, its facilities, cultural affinity and infrastructure, makes for an excellent destination. Karibao will feature a golf course, a 17-acre artificial lagoon (the world’s 3rd largest), 20-30 buildings to house up to 10,000 people as well as sports and recreation centres, bars and restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, a spa, gas stations, shops and health centres. This is all in addition to the stunning views of the beautiful virgin beaches surrounding the complex. ●


EXHIBITION News MELBOURNE IS HOST CITY FOR ATE 2015 From 21-25 June 2015

Melbourne will host the country’s premier tourism trade show for attracting international business, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE). ATE is Australia’s annual business-to-business tourism travel trade event, which brings together around 600 travel wholesalers and agents from 38 countries to meet and do business with 1,500 Australian tourism seller delegates from 500 companies. ATE is all about showcasing the exceptional destinations and experiences offered by the diverse tourism businesses that can be found throughout Australia. The host city can expect an immediate injection of UK£5.68, (EU€7.10) million in to the local economy during the week of hosting ATE. However, longer term the event’s impact is far and wide reaching as it provides a platform to further grow the UK£16, (EU€20) billion that is generated annually by international visitors. Melbourne is the perfect destination for major events and has world class facilities for all types of major and business events.

ITE HCMC 11 - 13 September 2014

The largest and most established travel event in Vietnam the Mekong is back! The International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2014 is celebrating its 10th anniversary from the 11 - 13 September 2014 at the Saigon Exhibitions & Convention Center. The exhibition serves as the leading powerhouse in presenting travel and tourism products, packages and services in the Mekong region and the world. The ITE HCMC 2014 brings together experts and decision makers from the leading companies within the travel and tourism products, packages and services in the Mekong region and the world.

THE FCCA CRUISE CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Held at St.

Maarten from 6-10 October 2014, the 2014 FCCA Trade Show, the Caribbean's largest cruise and tourism trade show, will offer exhibitors an invaluable opportunity to target an influential audience of about 1,000 cruise tourism stakeholders and over 100 executives, presidents and CEOs from FCCA Member Lines. Exhibitors are guaranteed exposure through numerous events hosted at the Trade Show pre-at and after the event. FCCA destination partner pavilions this year include: Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 17

CRUISE SHIPPING ASIA-PACIFIC The 4th edition of Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific is

preparing for the most prominent speakers in the Asia cruise market to lead the conference that will run from 20-21 November 2014. This year's conference will analyse the market potential and challenges associated with the emerging Asia cruise market as well as explore the infrastructure and itinerary development opportunities. Discussion sessions during the two days include ‘The State of the Cruise Industry in Asia’, ‘The Operating Environment in Asia’ and ‘Focus on China.’ ‘How Asia Will Grow as a Source Market’ and ‘Cruise Infrastructure Across Asia’, ‘Itinerary Development Across the Region’ and ‘Shipbuilding and Refurbishment in Asian Yards’. Leading the conference sessions are a wide variety of industry leaders and innovators. For more details visit www.cruiseshippingasia.com.

MITM AMERICAS & CULTOURFAIR 2014 The 20th edition of MITM Americas, Meetings

& Incentive Travel Market, and the 6th edition of CULTOURFAIR, International Cultural Travel Fair, will be held simultaneously from 3-5 December 2014 in Puebla, Mexico, sponsored by Puebla´s Secretary of Tourism. The response to the invitation to participate as a hosted buyer, which was extended to both buyers in the MICE sector as well as wholesalers and travel agents specialising in Cultural Tourism, has been a resounding success and in 5 months has received almost 300 requests from buyers to participate in MITM & CULTOURFAIR. These buyers come from 36 countries: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

CITY FAIR 2015 With the success of the workshop in 2014 ETOA and ECM (European

Cities Marketing) have announced that City Fair will return in 2015 and will be held again at London’s Wembley Stadium. Bringing destinations and tourism suppliers from all over Europe together with international buyers, City Fair is a must-attend B2B networking event for destination tourism professionals. Paired with a diverting social programme in London, the City Fair workshop takes offers a B2B focused alternative to larger scale expensive exhibitions. The 2015 edition, to be the 5th City Fair, looks to continue the trend of previous events and grow yet further. In June 2014 suppliers from 26 countries attended City Fair, meeting with over 200 buyers representing all major global markets.

INTERNATIONAL LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET SPA In the lead up to ILTM Spa 2014,

organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions has revealed the results of research undertaken among its network of luxury wellness holidays, world renowned spas and specialist spa and wellness buyers. Spas across Asia continue to be of great interest to the spa buyers attending ILTM Spa with 61% looking to meet with spas from Southern Asia, 50% from South East Asia and 44% from Central Asia. A further 23% were looking to review spa destinations in Europe, 14% in Africa and 15% from across the Americas. Over 95% of spa buyers who attended ILTM 2013 were looking to place business within 1 year of meeting new suppliers at ILTM Spa; 95% commented the event delivered the right type of supplier for their clients. Hand selected and fully hosted by ILTM from 20 countries within both established and emerging markets, these spa specialists attended to source new products and services from across the world (95%), find new suppliers (95%) and look for inspiration and to see what new (80%). In addition, 78% of participating destination and hotel spas expected to confirm orders of values ranging between US$8,500 and US$85,000 within 1 year of the 2013 show and a significant number are returning to this year’s event. ILTM Spa takes place from 29 September – 1 October 2014 in London, UK. ●


Market Trends…

STILL SPA ATTRACTS? by Dimitri Laspas - publisher

Since antiquity, Spa’s have been a dominant feature of Europe. Today there are more than 1,250 spas and health resorts across the continent, which generate a considerable amount to the GDP of many of Europe’s nations. The European Spa Association aims to promote spas in Europe and to make it available to as many people as possible. In recent years the latest focus has been on the feet, with dedicated foot fitness classes, street-side fish eating pedicures, more dominance for reflexology.

Our feet are a delicate and complex. They are made up of 33 joints and 26 bones, which are wrapped in 126 muscles, ligaments and nerves. We walk approx. 4 hours a day on them equating to 8,000-10,000 steps. No wonder they need looking after! But many of us wear unsuitable foot ware from high heels causing pain, unstable shoes and unsupportive shoes which end up causing disfigurement to the foot’s structure. Other issues causing foot problems include obesity and diabetes, along with a global aging population.

So, to save your feet, head for your nearest spa centre, many of which have achieved medical and clinical evidence confirming the proven, medical effectiveness of spa therapies like massage, meditation or acupuncture.

In 2011 the launch of the website SpaEvidence .com, was the world’s 1st portal to the combined medical studies that exists for 21 common spa/wellness approaches. It was launched by the Global Spa Summit, a support group for the worldwide spa/wellness industries, assisted by doctors with expertise in integrated medicine. SpaEvidence was a big step towards transparency for the spa industry, as it offered clinical evidence behind therapies, whether it is be positive, inconclusive or negative. It also allowed for new, common ground to be established between the medical and spa worlds.

Although thought of as a harmonious place of peace and quiet, a new spa niche market is emerging; teenagers! Today, a spa is all about wellness which means the whole family is included. 19

With the growing childhood obesity epidemic, a spa can help identify a new path towards a better healthier lifestyle. Many spas are looking at ways to attract the whole family.

Resorts are eliminating the age restrictions they had in place for fitness and spa areas and now run specific fitness and spa programmes targeting a particular age range. There is also wellness babysitting services at many spa resorts.

While the Unite States of America seems to be leading the way for child spa offerings, Asia is also seeing a growing interest from younger clients, with one spa clinic offering a combination of full paediatric medical services (from immunisations to well-baby programmes) with a host of wellness, beauty and salon services aimed at the 0-19 age range. In Germany a new 3-story, child-friendly spa centre has included sensory experiences like thunder, rain and lightning effects, as well as a tree sauna, a cooling water grotto, adventure showers and a waterfall.

Another niche spa market is the ‘Spa Party’ mainly aimed at the under 20 sector offering anything from facials to pedicures, and manicures, make up application classes, yoga or massage.

This trend is also worldwide with a spa centre in Indonesia targeting not only the family or the young girls of the family, but also promotes ‘father and son chill-out massages.’ So, with the younger generation starting a new trend in wellness, fitness and wellbeing, the spa sensation is set to grow and develop with a new generation of people with sophisticated spa, wellness and beauty habits.

The wellness and spa trend will boom this decade attracting all levels of society with spas developing and offering an endless range of service to satisfy the existing clientele and to attract new clients and increasingly families. Another key market will be the emerging markets like Brazil, Russia, China and India, which alone will contribute over half of the total UK£36, (EU€46) billion growth for the global Wellness and Spa industry by 2015. Wellness tourism, which is just one aspect of the international wellness market, is now worth UK£273, (EU€341) billion; a figure expected to rise to UK£423, (EU€526) billion by 2017.

With such potential growth on offer, with it comes a highly competitive market, with wellbeing providers needing to offer something that will stand out and make a mark in the wellness sector.

Indeed, around the world there are dedicated trade and consumer spa and wellness healthcare events and publications focusing on what was once a small niche market, but now looks like being the new big leisure sector leader where every holiday will include a spa experience! ●


tatw monthly 9 september 2014 edition

Documents

edition of tourism

capital athens

tourism venezuela

city of athens museum

fresh air tourism

free athens guide

excellent athens map

world history