Monday, September 19, 2011

South Africa looks to bright tourism future | Focus | Breaking Travel News

South Africa looks to bright tourism future | Focus | Breaking Travel News

Egyptian tourism minister welcomes World Travel Awards to Sharm el Sheikh | News | Breaking Travel News

Egyptian tourism minister welcomes World Travel Awards to Sharm el Sheikh | News | Breaking Travel News

Success of Seychelles is because of close association with the press | News | Breaking Travel News

Success of Seychelles is because of close association with the press | News | Breaking Travel News

Success of Seychelles is because of close association with the press

Success of Seychelles is because of close association with the press

Challenges facing Caribbean tourism explored at state of industry conference | News | Breaking Travel News

Challenges facing Caribbean tourism explored at state of industry conference | News | Breaking Travel News

Monday, August 15, 2011

CLIA’s 2011 Cruise Market Profile Study Reports Positive Consumer Attitudes and Outlook for Cruise Vacations :: Hospitality Trends

CLIA’s 2011 Cruise Market Profile Study Reports Positive Consumer Attitudes and Outlook for Cruise Vacations :: Hospitality Trends

Destinations Around the World Ready To Embrace Sustainability As Market Driver :: Travel Industry Wire

Destinations Around the World Ready To Embrace Sustainability As Market Driver :: Travel Industry Wire

Lack of infrastructure cited in limited tourism, air travel growth

Lack of infrastructure cited in limited tourism, air travel growth

Jamaica leads Caribbean tourism rebound | News | Breaking Travel News

Jamaica leads Caribbean tourism rebound | News | Breaking Travel News

Indian Medical Travel Association urges government to modify visa for medical tourism

Indian Medical Travel Association urges government to modify visa for medical tourism

Chinese Tourism: A Potential Bounty for U.S. Hotels | By Li Chen

Chinese Tourism: A Potential Bounty for U.S. Hotels | By Li Chen

Monday, August 1, 2011

Thandie Newton: Embracing otherness, embracing myself

Thandie Newton: Embracing otherness, embracing myself

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Social Media And The Growing Market Of Chinese Travelers - Daniel Edward Craig Interviews Jens Thraenhart of Dragon Trail :: Hotel News Resource

Social Media And The Growing Market Of Chinese Travelers - Daniel Edward Craig Interviews Jens Thraenhart of Dragon Trail :: Hotel News Resource

Why the Travel Industry Needs to Wake Up to Mobile - By Gina Baillie :: Hospitality Trends

Why the Travel Industry Needs to Wake Up to Mobile - By Gina Baillie :: Hospitality Trends

Working on a Rate Offering That Captures 'demand' to Maximise the Overall Revenue :: Hospitality Trends

Working on a Rate Offering That Captures 'demand' to Maximise the Overall Revenue :: Hospitality Trends

Is Change Stressing Out Your Workforce? - By Is Change Stressing Out Your Workforce? Erica Arnold and Doug Rosen :: Hospitality Trends

Is Change Stressing Out Your Workforce? - By Is Change Stressing Out Your Workforce? Erica Arnold and Doug Rosen :: Hospitality Trends

New Study Proves Tourism Promotion Campaigns Increase Visitation :: Hospitality Trends

New Study Proves Tourism Promotion Campaigns Increase Visitation :: Hospitality Trends

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Alain Ducasse in Provence

Please respect FT.com's ts&cs and copyright policy which allow you to: share links; copy content for personal use; & redistribute limited extracts. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights or use this link to reference the article - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/459b6946-a0ce-11e0-b14e-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1R1YmD5jL

July 1, 2011 10:01 pm

Short cuts
By Tom Robbins
Alain Ducasse in Provence
Sarajevo: Kate Adie, the BBC’s former chief news correspondent, is turning her hand to being a tour guide, working alongside other journalists, diplomats and analysts for a new travel company specialising in politics and current affairs. Adie will lead a tour of Bosnia in September for Political Tours, which has been set up by Nicholas Wood, a former New York Times foreign correspondent, with the aim of giving tourists the chance to visit places in the news. Other destinations include Scotland (to investigate the independence agenda), post-revolution Egypt, plus Ethiopia and North Korea. Guides include Tim Judah of The Economist and Neil MacFarlane, professor of international relations at Oxford University.

www.politicaltours.com


Saturday, July 2, 2011

#more-46043

#more-46043

gulfnews : Preserving a way of life

gulfnews : Preserving a way of life


Preserving a way of life
As the Abu Dhabi tourism grows, authorities step up efforts to preserve modern heritage

By Samihah Zaman, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
Published: 00:00 July 2, 2011



Grand attraction: The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the most popular cultural sites in the capital.


Abu Dhabi: Steeped in history and tradition, the UAE has always housed a rich Emirati culture and way of living.

So even as the capital city transforms into a world class tourist destination of choice, authorities are markedly stepping up efforts to preserve and popularise sites of both historic and modern heritage.

While historic sites representing Emirati culture are being preserved or getting a facelift, conservators at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) are also conducting a survey to determine places and landmarks which hold a special value to current residents.

This is because the tangible heritage of a place is composed of both historic sites, as well as places that are currently significant and that will retain value for future generations, Aqeel Ahmad Aqeel, historic building conservator at ADACH, told Gulf News.

Article continues below

Wind towers

"Sites of heritage are especially important because they help people learn about the ideas and lifestyles of a civilisation. For instance, the structure of older Emirati houses includes wind towers. So simply visiting an old house teaches you about a natural mechanism of protection from the desert heat that was adopted in the past," he said.

"Currently, there are about two historic sites in the city open to the public, namely Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's summer house in Khalifa Park and the Maqta Fort and Customs House. We are also working to develop the Qasr Al Hosn, which will be a major cultural centre when opened," Aqeel added.

Qasr Al Hosn, which is also known as the White Fort or the Cultural Foundation and was the seat of the government in the capital since 1793, has been closed for renovation for the past year.

According to Aqeel, the stone structure is scheduled to house a museum and other cultural activities.

"We know that both Emirati and expat residents, as well as tourists, would like to visit more places within the city that are rich in Emirati heritage. While these are limited in number at present, the ADACH is also surveying residents to determine other sites which could be developed into heritage landmarks," he added.

Aqeel also said that as part of another initiative, the ADACH would compile a list of modern heritage landmarks that would be preserved for the future.

"This will include sites like the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Al Manhal Palace on Airport Road, the souq in Mina, and other places which residents hold dear at present," he said.

Currently, the Grand Mosque is one of the most popular cultural sites in the capital, and according to statistics released by the Grand Mosque Centre last month, it saw 1.16 million visitors during the first four months of 2011.

Most residents in the capital, contacted by Gulf News, called for more Emirati culture-related attractions within the capital city.

Places of interest

"The Zayed Centre on the breakwater and the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque are must-see places of interest, but few other heritage landmarks exist otherwise and even less is known about them," said M. Mughal, a 40-year-old cost engineer from India who has been living in the capital since 2005.

"I have two young children, and am always looking for places within the city that they can visit to learn and experience Emirati culture. Since we have seen the few places of interest already, we now have to travel to Dubai and Al Ain," he added.

Other residents said they missed one-time landmarks like the Corniche's iconic Volcano Fountain.

"I clearly remember the fountain which we visited on weekends, and I miss going there. I also remember spending afternoons perusing the stamp and coin collections at the Qasr Al Hosn," said O. Yasmin, 22, another resident from Bangladesh who had lived in the capital as a child.

When contacted, Lawrence Franklin, director of strategy and policy at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said that the capital also had other sites rich in heritage.

"In truth, these can include more humble centres of commerce or trade activity such as the fish market at Mina Zayed and Shaikh Zayed Bridge. In addition, a variety of other architectural landmarks are being developed at present in the Saadiyat Island's Cultural District, including the Zayed National Museum that will chronicle the life and times of Shaikh Zayed," Franklin said.

In addition to efforts by the ADACH and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, authorities have also called upon the private sector to assist in the preservation of historic sites.

Must-see! List of heritage sites

•Qasr Al Hosn (closed for renovation)
•Maqta Fort and Customs House
•Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's summer house
• Mina Zayed fish market
•Zayed Centre
- Source: ADACH and ADTA

Friday, July 1, 2011

Chinese visitors a boon to Taiwan's tourism industry

Travel
Chinese visitors a boon to Taiwan's tourism industry
TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- China on Tuesday will implement the latest changes to its policy governing cross-strait tourism, doubling the length of time a Chinese visitor can remain in Taiwan, and allowing for the first time "free independent travelers" to visit the island outside of a registered group tour.

The expected economic benefits of these changes are significant in Taiwan, where the government hopes that jobs in tourism will help to replace those lost in manufacturing as companies have relocated to mainland China in recent years to take advantage of lower labor costs.

China's new policies will add to earlier ones that have dramatically altered Taiwan's tourism industry, making the mainland the No. 1 source of visitors, a position that until last year was held by Japan.

According to the Mainland Affairs Council, over 2 million mainland tourists have visited Taiwan since June 2008, when the Chinese government began allowing limited cross-strait travel, creating a profit of US$3.8 billion.

Under the new FIT program, 500 residents of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will be permitted to visit Taiwan each day.

As these visitors can also stay longer, tourism authorities estimated that the changes will create business opportunities of US$9 billion to US$19.5 billion per year.

The greatest impact of Chinese visitors to Taiwan has been felt by those directly involved with transportation and hospitality.

Thanks to the increase in cross-trait flights, Taiwan's principal air carriers -- China Airlines and Eva Air -- anticipate higher earnings this year.

Eva Air recently announced it will spend NT$101.1 billion (US$3.4 billion) to purchase at least 25 new airplanes. Bus and taxi companies also expect to profit from changes, as they invest in promotions and equipment to deal with the expected increase in Chinese tourist traffic.

In Sun Moon Lake, one of Taiwan's top tourist areas, hotels welcome the new program. Lai Cheng-i, president of Shining Group, which owns the upscale Lalu Hotel, hopes to see a 5 percent increase in Chinese clientele, making them nearly equal to Japanese visitors.

Five-star hotels are not the only ones expected to benefit from the FIT program. Chuang Jin-chuan, owner and operator of an eight-room bed and breakfast at the other side of the lake from the Lalu said that while he serves mainly Taiwanese, he anticipates significantly more Chinese visitors thanks to the FIT program.

In addition to accommodations, shops that sell snacks and souvenirs have posted signs in simplified Chinese characters to attract mainland customers. Restaurants and food vendors have been especially pleased with the increased business.

Seventy-eight-year-old Tsou Chin-pen used to sell 200 to 300 tea eggs per day at the pier by the lakeshore. But in the last three years, this number has grown to 2,000 per day and continues to rise.

The real estate industry is also optimistic about the effects of the FIT program.

The recent implementation of a luxury tax to curb property speculation in Taiwan has increased the incentive for long-term investors, including those from abroad.

Huang Chiu-yuan, a project manager of Sinyi Realty Co., said that Chinese FITs are unlikely to invest in upscale apartments, but they may be potential buyers of office space, which they will then lease out in high-rent areas such as Taipei's Xinyi District.

Chinese investors will also be interested in the storefronts in popular tourist areas such as the city's famous Shihlin night market or along Zhongxiao East Road in eastern Taipei.

In all cases, real estate brokers are set to profit from the increase in Chinese visitors.

Not everyone is happy, however. While the tourism and real estate industries welcome Chinese FITs, some have expressed concern over problems caused by rising property values and threats to national security.

Others see only opportunity, pointing out that rising property values will be accompanied by more jobs and higher salaries. Even security concerns are likely to translate into increased employment as police and other personnel will be needed to deal with the heightened risk.

(Mainichi Japan) June 29, 2011


http://mdn.mainichi.jp/travel/news/20110629p2g00m0dm075000c.html

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Art lovers flock Cuba, but numbers still low - Arts & Leisure - Jamaica Gleaner - Sunday | June 26, 2011

Art lovers flock Cuba, but numbers still low - Arts & Leisure - Jamaica Gleaner - Sunday | June 26, 2011

Cubans ride in an old car on Havana's coastal Malecon on July 9, 2006. Travelling to Cuba is not illegal for Americans, but the Trading with the Enemy Act prohibits spending money on the island. If caught, unauthorised US tourists can face civil fines of up to US$55,000, though many settle for smaller amounts. - AP

Art lovers flock Cuba, but numbers still low
Published: Sunday | June 26, 2011 0 Comments
Cubans ride in an old car on Havana's coastal Malecon on July 9, 2006. Travelling to Cuba is not illegal for Americans, but the Trading with the Enemy Act prohibits spending money on the island. If caught, unauthorised US tourists can face civil fines of up to US$55,000, though many settle for smaller amounts. - AP
HAVANA (AP):

Cuba is getting more visitors, including a 20 per cent uptick in the number of Americans, but tourism income hasn't recovered from the sharp downturn caused by the global financial crisis, new government statistics say.

Overall tourist arrivals rose 18 per cent to 2.53 million last year from about 2.15 million in 2007, Cuba's National Office of Statistics said in a report posted last week on its website. Many visitors are art lovers eager to experience Cuba's rich art history and culture.

Despite the gains, visitors are making shorter trips and spending less. Tourism revenue totalled US$2.22 billion in 2010, slightly below the US$2.24 billion of 2007.

The report did not explain the data, but Cuba's tourism sector, a key source of income for the Caribbean island, has been hit hard by the world economic downturn.

According to the statistics office, the leading source of tourists last year was Canada, accounting for 945,000 visitors. Next came Britain at 174,000, Italy with 112,000 and Spain at 105,000.

The United States was the eighth-biggest source of travellers despite Washington's decades-old ban on American tourism to the island. About 63,000 Americans visited last year, compared with 52,000 in 2009.

Sneaked into island

The figures include both US citizens who came on trips approved by the US Treasury Department and those who sneaked in through third countries, but exclude the hundreds of thousands of Cubans living in the US who come home to visit family annually.

President Barack Obama lifted restrictions on visits by Cuban-Americans in 2009, and earlier this year his administration issued new rules for non-Cuban Americans that are expected to cause a significant increase in educational and cultural exchanges.

Bob Guild, vice-president of Marazul Charters Inc, which operates charter flights to Cuba, said the US government issued some US$1 million in fines to about 1,000 Americans who travelled to Cuba illegally during the early part of the last decade. But, he said, it stopped going after individuals in the latter years of the George W. Bush administration, according to Treasury Department records.

"That would in itself encourage people who might travel to Cuba without a licence," Guild said. "And under Obama, nobody would expect him to do anything worse than Bush was doing."

The increase in American travellers roughly corresponds with a 30 per cent rise in licensed excursions, for research, long-term academic study and religious trips, that Guild's company handled from 2009 to 2010. But he cautioned that the numbers involved are still relatively small.

Cuban officials have said privately they expect as many as 500,000 visitors to begin arriving from the United States annually.

Cuba's statistics office also reported that the number of hotel rooms on the island increased by 17 per cent over the last four years, rising to 65,000 last year from 56,000 in 2007.

Occupancy rates dropped slightly from 60 per cent to 57 per cent over the period, it said.

China/Jamaica Airline Link?

Business Content Jamaica


China/Jamaica Airline Link?


Wed, 29 June 2011
China’s new envoy to Kingston, Zheng Qingdian, has promised to pursue the introduction of direct flights between Beijing and Montego Bay, Jamaica.That’s according to Jamaica’s Tourism Ministry which mentioned that the new Chinese ambassador gave the commitment during a courtesy call on Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett on June 28, 2011.Ambassador Qingdian who noted Jamaica’s prowess in sports and tourism reportedly told the Jamaican Tourism Minister that he would be facilitating discussions with China Air to have the new flight arrangement implemented.The Chinese envoy also discussed investment prospects in tourism and invited Mr. Bartlett to meet with the Chinese Tourism Minister in China in September 2011 to explore other possible areas of collaboration.


http://www.allmediaservicesltd.com/news/the-economy/china-jamaica-airline-link.html

Business Content Jamaica

Business Content Jamaica