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What is the discussion at the UNWTO / ICAO Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport?

March 28, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

A Panel discussion is ongoing and a packed program are planned today for delegates in Sai Island, Cabo Verde attending the First UNWTO/ ICAO Ministerial Conference Tourism and Air Transport.

Air Transport and Tourism Policies: Regulatory convergence to maximize and balance their benefits

Air Transport and tourism depend heavily on each other and are essential engines of trade and economic growth for both developed and developing countries.

Despite the synergies, there can be conflicts between aviation and tourism policies due to the difficulties of States in balancing the interests of their airlines and the optimum development of their tourism industries. Separate sectorial policies result in a fundamental disconnect, which constitutes a severe deterrent towards the development of both sectors. How do we enhance policy coherence between the two sectors, harmonize the regulatory frameworks, and prevent separate sectoral policies? How can we strike a balance to maximize the overall benefits of tourism and air transport in the national economy?

What is the current status of Africa’s regulatory framework and what is its impact on tourism and air transport (the Lomé Declaration and the related Action plans both for Air Transport and for Tourism?

How can Africa benefit from and implement the joint UNWTO and ICAO Medellín Statement on Tourism and Air Transport for Development? How can the African Governments promote cooperation and compatible decision-making among transport and tourism authorities and other ministries in charge of related portfolios, including finance, economic planning, energy, environment and trade?

What are the challenges encountered by tourism stakeholders in reflecting tourism business interests in national and regional air transport policies?

Connectivity and Seamless Travel: Best practices to serve tourists and passengers

Aviation and tourism are a customer-focused economic sector.

While there is no single definition of air connectivity, it can be viewed as the ability of a network to move passengers involving the minimum of transit points, which makes the trip as short as possible with optimal passenger satisfaction at the minimum price possible. The realization of seamless travel can improve overall travel experience, which in turn fuels tourism demand.

With the recent launching of the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), open skies over Africa may soon be a reality, building the necessary regulatory framework to increase international intra-Africa travel.

How do we optimize the flow of passenger traffic through the air transport system? How can we generate sufficient demand for direct air services between African sub-regions, especially between the East-West coasts?

How well do current air service agreements (ASAs) contribute to connectivity and what are the prospects of air transport liberalization? What constitute the bottlenecks and slowdowns of seamless travel in the air transport system? What regulatory schemes can be used or developed to assure essential air services to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)?

What are the existing best practices and how could they be extended and adapted to other regions? What are the factors influencing airline choices for different market segments (the intercultural dimension)?

Funding and Financing for Development: Pragmatic measures to build a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate

Infrastructure deficiencies in the aviation and tourism sectors have long been an issue in Africa. While plans are in place to develop and modernize aviation infrastructure, relief is years away at best.

In the meantime, there will be lost opportunities for creating jobs and spurring economic growth. Another issue is the proliferation of taxes on tourism and air transport despite the fact that the industry recovers a vast majority of its own infrastructure costs through payments of user charges, rather than being financed through taxation.

Revenue raised by taxes can often be outweighed by the relinquished economic benefits as a result of dampened demand for air travel.

This Session will focus on

a) the creation of good governance and enabling the environment to build business confidence and encourage investments, and

b) the consolidation of planning and development efforts for aviation and tourism infrastructure in multi-modal and urban planning initiatives. What are the challenges of financing development projects related to the tourism and air transport sectors, particularly in LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS?

What are the success stories in financing tourism and air transport projects? How do consumers perceive taxes, charges, and others levies and how to ensure transparency of taxes and charges to passengers and tourists?

Why is the limited volume of international public finance and assistance for development currently available for aviation and tourism infrastructure projects?

Travel Facilitation: Advancing visa facilitation in supporting economic growth 

Travel facilitation aims at maximizing the efficiency of border clearance formalities while achieving and maintaining high-quality security and effective law enforcement. Allowing passengers/tourists to cross international borders safely and efficiently contributes significantly to stimulating demand, enhancing the competitiveness of States, creating jobs and fostering international understanding.

In spite of the great strides made in recent decades in facilitating tourist travel in Africa, there is still room for considerable progress. For example, electronic visa processes and delivery could make travel more accessible, convenient, and more efficient without a diminution of national security.

States should also look into increasing cooperation on bilateral, regional and international travel facilitation regimes. How can new technologies be used to make travel more accessible, convenient and efficient? How to define and implement policies which facilitate international travel and tourism while ensuring the security and integrity of traveler identification and border controls?

How well do e-passports, e-visas and other documentation deal with emergent threats to security? How could the African States learn from other effective best practices?

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Seychelles Tourism Board accentuates its efforts towards Singaporean agents

March 12, 2019 by PressEditor

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) in its ongoing marketing strategy to bring the Seychelles products close to the agents has conducted an aggressive meeting spree in February 2019 in Singapore.

This initiative follows the workshop conducted in May 2018 in the region after which a stronger profile of the market was established.

The sales visits were conducted by STB Director for South East Asia, by Mrs. Amia Jovanovic-Desir with the support of STB partner SriLankan Airlines Ltd represented by Ms. Alis Shehdek, Senior Sales Executive of the airline.

The visits aimed at consolidating the Seychelles brand presence on the Singaporean market and to enrich the knowledge of key local agents about the destination.

Speaking about the initiative Mrs. Jovanovic-Desir mentioned that the sales visit follows a long preparation resulting from a better understanding of the characteristics and demands of the Singaporean agents. She further mentioned that this sales activity conducted by STB is in order to better position the destination alongside its’ close and dominant competitors on the market.

Meetings were organized with the representatives of key agencies interested in the destination namely; Same Page Travel, Chan World Holidays, JTB PTE LTD, Aveson Travel, Fascinating Holidays, Famous World Tours, Albatross World Travel, Euro – Asia Holidays, Price Breaker Travels and Shan Travel Service.

During the mission on Singaporean soil, Mrs. Amia Jovanovic-Desir and Ms. Alis Shehdek, also had the opportunity to visit the tour operators/travel agents who are promoting beach and resort destinations at the NATAS Travel Fair which was held from February 22-24, 2019.

The opportunity for the duo to discuss with the agents present about the frequent questions asked by clients concerning the destination, which pertained to the issue of connectivity.

The agents were pleased to learn that although there is no direct flight serving the destination; clients have connectivity options through two airlines, namely SriLankan Airlines and Emirates, both deserving the regions.

Mrs. Amia Jovanovic-Desir mentioned the focus for the Singaporean market would be centered around raising awareness on the destination.

Feedback emphasized by Ms. Cathy Loh, one of the Singaporean agents present who is the owner of Aveson Travel Pte Ltd. Ms. Loh who had visited Seychelles ten years ago affirmed her strong need to assess the Seychelles product today so as to better promote the destination. She informed the Seychelles representatives that her company’s strategy is to focus on the honeymoon, families and incentive market segments.

Impressions shared by the CEO, of Albatross World, Ms. Crystal Sim she mentioned that the marketing opportunities for the Seychelles product is vast, she also confirmed that in Singapore there is a strong market segment to tap into.

“Seychelles could be one of that specific niche segment that the agents in Singapore are searching for, which will match their clients’ demands and interest, thus quenching their thirst for new destination for their holiday,“ said Ms. Sim.

“I can confirm that it was a fruitful sales visit, I was very impressed by the commitment demonstrated by our agents to sell the destination. In order to have a stronger and persistent presence on the market we should work closely with those tour operators and agents who believe in the destination. The outcome of this visit is that STB with the support of SriLankan Airlines in Singapore will invite some of the decision makers whom we have met during the visit on a familiarization working trip to Seychelles,” said the STB Director for South East Asia.

Indeed, through the destination presentation, different features, attractions and the points of interest of the destination were featured, giving a wide view for the partners selling the destination.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel  www.seychelles.travel

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Filed Under: Press Release, Travel & Tourism Tagged With: Destinations, Jovanovic, Market, market segments, Ms, segments, Seychelles, Singaporean, Singaporean market, STB, visits

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