World News | forimmediaterelease.net

... press releases & Breaking World News

The Seychelles Islands displayed at the MATKA Nordic Travel Fair 2019

by

The Seychelles Tourism Board team in the Nordic Regions brought some sunshine to cold Finland as the Seychelles destination was represented at the MATKA Nordic Travel Fair 2019.

The Matka trade show, which is the largest travel fair in the Nordic Region, was held in Messukeskus Helsinki from January 17 to January 20, 2019. It’s the main travel platform in the region where everyone meets to conduct business.


eTN Chatroom for Readers (join us)

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

During the 4-day event, the Seychelles Island stand, which consisted of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), team members alongside other trade partners was located in the ‘Sun & Sea’ themed area together with other exotic destinations. The opportunity allowed the team to actively entice visitors to get to know the Seychelles Islands.

The delegation comprised of STB Marketing Director for Nordics, Ms. Karen Confait and Marketing Executive from STB headquarters, Ms. Melissa Samardzija, Mr. Ash Behari from Coco de Mer Hotel & Black Parrot Suites and Ms. Amy Michel representing Mason’s Travel.

The other participating partner on the STB stand included Finnish Tour Operators “Mr. Travel”, who was also present to assist with the promotion of the destination and offer their services to Nordic customers willing to visit Seychelles.

Several other operators also provided flyers with special offers, which were important as clients were looking for prices and packages.

The first two days of the trade show were mainly dedicated for trade professionals (B2B), whereas the remaining days saw a high attendance of the public in general. Ms. Confait mentioned that they noticed that many visitors who visited the STB stand for information, had already booked their trip to Seychelles, while others were shopping around to decide on their next holiday destination.

On the first day of the fair, STB in partnership with Emirates hosted the main Finnish trade partners to a networking dinner, a small token to thank them for their continued support on the market and to encourage them to keep Seychelles in mind while proposing holiday destinations to their clients.

Talking about Seychelles participation at Matka 2019, STB Marketing Director for Nordics, Ms. Karen Confait mentioned that the STB team took the opportunity to meet several regular collaborators including Qatar Airways, Emirates and Turkish Airlines as well as our main trade partners from both Finland and Sweden. She also commented on her satisfaction at the volume of people visiting the stand this year.

“It is very encouraging to see that the destination is thriving in the Nordics. Each year we have seen the growing interest and Matka is the ideal platform for us to meet our main partners at the beginning of the year to discuss the action plans for the year as well as to continue to build and strengthen our relationship with the travel trade” said Ms. Confait.

The Matka Trade Show 2019 recorded a total number of 64,589 visitors compared to 63,599 visitors in 2018, showing an increase of 1.56% in the number of visitors attending the show this year.

Jamaica Tourism Security team appointed

by

Visitor surety is a top priority for Jamaica Tourism. Dr. Andrew Spencer, Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company Ltd. (TPDCo) appointed Dr. Peter Tarlow, Partner of certified.travel, as the head of the new National Jamaica Tourism Security team. TPDCo is the organization charged with the responsibility for Destination Assurance under the directive by its Honorable Minister, Edmund Bartlett, MP.

This follows a number of meetings between Dr. Tarlow and the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica Minister of Tourism, with Jamaica Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, and senior members of the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) and its agencies.

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

Certified.travel is a joint subsidiary of the eTN Corporation and Tourism & More. Dr. Tarlow is a leading industry professional with specific expertise in such areas as:

  • The impact of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry
  • Event and tourism risk management
  • Tourism and economic development
  • Development of response models for security threats
  • Tourism police and private security personnel and the development of TOPPs units
  • Reputational repair or enhancement as needed

Visitor surety means for Jamaica:

  • The providing of a safe and secure environment for the Jamaica’s visitors and for those who work in its visitor industry
  • Protection of the its tourism sites and infrastructure
  • Perceptions of Jamaica including how these perceptions impact its reputation
  • The protection of the nation’s economy vis-à-vis its tourism industry

TPDCo’s destination assurance initiatives and strategies are geared towards the following:

  1. Jamaica National Development Plan, specifically, Jamaica’s 2030 Vision goal; The Jamaican society is secure, cohesive and just
  2. Ministry of Tourism Strategic Business Plan Ensuring the safety, security, and sustainability of the natural and built environments
  3. MOT Tourism Pillar of Growth; New Partnerships

Dr. Peter Tarlow pointed out: “Tourism is the world’s leading peaceful industry and a major economic development tool. The tourism industry is also security (crime and terrorism) sensitive, and a lack of tourism surety has a major impact on tourism and event-oriented economies. Additionally, when public officials are tourism-sensitive, they offer the general public better service, economic opportunities, and an improved standard of living.

“The hospitality industry’s number one job is to protect its guests, and visitors demand safety and security by well-trained professionals. If the tourism industry fails in this regard, all else becomes irrelevant.

“Real security involves training, education, investments in software and the understanding that security is not a simplistic discipline or a passing phase. Tourism security personnel need continual training and must be flexible enough to adjust their procedure to a constantly-changing environment. One of the propositions to note is that as customer service increases, so does tourism security, and a better tourism product has the potential to increase national productivity, quality of life, and economic wellbeing. Security plus service and value for money will become the basis for 21st century tourism success!”

eTN Corporation President Juergen Steinmetz said: “We are excited to work with Jamaica Tourism on this important project. Adding Dr. Peter Tarlow to our portfolio of services and in forming certified.travel as a joined partnership is a game changer for the eTN Corporation, eTurboNews, and TravelMarketingNetwork.”

Unfortunately, within the last few months, Jamaica has had to deal with several incidents that have challenged the perception of its security in relation to visitation safety. These incidents have impacted the perception of Jamaica’s tourism product both locally and globally.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said: “We must safeguard the key aspects of destination assurance such as security, safety, and seamlessness of our tourism product. Dr. Peter Tarlow and the team will help us take a step in the right direction and provide insight in legislation that may be implemented to make the industry safer, as well as help us develop a new program on how to better relate and interact with international guests. His visit comes at a crucial point in the development of our product.”

More information on the eTN Travel & Tourism Security Program : www.certified.travel 

Frankfurt Airport introduces new “eParking” product

by

Frankfurt Airport introduces new “eParking” product

Those who travel to the airport by car know to appreciate a reserved parking space. This applies in particular to drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) who need their car to be charged up when they return from a vacation or business trip. Thanks to Frankfurt Airport’s new “eParking” product, an advance booking function is now also available for electric vehicle parking. The offer includes a reserved EV parking space, plus free battery charging.

Parking spaces for electric vehicles have been available at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) since 2010. There are a total of 64 parking spaces equipped with charging stations in the parking structures of FRA’s two terminals – and the majority of them can now be booked in advance. Slightly higher fees apply for “eParking” than for using an EV parking space without advance booking. In turn, the new product offers the advantage of a reserved parking space and free battery charging up to 11 kW.

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

Depending on availability, “eParking” spaces can be pre-booked from nine months up to one day before departure. A maximum fee of €35 per day applies, with each additional hour costing €6. The price for seven days of “eParking” is €175. Dedicated “eParking” spaces are available at both terminals of Frankfurt Airport: at Terminal 1, they are located in parking row 126 and can be accessed via parking structure P4; at Terminal 2, they can be found in parking row U423 (access is via parking structure P8). The “eParking” spaces are clearly signposted in both terminals.

There are of course still EV parking spaces within FRA’s parking structures that travelers and visitors can access spontaneously. However, charging the battery for free is limited to 3.7 kW here, and there is no guarantee of a space at one of the charging stations. EV parking spaces without pre-booking are available at Terminal 1, parking row 1406, and at Terminal 2, parking row U323.

Passengers and visitors can find out more about the wide range of services at Frankfurt Airport, including all parking options, on the airport’s website, at the Service Shop, and via the airport’s social media channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Arabian Travel Market launches inaugural consumer event ‘ATM Holiday Shopper’

by

Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) showcase in Dubai, which will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019, has announced that it will host its first consumer day – ATM Holiday Shopper – as part of its line-up of special focus events.

Taking place on Saturday 27th April – the day before the official opening of ATM – the event will showcase over 30 travel and hospitality exhibitors from both regional and international destinations who will be offering a wide range of attractive travel and tourism discounts and deals for consumers attending the show.

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “In direct response to industry feedback and consumer demand, we are proud to introduce a new and exclusive consumer event to ATM 2019. Whether simply looking for a deal on the Eid break or planning a long-haul getaway, ATM Holiday Shopper is designed to offer the very best discounts and deals. Talking to the experts face to face will also allow attendees to learn about a range of emerging and unexplored destinations and activities from destinations around the world.”

Travellers today do not want to be part of the crowd – they crave new destinations to explore which offer unique experiences, personalised to their tastes and expectations, according to research published by Colliers International.

Adding to this, a study by digital payment firm Visa revealed residents in the UAE are among the world’s top spenders when they travel abroad, with an average spend of around US$2,722 (AED10,000) during their last international trip.

The research by Visa on spending for future trips, including the booking stage as well as expenditure at their chosen destination, revealed residents from Saudi Arabia came out on top with a predicted average spend of US$4,800 (AED 17,600) on their next trip. Kuwait also featured in the top spenders, with a projected average spend of US$3,474 (AED 12,760), while travellers from the UAE plan to spend US$3,430 (AED 12,600) – more than the global median which is estimated at US$2,443 (AED 8,975).

“We are increasingly seeing the majority of outbound travel from the GCC countries taking place during summer as travellers actively seek cooler climates. European countries as well as destinations such as Georgia, Serbia, Azerbaijan and Thailand have been cited as some of the most popular destinations for UAE residents,” Curtis said.

“What we are seeing today, is a focus on great deals, however, it is important to note that GCC travellers are unlikely to compromise on the quality of the offering or the activities catering for both children and adults.”

While international travel will be a key focus, ATM Holiday Shopper will also offer a range of discounts and deals from within the UAE and of course the wider GCC region – with a number of hotels, leisure and cultural activities, spas and F&B outlets within Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates as well as Oman and Saudi Arabia scheduled to exhibit.

The event will also feature a number of talks and presentations designed to provide travellers with an in-depth knowledge on a range of travel destinations and tour packages that cover all major attractions within any one country – as well as information on visa compliance and travel insurance.

Attendees can immerse themselves in faraway cultures with VR activations and enjoy a range of family entertainment throughout the day including cultural displays, theme park characters to meet, calligraphy, henna and falconry amongst many other activities.

Curtis, added: “ATM Holiday Shopper is a great addition to ATM 2019 and we look forward to welcoming consumers with a range of attractive discounts and incentives as well as providing a complete overview of some of the world’s leading travel destinations to further whet the appetite!”

ATM – considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed over 39,000 people to its 2018 event, showcasing the largest exhibition in the history of the show, with hotels comprising 20% of the floor area.

ATM 2019 will build on the success of this year’s edition with a host of seminar sessions discussing the ongoing unprecedented digital disruption, and the emergence of innovative technologies that will fundamentally alter the way in which the hospitality industry operates in the region.

ATM Holiday Shopper will take place from noon – 8pm in Hall 1 of Dubai World Trade Centre on 27 April 2019. Tickets are priced at AED 50 per person with free entry for children under the age of 12.

About ATM Holiday Shopper

ATM Holiday Shopper is the brand new travel event for consumers offering the very best travel and tourism discounts and deals plus the chance to learn about a range of emerging and unexplored destinations and activities from destinations around the world.  The inaugural event will take place in Hall 1 of the Dubai World Trade Centre on Saturday, 27th April 2019 from 12:00 – 20:00.  For more information visit: www.atmholidayshopper.com 

About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabian Travel Market is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre.  Arabian Travel Market 2019 will take place in Dubai from Sunday, 28th April to Wednesday, 1st May 2019. To find out more, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarketwtm.com.

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face to face through data and digital tools at over 500 events a year, in more than 30 countries, attracting more than seven million participants.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether it is global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have over 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.

UNWTO announces activities at FITUR 2019

by

UNWTO announces activities at FITUR 2019

Inauguration of a tourism innovation hub, the final stage of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition, the 10th Edition of The Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa, understanding the success of Asian Tourism – these will be among the activities led by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during the 39th edition of the International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid (FITUR, 23-27 January), the first of the world’s major annual tourism events.

A new activity this year is the inauguration of a global tourism innovation hub, highlighting the UNWTO’s role in and commitment to innovation. Furthermore, the awards ceremony of the 1st UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition will be held in partnership with Globalia, the leading tourism group in Spain and Latin America. This competition, the first and largest initiative of its kind in the world, is aimed at identifying the new companies that will lead the transformation of the tourism sector and the promotion of innovation ecosystems through tourism.

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

Celebrating its tenth edition, the Tourism Investment and Business Forum for Africa (INVESTOUR) has consolidated itself as the annual event that brings together numerous tourism ministers of the region and investors to discuss the opportunities that the sector can offer the continent. Organized jointly by the UNWTO, FITUR and Casa África, this year’s sessions will be structured around two main themes: “Safe and Seamless Travel in Africa: Fostering Resilience and Risk Management in the Tourism Sector” and “Embracing Digital Transformation, Innovation and Promoting Niche Tourism Products”.