Tourism officials expect national Super Bowl exposure to boost Mardi Gras crowds

Tourism leaders expect the national exposure from last year’s Super Bowl to help boost the size of Mardi Gras crowds over the next several days.

The 2013 Super Bowl was held in the middle of carnival. Fat Tuesday fell on Feb. 12 last year, just nine days after Super Bowl XLVII.

“The Super Bowl gave us a lot of great exposure around the country so the people who saw that happening last year, watching the game and seeing all the activity, probably put New Orleans on their bucket list for this year’s travel,” said Mark Romig, CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.

A 2011 study estimated Mardi Gras brings $144 million to the city in direct economic impact alone. It’s a big boost to the 78,000 people who work in tourism and hospitality industries in the New Orleans metro.

“It started as a way to boost our economy back in the late 1800s,” said Romig. “It’s continued as this great driver of our cultural economy.”

Romig expects the crowds this year to be as big, or bigger than last.

Crowds are expected to start rolling into town Friday night. Many hotels are near capacity.

Tourism officials expect national Super Bowl exposure to boost Mardi Gras crowds

Malaysia targets booming halal tourism

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia is pushing more hotels to provide Syariah-compliant facilities amid a surge in the number of Muslim visitors to the country.

Government data show that the number of Muslim visitors to the country has more than tripled to 5.5 million since 2000, outpacing a doubling in the number of tourists overall.

That has led to a government push to draw up rules to tap an estimated US$126 billion (S$160 billion) in Muslim tourist spending worldwide. Last year, the country’s Haj fund set up a Syariah-compliant hotel in the north-eastern state of Terengganu.

Under proposals being drafted by the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), hotels will be encouraged to stop serving alcohol, prepare food according to religious guidelines and require men and women to use facilities such as swimming pools at different times.

“We are seeing increased interest from countries, especially in Asia, to become more Muslim-friendly,” said Mr Fazal Bahardeen, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Crescentrating, an Islamic travel research company. “It is a very fast-growing major market, comparable even to the Chinese market.”

The ITC, set up by the government to assist the tourism ministry, is working on the guidelines with hotel operators, tour guides and travel agents, said ITC Director-General Zulkifly Md Said. They are targeted for completion this year and compliance will not be mandatory as they are intended to serve as a guide to hotels that want to be more Muslim-friendly, he said.

The government estimates the number of Muslim holidaymakers in Malaysia will increase to 6 million in 2014 and 6.5 million in 2015, Mr Zulkifly said. Muslims have been looking for alternative destinations since the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States spurred a wave of “Islamophobia” in the West, he said.

“If Malaysian hoteliers and travel agents were to realign their marketing and readjust their in-house facilities, they will get the economic benefits that they are looking for.”

Some 5.5 million Muslim tourists visited Malaysia last year, compared with 1.5 million in 2000, figures from the ITC showed. Total arrivals climbed to 25.7 million last year from 10.2 million in 2000, government data show. Indonesians topped the list of Muslim tourists in Malaysia in the first nine months of last year, making up 40 per cent of arrivals, ITC data show.

Non-Muslim nations are also seeking to attract Muslim travellers. New Zealand and Japan have published guides on halal restaurants and the Global Health City Hospital in Chennai obtained halal certification in 2012 to tap the Syariah-compliant medical tourism market.

Hotel Grand Chancellor in Australia’s Gold Coast has a Ramadan lounge for Muslims holidaying during the fasting month, joining accommodations from Dubai to Turkey that offer amenities such as prayer rooms and halal food. Bloomberg

Malaysia targets booming halal tourism

Korea's travel exhibition aims to boost domestic tourism

Take a sneak peek at Korea’s best travel destinations.

Ahead of an 11-day travel week designated by the government in May, the Culture Ministry and Korea Tourism Association have launched a travel exhibition to give Koreans a better idea of where to spend their vacations.

The exhibition kicked off with Korean fusion music, with the culture minister, foreign ambassadors and Seoulites in attendance.

“There are a lot of good travel destinations in Korea. We want to inform and promote diverse places so that people can visit different places in the nation.”

“For me as the ambassador of Russia it’s of great importance especially this year because our two presidents last November when my President Putin he visited Korea, they reached an agreement on the special regime for visits. So I’m waiting for crowds of Russians coming to Korea.”

From the city of Andong’s famous Korean beef to Ullengdo Island’s pumpkin taffy, the exhibition introduces the unique tastes that different regions of the country offer.

Visitors were drawn in by the exhibition’s national park booth, where they got to walk on simulated park trails.

One feature that highlights the ecology of the demilitarized zone was especially popular, offering visitors a chance to see something they normally can’t.

While there’s plenty to do for adults, there’s just as much for children to take in and and enjoy.

“Archery was the most fun activity and I learned that Gangwon-do has great scenery and lots to do. I want to visit Gangwon-do.”

“With plans to encourage Koreans to travel more WITHIN the country, the nation’s one and only travel exhibition will be welcoming visitors until March 2nd at the COEX Convention Center.

Connie Kim, Arirang News.”

Korea's travel exhibition aims to boost domestic tourism

Cusco tourism returns to normal after strike

LIMA, Peru – Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Commerce and Tourism (Mincetur) has announced that tourist activity in Cusco has returned to normal after two days of protests that had stopped transit around the region.

The strike, led by the Cusco Departmental Workers’ Federation (FDTC), took place on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. Strikers were protesting the continued delays in the execution of important infrastructure projects, especially the proposed Chinchero International Airport.

Protesters blocked roads and streets around the region, effectively paralyzing transit in one of Peru’s most well-known tourism regions. According to the Peruvian National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), as many as 5,000 foreign tourists were affected by the strike. Canatur also released figures indicating that the estimated loss of tourism revenue because of the strike totaled S/. 6,000,000.

The United States Embassy in Lima issued a statement when the strike began. Though the embassy did not discourage travel to Cusco, the statement suggested that travelers speak to tour operators about rescheduling travel in the Cusco region for after the strike ended.

According to Mincetur, the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, which had been occupied by protesters, is once again open to tourists.

Cusco tourism returns to normal after strike

Goa govt to consider funding tourism projects: Parulekar

MARGAO: To avoid any delays in obtaining central sanctions, tourism minister Dilip Parulekar announced that the state government would consider funding of tourism infrastructure development projects, if required.

Parulekar made this announcement during his visit to Margao, where he inaugurated the new South Goa district zone office of the tourism department at the South Goa district collectorate on Thursday.

This was followed by the laying of a foundation stone for the Colva tourism infrastructure development circuit project.

Tourism department officials added that the sanctioned Colva circuit project mainly consists of development of tourism affiliated infrastructure and basic facilities in areas of Betalbatim, Colva and Benaulim beaches to boost tourism. The project involves the construction of toilets, changing rooms, gardens, parking, restaurants and illumination of the areas.

Responding to queries, Parulekar stated that the tourism department would be going ahead with its plans for a convention centre cum hall at Colva and said that such a project was needed to boost tourism.

Parulekar further allayed fears that traditional fisherman would be displaced if the Goa tourism development corporation’s ‘wedding venue’ project at Colva was implemented and that they would be allowed to continue their traditional activities.

Earlier, Parulekar was speaking about the newly opened South Goa tourism department office and that all hoteliers, shack owners, tourist taxi operators and other stakeholders would no longer have to travel to Panaji. He added that the South Goa office would be headed by deputy director of tourism Pamela Mascarenhas and that all South Goa tourism related work and planning would be done from this office.

“She will be the prescribed authority under Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act 1982 and there will be a court room for disposal of cases. She will be supported by an assistant director and two assistant officers,” said Parulekar

“With the opening of this office, all works will be managed at South Goa itself making it much simpler and convenient,” said Mascarenhas.

Goa govt to consider funding tourism projects: Parulekar

Malaysia's tourism industry exceeds expectations in 2013

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s tourism industry performed above expectations in 2013, with tourist receipts of RM65.44 billion exceeding the initial target of RM65 billion.

Tourism minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the 8.1 per cent growth from RM60.56 billion in 2012, represents an expansion of about RM4.89 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

He said tourist arrivals also grew by 2.7 per cent to 25.7 million arrivals compared to 25.0 million arrivals in 2012 despite a challenging year.

“We are pleased to achieve such a substantial growth in tourist receipts last year. This is in line with the broad objectives of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) and Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) to increase yield per tourist.

“Last year, the average tourist spending per capita was RM2,544.90 per person compared to RM2,419.10 per person in 2012,” he said.

He added that tourism was the sixth largest contributor to the economy moving up one spot compared to 2012. It contributed RM51.5 billion to Gross National Income (GNI) in 2013.

He attributed the growth in tourist arrivals and spending to the Government’s focus on the initiatives under NKEA Tourism including the promotion of Malaysia as a duty-free and affordable luxury shopping destination, as well as the concerted efforts through the strategic public-private partnership to position and brand Malaysia as the top-of-mind destination for business and leisure.

The ASEAN market remains the largest contributor with 19.1 million arrivals, representing a 74.3 per cent share of the overall tourist arrivals to Malaysia. The medium-haul market was the second largest market with 4.9 million arrivals followed by the long-haul market with 1.7 million arrivals.

The top ten tourist generating markets from January to December 2013 were Singapore (13,178,774), Indonesia (2,548,021), China (1,791,432), Brunei (1,238,871), Thailand (1,156,452), India (650,989), the Philippines (557,147), Australia (526,342), Japan (513,076) and the United Kingdom (413,472).

Markets showing double digit growth in arrivals were mainly from the medium and long-haul countries with Turkish arrivals surging by 28.9 per cent assisted by the seven weekly direct flights from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur by Malaysia Airlines and Turkish Airlines, as well as the re-opening of Tourism Malaysia Office in Istanbul.

Other markets showing strong growth include China (14.9 per cent) which benefited from the new six weekly direct AirAsia X flights from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur and another seven weekly direct AirAsia X flights from Hangzhou to Kota Kinabalu.

Swedish tourist arrivals saw an increase of 13.1 per cent on the back of strong promotional efforts there, in addition to the thrice weekly flights from Stockholm to Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur by Turkish Airlines beginning April 2013, as well as the seven weekly Emirates flights from Stockholm to Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, which started last September.

Double digit growth arrivals were also recorded for the following markets: Bangladesh (55.7 per cent), Cambodia (28.6 per cent), Iraq (27 per cent), Egypt (25.3 per cent), Russia (18.8 per cent), Taiwan (18 per cent), Ireland (13 per cent), Vietnam (11.7 per cent), Norway (11.6 per cent), and Spain (10.9 per cent).

Last year, tourist arrivals from the Iranian market registered a significant drop of 38.5 per cent partly due to AirAsia X’s decision to suspend its services to Tehran beginning October 2012.

The ongoing political woes in Thailand throughout 2013 had also affected arrivals from the country, which showed a decline of 8.4 per cent.

Malaysia's tourism industry exceeds expectations in 2013

Growing market in Islamic tourism

HALAL lifestyle, Syariah-compliant businesses, developing standards, accreditation and investment for Islamic tourism — these were some of the key topics discussed at the Joint Seminar On Islamic Tourism 2014.

Held at PNB Darby Park Executive Suite in Kuala Lumpur recently, its aim was to provide an ideal platform for industry players to identify, analyse and discuss issues, opportunities and challenges in

Islamic tourism.

Tourism And Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the seminar was a great opportunity for industry players to brainstorm on how to cater to Muslim tourists.

“Islamic tourism is an emerging market and on the global scale, Muslims make up 23 per cent of the world population, which is a big market to tap from,” he said at the opening ceremony.

He added that in 2012, the global revenue from Islamic tourism was estimated at RM411 billion excluding travel for umrah and haj.

“In fact, the expenditure is expected to grow to RM543 billion in 2018 and this proves that Islamic tourism is a huge business that’s growing tremendously,” Nazri said, adding that many Muslim minority countries such as Japan and Australia are starting to look at the market and have developed creative strategies such as providing halal food, prayer facilities and other necessities.

Malaysia, being one of the most Muslim-friendly holiday destination in the world, is also targetting more Muslim travellers, which will add vibrancy to Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Ministry Of Tourism And Culture secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng, Islamic Tourism Centre director-general Zulkifly Md Said and Indonesian Tourism And Creative Industry deputy minister Dr Sapta Nirwandar.

Organised by Islamic Tourism Centre (an agency under the Ministry of Tourism And Culture), in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism And Creative Economy, the seminar was deemed a great accomplishment with 18 speakers from various backgrounds sharing their knowledge and thoughts to improve the industry.

Growing market in Islamic tourism

India's first state seaplane service likely to boost tourism in Maharashtra

After launching hot air balloon safaris, Maharashtra has added yet another feather to its cap by becoming the first state in India to start seaplane service. Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt. Ltd. (MEHAIR) in association with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will launch the service on March 10, 2014 between Juhu Airport in Mumbai and Aamby Valley city, which has the first approved seaplane water drome in mainland India. Sumit Mullick – IAS, Additional Chief Secretary & Chief Protocol Officer, Govt. of Maharashtra, officially inaugurated the first flight at Juhu Airport with dignitaries such as Dr Jagdish Patil – IAS, Managing Director, MTDC; Satish Soni, Joint Managing Director & Director of Tourism, Govt. of Maharashtra; Siddharth Verma, Director & Co-founder, MEHAIR and Praveen Bhardwaj, Head-Aviation & Facilities, Aamby Valley City present at the event.

MEHAIR will offer one-way inaugural fare of Rs 4,500-Rs 5,000 and bookings for the daily charter service will start on its website on launch day. So far Rs 15-20 crore has been invested on the project. The service is expected to add a new dimension to tourism in Maharashtra and help unlock the potential of the state by connecting prominent tourist destinations of the state. The company also plans to operate flights from Juhu to Nariman Point from April 2014 onwards with an inaugural price of Rs 750 for the ten-minute journey. The service will be expanded in phases to connect Mumbai with tourist destinations in the state, which have no runways but are adjacent to suitable water bodies. This will enable connecting Mumbai with almost every part of the interior and coastal areas of the state despite non-availability of airports. It will help bolster the popular trend of long-weekend holidays.

Patil said, “This service will greatly boost tourism in Maharashtra. Seaplanes will turn vacation spots into weekend destinations. With this service the fatigue and expenditure involved in reaching a destination will also come down drastically.”

“Maharashtra has 720 kms of coastline, beautiful beaches and huge reservoirs which are not well connected. The new initiative will help to connect these destinations and radically receive more tourists to the state. The role of MTDC was that of a facilitator and helping MEHAIR to get the necessary licences,” stated Mullick.

Verma said, “India has a coastline of 9,500 kms along with various dams, lakes, rivers, backwaters, etc. Finding a suitable place for landing a seaplane will never be a problem in any part of India. In terms of business potential, since many of these water bodies are already popular tourist destinations, in the absence of any airport in their vicinity, they become good markets for seaplanes. Our vision is to roll out a fleet of 25 seaplanes over the next five years, operating in almost ten states in India. We have entered into MoU with states including Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and signed a letter of intent with Gujarat.”

In the first phase of its operations in Maharashtra, MEHAIR will gradually roll out the service to destinations like Aamby Valley lake, Gangapur Dam (Nashik), Mula Dam (Meherabad/Shirdi), Pawna Dam (Lonavla), Varasgaon Dam (Lavasa) and Dhoom Dam (Panchgani/Mahabaleshwar). In the second phase, MEHAIR will connect Mumbai with destinations on the Konkan coast like Ganpatipule, Harihareshwar, Tarkarli and Murud-Janjira. This will be followed by flights from Mumbai to the Marathwada region and ecologically rich sector like Vidarbha.

MEHAIR pioneered the launch of seaplanes in India three years ago and its maiden service has been operational in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands since January 2011. In Mumbai, the service is being launched with a Cessna 206 Amphibian aircraft that can accommodate four passengers and another Cessna 208 Amphibian aircraft, which will accommodate nine passengers, will be inducted by April 2014. The company plans to operationalise a twin engine 19-seater seaplane in the phase II of the project which will start in October 2014. “The next phase is expected to incur an investment of Rs 20-25 crore,” stated Verma.

Rajiv Duggal, Senior Vice President – Travel Hospitality & Leisure, Lavasa Corporation, said, “It is an excellent initiative and will definitely open our customer base. Besides providing connectivity from Mumbai to Lavasa, we are also looking at connecting Lavasa to Shirdi via the seaplane. We will be floating three-day packages and start with a nine-seater plane and as the demand increases we will look at deploying a bigger aircraft. We are awaiting clearance from the DGCA and hopefully start the service by August this year.”

Commenting on the launch of the service, Sudhir Patil, President, Maharashtra Tour Operators Association, said, “The initiative will help to tap the tourism potential of the state and bring destinations in Maharashtra closer. The joint promotion by MTDC and the support extended is a positive move towards tourism promotion. It is a good beginning and fantastic opportunity and will open various tourism projects in Maharashtra.”

India's first state seaplane service likely to boost tourism in Maharashtra

S. Korea eyes 350,000 Russian tourists annually by 2017

South Korea aims to attract 350,000 tourists from Russia annually by 2017 by developing tourism programs including medical services tailored to Russian customers, the finance minister said Thursday.

“We will develop tourism programs appealing to Russian travelers, secure expert tourism workers and make efforts to minimize language inconveniences,” Finance Minister Hyun Oh-seok told a meeting of other policymakers.

“Through such efforts, we will push to attract more than 350,000 Russians to South Korea by 2017,” he added.

Russians visiting Korea have been on the rise in recent years. In 2013, the number of Russian travelers reached about 175,000, up 5 percent from a year earlier.

Hyun noted that Russia is the world’s fifth country in terms of spending on overseas travel, accounting for about US$42.8 billion in 2012.

“Demand for medical tourism, in particular, is spiking in Russia,” Hyun said, adding that Korea needs to better capitalize on the growing number of Russian tourists coming for various medical services.

S. Korea eyes 350,000 Russian tourists annually by 2017

Cambodia sets 2020 tourism target

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expects the country to welcome 8 million foreign visitors by 2020.

Talking to local media, the PM said the country was on track to achieve the ambitious target by 2020.

“Tourism is one of the key sectors supporting the economy, which last year generated around US$2.5 billion in revenue…we welcomed 4.2 million international tourist arrivals.”

Despite the drive to attract more tourists, there is growing criticism that the boom is being achieved at the expense of quality and culture.  Independent agencies warn that the Angkor Wat Historical Park can only absorb so much tourist traffic and controls should be in place to ensure the World Heritage site is not devalued by commercial tourism. Much of the revenue earned from gate fees at the park goes into the pockets of wealthy establishments with few financial benefits filtering down to local communities.

But government officials cite the wider benefits to the national economy claiming tourism is now a vital industry to raise living standards across the country.

The largest sources of tourists to Cambodia are Vietnam, China, South Korea, Laos and Thailand.

ASEAN tourists top the supply regions at 1.83 million visits, last year, commanding an impressive 43.5% market share.

Vietnamese visitors accounted for 854,104 trips followed by Laos (414,531) and Thailand (221,259). Malaysia and the Philippines were fourth and fifth with 130, 704 tourists and 118,999 respectively.

In addition, 57,808 Singaporeans, 28,199 Indonesians, 5, 089 Myanmar nationals, and 814 Brunei citizens visited the country last year.

Cambodia Association of Travel Agents president, Ang Kim Eang, said the growth of ASEAN travellers to Cambodia was due to better airline links and improved overland transport.

“Visa exemption agreements between Cambodia and all ASEAN member states encourages more travel,” he said.

Cambodia grants visa exemption to citizens of all ASEAN nations and is cooperating with Thailand to offer a two-country visa applied for at embassy of the first point of entry for nationalities that are required to obtain visas for both countries.

Cambodia sets 2020 tourism target

Saudi tourism investments seen to hit SAR33.5bn by 2020

RIYADH – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will see a steady growth in its travel and tourism industry with almost SR33.5 billion to be invested in the sector until 2020, this was according to experts who attended the recently concluded Saudi Arabia Briefing of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) in Riyadh.

Hosted by Marriott International, the event in Saudi followed similar briefings in key tourism markets across the region, such as Oman and Qatar. In Riyadh, experts gathered to discuss the prospects of Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector as well as analyze the trends that will have an impact on its ability to attract more tourists.

Data from the World Trade and Tourism Council show travel and tourism investments in Saudi Arabia have grown at a CAGR of 5.8 percent since 2001 and are estimated to have reached SR20.55 billion at year-end 2012. It is expected to increase at an annual rate of 6.7 percent to reach SR33.5 billion of total investments in 2020.

The investments reflect a strong commitment to Saudi’s tourism and travel industry, which has been contributing significantly to the country’s GDP, accounting for as much as 6.1 percent of overall GDP by 2017.

Philip Wooller, Area Director – Middle East & Africa, STR Global, says there are about 66,438 rooms that are in constriction in the Middle East and Africa region. Majority of these are classified as Upscale (32 percent) and Upper Midscale (22 percent).

“Among the region’s key markets, Dubai reported the largest number of rooms under construction (10,970 rooms). Five other markets reported more than 2,000 rooms under construction: Makkah, Saudi Arabia (6,927 rooms); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (5,804 rooms); Doha, Qatar (4,944 rooms); Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (3,036 rooms); and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2,569 rooms),” he added.

Looking ahead, Filippo Sona, Director, Head of Hotels MENA, Colliers International reviewed what has changed in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector and gave some significant insights into where it is headed.

In conversation with Saad Al Qahtni, Section Head Accommodation, SCTA; and Otto Goessnitzer, Licensing & Quality Consultant, SCTA, Sona noted the potential for growth using the Serviced Apartment Business Model whose key strength is being able to change the target market profile between long and short stay to suit market conditions in order to achieve revenue maximization.

“Brand strength is a strong driver of serviced apartment demand with GDS, direct bookings, and hotel website bookings accounting for 40 percent of total bookings. A strong brand with a regional presence and strong online capabilities is essential to help and drive sales in all three markets,” Sona explained.

In Saudi Arabia, according to Sona, there is a definitive gap between locally branded furnished apartment supply and internationally branded serviced apartments stemming from inconsistent service standards, poor construction standards, and a lack of ancillary facilities. “While some markets have a large amount of forthcoming stock, other markets including Makkah and Madinah have limited stock in the pipeline. 2014 will see the introduction of many new internationally branded serviced apartments concepts such as Fraser Place and Fraser Suites in Riyadh, two Citadines properties in Jeddah and a Residence Inn in Jazan,” he continued.

The current demand for furnished apartments stems almost exclusively from Saudi Nationals. The SCTA has estimated that approximately 89 percent of overall demand in KSA for furnished apartment units stems from the local market, which is a direct consequence of the lack of internationally branded supply. Given existing market conditions and forthcoming supply, Colliers’ econometric model has indicated that there is scope for a further 6,495 units over and above the forthcoming supply across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 2013 and 2017. The primary scope for development of these units is in the province of Makkah, which contains the two key cities of Makkah and Jeddah.

The briefing ended with a panel discussion led by Sona including Yasir Abu Sulayman, Head of Structured Finance, The National Commercial Bank; Badr Al Badr, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Hotels & Resorts co. SHARACO; and Alex Kyriakidis, President & Managing Director, Middle East &Africa, Marriott International dissected development trends from KSA’s hotel industry trends from the perspective of owners, operators and lenders.

AHIC, now going into its tenth year, has proven to be the meeting place for the Middle East’s most influential hotel investors, developers, operators and advisors. Organised by Bench Events and MEED, the travel and tourism industry’s premier event connects business leaders from international and local markets to do deals across the region and acts as the industry’s annual intelligence update. It is scheduled to take place on May 4-5, 2014 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.

Saudi tourism investments seen to hit SAR33.5bn by 2020

Arizona SB 1062 Could Kill State’s Tourism Industry, Business Leaders Warn

Tourists look out over Arizona’s famed Grand Canyon.

It’s a measure supposedly meant to protect religious freedoms, but critics argue that Arizona Senate Bill 1062 would open the door to a legal form of discrimination — particularly against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The bill, which has passed both houses of the Legislature, would give business owners the right to refuse service to customers based on religious beliefs. Many businesses, however, say they don’t want that right.

They have joined leaders in Arizona’s struggling tourism industry in calling on Gov. Jan Brewer to veto the bill for fear that it could not only hamper the economy, but possibly lose the state the 2015 Super Bowl.

Arizona long refused to recognize Martin Luther King Day and subsequently lost out on a Super Bowl in the 1990s. Opponents say the new bill could further cement a reputation fostered by the 2010 anti-immigration law, which has had lasting effects on the state.

The Arizona Small Business Association, which represents more than 10,000 member business owners, said the so-called Exercise of Religion bill would “unintentionally expose private sector businesses and business owners to liability by allowing an employee to exercise their own religious beliefs at the expense of the business.”

“SB 1062 would shift the balance of control from the business owner to employees who can decide to refuse someone’s business based on their own personal religious beliefs and not the business owners,” CEO Rick Murray stated Tuesday. “As a result, the business and its owner(s) would be held liable for an employee’s actions because of their religious convictions.”

Beyond the liability concerns, most are worried about the state’s image. The Arizona Tourism and Lodging Association said it had already received “hundreds of emails and messages” from visitors who’ve canceled their trips.

“We are disappointed that there is any legislation that would make anyone feel unwelcome in our state and in our community,” the association said in a Facebook plea. “Please know that this legislation is the act of an elected few — not the will of the majority of our state.”

American Airlines, which recently merged with Arizona-based US Airways, joined Marriott in jumping into the fray Tuesday. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said the bill had the potential to reduce the desire of companies to relocate in the state and repel convention business.

Meanwhile, Steve Hart, area vice president of Marriott, and Thomas Maloney, the major hotel chain’s director of government affairs, penned an open letter to Brewer Tuesday saying the bill “would have profound negative impacts on the hospitality industry in Arizona and on the state’s overall economic climate for years to come.”

“As you know, we operate in an extremely competitive marketplace for potential travelers, and rely heavily on public perceptions of our state as an attractive, welcoming destination,” they wrote. “While we have still not returned to pre-2008 occupancy and revenue levels, our Arizona properties have seen a slow and steady recovery in both leisure and business stays since the end of the recession. We have serious concerns that passage of SB 1062 would undermine — or worse, counteract — that progress.”

The Marriott execs said they feared travel boycotts by both individual leisure travelers and groups looking to hold meetings. “It is exceedingly difficult for us to sell Arizona as a destination against a backdrop of negative attention suggesting certain travelers or conference attendees would not be welcome here — as a matter of law.”

The Arizona Business Travel Association echoed those concerns in a letter of its own to Brewer. “It is our strong belief that this legislation sends the wrong message at the wrong time for Arizona, and is quite simply bad for Arizona business,” President Parley Stock wrote, noting that his organization represents not only professionals in the business travel industry, but also car rental companies, airlines, travel agencies and travel buyers for Fortune 500 companies.

“Our membership is particularly sensitive to the potential for boycotts, meeting cancellations and declines in tourism,” he added. “Further, as large corporations consider Arizona for expansion (and the pursuant job creation), we feel that legislation perceived as unwelcoming could have a direct impact on their site selection decisions.”

Apple, Intel, Delta Airlines and other companies have also called for a veto, as have Arizona’s two U.S. senators and several leading national Republicans.

The bill went to Brewer Monday, and she has five days to sign or veto it. If she simply chooses not to act, the bill will automatically become law.

Arizona SB 1062 Could Kill State’s Tourism Industry, Business Leaders Warn

Kerala tourism department to step up promotion activities in Gulf region

HYDERABAD: The Kerala state government is mulling in stepping up its promotion activities in Gulf countries to boost tourist inflow from the region, an official from the Kerala government’s department of tourism said on Tuesday.

“We are already participating in the Dubai Shopping Festival but feel there is a lot more potential of attracting tourists from Gulf countries, hence in the coming days, we will be focusing a bit more on the promotion activities there,” a tourist information officer said.

He pointed out that Kerala was just four hours away from Gulf countries by means of air route and a sizable population of the state was already present in the Gulf region which would help promote the state better.

According to him, around four lakh international tourists visited the state in 2012 and the state expects a rise of 8% in the number in 2013.

The state had clocked Rs 21,000 crore revenue from the tourism sector in 2012 and it expects a rise of 7-8% in the total revenues in 2013, he added.

Meanwhile, he also said that the state government had rolled out two new initiatives – seaplane project and project Muziris in order to enhance the travel experience of the travellers. “Whereas the former project is aimed towards improving last mile connectivity by air to destinations across the state, the latter is directed to reinstate the historical and cultural significance of the port of Muziris,” he added.

Kerala tourism department to step up promotion activities in Gulf region

Fiji thrives in tourism

SUVA, Fiji —- Fiji has stamped its mark as the leading tourism industry in the Pacific.

And according to ANZ’s Asia Pacific Economics quarterly report, Fiji was one of the largest Pacific economies and was systemically important to the tourism industry in the region.

With the tourism industry being one of the largest contributors to gross domestic product (GDP), the bank said data from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics regarding arrivals were available on a timely basis than most of the Pacific.

“From 2002 through 2012 annual tourist arrivals into Fiji climbed from 397,859 to 660,590, averaging growth of 6.3 per cent per year,” the bank said.

It said the rapid growth in arrivals into Fiji were because of tourism infrastructure which had been built out over the past decade.

“Eight airlines now fly to the country and the number of properties available to tourists is 4.4 times the average in the Pacific,” the report said.

It said Australia continued to provide Fiji with the most tourism flows, accounting for 48 per cent of all arrivals over the past five years.

“New Zealand is the second largest source of visitors at a 16 per cent share,” it said.

However, the report said there were structural changes occurring to the makeup of Fiji’s tourism sector, and those were likely to accelerate over the coming years.

It said tourism arrivals into the Pacific topped 1.5million recently, with Fiji absorbing about 40 per cent of that number.

Despite majority of visitors arriving from Australia, the report said bank notes were flowing in from Chinese tourists, who were becoming the fastest growing source of visitor arrivals.

“The rate of China’s outbound tourists is likely to grow more quickly over the coming years as the tipping point for rapid growth gets closer on the proliferation of low cost carriers and tour originators,” the report said.

It said Fiji had shown strong and continuous investments, which had driven the tourism industry to be one of the largest sources of GDP.

Fiji thrives in tourism

Greek tourism set for another record year, industry body says

Tourism in Greece, which accounts for about one-sixth of the economy, is set to reach a second consecutive record as European travelers return to the country ravaged by six years of recession.

“Forecasts show 2014 will be another record year,” said Andreas Andreadis, president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises. As many as 18.5 million tourists will visit Greece this year, compared with 17.9 million in 2013, generating 13 billion euros ($18 billion) in revenue, he said. “Almost all traditional and new markets are showing positive, encouraging signs.”

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has called the country’s tourist industry “the first locomotive that started and began to pull our economy out of a painful six-year recession” that’s seen unemployment reach a record 28 percent. If Greece beats a target of 24 million visitors by 2021 it would add 9 percentage points in GDP while creating 300,000 jobs, Andreadis said in an e-mailed response to questions.

Tourism accounted for 16.4 percent of Greek gross domestic product in 2012, according to World Travel and Tourism Council figures, one of the highest contributions in Europe. About 1 million people will work in the industry by 2021, according to the Greek association, known as SETE.

Long-term tourism targets are based on assumptions of political and macroeconomic improvements in the country, Andreadis said. “Political stability within Greece, and achieving the rest of our national objectives, will hopefully ensure that 2021 targets will be reached and surpassed,” he said. Greece will also need to invest 3.3 billion euros per year, mainly in infrastructure, he said.

Pre-booking figures indicate Greece can expect more tourists from Germany and France this year and a 10 percent rise in visitors from the U.K., according to the most recent figures from SETE. More Germans visit Greece than any other nationality, followed by the U.K., the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France and Russia.

The association is also in talks with the Greek government about public-private industry initiatives, Andreadis said, adding that monuments, museums and other antiquities sites should remain under state protection.

Greek tourism set for another record year, industry body says

Barrhead Travel plans 80 jobs to support growth

The Glasgow-based travel company, which already employs more than 750 people and operates from 55 locations across the UK, revealed its latest recruitment plans yesterday.

Sharon Munro, chief executive of Barrhead Travel and the company’s majority shareholder, said it also planned to take on about a further 90 modern apprentices over the coming year, in addition to the latest recruitment drive.

GOOD NEWS: Chief executive Sharon Munro believes the economic backdrop is improving

Ms Munro believed the economic backdrop was improving. However, she cited Barrhead Travel’s resilience throughout the protracted downturn and attributed some of her company’s success to Glasgow’s wet climate.

She also voiced a belief that the prevailing long-hours culture in the UK made holidays a necessity.

A spokesman for Barrhead Travel said the 80 new positions being created represented an investment of more than £1.5 million-a-year in terms of staff costs. The roles will be a mixture of full and part-time posts.

Of the 80 posts, Barrhead Travel said about 50 would be created in the west of Scotland. Most of these 50 positions will be at the company’s Glasgow head office.

The company, which has diversified beyond its traditional travel agency roots and now also offers its own charter flights to popular holiday destinations in Spain and Italy from Scottish airports, said it was creating jobs within its sales, marketing, information technology, and human resources teams, among others.

Barrhead Travel said it would be creating about 20 jobs in Edinburgh and the east coast, with a further 10 staff being recruited in the north, including Aberdeen.

As well as selling its own charter flights, Barrhead Travel is one of the UK’s biggest retailers of cruise holidays. It also specialises in skiing holidays and in travel to Canada, and has built up a sizeable long-haul business.

Last September, Barrhead Travel announced that it had achieved turnover of £155.7m in 2012, up 20.8% on the previous year. It made gross profit of £18.2m in 2012, up by 20.4% on 2011.

Asked about the factors behind Barrhead Travel’s continuing growth, Ms Munro replied: “I think there has been a switch back to shops, certainly for us, for our business. People get a service they trust.”

However, she also highlighted continuing growth in Barrhead Travel’s online business.

Ms Munro also cited the fact that Barrhead specialised in ski holidays, cruises, and Canadian and other long-haul travel.

Contemplating the economic backdrop, she said: “Everyone keeps talking about these green shoots. I think people are definitely more confident. I think there are definitely signs of improvement out there. Houses are selling better, and in Glasgow it rains a lot, which is good for us.”

Ms Munro added: “I think holidays are a necessity these days. I think people work so hard, and such long hours.”

Barrhead Travel will, in May, start charter flights for the summer season between Edinburgh and Palma in Majorca.

It already offers charter flights in the summer season from Glasgow to Venice, Palma, Malaga, and Barcelona. It also offers charter flights, in summer, from Aberdeen to Malaga and Palma.

Asked about the timescale for filling the 80 new posts, Ms Munro replied: “We are recruiting heavily now – just as quickly as we can recruit. These vacancies are available now.”

She added: “Being in a financially-stable position to create 80 new jobs across the country, given the economy in recent years, is something we’re immensely proud of.”

Barrhead Travel plans 80 jobs to support growth

UK issues travel advisory for its citizens in Goa

PANAJI: The government of UK on Tuesday issued a travel advisory for its citizens vacationing in Goa about the strike by taxi drivers.

The advisory says the strike is affecting travel in and around Goa, including on the road to the airport and around major hotels. The UK tourists have been asked to avoid areas where protests are reported to be taking place and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities, as well as allow more time than usual to travel to the airport.

Since Monday, taxi drivers have kept their vehicles off the road protesting against a private car service that was introduced recently, in Goa.

On Monday, at many places — in both districts vehicles carrying tourists were blocked. Calangute and Baga witnessed some violent incidents with taxi drivers resorting to violence. Though, no untoward incident was reported on Tuesday thanks to heavy deployment of police forces at various tourist spots, tourists were put to inconvenience for want of taxi transport, nonetheless.

Some hotels had cancellation of bookings due to the strike. Industry stake holders fear of losing more business in the coming days if the agitation by the taxi operators is not called off.

The industry stakeholders particularly hoteliers fear that the next tourist season will not be as good as this year as queries have already started pouring in from various foreign tour operators about the situation in the state.

UK issues travel advisory for its citizens in Goa

Andamans to throw open 3-4 more islands for tourists

KOLKATA: The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago comprises 556 islands of which only 37 are inhabited. Before long, this number may rise to 40 or even more. The Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) administration is planning to throw open 3-4 islands soon to attract more tourists. This will involve creation of infrastructure on these islands and will generate employment.

“We have identified a few islands for development. A large number of tourist attractions exist across the A&N Islands but we are planning to do more to attract tourists. Unemployment and lack of opportunities continue to remain a major challenge before us. As ecological issues are involved, industrialization is not possible on these islands. Today, the government is the largest employer but this is not enough. More opportunities need to be created and tourism has to grow,” said Lt Gen (retd) A K Singh, Lieutenant Governor, A&N Islands.

According to him, between 2.4-2.5 lakh tourists visited the Andamans in 2013. This may seem a large figure but there is capacity for much more. The problem, according to Singh is the lack of sufficient tourists from abroad. One major reason for this is the non-availability of international flights. Though the Andamans is a hub for activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling and other adventure sports, more centres will have to be opened to attract international tourists who have already been to the islands in the past. This can only happen if new islands are opened.

“We also want to start night landing facilities at the Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair. It is only an international airport in name. Though 96 international flights overfly Port Blair every day, not a single one lands here. In the next six months, we hope to have night landing facilities at Port Blair and stopovers for some international flights. This should boost tourism,” the Lt Governor said.

After the boat capsize in the Andamans on January 26 this year, the administration has cracked down on errant operators. A safety audit was carried out, not only on ferry operators but diving schools and establishments offering adventure sports. The administration has already set up kiosks at all jetties. These are being manned by policemen and para-medics as well as trained divers. Boats are not being allowed to carry a single passenger more than their registered capacity. All passengers are being made to don life jackets before the boats leave the jetties.

“We realize that accidents have a negative impact on tourists, particularly those from abroad. I wish to assure people that necessary steps have been taken to prevent such accidents. The Andamans is an ideal haven for tourism and we are making a deliberate though slow movement to develop capacity,” Singh added.

Andamans to throw open 3-4 more islands for tourists

Thailand Tourism Faces $2.7 Billion Loss Amid Unrest

Thai policemen aim their weapons towards anti-government protesters during clashes near Government House in Bangkok

The turbulence in Thailand showed no signs of abating Sunday after clashes between Thai security forces and anti government protesters over the weekend resulted in three deaths and dozens of injuries. Violent attacks at a popular Bangkok shopping area and in the eastern Trat province underscored growing fears that months of political unrest could deepen, further denting Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra issued a statement Sunday night saying her government “will not tolerate terrorism” and would prosecute the killers “without exception.” Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, meanwhile, urged protesters to follow a path of peaceful, unarmed and nonviolent demonstrations. “We are on the right course,” he said in a statement posted to Facebook. “We are fighting the good fight. Please carry on as we have.”

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) believes the financial damage from the political unrest could total $2.7 billion over the first two quarters of the year, particularly if the current situation drags into March and April. The number of foreign tourists visiting the country, it added in its latest forecast, could drop by as much as 900,000.

TAT governor Thawatchai Arunyik noted that group tours were the hardest hit by the instability. This segment accounts for about a third of all inbound tourists, and Arunyik said TAT would work with the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Association of Thai Travel agents and the Thai Hotel Association to try and win these visitors back.

Many hotels in Bangkok, Pattaya and elsewhere reported occupancy rates of just 30 percent in the first two months of 2014 following travel alerts from at least 45 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Brazil. Meanwhile, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and other carriers axed flights into the Thai capital due to a sharp drop in demand.

Tourism officials have been marketing Thailand more heavily to Asian tourists who do not have to make as big an investment to visit as those from further away. Yet it was mostly Chinese tourists, not Europeans or North Americans, who shunned Thailand over this past Lunar New Year holiday period.

TAT said it believes volume could return to normal over the coming Songkran Festival in April if anti-government protests subside and Chinese airlines bring their schedules back to pre-protest levels. If not, the Authority said the Kingdom could expect about 60 percent less Chinese visitors than in 2013.

The latest research from Credit Suisse suggests that Malaysia and Indonesia stand to gain the most from a potential decline in tourism to Thailand, while Singapore may experience a negative spillover effect. Analysts further point out, however, that “Teflon Thailand” has historically rebounded quite fast after economic shocks both natural (the 2004 tsunami) and political (the less peaceful protests of 2008 and 2010).

The Situation In Bangkok

Tourism officials noted in a situation update Sunday that ongoing demonstrations were “normal to peaceful” and continued to take place at Pathumwan intersection, Ratchaprasong intersection, Lumpini Park (Silom intersection), Asoke intersection and the Government Complex (Chaeng Wattana Road), as well as on Ratchadamnoen Avenue (near the Democracy Monument) and Phitsanulok Road (near Government House). Roads in most of those areas were closed to traffic as the protesters campaigned for political reform.

The capital remains under a state of emergency following a Civil Court decision last Wednesday in which judges ruled that the caretaker government had the authority to enforce a 60-day emergency decree (effective from Jan. 22) to maintain peace and order. The state of emergency covers Bangkok and nearby provinces, but does not stretch to the popular beaches of the south or mountains of the north.

TAT reiterated Sunday that the situation in the capital was “business as usual,” a phrase it has uttered ad nauseam since demonstrations first erupted last November following the government’s attempt to force through a political amnesty bill that would have enabled the return of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s billionaire brother who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 on charges of corruption. Thaksin now lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid a prison term, though he argues his punishment was politically motivated.

Many of the protesters gathering on Bangkok’s streets come from the middle and upper class, and claim Yingluck’s government is controlled by her brother. They’ve called for her to step down and be replaced by an appointed “people’s council” to push through electoral reforms.

Though the demonstrators have orchestrated a self-styled shutdown of Bangkok, most banks, hotels, convention centers, restaurants and entertainment complexes in the capital remain open, as do all tourist attractions in and around the city such as the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Vimanmek Mansion and Siam Paragon.

Mobility remains the biggest issue facing tourists to Bangkok. Officials urged visitors to depart for their scheduled flights out of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports at least four hours ahead of time. TAT set up tourist care units at both airports last month, along with a tourist care center at the Sports Authority of Thailand at Hua Mak Stadium, to ensure all incoming tourists are kept abreast of the ever-evolving situation.

Thailand Tourism Faces $2.7 Billion Loss Amid Unrest

Odisha Tourism to promote Diamond Triangle and Golden Triangle circuits

With a gamut of tourism products like beaches, temples, festivals, wildlife, waterfalls, handicraft, Odisha Tourism is looking at promoting the Diamond Triangle and Golden Triangle circuits in the international and domestic markets. According to M R Patnaik, Director Tourism, Govt. of Odisha and Managing Director, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (OTDC), the state has witnessed ten per cent year-on-year growth in the number of domestic and international tourists and expects the same in 2014. Patnaik said, “Over the last five years the tourism corporation has aggressively promoted the state as destination in the domestic as well as international market. In 2013, the state received 98 lakh domestic tourists and 76,000 international tourists.”

Elaborating further Patnaik said, “The state has 200 Buddhist sites and we will promote Buddhist destinations: Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri that forms the Diamond Triangle of Odisha. In addition, we will promote the Golden Triangle Circuit: Puri, Konark and Bhuvaneshwar to further augment tourism in the state.”

Talking about the tourist infrastructure in the state, Patnaik said, “In FY 2014 the tourism outlay of the state was Rs 66 crore and for FY 2015, we will propose seven-eight fold increase in the budget. Odisha has 336 tourist destinations. We are looking at developing infrastructure at strategic locations. For instance, additional infrastructure (accommodation, approach road to tourist destination, highways) in Puri, Konark, Gopalpur, Chandipur, Talsari etc.”

Informing about the plans to work the travel trade, Patnaik said, “We will work closely with hoteliers, associations and tour operators. We will participate in domestic and international tradeshows, organise roadshows in metros and other cities including Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Raipur, Hyderabad to promote these destinations. We will promote Buddhist Circuit during the roadshows in South-East Asian countries including Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka.”

“We will also promote Nava Kalebara festival that is held once in every 12-19 years according to the calculation of the year and date. It is an ancient ritual associated with most of the Jagannath Temples when the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan are replaced by a new set of idols. The last festival was held in 1996 and the next will be held in 2015,” Patnaik informed.

Odisha Tourism to promote Diamond Triangle and Golden Triangle circuits

Iran Tourism ready for 10 million tourists and Japanese hotel investments

More thsanfour million foreign tourists visited Iran in 2013 according the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization.

Iran’s tourism industry is booming, with more foreign travelers visiting the country than ever before. So much so that Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani is hoping to attract 10 million international tourists each year.

The country currently attracts predominantly medical and religious tourists, although this is all expected to change as Iran develops new international relations.

A Japanese company announced its readiness to invest in Iran in the field of chain hotel construction.

This was announced by the manager of Japanese company, which owns 239 hotels across the world, during a meeting with Abolfazl Kudei, caretaker of Iran Foreign Investment Organization, on Saturday.

Diplomatic relations between Iran and Japan were formally established in 1926 and throughout history, the two countries have maintained a friendly and strong cooperation in various arenas.

The two countries’ officials have held talks in economic, trade, political and cultural fields in recent years to explore new ways of expanding bilateral ties.

Iran is one of the main oil suppliers to Japan.

Iran Tourism ready for 10 million tourists and Japanese hotel investments

Italian tourism still recovering

ROME, Italy – Italian tourism does not seem to have fully recovered at a European and global level; the ISTAT data of the first 10 months of 2013 showed a decline of 4.3% in arrivals and 4.4% in overnight stays.

And, not since 1958 has Italy hosted more foreign tourists than domestic; in the first 10 months of 2013, foreigners contributed to 50.4% of arrivals and 50.1% of total overnight stays. The world tourism picture in 2013 recorded 1,087 million international arrivals, an increase of 5% on an annual basis – seemingly overcoming the uncertainties caused by the crisis of 2009, which brought in a long period of cutbacks.

In the last two years, European tourism has also scored good results with 5.4%. “The period of economic uncertainty – the report says – will produce an increase in spending by tourists with a growing availability of expenditure and those most sensitive to economic cycles.”

In these difficult economic times Italy must emphasize, in financial and strategic terms, the foreign tourist element, as between 2008 and 2013 foreign presence in Italy has increased by 12%.

Italy must try to focus on tourism in a unified manner, limiting the fragmentation of advertising abroad and promoting a globally unique Italian brand, which is very strong in the historical, architectural, and food and wine areas.

The accommodation facilities are inadequate. The improvement of hospitality should be accompanied by a more careful qualification of human resources than in the past.

Source: tourism-review.com

Italian tourism still recovering

SpiceJet slashes fares by 75% for travel during April-June

Prices cut for bookings made during 24-26 February for travel between 1 April and 30 June

According to the SpiceJet website, a typical Mumbai-Delhi fare would be as low Rs.3,186 after the discount compared with the last-minute booking price of Rs.10,098, while Delhi-Goa fare would be Rs.3,737 against Rs.11,148.

Mumbai: India’s second largest low-fare airline SpiceJet Ltd on Monday cut fares by 75% for bookings made during 24-26 February to fill seats during the lean season.

This offer is valid for travel between 1 April and 30 June, the airline said on its website.

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According to the SpiceJet website, a typical Mumbai-Delhi fare would be as low Rs.3,186 after the discount compared with the last-minute booking price of Rs.10,098, while Delhi-Goa fare would be Rs.3,737 against Rs.11,148.

“Super Summer Sale is valid on all domestic direct flights on the SpiceJet network. SpiceJet will offer discount on base fare and fuel surcharge only. All applicable fees and taxes to be paid by the customer,” the airline website said.

Travel agents said other airlines including IndiGo and GoAir will now be forced to slash fares.

Sharat Dhall, president at Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd, that runs Yatra.com, said SpiceJet has launched a three-day sale of up to 75% for flights between 1 April and 30 June and the discount ranges from 35% to 75% on current fares across sectors and is an attempt to stimulate the market and garner early bookings for the summer holiday season.

“IndiGo has also launched special summer fares for the same period, and I expect other carriers to follow suit as well. This is a bonanza for holiday makers and a great opportunity to get super discounted fates for the family holiday this summer,” Dhall said.

“We are already seeing bookings triple from normal levels within hours of the sale being announced,” Dhall added.

The promotional fare plan comes at a time when SpiceJet is looking for investment to fund its expansion plan. Last week, consultancy firm Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation, or Capa, said in a report that SpiceJet is estimated to need close to $200 million to remain operationally viable, while a realistic and meaningful turnaround may require $300 million or more.

Chennai-headquartered SpiceJet recently appointed consulting firm Bain and Co. to restructure its network and return it to profitability after losses mounted over the past few quarters.

As of 31 March 2013, the total accumulated losses of the airline industry over the previous seven years had risen to $8.6 billion (based on current exchange rates), consultancy firm Capa said in its last week report adding the industry debt had climbed to $12.6 billion, with the full-service carriers—Air India Ltd, Jet Airways (India) Ltd and Kingfisher Airlines Ltd—accounting for 94% of the amount.

SpiceJet, controlled by media baron Kalanithi Maran, posted a net loss ofRs.173 crore in the three months to December, against a net profit of Rs.103 crore in the year-ago quarter.

In January, SpiceJet had cut fares by more than half for bookings for three days, a move promptly followed by other airlines including Jet Airways and Air India.

“SpiceJet is committed to leading the way in offering the most attractive fares to the most customers. We received overwhelming positive feedback from customers who booked the earlier ‘Super Sales’ for taking the lead in making air travel more affordable, where travelers can now book more spontaneously and more often by air, and also for attracting many first time air travelers who would otherwise endure long train journeys or not travel at all,” said Sanjiv Kapoor, chief operating officer, SpiceJet.

Kapoor said these advance purchase offers are a win-win for customers, for airlines, and for the travel industry and the economy overall, as it leads to significant demand stimulation, even as customers get to enjoy deeply discounted fares, airlines get to reduce wastage of seats that would otherwise fly empty, and others in the travel ecosystem get more business.

“These are not fare wars as is commonly reported, as there are no losers. This is just basic customer segmentation and inventory and revenue management,” he added.

SpiceJet slashes fares by 75% for travel during April-June

Assam travel fair aims to boost tourism in India's northeast

ASSAM, India – A three-day long travel fair began in Assam, with a focus on regional, national and international tourism activities.

The Travel and Tourism Mart 2014 was inaugurated by Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism and regional director of all northeastern states, Sanjay Sreevats, in Guwahati city.

The organisers of the fair said the main objective of this fair is to provide a platform to tourism departments and tour operators of northeastern states to promote tourism, and also offer them an opportunity to interact with participants from across the country.

“Northeast regions are included in the high priority list of tourism ministry under government of India. And that is why every year ITM (International Travel Mart) is being organised in northeastern provinces. It has been held in Guwahati, after that it was held in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh and next ITM will be held in Shillong,” said Sreevats.

The objective of all this is to develop tourism in northeastern states. And for this we are inviting a large number of media people and tour operators so that they can see northeast and tell the world about the potential of tourism them,” he said.

The travel trade exhibition is providing a perfect palette for all aspects of tourism activity. The government of Assam wants to strengthen the travel industry and develop the state on the tourism map.

Participants from Mizoram conceded that tourism is still in infant stage as far as its development is concerned. However, they are participating in the fair with the aim of spreading awareness about the possibilities of tourism in their state.

“Our objective is to spread awareness among people that Mizoram is a tourist destination and we are looking for this by interacting with participants from India and other countries,” said tourism official from state government of Mizoram, Tluangi.

There are around 25 participants in the fair including tour operators, government tourism departments, Indian airlines, Incredible India and representatives of tourism ministries from China and Thailand.

The travel fair is showcasing stimulating travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related industries, both from India and abroad, also bringing about a face-to-face encounter with the travel-trade, hoteliers, and other stake holders.

Tourism departments of China and Thailand have set up their information stalls as well in the fair.

The official delegation from China mentioned that joint initiatives should be taken up by both the countries in order to promote tourism.

“Both sides (India and China) should take initiative to promote tourism. My first vision is to let each side know that India and China are both attractive and colourful destinations. Secondly, one should know how to go to China, if is it affordable or not, if it is attractive or not. That is why I have come here,” said Deputy Director of tourism ministry of China, Li Qianguo.

Apart from northeastern states, Travel and Tourism Mart is witnessing the presence of participants from Kolkata, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

Source: ANI

Assam travel fair aims to boost tourism in India's northeast

Saturday 22 February 2014

Minister: Tourism contributes $2.6 billion to Fiji economy

SUVA, Fiji – The tourism industry contributed about 37.8 percent towards the national GDP which amounts to $2.6 billion last year.

This was revealed by Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during the 17th AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards at Sofitel Resort and Spa on Denarau Island last night.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said this was an increase from the figures recorded in 2012.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the tourism industry in Fiji contributed about 35.8percent to the national GDP in 2012, he said.

This was approximately $2.5 billion.

He said the increase could be the result of transforming the local tourism scene.

He said with the creation of brand Fiji, locals and international guests had created a deep socioeconomic impact on the citizens of Fiji.

There has been a number of people and institutions involved in mainstream tourism. Now, we even have Australians and New Zealanders who are promoting Fiji in their country.

The cream of the tourism industry enjoyed the night and celebrated the achievements of the industry and its stakeholders.

Josaia Baleinatewa of the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa took out the coveted Frontliner of the Year category.

The Shangri-Las Fijian Resort and Spas Marine Education Centre took out the Tourism Sustainability Award and travel in-bound company Pacific Destinationz was awarded the Transport Facilitators award.

Source: fijitimes.com

Minister: Tourism contributes $2.6 billion to Fiji economy

Indian tourism crosses the record one billion mark in 2012

New Delhi: Bringing cheer to travel companies faced with a drop in foreign tourist arrivals in India last year, the government said domestic tourism crossed the one billion mark in 2012.

The tourism ministry, in a statement here Friday, said provisional figures showed there were 1,036.35 million domestic tourists during 2012 — which is a 16.5 percent increase over the 864.53 million recorded in 2011.

Initial estimates of foreign tourist arrivals in 2013 show a falling growth of around four percent, less than the five percent growth in 2012 when upwards of 20 million foreign tourists visited India.

Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in 2013 grew 2.2 percent to $18.1 billion — compared to a growth of 7 percent in previous years.

The drop in foreign tourists last year is attributed by both industry and government circles to concerns about women’s safety in the country, particularly with women making up 30 percent of foreign tourists to India. IANS

Indian tourism crosses the record one billion mark in 2012

Kerala to focus on weddings to boost tourism, minister A P Anil Kumar says

NEW DELHI: Kerala plans to make weddings and corporate events an integral part of the state’s tourism policy. Kerala tourism minister AP Anil Kumar highlighted the tax concessions and special tourism projects being started as part of the project at an interactive session in the capital recently.

“MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) are one of the fastest growing segments in tourism industry, generating millions in terms of revenue. It gives me immense pride to say that Kerala is not far behind. What makes our state an attractive MICE destination are the unconventional and conventional meeting options that it offers…”

“Kerala has some of the country’s most picturesque backdrops for meetings and conferences that go well with an impressive array of accommodation, leisure and other conference-support facilities,” tourism secretary Suman Billa said.

Kerala to focus on weddings to boost tourism, minister A P Anil Kumar says

Uttarakhand tourism revival meet in Rishikesh

DEHRADUN: Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) will hold its annual meeting in Rishikesh this month to formulate ways to revitalize the state’s faltering tourism sector- an area that was hit hard post last year’s deluge.

The Union tourism ministry, the sponsors of the conference, has invited around 450 tour operators from around the country as well as from Bhutan and Nepal to advertize the state’s tourism potential. They expect the meet to culminate in business opportunities for these tour operators, and provide a much-required infusion of funds in the sector.

Akshay Kumar, the president of ATOAI, explained the reasons behind the state tourism’s downturn post-June. “The media’s negative publicity during the flash-flood disaster instilled fear among tourists about the safety of the tourist destinations here. Whereas the truth is that more than 80% of the destinations are safe in the state. This will be showcased to the tour operators,” he said.

He was confident that tourists would come streaming into the state, citing the state government’s decision to scale down mountaineering expedition fee from Rs 80,000 to Rs 5,000. But he felt that the state’s lack of a coherent policy and the forest department’s apathy towards promoting tourism were the key hindrances to a robust tourism sector.

Rajesh Ojha, a member of the ATOAI and owner of a travel company in Himachal Pradesh, said the state needed to expand air connectivity in the state. His other solution was to promote and regulate the state’s vast eco-tourism.

Uttarakhand tourism revival meet in Rishikesh

Thailand facing £1.6bn loss from tourism if protests continue

Thailand’s tourist industry faces losing £1.6billion if anti-government protests continue for another six months, a Thai tourist official has said

Thawatchai Arunyik, a governor for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said the number of foreign tourists visiting the country will drop by 900,000, leading to an estimated revenue loss of £1.6billion over the next six months if the unrest carries on.

But it is visitors from Asian countries who are most likely to be deterred, TAT has suggested, while Britons have shown less sensitivity to the political upheaval and still want to see the country.

While hoteliers in Thailand are suffering, TAT said the number of visits from British tourists in January was more than ten per cent up on last year.

Street protests have been staged on a daily basis by anti-government protestors since a state of emergency was declared in the city on January 21.

While tourist attractions have remained open and unaffected throughout there have been a few violent clashes at protest sites

Tourist attractions have remained open and unaffected throughout but there have been a few violent clashes at protest sites and today, reports of an explosion near the Pratunam intersection.

The Thai government has said it intends to dismantle the protest sites, the Foreign Office has warned, adding that this led to the violence between police and protestors at Phanfa Bridge, Ratchadamnoen Road on February 18 that left three dead.

A useful map updating tourists on where the protest sites are in the city has been produced by Richard Barrow, a Bangkok resident and travel blogger.

The Foreign Office is advising British travellers to “take extra care and avoid all protests, political gatherings, demonstrations and marches. If you’re travelling to the airport, allow extra time to take account of possible transport delays, and consider using the airport rail link. Monitor local news and social media for developments.”

Our Phuket expert, Lee Cobaj, was in Bangkok this week and said that while her hotel was quiet, it seemed like business as usual at the main sights. Other tourists she spoke to reported picking up bargain rates for their holidays and had not seen any trouble.

A TAT spokeswoman said: “There is no reason, at this time, for tourists to cancel their travel.

“The rest of the country such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, Khao Lak, Pattaya and Hua Hin are not at all affected by the political situation and remain very much open for business as usual and ready to welcome tourists.”

Thailand facing £1.6bn loss from tourism if protests continue

Friday 21 February 2014

India to cut red tape and issue visas on arrival in a bid to boost tourism

Famed for its complicated bureaucracy, India is no different when it comes to applying for a visa – with holidaymakers often having to wait two weeks or more to receive approval to visit the country.

But now in a bid to boost tourism and business, the government is launching a visa-on-arrival scheme for visitors from 180 countries, including the UK.

The scheme is expected to be rolled out by October, in time for India’s peak tourist season. It will allow holidaymakers to pick up a 30-day visa at the airport upon arrival.

The current visa process involves submitting an online form, sending your passport to the Indian High Commission along with photos and a pre-paid envelope for your documents to be returned. The visa itself costs £80 and there is a £12.20 handling fee.

The application can be so complicated that some tourists choose to pay companies to fill out their visa form on their behalf, costing around £45. 

The new system will still involve a fee – although the amount is still unconfirmed – and tourists will be encouraged to visit an official website to apply and pay the charge before they fly. The visa will then be available for pick up at one of 26 major airports after three days.

There are only 11 countries currently eligible for a visa on arrival, including Finland, Singapore and Japan. But with the extension of the scheme, most countries will be included except nationals from Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Somalia.

Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi said: ‘This is a very good step. The visa-on-arrival for 180 countries will definitely boost the foreign tourist arrivals in the country.’

Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the government hopes to roll out the new visas by the beginning of October.

Western & Oriental’s Indian Subcontinent programme manager Jane Manzoni said: ‘We’ve already had clients inquire about the new visa-on-arrival scheme for India so the evidence points to a real boost for tourism going forward.

‘The impact could be two-fold – the current system with its fairly lengthy process puts people off travelling to India and although there are not-to-be missed highlights including cultural touring in Rajasthan and spa and beach holidays in Kerala, travellers tend to default to places with an instant visa process.

‘And of course India will also become accessible to travellers looking for a last minute holiday getaway and to those who may not have considered travelling to India in the past.’

Helen Pink, Kuoni UK sales support executive addedL ‘If the proposed electronic visa on arrival service in India is implemented later this year, it would significantly reduce the time it currently takes to process visa applications and give customers greater flexibility and the opportunity to book a last minute holiday.’

India to cut red tape and issue visas on arrival in a bid to boost tourism

Russia must reform to maximise Sochi tourism boost

Russia needs to ensure it has the right policies in place to make the most of the tourism legacy presented by the Sochi Olympic Games.

That is according to World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill, the authority on the economic and social impact of the global travel industry.

Scowsill argued Russia needs to have a high quality product to appeal to the International visitor: “

He added: “There is no point hosting a prestige event, at a cost of US$50 billion, if the standard of hotels and ease of travel around the country isn’t in step.

“In Sochi, for example some of the feedback has been that hotels have not been fully ready, hotel rates have been steep and there have been problems with services such as internet access.

“They need to get the product right, going forward”.

Scowsill went on to say it’s also important that Russia makes it as easy as possible for international visitors to come to the country for a short amount of time.

“Russia has been making some strides at improving its visa processes recently. But its visa application processes can still be lengthy and burdensome; for example, group applications are not considered.

“To get to the Games, Russia’s security agencies have issued special passports to all spectators to filter out potential terrorists.

“We hope that these policies have not put potential tourists off visiting Russia or restricted the number of spectators at the Games,” said Scowsill.

WTTC’s latest research shows that tourism currently generates 4.1 million jobs in Russia (5.7 per cent of all employment) and was responsible for six per cent of Russia’s economy in 2012 – a larger contribution than many industries including automotive manufacturing, communication services, education, chemicals manufacturing and higher education.

Scowsill argued the economic potential of tourism in Russia is too big to ignore.

“This new research underlines the impact, which tourism currently has and can continue to have on Russia’s economic fortunes.

“Mining has historically been a mainstay of Russia’s economy but is losing significance and tourism offers an excellent alternative. Russia needs to invest in its transport and tourism infrastructure to ensure it has an appealing product for middle class International visitors,” he added.

In 2011, Russia’s new federal tourism development programme was created to improve the image of Russia as a tourism destination, promote the national tourism product, stimulate foreign investment in the Russian tourism infrastructure and increase the competitiveness of the Russian tourism industry.

In, 2009, a law was passed that made it possible for visitors arriving by cruise ship or ferry to stay in Russia for up to three days without a visa.

Russia has also recently cancelled visa requirements between itself and South Korea.

Scowsill believes that Russia needs to act now, on the back of the Olympics, if it is make the most of the opportunity to boost Russia’s economy through tourism in the future.

He added: “It is vital that the Russian Government now elevates the tourism industry alongside Russia’s traditional industrial base, when considering long-term policies to create jobs, growth and economic prosperity.

“Russia has announced in the last week that it is considering allowing foreigners arriving in the country by train to stay three days without the need for a visa.

“It is this type of visa facilitation improvement, which Russia needs to bring in, if it is to capitalise on the exciting tourism opportunities from the growing middle class in Asia.”

Russia must reform to maximise Sochi tourism boost

Gujarat Tourism expects 15-16% growth in tourist arrivals this year

One of the most important Indian states for tourism, both domestic and inbound, Gujarat is set to host the fourth edition of Gujarat Travel Mart (GTM) from March 27 to 29, 2014. Like previous editions, this year GTM will take place at the Mahatma Mandir Convention cum Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar. Since its inception, GTM has witnessed 25 per cent and 40 per cent increase in buyers and exhibitors respectively, every year. Gujarat Tourism is expecting to continue the growth momentum this year too. As of now, over 285 buyers from over 30 countries, 200 exhibitors from India from over 20 diverse tourism segments have confirmed their presence at the Mart. It is also expected to be visited by over 1,000 travel agents from across the country. Fifteen states from India will be attending GTM 2014. Like the 2012/13 editions, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd has been given the mandate to organise GTM 2014.

Talking about the main focus of this year’s edition, Vipul Mittra, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Civil Aviation, Pilgrimage & Devasthan (Industries & Mines Department) Government of Gujarat, said that ‘GTM 2014’ is aimed at bringing about a face–to–face encounter with the travel trade, hoteliers, and other stakeholders from India and abroad. It is an endeavour to stimulate travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related industries, both from within the country and outside. This is the fourth year since its inception, and there has been an average increase of about of 25 per cent buyers and 40 per cent more exhibitors every year. The event will showcase the best of India has to offer, with participants of over 15 Indian states, he added.

Further, explaining the main focus of Gujarat Tourism, he said that Gujarat is poised to be India’s biggest tourist attractions with its wide arena of attractions which cater to the myriad taste of tourists. Gujarat Tourism will mainly focus to promote festivals, beaches, Mahatma Gandhi-oriented tours, heritage hotels, Buddhist trails, wildlife resorts and national parks, Medical Tourism, Religious Tourism, handicrafts, cultural vistas, etc.

In 2011-12, the total number of tourists that visited Gujarat was 223.64 lakh, out of which 171.76 lakh were from within the state, 47.28 lakh were from other states, 2.85 lakh were NRIs and 1.75 lakh were foreigners. In 2012-13, the total number of tourists visiting Gujarat was 254.09 lakh, out of which 195.36 were from Gujarat, 53.56 lakh were from other states, 3.16 lakh were NRIs, and 2.01 lakh were foreigners, informed Mittra. “We expect a similar growth trend of around 15-16 per cent this year too,” Mittra stated.

Updating about the new initiatives, Mittra said, “We have come out with a Film Tourism Policy for Gujarat, in which various benefits have been outlined for people who want to shoot films in Gujarat. We are hopeful that we will see a good increase in the number of people who want to shoot films, advertisements, TV commercials, etc. Apart from that we are focusing on improving and strengthening our infrastructure at various tourist locations. Few niche products like Adventure Tourism, Caravan Tourism and Beach Tourism are also our focus areas.”

The profile of exhibitors at GTM 2014 includes state tourism boards & trade associations; transportation segments such as airlines, charters, railways, ground transporters, car rentals, shipping and cruise liners; travel agents, tour operators, MICE operators; technology providers such as online travel portals, hotel reservation networks and property management systems; hotels, resorts; Health Tourism segments such as multi-specialty hospitals, Ayurveda, holistic medicine centres and health spas and Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism providers.

The third edition of GTM, which was held at the same venue in 2013, was attended over 250 buyers from over 30 countries and 200 exhibitors from India from over 20 diverse segments. Eight-hundred travel agents participated at the event along with countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Thailand, UAE, UK, USA, etc.

Gujarat Tourism expects 15-16% growth in tourist arrivals this year

Thursday 20 February 2014

The Lalit New Delhi wins National Tourism Award for "Best Facilities for the Differently Abled Guests"

The Lalit New Delhi has been conferred with the National Tourism Award 2012 – 2013 by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for providing “Best Facilities for Differently Abled Guests”. This is the second time that the hotel has bagged the award after 2009-10. The award was presented by Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shashi Tharoor.

As part of its special facilities for differently abled guests, the hotel offers four dedicated rooms with inter-connecting room for attendants, fully equipped bathrooms for special needs, elevators with wheel chair access along with Braille sign on every call button and an audio announcement for each floor. Restaurant tables at the hotel are designed in a way that seats guests on wheel chair.

The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group now has 17 five-star hotels, with eleven operational properties and six under restoration / development in India and overseas. The Group also owns mid-segment hotels under the brand – ‘The Lalit Traveller’. The first hotel under this brand was opened in Jaipur followed by Khajuraho, and over 25 more hotels are planned in the next five years.

The Lalit New Delhi wins National Tourism Award for "Best Facilities for the Differently Abled Guests"

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