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Tourism Commits to Water Actions at UN Water Conference

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Tourism Commits to Water Actions at UN Water Conference - TRAVELINDEX - TRAVEL AND TOURISM FOUNDATIONNew York, United States, March 28, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO emphasized tourism’s commitment to contributing to the acceleration of SDG6 on Water and Sanitation.

At the United Nations 2023 Water Conference, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) provided substantial inputs, underscoring the role of tourism in safeguarding water resources and contributing to the acceleration of Sustainable Development Goal 6, to “Ensure access to water and sanitation for all”, and to the wider 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Emphasising the sector-wide determination to do more, UNWTO joined tourism stakeholders in committing to the Water Action Agenda, a major outcome document of the UN 2023 Water Conference and collection of all water-related voluntary commitments.

In New York, UNWTO was joined by the Government of Austria to host a special high-level side event on “Tourism and Water: Challenges and Opportunities”. Bringing together the partners of the recently-launched Alliance for a Nature Positive Approach to Tourism, UNWTO, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), the event outlined the tourism sector’s significant water footprint and its reliance on clean and reliable oceans and water supplies. “Tourism and Water: Challenges and Opportunities” noted the sector’s impact on water, including negative impacts from consumption and wastage as well as pollution, while underscoring the progress being made in advancing action plans to ensure sustainable water management at all levels of the tourism value chain.

Participants were provided with an overview of the initiatives being undertaken by UNWTO and partners under the umbrella of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme, most notably the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and the Global Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction in Tourism, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the challenges of climate change, pollution and water scarcity and the requirement timely and regular monitoring efforts.

Towards harmonized sustainability data

A global effort is underway towards a Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism to fill the gap for harmonized data at international, national and subnational levels, with Austria chairing the UNWTO Expert Group leading this process. UNWTO Executive Director, Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, said “Water permeates all of tourism activity. As the world meets ever-complex challenges, we must not lose sight that we still have common goals. We need harmonized data to ensure that tourism action on the ground really responds to our shared vision”. Against this backdrop, the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), was presented as leading the way in assessing the progress being made at the destination level as well as the challenges still to be overcome, including sourcing better data.

Mr. Norbert Totschnig, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management of Austria highlighted that “tourism can not only bring prosperity, but it can also be a driver to improve water quality and availability in regions. Efforts are required to manage water efficiently, to keep our rivers, lakes and the sea clean”. Also during the side event, WTTC presented new data on global and national water consumption, while the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance presented its water stewardship initiatives, including the Hotel Water Measurement Initiative, and the updated Destination Water Risk Index.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

TO VISIT OR NOT TO VISIT: Stratford-upon-Avon – it’s not all about Shakespeare

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Few will dispute that Stratford-upon-Avon is all about Shakespeare. But what if you’re not barmy about the bard? Is a visit to the English town dedicated to the birth, life, death – and legacy – of the world’s greatest playwright worth the time? To visit or not visit, that is the question.

The answer, of course, is yes, for despite its reputation, the charming market town is one of Britain’s most tourist-centric destinations, and not because there’s much ado about nothing.

From its lively pedestrian mall to bucolic parks and river vistas, and a host of activities that definitely will not re-ignite any past terrors of English studies in high school, there is plenty to engage, or distract, even the most disinterested literary visitor.

Consider these suggestions for a Shakespeare-less visit to Stratford:

Walk-about: With a compact, walkable core, Stratford boasts 16th-century half-timbered buildings; a bustling pedestrian zone on Henley Street (often featuring street performers) with shops such Roly’s Fudge, The House of Spells, and The Teddy Bear Shop; and lively riverside park in front of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, which can include a pop-up outdoor food and craft market. And just down the street from the RST is The Dirty Duck pub, with outdoor seating, to enjoy a cleansing ale.

Boat tours, River Avon

Punting on the Avon: Group boat tours from Avon Boating offer a relaxing sightseeing excursion (including gin tasting tours) with audio guides through town along the River Avon, but visitors can also do it themselves by renting a rowboat, canoe, paddleboard, or even a motorboat.

Ghost Walk: The award-winning Stratford Town Ghost Walk features professional entertainer guides who escort visitors around Stratford-upon-Avon to discover its “haunted” streets and hear “true tales” of ancient creaky buildings seeping with tales of ghosts, witches, murder, and misery.

Butterfly farm: Across the River Avon, the Stratford Butterfly Farm is home to exotic butterflies and some of the world’s largest and camouflaged caterpillers.

Shakespeare Distillery: Located on the outskirts of town, the Shakespeare Distillery crafts spirits with a twist of history. Taking inspiration from the Tudor herb garden, they fuse together complex, and often forgotten, botanicals with modern distilling equipment to produce exceptionally smooth real craft gins. The distillery is open to the public for tours, as well as a weekly ‘Gin School’ where visitors can distil their own unique gin.

Mad Museum

Mad Museum: For kids of all ages, this interactive “mechanical art & design” museum, located in Henley Street, promotes various scientific disciplines through a kaleidoscope of colours, unusual sounds, flashing lights, and movements. More than 90 pieces of kinetic art and automata on are display from inventors from around the world.

Cycle tour: Stretching for 9 km from the centre of town, the Stratford Greenway follows a former rail line and is part the national cycle route. The traffic-free route meanders through a host of green space that can be explore on foot or by bike, which can be rented at Stratford Hire. The trail has picnic spots and abundant wildlife.

Warwick Castle: About 20 minutes from Stratford, the magnificent medieval castle features attractions and live entertainment for all ages with highlights including the scenic view from atop the Conqueror’s Fortress, the largest working catapult in the world, and 25 hectares of exquisite landscaped gardens.

The S word: Of course, Shakespeare, who was born and lived in Stratford, is omnipresent about town, and really ought not be ignored (even if one could). Skeptics should note that though the Bard may be the draw, many sites are interesting in their own right as focus points for history, social studies, and architecture.

Holy Trinity Church, for example, is a lovely setting beyond the attraction of Shakespeare’s grave, while Shakespeare’s home (‘New Place’) boasts beautiful gardens in the back. And Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a stunning example of a half-timbered Tudor structure and gardens, while the top-rated Royal Shakespeare Theatre also puts on productions from playwrights besides Shakespeare.

Ann Hathaway’s cottage

Visitors will certainly discover countless references around town both to and from Shakespeare that they may not have connected to him, perhaps even prompting a new and unexpected appreciation. Such as the timeless wisdom imparted on one of his statues that reminds us that “Foolery, Sir, doth walk about the orb like the sun; it shines everywhere.”

To that end, if I may venture, it would be foolery to skip Stratford due to disdain, or even simple lack of interest, in Shakespeare. There is much to see and do in this Cotswold enclave, and, after all, as the playwright once penned, “All’s well that ends well.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: March 20-24, 2023

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Good news for both those needing passport and NEXUS cards was delivered last week; the heat is on Heathrow as it prepares for a strike leading up to Easter, and the world’s top airport was revealed by Skytrax.

NEWS

The federal government says it has now “completely eliminated” the backlog of passport applications that caused major delays – and major political strife – last year. New applicants will now get them on time, though people whose passports expire in 2023 are still urged to get them renewed immediately.

The feds have also announced that the NEXUS trusted-traveller program will fully ramp back up within five weeks with airport enrolment centres set to reopen for applicant sit-downs as follows: March 27 – Halifax and Winnipeg; April 3 – Vancouver; April 12 – Calgary and Edmonton; April 17 – Montreal-Trudeau; April 24 – Toronto Pearson and Ottawa. The new two-step interview will allow a sit-down session at a Canadian enrolment centre followed by an interview at a US preclearance location in a Canadian airport.

Singapore Changi has reclaimed its spot as the world’s top airport in the prestigious annual “Passengers’ Choice Award” rankings by Skytrax. Vancouver rated a respectable 20th on the top 100 list, moving up eight spots from 2022.

Notably, both Montreal and Calgary also significantly moved up the list to 45th (from 66th), and 92 (from 125), respectively, while Toronto Pearson dropped to 64th (from 43rd).

Heathrow Airport says it has contingency plans to remain open and operational if security workers walk off the job on March 31 as planned. The strike action – scheduled to take place at Terminal Five over the busy Easter Break – will last 10 days through Easter Sunday on April 9.

BORDERS

Advance customs declaration is now available to all travellers arriving on international flights at Edmonton International Airport (YEG). Express lanes are also available in the customs areas for travellers who complete their Advance Declaration to skip line-ups for Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK).

AIR

 Vancouver has been boosted from a seasonal to year-round route by Icelandair with four flights a week to be available YVR. The service increases as the carrier increases is network capacity by 17% compared to 2019. Canadians will continue to be able to take advantage of Icelandair’s Stopover Program, which allows travellers flying to Europe (destinations include London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam, and more) to add a one- to seven-day stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare.

 Air Canada has announced the addition of new, non-stop seasonal flights between Montreal and Amsterdam for the summer (June 2-Oct. 14). Flights will operate five-times weekly on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Lynx Air will offer seasonal summer flights between Toronto Pearson and Kelowna International starting April 13, and between Hamilton and Vancouver starting April 16. Both will go through Calgary.

New “Fly Your Way” branded fares from Fiji Airways offer customers the option to customize how they travel based on their needs with four categories – Lite, Value, Comfort, and Plus – offering a range of options. All categories will include meals, beverages, inflight entertainment, and a carry-on bag, with increasing value add-ons from Lite to Plus, such as checked baggage, ticket change and cancellation flexibility, seat selection and boarding priority.

RAIL

Until April 11, Rocky Mountaineer is offering $700 off per couple or (US$250 p.p.) on qualifying net new bookings on “Rockies to the Red Rocks” packages. The offer is available for any new bookings on travel dates in 2023, on both packages and rail-only for direct, travel agents, and wholesale bookings.

 VIA Rail Canada has received the Gold Parity Certification from Women in Governance. This certification recognizes VIA Rail’s efforts and achievements in promoting and supporting women’s leadership development, career advancement and representation at all levels of the organization.

BY THE NUMBERS

More than 28 million people visited the Caribbean in 2022, a more than 50% jump compared with the previous year and nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019, according to the CTO. Due to lingering travel restrictions, visits from Canada did not rebound as expected, with some 2.1 million reported. The diminished arrivals in 2022 amounted to 7.2% of total arrivals to the region, and only 60% of pre-pandemic totals.

DEALS

Air Transat’s Train + Air offer is back. Combining air and train service, in partnership with the SNCF, the service lets passengers pair an Air Transat flight to Paris with a railway travel to 18 cities in France and Belgium, or to combine both means of transport for the return trip to Canada. The Train + Air offer is available for bookings made through GDS and will also be available via the Air Transat website in the coming weeks.

TOURS

Travellers who purchase a package at a Grand Palladium Hotels and Resorts or TRS Hotels property with Sunwing by the end of the month for departures by March 31, 2024, will automatically receive 10 bonus contest entries for their chance to win a seven-night all inclusive stay for two at the Grand Palladium Colonial Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya with Sunwing. Non-purchasing customers are also eligible but limited to one entry during the contest period and must complete a contest form found on Sunwing.ca.

TravelBrands reports positive feedback for its ‘new and improved’ Access+ all-in-one travel platform. Among the new amenities are enhanced hotel search widget, dynamic fly & drive packages, and dynamic cancellation penalties, and a bilingual cruise booking engine.

RESORTS

Now open is The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya (photo). Located a short drive from both Cancun and Playa Del Carmen and beside the UNESCO World Heritage Sian Ka’an Reserve, the resort boasts avant-garde architecture and 124 lavishly appointed guestrooms and 19 suites, each offering ocean views and a private terrace or plunge pool. Guests of all room categories will also have access to the St. Regis Signature Butler Service. There are eight culinary venues, including a tea and chocolate salon; spa; Athletic and Beach clubs, and adult and family pools.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua recently unveiled its new luxury room category, the Fire Lanai Collection, completing the final phase of the resort’s US$100-million transformation. With the new room additions now open, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is one of the only resorts in the Hawaiian Islands offering rooms with private fire pits. The Fire Lanai Collection comprises 33 guestrooms and suites designed with island-inspired décor, an extended lānai with private fire pit, and custom outdoor lounge furniture, inviting guests to experience Maui indoor-outdoor living.

HOTELS

Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay has completed a full multi-million-dollar renovation project. As part of the design overhaul, the property is introducing refreshed and elevated amenities including a new lobby; coastal dining concept, Gold Coast Kitchen + Cocktails; as well as downtown Miami’s first M Club, the brand’s signature lounge. Located at 1633 N. Bayshore Dr., the towering 31-storey skyscraper has long been a fixture of Miami’s tourism industry. It now features 607 remodeled guest rooms and suites with a vibrant, oceanic design, many of which include a private balcony and all offer views of Biscayne Bay and surrounding cityscape.

Ritz-Carlton has landed in Melbourne, Australia. The 80-storey luxury hotel offers spectacular views of the city and, of course, the brand’s signature amenities, culinary offerings, and highly personalized service.

CRUISE

Transitioning from sister line Costa, Carnival Venezia officially joined the Carnival Cruise Line fleet last week in Cadiz, Spain, with Costa Captain Tihomir Muzic handing over the ship to Carnival Captain Claudio Cupisti. The ship will receive finishing touches over the next two months in preparation for her 15-day transatlantic Carnival Journeys sailing from Barcelona on May 29, ahead of the start of year-round cruising from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal on June 15.

Further to its two existing Journey Together programs, Explora Journeys has now introduced another group travel program – ‘Journey Together Gatherings’ catering to extended families or friendship groups. Designed for travel advisors to book small groups, the new offering starts with five suites and a minimum of 10 guests. Travel advisors can benefit from a complimentary host berth, rewarding commission payments and each suite reserved comes with a complimentary Journey Experience credit to use onboard. Explora Journeys is the privately owned luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group. A fleet of six ships, two of which are under construction, starting this year through 2028.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKSDisney100 anniversary celebrations continued with the reopening of the Mickey’s Toontown (photo) at Disneyland Park in Anaheim last week. The reimagined attraction offers young families a distinct area of Disneyland Park with more open green spaces for gathering and play. Guests will experience thoughtful elements for different needs of young families, from companion restrooms and a quieter area for decompression to a curb-free land that helps make navigation easier for guests of differing abilities. Attractions include CenTOONial Park, Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard, Donald’s Duck Pond, and the new family-friendly attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which debuted Jan. 27.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Agents who sign up for the Peru agent specialist program with PromPeru before the end of the month and attend its Rainforest webinar on March 30 will earn two chances to win a $150 Amazon Gift Card

Variety Cruises has launched two new cruises in Tahiti, the first time the company has operated in the destination. Sailing round-trip from Papeete port, the seven-night and 10-night itineraries explore the islands with a maximum capacity of 49 passengers. The company is the first cruise line to add the destination of Makatea to its official itinerary. Active travel professionals are invited to get familiarized with the new itineraries with special FAM rates. Contact the company for details.

EVENTS

ACTA has announced its networking events for 2023 They include:

  • ACTA 2023 Eastern Canada Travel Industry Summit – Sept. 14

Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd, Etobicoke, Ont.

  • ACTA 2023 Western Canada Travel Industry Summit – Sept. 21
    River Rock Casino Resort, 8811 River Rd., Richmond, BC
  • ACTA 2023 Québec Travel Industry Summit – Sept. 27
    Centre de Congrès Palace, 1717 Blvd. le Corbusier, Laval, Que.
  • ACTA’s Avalon European River Cruise Summit – Oct. 21-28 – is already sold out.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

The Globus family of brands has hired Matthew “Billy” Stewart as Business Development Manager (BDM) in BC. Based in Vancouver, Stewart will be responsible for building and maintaining travel partner relationships and regional sales goals across Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland for Globus, Cosmos and Avalon Waterways. Stewart has nearly 20 years experience in cruising and touring including working at Exoticca and G Adventures.

Sjeidy Dijkhoff- Feliciano has recently been named as the new Area Director of North America for the Aruba Tourism Authority, overseeing the tourism board’s regional sales and marketing teams. Dijkhoff-Feliciano has been at the ATA since 2002, with her most recent role as Communications Manager, spearheading Aruba’s public relations efforts across 10 international markets.

DESTINATIONS

Leading up to Pride Month in June, Miami is packed with LGBTQ+ experiences, not least Miami Beach Pride (April 1-16), the destination’s largest LGBTQ+ event with expanded programming that includes a Pride pool event, an LGBTQ Family picnic, Queer Art Showcase, and the Pride March and Parade on Ocean Drive. Other notable events include the OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival (April 20-30); SweetHeat (May 16-22) is a dedicated event for women from the queer community; and Sizzle Miami (May 25-29), one of the most popular urban LGBTQ+ events for Black revellers and people of colour during Memorial Day weekend.

For the first time, the FIFA Women’s World Cup is heading Down Under, when 32 nations will go head-to-head across Australia and New Zealand (July 20-Aug. 20). With all of Team Canada’s games being held in Australia, now is the time for Canadian soccer fans to plan a “once-in-a-lifetime Australian adventure” that includes games in five cities and plenty to do beyond, says the country’s tourist board. The tourney is a chance to “not only catch one of the 64 FIFA matches but tick off some bucket list travel experiences around the country,” enthuses Tourism Australia.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1903, the Wright brothers applied for a patent on their airplane.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Opens Calls for Best Tourism Villages 2023

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UNWTO Opens Calls for Best Tourism Villages 2023 - TRAVELINDEXMadrid, Spain, March 27, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has opened applications for the third edition of its Best Tourism Villages initiative. Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO was launched in 2021 as part of the Organization’s work to make tourism a driver of rural development and wellbeing. To date, over 70 villages from almost 40 countries have been recognized as Best Tourism Villages. A further 40 have been selected to participate in the Upgrade Programme where they benefit from expert mentorship and networking opportunities.

Tourism can make a real difference for rural communities, delivering jobs, supporting businesses and celebrating and protecting traditions

One initiative, three components

UNWTO’s Members States can present up to eight villages through their National Tourism Administrations (NTAs). Applications will close on 23 June 2023 and the winners announced towards the end of the year. As with previous editions, the initiative has three components:

  • The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO‘ recognizes outstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products and lifestyle and have a clear committed to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects. Selection is based on an evaluation of their resources and initiatives in nine areas covering the three pillars of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental.
  • The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ Upgrade Programme benefits a number of villages among those that do not fully meet the criteria to obtain the recognition. These villages receive support from UNWTO and partners to address the gaps identified in the evaluation process.
  • The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ Network provides a space for exchanging experiences and good practices and opportunities. It includes representatives of the villages recognized as ‘Best Tourism Village by UNWTO’ as well as the villages participating in the Upgrade Programme and it will benefit from the contributions of experts, public and private sector partners engaged in the promotion of tourism for rural development. The Network also contributes to the work of UNWTO in identifying good practices, developing guidelines and policy recommendations as well as insights and knowledge.

The applications are evaluated by an independent International Advisory Board consisting of experts in different fields (cultural and natural resources preservation, sustainability, tourism product development, marketing, value chain, etc.) based on  nine areas, including sustainability, infrastructure, connectivity, and tourism value chain integration.

Recognition and mentorship for Villages

Announcing the launch, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Tourism can make a real difference for rural communities, delivering jobs, supporting businesses and celebrating and protecting traditions. Through Best Tourism Villages, UNWTO is recognizing those rural destinations that committed to making tourism a pillar of opportunity and wellbeing.”

Besides individual mentoring, the villages in the Upgrade Programme will also join the Best Tourism Villages Network, which today numbers over 100 members in five world regions. Since its inception the BTV Network had organized a series of training sessions and masterclasses, allowing hundreds of participants to benefit from expert guidance and feedback from sector leaders.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Emirates to Launch First A380 Service to Bali

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Emirates to Launch First A380 Service to Bali - TRAVELINDEX - AIRLINEHUB.comDubai, UAE, March 27, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, will deploy its signature A380 aircraft to Bali starting from 1 June 2023, marking a milestone in Indonesia’s aviation history as the first scheduled A380 service to the country.

The new 2-class Emirates A380 service will replace one of the two daily services to Bali currently operated by a 2-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline’s debut A380 flight EK368, will depart from Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 03:25 hrs, arriving in Denpasar International Airport (DPS) at 16:35 hrs local time. The returning flight, EK369, will depart Bali at 19:40 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 00:45 hrs local time. All times are local.

Highlighting the deployment of the world’s largest passenger aircraft to Bali, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The Emirates A380 is synonymous with our fly better promise and world-class products and services, and we’re excited to offer our travellers the opportunity to experience its uniqueness and unmatched beauty on flights to and from Bali. Needless to say that we’ve been working closely with our partners at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport to ensure our A380 operations will be seamless and smooth. We’d like to thank the authorities and our partners for all their support.

Bali continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in our network and strategic markets in Southeast Asia, and the Emirates A380’s debut in Indonesia underscores our long-standing commitment to its travel and tourism sector. We look forward to driving more inbound traffic to the island, while also offering leisure and business travellers more opportunities to connect to Dubai and beyond to cities across Europe and the Americas through Emirates’ extensive global network.”

Faik Fahmi, President Director of PT. Angkasa Pura I, said, “The scheduled operations of the Airbus A380 in Indonesia will be a historic moment for Indonesian aviation and Angkasa Pura I. We welcome the Emirates A380 service, which will operate in early June, and are honored to be the first airport operator to receive regular commercial flights of the aircraft in the country. This is the result of well-established coordination, synergy, and cooperation between Angkasa Pura I as the airport operator, Emirates, and the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia as the regulator. We hope the A380 operations in Indonesia, especially Bali, will have an increasingly positive impact on the tourism and economy sectors, and will further allow more opportunities for cooperation and investment in other sectors of the industry in Indonesia.”

Emirates launched a non-stop daily service from Dubai to Bali in 2015, adding to its scheduled flights to Jakarta which began in 1992. The airline has so far operated more than 49,000 flights and carried over 9 million passengers between Indonesia and Dubai. Emirates currently serves Indonesia with 28 weekly flights to both Bali and Jakarta, and offers increased connectivity to 29 more domestic cities via the two gateways through its partnership agreements with both Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air.

On a two-class Emirates A380 aircraft, passengers are offered 58 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 557 generously pitched seats in Economy Class. Customers traveling to and from Bali can look forward to enjoying Emirates’ spacious and comfortable cabins; signature products that offer travellers the best experiences in the sky like the Onboard Lounge, as well as regional cuisine including a number of Indonesian dishes. ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system offers more than 5,000 channels of on-demand entertainment with a wide selection of Indonesian content.

Emirates continues to expand its A380 network to meet increasing travel demand globally. The airline’s flagship aircraft is currently deployed to 41 destinations, including Dubai and is likely to expand to nearly 50 destinations by the end of the summer.

About Emirates
The Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies. We inspire travelers around the world with our growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Strong Interest in Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2023

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Strong Interest in Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2023 - TRAVELINDEX - VISITBALI.orgDenpasar, Bali, Indonesia, March 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / By mid-March 2023, 189 companies have registered from a targeted 250 sellers from 44 countries seeking business appointments with 350 buyers who will be on hand to enliven BBTF – a travel mart that has become the pride of all Indonesian trade shows,” said the chairman of BBTF 2023, I Putu Winastra, quoted on Monday, 20 March 2023.

“For the first time in the history of BBTF, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assisting the event by contacting foreign tour operators and other international buyers interested in travel to Indonesia,” commented Winastra.

Top decision makers from leading hotel management companies will participate as sellers at BBTF, including representatives of Marriott International, the Hyatt Group, Archipelago Hotels, Swiss-bell Hotels, and many other international and Indonesian hotel management companies.

“This level of participation proves the great faith the big players in the tourism industry are placing on the impact and utility of accessing market potential via BBTF 2023,” said Winastra.

Also participating in BBTF are 12 regional governments across Indonesia, such as Jakarta, East Kalimantan, Makassar, and Tanah Toraja.

“With buyers registering through countries across Europe, the Middle East, ASEAN, Australia, America, and Asia as a whole – the BBTF line-up at a trade show initiated by the ASITA Bali Chapter is steadily moving forward,” said Putu Winastra.

The BBTF Chairman praised the impressive international geographical distribution of buyers traveling to Bali this June, with qualified buyers coming from Europe, the Middle East, ASEAN, Australia, the USA, and Asia.

BBTF organizers are targeting Rp. 6.77 trillion in total transactions in 2023, an increase of 29.6% compared to the Rp. 5.2 trillion in total transactions recorded at BBTF 2022.

Speaking with pride about the coming travel fair, Putu Winastra said: “In BBTF, we have a world-class travel trade fair held and organized by the Indonesian people that saves substantial foreign exchange by bringing the buyers to Indonesia instead of requiring Indonesians to travel overseas in search of business. This is happening only in Indonesia.”

In response to market demand, BBTF will showcase Bali and national sellers promoting sustainable tourism products. This year, particular focus is being given to health tourism, emphasizing the current global demand for wellness and medical tourism.

“Bali continues to diversify economic growth of its tourism sector that is not solely dependent on the number of arrivals, but also on the quality of its products and visitors. For this reason, we are fast-tracking new product areas such as wellness tourism, medical tourism, cruise tourism, and MICE to bring them to the attention of BBTF buyers,” commented Putu Winastra. MICE – referring to meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions – has become the leading segment of the Island’s tourism industry.

BBTF 2023 will operate under a banner proclaiming: Reconnecting Quality and Sustainable Tourism.

For more information about BBTF 2023, please visit the website https://www.bbtf.co.id/

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Hosts Tourism Workshop for Asia and the Pacific

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UNWTO HOSTS TOURISM STATISTICS WORKSHOP FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC MEMBERS IN NEPAL - TRAVELINDEXKathmandu, Nepal, March 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has concluded a three-day workshop focused on helping Member States from across Asia and the Pacific better measure and manage their tourism sectors.

Recognizing the importance of regional cooperation as destinations across Asia and the Pacific re-open to tourism, UNWTO organized the workshop alongside the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.

Approximately 200 participants from nine Member States took part in the workshop, which began with a high-level discussion around the theme of “Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism for people, planet and prosperity”. Speakers emphasized the need for cooperation at the national and international levels in order to generate the reliable data needed to guide the economic, social and environmental aspects of tourism for sustainable development.

Interactive training sessions

Following on from the opening discussions, UNWTO hosted a series of technical training sessions focused on tourism statistics, measuring the economic impact of tourism and measuring the sustainability of tourism, and offered an interactive platform for participants to learn and exchange good practices. Participants then reviewed fundamental basics on tourism statistics in relation to the UN statistical standard “International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008”, before they explored the technical requirements for a successful TSA compilation.

The final session introduced the MST Statistical Framework, which offered unique insights on the importance of using MST indicators for policy development and the compilation of official tourism SDG indicators.

Pan-Regional Participation

Taking part in the workshop were high-level representatives from the National Tourism Administrations and National Statistical Offices of Nepal, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Maldives and Thailand, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative of Nepal.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Liverpool tunes up for Eurovision 2023

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It might only be the second biggest event in the UK this May (see King Charles lII, Coronation of), but the Eurovision Song Contest is a big deal in Britain (and elsewhere in Europe). And this year’s event, to be held in Liverpool May 8-13, has increased significance as the northern British city – known for its musical chops – has stepped in as a substitute for Ukraine, the originally scheduled host.

The now-ravaged eastern European nation had earned the right to host the prestigious contest by virtue of its winning entry last year ahead of 38 other countries (which also recorded a dubious historical marker as the first time a winner had rapped during a performance).

However, the traditional honour for the winning country to act as host of the following year’s event was passed on to 2nd-place finisher Britain for safety and security reasons due to Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine three months earlier.

The most famous winners of the 67th annual event, of course, are ABBA (1974) and (who knew?) Celine Dion (1988) – indicating the level of talent on display. Katrina and the Waves notably walked on sunshine with their win in 1997 and Cliff Richard was a runner up in 1968. Olivia Newton-John only finished fourth.

Liverpool’s skyline symbolically supports the Eurovision Song Contest logo for 2023, with colours that reflect the event’s willing but unable host, Ukraine

But even with annual winners most likely to be less illustrious than the Swedish or Quebecois pop superstars – indeed, some acts attract perverse attention for their Gong Show-style performances, or even the mesmerizing oddity of Ukrainian rappers for that matter – each year’s contest attracts intense interest and rabid TV viewers rooting – and voting – for their own national performers, often at raucous parties not unlike those held for the Super Bowl this side of the Atlantic.

Liverpool won the bidding process to host this year’s event from amongst 20 eager British cities, which included eventual runner-up Glasgow. It’s the first time for Liverpool and the first for Britain in 25 years since Birmingham 1998. In total Britain has hosted nine times, four of them in London.

The UK has won the contest five times and has been runner-up a record 16 times, prompting national frustration and annual hand-ringing (no winners in 25 years either).

And with enthusiasm mounting for a “home game” in 2023, Eurovision promises to be the hottest ticket in Liverpool this Spring. The event will take place at Liverpool Arena and will be shown on the BBC, with hosts including Graham Norton and Hannah Waddington (of “Ted Lasso” fame).

Liverpool

Cavern Club

Of course, visitors to Liverpool for or, during the show, will discover a city with music in its bones. The UNESCO City of Music and self-proclaimed “World Capital of Pop” – and hometown of The Beatles, of course – has a lively modern music scene, including the famous Cavern Club, where The Beatles’ musical identity was formed, but which today is a thriving live music destination showcasing new up-and-coming Merseybeat bands (the name comes from local River Mersey), as well as established artists.

Beatles’ fans will be in their element at The Beatles Museum, on a Magical Mystery Tour, or just visiting sites made familiar in their songs – such as Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane.

Beyond the Fab Four, the city’s broad musical legacy can be perused at the British Music Museum, while classical music afficionados can attend the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. And dedicated fans will, of course, want to take a “ferry across the Mersey.”

But for now, all eyes are on Eurovision 2023, and to that end we offer what will undoubtedly be your most interesting musical experience of the week: the 2022 finale performance from Ukraine’s rapping Kalush Orchestra. (Oh, we’re versatile!)

Nasoloditisya (enjoy) – it’s likely to be the only rap you’ll ever hear in this space!

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Tivoli Debuts in the Netherlands with Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam

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Tivoli Debuts in the Netherlands with Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25HOTELS.comAmsterdam, Netherlands, March 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Tivoli Hotels and Resorts has just launched its first property in the Netherlands. The Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel is a XVI century property in the classicist style overlooking the Amstel Canal and is considered to be the oldest hotel in the Dutch capital. The original home to Rembrandt Van Rijn’s famous painting The Night Watch (which was completed in 1642) it hung on a wall inside one of the bedroom suites until it moved to the city’s famed Rijksmuseum.

Centrally located in Amsterdam’s historic city centre, walking distance from the main touristic attractions, the heritage property has 81 guest rooms including seven suites, most of them overlooking the canal, and a new gastronomic concept in its elegant Omber restaurant and bar, inspired by the art works of Rembrandt, who lived very close to the hotel.

Inspired by the Dutch Golden Age and the unique atmosphere of Amsterdam, Tivoli Doelen’s interiors blend an old-world elegance with contemporary service and special Tivoli touches. The guest rooms and suites offer views over the canals or the city, with the interiors featuring pastel tones with red splashes of colour for a relaxing but vibrant atmosphere, combined with touches of wood. New beds and bed linen provide the best night’s sleep and the marble bathrooms feature special amenities from the French luxury brand Lalique.

For an ultimate Dutch experience, guests can book the 47-square-metre Rembrandt Suite where they can view a perfect replica of The Night Watch, in the room and on the exact wall where the masterpiece originally hung for 70 years. Another interesting room is the Empress Suite that was once the boudoir of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, most well-known as Sisi. With a unique C-shape design to maximise the canals views, the suite has a king-sized bed with Dutch shields on the ceiling, which are a symbol of protection.

On the ground floor and overlooking the canal, Omber restaurant and bar now offers a Mediterranean-Dutch fusion menu. Inspired by the craftsmanship of paint making and the limited colours Rembrandt used, Omber is a signature colour in Rembrandt’s art. Every dish on the menu contains an element inspired by his colour pallet. The menu also takes inspiration from the artist’s favourites dishes such as herring and pickles that have been recreated by the team with the Dutch name of Rembrandt Pauze. The slow cooked Dutch Veal with parsnip, carrots and purslane is one of the dishes paired with Portuguese Cartuxa wine from the Alentejo region, giving a nod to the brand’s Portuguese heritage.

For the Omber Bar, several signature cocktails have been created with Jenever, the typical Dutch gin, which was also Rembrandt’s favourite drink. Most of the cocktails are made with a local Jenever producer, Wynand Fockink, which operates a similar distillery process to that used in the Dutch Golden Age. The star cocktail Night Watch is based on an old recipe found in the hotel archives dating back to the 17th century and is made with old Jenever, coffee liqueur, syrup and cherry bitters. Daily at 4:30pm, Omber Bar celebrates the aperitivo moment offering guests some local sips to savour.

Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam helps guests make the most of its canal side location with a range of personalised tours starting and ending at the hotel dock, exploring the vast IJsselmeer, the city canals or Oudekerk aan de Amstel.

With an immersive “In the Footsteps of Rembrandt” tour, guests can visit his home and studio, the gothic Zuiderkerk, his family church featured in his art, and the artists’ guild of De Waag, one of the oldest buildings in the city, which he also painted. Along the way, the guide will share more details about Rembrandt’s life, as well as his connection with the Doelen property, that commissioned his most famous painting, The Night Watch, in 1642.

The hotel has created a partnership with The Rembrandthuis museum iving hotel guests the possibility of booking a very exclusive experience, a dinner, served by the Tivoli Doelen team, in the actual kitchen of Rembrandt’s house. Guests can also book a painting workshop, inspired by the Dutch grand master, getting to know better the ancient art heritage of Amsterdam.

With a journey that dates back to 1933 in Lisbon, Tivoli arrives in Amsterdam in March 2023, the month of the brand’s 90th anniversary, celebrating its sophisticated hospitality with events and special guest experiences to be revealed throughout the year.

Rates at Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel start from €200.00 for a Superior room including breakfast for two people.

About Tivoli Hotels & Resorts
Tivoli Hotels & Resorts is part of the Minor Hotels and currently operates 17 properties in Portugal, Brazil, Qatar, China and The Netherlands. With 90 years of experience, Tivoli Hotels & Resorts differentiates through a range of unique and authentic experiences offered to guests along with innovative and outstanding service. In Portugal, Tivoli has properties in main tourism destinations from the cosmopolitan city of Lisbon to the romantic medieval town Sintra and the beaches and golf courses of the Algarve. In Brazil, Tivoli hotels has properties in the vibrant São Paulo and coastal Bahia. In Qatar, the brand portfolio includes three hotels, two in the historic centre of Doha and one on the coast in Al Wakra.

Tivoli is a member of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands.

About Minor Hotels
Minor Hotels is an international hotel owner, operator and investor currently with more than 540 hotels in operation. Minor Hotels passionately explores new possibilities in hospitality with a diverse portfolio of properties designed intelligently to appeal to different kinds of travellers, serving new passions as well as personal needs. Through our Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Tivoli, NH Collection, NH Hotels, nhow, Elewana, Marriott, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Radisson Blu and Minor International properties, Minor Hotels operates in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, South America and North America. With dynamic plans to expand existing brands and explore strategic acquisitions throughout opportunistic markets, Minor Hotels pursues a vision of a more passionate and interconnected world.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Tourism Potential of Least Developed Countries Outlined at UN Conference

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UNWTO - Tourism Potential of Least Developed Countries Outlined at UN Conference - TRAVELINDEXDoha, Qatar, March 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO centred tourism as a key pillar of sustainable development at the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries.

The conference, held in Doha around the theme of “From Potential to Prosperity” came at the pivotal half-way point in the timeline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and fully implement the 2030 agenda. With the sector accounting for 7% of total exports, and as much as 10% for non-oil exporting LDCs, tourism has proven its power to drive development. The crosscutting and labour-intensive nature of tourism also creates links to many other economic sectors and positions it as a valuable contributor to national development strategies and support to entrepreneurs, the backbone of the sector. Tourism has been one of the key factors enabling the graduation of LDCs which are also Small Island Developing States, including Cabo Verde, Samoa, Maldives and most recently Vanuatu.

The UN Conference brought together Heads of State, governments, civil society organizations, entrepreneurs, students, youth and policy makers. In Doha, UNWTO participated in the UN principals meeting, several high-level events and thematic roundtables with sector partners, to help finance, build engagement and bolster sustainable long-term support for the LDCs. Key issues raised included climate action, innovation, new financing mechanisms, education youth empowerment, digitalization, and capacity building.

Private sector partnerships

Within the Private Sector Forum Sustainable Tourism Session “Achieving universal access to clean and affordable energy through partnerships” co-organized by UNWTO, participants included – distinguished representatives from TUI Care Foundation, Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Asian Development Bank. Discussions focused on the potential for innovative partnerships to support sustainable recovery, shape better policies and fiscal incentives for the private sector to rebound. UNWTO was proud to announce ‘Tourism for Development Fund’ for Least Developed Countries supporting projects in LDCs with at least €10 million until 2030 in collaboration with the TUI Care Foundation.

UNWTO also hosted a special side event on “Harnessing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Tourism as Tools for Sustainable Development in LDCs” with the support of Qatar Tourism.  Here Startups from the UNWTO SDGs Global Startups Competition pitched their solutions helping to drive change in their countries alongside a panel discussion on how Innovation and Partnerships in Tourism can accelerate economic development. Participating startups included SEMA (Uganda), Community Homestay Network (Nepal), At hause Ltd. (Uganda).

Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said: “By 2030, Qatar Tourism aims to increase the number of visitors to the destination threefold to over six million visitors a year, increase spending by three to four times and grow the travel and tourism sector contribution to GDP from 7 to 12%. Most importantly, we want to double employment in the tourism sector, all while continuing to position Qatar as a global leader in Service Excellence. To achieve this ambitious goal, Qatar Tourism aims to boost the entire tourism value chain, grow local and international visitor demand, attract sector investment, and drive a multiplier effect across the domestic economy.”

LDC5 represents a once-in-a-decade chance for the world’s most vulnerable to realign to global priorities. UNWTO is fully committed to accelerating the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action, by focusing on innovation, digitalization and new financing models to support Least Developed countries’ economic growth and graduation.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News