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    UNWTO AND MSC FOUNDATION TO DELIVER SUSTAINABLE TOURISM EDUCATION AT SEA

    The initiative builds on the success of the first Global Youth Tourism Summit, held in Sorrento, Italy, in 2022, and will see the creation of the MSC Foundation Youth Lab, a specially-equipped venue on the advanced new eco-ship. One of the core programmes to be offered in the Youth Lab will be “GYTS for MSC: A Sustainable Future for Our Next Generations”, designed in close partnership with UNWTO.
    The programme will deliver 12 daily two-hour activity sessions on key subjects ranging from ocean health, recycling and climate change to sustainable tourism and social media, all focused on the “sustainability challenge”. The activities have been designed to leave the youths free to learn, create and express themselves according to their interests and ideas for the future.
    “We are proud to build on the tremendous success of the Global Youth Tourism Summit in Sorrento by extending our partnership with UNWTO to promote youth empowerment and sustainability education,” commented MSC Foundation Executive Director Daniela Picco. “The new MSC Foundation Lab on MSC Euribia will offer an innovative venue for children and teenagers to engage in sustainability-focused activities. Our new custom-designed programme ‘GYTS for MSC: A Sustainable Future for Our Next Generations’ has been specially conceived to empower young people to learn, create, and express themselves while addressing key sustainability issues such as marine conservation, climate change and responsible tourism. By making our young guests the centre of these activities, we aim to raise awareness of the challenges facing humanity and equip our next generations with the tools they need to create a better world.”
    Alessandra Priante, Director of the Regional Department for Europe at UNWTO added: “After the immense success of our first Global Youth Tourism Summit, which brought together children from every corner of the world, we are very excited that GYTS will not only go across borders but also across the seas and oceans. We are grateful to the MSC Foundation for their continued support in highlighting the central role that youth can play in building a sustainable tourism of the future. We are proud to support MSC as they continue to educate and empower children and youth to become more conscious, committed and engaged.”
    The MSC Group is committed to taking comprehensive action through the MSC Foundation to raise awareness of the big challenges facing humanity and to provide its young MSC Cruises guests with tools that inform and motivate through an understanding of its programmes and initiatives across four focus areas: the Environment (including marine conservation), Education, Community Support and Emergency Relief. This includes inviting young cruise guests to become Junior Ambassadors of the Foundation and running dedicated activities that equip them to voice the right of our younger generations to live in a better world.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Buy Now Pay Later is a game changer for travel e-commerce, says Digitrips

    Leading multi-product travel platform Digitrips says Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services have become a game changer for travel e-commerce, with such purchases accounting for up to 75% of sales for the company’s B2B2C customers.
    Digitrips currently operates 65 white-label storefronts for e-commerce players across Europe, most of which offer BNPL – a type of short-term financing that allows consumers to make purchases and pay for them over time with little or no interest.
    According to the platform, the financial service now represents anywhere between 35% to 75% of sales for their B2B2C customers, depending on the site’s customer typology.
    Emilie Dumont, CEO of DIGITRIPS, said: “It’s evident that Buy Now Pay Later purchases play a critical role in empowering our white labels partners sites to make travel more accessible. In fact, some report that the majority of their travellers choose to defer their payment or spread the costs over a series of instalments.
    “As the numbers suggest, offering payment flexibility to passengers not only facilitates the pent-up demand for travel but also emphasises the need for personalised offers that cater to customers’ payment preferences.”ADVERTISEMENTThe 2022 version of the FLOA – Kantar European barometer highlights the growing importance of payment facilities in the consumption habits of Europeans. The focus on travel in this study revealed that travel is a strategic category for BNPL providers, with 35% of users leveraging the financial service to book travel arrangements. In France, Digitrips’ main market, the proportion of BNPL users benefitting from deferred or staggered travel payments is as high as 44%.
    Meanwhile, just under half (49%) of the respondents of the FLOA-Kantar European barometer stated they would not have been able to make some of these purchases without the flexibility offered by BNPL, further highlighting the growing importance of the financial service in driving demand across the travel sector.
    Marc Lanvin, Deputy CEO of FLOA, said: “As it develops in France and Europe, and despite disparities in usage from one country to another, this study reveals increasingly strong expectations in terms of payment facilities. In the travel sector, FLOA’s solutions are even more in demand due to rising inflation, but also because the customer can make a travel reservation at the most convenient time to take advantage of early bookings, promotions, etc.”

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    ​​IATA and ATPCO Partner for Flight Emissions Data Calculations and Distribution​

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    ​​IATA and ATPCO Partner for Flight Emissions Data Calculations and Distribution​

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ATPCO have announced a partnership which will see ATPCO use IATA’s CO2 Connect data in its Routehappy API offering later this year.Routehappy is an API that helps airlines and sales channels to convey expected “Amenities” of the onboard experience, including seat pitch and type, Wi-Fi, power, entertainment, and more, to consumers at the time of booking.
    ATPCO plans to create a new Amenity that will use IATA CO2 Connect data to help shoppers understand the carbon cost of various itinerary options.
    The agreement was signed between Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General and Alex Zoghlin, President and CEO of ATPCO during IATA’s 79th Annual General Meeting.
    “We know travelers want to understand their flight’s environmental impact in a consistent, transparent and trustworthy way. IATA CO2 Connect is the most accurate tool providing this information. ATPCO customers will be able to make travel decisions using carbon calculations benefitting from top quality,” said Walsh.
    “Routehappy data has been the one-stop shop for airline merchandising data for years. Adding this needed data is another way for ATPCO to provide more value back to our airline and channel partners, and in turn the consumers. It’s clear there is a growing interest from passengers, corporate, travel management companies, and travel agents to receive CO2 information so they can use it to compare flights and make a more sustainable choice. IATA’s CO2 Connect offers airline specific fuel burn data and we are looking forward to making this available to our growing list of Routehappy Rich Content partners,” said Zoghlin.ADVERTISEMENTThis answers a major consumer concern. Multiple studies have shown that consumers and corporate travelers want access to carbon emissions data, and that this information can influence purchasing decisions.
    A recent IATA survey shows that nearly two-thirds of travelers believe they have a responsibility to know the carbon emissions of their flights, and that a third of air travelers believe carbon emissions is the most important factor in future travel decisions.Trip.com’s 2022 sustainable travel report found that 78.7% of respondents agree that sustainable travel is vital, while 74.9% are likely to book sustainable travel in the future.ATPCO’s annual consumer shopper survey, published in February 2022 found that 62% of shoppers think it’s extremely important to compare carbon emissions when flight shopping and that 63% claim that aircraft specific sustainability practices would influence the flight they book.About CO2 Connect
    Launched in June 2022, IATA CO2 Connect provides airline specific actual fuel burn information and load factors. This sets it apart from theoretical data models which also exist on the market. It uses actual fuel burn data from 74 aircraft types, representing ~98% of the active global passenger fleet, and considers traffic data from 881 aircraft operators representing ~93% of global air travel.
    Methodology: IATA CO2 Connect utilizes the Carbon Calculation Methodology adopted by IATA’s Passenger Service Conference in March 2022. This was conceived by leading partners from 20 airlines and major aircraft manufacturers, in consultation with international standard-setting bodies and logistics services providers. The methodology includes factors such as:
    Guidance on fuel measurement, aligned with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)Clearly defined scope to calculate CO2 emissions in relation to airlines’ flying activitiesGuidance on non-CO2 related emissions and Radiative Forcing Index (RFI)Weight based calculation principle: allocation of CO2 emission by passenger and belly cargoGuidance on passenger weight, using actual and standard weightEmissions factor for conversion of jet fuel consumption to CO2, fully aligned with CORSIACabin class weighting and multipliers to reflect different cabin configurations of airlinesGuidance on carbon offsets and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of the CO2 calculation.

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    ​​IAFCAC, AASA Join Forces with IATA on Focus Africa

    The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) “Focus Africa” drive is gaining momentum, spurred on by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) as its newest partners.
    Focus Africa will strengthen aviation’s contribution to Africa’s economic and social development and improve connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers. It will see private and public stakeholders deliver measurable progress in six critical areas: safety, infrastructure, connectivity, finance and distribution, sustainability and skills development.
    “Focus Africa is all about establishing a coalition of partners committing to pool their resources and delivering a set of African air transport solutions that let the continent, its people and economies play a greater, more meaningful and representative role in the global economy.  The combined contributions of AFCAC and AASA will be critical to Focus Africa’s success. Africa accounts for 18% of the global population but less than 3% of global GDP and just 2.1% of air passenger and cargo transport activity. With the right interventions those gaps will be closed, and Africa will benefit from the connectivity, jobs and growth that aviation enables,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
    “The ability to access, serve and develop intra-African markets is crucial as the continent’s populace is set to increase by over a billion people by 2050. For this to be sustainable, economic opportunities must be created. As other regions have demonstrated, air transport connectivity unlocks broad prosperity. As the African Union’s civil aviation agency, we will support Focus Africa through our work developing a set of harmonized rules and regulations designed to make this connectivity a reality and drive our strategic objectives,” said AFCAC Secretary-General, Adefunke Adeyemi.
    “Time is not on our side as AASA’s members and the communities they serve face rising costs, unprecedented unemployment, obsolete constraints on trade and market access, inadequate infrastructure and a looming skills shortage. These demand urgent action, so we do not get stranded on the runway. It is why we have no hesitation standing with IATA and other Focus Africa partners,” added AASA CEO, Aaron Munetsi.ADVERTISEMENTLeaders and decision-makers from airlines, airports, air navigation services, government agencies, aircraft manufacturers, industry suppliers and other stakeholders will convene at the IATA Focus Africa Conference, hosted by Ethiopian Airlines, in Addis Ababa on 20-21 June, to address the six priority task areas in detail.

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    Jubail Mangrove Park’s Sustainability Efforts Attract Record Numbers of Visitors More

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    Jubail Mangrove Park’s Sustainability Efforts Attract Record Numbers of Visitors

    Jubail Mangrove Park has become one of the most sought-after destinations for nature lovers. The park has achieved a remarkable accomplishment by drawing in over 150,000 visitors from October 2022 to March 2023.This achievement is a testament to the park’s commitment to sustainability and its dedication to providing visitors with engaging activities that help them forge a deeper connection with nature.
    In line with Abu Dhabi’s ambitious goal of planting 100 million mangrove trees which was announced by Her Excellency, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment during COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, Jubail Island has launched a project to plant 1 million mangrove trees, where more than 500,000 trees have been planted to date. This initiative is a testament to the island’s dedication to preserving this unique ecosystem and contributes to the UAE’s significant objective. By expanding the mangrove forest, Jubail Island aims to create a healthier environment for wildlife and support local communities.
    Jubail Mangrove Park is committed to sustainability and engages visitors in edutainment and interactive mangrove tree planting experiences. Through such activities, visitors gain insight into the pivotal role that mangroves play in mitigating climate change and promoting biodiversity.
    Numerous high-level dignitaries who are actively contributing to preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development on a global scale, have been attracted to the Jubail Mangrove Park, the first self-contained educational, nature and leisure destination of its kind in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Their involvement, in addition to Jubail Island’s several partnerships with high-end entities including Etihad Airways, Emirates NBD, ADGM, Marriott International and IFZA, attest to the significance of achieving a greener future for generations to come.
    The tree planting initiative has also attracted the participation of numerous schools and universities, providing an engaging and educational experience for students. Jubail Mangrove Park recognizes the crucial role of education in promoting environmental consciousness and offers students a platform to learn, explore, and engage meaningfully with nature.ADVERTISEMENTSituated on Jubail Island in Abu Dhabi, the park is a unique natural treasure that provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Visitors can immerse themselves in the serene atmosphere and abundant natural wonders that the park has to offer. It’s a perfect retreat for those seeking a natural haven and has become a popular choice among both tourists and residents alike.
    Visitors to the park have a plethora of activities to choose from, ranging from guided walks to yoga and meditation classes, all of which provide a unique opportunity to connect with nature while nurturing the mind and body. For those seeking a thrilling adventure, kayaking tours are available to observe the unique biodiversity of the region. Additionally, spinning classes on the park’s tranquil terrace provide an excellent way to stay fit while enjoying the stunning scenery.
    As one of the leading eco-tourism destinations in the region, the park acknowledges the importance of promoting sustainable tourism practices to protecting the environment while providing visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.
    For more information about Jubail Mangrove Park, visit the park’s website at: www.jubailisland.ae/jubail-mangrove-park/

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    IATA Expands Turbulence Aware Platform​

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    IATA Expands Turbulence Aware Platform​

    Turbulence Aware was launched in 2018 to help airlines mitigate the impact of turbulence which is a leading cause of passenger and crew injuries and higher fuel costs each year. The platform pools anonymized turbulence data from thousands of flights operated by participating airlines. The real-time, accurate information enables pilots and dispatchers to choose optimal flight paths, avoiding turbulence and flying at optimum levels to maximize fuel efficiency and thereby reduce CO2 carbon emissions.
    The challenge of managing turbulence is expected to grow as climate change continues to impact weather patterns. This has implications for both safety and efficiency of flight. Turbulence Aware is a significant improvement in turbulence reporting and avoiding excess fuel consumption.“Accurate and timely data empowers crews to improve safety by avoiding turbulence. The more contributors we have, the more everyone benefits. The addition of ANA and WestJet enhances our coverage especially in Asia Pacific and North America,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
    At present, 20 airlines participate in the IATA Turbulence Aware Platform with more than 1,900 aircraft providing data daily. In 2022, a total of 31 million reports were generated.
    ANA will start providing data from nine aircraft as of 1 July 2023, with the aim of increasing this to 125 aircraft in the next three years.WestJet is already capturing data from 24 aircraft and will expand this to 60 aircraft in the coming three years. To gather additional feedback from airlines and engage with OEMs and other solution providers, IATA is organizing a Turbulence Aware User Forum, taking place at the WestJet Campus in Calgary, Canada on June 19-20, 2023.

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    SAF Production Set for Growth but Needs Policy Support to Diversify Sources

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    SAF Production Set for Growth but Needs Policy Support to Diversify Sources

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its expectation for overall renewable fuel production to reach an estimated capacity of at least 69 billion liters (55 million tonnes) by 2028.
    Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) will comprise a portion of this growing output which is being achieved through new renewable fuel refineries and the expansion of existing facilities. Importantly, the expected production has a wide geographic footprint covering North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. 
    “The expected production increase is extremely encouraging. Seeing this, we need governments to act to ensure that SAF gets its fair production share. That means, in the first instance, production incentives, to support aviation’s energy transition. And we need continued approval for more diversification of methods and feedstocks available for SAF production. With these two measures successfully in place, we can be confident that the expected 2028 production levels will be realistically aligned with our recently published roadmaps to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. That is important as we are counting on SAF to provide about 62% of the carbon mitigation needed in 2050,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. 
    Trends supporting this optimistic outlook are already visible. In 2022, SAF production tripled to some 300 million liters (240,000 tonnes) and project announcements for potential SAF producers are rapidly growing. IATA counts over 130 relevant renewable fuel projects announced by more than 85 producers across 30 countries. Each of these projects has either announced the intent or commitment to produce SAF within their wider product slate of renewable fuels. Typically, there is a 3 –5-year lag between a project announcement and its commercialization date. This implies that further renewable fuel capacity out until 2030 could still be announced over the following years.
    If renewable energy production reaches 69 billion liters by 2028 as estimated, the trajectory to 100 billion liters (80 million tonnes) by 2030 would be on track. If just 30% of that produced SAF, the industry could achieve 30 billion liters (24 million tonnes) of SAF production by 2030.  ADVERTISEMENT“Achieving the necessary SAF percentage output from these new and expanding facilities is not a given. But with governments the world-over agreeing at ICAO to a long-term aspirational goal (LTAG) of net zero by 2050, they now share accountability for aviation’s decarbonization. That means establishing a policy framework to ensure that aviation gets the needed share of renewable energy production in SAF,” said Walsh.
    Policy Support & Government Investment The case for diversification, within current sustainability criteria, is clear. At present, it is expected that 85% of future SAF volume over the next five years will be derived from just one of nine certified pathways, being Hydrotreated Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), which is dependent on limited availability of feedstock such as waste fat, oil and grease feedstocks (FOGs, recognized by industry as second-generation feedstock).
    IATA identifies three main avenues to achieve SAF diversification:
    Scale already certified SAF pathways, such as Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) & Fischer-Tropsch (FT)Accelerated R&D for SAF production pathways that are currently in development Scale up of feedstock/feedstock conversion technology
    Accelerating these avenues to commercialized levels will require policy leadership from governments. To start, there is an impending need for the harmonization of core SAF policies (pdf) as a means of reducing administrative, logistical and geographic barriers to entry for new market entrants, including producers, feedstock providers, and offtakers. 
    More fundamentally, the challenge is finding the capital needed to fund the development of new technology and production facilities. Governments must look at the broader sustainability picture with these investments. SAF can be produced from surplus forestry and agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, food waste and wet wastes (third generation feedstocks). Producing SAF from these can create long-term return on investment opportunities for governments, with the potential of financing the clean-up of the environment, supporting developing economies and delivering a future-proofed intersection of energy transition and energy security.
    Passenger Support A recent IATA survey revealed significant public support for SAF. Some 85% of travelers agreed that governments should provide incentives for airlines to use SAF.
    “People have experienced governments’ role in the transition to green energy for electricity. They now expect it for SAF. The G7 leaders are among the latest to reiterate their understanding that SAF is critical for sustainable aviation. Now they must support their declarations with effective policies. To promote SAF production, there are many tried and tested tools including tax credits, grants, or even direct investments in emerging technologies and solutions. The market is there. Airlines want to purchase SAF. Anything to meaningfully incentivize SAF production will be a step forward,” added Walsh. 

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    Daily Getaways Returns with Travel Deals, Offers from Top Brands

    The U.S. Travel Association today unveiled a weeklong preview of its popular Daily Getaways program. Officially launching for sales on June 12, Daily Getaways will feature exclusive offers from major travel brands—offering discounts up to 50% off loyalty points, theme park tickets, vacation packages and hotel stays.
    Survey data shows travelers are increasingly looking for ways to save on travel. According to a Morning Consult survey, a greater share of travelers (34%) are using points and rewards to book travel than last year (28%). With deals in Daily Getaways carrying at least a year-long expiration and many programs offering points that never expire (with an active account), travelers can secure a travel deal now to use beyond this summer.
    Available DealsSince its inception in 2010, Daily Getaways has offered travelers access to deals from top travel brands in a one-stop, once-a-year marketplace, with deep discounts on points from top loyalty programs being among the fastest sellers.
    The following is a breakdown of how travelers can view and buy the deals:
    Deals Preview: Starting June 5, U.S. Travel begins previewing the Daily Getaways deals online, allowing travelers to sign up for reminders when the deals go live.Daily Deals: A limited number of offers will be available for online purchase in the United States and Canada each weekday beginning Monday, June 12 until July 14, or until supplies last.Deals Platform: To preview and later purchase the deals, consumers can visit DailyGetaways.com. Travelers can also sign up for daily alerts to be reminded of deals that interest them before limited quantities sell out.Travelers can look forward to Daily Getaways travel opportunities from these and additional travel brands:ADVERTISEMENTAccorBest Western Hotels & ResortsCaesars EntertainmentChoice HotelsIHG Hotels & ResortsHiltonHyatt Hotels & ResortsMarriott InternationalMGM Resorts InternationalOmni Hotels & ResortsSeaWorld Parks & EntertainmentUniversal Destinations & ExperiencesThe Venetian Resort Las VegasWyndham Hotels & ResortsVisit DailyGetaways.com for more information or follow @DailyGetaways on Twitter.

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