Eliana Willis

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    TUI driving growth in tours and activities with relaunch of TUI Collection

    TUI Group, one of the world’s leading tourism groups, has revamped, expanded and relaunched the TUI Collection, one of the largest portfolios of original, branded experiences in the travel industry. The relaunch continues the Group’s strategic focus on tours and activities as a key growth pillar and supports the ongoing expansion of TUI’s digital platform for experiences.
    “With the TUI Collection we are offering an unrivalled selection of high quality, original, and more sustainable tours and activities,” said Peter Ulwahn, CEO of TUI Musement, the tours and activities division of TUI Group. “Our original, TUI branded experiences are a strategic focus to drive further growth and are already the most popular tours and activities in our destinations. We are building on this success by relaunching a significantly strengthened TUI Collection portfolio with a sharpened value proposition and additional experiences that will see more and more customers enjoying tours and activities from TUI.”
    Over five million TUI Collection experiences have been delivered since the concept was created in 2015. The relaunch sees the portfolio grow from 385 to over 650 tours and activities, available in more than 100 sun & beach and city destinations. TUI Collection experiences are designed to provide customers with great value through high-quality, more sustainable tours and activities, led by expert guides that deliver unique local insights. Highlights from the TUI Collection portfolio include a Holbox Island Boat and Buggy Tour from Chiquila, Mexico; a Majorcan village excursion involving different forms of vintage and historic transport to visit Port de Soller and Sa Calobra; and a hike in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, exploring scenic trails, discovering remote Berber villages, markets and a cooking class organised by a Berber family.
    The TUI Collection relaunch comes as new research commissioned by TUI shows that most holidaymakers will enjoy two experiences per holiday, with nearly 70 percent of holidaymakers on a sun & beach holiday and three quarters on a city break likely to book more than one experience during their time away. Additionally, tours and activities was revealed to represent the highest share of in-destination spend; 40%.
    TUI Group is considered the Europe’s Leading Tour Operator 2021 by voters at the World Travel Awards.ADVERTISEMENT

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    ABTA highlights importance of talking to customers about health, safety and security

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    ABTA highlights importance of talking to customers about health, safety and security

    ABTA is encouraging Members to remind customers to take steps to keep themselves safe on holiday, by sharing its health, safety and security advice and resources with customers ahead of their trips abroad and while in destination.
    The Association has a range of materials to help Members provide important health, safety and security information to customers. The materials include an updated leaflet which provides essential information and advice on steps people can take prior to travel and whilst away to stay safe. The leaflet can be embedded within emails, hosted on Members’ websites and in their customer apps, and is easy to read on any device including mobile phones or tablets.
    Health and safety topics covered include swimming, balcony use, activities such as riding quad bikes and mopeds and advice for young holidaymakers.
    ABTA’s work on health, safety and security is an important and highly valued service for Members. As well as providing information that Members can share with customers, ABTA also provides advice and expertise to Members, the wider industry and destinations, through working in partnership and publishing materials to support in this area, such as its Health and Safety technical guide which can be found at www.abta.com/member-zone/operational-support/health-safety.
    ABTA has been liaising with destinations and Members regarding health, safety and security measures in the run up to travel reopening but says it is also important customers take steps to keep themselves safe when abroad.ADVERTISEMENTAngela Hills, Head of Destinations at ABTA – The Travel Association said: “Holidays are a time for fun and relaxation, but customers also need to take care of themselves and look out for each other. 
    “For many people, this year will be the first time they have been abroad for almost three years – so we’re encouraging our Members to remind customers of the steps people can take to stay safe when travelling including around swimming, using balconies and booking excursions.
    “Travel agents and tour operators are well placed to offer friendly reminders about what people can do to keep safe – whether that’s in pre-departure information or in hotels on arrival, there are lots of opportunities to get the message across and we have resources to help Members do that.”

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    France’s tourism sector poised to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2023

    The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed the travel and tourism sector in France will propel the national economic recovery and could even surpass pre-pandemic levels next year, when it is projected to rise 2.2% above 2019 levels.
    The forecast from WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) shows the sector’s contribution to GDP could reach more than €216 billion by next year.
    Employment within the sector could also exceed 2019 levels, creating almost 90,000 additional jobs, representing nearly 2.8 million by the end of next year.
    According to the global Tourism body’s latest data, travel and tourism’s GDP is expected to grow at an average of 2.8% annually over the next decade, more than twice the 1.3% growth rate of the country’s overall economy, to reach nearly €264 billion (9% of the total economy).
    The forecast also reveals the travel and tourism sector in France, is expected to create more than 385,000 jobs in the next 10 years, averaging over 38,000 new jobs every year, reaching more than three million employed within the sector by 2032.ADVERTISEMENTAdditionally, by the end of this year, the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 24.3% to more than €200 billion, amounting to 7.8% of the total economic GDP, while employment in the sector is set to grow at a slower rate at 3.1%, to reach nearly 2.7 million jobs.
    Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “France is the world’s most popular destination, the backbone to the European travel and tourism sector. The pandemic really hit the French economy when international travel came to a standstill.
    “Throughout the pandemic, President Macron and his government recognised the importance of our sector and has shown total commitment to the recovery.
    “WTTC data offers a positive outlook, showing a clear recovery of both the economic contribution from travel and tourism and jobs, which will provide a strong boost to businesses across the country.”
    Before the pandemic, France’s travel and tourism total contribution to GDP was 8.4% (€211.9 billion) in 2019, falling to just 5% (€114.9 billion) in 2020, representing a staggering 45.8% loss.
    The sector also supported nearly 2.7 million jobs, before an almost complete halt to international travel which resulted in a loss of 255,000 (9.5%), to reach just over 2.4 million in 2020.
    WTTC’s latest EIR report also reveals that 2021 saw the beginning of the recovery for the country’s travel and tourism sector.
    Last year, its contribution to GDP climbed 40.6% year on year, to reach €161.5 billion.
    However, the recovery of jobs was slower with just 170,000 travel and tourism jobs created, to reach 2.6 million.
    The sector’s contribution to the economy and employment could have been higher if it weren’t for the impact of the Omicron variant, which led to the recovery faltering around the world, with many countries reinstating severe travel restrictions.

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    Poland’s outbound tourism to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2024

    Weakened traveler confidence, combined with strict COVID-19 measures, saw Poland’s outbound tourism numbers shrink to a fraction of what they were in 2019, says GlobalData. Figures from the leading data and analytics company reveal that outbound tourism from Poland declined by 62.7% year-on-year (YoY) from 2019 to 2020, to just 6.8 million international departures. However, international visits are projected to grow in 2022 and beyond as restrictions are eased across the globe.
    GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Poland Source Tourism Insight, 2022 Update’, reveals that outbound travel from Poland is projected to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, with international departures forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% from 13.2 million projected international departures in 2022, to 18 million by 2025.
    Megan Cross, Associate Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Poland is a source market that is growing in importance due to its uptake of budget-friendly options, such as low-cost carriers (LCCs). GlobalData’s survey found that 65% of Polish respondents identified affordability as a main factor in deciding where to go on holiday. Additionally, digitalized services and products are now of the utmost importance when attracting the Polish market. Over a quarter (26%) of Polish respondents stated that they typically use online travel agents when booking a trip, which was the most popular booking method.”
    Polish tourists are also showing a strong preference for sun and beach destinations, with 60% of respondents saying they typically take holidays of this type. In comparison, just 20% of respondents in the survey said they went on city break holidays in 2021, a small number, especially when compared to the rest of Europe, which averages 39%. This could be due to concerns regarding the pandemic remaining among travelers, with only 4% of Polish travelers responding that they are not concerned about the spread of the virus.
    Cross adds: “Demand for city break holidays is likely to be altered in the short term due to lingering COVID-19 fears of infection, which may drive desires to visit more rural areas. Croatia beat Italy as the number one outbound destination for Polish tourists, with easy, direct travel routes between the two countries, and many rural destinations, such as Rastoke for travelers looking for appealing active outdoor holidays.ADVERTISEMENT“Polish tourists are displaying distinct preferences which travel industry players such as destination management organizations, tourism boards and hotels would be remiss not to recognize considering the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry.”

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    World Committee on Tourism Ethics issues statement on Ukraine war

    The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), an impartial body which reports directly to the UNWTO General Assembly, met under a new chair and with a new composition. After deliberations, the Committee agreed to issue the following statement:
    The World Committee on Tourism Ethics, welcoming the statement of UN Secretary-General that “Continuing the war in Ukraine is morally unacceptable, politically indefensible and militarily nonsensical”, in firm belief that tourism is a vital force for peace and a factor for friendship and mutual understanding among the peoples of the world, urges the Russian Federation to end its invasion against Ukraine which is putting millions of lives at risk, threatening their peace and security. Guided by Article 1 of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Committee calls on all efforts to be extended towards peace negotiations in accordance with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.
    While the right to tourism is forcibly taken away during conflicts, tourism is always a reminder of the importance of dialogue, peace, tolerance, and sustainable development among countries.
    The WCTE functions are to interpret, apply, and evaluate the provisions of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, in addition to ensuring the promotion of its ethical principles and the monitoring of its practical implementation by governments and the private sector.

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    New Travelport+ self-service suite unlocks productivity

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    New Travelport+ self-service suite unlocks productivity

    Travelport has debuted the latest product feature release for its next-generation travel retailing platform, Travelport+. The new self-servicing suite and automation tools, now available on Travelport+, help travelers, and the travel retailers that support them, to create an efficient, online shopping and servicing experience for travelers. Travelport has also recently expanded the availability of NDC content and NDC servicing capabilities for several of its airline partners.
    “This next phase of our Travelport+ evolution is all about making our next-generation travel marketplace work and feel more like the Internet, with more self-service and automation, so that our customers can activate their own modern digital retailing experiences,” said Jen Catto, Chief Marketing Officer at Travelport. “With so many customers upgrading to Travelport+, we’ve remained agile and focused on providing agents the ability to automate a task quickly and easily, so that agents get more time back in their day to serve and support their travelers. We’re also expanding on NDC capabilities with our partners, to go above and beyond the ability to just book NDC content by really improving how flights are shopped, sold, and serviced, with new add-ons, paid seats and bag opportunities.”
    Better Workflow Automation for Agents
    Travelport’s new self-service tool, Productivity Automator, is designed to help agents work more productively by reducing the amount of manual back-end tasks and calls to suppliers. ​The automation capabilities available with Productivity Automator through Travelport+ ultimately give agents more time to focus on advising their travelers and increased upsell opportunities for suppliers. Travelport+ customers using Productivity Automator have seen they can potentially generate a 14% time ​savings across their ​entire team every day.
    Lisa Henning, Managing Director at Inspire commented: “Productivity Automator has not only eliminated repetitive tasks by streamlining workflows, but it has also helped us to reduce the cost of trip servicing significantly, due to our improved efficiency.”ADVERTISEMENTGreater Self-Service Support for Developers and Agents
    The latest Travelport+ product release also introduces modernized self-service tools for agency customers and developers, including Travelport’s completely redesigned MyTravelport developer portal. The updated portal was designed with modern travel retailers in mind and now offers virtual agent support, a smarter knowledge base search, and an online community.​ These customer service and support updates both speed up and simplify the Travelport+ digital support journey for developers and agencies using Travelport.
    Expanded Content and More Choice for All
    Travelport has continued to evolve its content offering to help agency customers offer more choices with Travelport+, with new add-ons which include paid seats and baggage opportunities with more than 14 new airlines. ​The company has signed NDC deals with 19 airlines worldwide and is continually rolling out more NDC content, making it accessible to Travelport customers in each region. American Airlines NDC content is now available to Travelport+ customers in North America, and Travelport anticipates that NDC content from three additional airlines will go live in NORAM this quarter.
    “New Distribution Capability is a key component to transforming travel retailing,” said Neil Geurin, Managing Director of Digital and Distribution for American Airlines. “Travelport is making significant progress with NDC by providing travel agents with access to better, more relevant offers, which is invaluable to American and our customers.”
    Travelport customers also have fast, easy access to even more robust, enriched content with over 318 branded fare airlines now live in Travelport+, following the addition of 12 new airlines that recently joined Travelport rich content and branding.
    The self-service tools and automation functionalities in this latest Travelport+ release compliment agents’ ability to sell more, by freeing up their time, while also providing them an expanded menu of content.

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    Seoul Tourism Organization announces participation in IMEX

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    Seoul Tourism Organization announces participation in IMEX

    The Seoul Tourism Organization has announced it participation in IMEX, the world’s largest MICE exhibition to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, for three days from May 29 to June 2 this year. In line with the full-scale resumption of international tourism and MICE, STO plans to come out strong with preemptive marketing activities to attract international MICE delegates attending IMEX Frankfurt 2022.
    IMEX, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is an exhibition specifically designed for MICE industry which draws 14,000 visitors from 170 countries and more than 70,000 business meetings. Expectations for this year are very high as attention is being paid to how different or similar international events, which have been canceled for the past two years due to the pandemic, will be this year comparing to the previous years.
    The Seoul Tourism Organization prepared joint marketing activities with the participating Seoul MICE Alliance members, including group presentation sessions to expand potential clientele to come to Seoul for their MICE events. Buyers can reserve a PSA meeting with eight SMA members- Channel K, Euras Tech, People & Value, Grand Hyatt Seoul, Lotte Hotels Seoul, Sofitel Ambassador Seoul, VIAGEM, Communistar -beforehand through the official website or drop in during the event.
    Also, STO prepared fun and engaging events created from globally popular K-contents, such as drama series including Squid Game to attract the attention of MICE organisers: Dalgona carving time, chimaek (chicken + beer) networking time, writing Korean names on traditional Korean fans, and taking photos with K-pop stars who lead Hallyu culture worldwide.
    PARK Jin hyeok, director of the Seoul Convention Bureau said, “We expect our participation in this year’s IMEX exhibition will be a meaningful rebooting of Seoul’s standing as a complete MICE venue. With experienced and knowledgeable Seoul MICE Alliance members, we will continue our overseas marketing to enhance its position as the best MICE city in the world.”ADVERTISEMENT

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    IATA and ICP cooperate to enhance air cargo security in UAE More

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    IATA and ICP cooperate to enhance air cargo security in UAE

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Federal Authorities for Identity, Citizen, Custom and Port Security (ICP) in United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to work together on the deployment of a Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) System in the UAE.
    UAE will be the first country outside of the US and the EU to implement a PLACI regime to create a more secure air cargo supply chain in the country.
    The submission of advance cargo information enables ICP to target and assess risks related to cargo shipments prior to the arrival of the shipment to the country of destination. This new layer of security to be applied before loading shipments bound to UAE complies with principles set jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization and World Customs Organization. The cooperation between IATA and ICP will ensure that industry standards will be integrated in this PLACI regime.
    “IATA has a strong relationship with ICP and is proud to assist in the development of the UAE’s pre-loading electronic advance information program. The project will employ IATA messaging standards and existing business processes in one of the few pre-loading electronic advance information programs currently developed worldwide. The endorsement of IATA standards by a national administration is an important step towards harmonizing standards across the industry which is critical for the secure flow of trade.  We look forward to a successful implementation, setting an example for other countries,” said Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and Middle East.
    “The cooperation between IATA and ICP regarding air freight security will contribute to achieving a higher level of security in this vital sector in light of harmonizing national regulations with international standards. This will facilitate the smooth flow of supply chain security and trade through a developed and coordinated approach, which will reinforce UAE’s position as an international center for trade and shipping. It’s worth noting that the ICP UAE is one of the pioneering institutions implementing the initiative which complies with International Civil Aviation Organization and World Customs Organization joint standards” said His Excellency Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaeeli ICP General Director.ADVERTISEMENT

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