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    Virgin Galactic could be left behind in emerging space tourism market

    Following the recent news that Virgin Galactic is delaying its commercial spaceflight service to the Q1 2023;
    Francesca Gregory, Analyst in the Thematic Team at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:
    “From the moment that Richard Branson flew his own spacecraft to the edge of space, it seemed that Virgin Galactic’s position as a leader in the space tourism industry was assured. However, there are fears that the company has lost momentum, with delays occurring to Virgin Galactic’s commercial spaceflight services. Worse still, it has bitten off more than it can chew.
    “Virgin Galactic has been struggling to solve the rapid reusability problem, as it endeavors to cut the turnaround time of its spaceplane’s flights. Solving this conundrum will be critical to the long-term success of its sub-orbital tourism business. Although ticket sales remain strong, with a price tag of $450,000 per person, a hit with the billionare crowd was always the easy part. Virgin Galactic risks severely limiting its potential with the rest of the market.
    “It is not just a case of bridging the gulf between a statement space flight and an economically viable space tourism business. Late last month, SpaceX and Axiom Space made history by undertaking the first all-private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The 10-day trip was an example of the emerging space tourism experiences that could compete with Virgin Galactic’s business. If Virgin Galactic does manage to cut its turnaround time and work through the backlog of ticket holders, a 90-minute flight may not be enough to compete with the other companies increasingly invading its space.”ADVERTISEMENT

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    “Meaningful Travel Campaign” helps preserve 35,000 big trees in Thailand

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported that three months after its launch, the “Meaningful Travel Campaign” – a collaboration between the TAT Stockholm Office and Thailand-registered social enterprise Socialgiver – has raised over 400,000 Baht and preserved 35,000 big trees in Thailand.
    Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said “It is wonderful to see such great support being shown to the Meaningful Travel Campaign by Nordic and Baltic tourists visiting Thailand, and we thank them for this. The campaign is aimed at helping tourists support nature conservation and protect green spaces throughout the kingdom. This is in line with the TAT’s commitment towards more sustainable and more responsible tourism, and we hope to see more travellers joining the good work being done.”
    Socialgiver is a non-profit organisation that partners with social and environmental projects from across Thailand and helps them raise funds for the work they do. Working with Socialgiver and TAT in the “Meaningful Travel Campaign” is the Big Trees Project – an environmental volunteer and advocacy group that works with communities, government agencies, and the private sector in promoting awareness and helping preserve green spaces in Bangkok and around Thailand.
    Big Trees was founded in 2010 and brings the general public and organisations together in preserving public green spaces and the environment. It is working to build a strong cycle of tree care – from the nurturing of seedlings, to training and connecting arborists to care for large trees around Thailand – and at the same time to create jobs for the local people and raise awareness on the important role big trees play in nature.
    With the “Meaningful Travel Campaign”, 50 percent of the revenue from Nordic and Baltic tourists booking hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other experiences in Thailand through the Socialgiver platform, goes to Big Trees. It offers them not only a fantastic holiday, but a meaningful one as well, as they will be giving back to the local communities and the environment.ADVERTISEMENT

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    UNWTO brings tourism for transformation to UN General Assembly

    The United Nations General Assembly has met for a first ever dedicated session on tourism and its key role in inclusive recovery and growth.
    The High-Level Thematic Debate was convened by the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). In the General Assembly Hall, government representatives joined public and private stakeholders in recognising tourism’s unique ability to drive positive change.
    Tourism for hope and opportunityAs the first ever UNWTO Secretary-General to address the UN General Assembly, Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that “now is the time to build resilient and peaceful societies and tourism can help make this happen! Tourism is a leading provider of opportunities because it is based on people, builds bridges and helps create a better tomorrow for people everywhere.”
    Joining Secretary-General Pololikashvili in opening the session were the President of the General Assembly and UN Deputy Secretary-General and UNSDG Chair Amina J. Mohammed, who noted “Every part of the United Nations system, including the World Tourism Organization as its specialised agency for the sector, can leverage tourism to help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, from inclusive growth to gender empowerment and biodiversity protection.”
    UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid also stressed the importance of tourism, particularly for small islands and developing states. He said: “We face a critical opportunity to not only reboot tourism, upon which so many are dependent for their jobs and livelihoods, but to transform it to make it more resilient, more sustainable and more responsible.”ADVERTISEMENTDebating people, planet and prosperityA Fireside Chat, chaired by CNN International anchor Richard Quest, reflected the challenges faced through tourism’s recovery, addressing how best to reconcile potential trade-offs between the need for economic growth and creating jobs with advancing efforts for overall sustainability.
    The high-level debate also featured a special roundtable discussion focused on tourism for people, with an emphasis on inclusivity. This was followed by a roundtable discussion on accelerating the climate-friendly transformation of tourism. The concluding third roundtable discussion focused on re-invigorating investments in tourism.
    Placing tourism in the General AssemblyOn the eve of the debate, UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili had met with UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid for discussions on tourism’s role in the wider work of the United Nations. President Shahid commended UNWTO’s work in guiding tourism first through the biggest crisis in its history and now through the sector’s restart and recovery. The high-level meeting also laid the foundations for the potential inclusion of tourism as a topic of annual debates or thematic sessions within the UN General Assembly.

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    NYC & Company launches a new Halal travel guide

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    NYC & Company launches a new Halal travel guide

    NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organisation and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, launched a new centralised resource for locals and visitors, the Halal Travel Guide. The evergreen resource is the first-ever Halal Travel Guide released by a US tourism organisation, dedicated to highlighting and encouraging visitation to the abundance of halal restaurants, Muslim history and art exhibitions across the five boroughs as well as sharing tips and advice from Muslim travel experts. 
    “We are proud to launch this all-new travel resource celebrating the incredibly rich and diverse Muslim travel experiences found in New York City,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO at NYC & Company. “The Muslim community has been an integral part of the fabric of our City for nearly 400 years and we are committed to showcasing the authentic Halal offerings and more found across the five boroughs.” 
    The Halal Travel Guide was created by NYC & Company, in partnership with the world-leading, halal-friendly travel authority Halal Trip/Crescent Rating. The PDF guidebook highlights Muslim-friendly New York City offerings by borough.
    The Muslim community has more than 275 mosques spread across all five boroughs—more than any other metro area in the US. The borough of Brooklyn is home to one of the world’s most diverse Muslim communities, representing descendants from every continent and is also the home of one of the nation’s oldest surviving mosques located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The guide includes prayer places and the distance/time from the attractions, restaurants, and hotels.
    The Halal Travel Guide includes dining recommendations for every cuisine type, such as Eatzy Thai in Queens, Junoon in Manhattan, Al Aqsa in the Bronx, Al Humza Restaurant in Staten Island, Bagel Point in Brooklyn, among others. Muslim-friendly hotels include Conrad New York Midtown, Lotte New York Palace, The Plaza Hotel and more.  ADVERTISEMENTNew content and information will be added on a regular, ongoing basis at nycgo.com/HalalTravelGuide.
    NYC & Company is considered North America’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021 by voters at the World Travel Awards.

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    Quark Expeditions launches its Arctic season

    Quark Expeditions, the global Leader in Polar Adventures, launched its Arctic 2022 season, with a 7-day “Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief” voyage. This much-awaited sailing also marked the inaugural Arctic voyage of Ultramarine, Quark Expeditons’ game-changing new ship.
    “We’re so proud of our recent Arctic season launch for myriad reasons,” said Andrew White, President of Quark Expeditions. “Not only is this Ultramarine’s inaugural season in the remote Arctic waters, but it also heralds a new way of exploring the Polar Regions—on a ship that’s been designed with a pioneering mix of advanced sustainability features that exceed industry standards. In addition to Ultramarine’s first Arctic sailing, we’re introducing this season a mix of new innovative itineraries and experiences in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic that are exclusive to Quark Expeditions. These include our helicopter-supported Greenland Adventure: Explore by Sea, Land and Air itinerary, as well as Tundra to Table: Inuit Culinary Experience.”
    Quark Expeditions’ ground-breaking Tundra to Table: Inuit Culinary Experience offers guests a one-of-a-kind adventure into the culinary traditions of the Inuit in Greenland and Nunavut. Guests who participate in this on-ship Adventure Option will enjoy dishes from these Arctic regions prepared by Inuit chefs, and learn about local Inuit culture and culinary traditions.
    Quark Expeditions’ Arctic 2022 season features diverse regions, including Spitsbergen, Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic, on multiple small polar vessels.
    Quark Expeditions is considered as the World’s Leading Specialist Cruise Line 2021 by World Travel Awards.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Barbados announces landmark Royal Caribbean recruitment drive

    Almost 2,000 jobs will be up for grabs for Barbadians very soon. The announcement was made this weekby Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins, during a recent press conference at Seatrade Cruise Global Conference in Miami, Florida.
    While at the cruise conference, Minister Cummins signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Royal Caribbean Group that will generate opportunities for high-quality employment in the local tourism industry. The MOU establishes a partnership between the Government of Barbados and RCCL, where the two entities will work together to create cruise-related job opportunities for Barbadians.
    The MOU comes as a result of a series of negotiations between Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and RCCL, with the intent of building on the two entities’ longstanding partnership in a way that brings tangible benefits to all Barbadians.
    Speaking about the partnership, Minister Cummins noted that “This MOU is timely as it feeds into Barbados’ greater purpose for tourism. Creating jobs for Barbadians in the tourism industry bodes well for the destination as we seek to take the country’s tourism industry forward in a sustainable way.”
    “During COVID, we saw how greatly Barbadian jobs were impacted by the loss of tourism, and the resulting impact on individual lives and livelihoods. Royal Caribbean has been a valued partner for many years, and we are pleased to be able to build on that relationship to bring new opportunities for Barbadians to find employment,” Cummins said.ADVERTISEMENTRoyal Caribbean will staff several ships homeporting in the Caribbean including Grandeur of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.
    Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, Michael Bayley, commented on the cruise line’s positive relationship with Barbados, noting “We would like to thank Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley for her vision and leadership as we work together with our partners in Barbados to create opportunities for economic empowerment for Barbadians.
    “Royal Caribbean, we understand how challenging it has been to rebound from the loss of tourism and there is no better way to address impacts to the Barbadian economy than finding mutually beneficial job fulfillment and job growth opportunities for Royal Caribbean and Barbadians,” he said.
    “The tourism industry has been significantly impacted by the pandemic and close collaboration and partnership with our destination partners are vital for us all to come back better than before. I am excited to join the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins, to share our plans for job growth in Barbados,” Bayley added.
    National job fairWithin the coming weeks, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) will partner with Royal Caribbean to host a national job fair to begin the recruitment process in time for the upcoming winter season. All interested persons should keep an eye out for an official press release that will announce the upcoming date of this event.
    Chair of the Board of Directors of the BTMI and BTPA, Shelly Williams, noted that the partnership aligns with Tourism’s mandate for creating opportunities for educating, retooling and upskilling for all Barbadians by 2030. “This recruitment effort is open to all Barbadians and enables them to learn new skills, and transfer the knowledge they gain during this experience for the betterment of Barbados’ service industries overall,” Williams said.
    A range of jobs will be available across a number of disciplines from engineers to chefs, technicians, seamen, housekeepers and more. A full list of positions will be made available to the public ahead of the job fair.
    Seatrade Cruise Global 2022The announcement is a positive start to the annual Seatrade Cruise Global Conference 2022, where a Barbados delegation, led by Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins is present in Miami to promote Barbados to global cruise industry partners.
    Cruise development is a major focus for Barbados, especially as the country moves to establish a cruise presence in Miami and foster closer relationships with decision-makers like Royal Caribbean. The expanded office will give Barbados greater access to the cruise centre of the world, and enable greater collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Barbados’ external agencies in North America.
    During the coming days, tourism officials and local tourism service providers will meet with key industry players to discuss new business opportunities for Barbados, and establish new partnerships.

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    Tourist traps among biggest travel nightmares for consumers

    Travel booking platform GetYourGuide.com, has announced the results of a new survey aimed at uncovering what ‘unforgettable’ experiences mean to U.S. travelers in today’s world, which revealed consumers are in search of authentic experiences, avoiding tourist traps when planning itineraries and opting for domestic destinations in 2022. These trends are expected to play out widely as travel bookings are increasing: GetYourGuide’s U.S. booking volumes have more than doubled compared to pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.
    “It’s great to see a renewed desire to discover new and different experiences through travel,” said Caroline Berger, Head of Brand, U.S. at GetYourGuide. “We’ve observed a sharp increase in our U.S. booking volumes as travelers are making up for time lost over the last few years—many of whom are more conscious than ever of avoiding the stereotypical tourist traps. As travelers become more discerning, we will be providing unforgettable experiences for them.”
    The report’s results found common themes among those planning to travel and book experiences in 2022. Notable highlights include:
    Travelers are going out of their way to avoid tourist trapsAs many seasoned travelers know, popular destinations can often include ‘tourist traps,’ identified by survey respondents as attractions lacking in authenticity – inaccurately claiming to be unique and exclusive – with inflated prices, long lines, and/or large crowds. These ‘traps’ may act as a barrier for travelers when creating their travel itineraries, leading some to change plans or avoid a destination altogether.
    Two out of three (67%) travelers feel they have experienced tourist traps that led to inauthentic experiences
    More than two-thirds of travelers (68%) say they’ve decided against visiting an attraction or excursion because they were concerned it was a tourist trap, while four out of ten travelers (41%) say they’ve avoided a destination altogether due to concerns of tourist traps
    “Doing your research and booking with a trusted provider is essential for those looking to escape the tourist traps,” said Berger. “By visiting GetYourGuide.com or the GetYourGuide app, travelers not only have access to transparent pricing, flexible booking policies and real customer reviews – which have become table stakes to today’s traveler – they also get a fully curated experience, one that has been vetted by us.”ADVERTISEMENTTravelers are craving to explore new and unforgettable experiences in their own backyardOn average, U.S. travelers take around 3 ½ leisure trips per year, and this year, many (55%) Americans are planning to spend their time off within the U.S., opting for beach getaways (44%) and road trips (36%). Among those with 2022 travel plans:
    Two-thirds of travelers say that experiencing new and different things (66%), as well as feeling recharged and relaxed (66%) are the main goals of their vacations
    Most travelers plan to go sightseeing (42%) and partake in family-friendly activities (39%)
    Travelers ranked favorable prices (54%), having a wide range of activities and experiences (34%) and avoiding big crowds (34%) as top priorities when booking travel experiences
    The top priorities for travelers are having a sense of freedom (38%) and taking part in authentic experiences (37%)
    Travelers are valuing the ‘who’ in addition to the ‘where’Whether it is enjoying a new city’s culinary scene, hiking the Grand Canyon or swimming with sharks, most travelers agree that it’s the people they travel with that contribute to making an experience ‘unforgettable.’ Among the open-text comments requested in the survey, respondents echoed the importance of family, friends and loved ones when creating lasting memories.
    Close to two-thirds (58%) of travelers feel that creating beautiful memories with loved ones contribute to making a travel experience unforgettable, while four out of ten of travelers (38%) say that learning about the history of different sights and places also makes a trip unforgettable
    ‘Beautiful’ and ‘fun’ were the most mentioned words when asked to describe unforgettable experiences

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    Tripadvisor appoints Matt Goldberg to chief executive officer

    Tripadvisor has announced that Matt Goldberg has been named its Chief Executive Officer, succeeding co-founder and long-time CEO, Stephen Kaufer.
    “We are excited to announce the appointment of Matt Goldberg to the role of CEO,” said Greg Maffei, Chairman of the Board at Tripadvisor. “Matt has proven leadership and experience in strategy and operations for more than 20 years across a number of leading media, advertising, and consumer-facing companies. We welcome him to the team and look forward to his expertise as he leads Tripadvisor in the next phase of its journey.”
    “I could not be more enthusiastic about joining Tripadvisor, a company I have long admired, whose leadership and teams have built an amazing, globally recognised consumer brand with a unique spot in travel and digital media,” said Matt Goldberg, incoming CEO. “I’m incredibly excited to return to the travel sector to innovate within the industry and leverage the platform’s reach and community trust. I see a long runway ahead and many opportunities to create value for our travelers and partners.”
    “After a comprehensive search, I believe that the Board has found a strong leader in Matt for our iconic brand,” said Steve Kaufer, CEO and co-founder, Tripadvisor. “Our employees, partners and travelers will be well served by Matt who is a strategist with experience in the travel, digital, media and retail industries. I look forward to supporting his success and watching him guide this business into an exciting future.”
    Over his career, Goldberg has served in various leadership roles in the digital content, media and entertainment, and travel industries, and in both B2B and direct-to-consumer models at companies such as News Corp, Liberty Interactive Corp, Lonely Planet, and Dow Jones. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President, North America and Global Operations at The Trade Desk. Goldberg is also Founding Director of Dataphilanthropy, a non-profit focused on building programs to apply data to better address and understand economic disparity. He holds a B.A. in English from Cornell University, an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Melbourne, and an M.B.A from Stanford University. Goldberg’s anticipated start date is July 1, 2022 and he will be based at the company’s Needham, MA headquarters.ADVERTISEMENTSteve Kaufer co-founded Tripadvisor in 2000 and last year announced his intention to leave his role as CEO.

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