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    Impending North America total solar eclipse presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for travel tra

    On April 8 this year a total solar eclipse 115 miles across will pass over Mexico, the United States and Canada, and the sky will temporarily darken as if it were night-time.  Given there’s no further total eclipses in the US until 2033, this is a rare and spectacular event likely to create an influx of travel to the region in the days beforehand. This will be even more unique considering its location, spanning across many of the world’s major tourism destinations.
    Some reports suggest this could be the most watched celestial event ever – “like 50 Super Bowls happening all at once” comments on solar eclipse expert – with around 40 million people living in ‘path of totality’, crossing 15 states in the US alone.  As a result, many eclipse-related excursions are already booked up and hotels in the viewing zone are in high demand.  With this expected to be amongst one of the biggest ever drivers of travel, how can the industry – B2B and B2C specialists, as well as their tech partners – get involved?
    We spoke with a range of online travel experts to gain their view on what is likely to happen and how to prepare.
    Civitatis, an online platform for Spanish-speaking booking activities, day trips and guided tours, warns that competition for eclipse-related excursions will be high from both domestic and international travellers. “Whilst late in 2023 US outbound international travel grew over domestic, as people returned to travelling aboard after Covid, this event clearly is likely to turn the tide. When it comes the domestic market don’t forget that one in five Americans is a Spanish speaker, so make sure that you’ve Spanish language content – and are marketing in Spanish sales channels – to stand out to them. Consider too what kind of special deals you can put on or how you can collaborate with tour operators or OTAs promoting eclipse focused packages. Many of the locations falling in the path of the eclipse are not your typical places for tours & activities, but everyone arriving is going to expect for such things to laid on for them so partnerships are going to be key.”
    One of Latin America’s biggest global distribution companies, PriceTravel Holding, has also noticed an uptick in demand for the major tourism destinations that fall within the path of the eclipse. A spokesperson for the company states that “given our strength in Mexico we’ve really noticed that, but also for hotel sales in the US and Canada too as there are lots of enthusiasts Latin Americans who would like to experience this one-off event in somewhere they’ve not visited before, and enjoy the experiences that a country like Mexico offers. Travel sellers everywhere should note that the total eclipse happens over the Easter holidays for many parts of the world, which is a typical time for families to take longer holidays – so, it’s a good time to aim your products at families more than you might have otherwise done so, whether marketing in the Americas or in Europe too.”ADVERTISEMENTSuch a big influx of visitors who might never have come otherwise nor ever return again could have an unusual and potentially negative impact when it comes to online reviews, warns Jose Arozarena from TourReview, a platform for tours & activities providers to manage their online reviews. “Destinations and travel service providers in general need to think about what experience visitors might have during this highly unusual event and what reviews they might subsequently post online. No matter if they are being unfair, a traveller who sees overcrowding or is forced to pay higher than normal prices is likely to leave a critical review or lower satisfaction scores on online review pages like Tripadvisor and so on. Is there anything they can do to combat this? Certainly think about those pain points and how you can communicate about those in advance to prepare people or even reduce the negative impacts.”
    Janis Dzenis from US focused travel comparison website WayAway, which helps travellers to find the best discounts online, offers some advice for travel companies considering how to respond: “It might seem counter-intuitive to incentivize bookings and offer group discounts at eclipse locations, as they are already in high demand it would seem.  However, attractively-packaged offers can encourage travelers to secure their spots early and even bring along extra family and friends.  Such discounts can also create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, driving more bookings.  On the flipside, the eclipse might present the opportunity for travel business to promote bargains elsewhere in the world; those who are not bothered about seeing the eclipse, or simply don’t have the cash, might be susceptible cheaper travel to other destinations struggling to gain their slice of Easter holiday tourists.”
    Finally, more on the topic of business travel, Traxo, which specialises in aggregating traveller booking data from all booking channels, warns the event may lead to duty of care issues for corporations.  “One-off events like the solar eclipse are likely to lead to more ‘bleisure’ bookings, where people making business trips to North America may well try to incorporate this into their trip – or may even arrange their business trips around it. Corporates should make sure they have a way to see bookings across all sources to provide proper duty of care and address non-compliant bookings. Already 40% of travel bookings are made outside of company tools, making it difficult for companies to know where their employees are and that figure is likely to be temporarily ‘eclipsed’, excuse the pun, by this upcoming event.”

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    AFC Asian Cup Final 2024: A Triumph for Qatar

    In a momentous occasion for football enthusiasts across Asia, the AFC Asian Cup Final 2024 concluded with an electrifying showdown, marking a significant chapter in Qatar’s footballing legacy. As the host nation, Qatar not only provided a stage for the tournament but also emerged victorious, securing the championship title amidst a wave of excitement and celebration. Qatar became the first country in 20 years to win back-to-back Asian Cup titles with a 3-1 win over Jordan
    The road to the final was paved with fierce competition and gripping matches, showcasing the immense talent and passion for football present in the Asian continent. Teams from across the region battled it out on the field, each vying for the prestigious title and the opportunity to etch their names in the annals of football history. From thrilling encounters to nail-biting finishes, the tournament captivated audiences worldwide, drawing attention to the evolving landscape of Asian football.
    As the host nation, Qatar spared no effort in ensuring the success of the tournament. With state-of-the-art facilities, impeccable organization, and a warm hospitality, Qatar set the stage for a memorable sporting spectacle. From the dazzling opening ceremony to the final whistle of the championship match, the tournament was a testament to Qatar’s commitment to excellence and its ability to host world-class sporting events.

    The final match itself was a showcase of skill, determination, and resilience, as Qatar faced off against a formidable opponent in a clash that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with passionate supporters from both sides cheering on their teams with unwavering fervor.ADVERTISEMENTIn a display of sheer brilliance, Qatar emerged victorious, clinching the championship title with a stellar performance that will be remembered for years to come. The win not only solidified Qatar’s status as a rising force in Asian football but also served as a source of pride for the nation and its people.
    Beyond the thrill of victory, the AFC Asian Cup Final 2024 served as a platform for promoting unity, diversity, and friendship across the continent. Through the universal language of football, nations came together to celebrate the spirit of competition and camaraderie, fostering connections that transcend borders and cultures.

    Looking ahead, the success of the tournament bodes well for Qatar’s future as a global sporting hub. With the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Qatar has demonstrated its ability to host major international events with aplomb, setting the stage for an unforgettable tournament in 2022.
    In conclusion, the AFC Asian Cup Final 2024 was a resounding success for Qatar, showcasing the nation’s prowess both on and off the field. As the host nation, Qatar delivered a tournament that will be remembered for its thrilling matches, outstanding hospitality, and enduring legacy in the world of football. As the celebrations continue, the tournament stands as a testament to the power of sport to unite nations and inspire greatness.

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    iGA Istanbul Airport has declared 2024 the “Year of Investments.

    During its 2024 press conference, Selahattin Bilgen, CEO at iGA Istanbul Airport, stated that the airport invested 160.1 million Euros in 2023 and announced an investment target for 2024 as 656.5 million Euros, as well as outlining key targets across flight routes, runways, sustainability and passenger satisfaction.Increasing its influence as a global transfer hub day by day, iGA Istanbul Airport started 2024 with innovations and ambitious growth targets, following a very successful 2023. Despite being open for only five years, it has held the title of “Europe’s Busiest Airport” in terms of number of flights for the last four consecutive years. Bilgen said:
    “Since we started flight operations in 2019, we have increased the number of flights from 329,876 to 505,968 at the end of 2023, and thereby the number of passengers from nearly 53 million to 76 million, breaking records for both daily flights and passenger numbers in the summer. Türkiye as a destination has also seen a boost in tourism, becoming the fourth country in the world to host the highest number of tourists. We are so thrilled to be able to contribute to Türkiye’s national economy and to our citizens through this sector.”
    Targets for 2024

    Increased passengersADVERTISEMENTAnnouncing that its passenger target for 2024 is 85 million, Bilgen stated that iGA Istanbul Airport continues to grow its passenger traffic with more passengers every day. “We plan to increase the number of flights to 532,000 in 2024,” said Bilgen, highlighting that the airpor plans to increase the number of passengers by 12.77%.

    Additional airlines
    Expressing that the airport is proud to increase the number of airline companies it serves, from 61 in 2019, to 101 by the 100th anniversary of the Republic, Bilgen announced that iGA will be welcoming a total of 11 new airlines by the end of 2024. He stated: “This signifies iGA Istanbul Airport establishing leadership in the global aviation industry. iGA Istanbul Airport ranks among the world’s top three airports regarding the number of served airline companies.

    Upgraded runways
    iGA Istanbul Airport also has plans to implement the first triple parallel runway operation in Europe in 2024. Selahattin Bilgen added, “We will break new ground among ICAO member nations with our triple independent runway operations.” Bilgen continued: “We are targeting operations with the highest efficiency and capacity, after the USA. With this method, our 120 ATM/h (hourly air traffic capacity) capacity can potentially exceed 148 ATM/h. This capacity increase in air traffic will play an essential role in our airport exceeding its contract’s 150 million passenger target and reaching 200 million passengers without any additional runway investment following Phase 5.”

    Increased Investment
    Stating that it had invested 160.1 million euros in 2023, Bilgen confirmed plans to increase their investment at iGA Istanbul Airport in 2024. He continued; “2024 will be the “Year of Investments” for iGA.  We will invest 35 million Euros for the General Aviation Terminal, which we plan to complete at the end of the year, and we hope to invest 146.4 million Euros in the Eskişehir GES Project, which we will also complete by the end of the year. With the 199.32 MWe unlicensed SPP (Solar Power Plant) to be established on an area of 3,000,000 square meters by iGA Havalimanı İşletmesi A.Ş. in Eskişehir,  iGA will be the first airport in the world to meet all of its electricity needs with renewable energy. We anticipate an annual energy production of 340.446.833 kWh/year through this plant. For the Hilton Istanbul Airport, which we plan to complete in the first quarter of 2025, we have an investment target of 25.6 million Euros this year. We aim to invest a total of 656.5 million euros in 2024,  with a total investment of 331.2 million euros planned for the construction of the East-West runway and the North-South backup runway in 2024.”
    Cargo expansion
    iGA Istanbul Airport is a significant centre in terms of world cargo transportation, with the cargo area now reaching three times that of Hong Kong Airport’s. Bilgen added: “There are currently 14 scheduled cargo airline companies that are actively operating at the airport, and our current infrastructure could reach a capacity of 5.5 million tons, at an impressive level of 1.4 million square meters.”
    Investment from FedEx and Trendyol
    iGA Istanbul Airport also announced its cooperation with Trendyol and FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company. FedEx Express has started installing a 23,000-square-meter facility in the iGA Istanbul Airport Cargo Zone, which will be a hub that will integrate operations on three continents, providing strategic connectivity between Asia and Africa. Bilgen commented that the team “is proud to host Europe’s new global air transportation facility.”
    The Trendyol project, which will have a total area of ​​12,000 square meters and a daily output capacity of 150,000 products, with an investment of 36 million euros, is planned to become operational in the first quarter of 2025. Thus, the storage areas will increase to 150,000 square meters, the number of warehouses to 14, and the parcel area to 353,000 square meters.
    Reducing emissions
    iGA Istanbul Airport, with its “Our Focus is the World, Our Goal is the Future” mission, is among the world’s airports committed to “Net Zero CO2 Emissions”, aiming to reduce their emissions by 45% in six years compared to the base year.  “We will achieve a 73% emission reduction in 2040 and reach the Net Zero Emission target in 2050”, Bilgen said, underlining that iGA completed the year 2023 with 14% less emissions than targeted, according to the Net Zero roadmap prepared in line with the IPCC 1.5°C scenario.
    He added: “With our waste recycling program, we are determined to achieve our zero emission targets by 2050, taking concrete steps such as reducing waste emissions by 50% and converting 50% of our vehicle fleet to electric vehicles,” he said. iGA Istanbul Airport has already achieved significant success in the ACI Airports Carbon Accreditation programme by reaching Level 4 in three years. This was achieved through decreasing energy consumption by nearly 11%, and decreasing the water footprint by 5%. iGA Istanbul Airport recycled 35% of their waste and ensured its addition into Turkey’s economy as a raw material.
    Passenger satisfaction
    The passenger satisfaction rate is increasing every day, and following a study conducted by GfK Research Company over three years, the public’s appreciation rate of Istanbul Airport has increased continuously, reaching 89% in 2023. Selahattin Bilgen stated that he believes this rate will increase even higher with the opening of the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport metro and emphasised how proud they are to be the preferred airport of the people of Istanbul.
    Source: https://www.timesaerospace.aero/news

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    Royal Commission for AlUla celebrates International Day of the Arabian Leopard

    Following the United Nations declaration of the first International Day of the Arabian Leopard, on 10 February the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) continues to expand its long-term mission to safeguard the ‘Critically Endangered’ Big Cat species from the physical world into the virtual.
    As part of RCU’s new ‘Leap of Hope’ campaign, this year’s international edition of the annual call-to-action to conserve Arabian Leopards includes the launch of the ‘Quest for Hope’ gaming experience on the Roblox and Decentraland online platforms.Named ‘Leap of Hope’ after the Arabian Leopard’s athletic prowess and ability to capture its prey in the wild, this year’s campaign also emphasises the pressing need to increase wild population numbers – a ‘leap’ being the collective noun for a group of leopards.
    Starting today, the ‘Leap of Hope’ campaign will install eye-catching billboards in cities including Beijing, London, New York, and Paris to showcase its bold ambition as well as to highlight RCU’s goal to comprehensively regenerate AlUla, a vast swathe of northwest Saudi Arabia, as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage.
    In AlUla itself, a Community Catwalk event on International Day of the Arabian Leopard, organised by RCU and Catmosphere, will encourage members of the public to connect with nature as they follow a route of up to 7km on Sharaan’s Catwalk Trail, drawing local attention to the campaign and its long-term goals in northwest Arabia and beyond.
    In the digital space, an immersive adventure, ‘Quest for Hope’ engages global gamers to discover the real-world impact of the Arabian Leopard’s ‘Critically Endangered’ status in the wild by joining a virtual conservation mission to search expertly recreated digital landscapes that mirror the Big Cats’ native habitat, including the mountains of AlUla in northwest Arabia.ADVERTISEMENTThe new state-of-the-art and engaging game complements the release of a campaign film that takes the viewer on a deep dive into the plight of the Arabian Leopard, explaining the essential role leopards play in restoring balance to the natural environment and allowing vital eco-systems to flourish.
    Arabian Leopard Day was first launched by RCU in 2022. In June 2023, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution designating 10 February as the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, in support of RCU and its conservation partners.
    The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ranks the Arabian Leopard as ‘Critically Endangered’, representing a level of risk more severe than Vulnerable or Endangered. If the population continues to decline, the next stages on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species are Extinct in the Wild and, lastly, Extinct.
    RCU’s Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Programme has achieved recent successes in ensuring a healthy population of leopards in captivity, welcoming the birth of seven healthy cubs in 2023 and introducing new Arabian Leopard ‘founders’ to increase the genetic diversity of its breeding animals and contribute to the advancement of long-term conservation goals.
    Dr Stephen Browne, Wildlife & Natural Heritage Vice President at RCU, said: “International Day of the Arabian Leopard Day is an important opportunity to draw the world’s attention to the plight of the Arabian Leopard and RCU’s mission to conserve and safeguard AlUla’s natural environment.
    “While recent successes give us hope, we recognise that the work of conservation must continue to ensure that this species can one day thrive in the wild. We encourage the international community to join us on Arabian Leopard Day by engaging with activities that strengthen our understanding and love for these magnificent Big Cats.”
    For more information on the day, visit https://www.rcu.gov.sa/en/ArabianLeopard

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    PATA Travel Mart 2024: Uniting Asia Pacific’s Tourism Industry in Bangkok

    The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is set to organise PATA Travel Mart 2024 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand from August 27-29.
    “Thailand has been home to PATA’s HQ for a quarter of a century. We relocated from San Francisco to Thailand in 1998 after a highly selective process. Over the years, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau and the PATA Thailand Chapter have given their unwavering support to the association. Holding the 47th iteration of PATA Travel Mart (PTM) is a celebration of the close partnership between PATA and Thai Tourism over many years.” said PATA Chair, Peter Semone.
    “As the travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region shows promising signs of recovery and robust growth, PATA Travel Mart is particularly timely. Featuring a 1-day conference, a 2-day business-to-business travel mart, over 10,000 business appointments, and buyers and sellers from more than 40 destinations across six regions; the event offers attendees a firsthand experience of the industry’s resurgence, making it an ideal platform for networking, collaboration, and seizing emerging opportunities,” said PATA CEO, Noor Ahmad Hamid. “With nearly 30 million international visitors in 2023 and a recent visa exemption announcement for travellers from more than 60 destinations, Thailand is the perfect setting for all to engage in B2B networking and partnership-building with clients, decision-makers, and exhibitors worldwide. “
    Noor added, “Furthermore, according to the report of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), in 2022 Thailand was ranked No.1 in ASEAN and No.4 in Asia in terms of exhibition spaces, while Bangkok is a MICE hub for meetings and incentives events, conventions, exhibitions and mega-events, with its ease of connectivity to the city via its two international airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang, as well as the rail transport system as well as travel within via the public transport systems such as BTS, MRT or Airport Rail Link. Therefore, we would like to welcome all industry stakeholders to join us this year as we celebrate the industry’s growth.”
    PATA Travel Mart, now in its 47th edition, is Asia Pacific’s international travel trade exhibition featuring unparalleled networking and contracting opportunities to help travel and tourism organisations access decision makers, meet new clients, expand their networks, establish new relationships, and consolidate existing business partnerships.ADVERTISEMENTLocated in central Bangkok, the newly renovated, state-of-the-art Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) embraces a modern, elegant design that reflects Thai Identity with sustainability in mind. It is accessible by several modes of transportation, making it a prime venue for major events since its inception. The venue is easily reached by the MRT, with the QSNCC station connecting directly to the venue. Visitors can also enjoy the view of the lake and park or take a walk through Benjakitti Park nearby.
    For more information or to register for PATA Travel Mart, please visit https://www.pata.org/pata-travel-mart-2024 or email [email protected].

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    PATA Forecasts Strong Growth in Asia Pacific International Visitor Arrivals Amid Post-COVID Recovery

    The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) released the Executive Summary report for its latest forecasts for international visitor arrivals (IVAs) into and across Asia Pacific, which shows strong annual increases in numbers for 2024 with growth momentum continuing to 2026.
    It is expected that pre-COVID levels of IVAs shall be surpassed in 2024 under the mild scenario, and in 2025 under the medium scenario. However, the severe scenario remains a possibility and arrival numbers are predicted to remain around 13 percentage points below the 2019 benchmark by the end of 2026 under such conditions. Nevertheless, the growth felt across the Asia Pacific region validates the enormous work by destinations in luring international travellers and that the complete visitor economy remains vital for national economic recovery.
    “The latest PATA forecasts shed light on the swift recovery of the international arrivals numbers in and across the Asia Pacific region, showing signs of strong visitor growth each year between 2024 and 2026 under the mild and medium scenarios, such trends were somewhat driven by joint agreements on destination visa requirements.” PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid noted.
    “We cannot, however, expect uniformity in growth from that and other source markets across all the destinations of Asia Pacific, as many will increase their inbound counts at their own pace and in their own time. Furthermore, we must recognise this as the time of fast-paced and constant changes. All of us must remain vigilant of sudden shifts within the industry and be prepared with viable strategies and appropriate coping mechanisms for future uncertainties.”
    In absolute terms, the number of IVAs predicted for 2024 ranges from a high of 750 million under the mild scenario, to 619 million under the medium scenario, and 477 million under the severe scenario.ADVERTISEMENTWhile annual increases of IVA numbers into and across Asia Pacific are expected to be robust from 2024 to 2026, significant differences exist for each of the three destination regions as well as for each of the 39 individual destinations covered in the report, and by each of the possible scenarios.
    The annual growth rate for IVAs into and across Asia, for example, is predicted to be in this order: 34% in 2024 under the mild scenario, 29% under the medium scenario, and 11% under the severe scenario. The annual IVA numbers are also predicted to decrease slightly during the three years leading up to 2026, reflecting the return to a more stable longer-term growth rate as the ‘s-shaped’ travel demand curve returns to a more consistent position.
    While the Americas and the Pacific regions are forecast to have less potent growth compared to Asia, they still have generally significant growth rates and absolute volume increases, with some minor fluctuations over the forecast period.
    Despite the prevailing scenario conditions, it seems Asia will maintain a powerful advantage in IVA numbers each year from 2024 to 2026, capturing more than 70% of arrivals into and across Asia Pacific.
    Asia is also predicted to dominate as a supplier region of IVAs, returning to a significant level of dominance by supplying more than 58% of all IVAs into Asia Pacific in 2024, under each of the three scenarios. The Americas and Europe follow with shares of around 19% and 14% that same year.
    By the end of 2026, Asia is forecast to account for more than 61% of all foreign arrivals across Asia Pacific.
    Mr Hamid added, “Even as arrival numbers climb on an upward trajectory, the issues of staffing and maintaining service excellence remain critical issues for destinations within the region, especially now as global competition seeks out the growing source markets contained within Asia Pacific. Any aspect of complacency will be an ever-present danger and must be avoided.”
    This report provides:
    A forecast summary of IVAs for Asia Pacific between 2024 and 2026 by destination region and sub-region, highlighting changing opportunities in the post-COVID era; andHighlights of the key source markets within each Asia Pacific destination region over the forecast period of 2024 to 2026.The PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts Executive Summary 2024-2026 is now available here, and is complimentary for all PATA members.
    PATA members have exclusive on-demand video access to the forecast related webinar, “The Scientific Crystal Ball: Forecasting the Future Tourism Market”, held later today on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. The webinar includes expert panellists from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Euromonitor International, Mastercard, and Amadeus. The speakers will contribute invaluable insights on travel trends of the coming years, key factors driving tourism recovery, and various aspects of the Asia Pacific international visitor numbers forecast from 2024 to 2026.

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    Manchester Airport Celebrates Lunar New Year Amid Surge in Beijing Travel

    Manchester Airport is marking the Lunar New Year with a fortune cookie and plush toy dragon giveaway to passengers jetting off to China from Terminal 2, as new figures show a jump in the number of passengers travelling to and from Beijing in the second half of last year.
    Hainan Airlines brought back its flights to the Chinese capital in late 2022 after a hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic, and passenger numbers rose dramatically over the first full year of the route’s resumption. 32,933 passengers used the route in the second half of 2023 – up from 16,186 in the first half of the year, an increase of 104%.
    The figure is expected to rise further this year, with Hainan Airlines upping the number of flights in June from four-times-per-week to daily.
    The airline’s partnership with Loganair means passengers from other UK regions can also benefit from these links with tickets available from Aberdeen, Inverness, the Isle of Man and Newquay to Beijing, with a simple airside transfer at Manchester.
    Manchester has one of the UK’s oldest and largest Chinese communities and celebrates the Lunar New Year with an impressive parade through the city centre, ending in its Chinatown district – a parade in which airport colleagues are also due to take part this year.ADVERTISEMENTThe Beijing flights also underpin crucial economic ties between China and the north of the UK. Export values from Manchester Airport to China grew 41% and enquiries about investment in the area from China doubled in the two years after the route first launched. The region’s universities also saw a boost of nearly 10% in the number of Chinese students enrolling.
    More than 117,000 passengers also travelled between Manchester and Hong Kong last year, where Cathay Pacific operates four flights per week.
    Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said: “We’d like to wish a happy Lunar New Year to all those celebrating. The Year of the Dragon is believed to bring good luck and prosperity, and we are certainly very fortunate in Manchester to have a direct link to Beijing, which will become a daily service this summer.
    “We’re proud to connect the North with the world, and with services to destinations like Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore, our links to the Far East are unrivalled by any other UK airport outside of London.”
    Rhys Whalley, Executive Director at the Manchester China Forum, added: “Hainan Airlines’ decision to take the Manchester-Beijing route daily this summer is not only a vote of confidence in the prospects for post-pandemic two-way traffic, but also in the airline’s conviction that the region will serve as a key gateway for Chinese businesses, students and visitors entering the UK market.
    “This weekend’s Lunar New Year celebrations will once again see tens of thousands gather in Manchester’s Chinatown to welcome in the new year. As some of the largest scale celebrations in Europe; this will provide local residents, the thousands of Chinese students studying across the region as well as the ever-growing Chinese business community, an opportunity to come together to welcome in the year of the Dragon.”

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    Hamad International Airport Wins Prestigious Digital Signage Award

    Hamad International Airport (DOH) was presented with the ‘Large-Format Digital Canvases’ award at the Digital Signage Awards for its digital ribbon that wraps the ORCHARD, the airport’s indoor tropical garden. Hosted at Esferic Events Centre in Barcelona, the global Digital Signage Awards is an annual international search for excellence and innovation across projects, creativity, products and services. The project was submitted by multimedia studio Moment Factory who was tasked with enhancing the ORCHARD with a creative multimedia ecosystem.
    Unveiled in November 2022, part of Phase A of Hamad International Airport’s expansion plan, the 6,000 square-meter ORCHARD is home to trees, plants and shrubs sourced from sustainable forests from around the world. The ribbon display is a notable feature of the ORCHARD, that compliments the lush greenery and 10,000 square-meters of multi-dimensional retail and F&B space offering, adding to the visual ecosystem.
    Key features of the Digital Ribbon Display at the ORCHARD:
    The state-of-the-art digital ribbon installation is approximately 1.2 kilometers, spanning across two storeys, tailored to enhance the ambiance of the tropical garden with bespoke visuals.The intricate visuals created in collaboration with Moment Factory are projected through high resolution display with over 169 million pixels of animation.The visual displays of the ribbon consist of multiple themes including a luxe botanical elements, flora and fauna, Qatar Sands of time and a Mirage, embodying the culture and heritage of the state of Qatar.The display comes to life every hour creating an immersive experience for passengersThe ORCHARD is located in the North Plaza, and is connected to the South Plaza, where the famous Lamp/Bear resides, and can be accessed via the Passenger Train – travel time between both stations in 90 seconds, or can be reached by travelators, buggies or walking.
    Winning the accolade is testament to Hamad International Airport’s investment in creating a memorable experience for passengers by introducing an open gallery experience through a collection on one-of-a-kind art installations and incorporating digital art to elevate the airport journey.ADVERTISEMENT

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