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      JAMAICA’S MINISTER OF TOURISM ANNOUNCES ONE MILLION VISITOR ARRIVALS TO DATE FOR 2023

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      Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism the Hon. Edmund Bartlett addressing media at a destination press briefing held at the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s (CHTA’s) Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Barbados on May 10.
      At a destination press briefing held at the 41st Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Barbados, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism the Hon. Edmund Bartlett announced that Jamaica has surpassed one million visitor arrivals year-to-date for 2023, reaching this milestone approximately one month earlier than in 2022.
      He also updated attending media about Jamaica’s robust tourism arrivals, investments, and work to build resilience for the industry on island and throughout the world.
      “From January through December 2022 Jamaica welcomed 2,478,386 stopover arrivals, a 69.2% increase over 2021 and nearly a full recovery to 2019 highs,” said Minister Bartlett. “As of May 10, we received over a million visitor arrivals to date this year, putting our destination on par with 2019 records. We have seen steady growth in our arrivals and continued investment in the tourism sector, which is a tremendous achievement. Projecting ahead for 2023 through 2025, we expect to attract more than 3.8 million visitors in 2023 and grow to more than 5 million visitors in 2025.”
      Minister Bartlett continued, “To keep this growth on an upward trajectory, we continue to build out new air service with new flights this year from Chicago Midway, Denver, St. Louis, Dallas, Kansas City, and London Gatwick. Plus, we are expanding and modernizing Sangster International Airport and have approximately 8,000 new hotel rooms slated for construction over the next two to five years.”
      “Further, Jamaica has implemented the Blue Ocean Strategy to develop a more sustainable, diverse tourism product,” concluded Minister Bartlett. “We have also established Global Tourism Resilience Day with the United Nations to take place annually on February 17 with the aim of growing awareness for tourism to build back stronger and take steps to protect itself from future disruptions.”ADVERTISEMENT“The fact that Jamaica’s tourism arrivals continue to rise is a clear testament to the success of our internal strategies, destination marketing initiatives and relationships with key travel partners on island and worldwide,” added Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board. “We are very grateful to all who have contributed to Jamaica’s success in lifting our tourism product to new heights meeting and soon to exceed 2019 record levels.”
      Minister Bartlett also noted that Jamaica is leveraging key pillars for tourism that showcase the destination’s unique culture and heritage while simultaneously addressing the desire from today’s traveler to experience more than just sun, sea and sand. He also emphasized the need to carefully manage the tourism industry through resilience building where it can continually adapt to issues that may arise and to put plans in place to protect it from potential future shocks.
      For more information on Jamaica, please go to www.visitjamaica.com.

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      Active Travel Group team shapes up for further growth after record-breaking year

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      Sales across all product categories, walking, cycling and ski are trending materially above expectation and showing strong forward momentum through Summer 23 into Winter 23/24. The summer focussed Wilderness Group and Cycling for Softies brands are over 80% sold for the forthcoming season, and early ski bookings for Winter 23/24 are trending 57% ahead of prior year.
      Commenting on the performance, Group CEO Craig Burton said:
      ‘Healthy, outdoors focused adventure and activity travel is our passion at ATG. As we predicted this time last year, our collection of premium active and adventure holidays on foot, on bike and on snow have resonated more than ever with consumers in the post-pandemic landscape. Unprecedented forward booking momentum strongly suggests this trend will continue to rise as we look ahead to 2024 and beyond.’

      To facilitate the Group’s ambitious growth plans, ATG has made some exciting changes to the senior-management structure. ADVERTISEMENT
      Ian McIlrath who has led the Group finance function since 2018 will move into the Managing Director role of the Brixton based Ski Solutions brand. He will retain Group financial oversight, with Matthew Ansell stepping up as Group Finance Director.

      Group CEO, Craig Burton will continue to take oversight of all brands, with a focus on developing a number of significant growth opportunities, both organic and through M&A.

      In the Wilderness Team, Stevie Christie moves into the role of Managing Director of Wilderness Scotland from Founder, Paul Easto. The Wilderness Ireland and Wilderness England businesses will continue to be led by Managing Directors, Patricia Doe and Matt Loveland respectively. Some 20 years after founding Wilderness, Paul Easto moves into a newly created role as the Chief Sustainability Officer for the Active Travel Group.

      Commenting on the changes, Paul Easto said:
      “While I will continue to work closely with the Wilderness team, I am excited by the opportunity to lead the development of the Active Travel Group’s sustainability and ESG strategy. From our focus on carbon reduction to industry leading employee satisfaction, we have been making solid progress and have ambitious plans to deepen our sustainability commitments across the Group. Supported by a robust post-pandemic recovery and ambitious growth plans, we have a real opportunity to drive further change and set industry leading standards for ESG performance”.

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      The newly appointed ATTA CEO Jon Danks and ATTA Chair Nick Aslin meet with Tourism Ministers More

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      The newly appointed ATTA CEO Jon Danks and ATTA Chair Nick Aslin meet with Tourism Ministers

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      In a truly unique moment of collaboration, the newly appointed ATTA CEO Jon Danks and ATTA Chair Nick Aslin met with the Honourable Ministers for Tourism for Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia at the end of the second day of Indaba 2023, held in Durban, South Africa.
      ATTA is a membership organisation that for thirty years has been providing digital and event platforms that support the growth of tourism across Africa, by connecting global buyers with providers of African ground and air products.  Indaba 2023 has been a record-breaking year for ATTA, as the largest exhibitor at the world’s biggest pan-African tourism event, with ATTA’s stand presence exceeding all events in its thirty-year history, signalling a strong return of tourism to the continent.  To round off a busy day of discussions on the second day of the event held at the ICC in Durban South Africa, the informal meeting took place between ATTA CEO Jon Danks, ATTA Chair Nick Aslin and the Right Honourable Ministers, Mrs Vera Kamtukule, Minister of Tourism Malawi, Mr Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Zimbabwe and Mr Rodney Sikumba, Tourism Minister, Zambia.
      For further information: [email protected]

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      Wego Partners With flyadeal to Offer its Users more choice

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      Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced its partnership with flyadeal, the true low-cost airline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a subsidiary of Saudi Airlines Group, to offer its users the chance to directly book flights on flyadeal through its platform.
      MENA is a key market for Wego, and always tops the searches from this region. flyadeal, one of the youngest and fastest growing low-cost airlines in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Middle East, continues its expansion to the region.
      flyadeal currently operates scheduled flights to 17 domestic destinations across Saudi Arabia and six in Europe, Middle East and Africa. From June, the airline will triple its international footprint with 12 additional destinations in Europe and Middle East. These are Rhodes and Heraklion in Greece; Sarajevo (Bosnia); Larnaca (Cyprus), Tivat (Montenegro); Izmir, Antalya, Bodrum and Trabzon in Turkey; Baku (Azerbaijan); Tbilisi, (Georgia); and Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt).
      The new partnership includes all flyadeal flights to Wego’s marketplace where users can book directly with the airline. Wego is looking to provide its users with a wider choice of airlines to book from, by adding such a renowned airline to its portfolio.
      Con Korfiatis, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to partner with Wego, the biggest and renowned online travel marketplace in the MENA region. This collaboration will allow our customers to directly book flyadeal’s wide choice and growing number of flights through Wego’s platform, giving us the opportunity to distribute our products to a bigger audience, and showcase our competitive everyday fares. This partnership will further enhance our customers’ travel experience and help us to better serve them.”ADVERTISEMENTAdditionally, Wego’s users will benefit from flyadeal fares which will be promoted across all Wego’s marketing channels and will be able to search and book the most competitive deals online.
      Ross Veitch, CEO and Co-founder of Wego, said: “As the largest online travel marketplace in MENA we are delighted to announce our partnership with flyadeal, the fastest growing airline in KSA. We look forward to offering flyadeal’s attractively priced fares to Wego’s audience both in The Kingdom and also across our regional points of sale as flyadeal opens new international routes.”
      Around 10,000 monthly bookings for flyadeal have been conducted.
      The top destinations searching for flights to Saudi were Egypt, India, Kuwait, UAE, Sudan, Oman, Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, and Qatar.
      Wego data also shows that 79% of travelers are staying up to 3 days with the remaining percentage staying 12 days or more.
      This collaboration ensures Wego users are always getting the most comprehensive selection of flight options possible across all its platforms.

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      World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 – Witness the wonder!

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      The biggest event in Hungary’s history, the World Athletics Championships will be held in 2023 in Budapest. From 19-27 August 2023, 2,000 athletes from more than 200 countries will come to Hungary to celebrate the Queen of Sports and take part in the third biggest sporting event in the world.
      This is the first time that athletics’ top event will be held in Central Europe, in the brand new National Athletics Centre.
      The World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 are about showing the world the best that Hungary has to offer, a true celebration of sport on a unique stage. With its world heritage sites and world-famous panorama, Budapest will provide the perfect backdrop for the athletes and fans. 14 sessions will be held in the purpose-built National Athletics Centre on the Danube bank, in the southern part of the city. A further six competitions will be organised in the beautiful city centre of Budapest, free of charge for the spectators, with the marathon and race walk events starting and finishing at Heroes’ Square.
      The athletes will run through World Heritage sites of Budapest, with the panoramic view of Buda Castle in the background. The historic Buda Castle District is a wonderful attraction hiding real treasures. Visitors can find here the former home of kings, the Buda Castle Palace, the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.  Andrássy Avenue, the widest street in the country, will have a starring role worthy of its name during the marathon competition. It is surrounded by majestic palaces, elegant shops and magnificent gardens. Here visitors will find the Opera House, or Heroes’ Square at the end of the street, with the fantastic Museum of Fine Arts and the Kunsthalle on either side. In addition to Pesti Broadway, many luxury brands have found a home here, and the Millennium underground railway, the first metro in continental Europe, runs under Andrássy Avenue.
      The National Athletics Centre will be inaugurated in mid-June. The world-class track has been completed, the freshly laid Mondo surfaced, nine-lane course is extremely fast and unique in Hungary. With a distinctive interior design and a spectacular roof structure the facility is already a bright spot in the city.ADVERTISEMENTFollowing the World Championships, the Danube bank will be accessible to all the residents and visitors of Budapest, thus the tangible legacy of the event will be a real experience. The National Athletics Centre and its surroundings will be a new landmark in the city. Thanks to the urban developments a new leisure park will be created in the area around the competition venue, where students, as well as the general public, runners and outdoor sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor sports.
      In 2023 Budapest is celebrating its 150th anniversary, another great reason for the world to visit the Hungarian capital this year. Alongside the World Athletics Championships, Budapest will offer a wide variety of activities for the visitors. The city of bridges is a melting pot of diverse Europe, with a unique character, culture and history. Budapest is also a capital where everything visitors need is within easy reach. Thanks to developments over the last decade, there is no part of the city that cannot be reached by public transport.
      The whole country is well-connected.  Hungary is placed in the heart of Europe: whether by air, rail, or road, it is easy to travel into the country, from Europe it takes only a few hours. Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport is one of the region’s hubs, with flights to all parts of Europe, and it also has an extensive overseas network, with connections to the United States, China and even Australia.

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      Bruce Munro to debut “Field of Light” public artwork on Manhattan’s East Side

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      Internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro will debut his immersive public art installation Field of Light, spanning more than six-acres from 38th to 41st Street on First Avenue, just south of the United Nations, at the proposed mixed-use Freedom Plaza being developed by the Soloviev Group.Scheduled to open in Fall 2023 and remain in place for 12 months, Field of Light will transform this six-acre site into a welcoming art installation for members of the community and all New Yorkers, as well as present meaningful opportunities for engagement and educational programming.
      Made possible by the Soloviev Foundation, Field of Light will honor New York City as a beacon of freedom and hope around the world. Inspired by the human connection to the stars, the essential elements of our universe, the Freedom Plaza installation will feature an array of 17,000 lowlight, fiber-optic stemmed spheres, which will illuminate with a slow, subtle change of hue. The effect will be that of a muted and ethereal painted landscape. Existing at the nexus of art, technology and nature, Field of Light will create a contemplative moment in this totally unique waterfront open space.
      London-born Munro is globally recognized for large-scale light-based artworks inspired by his lifelong study of natural light and curiosity about shared human experiences.
      “Bruce shares an aligned commitment to the use of sustainable and innovative technologies to spark imagination and push the bounds of creativity. We are thrilled to work with him on this significant project,” said Stefan Soloviev, Chairman of Soloviev Group.
      “Light has always played a major part in my life and work, and for me, is a natural medium to use. With the light installation at Freedom Plaza in Manhattan, I intend to stimulate the imagination and senses of any viewer by creating a breathtaking immersive experience that utilizes every hue of light to create a visual Eden,” said artist Bruce Munro.ADVERTISEMENT“New York City has always been and continues to be a global epicenter of freedom and the creative spirit. The unique six-acre site at Freedom Plaza provides a rare opportunity to showcase Bruce’s inspirational and bold vision to New York City,” said Michael Hershman, CEO of Soloviev Group. “We are thrilled to share the Field of Light exhibit with our community this fall.”
      Details about access and site logistics will be made public over the coming months.
      Munro’s work has been commissioned by and displayed in gallery exhibitions, parks, cathedrals, botanical gardens, and museums across the globe, including New York’s Guggenheim Museum; the Sharjah Museum of Art in the UAE; Sotheby’s Beyond Limits at Chatworth, Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Uluru, Northern Territory Australia—the inspiration for the Field of Light; Texas Arboretum at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; and most recently Kings Canyon, Northern Territory, Australia, among others. His work is also held in the permanent collections of museums and public art collections worldwide.
      An anticipated museum at Freedom Plaza will highlight the promotion of human rights and the advancement of freedom of speech, thought, and expression. The museum’s extensive collection will feature artwork from celebrated international artists, large scale experiential installations, and significant historical artifacts. The permanent display will include renowned masterpieces, as well as slabs from the Berlin Wall, a timely and reflective symbol of hope, peace, and reunification.
      The proposed Freedom Plaza will feature over four acres of sustainable green open space with walking paths; a world-class hotel and an array of shopping and dining options; two residential towers with a significant number of permanently affordable apartments; robust waterfront access; and a proposed gaming facility for New York’s Downstate gaming license bid in partnership with global entertainment district leader, Mohegan.
      This socially and environmentally responsible development will link to the East River Esplanade and be accessible from Grand Central Station and the 34th Street Ferry. Soloviev Group and Mohegan share a vision to deliver on fundamentals that strengthen local communities, including pursuing carbon-neutral development, creating new public open space, adding affordable housing amid the current shortage, and generating thousands of new jobs and economic benefits for the community and the city as a whole.

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      JAMAICA WINS CARIBBEAN HOTEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION DESTINATION RESILIENCE AWARD

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      JAMAICA WINS CARIBBEAN HOTEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION DESTINATION RESILIENCE AWARD

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      The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica (2nd from L), holds Jamaica’s Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA’s) Destination Resilience Award. Sharing in the moment are (L-R) Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig, President, CHTA; Ewald Biemens, Owner, Bucuti and Tara Beach Resort, Aruba; Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board; Kyle Mais, Managing Director, Jamaican Inn; Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios, Acting CEO & Director General, CHTA; Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director, Round Hill Hotel and Villas; Marc Melville, CEO, Chukka Caribbean; and Fiona Fennell, Public Relations and Communications Manager, Jamaica Tourist Board.
      Jamaica has been awarded the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA’s) Destination Resilience Award for its recovery efforts during the COVID-19 Pandemic and tourism resilience-building initiatives.The Caribbean Destination Resilience Award recognizes destinations with a deliberate focus on resilience as indicated by their commitments to address some or all of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO’s) 17 sustainable development goals. Special emphasis is placed on highlighting destinations which subscribe to a collaborative and partnership-focused approach, engaging public and private sector stakeholders in innovative, needs-driven strategies.     
      Jamaica was at the forefront of thought leadership at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The island, under the stewardship of the Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, immediately created a COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce with public and private sector stakeholders. Based on the innovative initiatives from this Taskforce, Jamaica reopened its borders in June 2020 and never closed since.
      In accepting the award, Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “This award is for my entire tourism team and all our private and public sector partners who immediately saw the need to keep the lifeblood of the country open. From the minds and hard work of the team, Jamaica was first out of the blocks on the road to recovery.”
      Robust health and safety protocols were implemented to help mitigate the spread of the disease. In fact, these protocols received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s ‘Safe Travels’ stamp of approval. With the creation of Resilient Corridors, Jamaica was able to resume tourism activities safely and seamlessly as these designated areas had a strong COVID-19 infrastructure in place.
      “It is a pleasure to recognize my home country with this destination resilience award as it validates the countless hours and effort that went into the recovery through our public and private sector partners to ensure the survival of tourism,” said President of the CHTA, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig.ADVERTISEMENT“It was no easy feat to reopen our borders in such a short space of time and this award highlights the importance of partnerships in a crisis,” said Director of Tourism, Donovan White. “We’re truly grateful and deeply honored to receive this distinction.”
      For more information on Jamaica, please go to www.visitjamaica.com.

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      Minister Bartlett Receives CHTA President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism

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      Minister Bartlett Receives CHTA President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism

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      (HM CHTA AWARD): Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (C) accepts the President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism from President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig (L). Sharing in the moment is Vanessa Ledesma-Berrios, Acting CEO & Director General CHTA.
      Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has been recognized for his stellar contribution to the regional tourism industry. The Minister received the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s prestigious President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism during the Travel Forum and Awards luncheon held at Sandals Royal Barbados.
      “The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is acutely aware that resilience strengthens Caribbean tourism, and it is a message that has reached all corners of the region and the world largely because of the efforts of one man, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s dynamic Minister of Tourism. This is one of the many reasons why we honour him today,” said President of the CHTA, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig.
      One of Minister Bartlett’s notable international successes was the establishment of The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), which assembles distinguished international experts to examine resilience from multiple viewpoints, a timely and much needed forum for the examination of the key elements needed to strengthen the region’s major economic driver, tourism.
      “It is always good to be recognized for your hard work and dedication, but this award is extra special as it is coming from my regional partners who I have worked shoulder to shoulder with for many years to improve our tourism experience and ultimately arrivals and earnings,” said Minister Bartlett.
      Mr Bartlett was also cited as an advocate for harmonizing cooperation and collaboration among Caribbean countries and has called for a single use visa to encourage visitors to travel to multiple destinations in the region.ADVERTISEMENTHe has also encouraged the larger international airlines to dedicate more flights to the Caribbean. Stressing it was possible to compete as well as cooperate with each other, he coined the word “co-petition.”
      “There is much more work to be done and I believe that the Caribbean is poised for even greater achievements in tourism,” added Minister Bartlett.
      “Tourism in the Caribbean and Jamaica are that much better off for having an innovative thought leader like Minister Bartlett and we all wholeheartedly congratulate him,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism.

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