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      OPPORTUNITIES FOR EAST AFRICA

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      What business opportunities and prospects for joint ventures exist for tour operators in East Africa? This question was investigated by representatives of business and tourism organisations at the City Cube on Wednesday during the ITB fair.In the presence of African joint venture partners, including a delegation accompanying the Ethiopian tourism minister, they described possible ways in which these countries can profit from the expansion of long haul tourism.
      East African countries have a wealth of tourism highlights. Tourism attractions range from safari tours to gorillas in the wild in Uganda, as well as cultural sites in Ethiopia and the famous Nyungwe waterfalls in the national park of the same name in Rwanda. Kenya and Tanzania, together with the island of Zanzibar, are already popular destinations for German visitors. The majority of tourists use the services of well known package tour providers, explained Dr. Martin Post from the German Travel Association (DRV). He forecasts a substantial recovery of the long haul travel market. However, many people make their bookings at short notice, which complicates planning for the providers of such services.
      Matthias Lemcke, vice president of the South and East Africa Working Group (ASA), described the advantages of his association, which includes tourism boards, airlines and tour operators. Part of his work involves visits by delegations from Germany to countries that have not had many international tourists. Among the events planned for 2023 is a tour to Angola. As a consultant and ASA member Guido Bürger explained that tour operators with a unique selling point can also find opportunities, alongside established suppliers of package tours, for example by offering bird spotting or culinary events. However, growing numbers of travellers are making their bookings online or, if they are familiar with a country, they put all the components of their trip together themselves. Digitalisation provides an opportunity for small and medium sized businesses, and in some East African countries they can to some extent have access to funding programmes such as those offered by the World Bank or the GIZ.
      The East Africa Tourist Visa, known as EATV for short, is designed to make travellers‘ lives easier. So far it is valid for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. More countries may be included in the future. All three countries can be visited with one visa, which is valid for 90 days and entitles the holder to multiple entries.

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      SECURITY CHECK APPOINTMENTS, SUNFLOWERS, SELF-SERVICE

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      VACATION PARADISE, PARTLY DUE TO DISBANDING ITS ARMED FORCES More

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      SECURITY CHECK APPOINTMENTS, SUNFLOWERS, SELF-SERVICE

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      BER Airport is putting every effort into avoiding the chaotic airport scenes of 2022. At ITB Berlin 2023, BER managing director Thomas Hoff Andersson presented three services that travellers can use to make life easier.Firstly, there is BER Runway, a new service that lets passengers book a security check time slot. Secondly, people with hidden disabilities can use a free sunflower-badged lanyard to discreetly indicate they require a little more time or assistance. And thirdly, BER Airport is focusing increasingly on self-service points.
      Using BER Runway, BER passengers can now book security check time slots. This can be done online for separate access to security in Terminal one in order to reduce possible waiting times. The service is free of charge. Thomas Hoff Andersson: “It lets passengers plan their airport stay more reliably and minimise stress on their trip.“ Kasper Hounsgaard, Co-CEO Copenhagen Optimization, added: “The future of aviation lies in putting passengers more in control of their trips. Passengers who select security checks outside peak times help make procedures smoother.“
      The Sunflower programme offers assistance to people with hidden disabilities. BER is Germany’s first airport to introduce a sunflower-badged lanyard, an internationally recognised symbol used in many countries. With it, people can discreetly signal a hidden disability and the fact they require a little more time or patience. Sunflower director Ruth Rabét said: “Hidden disabilities cover a wide range including autism, cognitive disabilities, mental health problems, anxiety disorders, to name but a few.“ The lanyard is free and no proof must be supplied.
      Thirdly, BER aims to expand its self-service points. Thomas Hoff Andersson: “Passengers can use these to check in on their own and drop off their baggage. Several airlines are already offering this service, either just for dropping baggage or additionally for printing boarding cards.” Services are scheduled to expand by 2023 and it is hoped that by the summer at the latest self-service points will be so numerous as to noticeably speed up passenger check-ins.

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      A RETURN TO NORMALITY, BUT DELAYED

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      OPPORTUNITIES FOR EAST AFRICA More

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      A RETURN TO NORMALITY, BUT DELAYED

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      For business travel, the return to pre-pandemic normality has been moved back two years to 2026. Inflation, China’s economic problems and the effects on global supply chains were among the reasons listed by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) on Wednesday at ITB Berlin 2023. Basic parameters concerning business travel had also changed, said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the GBTAFollowing the slump in 2020 the curve had peaked sharply around 2021/22, but had since dropped off again, due in part to China opening up quickly again and resurgent infections there. Currently the curve was pointing downwards – probably until 2026.
      During the pandemic business travel decision-makers had learned that virtual meetings offered advantages in some respects, even if on the other hand there was fundamentally no substitute for meeting in person, Neufang said. Moreover, sustainability was increasingly becoming an issue, and fewer business trips meant a smaller carbon footprint. All the while, business trips had not gone entirely out of fashion for internal meetings.
      Financial companies and insurances easily topped the list of those sectors taking business trips again at more or less pre-pandemic levels, Neufang said. At the other end of the scale were NGOs and foundations.
      45 per cent of travel managers had increased their budgets, that much could be said. Faced with the general skills shortage travellers’ expectations had grown. Many of them expected to undertake blended travel, for example in order to extend a business trip by a few days off at their destination. A survey among travel managers found that employers were divided here: 41 per cent were in favour, trending upwards, while 42 per cent were against.
      Summarising, she listed five business travel trends: China remained difficult to forecast, business travellers as such had higher expectations, demand for eco-friendly travel was on the rise, technological change slowed things down, and personal trips would play a big role again.ADVERTISEMENT

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      GETTING TO AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

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      SECURITY CHECK APPOINTMENTS, SUNFLOWERS, SELF-SERVICE More

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      GETTING TO AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

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      With 70 nonstop flights per week from Germany it “has never been easier” to get to the USA. These were the words used by Dr. Amy Gutmann, ambassador of the United States of America, to appeal to travellers on Wednesday at ITB Berlin.Compared with the previous year, this year their numbers are expected to increase by 20 per cent. In 2022 there were 1.5 million German visitors to the USA. The target for 2024: to attain the pre-coronavirus level of some two million. With 29 exhibitors from Fairbanks to Key West the USA display at ITB Berlin 2023 presents the country as an innovative tourism nation, using a slogan slightly adapted from that of the Terminator: “We are back!“
      On the occasion of the Berlin World Women’s Day, Gutmann pointed out that global tourism has “brought increasing numbers of women into business management and to the conference table”. “Where women are working, there is more inclusion”, she said. She herself lived through the pandemic with the aid of a home trainer, but both she and her bodyguards are pleased to be able to ride through the Grunewald forest on a real bicycle.
      Germany has a key role to play on the road back to tourism normality, Gutmann continued. The USA is endeavouring to turn the focus onto the country as a whole and not just the well known hotspots, in an effort to create diverse, inclusive and attainable possibilities for everyone. “We want America to remain an irresistible destination.”
      This is something that the state of Michigan is keen to demonstrate. “We have arisen again from the ashes”, was the response by David Lorenz, Vice President of Travel Michigan, to the question of why it is worthwhile for tourists to visit the former automobile city Detroit. “Detroit is the most innovative metropolis in the USA”, he stated, and drew attention to the city’s skyline as proof. “Many old skyscrapers have been renovated because, during the recession and with the decline of the traditional automobile industry, it was too expensive to demolish them and build anew.” As a result Detroit has become a unique centre for mosaics from the early 20th century, and for other forms of architecture, especially Art Deco.
      In the world of music the legendary Motown sound is celebrated in and around Detroit, where the population has a greater diversity than almost anywhere in the USA, having come there from many different countries to work in the large automobile factories. “Now they are all contributing to a new culture. In this respect Detroit has much in common with Berlin“, said Lorenz.ADVERTISEMENT

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      HOW CAN COMPANIES TARGET CUSTOMERS BETTER WITH THEIR ADVERTISING?

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      A RETURN TO NORMALITY, BUT DELAYED More

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      HOW CAN COMPANIES TARGET CUSTOMERS BETTER WITH THEIR ADVERTISING?

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      How can a company find out more about its customer groups and reach travellers online, what expectations do these groups have – and how can a company target customers better with its advertising? Answering these questions on Wednesday in a keynote speech opening the Marketing and Distribution track at the ITB Berlin Convention, Michael Trauttmansdorff, director of Product Management, Travel Ads at Google, offered some valuable insights.38 per cent of all holidaymakers who regularly travel abroad want to book a once in a lifetime travel experience, said Trauttmansdorff. Travel has a high priority and the amount of time spent on planning and preparing is growing, Trautmansdorff continued. Coupled with that was the fact that young people in particular showed less brand loyalty and were more willing to try out new brands.
      Videos and quality images are becoming more and important for approaching and winning over travellers. Travellers, especialy Gen Z, look online for inspiring content and get their fascination there. “90 per cent of travellers get information from YouTube, which is why it is important to have a YouTube strategy“, said Trauttmansdorff.
      Google Tools can help destinations in a whole range of ways to approach potential travellers with as little waste coverage as possible. Thus, Performance Maps for Travel Tools can be used to create marketing campaigns for hotel chains, which are broadcast via seven different Google channels. By visiting the website at https://travelinsights.withgoogle.com, destinations, hotels and tour planners can obtain valuable insights into customer demand trends and tailor their campaigns accordingly. This tool can be used to make decisions based on solid data and target the right customer groups with the right message.
      AI-based Google Tools can also help make a trip as sustainable as possible. Thus a Google flight search will display the approximate CO2 emissions for the flight in question.

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      FOUR COUNTRIES – FOUR TOURISM CONCEPTS

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      GETTING TO AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER More

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      FOUR COUNTRIES – FOUR TOURISM CONCEPTS

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      How are Bahrain, Egypt, Croatia and Georgia confronting tomorrow’s challenges and how are these countries’ tourism policies paving the way for the future? That was the topic Monika Jones discussed with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairifa, Egyptian Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa, and Georgian Vice Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishivli on Tuesday at the ITB Berlin Convention. Also taking part was Croatian Tourism and Sports Minister Nikolina Brnjac. The representatives of the four countries presented four effectively different concepts.
      Bahrain, said Fatima Al Sairifa, had successfully implemented the digital transformation and improved networking among actors and external marketing. It had become evident for example that by working with travel bloggers one could target certain visitor segments. The country’s concept for receiving 14 million visitors annually by 2026 comprised three key elements: marketing Bahrain, which consisted of more than 30 islands, as an island destination, a luxury destination and a MICE destination. Al Sairifa pointed to Exhibition World Bahrain which opened last November and where numerous events had already taken place.
      According to Egyptian Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa, his country had made use of digitalisation to make regulating health and safety standards better and more efficient and to ensure all actors had fair access to the market. “We want to make it easy for the private sector to unleash its potential“, said Ahmed Issa. With Egypt expecting record tourist numbers this year and aiming to attract 30 million visitors by 2028, it was important to rapidly and unbureaucratically expand the infrastructure. Thus, steps would be taken to make it easier for private investors to increase room capacity. Tourism products for individual travellers would be expanded too.
      Croatia’s new strategy in particular has sustainable tourism as its goal by 2030. Sustainability was one of the preconditions for obtaining state funding, said Nikolina Brnjac. The country was not aiming to attract mass tourism, the minister said, but instead increasingly emphasising eco, outdoor and health tourism. In tourist hotspots such as Dubrovnik and Split the focus was on better regulation of visitor flows.
      Georgia’s development of the tourism market also increasingly favours eco, nature and rural tourism. In particular, Georgia wants to present itself as the land of infinite hospitality. “Sincere hospitality is part our DNA, for here in Georgia we believe that every guest is a gift of God”, Vice Minister Mariam Kvrivishivli assured the listeners. In Berlin, this year’s host country of ITB is not only showcasing its cultural past, with its unique alphabet and being the first to grow wines, but is also presenting itself as a modern country increasingly oriented towards the West – and which thanks to its hospitality has a record number of tourists who regularly return.ADVERTISEMENT

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      THE MANY SIDES OF MALAYSIA

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      HOW CAN COMPANIES TARGET CUSTOMERS BETTER WITH THEIR ADVERTISING? More

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      THE MANY SIDES OF MALAYSIA

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      At ITB Berlin representatives of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism symbolically handed over three new brochures to Malaysia’s ambassador to Germany. They present a wide range of attractions for visitors with all kinds of interests:For those in search of city tours Kuala Lumpur is worthwhile, for nature lovers there are lots of sports and adventure activities in fascinating natural surroundings, while sun worshippers can find white sands and thriving marine wildlife at the beaches of this country in southeast Asia.
      This is the fiftieth time Malaysia is taking part in ITB Berlin, reason enough to present three new brochures in German translation. Representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Malaysia symbolically handed them over to Dr. Adina binti Kamarudin, Malaysia’s ambassador to Germany in Berlin. Taking as their slogan ’Malaysia – Truly Asia’, the brochures present the wide-ranging attractions awaiting travellers. One brochure is devoted entirely to Kuala Lumpur. In this pulsating metropolis with its shopping malls, museums, parks, restaurants and a flourishing cultural scene, an impressive skyline with some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers awaits travellers.
      Another brochure is devoted to Malaysia’s beaches. In particular, archipelagos such as Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor and Terengganu with their white sands and clear blue waters are an attraction for tourists. Chendor Beach near the coastal town of Cherating is one of the places one can find turtles in the wild. The third brochure is for adventurers: whether trips to mountains, rivers or caves, there are many ways to explore this country’s many-faceted natural attractions. In addition to the new brochures, the presentation also took place of a five-minute image film which conjured an impressive atmosphere. In 2023 Malaysia expects tourism numbers to increase, in particular from Europe. 68 attendees from 40 organisations are represented at this year’s ITB Berlin.

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      MORE THAN PALMS AND PYRAMIDS

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      FOUR COUNTRIES – FOUR TOURISM CONCEPTS More

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      MORE THAN PALMS AND PYRAMIDS

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      Egypt wants to attract more tourism by expanding flight routes, bed capacity and offering travellers an even better experience. At ITB Berlin Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa outlined his concept for the sector for 25 to 30 per cent growth over the next few years. He would like to focus more on those taking individual tours as well as families. A new campaign targeting mainly 12 European countries aims to portray the country’s wide-ranging attractions.
      With its historical sites, beaches and rich cultural past, Egypt is among Germans’ favourite destinations in North Africa. The country boasts 365 days of sunshine a year and is therefore a magnet for northern Europeans, particularly in winter. Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa would welcome even more visitors in the future. The new campaign focuses on various ways to holiday, with Nile cruises, sports and desert tours on offer, along with beaches and relaxation.
      For Ahmed Issa it is not just about growing tourist numbers. He also wants them to enjoy a better-quality experience. That begins at home with making arrangements and obtaining a visa, continues with arriving at the airport and ends with staying at a holiday destination. He regards the mainly privately owned hotels and tour operators as important partners. The minister sees digitalisation as being a big opportunity too. In Egypt, 90 per cent of tickets to see attractions are now sold online, which makes life a lot easier particularly for those undertaking individual tours.
      Fans of Egypt are eagerly awaiting the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, whose facades are a tribute to the pyramids of Giza. Issa announced the tourist highlight was due to open in late 2023 or early 2024.

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      PRIORITY FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION IN TOURISM

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      THE MANY SIDES OF MALAYSIA More