Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

Industry experts say that Italy has consistently been among the top destinations for European summer bookings since international travel returned in the spring, and travel demand soared to levels not seen since the start of the pandemic.
“Summer 2022 bookings for Italy have been extremely in demand with approximately 75% of my bookings since April being for Italy,” said Melinda Fortunato, owner of Best Travel in Fairfax, Va.
Italy’s tourism numbers are on track to recover this year, with international arrivals from Canada, Australia, England and Spain returning to 2019 levels, according to Confcommercio, an Italian organization that represents tourism businesses.
But it’s Americans who the organization says are the number one market driving Italy’s tourism recovery.
A recent Confcommercio survey found that about 2.2 million Americans are expected to visit Italy by the end of summer and projected to spend 2.1-billion euros between July and September, a 20% increase from 2019.ADVERTISEMENT“Honeymooners, anniversaries and postponed trips from 2020 are most of the reasons for traveling to Italy,” Fortunato said of her clients, adding that last-minute bookings have grown in recent months. “People are booking two months out instead of six to nine months out.”
The Amalfi Coast has been the most in-demand destination for Fortunato’s Italy bookings this year, followed by Tuscany, Rome, Florence and Venice.
“A few clients who have been to Italy before want Cinque Terre or Lake Como,” she said, adding that most of her travelers are visiting two to three destinations during their visit and making good use of rail services in between destinations.
“We’re doing tons of pre- and post-river cruise trips this year,” said Frank Marini, CEO of Railbookers Group, a rail travel and vacation packager that specializes in customizable FIT itineraries.
Marini said that Switzerland is a popular starting point for travelers wanting to do a pre- or post-cruise rail extension tour to Italy because a number of river cruises originate or end on the Rhine River in Basel.
Railbookers offers itineraries to Italy’s most popular destinations—including Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Naples and the Amalfi Coast—on trips that can begin in Basel, Geneva or Zurich following a river cruise.
Toni Lanotte-Day, owner of Toni Tours in Levittown, Pa., has also seen that market grow: she has an Emerald Azzurra post-cruise group of 20 visiting Italy’s “bread basket” area of Venice and Bologna this summer. She is also taking a group of 18 to Naples and Sicily in October, a trip rescheduled from 2020.
Pietro Radiocovich, a tour guide who works for Lake Como For You, said tourism to the region has “really increased in the past 10 years, mainly from the U.S. and Britain, especially after Covid, where we’re now experiencing a big explosion of tourism.”

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Slovenian Tourist Board is joining forces with Lonely Planet in a new multi-channel content campaign

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Slovenian Tourist Board is joining forces with Lonely Planet in a new multi-channel content campaignTop articles present Slovenia as an exceptional destination for active and outdoor experiences.To strengthen the visibility of Slovenia as a boutique destination committed to sustainability, the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB) in cooperation with Lonely Planet will launch the campaign that focuses on highlighting Slovenia as a green, active and healthy destination for 5-star experiences in a series of three articles. Lonely Planet commissioned journalist Mark Baker to visit Slovenia in June and attend a press trip organized by the STB and Slovenia Outdoor. This resulted in articles highlighting the pristine nature of Slovenia, which invites to unique outdoor experiences. The articles will be available to readers on Lonely Planet’s channels (website and social networks) and additionally promoted with visual displays and banners.
The articles unveil natural beauties of Slovenia such as Bohinj and its surroundings and also lesser-known tourist destinations in Eastern Slovenia with an emphasis on Maribor and Ptuj, and Koroška with an underground cycling under Peca.
Upon launching the campaign, Msc. Maja Pak, the Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board, commented: “The campaign addresses guests who are looking for unique active experiences in pristine nature. Lonely Planet is a global travel and tourism brand and a world-renowned publishing house with more than 50 years of tradition, which will definitely contribute to increasing the visibility of Slovenia as a destination of unique natural beauties, perfect for active holidays. Lonely Planet has published more than 150 million guides and has a loyal readership. Their website has 15 million views per month and more than 12 million followers on social networks and they target travellers with a higher income. Active outdoor experiences and sports tourism are also the main communication topics of Slovenian tourism for 2022-2023, and the 2022-2028 Slovenian Tourism Strategy also pays special attention to them.”
Lonely Planet’s Vice President, Experience, Tom Hall, commented: “Slovenia is a terrific destination for Best in Travel 2022 and beyond. For Best in Travel each year Lonely Planet searches the globe for places that fit our criteria offering exciting travel experiences centred on Best in Travel’s values of community, sustainability and diversity. The experiences on offer in Slovenia made it an obvious match for Best in Travel.We are excited to work with the Slovenian Tourist Board on our upcoming campaign. This campaign showcases an article series presenting Slovenia as a country as a wine and culinary destination, as well as covering a wide range of outdoor activities all year round including putting the spotlight on hiking trails showcasing the country’s beauty, history and variety.”

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Hi-story in the making

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Hi-story in the makingBallater iCentre has thrown open its doors to a group of friendly Jacobite ghosts who shared tales of their past as well as the history of nearby Braemar Castle with visitors, as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022
The group of costumed team members from Braemar Castle acted as roving storytellers, enchanting visitors both old and young outside the iCentre, with stories of the Jacobite rebellion and of times gone by at the castle, which has been operated by the local community since 2007. Youngsters who visited the iCentre also had the opportunity to dress up in clothing from the Jacobite era and have their pictures taken.The Year of Stories 2022 celebrates stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. Stories are a vital part of Scotland’s culture and every community has a different tale to tell. Shared stories, whether spoken, written, sung or filmed are what give us a sense of place, history and belonging. This year, community groups, museums, heritage sites and other visitor attractions are getting involved with the themed year, with storytelling always at the heart of it.According to the castle’s website, its original owners, the Earls of Mar were among the earliest rulers of Scotland and their power continued down the centuries. In 1628 the 2nd Earl built Braemar Castle as a base for his hunting excursions to his lands in the Braes of Mar but also to remind the local population who was in charge. In 1689 this authority was challenged by the newly-formed rebel group, the Jacobites and the Castle was set alight in the first Jacobite Uprising. By the second Jacobite Uprising in 1715, the Earl of Mar had changed sides and it was the 6th Earl who raised the standard to start the rebellion in Braemar. However, the rebellion lasted no more than a few months, ending in defeat for the Jacobites and disaster for the Earl. He lost everything and fled overseas. Braemar Castle was seized by the Crown and local landowners – the Farquharsons of Invercauld -grasped their chance and bought the Castle. The final Jacobite uprising led to another change of fortune for the Castle. Following the final Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Government troops were stationed in the Castle to make sure there would be no more rebellion. When the troops finally left in 1830, the Farquharsons set about converting the Castle into the delightful family home on show today. An important part of the iCentre’s role is helping visitors to enjoy the area responsibly, by linking visitors with local tourism businesses and sharing information on some of the hidden gems that can be enjoyed.Fiona McCulloch, Ballater Assistant iCentre Manager, said: “It was really great to have the ‘Jacobite Ghosts’ of Braemar Castle at the iCentre as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. Sharing local Jacobite history and Braemar Castle with lots of appreciative visitors was very enjoyable and the visitors loved seeing their children dressed in authentic Jacobite costume. They really brought history to life! “It was really worthwhile being able to help a local business reach out to a wider audience in this way.”Braemar Castle is currently undergoing a £1.6M restoration programme with cash from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and the fundraising efforts of the small community of 500 people. It is aiming for a reopening date of July 2023 with a vision to create a prominent visitor attraction and deliver in Braemar and cross the region, a bold, creative and far-reaching programme of community engagement and learning. Doreen Wood, founder member of the Braemar Castle management team, said: “It was a beautiful day and people were very appreciative and interested to hear about our community castle. It was good to promote the castle as well as an opportunity to fundraise towards its restoration. “Dressing children up as Jacobites was a big hit! We were grateful for the opportunity to participate in YOS2022.”VisitScotland’s iCentre network can offer a platform for tourism businesses to connect directly with visitors. They can also host supplier events and offer a range of ticketing services, sales of local artisan products through its Shop Local retail intitative, as well as onward booking advice for visitors across Scotland. For more information on VisitScotland iCentres, visit:  https://www.visitscotland.com/about/practical-information/vic/ For more information on The Year of Stories, visit: https://www.visitscotland.com/about/themed-years/stories/

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DISCOVER FORTE WINKS IN THE HEART OF MAYFAIR

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Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has underscored that the outstanding performance of the tourism sector as outlined in the latest report by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) highlights the fact that tourism is driving Jamaica’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
This as he welcomed the PIOJ’s report which indicates that the tourism sector has contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth in the second quarter of the year. The PIOJ yesterday (August 18) announced that the economy grew by 5.7% during the April to June quarter of 2022, compared with the same period in 2021, with the tourism and hospitality sector contributing substantially.
The PIOJ reported that the Real Value Added for Hotels & Restaurants grew by an estimated 55.4%, reflecting a sharp increase in visitor arrivals from all main source markets, and that for April–May 2022 total Foreign National arrivals was 399,310 visitors, representing an increase of 110.0% relative to the corresponding period in 2021.
Minister Bartlett stressed that “the figures from the PIOJ highlight the fact that the tourism industry is driving Jamaica’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery,” adding that “the results are a clear indication of the resilience of the sector, which is rebounding steadily.”
As he embraced the news Minister Bartlett met with representatives of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and other industry stakeholders, including members of the Tourism Recovery Task Force, today (August 19), for a mid-year review of the sector.ADVERTISEMENTIt was also outlined that visitor spend is currently outpacing 2019 Levels. According to Jamaica Tourist Board figures, length of stay is back to the 2019 levels of 7.9 nights and more importantly the Average Spend per Visitor has increased from US$ 168 per night to US$ 182 per person per night.
Minister Bartlett notes that “this simply means that the tourism sector is generating more foreign exchange per visitor. So, there is more money circulating in the wider economy and this benefits various players in the industry, such as attractions, the transportation sub-sector and artisans, thereby creating greater economic impact.”
During the meeting, it was highlighted that since reopening in June 2020, Jamaica has welcomed over 3.5 million (3,556,394) visitors as at July 2022. Likewise, year-to-date the island has welcomed over 1.7 million visitors (1,714,956), an increase of 139.4% over the same period in 2021.
There was also an estimated increase of 10% in visitor arrivals for July 2022 compared to the same period in 2019. With increased arrivals month-over-month, Minister Bartlett said “we remain optimistic that our performance figures will return to 2019 pre-COVID record levels by 2023.

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Most popular places to visit in Africa for safaris are East Africa precisely Kenya which offers vast plains and roaming packs of extraordinary beasts and experiences.
One can browse from their website comprehensive listings of safaris to Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and much more on https://www.cruzeiro-safaris.com/.
Many travelers come to Africa in search of the “big five”: buffalo, lions, leopards, elephants and rhinoceroses. The chance to get close to these animals in their natural habitats is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but your trip to the Africa is anything but a trip to the zoo. Safaris can be physically taxing and strenuous, and you may not see all the animals you expected. Since most safari destinations are in developing sub-Saharan nations, travelers must take certain safety and health precautions. If you’re planning a safari (or just dreaming about it), be as prepared as possible. Get some good guidebooks, talk to friends who’ve been to Africa and research, research, research. We’ve outlined some important safari basics, from choosing a destination to getting vaccinated, to help you start planning a successful African adventure such as short trip to the Nairobi National Park, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Samburu which can be booked online through https://cruzeiro-safaris.com/nairobi-tours
About Cruzeiro Safaris KenyaCruzeiro-safaris.com is established in Kenya, incorporated in 2004. Its core business is safari packages and day tours complemented by air travel. It has a well-established wealth of experience in arranging memorable tours and safaris and has established a client base who provide with repeat business year after year. Join us on facebook, twitter and youtube. Safaris in Kenya may be tailored to the tourist taste and can extend to Tanzania and Uganda. Browse and read reviews on trip advisor page and one can also book from trip advisor link.

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Dubai has relaxed its Covid entry requirements for children, making it easier for them to visit the country.
The city has dropped the requirement for those aged between 13 and 16 years who are unvaccinated to take a PCR test to enter.Prior to the rule change, under 12s were exempt from testing rules, but unvaccinated children aged between 13 and 16 were required to take a test if they did not have proof of recovery from Covid.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has updated its guidelines to reflect the changes.
It states: “Travellers to the UAE do not need to take a Covid PCR test before they travel if they are fully vaccinated or: they hold a Covid recovery certificate with a QR code dated within 30 days of departure; they are under 16 years of age for arrivals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; they have severe disabilities.”
The FCDO warned anyone who does not fit into those categories “must still have a negative Covid PCR test, taken no more than 48 hours before departure, and present the certificate at check in.”ADVERTISEMENTAdditionally, the FCDO said unvaccinated travellers may be required to take a PCR test on arrival.

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A travel company called Visit Ukraine has launched a campaign to bring tourists to some of the zones affected by the war in Ukraine. In an interview with CNN Travel, the founder of Visit Ukraine, Anton Taranenko, explained that these trips are to show the world how Ukraine continues with its daily life, despite the war and to give testimony of the reconstructed areas, as well as to help this country. Ukraine welcomed more than 4 million visitors last year.
“Visit Ukraine begins work on the launch of dark tourism in Ukraine,” says the website. Tours are typically comprised of about 10 people led by a guide and take about 3-4 hours, and the visits involve guides, tourism experts, and memory specialists so that tourists can see what happened in Ukraine. The site says that people who sign up for “Brave City” tours would be able to visits cities such as Cherniv, Bucha, Irpin, all of them affected by the war.
Taranenko told Business Insider that the company has provided several dozen tours since the site was updated and booked more than two hundred. Some of the people interested in the tours are Ukrainians who were displaced or had moved to other countries before the war, Taranenko said, though there have been many bookings coming from the US nationals.
The company, which “works very close to the government” of Volodymyr Zelenski, according to Taranenko, offers different excursions in Kiev and its surroundings and other areas which bore a heavy burden at the beginning of the war, such as Kharkov, the second most important city in Ukraine. These days the fighting is concentrated in the south of the country and the eastern region of Dombas.
Among the excursions offered are a day in Kiev (“Kiev fascinates you with its hospitality and will open your heart”), Kamianets-Podilsky (“it is the only city located on a natural island surrounded by a deep canyon), Odessa (the Pearl of the Black Sea and today under Russian siege), Mezhyhirya (the former presidential residence) and the Buki Gorge (“visit the small Switzerland”). Prices range from 38 to 200 euros.ADVERTISEMENTBut other tours allude directly to the war. For example, the excursion to Cherniv (“heroism to the northern capital”), “indestructible Kharkov”, Bucha and Irpin (“strong and invulnerable”), all at 50 euros leaving from the capital. Bucha was the scene of a massacre attributed to Russian soldiers last March. Meanwhile, Irpin, on the outskirts of the capital, was one of the major centers of Ukrainian resistance at the outbreak of the war.
Taranenko noted that many famous foreign artists have already visited Ukraine since the beginning of the war” such as Angelina Jolie, Jessica Chastain or Ben Stiller. “And many others are planning to do so in the short term,” he said.
The portal provides all the necessary information on how to act in a critical situation, where to go, how to enter/leave the country or evacuate a dangerous region. It also reminds that martial law is in force in Ukraine and air traffic is suspended, but the entry and exit of foreigners by land is allowed.
Checkpoints at the border with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova “are open and secure,” he emphasized. Quite the opposite of those on the borders with Russia, Belarus and the Transnistrian region.
According to Business Insider, the tourist site has not received any official approval from Ukrainian government. Ukraine is currently under the highest travel advisory level. The US Department of State has warned that it will not be able to assist any Americans in Ukraine. All profits from tour sales will go to help Ukrainian refugees, explains the website.

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By 2024 outbound travel from Germany is expected to surpass the record numbers of pre-pandemic levels, with a total of 117.9 million Germans visiting other countries, according to recent data provided by German Source Tourism InsightBesides, the same shows that Germans will once again be the main country in terms of international travel and tourism, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to the figures provided by the same source, in 2019, a total of 116.1 million Germans visited other countries, despite the fact the country’s economic sector was facing significant problems.
At the same time, the report shows that in 2024, the number of Germans travelling to other countries will reach 117.9.Based on the data provided by ‘Germany Source Tourism Insight, 2022 Update’, Germany’s outbound tourism numbers decreased significantly compared to 2019 figures due to the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants and the restrictions imposed to halt its further spread.
A total of 64.5 per cent decrease year-on-year from 116.1 million travellers in 2019 to a total of 41.2 million in 2020 before another decrease in 2021 to 40.4 million.
Germany has also welcomed a large number of internationals, despite the situation caused by the Coronavirus.ADVERTISEMENTBesides, a recent report provided by the German Office for Statistics, Destatis, revealed that the number of nights spent by international visitors in Germany rose to 48.9 million in June, representing a total of 60.5 per cent increase compared to the corresponding time in the previous year.The same revealed that the number of overnight stays reached pre-pandemic levels, being only 3.4 per cent below those levels.
In addition, the number of tourists spent by international passengers in Germany in May and June 2022 was quite similar to the pre-pandemic levels, implying a significant recovery of 2019 levels when travelling was limited as part of the efforts to halt the further spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants.
According to the data provided by the World Health Organisation, there have been reported a total of 31,666,475 cases of COVID-19 infection since the start of the pandemic, while a total of 146,030 people have died during the same period.
The same source shows that there have been a total of 183,133,264 vaccine doses in this country as of July 10.
In June, Germany removed all the restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus in order to facilitate the travel process for arrival from all countries.

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