Tatw monthly 1 January 2014 edition

Since 1997 volume 1, January 2014

THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON GREECE… part one, by Dimitri Laspas

JAPAN, STILL A KEY MARKET FOR EUROPE

UK HOLIDAYMAKERS’ TOP DESTINATIONS FOR 2014

QATAR READY TO BECOME REGIONAL TOURISM CENTRE

MYANMAR MAGIC, by Caroline-Artemis Laspas

KENYA TARGETS BRITISH AND GREEK TOURISTS

AIRLINES DEMAND NEW RULES FOR DISRUPTIVE TRAVELLERS

AIRLINE'S ‘PAY-BY-WEIGHT’ FARES GET GREAT REACTION

BERLIN… 25 YEARS SINCE THE FALL OF THE WALL

GERMANY A M.I.C.E. DESTINATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

17th MITM EUROMED ENDS AS MITM EUROMED 2014 CONFIRMED

AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. THEODORE VOKOS, POSIDONIA EXHIBITIONS S.A.

SYDNEY’S BUSINESS EVENT WINS

CHENGDU THE NEW M.I.C.E. CITY OF CHINA

BRAZIL INCREASES TAXES TO CONTAIN OUTGOING TOURISM

AUSTRALIAN CRUISE OPERATORS TO DEVELOP PUERTO WILLIAMS IN CHILE

CHINA DOMINATES THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND OF DOMINICA

PHILIPPINES TOURISM POTENTIAL

Apollo, the god of the sun and music, Athens, Greece TATW Monthly 2014 © www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

The Parthenon, Athens, Greece

THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON GREECE… part one! by Dimitri Laspas - publisher

Greece is one of the top tourism destinations in the world. The number of tourism arrivals over the last decade has shown a steady increase from 14.2 million international visitors in 2004, to almost 17 million in 2013; and forecasts expect this figure to rise to 20 million - almost twice the country’s population by 2020.

There is nowhere else like it! It is a timeless destination with many other destinations desperate to copy it and offer similar ideals, but there is only one Greece, one authentic land of the gods.

Greece offers a unique landscape with 15,000km of coastline, 190,000 beaches, more than 3,000 islands, and brings in tourists from all over the world. While it has become infamous for sun, sea and sand, Greece has a diverse range of offerings from sailing, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, incentive travel, winter sports tourism, spa tourism, city breaks, as well as other niche markets like religious tourism, golf and painting or yoga retreats.

It is ranked globally in 9th place for the number of World Heritage Sites it has, as well as being ranked 5th for its tourism infrastructure, making it an ideal tourism hotspot. The tourism sector represents 18% of the country’s GDP and employs over 900,000 people in the sector. Most of the country’s tourism arrivals come from Western Europe - Germany, UK, Italy, France, Holland, from Scandinavian countries and Russia. However, with growing emerging markets, China and India are showing increased arrival numbers.

Agios Nektarios Cathedral, Aegina island, Greece

With its gentle climate making it a year round destination, the mountains, traditional villages, islands and culture, make each trip in any season magical. Expanding the facilities on offer throughout the year is a priority for the Greek Ministry of Tourism as there is still great potential to

be had from developing the low season outside of just the capital city of Athens or Thessaloniki in the north. At present 70% of all arrivals come between May and October each year.

Investment, both national and international in Greece is growing, with strong focus on the maritime sector and transport allowing for some of the more faraway places to take centre stage in the mainstream of Greek tourism. Greece has never seen such a potential for foreign investment in many sectors but especially tourism and hospitality.

Other priority areas for expansion and development include trekking as well as attracting more ‘second home’ foreign residents. It is estimated that 1 million Europeans would consider Greece as a second home destination. Therefore the development of residential real estate is taking place as well as further developing golf courses and sports tourism, wellness and health tourism, upgrading and building new marinas, conference centers, agrotourism products, religious tourism, thermal spas and thalassotherapy centers, and gastrotourism.

continuing on page…3

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Letter from the Editor

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We seem to say it each year, just how quickly the previous year went by. But that is not to say it was not full of opportunities, business, travel, meetings, new friends, new places, plane and train journeys and holidays or just the business of day to day life!

We can now welcome in another twelve months of prospects and new adventures combined with some well established events and familiar faces we will have the chance to meet along the way!

It always seems to be at this time of year that technology and what it can do for us is pushed to the forefront of news around the world. Indeed, there are some who could not be without their mobile, their kindle or their laptop. This year technology and travel have combined to offer us the chance to travel the world from our armchair with 360 degree tours of far flung destinations and we can do it with our best friends too, who do not even have to be in the same country as us but spread across the globe. With group virtual tours and holidays hooked up to social networks we can experience the same things together simultaneously. No need for a passport or sun tan cream, not need for airport delays or language barriers, etc. It may attract some, but I think the majority of us enjoy the idea of the warmth of the sun on the other side of the planet, the decisions on clothes to take, the countdown to leaving for the airport, the new smells, the new foods, the different culture, the everyday sights of somewhere new, to hear a different language. No kind of technology can offer us that magic! So get packing we have places to go and people to see and a plane to catch!

Even more of us will be travelling across the globe in 2014, to even more places and we will discover more new and magical things that the joy of tourism brings to us all whether it be business or leisure.

Happy Reading of the January 2014 edition!

Caroline-Artemis Laspas editor & co-founder

Poseidon, the god of the sea, at National Archaeological museum, Athens, Greece

With regard to hotels, there are currently 9,000 hotels in operation throughout the country. Many are small in size offering an average of 76 beds. W ith potential for growth, more large hotels are needed to provide more facilities and a more diverse hotel offering. Most of the hotels in Greece are at the average star rating and so huge potential lies with new higher star hotels as branded hotels in Greece account for only 4% of the total number of hotels and 19% of total availability of rooms, while in other Western European countries this figure is between 25-40%. It is estimated that a total of 95,000 beds will be upgraded in the tourism sector in order to provide higher quality services and extend the tourist season beyond the summer months by encouraging new forms of tourism.

Over the past decade, the infrastructure in Greece has moved forward at a great pace with the new Athens International Airport now well established and recognised as one of the best in the world. Airports throughout Greece, total 40, of which 15 are international. Many are being upgraded to accommodate increased passenger traffic and more charter flights. In addition, former military airports are being adapted for civilian use, thereby enhancing the travel experience for many visitors and opening up new destinations and regions.

Another major project is the newly completed Egnatia Highway, connecting Igoumenitsia on the West side of Greece to the Turkish border. The Ionian Highway connects Patras in the Western Peloponnese with Igoumenitsa further up North on the Western side of the country, which ideally compliments the modern highway system. The Attika Highway Ring Road has provided a key out of city network for the greater Athens area that connects the airport, sea ports and key rail stations.

The Athens Metro was the country’s first and continues to be extended and offers longer operating hours due to passenger demand. A new metro system is now operational in the northern city of Thessaloniki. Greece is synonymous with its grand maritime history. With so many islands to connect to, the country runs an advanced high-speed ferry system, transporting

Athens Metro passengers and goods to hundreds of islands. This is also complimented by the air services connecting the islands to the mainland. A new addition is the new seaplane service that has recently begun which is a valuable addition for the tourism industry.

New government investment incentives now allow for greater support in private-public partnerships. Opportunities include investment in state owned thermal springs and marinas. In addition Greece has access to several funding programmes via the EU. Such investment opportunities include the upgrading of marinas, the promotion of special forms of tourism and the creation of cultural pathways and the upgrading of the winter tourism infrastructure.

Much of the Greek tourism sector is not geared up for sustainability, but as upgrades occur, more eco-friendly solutions are being incorporated to reduce the country’s carbon footprint. Many new buildings are energy efficient, while desalination plants, energy efficient power supplies, are focuses for the coming years.

Despite its sometimes negative press, Greece remains a pillar of the global tourism industry and one that many destinations aspire to. While all destinations have their own uniqueness, Greece has something that you cannot quite touch, it is a magic that brings you back again and again and reminds you of who we are and where we all came from. It is a strong place to invest in and target for tourism business.●

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TOURISM News JAPAN, STILL A KEY MARKET FOR EUROPE The Asian giant of

Japan has always been a desired source market for tourists. Today it is still a vital market for Europe and should be developed further. While the emergence of new markets offers new potential and each destination has its important markets to target, Japan has been a stable tourism market for Europe since the 1970’s and has continued to bring almost 4 millions Japanese tourists to Europe over the last 10 years. Japanese clients bring a high level of educated enthusiasm. They are attracted by the original designs and authentic products offered by Europe. However the Japanese holiday maker, under the nations consumer regulations give travellers wide amounts of freedom and protection. They can delay a formal confirmation of booking up to 30 days prior to departure and if the product is not delivered exactly to the agreed specification, even if it is better, the consumer is entitled to compensation. This has started to make it more difficult to deal with the Japanese travel trade due to the combination of late confirmation, low materialisation and strict demands. Hotels in Europe are finding it difficult to hold rooms indefinitely for late bookings by Japanese clients. Overall, Europe has much to offer Japan, and Japanese clients are highly valued visitors in Europe. The variety, depth and antiquity of European culture matches well with the sophistication of the Japanese traveller. To this end, the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) has recently launched the ‘Team Europe’ strategy aimed at increasing the promotion of Europe of Japanese consumers.

REAL LONDON When visiting the

UK’s capital city, you will see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and of course shop down Oxford Street. But for a true feel of London life visit one of 5 top markets located around the city. Alfies Antique Market - This is not one of the most well known markets which make it a real treat. Located across 3 floors, you can find genuine antiques from Art Deco to 20th century chandeliers, jewellery stalls, vintage clothing, old posters and tins. Borough Market - This is a gourmet food market offering over 70 stalls selling unusual breads, cheeses, fresh produce, a variety of freshly

The Whi tehal l Palace, London, UK

made ethnic cuisine, as well as a great butchers and a fishmongers. Eat your way through the afternoon! Portobello Market - probably the most famous market in London, located in Notting Hill Gate, the Portobello Road is full of street sellers and bargain hunters on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Old Spitalfields Market - Just the location of this market is worth the visit. Built in 1875, the Victorian hall with its cobbled streets is a traditional market with fresh produce, artisan breads and cafes, as well as boutiques and unusual shops. On Thursdays there is an antique market and Fridays are for fashion and art lovers. Brick Lane Market - This is a market with a bit of everything and requires a desire to rummage around. When you get tired there are plenty of eateries behind the stalls to rest and some are London's best curry houses! For something a bit different at the end of Brick Lane there are several shops selling beautiful Indian saris and si lks.

UK TARGETS GULF TOURISTS With the amount Gulf visitors spend in the UK reaching

a record high, the UK is keen to maintain and indeed increase tourist numbers from the Gulf nations. One measure to facilitate this is the relaxation of visa rules for those coming to the UK from Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Oman. Tourists will be able to obtain online a new electronic visa waiver 48 hours before they travel rather than go through the lengthy application form for a standard visa. This is the latest in the UK ’s attempts to attract more tourists as visa restrictions were also cut for Chinese tourists recently. In 2012 over 146,000 visas were issued for nationals from the Gulf countries. In 2012 the total spend by Gulf tourists was UK£775, (EU€932) million, up 37% on 2011 figures. In total 218 million visits were made to the UK in 2012.

Bur l ington Arcades, London, UK

LUXURY BRANDS COMPETE FOR TOURIST SHOPPERS Luxury brands are actively

increasing their stores in airports and cruise ships in order to attract more travelling shoppers, mainly due to the desire by Asian tourists to spend a lot of time shopping while travelling. Revenue from travel retail, increased by 9.4% in 2012 to UK£34, (EU€41) billion and is predicted to reach UK£36, (EU€44) billion in 2013 and almost double that by 2020. With airports becoming small cities, many more people spend time at airports and therefore shop more. Tourism spending has increased by 12% while spending by Chinese tourists in Europe alone increased a massive 20% last year. Chinese tourists make up 29% of global luxury spending, a trend expected to continue, with half of all air traffic in the next few years coming from the Asia Pacific compared to the current rate of 37% now. Europe is the cheapest market for some luxury goods with prices as much as 9-25% cheaper than in China.


TOURISM News

ITALIAN TOURISM ENDS ON A HIGH Tourism helped boost Italy's

economy in 2013 and Italy was a top choice for a Christmas and New Year’s Eve destination with 62% of international operators’ worldwide seeing increased traffic towards Italy. Diversifying and widening its tourism promotion to almost every corner of the globe has proved successful for attracting more tourists to Italy. Italy is the 5th most visited destination in the world after France, United States, China, and Spain.

Rome, I ta ly

Over 48 million foreigners visited the country in 2012 and in 2013 this figure rose by 2.5%. Further growth is expected of 3% in 2014. Tourist spending reached UK£27, (EU€32) billion in 2012 with revenue growing through 2013 with a 3.3% increase for the year to September. Cities of art proved to be the most popular destinations, but not only the main ones like Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples, but also smaller towns with a rich heritage like Perugia, Assisi, Siena, or Orvieto. Germany is traditionally the No.1 tourist market with other Europeans following behind; France, Britain, Austria, Holland and Spain. Although still key markets, it was the exceptional growth from the BRICS nations seeing big bookings with increases of 20% from Russia, 20% from China, 8-10% from USA, 5% from India, and 3% from Japan.

QATAR READY TO BECOME REGIONAL TOURISM CENTRE

The Middle Eastern nation of Qatar is expected to be the fastest growing tourist destination in the region and

Doha, Qatar

is investing heavily in its new tourism infrastructure. Presently business arrivals dominate the tourism scene, but Qatar wants to become a major player and become a centre for meetings, sports, culture, and leisure. With the new international airport due to open this year and able to handle 24 million passengers, with additional expansion increasing the capacity to 50 million passengers after 2015, Qatar is determined to become a top destination. The airport can easily handle the huge Airbus A380 super jumbo and Qatar’s tourism is expected to grow by approx 13% in 2014 and to reach double that by 2024.

The Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is targeting a 20% increase in the industry over the next 5 years. In addition, Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, an event that will showcase the country to a worldwide audience. The Qatari government is eager to make tourism a key industry that diversifies from its fuel sector. In 2013 tourism was worth UK£3.35, (EU€4.05) billion and is expected to reach UK£6.87, (EU€8.27) billion in 2022. The government plans to invest UK£12.20, (EU€14.70) billion on tourism projects, and UK£40, (EU€48) billion on infrastructure including a Metro system for Doha. Qatar is also a top class M.I.C.E. destination. Since opening in December 2012 Qatar National Convention Centre alone has attracted more than 136,000 visitors hosted at over 200 events. Business tourism accounted for 72% of the total number of tourists who arrived in 2012. Whether international or regional tourist arrivals, more and more people are discovering Qatar and all it has to offer.

UK HOLIDAYMAKERS’ TOP DESTINATIONS FOR 2014 With the economic situation

still uncertain in the UK the forecast for tourism in 2014 are positive, but not full of huge growth. While many plan to travel and to spend more than in 2013, value for money remains a top priority with package holidays performing well again. British holidaymakers top destinations for 2014 are: Brazil, The Caribbean (Antigua), Costa Rica, Greece, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, the Pacific Coast and Baja, Oman, Portugal, Slovenia, Sicily-Italy, USA mainly Texas, New Mexico and Alaska. For Greece, the UK represents its 2nd most important market. In 2013 nearly 2 million visitors from the UK visited

The Aegean Sea, Greece Greece spending UK£1.16, (EU€1.4) billion.

BRUSSELS NEW POST PASSENGER TERMINAL The Port of Brussels is to build a

new passenger terminal for cruise ships by 2015. Located in the Neder-over-Heembeek region in north Brussels, the development will renovate and use 2 old gatehouses that were part of Meudon Castle, built in 1770 and occupied by Napoleon, Pope Leo XIII and Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine. The new project comes as passenger number from cruise ships have increased from 1,200 visitors in 2006 to 10,000 in 2010. It is estimated that visitor numbers will reach 35,000 a year 2035 providing increased income for Brussels of Euro€5.2 million. The terminal will be used mainly by river-cruise boats with a capacity of 500-1,000 passengers. In addition, the terminal will attract pleasure cruises to the canal. The total budget for the project is UK£3,744,462, (EU€4,512,538).


TOURISM News

NEW YORK CITY REACHING THE 54 MILLION VISITORS IN 2013 New York City will reach 54.3

million visitors in 2013, a new all-time high and an increase of nearly 20 million additional annual tourists from 2002. Visitors will have generated UK£35.75, (EU€43.10) billion in overall economic impact and UK£24, (EU€29) billion in direct spending for the city in 2013.

Central Park, New York, USA

The city aims to reach 55 million annual visitors by 2014. Since 2002, overall tourism has grown more than 50%, while international visitors have increased more than 100%. In addition, visitors are exploring attractions outside of Manhattan due to promotion and partnerships. The tourism figures break down as 42.9 million people travelled to New York City domestically, while 11.4 million travelled from international locations. Hotel demand in 2013 is expected to reach 30 million hotel room nights, which represents an increase of 1 million room nights over 2012. Hotel development is expected to reach 100,000 rooms by the end of 2014.

LAS VEGAS SANDS DROPS EUROVEGAS PLANS FOR SPAIN Las Vegas Sands has

cancelled its plans for a UK£18.30, (EU€22) billion resort and gaming complex in Madrid and is to focus on development opportunities in Asia, namely Japan and Korea. The company, which operates The Venetian & Palazzo resorts on the Strip, collects roughly 80% of its annual yearly revenues and cash flows from its hotel-casinos in Macau and Singapore.

Kiongwe beach, Kenya

KENYA TARGETS BRITISH AND GREEK TOURISTS Following several reassurance

events for the tourism sector, Kenya is targeting tourists from the UK and Greece. In a presentation to many top tour operators Kenya promoted itself as a safe destination with many attractive tourism offerings. Kenya aims to attract 3 million visitors a year. Part of its promotion campaign is jointly held with fellow African nations, Uganda and Rwanda with the aim of promoting East Africa as a single destination and with a single tourist visa. Tanzania and Burundi are expected to join later. British travellers are the No.1 source market for Kenya foreign tourism. While in Greece a presentation at the Kenya-Greece Export Trade and Tourism forum saw a delegation of more than 30 Kenyan companies both private and public sectors attend. Greek tour operators and investors were keen to hear about investment and bringing tourists to Kenya.

CAPTIVATING THE BRITISH TOURIST Mexico is one of the world’s most popular

destinations and offers not only sun and beaches, but also has a very rich culture, history and cuisine. With its proximity to the USA, it has traditionally targeted the USA as a tourist source market. However now Mexico is even keener to heavily promote itself to other desirable tourist markets like the UK, especially as arrival figures from the US have dropped considerably over the past few years. The USA is still its No.1 market, but less dependence on the North American is better for Mexico. Tourism is the nation’s 5th biggest source of revenue, accounting for over 9% of GDP and employs around 7 million people. In 2006, Mexico received 162 million national and international tourists. In 2012 the record breaking figure of 191 million visitors were recorded and with 24 million coming from abroad and with many more coming from outside North America. Tourism investment has been a priority for the Mexican government with greater emphasis on diversity and promotion. As part of this aim, the UK market is seen as a vital one (along with Spain, Brazil and Russia). However, British tourists in particular, are keen to experience all the diversity of Mexico, to discover and explore and not just its beaches. Mexico is considering the attraction of the UK tourism sector as the perfect platform for promoting the nation’s more cultural side. Indeed Mexico has the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of any country in the Americas and has the 6th most in the world, with 27 cultural sites and 5 natural sites to offer. The two countries tourism departments have been working together and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding towards increasing the flow of tourism between them. While the increased promotion and rapidly rising profile of Mexico has already contributed to an increase in UK visitors the agreement will focus on developing tourism initiatives in nature, sports and luxury tourism with Mexico being voted the world’s 2nd most luxurious destination in 2013. Its international promotion will continue but also will its investment in its tourism infrastructure and invites foreign investment openly.

MARRIOTT HOTELS EXPANDS GLOBAL PORTFOLIO RIDA Development Corporation

in partnership with the Houston First Corporation is to develop a 1,000 room Marriott Marquis in the heart of Houston. The hotel, will offer over 100,000sq.ft of meeting space, and will be opposite the Houston Convention Center and connected with a skyway. It is due to open in 2016. Located in downtown Houston, the hotel will be ideally located for Discovery Green, CBD theatre district, University of Houston, luxury shopping, dining and underground Houston. The Houston Marriott Marquis will be part of Marriott’s Convention & Resort Network, a premier collection of over 60 meeting and convention hotels and resorts around the world. With 5.1 million sq.ft of meeting space and 54,000 rooms, the The Convention & Resort Network offers more choices than any other hotel company in the world.● 7 www.tour ismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Beijing International Tourism Expo China National Convention Centre

27-29 June 2014 Beijing, China


MYANMAR MAGIC! by Caroline-Artemis Laspas - editor

Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar Approximately 9 million tourists are predicted to visit Myanmar by 2020. It is already a hot destination and one which is being seen a model for learning from the mistakes of other countries. The Myanmar tourism industry is already transforming the country and offers great opportunities for its people and its economy as well as for companies interested in foreign investment.

The Myanmar government is implementing an ambitious social, economic, and political reform process, which with the support of international partners, will transform the county into a new era, even if in its early stages.

Following the successful inaugural Myanmar Hospitality Tourism Conference last February, organisers, Sphere Exhibitions, have developed the event which also features; Hotel Solutions Show, Food and Beverage Show, Travel Trade Show as well as the 2nd edition of the Conference (17-19 February, Yangon). The 2013 event was co-chaired by ‘Partnership for Change’. Myanmar’s tourism sector has seen extremely rapid growth. The country should not get trapped into a short term gain and long term pain. Myanmar needs to focus on its sustainability and high quality services. It is still in the very early days of its tourism industry development, but people are very willing to experience it before it changes too much.

New to the international tourism scene, yet already breaking records, Myanmar is is pushing forward with ensuring its pristine authenticity does not get swept up in the

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mass tourism market by building its tourism industry from scratch in a sustainable way. With the help of international organisations keen to ensure Myanmar is protected in this way, special partnerships have been established.

The Town Hal l , Yangon, Myanmar

Such partners like the ‘Partnership for Change’ organisation which has recently joined forces with U Ohn Maung, a valuable local visionary who can create a more sustainable future for the Inle Lake community and the whole of Myanmar. U Ohn Maung is a well known and respected leader in the Inle community. He is a good businessman too, and through his dedication to improve the lives of the villages around the lake, he is an influential character in both the public and private sector. Previously the CEO of Inle Princess Resort, which was internationally known for its Corporate Social Responsibility activities and eco-tourism practices, his connections with many big and small organisations and individuals has already led to great success within Myanmar.●

AVIATION News

BRITISH AIRWAYS NEW AIRCRAFT IN 2014 British Airways has new routes

for its A380s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners to select cities throughout 2014. The new A380 will begin flying from Washington Dulles International Airport to London Heathrow from September. Already it flies from Los Angeles and Hong Kong direct to London and will start services between London and Johannesburg in February.

The new Boeing 787s will fly nonstop to London from Austin from March, Philadelphia from June and Calgary from July. The 787s will also be launched to Hyderabad from March and Chengdu from May as well as increasing the current 3 flights to 5 flights a week. Los Angeles was the 1st destination for BA’s A380 and it will offer a double daily service from April. Other network changes include Mexico City which will benefit from an increase from 5 to 6 services a week from end of April. Tokyo Haneda will see an increase from 5 flights a week to daily flights. Cape Town will see an extra 3 Boeing 777-200ER flights a week during South Africa's cooler winter season from a daily service to 10 flights a week adding an extra 219 customers.

ANA EXPANDS NETWORK AT HANEDA AIRPORT & OFFERS NEW ROUTES Japanese airline ANA has a

new international flight schedule for summer 2014, with new routes to Vancouver and Hanoi. This expansion will make ANA the biggest airline carrier at Haneda, offering the most international flights to and from this airport. Haneda Airport is easily accessible from Tokyo and the new flight schedule, combined with ANA’s existing domestic network, will make it easier and more convenient for passengers to connect within Japan and to travel to overseas destinations. In addition, flights to London, Paris, Jakarta and Manila will also start flying from Haneda Airport in addition to existing services from Narita Airport. ANA is to increase the number of North American destinations it services from Asian cities via Narita.

AIRLINES DEMAND NEW RULES FOR DISRUPTIVE TRAVELLERS

Fighting, shouting, over drinking and indecent exposure as just a few of the abusive incidents airlines the world over are seeing in rising numbers. The international Air Transport Association (IATA) will try to highlight these issues

during a conference in Montreal in March 2014 to seek agreement on the rights of crews and captains to do whatever is necessary to control offenders. Since 2007, when it began recording data, more than 15,000 incidents have been reported to IATA, but there are many more unreported incidents for sure. Most offenders do not get reprimanded as when the airplane lands police in the country do have responsibility for where the incident took place. There is also a lack of clarity in the current 1963 Tokyo Convention as to how to deal collectively with such issues. These days people are reluctant to get involved for fear of rebuke later on. IATA feels the lack of well defined legislation is stopping airlines and their crews from taking incidents further. Indeed at the time the Tokyo Convention was originally drawn up it was to deal with hijacks, luckily a much rarer occurrence. Therefore IATA hopes at the conference to get approval from governments on a new global rulebook on what airlines can do and how they should react to certain situations for unacceptable behaviour.

MORE FUNDING FOR ANOTHER EUROPEAN AIRLINE Alitalia has requested

extensions to its current loans by UK£41.50, (EU€50) million a day. The Italian national carrier has just received extra capital, but it would appear the end could be in sight. A government rescue package of UK£415, (EU€500) million was agreed in October 2013, but is still not enough. Alitalia is in talks with Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways on a possible investment.

FRANKFURT AIRPORT REPORTS INCREASE IN PASSENGER Fraport AG’s

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) global hub served 4.3 million passengers in November 2013 - a 3.5% increase from 2012 figures. This was a new record for FRA achieving approximately 30,000 more passengers than in November 2011. For the 11 months January-November period, FRA’s passenger volume rose by 0.7% year-on-year. Welcoming a total of about 6.7 million passengers in November 2013, the Fraport Group’s majority-owned airports grew by 4.6% year-on-year.

AIR FRANCE NEW ROUTES IN 2014 Air France is to fly 6 times a week between

Yerevan and Paris as well as 7 flights per week during July and August. This new route will help to develop tourism as well as economic gains for both Armenia and France. Air France will also start a new service from Paris to Tokyo-Haneda from the end of March 2014, in addition to its Tokyo-Narita route. Air France will be the only airline to offer night flights between Haneda airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, allowing for passengers to arrive feeling rested.

AIRLINE'S ‘PAY-BY-WEIGHT’ FARES GET GREAT REACTION The Pacific island of

Samoa was the 1st airline in the world to introduced fares based on passenger weight

last year. The success has been so great that the airline can now afford to upgrade its fleet. The charge of UK0.35pence, (EU€0.42cents) per kilogram charge meant cheaper fares for most passengers. The World Health Organisation says Samoa has one of the world’s highest rates of obesity. Generally a person who weighs in at approx. 120kg or less will always be better off to travel on a pay-by-weight system. The airline is now adding to its 3-aircraft fleet a new Cessna 208, which would be configured to ensure larger passengers who pay high fares are given more space. This success has led to other airlines seriously considering such schemes in the future.

CEBU PACIFIC COULD BUY TIGERAIR PHILIPPINES Cebu Pacific Air is in

discussions to purchase the Philippine associate of Singapore’s Tiger Airways Holdings. Cebu Air sees this as a way to grow and improve its air transportation business, including possible strategic alliances and acquisitions. No formal agreement has been made to date. Separately, Tiger Airways has dealings with Tigerair Philippines. Although again no definitive agreement has yet been signed, Tiger Airways already owns 40% of Tigerair Philippines.


GERMANY News

Leipzig Ar t Museum, Germany

GERMANY A M.I.C.E. DESTINATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Businesses

must continuously adapt their products to meet the changing needs of their customers, and the M.I.C.E. industry is no exception. The next generation in the globe workforce is known as ‘Generation Y’, i.e. those born between 1977 and 1995. By 2025, approximately 75% of the world’s workforce will be Generation Y. We will be living in a world where the political, cultural and business life will be based on the values, tastes and preferences of this generation. The characters and trends of this generation can ensure we offer what is right for them from now. They predominately have high expectations, are ambitious and are eager to succeed. They value hugely their personal life and leisure time, more than any other generation. Technology is also the centre of their world and from a young age the internet is a key part of life. Multi-tasking, instant communication and networking are also key. Their attitudes towards social, ethical and environmental issues are valued more than any other generation too. Germany is hot on making sure that as a M.I.C.E. destination, it meets the needs and aspirations of this generation by making technology used in M.I.C.E. events and used well to improve the quality of the event experience. By making events eco-friendly is important too. As a destination, Germany meets the Generation Y characteristics with its own strengths and renowned international image, be it as a people or its products. Its focus on sustainability and green practises appeals to Generation Y. Germany also offers many interesting and imaginative M.I.C.E. venues; Generation Y like organisation but mixed with the unconventional and unusual. Germany is already Europe’s top M.I.C.E. destination and looks set to maintain that with such inspiring and analytical assessment of the future.

THE NEW MUSEUM AT NEUZELLE The Monastery of Neuzelle located approx. 2

hours drive east of Berlin with its 2 Baroque churches and the Baroque park together with the Gothic cloister, represents one of the outstanding examples of Cistercian architecture to be found in Central Europe. The monastic complex, which is also described as the Baroque Wonder of Brandenburg, has been restored to its former splendour. Most of the extensive construction work will be completed by 2014. The opening of a new Museum in the Coach House at the monastery is scheduled to take place at the end of 2015. The artefacts accommodated there will include the ‘Neuzelle Holy Sepulchre - Representations of the Passion’. This ranks today as one of the few monastic complexes in Germany and, indeed, in Europe that has survived intact. In addition the restored Baroque monastery garden is a delight. In the summer months Neuzelle offers a diverse cultural programme with concerts and exhibitions. The Oder/Spree Opera Festival of Music and Theatre is one of the high spots in Brandenburg. Other monastic foundations in Brandenburg include the Monastery of Chorin (approx. 45 minutes drive north of Berlin), the Monastery of Zinna (about 1 hour by car south of Berlin), the Monastery Church of St. Marien at the Monastery of Lehnin and the Pauli Monastery in the town of Brandenburg an der Havel. The monasteries in Prenzlau (Dominican Monastery), Angermünde (Franciscan Monastery Church) and Altfriedland (ruins of the Monastery) are also worth a visit.

2013 GERMANY’S SUCCESS MEETING AND CONVENTION INDUSTRY 2013 has

proved a busy and successful year for the German Convention Bureau (GCB) as well as it celebrating its 40th anniversary! In addition, GCB launched a new publication, ‘Germany. Expertise’, in response to growing demand for conference venues in destinations that are linked to a particular industry. The book was developed in conjunction with experts and focuses on the country’s key sectors. This search tool


enables event planners to research venues which have links to a particular area of expertise in order to create the perfect event. In a report entitled ‘Meetings and Conventions 2030: A study of megatrends shaping our industry’ 5 top megatrends were highlighted ‘Technology in work and life’, ‘Globalisation and internationalisation’, ‘Mobility of the future’, ‘Sustainable development’, ‘Demographic change, feminisation and diversity’. These showed that the meetings industry is an economic driver for nations all over the world an as an innovation leader, the GCB envision these trends to help players in the industry develop a future-oriented strategy that can generate business and economic success.

A CULTURAL EXHIBITION In 2014, the

1st Brandenburg State Exhibition ‘Prussia and Saxony. Scenes from a Relationship between Neighbours’ will tell the history of the fascinating and multifaceted relationship between the neighbouring states of Prussia and Saxony. The exhibition will take place at the Doberlug Castle in the twin towns of Doberlug-Kirchhain located in the south of Brandenburg, where Prussia and Saxony meet. The exhibition will host some outstanding works of art, original documents and modern media in an exhibition covering an area of 800sq.m. The exhibition will focus on the period between the 17th and 19th century.

The quadriga at the Brandenburg Gate , Ber l in

BERLIN… 25 YEARS SINCE THE FALL OF THE WALL A quarter of a century

after the ‘Fall of the Berlin Wall’ a lot has changed in the capital of the State of Brandenburg, Potsdam. The rebuilding of the City Palace in the historic centre is the most striking of these changes. On 21st January 2014 the Palace will be officially handed over to fulfil its future role as the seat of the Brandenburg State Parliament. The site occupied by the Palace is one of the oldest settlement areas in Potsdam. The City of Potsdam suffered enormous damage during WWII and the City Palace was destroyed but rebuilt in the 1960’s thereby giving Potsdam its inner city area a new feel. Since the wall fell a Foundation and an Association have been set up, both of which are actively committed to collecting donations for the next Potsdam reconstruction project.●

EXHIBITIONS News 17th MITM EUROMED ENDS AS MITM EUROMED 2014 CONFIRMED

The conclusion of the 17th edition of MITM Euromed, Meetings and Incentive Travel Market, in Seville, Spain at the beginning of December saw another huge successful event. To close the wonderful networking programme on a high, all attendees enjoyed an unforgettable soiree full of surprises and with an extraordinary closing dinner offered by El Cortijo El Esparragal. In this edition, a select group of more than 150 participants from 23 countries gathered: Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Jordan, Mexico, Holand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine and the USA.

3,227 appointments were conducted which will generate more than UK£52.990, (EU€63.840) million of estimated business for a short and long term. The next and 18th edition of MITM Euromed, Meetings and Incentive Travel Market, will be held in the city of Cadiz, Spain, from 11-13 June 2014 and will be sponsored by Cadiz Provincial Council. MITM Euromed is an interactive international fair, pioneer in the M.I.C.E. tourism in Europe. Cadiz attended as exhibitors in the 17th edition of MITM Euromed in Seville, Spain, and offered an informative seminar of its Province to all the participants. Besides, the international buyers and press enjoyed a wonderful post-tour of the Province of Cadiz. The exhibitors and buyers evaluations from the 2013 MITM Euromed, saw the following results: Overall Rating of Exhibitors - 58% Good, 33% Excellent. Overall Rating of Buyers - 39% Good, 53% Excellent.

NEWLY INTEGRATED JATA TOURISM EXPO JAPAN The Japan

Travel and Tourism Association (JTTA) and the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) have agreed to integrate ‘Tabi Fair Japan’, the domestic tourism exhibition and ‘JATA TABIHAKU’ Travel Showcase, the country’s international travel exhibition to hold an annual ‘JATA Tourism Expo Japan’ from 2014 onwards with the aim of expanding the event and raising the quality.

2013 saw the 18th edition of Tabi Fair Japan. It is one of the largest domestic travel exhibitions in the country, with corporate and organisation-related exhibitors from 120 regions in Japan. The JATA ‘TABIHAKU’ Travel Showcase is one of the largest comprehensive travel events in Asia. It was started in 1977 with the aim of stimulating demand for outbound travel. 2013 marked the 24th edition and composed of an international travel forum, international business meetings, exhibitions, awards, and a pre-opening reception. A total of 730 organisations and companies from 154 countries participated. By integrating these 2 events, the organisers will be better able to present Japan as a tourism nation to attendees from Japan and overseas. The combined event will build on the strengths of both events to promote outbound, inbound, and domestic travel. It will become the largest comprehensive travel event in Asia, and it will concentrate the strengths not just of the tourism industry but of all industries and regions. The new JATA Tourism EXPO Japan is the 1st travel show in Asia to be recognised by the UNWTO. It will take place from 25-28 September 2014 at the Tokyo Big Sight (East Exhibition Hall and Conference Tower)

IT&CM CHINA 2014 The rapid expansion of China’s M.I.C.E. market continues to

draw more international companies to target the growing industry. The value of China’s conference and events industry was estimated at UK£91.50, (EU€110) billion, with tens of millions of conferences held every year. The Chinese M.I.C.E. industry itself is burgeoning at 20% annually, reflecting endless opportunities for both international and domestic M.I.C.E. suppliers alike. For many M.I.C.E. industry suppliers, China’s relentless growth translates to inevitable shifts in customer geographies, where the country is already amongst their top buying markets. Returning IT&CM China luxury cruise exhibitor, Silversea Cruise confirms that China is now its 2nd largest Asian source market, behind Japan. It believes it has the potential to grow even bigger, especially with the Chinese interest in the cruise lines expedition product to the polar regions. Long-time IT&CM China exhibiting destination Thailand is also experiencing the massive impact of the outbound Chinese M.I.C.E. business. With China becoming the No.1 (top) source market of M.I.C.E. travellers to Thailand. Other returning exhibitors to IT&CM China 2014 cite strong business generation results as a reason for coming back to the show. IT&CM China - The Leading International M.I.C.E. Event In China returns for its 8th edition in 2014, and is the only M.I.C.E. show in China that optimises business opportunities with the Chinese on all fronts - Outbound, Inbound and Domestic. Highlighting the strategic significance of the event, Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media – one of 3 co-organisers of the event confirms that “2014 exhibitors can expect to see 70% Chinese buyers, addressing the outbound and domestic procurement for both International and Chinese suppliers respectively. The latter can also benefit from the remaining 30% of international buyers looking to buy into China (inbound).” Chen Yueliang, Vice-President of China International Travel Service (CITS) Ltd - co-organiser of IT&CM China, agrees “China’s business events market is growing faster than any other nation. It is predicted that China will be the world’s largest contributor to this industry. With domestic and international demand driving surges in group meetings and events travel, both Chinese industry suppliers and buyers alike will find IT&CM China an ideal platform to expand their business networks. CITS is excited about playing a significant role in delivering these delegates to the event.”


EXHIBITIONS News INVESTOUR 2014 INVESTMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA At the 5th

edition of the Tourism Investment & Business Forum for Africa (Investor) which is to be held on 23rd January 2014, the focus will be on promoting Africa’s tourism potential and facilitating areas such as investment and technology. The event is held annually during the Madrid based travel and tourism exhibition, FITUR and offers a unique platform for meetings between representatives of African tourism and potential investors. It is now commonly seen as a tourism meeting point for Africa and Spain. The 2014 edition will for the 1st time allow the participation of Portuguese companies. The morning session will address hotel investment, air connectivity and visa facilitation while the afternoon session will offer B2B meetings. Since 2010 the event has seen over 550 African projects from 45 different countries; around 180 Spanish companies and 831 participants; 15 Ministers of Tourism of Africa in each edition; participation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA), the Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC) and the East African Community (EAC).

BALTIC CONVENE PARTNERSHIP WITH AIR LITUANICA CONVENE, the

Baltic Sea Region meetings industry convention, has joined in partnership

with the new national airline Air Lituanica. CONVENE aims to accelerate the development of the Baltic Sea Region as a base for international meetings, conventions and incentive programme trips in the private and public sector. In February 2014, the 2nd edition will again feature a Hosted Buyer Programme that allows buyers to visit the convention with many complimentary benefits. Chief among these is the chance to be one of the 1st to experience flying with Air Lituanica. Hosted Buyers will also receive accommodation, transfers, invitations and events, plus a personalised diary of meetings with regional suppliers. This year, the countries of the Baltic Sea Region - Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Poland and Russia - will also be joined by exhibitors from Sweden, which the organisers say will make the event even more important for buyers to visit.

WORLD TRAVEL FAIR: CHINA’S LEADING TRAVEL FAIR REGISTRATION OPEN!

As a driving force of the global travel industry, Chinese outbound travel keeps rising in recent years and tops the global tourism market. According to the statistics from CNTA, Chinese outbound tourist numbers soared to over 83 million in 2012 and expected to hit 94.3 million in 2013, generated UK£62, (EU€75) billion overseas spending in 2012. Considering the increasing disposable income and consolidated business demand, it's predictable that Chinese outbound tourism will continue to maintain a concrete growth pace. China is known to be the world's largest outbound market for international trips abroad. And Shanghai, with the most number of outbound tourists every year, is the market you cannot miss! World Travel Fair, a leading travel expo in China staged annually in Shanghai and co-hosted by Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration and VNU Exhibitions Europe, is a vibrant must attend event showcasing a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to China's most dynamic markets. It is a unique opportunity for the global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business, plus an effective platform for consumer marketing. In 2013, the expo gathered more than 45,000 visitors and over 550 exhibitors globally. Featured are the sub-brands of ‘World Tourism Carnival’ and ‘World Travel Fair Professional’. World Travel Fair is a unique opportunity for exhibitors to network, negotiate and conduct business, plus an effective platform for consumer marketing. ‘World Travel Fair Professional (for trade visitors only)’ offers exclusive business atmosphere and facilities for travel trade, providing an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to meet business partners and close deals. Exhibitors' business purpose will be entirely taken care of through our concurrent events, diversified buyers, and arranged business appointments. For public visitors, World Tourism Carnival is a wonderful possibility to discover the wonder of the world in an all-around way. Exhibitors are encouraged to bring their features, special offers, travel tips and interaction with consumers. It is also a great opportunity to achieve brand awareness and generate onsite reservations. 2014 will mark the 11th anniversary of the World Travel Fair, Come onboard! www.worldtravelfair.com.cn

REISEN HAMBURG 2014 North Germany’s biggest trade show for holidays,

caravanning, outdoor and cycling will be held at the Hamburg Fair from 5-9 February 2014. The event will promote a diversity of travel destinations, with more than 800 exhibitors from all parts of the world. Tourism offices, tour operators and speciality providers present exciting travel destinations and tailor-made programmes, from family holidays to adventure trips. This year sees the partner country of the Seychelles, the exotic archipelago located in the Indian Ocean.●

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INTERVIEWING…

In an interview with Mr. Theodore Vokos, Executive Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., here we discover how the shipping and cruise industry is changing and the Posidonia Shipping Exhibition is developing to cater for the growing markets of Asia. Posidonia 2014 is taking place from 2-6 June 2014 in Athens, Greece. This interview was with Dimitri Laspas - publisher of Tourism around the World monthly.

How did Posidonia start? The idea to create Posidonia goes

all the way back to 1965, when Theodore Vokos, journalist and founder of Naftiliaki–Naftergatiki (my grandfather), together with his friend Richard Stubbs, a PR specialist, identified the potential for organising a shipping exhibition in Greece. It should be noted that Theodore Vokos had actually first organised a shipping conference, the first of its kind in Greece, at the Athens Hilton in 1963, which paved the way for the exhibition. Both Vokos and Stubbs believed that there was a need to promote the strength of Greek shipping and show the importance of the Greek fleet to the international shipping industry. They named the exhibition Posidonia, after the Greek god of the sea Poseidon. The first International Shipping Exhibition Posidonia was held in the Zappeion Megaron a few years later and was attended by more than 80 shipbuilding and shipping companies from 15 maritime nations. From its modest beginning more than 40 years ago, Posidonia is today the world’s most prestigious and influential maritime event.

What is the most interesting part of your job? The

international character of the exhibition, which also presents a lot of cultural challenges, and the incentive to not only maintain our high standards, but to also set each time new standards for ourselves, are among the most interesting features of our job. Another very important incentive is the fact that Posidonia benefits Greece in various ways. Especially during these difficult times, it is very important that Posidonia sends a positive message to the world at large and highlights that Greece has success stories to celebrate, one of them being the unique achievements of the Greek shipping industry on the world stage. Furthermore, Posidonia contributes to boosting the

local economy of Athens and wider Attica as our exhibitors and visitors invest a lot of money in their participation at Posidonia and this windfall of foreign income is something that hugely supports local tourism enterprises every two years.

Where would you place the Posidonia Exhibition in importance in the global shipping/cruise exhibition industry? An exhibition highlights the importance of the

industry it represents and the volume of the market it serves. And shipping is one of the major industries of the global economy, as it is the main facilitator of world trade and economic growth. Therefore Posidonia, which serves as the platform for the global shipping industry to reach out to the Greek shipping community, which still operates the largest fleet in the world, remains the leading trade event for the shipping industry. Hence it now has a permanent position in the global shipping calendar, as it also attracts i.e. shipowners from Brazil who want to meet up with shipyards from the Far East. We believe it is one of the most important shipping events in the world.

What makes Posidonia 2014 different from other shipping/cruise events? Posidonia is by far the broadest

marketplace in the shipping industry as it hosts exhibitors and visitors from merely all shipping related sectors. More than 80 product & services categories were represented by exhibitors in Posidonia 2012 and more than 100 were represented by Posidonia visitors. The 2013 edition of the exhibition attracted exhibitors from 87 countries and over 18,500 visitors from 92 countries, confirming the event’s international character.

continuing on page…17


INTERVIEWING…

contined from page… 16 An interview with Mr. Theodore Vokos, Executive Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A.

To also cover the rapidly growing cruise industry, we launched in 2011 the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum as a response to the need for a platform to discuss the challenges, which the cruise and wider sea tourism industry are facing in the region, as well as providing destinations and service providers the opportunity to interact with the cruise sector. The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum focuses mainly on the cruise industry and examines the growth potential for all sectors of sea tourism and its significance as a key factor in the development of the economies of Greece, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions. The 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will be held in May 2015 in Athens.

What is the future of the show? Where do you see it progressing in another 5 years time? As Posidonia’s track

record has proven from the event’s inception until now, we believe that in the next 10 years the international shipping exhibition will have both an enlarged programme with new features added and will hopefully have grown in terms of exhibitors and visitors’ numbers, deals discussed and confirmed in the exhibition, and conferences and networking events taking place on the side during the Posidonia week. In addition, we would like to further diversify the sectors represented in the exhibition, as a rather new business sector which the Greek Shipping community is slowly engaging is the offshore support industry, which still has enormous growth potential.

Opening ceremony

With the Asia cruise market booming and many ports building and developing new harbours and terminals; are there plans to launch another Posidonia event in Asia or elsewhere in the world? As you correctly point out,

there is currently great investment in the cruise infrastructure of Far East destinations, which hope to attract more cruise business in the years to come. However, they still have a long way to go to reach the cruise passenger volumes of the Caribbean and Europe, who are still the number 1 and 2 destinations respectively. But at the moment there are already plenty of shipping and cruise events in the Far East, many of whom are organised by partners of ours, with whom we work closely together and also support their events. Therefore, we believe that it might not be the correct timing to launch a new event there.

Why it is important for Athens to host the Posidonia Exhibition? Beyond the obvious benefits to Greek shipping,

Posidonia is an event important for the local economy of Athens, which expects a windfall of some Euro 50 million to be

generated throughout the Posidonia week by exhibitor and visitor spending on hotels, restaurants, hospitality events, stand constructions, transportation of exhibits etc.

Moreover, such a high standard event taking place in Athens enhances the image and reputation of the country and the city as a destination for major international trade events, contributing to the future development of the M.I.C.E sector in the region.

There are a number of tournaments running during the Posidonia Week, namely a golf and sailing tournament. How do these benefit the show? The Posidonia Soccer

Tournament and the Posidonia Cup Yacht Race are two highly anticipated events that traditionally take place at the start of the Posidonia week. In 2012 the Posidonia sports agenda was enriched with the Posidonia Golf Tournament. The highlight of all 3 events is the additional networking opportunities they offer to participants, while at the same time enabling the international shipping community to bond and prepare for the busy Posidonia schedule. High profile receptions conclude and complete each of these events that gather members of the worldwide shipping community, including senior representatives of the Greek shipping community, in a more relaxed environment giving them the chance to reinforce old and create new friendships with shipping professionals from around the world.

From where are the majority of the visitors who attend Posidonia Exhibition? And which regions of the world would you like to see greater participation/attendance from? Posidonia 2012 attracted more than 18,500 visitors the

majority of which came from European countries and the Far East (China, Japan, Korea and Singapore). We are also very happy to announce that Posidonia 2014 will welcome a Hong Kong pavilion. For the next exhibition we would like to see an increase in participation from Brasil, Russia and India, who have increased their shipbuilding capacity but are not sufficiently included in the current investment programme of the Greek fleet, therefore we feel there is great potential for these countries to develop their relationship with the Greek shipping community and create partnerships for multiple mutual benefits. Their shipyards and maritime industry could provide extensive repair services to the Greek fleet, as it is frequently trading in their waters.●


M.I.C.E News

GDANSK AT EFEA EUROPE+ASIA EVENT Europe+Asia Event Forum

2013 (EFEA), the communication conference for event industry professionals from Russian regions and foreign countries is to take place on 22-24 January 2014 in St. Petersburg. Gdansk has been invited to participate as an expert in a session titled 'Creation of a regional and national convention bureau as a part of destination promotion'. During EFEA 2013 Gdansk had opportunity to share its knowledge and experience in using mobile apps and social media. The 3rd edition of the Forum was confirmed as a dedicated communication platform for events industry professionals from St. Petersburg, Russian regions and foreign countries offering networking, shared experience and innovations, while allowing for attracting investment and expanding business. EFEA 2013 saw over 300 experts from 27 world countries and 23 Russian regions. Leading congress and exhibition companies along with representatives of the world's leading event associations took part in Europe+Asia Event Forum 2013.

SYDNEY’S BUSINESS EVENT WINS

Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has secured the Pro-Health China Annual Conference 2014, worth an estimated UK£12, (EU€17) million in economic impact (EI) to New South Wales (NSW). This new deal follows several other Asian corporate business events secured recently estimated to be worth around UK£3, (EU€3.70)million. It also follows the successful Perfect China Leadership Seminar 2013, which was worth close to UK£21, (EU€14) million and welcomed more than 3,000 delegates to Sydney. Over the last 10 years, Sydney has developed strong relationships in Asia and as such the city is gaining more and more business. Sydney was the 1st Australian bureau to establish an in-market presence in Asia and now has representatives in Singapore, China and India (in partnership with Destination NSW). In addition they have Mandarin-speaking staff across key departments in their Sydney office. During the last financial year, BESydney secured 33 Asian corporate incentive events worth an estimated UK£31, (EU€37) million in economic impact. This represents over 50% of revenue secured by BESydney during 2012/13. In the 1st quarter of the new financial year, the bureau has already secured 6 Asian incentive events. There is no doubt that Asia continues to become an increasingly important market for Sydney.

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS COME TO JAPAN With the 2020 Olympics to be

held in Japan, big events are now heading to Japan in numbers. The ‘World Congress of Neurology’ will be held in ICC Kyoto in September 2017 with 7,000 attendees, 6,000 will attend the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre in September 2018 for the ‘World Water Congress & Exhibition’, while 4,500 attendees will be at the 22nd International Congress of Nutrition at the Tokyo International Forum, and the 8th World Bonsai Convention will bring 1,000 people to Omiya Sonic City/Palace Hotel Omiya in April 2017. These key global events highlight Japans growing M.I.C.E. market and destination. The Japan National Tourism Office and the Japan Tourism Agency continue to work together to promote Japan as a major international meeting destination.

PARIS FROM THE AIR Héli-Challenge is a specialist helicopter travel company

offering bespoke services and excursions. Based at the Paris heliport near to Porte de Sèvres, it offers 3 sightseeing trips for groups or as part of company seminars. Héli-Challenge also organises many themed flights lasting a whole day, combining gastronomy and culture with the pleasure of a flight: discovering a vineyard in Champagne, flying over Mont-Saint-Michel, the landing beaches or the chateaux of the Loire Valley. These air trips include visits to remarkable museums or estates, and stopovers at the best restaurants in the regions visited.

CHENGDU THE NEW M.I.C.E. CITY OF CHINA The city of Chengdu in southwest China

is the latest city in China to tap into the M.I.C.E. sector and in a big way; on average an event is taking place every 3 days! In 2012 the city hosted 456 major exhibitions and conferences, up from 320 in 2009, resulting in direct revenues of UK£503, (EU€607) million, and indirect income of UK£4.23, (EU€5.10) billion, together accounting for 5% of the city’s GDP in 2012. Chengdu is known as a place of significant natural resources and a vibrant history and has used this together with its rich history and tourism resources to raise its profile as an ideal M.I.C.E. destination. Chengdu is also price competitive with M.I.C.E. planners saving approx 20% compared to 1st tier cities like Shanghai or Beijing. It is also the capital of Sichuan province, China’s 4th largest city in terms of air traffic. With more business come more luxury hotels like Marriott International, Ritz Carlton and Sheraton all with a focus on M.I.C.E. business. 49 new 5* hotels will be added to Chengdu’s accommodation list 2015. Last year Chengdu won the ‘10 Best Brand Conference City in China in 2012’ award. Although not yet up to international standards, Chengdu is catching up fast with huge potential, opportunities and support from local government and private sector companies in the city.

SAUDI ARABIA ENHANCES THE EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION SECTOR Saudi

Arabia has formerly entered the M.I.C.E. sector with the recent formation of the Saudi Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB). This follows great investment and development of exhibitions and conventions within the country. The SECB has been set up to develop the M.I.C.E. sector in line with the country’s other economic, cultural and social sectors. The SECB will oversee the licensing and development of all aspects of the industry including events, venues and event organisers. The bureau has established objectives including the implementation of efficient and transparent licensing processes, the collection and analysis of sector statistics, the classification and enhancement of current and future event venues, the development of event organisers through training and certification programmes, the implementation of marketing strategies, and the enhancement of Saudiasation of the industry through the development of university programmes and awareness initiatives promoting the sector.●


LATIN AMERICA News

TOURISM CAN CREATE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA Sustainable

tourism is an ideal way to reduce poverty in Central America via the 3 dimensions of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental, which were highlighted in the UN resolution on "Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central America", which was recently agreed by the 193-member UN General Assembly. Sustainable tourism in Central America covers many sectors and therefore can generate trade opportunities. Tourism is a fundamental pillar of all involved. With this aim, the UN General Assembly invites States and other stakeholders, as well as the World Tourism Organisation, to continue to support the activities undertaken by the Central American countries for the promotion of responsible and sustainable tourism and extend the benefits of tourism to all sectors of society, in particular the most vulnerable and marginalised groups of the population. International tourism in Central America grew significantly in recent years with almost 9 million tourists in 2012, generating UK£4.90, (EU€5.90) billion in revenue, up from, respectively, 4.3 million arrivals and UK£1.85, (EU€2.20) billion in 2000. International tourism accounts for approx. 17% of all Central American exports.

SOUTH AMERICA ON TOP With

continued rapid growth in the South American travel market, it is now overtaking its bigger North American neighbour. This is particularly in relation to Brazil. Tourism growth in the North American travel market has seen limited growth in recent years. They still travel and on average for longer trips and average 6.9 overnight stays. This figure has increased by 5%. Stays of more than 4 nights grew by 9% while shorter trips dropped. Spending however increased by 3%. Beach holiday, city breaks and cruising remained the strongest types of travel, while business travel grew by 2%. The outlook for 2014 show travel growth but not like figures in South America, which continues to boom. For example, Brazilians are most keen to go on shopping tours. For the first 8 months of 2013 the number of international trips taken by South Americans rose by 6%. Overseas travel increased by 2% as well as a big increase in trips of less that 4 nights, which saw a massive 16% growth. Longer length trips increased by only 1%, but overall South Americans spent 2% more overnights abroad than in

The Equator monument, Ecuador.

2012. Holiday trips were the largest sector increasing by 9%. Also beach holidays and city breaks round saw greater demand increasing by 13%. The forecast for South American outbound tourism in 2014 is very positive with a huge 43% wishing to take more trips abroad. The South American tourism market is expected to grow by 6% in 2014. This year also sees Brazil host for FIFA World Cup, which will help boost tourism to the host nation and the surrounding region. Approx. 600,000 international visitors are expected to attend the event, with many coming from other South American countries as well as from North America and Europe.

CARIBBEAN REGION, A SINGLE DESTINATION The Caribbean Tourism

Organisation (CTO) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a call for the region to be promoted as a single destination. It is hoped that the Caribbean countries would each commit a percentage of their annual tourism budgets towards the marketing of a strong Caribbean brand. With major opportunities in both traditional and emerging markets, it is vital the right strategy is taken. Some destinations have already begun to invest in language training and long haul airlift in preparation for new visitors in 2014. Another issue to be addressed with the British is the Air Passenger Duty which is not helping support tourism to the islands. As part of the CTO 25 years of existence it is hoped that the region can collectively utilise efforts to boost travel to and within the region.

AUSTRALIAN CRUISE OPERATORS TO DEVELOP PUERTO WILLIAMS IN CHILE

Australian travel agents offering cruise holidays have been to analyse the facilities, services and infrastructure of Puerto Williams in the very south of Chile, with a view to starting cruise calls on a regular basis. Puerto Williams in located on Navarino island across from Ushuaia in Argentina. Puerto Williams has been out of the cruise scene for a while, but is now open for business and is a strategic port for traffic between the Pacific and the Atlantic. It is not only the Australian who are interested in Puerto Williams, the International Association of Antarctica Tourism Operators have expressed an interest in the development of Puerto Williams as an alternative for Ushuaia. It is clear that Puerto Williams has great potential and opportunities both for local tourism operators and the region.

BRAZIL INCREASES TAXES TO CONTAIN OUTGOING TOURISM The Brazilian

government is to raise a tax on operations with debit cards and travellers cheques made abroad, that will increase the country's tax intake by UK£143.25, (EU€172.45) million per year. The financial operation tax, known as IOF, will rise to 6.38% from 0.38% on the said payment options. The increased spending by Brazilians travelling abroad helped widen the country's current account deficit. The higher taxes will also be charged on the purchase of foreign currency abroad and operations involving pre-paid cards outside Brazil. The aim is to stop consumers using one payment method over others because of tax benefits as payment with a debit card or traveller cheque held a low tax rate.

URUGUAY TOURISM PROMOTING POSITIVELY Uruguay estimates tourist arrivals

the 2013 will have reached 2.83 million. Although this is 40,000 less than in 2012, it is still encouraging. Uruguay has undertaken some heavy tourism promotion in Argentina where most tourists come from. Tourism is one of the country’s main industries representing nearly 6% of GDP and employing 8% of its labour force. The nations cruise season is expected to attract some 240 calls between Montevideo and Punta del Este until the end of April. In the 2012/13 cruise season, 223 cruise calls were recorded; 122 in Montevideo and 101 in Punta del Este with 412,000 visitors, which represented an estimated UK£11.60, (EU€14) million to the economy and this is without the income made from supplying the cruise ships once docked with supplies. This current season will also see larger ships dock and therefore more visitors.● 19 www.tour ismaroundtheworld.co.uk

ASIA News

LAOS CAPITAL, VIENTIANE NOT JUST A STOPOVER Like many capital cities,

they can be mistaken as just a stopover before an onward travel, which is always a pity as most cities have a huge amount to offer all visitors even those with little time to spend. This is very true of the Laos capital, Vientiane. This rapidly developing city has much to offer still with an authentic charm. There are many ancient temples to see and the city has a rich history and many cultural sites home of many of the nation’s most important monuments and Buddhist icons. The temple of Vat Sisaket is the only one remaining intact after the destruction of Vientiane in 1827-1828. It dates back to 1551 and the main building is home to over 6,840 Buddha images. Located on the edge of the Mekong River, (28km south of the city in Hadxaifong district) lays the Buddha Park, displaying a large number of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures all around the gardens. For a great shopping experience, the Talat Sao Mall has a wide variety of Lao textiles and silk products. When its time to eat, there is no end to the choice with many local dishes as well as Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Western food on offer. Getting around the city is also easy and fun on a tuk-tuk, or by taxi, a bicycle or a motorbike. Don’t just stopover in Vientiane, experience it next time you go there!

PHILIPPINES TOURISM POTENTIAL The 7,107 island archipelago that makes up

the Philippines has seen a big increase in tourism numbers and considerable investment in its infrastructure as part of a plan to increase tourism to the paradise islands. With such increased demand following successful marketing of the destination, an additional 37,000 new hotel rooms are needed by 2016 in key destinations of the archipelago. Set in the Luzon Strait and the South China, Celebes, Sulu and Philippine Seas, the tropical archipelago of the Philippines has much to offer tourists such as the beautiful beaches of Boracay or the Banaue Rice terraces which is a World Heritage site to superb diving in Palawan, the country has a wide variety of cultural, and active options. Tourists to the islands have mainly come from Europe and the US, but South Korea and Japan are its top tourist source market, but new neighbouring countries with expanding economies and growing middle classes are expected to discover the Philippines as a local regional destination. In 2012, the Philippines welcomed 4.3 million visitors the 1st time it’s has ever gone past the 4million mark. Figures confirm that travel and tourism contributed over UK£2.73, (EU€3.30) million to the country’s GDP in 2011, and rose 14% in 2012 to UK£3.11, (EU€3.75) billion. During the first 2 months of 2013 a

record 854,187 tourists visited the country. In 2014 their tourism target is set at 5.5million and to reach 10 million by 2016. In order to achieve this efforts to make entry into the country easier are being put in place as well as making sure as much of the country is accessible to tourists. In addition to international arrivals, a target of 56.1 million domestic tourists is the aim by 2016. This means approx 37,000 more hotels rooms are required. For investment, the county is open for greater foreign investment, easier property rights and among other benefits. Being an archipelago, transportation and accessibility is essential to meeting these goals and greater investment is needed in a reliable transportation network. Already tourism roads, bridges and highways are under construction. These huge efforts have already led the Philippines to be recognised as the ‘most improved’ nation in the Asia-Pacific region for 2013. It is also ranked for its competitiveness as 16th in the region and 82nd globally. All this combined with a dynamic global marketing campaign are reaping great rewards for the Philippines.

MYANMAR-CAMBODIA: VISA EXEMPTION AGREEMENT The governments of

Myanmar and Cambodia have signed visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders. The agreement is expected to boost tourism between Myanmar and Cambodia and prevent citizens of both nations having to go through visa red tape.


CHINA DOMINATES THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND OF DOMINICA The Dominican

Republic and China have signed a UK£183, (EU€220) million cooperation that will see the construction of a hotel, an international airport and a new hospital. The agreement sum is equivalent to a 3

rd of the small

Caribbean island’s GDP, which gives China a big stake in the island. The hotel will be located in Roseau, and will cost UK£43, (EU€51) million. In 2004 both countries established diplomatic relations and since then cooperation has been growing. The new hotel will compliment the islands tourism product and allow it to be more competitive. Dominica's GDP in 2012 was UK£620, (EU€748) million and had a total population in 2011 of 71,500 inhabitants.

global e-news for tourism, travel, m.i.c.e, exhibitions and aviation

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY is a global e-journal for the travel and tourism, M.I.C.E, exhibitions and aviation industries. It provides accurate, detailed, information and is produced in English. Started in 1997 it has an ever-growing circulation. It is also the official global media support for several key exhibitions within the industry.

www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

ASIA AT THE FOREFRONT OF TOURISM

The well respected and informative, ITB World Travel Trends Report has confirmed Asia’s key role in global tourism with China the runaway leader in a booming market. Once again Asia saw impressive growth. The Chinese were particularly frequent travellers while Japan was slightly behind its usual top form. The Chinese are also confirmed as the world’s No.1 for travel expenditure and also ranks 2nd for total trips made and 4th for overnight stays. From Jan-Aug 2013 Asia recorded an increase in international departures of 8%. With 26% of that being from Chinese travellers. 2014 predictions show signs of China increasing to 18% with Japan remaining stable with its international travel figures. Overall, the Asian markets as a source for tourists are expected to grow by approx. 9% in 2014. In 2012 Chinese citizens took 45 million trips abroad and spent approximately UK£51.50, (EU€62) billion, making the Chinese market double the size of the Japanese market. Other Asian markets like South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, India and Indonesia followed on from China in the rankings for total international trips.●

Tatw monthly 1 January 2014 edition

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Transcript of Tatw monthly 1 January 2014 edition