global e-news for travel, tourism, meetings and incentives, exhibitions & aviation. Founded in 1997

January 2013

● PANAMA CITY: MORE THAN THE CANAL.

● 2012: MORE THAN 1 BILLION TOURISTS. .

● ECUADOR’S GROWING MEDICAL TOURISM .

● WORLD’s LONGEST FLIGHT… .

● LAOS ENTERS TOURISM MAP WITH STRONG GROWTH.

● BEIJING INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO (BITE). ● ABU DHABI…by Pamela McCourt Francescone.

● ANCIENT ISLANDS OF THE WORLD.

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Letter from the Editor

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to the EXCITING, NEW and IMPROVED January edition of TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

May the new year bring happiness, good health and prosperity and lots of travel, tourism, meetings and exhibitions in order to progress, improve and protect the world’s largest industry; tourism.

We are delighted to introduce you to the new layout of TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY

which offers new advertising and banner opportunities. We can also announce that from the February 2013 edition you will be able to view the e-journal in a ‘magazine’ format.

This will offer you a better visual and reading experience and most of all you will continue to enjoy all the news on travel, tourism, m.i.c.e, airlines and aviation, exhibitions, features, reviews and events in each monthly edition.

This new format, will bring alive the e-journal like never before after 16 years of being in the media market and offers advertisers a much more sophisticated promotional platform and presentation.

With just 35 copies 16 years ago, the e-journal is today distributed to over 23,450 travel trade professionals from across the world in all tourism industry sectors.

We hope you enjoy reading the e-journal in its new layout and of course we welcome your comments and suggestions.

Good Luck throughout 2013! Caroline-Artemis Laspas editor & co-founder

Balboa Avenue, Panama Ci ty

PANAMA CITY More than the canal

by Dimitri Laspas, Publisher

Think of Panama and you immediately think of the infamous Panama Canal. But, Panama in Latin America has much more to offer for both business potential and leisure tourism. The capital city has always thrived on business and trade due to its geographically position and today much of its population lives in the urban

region between Panama City and Colon. Panama was a key shipping point between Latin America and colonial Spain from the 16th-19th centuries. This can be seen today with the city’s mixture of culture, architecture and language influences. Indeed, Panama City is a wonderful combination of contrasts; East and West, ancient and modern, wealth and poverty.

Panama is a small country, yet it is still one of the world’s major sea routes and has been for over 100 years due to the Canal. Situated at one of the narrowest points between north and south America, the country is neighboured by Costa Rica and Colombia. The first European city on the Pacific coast of the Americas was Panamá Viejo. Today Panama Viejo is home to one of Panama's national parks with many un-restored buildings. The historic part of present day Panama City is Casco Viejo and is home to many colonial buildings, cathedrals and museums including the Canal Museum and is presently being renovated to its formal glory. For great eating options, Casco Viejo has a wide variety of options.

While visiting Panama City a must visit place is the Amador Causeway that connects three nearby islands to the mainland. Here great views of the city skyscrapers can be enjoyed while sitting at one of the many restaurants or cafes on the islands. You can also take day trips from the causeway to neighbouring islands.

Panama also has other tranquil islands off its coast which offer another view of this amazing country. These include Isla Taboga, the ‘Island of Flowers’. Panama City is also a good base for day-trips to the canal and the Caribbean coast as far as Portobelo. The business hub of the city is set in a beautiful bay with a great infrastructure, a non-stop nightlife, great restaurant variety, residential neighbourhoods and the only rainforest in the world set inside the city limits, in the Metropolitan Park.

The World famous Panama Canal connects a 50 miles long divide between Panama City on the Pacific Ocean with Colón on the Atlantic Ocean. Before the canal was built, the shortest way from the USA East to West coast was to sail all the way down to Cape Horn, the most southerly point of the South American continent and then all the way back up to the USA eastern coast. With the opening of the canal this route was shortened by approximately 12,000 miles. Vessels travelling through the canal go through 3 locks which operate by gravity only. Building started on the canal in 1881. However, due to the difficult terrain in the hilly jungle, building stopped in 1889 with only a sixth completed. The project was then sold to the USA in 1902. As a result of the sale to the US, Panama declared its independence from Colombia in 1903. With the signing of a treaty Panama granted the USA the occupation and use of a 10 mile wide and 50 mile long strip across the Isthmus - the ‘Canal Zone’. In 1906 construction of the Canal resumed and finally in 1914 the first ship travelled through the Canal. With such huge success the canal is presently being expanded in order to accommodate today’s modern super tankers. Any trip to Panama must include a trip to the canal and a crossing on the Puente De Las Américas, the Bridge over the Canal. Another wonderful trip is on the scenic 50 mile long Panama Canal Trans-Isthmus Railway, which connects the two coastlines and oceans and ends it journey in Colon. Here you get unique views of the canal as well as the rainforest.

Overlooking Panama City and the mouth of the Canal is Ancon Hill, which offers spectacular views of the entire city of Panama old and new as well as the Canal. From the bottom of the hill a long stairway leads up to the top. 2 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Tower Bank, Panama Ci ty.

Casco Viejo , Panama Ci ty.

The walk up to the summit is through a rainforest with birds and animals - an amazing experience and well worth the effort! Before ascending the hill, you should visit the 3 miniature villages built to reflect Panama's 3 cultures: the Spanish, the West Indian and the native Indian.

The Panamanian people love a party - a fact reflected in a wide variety of nightlife spots-bars, discos, pubs and casinos. Good places to go include the El Pavo Real, a favourite, British style pub with good food. Steinbock is a German pub with the best selection of German and European beers in town. Relic is interesting as it is built inside a stone cellar with historic city walls that date back hundreds of years. Habana Panama is a large dance club with live music that brings Cuba from the 1950's to Panama. ‘Miraflores Restaurant at the Panama Canal’ is one of Panama's top dining experiences. The terrace and dining room offers views of the Panama Canal Miraflores Locks. Beirut Restaurant; is a must while in Panama. Here you can enjoy the best Lebanese food, personally overseen by renowned Chef Bilal, who is responsible for giving each dish a special touch. With Belly dancing and live music at weekends, there are in addition a special food menu ‘Hindustani’, prepared with exotic spices that will delight your palate. The Beirut is cozy with excellent service, while being beautifully decorated with comfortable rooms for private meetings.

Beirut Restaurant, Panama Ci ty.

Panama also has some famous drinks to try including its own beer and rum, which are usually served chilled. The Panamanian national liquor is ‘Seco’(dry), made from fermented sugar cane. Traditionally it is served with milk (Seco con Vaca), but it can also be found mixed with Coca Cola or straight.

As far as a modern destination goes, Panama City is matching Miami as the place to meet across the Americas. As a result, the city has become a new modern business meeting and convention destination which is central to all and offers direct flights to over 85 destinations in the region. It has also become a well known and reputed shopping hub for Latin Americans with 4 shopping centres. Indeed Americans enjoy the duty free shopping at Tocumen International Airport and in the Colon Free Zone.

Panama offers many accommodation options. One of the best boutique hotels in the capital is the De Ville Boutique Hotel, centrally located close to the business district, shopping malls, sea front, casino, and several habanos cigars shops! With spacious, elegantly appointed guestrooms all 33 rooms are suites, with separate sitting and working areas, some with dining areas or even separate dining rooms, all with modern amenities and elegant marble baths and antique furniture make for a luxurious stay with a personal service. The hotel offers a 24-hour business centre, small meeting rooms, wi-fi in public areas, a Mediterranean Restaurant parking and valet as well as a limousine service.

Panama is a destination full of surprises, authenticity and uniqueness. Whether for leisure or business, it meets all your criteria and more and is a key hub and base for business and travel across to and from North and South America. ■

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TOURISM NEWS

2012, MORE THAN 1 BILLION TOURISTS: A WORLD RECORD

A record number of tourism, (either for leisure or business) has seen more than 1 billion people travel as a tourist in 2012, despite the financial situation in the last decade. The reason for this is the increase in prosperity in countries such as China, India and Brazil. While the United States and France remain the 2 largest destinations for world travel, there is growth in new destinations like the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Ivory Coast, each taking their share of the tourist market. The top 25 destinations in the world are Paris, London, Berlin, Athens, New York, Montreal, Rio De Janeiro, Quito, Havana, Melbourne, Ho Chi Min City, Chendgu, Guilin, Yangon, Bhutan, Singapore, Beirut, Dubai, Muscat, Tehran, Tangier, Tanzania, Kigali, Madagascar and Saint Helena island.

The Ci ty of London, UK.

Tourism is not a new industry! It dates back to ancient Babylon, but in more modern times it started in the UK in Victorian times and then saw a huge boom after World War II. Asia is presently seeing the largest source of outbound tourists with China seeing 58 million tourists in 2010 increasing to 72 million in 2012. In addition, the facilities in the industry are continually improving with a variety of value for money services from accommodation to transport. Travelling and Tourism have became an essential part of our daily lives.

Frank furt am Main , Germany.

2012 RECORD BREAKING YEAR FOR MESSE FRANKFURT

German trade fair organiser Messe Frankfurt has surpassed the Euro€500 (UK£407) million sales mark ‘by a substantial margin’, for its summary of 2012 business. Sales of around Euro€538 (UK£438) million, the highest ever have been achieved and represent an increase of 15% on 2011 figures. These record figures are for sales in both Germany and abroad. With Euro€169 (UK£138) million achieved for business outside of Germany this is a 28% increase from 2011, which was a record year! For 2012, Messe Frankfurt generated an estimated 31% of its Group sales abroad. Messe Frankfurt hosted 109 trade fairs and exhibitions and handled some 77,300 exhibitors and more than 2.9 million visitors. In 2012, the company focused on Frankfurt and key world markets. In Frankfurt, international exhibitors increased to a new record level of 73%, while the all-time high of 47% achieved in 2010 was matched again in visitor numbers. A total of 35 trade fairs and exhibitions were held in Frankfurt, attracting more than 41,800 exhibitors and around 1.6 million visitors. The number of visitors is lower than in the previous year because the IAA International Motor Show, which is held at Messe Frankfurt every 2 years, was not scheduled to take place in 2012. International business was a major growth area in 2012, with some 33,000 exhibitors and more than 1.2 million visitors. The 68 foreign events that were held included 12 first time trade fairs, in Russia, China and India. In 2013, Messe Frankfurt intends to continue to invest in its Frankfurt base, as well as in the digital business.

NEW YORK CITY BREAKS RECORD WITH 52 MILLION VISITORS

New York City welcomed a record 52 million visitors in 2012, a new all-time high and a 2.1% increase over 2011. Visitors to the city generated an estimated Euro€43, (UK£35) billion to the city’s economy, with direct spending reaching Euro€28, (UK£23) billion. New York City continues to be the premier United States travel destination, with an overseas market share at a record high of 33%. In 2012, New York City welcomed an estimated 41 million domestic visitors and 11 million international visitors. In addition, New York City sold a record 29 million hotel room nights and generated a record Euro€385, (UK£314) million in hotel tax revenue, and the overall hospitality industry across all 5 boroughs now employs 356,000 New Yorkers. Tourism growth has come from emerging markets such as Brazil, China, Argentina and Australia, which have grown 447%, 442%, 258%, 157%, respectively, since 2006. With the continued increase in visitors, New York City’s hotel room capacity continues to expand - with 91,500 rooms. Even with the addition of new rooms, the city’s hotel occupancy remains strong at 87%, the highest in the nation.

TAXI! TAXI!

Wherever you are in the world, hailing a taxi to get you to your destination can be an experience in itself, but that is about to change! A new taxi service enables you to choose your taxi driver based on your specific needs rather than potentially having to rely on a random, unreliable or unhelpful driver. Instead of waving down a taxi you can now get a trusted taxi driver, rated by other ‘Taxibeat’ users. By using the

Taxibeat app, you can choose the nearest cab, the best vehicle or the most recommended driver. You can even check what languages they speak. To get a taxi you need just two taps; one for the

map and the other for the driver you want, and this is even if you are in a rush. Taxibeat drivers know the only way to receive a 5* rating is to offer that extra service; being courteous, waiting for customers to safely enter their homes, offering on-board amenities like WiFi, TV, magazines. This feedback enables drivers to further improve the quality of their service; a 5* rating increases their chance of getting picked again from other Taxibeat passengers. This service costs no more than any normal taxi service. Taxibeat was founded in Greece in 2010, and is available in Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece), Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (Brazil), Oslo (Norway), Paris (France) and Bucharest (Romania). https://taxibeat.com/ 5 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

TOURISM NEWS

2013 LOOKS PROMISING FOR GREEK TOURISM

Tourism is a strong industry for the Greek economy and the prospects for 2013 look optimistic according to Tourism Minister Ms. Olga Kefalogianni.

Ms. Olga Kefalogianni .

Already there have been good reservations for the future and with the help of the VAT cuts in 2013 will make packages more competitive. As part of the aim to restore the country’s economy, the Ministry plans to improve the image of the capital city, Athens, and put it back on the tourist map following protests over previous months.

The development of the tourism industry will include the enhancement of quality through culture, tourism awareness, as well as upgrading the training of those working in the field. The Ministry is targeting both its traditional markets like German and the UK as well as opening new markets like China, Russia and Ukraine, due to each markets rapid increase in per capita income. Other areas to focus on are that of Medial and religious tourism which will extend the tourist season.

Overall the Greek government aims to make investment in tourism more favourable for all, including foreign Greek investors, while maintaining the highest quality, promoting environmentally friendly tourism and encompassing the local communities in all aspects of tourism.

Athina, the goddess, Parl iament bui ld ing, Vienna, Austr ia

CUBA EXPECTS INCREASED FOREIGN VISITORS IN 2013

The Cuban Ministry of Tourism predicts that the number of foreign tourists visiting Cuba is expected to reach nearly 2.9 million by the end of 2012 and 3 million in 2013. Figures to from January to mid-December 2012 saw the island receive 2.85 million foreign tourists, up 4.9% from 2011. Canada remains the main source of tourists worldwide while Britain is the leading European tourist source market. The Cuban tourism industry has had difficulties in 2012 with the ongoing financial crisis, and the cruise suspension from Europe and the US economic blockade. The US-led blockade against Cuba imposed in 1961 has shown no signs of ending, though the US government last year eased restrictions on travel, remittances and charter flights to Cuba. Even with these issues, foreign tourist arrivals have risen. Cuba is capable of receiving over 3 million tourists. The country has over 300 state hotels with 60,000 rooms while there are more than 1,700 private restaurants, over 4,280 rooms for tourists and more than 700 houses for rent. Tourism is the 2nd largest source of revenue in Cuba and its development is key to the country’s future.

PALAIS COBURG - VIENNA, A SPLENDID HOTEL!

This splendid palace is one of Vienna’s truly unique venues. It was built in 1840 by Duke Ferdinand Georg August of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha on the Braunbastei, the ‘Brown Bastion’, in Vienna’s city centre. The Palais Coburg has 6 centuries of precious architecture underneath it; the casemates of the former bastion, a labyrinth of cellars and halls, and remains of the city walls, all of which have been carefully opened up and preserved following a comprehensive restoration and revitalisation project which was started in 2000, resulting in the Palais becoming a place of culinary and cultural pleasures and of creativity and science. The Palais Coburg Hotel Residenz features 35 highly individual suites for sophisticated guests, from the elegant Imperial and Palais Suites to the City Suites and the extravagant Loft and Penthouse Suites. The Palais Coburg Hotel Residenz offers every amenity that a guest would expect in a luxury class hotel. The exclusive SPA above the roofs of Vienna offers a great view of the city park and the Ring Boulevard. Hotel guests will find an oasis of relaxation featuring a pool with counter-current system, steam bath, Jacuzzi, sauna, sun terrace and all the facilities for fitness, massage, beauty treatments and regeneration.

One of the most important tasks in revitalising Palais Coburg was to preserve and make use of the historically significant Renaissance fortifications from the 16th century. They have been made visible due to the Wine Archive; 6 wine cellars, in various parts of the historic structural fabric, each of them with a special character and use in providing an ideal climate for storing and maturing great, rare wines.

From confidential fireside chats and gala dinners to concerts and assemblies for several hundred guests - the Palais Coburg has the suitable locations and spaces for staging various stylish and memorable events. The authentically restored ceremonial rooms are among the most magnificent event venues in the entire country. And the casemates of the bastion are available for delightful cultural or culinary events.

NEW HOTEL OPENS IN HAITI As part of the Caribbean countries post earthquake progress, the opening of the upscale Royal Oasis Hotel is a positive one, despite the continued reconstruction of the island for many still homeless citizens. The elite Oasis hotel in Petionville, a business and social hub in the hills south of Port-au-Prince, is part of the Occidental hotel chain and is the first in a string of international brand-name hotels opening in the coming months. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake 3 years ago. The return of major hospitality brands sends a strong message to the world that says the country is open to international partnerships and plans to become a strong international destination. ■ 6 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY

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The Equator Line, Ecuador

ECUADOR’S GROWING MEDICAL

TOURISM By Dimitri Laspas - Publisher

Ecuador in South America has much to offer tourists and business travellers alike. From exploring the Amazon Jungle to the Incan Ruins and the Andes Mountains; to relaxing on pristine beaches or discovering spectacular tropical islands that are the Galapagos. But Ecuador has even more on offer; the country has a wide variety of healthcare providers offering exceptionally high

medical standards for all kinds of medical tourists. Ecuador boasts some of the finest hospitals and best surgeons in Latin America at a fraction of the cost of many other destinations making it one of the best Medical Tourism Destinations!

The Medical Tourism Market in Ecuador is growing steadily with prices still substantially lower than those in other more well known medical tourism destinations. Opting for medical care in Ecuador allows you to combine your treatment with the holiday of a lifetime. It is therefore no surprise that more and more people are choosing Ecuador for their medical tourism trip.

Ecuador has both a private and public health sectors. Its public health system has seen huge investment from the government with the result of higher quality medical facilities and services. Ecudor’s larger cities all have well equipped medical facilities in areas of medicine with good services even in smaller towns.

There are also Community Health Centres and many well established private hospitals and clinics. At present, the capital, Quito and Guayaquil are the most well known destinations for medical tourism. Plastic surgery, orthopaedics, weight loss surgery and dental procedures are among the most popular procedures. Health care costs are around 10-15% less than those in the USA and the United Kingdom.

The president ial Palace, Qui to, Ecuador

Due to the increasing expatriate population and the general demand for high quality health care services, many new private hospitals have been built to high international standards. Many have state-of-the-art facilities with hospitals being ISO certified resulting in patients receiving the best healthcare available. The country offers all levels of medical staff and in all medical deparments, many trained in the USA or Europe and who speak more than one language.

Ecuador is a growing tourism destination in South America and is now focusing in niche sectors like medical tourism where it can be rightly as competitive as any other global destination. ■

global e-news for travel, tourism, meetings and incentives, exhibitions & aviation

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AVIATION NEWS

MEA CONFIRMS ORDER OF 10 A320NEO FROM AIRBUS

Airbus and the Lebanese national carrier, Middle East Airlines have agreed a contract for the purchase of 10 Airbus A320neo aircraft. The contract with MEA focuses on five A320neo and five A321neo and includes an option for 8 additional aircraft. The choice of ordering the Airbus Neo is an ideal choice for Middle East Airlines as they save fuel, while being highly reliable and offers comfortable cabins. With four A330-200s, four A321s and nine A320s, MEA has one of the most modern fleets in the region. The new A320neo aircraft are used for medium-haul flights with a more efficient engine that will reduce up to 15% fuel consumption. The A320 is Airbus’s best craft with nearly 8,900 aircraft ordered and more than 5,300 delivered to more than 380 customers worldwide to date. Despite Middle East Airlines seeing a decline in its operating profits of around 60% (from Euro€75, (UK£62) million in 2010 to Euro€30, (UK£25) million in 2011), the number of passengers exceeded 2 million in late 2012.

UNITED TO FLY BOEING 787 TO TOKYO

United Airlines' has started its scheduled international flight on a Boeing 787 from Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita. This will offer comfort and a superior flying experience on the new Boeing Dreamliner aircraft. The airline has delayed the launch of its 787 international services between Houston Intercontinental and Lagos, London Heathrow and Amsterdam as it works with Boeing to improve the reliability of the aircraft. The 787 replaces a Boeing 777-200 on United's flights between Los Angeles and Tokyo Narita. United competes with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Malaysia Airlines between Los Angeles and Tokyo Narita. Its Star Alliance partners All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Singapore Airlines also offer flights on the route. The carrier expects to receive two 787s in 2013 in addition to the 6 it received from Boeing during the second half of 2012.

WORLD’s LONGEST FLIGHT… BY QANTAS

Qantas is set to become the world's longest flight carrier for its 13,800km (8,500 miles) route between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth. This comes after Singapore Airlines' have stopped its direct services from Singapore to New York and Los Angeles. Those flights, which were 15,350km and 14,100km respectively, will stop this year as part of a big fleet overhaul. The upgrade includes ordering five more Airbus A380 and an additional 20 next-gen Airbus A350s due from 2017, on top of an initial order for 20 A350s to start in 2015.

NEW FLIGHT FROM LONDON TO CHENGDU

British Airways is to fly a new route to Chengdu in China, following the launch of its services to Seoul in South Korea. British Airways will be the only UK carrier to offer a direct service between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and London Heathrow. The 3 flights a week will start in September 2013. The route will be served by a 4-cabin Boeing 777 with First, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy). With economic growth in China continuing to grow more than most other countries, connecting to Chengdu which is not only the capital of Sichuan Province in the south west of China but one of the country’s largest cities makes sense especially as since 1990, Chengdu’s economy has expanded rapidly, consistently delivering double -digit rates of growth.

TANZANIA TOURISM & ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES JOIN FORCES

The Tanzania Tourist Board and Ethiopian Airlines have signed a 2-year Memorandum of Understanding to promote Tanzania tourism worldwide. The deal aims to increase the number of visitors to both Tanzania and Ethiopia, increase the presence of Tanzania tourism in key international markets, as well as enhance the business profile of Ethiopian Airlines. Ethiopian Airlines already provides extensive connections to Tanzania’s 3 major gateways (Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar) and the new joint promotion agreement will expand the already strong partnership especially in the North American market. Tanzania Tourist Board will promote tourist traffic to Tanzania via Ethiopian Airlines including promoting Ethiopian on the tourist board’s website, allowing Ethiopian to be part of the Tanzania stand in trade and consumer fairs as well as organise joint road show promotions. Other areas of cooperation will be on Tanzania and Ethiopia as twin destinations; and further support Ethiopian in developing programs and packages to Tanzania through its in-house tour operators.

NEW AEROMEXICO ROUTE INTO HEATHROW

Aeromexico has launched its first flight between Heathrow and Mexico City, one of the 8 largest emerging markets in the world. Aeromexico is a founding member of SkyTeam, will offer 3 flights a week from Terminal 4, along with 12 other members of the Alliance. Aeromexico’s airlines operate over 600 daily flights to 45 cities in Mexico, as well as cities in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, as well as Europe and Asia. With economic growth moving towards emerging markets it is vital that the UK connects itself with new places to invest and conduct business. Mexico is Latin America’s 2nd largest economy, with Britain supplying less than 1% of its imports. The new flight connections will help Britain meet its aim to double bilateral trade with Mexico to Euro€3.1, (UK£2.6) billion by 2015.

LAN NEW ROUTE TO LOS ANGELES

LAN Airlines has started an international service on the 787 Dreamliner to Los Angeles International Airport. The nonstop route from L.A. to Santiago, Chile will be followed by daily flights to Lima, Peru, in February. The South American airline already has 3 Dreamliners following an investment of Euro€3.7 (UK£3) billion in the aircraft. 9 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

AVIATION NEWS

NEW EUROPEAN UNION AVIATION POLICY AGREED

EU transport ministers have agreed the basics for an EU external aviation policy. Key is the building for stronger coordination, unity and solidarity at EU level and for a more robust EU external aviation policy in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the European aviation industry while supporting the interests of European consumers. Global aviation is changing rapidly and Europe is losing out especially with the economic crisis still continuing. The actions proposed include opening negotiations with key partners to access new business opportunities in fast growing markets, developing new tools to fight unfair competition and creating the right regulatory conditions to stimulate investment. Aviation is a crucial and strategic industry in the European economy both in terms of jobs, growth and connectivity.

OMAN AIR TO RECRUIT OMANI PILOTS

Oman Air has said it wishes to recruit Omani pilots on the airline's cadet pilot training programme. This is in addition to the airlines pro-active policy of recruiting Omani citizens for any positions within its operations, which helps build a steady skills base for the country. This policy has already seen many more Omanis in all levels of management positions. Many applications to join the pilot scheme have been received by Omanis and foreigners.

AIR FRANCE-ECONOMY FARES

Air France has launched its new economy fare offer, available to 58 destinations on the short and medium-haul network. For travel from 6

th February 2013, customers will

have the choice between the all-inclusive Classic product and the new ‘MiNi product’, a simplified fare which does not earn Flying Blue miles and is aimed at customers travelling without checked baggage. Fares start at €49 including tax. Air France wishes to attract new customers as well as adapting to changing customers patterns. The fares are available all year round and give Air France a good competitive edge, while not compromising on services. The New Economy Offer also allows customers to create the offer that suits them best, on a case by case basis. Air France continues to implement its ‘Transform 2015’ plan, which aims to put the customer at the heart of its development strategy.

BERLIN AIRPORT DELAYED AGAIN

The new airport which is jointly owned by Berlin, Brandenburg and the federal government was originally planned to open in 2008. With 20 years of planning, construction began in 2006, with an open date in 2011. Delays meant this was changed to June 2012, then to March 2013, then to October 2013 and now to sometime after 2014. The delays are mainly caused by problems with the fire-safety system. Tegel airport, one of 3 in the German capital that Willy Brandt International is meant to replace - was built in just 90 days during the Cold War.

EMIRATES SERVES LONDON WITH ALL A380 PLANES

Emirates have upgraded its 5 daily flights to London Heathrow with al l A380s, which is in addition to its daily Manchester A380 service. This means the world’s largest A380 carrier will be sending 360 flights to and from the UK each month, making Britain Emirates’ biggest market for A380s. Emirates have grown its A380 fleet since its first flight in December 2008.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIMS FOR 66M PASSENGERS IN 2013

Dubai International operator Dubai Airports sees the hub will quickly growing to 66 million passengers in 2013, compared to its forecast of 56.5 million. Passenger numbers reached over 4.87 million in November 2012, a 10% increase compared with the same month a year earlier. Concourse A is part of the Terminal 3 complex which will increase Dubai International's annual passenger capacity from 60 million to 75 million. Dubai International handled 200,060 tons of cargo in November an increase of 4.4% compared with November 2011.

KUWAIT AIRWAYS TO BE PRIVATISED

The state owned national carrier Kuwait Airways is to be privatised in a plan that could take 3 years. The struggling airline faces several challenges including high labour costs, an aging fleet and strong regional competition from carriers like Qatar Airways and Emirates. The announcement comes 4 years after plans to restructure the airline. Kuwait relies almost solely on oil exports but wishes to reduce it dependency on oil revenue by building up the private sector.

NEW AIRCRAFT FOR GERMANWINGS

Germanwings has taken delivery of its 1st new Airbus A319. The low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa is due to takeover large parts of its parent company's European network. From 1 July, Germanwings will start operating all of Lufthansa's European flights outside its main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. In addition to its existing 32 A319s, Germanwings will acquire 29 A319s and A320s from Lufthansa's mainline fleet and manage the operation of 23 Bombardier CRJ 900s of regional group carrier Eurowings. All Airbus aircraft are to be gradually re-configured to the low-cost carrier's cabin layout and repainted over a two-year transition period. QANTAS-EMIRATES ALLIANCE: THE EFFECT ON UK TRAVEL.

Following the new alliance between Qantas and Emirates, travelling to and from Australia to the UK and Europe will be even better as it dramatically increases the number of flight options, particularly to the UK where London airport options is available. With Qantas adopting Dubai as its new hub for all flights to Europe, it will retain its daily flights from London with its A380, with a stopover in Dubai rather than Singapore. Singapore will now become a destination rather than a stop-over. There will also be more flights available to Australia via Dubai.

NEW ROUTE FROM ASIANA AIRLINES TO SEOUL AND YANGON

South Korea's Asiana Airlines has launched a new route between Seoul, South Korea, and Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. Asiana Airlines operates 2 flights per week from Incheon Airport to Yangon, bringing Asiana's international destination routes to 67.

DELTA AIRLINES EXPANDS CARIBBEAN ROUTES

Delta Air Lines will offer new and expanded services to 5 popular destinations in the Caribbean and Bermuda from John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, due to increased demand between New York and the Caribbean. ■ 10 www.tourismaroundthewor ld.co.uk

11 www.tour ismaroundtheworld.co.uk

ASIA NEWS

and the Pacific

VIETNAM TOURISM SECTOR WELCOMES NEW YEAR

With the New Year season brings the start of a busy tourism season for Vietnam. Many of its tourist sites, hotels and restaurants across the country have been decorated for the new season and also to welcome many cultural exchange programmes organised to serve international and domestic visitors. In Hanoi, hundreds of lights sparkle in the gardens of luxury hotels. Other well-known destinations including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Dalat, Ha Long Bay, Sapa and Phu Quoc Island will welcome the New Year with many activities to impress tourists. Bookings are already good so far with the prospect of more bookings for the 9 day Lunar New Year holiday. One tour operator, Saigontourist Travel Service Company has already welcomed 15,000 tourists on 50 inbound and outbound tours during the Christmas and New Year holiday. Tourists have come from France, Russia, China, Ukraine, Hong Kong and China. In the cruise sector, Star Cruises expects to bring 130,000 foreign visitors and sailors to Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Nha Trang and HCM City between November 2012 and April 2013. Saigontourist welcomed 450,000 tourists in 2012.

CREDIT CARDS MOVES THE MYANMAR MARKET

Myanmar moves forward its market with the introductions of Visa cards being accepted at approx. 90 ATM machines operated by Co-operative Bank and Kanbawza Bank throughout the country. Visa cardholders can now access cash in Yangon and at other major tourist destinations, covered by CB and KBZ banks’ combined Visa ATM network. There are ATMs that accept Visa at Yangon International Airport as well as at major retail outlets like Junction Square, Junction Centre, Taw Win Centre, Yankin Centre and Bogyoke Market. At hotels, the ATM can be found at Chatrium Hotel, Parami Hotel, Inle Hotel, and Governor’s Residence in Yangon. While CB has plans to install ATMs at Yangon’s Traders and Parkroyal hotels.

CHINA IS WORLD'S 3RD LARGEST TOURISM SPENDER

The Chinese have emerged as the 3rd biggest spenders in outbound tourism worldwide, as well as becoming the 3rd largest tourism destination in the world.

LAOS ENTERS TOURISM MAP WITH STRONG GROWTH

The Asian country of Laos is here! It is on the tourist map for 2013 and is not to be missed! This authentic nation is one of the newest wondrous destinations to discover. With a tourism industry in its infancy Laos offers pristine landscapes and the unique culture of its people. The rugged terrain and lush tropical forests provides the perfect setting for a journey of a lifetime. Officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Laos is a landlocked country bordered by Thailand to the west, Cambodia to the south and Vietnam to the east. China and Myanmar border to the north. The land is rich and fertile due to the tropical monsoon climate and the Mekong River that runs through the whole country. With increasing flights into Laos which are presently via one of its neighbouring countries like Bangkok in Thailand and visas issued for many nationalities on arrival, the tourism prospects for the country are looking good. Getting around Laos is all part of the experience being on bicycle or via the waterways. Even in the capital city of Vientiane, a fun way to get about is to take one of the 3-wheeled taxi services. As a Buddhist nation, the country’s traditions, art and culture all stem from this base with many spectacular festivals to witness. Over the past 5 years, the tourism industry of Lao has seen rapid and strong growth. As a result, the potential for tourism hospitality investment has equally grown across the whole country. In the first 3 months of 2012 Laos welcomed 846,564 international tourists, up 11.34% from the same period the previous year. In total, for 2012 it expects to receive about 2.8 million visitors, generating revenue of Euro€327 (UK£266) million. ASEAN countries contributed 78.28% of all international arrivals, up 10.92% with 662,713 visits. The largest source country, Thailand, continued to grow at 11.04% with 479,323 visitors. The 2nd top source country, Vietnam supplied 169,501 tourists, an increase of 9.6%. Lao tourism forecasts expect international tourist arrivals to continue to increase over the next 5 years as the country aims towards increasing tourism investment as well as more people discovering the beauty of Laos. Already positive signs are evident with the recent opening of the luxurious Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel in Vientiane on the Mekong River. The hotel is equipped international 5* hotel standard facilities. The Mekong River is a key tourism attraction for Laos to offer. It flows 4,800km from China, through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and is one of the cleanest rivers in the world. With picturesque scenery and trails for walkers it gives one the chance to experience the peaceful lifestyle of Laos. Another new and exciting project under way is that of the ‘Vientiane New World’ which will offer business and entertainment centres that is expected to be completed in 6-8 years. Laos has started its tourism industry well and is showing signs that steady quality tourism services are its way to tourism success.

PROMOTING LEBANON IN BRAZIL

Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism, Mr. Fady Abboud launched the promotion ‘Come to Lebanon for a visit’ programme while on a trip to Brazil. In addition the Ministry promoted its ‘Back to the Roots’ programme aimed at encouraging over 10,000 young expatriates to keep close ties with their homeland. Brazil has the largest Lebanese diaspora in the world. In addition the call for a direct flight connection between the two countries would help strengthen ties as well as offering affordable packages and the production opportunities for making Lebanese-Brazilian films in touristic locations.

RECORD TOURISTS TO TIBET, CHINA

With increased promotion, better access and more tours on offer, has resulted in Tibet, home to the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, to have a record breaking tourism year. Approx. 300,000 people are employed in the region's tourism sector and with progress as it stands, Tibet could receive 15 million tourists annually by 2015. In 2012, Tibet received over 10 million tourists for the first time ever, up 22.6% from 2011. 12 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

ASIA NEWS

and the Pacific

THAILAND SEES CONTINUED M.I.C.E. SUCCESS

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is heading into 2013 with grow in its M.I.C.E visitor numbers. Figures reached 895,224 for 2012, exceeding the target of 750,000 by 19%. This welcome news confirms that Thailand is one of the most cost-effective M.I.C.E destinations. During 2013, TCEB’s strategy will continue to focus on maintaining existing markets as well as expanding new target markets, like the ASEAN+6 market, which has a very high potential for growth. The bureau will also re-brand its structure as well as launch a new modern logo, helping to increase and develop the M.I.C.E industry, create new economic value and generate revenue for the country.

MORE CRUISE SHIPS TO DOCK AT INDONESIA

Indonesia is seeing a big increase in foreign cruise ships docking at its ports. Already booked are 306 cruise calls for 2013, a 43% increase from the number of calls made throughout last year. This includes three large ships each with approx 2,000 passengers, due to dock at Benoa Port in Bali. This year will see the cruise ships dock at 115 different locations in Indonesia, including new destinations like Sabang in Aceh and Belawan in North Sumatra. Last year the cruise destinations totalled 70. As a large archipelago nation, Indonesia can offer a variety of different cruise segments from expedition as well as large and small ships. Out of 306 calls expected in 2013, 192 are expedition vessels, which represents 64% of the total number of calls and carry between 200-600 passengers. West and East Nusa Tenggara are the most popular destinations, which saw 75 cruise calls in 2012 and 54,824 passengers. Bali however remains the top spot for medium to large cruise liners seeing 45 calls with 44,680 passengers in 2013 expected. Java is 3rd with 38 calls and 23,402 passengers with the rest spreading across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua. With the growing demand means larger ships and Indonesia needs to upgrade its ports to cater for these mega-vessels of approx 130,000 tonnage what carry over 3,000 passengers. Interest for docking at various ports in Indonesia by larger ships is in demand, but not yet possible due to lack of docking infrastructure.

SYDNEY’S CONFERENCE INVESTMENT BOOST

The City of Sydney is to invest Euro€1.2 million, (UK£986,000) to assist in the promotion of the city as a world-class conference destination. The investment is into Business Events Sydney (BESydney) over the next 3 years. BESydney is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that promotes Sydney as a global business events destination. It identifies opportunities and bids to win events for the city, from youth travel events to international medical conferences. With the international market for business events increasingly competitive, with more cities than ever trying to attract valuable events, it is essential that Sydney be promoted to the world. The NSW Government plans to build a new Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct, which will allow the city to stay ahead of the game. NSW is already the preferred Australian destination for international meetings and this investment will help maintain that status. Last financial year, Business Events Sydney secured 103 events for Sydney. It’s estimated these events will have an economic impact of Euro€181, (UK£148) million and attract approximately 58,000 visitors when they take place over the coming years.

FULL SPEED AHEAD BEIJING TO SHANGHAI

The new high speed train that connects Beijing with Shanghai could be mistaken for a state-of-the-art aircraft, with a dedicated crew of 90 conductor and 313 hostesses, etc, all immaculately dressed like air stewardesses. With a top speed of 350km, the time from Beijing to Shanghai is 4 hours 48minutes. The train is divided into first-class car, second-class cars, dining cars, business cars and VIP tourist area. To meet the special requirements of passengers, there are dedicated disabled areas, wheelchair accessible bathrooms and corridors. The cost of a full 2nd class fare seat is Euro€67, (UK£55) and a 1st class seat at Euro€113, (UK£92).

KUALA LUMPUR CONVENTION CENTRE

With the New Year brings new business for the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre set to welcome 40 long-standing clients with bookings during the year. Repeat business is key to the Centre’s success as it demonstrates the Centre’s exceptional ability to not only expand its business portfolio, but retain loyal clients amidst the increasingly competitive industry. From January to November 2012, the Centre hosted 1,382 events, served 1.45 million delegates and visitors, bringing in an economic impact contribution of Euro€129, (UK£105) million to Kuala Lumpur city and Malaysia.

ABU DHABI SETS 2013 TOURISM GROWTH TARGETS

Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority aims to increase its visitor numbers from its 2012 success, by running 19 road shows across 8 nations in 2013. A focus will be on emerging markets like CIS, Indian, China and South America. The authority will be present for the 1st time at the World Travel Market Latin America in Brazil in April, in time for the launch in June by national carrier, Etihad Airways’ daily Sao Paolo-Abu Dhabi service, which will be the 1st non-stop connection between Abu Dhabi and Latin America. The authority also has plans to hold road shows across China, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Australia and India. The Indian roadshow to take place in November 2013 will include 5 cities, including for the 1st time, Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat state, from which Etihad has just launched daily flights to Abu Dhabi. 2013 will also see the Authority have an on-the-ground TCA Abu Dhabi representational office within India, which is now the destination's 2nd most productive international source market for hotel guests after the United Kingdom.

UK FIRM LOOKS TO BOOST TOURISM FROM CHINA

VisitBritain, a national tourism agency in the UK, is launching a tourism promotion project in Shanghai, as part of its UK£124, (Euro€152) million global ‘Great’ campaign, to maximise on the increased interest in Britain from China. The project aims to boost the number of Chinese tourists to Britain, with an additional 233,000 visits by 2020. Last year 150,000 visitors arrived in the UK from China, spending UK£240, (Euro€294) million. Visitors are expected to increase by 17% in 2013. ■ 13 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

14 www.tour ismaroundtheworld.co.uk

EHIBITIONS WORLD

September 2013

The China Guilin International Tourism Expo (CGITE) in its 4th edition is the

leading business and leisure travel exhibition in Guangxi.

A one stop business hub for international tourism stakeholders to tap into China’s booming tourism market, to foster new business relationships as well as to strengthen existing partnerships.

-Explore Southern China’s Booming Tourism Market.

-Network with local tourism organisations.

-Sell destinations and tourism to local buyers.

The CGITE series is a part of Conference & Exhibition Management Services’ (CEMS) travel & tourism portfolio. This event is organised by The People’s Government of Guilin, China Guangxi Tourism Administration and Guangxi International Expositions Bureau; Co-organised by The Guilin Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Guilin Municipal Tourism Bureau and Conference & Exhibition Management Services (CEMS). Join us now at CGITE 2013

China Guilin International Tourism Expo

Visit:

www.cems.com.sg or

www.bmlinternational.co.uk regional sales representative

BITE, Bei j ing, China

ITB BERLIN CONNECTS THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY WITH THE WORLD OF BLOGGERS

For the 1st time ITB Berlin features a matchmaking event for exhibitors and bloggers. With blogging on the increase from 6-10 March 2013, for the duration of the show, ITB Berlin will feature numerous events that will enable visitors and exhibitors to engage with international travel bloggers, as well as discussion rounds, workshops and lectures at the eTravel World and the ITB Berlin Convention. Overall, ITB Berlin expects around 250 bloggers from Germany and abroad to attend. ITB Berlin will feature a matchmaking event, from 4.30-6 p.m. on 7 and 8 March in Hall 7.3, directly adjacent to the ITB Berlin Convention, that will give 100 exhibitors an opportunity to meet the same number of international bloggers. The travel bloggers represent a variety of sectors such as adventure, luxury and family travel. This free service by ITB Berlin is aimed at helping exhibitors to improve their marketing of destinations and products. On 5 March; the eve of the show and in collaboration with ITB Berlin, the Berlin-based travel start-up pocketvillage.com will again be organising the networking event Travel Massive@ITB. The debut event at ITB Berlin 2012 attracted over 120 bloggers from more than 10 countries.

THE 2ND POSIDONIA SEA TOURISM FORUM

Taking place in Athens, Greece, at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre from the 28-29 May 2013, the 2013 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will provide a unique platform to evaluate new investment opportunities and meet the leaders of this industry, as the East Mediterranean and the Black Sea will feature very strongly in the future development of Sea Tourism. As a result of the lively debate that took place in the first Forum, a number of high profile policy changes were announced by the Greek Government, aiming to further enhance Greece’s strategic and commercial strength as a preferred East Mediterranean cruise hub. The 2nd Forum will widen the thematic scope to address a greater range of marine tourism development issues and will also include an international exhibition focusing, among others, on ports & destinations, hotels & resorts, airports, tourist service providers, technical support companies, shipyards, sector publishers, new technologies, yacht managers & brokers, yacht interiors specialists and marinas.

ANNUAL CHINA THEME PARK & RESORT EXPANSION SUMMIT 2013

Event organiser Noppen are preparing for the 3rd edition of this key summit that will bring together high level professionals from government departments, industry associations, real estate developers, theme park operators and entertainment facility suppliers from all over the world. Fundamental topics to be discussed include China’s latest industrial policies, major theme park projects progress, and global theme park management strategies. The event offers the opportunity of liaising with domestic and overseas advanced solution providers, meeting new clients and forming partnerships. Tourism around the World Monthly is delighted to be an official Industry Media Partner for the event.

ROUTES EUROPE 2013

In 2013 Routes Europe the region’s annual route development forum will be held in Budapest, Hungary and hosted by Budapest Airport. The event will be held from 2-14 May. With direct connections to most of the metropolitan areas in Europe it is a prime location for Airports, Airlines, Tourism Authorities, Policy Leaders and Aviation Stakeholders who are interested in flying to, from and within the region to meet, do business and plan for the future. The competition for air services and the economic benefits they bring has never been greater and airports are presenting their market to airlines in ever more creative and innovative ways. With more than 3,000 route development meetings taking place at the event Routes Europe offers an unrivalled platform for airlines and airports to do business face-to-face with the key decision makers and network planners in the industry.

15 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

EHIBITIONS WORLD

November 2013

The Chengdu International Travel Fair (CITF) 2013 is the 1st mega-scale tourism exhibition in western China. With strong governmental support from the Chengdu Municipal Tourism Administration and the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition.

CITF 2013 is dedicated to provide a one-stop platform for all the tourism organisations, tour operators, airlines, tourism destinations, and promote a spectacular array of the hottest and the latest tour packages, destinations, products and services, establish strategic and cooperative relations, explore new business opportunities and expand their professional network base all at once. CITF 2013 Exhibitors Profile: National Tourism Organizations Tour Operators, Travel Agencies, Tourism Destinations, Airlines, Golf Courses, Health and Spas, Hotels and Resorts, Car and Limousine Services, Theme Parks, Tourist Associations and many more. Join us now at CITF 2013

Chengdu International Travel Fair

Visit:

www.cems.com.sg or

www.bmlinternational.co.uk regional sales representative

MITM 2012, Panama.

THE 18TH EDITION OF MITM AMERICAS CONCLUDED IN PANAMA

The 18th edition of MITM Americas, Meetings and Incentive Travel Market concluded in Panama with a tremendous success. It was held from 5-7 December, sponsored by the ATP, Panama’s Tourism Authority. This edition gathered participants from 36 countries worldwide. Around 3,640 appointments between exhibitors and buyers were done. The estimated business on medium and long terms is Euro€95,2 (UK£78) million MITM Americas, Meetings & Incentive Travel Market, is the pioneering fair in the Americas specialised in MICE, where corporates, incentive houses and incentive travel agencies, marketing companies, congress, meetings and events organisers from all over the world meet with international exhibitors by individual and pre-scheduled appointments. Besides the B2B working sessions, there was an excellent networking programme, standing out the welcome reception which took place on board of a ship from the company Aventuras 2000, crossing the Panama Canal. MITM Americas has been previously held in different cities throughout the American Continent: in Guadalajara (two editions), Leon and Merida in Mexico; Guatemala City in Guatemala; Orlando, Miami and Las Vegas (three editions) in the United States; Varadero and Havana in Cuba; Quito (two editions) in Ecuador; Salvador de Bahia in Brazil; Cartagena de Indias in Colombia and San Salvador in El Salvador. Panama’s Tourism Authority offered 3 different post -tours to MITM Americas hosted buyers, with the purpose for them to visit and experience different areas of the country, besides the beautiful Panama City that they visited during the city tour.

IT&CM EVENTS & MCI GROUP WORK TOGETHER

TTG Events has teamed up with world leading association & event management company MCI Group to bring Association Day as well as an education segment on incentive travel to each of the three IT&CM Events in Shanghai, China (IT&CM China), Delhi, India (IT&CM India) and Bangkok, Thailand (IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific). Association Day was created due to the need of a focused and comprehensive association executive programme consisting of tailored education, networking and structured business engagement sessions for association decision makers. Exhibitors at the IT&CM events are also very eager to explore business opportunities with association buyers. In addition, all three IT&CM events are committed to strengthening their relevance and appeal to Corporate Travel professionals - another pivotal buyer group that our exhibitors are looking to meet. MCI Group will be lending its expertise to two half-day educational tracks. Topics will be catered specifically to attending association buyers and corporate travel professionals focused on Incentive Travel/Performance Improvement. The educational tracks for these two delegate groups will run concurrently alongside each other, with allocated slots for business appointments and networking with exhibitors at the event. Through this partnership, MCI Group now joins Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) as the second organisation to contribute towards the IT&CM events’ corporate travel education programme. The Association Competency Course for Professional Association Executives conducted by the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE) and Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) will continue to be offered at IT&CM China and IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific as part of its Association Day programme. In its inaugural year, each Association Day is expected to see some 40 international and local association professional attending. The first Association Day and Corporate Travel education programme will take place at IT&CM China 2013 on 18 April 2013. More information on these events will be released in the upcoming weeks. 16 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

EHIBITIONS WORLD

ROUTES AMERICAS 2013

The 6th Routes Americas will take place from 10-12 February in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia hosted by Sociedad Aeroportuaria de la Costa. The event, which is the annual gathering of air service decision makers for the entire Americas region, will bring together more than 350 delegates from airports, airlines, tourism authorities and other industry stakeholders from across the Americas to discuss air service development. The event is expected to attract over 60 airlines from across the Americas and beyond and with over 35 carriers already registered to attend. All four US major network carriers have already confirmed that they will be in Colombia for the event along with JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit, the US low cost airlines. From elsewhere in the region registrations have so far included Volaris, COPA Airlines, Aeromexico and Colombia’s home carrier, Avianca-TACA. Canada will be present with Air Canada as well as leading low cost carrier, WestJet. Alaska Airlines and WestJet Encore have also confirmed that they will

deliver a Route Exchange Airline Briefing during the event; these briefings will provide attending airports with a unique insight into the carrier’s planning process. Routes Americas attracts senior key decision makers, from a variety of airlines, who are responsible for making decisions on both new and existing routes and the 2013 event looks set to see attendance from many senior airline delegates.

BEIJING INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXPO (BITE)

The 10th International Exhibition for Business and Leisure Tourism will take place this year from the 21-23 June 2013 at the China National Convention Centre, Beijing, China.

China continues to be the world's fastest growing outbound tourism market and in 2011 there were 70.25 million outbound travellers from China. An increase of 22% from 2010 and with an outbound tourism spend reached UK£43, (Euro€53) billion. It is predicted that in 2012 there will be 78.4 million outbound travellers, an increase of 12% WHY ATTEND BITE 2013?

- China is the most populous country in the world with an estimated population of 1.350 billion.

- China has the 2nd largest economy in the world after the United States.

- 2nd largest trading nation and importer of goods in the world.

- BITE is the only event supported and organised by the local government; Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.

- The 2013 edition of BITE offers you a quality and sort after tourism platform to promote your destination, product and services to a wide audience of trade and public in the heart of the Chinese capital, Beijing.

Stand space is allocated on a first come, first served basis and demand is high, so we advise you to act now and secure your prime stand location.

At BITE 2012 there were: 25 international tourism boards participating including Brunei, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Sharjah, Switzerland, USA and Yemen. There were 80 countries, regions and provinces participating at the show. The show attracted 43,314 visitors. Of that, the Domestic Buyers and Trade Visitors were: 71% from Northern China, 8% from North-eastern China, 8% Eastern China, 5% South-western China, 4% Central China, 2% North-western China and 2% Southern China. ■ 17 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Abu Dhabi, culture, luxury, traditions

and deserts by Pamela McCourt Francescone

Abu Dhabi, the largest and richest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, is staking a strong claim on the leisure sector with a slew of new high-end attractions and luxury hotels. And Etihad, the national carrier, is leaving no stone unturned to make is increasingly easy to get there, entering into code-share agreements with leading world airlines. The latest partner last month was Alitalia, the 41st airline to join forces with Etihad, which has its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

The emirate is a combination of islands, desert and canals and with year-round sunshine and new attractions springing up by the dozen - the latest being the Waterworld Park which opened last month - it is on its way to becoming one of the most exciting and exclusive destinations in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi Museum, UAE.

And visitor numbers are growing, with leisure arrivals swelling the ranks of the business travellers who have long frequented the emirate, thus helping to push arrivals up to a record 2.3 million this year. Abu Dhabi already has world-class attractions like Ferrari World which has a simulator used by Formula 1 drivers, and the world’s fastest roller coaster. The stunning Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan mosque, named after the founder of the UAE, a soaring architectural marvel of domes, minarets and water, with the world’s largest chandelier and largest hand-woven carpet. And Masdar City, the world’s first carbon-free city where everything will work on renewable energy and industries will produce only eco-compatible goods.

But the feather in Abu Dhabi’s cap is Saadiyat Island - the name means Island of Happiness. A wondrous development. A world of iconic culture in the middle of the desert, it will house the first Louvre outside France, the world’s largest Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Ghery, and Zaha Hadid’s Centre for Performing Arts. It will also have residential areas for 140,000 inhabitants, facilities for major events

Abu Dhabi, UAE.

and fairs, the only golf course in the UAE built on the ocean, 7 marinas for over 1,000 yachts and 29 hotels - a St Regis and a Park Hyatt have already opened - including a prestigious 7-star property. The city already has its fair share of luxury hotels, like the Jumeirah Etihad Towers, a dramatic five-tower complex and Sir Rocco Forte’s first foray into the Middle East, the Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi. A symphony of gleaming undulating green glass with 281 rooms of which 32 are suites. A haven of European sophistication with first-class dining, a luxury spa, an authentic Moroccan Hammam and a 25-metre outdoor pool.

Abu Dhabi is also a land of desert and traditions. From Rub Al Khali, a vast expanse of desert with the world’s highest sand dunes, oases like Al Ain, which dates back 3,000 years, the Al Gharbia desert with its stunning seascape vistas, and the Liwa oasis, 50 villages which are famed for their dates, and the place of birth of the Al Nahyan family, the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai who, in 1793, moved to Abu Dhabi. ■

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18 www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

The Aegean Sea, Greece

ANCIENT ISLANDS OF THE WORLD In the Aegean Sea

by Caroline-Artemis Laspas, Editor

The Aegean Sea in Greece is home to many ancient islands from the time of antiquity and the very name ‘archipelago’ is now used all over the world to refer to a small group of islands. These Mediterranean paradise islands are a top tourist attraction and each one has developed its own identity, beauty and culture. Here we highlight some of the islands and let you into their unique character.

DELOS; was the most sacred of all the Greek islands. Located just off the coast of Mykonos, it is a small uninhabited, arid island with stunning archeologically beauty. Legend says that Zeus’s wife Leto gave birth to the twin Gods Artemis and Apollo on the island. Due to its geographically central location and its sacred status led Delos to become an important commercial and trading centre. Today it is still one of Greece’s major archaeological highlights that can be visited via boat from Mykonos. As well as a new and beautifully displayed museum, the island offers ruins of the entire town layout with streets and alleyways, the House of Dionysus floor mosaic, the Temple of Isis, the House of Cleopatra as well as the Temple of Apollo, the amphitheatre and the terrace of Lions among other fine examples of Greek archaeology.

MYKONOS; This island makes up for its dry and barren landscape with its vibrant, nightlife and towns, sophisticated boutique shops and hotels, as well as its campsites and crystal clear waters. With its tightly packed alleys and passages through the town of whitewashed cubic style architecture, found only in the Cycladic islands, the modern day Mykonos is still a hot spot for the rich and famous. Indeed that has always been the case, even in antiquity the island was a key destination for the residents and pilgrims from the nearby sacred island of Delos.

SANTORINI; an archipelago in itself was created after the huge Minoan or Thera volcanic eruption, one of the 1st ever recorded volcanic eruptions and it is believed to have caused the end of the Minoan civilisation on Crete Island. It is also thought to be the home of the lost city of Atlantis, which could well be sitting at the bottom of the sea. The caldera left by the eruption today offers spectacular views of the still active volcano and of course the sunset over the glistening sea. The whitewashed houses and hotels have been built into the rock face and on the edge of the caldera offer some truly amazing accommodation. The journey from the harbour to the cliff top town can either be taken by cable car or a more traditional donkey ride up the winding cobbled path. With black volcanic sand beaches and bubbling gaseous waters, Santorini is a truly unique tourist paradise.

SAMOTHRAKI: Located in the North Aegean, close to Turkey, according to Homer, Samothraki was the small island from which Poseidon watched the fall of Troy. Its contribution to world culture is the magnificent sculpture of Nike (meaning Victory). The winged, headless, and armless, statue is one of the most important of all Hellenistic sculptures. The island is welcoming more and more tourists and has plenty to offer including the Sanctuary of the Great Gods. Discoveries here date back before the Olympian deities to the earliest fertility goddesses of the Mediterranean, and the Sanctuary was the location of a long standing mystery cult with members including Odysseus and Philip of Macedonia. The Fonias River, also known as the ‘the killer’ due to the massive flood waters that sweep down it every spring give good trekking paths that lead to a waterfall and swimming basin. For serious hikers the trek up to the summit of the 1611m high Mount Fengari rewards with amazing views. The island, as with all Greek islands offers beautiful beaches, great food and a warm welcome.

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Cruising in the Aegean Sea, Greece

KASTERLORIZO: This is Greece’s most easterly island and sits close to the south coast of Turkey. It is 6km long by 3km wide and no cars are allowed on the island, so the pace of life is calm and relaxed from the moment you step off the plane or boat. In ancient times, the island was called Megisti after the first settler, ‘Megisthus’ a Cretan prince. However there is evidence of Neolithic settlements. The island was conquered by Rhodes in the 8th century and became an important commercial centre with 15,000 inhabitants, today there are just a few hundred. Under Turkish rule in 1537 the island traded with many cities in Asia Minor and other Greek islands. The only village is Megisti with its striking brightly painted houses, which goes back to Byzantine times when the colours of the house would indicate the status of its owner. Kastellorizo is an excellent place for diving, sailing and fishing. There are no nightclubs or discos, but many great tavernas and cafes. The Castle of the Knights dates back to the 14th century and was built on an ancient temple site. The castle gave the island its current name due to being built on red rocks ‘castello rosso’. There are several ancient ruins to see including a Turkish bath. The cave of Parastras is worth seeing with its wonderful stalagmites.

RHODES; The massive statue of Colossus once straddled the harbour entrance as Rhodes was a major seafaring port for the region. Today its harbours welcome thousands of visitors. During its prime, the town of Lindos saw many ‘Captains’ houses built by wealthy seamen. Many are characterised with beautiful hohlaki pebble flooring; different coloured stones are set into the ground to

Delos Island, Cyclades, Greece

produce stunning scenes and pictures. Rhodes is the 4th largest island in Greece and home to 44 villages with its old town a World Heritage Site. Today it is a holiday destination ideal for all, especially families. Since the antiquity the area of Kalithea was known for its thermal, therapeutic springs and the Island is also home to a valley of Tiger Moth butterflies.

NAXOS; Naxos Island is the largest of the Cycladic islands and has fine sand beaches and fertile valleys and mountainous beauty. It has never been one of the fashionable or more famous tourist destinations, but it offers a unique charm and modern cosmopolitan feel of its own. In mythology Naxos was where the union of Dionysus and Ariadne took place that blessed the island with its fertility and distinctive wine. Naxos is one of the few Cycladic islands, which has been inhabited continuously since the dawn of civilisation, with evidence dating back to permanent settlements at the end of the 4th millennium BC.

CRETE; Home to the Minoan civilisation, one of the world’s greatest and most advanced, it is still a civilisation full of mystery. The great palace at Konossos, is one of the best preserved examples of Minoan architecture. It was here that the myth of the Minotaur took place. Crete also offers some amazing nature including the Samaria Gorge, attracting hikers all year round. As one of the largest Greek islands Crete has a wide range of traditional foods and traditions including being the only Greek island that allows its citizens to own guns.

PATMOS: The Book of Revelations was written by one of Jesus Disciples, John of Patmos, or John the Apostle and it was on Patmos, that John received his Revelation and Jesus appeared to him. The ‘Cave of the Apocalypse’ where John lived and had the revelation has made Patmos a destination for Christian pilgrimage. Patmos was also recently named Europe's ‘Most Idyllic Place’ to live due to the feeling of quiet tranquility, which brings people back again and again. Hora, the capital is built under the impressive monastery of St. John. The Hora of Patmos is full of whitewashed houses and mansions dating back to the 15th century as well as amazing and unique Byzantine houses which are unique to the island, while helping to make the town one of the most expensive places in Europe to live.

These are just a few of Greece’s many islands which have each played their part in the country’s history and today preserve their individual culture and traditions. As always one trip to Greece whether on the mainland or to the islands is never enough, you will always return again and again. ■

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