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  • News: Mexico and Brazil approve visa exemption

    The governments of Mexico and Brazil have agreed to the exemption of the fast-stay visas in ordinary passports for his or her citizens. The move is designed to extend the flow of travelers between the 2 nations.

    The decision is the culmination of a chain of negotiations between President Enrique Pena Nieto and Dilma Rousseff Coimbra, President of Brazil, as portion of the Summit of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC), held last January within the city of Santiago de Chile.

    The visa requirement for Brazilians were in force since 2005, and from May 2010 Mexico applied CHM immigration to these citizens with a US visa; moreover, the Migration Documentation Information System (SIDOMI) and the System of Electronic Authorization (SAE) allowed Brazilian tourists and businessmen to procure electronic visas.

    This achievement will allow for a rise in visitors to Mexico from Brazil.

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  • News: PATA annual summit speakers: Travel and tourism should get more political

    Travel industry leaders will issue a rallying demand politicians and government policy makers world wide to start out “Embracing the total Visitor Economy” on the PATA Annual Summit, which happens Friday April 26 in Bangkok.

    Mr Martin J Craigs, PATA CEO said: “If you wish the travel and tourism industry to be respected more, given more budget from Government sources, and taxed less, we have to make the case forcefully. You’re invited to hitch the PATA Annual Summit so as to add your voice to the uprising that’s underway inside the travel industry the world over.”

    An impressive list of speakers will add their weight to the total visitor economy agenda. From Associations, Organisations and NGOs, Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO and speaker from WTTC might be there; from Government, Gloria Guevara, Former Secretary of Tourism, Mexico; Chen Tiejun, Deputy Director General, Hainan Provincial Tourism Development Commission; from the personal sector, Abid Butt, CEO Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Ross Jackson, Head of Cross-Border Business, APCEMEA, Visa Inc; Lothar R Pehl, SVP Operations and Global Initiatives, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific; Martin Verdon Roe, Global VP, Display Sales, TripAdvisor; Pansy Ho, Managing Director, Shun Tak Holdings; Paul Griffiths, CEO, Dubai Airports, UAE; Sorajak Kasemsuvan, President, Thai Airways International; Anita Mendiratta, Managing Director – CACHET Consulting/Lead consultant of the CNN TASK Group, and lots of more, will all contribute their insights. TV anchor Monita Rajpal of CNN will moderate.

    Mr Abid Butt, Chief Executive Officer, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts said: “Governments and the general public sector worldwide have recognised the significance of the visitor economy with reforms being introduced to augment this economic component. The significance of all links understanding their role on this economic chain can’t be overstated. The power to draw foreign visitors and their contribution to the local communities makes it a pretty good enabler for all countries. It creates and supports employment in any respect skill levels, helps preserve local heritage and builds a powerful sense of place, providing better understanding across different cultures. The advantages usually are not limited to economic gains but include social advantages, creating better places to live and work. i’m glad to be participating on this dialogue coordinated by PATA to further highlight the real role of the total visitor economy.”
    There might be four concurrent interactive sessions on corporate social responsibility, facilitating and balancing security and safety, human capital development, and medical tourism integration to the entire visitor economy.

    Speakers include Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts; Nicole Häusler M.A., CSR Expert, Myanmar Masterpiece; Bert van Walbeek, Managing Director, The Winning Edge; Peter Semone, Chief Technical Advisor, Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH); Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Dr. Edward P Dramberger, Principal, Destination Dr., International Hospitality Consulting; Prof. Zadok S Lempert, Chief Executive, Panorama-Medica Group; and Olivier Jager, Co-Founder & CEO, FowardKeys, Traveller Data Intelligence.

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  • Safety & security matters most, UK voted safest in Europe

    The survey asked global respondents from over 70 countries, to spot the important thing influencing factors of their decision making process, when settling on both leisure and business travel destinations.

    Petra Malenicka, Vp, CNN International Ad Sales, Western Europe said, “Destination branding has become one of the competitive aspects of today’s tourism industry and these insights are valuable for countries trying to market themselves because the destination of choice for travellers.”

    “That security and safety is significantly more important for respondents than the price of travel, even in austere times, is a hallmark that, in times of regional unrest, the pendulum has swung. Tourist boards will clearly continue to have an important role to play in shaping international perceptions in their country to encourage tourism growth,” she added.

    ‘Price’ ranks second in travel decision making, reflecting the ongoing impact of the industrial crisis on consumers.  Yet despite this, the newest UNWTO growth predication figures confirm the resiliency of a buoyant global tourism sector.*

    According to the consequences, respondents aren’t just price conscious, also they are discerning. ‘Reputation’ is the third most considered factor for respondents considering travel destinations.

    The results demonstrate the appeal of the united kingdom from a commercial perspective:
    ·    The united kingdom is one of the top 5 countries globally, on the subject of being “attractive for business investment opportunities”.

    The UK leads Europe for safety and is seen as a developed, hospitable destination:
    ·    46% of worldwide respondents confident of a hassle-free stay
    ·    43% of worldwide respondents cited the UK’s reputation of being ‘most established and welcoming’ for tourists as a explanation for visiting.

    The UK is likewise well positioned in relation to attracting international travellers inside the immediate future.
    ·    38% of world respondents told CNN they’d consider a trip to the united kingdom within the next year, positioning the rustic second only behind the united states in a listing of the highest 25 destinations most of the time to be visited within the next twelve months. 

    “The results paint a good picture for the united kingdom relating to global perception, and should indicate the rustic is definitely positioned to make the most of the nice and cozy glow left by a successful Olympic year”, added Malenicka.

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  • GIBTM: Emirates Palace showcases offering in Abu Dhabi

    Emirates Palace Hotel has confirmed it might participate on the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition 2013, which kicks off today.

    The three-day event, if you want to be hosted by Abu Dhabi on the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, will display the newest hotel services offered by the business tourism sector, conferences and incentives.

    General Manger of Emirates Palace Bugra Berberoglu stressed at the importance of the property’s participation on the exhibition, noting the development is a chance to satisfy with partners and travel agents from world wide.

    The exhibition, organised by Reed Exhibitions, is taken into account the leading event in its field.

  • News: Turkish Airlines places its biggest order ever with Airbus

    Turkish Airlines, the biggest airline in Turkey, has signed a freelance for as much as 117 A320 Family aircraft (25 A321ceo, 4 A320neo, 53 A321neo and options for 35 additional A321neo aircraft). This order is the biggest ever placed by a Turkish carrier. The engine selection should be made at a later date.

    “We are placing our biggest ever order with Airbus,” said Faruk Cizmecioglu, Chief Marketing Officer. “At Turkish Airlines our customers expect the only. The A320 Family with its economic benefits combined with superior cabin comfort will greatly contribute to fulfill our ambitious growth plans.”

    “We are delighted with this new order from Turkish Airlines, which takes us above 2,000 NEO orders in a little bit over two years after launch” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “This order confirms that the NEO is the cheapest and profitable solution for airlines with ambitious growth plans. The 15 per cent fuel saving and the widest cabin in its class give Turkish Airlines a huge competitive advantage.”

    Turkish Airlines already operates 75 A320 Family aircraft. The hot order may also help Turkish Airlines expand their short to medium-haul routes from their Istanbul hub, while the aircraft’s commonality with their existing Airbus fleet will generate additional cost-savings.

    Incorporating new engines and enormous Sharklet wing tip devices, the A320neo Family will deliver fuel savings of 15 percent. Similarly, the A320neo Family will provide a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and reduced engine noise. The A320neo will enter into service from late 2015, followed by the A319neo and A321neo in 2016.

    More than 9,150 A320 Family aircraft were ordered and greater than 5,450 dropped at greater than 385 customers and operators worldwide reaffirming its position because the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft Family. The A320neo has over 95 percent airframe commonality making it a simple fit into existing fleets while offering as much as 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.

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