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  • News: Montego Bay Convention Centre to welcome JAPEX

    The Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica will host the 23rd annual Jamaica Product Exchange from April 28th-30th 2013, the leading business forum for tour operators, wholesalers and travel agents.

    The three-day event is recognised as Jamaica’s premier travel trade extravaganza and gives the perfect opportunity for leading Jamaican suppliers of the island’s tourism product to fulfill with travel wholesalers, tour operators and travel agents from Europe and the Americas.

    Hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the trade event also includes networking sessions, evening events, destination familiarisation tours and team-building activities.

    Last year, JAPEX featured greater than 116 representatives from approximately 76 buyer companies, together with greater than 222 participants from 92 supplier companies.

    “JAPEX is the best opportunity for qualified international buyers, travel wholesalers and tour operators to debate the island’s tourism product with our finest suppliers,” said John Lynch, JTB director of tourism.

    “It’s a useful opportunity for our local tourism partners, particularly the smaller companies, to have direct interaction with the trade industry and update them on what’s new and upcoming in our marketplace.”

    The Montego Bay Convention Centre is found only 15 minutes’ drive from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, which supports one or more direct flights from London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester Airports.

    It is within five minutes of 5 major hotels and is surrounded by luxury shopping and championship golf courses.

  • Rising incomes and internet boost booming Chinese travel market

    The variety of outbound trips made by Chinese travellers is seeing double-digit growth, due to rising disposable incomes and web bookings, reveals exclusive research unveiled today (8 April) on the WTM Vision Conference – Beijing.

    Forecasts by Euromonitor International reveal that outbound trips from China are expected to record a ‘sharp’ 15% rise in CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from 2012-2017.

    Hong Kong and Macau are the most well liked destinations but non-Asian countries are rising in importance, delegates have heard today.

    Meanwhile, inbound tourism flows to China are forecast to grow at a 2.3% CAGR over an identical period, reveals the Forecast Revisit for the worldwide Travel and Tourism Industry report.

    Hong Kong is the most important source of arrivals, accounting for 27m, but Western European and US markets are expected to grow, Ray Li Senior Research Analyst at Euromonitor International states.

    He can even reveal how rising disposable incomes are resulting in a ‘sharp’ rise in sales of discretionary goods and services, with travel – in addition to cars and fashion – especially favoured.

    Also, the changing role of ladies is driving demand for clothing, cosmetics and travel, in line with Euromonitor international.

    Another significant factor within the Chinese travel market is the intensifying competition between China’s online travel agencies, including Ctrip, Qunar and eLong.

    China is the area leader for choice of internet users and smartphones sold, and web giants similar to Tencent and Baidu are making inroads inside the online travel market, delegates on the WTM Vision Conference – Beijing heard.

    Chinese hotels are performing strongly, and although China’s hotel industry is dominated by budget properties, the posh segment is anticipated to reach strongest growth between 2012 and 2017.

    Reed Travel Exhibition Director World Travel Market Simon Press, who opened the conference today, said: “WTM is delighted to be returning to China for its second Vision conference within the country, following the success of last year’s inaugural event which befell in Shangai.

    “China’s influence at the global travel and tourism continues to grow. WTM has first-hand experience of this with increasingly more exhibitors and visitors attending the development from China, alongside increasingly buyers targeting Chinese exhibitors.”

    The conference is in association with China Business Network was held in Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall.

    As well because the report from Euromonitor International, the development will feature high-calibre speakers sharing expert analysis, statistical assessment and interpretations with the industry’s senior leaders.

    Delegates will receive the Euromonitor International report via email for free after the conference.

  • Travel Essentials

    If you want to go travelling with not much more than just a backpack, than we’re providing you with a few travel essentials.

    • A smartphone – Why not a normal phone, why a smartphone. Well lit may be more likely to be stolen, but it can be your camera, organiser, alarm, flashlight. It’s pretty much a multi-functioning device that’s superb for travelling.
    • ATM and credit cards are fundamental. You may be short of cash on your debit card, and whilst it is a warning sign to think about returning home, a credit card can bail you out for a bit longer.
    • Cash is fundemtal for emergencies, and you should always make sure you have some cash on you at all times. It should be kept in a really safe place.
    • Bug repellent- This can be a spray or a cream and it can stop you ending up looking like you have chicken pox.
    • 1st aid kit – Any cuts scrapes or health issues should be dealt with as you can, and a first aid kit can be relative helpful if you have a common injury or issue.
    • A notepad and a pen can be great. People can draw out maps for you if you require them. You can take down important numbers, addresses, or even any ideas that come to your head that you want to revise later. Just make sure you remember to take a pen.
  • Tune Hotels plans 100 Indian hotels

    Malaysian hotel group Tune Hotels have announced an aggressive roll-out plan for India with a target of 100 new hotels over the forthcoming years.

    The first 100-room property will open in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on April 1st 2013 and can reflect the core principals of the Tune Hotels brand – international class accommodation that provides great value and great savings.

    Tune Hotels have identified the Indian market as an immense opportunity and should be seeking to bring their unique set-as much as the tourism market. Most hotels in India are likely to have 100 rooms per property, but Tune would look to have between 100 and 200 rooms.

    The brand also will look to target the Indian wedding market which offers huge potential for the visiting friends and relatives market and the chance to accommodate a whole family in a single single hotel.   

    Mark Lankester, chief executive, commented: “We are delighted to be opening in Gujarat and feature a whole strategy in place.

    “Normally we’d target larger locations, akin to Delhi during this instance, but if we checked out the background and history of Gujarat, we identified that it’s the best performing economy within the whole of India.”

    “If you investigate one state which has more citizens living abroad, it’s Gujarat, with a million within the UK and US respectively.

    “This is a big market, and as such, the tactic is for 5 or six hotels to ideally open in Gujarat within the next three years to focus on the opportunities that arise with the VFR and business traveller markets.”

    The Gujarat hotel should be closely followed by a 120-room hotel in Bhiwadi, Haryana, by the top of 2013 and a 200-room hotel near the hot Delhi Railway Station in early 2014.

    Besides Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai are the alternative major capitals that Tune Hotels need to confirm a presence.

    Others within the pipeline are in Neemrana and Jaipur in Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Punjab and Bhavnagar, Gujarat.

  • News: World tourism leaders celebrate success of ITB Berlin 2013

    ITB Berlin 2013 has reaffirmed its place because the largest meeting place for international tourism policy decision-makers and business leaders on the earth.

    German chancellor Angela Merkel, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, representatives of the arena Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the area Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in addition to greater than 100 ministers of tourism and state secretaries, met in Berlin to aid shape the long run for growth inside the tourism industry.

    Christian Göke, chief operating officer, Messe Berlin, said: “Once again, ITB Berlin has kicked off the travel season worldwide.

    “No other place on earth gathers such a lot of leading representatives from the non-public and public sector.

    “This is where the tone is decided for the way forward for travel for one thousand million people.

    “The increase in international buyers is proof that ITB Berlin remains the largest market for the worldwide travel industry.”
    From March 6th-10th 2013, 10,086 exhibitors from 188 countries presented their services and products in display halls that were fully booked up.

    Overall, some 110,000 trade visitors came to Berlin, of whom 43 per cent were from abroad.

    This year there has been a slight increase in buyers from the united states and the center East.

    The ITB Berlin Convention registered record levels of attendance.

    A total of 21,000 took part within the 200 lectures, discussions and workshops, 25 percent greater than in 2012.

    Social Media and Mobile Travel Services proved to be major visitor attractions.

    The matchmaking event for bloggers involving exhibitors met with a really positive response.

    Visitors also thronged the halls at the Saturday of the show.

    More than 60,000 members of most of the people came to determine in regards to the wide-ranging information on offer from exhibitors and providers of niche market products.

    For the 1st time, visitors on the weekend were ready to book their tours directly at ITB Berlin.