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  • Gay and lesbian travellers a driver within the international tourism industry

    US Gay and lesbian hotel guests spend a normal 57 per cent more on their travels than their heterosexual counterparts. That’s the results of the newest survey by Community Marketing Inc., a partner of ITB Berlin. Rika Jean-Francois, ITB Berlin’s CSR officer and member of the board of the International Gay & Travel Association (IGLTA) presented the findings on the ITB Berlin Convention and on the recently held strategy conference of Wien Tourismus in Vienna. Late last year, in a survey conducted inside the USA by Community Marketing Inc., 5,700 interviewees were asked about their travel habits. In accordance with the survey, it’s not only hotels but entire destinations that get pleasure from LGBT travellers (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).

    Sunshine and relaxation the most important reasons for holidaying
    According to the survey, 40 per cent of gays and shut to an identical variety of lesbians within the USA said a destination’s degree of gay-friendliness was the foremost factor influencing their collection of destination. As regarded holiday needs 67 per cent of gays and 66 per cent of lesbian travellers said warm weather was their first requirement, followed by cultural attractions, beaches and cuisine. Greater than 50 per cent of the respondents said certainly one of their main holiday interests was relaxation. For 35 per cent of gays the second one-most vital aspect was visiting family and friends, while for 32 per cent of lesbian couples it was spending time with their partners. 33 per cent of gay and 30 per cent of lesbian respondents said the placement of a hotel significantly influenced their selection of destination. For 30 per cent of both groups the second one-fundamental aspect was the worth.

    LGBT travellers are comfortable using the net. When on the search for travel information 59 per cent of lesbian and 54 per cent of gay travellers inside the US said they depended on the recommendations of friends and families, and then they preferred travel websites. 41 per cent of gay and 36 per cent of lesbian travellers said they responded to advertising that targeted LGBT audiences.

    Commitment to LGBT travellers
    Over a long time, as portion of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concept, ITB Berlin has committed itself to supporting human rights in tourism, including tolerance and variety, and as an instance is a committed member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). Exhibitors representing the LBGT market first took part within the world’s largest travel trade extravaganza in 2003. For the last three years lectures and discussions in this subject in addition on LGBT travel topics was going down on the ITB Berlin Convention.

    It has become one of many 15 officially recognised travel segments of the world’s largest travel trade event and because then has witnessed constantly rising demand. Currently, ITB Berlin has the most important range of LGBT travel products and destinations of any tourism trade extravaganza on earth. With its large Gay & Lesbian Travel Pavilion, the ITB TomOnTour Party and diverse other supporting LGBT events ITB Berlin has made a stand for tolerance and equal rights.

    With its seminars on LGBT tourism in India in 2011, a data stand at ITB Asia 2012 in Singapore, an LGBT information booth at ABAV 2013 in Rio de Janeiro and international seminars and symposiums worldwide the ITB Academy is likewise showing its support for dismantling taboos and the event of this significant market segment worldwide. At ITB Berlin 2013 a strategic partnership between Wien Tourismus (Vienna Tourism) and ITB Berlin on LGBT Travel was agreed, in a bid to jointly support and extra its aims one day.

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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.