Best Holiday Lettings

Blog

  • News: South Africa boasts double digit tourism growth

    South Africa has once more announced increasing tourism numbers: The months from January until October 2012 showed a rise of 10,4%, with 7 535 498 tourist arrivals in comparison to 6 823 517 tourist arrivals for a similar period within the previous year. a complete of 204 247 tourists from Germany visited South Africa from January to October 2012. This represents a rise of 12,2% in comparison to the corresponding period in 2011. Germany is likely one of the key traditional overseas markets for travel to South Africa, with the usa of America and the uk taking the lead.

    Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk explains: “Positive growth from the conventional markets by and large – and Europe certainly – gives us confidence that the work we’re doing to grow tourist arrivals is paying dividends. South Africa has every reason to feel confident in regards to the state of its tourism industry going forward.

    “The credit should visit the tourism industry for creatively and constructively working together to grow tourism to South Africa. It also includes extremely important that we make sure that every new tourist who arrives in our country is given the absolute best experience, as word of mouth remains one among our primary marketing tools,” Minister van Schalkwyk said during his visit to the ITB trade exhibition in Berlin.

    Minister Van Schalkwyk also underlined the significance of the German marketplace for South Africa, and stressed that the expansion of arrivals from Germany should be maintained. To inspire and motivate German travellers, South African Tourism continues to heighten its marketing initiatives with German tour operators, and likewise approaches travel agents individually to teach them concerning the destination. Media cooperation agreements created for the relevant German target groups in addition to innovative brand partnerships continue to draw German travellers to the Rainbow Nation. 

    The UN World Tourism Organisation’s forecast for international travel growth in 2012 is purely 4%, growth of 10,4% in tourist arrivals to South Africa over the period January-October 2012 exceeded that by far. In keeping with the Minister, it is a reflection at the destination itself: “South Africa is irresistible and exquisite; it’s easy to access and explore, and gives excellent value for money. Primarily, our friendly people and the original experiences our country offer make a trip to South Africa extra-special.”

    Minister Van Schalkwyk also reiterated the significance of tourism as an economic growth engine for the rustic. Tourism have been identified as one in all six priority sectors in South Africa to gain economic growth and attract investment. Tourism attracts foreign direct spend and creates jobs. On this regard, the rustic has identified the next targets: to draw 15 million arrivals by 2020; to extend the proportion of tourism in gross domestic product from R189,4 billion in 2009 to R499 billion in 2020, and to create greater than 225 000 new jobs in tourism.

    Recommended

  • Centara plans third hotel within the Maldives

    Centara Hotels & Resorts will open its third resort within the Maldives throughout the latter half 2014, following the signing of a management contract with Maldivian company RPI Private Ltd.Centara Hudhufushi Resort & Spa is currently under design and planning, and could be to international four-star standards.

    The resort, so as to have approximately 110 rooms, would be located at the east side of Lhaviyani Atoll, 25 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport.The contract signing happened on 14 September 2012, and the resort is being developed under an investment cost of USD36 million.

    “We are a great deal longing for the hole of Centara Hudhufushi Resort & Spa, for you to be our third resort inside the Maldives,” says Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

    Recommended

  • News: Ryanair extends Warsaw Chopin flights until 30th June

    Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), today confirmed it is going to continue to function its Warsaw flights to/from Warsaw Chopin Airport until 30th June 2013, while runway repair works are completed at Warsaw Modlin Airport.

    All Ryanair flights scheduled to fly to/from Modlin will fly to/from Chopin until 30thJune to present certainty to passengers travelling to Warsaw. Ryanair sincerely apologises to passengers (who’ve been informed by email) for any inconvenience caused and appears forward to recommencing flights to/from Warsaw Modlin Airport once its runway is certified to be operational.

    Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:
    “Due to runway repair works at Warsaw Modlin Airport, Ryanair will continue to function its Warsaw flights to/from Warsaw Chopin Airport until 30th June 2013, to facilitate our Warsaw passengers. Warsaw Modlin Airport has indicated that repairs would be completed over the arriving months and we glance forward to returning to Modlin once its runway have been repaired.”

    Recommended

  • Russia’s poor image abroad holds back inbound tourism

    Russia’s poor image overseas is holding back its inbound tourism industry’s ability to draw visitors from america and western Europe, reveals new research at WTM Vision Conference – Moscow today.

    Inbound tourism arrivals in 2012 showed solid growth to arrive 26 million, in accordance with Euromonitor International. However, the research company’s Senior Research Analyst Mantas Kaluina will tell WTM Vision Conference – Moscow delegates Russia continues to be reliant on visitors from neighbouring countries and the industry must work on tourism flows from the usa and Western Europe.

    Visa bureaucracy, security, infrastructure and the standard of tourism services contributed to Russia’s poor image overseas, he added.

    The Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan accounted for just about half all visitors, sending around six million, three million and two million respectively. Looking forward to 2017, Euromonitor international expects little change, with a similar three accounting for eight million, six million and 4 million arrivals.

    Germany is its strongest western European market, however the figures for 2012 to 2017 fall well in need of 1000000 for every year. Visitor numbers from China, however, will exceed a million by 2017.

    Russia’s outbound market was up 9% in 2012, driven by the expansion of the center classes. The preferred destinations are local – Ukraine, Finland, Kazakhstan.

    By 2017, nearly 40% of Russian households can have a disposable income greater than US$25,000 (£16,500, 771,415 Russian Rubbles) reveals the research. Russia will account for an extra eight million overseas trips by 2017, the most important increase except China.

    For many Russian, international travel is a brand new possibility. Around half all package holidays sold to Russians in 2012 costs between $600 and $1500, with Turkey, Greece and Egypt dominating the market.

    Online may also drive the expansion of outbound travel, with total sales growing by greater than 10% a year until 2017. Air tickets are the most important category for sales, followed by hotels, while social media continues to grow in importance.

    Euromonitor International’s predicts the worldwide travel industry will grow by 4% between 2012 and 2017.

    Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press said:  “The predicted growth in Russian outbound traffic is excellent news for the worldwide industry, however the report shows greater support may well be given to its inbound industry, especially to draw tourists form the huge markets of the U.S. and western Europe.”

    Moscow was the host city for the 1st of 5 WTM Vision Conference of 2013. Next is Beijing (8 April), followed by Sao Paulo (24 April), Dubai (7 May) and Rimini (17 October).

    WTM Vision Conference – Moscow is organised in association with Tour Business.

    Recommended

  • News: Big data travel company reports greater than double year-on-year growth

    Today, travel-related transactions account for 1/3rd of all ecommerce revenue (ComScore 2012), and lots of the leading travel brands are leveraging Sojern’s technology to extend marketing acquisition performance on these transactions, including American Airlines, American Express, Avis|Budget Group, Choice, Delta, Enterprise, Hertz, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Las Vegas, Marriott, Starwood, United, and US Airways.

    “Since 2007, Sojern have been building the world’s leading data-driven traveler engagement platform, helping brands more efficiently and meaningfully engage travelers to drive conversions and loyalty,” said Mark Rabe , CEO at Sojern. “Our expansion both inside the US and abroad will address the increasing demand from multinational travel brands for data-driven marketing, monetization and insight solutions at scale.”

    As the primary company to have successfully cracked big data within the travel sector, Sojern has access to over 100 million anonymous traveler profiles and billions of traveler intent data points. Sojern combines this unique intelligence with innovative technology to actually deliver the correct messages to the precise travelers on the right times, through multiple channels including display, video, email, and social media (e.g. Facebook Exchange).

    In 2013, the corporate will aggressively increase global staff, expand its data science team, and invest heavily in its industry-leading technology platform, including the construction of key products in machine learning technology, enhanced programmatic buying (real-time bidding) and information insights. The corporate has already established global operations, with the launch of its EMEA headquarters in London, and appointment of Stephen Taylor as VP & MD, International.

    Stephen is a pioneer of knowledge-driven travel marketing, having been one of many first employees at Air Miles (acquired by British Airways). Most recently, he served because the CEO of Qype (recently acquired by Yelp) and before that he lead Yahoo!‘s European consumer business.

    “With a focal point on innovative technology and a veteran team of travel experts, Sojern is definitely-positioned to fulfill the growing demand from global travel brands for prime performance digital marketing and monetization,” said Taylor. “I’m thrilled to hitch the team and help bring Sojern’s differentiated solutions to new markets.”

    Recommended