Tag: tourism
Outbound tourism spending from Gulf is 6 times global average
November 10 (TravelAndy): A new report from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) shows that outbound tourism from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – comprising six countries of the Arabian peninsula – has grown strongly in recent years, with international tourism expenditure surpassing USD 60 billion in 2017.
‘The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Outbound Travel Market’, a new report prepared by UNWTO and ETC with the support of Value Retail, examines the fast-growing outbound market of the GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – with an additional focus on the image of Europe as a tourism destination. It finds that per-capita international tourism spending from the GCC was 6.5 times higher than the global average in 2017, with expenditure estimated to be more than USD 60 billion in 2017, up from USD 40 billion in 2010.
“GCC countries constitute a fast-growing market with the potential to make a significant contribution to European tourism, diversifying demand and promoting new tourism segments”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili upon launching the report.
“The GCC nations remain a growing source market for European destinations, which should themselves capitalize on the potential of a younger, value-driven, well-informed and technology-savvy GCC traveller”, added ETC President Peter de Wilde. Continue reading Outbound tourism spending from Gulf is 6 times global average
UNWTO calls for tech and investment in tourism
The Summit will continue the conversation on innovation and digital transformation, a UNWTO priority designed to give tourism its deserved prominence on the digital agenda. It will debut a disruptive new format, involving private sector leaders for the first time. A panel of investors will discuss investment in tourism technology, followed by the ministerial segment that this year will link both public and private sectors to set the agenda for ensuring the sector’s digital transformation enhances its inclusion, sustainability and competitiveness. Continue reading UNWTO calls for tech and investment in tourism
Discussion on future of tourism at China meet
October 30 (TravelAndy): The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the People’s Government of Guilin, China held the 12th UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook on 25-27 October 2018. This year’s edition – ‘The Future of Tourism: Road to 2030´, aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Digital advances provide opportunities to tourism in order to enhance inclusiveness, community empowerment and efficient resource management to achieve the SDGs. Yet to do so, we need to better understand where tourism is heading so we can adopt the adequate policies and business strategies.” said UNWTO Executive Director Shanzhong Zhu at the event.
International tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew 6% in 2017 to reach a total of 323 million. Rapid economic growth in emerging economy markets, rising air connectivity, more affordable travel and enhanced visa facilitation continue to fuel tourism from within and outside the region. Asian destinations earned USD 390 billion in international tourism receipts in 2017, 29% of the global figure, a share that has steadily increased from 17% in 2000. China, the world´s top spender in international tourism and fourth largest destination, has been one of the main drivers behind this growth. Continue reading Discussion on future of tourism at China meet
Boracay island reopens for tourists after 6 months
October 29 (TravelAndy): The popular Boracay island in the Philippines reopened late last week after remaining closed for six months for rehabilitation.
However, only 19,000 tourists and 15,000 workers are allowed on the island on any given day. Also, only half of the island’s 12,000 hotel rooms will be allowed to open to ensure that only the desired number of visitors are on there at any given point, reports said.
“Let us treat the island as our home. Keep it clean and pristine. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke in the beach, don’t litter,” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo- Puyat said in a message to tourists coming to Boracay. Continue reading Boracay island reopens for tourists after 6 months
Flower tourist numbers don’t meet expectations in Kerala
October 29 (TravelAndy): The number of tourists who visited Kerala to see the Neelakurinji flower, which blooms once in 12 years, was much lower than expected and officials are blaming the devastating floods in the state earlier this year.
A total of 119,757 tourists visited the Eravikulam National Park near Munnar between September 1 and October 28 to witness the blooming flowers, said officials.
Reports said tourists are now moving to Kolukkumalai, where the flowers will remain for another two weeks. Continue reading Flower tourist numbers don’t meet expectations in Kerala
Asia & Pacific gain ground in global tourism
October 25 (IBNS/NITN): The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in partnership with the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC), presented its Asia Tourism Trends Report on Wednesday at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao (China). The report shows Asia and the Pacific outperforming all world regions in growth in international arrivals since 2005.
‘UNWTO/GTERC Asia Tourism Trends – 2018’ shows that international tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew 6% in 2017 to reach 323 million, around a quarter of the world’s total. Of all world regions, Asia and the Pacific, the second-most visited after Europe, has grown the fastest in international tourist arrivals since 2005. Arrivals increased an average of 6% per year, above the world average of 4%.
Rapid economic growth in a region with over half the world’s population, coupled with rising air connectivity, travel facilitation and large infrastructure projects, have boosted international travel in the region. This has had a large impact on Asian destinations’ tourism earnings, which have steadily increased from 17% of the world total in 2000 to 29% in 2017. This is equivalent to US$ 390 billion in tourism receipts. Continue reading Asia & Pacific gain ground in global tourism
Iceland mulls capping tourist numbers
October 20 (TravelAndy): The tourism minister of Iceland has proposed limiting the number of tourists to certain sites in the island country, media reports said.
According to the Reykjavík Grapevine Magazine, minister Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir has furnished a report in parliament that says specific sites are reeling from the adverse affects of over-tourism and contended that these places couldn’t withstand more pressure from tourism.
The minister wants a pilot project in place to see how caps can be imposed on the number of tourists allowed in specific areas. The talks of such project have been doing the round over the past five years but nothing specific has been done to this effect. Continue reading Iceland mulls capping tourist numbers
International tourism maintains strong momentum
October 10 (TravelAndy): International tourist arrivals grew 6% in the first six months of 2018 after a record year of growth in 2017, reveals the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s latest barometer.
All world regions enjoyed robust growth in tourist arrivals in January-June 2018. The increase was fuelled by strong demand from major source markets, supported by an upswing in the global economy. It comes after record year-round growth of 7% in 2017.
“Today’s release of international tourism data for the first half of 2018 serves as further proof of the sector’s resilience and relentless growth trajectory. We continue to work with our many partners to translate this growth into better jobs, more benefits to societies, and more opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and destinations”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. Continue reading International tourism maintains strong momentum
Funds for rural tourism infrastructure in Scotland
October 6 (TravelAndy): Some of Scotland’s most iconic, rural tourist sites will receive funding for new facilities to further enhance the visitor experience, VisitScotland, the country’s national tourism organisation, said.
Around £3 million from the first round of the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) will be shared among 18 projects across Scotland to help meet the demand of growing visitor numbers.
These include the following: Continue reading Funds for rural tourism infrastructure in Scotland
Digital transformation, innovation in focus on Tourism Day
September 29 (TravelAndy): World Tourism Day 2018 was observed in Budapest, Hungary on September 27 with the official celebration focusing on the digital transformation in tourism, a World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) priority. The event examined how investment in new technology provides the sector with opportunities for innovation.
Introducing a new seminar-based format, the official celebration provided crucial insights into the actors and initiatives leading the digital transformation of the tourism sector and aimed at providing participants with concrete and actionable objectives to take away. Continue reading Digital transformation, innovation in focus on Tourism Day
Tourist deluge inundates Dubrovnik in Croatia
September 23 (TravelAndy): The old Croatian town of Dubrovnik is bursting at its seams with swarms of tourists visiting the place every day to see the shooting locations of popular TV series Game of Thrones.
Several cruise ships anchor at the Unesco World Heritage Site on a daily basis and empty thousands of tourists on the streets of the town of 2,500 residents.
“It’s like living in the middle of Disneyland,” AP quotes a town resident. “We feel sorry for ourselves, but also for them (the tourists) because they can’t feel the town anymore because they are knocking into other tourists.” Continue reading Tourist deluge inundates Dubrovnik in Croatia
UN report to help cities manage impact of tourism
September 19 (TravelAndy): United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) has come up with a repot that examines ways to manage urban tourism to the benefit of both visitors and residents.
The report, ‘Overtourism’? Understanding and managing urban tourism growth beyond perceptions’, was launched on Tuesday during the 7th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism, in Seoul (16-19 September 2018).
The report proposes eleven strategies and 68 measures to help understand and manage visitor growth. The report is the result of collaboration between UNWTO, the Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (CELTH), Breda University of Applied Sciencesm and the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) of NHL Stenden University of Applied sciences. Continue reading UN report to help cities manage impact of tourism