Wild Frontiers Takes Over Silk Road and Beyond
January 28, 2010
Multi-award winning adventure travel company Wild Frontiers is delighted to announce the acquisition of the tailor-made specialist tour operator Silk Road and Beyond. The tie-up, completed this week, brings together two highly regarded companies offering quality, knowledge-based travel, with the former specialising in unique, off- the-beaten-track, small group adventures, and the latter in bespoke luxury holidays. Both companies take pride in the quality of their experience-led products and also their culture of offering exceptional levels of customer service. The enlarged company now becomes one of the best choices for clients at the specialised and innovative end of the adventure travel market. Both business have repeat and referral rates exceeding 50% Combining group travel with a high-end, tailor-made service offers an exceptionally wide array of products Bringing the two teams together will form a group of consultants with in-depth knowledge and unparalleled experience in our chosen... Read More →
JITOA “Destination Management Certificate” Program offered to boost the expertise of Jordan Tourism Professionals
January 28, 2010
The Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA) in cooperation with the International Institute of Tourism Studies at the George Washington University (GWU) and under the USAID / Jordan Tourism Development Project II, conducted special certification program for tourism professionals in Jordan for two weeks during January 2010, titled “Destination Management Certificate (DMC)” Program. This program aims to increase the professionalism within the destination management industry in Jordan by establishing a level of knowledge and performance necessary for certification; recognizing and raising industry standards and practices; and maximizing the value of the products and services that certified destination management professionals can provide. Destination Management courses are designed for tourism destination managers & marketers, hotel developers, tour operators, business owners, government officials and others concerned with enhancing the long-term sustainability and competitiveness... Read More →
Spotlight: SustainabilityNiche Market Stands to Boost Jordan’s Tourism Industry
January 28, 2010
Amman, Jordan – The Kingdom of Jordan may be able to tap a wealth of cultural assets through “voluntourism”, according to tourism industry experts. David Clemmons, an expert on the niche market and editor of the e-trade publication Voluntourist, said the concept caters to those who would like to leave a lasting impact on the community they visit. “It wasn’t until voluntourism that we as travellers could express our gratitude,” Clemmons told The Jordan Times. “There is a need not only to take something back home, but to leave something behind, to leave a piece of the traveler. This is where we see this market heading,” he said. The concept originated with Western backpackers staying with families in South America and looking for ways to help the local community, according to industry leaders. Over the past decade, the voluntourism market has grown, with tourists engaging in volunteer activities on all five continents, ranging from building local schools to aiding... Read More →
Spotlight: SustainabilityThe Icarus Foundation Releases Climate Change-Tourism Discussion Paper, Adds to Growing Body of Knowledge
January 27, 2010
Adding to recent discussions concering climate change and tourism (including ATTA Member and Partner Xola Consulting’s 2009 release of Adventure Tourism Companies & Climate Change: Observations from the Himalaya, Amazon, and Polar Regions Spark Adaptation Strategies for Business), The Icarus Foundation today released a new discussion paper about the role of Canadian Tourist Boards and their efforts in mitigating and adapting to climate change. The study, led by Dr. Rachel Dodds, who recently contributed to a panel on sustainable tourism at the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit, on behalf of Icarus, examines through key stakeholder interviews, the role of tourist boards in mitigating and adapting to climate change in Canada. The new study complements a growing body of knowledge within the travel and leisure market – including recent work by the Xola Consulting, The George Washington University and the ATTA – that is aiding... Read More →
Torrential Rain, Landslides Wreak Havoc, Take Lives at Machu Picchu
January 27, 2010
According to Radio Netherlands Worldwide (and corroborated by numerous news sources): Severe weather in the Peruvian Andes has claimed the lives of at least seven people. Among them are an Argentinian and a Peruvian guide. They were killed in a landslide at Machu Picchu, the site famous for its ancient Inca ruins. Torrential rain in southern Peru has caused flooding and landslides. Around 2000 tourists are stranded at Machu Picchu, because there are no trains running on the only railway line to the city of Cusco. Click here to read more and/or use Google News to source additional report. Read More →
Member Press ReleasesPassports with Purpose Succeeds in Raising Funds to Build School in Cambodia
January 26, 2010
Passport School to Receive Clean Water, Garden, Medical Care with Additional Funds Raised SEATTLE, WA – Passports with Purpose (PwP) completed its second annual collaborate fundraiser on December 21, 2009 by raising over USD $27,500 to build a school in rural Cambodia through American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC). The “Passport School” will be built in the region of Preah Vihear by summer 2010. When the original goal of USD $13,000 to build the school was met just one week into the fundraiser, the founders of PwP, Beth Whitman, Debbie Dubrow, Michelle Duffy and Pam Mandel, decided to double the goal to raise additional funds to support the children of the Passport School with clean water, healthy meals, and medical care. “We have been absolutely astounded at how many people were willing to help support this effort. It’s a great testament to what just $10 can do when hundreds of people work together towards a common goal,” said Debbie Dubrow. On November 30, 2009, Passports... Read More →
By the NumbersTravel Shows Signs of Muted Growth
January 26, 2010
Brussels — The European Travel Commission has just published its fourth quarterly report on European Tourism 2009 – Trends & Prospects. Travel demand trends in the last three months of 2009 confirmed that the recovery was underway, although the growth was in large part due to comparisons with the low levels in late 2008. And the improvement, which benefited Europe less than most other regions of the world, came too late to make much difference to the final full-year results. In summary, for the travel and tourism industry, 2009 was undoubtedly a year to forget. The outlook for growth in 2010 is more positive that it was three month ago – with more ‘risk’ to the upside. Europe’s tourism performance in the first half of 2010 will of course be aided by comparison with the depths of the recession in 2009. However, some significant downside risks remain, including security concerns and the possibility (although now deemed less likely) of a more virulent A(H1N1) pandemic. Tourism... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesPrivate Travel, a Trend for Luxury Travelers in 2010
January 26, 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina – Lark Tours announced today that private travel is a growing trend for luxury travelers in 2010. Continuing economic uncertainty is the driving force behind this increase, causing travelers to seek out greater value for money. Colin Camu, a managing travel specialist at Lark Tours, noted, “Over the last several months there has been a marked increase in travelers booking private vacations for 2010 and 2011. Based on what we are experiencing at Lark Tours, and based on what we are hearing and seeing in the industry, it appears that private travel in the luxury travel segment is gaining strong momentum.” According to Lark Tours, this shift towards private travel is a result of four distinct factors, all of which translate into more value for money in the minds of luxury travelers: 1. Luxury travelers want their dream itinerary and they are becoming increasingly unwilling to compromise on any detail. Many travelers reason that if they are going to spend... Read More →
ATTA Member ProfilesUpdates from the Nepal Mountaineering Association
January 25, 2010
The Ministers’ Cabinet of the Government of Nepal held a special meeting at Kala Patthar Plateau (5,542 m) on December 4th near Mt. Everest Base Camp, to raise awareness about the impact of Climate Change on Nepal. Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and 23 other ministers attended the meeting, where a 10 point ‘Declaration’ was released which calls for concerted actions to minimize adverse effects of climate change in the Himalayan region The meeting held at such a high altitude was substantial in drawing attention to the dangers of climate change and global warming on the Himalayas, days before UN negotiations on climate change in Copenhagen. This meeting gained worldwide media coverage and it showed the commitment of the Nepalese Government towards the burning issues of Climate Change and the mountain environment. Following this, Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas was organized by the Government of Nepal in Copenhagen to mark the International Mountain Day on December... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesCall of the Wild Selected as Winner of British Airways Business Opportunity
January 25, 2010
Mountain View, CA – Call of the Wild has been selected as a winner of British Airways Business Opportunity Grant. For its Business Opportunity Grant program, British Airways hand selected the winning companies primarily based on how a year’s worth of business travel and face to face meetings, along with other valuable business support, would positively impact each business, its growth and ability to meet objectives for 2010. The grant includes airfare for 10 round-trip Club World business class flights, five free global shipments with British Airways World Cargo, $1,000 toward hotel accommodations at Courtyard by Marriott, five Regus Businessworld Gold Cards offering access to its business lounges worldwide, a Canon MX860 Printer, and three face-to-face business introductions through ExeConnect. “Call of the Wild is excited to be honored by British Airways and is a proud recipient of this grant. We are already in touch with potential partners around the globe about the ability... Read More →
