_HPFeature
Egypt Poised to Make Full Tourism Recovery in 2012 According to Tourism Minister
May 1, 2012
The tide appears to be turning for Egypt’s tourism industry after political events associated with last year’s ‘Arab Spring’ caused a drop of approximately one third of tourist arrivals and revenues (source: Washington Post). According to the Egyptian Tourist Authority, as quoted in Business Intelligence Middle East, inbound tourism has increased by 32 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 2011. A Washington Post article cited the Egyptian Tourism Minister, Mounir Abdel-Nour, projecting that Egypt will attract 14.5 million travelers this year, a number very close to their 2010 (pre-political uprising) 14.7 million tourist level. “We are confident that the future will be much better than the past,” Abdel-Nour said. “It is not difficult to explain this in an environment where democracy prevails, and where there’s more transparency, less corruption.” … Abdel-Nour said the tourism industry is “doing everything in the book” to woo visitors... Read More →
By the Numbers
Boomers Surpass Gen-Y Smartphone Users, Driving Leisure Travel Market
May 1, 2012
While smartphone ownership amongst business users remains static, the rise in use amongst leisure travellers will be sure to make hoteliers sit up and take note. New figures from leading research consultants BDRC Continental reveal that 61% of leisure travellers own smartphones in 2012, up from 36% and 47% in 2010 and 2011 respectively. And it is the Baby Boomers who are leading the pack, with the growth of ownership in that segment now being double that of Generation Y. That is according to the latest findings from the British Hotel Guest Survey, the key source of information for brand performance and customer insight in the hotels sector, which reveals just a 2 point increase in smartphone ownership among business users in 2012, following a surge from 58% to 73% in 2010-11. Delving deeper into travellers’ engagement with hotels via smartphones, BDRC Continental’s dedicated Hotels, Meetings and Hospitality division discovered that searching for hotel contact details and locations via... Read More →
Industry Partner News
Amadeus and Expedia Sign Multi-Year Agreement in North America
May 1, 2012
Partnership strengthens Amadeus’ footprint in U.S. and Canada Madrid, Spain - Amadeus, a leading travel technology provider and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, and Expedia, Inc., the world’s largest online travel company, today announced they have signed a multi-year content and technology agreement for North America. The agreement provides Expedia with Amadeus’ fare search technologies for air travel among other products, as well as access to global travel supplier content through the Amadeus system. Expedia, Inc. is the largest travel enterprise in the world in terms of air volumes, offering airfare search and reservation capabilities to travellers in over 25 countries through its portfolio of international brands that provide full service and corporate travel offerings, including Expedia®, Egencia® and Hotwire®. Expedia’s proprietary Best Fare Search airfare shopping technology combined with Amadeus’ airline connectivity and robust functionality... Read More →
Industry Partner News
2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Winners Unveiled
April 23, 2012
Three companies and one destination, from four continents, have been recognised for their best practices in sustainable tourism at this year’s WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards winners hail from South America, North America, Europe, and Asia. These diverse set of winners and emerged as victors over 150 entries from more than 60 countries. For all the latest photos and footage form the Awards ceremony please check www.wttc.org. Community Benefit Award – Saunders Hotel Group, USA This local family-owned hotel group has been a leader in sustainable tourism practices as far back as the early 1980s, when they converted an old police building in Boston, Massachusetts into an historic hotel and worked with local community partners to build affordable housing in the same area. Through initiatives that are driven and supported by all levels of their staff, the group supports dozens of local charity and non-profit groups with a combination of financial... Read More →
By the Numbers
U.S. Commerce Department Forecasts Growth in International Travel to the United States Through 2016
April 23, 2012
Commerce Also Launches Online Resource for International Visitors and Industry, Following President Obama’s January 2012 Executive Order to Increase Travel to U.S. Los Angeles, CA – U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson today announced that the United States can expect 4-5 percent average annual growth in tourism over the next five years, and that 65.4 million foreign travelers are projected to visit the United States in 2012 alone. The Spring 2012 Travel and Tourism Forecast, released semi-annually by the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA), predicts continued strong growth through 2016 following two consecutive visitor volume records set in 2010 and 2011. Bryson announced the Forecast at the U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow annual event in Los Angeles, which draws more than 5,000 people from 70 countries from the travel and tourism industry. “Growth in travel and tourism – which impacts nearly every state and community across America... Read More →
Industry Partner News
National Geographic’s ‘Digital Nomad’ Andrew Evans Embarks on 2-City Tour of South Africa
April 20, 2012
Washington, D.C. – Andrew Evans, National Geographic Traveler magazine’s “Digital Nomad,” has embarked on a South African adventure to explore Durban and Cape Town. For the next three weeks, Evans will tweet, blog, vlog and “Instagram” his travels on NationalGeographic.com’s Digital Nomad blog, his Twitter feed @WheresAndrew and his Where’s Andrew Facebook page. “I am thrilled to be exploring urban Africa, especially these two vibrant global cities of Durban and Cape Town,” Evans said. “No place on Earth has so many centuries of global culture packed into such rare and beautiful coastlines.” Evans will be filming a documentary for the National Geographic Channel along the way, focusing on the broad multiculturalism in both cities. As part of the documentary, he will interview some of South Africa’s young and aspiring leaders, including Nelson Mandela’s grandson Kweku Mandela and architect Luyanda Mpahlwa.... Read More →
Spotlight: Destinations
International and Tourism Spending in United States Shows Continued Growth
April 19, 2012
Visitors Spent a Record $10.1 Billion in February Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that international visitors spent an estimated $13.3 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of February—nearly $1.6 billion more, or a 14 percent increase from spending in February 2011. Year to date, U.S. travel and tourism exports have grown more than 11 percent in 2012. “Today’s data is yet further evidence that the United States remains one of the top destinations for international visitors from around the world,” said Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sánchez. “We have seen long-term growth in both arrivals and spending and hope to continue that trend with the focus provided by the Obama Administration on this growing sector. That is why we are making it even easier to visit America’s most amazing places and working hard to tell folks about what an amazing place America is... Read More →
ATTA Press Releases Media Buzz
Spate of Adventure Travel Media Coverage Captures Center Stage Nationally
April 17, 2012
Adventure tourism’s recent flurry of earned editorial media coverage in major media outlets throughout the U.S. lends more credence to mounting evidence that suggests “adventure” is gaining favor as a top choice among travelers. Between April and May 2012 alone, adventure travel is featured prominently in Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, Outside Magazine and Men’s Journal, as well as in the April 14 and 15 2012 feature stories in The Wall Street Journal and The Seattle Times respectively. And, it’s no accident. In addition to supporting trends suggesting that travelers are awakening to more responsible tourism choices, that there are more innovative product/itinerary options, that lifestyles are changing and leaning more toward enriching, in-depth travel experiences and healthier activities, to name just a few, the ATTA and its membership is working behind the scenes with travel journalists internationally to provide expert voices, resources and brand new subject... Read More →
Spotlight: Destinations
Burmese Concerns About Tourism’s Ill Effects as Industry Rapidly Expands
April 16, 2012
Two articles recently explored the dilemma Burma currently faces as the nation evolves politically and the West begins easing sanctions – Burma is beginning to welcome waves of eager international tourists, yet remains wary of facing problems such as cultural erosion and rampant sex tourism as neighbors like Thailand have experienced. The piece in the Irrawaddy proclaimed: Hailed by everyone in the Western press from CNN to Lonely Planet to Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the world’s “in” places to visit in 2012, Burma finds its tourism industry ready to increase exponentially in the next three years if its sadly inadequate infrastructure can possibly match the demand. Ohn Myint, Rangoon’s deputy director of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, said, “We have estimates that in 2012, we can receive 500,000 tourists through Yangon International Airport. In 2015, we will expect over 1 million tourist arrivals to Myanmar.” A blog in the International Herald... Read More →
Spotlight: Destinations
If You Build It, They Will Come: Haiti Rebuilds for Tourism
April 15, 2012
A recent article on eTravel Blackboard details Haiti’s efforts to develop infrastructure in hopes to attract tourism: Millions are reportedly being spent on the rebuilding of the Port-au-Prince International Airport and Cap-Haitian International Airport, and officials have confirmed “discussions” about next year bringing the first cruise ship in 25 years to Port-au-Prince as part of the ‘Cruise with a Cause’ volunteer vacations. Funding will reportedly come from the implementation of a tourist card and flight levies. For more information, read the entire article. Read More →
