Regional News
Americans Remain Tentative About Near-Term Leisure Travel Intentions, Business Travel Intentions Continue to Show Recovery
April 15, 2012
Washington, DC – The U.S. Travel Association and MMGY Global released a new report today providing real-time insights into the state of travel in the United States. Based on the quarterly travelhorizons™ survey, the report provides current perceptions of travel among U.S. adults through the Travel Sentiment Index™ (TSI). It also assesses business and leisure travel intentions during the next six months, as well as revealing trends in the past year of travel. “Americans are continuing to travel but intentions remain somewhat restrained compared to pre-recessionary levels, which is not surprising given the uneven nature of the modest economic recovery to-date,” said David Huether, senior vice president of research for the U.S. Travel Association. “We are carefully monitoring the on-going surge in gas prices, which could erode travel perceptions about the affordability of travel as we edge closer to summer.” The latest results of the travelhorizons™ quarterly... Read More →
New & Different
Dynamic Hispanic Market Draws Attention of Tour Operators and Travel Agents
April 15, 2012
In a historic partnership between two visionary travel industry organizations, the NTA-ASTA Hispanic Business Development Task Force met for the first time in conjunction with Tianguis Turistico Mexico and developed a strategic plan to capture the undertapped U.S. Hispanic travel market. “Because tourism creates jobs and the Hispanic market represents 16 percent of the U.S. population, there is an unprecedented opportunity for growth,” said Olga Ramudo, a member of both NTA and ASTA. “We want to ensure this market is serviced, captured and has a voice in our industry. “NTA and ASTA are creating a home for travel professionals specializing in Hispanic travel with a ‘Mi casa es su casa’ approach,” said Ramudo, who chairs the task force. “We are honored and excited to have hosted the first meeting of this task force in Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit, Mexico,” said Jose Barquin, director, Mexico Tourism Board, Miami office, and a member of... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesLegal Case Against Serengeti Highway Going to Trial
April 15, 2012
The East African Court of Justice decided on March 15 that a case against a proposed commercial highway across the Serengeti could proceed with a full trial. A legal case was filed in December, 2010, by the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), a Kenya nonprofit organization, challenging the Tanzanian government’s decision to build a highway across the Serengeti National Park. ANAW claimed that if the highway were constructed, it would have far-reaching and destructive consequences on the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem which is shared between Kenya and Tanzania. It asked that the highway stopped through a permanent injunction. The East Africa Court of Justice Appellate Division ruled on March 15th, 2012, that the Tanzanian government does not have grounds to oppose jurisdiction of the lower court. The four-judge bench of EACJ’s Appellate Division dismissed all the grounds raised by the Tanzanian Attorney General and ruled that the regional Court did indeed have jurisdiction... Read More →
Member Press Releases
Brazil is Leading The Travel and Tourism Economy in Latin America
April 15, 2012
Brazil is Latin America’s fastest-growing travel and tourism economy; with travel and tourism’s direct contribution to GDP, it is forecast to grow at 7.8 percent in 2012. Research released by David Scowsill, President and CEO, World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC) at Fórum Panrotas, forecasts that the Brazilian travel and tourism economy, which contributed US$79 billion to GDP in 2011, is due to increase by 7.8 percent this year. This is significantly ahead of other countries in the region such as Chile and Colombia (both with growth of 4.7 percent) and Argentina and Peru at 3.7 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. When the wider indirect and induced impacts are taken into account, the industry’s contribution is nearly three times greater – approximately US$213 billion. This is equivalent to 8.6 percent of Brazil’s total GDP. If the growth in Brazil is achieved, it will bring an extra US$5.5 billion for the Brazilian GDP directly from travel and tourism and 200,000 new direct... Read More →
Member Press Releases
Geographic Expeditions Launches GeoEx Family Adventures
April 15, 2012
World’s Best Travel Company creates kid-engaging itineraries that cultivate deep world connections San Francisco, CA – Geographic Expeditions, just named the world’s Best Travel Company by Outside magazine, has launched GeoEx Family Adventures with five handcrafted family trips to the Galapagos, Kenya, Peru, India, and Turkey. “We’re inveterate travelers and family people,” says GeoEx President Jim Sano, “and we know from personal experience that travel bonds families like nothing else. We’ve designed these trips to be short but potent respites from all the texting, tweeting, and social-networking forces that make it so hard for modern families to connect. Most importantly, we’ve made sure that each trip is great fun.” “With 30 years’ experience sending families on trips of a lifetime, GeoEx knows how to construct kid- and family-friendly journeys,” adds Brady Binstadt, who directs the family programs. “We... Read More →
Member Press Releases
C’est Magnifique! Tourism Ireland Website Wins Top Award
April 15, 2012
Tourism Ireland has scooped the top prize for ‘Best Tourist Board Website’ at the French hospitality industry’s ‘Les Travel D’Or’ awards, for the second year running. Beating off stiff competition from 43 other competitor websites, the Tourism Ireland site, www.discoverireland.com/fr, was voted number one for its winning appeal and content by an impressive 77,661 internet users from around France – almost double the number of last year’s voters – and a panel of web and travel industry experts. France is the fourth largest tourist market for the island of Ireland, delivering over 400,000 visitors last year. Following an extensive review of the French market last year, Tourism Ireland has put an ambitious plan in place to increase the number of French holidaymakers by +40% over four years. Every day, more than 6 million internet users (6,178,000) in France visit at least one tourism or travel related website*, which represents a +9% increase on 2010, highlighting the importance... Read More →
Member Press Releases
South African Airways Vacations® Announces New Virtual Itinerary Feature That Allows Travelers to Explore Before Taking Off
April 15, 2012
Web Itineraries Take Travelers through the Entire Experience, Enabling Them to Pick the Best Fit for their Vacation of a Lifetime Fort Lauderdale, FL – South African Airways Vacations® (SAAV) has introduced a first-of-its-kind service among sellers of travel to Africa – virtual itineraries on its website that will take all of the questions out of the process, allowing travelers to picture the vacation they are about to experience. Travelers or travel agents can visit www.flysaavacations.com, choose an itinerary, and click on the “virtual itinerary” button. What opens up is a full, day-by-day overview that starts with award-winning service on South African Airways (SAA) and continues through a host of activities and luxurious accommodations throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. The virtual itinerary will include photos and “i-brochures” of the properties being visited, and even maps that show the journey from the U.S. to the African continent, and each portion of the... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
Fight to Stop Offshore Drilling in Belize’s Barrier Reef
April 12, 2012
Despite citizen outcry in Belize, a country where 30 percent of the population works in the tourism industry, the government is going ahead with plans to drill offshore, including in the middle of the Mesoamerican reef “which is the world’s second largest barrier reef system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a destination point for over 60 percent of the tourists that support Belize’s economy.” Many are worried that an oil spill in the area would have catastrophic effects on the entire water system and the country’s tourism. For detailed background on the international controversy, read the entire article by Ted Danson on the Huffington Post. Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
A Way To Save The Rhino, Just Not Its Horn
April 12, 2012
As rhino poaching numbers climb in several African regions, even as the species becomes more endangered, a controversial new way of stopping the practice is gaining traction: the rhinos are tranquilized, their horns harvested and they’re allowed to live and grow new ones. NPR reports there were 448 rhinos reported killed for their horns in 2011 - a third-straight record-breaking year in South Africa. The impetus? Widespread belief in Asia they are a medicinal cure all. The proposed solution would be rhino farms where the animals would be anesthetized and de-horned to try and decrease poaching and illegal sales. To squelch the black market, Gwin says some advocate for rhino ranches, where the horns are cut in a way that allows them to grow back. The horns would then be harvested for legal. Many conservation groups oppose the practice. For more information, read the article on NPR. Read More →
Spotlight: Destinations
Tour Operators Push to Save the Image of Greece for Tourists
April 12, 2012
Digital Journal has reported that the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA) has joined forces with the U.K.’s ABTA (Travel Association), AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) and FTO (Federation of Tour Operators), to appeal to the Greek government and the Troika to save the image of Greece.The country relies on tourism for 18 percent of its GDP, and the current bad press is dampering tourism revenue and deepening unemployment. According to the article the violent demonstrations occuring are isolated to a smal part of the country’s capital, and other areas and attractions are unscathed. For more information on the situation, and innovative pro-Greek tourism campaigns, read the entire article. Read More →
