Category: Latest Travel News

Schönenberg (Switzerland) – May 6, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Central Asia is one of the fastest growing tourism regions in the world right now. Visa reform, improved flight connections, reduced bureaucracy, and investment in infrastructure have all contributed to the countries’ increase in popularity with adventurous travelers and tour operators alike.
But how much do we actually know about tourism trends in the region?

For the first time, Indy Guide has published the Insight Tourism Report on Central Asia and Mongolia. Detailed data has been drawn from thousands of website visitors, conversations, and transactions to shed light on both regional trends and national variations. The findings are significant for domestic and international travel trade planning and development and highlight future areas for growth.

Traveler demographics
Indy Guide data shows that 52% of all visitors using the site to plan a visit to Central Asia and Mongolia are from Europe. North America (14%) is relatively underrepresented, probably due to the shortage of direct flight connections.The proportion of male:female visitors is 61:39, a ratio which is consistent with competing destinations such as Georgia and India. Indy Guide’s recommendations for redressing the balance include training more female guides and emphasising the safety of travel in the region. The average visitor is in their mid 40s to early 50s; those visiting Tajikistan and Uzbekistan tend to be slightly older than those travelling elsewhere in the region.

Trip characteristics
The top 20 keywords for searches (excluding proper nouns) highlight that travelers see  Central Asia primarily as an adventure destination geared to budget/mid range tourism.
1.Tour
2. Driver
3. Lake
4. Car
5. Guide
6. Horse
7. Festival
8. Canyon
9. Eagle
10. Trekking
11. Visa
12. Rent
13. Riding
14. Desert
15. Rental
16. Mountain
17. Nomad
18. Winter
19. Hostel
20. Hotel

The vast majority of tourists are planning to travel on their own (25%) or in a small group (64%); just 11% will visit in a group of five or more people. There is a strong preference to visit more than one country on a trip. Mongolia is the regional exception, due to its physical separation from other Central Asian countries, and the cost and limited number of flight connections.

This findings emphasizes the attraction of increased cross-border cooperation and the likely demand for the proposed Silk Road visa. Visitors typically start planning their trip 90 days before traveling, booking at the 45 day point. There is strong seasonal variation, however, and lead times may be cut to less than half in high season (June-September). The modal length of trip varies from destination to destination. Visitors spend the least amount of time in Kazakhstan (70% of trips are 1-2 days), and the most time in Mongolia and Tajikistan, where the most common trip length exceeds 10 days. This is partially accounted for by the fact that Astana and Almaty can be stopovers on long haul flights, and visitors may add a tour onto a business trip, but also demonstrate Kazakhstan has a lot to do in terms of better promoting the breadth of its tourism offering and encouraging longer stays.

About Indy Guide
Indy Guide is the first peer-to-peer travel marketplace in Central Asia, connecting travellers with thousands of service providers in the ‘stans, Mongolia, the Caucasus, and beyond. The site is independent — Indy Guide is not a tour operator — and transparent: users can browse a wide range of fixed price offers, plus honest feedback from previous guests.
Indy Guide was founded by husband and wife team Ati and Alexandra Tosun, who hail from
Kazakhstan and Austria respectively but met whilst living in Switzerland. They honeymooned in Central Asia, and for the past three years have steadily built up their regional network of independent guides, drivers, and tour operators, enabling others to enjoy authentic local experiences at reasonable prices.

Indy Guide supports regional tourism development by creating a platform for local services
providers, offering them training, and promoting underrated destinations.

Download the full Insight Tourism Report 2019 – Central Asia and Mongolia via .

Lucerne (Switzerland) – May 3, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Innovative digital business models are constantly changing the travel, tourism and hotel industries. This technology-driven change forces organizations to question long-established structures in order to remain at the forefront of their sectors. In addition, the focus of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne was on the innovators themselves. In other words, the human capital of the industry.

Innovation and Transformation as the Common Denominator

In her presentation, Karolin Frankenberger, Professor of Strategic Management at the University of St. Gallen, outlined the dramatic changes in the tourism industry. “New start-ups in particular have turned the industry upside down with their disruptive business models. In addition to well-known names such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Uber, new business such as GetYourGuide have emerged.” Professor Frankenberger went on to address why start-ups are so successful and why established companies appear sluggish and fail to add new business models to the market. “The core of transformation is the development of a new disruptive business model. Start-ups benefit from the absence of a long history, which limits agility and often makes innovation difficult. Established companies, on the other hand, have a legacy and an existing business model that has already achieved results.” What can established companies do? “They can easily learn to develop innovative business ideas,” stated Frankenberger. Implementation is central. “Most ideas fail in the execution phase,” Frankenberger explained, using various examples to illustrate that “leadership, people, culture, organisational strategy, technology and procedures are at the heart of a successful change implementation.”

Human Capital is Key

It has always been this way and it is becoming increasingly more central in the digital world. People determine the future of a company with their skills, commitment and self-identity. Human capital is key also means that individuals view their job as a vocation. It is therefore a matter of discovering new talents and offering them the right opportunities. Kate Walsh of Cornell University presented her research on human capital. “The future belongs to those companies whose managers have recognised that working methods need to be redesigned, that know how to promote the agility of each individual and thus their commitment and that further know how to inspire talented individuals. It is the core task of educators, Walsh continued, not only to constantly think about how and what should be taught, but also to consider how work in the technology-oriented world should be understood, defined and redesigned. “It is about how expert knowledge can be used or retained for a company. We need a new approach to the new working environment.”

Federal Councilor Commends Switzerland for its Strength in Innovation

In his speech, Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, Head of the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research, underlined the strength of Switzerland as being a hub for innovation. “Switzerland’s strengths can be seen above all in the innovative strength of the tourism industry,” Parmelin stated. Events such as the World Tourism Forum Lucerne are important platforms and should be seen as genuine drivers of change.

In total, more than 30 lectures, panel discussions, presentations, start-up pitches, award ceremonies, workshops and parallel sessions took place during the World Tourism Forum Lucerne in the KKL and other locations in the city such as the Hotelfachschule Luzern. The guest destination was Ras Al Khaimah.

Winners of the Start-Up Innovation Camp 2019

The 4th Start-up Innovation Camp 2019, which took place in the run-up to the WTFL, confirmed the amount of motivation, commitment and creativity that exists. The international jury selected five winners from 15 finalists (250 start-up companies from 56 countries applied). The winners are Trip Boutique, Zurich (Destination), Prognolit, Winterthur (Hospitality), RoomPriceGenie, Zug (Transaction), KITRO, Zurich (Impact) and EuroTube, Zurich (Mobility). In addition to prize money of 20,000 US dollars, the winners benefit from a 2-year coaching programme run by experienced managers and entrepreneurs.

Shaping the future of the Lucerne Campus

The World Tourism Forum Lucerne not only successfully organizes these events, but also generates content and creates value based on the themes of talent, innovation, sustainable development and diversity. The “Tourism by Tomorrow” project, launched in 2018 and supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the New Regional Policy (NRP), the city of Lucerne and various cooperation and industrial partners such as Bürgenstock Selection and Orascom Development by Samih Sawiris, has made Lucerne the hub of innovation for the tourism industry. The project, which was presented in detail to an enthusiastic audience at the WTFL, also includes a one-week camp for Swiss and global start-ups. “Tourism by Tomorrow” will take place for the first time in 2021. A further element of the project is an existing online platform that brings start-ups together with investors and service providers. The core is a structured database which continuously tracks down promising enterprises in the fields of tourism, travel, mobility and health and leads them to the platform, thus creating a type of “ecosystem”.

A positive balance

For Martin Barth, CEO of the WTFL, the 6th edition of the Forum has been a resounding success: “Not only did we increase the number of participants, but the feedback has also been positive in all respects. The WTFL has once again proven to be a unique platform where the world’s leading companies from the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors meet to shape a more sustainable future. The WTFL is the only platform that brings together start-ups, young leaders and students with investors, government ministers and CEOs.” Over the past ten years, the platform has evolved into a year-round network of leaders and innovators from a variety of backgrounds (business, education, politics, finance and society) who are driving positive change in travel, tourism and hospitality.

About the World Tourism Forum Lucerne
The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is an exclusive platform where the world’s leading tourism, travel and hospitality companies meet to shape a more sustainable future for tourism. It provides decision-makers with in-depth insights into the core themes of the tourism industry and a unique global network. The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is the only platform to integrate start-ups, young executives and students into one program. Over the past ten years, it has evolved into a year-round network of leaders and innovators who are driving positive change in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. This includes an influential network of leaders from the business, education, politics, finance and community sectors.

Geneva (Switzerland) – May 3, 2019 (travelindex.com) –WISeKey International Holding Ltd, a leading global cybersecurity, Blockchain and IoT company, WISeCoin AG and the SUNx – Strong Universal Network, announced today a partnership to jointly develop a special purpose Blockchain Center of Excellence in Brussels focusing on the development of standards and technologies to accelerate Climate Friendly Travel.

WISeKey Blockchain technology developed by WISeCoin creates a trusted decentralized and highly efficient way to record carbon emissions using digital identities on the blockchain. Recording all CO2 emissions that occur globally and requiring emissions contributors to offset them by purchasing and revoking the corresponding amount of tokenized digital certificates eliminates the need for taxation.

Furthermore, companies that have developed technologies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere will be able to register their impact on the blockchain and trigger the new emission of digital certificate tokens that will allow them to further invest in the technology. With this model it will be possible to generate new emission certificates, called WISeTravel Carbon Offset Tokens. In the case of shortfalls, the travel industry will invest into WISeTravel Carbon Offset Tokens in order to fulfill their requirements.

Professor Geoffrey Lipman co-founder of SUNx said: “We are delighted to cooperate with WISeKey by using state-of-the-art technology to bring a new Blockchain and Identity capacity to the world’s largest challenge, Climate Change Resilience, and one of the world’s largest industries, – travel and tourism. The SUNx ‘Plan for our Kids’ climate friendly travel program calls for 100,000 STRONG Climate Champions by 2030 in all UN States.

Through this collaboration we will be in a better position to deliver Climate Friendly Travel – measured, green, 2050 proofed, and meet the Paris Agreement Carbon targets.” These technologies will help galvanize regional, national, and local stakeholders to develop their own climate change programs using blockchain technologies – for air, oceans, land, cities, industries, rural communities, indigenous people etc. Each with their own vision of priorities and goals. The partnership ultimately aims at transforming overall production, consumption, and investment and better align them with the 2030 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2050 Climate transformation.

Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey said: “One of SDGs goals that stands out from the rest and is fundamentally existential, is climate change. Simply put, life on our planet is threatened, and without immediate, concrete actions the consequences will be irreversible – future generations will either freeze or fry and the intensifying consequences of extreme climate will continue to severely aggravate many of the other SDG challenges. Our special purpose Travel & Tourism Industry Blockchain Center of Excellence in Brussels will not only develop and deploy groundbreaking products and solutions for the industry and consumers but also harness the power of technologies to act as a catalyst of change and climate transformation.”

The Paris Agreement, with its 2050 national carbon reduction targets must be fully implemented and intensified every 5 years. In 2017, the world’s largest industrial activity, Travel & Tourism, formally embraced the SDGs, engaging public, private and civil society stakeholders in an International Year of Sustainable Development. Rightly so, to become a real force for good, we must be up with the mainstream curve on building sustainability into all growth and development aspirations. The main challenge remains how to keep Climate Resilience front and center when travel and tourism continues to massively grow.

The Blockchain Center of Excellence in Brussels will be fully interoperable with WISeKey’s network of Blockchain Centers of Excellence in India, Canada, China, Buenos Aires, Malaysia, Mauritius and Rwanda with new centers planned in the MEA region, including two in Saudi Arabia. All these centers will be interconnected with its 3 main hubs: Geneva, Toronto and Beijing, a Trust Triangle operating under a Common Trust Protocol, using WISeKey’s PKI hardened Blockchain technology, bringing trust and security, while maintaining the core Blockchain values of transparency, auditability, and traceability. WISeKey’s implemented and integrated PKI solution is complementary to any Blockchain platform, where it can assist with developing a better trust model for use within a distributed system and create a universal Trust Protocol for the Web 2.0.

Like all other Blockchain Centers of Excellence, the new center in Brussels will assist local Blockchain startups to promote their technologies internationally, facilitate the rapid adaptation and on-boarding of Blockchain-based solutions, foster stronger collaboration between the public, private and academic sectors and cooperate to ensure that the latest technological standards are made available in a safe and trusted manner.

About SUNx – Strong Universal Network
SUNx – Strong Universal Network – is a new system for Tourism destinations and stakeholders to build Climate Resilience in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement through Climate Friendly Travel. It is managed by the Belgian-based not-for-profit Green Growth & Travelism Institute (GGTI). The 2015 Paris Accords and SDGs launched, a 3-decade, low carbon transformation, recognizing “Climate Change is existential”. This is the rationale for SUNx – the Strong Universal Network. Under the initial guidance of our friend and mentor, the late Maurice Strong – sustainable development pioneer, we are creating a “Plan For Our Kids” a global Training and Lifetime Learning program to create a movement of 100,000 STRONG Climate Champions by 2030. They will advance Climate Friendly Travel ~ measured: green: 2050 proof ~ to support the Paris Accords & SDG13, underpinned by our technology Portal and network of cloud-connected centres. This will help bring Travel & Tourism into the “New Climate Economy”.

About WISeCoin
WISeCoin AG was formally established in August 2018 in Zug Switzerland. It manages all Blockchain initiatives and operations of WISeKey to pave the way for the daily use of 4th Industrial Revolution technologies. WISeCoin AG benefits from the WISeKey architecture as the first and only vertically integrated platform combining proprietary cybersecurity software and secure microcontrollers designed to protect connected devices against evolving cyber threats. WISeCoin is a Trusted Distributed Ledger Technology of Identity to store objects and people’s identity. It offers connected objects the ability to identify, authenticate and verify each other with a digital certificate. For each interaction, the Blockchain of Identity will verify the validity of each digital certificate to secure the interaction. To compensate the use of the platform, a micro service fee is charged through a utility token, called the WISeCoin token.

About WISeKey
WISeKey (SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems for people and objects using Blockchain, AI and IoT respecting the Human as the Fulcrum of the Internet. WISeKey Microprocessors Secures the pervasive computing shaping today’s Internet of Everything. WISeKey IoT has an install base of over 1.5 billion microchips in virtually all IoT sectors (connected cars, smart cities, drones, agricultural sensors, anti-counterfeiting, smart lighting, servers, computers, mobile phones, crypto tokens etc.). WISeKey is uniquely positioned to be at the edge of IoT as our semiconductors produce a huge amount of Big Data that, when analyzed with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can help industrial applications to predict the failure of their equipment before it happens.

Our technology is Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey’s Swiss based cryptographic Root of Trust (“RoT”) provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people.

 

Geneva (Switzerland) – May 2, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Founded nearly 400 years ago, Robert & Fils 1630, currently headed by Gilles Robert – representing the 11th generation of watchmakers – presents an astonishing 100% Swiss Made “archaemodern” creation. A fusion between past and present imbued from tradition, modernity, beauty and balance. Based on vintage “Robert” manual-winding movements from the 1960s and 1970s, this line is entirely restored with a pink or white gold case delicately set with diamonds.

Remade the old-fashioned way in the pure traditional style of women’s watches from the 1930 and 1940s – combined with a highly original and intricately crafted “lace” leather strap adorned with diamond-set jewellery inlays – this exclusive 20-piece edition comprises 10 watches in pink gold set with 123 diamonds and 10 in white gold set with 187 diamonds.

One of Baselworld’s most charming new releases, to be discovered and published without delay MOVEMENT Mechanical manual-winding, 1960s-1970s “Robert” mechanical manual-winding calibre, entirely restored and decorated in 2019.

FUNCTIONS: Hours and minutes.
CASE: 18K pink gold or white gold, 37 x 21mm, respectively set with 76 and 140 brilliant-cut diamonds, crown topped with a cabochon-cut diamond. Sapphire crystal and caseback with anti-reflective treatment. DIAL White with central décor and Roman numerals, blued steel hands.
STRAP: Hand-made. Black leather, adorned with six 18K gold strands set with 30 brilliant- cut diamonds. Double pin buckle set with 16 brilliant-cut diamonds. Strap also available in vegan leather.
PUBLIC PRICE IN SWISS FRANCS:
Rose gold with 123 diamonds CHF 35,000.–
White gold with 187 diamonds CHF 37,000.

For its return to Baselworld 2019, the historic brand Robert & Fils 1630 is exhibiting in the new section called “The Watch Incubator.” For the occasion, Gilles Robert is presenting “La Dentelle,” an original ladies’ watch crafted with great attention to detail and creativity, like a fine lace bracelet.

Robert & Fils 1630 is steeped in history, enjoying one of the longest timekeeping traditions in the world. For nearly 400 years, the Robert family has created hundreds of mechanical movementsfor the industry. Today, heir to this incredible watchmaking and artistic patrimony — which includes the famous painter Léopold Robert(1794-1835) — Gilles Robert represents the 11th generation.

And, true to his illustrious roots, he continues this unique tradition by creating exclusive timekeepers with contemporary classic styling — styling that was awarded with a first prize in design in New York. Today, much like “The Watch Incubator” at Baselworld, the latest creation from Robert & Fils 1630 blends tradition and modernity. A captivating women’s watch, “La Dentelle” attests to this blend of tradition and modernity, not only with its original movement but, most importantly, with its inventive bracelet. Wide, feminine, lacy and adorned with jewellery, the bracelet evokes innovation and elegance. This new Robert & Fils 1630 timepiece will clearly attract women who appreciate beauty and for whom the delicateness inspired by the lace is as important as the quality and originality of the historic movement.

Lucerne (Switzerland) – May 01, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Innovative business models are constantly changing the travel, tourism and hotel industries. This technology-driven change forces organizations to question long established structures in order to remain at the forefront of their sectors. In addition, the focus of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne will be on the innovators themselves. In other words, the human capital of the industry.

Top Speakers and Panelists The speaker lineup is a stellar group of international specialists, including Musimbi Kanyoro (President & CEO, Global Fund for Women), HE Rania Al-Mashat (Minister of Tourism, Arab Republic of Egypt), Haitham Mattar (CEO, Tourism Development Authority of the Government of Ras Al Khaimah), Kate Walsh (Dean & E.M. Statler Professor, Cornell University), Maud Bailly (Chief Digital Officer, AccorHotels) and Puneet Chhatwal (CEO, The Indian Hotels Company Limited). Among the speakers from Switzerland are Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin (Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research), Karolin Frankenberger (Professor & Director of the Institute of Management & Strategy, University of St. Gallen), Andreas Schmid (Entrepreneur; Chairman, Helvetica Capital AG; Board Member, Radisson Hospitality; Chairman, Zurich Airport) and Jean-Claude Biver (Non-executive Chairman of the LVMH watchmaking division; Chairman of the Board, Hublot; Chairman of the Board, Zenith).

A Unique Global Network The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is a unique platform where the world’s leading tourism, travel and hospitality companies meet to build a more sustainable future. It provides decision-makers with in-depth insight into key tourism issues and a unique global network.

The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is the only platform that brings together start-ups, next generation leaders and students with investors, government ministers and CEOs. Over the past ten years, the platform has evolved into a year-round network of leaders and innovators from diverse backgrounds (business, education, government, finance and society) who are driving positive changes in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. As the digitalization of everyday life continues to advance, it causes drastic changes – including how we plan, book, travel, and spend our holidays.

Martin Barth, CEO of the WTFL,points out that the Forum has evolved into a global platform with a strong multi-stakeholder community: “We believe that innovation must be actively managed to meet the ongoing changes in the tourism, travel and hospitality industries. For this reason, we bring together established companies, investors and start-ups, because this is the only way to create something new.

Switzerland can be proud to be the home of the ‘WEF in Tourism’. Thanks to our long-standing partnerships, our platform has become even more exciting for everyone involved.” Tourism by Tomorrow The World Tourism Forum Lucerne aims not only to be an event, but to create value and generate knowledge based on the topics of talent, innovation, sustainable development and diversity.

With the “Tourism by Tomorrow” initiative launched in 2018, Lucerne became a hub for innovation in the tourism and travel industry. This project is supported by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the New Regional Policy (NRP), the City of Lucerne and various cooperation and industrial partners such as Bürgenstock Selection and Orascom Development by Samih Sawiris. The project also includes a one-week camp for Swiss and global start-ups, which is scheduled to take place for the first time in 2021.

Another element of the program is an online platform that connects start-ups with investors and service providers. The platform’s core is a structured database which continually tracks down promising start-ups in the areas of tourism, travel, mobility and health, thus creating an entrepreneurial “ecosystem”.”Bye Bye Plastic Bags” – Environmental Activist in Lucerne

The 16-year-old Indonesian-Dutch environmental activist Isabel Wijisen will present “Youth making waves” at the World Tourism Forum Lucerne. The presentation will be on Friday, May 3, 2019, from 3:40 to 4:10 pm. Isabel Wijsen, who lives in Bali, is regarded as a peer of Greta Thunberg and represents a generation that is actively and vehemently involved in environmental policy. In 2013, Isabel and her sister, Melati, then 10 and 12 years old, founded the movement “Bye Bye Plastic Bags” on their home island of Bali. Within six years, the movement had grown into a global network. The extensive plastic clean-up in 2017 and 2018 triggered a tremendous response and the campaign became a legend under the banner of the movement “One Island One Voice”.

Isabel Wijsen has spoken on world stages such as TED, the United Nations and at the conference “Our Oceans”. She was selected by Forbes as one of the top ten most inspiring women in 2017. Isabel and her older sister were awarded the CNN Heroes Young Wonders in December 2018 and were selected by TIME as one of the top 25 most influential teenagers of 2018. Isabel is in the 11th grade at Greenschool in Bali and will graduate from high school next year.

Start-Up Innovation Camp 2019 – 15 finalists Of 250 applications from 56 countries, the international jury of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne has selected 15 finalists for the 4th Start-up Innovation Camp on May 1, 2019. Among the finalists are five Swiss start-ups. The finalists will be selected based on the categories Hospitality, Mobility, Destination, Transaction and Impact. The finalists will showcase their business models at a side event on May 1, 2019 and there will be an award ceremony on the main stage on May 2 and 3. Other side events include the WTFL Think Tank, Next Generation Leader Day, Young Talent Programme, Academic Circle and the popular Swiss Session.

Uprising Tourism Destination: Ras Al Khaimah at WTFL Ras Al Khaimah is one of the world’s fastest growing tourism destinations. As the northernmost United Arab Emirates, it boasts a rich culture and a long-standing history dating back 7000 years. Ras Al Khaimah’s industry collaborates closely with the government and other stakeholders in order to position itself as an innovative destination with continuing development of its tourism infrastructure, sustainable investment opportunities and enhancement of the quality of life for its residents. As the Guest Destination for the World Tourism Forum Lucerne during a two-year collaboration, Ras Al Khaimah will host three events in 2020. Namely, the WTFL Think Tank for influential global leaders, the WTFL Talent Boost for young talent, which will be held in cooperation with a local university, and the WTFL Start-Up Innovation Camp, which brings together the best new business concepts from various industries.

Travelindex, publishers of TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News, is an International Media Partner with the World Economic Forum Lucerne 2019.

About World Tourism Forum Lucerne
The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is a unique platform where global leaders in tourism, travel and hospitality meet to shape a more sustainable future of tourism. It provides decision-makers with detailed insights into the key issues of the tourism industry and with a unique global network. The World Tourism Forum Lucerne is the only platform to inte- grate start-ups, young leaders and students into one programme. Over the past ten years, it has evolved into a year-round network of leaders and leading thinkers who stimulate positive change in travel, tourism and hospitality. This includes an influential network of business, education, government, finance and community leaders. The 6th World Tourism Forum Lucerne will take place in Lucerne from 1 to 3 May 2019.

Buenos Aires (Argentina) – April 30, 2019 (travelindex.com) –Delegation of Global Tourism Economy Forum (“GTEF” or “the Forum”) recently completed an official visit to Argentina and Brazil,GTEF 2019 Partner Countries. Led by Pansy Ho, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, objective of this mission was two-fold: The Delegation meets the head of state and Ministries of Tourism of Argentina and Brazil, introduces GTEF 2019 and extends invitation to major chambers of commerce, tourism associations and industry leaders. The latest GTEF visit to its Partner Countries is also dedicated to making contributions for deepening China-Argentina and China-Brazil relations. This is also the occasion which stimulates new ideas for the preparation of GTEF 2019, and eventually fosters a broader tourism exchange and cooperation among the nations. In addition, GTEF establishes the bridges connecting Chinese, Argentine and Brazilian enterprises to explore tourism and investment opportunities.

In Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Ho was received by Mauricio Macri, President of Argentina, and won the president’s endorsement on GTEF 2019. The Delegation also paid visit to the Ministry of Tourism of Argentina and met José Gustavo Santos, Minister of Tourism of Argentina; and Sebastián Slobayen, Secretary of Coordination and Tourism Investments National Tourism Ministry of Argentina. The meeting was focused on exploring China-Argentina tourism collaboration possibilities, particularly on attracting tourism investment to Argentina and facilitating respective business matching. Besides, the Delegation attended meetings with tourism leaders like Alejo Rodríguez Cacio, General Director of InvestBA; Eugenio Bréard, President of Administration of Natural Parks (APN); Aldo Elías, President of Argentine Chamber of Tourism (CAT); Andrés Miguel Fassi, President of Club Atlético Talleres; and Ramiro Alem, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Inversiones en Turismo (InverTUR), and engaged with tourism representatives from Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Jujuy Province, Chubut Province, Rio Negro Province, Mendoza Province and Corrientes Province. The rewarding meetings offered a better picture on the characteristics and prospects of Argentine tourism industry and regional markets. Conversely, Argentine tourism community learnt important information on Chinese tourism market from the Delegation. Prior travelling to Buenos Aires, the Delegation was greeted in a welcome dinner hosted by Hugo Passalacqua, Governor of Misiones Province; José María Arrúa, Minister of Tourism of Misiones; and Iván Piedrabuena, Director of Tourism of Iguazú.

The Delegation continued its trip at Brasilia, capital of Brazil. Wang Ping, Vice Chairman of GTEF and Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism, was received by Hamilton Mourão, Vice-President of Brazil. The Forum’s effectiveness was recognized by Vice-President Mourão and earned his promise to attend GTEF 2019 this October. This was coupled with an appointment with Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, Minister of Tourism of Brazil; Daniel Nepomuceno, Vice Minister of Tourism of Brazil; and Leônidas Oliveira, President of Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur) at Brasilia. There were also exchanges between various Brazilian tourism officials and leaders and the Delegation on facilitating wider China-Brazil tourism cooperation through market open-up. The Delegation comprehensively understood the country’s different tourism segments, and Brazilian tourism peers became more familiarized with Chinese tourism market in return. Among the attendees were Bob dos Santos, National Secretary of Interinstitutional Integration of Ministry of Tourism; Aluizer Malab B. do Nascimento, National Secretary of Tourism Development and Competitiveness, Ministry of Tourism; Robson Borchio, National Secretary of Tourism Structuring of Ministry of Tourism; Rubem Amaral, Tourism and Sport General Coordinator of Ministry of Exterior Relations; Leonardo Resende, Secretariat of Tourism of Government of the Federal District; Walter Bittar, Government Relations Advisor of The Integrated System of Parks and Tourist Attractions (SINDEPAT); Lamarck Freire Rolim, Ethics Counselor of Brazilian Travel Agencies Association (ABAV); and Adriana Pinto, President of Brazilian Forum of Hotel Operators (FOHB).

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Ho traveled to Sao Paulo and was received by João Doria, Governor of State of Sao Paulo and Vinicius Lummertz, Secretary of Tourism of State of Sao Paulo, for a constructive dialogue around tourism economy. The Delegation later arrived at Sao Paulo and, engaged in conversations with dignitaries and business leader to better understand one of Brazil’s major tourist destinations and share experience in optimizing development of tourism economy. Joining the meeting were Luigi Nese, President of Nacional Confederation of Services of Brazil (CNS); Henrique Magalhães Teixeira, Vice-Mayor of Campinas Municipality; Carlos Bezerra Jr., Municipal Secretary of Sports and Leisure of Sao Paulo; Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos, President of Paulista Soccer Federation; André Friedheim, President of Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF); Ruben Moratorio, President of Brazil China Institute of Santa Catarina (IBCDESC); and Paulo Bastos Cruz Filho, President of Portuguese Language Countries Cultural Union (CPLP), among all.

In addition, the Delegation was welcome by Zou Xiaoli, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Argentine Republic; and Yang Wanming, Ambassador of The People’s Republic of China to Republic of Brazil, respectively. The ambassadors generously shared the latest China-Argentina and China-Brazil updates on tourism, cultural and economic relations, and expressed full support for coordinating Argentine and Brazilian tourism community to Macao and participate in GTEF 2019.

Co-organized by GTEF, China Chamber of Tourism and China Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Delegation comprised of influential Chinese business leaders and key Forum members including Wang Ping, Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism and Vice Chairman of GTEF; Li Xiaomei, Delegate of Vice Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism and Chairman and General Manager of Mekong Tourism Co. Ltd.; Jay Chun, Chairman of Paradise Entertainment Limited; and Janyck Daudet, Chief Executive Officer of South America of Club Med. The visit has also garnered support from the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR.

Scheduled in MGM COTAI, Macao on October 13-15, GTEF 2019 will present the theme of tourism and leisure, wellness and sports, and bring in Argentina and Brazil as Partner Countries and Jiangsu as Featured China Province. Ministers of sports, culture and tourism, top international corporate leaders and experts will gather together to discuss latest tourism policies and trends, analyze the implications to future tourism development from the pursuit of healthy lifestyle among millennium consumers, and share the success stories that integrate tourism, recreation, leisure and sports elements. GTEF 2019 strives for inspiring delegates to think of new ideas and innovative models, fostering broader industry cooperation, and catalyzing the transformation and upgrading of tourism products and service experiences. GTEF’s multiple-purpose platform offers an exciting program of keynote and panel sessions, bilateral meetings, business matching, exhibitions, workshops and cultural activities for tourism stakeholders worldwide to seize the immense opportunities from the exponential growth of tourism and leisure, wellness and sports, and capitalize on the intriguing interplay potential of China-Latin America tourism market.

About the Global Tourism Economy Forum
The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, in collaboration with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism under the authorization of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and coordinated by Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC). GTEF’s supporting units include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) and European Travel Commission (ETC).

Since its inception in 2012, GTEF has successfully established itself as an influential high-level cooperation platform to promote sustainable development in the global tourism industry with a focus on China. To date, GTEF had received more than 10,783 participants from 89 countries and regions, including delegations from 147 provinces and cities of Mainland China; and 570 internationally renowned speakers.

Bangkok (Thailand) – April 30, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is achieving record results from its recent CLMV Road Show 2019 that generated nearly 70 new leads, valued at about THB 400 million (approximately US$ 12.5 million) in revenue, on business events originating from Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam between January and March this year.

Mrs. Nichapa Yoswee, TCEB’s Senior Vice President – Business, said: “Leads from the Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam road show events have exceeded our expectations in terms of leads and now the real work begins converting those leads into business.

“We are pleased to see results from our “Fly and Meet Double Bonus – Redefined” and “ASEAN+6 Visitor Privilege” campaigns. The response from CLMV countries has been very gratifying and gives us something to build on,” she added.

In total meeting and incentive (MI) leads from Cambodia totalled 13 groups with 1,681 participants from the beverage, pharmaceutical, insurance and direct selling industries, with an estimated revenue of THB 122 million. MI leads from Myanmar totalled six groups with 580 participants from medical and agricultural industries, valued at about THB 42 million in revenue. From Vietnam, MI leads totalled 28 groups with 2,810 participants from the pharmaceutical, medical, banking and media sectors, valued at an estimated THB 203 million in revenue.

“Fly and Meet Double Bonus – Redefined” campaign in partnership with Bangkok Airways provides ease of travel, convenience and excellent return-on-investment. The benefits include financial support, fast-track immigration service at Suvarnabhumi airport, cultural performances, meet-and-greet services, one free air ticket of every 30 tickets purchased, pre-assign group seating, priority boarding and extra baggage allowances.

To qualify, each group must comprise at least 30 persons, fly to Thailand on Bangkok Airways, stay for at least two nights, or hold an event at a venue recognised by the Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS) or a registered hotel. Application is open now until 31 August 2019, with travel completed by 30 September 2019.

For exhibition (E), leads from Myanmar totalled seven groups, each with at least 10 trade visitors, with an estimated THB 5.46 million in revenue. They are signed up for business negotiations at international exhibitions organised in Thailand, in the medical and pharmaceutical, food processing and packaging, retails, logistics, sport and tourism industries. From Vietnam, leads totalled 15 groups with 250 participants for food and agriculture, construction, infrastructure, health and wellness, retails, lifestyle and automotive trade exhibitions, with an estimated revenue of THB 20 million.

The “ASEAN+6 Visitor Privilege” campaign targets Business Mission Organisers (BMO) including Chambers of Commerce, federations, trade associations, industrial publications and non-profit organisations seeking to enhance their member’s business opportunities through trade shows. Members of these organisations will connect with the enterprises that enable their success in this lucrative segment by engaging in quality business meetings at Thailand’s trade shows with the aid of TCEB subsidies and accommodation.

To qualify delegations must have at least 10 persons hailing from the ASEAN+6 countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. They must commit to three meetings per person, or a total of thirty meetings across the group.

About TCEB
The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has been the country’s official government agency supporting, promoting and developing global and regional business events (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions – MICE) in Thailand since 2004. As a strategic partner and sanctioned liaison, TCEB co-creates successful solutions with companies and organizations to realise MICE events of every scale and type.

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – April 29, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The launch of the “One Seychelles” Political Party was held on Friday the 26th April and Alain St.Ange, the island’s former Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine was elected to lead the party as they prepare for the coming elections. St.Ange is joined by former Minister Peter Sinon who held the Fisheries portfolio after returning to Seychelles from the African Development Bank.

The following were elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the ‘One Seychelles’ party:
PRESIDENT: Alain St.Ange
SECRETARY GENERAL: Peter Sinon
TREASURER: Vincent Padayachy
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL: Claude Bonte
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Bernard Port Louis, Sandra Boniface, Herve Anthony, Edouard Anacoura, Justin Francois, Brian Soumery, Ian Delorie, Allan Ah-Thion, Marinette Tamatave, Brondy Hertel, Dorina Vidot, Jean Barra, Jean-Claude Denis, Michou Delorie-Walsh, Antoine Puren, Emmanuel de Stefani, Dean Padayachi & Benjamin Port Louis.

After the election of Office Bearers of the new political party Alain St.Ange and Peter Sinon, the President and Secretary General of the “One Seychelles” political party took to the podium to address the full house of interested Seychellois present with numbers far surpassing all their expectations.

Peter Sinon, the Secretary General of “One Seychelles” explained the Party’s Manifesto and spoke at length on unity for Seychelles and safeguarding the islands.

When Alain St.Ange, the President off the “One Seychelles” political party took to the podium he started by saying that the 26th April 2019 would remain a historical day in Seychelles Politics with the launch of the “One Seychelles” party. Alain St.Ange went on to welcome the leaders of the “Lalyans Seselwa” Party of Patrick Pillay who were present to show solidarity in the opposition. He also thanked everyone present who had come forward from the red or green political camps.

“Today everyone present we have visited you at home, or we have interacted with you for the creation of a new Seychelles. This move will not please everyone especially those who believe they have a monopoly on ideas and on what is needed for the people of Seychelles. This cannot be an attitude for anyone who believes in democracy and what a democratic society stands for. They should buy a Monopoly Board Game and play it at home someone on Praslin said.

We have named this new political party ‘One Seychelles’ because it is to push the point that we all have only one Seychelles, and the time has come to do away with the ‘with us and not with us’ policy that has been destroying our country. This policy is worst today than ever before and resulting with so many capable Seychellois not being able to do their bit to keep Seychelles on the road of success and in so doing earn a decent living for themselves and their family. With One Seychelles we shall have One People, One Nation and a proud Seychellois Culture. As we move forward and prepare for elections we shall dedicate energy, time and resources to our 5 Point Action Plan to revive Seychelles, and these are:

1. Fight the with us and not with us strategy in the country that has never been as bad as it is today.

2. Narrow the gap in the two groups of The Haves and The Have Not and push for no one to be living below the poverty line. Today anyone earning below R. 7500 per month is deemed, according to official reports, to be living in poverty. This includes our old age pensioners and home carers. Salary Bands of the Government Salary Scale will need to be revised to do away with the two or three lower bands to ensure a more acceptable salary is earned by those in the lower cadres. To achieve this the frills offered to the Executive and his Government and to the Members of the Legislative. Frills such as end of year bonus and end of term gratuity will need to be discontinued as these payments also help increase the gap difference between the haves and the have not.

3. Reduce Cost of Living.

4. Kick start business community – reduce bureaucracy, reduce Income Tax & VAT payable.

5. Respect Seychellois and its Civil Service and push for a culture where the country Seychelles is respected. This will put an end to separation of our islands for the benefit of foreign military powers.

These five point plan will help revive our economy, it will help create jobs for our people and it will enable our people to meet their basic needs. It is jobs that will transform the lives of our people from that of existing difficulties and from that of want for a better life. Jobs will provide for greater comfort and wellbeing. This is the future we see after having discussed it with you all” said Alain St.Ange as he delivered his first address as Leader of the One Seychelles party before ending with saying “A good staff will always have their employment contract renewed.

The People of Seychelles are the ones who are the employers of both the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government, and if Members of these two Branches of Government have done a good job and delivered on the aspirations and expectations of the people who elected them to office, they can be assured off the renewal of their contract, but if they were disappointment to their employers they will be swept away and new employees put in their places”.

Hamburg (Germany) – April 29, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Hamburg has won the bid to host the 2022 conference of the International Society for Hydrocephalus and Cerebrospinal Fluid Disorders (ISHCSF). In September 2022, about 500 specialists will travel to Germany’s second largest city to attend the ISHCSF annual meeting.

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Nele Aumann, head of the HCB’s Conventions Division, explains: “Our successful bid for the ISHCSF once again demonstrates Hamburg’s strong position in the area of medical congresses. We work closely with our dedicated healthcare cluster to ensure medical congresses can tap into the city’s diverse scientific landscape. We highly value this excellent cooperation with the city’s heathcare professionals as their expertise and support considerably increases Hamburg’s chances of winning a tender. Time and again, our local network here in Hamburg has proven to be the most solid foundation to build on.”

The ISHCSF conference is aimed at advancing research into hydrocephalus – a condition in which an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up within the brain.

“Demographic change has led to a rapid increase in age-related hydrocephalus. In Hamburg alone, there are currently more than 20,000 individuals affected by this condition,” says Prof. Uwe Kehler, president of the 2022 congress and senior consultant of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Hamburg-based Asklepios Hospital in the district of Altona.

Hamburg’s winning bid for the International Society for Hydrocephalus and Cerebrospinal Fluid Disorders (ISHCSF) comes hot on the heels of recent successful bids to host the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS) and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and confirms the city’s international reputation as a healthcare location.

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One out of seven employees working in Hamburg is active in the healthcare sector and over the past decade, the gross value added by Hamburg’s healthcare sector is more than 9.6 billion euro.

Hamburg’s healthcare cluster is managed by Gesundheitswirtschaft Hamburg, a subsidiary of the City of Hamburg and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and brings together the expertise of stakeholders from the healthcare sector, such as companies, universities, research and training institutions, hospitals, care providers, physicians, insurance funds and insurance companies, as well as professional chambers, associations and interest groups.

Bangkok (Thailand) – April 26, 2019 (travelindex.com) – Culineur, School of Culinary Arts and Entrepreneurship introduces special meeting packages at one of Bangkok’s most strategic locations starting from THB 850.

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Conveniently located on the 5th floor of Emporium Department Store, one of the largest and most stylish lifestyle malls in central Bangkok, Culineur is the leading school in Thailand that provides a comprehensive educational curriculum specialising in the culinary arts, critical thinking, business management, and entrepreneurship, offering a broad range of fun and insightful short courses, as well as diploma programmes, developed in collaboration with Lausanne Hospitality Consulting (LHC), a division of the world-famous Swiss hospitality school, École Hôtelière de Lausanne.

“Culineur is well-equipped with comprehensive range of modern learning materials and facilities, four state-of-the-art classrooms, a beverage tasting room, six large demonstration kitchens as well as four food and beverage outlets: Garnish – a full service a la carte restaurant offering west coast healthy/light cuisine, Flavours – a grab-and-go concept restaurant, Glaze – a bakery and pastry shop and Glaze Cafe, an artisan coffee shop. These have not only made the school a perfect career jumpstart for aspiring chefs and entrepreneurs, but the school is also ideal for companies that are looking for the unique and creative place to conduct a meeting, staff training, customer workshop, or team building,” said Antony Osborne, managing director of Culineur.

For Bangkok’s most respected dining guide and the best restaurants visit Top25Restaurants.com by Travelindex and the trusted Restaurant Rating Index.

Customers can choose to host their next event at one of our four outlets. The meeting package starts from THB850 per person, while additional lunch, or dinner can also be added starting from THB 690.