Category: Latest Travel News

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 28, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The “where, why, how and how much?” of tourism investments were the focus of high-level dialogues within the framework of the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

With UNWTO data analyses making clear the vital need for both increasing levels of traditional and non-traditional investments in the sector and also ensuring that it is not solely focused on a minority of well-established destinations. The Investment Forum brought on stage Ministers (Albania, Colombia, Kingdom of Morocco, Maldives, Peru and Spain) leading private sector experts and representatives of the global investment community to reflect on key challenges and opportunities. In line with UNWTO’s priorities for global tourism, the focus was firmly on the growing needs of investments along ‘People (Education), Planet (Sustainability) and Prosperity (Innovation and Technology).

Investing for the Future

Opening the Forum, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized the urgent need to re-imagine investments into our sector, in line with the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and highlighted the key role of government support for investment in tourism and creating a supportive policy framework, commending the example of the host country, Uzbekistan’ which set out its tourism investment strategy for growing the sector as a pillar of development and cultural heritage.

The high-level panelists highlighted the key priorities of governments in national investment policymaking in the coming years to support the growing and changing investment needs of the tourism sector, while recognizing the vital need for both traditional and non-traditional investments in order to build greater sustainability, secure long-term resilience of the sector and to foster positive change. Furthermore, it was agreed that by channelling venture capital investments and providing crucial support structures is one of the most effective ways to unlock the potential of startups and foster an innovative and entrepreneur mindset.

Presentation of Framework

UNWTO Executive Director, Natalia Bayona summarized the global FDI and tourism investment outlook and trends and emphasized the importance of diversifying tourism investments along People-Planet and Prosperity. She highlighted that during the period 2018-2022 almost 2,415 projects were announced representing a total capital investment of USD 175.5 billion and also the crucial role of capitals to accelerate innovation, and support startups as venture capital funding in travel and tourism reached USD 48 billion in the same period of time proving the sector resilience. The rapidly growing role of public provident funds and sovereign wealth funds, which invested around USD 20 billion in the hotel and leisure industry since 2016 was brought to the audience attention by the Executive Director.

UNWTO Guides Investments in Uzbekistan and Mauritius

Further building on its portfolio in the area, UNWTO presented the latest in its series of “Doing Business” guidelines, comprehensive publications aimed at attracting investors in specific destinations. In Samarkand, Secretary-General Pololikashvili presented first “Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Uzbekistan” and then “Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Mauritius”. He then also named UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism, Mr Albert, in recognition of his private sector work and role in growing the sector in a sustainable way across his native Indonesia.

Startup Competition for Mega Events and MICE Tourism

The winners of the UNWTO Event Startup Competition took the stage to present their innovative solutions for Mega Events and MICE Tourism challenges. The solutions presented in the pitch session aim to digitize event management, foster sustainability, enhance inclusivity, amplify impact through strategic promotion, and ensure robust infrastructure management to optimize participant experiences.

Among the 164 applications from 69 countries, five startups were selected across four categories. Circular Unity, a Portugal based start-up, stood out in the category of Digitalization and Disruptiveness for Sustainable Event Management in Mega Events. The all-in-one solution for carbon footprint management and stakeholder engagement simplifies sustainability for events, entertainment, and hospitality. In the category of Inclusiveness and Accessibility, Touch2see, a French start-up dedicated to making games accessible to the visually impaired, demonstrated a remarkable solution.

For promotion and marketing of MICE Events the recognition was given to Atlaseek a solution based in the United Arab Emirates, that unites the best travel creators and offers unique travel stories, guides, and early released videos, together with Sentimantl form Israel, a state-of-the-art software platform that assists a broad variety of companies in service sectors to improve their operations and customer satisfaction.

The last category was awarded to Hello X-Lab, a Japanese based start-up selected from the category of technology for attendee engagement and infrastructure, a UX-driven experiential and product design shop made up of trailblazers and creative problem solvers, that creates immersive experiences, improves processes and explores new ways to connect, inform and delight.

Bintan, Indonesia, October 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Over the past weekend, Bintan Resorts, in collaboration with TriFactor Asia, organised and flagged off the highly-anticipated return of the BINTAN TRIATHLON BY TRIFACTOR in 2023 after a three-year absence. Set against the scenic backdrop of Lagoi Bay, Bintan, this renowned event took place on 21 October 2023, marking its return to the world triathlon series. Athletes from around the globe gathered to compete in a test of endurance, encompassing swimming, cycling, and running. Adding to the weekend’s events, a Gran Fondo competition for cycling enthusiasts was introduced on 22 October 2023. The total field of triathlon and other races’ participants were more than 500, surpassing the target for this return event.

This year’s adult races saw the participation of athletes and sports enthusiasts between the ages of 16 to 71, and coming from more than 35 countries, including Indonesia and Singapore.

The Bintan Triathlon by TriFactor 2023 is a momentous revival of a sporting event that captivated enthusiasts in the past. The previous edition was held in 2019 and discontinued due to the unprecedented challenges brought about by the global pandemic from 2020 to 2022.

This event is supported and partnered by Wonderful Indonesia – Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wonderful Riau Island: Kepri Tourism Province and Bintan District Tourism Official.

The Guests of Honour presiding over the event are Pak Albert Wijaya, Indonesia Triathlon Federation – Riau Island Province, and Pak Max Federico Carlen, Indonesia Triathlon Federation – Riau Island Province.

Joining forces as esteemed Bintan Triathlon by TriFactor Ambassadors are well-known figures within the triathlon circuit including athletes Arthur Tong (Singapore); Elaine Young (Singapore); Choo Ling Er (Singapore); Andy Wibowo (Indonesia); Leanne Szeto (HongKong); Faith Garcia Miss Aura (Philippine); Kelly Tandiono (Indonesia) and Michelle Surjaputra (Indonesia).

Results Bintan Triathlon, 21st October 2023, as follows:

Category	Age Group	Gender	1st	2nd	3rd
Enduro	18 – 39	Male	Alex Thio	Kyle Fram	Dex Cheong
Enduro	40 – 49	Male	Andy Wibowo	Assad Attamimi	Mike Slaton
Enduro	50 – 59	Male	Stephen Dow	Mark Lampard	Takayuki Watenta
Enduro	60 & Above	Male	Tanaka Hiroyuki	–	–

 

Enduro	18 – 39	Female	Leanne Szeto	Elaine Young	Man Yun Yong
Enduro	40 & Above	Female	Mei Yin Lee	Jaime Lim	Marliny Abdul Samad

 

Olympic	18 – 29	Male	Justin Kwik	Gabriel Ong	Wei Jie Ang
Olympic	30 – 39	Male	Jerko Grom	Andi Rahmat	Adam Cotter
Olympic	40 – 49	Male	Russell Van de water	Larent Nicolas	Christian Cavazzuti
Olympic	50 – 59	Male	Chuk Chuen	Robbie Chana	Mark Ritchie
Olympic	60 & Above	Male	Inghie Kwik	Joen Yen Lee	Ebbie Baghaie
Olympic	18 – 39	Female	Dea Salsabila	Katie Gill	Bianca Dharmasena
Olympic	40 & Above	Female	Catherine Epinat	Wan Li Ho	Mae Ong Gmira
Olympic Relay	Team Relay	All	Team Croissant Lovers	Team wtf – wheres the finish	Team Lagoi sport group B

 

Sprint	Elite	Male	Yi JunTey	Albert Wijaya	Max Charlen Federico
Sprint	16 – 34	Male	Rik Beugel	Noah Schaffer	Jaden Lim
Sprint	35 – 49	Male	Alexander Beazley	Untung Suropati Senen	Iain Craig Anderson
Sprint	50 & Above	Male	Marnix Beugel	Simone Morandi	Lim lucky Limanjaya
Sprint	Elite	Female	Wan Ting Lim	Regine Xuan Xuan Goh	–
Sprint	16 – 39	Female	Renee Rommeswinkel	Julia Riegel	Kelly Tandiono
Sprint	40 & Above	Female	Shoko Suzuki	Marlene Widjanarko	Marchella Pesce

Results Gran Fondo Ride, Sunday, 22nd October 2023, as follows:

Experience 120k	Open Age Group (Male) :
Experience 120k	18 – 39	Male	Almy Hanggara	Kyle Fram	Christopher Keightley
Experience 120k	40 – 49	Male	Metodio	Mike Slaton	Carlo Benazzi
Experience 120k	50 & Above	Male	Carl Wegner	Vikram Khanna	Michael Fernandes

 

	Open Age Group (Female) :
Experience 120k	18 – 39	Female	Ling Er Choo	Sho Lekah	Michelle Surjaputra
Experience 120k	40 & above	Female	Anna fritz	Shoko Suzuki	–

 

Explore 60K	18 – 39	Male	Hans Morico	Chandra	Arthur Tong
Explore 60K	40 & Above	Male	Jeff Vlahovich	Benny Eryanto	Mohamed Amran
Explore 60K	Open	Female	Elaine Young	Mei Yin Lee	Janise Quek

TriFactor, a brand by Orange Room, is Singapore’s foremost triathlon and

endurance sports brand in Singapore, and official partner with Bintan Resorts for the Bintan Triathlon by TriFactor 2023. Since its establishment in 2009, TriFactor has expanded its TriFactor Series across various Asian countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and China, providing a platform for all participants to forge connections and foster camaraderie as fellow triathletes from diverse backgrounds, uniting sporting communities.

“We are very excited to welcome the Bintan Triathlon after a long absence from the sporting scene,” said Mr Abdul Wahab, Chief Operating Officer, PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala (Bintan Resorts). “With the support we received, we were committed to holding an excellent event that was enjoyed by many, including a wide range of triathletes from all over the world. He continued: “We would like to express our gratitude to the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, the Ministry Tourism & Creative Economy, Tourism Office of Bintan Regency and Riau Islands Province, Governor Riau Islands Province, Regent of Bintan, Head of the Bintan Regency Tourism Office, Federation Triathlon Indonesia, Bintan Resorts Council, and media partners for their support. With their help, we look forward to bringing more of such events and we are committed to growing sports tourism in Bintan Resorts, so look out for more sporting events to come in 2024.”

Mr Elvin Ting, Managing Director and Founder of Orange Room, said: “TriFactor is delighted to have partnered with Bintan Resorts to organise the Bintan Triathlon by TriFactor Festival in 2023. Our close collaboration aims to revive sports tourism in the breathtaking setting of Bintan, for now and into the future. The island’s extensive coastline, well-maintained roads, and exceptional infrastructure create an ideal training ground for athletes, ensuring their safety, enjoyment, and inspiration, offering our community the perfect location to train and compete at the highest level. It has been a successful weekend and we hope to see even more participants in future events.”

For more information about the Bintan Triathlon by TriFactor 2023 and detailed maps, and race routes please visit www.trifactor.asia/Bintan_Triathlon

About Bintan Resorts
Bintan Resorts is a multi-award winning, integrated beach resort destination that is host to 19 independent beach resorts, four designer golf courses, as well as an ever-expanding range of recreational facilities and attractions. It covers the entire northern coast of Bintan Island and is located just 60 minutes away via a catamaran ferry ride from Singapore, easily accessible for those looking for the perfect tropical beach getaway.

About TriFactor
TriFactor is dedicated to promoting accessible and inclusive good health through sports. Our comprehensive approach empowers members to achieve their fitness goals and aspirations to their fullest potential. By leveraging the latest advancements in sports science and technology, we help individuals overcome their self-imposed limitations and unlock their true physical and mental capabilities. Our focus on self-actualization promotes greater self-confidence and empowerment, leading to positive impacts on all areas of life. We support individuals at every stage of their fitness journey with a variety of themed destination races around the world, promoting sustainability, family bonding, and camaraderie. Our events are designed to be family-friendly, with activities and events for children and families, and we partner with local charities and organizations to give back to the community. We take steps to minimize our environmental impact, incorporate the latest sports science research and techniques, and use data-backed technology to track and analyse performance. At TriFactor, we believe that good health is not an event, but a lifestyle.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The UNWTO General Assembly looked to the future with a focus on tourism education and training. The Global Education Forum brought together Ministers, employers, educators and learners to address the biggest challenges and opportunities for advancing training across every part of the sector.

A priority for global tourism

According to data analysed by UNWTO, the majority of the global tourism workforce are young people, many of them without further training or qualifications. At the same time, existing tourism education centres and programmes prioritise hospitality, with UNWTO aiming to fill the gaps and deliver courses and other trainings to allow students to gain knowledge of every part of the diverse sector. Opening the Forum, UNWTO Executive Director Natalia Bayona made clear the opportunities and challenges: Tourism is the top employer of youth: over 50% of its workers aged 25 years old or less¹ , while around 882,000 tourism jobs² per year will require vocational training by 2030.

Ministers of Tourism from Andorra, Bahrain, Guatemala, the Philippines and Zambia brought their expert insights to a high-level Debate on Policies to Foster Innovation & Education for Current and Future Generations. Challenges highlighted included the high turnover of tourism staff in comparison to other economic sectors and the lack of tourism as a subject in schools in most education systems. The discussion explored opportunities for shaping new policies, effective instruments, and global partnerships to support inclusive and sustainable tourism development while addressing the skill gap and creating value-added jobs.

UNWTO presents the Education Toolkit for the incorporation of tourism as a subject in high schools

Within the Education Forum, UNWTO presented the Education Toolkit, a guide of recommendations for helping all actors involved on education in the introduction of tourism as a subject of the secondary school curricula with the ultimate goal of attracting and cultivating the right talent for the tourism sector.

The UNWTO Education Toolkit offers an overview of the current status of high schools and vocational education training worldwide, it also gives recommendations derived from the contributions of UNWTO member states, non-member states and academic partners and it also presents successful case studies of integrating tourism education and training in public and private schools. In addition, it includes a comprehensive overview of the benefits, with specialized curricula provided by UNWTO’s academic partners: the Cambridge Assessment International Education, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).

Also at the Forum, participants were given an overview of the recently inaugurated Tourism Academy in Samarkand in collaboration with UNWTO, a key outcome of the country’s strong partnership with UNWTO.

UNWTO – HSLU Bachelor of Science in International Sustainable Tourism

During Bayona’s keynote speech, she also presented the flexible three-year BSc in International Sustainable Tourism that UNWTO and the Swiss public university of Lucerne for Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) have developed to empower the future-oriented transformation of the entire tourism sector. This unique initiative will be the first time that UNWTO has been actively involved in an undergraduate programme, with modules that include a variety of UN-related topics, such as UN Diplomacy & Tourism and Global UNWTO Missions & Initiatives, and deliberately embeds the UN’s values and global goals throughout the courses. The first cohort of the programme will commence in fall 2024 with a first year in Madrid, followed by a remote year and a third last year in Switzerland.

Ulysses Prize for Tourism Education

In a fitting culmination to the Global Education Forum, Dr. Bao Jigang was honoured with the prestigious Ulysses Prize, a testament to his remarkable contributions to the field of tourism. Awarded as the 16th laureate of this esteemed accolade bestowed by UNWTO for outstanding achievements in the creation and dissemination of knowledge within the realm of tourism, Dr. Bao’s illustrious career stands as a shining example of his invaluable impact. Throughout his distinguished academic journey, he has played a pivotal role in catalysing the growth of domestic tourism, in his homely of the People´s Republic of China, elevating its scale and significance as a premier global tourism destination.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, The Red Sea and Amaala, has revealed Thuwal Private Retreat, an exclusive, buy-out only island destination set to welcome guests next year.

– Buy-out only island resort offers travelers accessible luxury and hyper-personalized private experiences from early 2024
– Destination is the second new project to be revealed in the Group’s expanding portfolio this month, and the first owned and operated exclusively by Red Sea Global

Located on a pristine 1.7-hectare sandy islet in a spectacular coral archipelago on the Red Sea coast, the intimate destination offers stunning natural beauty complemented by discreet architecture, offering ultimate luxury in complete privacy.

The island resort boasts a spacious main three-bedroom villa, three one-bedroom suites, a beach club, gym and wellness center. The curated travel experience begins as soon as guests arrive, entering via a private jetty to be greeted by the guest experience team at a stunning welcome center.

“Thuwal Private Retreat has been created to allow guests the chance to disconnect from the stresses of daily life, and instead reconnect with their closest companions. Our belief is that the sublime Red Sea coast combined with tailored luxury experiences will deliver a peerless escape for the most discerning travelers,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global.

The creation of Thuwal Private Retreat represents a new phase for Red Sea Global, with the destination sitting separately to The Red Sea and Amaala, and as a wholly RSG-owned brand. There are no third-party hospitality or hotel operators involved for the first time in RSG’s development history.

“This is a milestone for us personally. It is the latest project we can reveal since we announced our expanded portfolio of projects last year and it is significantly advanced in terms of delivery. It is also the first time we are creating a destination owned and operated end-to-end by the expert team here at Red Sea Global, from development and planning to accommodation and guest services,” added Mr. Pagano.

In line with RSG’s broader vision and commitment to both people and planet, Thuwal combines absolute luxury with conscious sustainability. The resort’s executive chef will prepare gourmet meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, working with food producers in the area wherever possible, as well as partnering with local artisans and restaurants to offer one-of-a-kind experiences.

The developer is also hiring from the local community and is actively searching for ambitious Saudis who are looking to enter the luxury and private concierge hospitality industry. From butler services and haute cuisine connoisseurs to technical specialists, the company is now actively recruiting for individuals to work alongside world-leading experts on a fast track to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Thuwal Private Retreat meets the rising demand for ultra-private and hyper-customized experiences. According to Black Tomato, it has seen a 61 percent increase in enquiries for exclusive-use properties from luxury travelers. Guests at Thuwal Private Retreat can expect an island sanctuary that reconnects them with nature and their loved ones, with guest relation teams anticipating every need before it arises. With thriving coral reefs nearby, guests have the opportunity to snorkel amongst stunning marine wildlife, or visit the nearby village of Thuwal or the city of Jeddah to experience the very best of Saudi culture and hospitality.

Earlier this month RSG revealed it has been entrusted with refurbishment works at Al Wajh Airport (EJH). The development is focused on modernizing the airport to bring it in line with international standards. As well as upgrading the existing terminal and infrastructure, RSG is building a new international terminal. This will see EJH ready to offer more direct flights leading to greater connectivity and job opportunities for local people.

About Red Sea Global
Red Sea Global is a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. RSG is a global multi-project developer, seeking to lead the world towards a more sustainable future, showing how responsible and regenerative development can uplift communities, drive economies, and enhance the environment. The protection of natural capital is central to all development decisions, as the organization seeks to create a better future for all.

A cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambition to diversify its economy, RSG is playing a key role in transforming the nation, by creating exciting opportunities for young Saudi talent and the private sector, as it develops built assets and destinations across multiple sectors that make a positive impact for people and planet.

RSG is the visionary company behind some of the world’s most ambitious development ventures, including luxury regenerative tourism destinations such as The Red Sea and Amaala. Across its portfolio, RSG leverages the most innovative concepts, strategies, and technologies to deliver projects.

Bangkok, Thailand, October 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / After a series of annual contractions in international visitor arrivals (IVAs) in recent years, calendar year 2022 saw 44 destinations across the Asia Pacific region end with a collective annual gain of almost 124.2 million foreign arrivals, to return a collective inbound count of nearly 265.5 million, according to a report released today by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The ‘Annual Tourism Monitor 2023’ report, released today, shows that IVA numbers in 2022 were the strongest since 2019 and, as such, herald the much-awaited resurgence of the international travel and tourism sector for the Asia Pacific.

There were wide differences at the three Asia Pacific destination region levels. The Pacific had the strongest growth rate in 2022 year-over-year, whereas Asia received both the largest number of arrivals and the greatest annual increase in absolute numbers from 2021.

Even so, the number of IVAs into and across Asia in 2022 reached only 27% of 2019 levels. The Americas had the strongest recovery in that regard, with 69%, followed by the Pacific, with over 57%.

These are generally very positive results, but even more heartening are those for the early periods of 2019 to 2023, where the strengthening of international arrival numbers which began in the first periods of 2022, continued in early 2023.

Every year-to-date figure is consistent for each of the 38 destinations with early period arrivals data and their respective months covered between 2019 and 2023. This data therefore gives a solid indication of how arrival numbers into and across Asia Pacific are trending over time.

The IVA growth that began in early 2022 has gained momentum in early 2023, with the addition of more than 93.3 million foreign arrivals, a volume increase of more than double compared to the previous period. This has boosted the recovery rate for early 2023 to more than 68% of the early 2019 IVA levels.

Although Asia may have been slower in returning to growth up until 2022, the early 2023 figures show a very powerful return to dominance in the Asia Pacific mix of arrivals. Asia had the strongest performance of the three destination regions against the metrics of IVAs year-to-date, period-to-period growth rate and period-to-period increase in absolute numbers of IVAs. Even the recovery rate for Asia, while still the lowest at 62.4%, is a 35 percentage point improvement over calendar year 2022 and is only six percentage points below the Asia Pacific average.

Of particular interest is the mix of source markets fuelling these recovery rates. Most source regions have achieved recovery rates above 80% in early 2023. The exception is Asia, which has improved its arrival numbers for the Asia Pacific to just a little over 52%.

That raises a critical issue because in 2019, Asia was the dominant supplier of international visitor arrivals to the Asia Pacific, accounting for nearly 63% of total arrivals in the region. Therefore, any decline in those source markets poses an obvious challenge for the Asia Pacific as a whole.

Although Asia’s recovery rate as a source region in early 2023 is relatively low, at just over 54%, it marks a dramatic improvement of almost 43 percentage points compared to early 2022. This demonstrates significant growth momentum, and the results for the full calendar year 2023 are eagerly awaited.

Among all the source markets in the Asia Pacific region, mainland China is understandably the most significant in terms of volume. In 2019, it accounted for almost 30% of the IVAs from Asia and 19% of the total aggregate visitor numbers to Asia Pacific destinations.

In early 2023, visitor numbers from mainland China saw a dramatic increase, surpassing 23 million. This marks the strongest early-period performance since early 2019. However, it still represents only 34% of the early 2019 level of arrivals. With the recent relaxation of restrictions and the reintroduction of group travel, a significant improvement can be expected by the end of calendar year 2023.

PATA Chairman Peter Semone, noted that “the overall growth in international visitor arrivals within the Asia Pacific is primarily fueled by Asia, serving as both a source and destination region, with mainland China playing a dominant role in visitor flows.”

Mr. Semone added, “Visitor growth from China has been relatively subdued until now. However, with the relaxation of most pandemic-imposed restrictions, we can now expect rapid change. Experience shows us that when change occurs in China, it is both rapid and impactful. The question, however, is whether the destinations in Asia Pacific are prepared, as change involves not only an increase in visitor numbers but also evolving expectations and demands from these visitors.”

Peter concluded that , “PATA forecasts of visitor demand indicate that, under the medium scenario, international visitor numbers by the end of 2023 are predicted to exceed 516 million, approaching 76% of the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. This is expected to further increase to 107% in 2024 and 116% in 2025. The wave is coming, and we must prepare ourselves to ensure that we have a better, stronger and more resilient tourism and travel industry.”

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, which includes government, state and city tourism bodies; international airlines and airports; hospitality organisations, and educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism of the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has an official office in Beijing. Visit www.PATA.org.

London, United Kingdom, October 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / This is not just another World’s Best list. LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence – has used the past 12 months to apply the perfect assessment process: a rigorously defined algorithm that measures the performance and values of luxury hotel brands.

This year, our algorithm has 130 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector. Each has its own weighted score value with a total maximum accumulative score of 4663.

The touch points relate to overall brand performance, not the performance of individual properties. The focus is on a brand’s ability to deliver: its passion, commitment, ethos and values, as well as the quality of its management and staff.

Continuing investment and how it is utilised is also a major factor – particularly regarding new properties and the refurbishment of existing ones.

Here are this year’s results, reflected as percentages, with last year’s positions in brackets:

1. Mandarin Oriental 81.4% (2)

2. Oetker Collection 81.3% (6)

3. Auberge 79.6% (4)

4. Six Senses 79.0% (1)

5. Aman 78.8% (5)

6. Belmond 76.3% (8)

7. Four Seasons 76.1% (9)

8. One&Only 75.1% (7)

9. Rocco Forte 73.8% (11)

10. Rosewood 72.1% (3)

11. Peninsula 69.8% (New Entry)

12. Raffles 68.5% (New Entry)

• Other brands that rated sufficiently to be monitored throughout the year are (in alphabetical order): 1 Hotels, Alila, Anantara, Banyan Tree, COMO, Dorchester Collection, Firmdale, Jumeirah, Leela, Oberoi, Park Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, Soho House, Red Carnation, St. Regis, Taj, The Luxury Collection, Viceroy.

• Brands that currently have less than ten properties (our minimum requirement) but rate highly when applying our algorithm are (in alphabetical order): Airelles, Althoff Collection, Bulgari, Capella, Cheval Blanc, JK Place, La Reserve, Maybourne, Montage, Nikki Beach, Pendry, Soneva, Ultima Collection, Virgin Limited Edition.

About The World’s Best Luxury Brands Report
No other organisation connects with the global luxury hotel industry as LTI does. Our researchers engage with everyone from CEOs of the brands we have rated to thousands of managers, staff and guests. This is all part of the process for creating destination-led reports for our members who are affluent, discerning travellers, but it also allows us to create this unique report. Every year the process starts again so the results from previous years have no bearing on the following year. This inevitably leads to volatility in each year’s results, however, this is a dynamic sector, and we want to reflect what is really happening out there.

Mandarin Oriental: World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brand
Mandarin Oriental has always performed well in our annual report. This year, they have improved further across all our touch points, placing them at No1. It is an engaging brand with a loyal and growing following, who appreciate its commitment to excellence. The much-anticipated opening of their London Mayfair property could be a pivotal moment for them.

New Entries
Two Asian luxury hospitality giants have made it on to our top 12 this year. Both Peninsula and Raffles are really demonstrating their commitment to delivering the best in global luxury hospitality. Both brands have always certainly been in the mix but now, via the intricacies of our algorithm, they are really proving their value.

Michael Crompton, Founder of LTI, comments:
‘This year’s results, showing just 0.1% difference between the top two brands, demonstrates how close the race to perfection is within global luxury hospitality. These brands continue to invest significant money and resources into ensuring they deliver the ultimate experience for their guests. Matching the sectors continuing explosive growth with the highest calibre of management and staff is proving to be a significant challenge; we think this will be a determining factor in the results on our leader board, going forward’

About LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence
We are a global members-only organisation, providing digital, up-to-the-minute reporting for affluent travellers who wish to make informed travel decisions, based on our honest and detailed intelligence. We cover luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and nightlife, in granular detail. We do not sell travel, have a booking engine, or carry advertising. Membership fees are our only revenue and we only answer to our members.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Despite an earthquake that shook Morocco last September, the country’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, remains optimistic about the nation’s tourism prospects, setting a target of 14 million tourists by the end of 2023.

In an exclusive interview with VoyagesAfriq, conducted on the sidelines of the 25th UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Fatim-Zahra Ammor highlighted the remarkable resilience of Morocco’s tourism industry.

Amid initial uncertainty following the earthquake, September unexpectedly emerged as a record-breaking month for Moroccan tourism. This success was attributed in part to the country’s effective crisis communication efforts and the solidarity shown by tourists.

Minister Ammor recalled the initial concerns: “When the earthquake arrived in early September, we were worried about what was going on and how we would end the year in Morocco. We were especially concerned as we were on track for very good numbers. But we showed strong resilience because we began communicating with international partners promptly to reassure them about the real situation in Morocco.”

She maintained that this was crucial because “the earthquake was not in Marrakech, as it was said in the beginning but rather 70 kilometres away. Therefore, for the tourists, the destination remained safe. Even tourists present at the time in Morocco shared their experiences on social media, providing testimonials about the actual situation.”

Minister Ammor expressed confidence in Morocco’s ability to achieve its ambitious tourism target, stating, “we did quite well. We had the best September ever and are planning to reach 14 million tourists by the end of the year, which is an all-time record.”

First published on VoyagesAfriq by Kojo Bentum Williams

Bangkok, Thailand, October 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) led the Thai Team to an outstanding finish at the recent IT&CMA in Bangkok with a total of 405 leads across three exhibition areas, while Pattaya, one of Thailand’s MICE Cities, debuted its City Package at the show to lure overseas groups. The impressive number of generated leads follows TCEB’s 23 conference bid win performance concluded at the end of the bureau’s 2023 financial year on September 30.

Thailand Pavilion (40 exhibitors) generated 135 leads, a 43.6% increase from 94 leads achieved last year. Pattaya Pavilion (24 exhibitors) generated 150 leads, while Isan MICE Stand (10 exhibitors) generated 120 leads.

The leads from Thailand Pavilion – 133 for meetings and incentives (24,532 travellers) and two for conventions (2,200 travellers) – is valued at 1,764 million baht.

The leads from Pattaya Pavilion carry a potential yield of 30,000 travellers and 2,000 million baht of revenue. For Isan MICE Stand, the potential yield is 24,000 travellers and 1,600 million baht of revenue.

Pattaya, the designated MICE City for the Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, took a determined step forward by introducing an all-new incentive package for event planners and organisers called City Package.

Co-created with TCEB, the package offers bidding support, assistance in securing endorsement by relevant government agencies, publicity and promotion, recommendation on venues certified by the Thailand MICE Venue Standards (TMVS) and suppliers, and volunteer and traffic management.

At Isan MICE Stand, buyers met 10 exhibitors from three key cities in Thailand’s northeastern or Isan region – Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Nakhon Ratchasima. These cities are economic, transport, cultural, and education hubs for the region. Udon Thani is also the winner of the bid to host the International Horticultural Exposition 2026.

TCEB President, Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, said: “Thailand put up a tremendous showing at IT&CMA this year and we have the results to show for it – 405 leads. Pattaya and Isan had their standalone stands next to the Thailand Pavilion this year and contributed 270 of the total 405 leads. We noted that buyers are responding to our efforts to introduce potential destinations. More than half of the exhibitors at the Thailand Pavilion this year are from such destinations but that didn’t stop buyers from making enquiries and pushing the number of leads at the Thailand Pavilion well past the 94 last year to 135. We know a mix of novelty and quality is key and TCEB’s product development team and our four regional offices are keeping pace. Look out for more products emerging from every region of Thailand. We do hope our new and potential locations can attract future overseas delegates when they attend 23 conferences Thailand have won bids to host from now up until 2028.”

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 23, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Executive Council of UNWTO met for the second time in a week to fulfil its statutory obligations and look ahead to a full two years transforming the sector.

At the 119th session of the Council, also held in Samarkand, Members endorsed the Organization’s Programme of Work for 2024 and 2025. This sets out its intentions for the two years, with both strategic objectives and programmatic priorities. As UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili noted: “We know where we are going, we know what we want, and we know our priorities for tourism.”

We know where we are going, we know what we want, and we know our priorities for tourism

New Members welcomed

The 120th session of the Executive Council was held in a clear spirit of international friendship and collaboration. In Samarkand, the Council thanked its outgoing Members for their service and active participation in helping guide the Organization over the past four years. Members also welcomed the new Members of the Council, namely Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Saudi Arabia to continue as Chair

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue as Chair as Executive Council for 2024. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia, thanked all Members for their support and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing shared priorities and the Programme of Work. Secretary-General Pololikashvili thanked Saudi Arabia for their continued leadership and for his consistent and ongoing active support of the tourism sector.

Members also endorsed the Democratic Republic of Congo to serve as First Vice-Chair of the Council, and for Jamaica to serve as Second Vice-Chair.

Subsidiary bodies and looking ahead

The Council fulfilled its statutory obligations with elections to its subsidiary bodies, with a commitment to fair and equal representation of all global regions. Members voted on the countries that will serve on the UNWTO Programme and Budget Committee until 2025 or 2027, including representatives of the non-Council Member States and from the Affiliate Members Network. The composition of the Council’s Committees on statistics, competitiveness, sustainability and online education were also determined.

To conclude the meeting, Members agreed that the 121st Session of the UNWTO Executive Council will take place in Prague, Czechia, in the first semester of 2024.

Beijing, China, October 23, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Thailand’s Prime Minister Mr. Srettha Thavisin, during his first official visit to China this week, presided over the signing ceremony of a letter of intent (LOI) between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and eight leading tourism players in China – Huawei Technologies, Trip.com Group, Meituan.com, Spring Airlines, Sina News, Alipay, iQIYI, and Jego Trip – to boost Chinese tourists’ confidence and quality tourism to Thailand.

Mr. Srettha said, “The Thai government places importance on reinforcing the comprehensive Thailand-China strategic partnership and strengthening cooperation in areas, such as trade and investment, education, art and culture, and tourism. To facilitate Chinese travellers, the visa exemption scheme has been put in place from now until 29 February 2024. This signing of the LOI will lay a framework for long-term strategic cooperation on promoting quality tourism and maintaining tourists’ confidence in Thailand.”

The LOI signing ceremony was held today at Kerry Hotel, Beijing, China. The agreement was signed between Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, and top executives of the eight strategic tourism partners – Huawei Technologies’ Mr. Walter Ji, Trip.com Group’s Mr. Sun Bo, Meituan’s Ms. Lu Menxi, Spring Airlines’ Mr. Wang Yu, Sina News’ Mr. Cong Song, Alipay’s Mr. Zhou Yi, iOIYI’s Mr. Yang Xianghua, and Jego Trip’s Dr. Yong Ji.

Ms. Thapanee said, “This LOI is the largest cooperation agreement that represents the greatest coverage of travel alliance businesses in the Chinese market covering all steps of the customer journey. From obtaining Thailand’s travel information through iQIYI and Sina News, planning and booking trips via the Trip.com Group, Meituan.com, Alipay, and Jego Trip to travelling to Thailand with Spring Airlines, TAT aims to leverage this partnership to elevate the positive image of Thailand as a tourist destination, boost Chinese tourists’ confidence, and roll out tourism promotions to stimulate more travel to Thailand.”

The cooperation with eight of China’s leading tourism players, including top tech companies, online tourism platforms, airlines, and online banking is expected to help strengthen cooperation in tourism-related technology for the Thai tourism industry as well as promote quality tourism to Thailand.

Ultimately, this will help reach the target of 4 million to 4.4 million Chinese tourists in 2023, generating over 200 billion Baht, and bringing the overall number of this year’s tourist arrivals to 25-30 million.

From 1 January to 15 October 2023, Thailand recorded a total of 2,645,885 Chinese tourists, thus making it the second largest tourist market.