La Perla to Host Destination Fashion Show in Macao

La Perla to Host Destination Fashion Show in Macao

Macao, Macau SAR (China) – October 12, 2017 (travelindex.com) – La Perla is thrilled to announce the location of its Spring/Summer 2018 ready-to-wear fashion show: Macao, SAR, China. In partnership with The Venetian Macao as part of Sands Macao Fashion week, La Perla will present a full-scale runway presentation, featuring 70 looks comprised of the brand’s ready-to-wear and haute couture collections. Top runway talent will join La Perla in Macao during a gala dinner in the Grand Colonnade in The Venetian Macao, to create a truly transporting experience.

From Julia Haart, La Perla’s Creative Director:

“I am excited to bring the Spring/Summer 2018 collection to this beautiful and exotic destination. As we continue to build “the World of La Perla,” through the introduction of ready-to-wear, haute couture, shoes, and accessories, I am honored to bring La Perla to this global destination for fashion and luxury. We are a fashion house with many homes, and no borders.”

Who: La Perla
What: Spring Summer 2018 Fashion Show
Destination: Macao, SAR, China
When: October 19th, 2017
Where: The Venetian Macao, Macao, SAR, China
Why: Celebrating Asia’s rapid ascension in the world of fashion, the La Perla Spring/Summer
2018 Fashion Show will travel to Macao, for an awe-inspiring debut event featuring the
brand’s ready-to-wear and haute couture collections. The brand is honored to partner with
The Venetian Macao to create an unparalleled international experience in this alluring
destination.

Contact:
La Perla North America
Lauren Picciano
Lauren.Picciano@laperla.com
Phone: 646.571.1898
Sands China Ltd
Donna Campbell
Donna.Campbell@sands.com.mo
Phone: +853.8118.2041

SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 Welcomes First Guests

SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 Welcomes First Guests

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 11, 2017 (travelindex) – SureStay Hotel Group has made its debut in Asia, marking the start of a new era of quality, affordable accommodation in the region. SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 welcomed its first guests this month, in the heart of downtown Bangkok. This new-build premium economy hotel will provide guests with the international standards and services one would expect from a Best Western -branded hotel, at a reasonable price point.

The new hotel’s 85 rooms are designed in a contemporary style and will feature sleep-inducing beds and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi. There is also a “business corner” area providing corporate travelers with a range of professional services.

“We are delighted to unveil SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2, an exciting new hotel that will redefine the premium economy hotel sector,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “Located in a prime position in downtown Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district, this brand new hotel provides everything guests need for convenient, fuss-free stays in the heart of the city.”

“Bangkok has a long and strong history of providing affordable accommodation. By combining the ease and affordability of economy hotels with the international standards of a global chain, SureStay Hotel Group is sure to appeal to business and leisure travelers alike.”

“We are seeing rising demand for branded economy and lower-midscale accommodation in key cities across Asia Pacific. SureStay Hotel Group is perfectly positioned to fill this gap in the market and we look forward to introducing this exciting new concept to more cities across the region in the coming months and years,” Olivier added.

SureStay Hotel Group was first introduced in late 2016, opening up new opportunities for Best Western Hotels & Resorts in the large yet relatively untapped economy and lower-midscale sectors. It also provides hotel owners with the opportunity to harness Best Western’s vast global network, in terms of sales, distribution, technology and support.

There are three brand tiers to choose from: the classic economy SureStay Hotel, premium economy SureStay Plus Hotel (which includes SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2), and lower-midscale SureStay Collection. These three brands deliver gradually increasing levels of quality and facilities, which will be consistent in all locations around the world.

To ensure that high standards and guest satisfaction are maintained, all SureStay Hotels must achieve a TripAdvisor score of 3.5 and above.

SureStay Hotel Group has expanded rapidly since it was first launched in September 2016, with many hotels having opened in North America. By the end of 2017, the group expects to have built a global portfolio of 100 hotels either operating or under development, making it one of the fastest-growing brands in the industry.

For Best Western Hotels & Resorts, the launch of SureStay Hotel Group marks its continued expansion in Bangkok. Currently, the company operates four properties in the Thai capital under two of its brands: Best Western Plus® and Best Western Premier®. But it has a strong pipeline of new hotels in Bangkok, including new classic Best Western hotels, more upscale Best Western Premier properties and Thailand’s first ever Vīb hotel.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,100* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 10 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, and BW Premier Collection®; as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay®, SureStay Plus® and SureStay Signature Collection®. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 64 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2017, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western in the top three upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands for three years in a row, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. Best Western has also won eight consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA’s 56 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Over 30 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google® Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels. Each Best Western® branded hotel is independently owned and operated.

– Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

Contacts:
Marketing Communications Department
Best Western Hotels and Resorts – Asia
Tel: +66 2 656 1260
Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com
Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Mario Hardy’s Contract Extended as PATA CEO

Mario Hardy’s Contract Extended as PATA CEO

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 11, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Executive Board of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has extended the contract of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mario Hardy for a period of three years commencing January 1, 2018.

PATA Chairperson Sarah Mathews said, “I am delighted that Mario has agreed to continue as our Chief Executive Officer. Under his outstanding leadership, the Association has made considerable progress and I am confident he will continue to lead PATA and support the needs of our members. PATA remains an association dedicated to all its members and will continue to assist them in the ever-evolving landscape of tourism and travel. Mario and his team are best placed to help drive a continued period of growth.”

Dr Hardy said, “I am delighted to have an opportunity to work with our outstanding management team in building upon the PATA successes of the past three years. We still face many challenges as a membership organisation but our determination to add value to the many benefits of PATA membership is being recognised in the public and private sectors. We shall continue with our primary mission of promoting sustainable and responsibly tourism development throughout the world as we encourage travel to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.”

Mario Hardy joined PATA in 2012 as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2014. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PATA Foundation, a non-profit organisation with a focus on the protection of the environment, the conservation of culture and heritage, and support for education.

He worked for 26 years in specialised aviation businesses with a focus upon data analytics and technology, occupying leadership roles in Montreal, Vancouver, London, Beijing and Singapore.

In 2016, he received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Capilano University for his philanthropic work in Cambodia where he helped develop a school for underprivileged children and for his support in the development of a Community Based Tourism (CBT) project in Vietnam.

In January 2017 Mario Hardy graduated from the Singularity University, Executive Program on the subject of Exponential Technologies.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts 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, comprising 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 25 international airlines and airports, 108 hospitality organisations, 72 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide. The chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. 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 official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney and London.

Contact:
PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Director – Communications & Marketing
communications@PATA.org
+66 (02) 658-2000
Bangkok, Thailand

Macao Visitor Arrivals at 920,631 During Golden Week

Macao Visitor Arrivals at 920,631 During Golden Week

Macao (Macau SAR) – October 11, 2017 (travelindex.com) – More Mainland residents opted for travel during the 1st October Golden Week this year, with both the National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival falling on this eight-day holiday (1st – 8th October). Attributed to this factor, total visitor arrivals to Macao registered an increase in comparison with the corresponding period of last year. Macao welcomed a total of 920,631 visitors during the eight-day 1st October Golden Week. Total visitor arrivals from 1st to 7th October registered a year-on-year rise of 11.6%.

According to the preliminary statistical figures (non-resident employees and students have been excluded from visitor arrivals) provided by the Public Security Police Force, Macao welcomed a total of 920,631 visitors during the eight-day 1st October Golden Week. In comparison with the corresponding seven-day period of last year, total visitor arrivals from 1st to 7th October this year reached 844,522 and marked a year-on-year increase of 11.6%, while visitor arrivals from Mainland China surged by 9.6%.

Greater China market
Macao welcomed a total of 696,636 visitors from the Mainland throughout the eight-day 1st October Golden Week, which constitutes 75.7% of total visitor arrivals to Macao. In the first seven days of the period, visitor arrivals from the Mainland hit 647,352, an increase of 9.6%, whereas visitor arrivals from Taiwan and Hong Kong surged by 20.1% and 6.4% respectively.

Hotel occupancy and room rate
Up to date, the room supply by local hotels and guest houses has reached a total of 37,678 rooms. According to figures provided by travel industry operators, local hotel establishments, especially 3-Star to 5-Star hotels, registered relatively satisfactory occupancy rates during the Golden Week. The average occupancy rate of 3-Star to 5-Star hotels was 95.9%, up 3.1 percentage points. On the other hand, the average occupancy rate of 2-Star hotels was 76.3%, down 1.9 percentage points, whereas the average occupancy rate of guest houses slightly went down by 1 percentage point to 74%.

The average room rate of hotel establishments (hotels and guest houses) in Macao was about 1,829.8 patacas during the Golden Week, a year-on-year increase of 7.0%. The average room rates of 5-Star and 4-Star hotels were around 2,120.3 patacas and 1,395.6 patacas respectively, up 4.3% and 13.1% respectively. The average room rates of 3-Star and 2-Star hotels were around 1,375.1 patacas and 1,129.1 patacas respectively, an increase of 12.6% and 50.9%. The average room rate of local guest houses was around 730.0 patacas, up 18.6%.

Before and during the past Golden Week, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) actively prepared for the arrival of the peak period by carrying out an array of tasks including operation of tourism notification system, reminders to industry operators and visitors via letter and mobile text message respectively, interdepartmental sharing of information, thorough inspections, food guide publication, provision of enquiry service at designated locations, support to local associations for organizing holiday and weekend activities, etc. With the above measures, MGTO strived to cater for the needs of residents and visitors as well as to optimize the tourism environment and service quality in Macao.

Besides the effective operation of the Tourism Notification System in tandem with the Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province during the National Day Golden Week, MGTO also coordinated with related departments and tourism reception units amidst its dedication to the work of welcoming visitors. In addition, MGTO regularly releases different categories of room rates declared by various local hotel establishments on its website for public awareness. Via WeChat, the Office advised visitors to make room reservation and prepare itineraries in advance of their trips to Macao. Via mobile text message, MGTO also advised visitors to visit major local attractions during off-peak hours, in order to divert the flow of visitors and minimize their impact on traffic conditions and neighborhoods near popular tourist sites, thus keeping the positive destination image of Macao. From 30th September to 8th October, staff members were arranged at ten tourist locations to provide visitors with tourism information and guidance while assisting in crowd management.

During the Golden Week, MGTO delegated inspectors to patrol various ports of entries and tourist spots in more scrupulous manner, with a total of 94 inspections conducted. The Office also carried out seven concerted actions with police authorities, inspected 56 premises and sealed four premises allegedly operated as illegal accommodation.

Travel & Tourism Must Join the Fight for Paris Climate Accord

Travel & Tourism Must Join the Fight for Paris Climate Accord

Victoria (Seychelles) – October 11, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Speaking in Victoria, Seychelles, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, co-founder of SUNx (Strong Universal Network) focused on the multi-decade growth of global geopolitical consensus on the existential threat of climate change.

“Recent devastation in the Caribbean and the spectre of a US reversal on Paris are game changing events” Lipman warned.

He said “the 2015 Paris Accord is a vital core component of the massive, sustained response needed to deal with the scale, scope, unpredictability and intensity of natural forces, if scientific analysis of climate change is right.

Lipman called on the Travel & Tourism sector to rally behind the Paris process and resist the challenges posed by the Trump Administration’s vacillation on its support of the Agreement.

Speaking under the theme “How relevant is Sustainable Tourism to Climate Change?”, Lipman described the urgent need to plan for increasing tourist numbers in a world where the effects of climate change have direct impact on destinations, especially small island economies.

He stressed that Small Island Developing States, (SIDS), like Seychelles, as the most evidently at risk, had played a key role in the processes leading up to Paris and applauded their continuing advocacy leadership.

The Seychelles has taken significant strides through the establishment of the Seychelles National Climate Change Strategy (2009), six years before the Paris climate Agreement. It had also developed its own Green Label initiative and similar environmental actions. Now it’s time to up the game. This is increasingly important as we see the effects of climate change unfold in the form of hurricanes, flooding and heatwaves on a scale that has never been seen before.

Lipman said that SUNx – Strong Universal Network – is designed to help. It is inspired by the late Maurice Strong; who led many historical sustainability initiatives, including the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and Agenda 21 implementation framework. He saw clearly the potential of travel & tourism in the long path to sustainable development, laid out in the new SDG and Paris Climate Frameworks, with measurable multi-decade timeframes.

SUNx is a global innovation / learning eXchange for climate resilient Impact-Travel (measured: green: 2050 proofed), and a cadre of committed neXt generation transformation advocates. We will launch a dedicated Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarship program to encourage tomorrow’s Impact-Travel leaders.

Contact:
Professor Geoffrey Lipman
glipman@thesunprogram.com

Airbnb Newest PATA Hospitality Member

Airbnb Newest PATA Hospitality Member

San Francisco, California (United States) – October 10, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company, is the latest hospitality sector organisation to join the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Airbnb to the PATA family. With more than four million Airbnb listings worldwide it impossible to ignore the impact that the sharing economy is having upon the travel and tourism industry. It is important that we are able to add this voice to our discussions in the development of a responsible travel and tourism industry, especially when we examine the role of the sharing economy in the dispersal of tourists to lesser known and emerging destinations.”

“Over the next few months, PATA and Airbnb will be working together to bring greater insights on topics related to the sharing economy – including its economic impact and the issue of over tourism,” added Dr. Hardy.

“Home sharing has become an important economic engine for communities around the world,” said Thao Nguyen, APAC head of strategic partnerships at Airbnb. “We’re excited to join the PATA family and play our part in promoting healthy and sustainable tourism that directly benefits local communities.”

About PATA:
Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts 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, comprising 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 25 international airlines and airports, 108 hospitality organisations, 72 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide. The chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership in Uniting Travel, a coalition of the world’s major Travel & Tourism organisations dedicated to ensuring that the sector speaks with one voice and acts in unison on the major issues and includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. 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 official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney and London.

About Airbnb:
Founded in 2008, Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where people can belong when they travel by being connected to local cultures and having unique travel experiences. Its community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations from apartments and villas to castles and treehouses in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries. With Experiences, Airbnb offers unprecedented access to local communities and interests, while Places lets people discover the hidden gems of a city as recommended by the people that live there. Airbnb is people powered and the easiest way to earn a little extra income from extra space in a home or from sharing passions, interests and cities.

Contact:
PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Director – Communications & Marketing
communications@PATA.org
+66 (02) 658 2000
Bangkok, Thailand

Chinese Outbound Travel Grows Despite Decline in Trips to Europe

Chinese Outbound Travel Grows Despite Decline in Trips to Europe

Beijing (China) – October 10, 2017 (travelindex.com) – In 2016, China registered a 13 per cent increase in outbound trips – city trips and Sun&Beach holidays are becoming more and more important – trips to Europe declined – ITB Berlin and IPK International analyse outbound travel behaviour of the Chinese

In 2016, while international travel grew by about four per cent, China registered a growth rate of 13 percent, further consolidating its position as one of the world’s most important source markets for international travel. Thus, China exceeded the Asian/Pacific average outbound growth rate, which was at nearly nine per cent in 2016. These are the results of a special analysis by the World Travel Monitor®, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.

Decline in trips to Europe in 2016:
In 2016, the Chinese went on 51.2 million international trips with overnights, not including trips to Macau and Hong Kong. Compared to the previous year, that amounts to an additional six million trips and an increase of 13 per cent. China also strengthened its position as the world’s fourth-largest source market behind Germany, the USA and the UK, while further distancing fifth-placed France. Around three out of four outbound trips from China are to destinations within Asia/Pacific, with the Top-5 destinations being within the region, such as South Korea and Thailand. The USA is China’s sixth most popular destination, to which some 2.8 million trips have been made in 2016. The most preferred European destinations are Germany, Spain, France, Switzerland and Austria. However, following seven years of consecutive growth, Chinese trips to Europe declined by four per cent in 2016 compared to the previous year, resulting in a total of 16 per cent of all Chinese outbound trips going to Europe. Nevertheless, first trends for 2017 indicate a positive development again regarding Chinese trips to Europe.

City trips and Sun&Beach holidays are gaining ground:
Holidays are the reason for over 80 per cent of Chinese outbound trips. Above all, holiday trips only (without visiting friends or relatives) have a significantly higher share among Chinese travellers (72 per cent) compared to the global average of 57 per cent. For some years, the most popular type of holiday has been round trips, whereas city trips as well as Sun&Beach holidays have been catching up recently. Even though the share of business trips in 2016 was rather small (15 per cent), the number grew by 22 per cent compared to 2015, while holiday trips increased by 11 per cent. Moreover, the average length of stay abroad was nearly 6 nights, which represents a slight increase compared to the previous year, while spending per night remained at the same level.

Preference for first class hotels and above average travel agency bookings:
Around 75 per cent of Chinese outbound travellers chose to stay in hotels. Four and five star hotels were the preferred categories, accounting for 52 per cent of accommodation on all trips. Thus, also regarding the accommodation choice, the Chinese differ widely from the global average, which in respect to luxury hotels stands at only 39 per cent. For the Chinese, planes are the preferred means of transportation, making up for over 80 per cent. This figure is also significantly higher than the global average of around 60 per cent.

When it comes to information sources used prior going on an outbound trip, 88 per cent of Chinese travellers use the internet, which is only slightly higher than the worldwide average of 81 per cent. However, while worldwide, around one in three travellers seek for information through a travel agency, Chinese exhibit a much higher share of nearly 70 per cent. This also applies to travel agency bookings. Globally, around 30 per cent book their outbound trip through a travel agency, while almost 50 per cent of Chinese do so.

The World Travel Monitor® Forum is an exclusive industry gathering which discusses the latest travel trends and forecasts of tourism development, taking place on the 9th and 10th of November 2017 in Pisa, Italy.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention:
ITB Berlin 2018 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 7 to 11 March. From Wednesday to Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only. ITB Berlin is the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. In 2017 a total of 10,000 companies and organizations from 184 countries exhibited their products and services to around 169,000 visitors, who included 109,000 trade visitors. Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 7 to Saturday, 10 March 2018. Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is free for trade visitors and exhibitors.

Press contacts:
ITB Berlin / ITB Asia / ITB China:
Julia Wegener
PR Manager
T: + 49 30 3038-2269
j.wegener@messe-berlin.de
www.messe-berlin.com
IPK International:
Fenja Weberskirch
Marketing Consultant
T: +49 89 8292370
weberskirch@ipkinternational.com
www.ipkinternational.com

Air Travel Increases by 7% IATA

Air Travel Increases by 7% IATA

Montreal (Canada) – October 9, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced industry performance statistics for 2016 showing that system-wide, airlines carried 3.8 billion passengers on scheduled services last year, an increase of 7% over 2015, representing an additional 242 million air trips. This information is included in the 2017 edition of the IATA World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), the yearbook of the airline industry’s performance.

Highlights of the 2016 airline industry performance:

Passenger:
– Once again, airlines in the Asia-Pacific region carried the largest number of passengers. The regional ranking (based on total passengers carried on scheduled services by airlines registered in that region) is:
1. Asia-Pacific 35% market share (1.3 billion, an increase of 11.3% compared to 2015)
2. Europe 26% market share (992.4 million, up 6.1% over 2015)
3. North America 24% market share (911.5 million, up 3% over 2015)
4. Latin America 7% market share (275.1 million, up 1.8% from 2015)
5. Middle East 5% market share (206.1 million, an increase of 9.1% over 2015)
6. Africa 2% market share (84 million, up 6% over 2015).

– The top five airlines ranked by total scheduled passengers carried (domestic and international) were:
1. Southwest Airlines (151.8 million)
2. American Airlines (144.2 million)
3. Delta Air Lines (143.3 million)
4. China Southern Airlines (114.5 million)
5. Ryanair (112 million)

– The top five international/regional passenger airport-pairs were almost the same as they were in 2015, and all were within the Asia-Pacific region:
1. Hong Kong-Taipei (5.2 million, up 2.1% from 2015)
2. Jakarta-Singapore (3.4 million, up 0.9% from 2015))
3. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Hong Kong (3 million, a decrease of 3.14% from 2015)
4. Kuala Lumpur–Singapore (2.8 million, up 3.3% from 2015)
5. Hong Kong-Seoul (2.8 million, down 15% from 2015)

– The top five domestic passenger airport-pairs were also all in the Asia-Pacific region:
1. Jeju-Seoul Gimpo (11.6 million, up 4.6% over 2015)
2. Sapporo-Tokyo Haneda (7.7 million, down 1.2% from 2015)
3. Fukuoka-Tokyo Haneda (7.3 million, a decrease of 4% from 2015)
4. Melbourne-Tullamarine-Sydney (7.3 million, down 4.6% from 2015)
5. Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City (6.4 million, up 16.2% from 2015)

Passenger Traffic by Nationality:
A new feature available this year in the WATS+ edition is the ranking of passenger numbers in terms of nationality (citizenship). Highlights include:
– US Citizens are the world’s most prevalent travelers. Some 810 million passengers traveled on US passports in 2016 comprising 21% of all passengers worldwide.
– Internationally, American citizens also took top place, comprising 9.5% of all travelers. This was followed by citizens of the UK (7.8%), Germany (6.5%), China (6.4%) and France (4.1%).
– Domestically, US citizens were also the most prevalent travelers at 29.9%, followed by China (19.0%), India (5.2%), Indonesia (4.4%) and Japan (3.5%).

New Model Airlines:
New Model Airlines¹ (NMAs), a classification that includes Low Cost Carriers (LCCs), accounted for 28.3% of all passengers in 2016, up from 27.1% of passengers in 2015. Network carriers account for 69.5% of total passengers while leisure carriers² contributed 2.2% to passenger volumes.

Measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), NMAs accounted for 20% of global traffic, reflecting the concentration of this sector on short-haul flying. By the same RPK measure, network carriers accounted for 77% of traffic with leisure carriers comprising 3% of traffic.

Cargo:
– The top five airlines ranked by total freight tonnes carried on scheduled services were:
1. FedEx Express (7.1 million)
2. United Parcel Service (4.7 million)
3. Emirates Airline (2.5 million)
4. Qatar Airways (1.8 million)
5. Cathay Pacific Airways (1.6 million)

Airline Alliances:
– Star Alliance maintained its position as the largest airline alliance in 2016 with 38% of total scheduled traffic (in RPK), followed by SkyTeam (33%) and oneworld (29%).

The 2017 WATS and WATS+ are available for purchase on IATA’s website

For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 22 770 2967
Call:+41 22 770 2967
Email: corpcomms@iata.org

New Labor Union Launched in Seychelles, Alain St Ange it’s First President

New Labor Union Launched in Seychelles, Alain St Ange it’s First President

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – Octobre 8, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Alain Saint Ange said “Analysing who are the people who stand behind politicians, investors, corporations and the economy; It is the working people. Many are employed and some venture out by becoming what is today simply called the self-employed workers. It is a fact that the Government of the day can propose a new regulation that can better the lives of all its citizens, inclusive of every worker, the self-employed and the business community, as and when they feel the need to do so arises. The Opposition in the Seychelles National Assembly can, on their part, propose a Private Members Bill if and when they feel there is the need to bring about better conditions for the citizens, inclusive of every worker, the self-employed and the business community, of the country. They have successfully shown that for the Offshore Sector, their Private Members Bill was duly assented to by the Head of State.

Recently the Stevedore Workers took action in their own hands when they felt their working conditions were not acceptable anymore. Fishing Boat Owners also stood outside the National Assembly to make the case for grievances they had.

Workers and the Self-Employed have been seeking a Non-Politically Affiliated Organisation to be by their side.They felt that an Independent Labor Union was needed to assure them that those with political or economic power are not allowed to unduly ignore their rights, aspirations and necessities. The call for a Labor Union was made.”

The “Seychelles Labor Union” (SLU) is born following a meeting of a group of workers at the Savoy Hotel on Wednesday the 4th October 2017. It was at 1700hours when a group of workers and also members of the self-employed community gathered at the Savoy Hotel to be counted as founding members for a new Trade Union in Seychelles. They came from all professions and from diverse employment groups. From teachers to health workers, from stevedore workers to landscape gardeners, to musicians and entertainers, office workers, taxi drivers, truck drivers and shop owners were all present.

It was Alain St.Ange, Paul Chow, Bernard Port-Louis and Peter Sinon who opened the meeting with short addresses to explain broad objectives and the reasons for the creation of a politically independent Union. Recognise, Respect and Remunerate workers equals a Responsible workforce was the theme discussed and adopted as the motto of the SLU.

It was Alain St.Ange, Paul Chow, Bernard Port-Louis and Peter Sinon who opened the meeting with short addresses to explain broad objectives and the reasons for the creation of a politically independent Union. Recognise, Respect and Remunerate workers equals a Responsible workforce was the theme discussed and adopted as the motto of the SLU.

Various exchanges and Q&A were addressed

Political Independence: The history of Trade Unions in Seychelles has thus far been a strong liaison between the Unions and Political parties. SLU makes a new departure as the very first independent Trade Union in this new era. Peter Sinon informed the founding members of his resignation as a Central Committee Member of Parti Lepep for the district of Au Cap to ensure the independence of the leadership of the Union.

Partnerships & Solidarity: SLU declared its willingness to liaise, cooperate with all like-minded institutions that have to do with the welfare and working conditions and environment of the Seychelles workforce. Solidarity for a strong and effective collective bargaining of the workforce is key for success.

Communication, Awareness and Information sharing: were deemed as critical factors of success and for member/workers education. Thus a monthly SLU Newsletter will be launched.

Membership Contribution: It was agreed that membership contribution of the Union will be SCR25 per month. However, if one choses to pay an annual contribution he/she will benefit from a two month discount and rather than SCR300 they will only pay SCR250.

On the question of the operating location of the Union. Members were assured that it will be in Victoria and soon the specific office space will be confirmed.

Election of Office Bearers of the Seychelles Labor Union
The following office bearers with designated responsibilities were elected and nine Executive Committee Members were also duly nominated and subsequently elected by show of hand by all present. This founding group of elected officials will be revisited at the next meeting in December when SLU will be opting to have Executive Committee Members to represent the different groups of workers and the self-employed.

The complete Executive Committee of the SLU comprises of the following:
– A. St.Ange President
– H. Anthony Vice – President
– P. Sinon Secretary General
– C. Savy Treasurer
– M-F Marie Secretary

Executive Committee Members:
B. Port-Louis
S. Sultan
D. Nancy
S. Ademe
G. Sopha
D. Hoareau
E. De Stefani
A. Poussou
A. Adonis

Alain St.Ange explained that the Seychelles Labor Union (SLU) will work for the betterment of working conditions as well as working to ensure the right conditions to work for those who are employing workers and venturing as self-employed entrepreneurs. The SLU will be working to be associated with other important Trade Unions of the World to benefit from their experience and support.

Alain St.Ange emphasised that the SLU makes a new departure as the very first Independent Trade Union and is not affiliated with party politics as he congratulated the movement’s founding members present coming from across the political divide for being present. Today the Government of the day can propose a new regulation that can better the lives of Seychellois who are employed and also for those who venture out by being what is today called the self-employed. The Opposition in the Seychelles National Assembly can also, on their part, propose a Private Members Bill if and when they feel there is the need to bring about better conditions for the citizens of the country. This they have successfully shown can be done when they took up the issue for the Offshore Sector and their Private Members Bill was duly assented to by the Head of State.

Manta Rays in the Seychelles
As the winds of the Southeast monsoon start to ease around the Seychelles, manta ray sightings are being reported at many of the surrounding islands. On Denis Island, divers and the resident fishing crew have been spotting a few rays feeding in the shallows since late August. The team on D’Arros has also witnessed multiple spectacular congregations recently.

Globally, there are two species of manta ray; the Giant manta (Manta birostris), and a smaller species, the Reef manta (Manta alfredi). The Reef manta is most common in the Indian Ocean, including around the Seychelles. Reef mantas are Red Listed under the IUCN as “Vulnerable. This is mainly due to the species being exploited by Asian markets for their gill rakers for their use in traditional Chinese medicine. Fortunately, in Seychelles, there is no manta trade to Asia, thus the fishery is practically non-existent.

Manta rays, like most elasmobranchs, have an extremely slow reproductive rate, making them quite vulnerable to over-exploitation. They start maturing at around 15-20 years of age and producing one pup every one to three (or even more) years.

The Manta Trust is a UK-based charity that was formed in 2011 to investigate global movement patterns, feeding ecology and the demography of manta rays. The work that they do will help scientists gain a better understanding of the health and size of the manta population, as well their movement patterns through the Seychelles archipelago. The Trust also constantly seeks the help from the general public to assist with their efforts through photo submissions. Individual mantas can be identified through the unique pigmentation patterns on the ventral side of their bodies and it is relatively easy to collect ID photos of them by free-diving down facing their front side as they approach and snap a photo as they swim overhead.

The Trust is also very engaging with the public. The team will happily provide you with information on your personal encounter with a manta. They reply to each submission with details of the history of the manta ray that was photographed which includes information such as: the name of the manta, its ID number, its gender, its size, and where and when it has been sighted before. If you happen to spot a manta ray that has not been previously recorded, you can also have the privilege of choosing its name.

So the next time you are diving in Seychelles, or anywhere else in the world, be sure to keep an eye out for these gentle giants and have your camera ready. You can contribute directly to the research and conservation of manta rays by submitting your images and sighting encounters through the Manta Trusts online submission form. Alternatively, you can email your images to IDtheManta@mantatrust.org.

Seychelles says thank you to Alain St.Ange

World Tourism Day is celebrated in Seychelles with a grand Seychelles Ball where the tourism industry comes out in numbers to join the public sector in the event of the year. For an island so dependent on their tourism industry, the annual Seychelles Ball is a night that continues to attract everyone who believes in tourism and those who are not shy to say they are part of that industry that has become the pillar of their island’s economy. The Tourism Ball provides that unique opportunity for stakeholders in the industry to network and socialize in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine and Sherin Francis, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board addressed the packed Ball Room at the Eden Bleu Hotel and used the evening to say thank you to the private sector trade for their support and togetherness.

It was at this 2017 Seychelles Ball that Alain St.Ange, the former Minister for Tourism and Culture & Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine received a certificate of recognition for the contribution he has made while leading this primary sector of the economy and also for his continued contribution towards the betterment of this industry.

The Certificate of Recognition says:- “The Seychelles Tourism Board proudly recognises Mr Alain St.Ange for his valuable contribution to Seychelles’ Tourism Industry as Seychelles Tourism Board Director of Marketing and Chief Executive Officer and as Seychelles Minister of Tourism”.

It was Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, the new Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine of Seychelles who presented former Minister Alain St.Ange with his Certificate of Recognition.

This year was also the opportunity to add more names on the Tourism Pioneer Wall at the island’s Tourism Academy. Four names from the new era Sir James Mancham, founding President of the islands and the man credited to have launched tourism as an industry for Seychelles, Louis D’Offay the longtime Chairman of the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association and Owner of the L’Archipel Hotel of Praslin, Maryse Eichler of Seychelles Hotels and the first head of the island’s Tourism School, Zita Monthy of Carefree GuestHouse joined Adrien Michel, John de Matta Mascarenhas, Richard Mancham and Raymonde Delorie on the island’s Tourism Pioneer Wall.

Family members of Sir James Mancham, Mr Louis DOffay, Mrs Maryse Eichler and Mrs Zita Monthy were presented with a certificate recognising them as tourism pioneers and all of the eight names will now be featured at the Tourism Pioneers Park.

The park located next to the Seychelles Tourism Academy at La Misere has been designated to honour and recognise individuals who have served the tourism industry with passion and have played a pivotal role in strengthening this industry which is today the pillar of our economy. The park was opened on September 26, 2015, by the former president James Michel and the first eight pioneers were unveiled on September 27, 2016. The honouring of individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry will now feature as an annual activity as part of Tourism Week.

Alain St.Ange, the former Seychelles Minister is today the Deputy Secretary General of FORSEAA (Forum of Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN) based in Jakarta Indonesia, listed as a Consultant for TMN (Travel Marketing Network) in New York USA, Co-Chair of the SUNx (Strong Universal Network) Organisation in London UK, Vice President & Founding Member of ICTP (International Coalition of Tourism Partners), Consultant to PMAESA (Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa) based in Mombassa Kenya, CIOA ( Cruise Indian Ocean Association) based in Durban South Africa and for Cruise Africa.

Travelindex Endorsed as World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Member

Travelindex is one body that has been republishing the weekly Saint Ange Tourism Report and from the Seychelles Alain St.Ange says that he is happy to see that the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has officially approved Travelindex affiliate membership application, adding to a group whose members include such prestigious institutions as CNN, World Tourism Forum Lucerne, Club Med, European Travel Commission, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Hong Kong Tourism Board, Amadeus, George Washington University, Colorado State University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – School of Hotel and Tourism Management (HTM).

The Travelindex application for UNWTO Affiliate Membership has been approved by the Executive Council at its 106th session, and has been ratified at the 22nd Session of the UNWTO General Assembly held in September 2017 in Chengdu, China. The UNWTO Affiliate Members Programme recognizes the great potential in collaborating with organizations in generating global sustainable wealth through enhanced tourism knowledge, ethical and responsible principles and joint initiatives.

“We’re truly honored to have been approved as a UNWTO Affiliate Member and to become part of an incredible array of passionate organizations, destinations, NGOs and educational institutions all committed to the UNWTO Mission of promoting responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.” said Mr Bernard Metzger, Founder of Travelindex.

Bernard added “We’re thrilled to be a part of the UNWTO family which will provide an unrivalled opportunity to share and exchange best practice with other members, as well as jointly participate in projects, events and other mutual learning activities. At the same time, through active participation, we’ll be able to share our expertise and experience helping destinations and organizations across the world develop and evolve digital cultures.”

About the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

UNWTO generates market knowledge, promotes competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective tool for development through technical assistance projects in over 100 countries around the world. UNWTOs membership includes 156 countries, 6 Associate Members and over 500 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

About Travelindex:
Their vision is to become the de-facto digital connectivity node for the travel and tourism industry. The Travelindex portfolio of products includes over 70 destination reference tools and one of the world’s largest, open and curated, database on travel and tourism covering 241 countries and territories. Our integrated platform is fast emerging as the central channel in destination and travel knowledge. Travelindex puts a priority on the integration of sustainability into distribution and management systems to bring tangible benefits to its partners and clients helping them to improve reputation and goodwill. For more, visit www.travelindex.com

Seychelles – India Day Celebrations 2017

Congratulations to Ramu Pillay, the Chairman of the Indian Association of Seychelles and his Committee Members for another great edition of the Seychelles-Indian Day Celebrations. Everyone who believes in the diversity that makes Seychelles what it is today were present over the three days of rich colourful experience. Vice President Vincent Meriton was present at the Official Opening Ceremony and this echoed a positive message that Seychelles embraces its diversity.

Tourism, Culture & Environment Ministers were also present and the Tourism Minister pledged continuous support for the annual event. The fifth edition of the annual Seychelles-India Day Celebrations kicked off on Friday October 6 and it transported the Seychelles capital of Victoria across the Indian Ocean and into the heart of India. The three-day event was filled with singing, dancing, flavoursome Indian cuisine and vibrant colours.

The event is a collaborative effort between the Indian High Commission, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Tourism Ministry, Seychelles Tourism Board, the Seychelles India Day Committee, the Indian Association, among others. Representatives of these stakeholders met with the media on Thursday to highlight the main activities that would be featured this year. This was during a press conference at the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, at Botanical House, Mont Fleuri.

The theme chosen for this year is: Incredible India in Paradise

The Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture, Mitcy Larue said on top of cultural events, the organisers have also added more sports activities, including a mini-marathon and badminton tournament. There was also a special chess event, with the participation of Indian chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. Mr Anand who dominated the world of chess for six years from 2007 to 2013, took part in a speedy chess competition against 18 Seychellois chess players at the ex-national assembly hall, at the National Library on Saturday.

Minister Mitcy Larue said: “This was a good opportunity for the youths to take part in a competition alongside the grandmaster.”

Another innovative event this year is the inauguration of what has been dubbed the India Diversity Garden located at the Botanical garden.

The Seychelles Creole nation of around 93,000 people today, is primarily made up of the descendants of five groups: French, British, African, Chinese and Indian settlers. It was with the aim of celebrating the island nations Indian heritage that the first Seychelles India Day was initiated in 2013, as a collaboration between the Indian Association of Seychelles and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Five years on, Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne pledged the tourism ministry’s continuous support for the annual event, adding that the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations has also contributed to raising awareness about the island nation as a tourist destination.
“The event brings artists, different performers to Seychelles and when they go back they become our best marketing agents … I attach a lot of the success of the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations to the visitor numbers that we have from India, which has recorded a significant increase in recent years,” said Mr Loustau-Lalanne
“We will continue to support the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations and if it requires that we put additional flights eventually because of its success, to Bombay through Air Seychelles, we shall do it,” he added.

She also announced that new dates have been proposed for the next Seychelles India Day in 2018, as the current dates in October clash with preparations for the Creole Festival. The 2018 edition of the event is therefore expected to be held on July 28, 29 and 30. The new dates which is a fortnight before Indias Independence Day celebrations, was welcomed by both Minister Loustau-Lalanne and the Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, who also reiterated the Indian governments support towards the event and towards promoting bilateral ties between the two countries. Dr Sayeed said: “We attach great importance to strengthening our cultural ties with Seychelles and we already have a memorandum of understanding and actually a cultural agreement with Seychelles and we are soon working towards a cultural exchange programme for the year 2018 and 2019, where lots of bilateral activities will be brought in.”

The Fun and Food fair set by and held in the car park of the Stad Popiler remains a key activity. The fair which opened on Friday morning, will remained open until Saturday.

The official inauguration of the event itself was held at the International Conference Centre on Friday evening.

Indian celebrity singers, dancers, choreographers performed again at this year’s Seychelles-India Day Celebrations.

Seychelles – Indian Day Celebrations how it all started

It all started in 2013 when a group of patriotic Seychelles with respect for the islands diversity conceived the idea that the islands needed to celebrate the five branches that makes the Creole People of Seychellois who they are today.

Alain St.Ange chaired the meeting as the then Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture alongside Benjamine Rose, the PS for Culture and Elsia Grandcourt, the CEO of the Tourism Board, and it was agreed that a Seychelles – Indian Day Celebrations would recognise the part played by the Seychellois of Indian Origin to make Seychelles the successful country it has become.

The Indian Association of Seychelles and the Indian High Commission were also on board and the project was seen as one for the Country and the celebrations would then become listed as one of the Seychelles National Events alongside FetAfrik, Seychelles – China Day Celebrations, the Commonwealth Day and La Francophonie and prepare the celebrations of what the islands are today with the celebrations that unite everyone together and that is the Seychelles Festival Kreol.

The 2013 Seychelles – India Day Celebrations was recorded by the International Press as “Seychelles islands welcome glitzy and glamorous Bollywood stars”.

The press wrote:- “After taking Europe by storm in their mission to mark the 100 years of Bollywood, cinema high profiles of the Indian film and music industry touched down on Seychelles islands for the first edition of the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations.

Once Emirates Airlines landed at Seychelles International Airport, the 23 Bollywood mainstream actors, actresses, singers, flautist, and percussionist disembarked in true show-business star fashion. Never before has Seychelles International Airport hosted such a large group of the finest from the Indian entertainment world.

The star of the moment was Ranganathan Madhavan, the guest of honor of the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations. Madhavan, ranked among the top ten Indian actors, will join Terrence Lewis, the ace Indian choreographer, and other Bollywood stars in an open air gala evening – flooding the town of Victoria with Indian tunes.

He said that he is thrilled to be in Seychelles.

“Its the first time that I come to Seychelles, and its surely a fascinating experience to be here not only for the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations, but also that of being the guest of honor of this first Seychelles-India Day Celebrations. The beauty of the Indian Ocean will surely be an inspiration for my future films.”

Aakriti Kakkar, another knock-out Bollywood vocalist, walked her way down the plane – the ultimate depiction of the modern Indian super star.

“I am proud to represent my country for the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations. Seychelles is an island of un-touched beauty, and I am looking forward to discover the Island,” said Aakriti Kakkar.

Sivamani, Indian top percussionist, brings to Seychelles his own fusion of drumming, of which he gave an impromptu session to the media interviewing the celebrities at the VIP Lounge at the Seychelles International Airport.

For the red carpet event at the first edition of the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations, celebrities Aakriti Kakkar, Shazahn Padamsee, Anjana Sukhani, Miss India Universe Ushoni Sen, actor Madhavan, and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor will be dressed by New Delhi-based designer collections by Mayyur Girota. Mayyur Girota is the official designer of the Seychelles-India Day Celebrations.

“I will give different looks to all celebrities. Anjana will be wearing a chikan lehenga with choli while Shazahn will be dressed in a cocktail sari.”

Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, and Benjamine Rose, Principal Secretary for Culture, were both at the Seychelles International Airport to welcome the Bollywood celebrities. Minister St.Ange said, “Today I am proud that Seychelles-India Day has come into fruition.”

It was at this first Seychelles – India Day Celebrations that the Top Indian percussionist Sivamani enthralled the Seychellois public.

This was in October 2013 and India’s top percussionist, Sivamani, was flown in to lift the heartbeat of Seychelles through an enthralling performance. He represented India as part of a celebrity-studded, 50+ Indian team, in Seychelles to celebrate the first ever Seychelles-India Day. “Seychelles-India Day is a 3-day extravaganza to showcase Indian talent and culture. Sivamanis performance was a high-energy bugle call to this most important event in the relationship between Indians and Seychellois,” said Indian High Commissioner Thanglura Darlong.

Siva, as he is fondly called by his fans and peers, is a rare phenomenon in the world of music. Known to create magic with just about any instrument or flat surface, his audience has crossed the boundaries of usual classical music, getting just about anyone foot-tapping to his beats. Schooled in both Carnatic rhythmic tradition and western jazz instruments, Siva is truly a world-class percussionist. Siva has played the world over with some of the best international artists and is also a part of world music outfits like the Zakir Hussain World Drum Ensemble, and a most important member of the great maestro AR Rehmans troupe.

The Seychelles India Day Celebration Committee and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, in close collaboration with the Indian High Commission and local business houses, promised an annual celebration to mark one of the five historical branches that makes the Seychellois the people they are today.

“I have been able to serve Seychelles as Minister for Tourism and Culture and later as Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine and with the Team at Culture and Tourism put into place events that should continue to bring more unity in the Islands.

Alain St.Ange is quoted for these famous lyrics by John Lennon at the opening of an edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, And the world will live as one” I was sure that dreaming of UNITY will promote respect and bring about a climate where democracy will be the guiding principle.

Club Liberté Casino of Seychelles

Club Liberté has recently welcomed aboard a new General Manager – Mr. Michel Claeys. It was interesting to see the new General Manager who has a name in the casino business. Michel has voyaged all around the globe driving the entertainment business to accomplishment in numerous countries.

Club Liberté team was eager to get on board such a capable professional, who joined the group toward the end of September. Michel Claeys explains “My professional career in the casino business started 40 years ago and like most of us started as a dealer or croupier in Belgium – then moved away to obtain my British Gaming License in Cardiff and Manchester , other countries followed suit very quickly such as Holland, France , Romania, Turkey , Egypt, Lebanon , Morocco , Canada, North Cyprus. I have a world wide excellent reputation in the the mysterious world of gaming and I am constantly in demand for my advice, expertise and knowledge.

I feel very positive that I can highly contribute to the Club Liberté Casino of Seychelles and to the tourism industry in general if the islands.

I am a very approachable person with good communication and social skills – so come and meet me – you will not be disappointed”

In spite of being a leader in such a sphere of business as night entertainment, Michel is a family man, who welcomed his newly born daughter 1 year ago.

“It will be one year since the night Club Liberté opened its doors on 28th of October last year and we want to accomplish something unique for this occasion”says Michel. Club Liberté team has experienced numerous thoughts on special occasion and affirmations to their loyal visitors and chose the idea of being valuable to all the public of the Seychelles. Club Liberté is proposing to blend in with an association in Seychelles and coordinate by all methods in showcasing introduction, fascination of sources and gift of materials or fund raising against drug enslavement. “We have met with the pioneers of this association and acknowledged how grave the issue is and how much power is required keeping in mind the end goal to unravel this” says Irina Etienne, marketing manager of Club Liberté.

Irina Etienne went on to say that it was with this goal that will be the best step forward of Club Liberté`s public life as it enters its second year of operation.

Club Liberté is in the new chapter of its improvement and numerous new surprises are set up to its customers for the coming Festival Creole, Christmas & New Year’s Eve and many other worldwide and local events.

This latest appointment highlights their continued expansion and ongoing commitment to develop the services they offer to growing client base, as well as career opportunities for team members.

Managing Director of Club Liberté Jake Waller on his part said:- “The quality of our services is defined by our people, and Club Liberté is committed to attracting candidates of the highest caliber to lead the business. Michels appointment exemplifies this commitment; he brings a huge amount of valuable experience and expertise to the company and is the perfect person to lead this business into its next exciting chapter of growth”.

TAT and UNDP officially Launch – Follow the King’s Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism

TAT and UNDP officially Launch – Follow the King’s Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 6, 2017 (travelindex.com) Disseminate the King’s wisdom through 5 days exhibition. On October 5, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor and Mr. Martin Hart-Hansen, Deputy Resident Representative of United Nations Development Program (UNDP), presided over the opening ceremony under the project “Follow the King’s Wisdom for sustainable tourism” to commemorate King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s graciousness and inherit His Royal Determination through the cooperation with the model communities of the project.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, mentioned that the project “Follow the King’s Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism” is a combination of TAT’s marketing plan under the concept of “Local Experience”. The project aims on giving tourists the impression of traveling as well as knowledge of the communities’ way of living under the King’s principles. The principle includes the principle of understanding, accessing and developing. These principles are going to be used for the management of community tourism to achieve sustainable growth. We can say that this project is a continuation of his royal determination, especially the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP).

The project “Follow the King’s Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism” has selected 4 model communities which are Chanthabun Waterside Community, Ban Pong Huai Lan Community Chiang Mai, Nongyai Area Development Project Community Chumporn and Ban Nongsan Tourism Community Sakon Nakhon.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects the “Follow the King’s Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism” to strengthen the communities’ economy through the management of resources such as natural resource conservation, local way of life and culture conservation, activities for tourism organizing, facility management as well as the management of tourism products that adds value and creates economic value to the community. The development will emphasize on self-thinking which leads to a strong community in long-run. The success of these 4 model communities area will serve as a prototype for further development of the tourism community in the future.

The exhibition “Follow the King’s Wisdom for Sustainable Tourism” presents 4 sustainable tourism communities of the project. There will be the exhibition of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s contribution of to his principles. The exhibition also includes tourism community routes and community products from the 4 model communities, which will stimulate domestic tourism and present communities tourist attractions. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can also participate in the daffodil making, dedicated to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej royal cremation. The exhibition will be opened on 4 – 8 October 2017 at the Emporium Gallery, M floor, The Emporium Shopping Center.

See more details at www.tourismthailand.org/kingwisdom or tel.1672