Thailand Making Travex at ASEAN Tourism Forum a Success

Thailand Making Travex at ASEAN Tourism Forum a Success

Chiang Mai (Thailand) – September 6, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has pledged to make the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Chiang Mai an organisational success, especially the TRAVEX buyer-seller part, where millions of dollars of business is transacted annually.

Demand for Southeast Asian tourism products is growing at 10% a year according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), making ASEAN the fastest growing tourism region in the world.

TRAVEX is the engine room driving much of ASEAN’s tourism success story, said Mr Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor. “That’s why we are calling out to exhibitors to book their space, and for buyers to come and showcase the best of Southeast Asia to the world.”

ATF takes place at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC) 22-26 January, 2018, with travel industry buyers conducting business on the floor of TRAVEX 24-26 January.

Based on its experience organising the Thailand Travel Mart (TTM), TAT undoubtedly has the marketing reach and buyer-handling discipline to make TRAVEX work smoothly for ASEAN, said Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Ms Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, who is current Chair of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers grouping.

While TAT is organising TRAVEX, make no mistake, this is an ASEAN show with leading tourism products from all 10 ASEAN member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, said the Minister.

Hosted and non-hosted travel industry buyers will have to meet rigorous criteria: be experienced in the tourism or travel business, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region; be a senior decision maker or consultant, negotiator and influencer from an outbound department with high-level responsibilities; have purchase authority to contract with ATF suppliers and make purchasing decisions on the show floor; have a history of organising outbound groups and events to multiple destinations; be able to show a history of continuous travel purchases; and be able to demonstrate that they regularly work with travel suppliers in the leisure travel or MICE sectors.

To join the ATF Travex 2018, please visit www.atfthailand2018.com

ATF Facts at a Glance
Around 47% of ATF buyers come from Europe, 15% from the Asia Pacific, 9% from the Americas, 4% from Oceania, and 3% from the Middle East.

At the ATF 2017 in Singapore, there were 660 exhibitors, 13,000 scheduled buyer-seller appointments, and over 2,500 attendees.

In 2017, 36% of exhibitors were accommodation businesses, 25% travel agents or tour operators, 17% NTOs or convention and visitor bureaus, 8.5% travel technology firms, and 3% were in the transport sector.

ATF in Chiang Mai 2018 will be the 37th incarnation of the show and the sixth time it has been held in Thailand.

The theme for 2018 will be: ASEAN – Sustainable Connectivity, Boundless Prosperity.

ASEAN is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary with a Visit ASEAN@50 Golden Celebration campaign that aims to raise international tourism arrivals to the region from 109 million in 2015 to 121 million by year end 2017.

For a complete resource on travel and tourism in ASEAN, go to: VisitASEAN.org

China to Host 22nd UNWTO General Assembly

China to Host 22nd UNWTO General Assembly

Chengdu (China) – September 6, 2017 (travelindex.com) – A unique opportunity to get the sector united towards the common goal of making tourism a true driver of sustainable development.” This is how the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, described the forthcoming UNWTO General Assembly. The bi-annual event, which takes place in Chengdu, China on 11-16 September, will discuss how to advance the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and define the actions of the Organization for the period 2018-2019.

A high-level debate on tourism and the SDGs, a special session on smart tourism, the celebrations of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, the conversion of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics into an international Convention and current trends of the tourism sector are all integrated into the agenda of the 22nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly. The Assembly will also discuss the lines of action and key priorities of the Organization for the two coming years.

“This General Assembly gives us a unique opportunity to take key decisions that will guide us towards making a strong contribution to the future of people and planet,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “The UNWTO General Assembly constitutes the most relevant meeting of global tourism leaders and therefore we should capitalize on this occasion. Tourism is at a crossroads. This Assembly is our opportunity to strengthen our sector in view of the changes it faces.” he added.

A high-level debate on tourism and the SDGs, a special session on smart tourism and the celebrations of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 are all integrated into the agenda of the UNWTO General Assembly.

“Tourism is at a crossroads. This Assembly is our opportunity to strengthen our sector in view of the changes it faces.”UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai

This 22nd session of the General Assembly is the second hosted in China and the fourth in Asia and the Pacific. “China is not only the world’s fourth most-visited country and the first outbound market in the world; it is also an example of a country prioritizing tourism as a driver for development. The efforts of Chinese authorities to define tourism as a strategic pillar of the national economy and an effective development tool make China a fitting host for this UNWTO General Assembly, said Rifai.

Contacts:
UNWTO Media Officer
Rut Gomez Sobrino
rgomez@unwto.org
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60
UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
comm@UNWTO.org
Fax: +34 91 567 8218
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100

Thailand Ratifies Montreal Convention 1999 for Airline Liability

Thailand Ratifies Montreal Convention 1999 for Airline Liability

Montreal (Canada) – September 6, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Thailand has become the 127th country to ratify Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99) legislation. MC99 establishes airline liability in the case of death or injury, of delays to passengers, and in instances of damage or loss of baggage and cargo.

Lawmakers persevered because they understood MC99 is critical for Thailand’s aviation industry to reach its full potential. With Indonesia also recently implementing MC99, IATA is now urging three more Asian countries—Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam—to urgently ratify the legislation.

“Implementing an international treaty is not an easy task,” said IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac.

“Aligning laws with the treaty’s provisions and passing them through parliament can take years. In the case of Thailand it was a seven-year process.

“But lawmakers persevered because they understood that MC99 is critical for Thailand’s aviation industry to reach its full potential.

“With Thailand set to rank among the world’s top ten aviation markets by 2032 that potential is significant. Already aviation supports 3.3 million jobs and $48 billion of economic activity in the Kingdom.”

About IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 275 airlines or 83% of total air traffic. We support many areas of aviation activity and help formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues. Visit our website at www.iata.org

Haute Grandeur Awards to be Revealed at Spectacular Awards Gala Ceremony in Bangkok

Haute Grandeur Awards to be Revealed at Spectacular Awards Gala Ceremony in Bangkok

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 6, 2017 (travelindex) – World’s Most Brilliant Hospitality Stars To Be Revealed At Spectacular Haute Grandeur Awards Gala Ceremony; 27 October 2017 promises a night of opulence, accolades and acclaim as the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel and Spa Awards honor the world’s best hospitality experiences at an illustrious Awards Gala Ceremony, hosted by Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand.

Anticipated as one of the most dazzling events on the luxury hospitality calendar, the annual Haute Grandeur Global Hotel and Spa Awards Gala Ceremony commends exceptional establishments across 7 continents, 172 countries and 94 categories. This prestigious red-carpet event is associated with status and exclusivity, drawing admired industry influencers, decision-makers and VIPs together in celebration as top luxury hospitality brands vie for the ultimate accolade in overall excellence. Leading hospitality groups represented include Anantara, Banyan Tree, Dusit Thani, Fairmont, Hilton, Mandarin Oriental, Sofitel, St Regis, The Four Seasons, The Peninsula, Rosewood, The Ritz Carlton, and Westin, among others.

The 2016 Awards took place at the Fairmont Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with Raffles Jakarta crowned as the overall victor. This year, industry VIPs and esteemed guests can expect a stunning event hosted by a celebrity emcee, with world-class entertainment and the finest cuisine.

Haute Grandeur Award nominees are shining examples and seen as the benchmark in the industry. Association with Haute Grandeur guarantees participating establishments unrivaled recognition and prestige, and emphasizes the importance of continuously striving for excellence. “Hospitality is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing industries. Healthy competition is crucial to the sustainability of an industry that creates so many jobs globally,” says Haute Grandeur founder and Managing Director, Marinique de Wet. “We are proud to contribute and encourage establishments worldwide to continuously excel on all levels.”

The Haute Grandeur Awards system is unlike any other. Unbiased results are guaranteed through a fair, transparent process that recognizes brilliance by means of quality guest feedback rather than the quantity of votes by a panel of judges or the general public. This unique approach to measuring excellence is why Haute Grandeur is in a class of its own.

Each year, Haute Grandeur chooses a leading destination to host the prestigious Awards Gala Ceremony. “Selection of the perfect host destination is essential to the success of the Awards,” says De Wet. “Thai hospitality is world-renowned and we are elated to bring this spectacular event to Thailand this year. Bangkok won the bid to host because it is a one-of-a-kind city. With its fusion of traditional and contemporary, Bangkok is a gift for the senses. One moment you’re exploring ancient temples and floating markets, the next you’re immersed in luxurious hotels, restaurants and boutiques. With the upcoming Awards, our aim is to not only create a valuable networking opportunity, but encourage guests to experience first-hand why Thailand is among the most prosperous hospitality regions in the world. Haute Grandeur partners with the Award Gala Ceremony host to offer special rates and encourage our members to spend time in the host city.”

Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, the south-east Asian flagship of Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, was chosen as the ideal host venue because of its unwavering dedication to raising the standards of service excellence in a highly competitive industry. The 32-storey state-of-the-art hotel is situated in a vibrant cosmopolitan district of Bangkok, and seamlessly blends French elegance with Thai culture to offer discerning guests a magnificent experience.

“We are honored and proud to be selected as the host property for the 2017 Haute Grandeur Awards,” says General Manager, Khun Oliver Schnatz. “This trusted Awards system reflects our commitment to excellence and recognizes the talent and ambassadors who work with unwavering dedication to excel. “We look forward to welcoming esteemed guests to this prestigious affair.”

As one of the most illustrious events of the year, the Haute Grandeur Awards Gala Ceremony is featured prominently in the media spotlight. 2017 global event partners include Etihad Airways, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, and UBER.

“Our annual Awards Gala Ceremony not only provides a platform for dignitaries to celebrate their achievements,” says De Wet. “Most importantly, the Awards honor and recognize the values of dedication, ambition, leadership, hard work and success. By awarding only the best of the best, the Haute Grandeur Awards raise standards of service excellence and inspire outstanding hospitality establishments to reach even greater heights.”

Recognized as the highest accolade a hotel or spa can receive, a Haute Grandeur Award is a guaranteed golden stamp of excellence. Award winners and participating establishments are perceived as exceptional and distinguished by association.

For more information or to become a member, visit www.hautegrandeur.com

Driving Thailand’s MICE Industry Towards Prosperity

Driving Thailand’s MICE Industry Towards Prosperity

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 4, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, or TCEB organizes Thailand MICE Forum 2017 to share the industry with market insights and visions towards the sustainability goals. Creating a phenomenon with series of informative events for MICE industry, the forum features four key activities which showcase the bureau’s strategies and plan, MICE awards, a seminar on sustainable MICE events, and a platform to network with experts and TCEB’s overseas market representatives.

Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of TCEB said that “With the establishment of TCEB’s 20-year vision, the bureau works towards into leading organisation that develops MICE industry as a mechanism for Thailand’s economic development. The initiative aimed at creating stability, distributing prosperity to all sectors through the use of innovation, and creating sustainability by implementing principles from the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. Guided by this long-term vision, four key strategies are developed to drive the country’s MICE industry towards stability and sustainability goals.”

Direction and key activities under these strategies are:
(1) Growing in parallel with the development of the country, which focuses on keeping the current market and finding new markets. The targeted industries under the Thailand 4.0 policy include food, agriculture, biotechnology, public health and wellness, as well as other potential industries such as energy, transport, communications, entertainment, etc. To enhance MICE activities for these sectors, TCEB will conduct the MICE events calendar that is categorized by MICE Cluster Theme, together with series of activities to drive the use of innovation and elevate the business events into SMART MICE THAILAND.

(2) Growing in a high potential market, focusing on the regions that have high growth and strong connection with the development of Thailand’s economy. Under the strategy, primary regions are ASEAN, Asia, and the CLMV/GMS; secondary regions are Europe, America and Oceania; while other potential regions are Eastern Europe and Latin America. Activities outlined for targeted markets in these regions include participating in international trade shows, organizing road show events, appointing representatives offices, and reinforcing promotion activities to enhance targeted sectors in these areas. In addition, the bureau is creating MICE Intelligence & MICE Innovation unit which will gather information, analyse market directions, and help develop business plans for operators in the private sector to improve competitive capabilities.

(3) Growing with equality, by increasing the opportunities for the MICE industry growth as well as maximizing the competence of MICE Cities and high potential cities namely: Songkhla, Chiang Rai, and Udonthani. The development will be enhanced through activities such as Thailand Domestic MICE Mart, Luangprabang-Indochina-Mawlamyine Economic Corridor (LIMEC) International Conference, workshops in special Economic Zones, and key events under the government’s Super Cluster Policy that help establishing local identities such as Halal Festival in Had Yai and E-San Silk Festival.

(4) growing strongly, by strengthening MICE Industry through development. Example of the bureau’s success story is the initiative of Thailand MICE Venue Standard which was developed into ASEAN MICE Venue Standard. The campaign establishes the international standard of convention and exhibition venues in the regional level. Besides, TCEB is strengthening the organisation by developing the internal system to better support the industry in the future.

“Building on the groundwork that comprised of communications, vision, and policy, together with the integration and collaboration of all sectors, TCEB creates the Thailand MICE Forum 2017 – a week of MICE activities to showcase the country’s business events industry and open the platform for stakeholders to share visions, exchange knowledge, and network with alliances from different industries. The event consists of four main activities which being held during 4th -5th September 2017 at the Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel.

On 4th September, 1) MICE SYMPOSIUM 2017 is a platform for TCEB to announce the annual performance of the fiscal year 2017 and deliver the plan for the next fiscal year. 2) MICE Awards 2017, is an event to reward and honour MICE professionals and organisations which devoted their efforts to support Thailand MICE industry and attracted international MICE events to take place in the country. On 5th September, 3) MICE SUSTAINABILITY FORUM 2017 focuses on how to incorporate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the event management business. 4) MEET THE REP: Meetings & Incentives, is a seminar that encourages the knowledge exchange. It provides opportunities for MICE entrepreneurs to get updated with marketing trends and network with TCEB’s representatives from overseas.

The MICE Forum 2017 is being held under the theme, Drive – Change – Inspire – Innovation, The idea represents the transformation of the MICE industry towards the prosperity, driven by innovation and creativity which are incorporated in a sustainable event,” said Mr. Chiruit.

TCEB expects that in the fiscal year 2018, there will be a total of 30.1 million MICE travellers in Thailand, generating revenue of 174 billion baht, separated into 1,192,000 international MICE visitors, generating revenue of 112 billion baht, and 29 million domestic MICE travellers, generating 62 billion baht in revenue. TCEB aims to drive the MICE industry to be a key player in creating prosperity, distributing income to the regions through the MICE industry, and creating strength and sustainability for the economy of the country.

About TCEB
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB – the government leading edge agency – has been the key to success for a wide range of global & regional business events since 2004. With our key strategic model, Growth Driver; TCEB works as your strategic business partner, delivers creative ideas, and provides solutions from our capable resources for every scale and various customised business events.

TCEB has formed numerous collaborations and networks linked to open up grand new chapters of business opportunities, and to strategically enhance every business success with special care that will spur lasting advancement and achievements. Our goal is to equipping business events industry at national, regional, and global stage for continuous development, long-term growth and sustainable success.

For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communications Division
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)

Ms Arisara Thanuplang
Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th
Tel: +66 2 694 6095
Mr.Karun Wararatchai
Email: karun_w@tceb.or.th
Tel: +66 2 694 6179
Ms Paniyada Mulalin
Email: paniyada_m@tceb.or.th
Tel: + 662 694 6091

The Greatest Samui Festival Ever on Samui Island

The Greatest Samui Festival Ever on Samui Island

Koh Samui, Suratthani (Thailand) – September 3, 2017 (travelindex) – Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) takes part of organizing the event “Samui Festival 2017” The greatest celebration event of the island. There are many events to explore such as the art of folk handicrafts of Surat Thani, contemporary art “Art Lane”, a concert by famous singers every night, the boxing match “Samui Fight”, running competition “Samui Festival Marathon 2017”, cycling competition “Tour of Samui Festival 2017”, folk sports competition “Takraw Lawd Huang, Saba” and big buffet on Chaweng Beach.

On August 28th, 2017, at the Centara Grand Chaweng Hotel, Mr. Auaychai Innak, Governor of Surat Thani province; together with Police Major General Apichart Bunsriroj, Surat Thani Provincial Police Commissioner; Mr. Tanongsak Thawithong, Mayor of Provincial Administrative Organization; Mr. Sutham Samthong, Deputy Mayor; Mr. Aumnad Chodchaung, Surat Thani County Council Member; made a press conference on the progression of the Samui Festival 2017 that will be held on this September 7th to 11th at Na Thon, Pru Chaweng and The Wharf Bo Phut.

Mr. Auaychai mentioned the progress in preparing the event that more than 80 percent of the progress has already done and it was co-sponsored by Thai Search Entertainment Company, ThaiTV3.

In addition, on the 7th, the opening day, private hotel entrepreneurs in the Samui led by Mr. Aumnad Chodchaung collaborated with the school group and government agencies to organize carnival procession, 12 flower carriages with more than 1,000 participants. The procession will begin on 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm to Nathon to enter the opening ceremony. Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister will be the president of the ceremony and the event will be broadcasted live on 3SD Channel.

For the event on September 9th, the morning event will be a running competition “Samui Festival Marathon 2017” The winner will receive General Prayut Chun-O-cha, Prime Minister’s trophy. Mr. Thanongsak Thawithong, President of Surat Thani Provincial Administrative Organization, as the tournament director, stated that the marathon activities targeted for 3,000 persons in total.

Samui Festival Marathon, runners will be released at 4:00 am in the morning of September 9th and finish all competitions at no more than 11.00 am, the 42 km runners who reached the first 100 will receive an Angthong Islands trip from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Koh Samui office, as a special prize and the first 300 will receive a Marathon Finisher T-shirt as a prize.

On the afternoon of September 9th, there will be the largest beach buffet in the world for free under the name “Massive buffet on Chaweng Beach” with a length of 2600 meters and over 10,000 dishes at Chaweng beach, Bo Phut. The buffet dinner received cooperation from the entrepreneurs of hotels, shops, communities and the citizen in the Samui area in order to thank to the Thai and foreign tourists who always visit Koh Samui. This event also coordinated with Guinness World Records to break the record of the largest buffet in the world. The buffet will be opened for free from 5pm onward.

Police Major General Apichat Boonsriroj, Surat Thani Provincial Police Commissioner, as a president of a long-distance bike race Tour of Samui Festival, stated that the match preparation is now 100% complete. Staff, route exploration, security measurement and facilities are ready.

The winners of the overall male and female marathon, mini marathon, Tour of the Samui cycling competition; 50 km male-female road bike and 50 km male-female mountain bike will be honored with the Prime Minister Prayut Chayo-O-cha’s trophy, which is designed and crafted by the top tier artists Mr. Sakwut Wisetmanee who was born at Ban bang Kao, Koh Samui. The trophy is inspired by the concept of “wings of victory”, waves of the sea and sunshine are included as elements. Depicting the picture of crossing obstacles in the race until finally won. The trophy is specially cast with a bronze metal which makes it a 14.5 kg in weight.

For both types of athletic applications, you can visit the website. www.samuifestival.com

In addition to the above activities, Samui Festival 2017 also features Art Lane, which invites artists to create works of art, accompanied by music in every stage led by Ajarn Ammarit Chusuwan, Sakwut Maneejit, Wisetmanee jitsing Sombun, Chalit Nakpawan and also a selection of store by various government agencies such as Government Savings Bank, SME Bank, Ministry of Commerce, TAT and many other agencies.

“This year, we have a lot of stores than last years. There are more than 500 stores; general stores, local entrepreneurs, and OTOP community enterprises from both Surat Thani and neighboring provinces. There will be famous actors from Channel 3 to provide a variety of entertainment and the bands such as Body Slam, Joey Boy, Potato, etc.

And thanks to the support from Thai Beverage Public Co., Ltd., Charoen Pokphand Group, Government Savings Bank and Mr. Auaychai Innak, the Governor of Surat Thani Province.

Africa Needs to Rewrite Narrative for Brand Africa, Alain St Ange

Africa Needs to Rewrite Narrative for Brand Africa, Alain St Ange

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – September 3, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Towards the end of this coming week, the World of Tourism will be travelling to Chengdu in China for the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) General Assembly (September 11-16, 2017). Chengdu will be at the centre of tourism as the confirmation of the newly elected UNWTO Secretary General will be tabled to the General Assembly. China will be the host, and global leadership in the field of tourism, will be in their grasp. It will be the opportunity for Dr Taleb Rifai to show the successes of the UNWTO and also pave the way for what will be his legacy. The world at large accepts that the UNWTO is a great organisation and that it is greater than any tourism Minister or personality. The UNWTO must survive the current challenges.

The World of Tourism is still questioning the African Union’s endorsement of a candidate for Secretary General that became an ultimatum for Africa with severe economic sanctions threatened if anyone dared challenge this dictatorial approach. The United Nations cannot live with such situations and must distance itself away from bullying tactics that removes the freedom of choice, of association and of engaged participation.

Currently as threats of instability on a global stage is being felt more and its ripple effects becoming more serious, delegates from 155 countries of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) scheduled to be in Chengdu, China for the upcoming General Assembly, will need to look at their organisation and at the tourism industry.

Africa on its part will again be re-looking at itself and the need to rewrite its narrative for Brand Africa. The 54 States that make up the Continent of Africa remain committed to the consolidation of tourism for their country, and they are all individually working tirelessly on their key tourism source markets to consolidate their tourism. Often this is hampered by the actions or inactions, and the happenings in some of the States of Africa. Ongoing abuse and lack of respect and democracy is eating away at human rights, and the absence of the rule of law remains troubling. This affects the narrative for Brand Africa. A recent article appeared in the Middle East and Africa section of a print edition under the headline “Bleak house” where it is written that the World Justice Project, an NGO based in Washington, DC, considers the main points listed in this report among 44 factors to construct an annual Rule of Law Index. This article hides nothing when Afrobarometer, a pollster, asked people in 35 African countries whether they thought judges were corrupt, 65% said that “some” or “most” of them were. Another 11% did not hedge their bets, answering that “all of them” were crooks. Africa cannot and will never be just a tourism destination onto itself, it needs to be part of the global community it relies on for its tourists and trade.

China at the centre of tourism as newly elected UNWTO Secretary General to be tabled

The World of Tourism will be travelling to Chengdu in China for the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) General Assembly set for the 11 to the 16 September 2017. All eyes will be on Chengdu, and this great city will be at the centre of tourism as the confirmation of the newly elected UNWTO Secretary General will be table to the General Assembly.

China will be the host for the 2017 General Assembly of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation).

This will be the last General Assembly to be chaired by Dr. Taleb Rifai, the current Secretary General of the UNWTO. It will be the opportunity for the highly popular and very respected Dr. Rifai to show case the successes of the UNWTO and also pave the way for what will be his legacy. The World of Tourism is unanimous in their support for Dr. Rifai who has worked tirelessly for tourism and for unity in this industry that remains so important for many an economy across the world and for providing employment for one in every six jobs.

At the Chengdu UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) General Assembly, China will see global leadership in the field of tourism in their grasp. The UNWTO as an organisation remains greater than any tourism Minister or personality. The UNWTO must survive the current challenges.

UNWTO needs to establish a Committee of its elders to re-look at rules and procedures for its future elections in a bid to redress possible anomalies. The World of Tourism cannot stop endorsements by any Regional of Continental Bodies such as what happened by the African Union when they endorsement of a candidate for Secretary General. What the United Nations cannot and should not accept is that an endorsement becomes an ultimatum for a Region or Continent. Basic freedoms falling under the concept of Human Rights must be respected and these include the freedom of choice, the freedom of association and the freedom of engaged participation. The African Union call for economic sanction if the Seychelles Candidate was not withdrawn was an assault on the sovereign right of an Independent State who fought to break away from Colonial Rule.

Delegates from 155 countries of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) are scheduled to be in Chengdu, China for this upcoming General Assembly to look at their organisation and at the tourism industry.

While China is bound to become the biggest player in outbound and inbound tourism it is also recognised that the Chinese are recognised as the largest in spending on holidays. China is set to hold the record to be the largest in air traffic and the biggest destination for the MICE market, the meeting and incentive business. China can and China must now show leadership to keep tourism moving forward.

Is your sunscreen destroying coral reefs?

Climate change has been deemed the most general culprit of coral bleaching globally. However, recent studies have shown that a common compound, oxybenzone found in sunscreen is causing mass devastation to coral reefs. The UV-absorbing chemical has been shown to poison coral in several ways. In recent studies, biologists have shown that this compound disrupts reproduction and growth, leaving young corals fatally deformed. Even in minute doses, the researchers found, oxybenzone rapidly bleaches coral and slows new growth: A single drop in 4.3 million gallons of water (about six and a half Olympic-size swimming pools) is enough to be deadly. It is estimated that 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotions end up in coral reefs each year.

Popular phrases such as the Australian ‘slip-slop-slap’ motto have been used prominently by media to encourage people to apply sunscreen to protect against the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays. It’s a certainly a cruel irony that skin protection has come at such a cost to the ocean. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Mineral sunscreens which have the active ingredients titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are one option.

As mentioned in a previous issue of the Saint Ange Tourism Report, coral reefs can contribute a substantial amount to the marine environment and to the economies of countries that are lucky to have them. Therefore, it is in the benefit of those countries to do all that they can to help preserve these ecosystems. Many places such as Hawaii, the Virgin Islands and South Florida are beginning to follow through with the banning of sunscreens containing oxybenzone. It is hope that many other countries including the Seychelles will follow in their footsteps in order to preserve coral reefs for future generations.

Air Mauritius promotes Singapore as a destination as Seychelles consolidates itself in the Middle East

Air Mauritius recently organised a meeting with several travel agencies to present Singapore as a destination for Mauritians. This approach will in return bring visibility for Mauritius and Singapore. The meeting in Mauritius was organised in collaboration with Changi Airport Singapore and it was the occasion for Raj Deenanath, the VP Sales Support and Distribution for Air Mauritius, to review all the direct flights proposed by the airline company on Singapore since March 2016. It is confirmed that there has been a constant progress in the occupancy rate of Air Mauritius with 10 points difference between financial years 2015/2016 and 2016/2017, reaching 80.7%. The first quarter of the current financial year is very positive. Air Mauritius transported 17,000 passengers on this route representing an increase of 10% compared to the same period in 2016.

The various assets of the Singaporian hub have also been presented. Air Mauritius offers connections to 15 destinations from this hub: Shanghai, Hong Kong, Perth, Sydney, Jakarta, Denpasar, Medan, Palembang, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Bangkok, Samui, Manilla, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh. The code share agreement with Singapore Airlines also offers other options.

With the increasing demand on the Mauritius-Singapore route, Air Mauritius decided to increase its flights as from December this year passing to four weekly flights, and according to Raj Deenanath, there could even be a fifth flight operated in 2018.

Changi Airport Singapore was represented by Sarah Ong Mei Shan, Manager Airport Development, and Neo Wei Shan, Manager Passenger Development. Sarah Ong Mei Shan who made a presentation on Singapore, talked about the touristic best sellers – the zoo, river safari, Sentosa Shopping, stunning hotels, leisure parks, cruising offers, and F1 races that could interest Mauritians. She also mentioned the various new and ongoing projects, namely the opening of the fourth terminal at Changi Airport before the end of this year and the opening of the Jewel Changi Airport in 2019 and that will offer a unique experience with an unexpected architecture.

The travel agents have been able to meet two Singaporean DMCs who came to Mauritius for the occasion, The Traveller and Luxury Tours.

Seychelles Tourism Board on its part, has moved to target consumer-driven advertising to attract more visitors from the Middle East

With the aim of capitalizing on growing interest in Seychelles among holidaymakers in the Middle East region, the Seychelles Tourism Board is aiming to create more brand awareness to further position the island nation as a destination of choice in that region.

According to statistics, over 20,000 visitors from the Middle East have travelled to the Seychelles Islands from January to July this year. This represents a growth of 30 percent.

The United Arab Emirates is one market that is doing remarkably well. Currently standing as the third main source market, the UAE has sent 18,574 visitors to Seychelles up to 20th August, representing a 24 percent increase.

Aiming to keep the tourism numbers growing, the STB’s regional office in Dubai is getting ready to launch a series of marketing initiatives ranging from outdoor advertising as well as taxi, SMS and YouTube advertising campaigns.

The campaigns will be launched in several regions of the Middle-East, namely in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia – mainly in Riyadh and Jeddah, Kuwait, Qatar & Bahrain.

The Seychelles Tourism Board’s regional manager for the Middle East Ahmed Fathallah said “for the past several years one of our main strategies was to educate the trade partners with Seychelles’ unique selling points, however the market needs has changed wherein it is now more consumer driven.”

“With this we are adapting on the trend and we are positive that this will meet our objectives and return on investment will be quantifiable on the later stage through the number of visitors to Seychelles,” he added.

The majority of the campaigns will run for a little over two months, mainly between September and October.

For the outdoor advertising campaign, 23 double sided MUPI advertising panels will be launched at 3 business communities in Dubai. This is a mass marketing campaign where several artworks depicting key scenes of the Seychelles will be portrayed featuring tags translated into Arabic.

Aimed at captivating the attention of as many on the go consumers in Dubai, the taxi campaign will see some 50 taxis being fully branded with artworks depicting the Seychelles sceneries and the Tourism Board’s logo.

Targeting online consumers in the 25 to 60 age group, a 20-seconds non-skippable clip of the Seychelles will be featured on YouTube. The advertising campaign will be focussed on encouraging bookings and will be targeting potential travellers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar & Bahrain.

The SMS campaign is one that will run for one year, where ‘Seychelles TB’ will be the sender ID used to try and take advantage of the peak travel seasons in Middle East including the EID holiday, to drive more travellers to Seychelles.

The chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Mrs. Sherin Francis said: “It is important that we constantly look for ways to reach out to the discerning travellers as part of our strategy, so that we remain top of mind. For our source markets this strategy is as important as our trade relationships.”

“In the case of UAE and the Middle East region, they are source markets with good air connectivity, ideal for both short and long weekend breaks, given that we are visa-free. I believe that as a destination we should be able to appeal to the travellers from there,” she added.

Aside of the UAE, other Middle Eastern countries are also performing well in spite of not sending impressive number of visitors to Seychelles.

Arrivals from Qatar have increased by 167 percent with 2,369 visitors having disembarked in Seychelles from January to July this year, compared to 886 during the same period in 2016.

As for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain the arrival numbers have increased by 12 percent and 22 percent respectively.

Saudi Arabia has sent 1,465 visitors to Seychelles from January to July compared to 1,313 during the same period in 2016, while visitor arrivals from Bahrain stands at 396 for the first seven months of the year, compared to only 324 during the same period in 2016.

Daniella Payet-Alis receives Country and Regional award at CEO Global Regional Symposium and Recognition Awards 2017/2018

Daniella´s pioneering role in shaping Seychelles’ tourism industry, building her own companies and dedicating her time and passion to the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF) have earnt her two awards at the Regional Symposium and Recognition Awards organized by CEO Global, Africa´s Most Influential Women in Business and Government and Titans on September 29th 2017 at the Hennessy Park Hotel in Mauritius.

As one of the leading African recognition programmes, the awards celebrate leaders from 8 different regions, including the Indian Ocean region, at country and regional level in 23 categories. More than 4000 nominations were brought forward on an anonymous basis from around the African continent and island states. A multi-tier judging process, overseen by KPMG, identifies strong business leaders, such as Daniella, who inspire their country and region and dedicate their life to their respective fields. Tourism and Leisure was one of the categories, among agriculture, SME, education, government officials, sports and others. All regional winners qualify for the continental award ceremony which takes place once a year in South Africa.

Daniella was invited to speak on a panel among business leaders from Mauritius and Madagascar, discussing the importance of the blue economy for island states, alongside with new technologies and highlighting opportunities for women and youth in the region.

The symposium, animated by the award host Annelize Wepener, was followed by the award ceremony, which celebrated 17 leaders from Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles. After winning a country award for her achievements and dedication to the tourism industry in Seychelles, Daniella was called on stage again for the regional award in the category of Tourism & Leisure. Her emotional speech highlighted the love she feels for her country and family, honouring especially the role her parents played in her career. Daniella emphasized the importance of connecting and exchanging ideas and good practices in the region, very much in line with the mission of her foundation, which aims at being a facilitating platform to provide synergies and allow tourism stakeholders from public, private sector, NGOs and academia to come together and work on a collaborative approach towards sustainable tourism in the Seychelles. The SSTF helps to build partnerships, forums of discussions (events, conferences) and connect different stakeholders. Having received these two awards, Daniella wishes to become an ambassador and encourage more fellow talented Seychellois who have made a difference in their fields to take parts in these awards.

On behalf of the Saint Ange Tourism Report we take this opportunity to say congratulations to Daniella Payet-Alis for her receiving the country and regional award at CEO Global Regional Symposium and Recognition Awards 2017/2018

Hotel Classification in Seychelles opens the way for independent private sector consultancy works

Last year, meetings were held with General Managers of large hotels and the one-island one-resort properties, to discuss the proposed hotel classification program for Seychelles as part of the continuing consultation with hoteliers on the upcoming hotel classification program.

The series of meetings was called to further brief hoteliers on the programs so far and the way forward. It was also an opportunity to air some of the concerns that hoteliers have expressed vis-a-vis the program.

The Principal Secretary for Tourism, Anne Lafortune, opened the meeting by highlighting once again the objectives of the hotel classification program and spelled out its benefits to the potential clients, the hotels, and the Seychelles tourism industry as a whole. The planning of the exercise has received the support of an expert from the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) and as Government finalises the necessary rules and regulations for the formal hotel classification program, new opportunities for Seychellois spring up.

Nigel Payet was working with the Ministry of Tourism but has now launched himself in his very own Consultancy Business.

Aged 35, Nigel Payet graduated in Maritime studies at the Seychelles Polytechnic in 2002 and has worked with DMCs and other Tourism Related activities before joining the Seychelles Tourism Board in 2009 as Quality & Standard officer.

His duties at the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Board gave him the necessary experience to launch himself into his own business. He used to assist and review and upgrade all tourism establishments by providing technical assistance to tourism stakeholders, maintain regular contact with the trade and establish a working relationship to ensure correct implementation of rules and regulations, Monitor, inspect on a regular basis the standards of all tourism establishments and other tourism related services, Monitor hotels and restaurants performance levels to ensure that product is diversified enough and high standards are maintained, Liaise with owners and operators to advise them on policy requirements and criteria, Assist with policy formulation and criteria development and review, Propose new ways of enhancing products and Assist with comments on new tourism projects.

“During my employment, I have attended serval trainings, workshops, exposures and seminars locally and internationally to enhance my knowledge and skills. I assisted and participated in all the activities organized by the Ministry and the Tourism Board. E.g.: Carnival International de Victoria, SUBIOS etc. Prior to my resignation I have work closely with the consultant from the UNWTO in the preparation for the implementation of the Seychelles Classification program. I acted as assessor in 2016 to conduct the advisory visit of the hotels to pilot test the criteria for classification program.” said Nigel Payet

He resigned in February 2017 for a new challenge to pursue in a new venture as a Tourism Consultant to be close to the Tourism Industry.

Nigel Payet today offers 4 core Services of the business:

– Provide services in connection with the Company’s goals & success.
– Provide technical assistance to hotels in achieving the highest star* rating and scoring for the grading system and thereafter ensure that the hotel is operating -according to its grading awarded.
– Provide technical assistance to hotels interested in achieving the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label (SSTL) and thereafter ensure that the label is maintained at the required standards.
– Ensure quality and maintenance of the hotel & asses/evaluate the service and products on offer on a regular basis.

Nigel Justin PAYET, is an Internal Auditor ISO 9001 & 14001/ Tourism Consultant with N Consultant Services

Eco-Tourism Cruises in Mauritius with a slogan

Eco-Tourism means different things to different people, but the important thing is for tourism operators to be embarking on the road to sustainable tourism and wanting to be seen as good custodians of what our world has been blessed with.

Today Mauritius has its eco-tourism cruises that depart from Grand Bay, the bustling and attractive town in the north of Mauritius referred to as Mauritius’ response to the French Riviera!

Grand Bay fun Island Tour Operator, CatamaranParty Grand Bay with other several local service providers & Catamaran Cruise are promoting what they are calling an Eco-Tourism Cruise.

What’s an Eco Cruise? There’s a new school of thought in the world of cruising. It goes by several names, including eco-cruise, sustainable tourism or green travel. Sustainable eco-tourism means traveling to a location – usually to appreciate its natural beauty – while striving to impact that environment as little as possible. Sustainable tourism also seeks to educate the traveler about the area’s history and natural resources such as land, waterways and wildlife. Ideally, eco-tourism helps spread a message of responsible environmental stewardship and conservation.

Focus on Artificial Intelligence at ITB Asia 2017

Focus on Artificial Intelligence at ITB Asia 2017

Singapore (Singapore) – August 31, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Under the overarching conference theme of  “The Future of Travel”, the organisers of ITB Asia, Messe Berlin (Singapore), have announced that this year’s keynote speeches will be delivered by industry leaders from IBM and Google, who will speak on the very latest trends in Artificial Intelligence (AI) including the impact, use and benefits of AI in the travel industry.

Starting from 9am on 25 October, the keynote addresses will be delivered by Tony Menezes, Vice President of Industrial and Distribution Sector at IBM Asia Pacific and Rob Torres, Managing Director of Advertising and Marketing at Google. Sharanjit Leyl, Presenter and Producer at BBC News will moderate the keynote session.

Tony Menezes will speak about the opportunities to fundamentally transform the travel industry with cognitive technology, and how IBM Watson is making travel experiences more personal, relevant and convenient. As Vice President, Industrial and Distribution Sector at IBM Asia Pacific, Tony Menezes is responsible for building and growing relationships across IBM’s portfolio of industry solutions, software, services and platforms. Prior to this, Tony was responsible for business development and sales of Cognitive Industry solutions, based on IBM Watson, the AI platform for business.

Rob Torres, Industry Director, Travel at Google will be speaking about how consumer expectations for seamless, assistive experiences in travel are higher than ever before. He will share how the Google Travel team is leveraging new digital trends and machine learning to build more immersive experiences for users across the travel journey. Google’s suite of travel products includes Google Flights, Google Hotel Ads, Destinations on Google, and Google Trips.

“Artificial intelligence is making real waves in the travel industry and changing the way business is done. We’re seeing an increasing number of travel and hospitality brands integrating AI into their online strategies in efforts to improve customer service and engagement and it is clearly a major trend that is here to stay. This year, we felt it was timely to have two influential experts in AI share their knowledge and insights at ITB Asia 2017, and we’re delighted to welcome Tony Menezes from IBM Asia Pacific and Rob Torres from Google as keynote speakers for what will no doubt be a truly exciting start to this year’s show”, said Katrina Leung, Executive Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore) and ITB Asia.

ITB Asia 2017 is expected to top the success of ITB Asia in 2016, where almost 900 buyers attended the show, leading to a 1:1 ratio between exhibitors and buyers whilst over 50% of buyers signed deals with exhibitors after the event. 43% of attending buyers had purchasing power of USD 500K – USD 1m and 85.7% of attending buyers were direct decision makers.

For more information on ITB Asia 2017, visit www.itb-asia.com

For more information or interest to be a Conference Partner of ITB Asia 2017, please email: michele.koe@itb-asia.com or visit: www.itb-asia.com/conference

About ITB Asia 2017
ITB Asia 2017 will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, from 25 – 27 October. It is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The event will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and attractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, venues, other meeting facilities and travel technology companies are all expected to attend.

Andrew Wood, New VP for Southeast Asia at Skål International

Andrew Wood, New VP for Southeast Asia at Skål International

Seoul (Korea) – August 31, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Robert Sohn, President of Skal International Asia, announced that effective immediately, Andrew J. Wood was co-opted as Vice President for Southeast Asia (SEA) by the organisations Asian board.

Andrew is not new to this position as he was VP for Southeast Asia during 2009-2010 and was a former Executive Committee member of SI.

“Without doubt, he keeps a wealth of knowledge and understanding when it comes to SI, and more importantly, I highly regard his ardent passion on SI,” said Sohn.

Said Wood: “It is a privilege to once again work with good friends and colleagues for the betterment of Skål International throughout Asia.

“A member since 20 August 1992, I celebrate 25 years of Skål membership this year. Returning to the AA board, therefore, is the icing on the Skål cake. Thank you all so much. I will do my best, and I look forward to joining you all for the mid-term meeting in Macau from November 2-5, 2017.”

Andrew J. Wood, is a well-travelled travel writer and former hotelier with over 35 years of hospitality and travel experience. He is a regular media contributor and guest lecturer at various universities in Thailand including Assumption University’s Hospitality School and most recently the Japan Hotel School in Tokyo.

Contact information:
Andrew J Wood
VP | South East Asia (SEA)
Skål International Asia
E: ajwoodbkk@gmail.com
W: www.skalasia.org

ITB Asia 2017 Sells Out 10th Anniversary Show

ITB Asia 2017 Sells Out 10th Anniversary Show

Singapore (Singapore) – August 31, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Celebrating its 10th anniversary as Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show, ITB Asia 2017 has completely sold out ahead of its milestone show this October, attributed to a tremendous surge in booth bookings from the global market. The show holds its strong Asian support with 60% of exhibiting companies from Asia.

ITB Asia 2017 will feature many firsts for the travel trade show. For the first time this year, ITB Asia will host Brazil’s Rio Convention and Visitor Bureau, the Moscow City Government, Promote Iceland, as well as an African Pavilion, among many others.

The strong growth performance at ITB Asia 2017 is led by BRICS economies that show exceeding exhibitor stand booking growth rates, with South Africa (200%), Russia (183%) and Brazil (100%) paving the trend. China is also growing its presence at ITB Asia by 31% this year with Ctrip, Wuzhen Tourism, Hua Min Tourism & Reservation, Shanghai Toptown International Travel Agency and many more set to feature during the show.

Tunisia and Rwanda will make their debut at ITB Asia this year, joining Kenya Tourism Board and other African exhibitors from Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Sudan. This comes as no surprise given that the African market has shown an exceptional growth of 25% at this year’s show.

Europe is a close second having recorded a 23% growth which is led by the Greek National Tourism Organisation and Spain Tourism Board. This growth is also substantiated by a growing number of exhibitors from the Balkan Peninsula, including countries such as Romania and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

In addition, Scandinavian markets have marked a 21% growth as leading markets such as Finland and Norway show stronger exhibitor demand. This is further strengthened by Promote Iceland which joins ITB Asia for the first time.

While African and European markets appear to dominate the show floor, North Asia will feature prominently during ITB Asia 2017 too.

Delegates can look forward to a strong showing by Japan and Korea at this year’s show as Japan recorded an 89% growth in exhibitor bookings while Korea recorded a staggering 112% growth, thanks to Korea Tourism Organisation, Seoul Tourism Organisation and Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Earlier this year, ITB Asia had signed a partnership with Korea Tourism Organisation to boost Korea’s appeal as a key destination in Southeast Asia.

“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, the substantial growth in exhibitors underlines how ITB Asia has firmly established itself as the leading industry event in the region. The Asian outbound market continues to attract huge interest and we are delighted to see such levels of growth from various key markets at the show this year. As early as now, we are accepting bookings for the 2018 show,” said Katrina Leung, Executive Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), organiser of ITB Asia.

Exploring “The Future of Travel”, ITB Asia 2017 will feature industry heavyweights from the travel and tourism sector as well as global brand names from the technology sector. The show will take place from 25 – 27 October 2017 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.

ITB Asia 2018 is now available for stand booking and interested exhibitors may email exhibitor@itb-asia.com.

For more information on ITB Asia 2017, visit www.itb-asia.com

About ITB Asia 2017
ITB Asia 2017 will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, from 25 – 27 October. It is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The event will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and attractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, venues, other meeting facilities and travel technology companies are all expected to attend.