Category: Latest Travel News

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 3, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Holiday Factory, the leading and award-winning tour operator in the UAE, announced the launch of its new brand, “Holiday Factory Premium” at the highly anticipated Arabian Travel Market event 2023 held at Dubai World Trade Centre.

“The UAE market has a unique demographic landscape with an exponentially growing expat population. The region has experienced rapid economic growth which has resulted in increase in disposable income of its residents. Which in turn has created a surge in demand for Premium holidays” – Says Namrata Bhatia, Director Marketing at Holiday Factory

“Research of UAE market suggests, 1/3rd of the population is seeking for premium holidays and is underserved with all-inclusive packages at the right price” – Says Sandra Dammrich, GM at Holiday Factory Premium

After successfully serving the UAE middle-class segment with unbeatably priced holiday packages, Holiday Factory is now set to reshape the “Premium” outbound travel industry with its exciting selection of popular & unexplored destinations such as Switzerland, Italy, Maldives, Northern lights of Scandinavia with a Ice igloo experience etc.

Packaged with only Direct Flights from all local airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai etc, and other reputed international airlines, Premium hotels, transfers, insurance, and curated daily expert-guided tours to truly experience a destination the Premium Way! Choose to travel in a small group of like-minded travellers for an affordable option or choose to travel privately for the ultimate exclusive experience.

“73% of Premium holiday seekers, residing in the emirates, are looking for all-inclusive holiday packages and 95% of those end up booking by themselves. It’s a long, tedious process of endlessly researching and creating a self-itinerary which ends up being cost-ineffective” said Ekaterina Malikova, Product manager at Holiday Factory Premium.

As travel experts, we curate an entire holiday experience of unparalleled luxury at cost-effective prices – Added Malikova.

In recent years, the importance of online shopping has grown massively, and Holiday Factory Premium recognises that customers crave a seamless, simple booking experience. Our one-stop-shop online booking platform allows clients to book their dream holiday within minutes!

With their successful track record of revolutionising the market with affordable holiday packages in 2011, there is no doubt that Holiday Factory Premium will once again make history and change the game.

London, United Kingdom, May 1, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the appointment of Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO of VFS Global, to the Executive Committee of WTTC. Karkaria’s appointment comes following significant growth of VFS Global in the last two decades, and the significant contribution made by Karkaria to the Travel & Tourism sector.

Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions. A trusted partner of 67 client governments, VFS Global has a global network of more than 3,400 application centres in 145 countries, managing non-judgemental and administrative tasks related to applications for visa, passport and consular services.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “We are delighted to welcome such an im-portant partner to the Travel & Tourism sector to WTTC’s Executive Committee.

“VFS Global’s growth over the last twenty years is testament to Zubin’s vision and leader-ship. Hundreds of millions of travellers have been able to move around the world seamlessly thanks to the crucial role VFS Global plays behind the scenes in the sector.”

Zubin Karkaria said: “It is an honour and a privilege for me to become a member of the Ex-ecutive Committee of WTTC, the preeminent global travel and tourism body, comprising thought leaders from leading travel, hospitality, and tourism organisations from across ge-ographies.

“I look forward to contributing to the continuing development of the global travel and tour-ism industry in a sustainable, inclusive, and secure manner further enhancing its contribution to global socio-economic development, and more specifically to the implementation of WTTC’s agenda.”

The World Travel & Tourism Council represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries.

The original vision of WTTC’s founding members remains the same: governments must rec-ognise Travel & Tourism’s value, not only to economies, but to the millions of livelihoods that depend on it.

Members of WTTC range from airlines to tour operators and hospitality groups. The Execu-tive Council is comprised of Chairs, Presidents, and Chief Executives from many of the world’s most powerful Travel & Tourism businesses.

United Nations, New York, United States, April 29, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center have unveiled groundbreaking new data detailing the total water usage of the global Travel & Tourism sector.

In one of the largest research projects of its kind, WTTC can for the first time ever, accurately report and track the impact the sector has on the environment.

The findings were launched today at the United Nations in New York at the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Direct Water Use

Speaking at the UN Headquarters, Chris Imbsen, Director of Sustainability at WTTC, revealed that Travel & Tourism’s entire water footprint is just 0.6% of the global water use according to the latest figures (2021).

In 2019, when the sector was at its peak, the sector’s total water footprint was only 50% higher, but still less than 1% of the global total at 0.9%.

Travel & Tourism’s direct water use is significantly lower – in 2019 it was 0.2% of the global total and has fallen by half to just 0.1% of the global total.

Much of the sector’s water use is indirect, through its supply chain, with agriculture and food production accounting for two-thirds of Travel & Tourism’s entire water footprint.

Between 2010 and 2019, the Travel & Tourism sector in Europe and Africa reduced direct water use. In Europe, direct water use fell by 8% and in Africa direct water use by the sector fell by 6%.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “This ground-breaking new data reveals our sector’s water consumption for the first time ever, revealing that Travel & Tourism uses less than 1% of the water used around the world, with the overwhelming majority of that usage coming from the sector’s supply chain.

“The data also shows that whilst the sector has grown economically around the world, its direct-use water intensity has decreased.

“The data is the most in depth study of the sector’s water use, and like the world-first cli-mate footprint data we released at our Global Summit in Riyadh last year, we can also re-veal individual countries Travel & Tourism sector’s water footprints. This will enable governments to work with the sector to further reduce water usage.”

Water Intensity

The water intensity of Travel & Tourism per unit of GDP has also fallen since 2010, across both direct and indirect use.

In 2010, the sector used 0.57m³ of water for every $1 USD contributed to the global econo-my.

In 2019 this fell by 19% to reach 0.46m³ of water for every $1 USD contributed to the global economy.

In a world-first, this comprehensive research covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated each year with revised figures. This research was made possible thanks to the partnership between WTTC and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center. Under the Saudi green Initiative, more than 60 initiatives have been launched in the past year, representing more than $186BN USD of in-vestment in the green economy.

Marbella Andalusia, Spain, April 29, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The golf tourism industry celebrated its much-anticipated inaugural IAGTO European Convention (IEC) this week in Marbella, Costa del Sol in typical Andalucian style.

Organised by global golf tourism organization IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) for the benefit of its member companies, the three-day event was attended by 634 delegates from 46 countries, making it IAGTO’s largest and most successful event to date.

At the Opening Address it was announced that, due to overwhelming demand, IEC would return to Andalucía next year from 13-15 May 2024 and take place in the city of Málaga, the gateway to the Costa del Golf, where attendance is expected to exceed 800.

Sitting alongside IAGTO’s Americas Convention (NAC) and Asia Convention (AGTC), IEC completes a trio of annual IAGTO events that span the globe. IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said: “Our 2,500 member companies now have the opportunity to attend whichever conventions are most beneficial to them, at an affordable cost, in the knowledge that the business conducted and relationships established will deliver dividends every single time.

“For example, here at our first IEC, 50% of the buyer delegates are from the top 22% highest performing golf tour operators in their region.”

During the event, 8,300 meetings were pre-scheduled between buyers and suppliers over two full days, and further networking was facilitated through the IEC Golf Tournament played over three courses (La Quinta, Rio Real and Santa Clara golf clubs), five hotel receptions, a Feria Andaluza themed Welcome Reception for all delegates and the traditional IAGTO-style Farewell Fiesta.

Speaking about what it takes to create practically useful meeting environments, Walton said: “What underpins everything we do is the close relationship we have with our members throughout the year. We understand how the golf tourism industry is evolving and what the priorities are for individual companies at any given time. Our events are simply a reaction to this, and they too change and evolve every year.

“We also have incredibly good working relationships with over 100 tourism boards. To bring an event of this size, and to enable it to return, requires a tremendous amount of support and commitment from partner institutions. For IEC 2023 we had three superb anchor sponsors – the tourist boards of Andalucía and Costa del Sol along with the Marbella Town Hall, in addition to event-function sponsors including the Royal Andalucian Golf Federation.”

Delegates were welcomed by officials from the host destinations.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports of Andalucía, Don Victor González told them: “Andalucia’s relationship with IAGTO, given the relevance of the destination in the field of golf travel, is close, fruitful, long-lasting and I would almost dare to say historic. This event is equally noteworthy as an example of public-private collaboration between the institutions and organizations involved, that we all work in the same direction to promote the development of an essential activity for the region.”

Marbella Mayor Angeles Muñoz said: “We are convinced that this event will not only have a significant impact on our promotion as a golf destination but, together with the forthcoming Solheim Cup, will be a great boost for our Marbella brand.”

Renee Kachler, Director of Business Development for the Costa del Sol Tourism Board, said: “With over 70 golf courses distributed across the Costa del Golf, making up 67% of the golf courses in Andalucía, the Costa del Sol is one of the most important golf destinations in the world. Golf is therefore very important to us. It is a segment that has a significant economic impact on the destination, not only golf clubs but also hotels, restaurants and service companies.”

Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalucian Golf Federation, said: “Revenue of 2,200 million euros every year result from golf related activities in Andalucía, with more than 50,000 people employed directly and indirectly with golf.

“That’s mainly because of you,” he told delegates. “It’s mainly because you keep sending visitors to Andalucía.” IEC 2024 will take place from 13-15 May in Málaga.

About IAGTO
Established in 1997, IAGTO’s membership comprises almost 2,500 accredited golf tour operators, golf resorts, hotels, golf courses, receptive operators, airlines, tourist boards, approved media and business partners in 90 countries including, at its core, 675 specialist golf tour operators in 61 countries. IAGTO’s operators control over 90% of golf holiday packages sold worldwide and turnover more than €2.5 billion per year.Established in 1997, IAGTO’s membership comprises almost 2,500 accredited golf tour operators, golf resorts, hotels, golf courses, receptive operators, airlines, tourist boards, approved media and business partners in 90 countries including, at its core, 675 specialist golf tour operators in 61 countries. IAGTO’s operators control over 90% of golf holiday packages sold worldwide and turnover more than €2.5 billion per year.

Bangkok, Thailand, April 28, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Global hotel company shows continued growth across chain scale segments and soft brand hotel collections. As one of the world’s leading hotel companies with 19 distinctive brands across every chain scale segment – from luxury to economy – BWH Hotel Group continues to make an impression in select regions across the globe with the addition of several new properties in North America, Europe and Asia. Travelers can look forward to new BWH Hotel Group properties in The United States, India, Denmark, Austria, Thailand, Sweden, The Philippines, Germany, Greece, Spain, Japan and England.

“As the resurgence of travel continues, we are proud to grow our portfolio in key destinations around the globe,” said Larry Cuculic, President and Chief Executive Officer, BWH Hotel Group. “As a global company we are focused on thoughtfully growing and expanding our footprint to ensure we can provide exceptional travel experiences to guests around the world. At BWH Hotel Group there is a brand for every type of traveler – from upscale, luxury and lifestyle hotels to midscale and economy brands.”

Select hotels joining the portfolio include:

• Aiden by Best Western Herning (Herning, Denmark)
• Aiden by Best Western @ Vagator (Mapusa North, India)
• Best Western Hotel Tulln (Tulln, Austria)
• Best Western Chatuchak (Bangkok, Thailand)
• Best Western Ratchada Hotel (Bangkok, Thailand)
• Best Western San Diego Zoo/SeaWorld Inn & Suites (San Diego, California)
• Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin (Hua Hin, Thailand)
• Sure Hotel by Best Western City, Jönköping (Jönköping, Sweden)
• SureStay Studio by Best Western Clarkview (Angeles City, Philippines)

BWH Hotel Group has started the year off with tremendous momentum, onboarding new hotels in North America, Europe and Asia with plans for continued growth throughout the year. With a portfolio of approximately 4,500 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide, BWH Hotel Group intends to build upon its strong property portfolio to provide even more unique offerings and experiences to travelers and developers worldwide.

“We are focused on driving unique hotel offerings that appeal to the next generation of travelers and developers,” said Brad LeBlanc, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, BWH Hotel Group. “Our lifestyle and boutique brands have seen tremendous success with brands like Aiden growing exponentially – that brand has launched in Denmark and India in the first months of 2023 and the portfolio is set to double this year. We’re also experiencing significant traction with our soft brand offerings which provide developers with more flexibility and deliver authentic experiences to travelers.”

BWH Hotel Group has expanded its collection of soft brand hotels and plans to grow by more than 100 soft brand properties in 2023 alone.

“We are thrilled about the continued growth of our global presence and the rapid growth of BWH Hotel Group internationally to include our WorldHotels portfolio,” said Ron Pohl, President, International Operations and WorldHotels. “These properties are all wonderful additions to our portfolio and offer guests an ideal hotel experience in our target markets and countries.”

Recent additions to the soft collections portfolio include hotels in countries such as England, Greece, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Spain, among others.

Select properties include:

• b’mine Dusseldorf, WH Crafted collection (Dusseldorf, Germany)
• Luxury Suites Amsterdam, WH Elite collection (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
• Makedonia Palace, WH Luxury collection (Thessaloniki, Greece)
• The George, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western (Darlington, England)
• The Liberty Bremerhaven, BW Signature Collection (Bremerhaven, Germany)
• The Sofraga Palacio, WH Crafted collection (Ávila, Spain)
• Villa Fontaine Premier Haneda Airport, WH Elite collection (Tokyo, Japan)

About BWH Hotel Group
BWH Hotel Group is a leading, global hospitality network comprised of three hotel companies, including WorldHotels™ Collection, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts and SureStay Hotel Group®. The global network boasts approximately 4,500 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*. With 19 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotel Group suits the needs of developers and guests in every market.

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

Zadar, Croatia, April 28, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Sports tourism can play an increasingly important role in the economic diversification, growth and sustainable development of destinations worldwide.

The 2nd edition of the World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC), organized by UNWTO, Government of Croatia through its Ministry of Tourism and Sport, and the Affiliate Member Croatian National Tourist Board, brought together experts and leaders from across the sports and tourism sectors, alongside representatives of destinations and businesses. Held under the theme “Tourism and Sports United for Sustainability”, the Congress focused on key issues such as sports tourism’s economic impact and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

• The Congress ‘Tourism & Sports United for Sustainability’ addressed aspects such as
sports tourism’s economic impact, its contribution to the SDGs from the environmental,
social, and economic perspectives.
• The Forum lead the way in promoting collaboration between Governments and the
private sector, with a focus on sports tourism.
• Sports Tourism is complex and cross-cutting and requires public and private actors to work together following a strategic and coordinated approach.
• For tourists, sports tourism offers a chance to combine their love of sports with their
passion for travel and exploration.
• For destinations, sports tourism can bring in significant revenue, boost the local economy,
and generate positive publicity and exposure. It can also help to build new infrastructure, such as stadiums or sports facilities, which can benefit the local community long after the event has ended.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Sports Tourism plays a key role in enhancing economic growth and social development in many destinations. It creates jobs and supports businesses in cities and rural communities alike. In order to maximize its potential, public and private sector actors must collaborate, and that’s where UNWTO steps in”.

Ms. Nikolina Brnjac, Minister of Tourism and Sport of Croatia said: “I am very proud of having hosted this Congress in Croatia. We enjoyed hearing many excellent international and Croatian speakers, as well as presenting the many opportunities of sustainable development of sports tourism in Croatia. Croatian government has secured generous funds for building active tourism infrastructure, in line with our goal of making Croatia a globally competitive sports tourism destination.”

Delivering sports tourism’s benefits

Alongside assessing the impacts of sports tourism, the Congress also explored the potential benefits of the growing sector, including its links to health and wellbeing, and its importance for promoting destinations to bigger and more diverse audiences. In Zadar, leaders from both established and emerging sports tourism destinations shared their insights and best practices to produce recommendations for growing the sector in size and influence.

Tourism Today: Recovering and Transforming

• The year 2022 saw international travel by more than 900 million tourists, 63% of the level in 2019, before the pandemic struck. Global tourism this year should improve considerably to reach approximately 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels,
• In Europe UNWTO data shows global international tourist arrivals returned to approximately 80% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels at the end of 2022. Near-complete recovery (95%) expected by the end of this year.
• The mounting economic, health and geopolitical challenges continue to pose a risk to
recovery, exacerbated by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
• At the same time, strong demand from the United States, backed by a strong US dollar, will continue to benefit destinations in the region and beyond.
• UNWTO was there for the re-opening of China to tourism, “the last piece in the sector’s
recovery”.
• UNWTO is leading the transformation of tourism around greater sustainability, inclusivity and resilience. Priorities include: promoting investment in tourism; jobs, training and education, tourism climate action; tourism governance.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 28, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 is ready to welcome the global travel, tourism and hospitality community to the UAE from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 May. The 30th edition of the show will host over 2,000 exhibitors, representatives from more than 150 countries and an anticipated 34,000 attendees.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in collaboration with the emirate’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), this year’s conference will once again form a central component of the UAE’s annual Arabian Travel Week.

• ATM’s 30th edition to explore how the travel sector is ‘Working Towards Net Zero’
• Arabian Travel Week 2023 events include ATM, ILTM, GBTA sessions and more
• ATM 2023 sees 27% YoY rise in exhibitors, with growth across all show sectors
• Speaker line-up includes industry leaders such as Emirates’ Sir Tim Clark
• Milestone show will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 1-4 May 2023

In line with its theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’, ATM 2023 will provide a forum in which participants can forge new connections, share knowledge and showcase innovations with the potential to expedite the global travel sector’s journey towards decarbonisation.
Vasyl Zhygalo, Managing Director of RX Middle East and Portfolio Director of WTM, IBTM and RX, said: “Following the very successful WTM Africa and WTM Latin America earlier this spring it is great to now see the international travel community engage with Arabian Travel Market. We’ve seen a robust increase in exhibitor growth across all show areas and it’s exciting to be able to welcome back our Chinese colleagues after remaining covid restrictions were lifted in the region.”

“With sustainability an ever-increasing consideration for the travel industry, and indeed across the WTM and IBTM event portfolios, it’s never been more important for the sector to interact with ATM 2023’s theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’ and explore the vast array of business trends and opportunities showcased around this topic at the show.”
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, added: “ATM 2023 will provide a platform for a diverse array of public and private-sector speakers, all of whom will offer expert insights into sustainable travel trends, responsible tourism and a host of other industry-critical issues.

“Our opening session, for instance, will see policymakers take to the ATM Global Stage for a ministerial debate on how travel can tackle the climate crisis,” Curtis continued. “Moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, this panel will see His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy; His Excellency Makram Mustafa Abdul Karim Al-Qaisi, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan; His Excellency Minister of Tourism Eng. Walid Nassar, Minister of Tourism, Lebanon; and Sukit Mohanty, Chief of the UNDRR for Arab States; come together to explore the ways in which our industry is working towards net zero.”
Exhibitor participation in ATM 2023 has risen by 27% compared to last year’s event, with growth registered across all show sectors. These include regional upticks for the Middle East, representation for which will be 24% larger than in 2022, Europe (17% larger), Asia (15% larger) and Africa (8.5% larger). The event’s Travel Tech and hotels sectors have also witnessed sizeable year-on-year growth, expanding by 62% and 37.5%, respectively.
Chinese exhibitors and travel professionals are making a welcome return to ATM 2023, after the country lifted its Covid-related travel restrictions earlier this year. China became the world’s top source market in 2019, with 155 million tourists spending more than $250 billion overseas, and CNN predicts the nation’s outbound market will recover to around six million travellers per month by the summer of 2023.

Southeast Asia and India will feature prominently at this year’s event too. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Indian nationals spent a record $10 billion on overseas travel during the first nine months of 2022, an increase of nearly 43% compared to pre-Covid figures. Other estimates indicate the number of annual outbound journeys will reach more than 27 million by 2024, with a total value of over $42 billion.

Saudi Arabia will have a considerable presence at ATM 2023. The Kingdom registered more international arrivals than any other Arab nation during the first nine months of last year, welcoming more than 18 million visitors during this period, according to government data. Tourism spending in KSA hit $7.2bn in H1 2022.

To mark its 30th edition, ATM will be unveiling a dedicated sustainability pledge that has been designed to reinforce RX’s commitment to the delivery of sustainable events through the use of environmentally friendly materials, the elimination of single-use plastics and other forward-thinking initiatives. In addition to setting out the show’s journey towards net zero, this pledge will be accompanied by a new playbook, which offers participants a framework within which to mitigate their environmental impact before, during and after the event.

His Excellency, Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “It is indeed fitting that this year’s ATM theme focusses on sustainability to build a better future for tourism. For us, this theme assumes even greater significance as 2023 is UAE’s Year of Sustainability and Dubai will be hosting COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference. Dubai has made significant strides in this area, with strategies to reduce carbon footprint and create a more environmentally conscious tourism industry, aligned with the ambition of our visionary leadership to make Dubai the best city in the world to visit, live, and work in. As momentum continues to accelerate across the global tourism and MICE segments, we welcome the pursuit of a more evolved, collaborative, inclusive and long-term approach to sustainable growth and practices for the industry.”
This year’s show will also feature the inaugural ‘ATM Sustainable Stand Award’, the results of which will be announced as part of the ATM 2023 Best Stand Awards. Entries will be judged according to an extensive range of sustainable criteria, including supplier choice, material usage, operational efficiency, and even what will happen to stands once the exhibition has concluded.

In addition to sustainability, the ATM Global Stage will host a variety of sessions focused on pivotal industry issues, including, but not limited to: hotels and hospitality; aviation and transport; meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE); business travel; investment; responsible tourism; workforce diversification; and emerging segments such as attractions, cruises, wellness and cultural tourism.

The upcoming edition will see the return of the ATM Travel Tech Stage, which will host discussions on how factors such as artificial intelligence, the metaverse, cryptocurrency and big data are impacting the travel sector, while showcasing cutting-edge innovations and solutions with the potential to drive the next generation of sustainable tourism.
ATM 2023 will also feature a Sustainability Hub for the first time in the show’s history. This space will offer a venue for sessions dedicated to the latest sustainable travel trends and innovations, while providing the backdrop for the ATM 2023 Start-up Competition – an event hosted by conference partner Plug and Play, which will see entrepreneurs go head-to-head in a ‘Sustainable Tech Pitch Battle’.

This year’s show will see the return of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Arabia, which will explore trends and opportunities within the burgeoning field of high-end tourism. In terms of luxury travel priorities, 25% of those living in the UAE are looking for great entertainment, whereas 19% place the biggest emphasis on premium-quality accommodation when booking trips, according to market research published by YouGov.
There will also be sessions from the International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

With a wide array of other must-attend events on the agenda, including sessions focused on the key markets of India, China and the GCC, plus a new informal speed networking platform, ATM 2023 will offer something to suit every specialism and interest, not to mention unparalleled networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, said: “As we celebrate 30 years of partnership and commitment at ATM, it’s remarkable to see this event’s evolution and growing prominence on the global stage. We are proud of the role we have played in the growth of ATM and strengthening its mindshare as an industry event, as well as the growth of our home city Dubai, which is at the forefront of global tourism. This year, Emirates will be showcasing our latest products, connecting with our industry partners as well as demonstrating our commitment to minimise our environmental impact and sustainable aviation practices.”

Haitham Mattar, Managing Director of IHG Hotels & Resorts, added: “As the official hotel partner for ATM 2023, we look forward to the events’ momentous 30th edition. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our wide-ranging portfolio of hotels in the region, introduce new and upcoming hotels and delve further into our new ‘IHG One Rewards’ loyalty offering for both leisure and business travellers. Given the theme of this year’s event, “Working towards Net Zero,” we will also be showcasing our commitments to drive environmental and social change across our estate. Most importantly, we will be focussed on connecting with new and existing partners, suppliers and industry peers to ensure we facilitate greater, collective success for the hospitality sector at large.”

The 30th edition of ATM will take place as part of Arabian Travel Week, a festival of events dedicated to enabling industry professionals from all over the world to collaborate and capitalise on market opportunities through exhibitions, conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, product launches and networking events.

In addition to ATM 2023, the ATM Start-up Competition, ATM Travel Tech, ILTM Arabia, GBTA Business Travel Forums, Buyer Speed Networking, the Influencer Networking Event, the Business Traveller Awards and Dubai Food Festival will all take place under the auspices of Arabian Travel Week 2023, which will run from Monday 1 May to Wednesday 10 May across Dubai.

ATM 2023’s strategic partners include Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as the Destination Partner, Emirates as the Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as the Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais Travel as the Official DMC Partner.

Rome, Italy, April 27, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / While mountain tourism has become an increasingly relevant motivation for travel, data on its size and impact remains scarce, a new report from the UN agencies the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Mountain Partnership (MP) makes clear.

Mountain tourism represents between 9 and 16% of international tourist arrivals worldwide, translating into 195 to 375 million tourists for 2019 alone. However, the scarcity of domestic mountain tourism-related data  make it difficult or even impossible to assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of this important segment. This new report aims to address this data gap.

Mountain tourism for sustainability and inclusion

With the right data, we can better control the dispersal of visitor flows, support adequate planning, improve knowledge on visitor patterns, build sustainable products in line with consumer needs, and create suitable policies that will foster sustainable development and make sure tourism activities benefit local communities

Mountains are home to around 1.1 billion people, some of them among the poorest and most isolated in the world. At the same time, mountains have long drawn tourists interested in nature and open-air destinations and outdoors activities like walking, climbing and winter sports. They also attract visitors with their rich biodiversity and vibrant local cultures. However, in 2019, the most recent year for which figures are available, the 10 most mountainous countries (in terms of average height above sea level) received only 8% of international tourist arrivals worldwide, the report “Understanding and Quantifying Mountain Tourism”, shows.

Managed sustainably, mountain tourism has the potential to boost the incomes of local communities and help preserve their natural resources and culture. And, according to FAO, UNWTO and MP, measuring the volume of visitors to mountains represents the first vital step towards unlocking the potential of the sector.

“With the right data, we can better control the dispersal of visitor flows, support adequate planning, improve knowledge on visitor patterns, build sustainable products in line with consumer needs, and create suitable policies that will foster sustainable development and make sure tourism activities benefit local communities,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated.

Recommendations

The study, which was based around research carried out in 46 countries, shows that  generating economic benefits, creating opportunities for local communities and developing sustainable products are the main motivations for mountain tourism development. The sustainable development of mountain tourism was also identified as a means to help to spread tourism flows, tackle seasonality and complement existing tourist offerings.

Through the report, FAO, UNWTO and MP highlight the importance of collective efforts, involving public and private stakeholders from across the value chain, to improve data collection, standardization and delivery to gain a more comprehensive assessment of mountain tourism in terms of volumes and impacts, so that it can be better understood and developed to align with the Sustainable Development Goals. The report also calls for concerted work to help raise awareness of the socio-economic importance of tourism in mountains and targeted policies to create jobs, support small and medium sized businesses and attract green investments in infrastructure and the digitalisation of tourism services.

Its publication coincides with the end of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development 2022.

Bangkok, Thailand, April 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Jim Thompson Home Furnishings is excited to announce its participation in the dynamic and immersive Architect Expo’ 2023, from 25-30 April 2023, at booth F209/1, located in Challenger Hall, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. The Jim Thompson booth concept, “The Perfect Blending,” showcases the innovative combination of Jim Thompson fabrics – timeless handcrafted classic silks and modern textile offerings – resulting in an inspiring mix-and-match approach to their products.

Established in 1951 by James H.W. Thompson, a prominent art collector, socialite, and entrepreneur, the Thai Silk Company has been widely acknowledged for revitalizing Thailand’s silk industry. The brand has since expanded to include three distinct brands: Jim Thompson, No.9 Thompson, and Fox Linton. With a worldwide distribution network of 63 distributors (in over 60 countries), Jim Thompson Home Furnishings has earned the trust of international designers who have consistently incorporated Jim Thompson fabrics into the décor of prestigious hotels and private residences around the world.

Jim Thompson, a globally renowned producer of handwoven silks, is celebrated for its iconic Thai silks, opulent materials, detailed patterns, and dedication to conserving the heritage of Thai weaving communities. Additionally, the brand has expanded its offerings to include a growing range of high-quality performance textiles and wallcoverings.

No.9 Thompson, launched in 2006, is a dynamic brand with a relaxed, casual elegance. Led by Richard Smith, No.9 Thompson emphasizes accessibility and a painterly scope in its designs, utilizing various materials such as linen and cotton. The brand has received numerous accolades for its unique blend of heritage and contemporary sensibility.

Fox Linton, dedicated to creating beautiful, understated textiles, collaborates with the best mills in the UK and Europe. Focused on sustainability and ethical standards, Fox Linton unveils a select range of bi-annual textile collections that are both aesthetically pleasing and high-performing.

Jim Thompson’s newly renovated iconic home furnishings showroom at Surawong has been revamped with 11 distinct showrooms crafted by renowned interior designer Dao-Vichada Sitakalin. This transformed space not only displays a variety of products but also highlights the narratives of influential designers such as Kachama and Tony Duquette, inspiring customers as they explore. In addition, the modernized flagship store offers visitors a refreshing and contemporary shopping experience.

Sasaya N Vesanen, Chief Commercial Officer – Home Furnishings of Jim Thompson, states, “This is the first time ever that Jim Thompson Home Furnishings will showcase our wide variety of products at this Expo. A good opportunity for the public to get to know more about our brand, not only in fashion but also our complete range of products for the interiors.”

The upcoming interior design trends for 2023 emphasize fun, whimsy, and a refreshed colour palette inspired by the 1970s. Comfort, relaxation, and sophistication are key elements, with a focus on Mediterranean vibes and a return to minimalism, but in a more sophisticated and homelier manner. Jim Thompson products cater to these trends, offering timeless designs that can be mixed and matched to create unique aesthetics while maintaining high-performance features such as light, strong, quick-drying materials and fire-retardant capabilities.

With their rich heritage, commitment to craftsmanship, and innovative approach to design, Jim Thompson Home Furnishings aims to inspire and delight visitors at the Architect Expo’ 2023. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience “The Perfect Blending” at booth F209/1 in Challenger Hall, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, from April 25th to April 30th, 2023.

About Jim Thompson
No brand spells heritage like Jim Thompson, the Thai Silk Company founded in 1951 by James H.W. Thompson, an art collector, a socialite, and an entrepreneur who has been famously recognized as the driving force behind the revival of the Thailand’s silk industry. Jim Thompson’s disappearance remains the largest mystery in South East Asia until today.

Today, Jim Thompson is the iconic global lifestyle brand from Thailand with a reputation for beautiful silks and “Beyond Silk”.

Tlaxcala, Mexico, April 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has announced Tlaxcala’s Sustainable Tourism Observatory as the latest member of its International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO).

UNWTO has identified evidence-based decision making and the participation of local stakeholders as key for the successful development of sustainable tourism at the destination level. The Tlaxcala Secretary of Tourism and its Sustainable Tourism Observatory have shown their commitment to both of these areas, paving the way for them to become part of the expanding global Network.

The INSTO network is an opportunity to work together to ensure that tourism is a tool that contributes to sustainable development

Looking beyond tourism’s economic impact

Within the INSTO framework, the Observatory will shift from focusing largely on the economic impact of tourism to also measuring tourism’s social and environment impacts. This will help Tlaxcala to manage tourism development in a responsible and sustainable manner, taking a holistic view in developing adequate and innovative strategies for “rethinking” tourism.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “As we rethink tourism and guide the sector towards greater resilience, inclusivity and sustainability, measurement has never been more important. It provides a better understanding of where a destination stands and where it wants to go. The INSTO network is an opportunity to work together to ensure that tourism is a tool that contributes to sustainable development. We are very pleased to welcome Tlaxcala as a new member.”

Tlaxcala’s Tourism Observatory will now monitor the 11 mandatory INSTO key areas, namely: tourism seasonality, employment, economic benefits, energy management, water management, wastewater management, solid waste management, climate action, accessibility, local satisfaction and governance.

Collaboration as key

The State of Tlaxcala is located in the central part of Mexico and is the smallest federal entity in terms of geographical size. Rich in culture and history, with important archaeological sites as well as natural resources, Tlaxcala welcomed 570,000 tourists in 2019, accounting for 8.5% of the State GDP and 5.5% of the State’s employment. In accordance with the Tlaxcala State Tourism Law of 2022, a Tourist Consultative Council was established, composed of private, public and civil sector actors, to provide multi-disciplinary advice to the Ministry of Tourism of Tlaxcala on sustainable tourism development.

This participatory approach is also reflected in the mission statement of the Tourism Observator, “to be an effective instrument for the sustainable tourism development of Tlaxcala through the participation of all the agents linked to tourist activity and the authorities related to it, through having reliable, timely and relevant information that supports decision-making and monitoring of the results of public policies to promote tourism.”

Tlaxcala´s Secretary of Tourism, Ms. Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, noted: “Becoming a member of INSTO allows as us to frame our tourism sustainability efforts according to the 11 key monitoring areas that are mandatory for INSTO members. We are honored to become the third Observatory in Mexico to be part of this network.”