Category: Latest Travel News

Suva, Fiji Islands, April 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), to promote and strengthen shared interests between the two organisations in the areas of market access, innovative events, membership and communications to name a few.

PATA Chair Peter Semone expressed his delight about this partnership between the two organisations and highlighted that PATA is thrilled to partner with SPTO in implementing these exciting development opportunities to encourage advocacy marketing and communication, insightful market research, and innovative events for its member organisations.

“PATA is looking forward to further connecting with SPTO on these areas of cooperation for travel and tourism within the Asia Pacific region. This connection will provide more opportunities to host international events, share market insights and enable us to promote the Pacific region to a globally connected audience. Keeping the P in PATA is imperative to us,” Mr Semone said.

In acknowledging the importance of the MoU, SPTO CEO Christopher Cocker highlighted the potential to establish important public-private partnerships, to strengthen the development of the travel and tourism industry in Asia and the Pacific.

“We welcome this partnership with PATA as it aligns with the innovative partnerships component of SPTO’S Strategic Plan 2020-2024. Between our two organisations, there is a wealth of diverse membership and wider stakeholders. We recognize this partnership as an opportunity to bring our stakeholders and resources together to revitalize our progress towards the sustainable growth of travel and tourism in Asia and the Pacific”, he said.

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

About SPTO
Established in 1983 as the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 21 Government members are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Rapa Nui, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Wallis and Futuna, and the People’s Republic of China. In addition to government members, the Pacific Tourism Organisation also enlists a private sector membership base.

Lisbon, Portugal, April 22, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and the Global Tourism Economic Forum (GTEF) have outlined their plans for stronger and closer collaboration.

Since the first Forum was held in 2012, the two organizations have partnered around promoting closer links between governments and tourism’s private sector. Building on this success, UNWTO and GTEF have announced plans for a revamped and enhanced annual Forum to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the event in Macao, China (21 September). The location of subsequent Forums will then alternate between Macau and a different host country, to be jointly selected by UNWTO and GTEF.

UNWTO and GTEF: Partners in Tourism Leadership

• In 2022, UNWTO and the Global Tourism Economic Forum (GTEF) celebrated 10 years of
close collaboration.
• UNWTO is the United Nations Specialized Agency for tourism for development – with 165
Member States and a global network of Affiliate Members from the private sector, academia, and destinations.
• GTEF enjoys the support of the Chinese Government and is established as a leading tourism platform, bringing together the sector’s global public and private sector leaders.

UNWTO is proud to work with the Global Tourism Economic Forum to unite governments and private sector leaders and address the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our sector today

Announcing the plans in Lisbon, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “UNWTO is proud to work with the Global Tourism Economic Forum to unite governments and private sector leaders and address the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our sector today. We look forward to building on our successful partnership in 2023 and beyond.”

Pansy Ho, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General, GTEF, said: “In response to China’s policies in supporting enterprises to ‘go global’, we will stage the GTEF, an international platform, overseas every other year. Looking forward to the future, we believe that mainland China, Macao, and even the world can benefit from the event.”

UNWTO and GTEF: The Next 10 Years

• From 2023, the Global Tourism Economic Forum will be held alternately between Macau and a different host country. UNWTO will support GTEF in selecting host countries.
• The Forum’s status as a top global platform for tourism policy and knowledge exchange is
set to be further enhanced.
• The Forum will lead the way in promoting collaboration between Governments and the
private sector, with a focus on tourism sustainability and resilience.

Tourism for Business and Development

The 10th edition of GTEF will be held around the theme of “Destination 2030: Unlocking Tourism for Business and Development”. It will bring together Governments as well as leaders from across the public and private sectors to further establish the Forum as the premier annual event for public-private partnerships and tourism for business growth and development.

Also in Lisbon, UNWTO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC), the coordinator of GTEF, to work together to identify areas of future cooperation. Joining UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili for the announcement were Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of Macao SAR; Zhao Bentang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Portuguese Republic, and Nuno Fazenda, Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services, Portugal.

Tourism Today: Recovering and Transforming

• Tourism is bouncing back from the impacts of the pandemic (the worst crisis in the history of the sector).
• 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 re-opening of China to tourism “the final piece in tourism’s recovery” (UNWTO). China is world’s biggest tourism source market: In 2019, Chinese tourists spent a collective US$255 billion on international travel.
• 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.

Aughton, Lancashire, United Kingdom, April 20, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Kane Williams has been appointed Head Chef of The Barn at Moor Hall, Mark Birchall’s Michelin-starred neighbourhood restaurant in Aughton, Lancashire. Together, Mark and Kane have developed exciting new menus for The Barn, which celebrate the best seasonal ingredients, largely grown within Moor Hall’s five-acre grounds or sourced from local suppliers.

The restaurant will continue to offer a relaxed dining experience inspired by local heritage and tradition, whilst serving the imaginative British dishes of understated elegance that have earned The Barn its reputation as one of the best informal dining destinations in the country.

Kane Williams started his career at Sosban & The Old Butchers in Anglesey, not far from his hometown of Bangor in North Wales. He went on to join Tom Kerridge’s The Hand & Flowers before moving to London to work at The Ledbury. Kane has been part of the kitchen team at Moor Hall since the doors first opened in 2017, joining Moor Hall Restaurant as chef de partie and working his way up to sous chef.

After six years under the guidance of Chef Patron Mark Birchall, Kane has now stepped up to lead the kitchen at The Barn.

Dishes from Mark and Kane’s new a la carte menu for The Barn include West coast sea trout with Florentine fennel, sea lettuce, fresh cream and dill; Cumbrian chicken with asparagus, morel mushroom, ramson and elderflower vinegar sauce; Prune and amaretto soufflé with almond ice cream; and Tarleton strawberries, buttermilk custard, verbena curd and sponge. The Barn also offers set lunch and dinner menus, and an extremely popular Sunday lunch.

About Moor Hall
Moor Hall is a stunning grade II listed building steeped in history dating back to the thirteenth century. The site was acquired by Andy and Tracey Bell in 2015 and has since undergone a major renovation. In partnership with Chef Patron Mark Birchall, Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms opened in early 2017, with The Barn at Moor Hall opening later in the same year. Located in Aughton, Moor Hall is surrounded by picturesque West Lancashire countryside and set in five acres of beautiful, productive gardens.

Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms holds two Michelin Stars, a Michelin Green Star, five AA Rosettes, rated as ‘world-class’ in the Good Food Guide and has repeatedly topped the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards. Alongside the restaurant, Moor Hall has a private dining room, bar and lounge, and seven luxurious guest bedrooms.

The Barn at Moor Hall is Mark’s charming neighbourhood restaurant, offering a relaxed dining experience inspired by local heritage and tradition. The Barn was awarded its first Michelin Star in 2022.

Mark Birchall was born in Chorley and trained at Runshaw College. Alongside Andy and Tracey Bell, he opened Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms in 2017, offering an outstanding dining experience inspired by the local landscape and its many producers, farmers and artisans. Prior to Moor Hall, Mark worked for and alongside some of the most revered culinary minds and respected restaurants including three Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, L’Enclume in Cumbria and Northcote in Lancashire. While at L’Enclume, Mark won the Roux Scholarship in 2011, and more recently, he was crowned Best Chef in the UK, winning the Chefs’ Chef of the Year award at the AA Hospitality Awards.

Muscat, Oman, April 21, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and ITB Berlin have announced that the Sultanate of Oman will be the official host country of the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show in 2024. ”ITB Berlin is a potent platform for showcasing the variety of the many offerings that Oman can provide in the growing tourism industry,“ says His Excellency Salim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman. “We are pleased that in 2024, the Sultanate of Oman will be the hosting country and we are committed to provide the event with an impressive and lasting experience covering all possible senses and expectations,“ H.E. added.

The minister had previously signed a declaration of intent during an informal ceremony at ITB Berlin 2023 in order to seal the partnership at an early date. Afterwards, the official signing of the agreement took place with David Ruetz, senior vice president, Messe Berlin.

“Oman has been strongly represented at ITB Berlin for many years and we are very impressed by the tourism attractions and diversity this travel destination has to offer“, said David Ruetz. “With the Sultanate, we are delighted to have secured such an attractive partner for next year’s show.”

The Gulf of Oman is shown in the foreground. In the background is the waterfront Corniche of Muttrah with white houses and the Muttrah Mosque in Muscat, Oman. Behind it mountains are visible.

The country in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula boasts an impressive history spanning 5,000 years and is known for its many different attractions. Travellers can look forward to a welcoming destination and a nature paradise of many contrasts that attracts visitors in search of relaxation and activities alike. Besides golden sand dunes and green oases, the Sultanate boasts high mountains and impressive caves as well as sandy beaches and cliffs that stretch for miles. Outdoor activities such as snorkelling, hiking and climbing round off the tourism attractions on offer.

As the official host country of ITB Berlin 2024, Oman will organise the opening ceremony on 4 March 2024 at the CityCube Berlin, among other events. From 5 to 7 March the Sultanate will present trade visitors with a wide-ranging programme featuring numerous events.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2024 will take place from Tuesday, 5 to Thursday, 7 March. Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. As in previous years, the internationally acclaimed ITB Berlin Convention will take place parallel with the show as a live event on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. At ITB Berlin 2023 around 5,500 exhibitors from 161 countries displayed their products and services to over 90,000 visitors. In 2023, under the heading ’Mastering Transformation’, the ITB Berlin Convention took place as a live event with a total of 24,000 attendees who took part in 200 sessions with 400 leading speakers.

Abu Dhabi, UAE, April 20, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has further advanced its focus on investments in a more resilient and sustainable tourism by strengthening its cooperation with both the international community and with the private sector.

In this context, UNWTO has joined the World Investment for Development Alliance (WIDA). As part of the Alliance, UNWTO will work to enhance both the level and effectiveness of investment in the sector with the aim of supporting and accelerating the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Investment is all too often the missing ingredient for turning our shared plans for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism sector into reality. UNWTO is proud to join the World Investment for Development Alliance and we look forward to working together to re-think and transform investments into tourism.”

UNWTO is proud to join the World Investment for Development Alliance and we look forward to working together to re-think and transform investments into tourism

WIDA Chair James Zhan adds: “WIDA fully recognizes that UNWTO has been playing a leading role in promoting investment in tourism for sustainable development and inclusive growth. It believes that UNWTO shares the same values as WIDA and can make a significant contribution to our common causes.”

Boosting post-pandemic investments

UNWTO data shows that, as a result of the pandemic, levels of investment into tourism dropped dramatically. The United Nations Specialized Agency will hold this year’s World Tourism Day (27 September) around the theme of ‘Green Investments’ and, according to Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, enhanced cooperation with private sector stakeholders will be vital for both boosting investment levels and for directing funding to projects centred around sustainability.

“For this reason, I am happy UNWTO has confirmed our new agreement with the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM),” Mr Pololikashvili says. “We consider this collaboration as mutually beneficial, as we recognize the significant contributions that can be made by the private sector to our organization’s strategic objectives.”

In line with the two Organizations’ commitment to cooperate in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, UNWTO will spearhead the “Tourism Investment Segment”, an official side event of the upcoming Annual Investment Meeting, to be held on 8-10 May in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

AIM President Dawood Al Shezawi said: “It has been AIM’s mission to provide an interactive platform where investment opportunities can be formed, thereby not only strengthening economic relations among nations but also addressing issues that have profound effects on a global scale. We also want to provide a platform where the brightest minds, from all sectors, can converge to find solutions and scale up development ideas. We welcome this great chance to cooperate with the UNWTO and we are certain that this collaboration will be fruitful.”

About WIDA
The World Investment for Development Alliance (WIDA) is a global platform dedicated to promoting investment for sustainable development. Promote sustainable and inclusive investment through an open and structured network of multiple organizations drawn from the investment-for-development community. WIDA pursues this overarching objective by creating synergies and maximizing impact through joint advocacy, joint organization and joint actions among participating organizations.

About AIM
The Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) is an initiative of the AIM Foundation, an independent international organization fully committed to empower the world’s economy by boosting effective promotion strategies and facilitating opportunities for economic productivity and expansion. The Foundation also undertakes the operation and management of the AIM Global Investment Network and its 15 affiliated Business Groups, including the supervision of the Annual Investment Meeting Global and Regional Chapters.

Bangkok, Thailand, April 19, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Sabre Corporation announced a renewed distribution agreement with Thai Airways. The flag carrier will also be using Sabre’s robust data combined with its consultancy services to help it accelerate recovery.

The Global Distribution System (GDS) renewal ensures that Sabre-connected travel agencies will continue to have access to Thai Airway’s content globally, while enabling the airline to retain its reach across Sabre’s valuable network of global travel buyers and intermediaries. Meanwhile, Thai Airways will also be taking advantage of Sabre’s extensive global booking data to help it identify recovery and growth opportunities.

“As we continue to ramp up operations and resume international flights, it is essential to us that we are able to continue to distribute our fares, offers and itinerary to travel agents, and their customers, across the world,” said Mr. Korakot Chatasinga, Chief Commercial Officer, Thai Airways. “We’re thrilled to have renewed our distribution deal with Sabre at the same time as being able to harness the power of Sabre’s robust booking data and industry expertise.”

Primarily operating from Suvarnabhumi Airport as well as its secondary hub in Phuket, Thai Airways typically serves around 40 international destinations, and is a founding member of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest global airline alliance. It has so far resumed a significant proportion of its pre-pandemic international flights, and is forging ahead with further recovery and growth plans. With Thailand surpassing its tourist number targets last year, and expecting further recovery, particularly from the Chinese travel market, Thai Airways is poised to play an important role in future industry growth.

“We’re delighted that Sabre will continue to be a key part of Thai Airways’ journey as the carrier, and the country, continue to experience strong travel demand,” said Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Asia Pacific, Travel Solutions Airline Sales. “Our booking data includes detailed insights on itinerary, origin, connection, passenger type, length of stay and other booking patterns. However, it’s important not just to have access to such data, but to be able to interpret and make the best use of it to support an airline’s business strategy and growth. Sabre will be providing consulting services to help identify areas of potential opportunity for Thai Airways to increase efficiencies and enhance future revenue.”

About Thai Airways
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) is a public company registered in The Securities Exchange of Thailand since 1991 with the Ministry of Finance as a dominant shareholder of more than 50%. THAI operates an airline business that transports passengers, goods, parcels, and post through air transportation via Thai’s major cities to primary cities around the world. From schedule flights to charter flights and through its alliances, THAI operates through Suvarnabhumi Airport as its main hub for all flight routes. As Thailand’s national airline, it aims to be “The First Choice Carrier with touches of THAI,” representing its focus on building shared value while concentrating on customer satisfaction.

About Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveller experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre’s technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.

Burlington, Vermont, United States, April 18, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Agritourism Network (GAN) was launched and celebrated online on April 11, drawing some 700 registrants from 81 countries. The formation of the GAN indicates a new beginning for the global agritourism sector, which now has a unified voice to promote, advocate for and strive for the prosperity of the sector.

Dr. Lisa Chase, an agritourism specialist at the University of Vermont Extension in the United States, serves as the first GAN chairperson. Chase was instrumental in bringing the International Workshop on Agritourism to Vermont during the global pandemic in 2022. The event generated huge momentum, following which a key group of individuals continued to craft the framework of an international structure to represent the global agritourism sector, thus the official launch of the GAN.

“We are on our way to creating a truly global network,” says Chase. “GAN’s mission is to support and advocate for a thriving agritourism sector around the world. We have much work to do, but with such a pool of talented professionals so determined and united, I’m confident that GAN will be able to unleash the power to benefit the stakeholders globally.”
GAN comprises three statutory bodies: the Steering Committee, the Executive committee, and the General Assembly. GAN currently operates 10 Auxiliary Committees chaired by international experts from nine countries. The committees include Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture and Agritourism (chaired by David Gillespie of Canada); Policy and Advocacy (chaired by Rose Wright of Australia); Promotion and Funds (chaired by Rohana Mahaliyanaarachchi of Sri Lanka); Research (chaired by Dave Lamie of the U.S. and Corinne Stewart of France); World Agritourism Day (chaired by Pandurang Taware of India), and so on.

The Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture and Agritourism Committee attracted nearly 30% of attendees at the GAN launch meeting’s breakout session, indicating the most relevant and critical issues the agritourism sector faces worldwide today.

GAN has 14 regional representatives who cover North America; Central America and the Caribbean; South America; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; East Asia; Southeastern Asia; South and Western Asia; Northern Africa; Central and West Africa; East Africa; Southern Africa; Australia and New Zealand; and the Pacific. Regional representatives serve on the Steering Committee to represent their diverse stakeholders.

GAN represents all agritourism stakeholders (farmers and agricultural producers, agricultural service providers, tour operators, hospitality operators, researchers, educators, community planners, government entities, development organizations, event planners, among others). In addition, GAN collaborates with organizations around the world such as Agri Tourism India, Agritourism Africa, NAFDMA International Agritourism Association, Farm Stay USA, Scottish Agritourism Association, and Community-Based Tourism Initiative of Uganda, and universities with leading agritourism researchers.

The GAN mix also includes a key organization, Eurac Research, based in Italy. It’s a 30-year-old private research entity with 500+ employees. In 2018, it held the first World Congress on Agritourism in Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy, which Dr. Lisa Chase attended. Chase then partnered with Eurac Research to bring the International Workshop on Agritourism to Vermont with the sponsorship of the University of Vermont. The rest is history—GAN has been created with Eurac Research’s support behind it. More than a research entity, Eurac Research has proven to be a facilitator in the real world of agriculture and agritourism practices. Dr. Thomas Streifeneder of Eurac Research was officially named “Past Chair” of GAN.

The next major event for the sector is the second World Congress on Agritourism to be held by Eurac Research in Bolzano, Italy, May 16–18, 2024. The event will welcome the GAN family and the broader range of international agritourism stakeholders.

The global reach and diversity of GAN was evident at the launch on April 11. While the Russian-Ukraine war is ongoing and the agricultural productivity in Ukraine is impacted, Dr. Tetyana Kalna-Dubinyuk of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, now a visiting professor at Iowa State University, attended the GAN launch meeting and spoke passionately.

In a post-interview, Kalna-Dubinyuk described that Ukraine has a network named the Union of Green Tourism, which unites the agritourism resources in rural areas. Before the war broke out, she organized training programs in green tourism (agritourism) for the union members and the public. She sees the future potential of working with GAN to develop collaborative programs for Ukraine.

The wide geographic reach that GAN has attained in such a short period of time is truly remarkable. Similar alliances typically begin small and grow gradually, but GAN’s launch is like thunder, with the world’s most influential players onboard carrying clear directions. In addition, GAN is supported by youth and students, who are the future of agritourism. With a robust foundation, GAN will undoubtedly play a significant role in driving the global agritourism industry.

To learn more about the network, visit: https://agritourism.eurac.edu/gan

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Haybina Hao reporting for Travelindex on travel, agritourism, adventure travel, destinations.

Haybina is an international travel industry journalist and reports in both Chinese and English. Linkedin

Athens, Greece, April 18, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have successfully worked alongside the Greek Government to help the country’s tourism sector recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

· EBRD and UNWTO joined forces with the Ministry of Tourism in Greece to support tourism recovery
· Four key recovery projects were implemented and completed
· Focus on economic recovery, marketing, and institutional strengthening

As part of a wider effort to boost resilience and accelerate recovery in the wake of the worst crisis in the history of tourism, the Bank selected several areas of UNWTO’s “COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Package” to implement in Greece. This package was built around three main pillars of intervention: economic recovery, marketing and promotion, and institutional strengthening and building resilience.

Four projects of critical importance for the tourism sector at the time were selected and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism of Greece, namely:

1. Measurement of COVID-19’s impact and development of monitoring guidelines: Within this project, tourism data needs were aligned between the Bank of Greece, the Hellenic Statistical Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism. Ten areas of intervention were identified, along with 25 actions for improvement of monitoring, and training was provided to seven representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, the Bank of Greece and the Hellenic Statistical Authorities.
2. Preparation of a roadmap to support tourism MSMEs and job retention: The project included reviewing the existing support measures for MSMEs, interviewing tourism national associations, MSMEs, and professionals, and designing a seven-action roadmap. Moreover, 41 tourism professionals, travel agencies, hotels, and secondary accommodation establishments were trained on a range of topics, including digital marketing tools, HR management, analysing tourism data to identify opportunities, and improving the quality of services and the overall tourist experience.
3. Updating the Tourism Marketing Strategy: Key international and domestic markets trends were analysed both during and post-pandemic. Six areas of intervention were identified, and the passenger survey questionnaires of the Athens International Airport and the 14 regional airports operated by Fraport have been updated to measure newly selected indicators. The strategy was also presented at a seminar with the foreign offices of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, in collaboration with its headquarters.
4. Development of a Tourism Crisis Management Plan: The first such plan for the Ministry of Tourism, identifying various types of crises, outlining concrete response mechanisms, roles, and processes, and introducing a case study simulation.

Along with the UNWTO and EBRD teams working on the project, a team of experts in crisis management, statistics, marketing, and MSMEs was brought in to spearhead the implementation, transfer knowledge and work closely with the Ministry of Tourism and stakeholders for the delivery of the project activities envisaged.

Recovery Package Delivers Results

As a leading destination, both within Europe and worldwide, Greece has consistently maintained its relevance in the global tourism market and emerged resilient during the long-lasting financial and economic crisis of the past decade. In the context of the pandemic, Greece then managed to sustain and increase the contribution of its tourism sector to its national economy and was one of the first European countries to reopen to international visitors in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Looking ahead, the work done under the Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Package will enable the Ministry of Tourism to monitor closely the performance of the sector and systematically respond to and address any crises that might occur affecting the tourism sector of Greece. EBRD continues to support the Greek tourism sector through targeted investments or financing that promote sustainable and inclusive tourism and enhance youth employment and backward linkages with local economies. UNWTO remains active in Greece to support the tourism development of local destinations through projects on the ground while strengthening the close and continuous collaboration with the country.

Southlake, Texas, United States, April 17, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Sabre Corporation and United Airlines, today announced the availability of United’s NDC offers through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS). Sabre-connected travel buyers, agencies and developer partners will be able to shop, book, and service United’s NDC content through Sabre’s Offer and Order APIs, the agency point-of-sale tool, Sabre Red 360, and the online booking tool, GetThere.

“We are so pleased to launch United Airlines’ NDC content this week, marking the 10th airline with whom we have completed integration and made content available through NDC to agencies around the world,” said Kathy Morgan, vice president, NDC and airline supply, Sabre Travel Solutions. “In delivering a suite of NDC solutions and enabling air content in our NDC channels, we are helping airlines go from where they are today to a new modern approach to travel retailing – a key step in the evolution of retailing and distribution in the travel industry.”

Travel buyers connected to the Sabre GDS will be able to choose enhanced offers from United such as United’s continuous pricing content with the lowest fares available in these channels. They will also have access to more descriptive information on United’s flight offers as well as seat selection enabled in the booking path. NDC offers from United are currently available in over 70 countries, with more coming soon.

Sabre Offer and Order APIs are the foundation of a modern retailing marketplace that allows airlines to dynamically create and distribute tailored offers across any channel, while being seamlessly fulfilled and delivered as orders. Sabre Red 360 unlocks a full spectrum of bookable content and insightful information to efficiently create tailored trip experiences that travel buyers can sell and service.

About Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre’s technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.

Bangkok, Thailand, April 17, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant Bangkok was recently the venue of the launch of a unique, coffee table book titled “TAI, A Woven Culture” a pictorial chronology about silk intertwined with a unique history and culture and the people involved, by renowned Belgian photographer Hans Roels and an avid Thai textile aficionado and collector Napajaree Suanduenchai from Bangkok.

Thailand’s fascinating silk history is not really Thai but rather TAI. Thailand is the name of the country and Tai is the name of the indigenous people who migrated from China to Southeast Asia. They established Tai kingdoms that expanded, dominated and co-existed with each other through the centuries. What unites all Tai people is their remarkable, unique weaving culture at the heart of it is yellow silk whose thick, smooth fibre is processed manually.

This unique book, which portrays the story of TAI silk, began over 20 years ago when Belgian photographer Hans Roels who was travelling and shooting in northern Thailand met Napajaree Suanduenchai or Nim, a Tai textile collector from Bangkok. Together they decided to document the different Thai sub-groups who made these wonderful silk garments, and the book is the result of their combined passions.

They began in Thailand where different TAI communities directed them to other sub-groups in Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, South China and Assam in India. Their journey was dictated by the amazing people they met who express their own identity through weaving. Each different Tai community had their own unique patterns and traditions. The people who spun the precious fibre, wove it into timeless patterns. They connected their past and their present through their craft and their colours. These great artists were mostly modest farmers who grew rice for food and farm silk to showcase their culture and preserve their identity.

On their travels throughout Thailand, Nim and Hans also came across ethnic minority groups who were not Tai. These people lived in the mountainous regions between the Thai valleys and have existed here for generations long before the Tai migration. They were willing to share their own unique and fascinating cultures and their distinctive textiles. Aside from the precious silk and weaving culture featured in the book, the portraits of the people who created these textiles are also in the spotlight – every individual captured and print for posterity, part of a living fabric and proud culture.

“Here what you really have is people who participated with their heart and gave their full confidence and trust and that’s something that especially struck me a lot and touched me very deeply in this project,” said Hans Roels. “This book makes you the witnesses of an unfortunately fast disappearing culture. Due to modernization, the young generation no longer chooses this time-consuming weaving art. I’m very happy to have started this project in time and to show you the remnants of a beautiful, unforgettable culture. We hope that this book brings you close to the TAI, that it shows you the essence of the TAI and even allows you to look through the Tai’s eyes,” added Hans.

“Discovering these TAI textiles reminds me of the beauty of these people who are farmers and who create beautiful work through their textiles and show their identity and dignity of being TAI,” said Khun Nim.

TAI, A Woven Culture was launched in Brussels amidst much interest and excitement earlier in March 2023. At the Thailand launch at Blue Elephant Bangkok, the books were on display and on sale at a special price of Baht 2,700 (retail price @Baht 3,200).

A large format hard cover book with 348 pages, approximately 206 colour photos, TAI, A Woven Culture is printed in Sweden and is lead HUV printed on uncoated, unbleached FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper supporting responsible forestry that is durable and will stand the test of time. The book is printed with 100% wind energy. River Books is the publisher of Tai, A Woven Culture.

For more information about the making of TAI, A Woven Culture, please contact Hans Roels, tel. 095 060 6117 or +32 496 25 37 73, and for those interested in buying the book, please call River Books, tel. 02 225 0139 or 098 495 4142

About Mr. Hans Roels and Mrs. Napajaree Suanduenchai
Mr. Hans Roels is a passionate photographer from Brussels, Belgium who combines creativity and craftsmanship in his prolific artwork. Always keen on exploring new cultures both in Belgium and in all parts of the world he has been involved in various cultural and commissioned projects resulting in dazzlingly beautiful and powerful images, exhibitions and books. He is particularly interested in making group photos, in which according to his own words everyone counts and made visible.

Mrs. Napajaree Suanduenchai (Nim) is a textile collector from Bangkok. Coming from a family that has been trading in Tai textiles for generations she followed in her mother’s footsteps and ran Prayer Textile Gallery in Bangkok. She also founded the “Tai Textile Collectors Circle” and is one of the founders of the ‘Tai Textile Society’ in Bangkok.