industry news - feature destinations - interviews - travel tech
FEBRUARY 2012
FEATURES
MOROCCO
DUBAI
SOUTH AFRICA
SELLING ADVENTURE
and MUCH MORE!
www.traveltrademagazine.com
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE HERE.
• Located in the heart of Condado tourist area • Just four miles from the Luis Muñoz Marin Int'l Airport and 3 miles to Historic Old San Juan • Walking distance to more than 25 restaurants, pubs and specialty shops • Best Casino in Puerto Rico • Enjoy the family ambiance of the Ambassador Grill & Sports Bar • Indulge in Mimo Beauty Salon & Spa • Four Meeting & Banquet rooms for successful meetings Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel & Casino 1369 Ashford Avenue, San Juan, PR 00907 Ph. 787-721-7300 Fax: 787-722-6778 rhi_sjpr@radisson.com www.radisson.com/sanjuanpr_ambassador
3
MESSAGE FROM
THE EDITOR EDITOR: Paul Weston | EMAIL: paul@traveltrademag.com | WEB: www.traveltrademagazine.com
W
elcome to the February issue of Travel Trade Magazine, and thank you for taking the time to check in with us. No one deserves more thanks for that than our readership which has now grown to well over 85,000 professionals in the industry. In this issue we head to South Africa, where Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk launched the country’s new National Tourism Sector Strategy which outlines bold plans to create thousands of new jobs and substantially increase the industry’s share of gross domestic product (GDP) in the next five years. We also take time to visit Morocco as they have unveiled the long-awaited Vision 2020 tourism strategy for the next decade which priorities regional tourism, quality tourism and sustainable tourism development. Last but certainly not least, we highlight the The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority as they work to make
magazine contact
cruise tourism one of its five 2011-2012 strategy pillars and likely to receive around 170,000 tourists before the season ends in April of this year. We’re confident that one of these stories - or one of many others we tell in these pages - will catch your interest. All the best, and safe travels,
Paul Weston Editor Travel Trade Magazine
traveltrade
Published by Select Digital Media, 100 Western Battery Rd, Toronto, On, Canada
magazine team Editor: Paul Weston t. 647.933..9070 x 207 e. paul@traveltrademag.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Maxine Chambers Jake Diaz e. info@traveltrademag.com writers :
PRODUCTION MANAGER:
Kim Walker
Jason Alexander t. 647.933..9070 x 212 e. jason@traveltrademag.com
t. 647.933..9070 e. info@traveltrademag.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kevin Baxter t. 647.933..9070 x 205 e. kevin@traveltrademag.com
advertising view www.traveltrademagazine.com/media-kit/ for our Media Kit. AD SALES: t. 647.933..9070 x 211 e. sales@traveltrademag.com
Subscribe? Follow this link to subscribe to Travel Trade Magazine
Kelli Pavlovec t. 647.933..9070 e. info@traveltrademag.com
follow us:
contents MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR..............................................................03 A quick introduction and updates from our editor Paul Weston.
20
SELL AVENTURE TRAVEL
Strategies for today’s economy
TRAVEL TRADE NEWS.......................................................................08-13 The latest industry news and hot topics.
TRAVEL INDUSTRY EVENTS FEBRUARY............................... .14-15 Travel industry event listings and trade shows worldwide.
ONE ON ONE................................................................................................16 Q&A with Joe Rosen of Cruise Ship World.
32
TRAVEL GADGETS AND GEAR................................................... 18-19 MOROCCO
& THE VISION 2020 STRATEGY
Gadgets, gear and travel technology for the road warrior.
HOW TO SELL ADVENTURE TRAVEL...................................... 20-24 Travel strategies for today’s economy.
SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM......................................................... 26-31 Diversity is key which makes SA an incredibly attractive tourism destination.
MOROCCO........................................................................................... 32-36
44
5 LUXURIOUS AFRICAN SAFARI TRIPS
Looking at the Vision 2020 strategy and beyond.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
DUBAI......................................................................................................... 38-43 Major investments in infrastructure supporting cruise tourism facilities.
5 LUXURIOUS AFRICAN SAFARI TRIPS................................. 44-49 Up close and personal at the worlds most exclusive wildlife without sacrificing comfort.
50
REVOLUTIONIZING CHANGE IN LUXURY TRAVEL 2012 LUXURY TREN PREDICITONS
The Revolutionizing Change In Luxury Travel.................................................................................. 50-51 Analytical report predicting the trends in luxury travel for 2011-2012.
26
38
SOUTH AFRICA
AN INCREDIBLY ATTRACTIVE TOURISM DESTINATION
DUBAI
CRUISE TOURISM IS GAINING MOMENTUM
advertisers: Radison....................................................................................................................02 copa airlines.....................................................................................................17 THE ARDEN HOTEL..............................................................................................25 RED SAVANAH.........................................................................................................37 emirates...................................................................................................................42 INGLE INSURANCE...............................................................................................52
14
TRAVEL EVENTS
AND INDUSTRY TRADE SHOWS
traveltradeNEWS TRAVEL NEWS
8
President Obama Promotes Tourism January 19th – US President, Barack Obama, has outlined a new strategy to promote tourism to the United States.
Cruise Passengers visit New Orleans The Port of New Orleans is now a top destination for cruise ships, with a 40 percent increase recorded in passenger traffic. Some 737,000 cruise passengers passed through the Port of New Orleans in 2011, almost half as many as the year before, port officials have announced. “We are experiencing tremendous growth in our cruise industry. New Orleans is a hugely popular cruise port, and cruise lines are taking notice and investing larger and newer ships in their New Orleans itineraries,” said Gary LaGrange, port president and CEO, who expected 2012 to see the port close to conquering the target figure of 1 million passengers. In November, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation began operating year-round, four and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. In addition, Carnival Conquest, a 2,974-passenger cruise ship has returned to New Orleans to replace the Carnival Triumph on week-long Caribbean cruises all year round.
The strategy was announced during Obama’s speech at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It includes the creation of an interagency task force to help promote iconic American destinations such as national parks, in collaboration with the Corporation for Travel Promotion. The corporation has just launched its own campaign to promote US tourism, the Brand USA campaign. Travel industry groups have been quick to praise the new initiatives, among them the U.S. Travel Association, the National Retail Federation and American Airlines. to the strategy is a longawaited visa reform. The U.S. Travel Association has been arguing that such measures would boost the economy and create job.
TRAVEL NEWS
9
Cruise industry undeterred by Concordia accident January 17th -While most analysts have predicted negative sales figures for cruise companies in the immediate aftermath of the Costa Concordia tragedy, not all cruise customers have been put off taking to the seas.
Etihad Airways - First Gulf Flight Arrives using Biofuels As Etihad Airways’ newest Boeing 777300ER made its 14-hour delivery flight from Seattle to Abu Dhabi on January 24, it was making history as the first Gulf flight to be made using sustainable biofuel. “This flight marks a significant milestone in our efforts to support and drive the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel in Abu Dhabi, the region, and globally,” said Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan. “However, the use of a presently available biofuel is just one part of a more comprehensive long-term biofuel strategy to ensure that we are able to use biofuels to decarbonise substantially an entire industry sector in the long term.” Biofuel is considered ‘carbon neutral’ as the plant biomass takes in carbon as it grows and releases it again during the combustion process, and is exempt from the ETS scheme.
In the three days immediately following the accident, CruiseOne – along with sister company Cruises Inc. – has reported an almost 6 percent increase in its Wave Season cruise sales compared to sales during the same three-day period last year. “While any crisis situation creates an immediate reaction from consumers, we anticipate that this will not negatively impact our Wave Season bookings,” said Dwain Wall, senior vice president and general manager at CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “This is certainly a very sad tragedy, but we believe the impact will be short-term and that consumers will continue to book cruise vacations,” Wall stated to the press.
traveltradeNEWS TRAVEL NEWS
10
International air travel up 6.4 percent in December - IATA For 2011 as a whole, the number of passengers on international routes rose 6.9 percent while freight was down 0.6 percent, the International Air Transport Association reported. The Geneva-based body’s director-general and chief executive Tony Tyler said 2011 was a year of contrasts, with healthy passenger growth in the first half offset by a declining cargo market. “Optimism in China contrasted with gloom in Europe. Ironically, the weak euro supported business travel demand,” said Tyler. “But Europe’s primarily tax-and-restrict approach to aviation policy left the continent’s carriers with the weakest profitability among the industry’s major regions,” he said. In December, IATA said airlines faced over $8 billion in overall losses this year if the euro zone turmoil in Europe turned into a full banking crisis. Even in the best-case scenario, the global industry was likely to see a decline in profit from $6.9 billion in 2011 to $3.5 billion in 2012, officials said at that
Spanair collapse leaves passengers stranded and an uncertain future for many European airlines Spanish domestic carrier Spanair cancelled all its flights Friday January 15th, before filing for bankruptcy, leaving over 30,000 passengers stranded across Europe and Africa. The sudden collapse came after Qatar Airways pulled out of takeover talks with the airline, which had been experiencing financial problems for over a year, and the regional Government withdrew funding. Affected passengers are being told to contact a special hotline that has been set up. At the same time, Iberia, Vueling Airlines SA and Air Europa are providing reduced fares to stranded Spanair customers. Europe’s current financial crisis means insecurity for the continent’s other state funded airlines, according to Businessweek, who predict many aviation companies will now be considering mergers.
TRAVEL NEWS
11
Etihad Airways purchases Air Seychelles Etihad Airways will purchase a 40 percent stake in Air Seychelles as part of a strategic partnership alliance initiative, according to a joint announcement from Joel Morgan, Seychelles minister of home affairs, environment, transport and energy and James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways. Under the terms of the deal, Etihad Airways will invest USD 20 million in the carrier, with the sum to be matched by an equal injection of capital by the Seychelles government. In addition, Etihad Airways will also provide USD 25 million in shareholder loans to meet working capital requirements and support network development. Morgan described the deal as a, “gamechanging strategic partnership” that established the Seychelles airline “on a sustainable growth trajectory” with real chances for long-term commercial growth. “The partnership simultaneously provides international presence, strategic penetration and a bright future for our national carrier,” he continued. Benefits for Etihad meanwhile include the chance to tap the increasingly important leisure markets of the Indian Ocean and Africa. “The Seychelles is a renowned leisure destination and its tourism industry is surging, as indicated by record-setting visitor numbers for the island nation in 2011,” CEO Hogan explained.
PATA: Asia-Pacific tourism poised for 6 percent growth in2012 Preliminary results released today by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) show a collective increase of 6 percent yearon-year for international arrivals into Asia/ Pacific destinations during each of the months of October and November 2011. For the first 11 months of the year, South Asia was the star growth performer, followed by Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and the Pacific, all of which saw tourism demand improve, albeit at different rates of growth. This momentum is expected to continue into 2012 with full-year arrivals gain of 5-6 percent, above the global growth figure of 4 percent. The overall international visitor arrivals count to the wider Asia Pacific region – which includes North America - is expected to reach around 430 million for 2011. With the exception of India, all reporting destinations within this sub-region showed outstanding results with double-digit growth during the month of November.
traveltradeNEWS TRAVEL NEWS
12
Sprucing up Atlantic City Goal of Tourism Plan The goal is simple: to make Atlantic City safer, cleaner and more inviting.
Cruise Industry on the Rise In 2011, 15 million passengers took a holiday on a cruise ship, 11.1 million of which came from North America. The figures suggest that the industry is as massive as its ships and, again like its ships, is growing in size. The days of the absolute exclusivity of cruise ship clientele are disappearing and many people are able to afford to board a cruise ship. This has led to 12 new ships being built and making their debuts in 2011, with a passenger capacity of up to 5300. The boom is expected to continue into the 2020’s thanks to demographics favoring the industry. The second quarter of 2012 is set to see Singapore launch the necessary amount of ships to double its capacity. The upturn in the cruise industry is certainly not limited to Europe and North America. However, does the media focus on the positive news for these giants of the oceans and the huge financial backing behind them? The answer is, unfortunately, generally negative.
“We’ve identified dozens of interesting ideas to improve visitation, improve the convention atmosphere, the Boardwalk, and entertainment venues,” said John Palmieri, executive director of the CRDA. “The visitor experience is very important.” Billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs are at stake. For the past five years, Atlantic City’s casino revenue has been plunging due to an ever-growing number of casinos in neighboring states, and the continued sluggish economy. State legislators created a new tourism district in Atlantic City consisting of the casinos, the Boardwalk, shopping districts and the former Bader Field airport site, and put the CRDA in charge of overseeing it. The plan the agency is expected to approve Wednesday addresses quality of life issues for visitors and residents alike, calling for new development in some areas, spruced up store facades, etc.
TRAVEL NEWS
13
Choice Hotels to Upgrade its Comfort Inns Choice Hotels International has announced it is to upgrade its Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites brands. This could result in downgrading for as many as 10 percent of the company’s hotels.
Marriott Announces Five New EDITION Hotels in Key Cities Around the World Marriott International Inc. has announced the creation of five new EDITION hotels in a number of major global gateway cities around the world. The luxury boutique hotels are to be built in New York, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles and Gurgaon, India, in partnership with Ian Schrager. “It is a privilege and a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with Marriott on the first EDITION in New York City at the iconic Clock Tower building. This exciting project, along with all of the current and future projects in the pipeline, will prove that EDITION hotels are like no others in the world.” The Bangkok EDITION is part of a mixed-use development planned for one of Bangkok’s tallest buildings, while the Abu Dhabi EDITION is to be located in the prominent Al Bateen Harbor complex in Abu Dhabi Marina, an upmarket mix of residential and retail projects..
Choice Hotels franchises more than 6,100 hotels around the globe. Upgrades will be implemented in collaboration with hotel owners and franchisees and around 7 percent of the company’s approximately 2,000 Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites hotels are expected to finish with improvements by 2015. Those hotels not included in the upgrades will be downgraded to one of Choice’s economy brands, such as Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn. About 200 hotels are expected to be included in this list. According to figures from September 2011, Choice Hotels franchised 1,413 Comfort Inns and 616 Comfort Suites hotels. In comparison, the company franchises around 1,000 Quality hotels and about 1,100 Econo Lodges and Rodeway Inns.
14
events THIS
february February 3rd-5th
India Travel Mart Chandigarh, India India Travel Mart Chandigarh will provide an excellent platform for marketing, promotion & awareness. It will bring together all the travel professionals on a common platform to facilitate the trade of inbound, outbound and domestic tourism. The event will provide a golden chance to the industry players to advertise their products and destination in the tourism sector. MORE INFORMATION:
www.tradeshowsbiz.com/organizer/759.html
February 7th-8th
Travel Technology Europe London, England
featured event
February 2nd-5th
Travel Technology Europe has evolved and 2011 brings a new energy and direction for the annual travel technology event. Travel Technology Europe will continue to pave the way for the travel technology industry by providing a platform for businesses, big and small, to meet new customers and get ahead of the competition. With input from a leading panel of key industry figures, Travel Technology Europe promises to provide quality programmes to attract a rich mix of high level visitors. MORE INFORMATION:
www.biztradeshows.
Destination The Holiday and Travel Show - London, England Destination-London is UK’s largest holiday and travel consumer show, expanding over 18 yeazadvice. Whether you’re looking for action, relaxation, advice or inspiration, tantalise your travel taste buds at Destination. MORE INFORMATION: www.biztradeshows.com com/trade-events/ travel-technologyeurope.html February 8th-12th
Reisen Hamburg Hamburg, Germany Reisen Hamburg 2012 is so special are the wonderfully designed exhibits covering the latest holiday trends. in 2010, for example, even more space was
dedicated to ‘bikes and biking holidays’, and once again the globetrotter adventure camp was a tremendous hit. MORE INFORMATION:
www.tradeshowsbiz.com/organizer/851.html
15
February 16th-19th
BIT - Tourism Fair
February 10th-12th
Satte-Delhi New Delhi, India
Satte-Delhi 2012 is a milestone event for Indian travel & tourism, which is leading b2b platform that bring travel agent and tour operators to meet with product suppliers form all over India and form around the world. Profile of the Exhibitors are: Travel Services, Maps, Guides, Travel Accessories, Travel Equipment, Camping, Biking, Trekking, Photography, Hotels Booking, Resorts Booking, Adventure Tours etc. MORE INFORMATION:
www.tradeshowsbiz.com/organizer/810.html
BIT-Tourism Fair 2012 is the 30th edition of bit kicks off with the inaugural meeting: “tourism: a comparison of fiscal systems�. The main focus of the meeting is the fiscal theme, considered strategic by the entire sector. National and international speakers from the public and private sector have been invited. MORE INFORMATION:
www.tradeshowsbiz.com/organizer/30.html February 17th -19th
TTF - Travel and Tourism Fair - Mumbai, India
The Holiday & Travel Show is the perfect place to meet hundreds of travel companies including tour operators and travel agents, airline companies and tourist information professionals. The Meet the Experts Theatre will see travel experts and celebrities share their experiences with visitors. Add to this some great performances on the World Entertainment Stage and you have a cracking day out. MORE INFORMATION:
www.tradeshowsbiz.com/organizer/721.html
featured event
February 24th-26th
TTF - Travel and Tourism Fair New Delhi, India TTF-Travel & Tourism Fair-New Delhi 2012 is one of the world famous exhibitions for the travel & tourism industry, which is providing their best opportunity for related industry and related professionals in the country. Profile of the Visitors are: travel trade professionals, corporate sectors, business sectors, group travel decision makers, business travellers, press, media. MORE INFORMATION: www.tradeshows-biz.com February 21st-22nd
AIME Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo Melbourne, Australia
AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo)-Melbourne 2012 is the premier event for the meetings, incentive, convention and exhibition industries, which
is showcases the best international destinations, products and services all under one roof. AIME offers industry members the opportunity to plan innovative, incentive, event and meeting solutions in one place at one time. MORE INFORMATION:
www.tradeshowsbiz.com/organizer/457.html
WANT YOUR EVENT FEATURED HERE? Feel free to keep us posted of any other industry events or conferences we may have left out.
Email: info@traveltrademag.com
ONE ON ONE
16
ONE ON ONE with Joe Rosen
owner Cruise Ship World & Luxury Travel Executive
Joe Rosen owner of “Cruise Ship World” and “Luxury Travel Executive” groups on Linkedin, assists cruise, travel and tourism companies grow their business in the Americas. We took some time to sit down with Joe and ask some interesting questions, regarding the industry.
We all know that your groups on LinkedIn have a loyal following from professionals in the business, but we don’t know a lot about the man behind it, care to tell us a bit about yourself? Sure, I began my working life at a ship broker´s firm right after college. Went into advertising sales for several offshore oil & gas magazines and now I’m in the cruise conference industry. All water related. 2012 anticipates to be great year in the cruise industry, is there anything exciting in the cruise ship industry happening these days? 2 things; Our next cruise conference, and the ebook I’m writing on the luxury cruise ship market. But what´s been really setting the internet on fire is the report. What is the report? It´s a free travel report published by the WEF. While I was doing research I came across this report and sent it out to a couple of friends. Since then I have had daily requests, lots and lots of it, I’m approaching 4.000 reports delivered. The report compares countries around the world in terms of how competitive they are in the areas of; travel, tourism, hospitality, air, open borders, pricing etc., and ranks them.
So what country comes in as number one? Switzerland ranks number one overall, among the many reasons: qualified labor in the Tourism industry, the best Hotel management schools in the world, great transportation infrastructure, high level of safety and security, making the tourist stay in the country an easy and comfortable experience. We always keep a close eye on Canadian tourism, anything to report on the Great White North? Yes, Canada comes in at # 9. The natural resources are key strength. Its air transport infrastructure is ranked number 1 out of all 139 countries. You must be pretty busy these days, so I will let you go, how can we get hold of you? You’re more than welcome to contact me at the following links: You can send me an email at: cruiseshipworld@gmail.com Or visit me at our linkedin groups: cruise ship world at: http://linked.in/rIVtUD luxury travel executive: http://lined.in/uLRZYH
TECHNOLOGYPRODUCTS
17
TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
18
TRAVEL GADGETS
A great multipurpose gadget is the Panasonic Lumix DMC- PANASONIC zS3. It is a 10.1 megapixel compact camera with a 12x optical zoom lens and a high definition camcorder which enables video recording too. It also has Venus engine HD image processor, AVCHD Lite movie mode with stereo mic and zoom, Dolby Digital Stereo Creator.
#1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 www.panasonic.ca
PRICE $449.99
#1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
19
FOR THE TRAVEL GEEK
#2 Dyson Hot Space Heater
#3 Tom Tom GO
LIVE 1535M
#4 500 GB ioSafe #5 12 Language
It’s love at first sight with the high-tech Dyson Hot space heater. The fact that it can be used year-round, including cool mode for summers, no-hot surface, tip safe, auto swing and tilt, no-burning dust smell, remote control, LED screen and whisper quiet fan heat distribution makes up for performance. As for looks? Priceless.
GPS unit with a five-inch screen that constantly updates traffic via a built-in cell data connection which feeds live information from street traffic to figure out your fastest route. Combined with a comprehensive data map including seven million preloaded points of interest in Canada/US/Mexico it includes Twitter, Yelp, Trip Advisor and instant room availability in nearby hotels with Expedia. This GPS does it all. The GO LIVE subscription is free for the first year.
Extreme UltraRugged
Talking Translator
For the most extreme drop, crush, salt water, sand, rain, altitude and chemical exposure check out the isSafe Extreme portable USB/Firewire hard drive. Included in the package is a one-time, no questions asked, data recovery service, as they do with their other drives. It has survived intense flash fires, subbed as a hockey puck and more.
Languages include English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hebrew, Arabic. Translates and talks over 720,000 words, and translates and talks over 39,600 travel phrases while maintaining a history and favorites list. The Translator also keeps time zone in 360 cities, and has shock resistant dark gray rubber finish.
PRICE: $449 MORE INFORMATION: www.english.dysoncanada.ca
PRICE: $259 MORE INFORMATION: www.omtom.com
#6 Lorex Live
Connect
The Lorex video monitoring system runs on you web cam at home that you can access from your smartphone or computer. It runs on Skype software that you can access from your smartphone or computer to keep in touch. If you insist on bringing the family with you, it can also work as a mini home surveillance system. PRICE: $169.99 without portable monitor. $299.99 with portable monitor MORE INFORMATION: www.lorextechnology.com
#7 The
CamelBak All Clear UV Water Purification System
CamelBak’s new water purification system will allow anyone to make safe drinking water anywhere in one minute. Literally with the press of a button the All Clear uses a high-powered ultraviolet light to essentially get ride of all bacteria, viruses and protozoa in water making it safe to drink. PRICE: $99 MORE INFORMATION: www.camelbak.com
PRICE: 200 MORE INFORMATION: www.iosafe.com
#8 Mobius
PRICE: $169 CAD MORE INFORMATION: www.jet-setter.ca
#9 Belkin
rechargeable battery/case for iPhone 4
Wireless Dual Band Travel Router
The Mobius is a solar-powered, rechargeable battery system for the iPhone 4. One hour of sunlight translates into about 25 minutes of talking time, 20 minutes on the Internet and 2 hours of audio playback. What’s cool about it is that you can pick and choose when the battery power will kick in with standby switch.
When public Wi-Fi slows down completely, this device from Belkin helps you set a up personal Wi-Fi with homequality Internet speed. It also has the capacity to provide service to multiple devices at once so you and your loved one can stay connected all day long.
PRICE: $80 MORE INFORMATION: www.etoncorp.com
PRICE: $80 MORE INFORMATION: www.www.belkin.com
20
Selling
Adventure Travel W
ith this article we present you different ideas for promoting adventure travel. There are a number of places and destinations available for tourism. Also, there are a variety of adventures to gain knowledge about. Further, we present you a review of some marketing ideas that can you can implement. Of course, you can apply your own marketing ideas too. It cannot be judged whether adventure travel is a niche anymore. We believe that it is a complete mainstream travel at present and trips right up with the sun, sand and sea ITCs or cruising. It would be a good idea to launch this kind of product front and center and present it where some money can be earned. It forms one of the products that can be pitched to the youth market and all the way up to elderly.
21
22
The ‘Adventure’ Factor In Adventure It is very easy to sell through brochures, rehearsing the lessons learned from a supplier’s BDM and from webinars. What we suggest, if you really wish to make it big in adventure travel segment, is to come out of the agency and experience the product. Get a first hand experience in adventure. This will greatly add to your ability to sell up and you may come up with excellent marketing slogans. It will also improve your sales persona. As you speak to your clients, your mind conjures up those images and you will be able to articulate your thoughts in a much better way. You will be super confident when you will reach the podium to give a presentation to guests. You can also contact suppliers and request them to put you into and onto any one of their adventures. Also, ensure to consider the adventure specialist training programs available.
23
Africa Soc(cer) It To Me Owing to the World Cup Soccer event, Africa will be getting much airtime and you can also have a marvelous chance in this part of the world. Being clever with your slogans and using effective statements like “Talk about adventure and we are on the ball!”, or, “If you dream to experience an African Safari, our team will make your dream come true!” Be cautious that you do not convey anything that you are not offering as this will help avoid confusions.
Promoting Your Adventure Choices are many. There are different types or styles of adventure that you can select from. You can also decide on the country. No matter what the style of adventure and the country always ensure that you add a call to action banner at the top of your e-mails and an
24
adventure signature at the end of your e-mails. Flaunt the best images possible on your website. Embedding a video can also be a good idea. You can also launch an adventure club and offer subscription for adventure newsletter. Holding meetings for the adventure club members on a regular basis and beaming in tourist officials or adventure tour operator BDMs can also be helpful. The meetings can be organized through Skype conferencing and make the full use of social media.
45 luxury rooms Town centre location A minutes walk from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Waterside Al fresco dining and children's menu available Sunday lunch and afternoon teas Outdoor heaters and sun-drenched terraces Social season events Light bites and classic dishes Year round jazz events 01789 298 682 Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BA enquiries@theardenhotelstratford.com www.theardenhotelstratford.com Proud to be part of edenhotelcollection.com
Follow us:
South Africa derives its exceptional resource base for tourism with an area of 1.27 million sq. km, which is nearly five times more than that of UK, and a population of nearly 41 million. Diversity is what attracts tourism to South Africa.
27
28
EDITORIALFEATURE
T
here are various characteristics that make this land of South Africa an incredible place of tourism. Some of the features are its usually hot and sun drenched areas, a sophisticated infrastructure, reachable wildlife, diverse and striking scenery, still wilderness areas, varied cultures (specifically traditional and township African cultures etc.). While on a visit to South Africa one can also come across innumerable chances for different activities like whale-watching, wild water rafting, birdwatching, hiking, hunting, deep-sea fishing, diving and bush survival. Not just this, provision of extra ordinary conference exhibition facilities, a good range of sporting facilities, great medical services and exceptional archeological sites and battle fields make South Africa a perfect tourist spot. Internationally renowned attractions such as Table Mountain, Kruger National Park, Sun City, Cape of Good Hope, Garden Route, Maputaland and regionally known attraction spots like Victoria Falls and the Okavango
Tourism Director Martinus van Schalkwyk
Swamps make South Africa a place that deserves not just one but many visits. The launch of the country’s novel National Tourism Sector Strategy, by Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, brings on the fore bold plans to create a number of job opportunities and remarkably enhance the contribution of the industry to gross domestic product (GDP) during the coming five years. The new draft strategy, aims to create nearly 225,000 direct jobs and about 400,000 indirect jobs in the tourism segment in order to enhance tourism’s undeviating contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product from R64bn to R125bn by 2015. It also intends to draw 13.5 million visitors from abroad to SA in the year 2015.
Van Schalkwyk said, “Growth is projected to speed up even further, with international arrivals projected to double to 1.6-billion in 2020. SA will be no exception to this global trend of accelerating growth and an increasing contribution of tourism to national economies and job creation,” In fact, the compound average growth rate of foreign arrivals to the country from 2002 to 2009 was 6.4%, which “far outpaces the global trend”, the minister stated. “I am pleased that we now have a comprehensive strategy on the table which will guide us in terms of medium-term goals.” He told that the goals of the strategy were realistic and “perhaps a little conservative”. One of the chief aims is to develop the
tourism sector’s total contribution to GDP by greater than SA’s average GDP growth. The deputy director-general in the Tourism Department, Victor Tharage, said, “The UNWTO estimates that once the recession is over, world tourism will continue to grow at 4% per year. We believe we can do better ... just as we have in the past.” Among the major objectives are to motivate a culture of travel among the South Africans and to bring a solution to the issue of seasonal, geographic and rural spread. Van Schalkwyk informed that he would contact trade unions to motivate a travel culture among their members and establish worker holidays as unlocking the country’s local market was key to the success of the strategy. The strategy also aims to
implement a unified approach for branding SA. “Too often you go to an international trade show to see provinces and cities marketing themselves separately from the rest of SA. This creates confusion about the destination among travelers,” said Tharage. The department will also direct some action towards the creation of a convention bureau. This bureau would organize and give aid in the different convention centers spread across the country aiming to encourage the organization of major conventions and events in SA.
32
Despite a period of unrest across North Africa, tourists to Morocco appear unconcerned. The country is continuing an ambitious tourism strategy that includes more resorts and developments.
MOROCCO
33
34
EDITORIALFEATURE
M
orocco’s Ministry of Tourism has announced a 6.3 percent YoY increase in tourists to the country during the first half of 2011, with a little over 4.2 million tourists having visited Morocco during this period. This increase occurred despite general unrest across the Middle East and North Africa, regime change in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, and a brief outbreak of violence in Morocco itself in February 2011. Tourists seemed similarly undeterred by the April 2011’s suicide bomb attack on a café in Marrakech popular with holiday makers, which killed 16 people. The Ministry predicts that final tourist figures for the whole of 2012 should surpass the 10 million mark, and anticipates more than 14 million tourists annually to the country by 2016, with an annual tourism revenue of around USD 8.8 billion, as long as the political upheavals in the region do not continue.
Big strides for country’s Vision 2020 strategy In November 2010 Morocco unveiled its Vision 2020 tourism strategy for the following decade, emphasizing regional tourism, quality tourism and sustainable tourism development with the aim of doubling Morocco’s tourism sector and placing the North African country among the top 20 global destinations for tourists. The strategy is targeted at domestic tourism as well, and hopes to triple the number of domestic holidays taken by Moroccans. This ambitious plan is to be implemented through an emphasis on cultural sites; diversification of tourism in all its forms; improving the quality of the hospitality industry and its staff; and a special focus on sustainable tourism. The country also hopes to add 200,000 beds over the coming decade in its bid to attract tourists from emerging markets around the world. Key to Vision 2020 are the Plan Azur developments, currently taking place along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts and expected to accommodate several thousand tourists when completed around 2015.
36
EDITORIALFEATURE
Foreign investment flooding into Morocco’s tourist developments Morocco is a country primed for tourist development. As a relatively progressive and democratic Islamic nation with a high level of literacy compared to other African nations, the Moroccan government seems committed to supporting development in this sector as well as to improving standards and training across the hospitality industry generally. Its main draw, however, must be its close proximity to Europe – flight times from the UK to Morocco’s Mediterranean coast are about three hours, comparable to popular resort islands Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and the number of low-cost carriers now operating summer routes to the country from Europe includes Norwegian, EasyJet, Ryanair, Transavia and Air Berlin. Nor has the region’s recent spate of political unrest prevented foreign investment from streaming into the country. The price of real estate in Morocco is far cheaper than in other countries along the Mediterranean and this has attracted a number of large international hotel chains, including the Ramada hotel group – Ramada’s first hotel in the country, the Ramada Fes, opened at the start of the 2010 season, with more on the way. New resorts are being developed all along Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, whose beach and golf resorts are soon expected to rival nearby Spain.
Less optimistic outlook for Royal Air Maroc Despite the upbeat outlook elsewhere, Morocco’s flag carrier airline Royal Air Maroc reported a less successful year, and media reports have claimed the airline is losing about MAD 80 million a month (USD 9.22 million). The airline began a rationalisation programme in August 2011, when union workers approved a wide package of measures that included refocusing the company’s operations at its Casablanca hub, the sale of 10 aircraft and cutting over 1,500 jobs before 2013.
Cruise tourism is gaining momentum in the UAE as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have been adopting drastic steps to attract big players of the industry, experts say.
A
ll three emirates have been making significant investments in infrastructure to support cruise tourism facilities and services in the country. Abu Dhabi has erected a new tented cruise terminal at Mina Zayed, Dubai is reshaping Port Rashid and Sharjah is focusing on Khorfakkan to attract around 700,000 cruise visitors during this season. Dubai will take the lead in total cruise visitors as it is expected to welcome 475,000 passengers at Port Rashid during this season. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, or DTCM, forecasts a steady growth for the next four years with 625,000 passengers by 2015, a 38 per cent increase over 2010 figures. Realising the potential in cruise tourism, DP World is expanding Port Rashid cruise terminal facilities to continue its leading position as the largest cruise centre in the Middle East. It will expand the current facilities by the end of 2012 to cater for as many as five cruise ships at one time, against its current capacity of accommodating only two ships. “Development of the cruise terminal facilities at Port Rashid supports Dubai’s long-term strategy to stimulate growth and development in the traditionally strong tourism sector,” DP World
chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem recently said. He said the new facility will help Dubai tap into the rapidly-growing cruise sector and will continue to be a major destination for the finest cruise ships in the world. Cruise tourism is a key growth segment which will bring great economic benefits to the region, increasing overall expenditure in the tourism sector and boosting the economy. According to DTCM, cruise tourism saw an annual income of Dh338 million in 2010 and is estimated to grow to Dh837 million in 2015. This will see a yield of Dh3.5 billion into Dubai’s economy over those years.
Abu Dhabi acting fast The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, or ADTA, in collaboration with industry stakeholders Abu Dhabi Ports Company, or ADPC, and Abu Dhabi Terminals, is also increasing investing in cruise terminal facilities. The ADTA has prioritised cruise tourism as one of its five 2011-2012 strategy pillars and likely to receive around 170,000 tourists before the season ends in April next year. In line with its long-term cruise ambitions, the ADTA is planning to replace the tented terminal with a purpose-built cruise terminala at Mina Zayed as the emirate realises
its aim to become a regional cruise hub.
Sharjah an ideal destination
“Cruise shipping has enjoyed strong recession-proof growth for many years, ”ADTA director-general Mubarak Al Muhairi.
Sharjah makes for an ideal destination for luxury cruise liners due to its strategic location, overlooking both the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf Coast, as well as the natural splendour of the East Coast. The emirate’s picturesque East Coast is getting ready to welcome thousands of cruise passengers aboard some of the biggest and celebrated luxury cruise liners in the next few months. The third-largest emirate is expected to receive 67,000 cruise passengers during this season.
Capt Mohamed Al Shamisi, ADPC’s vicepresident (operations) of ports unit, hoped the cruise business will continue to grow to 300 calls and 600,000 passengers by 2030. “Ultimately, our capacity to build the cruise tourism business will rely on a combination of good planning, good infrastructure, strong marketing and industry co-operation, ”Al Muhairi said.
Sharjah, which has been attracting an
42
EDITORIALFEATURE
EDITORIALFEATURE
extraordinary number of European tourists in recent years, is looking forward to receiving more international visitors as major cruise liners target the region. The first Costa Classica ship arrived at the Khorfakkan port last week with 1,700 passengers onboard, heralding the arrival of new season of luxury cruise liners and thousands of international tourists to Sharjah’s East Coast. Another large vessel, the Costa Favalosa, will make its maiden call at the Khorfakkan port on December 19 with 3,800 passengers. “Between November and May 2012, two major cruise liner operators, Costa Cruises and Seabourn, will bring an estimate volume of nearly 67,000 international cruise passengers to Sharjah’s golden beaches, blue waters and breathtaking landscape,” according to a statement by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.
Gulf stays steady The cruise tourism sector in the Middle East is seeing a steady increase in passengers as the sector gains traction in the region. Countries in the region are increasingly investing to support cruise tourism facilities and services. The Gulf is also witnessing a rise in cruise ships, with Costa Cruises, the first major line to introduce Gulf itineraries, upping capacity by 16 per cent this winter season. Other major cruise lines such as Costa, Royal Caribbean and MSC also plan to expand thier operations in the days to come. Worldwide, the cruise industry has had an annual passenger compound annual growth rate of 7.67 per cent from 1990-2011, according to Cruise Market Watch. Last year cruise industry recorded 15 million guests and this year it is expected to achieve 19 million cruise guests. The UAE, with increased investment in cruise terminals, is expected to grab a major slice of this market by attracting big players of the industry.
44
EDITORIALFEATURE
‘And Beyond’ Bateleur Camp, Kenya
B
ordering the Masai Mara Game Reserve, with the Great Rift Valley in the distance, Bateleur is one of a handful of luxury camps located directly in the path of the annual ‘Great Migration’. Rooms have been designed so that guests can enjoy the experience of watching thousands of wildebeest and zebra sweep across the Mara without leaving their back porches. The camp offers two intimate lodges each with nine elegant suites fitted with tented wood-shingled roofs. www.andbeyondafrica.com.
45
EDITORIALFEATURE
These days, going on a safari doesn’t mean going without those fivestar amenities. Luxury-class camps can now be found in many parts of Africa, fitted with everything from thatched suites with wooden terraces to private helipads. Here are five exclusive African safari camps where guests can get up close and personal with the world’s most elusive wildlife—without sacrificing comfort.
46
EDITORIALFEATURE
Cottars Mara Safari Camp, Kenya
A
private 10,000-acre concession on the edge of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the Cottar family’s exclusive camp has the kind of 1920s ambiance you might expect from a century-long association with African hunting and tracking. The ten expansive tents come with long, atmospheric verandas, Africana libraries and canvas baths. The Cottars own exclusive rights to tracking the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) with Kenya’s best guides on foot. www.cottars.com.
Borana Lodge, Kenya
O
ne of the original eco lodges in East Africa and home to the Dyer family for three generations, Borana Lodge is situated on the Laikipia Plateau, with views of Mount Kenya to the south and desert to the north. Each of the lodge’s eight cottages is fitted with fireplaces and private verandas where you can enjoy the view of elephants swimming in the nearby Samangua Valley’s lake. Alternatively, relax in the main lodge around log fires, sofas and rosewood tables – or around the horizon pool with a lunchtime Pimms. www.thesafariandconservationcompany. com.
47
EDITORIALFEATURE
48
EDITORIALFEATURE
49
EDITORIALFEATURE
Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, South Africa
O
wned by Richard Branson, this 13,500 hectare reserve is located in the heart of the Sabi Sand reserve on the border of the Kruger National Park. The Rock Lodge (including the suites at Cliff Lodge) is carved into a rock face 800 feet above central Sabi Sand, while the Safari Lodge, hidden away in the bush, features swing bridges linking the tree house suites. Other features include a prize-winning spa, freshwater pools, a wine cellar, tennis courts and a bush observatory for stargazing.
The reserve specializes in photo safaris. The camp’s professional rangers and trackers all happen to be experienced photographers ready to teach guests enough about Big Five behavior for them to take the kind of photos seen in travel magazines. www.ulusaba.virgin.com/en/ulusaba.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa
T
swalu is the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa. Its lavish Motse lodge has eight authentic, stone-walled and thatch-roofed legae (suites) ideallysuited for couples, while private villa Tarkuni lodge sleeps 10 and boasts panoramic views of the 100,000-hectare reserve. Here, opportunities are available not only to spot some of the region’s most elusive animals black rhinos, meerkats, aardwolf and cheetah but also to hunt for the region’s most tasty fungal delicacy: Kalahari truffles, which you can bring back to camp to enjoy with your dinner later. www.tswalu.com.
50
The Revolutionizing Change In Luxury Travel Presenting the yearly survey of Virtuoso’s 6,000 member travel advisors in the United States and Canada, the Virtuoso Luxe Report reflects the changing trends in luxury travel. As per the website this analytical report predicts the trends in luxury travel for 20112012, based on present and projected reservations. The survey gives out different exciting results. Let us have a look at a few of them.
01
Why are clients traveling?
As per 75% of the travel advisors, clients are travelling to enjoy the authentic feeling that can be experienced at a new location and 68% opine that they go to travel for rest and relaxation.
02
What is chief travel trend?
Family and multigenerational travel (63%)
03
What factors do clients consider when choosing a trip? The location of the trip (93%) and value for money paid (79%).
04
What is the most significant source of information while making decisions?
What is the most unusual destination request for family travel?
Travel advisors (84.5%) and friends or family (79%). Among other sources, internet is 28% and social media is just 7.7%.
African safari is one of the top choices when it comes to unconventional family travel.
What is the most unexpected thing clients request for?
05
The most surprising thing that clients ask for is to get handson experience that enthuse a personal connection. They prefer this as it will help them build lasting memories like staying for some days in African villages to be a part of their culture and community and visiting schools in the local area.
06
51
and detailed education is a must for travel advisors, who are into selling safaris.
For safaris, the findings in 2011-2012 can be summarized as follows: An increasing number of high-end travelers wish to go for unconventional vacations (like safaris) for their multi generational families. They wish to go at a location where they can enjoy leisurely and can get real experiences that provide great value for money while depending on their travel advisors and word-of-mouth for guidelines.
Let us look at it in detail. Readers may not agree with the low rankings of the internet and social media when it comes to information. However, the question is about the most influential source. Affluent clients may make use of the internet for research but they barely trust it. As the information on the internet starts overloading, the importance of travel advisors cannot be under emphasized. Finding the difference between facts and marketing fiction has now become tougher. Companies are now creeping into Twitter, Facebook and TripAdvisor and it becomes tough to arrive at a decision when a review is either entirely positive or negative. The point of concern is are the travel advisors having enough experience so that they can offer correct and relevant information about their safaris. There is an obvious lack of knowledge about safaris in East Africa
A vital statistic that cannot be ignored is the pursuit of authentic experience and the clients must have cognizance about what they may get from the travel. Presently travel advisors sell a number of group safaris and it is not possible that a whole bus full of tourist will get an authentic experience on safari. Though the tour companies will not agree but the musicians and dance performers in the lobby of a tourist hotel are not delivering real experience. Even the group of Maasai men jumping on que, when their Maasai women try to make sales of bracelets and armbands, fail to provide an authentic experience to the tourists. If the clients are overcharged for taking part in community or charity projects then they must be aware of it. Clients of some tour companies are charged a number of dollars just to pick them up and drive them to a local school or community in a mini bus. The fact that about 79% of highend travelers are bothered about value for money is one of the vital results of the survey. On January 26, 2011 David Wilkening spoke through Travel Mole that “The tendency these days even for luxury travelers is to brag about how much they are saving, not spending.” In an article dated January 28, 2011, The Wall Street Journal stated that the travelers are not “flaunting their wealth; it is all about having out-of-the-world experiences.” The question that arises here is that for what reason travel advisors still sell average$21,000 safaris from international travel companies when they can provide improved experiences to clients for around $15,000? Every travel advisor and agent should go through the Luxe Report and concentrate on what clients are requesting for. Travelers neither want to be overcharged nor want to overspend.
WHEN IN PARADISE, INSURANCE SHOULD BE THE LAST THING ON YOUR MIND. Let Ingle International take care of your insurance needs… so that all you have to worry about is sunscreen.
Visit www.ingletravel.com • Call 1-800-360-3234 • 416-640-7863 A trusted name in the industry since 1946, Ingle International knows insurance. And travel insurance is our specialty. At Ingle International, we pride ourselves on being able to provide the best products and services for our clients – whether you’re vacationing in the Bahamas, Published by Travel Trade Media, WEB: www.traveltrademagazine.com EMAIL: info@traveltrademag.com
taking a leisurely cruise, or climbing Mt. Everest, we’ve got you covered!