MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine the global monthly online magazine since 1997
Venice, Italy
OUR FUTURE IS TECHNOLOGY…whether we like it or not! THE MASKS, Civilizations Through Gold Masks 2021 BEST 10 AIRLINES of the World THE MAJARA RESIDENCE The Colourful Eco Village AFRICA’s TOURISM LEADERS Recognise Investments… The GIANT of BEIRUT Lebanon
vol. 24, issue 10, October 2021
MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine Volume 24, Issue 10, October 2021 edition – Online since 1997
Contents 8-10 OUR FUTURE IS TECHNOLOGY…whether we like it or not! 13 BACK IN BUSINESS! Italy at Hand 15 ICCA WORLD Strengthens Asia Pacific Management Team
8-10 Our Future is Technology…
17 Explore WESTMINSTER’s Finest Meeting Rooms and Facilities 21 PERTH To Host World’s Largest Conference on… 23-25 THE MASKS, Civilizations Through Gold Masks 27 AIRLINE DEBTS Reached UK£181 Billion an Increase of 23% in 2020 29 EUROPEAN AIRLINES Battle for Supremacy… 31 2021 BEST 10 AIRLINES of the World
23-25 The Masks
34-35 THE MAJARA RESIDENCE The Colourful Eco Village 37 How the ‘Health Crisis’ REVITALISED THE UK’s Coastal Resorts 41 AFRICA’s TOURISM LEADERS Recognise Investments… 43 The GIANT of BEIRUT Lebanon
34-35 The Colourful Eco Village
Message from
Caroline-Artemis We are back in the skies! A member of the team flew overseas for the first time in over a year and I have to say, it felt like normal again…. in a way, after the stress of all the new pre-travel forms, registrations and tests. Having not gone through the procedure before, the first challenge was deciding which pre-flight test to take, PCR or antigen. As the European destination allowed an antigen test we chose that option, also as it was far cheaper than any PCR test option. Next step was deciding which company to use. The British government has a list of private companies that meet the laboratory criteria for such tests. So, we order the test. It arrives by courier. We then wait to be inside the ’48 hours before travel’ to take the test, report the result online and within 15m ins receive the ‘Fit To Fly’ certificate. 24hours before departure we try to check-in. We have to upload all necessary documents, vaccination certificate, negative Antigen Test, EU Locator Form – which took about 20mins to complete before you then receive an email with the PDF format of the certificate.
We are then told once the airline validates all the uploaded documents, we will receive an email allowing us to proceed to online checkin. Two hours later, the airline emailed. They could not verify one of the documents. So, we drive to the airport, 2hours before depart, on a wing and a pray, hoping to sort out the problem. I can report we did! The issue was with the time we took the Antigen test. We understood it was ‘within 48hours of flying’. But no, it has to be taken up to ‘a maximum of 48hours before travel’. This leaves us with a question: if you are trying to prevent any infection getting onto an aircraft, surely the later you lea ve taking the test the less risk there is? (ie within 48hours of travel). Clearly not. I am guessing we could have taken the Antigen test, the day it arrived, which would have been a full 5 days prio r to travel. Within those following 5 - 3 days we have been all over the place (restaurant, cinema, supermarket, train, etc), and would be far more susceptible to picking up any illness than if the test had been taking closer to departure time. I will leave you to think about it and maybe the moral of this little story, is just to be thankful we are flying again and not to question the logic behind how you actual get on a plane in 2021 and beyond! Enjoy Our October MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine edition! Caroline-Artemis Laspas co-founder & editor
OUR FUTURE IS TECHNOLOGY… whether we like it or not! by Caroline-Artemis Laspas
The speed with which technology is being created and subsequently used across many different aspects of our lives is quite astounding. However, we are just at the beginning of this roller-coaster ride of technology driving our way of life in everything we do. Most of us have just got used to 4G technology, 5G is ready across many networks, but already 6G is very much on the horizon and will totally transform how we do everything in our day-to-day lives. It is anticipated that 6G would allow us to access download speeds of 1 Terabyte per second, while the advances in AI technology and in particular Emotional Artificial Intelligence, will mean our mobile phone or tablet will know more about us and how we feel than our own family will. Throughout the pandemic we all had to get used to virtual meetings and although we could see each other via zoom, by the end of this decade it is believed that we can attend meetings as a hologram, and if we need to attend an event in-person, we can get there in a flying taxi. Over the years we have watched many films highlighting what seemed like very far-fetched technologies in the distant future! These very same inventions are now becoming an advanced everyday reality and the gadgets of James Bond are now here in the real world. There are several known technologies that are expected to be adopted by many nations and people over coming years which will radically change our future and how we live our lives. So much of what we do involves ‘data’. We generate 2.5 billion bytes of data every day and this figure doubles every 2 -3 years. Since the high-tech Apollo 11 era in the 1960’s, the fastest computing power has increased more than 1 trillion times since then. AI today has the IQ of a 6 year old and every day, as we advance the AI algorithm to become more ‘human’, it will continue to gr ow. AI will be the fastest development of revolutionary technologies ever in human history. Here we take a brief look into the new technologies that are about to become a part of our lives over the next decade or so. 6G: With capacity for 5G expected to be reached by 2028, this next generation of telecommunication networks will help us with super fast speeds of 1TBps. BCI: This is technology that connects the human brain with computers. It aims to enhance the cognitive function and thinking of humans. Trials have already begun. Emotional Artificial Intelligence: The development of emotional AI will be able to analyse and respond to human emotions. Synthetic Biology: Synthetic biology is the design and construction of new biological parts, devices, and systems, and the re-design of existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes. By the end of this decade most of us will have eaten, worn or used synthetic biology in some form. Immortality: Ground-breaking advances in health and biotechnology and anti-aging drugs are now able to extend life. We could become immortal and live forever! Not sure I think that is a good idea!
Wireless Electricity: This will truly change how we supply electricity. It will offer the possibility for receiving electricity witho ut any wires. The use of magnetic fields or radio waves will provide the wireless transmission of electricity. By 2025, many of us w ill use more devices that will need charging. Holograms: This is the technology of films! This year saw the 1st hologram dinner in the world! The ‘Two Hearts Pizzeria’, on London’s Southbank and Edinburgh’s Castle Street, used real-time 3D holographic technology by projecting life-size 4K holograms that were able to see, hear and interact with each other as if sat together at the same table, without having to stare at a screen. Metaverse: The metaverse is an immersive digital environment where people interact as avatars. ‘Meta’ means beyond and ‘verse’ refers to the universe. Think of the film Avatar. By the 2030’s it is expected we will spend more time in a digital world that in our real world. A thought: I would like to know how we are going to earn a living and pay for food and a roof over our heads?
Next Generation Batteries: This is the big one. With electric cars and the world trying to be more environmental, advances in batteries and how we store the energy in these batteries is vital. Bionic People: With the first successful artificial cornea being implanted into someone’s eye, the advances in this technology will enhance the physical abilities of man. Already exoskeletons and implants are well known. eVTOL: Vertical take-off and landing electric vehicles are very nearly here and are a great alternative to road travel. Three companies in 2023 have permission to take to the skies for the first commercial eVTOL vehicles. Oceantech: Also known as the Blue Economy; technology is being developed at sea that will harness energy from the oceans, and allow for precision fishing, so we do not destroy the delicate ecosystems of the seas. Green Mining: We need sustainable mining methods. Going green means no more heavy mining of fossil fuels. By 2024 commercial deep sea mining will begin. CCS: CCS stands for Carbon Capture Storage. It is a climate change technology that helps prevent large quantities of CO2 from being released in the atmosphere from the use of fossil fuels. It is a proven technology and has been in safe, commercial operation for 45 years. CCS technology is being used around the world in different ways and is already cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The pace of implementation in all these technologies will be quick as there is already huge investment in all of the above. Will we ‘simple’ humans be able to keep up and adapt our lives quickly enough to incorporate these changes? How much choice will we have in deciding to use them? It is clear that our future connection with technology is changing and will become intrinsic to our way of life. Right now, w e can still turn it all off at the end of the day, but in another couple of decades, it will be running our lives in a far more dominant way and we will not be able to stop it! I think it’s time for me to have a coffee with real life friends and to read a real book with paper pages!
M.I.C.E & Events News Meetings, Incentives, Conferences , Exhibitions & Venues
BACK IN BUSINESS! ITALY AT HAND WILL BE HELD ON 16-18 DECEMBER 2021 IN MILANO. 100% ONSITE
3 days of event, 45 top qualified international buyers, 35 of the best exhibitors the Italian MICE Industry has to offer, ove r 1K Business Meetings, interactive activities and Italy’s sheer beauty as a majestic, yet discreet background. After two years (and a worldwide pandemic in-between) since the last edition in Rome in 2019, Convention Bureau Italia and ENIT – Italian National Tourist Board are proud to announce that the 3rd edition of Italy at Hand will take place on 16-18 December 2021. 3 days of perfect balance between a tight B2B appointment agenda and lots of formative and fun activities connected to Italy’ s identity and tradition: the best of the Italian Event Industry can’t wait to welcome you back!
MICE TRADE SHOW FOCUS ON MEDITERRANEAN DESTINATIONS
By being more targeted, focused and tailored than your normal exhibition or workshop, the MICE Trade Show merges into one great specialist event. The event allows you to customise your attendance by choosing the target that better suits your business. Up to 70 pre-scheduled appointments with buyers whose business, focuses on your area of activity. With time for unscheduled meetings that allow for buyers to come to you too, it’s a win-win event! Several networking events across the days of the event allow you to expand your network in a more relaxed environment and in a variety of stunning venues. Finally with fam trips showcasing the many Mediterranean opportunities on offer, the MICE trade Show is a must for your calendar this year. www.micetradeshow.com
www.bmlinternational.co.uk London, United Kingdom
8TH ATHENS INTERNATIONAL TOURISM & CULTURE EXPO 2021 25-27 November 2021 Athens, Greece Held under the Auspice of the Greek Ministry of Tourism and the Committee “Greece 2021” After the pandemic, recover can now begin for the international tourism market. The best place to start is at the 8th Athens International Tourism & Culture Expo 2021, being held this November in physical format (with online exhibition booths available). The event is a proven successful vehicle for the international promotion of Greek tourism and will continue to support incoming tourism. The exhibition will offer a unique opportunity for all participants to increase their contacts, to build new business and to discover new destinations in Greece. The Buyers: 150 International Hosted Buyers from 50 countries will be hosted in the exhibition for b2b meetings with the exhibitors. Buyers are selected based on a strict quality criteria coming from, Tour Operators, Travel Agencies, MICE and Associations that cover all areas of tourism. This year sees an international conference on Cultural Tourism taking place. Greece is the international beacon of culture and remains an important international attraction of tourism, since every region of Greece is plenty of Historical Monuments, Archaeological sites and Customs that compose the long path of its Cultural Heritage. The aim of the Conference is the contribution of Greek Culture to the tourist development of our country. Distinguished International Speakers, coming from Greece and abroad, will participate in the Conference. CONFERENCE TOPICS - The influence of Greek Culture in World History - Evolution of Culture: 1821-2021: Two hundred years of evolution of Greek Culture - Presentation of the most important Archaeological and Cultural Monuments of Greece and Europe -Cultural Tourism - The contribution of culture to the increase of inbound tourism
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The 15th Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO-PR 2022) will be held jointly with the 13th International Symposium on Imaging, Sensing, and Optical Memory 2022 (ISOM’22) and the 13th International Conference on Optics-photonics Design and Fabrication (ODF’22). The event will take place from 31st July – 5th August 2022 at Sapporo Convention Centre. The event will be hosted by the Japan Society of Applied Physics, IEICE Electronics Society, and the IEICE Communications Society. The Japanese Host Committees of these three conventions are ready to host their delegates in Sapporo, and with the 2022 event still some 11 months away, they remain cautiously optimistic. The previous editions of all 3 events took place in a virtual format, dashing the hopes of Sydney, Takamatsu and Taoyun - the host cities to welcome their guests in person. However, conventions drive progress and development in their respective industries and sectors as a result of new knowledge shared and partnerships gained during such events. To this end, the organisers will still achieve their primary goals of spre ading new knowledge, updating on new developments and encouraging new applications.
ICCA WORLD STRENGTHENS ASIA PACIFIC MANAGEMENT TEAM AND EXPERTISE After a challenging year, ICCA are looking ahead to its community’s growth and how it can best support its members in a transformed and stronger future. As such, it is enhancing the experience and capabilities of the ICCA Asia Pacific team with the addition of two new staff members. Both of these industry professionals will focus on guiding and championing Asia Pacific membership. Ms. Waikin Wong Regional Director Asia Pacific Joining ICCA on 26 July 2021: Waikin will work closely with members and the association community in the Asia Pacific region, ensuring you receive the maximum benefits of your ICCA membership and grow the Asia Pacific ICCA community. Waikin will also advise the ICCA Head Office management team. Waikin was previously the Business Director with GIS Group in Taipei. Ms. Jessica Ng Tze Min Membership Development Manager Asia Pacific Joining ICCA on 2 August 2021: Under Waikin’s supervision, Jessica will also support membership and growth in the Asia Pacific regions. She’ll be on hand to assist members and answer questions related to the ICCA portal. Coming to us from Hotel Equatorial in Penang, where she was a Senior Sales Manager, Jessica brings a strong background in International Hotel & Tourism Management and has over 7 years of experience in event coordination and Sales.
THE GREATER BOGOTA CONVENTION BUREAU
The attraction of meetings and Events in Bogotá is strengthened with new business unit at invest in Bogotá, Colombia
The Greater Bogota Convention Bureau becomes a new business unit at Invest in Bogota to consolidate the promotion and positioning of Bogota and its region as a touristic destination and as a city for in ternational events. With public and private support, through this new business unit, the strategy for the promotion and positioning of Bogota as a worldwide destination for international events will be strengthened. This will keep supporting the economic reactivation and will result in more business opportunities for the industry. Invest in Bogota (IIB) announces the creation of its new business unit to attract events in the city. This decision was taken after the dissolution of the Greater Bogota Convention Bureau (GBCB) and represents for the capital and the region the possibility of strengthening the investment and events attraction strategy in a single entity. This unit will be called the Bogota Convention Bureau and will start its operation in November of this year, achieving a transition process that favours the continuity of the activities that this entity has been developing since its creation. The decision of creating this new business unit had as reference ProColombia’s figure, which integrates the promotion for international tourism, the foreign investment, and the non-traditional exports in Colombia in one entity. As an international reference we had Invest in Dubai, and nationally ProBarranquilla and Invest in Santa Marta. The new scheme also contemplates the creation of a Sectorial Committee in IIB in articulation with the Business Tourism and Events Cluster of the CCB, which will function as a consultative space for entrepreneurs in the meetings industry.
EXPLORE WESTMINSTER’S FINEST MEETING ROOMS AND FACILITIES As the industry opens up and we can now once again host meetings in person, explore the superb range of meeting spaces and facilities that Westminster’s finest venues have to offer. RIBA: The Aston Webb room at RIBA at 66 Portland Place is part of the original 1934 building and reflects the unique character of the venue, which is renowned for representing the best of British Architecture. This space is popular for VIP events, committee, or boardroom style meetings, with capacity for up to 22 guests. RIBA
QEII Centre
QEII Centre: Located on the 5th floor of the QEII Centre, the Hawking is an ideal meetings space as it can accommodate 25 at full capacity. A versatile space, it can be used for standalone meetings or as a syndicate space for larger conferences and events. Alternatively, the Burton is a highly adaptable space that can be used as a standalone meeting room, syndicate space or in combination with other 2nd floor spaces for larger meetings. Holding your meeting in either room will enable you to take advantage of the large windows that provide excellent natural light and an impressive backdrop, which includes Westminster Abbey. RSA House
IET London
RSA House: The Prince Philip Room at RSA House is a beautifully decorated and spacious 1st floor event space, blending traditional characteristics with modern convenience. The room features impressive audio-visual equipment, making it a suitable location for virtual and hybrid meetings. In 2012 the Prince Philip Room was named after HRH Duke of Edinburgh to mark his long-standing service as the President of the Society from 1952. IET London: Savoy Place: The Wedmore Boardroom is a modern, hightech London event space provides an air-conditioned, premium executive meeting room on the first floor for private or corporate events and senior/CEO level meetings. Up to 26 delegates can meet comfortably in the state-of-the-art boardroom with natural daylight, spectacular views over the Thames and cutting-edge audio-visual equipment.
www.venues-london.co.uk
GRAND CANAL CULTURAL TOURISM EXPO The 3rd Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Expo took place recently in Suzhou, with the theme ‘Integration, Innovation and Sharing’ . It hosted events including exhibitions, forums and special activities, focusing on developing culture and tourism, publicising cultural tourism products, and promoting the inheritance and development of the Grand Canal culture. The expo had 6 themed exhibition areas, including intangible cultural heritages, cultural tourism products, gourmet food, and cultural and creative products. Suzhou, known as the ‘Venice of the Orient’, is a 2,500-year-old city known for its abundant waterways. Through its main theme of ‘integration, innovation and sharing’, the expo was able to highlight shared lifestyles of people living in canal cities. The expo also aims to promote cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. At the boutique exhibition, visitors enjoyed the world cultural heritage of the canal, such as ancient towns, relics, tourist routes and specialties with local characteristics. At the international exhibition, titled ‘The Encounter of the Silk Road and Canal’, visitors experienced the famous trade route without having to go abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 30 countries with connections to the ancient Silk Road took part in the exhibition.
WORLD TOURISM EXHIBTION FOR WORLD HERITAGE SITES The 2021 edition of the World Exhibition of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, took place at the historic Palazzo della Ragione, in Padova on the 23-25 September 2021. The event allows operators of the sites to meet with buyers so travellers can have the chance to discover new destinations and new opportunities around these iconic sites.
Tour operators, travel agencies and operators in the hospitality-tourism sector from Europe, took part in the event which saw an exclusive b2b workshop, followed by an educational tour around the region of Veneto, along with wine tasting from small regional producers.
IBTM World Barcelona IBTM World Barcelona will take place in-person this year at Fira, Barcelona from 30 November - 2 December 2021. Under the theme of ‘New Business, New Tech, New World’, IBTM World Barcelona will focus on quality one -to-one business meetings, inspiring educational content and rewarding networking opportunities to help attendees re -connect and thrive in the next chapter in meetings and events. Visitor registration is now open for the event, which will bring together some of the world’s leading international Hosted Buyers and quality suppliers and destinations. IBTM World’s Knowledge programme will this year explore 4 topical themes: Trends and technology; gamification and engagement; the future of event planning (to include discussions around sustainability, safety and security and government support); and career and personal development. There will be separate buyer-led Association and Elite Corporate Programmes. Further details will be released in due course. RX (the organisers of IBTM World) has worked with industry peers to create a safe working standard called ‘All Secure’ for holding events in a COVID-impacted world, and IBTM is working closely with the local authorities and the Fira Barcelona to implement all necessary precautions.
PATA - WELLNESS & LUXURY TRAVEL CONFERENCE & MART 2021 The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched the Virtual PATA Wellness and Luxu ry Travel Conference and Mart 2021, taking place from October 20-22. The event is organised in partnership with Platinum Sponsor, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Official Virtual Platform Partner, Zipevent Co., Ltd. This niche-themed event offers a deeper look at specialised product offerings and forum topics to share key trends in the global wellness and luxury tourism industry emerging from pandemic recovery. This two-day event comprises a one-day conference and one-day mart and brings together various tourism professionals in the wellness and sustainable luxury travel sector. The conference is designed to support PATA’s vision for the responsible develo pment of tourism, while the one-day travel mart helps promote, build, and strengthen business and networks for delegates. The travel mart will offer 1-1 business meeting appointments, which will be supported by video calls, text, and voice chat. Furthermore, there will be networking opportunities at the interactive networking breaks which will incl ude various games and quizzes.
PERTH TO HOST WORLD’S LARGEST CONFERENCE ON ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRONICS & APPLICATIONS Business Events Perth has been chosen to host the 49th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves 2024 (IRMMW-THz 2024), the world’s largest gathering devoted to the field of ultra-high frequency electronics and applications. Held annually, IRMMW-THz 2024 will mark 12 years since the conference was last held in Australia. The successful bid will see over 600 delegates from around the world attend the 6-day conference and was led by Associate Professor Vincent Wallace from The University of Western Australia in partnership with Business Events Perth, Arinex and Tourism Australia, who supported the bid through their Business Events Bid Fund Programme. It is estimated that the event will deliver more than $3 million in direct economic contribution to the Western Australian economy. “IRMMW-THz 2024 is an exciting opportunity to showcase the research being conducted in Western Australia, and exchange scientific and technical knowledge,” Western Australian Health, Medical Research and Science Minister Roger Cook said . Business Events Perth chief executive Gareth Martin said Western Australia had put forwar d a compelling bid to the International Society of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves. “Our expertise in bidding for international business events, combined with Western Australia’s excellence in the field, and o ur strong bid chair Associate Professor Wallace ensured that Perth was the preeminent choice,” Mr Martin said. "The return of this conference to Australia in 2024 highlights Australia’s expertise in this knowledge sector and ensures our continued appeal as a world-class business events destination amongst global decision makers.” Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said The IRMMW-THz conference has played a major role in bringing together international researchers in many diverse fields, from space science to nuclear fusion and, recently chemistry and biology.
BIG BOYS TOYS, THE WORLD’S PREMIER INNOVATION & LUXURY LIFESTYLE EXHIBITION, RETURNS! LAS VEGAS 19-21 NOV Three-day innovation & luxury lifestyle convention returns to Las Vegas to showcase one -of-a-kind products including flying vehicles, multi-million dollar luxury trucks, luxury furniture, exquisite art and more. New this year, the addition of the BBT Innovation Summit featuring global leaders and industry experts. BIG BOYS TOYS, the world’s premier Innovation & luxury lifestyle exhibition, is set to make its action-packed return to Las Vegas! Held at the World Market Center Las Vegas, BIG BOYS TOYS highlights more than 100 international premium luxury lifestyle in all its facets. This year also brings brands and limited-edition products, with a keen focus on innovation, global leaders and industry experts together for the inaugural BBT Innovation Summit. Established in 2009, BIG BOYS TOYS made its Las Vegas debut in 2019 and has previously been held in loca tions such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A one-of-a-kind, three-day luxury convention, BIG BOYS TOYS provides the unique opportunity to be among the world’s first to experience products in more than a dozen categories, including art, adventure, aviation, digital , drive, fashion, lifestyle, marine, off-road, ride, wellness, kid’s world, pet’s world, woman’s world and more. “BIG BOYS TOYS is an exhibition unlike any other in the world and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever before,” said Biju Jayaraaj, Founder Chief Executive Officer of Big Boys Toys. “With hundreds of innovative products – everything from flying cars to diamond-studded bathtubs drones to multi-million dollar trucks – BIG BOYS TOYS will once again bring a focus to the products and innovators innovations that are changing the landscape of luxury lifestyle.” In addition, for the 2021 convention, BIG BOYS TOYS will introduce its inaugural BBT Innovation Summit. With the aim of supporting America’s intrinsic vision for Innovation, the summit provides an opportunity for global leaders, industry experts, innovators, creators, tech-champions, researchers, start-ups, sponsors, investors, exhibiting partners, students and the brightest minds in technology and innovation to present their passion stories, case studies, innovations and showcase their latest products and services to a distinct global audience.
Venice, Italy
HOTELIA 2021 The world of hospitality and catering in the foreground All the developments and trends that are taking shape in Greece and worldwide at the hospitality, catering and coffee industr y are highlighted at this year's HOTELIA International Hotel Equipment Exhibition, which takes place from 12 -14 November 2021 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center. HOTELIA is addressed to hoteliers, architects, decorators, technical companies, as well as to professionals from the fields o f catering, coffee and tourism. This year's HOTELIA focuses on the resumption of hotel businesses, their sustainable and safe operation, as well as new partnerships that upgrade and enhance the tourism product. The parallel events are a vital part of HOTELIA giving an informative and educational dimension to the Exhibition. HOTELIA will include a series of innovative events, which, among other things, focus on the world of coffee with a special tribute to stand 12, gastronomy with a special tribute to stand 9, while it will record visitors from the Balkans, strengthening the extroversion of Greek companies through b2b meetings with invited foreign trade visitors.
THE MASKS CIVILIZATIONS THROUGH GOLD MASKS by Dimitri Laspas
As we reported in a previous edition of the e-Magazine, the discovery of an ancient gold mask at Sanxingdui in China, allowed for more to be known about the ancient Shu civilization. Thought to be one of the most important discoveries of the 21st century, the Shu gold mask has quite literally, shone a light on the similarities of civilizations located thousands of miles apart.
Shu mask, China
There is no mistaking the similarities when comparing two of the world’s most famous masks; the newly discovered Shu mask and the mask of Agamemnon of ancient Greece. Indeed wherever such discoveries are made, the whole world of archaeologists celebrate as it is allows for much greater understanding of life from that era. China and the Aegean, home of the Mycenae civilisation are very far away from each other and so it is difficult to make a direct connection between them. The gold Shu mask is one of the largest face masks discovered so far. The facial features and size of the gold foil mask are similar to those of the bronze heads of Sanxingdui (the Sanxingdui Ruins site were accidentally discovered by a farmer in the 1920s). It is thought that the mask is not an independently used artefact, but is used to cover the bronze head. The Sanxingdui Ruins cover approx. 12sq.km, in the city of Guanghan, about 60km from Chengdu. They are also from the Shu Kingdom, dating back at least 4,800 years. Over the years, major discoveries have been made.
www.bmlinternational.co.uk
So, what is the connection of gold masks across global civilisations? Many ancient civilisations have used masks made from gold. There are the two masks mentioned above as well as the mask of Tutankhamun in ancient Egypt and the mask of the Aztec god Xipe Totec. All of these are key symbols of the different civilisations.
Agamenon, Greece
In all these civilisations, the worship of the sun god was part of life and so by wearing a mask of gold, one would represent the sun god on earth. The use of gold in particular is always connected with the sun god and religious beliefs. Mycenaean death-masks are very precious and rare objects created for very important people. Due to its softness, it is easily shaped and the masks would have been hammered into shape. The formation of Mexican masks was made in the same way. This now gives the global archaeological community the chance to come togethe r and develop further cross-cultural research to learn about the connections of ancient civilisations. There are many mysteries about how ancient civilizations communicated with each other, but through such discoveries it allows for a more in-depth research and investigation. It is clear that throughout the centuries, there is far more that joins us together than divides us as humans living on plane t earth.
Visit Greece www.visitgreece.gr
Aviation, Airlines, Transportation & Travel News
AIRLINE DEBTS REACHED UK£181 BILLION AN INCREASE
OF 23% IN 2020
Due to the pandemic, airlines have accumulated a total debt in 2020 of UK£246 billion, as millions of passengers around the world were forced to cancel or postpone their flights. The airline industry as a whole has seen its debt grow by 23% by 2020 with airlines worldwide selling UK£43.40 billion in bonds and loans. Many airlines were forced to cut unprofitable routes, sack staff, and put aircraft out of service etc. They also sold shares and bonds to stay afloat and to be able to ride the wave of the health crisis. The low-cost airline, easyJet raised UK£289 million in new debt, as well as UK£1.2 billion in shares. This funding necessary to support it through the winter season, but also to recover in the leisure travel industry. Another airline, Japan Airlines secured UK£1.9 billion in bonds and loans, which will allow it to upgrade its fleet. Australian Qantas Airways announced plans to sell a bond. Airlines are in the process of rebuilding in the post-pandemic era. They are looking beyond the pandemic to prepare for a new business environment. For many airlines, it will be the low cost carriers who may see quick recoveries and allows them to boost operations in the coming months and years.
BRITISH AIRWAYS TO USE SAF ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS FOR COP26 British Airways is working with BP to source Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for all its flights between London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh during November’s COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference, scheduled to take place in Glasgow. The new collaboration with BP forms part of British Airways’ new sustainability programme, named BA Better World. BA’s parent company, IAG will power 10% of its group-wide flight fuel needs with SAF by 2030. IAG plans to invest UK£290 million over the next 20 years in the development of SAF, and British Airways has formed partnerships with technology and fuel companies to develop SAF plants and purchase the fuel, including with Velocys in the UK and LanzaJet in the U.S. To help promote the BA Better World programme one of its A320neos has been decorated in the new sustainability programme colours and this aircraft will be used during the COP26 conference. BA has also added a SAF fuel option to its existing carbon offset programme which allows customers to purchase sustainable aviation fuel to reduce the carbon footprint of their journey.
JAZEERA AIRWAYS HOPES FOR NORMALITY AS EARLY AS 2022 Kuwaiti airline, Jazeera Airways offers an optimistic outlook for the upcoming 6 months, as travel restrictions ease, hoping by early 2022 some normality will be seen. In anticipation of growth, its fleet expands with two A320neos. Once they arrive, the fleet will consist of eight A320ceos and nine A320neos. Despite some of its staple routes not operating in recent months like to Egypt and India, the airline has managed to expand its network to a total of 37 destinations, including Tashkent-Uzbekistan, Bishkek-Kyrgyzstan, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, Sarajevo-Bosnia and Herzegovina and several new destinations in Turkey.
FLIGHT FREQUENCY INCREASE TO SARAWAK, MALAYSIA From October, flight frequency to Sarawak will be increased gradually from 22 to 87 flights weekly. The flights will be from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Baharu, Labuan and Singapore to main destinations in the state, namely Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang. The decision comes after taking into consideration the gradual reopening of the state’s tourism sector, the high flight fares, travel demand from the public and the new standard operating procedure (SOP) where full vaccinated passengers travelling from within Malaysia are exempted from undergoing quarantine.
EUROPEAN AIRLINES BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY POST ‘’HEALTH CRISIS’’ European carriers are in the process of reconstructing themselves with new business models that will protect them from the likes of another health crisis in the future. In addition they are looking to new fuels and more eco-friendly aircraft as the only way forward. Along with this comes the fight for the skies and in particular it is a time where airlines, rather than go into administration, join forces with another airline to create a strong market presence. Europe is the ideal playing field for this as there are many low cost airlines out there. However, no t all approaches are successful, just recently Wizz was unsuccessful in its takeover bi d for easyJet. Wizz has a dominant presence in Eastern European destinations, like Poland and Romania, while easyJet is well established in Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France. Let’s see what happens over time, this marriage would appear to off er pluses to both sides. EGYPTAIR FLIGHT LANDS IN TEL AVIV….AFTER DECADES OF ABSENCE Egyptian national airline, Egyptair has landed at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv to the arrival of a celebration water arch, marking the return of the carrier to Israel. EgyptAir will operate 4 weekly direct flights from Cairo to Tel Aviv. st
It is the 1 time since the 1980’s that a direct flight between Israel and Cairo has landed at in Tel Aviv. Air Sinai, an EgyptAir subsidiary had a flight back in the 80’s.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF AIR CARRIERS TO BE LIVE IN BOSTON The annual general meeting of International Air Transport Association (IATA) will take place in Boston, USA. Aviation still faces restrictions and a full recover seems quite a way off yet, however the in person meeting will be encouraging for the industry. The goal of the in-person event is to lead by example in that travel by air is safe and its business as usual! With other sectors still opting for online conference, it cannot be the case for aviation; a sector that promotes mobility. Forecasts for when demand will fully return to pre-pandemic levels differs. Some expect the Pacific to recover in 2025, a year later than the Transatlantic region. Participants at the conference will however be a third less than at the 2019 conference due to restrictions in Asia - Pacific. IATA predicts the aviation industry will lose almost UK£35 billion this year, up from UK£93 billion last year due to a pandemic.
THE BEST REGIONAL AIRLINE IN EUROPE AEGEAN AIRLINES Even with a global health crisis which devastated the global aviation industry, Greece’s AEGEAN Airlines has stood out internationally and has been awarded the ‘best regional airline in Europe’ award at the World Airline th Awards 2021, for the 10 consecutive year. The survey of airlines involved in the allocation of awards saw 13.42 million travellers of over 100 nationalities from around the world take part.
LONDON CITY WELCOMES FIRST HELVETIC FLIGHT Helvetic Airways has begun operations from Zurich to London City Airport. The flight takes just 1hr 20mins, and is an essential air link to the global financial community. Using an Embraer’s E190-E2, is new for London City airport and makes way for more aircraft with low emissions and low noise levels. The airport aims to become one of the most sustainable airports of its size in Europe. Embraer aircraft account for almost 90% of all movements at the airport. The E190-E2 nearly doubles the available range from London City to 2,200 nautical miles, which will allow for further away destinations like Istanbul, Casablanca, and Moscow to use the airport in future.
UNITED STATED OF AMERICA LAUNCHES SUPPORT PROGRAMME FOR AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS The US Department of Transportation is to allocate UK£348.80 million into the 313 aircraft industry following the restrictions imposed during the health crisis. Of the 313 companies that will receive grants, 60% had fewer than 100 employees by the end of 2020. The grants are aimed to help boost 22,500 jobs in the United States. The construction of aircraft will not fully recover by 2022, at the earliest, so the programme will help re-employ some of the workers working in the industry, while preventing further redundancies. It is believed that over 100,000 jobs have been lost since the beginning of the health crisis in the aircraft manufacturing industry. Prior to coronavirus, the industry in the United States alone employed about 2.2 million workers, including 1.2 million in similar industries. Boeing has revised upwards its estimates for the demand for its aircraft due to the return of air travel in domestic markets. It estimates that in the next 20 years 43,610 commercial aircraft will be delivered, worth UK£5.2 trillion. In a decade, Boeing expects deliveries of 19,330 aircraft, compared to last year's estimates of 18,350. It also estimates that domestic flights will return to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, while regional flights will recover in 2023 and international flights in 2024.
PASSENGERS PAY TO REDUCE POLLUTION EMISSIONS AT LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT st
From 1 November 2021, London Heathrow Terminals, along with 9 of the largest UK airports, will be introducing a charge for vehicles dropping off passengers at its terminal forecourts. A UK£5 charge PER VISIT will apply to use the designated drop-off zones located directly outside the airport terminals. The Terminal Drop-Off Charge will apply to all vehicles entering the forecourts of Heathrow’s terminals, some exceptions will apply, such as blue badge holders and emergency vehicles The forecourts are the easiest and quickest way to drop off passengers. The new charge will be managed using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems similar to those used for the London Congestion Charge. Drivers can pay the new charge in advance, or by midnight the day after the drop-off. Non-payment will result in an UK£80 Parking Charge Notice (PCN), reduced to UK£40 if paid within 14 days. Regular users of the airport are encouraged to register with a pre-pay account. Heathrow has seen its passengers' numbers fall sharply over the pandemic and the recovery is slow with numbers still over 70% lower than before covid. Free drop-offs will be available at the Long Stay terminal car parks, with a free bus transfer to the terminals. The charge was initially proposed last year and forms part of the airports updated Surface Access and sustainability plans. The scheme aims to prevent a car-led recovery and reduce airport-related traffic. Income from the charge will contribute towards new sustainable transport initiatives at the airport, with additional revenue helping to lower overall airport charges. The Terminal Drop-Off Charge replaces previous plans to introduce a Heathrow Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (HULEZ) by 2022 and a Heathrow Vehicle Access Charge (HVAC).
SKYUP AIRLINES UKRAINES LOW COST AIRLINE SWAPS HIGH HEELS FOR TRAINERS SkyUp Airlines is one of the youngest low-cost airlines in Europe, but one of the biggest in Ukraine. The world of the air steward is always seen as one of glamour, but when you have to conduct various tasks in tight skirts and spend hours on your feet in high heels, it can take its toll and is not really practical! The airline was decided to change its uniform requirements for cabin crew which see a change from high heels to trainers, a far m ore comfortable alternative It is not the first airline to change this classic air steward look in recent years. Virgin Atlantic no longer requires their flight attendants to wear makeup; Japan Airlines scrapped high heels, and employees can now wear trousers instead of pencil skirts; Norwegian Air allows flat shoes and no longer requires mandatory cosmetics. Skyup has also changed its uniform to now include loose orange jackets and trousers.
2021 BEST 10 AIRLINES OF THE WORLD Despite limited travel either for business or leisure due to the pandemic, life still goes and so do traveller preferences for airlines. This year sees the top 10 airlines include Air France, which for a long absence is not back in the list! 1. Qatar Airways – despite being a newer airline, it has managed to fly to 140 destinations in the world. 2. Singapore Airlines – one the most respected airlines in the world. 3. ANA All Nippon Airways – Japan’s largest airline and the biggest operator of Boeing 787 aircraft in the world. 4. Emirates, UAE - over 1,500 flights depart from Dubai every week to destinations across 6 continents. 5. Japan Airlines - a real 5* airline and the most punctual in the world. 6. Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong China - a founder member of the oneworld global alliance. 7. EVA Air, Taiwan, China - with a global network that connects mainland China and the rest of the continents from its hub in Taipei. 8. Qantas Airways, Australia – the largest airline of Australia covering domestic and international routes. 9. Hainan Airlines, China - the only airline in the world with 24 bases/branch companies and with its holding subsidiaries have over 400 aircraft in operation. 10. Air France, France - the French national carrier, return to the top ten after a long absence from the top ranking airlines.
SMARTWINGS CONNECTS PRAGUE TO LONDON
With a new service connecting the Czech Republic capital, Prague with London´s Heathrow airport, the route will run 4 times a week and daily under the winter flight schedule. From 20th October, Smartwings will also resume direct flights from Prague to Dubai, UAE, with a daily service.
London is a key destination for the airline and it can offer flights with flexible and attractive fares. Under the winter flight schedule, Smartwings will offer services from Prague to London; Dubai; four Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura); Málaga; Tel Aviv; Mallorca; Madeira (Funchal); Antalya; Hurghada and Marsa Alam, Egypt; and St. Petersburg, Russia. Charter flights will be heading to Cape Verde (Boa Vista, Sal), Oman (Salalah), and three airports in Tunisia (Djerba, Enfidha, Monastir). Smartwings is the largest Czech airline. Besides the Czech Republic, the company operates flights also from its hubs in Polan d, France, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Canary Islands. It operates a fleet of 44 aircraft.
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The Majara Residence The Colourful Eco Village by Azadeh-Myriam Habibi
Located on the historic port island of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, South of Iran (Persia) sits the Majara Residence, which in Persian means ‘adventure’.
The seaside complex consists of 200 colourful domes of varying sizes and shapes built using the Superadobe sandbag technique. The innovative and simple technique uses earth and sand packed into bags. This project also included help from the islands local population. The domes, some of which are interconnected, offer both accommodation (17 suites hosting up to 85 guests) and public facilities such as restaurants and cafes. The inspiration for their design and colours came from the naturally occurring island’s kaleidoscope landscape of mineral rich terrain. A high concentration of iron-oxide tints the sand and water red, while salt and other minerals form stunning caves and outcrops making them popular places to visit by adventurous locals and tourists alike. Opened in 2020, Majara Residence is the 1st major eco-touristic hotel on the island and has won numerous recognised international awards for its design and ethos. It has been nicknamed ‘Rainbow Island’ due to its many colourful domes. It is a great example of the growing number of ‘Eco-Tourism’ or ‘Slow Travel’ destinations where accommodations offer a more conscious, responsible, and eco-friendly approach in their design and operation. The project is part of the Presence in Hormuz series of urban developments that aim to empower the island’s local community, by tying together the lives of local people and tourists both culturally and economically.
TOURISM News Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe
Lille, France
HOW THE ‘HEALTH CRISIS’ REVITALISED THE UK’s COASTAL RESORTS The typical English summer holiday would, for many, involve rain and wind, as well as braving it on the beach with ice cream, buckets and spades. Many gave that up for better weather found further south across southern Europe. However, with ‘health crisis’ stopping holidays abroad and expensive tests, masses of paperwork, rapidly changing rules, this year has seen a domestic tourism boom across the UK. The result is that many of the UK’s seaside resorts, which have, over the years been in slow decline, have found a new lease of life and brisk business throughout the summer season. Many are some of the poorest areas of the country. The northwest English town of Blackpool on the Irish Sea is a quintessential British seaside holiday town. Famous for its long sandy beaches, night time illuminations and the 158m tall Blackpool Tower, it was once the top tourist destination of the country in days gone by. Like so many places, the pandemic hit the town hard, but it, like other seaside resorts, have seen a huge increase in domestic tourists this summer, so much so that it has extended the tourist season. The health crisis has globally put a stop to mass tourism and new protocols will mean it never goes back to the same again, giving huge opportunities for domestic investment to seaside resorts as in years to come more tourists will visit them. On a positive note, the health crisis forced people to discover their own countries and most will have been surprised at just how stunning they are, if a little more busy than in previous years. Domestic tourism is here to stay more than ever and now regions need to invest in this sector and keep high standards of services in order to attract tourists.
OPEN - RENOVATED HYATT REGENCY PHUKET RESORT The renovated Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort offers 201 spacious contemporary rooms and suites with private terraces, offering spectacular lofty vistas of the azure Andaman Sea through swaying palm trees that cascade down the hillside at Kamala Bay. Guests can discover the underwater world with the resort’s professional Dive Centre team offering guided snorkel and dive journeys, from right in front of the resort. The Casa Boho is Phuket’s only cliff-top tapas restaurant with infinity pool and rooftop bar overlooking Kamala Bay. Around the largest seafront infinity pool in Phuket, dining features include a Pool House Kitchen for all-day international and Asian dining; Mizu for an interactive Teppanyaki experience; 180 Degrees, a poolside bar with exclusive private cabanas. The Nahm Spa offers natural treatments and traditional therapies. Also available is a designated indoor event space for private and exclusive events located on the ground floor with its own entrance and inspirational outdoor environments.
THE FUTURE OF TOURISM IN GREECE In previous years, Greece in the peak of the summer months is usually super busy. Even with a very positive summer this year, everywhere was a lot quieter than usual in a lot of places, making it a fantastic summer destination. No queues into attractions and plenty of space on the most famous of beaches. This year, even visiting some of the most popular Greek islands in early summer, when borders were not fully open due to the health and travel restrictions, allowed for the true beauty of the places to shine, giving a new perspective on the picturesque harbours which were not overcrowded.
Athens, Greece
The mass tourism era is over. Most people understand and desire for a tourist experience from now o n must be multidisciplinary, special, with a focus on quality and offer a broader tourism product, and not just focusing on a few destinations. Greece is much more than just Santorini and Rhodes! Greece is developing other regions for sustainable tourism s o the balance remains between tourists and the local community. Tourism is no longer about quick profit. Investment in sustainable tourism will result in greater profit in all terms for everyone in the future. To date, Greece is showing that many regions are focusing their tourism product along these lines. Indeed, many areas in Greece can only cope with a sustainable tourism product as they do not have the capacity or infrastructure needed to cater for mass tourism, so their starting point is far easier than for other countries.
UNESCO ADDS NEW WORLD HERITAGE SITES The UNESCO World Heritage Site list has seen 34 new cultural and natural sites added to the list in 2021. Every year UNESCO reviews and adds new structures and natural landscapes to the list. Following the unsettled past year and a half, UNESCO has released a combined list for 2020-2021, including the 34 new sites. As always the sites on the list capture the diverse nature of humanity's connection to their built and natural environment.
Italy: Padova - 14th century fresco Several Renaissance frescoes adorning the wall of 8 ecclesiastical and secular buildings, inside the old walled city of Padua. Painted between 1302 and 1397, the inscribed frescoes include Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel fresco cycle, as well as fresco cycles by Guariento di Arpo, Giusto de' Menabuoi, Altichiero da Zevio, Jacopo Avanzi, and Jacopo da Verona.
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Sudan: Sudanese style mosques - Côte d'Ivoire Eight mosques, at Tengréla, Kouto, Sorobango, Samatiguila, M’Bengué, Kong and Kaouara are characterised by tall vertical timbers, topped with pottery or ostrich eggs, and tapering minarets. The unique style is called ‘Sudanese’ and specific to the savannah region of West Africa and date back to the 17th and 19th centuries. Peru: Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex The prehistoric complex (250-200 BC), is located on the north-central coast of Peru, in the Casma Valley. The site includes a triple-walled hilltop complex, known as the Fortified Temple, two building complexes called Observatory and Administrative Centre, a line of 13 cuboidal towers stretching along the ridge of a hill, and the Cerro Mucho Malo that complements the Thirteen Towers as a natural marker. It functioned as a natural calendar by using the sun. Peru Uruguay: The work of engineer Eladio Dieste Church of Atlántida The Church of Atlántida with its belfry and underground baptistery is located in Estación Atlántida, 45km away from Montevideo. Inspired by Italian paleo-Christian and medieval religious architecture, the modernistic Church complex, inaugurated in 1960, represents an original use of exposed and reinforced brick. Built on rectangular plan of one single hall, the church features distinctive undulating walls and roof made of reinforced brick Gaussian vaults developed by Eladio Dieste (1917-2000).
Iran: Trans-Iranian Railway The Trans-Iranian Railway connects the Caspian Sea in the northeast with the Persian Gulf in the southwest crossing two mountain ranges as well as rivers, highlands, forests and plains. The 1,394km-long is notable for its scale and the engineering works it required to overcome steep routes and other difficulties.
Iran
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia: Ḥimā Cultural Area Located in a dry mountainous area of southwest Saudi Arabia, Ḥimā Cultural Area contains a huge collection of rock art images depicting hunting, fauna, flora and lifestyles in a culture covering 7,000 years. Inscriptions are in different scripts, including Musnad, Aramaic-Nabatean, South-Arabian, Thamudic, Greek and Arabic, proving the caravan route saw many travellers go through it. Saudi Arabia
India India: Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana Rudreshwara, known as Ramappa Temple, is located in the village of Palampet approx 200km north-east of Hyderabad, in the State of Telangana. The main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiyan period (1123–1323 CE). The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower). Georgia: Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands This 80km long corridor along the eastern coast of the Black Sea, provides a delicate environment for typical Colchic ecosystems at altitudes ranging from sea level to over 2,500m high. Home to approximately 1,100 species of vascular and non-vascular plants, including 44 threatened vascular plan species, and almost 500 species of vertebrates, and a high number of invertebrate species, it is also a vital stopover for many globally threatened birds that migrate through the Batumi bottleneck.
Georgia
QIANHAI CITY LANDMARK: ‘A CLOUD OF SPRAY’ In Qianhai city, on the bay of Shenzhen’s Qianhaiwan district in China, plans have been unveiled for a large floating tower. The design is part of an international contest to design a landmark tower within the area.
The design is all about the New City Center Landmark. The tower reaches 268m high and consists of 99 individual tower-like elements. The 99 islands are connected to a horizontal plane at the top and they appear gradually vanishing as they go down! From far, the new tower looks like a freestanding, cylindrical water fountain. From inside the tower, tourists can view the bay from below and rise to the view platform above. According to designers, “A large central core supports the tower while massive tension cables transfer the rest of the load. This means that the structural elements add to the beautiful effect of water falling from the tower into the bay.” On the rooftop platform, there is a restaurant, walkway, sky lobby, and exhibition space. While at the base, is a landscaped area integrated with water offering public seating, a water dance event space, a ticket lobby.
AFRICA’s TOURISM LEADERS RECOGNISE INVESTMENTS AS VITAL TO SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY The African Members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have met to strengthen their cooper ation and advance plans for recovery and sustainable growth. The 64th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) saw 23 countries represented. UNWTO, delegates addressed the biggest challenges standing in the way of the sector’s safe rest art across the continent. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of speeding up vaccine rollouts, as well as addressing security issues that continue to have an impact on how global travellers perceive Africa as a safe tourism destination. Also on t he agenda was the current level of connectivity between destinations, with improved air links the harmonisation of travel protocols identified as an effective m eans for boosting regional tourism.
Tourism’s restart ‘essential’: The continent remains united in its determination to use the power of tourism to drive development and opportunity for all. And with coordination and targeted investments, African tourism can finally fulfil its unique potential. Rebuilding trust in travel: The International Code for the Protection of Tourists is a landmark code aimed at helping restore confidence in travel. Building capacity: Running in parallel with the Commission meeting, UNWTO hosted capacity building workshops on innovation, digital marketing and investment. These workshops were held ahead of the 2nd edition of the UNWTO Global Tourism Investment Forum, featuring the participation of investors from Spain, Germany, Switzerland and the USA as well as public and private sector leaders from across Africa. Backing up the workshop on marketing, UNWTO also launched its new Brand Africa publication. Produced with key African Tourism Partners, the publication aims at helping destinations use effective branding to diversify and attract visitors. Tourism leaders also approved the UNWTO Declaration on the Future of Mobility and Sustainable Transportation, a commitment aimed at the better understanding of how investments can help make the sector greener while also encouraging greater cooperat ion between tourism authorities and transport providers.
SPACE TOURISM NO LONGER A DREAM, IT’S A REALITY With two private and independent space voyages for tourists having successfully taken place this year, the dream of space tourism is now very much a reality. A real life space film is also in the making with the Russian film crew arriving for 12 days aboard the International Space Station. So, what’s next? Will we have 2nd homes in space? The speed and way we are destroying our planet, it doesn’t seem like such a ridiculous idea! Our inability to think long term and work collectively on how we must live in a sustainable way on our home planet is a big question. Going into space doesn’t solve the problem. Space is not an escape from the problems we have created down here. It is an amazing achievement of humankind to have got into space and the technology needed to achieve this and more is outstanding. The desire to explore and live in outer space has been a goal for man for a long time. The idea of going into space goes back to the 1960’s with many TV programmes showing us living in harmony in space. Technology has advanced our journey into space hugely and today it is clear that we cannot get away from living and working with more technology. Technology can be the key to improving life on earth. When you consider the biggest challenges on earth today; climate change and poverty, it is up to us to fix it and now, in order to make a better world for future generations. However, in order to fix anything, humankind must start to work together as one, as ‘we’. Collaboration through technology will improve global communication and understanding. The health crisis has shown globally our ability to come together and help each other, but look how politicised the vaccine programmes have become, showing that we are a long way off working collectively for the greater good. The digital world until now has been about data collection, but now it can be a solution for the future. The technology we need to solve our problems on Earth include solar panels, electric cars, biodegradable materials, more food diversity to eat seasonally, organic nurturing without pesticides, among many others. But to move forwar d positively we need to communicate better and distribute better everything we do. Maybe, on our trips into space, technologies will be created to also make a difference down here on Earth. Until then, we can all just dream of our own trip to space!
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THE GIANT OF BEIRUT LEBANON The Gesture ‘Giant’ is a 25m high, 35 tons sculpture created from dozens of damaged steel parts, which were once part of the port's hangars which were all that was left after the massive explosion that took place in Beirut, Lebanon in August 2020. Created by Lebanese architect and artist Nadim Karam, the Giant is holding a flower and pays tribute to the families of the victims of the explosion.
Over a year and a half later, the victims are still in desperate need of help, but the local government nor are Western countries doing anything to help the people. The sculpture also symbolises the Lebanese spirit which has never and will never knee. Time and time again, Lebanon has stood up after so many incidences, most due to the international community playing their games and using Lebanon as a playing field to solve their differences. Despite the economic crisis and Covid, this summer saw a huge number of Lebanese diaspora returning to their home country to support the tourism industry. Despite Lebanon’s never-ending instabilities due to its location, it is an amazing country to visit, ultra-rich in history, nature, way of life, with a delicious cuisine and an authentic hospitable and friendly society with a genuine smile.
RUSSIAN’S PREFERED AUTUMN HOLIDAYS DESTINATIONS A popular holiday season in Russia called the ‘velvet tourist season’ takes place in September and October each year. Top destinations for Russian tourists this year see Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Croatia as the most popular destinations abroad. Rare but existing travel destinations are Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and China.
GREEK TOURISM STILL ON TOP DESPITE HEALTH CRISIS Greek tourism saw a very positive result over the summer season compared to other Mediterranean countries. It was the only destination that nearly reached 2019 figures. As nations opened up, Covid-19 cases started to rise again in Europe, resulting in a dip in bookings, however, overall hotel bookings are only 20% less than in 2019, while figures for France, Italy, Spain and Portugal are around -60%. Croatia and Albania saw a tourism boom this summer. Albania had implemented almost no restrictions at all and is the cheapest European destination and as a result attracted many new holidaymakers.
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