MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine the global monthly online magazine
since 1997
vol. 24, issue 7, July 2021
Music to Your Ears Helicopter Rides of the World Climate Change and its Complex Effects on Tourism Tourism In Europe Needs New Model The Fast End of Mass Tourism Reactivation Strategy for Colombian Convention Bureaux Network
MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine Volume 24, Issue 7, July 2021 edition – Online since 1997
Contents 9-11 Music to Your Ears 13 Airbus to Create Single-Pilot System for Long-Haul Flights 16 Chengdu Opens 2nd International Airport 17 BOEING 777X Approval on Hold…
9 Music to your
20-23 Helicopter Rides of the World… 25 Climate Change and its Complex Effects on Tourism 26 The Africa Brand to Take Advantage... 27 Quang Ninh, Vietnam, Begins IntraProvincial Tourism 29 Israel Postpones Opening for… 30 Tourism In Europe Needs New Model 31 The Fast End of Mass Tourism
20 Helicopter
35 Worldwide Travel Alliance Announces Travel Industry Partners… 36 Reactivation Strategy for Colombian Convention Bureaux Network 38 ICCA Reinvents Annual Association Meetings Statistics Report Photo cover page: Nafplion, Greece © M&TatW
27 Quang Ninh
Message from
Caroline-Artemis Welcome to the July edition of the MICE & TOURISM around the World eMagazine With many countries now able to open up their events sectors in some form, the hospitality sector can begin to supply these events and look forward to the coming months of prosperous business. However, many events are coming back slowly and carefully in case new restrictions are reinstated and thereby they want to limit any losses. This gives events the chance to go ‘back to basics’ and to work in a sustainable way. Food waste has been and still is a big issue in the events industry and it needs a determined effort across the supply ch ain to make a positive difference. There is no excuse to not make reducing food waste a top priority. The way people see food; eating it, sourcing it, its sourc e, and its journey from farm to fork, is changing. Better management is needed for food waste at events. Some events try hard to divert extra food to local charities who can offer it to homeless and less fortunate people in our societies. As a result of the global financial crisis and the pandemic, as well as climate changing, and the farming crisis the rise in Food Banks has become a regular fixture in many communities across the world especially in developed countries and so local events must tap into these networks and not throw away massive amounts of remaining food, but offer at least some of it, if not all of it, to those in need. Many charities will gladly come and collect unwanted food; they just need to know where and when to be there. From small private weddings to huge conferences in convention centres, the amount of food wasted is beyond belief. It needs to stop urgently. It needs to stop as we reassess budgets and our planet. To begin this essential change event organisers need to: -Changing event formats to support reduced waste. -Education – make delegates and clients aware from the start of what is wasted and the cost involved. If guests knew how much some events waste, they would be 100% on the side of the organiser looking to reduce it. -Reduction in over-ordering - Get the numbers right.
So, if you are an Event Planner or Client organising events, be upfront and help bring change to event food waste.
Happy Reading wherever you are, this summer!
Caroline-Artemis Laspas co-founder & editor MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine London, United Kingdom
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS by Caroline-Artemis Laspas
When you were last on holiday, you can probably remember a night of local music or listening to buskers on the streets. These cultural encounters evoke deep memories of the place and the people we meet. Almost all of us encounter local traditional music while on holiday but we probably do not realise how significant it is. Wherever you go in the world, you can usually hear modern pop music and a lot of it in English, but I am sure your feet would be tapping to a lot of local, traditional beats and sounds too! From Spanish guitar players busking in plazas in Barcelona, or a Bagpipe player on a street corner in Edinburgh or a Cuban vibe in downtown Havana or folk songs in a Greek tavern, Music is everywhere and is in all our souls. All over the world, music shapes cultural experiences. Here we look at some you may encounter from around the world.
Travelling to Greece you will see a huge variety of music styles played, depending on where in the country you are and what time of day it is. ‘Rebetiko’ is urban popular Greek music of the working classes. It is protected under the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You will hear it played in nightclubs and taverns across the county. ‘Laiko’ or ‘songs of the people’ has its origins in ancient Greek poetry and music and followed after the commercialisation of Rebetiko music. It is used to describe Greek popular music as a whole. Kantada comes from the island of Kefalonia and is a romantic serenade music style, sung with three male voices in chorus, accompanied by guitar or mandolin. It has Italian influences and can be heard across all the Ionian Islands. Nisiotika comes from the word for island, ‘nisi’ and so this is island music. It is easy to listen to and every island has its own style and dance rhyme. Pontic music comes from the North with influences from Byzantium, the Black Sea and t he Caucasus. Modern Italian music is varied and world famous. However most of us associate Italy with Opera. Italian opera is both the art of opera and opera in the Italian language. It dates back to approx. 1600AD and it still plays a major role in the country and its culture. The home of ‘Country’ music is Nashville, Tennessee, USA. With its famous venues being ‘Grand Ole Opry’ and the ‘Country Music Hall of Fame’ there is plenty of venues offering classic country tunes along Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway on Lower Broadway. Of course you cannot miss dressing for the part with cowboy boots and a Stetson hat in readiness for a night on the town country-style at the famous Robert’s Western World, and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.
Latin America life beats to dancing and music. Cuban music is often considered one of the richest and most influential regional musics in the world. Salsa dancing bars are popular (helped down with Mojito’s)! Argentina has a variety of traditional, classical and popular genres. The most significant cultural contribution is without doubt, the Tango, which originated in Buenos Aires at the end of the 19th century. Tango has changed from a dance -focused music to one of lyric and poetry and is more popular than ever today, with many Tango dance clubs and bars across towns and cities. Indian music is hugely varied due to the country’s size. There are numerous styles which include classical music, folk (Bollywood), rock, and pop. With a history spanning millennia and developed over many locations across the sub-continent, music in India is an integral part of socio-religious life. Bollywood films have modernised many genres and mixed them with a modern take on traditional dances.
Chinese music is totally different to almost all other kinds of global music as it uses different sounding instruments and is based on a scale with 5 notes called a pentatonic scale (western music typically uses a scale of 7 notes). The folk song Jasmine Flower was composed during the Qing dynasty (AD 1616-1912)and was one of the first Chinese songs to become popular abroad. Chinese opera is often guttural with high-pitched vocals and should be experienced once in your life. The famous Russian Cossack dance sees music build in speed and strength and is music has a long history, beginning from ritual folk songs through to the sacred music of the Russian Orthodox Church. Russian balalaika is a very unique Russian instrument which dominates a lot of songs. One of the best known Russian’s connected to music is the classical composer Tchaikovsky. So, wherever you are in the world, be sure to seek out the local vibes and tunes and become a local and dance the night away!
www.miceandtourismaroundtheworld.com
MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine
we make space to take of your airline… advertising with us •Promote
•Preserve
•Prosper
online since 1997 the global monthly e-magazine
www.miceandtourismaroundtheworld.com
BRITISH AIRWAYS NEW DOMESTIC ROUTES FROM BELFAST WITH ROUTES TO EXETER, LEEDS, BRADFORD, NEWQUAY AND GLASGOW British Airways has 4 new domestic routes from Belfast beginning this summer, aiming at suppor ting business and tourism links between Northern Ireland and the UK. It will begin to operate 18 flights a week between George Best Belfast City Airport and Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Newquay airports. The new routes will be in addition to the existing British Airways services between Belfast and London City and London Heathrow airports.
AIRBUS TO CREATE SINGLE-PILOT SYSTEM FOR LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS Airbus is working with airlines to introduce ‘reduced crew’ long-haul flights with a solo pilot in the cockpit. The aim is for single-pilot operations during high-altitude cruise, starting in 2025. Once operational, longer flights would be possible with a pair of pilots alternating rest breaks, instead of the current 3-4 required with at least 2 in the cockpit. It would offer savings for airlines, but pilots are thought to oppose the idea as they are already suffering big layoffs, and safety concerns about aircraft automation. If a flight had a problem or the pilot flying is incapacitated, the resting co-pilot can be called to take over. Both pilots would be in the cockpit for take-off and landing. Airbus has designed an A350 autopilot upgrade and flight warning system changes to help a lone pilot manage failures.
LA COMPAGNIE RESUMES FLIGHTS FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS AND NICE AND LAUNCHES 2 NEW ROUTES TO TEL AVIV AND MILAN La Compagnie is to resume its all-business-class flights with the launch of two new routes. Travellers to Paris, Nice, Tel Aviv and Milan are now bookable with 100% Flex. La Compagnie operates 2 flights per week from Newark International Airport to Paris Orly Airport. The airline will increase frequency throughout 2021 from 4 flights per week in July and 5 flights per week in August to daily service in September 2021. This is subject to no further pandemic restrictions. La Compagnie will also resume its seasonal service between Newark International Airport and Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport in July, operating 3 flights per week until the end of September . From 21 July - 30 October 2021, La Compagnie will operate 3 flights a week between Newark International Airport and Ben Gurion Airport with a Paris stopover of 1h30m. A direct flight between New York and Milan will begin at the end of November 2021, wit h 4 flights per week from Newark International Airport to Milan Malpensa Airport.
www.bmlinternational.co.uk
Aviation, Airlines, Transportation & Travel News
EUROPEAN COMMISSION APPROVES MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF BELGIAN AID TO COMPENSATE AIR BELGIUM SA The European Commission has confirmed a UK£4.8 million Belgian state aid measure to support Air Belgium. It is compensation for the airline for issues it faced during the health crisis.
BLUE AIR LARGEST CARRIER BETWEEN GREECE AND ROMANIA Blue Air has added two dozen weekly direct services between Greece and Romania making it the largest carrier on this high demand route during summer. Blue Air now operates 17 weekly flights from Bucharest to 5 Greek destinations; Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes, Mykonos and Zakynthos, and from Bacau to Athens. As Romania’s first ultra-low-cost airline, Blue Air aims to expand its network and provide efficient connections with destinations of major interest for both the leisure and the business segment.
AIR FRANCE IMPROVES RAIL CONNECTION SERVICES Air France is offering 7 additional routes under a French Railways. The new routes are: - Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Aix-en-Provence TGV, Montpellier Saint-Roch.
combined ‘Train+Air’ programme in cooperation with S NCF
Bordeaux Saint-Jean, Marseille Saint-Charles and
- Paris-Orly (via Massy TGV station) and Avignon TGV, Marseille Saint-Charles and Valence TGV. This brings the network of routes in the ‘Train+Air’ programme to 18: Aix-en-Provence TGV, Angers Saint-Laud, Avignon TGV, Bordeaux Saint-Jean, Champagne-Ardenne TGV, Le Mans, Lille Europe, Lorraine TGV, Lyon Part-Dieu, Marseille Saint-Charles, Montpellier Saint-Roch, Nantes, Nimes, Poitiers, Rennes, Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, Strasbourg and Valence TGV. The programme gives a single reservation for the entire journey and a free seat on the next available flight or TGV INOUI tra in if their flight or train arrives late.
UNITED AIRLINES TO LAUNCH SUPERSONIC PASSENGER FLIGHTS United Airlines plans to buy 15 new supersonic airliners and to offer supersonic speed flights by 2029. The new Overture aircraft will be made and tested by US plane maker, Boom.
The last supersonic aircraft was Concorde which stopped flying in 2003.
At an altitude of 60,000ft (18,300m), that means flying faster than 660mph (1,060km/h). A typical passenger jet reaches a cruise speed of 560mph (900km/h). The Overture hopes to reach speeds of 1,122mph (1,805km/h), more commonly known as Mach 1.7. This would equate to cutting in half the journey time from London to NY. Concorde was launched in 1976 and flew faster than the proposed Overture, at a maximum speed of Mach 2.04 - about 1,350mph (2180km/h). The challenges of launching supersonic passenger flights are noise and pollution. Travelling faster than the speed of sound creates a sonic boom, like a loud explosion. Reaching this speed should only happen when over an ocean so as not to cause disruption on the ground to property or people! Fuel consumption and pollution; to fly this fast requires more fuel. However, Boom expects that the Overture to be operated a s a ‘net-zero carbon aircraft, by using ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ (Saf), biofuel including waste animal fat from the farming industr y or from specially grown high-energy crops.
www.bmlinternational.co.uk
CHENGDU OPENS 2ND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT After 5 years of construction, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan province is now open and operating. The airport gives Chengdu, the 3rd city in China with 2 international air hubs, following Shanghai and Beijing. Chengdu Tianfu, in the town of Lujia in Jianyang is 50kms from both downtown Chengdu and Shuangliu International Airport in Shuangliu district. Chengdu Tianfu was China's largest civil transportation airport project during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20). With investment exceeding UK£8.45 billion, its first phase included the construction of 3 runways and 2 terminals covering 710,000sq.m which can handle 60 million passengers a year. The airport is one of the most advanced by international standards, with over 30 new technologies implemented. One of the runways is of the highest standards capable of welcoming large aircraft like the Airbus A380. Chengdu Tianfu's terminals will eventually cover 1.4 million sq.m and handling 120 million passengers a year. The airport will help Chengdu become an integrated international transportation hub linking China with Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.
ALASKA AIRLINES NEW CODESHARE WITH QATAR AIRWAYS Alaska Airlines has launched a codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways that further strengthens the partnership between the two airlines. The agreement allows passengers on Qatar Airways to travel easily and connect to more than 150 routes throughout Alaska's network. On the West Coast, Qatar Airways has nonstop service connecting its main hub in Doha to 3 of Alaska's primary gateway cities – Los Angeles with twice daily flights, and daily flights at San Francisco and Seattle. In March 2021 Alaska officially joined oneworld and expanded its partnership with Qatar Airways to provide reciprocal benefits, including preferred seat selection; priority check-in, security and boarding; lounge access and extra baggage allowance. Alaska's guests can book travel on Qatar Airways flights between the U.S. and Qatar and beyond to destinations in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC 'FLYING TAXI' Virgin Atlantic together with Vertical Aerospace are looking at creating a flying taxi service in the UK. The concept would involve electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL) that could travel between towns to major airports. Vertical Aerospace will conduct test flights later this year. Vertical Aerospace and its VA-X4 craft can carry 4 passengers and a pilot up to 100 miles. It has zero emissions and is less noisy than a helicopter.
www.bmlinternational.co.uk
SAUDI ARABIA AVIATION PLANS Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is considering building a new airport in its capital Riyadh to provide a base for a new airline the country wishes to launch. It is part of the plan to open up tourism and increase tourist arrivals. The new airline would serve tourists and business travellers, while Saudia Airlines would focus on religious tourism from its base in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia’s goal is to reach 100 million tourists a year by 2030, a six-fold increase from 2019. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh served more than 28.5 million passengers annually (pre-pandemic). Saudi Arabia is continuing to plan to move away from being oil dependant and sees tourism as the ideal industry to grow with a focus on Islamic pilgrimage is a key source of non-oil revenue. The aim is to attract 30 million religious travellers per year by 2030. Religious tourism, including year-round pilgrimages to Mecca, brought in more than UK£14.5 billion in 2018, equivalent to 2.7% of GDP. In September 2019, Saudi Arabia opened up its visa application system to leisure travel. It plans to expand its leisure sector via the creation of a new city called Neom.
BOEING 777X APPROVAL ON HOLD UNTIL MID 2023 The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has told Boeing that its planned 777X will not get certified until mid- to late 2023. The aircraft is not yet ready for Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) Readiness and the U.S.A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will not approve aircraft unless it meets the safety and certification standards. Boeing’s new version of its popular 777 aircraft was expected for release in 2020. The 777X will be the first major jet to be certified following software upgrades found in 2 Boeing 737 MAX.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES NEW ROUTE: ROME AND COPENHAGEN Beginning in July, Singapore Airlines will operate 3 weekly departures from Copenhagen to Rome. Passengers will fly with Singapore Airlines’ large and spacious Airbus A350. One of the world’s most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft. The A350 has 3 separate cabins; 42 flatbeds in Business, 24 seats in comfortable Premium Economy and 187 spacious seats in Economy. For KrisFlyer members, bonus points can be earned and redeemed as well as for all members of the Star Alliance
SEYCHELLES AND ANGOLA TO CREATE AIR LINK
The Seychelles hopes to establish an air link with Angola via a bilateral agreement soon. Angola is a good market for the Seychelles and national carrier, Air Seychelles aims to open up both countries for commerce, trade and visitors.
FINNAIR AND JUNEYAO AIR JOINT BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP Finnair and Shanghai-based Juneyao Air have begun a joint business partnership where the 2 carriers will cooperate on flights between Helsinki and Shanghai as well as destinations in China and Europe. The airlines had a code-share in 2019 when Juneyao Air launched its Shanghai-Helsinki route. The new joint agreement further deepens the partnership, providing corporate and leisure customers with more flexible routing options, competitive fares and greater benefits for frequent flyer members. Finnair and Juneyao Air currently operate 2 flights per week between Helsinki and Shanghai and look forward to increasing this as air travel returns to more normal patterns. In 2019 both airlines operated daily flights between Helsinki and Shanghai.
ITAPEMIRIM TRANSPORTES AÉREOS STARTS TO SALE OF TICKETS TO 35 DESTINATIONS Itapemirim Transportes Aéreos (ITA) has begun selling tickets on its website www.voeita.com.br as well as via travel agencies, with special rates including holidays, New Year and Carnival. The airlines inaugural flight took place on 29 June 2021 between Guarulhos and Brasília, with proceeds going to charities. Until June 2022 ITA will serve 35 destinations in its network: Belo Horizonte-Confins, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Brasilia, Salvador, Curitiba, Porto Alegre,Porto Seguro, Recife, Maceió, Fortaleza, Florianópolis, Christmas, Victory, St. Louis, Aracaju, Goiânia, Ribeirão Preto, Bethlehem, Manaus, Santarém, Foz do Iguaçu, Macapá, Empress, Navigators, President Prudente, Uberlândia,João Pessoa, Campo Grande, Cuiabá, Porto Velho, São José do Rio Preto, Teresina, Maringá. ITA will operate Airbus A320 aircraft, with capacity up to 162 passengers. In addition it offers free baggage and seat assign ment.
EMIRATES RESUMES FLIGHTS TO MALTA VIA CYPRUS Emirates is to resume 3 weekly services to Malta via Larnaca in Cyprus. Malta allows UAE tourists to visit without needing to quarantine. It will operate over 280 weekly flights in July from Dubai to cities in Europe, the US, Middle East, Africa, and other popular island getaways.
HELICOPTER RIDES OF THE WORLD by Lilly-Ella McArthur
Venice, Italy
Destinations seen from the air give a whole new perspective. That is why if you get the chance; take a helicopter ri de to see many cities and sites from the air. Tours do not last long, but the experience you will remember for life. From coral reefs to active volcanoes or iconic city skylines and natural scenes. Here we take a look at some of the rides in the sky! Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon - USA The Grand Canyon is vast and sees the meandering Colorado River at its base. With its spectacular red rock formations its ancient geological history could date back 70 million years. A tour over the South Rim, sees you fly over the widest and deepest part of the canyon. Juneau - Alaska, USA The view of this icefield sees an endless horizon of ice-capped mountains and flowing ice rivers. There are approx. 40 large glaciers that stretch over 1,500sq.m, with deep crevasses and azure blue ice. The helicopter tours also lands on the glacier and offers guided ice walking and visits ice caves with their vibrant blue interiors.
Great Barrier Reef - Australia This has been a popular helicopter ride for years as it gives you the idea of the vast size of the reef. It is no wonder it is one of the 7 wonders of the natural world. Its spreads across over 1400 miles, and is home to more than 400 types of coral in the crystal clear water. The reef is the largest living thing that can be seen from space. Juneau - Alaska
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil From the ground you will explore the streets and sites, but from the air, the Favelas and white sand beaches take on a different feel. A ride in the sky will see you fly over Sugar Loaf Mountain and fly by the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the largest Art Decostyle sculpture in the world. Guatemala Not well known for its stunning aerial views, but this is a country that is home to volcanic trenches, lush rainforests, huge Mayan ruins and pyramids, as well as temples, palaces, and fortresses, all stunning when seen from the air. The beautiful Lake Amatitlán adds to the diverse landscape and is perfect for viewing from above. The Himalayas
Amatitlán Lake, Guatemala
The Himalayas This is definitely easier than hiking up the huge mountains that make up the Himalayas. See these high altitude mountain ranges with their jagged snow-capped summits, look down on the Mount Everest Base Camp, the Khumbu Glacier, and Sagarmatha National Park Nepal, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Glymur - Iceland A land of extremes in nature with glaciers and volcanoes, seeing the natural landscape from above takes it to a new level. Fly over black beaches, fjords and waterfalls like Glymur and see the geothermal pools and plumes of steam rise high in the sky. This is where the western side of the Eurasian and eastern side of the North American tectonic plates meet in Thingvellir Park. Glymur
Niagara Falls - Ontario, Canada Most people stand in at the base of the thunderous waterfall feeling its spray on them. However, you still hear the roar of Niagara Falls when looking down at it from a Helicopter.
Kilauea Volcano - Hawaii, USA Volcanoes are a dangerous yet beautiful form of nature. To witness the red hot lava fire out of a live volcano is a site to see and a helicopter rides gets you up close, yet safely. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to Mount Kilauea which erupted in 2018, and is still throwing out red lava. The helicopter tour also includes island highlights like the cliffs of the Na Pali coast, waterfalls like Manawaiopuna. A winter tour could also offer the chance to see humpback whales in the ocean below. Milford Sound - New Zealand An absolutely breath-taking natural wonder, Milford Sound offers spectacular forest-covered mountains, dramatic fjords and hundreds of waterfalls. Taking a bird’s eye view allows you to see wildlife in the water below as well as landing on the glacier on Mt. Tutoko. Kilauea Volcano Milford Sound
Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe Straddling the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world with over 500 million cubic meters of water per minute flowing over an edge that falls into the gorge more than 100m below. The sound of the waterfall can be heard up to 40kms away. Seeing the sheer size of the waterfalls as your helicopter flies up the Zambezi River passing the Batoka Gorge, this is a once in a lifetime experience. Many of the tours collect you directly from your accommodation. Victoria Falls
New York City
New York City - New York, USA Flying over the skyscrapers of Manhattan shows the expanse of NY and the Big Apple! You can see the iconic landmarks up-close like the Empire State Building and Times Square to Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. You also get so see the whole skyline from afar as well as from directly above. London - United Kingdom A top tourist destination and one of the most famous cities in the world.
The London skyline is ideal to see from above with views of Buckingham Palace, the Royal Parks, the River Thames, Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge. See London from a new perspective by taking a helicopter tour.
Athens - Greece Explore the ancient sites from above and see the Acropolis from one side and the sparkling Aegean Sea from the other. See the red rooftops of the old town and other landmarks of the Greek civilization, such as the Olympic Stadium, Panathinaiko n Stadium and Lycabetus Hill, as well as the stunning Riviera.
The Parthenon, Athens So take to the skies the next time you can and see the world from a different and magical perspective.
TOURISM News Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS COMPLEX EFFECTS ON TOURISM ‘Forum on Climate Change and Tourism’ Climate change is now globally visible and undeniable with significant implications for the environment, ecosystems and the global economy. Human activities are the main cause of the rapid change seen in recent decades. Greece, located in the climate-sensitive region of the Eastern Mediterranean, is heating up more quickly than the global average. Greece has seen more extreme weather events like heat waves, fires, floods and storms. The tourism sector is an integral part of modern societies, being one of the largest economic sectors in the world, with activities in both developed and developing countries and playing an important role in poverty alleviation efforts. Greece offers a diverse beautiful landscape, huge coastline, islands, sea and mountains, its unique biodiversity, the local high quality agricultural production, its archaeological monuments, and sunshine make it an ideal travel destination and tourist attraction. With over 31 million arrivals from abroad in 2019 the tourism sector is a key part of the Greek economy (20.8% of GDP). The tourism sector offers 21.7% of total employment with a strong seasonal character since more than half of the tourist arrivals occur during June to September and with the 4 main airports of Athens, Heraklion, Rhodes and Thessaloniki receiving over 50% of arrivals in 2019. Tourism activities however, contribute to climate change both through interventions in land use change for development and facilities to the detriment of the natural environment that is important for biodiversity and environmental balance, and through their operation. The environmental footprint of tourism is important, linked to greenhouse gas emissions that directly affect the climate. It is a challenge for the global tourism sector to develop a coherent policy strategy that disconnects the projected massive growth of tourism in the coming decades from increased energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, to enable the further development of tourism, respecting the environment. In turn, climate change affects tourism with rising temperatures, sea levels, reduced snowfall, increased drought and severe weather. Thus, it erodes the shores, alters infrastructure (eg coastal, monuments) or devalues them due to lack of suitable natural conditions for their use (eg lack of snow in ski resorts, reduction of water resources for river activities), changes the duration of periods that tourism products can be offered, e.g. prolongation of the summer tourist season and reduction of days suitable for winter activities, etc. Therefore the tourism sector must respond to the challenge of climate change in order to maintain competitive levels and grow further in a sustainable way, evolving into a lower environmental product of high quality and economic value. But how resilient is tourism to meet the significant challenges and threats posed by climate change? What measures can and should be taken to mitigate the effects and adapt tourism to the new conditions? These questions were discussed at the Forum on Climate Change and Tourism in Crete, recently where professionals from the wider tourism business sector, university and research institutions involved in CLIMPACT were invited by the regional and local government. The National Climate Change Network - CLIMPACT, is an action of the Ministry of Development and Investment, coordinated by the National Observatory of Athens and includes the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, the National Technical University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Thessaloniki, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Academy of Athens, the NCSR-Democritus, the ATHENS Center and the National Center for Social Research. With the ultimate goal of adapting the country to climate change, CLIMPACT is developing tools and services to adapt to climate change in the affected sectors, including tourism.
APOLLO SWEDEN SEES RECORD SALES TOGREECE Apollo has seen record sales for trips abroad and especially to the Greek destinations of Crete, Rhodes and Apollo's own newly opened sports hotel Sivota Retreat. The surge in bookings follows the changes in entry requirements and recommendations. The security package ‘the safe choice’ means that open purchase is valid until 60 days before departure, with rebooking possible up to 14 days before departure and that rebooking is allowed if someone in the party receives a covid-19 positive test seems to be securing customer bookings.
THE AFRICA BRAND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONTINENT'S TOURISM POTENTIAL UNWTO African Member States will work together to establish, across the continent, a new policy for tourism. The aim is to better connect the potential of tourism to drive recovery. UNWTO and its Members will also work with the African Union and the private sector to promote the continent to new audiences around the world through positive and people-focused stories. The UNWTO welcomed high-level delegates to the 1st Regional Conference on Strengthening the Africa Brand, in Namibia recently where it was agreed that tourism as an essential pillar of the sustainable and inclusive development of the continent. There was also a common determination to rethink and restart tourism. African destinations should take the initiative to celebrate and promote the continent's vibrant culture, youthful energy and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as its diverse cuisine. Following a series of workshops and a ministerial reflection group, UNWTO African Member States unanimously endorsed the Windhoek Pledge on promoting the Africa brand. Under the terms of the Windhoek Pledge, Members will work with private and public sector stakeholders, as well as local communities, to build an inspiring new narrative for tourism across the continent. They will identify positive and people-focused stories and, through strengthened alliances with the media, will show them to the world, reaching new and diverse tourism source markets.
CRUISE INDUSTRY COULD RETURN TO URUGUAY FOR 2021/22 SEASON Uruguay has received over 200 requests for cruise vessels to call at Montevideo and Punta del Este for the coming 2021/22 season, (October/March). 140 requests are for Montevideo and 60 for the international seaside resort of Punta del Este. The Uruguayan Ministry of Tourism has begun work for visitor protocols visitors will need to comply with before disembarkation.
Cruise lines will have to comply with very strict health protocols and handling of passengers on board including vaccination certificates, a PCR, 72 hours before landing, most probably in the vessels. Visitors will have to keep to a cruise ‘bubble’ while on land. Since March 2020 the Uruguayan government has banned cruise visitors and crew members from landing in local ports.
KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Kyrgyzstan has a draft Tourism Development Strategy covering 20212030. The main task within the country’s development strategy for 2018-2040, is the development of sustainable tourism. Many of the activities and initiatives aim to develop green tourism, and the introduction of green technologies.
USA BORDERS STILL CLOSED The current border restrictions between the USA and Canada are expected to ease at the beginning of July, an extension from the original 21 June deadline. Leaders from both nations are keen to open borders as soon as possible. Canada may not open its borders or consider easing restrictions for travellers until at least 75% of residents have been vaccinated. While quarantine restrictions for Canadians returning home could be eas ed in early July 2021, if all goes well with the roadmap out of the pandemic.
TIMES UP FOR CANCELLATION AND REBOOKING CONDITIONS With many nations gradually returning to new normal conditions, with no risk nations or limited entry requirements for arrivals, tourism is beginning to get back to normal business. With that, travel booking contracts can also and regulations meaning the special covid rebooking conditions is now over.
revert to normal rules related cancellation and
With some holiday destinations like the Red Sea in Egypt no longer requiring PCR tests and only the proof of vaccination (second vaccination must have been made at least 14 days before entry) or an official confirmation of recovery from Covid-19 disease, both in paper form, tourism and travel can get back to normal.
QUANG NINH BEGINS INTRA-PROVINCIAL TOURISM The Northern Province of Quang Ninh, Vietnam is to allow tourism to begin again for tourist sites, monuments, scenic spots, belief and religious facilities, and service establishments, but only open to local residents. Local golf courses can also reopened to local players. Service and tourism establishments in the province will need to comply with strict anti-pandemic measures. Quang Ninh’s tourism industry will coordinate and propose solutions to welcome tourists from pandemic-free areas and healthy visitors from across the country to quickly restore tourism during the summer and beyond. In addition, tourism stimulus programs and unique, safe and effective tourism products will be developed, together with the encouragement of tours providing package services. Local authorities are continuing strong controls of inter-sectoral checkpoints for people and vehicles entering the province, as well as reviewing and tracing contacts regarding cases related to COVID-19 outbreaks nationwide, in order to create the most favourable conditions for controlled domestic tourism.
ABU DHABI, U.A.E READY TO WELCOME CRUISE LINERS The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is to again welcome cruise ships from 1st September 2021 following the pandemic. DCT Abu Dhabi will work with Abu Dhabi Ports to regain the figures seen before the health crisis. Up until 2020 Abu Dhabi’s maritime tourism has seen impressive growth with around 500,000 cruise visitors arrivals throughout the year; a 46% increase compared to 2018. The number of cruise calls also rose by 43% in 2019 to a total of 192. Abu Dhabi is also seeing the development of several landmark projects, such as Al Qana, the 2.4km canal project, the world’s first Warner Bros Hotel, Waterfront of Al Qana, near the Grand Canal, the largest aquarium in the Middle East and Snow Abu Dhabi – the world’s largest indoor snow park measuring 11,660sq.m, all set to open later this year. Abu Dhabi
www.bmlinternational.co.uk
CHINGGIS KHAAN TOURISM COMPLEX TO HAVE CAPACITY OF 4,500 VISITORS A historical tourism project which includes the development of infrastructure for air and road transport is the ‘Chinggis Khaan Tourism Complex’ being built in Dadal soum, the birthplace of Great Chinggis Khaan. The complex will be built with funds from the Asian Development Bank as part of the Sustainable Tourism Development Project being implemented in 2019-2024. The Chinggis Khaan Tourism Complex will have capacity to welcome 4,500 visitors. A 2.6km road connecting the complex with Dadal soum, will also offer parking for 220 vehicles and 50 buses. In addition, a wastewater facility and a solid waste landfill will also be established. Private sector funding will establish tourist accommodation for visitors. The project will see 2,550 citizens involved in comprehensive training, creating 130 new jobs and financially supporting 30 small businesses initiated by locals. The project will be complete mid2024.
EGYPT FULLY VACCINATED TRAVELERS CAN ENTER WITHOUT PCR TEST The Egyptian Ministry of Health is to allow some foreign travellers who have received their full course of approved COVID-19 vaccines to enter the country without taking a PCR test. Travellers must present officially issued QR-coded certificates to prove they have received one of the 6 vaccines approved by the Egyptian Drug Authority and the World Health Organization: Sputnik, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Johnson & Johnson. Entry without a PCR test will be granted to those who received their 2nd jab more than 14 days before traveling. However, travellers from high-risk countries including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Brazil, will have to take an ID NOW COVID-19 test on arrival, regardless of their vaccination status. If the result of that test is positive, a PCR test will be performed. If that test is also positive, the passenger will be transferred to a designated hospital to quarantine.
ABU DHABI SKI RESORT PROJECT IN SERBIA The Emirates Stallions Group (ESG) has completed the new resort destination in Serbia;
The Viceroy Hotel, which is located close to one of Serbia’s largest national parks, with panoramic views of the Kopaonik mountain. Highlights include a ski school, as the location sees 160 days of snow, as well as other outdoor activities include paragliding, water sports, hiking, and snowboarding.
ISRAEL POSTPONES OPENING FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE With new cases on the rise, Israel is postponing the planned general entry permit for vaccinated individual tourists by one month. From st 1 August travellers will be allowed to enter the country without prior approval. The country was seen globally as having fought the virus off, having vaccinated most of the population, but now cases are up and efforts to ensure full vaccination is underway.
TOURISM IN EUROPE NEEDS NEW MODEL The tourism sector in Europe needs to be urgently reconstructed by becoming more sustainable and offering quality jobs to those employed in it. The industry employs more than 13 million in Europe, but the pandemic has paralysed the sector, affecting its workforce. Employees with zero-hour or temporary contracts and falsely self-employed in the ‘digital’ economy have been hit hardest. Thousands of businesses are struggling to survive and more than 5 million people in Europe having either lost their jobs or joined work-in-progress schemes. The hospitality sector has also been hit hard. The International Labour Organisation estimates that each hosting job supports another 1.5 in a different industry. There are also many professionals who left the sector which now sees huge staff shortages. In France, in particular, there will be almost 100,000 vacancies when jobs start again. In the UK, one in ten hospitality workers is estimated to have left the sector. So now European tourism policy can be reviewed and changed for good. Governments working with industry stakeholders need to channel investment in sustainable tourism, they need to make Europe a safe, resilient destination that benefits communities, visitors and workers. Trade unions in food, agriculture and tourism sectors call for measures that will stabilise tourism and lead it to a sustainable recovery. Hospitality and tourism needs to be at the heart of national reconstruction plans, ensuring employment, supporting the industry and promoting coordinated and safe travel.
ECUADOR CHANGES POLICY FOR AIR TRAVELERS
Quito
New guidelines from Ecuador for air travellers irrespective of whether they are arriving from abroad or from within the country means that those aged 2 or older arriving from either continental Ecuador or the Galapagos Islands, must submit a certificate of a negative result of an RT-PCR or antigen test from 72 hours before the trip. Travellers may also show their vaccination cards with the complete schedule of at least 14 days before the flight. Travellers arriving from Brazil must also complete 10 days of isolation in their homes or accommodation sites, freely chosen, unless they present a vaccination card with 2 weeks of validity. Requirements for the Galapagos Islands will be the same, except for the additional traffic control card issued by the local government, which eliminates documents that were up until now handled by a tour operator or by accommodation regulated by the Ministry of Tourism. GUYANA TOP 50 BEST PLACES TO VISIT POST ‘HEALTH CRISIS’
Guyana is again top of the list of destination to go to once the pandemic ends. Guyana is South America’s only English-speaking country and is not widely explored. It is home to the majestic Kaieteur Falls and rich wildlife. The vast, pristine, open landscapes and small group numbers lend to a more intimate tourism experience which is ideal for travel in the ‘new norm’ post-COVID travel.
OMAN DEVELOPS MUSANDAM PENINSULA Oman plans to boost the economy of the Governorate of Musandam by opening a branch of Oman’s University of Technology and Applied Sciences in the mountainous peninsula, which is separated from the rest of the country by the UAE emirate of Fujairah. The Port of Khasab will be transformed into a logistics hub with the aim of stimulating trade. Economic and tourism zones will be created, including Mahas, which will be focused on light and medium industries.
BIG NEW CHALLENGES FOR GREEK TOURISM FOLLOWING THE ‘HEALTH CRISIS’ OVER EUROPE Tinos island
Greece has extended the ‘Cooperation’ programme until the end of September for permanent staff of hotels, travel agencies and agencies as well as for seasonal staff related to tourism. The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises highlighted at its annual meeting, 7 major challenges for the present and the future of Greek tourism:
1. The health challenge; 2. The need for continued support from the State; 3. The Recovery Fund; 4. Infrastructure; 5. The digital transformation of tourism; 6. Strategic partnerships between private and public sector and 7. Everything included within the environment, green growth, climate change, sustainability". The vaccination of the Greek population will continue and be escalated combined with safety protocols being observed, as well as the operation of the digital European vaccination certificate beginning to ensure safety and stability for all. For the Recovery Fund will significantly support the country's effort to emerge from the crisis. As for infrastructure, in September 2020, a detailed study was made for specific investments in public infrastructure projects throughout Greece. The public investment in infrastructure would strengthen connectivity, attract new visitors, improve the tourist experience at the destination, create new experiences, promote sustainable development and were projects that would have a large and multiplier effect.
THE FAST END OF MASS TOURISM We could all see it coming, but no one would have imagined that mass tourism would collapse so quickly! The pandemic stopped it dead in its tracks and now it is over, for good. It cannot go back to the overtourism seen in Barcelona or Florence or Venice. These destination leaders now have the chance and need to prioritise the lives of people living in these previously overcrowded tourism destinations. The world's thriving middle class and growing number of low-cost airlines flooded some of Europe's most beautiful cities, like Bruges, Amsterdam and Dubrovnik, with tourists. In addition cruise ships added to the problem. It finally led to Venice banning cruise ships close to the floating city. Of course, tourism accounts for large portions of employment and GDP, but there has to be a balance. An initiative by the Mayor of Barcelona, to curb hyper-tourism in a city with 30 million tourists a year is to limit the numbers allowed and to ask property owners to rent their houses to locals again. Since 2017, it has banned new hotels and shut down 6,300 illegal tourist accommodations.
M.I.C.E & Events News Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions & Venues
WORLDWIDE TRAVEL ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES TRAVEL INDUSTRY PARTNERS FOR NORTH AMERICA AND CHINA The Worldwide Travel Alliance (WTA) has announced Re•think Travel Marketing as its travel industry partners in North America, and UnionWay as partners for China. Re•think Travel Marketing and UnionWay join the WTA effective 21 June. It means travel companies seeking business from markets in Europe, and now North America and China, can use WTA as a one-stop shop for travel industry sales, representation and PR. Jane Berhend, co-founder of Re•think, said the new partnership was “an excellent fit”. “The founders of WTA have a lot of experience with resorts in Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Re•think is strong on Americ as, Africa, DMOs, and high-end ecotourism brands. There is a lot of complementary expertise and global market reach in WTA that we can now offer clients,” she said. UnionWay, which has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, has previously worked with the European representatives of WTA to promote Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. UnionWay’s primary expertise is to promote global tourism brands to the Chinese outbound market through sales, marketing strategy, representation, media outreach and event management.
While outbound travel from China is temporarily shut down, Mr Ming Yue, Managing Director of UnionWay, said there was massive demand that will soon be released. He referenced an *OliverWyman survey published at the end of April 2021. “The survey suggested there is around US$200 billion in pent-up demand waiting to be unleashed once China’s outbound borders reopen,” he said. Mr Ming predicted that a lot more Chinese travellers will arrange their own travel after Covid and rely much less on joining group tours. However, nearby Southeast Asian destinations will most likely benefit from the first post-Covid wave of Chinese travellers, with a robust longhaul rebound not expected until Q4 2022, he said. Re•think Travel Marketing was formed as an alliance between three leading tourism marketing organisations in the United States. This includes Emerging Destinations which focuses on high-end eco-lodges and eco-tourism, Green Team Global which specialises in message creation, sustainability and community tourism, and CornerSun Destination Marketing which is a leading destination marketing company working primarily with national tourism boards. Re•think also brings to the table a collection of experts in areas including global health, response communications, product development, government policy and international development. The aim is to supplement a traditional marketing offering to offer solutions for travel brands looking to emerge from the Covid-19 crisis stronger, more sustainable and better suited to take on the ‘new normal’. The Worldwide Travel Alliance launched in January 2021 offering travel brands representation in all major European markets. “The addition of Re•think and UnionWay gives WTA more reach and global travel trade fire power,” said Ken Scott, co-founder of WTA. “Both bring a diversity of skill sets and networks of contacts. Between us, we have a grasp of emerging trends that will reopen and redefine travel in 2021 and beyond.” Scott said that sustainable and quality tourism that gives back to host communities and a new respect for destination heritage, culture and carrying capacities will be to the fore as travel returns.
www.destinycfu.com
REACTIVATION STRATEGY FOR COLOMBIAN CONVENTION BUREAUX NETWORK As part of the reactivation strategy, the Colombian Convention & Visitors Bureaux Network has joined forces with the purpose of working towards the strengthening and promotion of the meetings and events industry. The meetings and events industry in Colombia generated revenue of UK£1.777 billion in 2018. In 2018 around 67,951 events were hosted in Colombia with 5.2 million attendees (domestic and international), booking almost 4 million hotel rooms. Additionally, the ICCA highlights Colombia among the countries that have hosted the most international events, ranking 29th among 165 countries, above Russia and Chile. Likewise, during 2020, thanks to the Network’s campaign #ChangeTheDateNotTheDestination (#CambiaLaFechaNoElDestino) - aimed at preventing the cancellation of events and managing to reschedule the dates of the events for the following 3 years, or to hold them in virtual or hybrid format. As a result of the campaign, the convention bureaux of Barranquilla, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Ibagué, Manizales, Medellín, Pereira, Quindío and Santa Marta, were able to maintain the commitment to the chosen destinations of 74% of the 514 events that were scheduled to take place in the country during 2020 and that, due to the pandemic, could not take place. In order to promote different reactivation and promotion strategies, 11 MICE tourism promotion offices in Colombia joined together to create the Colombian Convention & Visitors Bureaux Network.
CHINESE MOVIE A HIGHLIGHT OF ATHENS OPEN AIR FILM FEST The open-air cinema in Athens Technopolis cultural center saw a great turn out for the screening of Chinese director Wong Kar Wai's movie "In the Mood of Love." Released 21 years ago, the film enthralled the audience. This came as no surprise to Loukas Katsikas, the artistic director of the 11th Athens Open Air Film Festival, who had already seen the movie during the Cannes Film Festival two decades ago.
The poster of this year's festival in Athens, which opened on Monday and runs until late August, was inspired by Wong's movie. The Athens Open Air Film Festival, organiSed by the Athens International Film Festival in collaboration with the City of Athens' Cultural, Sport and Youth OrganiSation, has again transformed the Greek capital into one big cinema. Film buffs can enjoy the unique experience of watching dozens of quality movies against the backdrop of emblematic monuments, squares, parks, pedestrian paths and beaches -- all free of charge.
ICCA APPOINTS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO HELP GUIDE ITS VISION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS INDUSTRY The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is proud to announce the new members of the ICCA Future Leaders Council. With this 8-member council, ICCA aims to empower the rising stars in the association meetings industry to extend their influence and make a lasting impact. Council members will work alongside senior industry leaders, sharing ideas and strategies to keep ICCA current, relevant, and positioned as the thought-leaders for the association meetings community. Candidates were nominated by their employers to serve a two-year term on the Council and participated in a rigorous selection process. The members must be younger than 33 years of age at the time of their nomination and have a minimum of two years’ industry experience. Furthermore, they represent the diverse regions and sectors of ICCA’s global membership, from Calgary to Sydney. The ICCA Future Leader Council members for 2021-2023 are: •Mariya Al Hashar, Sr Business Development Executive, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre •Kaili Cashin, Marketing & Communications Manager, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre •Javier Contreras, Commercial Manager, CentroParque Convention Centre •Diana Frederiksen, Business Development Manager, Stockholmsmässan Congress & Exhibition Centre •Jess Lamb, Client Engagement Manager, BESydney •Doreen Richter, Project Management Congresses, Messe Frankfurt •Hyo-In Son, Assistant Manager, Convention Marketing, KINTEX •Ernest Van Sitters, Event Sales Executive, Cape Town International Convention Centre.
AFRICA MICE SUMMIT The Africa MICE Summit is an ideal platform for constructive dialogue amongst stakeholders on the promotion of growth opportunities for Sustainable MICE development in Africa, showcase green innovations and explore investment opportunities in the Meetings & Events Industry. The 2021 Africa MICE Summit & Awards will be held on 9-11th September, 2021. Join meeting professionals, MICE venues, destination management companies, tourism agencies and other industry players as we refocus towards the recovery of Africa's MICE industry.
WORLD ROUTES 2021 The 26th World Route Development Forum Milan, Italy • 10 - 12 October 2021 Routes is more determined than ever to bring together the global route development community this year in Milan. With millions of jobs and national economies dependent on a strong restart of the air transport sector, World Routes 2021 will be the most important event in Routes' 25 -year history. With strong traffic recovery in the US and with the vaccination programme in Europe moving fast, a real recovery of the market can be seen immerging through 2021. Routes role has, and will always be, to bring together the world’s airlines, airports, tourism authorities and route development stakeholders to build air services for the economic and social good of every destination. By consistently uniting decisionmakers from the global route development community, World Routes has made a real impact on the world's air services - over 3,500 new air services are connected to meetings at Routes events in the last three years alone. Taking place in Italy for the first time in 20 years, World Routes will be hosted by SEA Milan Airports, in partnership with local stakeholders Lombardy Region, the Municipality of Milan, ENIT - Italian Tourist Board and Bergamo Airport. World Routes will showcase the growth and economic strengths of Milan and the surrounding Lombardy region. As hosts of the 2026 Winter Olympics, the home of one of the largest convention centres in Europe and previous EXPO 2015 hosts, Milan is the perfect destination for the 26th World Route Development Forum.
KOREA TO RESUME TOURISM WITH NEW INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL EXPO Korea will debut a brand new comprehensive travel expo, Korea International Travel Expo https://www.kite2021.com (KITE 2021), combining 4 Korea tourism events under MICE, Korea Travel, Luxury Travel and Medical Wellness sectors from 29 June 29 – 13 July 2021. As a new ‘One-stop Travel Expo’, KITE 2021 will provide an overview of Korea tourism in preparation for the restart of inbound tourism. Attending delegates can expect to discover the latest information on Korea tourism in the four sectors, engage in 1:1 video business consultation with Korean sellers through a new online platform, and gain insight into post-Covid-19 tourism in Korea through various conference programs. Over the 2 weeks, KITE 2021 will provide a virtual gathering space for 1,500 Domestic and Overseas Buyers and thousands of visitors to network and connect with local service providers, including RTOs, CVBs, travel agencies, hotels, luxury travel companies, convention centers, medical institutions and more. The event kicks-off with the Korea MICE Expo from 29 June – 2 July with a MICE Roadshow, RTO/CVB Showcase, and Meeting Technology Pitching. The event continues with the Korea Travel Mart from 5–7July, where delegates can expect to find special discounts of virtual Korea travel products, early bird flight tickets to Korea, plus a live travel talk show with a K-pop star, and online Fam Tour for overseas buyers. The Korea Luxury Travel Mart will take place from 8–9 July, with a Luxury Tourism Conference and a virtual Fam Tour showcasing luxury tourism facilities and contents. The expo will conclude with the Korea Medical Wellness Tourism Fair from 12–13July, with a Medical Wellness Tourism Conference, virtual wellness experience program, and medical consultations for overseas delegates.
www.bmlinternational.co.uk
IBTM WIRED DAY ONE WRAP UP: AI WILL PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN EVENTS GOING FORWARD IBTM Wired’s closing keynote on Day One, Dr Ayesha Khanna, Co-Founder and CEO of ADDO AI, has highlighted the critical role AI will play in events going forward. While customers still want the same things as pre-pandemic – personalisation, value, efficiency and connection, these will be delivered through enhanced AI and technology made possible in part by the huge acceleration of digi tisation as a result of the pandemic. Khanna highlighted that in integrating AI and tech into the customer experience, it is essential to look deeply at the most important thing; customers and their business needs and how technology can help us better understand them. With businesses such as Apple and Facebook investing heavily in AI technology, personalisation is becoming ever more sophisticated. For example, emotion AI uses tiny cameras to understand and interpret viewers’ emotions through their voice and pre-conscious emotional responses to ads. This builds a deeper profile of customers in order to personalise their online experience. This kind of technology has huge potential for the personalisation of events, allowing organisers to make them more bespoke, immersive and engaging than ever. During her session, Khanna raised a number of points, including that AR technology is being tapped by brands including Apple as the ‘next big thing’ – this technology is going to be key in enabling planners to create more interactive, experiential and continuous events. Microevents could become a norm, using non-human influencers and/or chatbots to help maintain year-round engagement. While AI is still quite piecemeal, there is a real opportunity to make virtual events totally immersive. It can be daunting and hard to know where to start, but Khanna makes the point that “You don’t need to be a technologist, but be open to new technology, be excited by it and be very responsible with it. Learn and embrace it!” The future of MICE events is undoubtedly human, but with the integration of exciting new technology. Ali Turner, Managing Director of Eight PR and Marketing and Oscar Cerezales, Global Executive VP of MCI Asia Pacific, discussed what the industry trends are likely to be for the next six to eight months in the Asia Pacific region. Cerezales made the point that certain destinations are more agile and adaptable, learning faster than the others. These are destinations that aren’t purely thinking in terms of when will be the recovery but rather thinking “What’s next”. They’re not just waiting to see what happens, they’re scenario planning and using those learnings to create partnerships and plan for a new future. Asia Pacific in general is ahead of the other regions when it comes to recovery, thanks to a combination of culture – they’re quite pragmatic and tackle problems quickly and in a connected way. The governments think long-term and don’t see our industry as ‘tourism’ but more through the lend of economic and social development. Looking to the future, more corporates and associations will follow a hub and spoke event structure which means that destinations aren’t being selected because of their value chain, but as a result of analysis of the end goal/s of an event and how they can help the organisation achieve that. Delegates feel increasingly comfortable with a digital experience, but it’s not always enough. There will still be a good number of big events with large in-person attendance, but there will be more smaller hybrid events. You may have an activation of thousands of delegates, but you’ll instead of having 2,000 people in the same venue, you’ll have teams of 50 to 100 delegates all over the world. Ultimately, the world is changing. There are no ‘new’ trends, just old trends that have been accelerated due to covid. To pull out one as an example, sustainability will be key, but the new reality means that destinations need to be look at it more broadly than previously, especially in terms of legacy and social transformation. Destinations need to think about their value proposition and what is their role in the future of a hybrid world. A cohort of masters students from the Lee Kuan Yew Centre of Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD), re-imagined what the industry would look like in 2023. Mr Poon King Wang, Director, Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities SUTD, and Asha Suresh, Ng Teng Fong, SUTD Scholar, explored the students’ trio of ideas to re-invigorate the MICE industry. Talking through the students’ first idea, entitled ‘MICEpolis’, Suresh explained that it was borne out of the idea that in the future, collaboration between different industries and specialisms will be the key to success. Envisioned as an incubator for start-ups, ‘MICEpolis’ would build a community of venture capitalists, researchers and industry professionals all working together to put Singapore on the map. Suresh summarised it as “…an eco-system of various industry players and stakeholders collaborating to expand and scale their project to develop more interactive hybrid events to capture new audiences.” Combining different industries was at the heart of the second concept, ‘Cruiseferences’. Re-thinking the traditional conference space, partnering with the cruise industry could pave the way to highly experiential luxury conferences. King Wang pointed out that events on cruise ships also have the advantage of being enclosed, risk mitigated, and socially distanced. Merging the MICE sector with an industry that has seen amazing growth – the gaming industry, was the idea behind their final idea – ‘MICE mischief’. Providing a different way to network and do business with the added benefit of combatting zoom fatigue, incorporating gaming into an event can bring a whole new dimension to the experience. “We’ve taken what was just functional and made it fun and frivolous. Once you make something fun and frivolous, you potentially find new experiences that could be profit making.” During the last eighteen months, our sense of what is possible has expanded. When looking to the future, as King Wang points out, it’s important to consider not only the relationship between digital and physical, but also between MICE and other sectors, to determine how different industries can work together to create new and exciting possibilities.
MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine
the world is changing… advertise with us your new strategies •Promote
•Preserve
•Prosper
online since 1997 the global monthly e-magazine
www.miceandtourismaroundtheworld.com
