MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine vol. 25, issue 3, March 2022
online since 1997
ONCE UPON A ‘TIME’ the clockmaker’s museum POSIDONIA 2022 to chart new course for global shipping reset DISCOVER SAMARA REGION heart-shaped hospitality ASIA-PACIFIC REGION needs 17,600 new aircraft LEPTIS MAGNA, LIBYA the forgotten monument of time TOP 3 PREFERRED DESTINATIONS for north Europeans
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MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine Volume 25, Issue 3, March 2022 edition – Online since 1997
Contents 5 Message from the Editor 7-8 ONCE UPON A ‘TIME’ the clockmaker’s museum 11 1st International Tianguis De Pueblos Mágicos, in Barcelona, Spain 12 POSIDONIA 2022, Athens, Greece 14 MEET THE BIDDER, Warsaw, Poland 15 WTM London, Unveils New Brand Identity…
7-8 Once Upon A ‘Time’
16 One of the Top ten Most Influential… Mrs. VALENTINI AMARANTIDOU 18-21 Discover SAMARA Region 23 ASIA-PACIFIC Region Needs 17,600 New Aircraft 24 SAUDIA ARABIAN Airline Recruits Female Flight Attendants 25 New Airline ‘NICEAIR’ Based in Northern Iceland 26 Dubai, U.A.E to Reopen Al-Maktoum International Airport
18-21 Discover Samara Region
28-31 LEPTIS MAGNA, LIBYA The Forgotten Monument Of Time 34 Top 3 PREFERRED DESTINATIONS for North Europeans 35 End of Mass Tourism for THAILAND 36 HOKKAIDO Goes Green Sustainability and Net-Zero In Northern Japan 37 MONTENEGRO Know The Rules for Using Drones 38 TOURISM IN ROME Long Road to Recovery 39 ANGOLA Upgrading Tourist Sites
28-31 Leptis Magna, Libya
Message from
Caroline-Artemis Welcome to March! Spring is almost here and the thought of lazy summer days and sunshine begin to enter our minds. However, all such thoughts are somewhat put to the back of our minds when we consider current world affairs right now. What is sure is that as a human race, we have still not learnt from our past. As people our needs are the same; we need a place called home, shelter, food and safety. Our human needs are the same the world over; wherever we live, whatever climate, religion, country or nationality we are. It is not hard to see yet again, there is more that positively ties us together than separates us.
There are always two sides to every story and now more than ever, in the wake of the 2 years of the health crisis, we should have learnt that life and the simpler things it gives us are worth far more than we ever thought before. Globally, at any one time, there are a huge number of conflicts raging across the world. Each one has two stories and yet both sides ultimately want peace, a home, shelter, food and safety in the country they live in, for themselves, their family and fellow citizens. This edition of the e-Magazine is simply dedicated to PEACE and our strength in believing we can achieve it.
Enjoy this edition!
Caroline-Artemis Laspas co-founder & editor
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ONCE UPON A ‘TIME’ the clockmaker’s museum by Caroline-Artemis Laspas
We often say that ‘time flies’ and yet it has been moving at the same pace for millennia. We use time in everything we do, from telling us when we get up each morning, to structuring our day to day lives; to timing a cake in the oven, or taking ‘time’ to relax. One thing we all do is count down time until our next vacation! We monitor closely the time of our flight and the length of the journey, the local time at our destination. We measure time in everything! Our existence on planet earth is measured in time, the rotation of the sun and moon dictates our day and night, providing us with a natural timekeeper. By using natures measurements of the stars and planets in time gone by, we knew our exact position on the oceans and seas. Since antiquity the passing of time has been used for religious, scientific and business purposes. Time became more important in the 16th century when seafaring European nations wanted to explore, conquer and trade. Travelling across the great oceans these fleets could measure their latitude location, but not their longitude, so the need for an accurate timekeeper on board the ship was essential. This was the greatest challenge of the time; to create an accurate clock. Recording time during daylight was easy by using sundials – the sun rose in the east and set in the west. However, measuring time in darkness or in cloudy weather, which it was a lot of the time in Europe was the inspiration to invent the mechanical clock. Every day we take time for granted. Yet it defines us every second of every day. Looking back in time and at time was something we recently did at the London Science Museum. The Clockmaker’s Museum has a fantastic collection of beautiful and priceless time pieces gathered over the centuries and timepieces that have been used to measure all kinds of things. Browse the showcases of over 600 watches, 90 clocks, 30 marine chronometers as well as sundials and exquisite internal goldwork and engraving in timepieces that takes you on a journey from the beginning of ‘time’ telling to the present day. The collection on display is the oldest of its kind in the world, so it’s worth seeing just for that! The timepieces were collected by an ancient City of London Guild called the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, which was founded in 1631. It was not until 1831 that the guild had its own library and began to collect horological books and timepieces, the majority of which are on display today. Be it from a pocket watch to a ships clock, a grandfather clock or an elegant dress watch encrusted with gems. Watches and clocks continue to ‘tick’ through the history of time itself. The story of clocks and watchmaking is a remarkable story and one which is really brought to life when visiting this incredible collection within the museum.
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M.I.C.E & Events News Meetings, Incentives, Conferences , Exhibitions, Venues & Events
BARCELONA, SPAIN TO HOST 1st INTERNATIONAL TIANGUIS DE PUEBLOS MÁGICOS IN APRIL st
The 1 International Tianguis de Pueblos Mágicos, will take place from 22-24 April in Barcelona, Spain. The event will encompass an area of 4,600sq.m, with 32 stands and a large space for the sale of handicrafts and gastronomic samples, among other attractions. The event will also have an international dimension. The first experience will be in Spain, but it is planned to replicate it in other places in America, Asia and Europe. The Magical Towns programme is one of the oldest and most successful of the Sectur. It has managed to create a distinctive brand that influences the travel decisions of millions of tourists who seek inland options as an alternative to the well-known sun and beach destinations. Tourism is a key activity for the country, generating new foreign income every day, as well as generating millions of jobs, especially for women and young people, and is very effective in the fight against poverty and marginalisation that plague many regions of the country.
BCO CONGRESOS OPENS OFFICE IN LISBON, PORTUGAL Bco Congresos, the division of Avoris Corporación Empresarial specialising in high -level professional meetings is continuing its strategy of expansion in Europe with the opening of a new office in Lisbon. Since February 1st Bco Congresos has reinforced its presence in Portugal with the objective of re-establishing commercial relationships and creating new links with the association world. The aim of settling in the neighbouring country is to increase its congress portfolio, to provide 360º congress services in a more comprehensive manner, and to enhance existing partnerships with clients and local service providers. Above all, the intention of Bco Congresos is to bolster their reputation for producing excellent quality and financially succ essful meetings that set them apart from the competition. Bco Congresos currently has a total of 5 offices in Spain (Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Malaga), providing services in Spain, Europe and Latin America. More than 1400 congresses have been organised to date in hundreds of destinations worldwide.
WTM LONDON APPOINTS NEW EXHIBITION DIRECTOR JULIETTE LOSARDO World Travel Market London, has a new Exhibition Director. Juliette Losardo is an experienced business leader with an impressive track record of more than 18 years at leading companies in the international media and events sectors. She joins WTM London from Clarion Events, where she was Group Commercial Director, and has also held senior roles at Centaur Media and Getty Images. Losardo succeeds Simon Press, who has left the company to pursue new opportunities. Losardo said: “I am thrilled to be joining the WTM London team at such an important time of change and recovery. The travel industry has proved to be incredibly resilient despite the extraordinary challenges of the pandemic and there are very positive prospects and opportunities ahead. “I look forward to engaging with colleagues and travel industry professionals from across the world – and meeting delegates and exhibitors at WTM London in November as this dynamic sector works towards a sustainable and robust future.” The annual WTM London event will take place at ExCeL London on 7-9 November, 2022.
POSIDONIA 2022 TO CHART NEW COURSE FOR GLOBAL SHIPPING RESET Posidonia 2022 will be held from 6-10 June, with the 27th edition of the world’s most prestigious shipping event gearing up to welcome the international maritime community back to its Athens Metropolitan Expo venue, following the pandemic-induced disruption of the 2020 event. Already, nearly 90% of the exhibition floor is committed, and as new bookings continue, Posidonia 2022 is on course to match, if not overcome, its exhibitor record set in the pre-pandemic edition of 2018, which had registered 2,009 exhibitors and 22,000 visitors from 92 countries. The majority of this year’s confirmed Posidonia exhibition space has again been reserved by international companies, and at least 85 of the total number of exhibitors will be making their Posidonia debuts. Theodore Vokos, Managing Director, Posidonia Exhibitions, the event’s organiser, said: “We are ready for the great reset of the shipping industry. And we are delighted to witness such strong demand and feel the desire of the international maritime community for Posidonia’s physical resumption. As the home of the Greek shipping community, Posidonia has always been a popular destination to network with leaders of industry, showcase the latest in maritime engineering and technologies, and engage in discussions that shape the international discourse on the sector’s most important issues,” said Vokos. The booming dry bulk and container markets, the decarbonisation debate, new technological challenges and how they reshape the industry, the initial impact of Covid-19 and the subsequent rebound from it, as well as the uncertainty of what the future holds in a postpandemic world, will be some of the topics to be addressed during the conference programme of Posidonia 2022. With Posidonia 2022 fast approaching, the recently elected President of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) Mrs. Melina Travlos lends her support to the organisation of the event: “The long-standing and globally well-established shipping exhibition, Posidonia, comes back this year after 4 years of absence due to the pandemic, with solid foundations to not only live up to the raised expectations of the international maritime community, but to also exceed them.” “Having been honoured to be at the helm of our historic Association, the institutional representative of Greek shipping which owns 20% of global tonnage and 59% of the EU-controlled fleet and on behalf of the Board of Directors too, we are certain of the successful conduct of this important for the international shipping industry event, the lynchpin of global trade and economic growth”, Mrs. Travlos stated. “Posidonia 2022 offers the opportunity to unite the international maritime community and rally it behind commonly accepted principles and mutually beneficial strategies for an environmentally friendly and sustainable shipping sector, both in the short and long term”, Mrs. Travlos concluded. The conference agenda is still being shaped, but already the flagship Tradewinds Shipowners Forum is confirmed, along with the Global Maritime Summit, organised by Seatrade in conjunction with the Global Maritime Club, and the Capital Link Investor Forum. Other confirmed events, highlighting the international participation at Posidonia, include the Japan Ship Exporters Association seminar, the 3rd Korea-Greece Hellenic Maritime Cooperation Forum and a conference by the Polish Embassy in Greece. Posidonia is also proud to support HELMEPA, WISTA Hellas, the Yes Forum youth project, the Hellenic Institute of Maritime Technology, Isalos.net and the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, who will also be organising conferences and seminars at Posidonia 2022. The signature Posidonia Games will again be an essential part of the Posidonia experience, with hundreds of exhibitors expected to participate in the multidisciplinary sporting calendar comprising of the sailing Regatta Posidonia Cup, the Posidonia Running Event, the Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament, the Posidonia Golf Tournament and the all new Posidonia 3x3 Basketball. Posidonia is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, the Union of Greek Shipowners and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and with the support of the Municipality of Piraeus and the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee.
PATA WELCOMES SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD AS NEWEST NATIONAL GOVERNMENT MEMBER The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has welcomed the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) as its newest government member. STB’s mission is to shape a dynamic tourism landscape for Singapore in partnership with industry and community. PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera said, “I am truly honoured to welcome the Singapore Tourism Board to the PATA family. Their focus on wellness, innovation and sustainability in the post pandemic landscape is in line with PATA’s mission in acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. STB understands that as we look towards recovery, constructive and coordinated cooperation across the re gion and between all industry stakeholders is critical. I look forward to working with them to support their strategic initiatives and welcom e them into the PATA global community.” Keith Tan, Chief Executive, STB said, “STB looks forward to working with PATA and its mem bers to drive sustainable tourism development and to support the recovery of travel and tourism in the Asia-Pacific. PATA also plays a leadership role in bridging
knowledge gaps, fostering cross-cutting cooperation and bringing strategic partners together. We look forward to sharing our experiences and contributing to these efforts.” The STB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore. It champions the development of Singapore 's tourism sector, one of the country's key service sectors and economic pillars, and undertakes the marketing and promotion of Singapore as a tourism destination. STB is working towards COVID-resilience and recovery for Singapore, as tourism remains an important economic pillar for the country. The Board has focused its efforts to transform the industry by driving innovation, building digital and marketing capabilities and fo rging partnerships beyond the tourism industry. Together with tourism stakeholders, STB is also reimagining Singapore’s products an d experiences with a focus on areas such as health and safety, technology, as well as sustainability. STB continues to market Singapore’s multi-faceted appeal as a premier business and leisure destination, and offer empowering and customised experiences. The organisation brings the “Passion Made Possible” brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions. This is a unified brand between STB and Economic Develop ment Board (EDB) which will allow the international marketing of Singapore for tourism and business purposes. STB also regularly reviews and updates the tourism regulatory framework to ensure its relevance in the current business environment, while providing sup port and incentives to catalyse the private sector to take the lead in investing for growth.
BTL 2022 TOURISM BACK WHERE IT BELONGS The next edition of the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL) will focus on valueadded sectors, such as wine tourism, nature tourism and health and wellbeing, along with the promotion of Portugal as a country of excellence for hosting events. Taking place between 16-20 March 2022, BTL is the perfect marketplace for the Portuguese tourist offer. The 3 strategic points of national tourism are: for the whole year, the entire territory and with added value, anchored in digitalisation and a greener agenda. The next BTL takes place around 5 vectors. One of them is the reinforcement of the quality of international buyers, in order to start a path to position itself among the largest similar fairs worldwide in 10 years. While the pandemic gave predominance to the virtual, the organisation of BTL wants to return in force to the face-to-face and leave the digital only as a complement. BTL 2022 also wants to give prominence to sectors that increasingly bring added value to the country, such as wine tourism, nature tourism and health and well-being; bet on meeting & industry to reposition the country to host events; in training, in the BTL Lab and finally, in the reinforcement of the component of direct sales to the customer on the days when it is open to the public. Putting tourism back where it belongs and making the sector contribute decisively to the recovery of the national economy is an aim of the Lisbon Tourism Exchange 2022.
BOOST TO CORPORATE MEETING AND CORPORATE INCENTIVE BUSINESS IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) is now an Associate Member of the Malaysia Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) to develop Sarawak’s national and international corporate meetings and corporate incentives business and strengthen ties with national travel industry players. As Malaysia’s business events and tourism activities get underway, the newfound partnership aims to widen BESarawak’s reach and visibility to national inbound and outbound travel associations. Meanwhile, MATTA will be able to unite its objectives with key stakeholders. BESarawak’s blueprint for corporate meetings and incentives business identifies destination readiness, customer acquisition and content marketing as the three pillars to mature these two segments of business events. Currently, Sarawak’s strength lies in conventions where over 80% of the business is generated. MATTA is Malaysia’s national representative body for the entire travel industry with a membership of over 3,400 members across the country.
WARSAW, 16TH MARCH THE MEETING GROUND FOR EXHIBITORS AND BUYERS FROM THE WORLDWIDE TRAVEL INDUSTRY There are clear signs of the spring revival in the travel sector which is also visible by the great interest seen in the 29th edition of Meet the Bidder that will take place in a couple of weeks at the ARCHE HOTEL KRAKOWSKA (the MTB Hotel Partner). Among the Exhibitors there are already several hotel chains like Maritim Hotels, Titanic, Iberostar, Falkensteiner Hotel Group. This time the large group of partners from Ethiopia and Slovenia would like to attract Poles to visit this country, for example Sava Hotels & Resorts, Union Hotels, Kempinski Hotels Istria, City Hotel Ljubljana, LifeClass Hotels & Spa, the Portorož Tourist Board and the Ljubljana Convention Bureau. Meet the Bidder is a SMART Fair and has already had confirmed participation by convention bureaus or tourism boards from Ras Al Khaimah, New York, Saxony, Brandenburg, Tallin. Several DMCs plans to come for the business talks - not only from the Mediterranean region like Portugal and Montenegro - but also from Georgia, Czechia and more exotic destinations like Moldova, Tanzania and even Ethiopia.
The Exhibitors list is still open – if you are interested in joining MTB you can have a look at the offer: https://www.meetthebidder.com/files/2022-03_Meet_the_Bidder_SPRING_Edition_AN.pdf Confirmed exhibitors include Czech Republic, Portugal, Moldova, Montenegro, Georgia and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum from France. In light of the current geo-policitcal situation, a Special Zone ‘INITIATIVES FOR UKRAINE’ has been created. It is a platform for sharing good initiatives on how best to help the people from Ukraine in different fields of everyday life, including work opportunities for refugees. The Buyers Registration has already started, opened to the representatives of the MICE industry, luxury travel, theme journeys, tailor made trips, sport or cutural oriented trips as well as event agencies. With an estimated 80 Buyers - mainly from Poland and some from abroad, the most active Buyers have a chance to win attractive rewards like bottles of wine or even a voucher for a weekend stay in 5-star hotel during the traditional the MICE BINGO game. The media patrons of Meet the Bidder Spring Edition are: MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine, THINK MICE, Twoja Turystyka, Business Traveler, Rynek Turystyczny, Mice Poland and Świat Podróże Kultura, Nowa Turystyka, Travel Compass. The MTB Organisation Partners are SOIT and Site Poland.
WORLD TRAVEL MARKET (WTM) LONDON UNVEILS NEW BRAND IDENTITY FOR ITS TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY TECH EVENT WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry – has redesigned and renamed its co-located travel & hospitality technology show. Previously called Travel Forward, it will become WTM Travel Tech and offer more features for exhibitors and visitors at WTM London 2022 (7-9 November 2022). Show organisers are planning two theatres in the WTM Travel Tech zone – one to showcase new products and the other to host seminars, debates and presentations. The product showcase theatre will offer exhibitors more options to present their new services and innovations to visitors. WTM Travel Tech will also have an updated brand positioning to reflect the way it has evolved from Travel Forward, as well as a dedicated section within the WTM London website. The changes have been made as a result of findings from in-depth research conducted among buyers, exhibitors and visitors. Access WTM Travel Tech pages: • Travel Tech Homepage: https://www.wtm.com/travel-tech/en-gb.html • WTM London Travel Tech: https://www.wtm.com/london/en-gb/travel-tech.html
TTG TRAVEL EXPERIENCE "TTG makes doing business easy" The 2022 edition will even more packed with networking, new business and training: a useful, stimulating and important opportunity for all industry professionals. A few numbers: + 700 buyers + 40 foreign countries + 1,800 brands + 250 speakers and 650 hours of debates and meetings TTG Travel Experience looks forward to seeing you at the Rimini Expo Centre from 12 to 14 October 2022.
BBFT 2022 NOW VIRTUAL In light of the current situation the BBTF Committee deeply regret to announce that BBTF 2022 will once again have to be a hybrid event combining online and offline face to face events. BBTF 2022 will be an online only event for international participants. Both online and offline meetings will be available for domestic participants. Only vaccinated or recovered visitors or exhibitors will be allowed to attend in person. We will come back stronger and optimistic to bring the best of Indonesia to the 9th BBTF 2023.
ONE OF THE TOP TEN MOST INFLUENTIAL… Mrs. VALENTINI AMARANTIDOU World PCO Alliance partner Valentini Amarantidou of Greece's ARTION was recently named one of the top 10 Most Influential Meeting Agency Representatives by Kongress Magazine. The list is intended to recognise top contributors in the regional meetings industry. Valentini Amarantidou is a veteran in the MICE industry, with nearly 30 years of experience in global entrepreneurship and project management. She is a partner at ARTION Conferences & Events, where she also serves as Director of Development. Under her leadership, ARTION has delivered projects across Europe, Asia and the Americas. These achievements are particularly special to Valentini, given the recent challenges for the Greek economy and the country reputation during the past 10 years. Looking ahead to 2022, Valentini is focused on growth and on recovery from a pandemic that greatly affected the meetings industry. “We first need to get business back on track through new contracts and projects,” she says. “Secondly, we must refocus on the bidding strategy that has been left behind, and, lastly, we will invest in association management contracts.” th
It’s the 8 year that Kongress compiles the list, billed as the “Most Influential People of New Europe.” Candidates are nominated by Kongress Magazine, after which they are required to respond to a questionnaire that tallies up a score across various criteri a, including credibility, creativity and legacy. From there, there is a public voting system. For this latest edition of the list, Kongress Magazine received over 1,700 votes. “Getting on the Kongress Magazine’s list is a moment of pride for my country, my city, my company, my team, and my family and friends,” says Valentini. “It’s a valuable recognition for all the years’ efforts and at the same time serves as a motivation to grow better for the future.” Founded in 2009, the World PCO Alliance provides leadership in meeting management through the delivery of streamlined and effective meetings around the globe. The Alliance’s mandate includes the collective exchange of education, technology, and other information for the mutual benefit of the industry and ensuring the effective global promotion of its clients’ events. The or ganization is comprised of 20 chosen, quality PCOs in the meetings industry from around the world.
TRAVEL TRADE ATHENS RETURNS IN MAY 2022 It’s time to reconnect. The 8th Travel Trade Athens is bringing the tourism market back to Athens, inviting buyers and suppliers to Athens to meet in-person during the annual event taking place from 9-10 May 2022. Travel Trade Athens is the signature B2B marketing event of the City of Athens promoting the city’s transformation into a leading tourism and meetings destination. Key players from the international tourism industry and top-notch local suppliers from Athens and the surrounding region will have the opportunity to meet and pursue new business opportunities during the two-day event. Travel Trade Athens hosts leisure and MICE buyers from the city’s core markets in Europe, UK and the US as well as international press who are invited to participate in the return of leisure and business travellers to Athens. Since its launch in 2013, Travel Trade Athens has hosted more than 500 buyers from 35 countries and has facilitated more than 16,000 B2B meetings. The event is organized by the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA) through This is Athens-Convention & Visitors Bureau, in cooperation with the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA). In addition to business meetings, Travel Trade Athens offers attending suppliers a half day of educational workshops created in collaboration with major international organizations. The workshops were introduced by This i s Athens in 2021 to promote knowledge exchange and best practices to the local tourism industry. Select attending buyers and invited press will enjoy a complete Hosted Buyer Program that includes air travel to and from Ath ens, accommodation in a 5-star hotel, transfers, thematic FAM trips, meals and social events, networking opportunities, as well as a pre arranged set of online B2B meetings. Event brings travel professions to Athens, Greece in cooperation with ETOA traveltradeathens.gr
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MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine
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DISCOVER SAMARA REGION
heart-shaped hospitality by Mrs. Olga Mamonova, co-founder of Russian Travel Digest
The region of Samara reminds of the form of a heart at any map and looks gorgeous from a drone and spaceship. Samara region is all about warmth, hospitality, inner comfort, sincere service and respect to wide range of guests interests, i t is full of well-known traditional tourist routes and may offer the new ones. Major events in the sphere of culture, science and sports take place in Samara and Samara region annually, representing the interest for the Russian and the foreign tourists. National parks, ecological spots, opportunities for arts and meditation, numerous festivals, sport and yachting as well as cultural heritage and hotels of top level chains may be the key features for new generations of tourists choosing Samara region. Samara has the longest river embankment in Russia. The airport Kurumoch (situated between Togliatti and Samara) unites the capital of Mid-Volga with international capitals and sea resorts, visa centers and consulates of foreign countries are situated here. Samara is a home to Russia's aerospace and aviation industries, “the space capital” as the first astronaut Yury Gagarin’s spaceship Vostok was built in Kuibyshev (the name of Samara in 1935-1990). Samara is the city known as reserve/alternative capital during the WWII. All foreign embassies, main theatres were evacuated here, and a special shelter, nowadays the museum called Stalin’s Bunker was built but never visited by USSR leader. The famous military parade on November 1941 was held in the centre of Samara and on March 1942 the world heritage – Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony was performed here by the Bolshoy Theater Orchestra. The symphony was broadcast all over the world.
Samara is the cultural capital full of museums, theatres and concert halls, including authentic and private places of interests such as Museum of Soviet and Russian film director, screenwriter, poet, actor Eldar Ryazanov (opened in 2018). The observation deck named Helicopter close to Samara boasts an indescribable view to Samarskaya Luka and the Zhiguli Mountain. The dawns here are the kind of masterpiece. This place became very popular and has to be in the visit list for any newcomer to the region.
During past years Samara region runs into the top of Russian regions with impetuous growth. For example, the town of Syzran’ and its embankments in 2021 became a winner of 5th All-Russian competition of the best projects for creating a comfortable urban environment which was announced during All-Russian Forum "Small cities and historical settlements". Samara region is one of the most picturesque places with high potential for ecological and medical tourism: more than 30 health centers, 125 recreation c enters and more than 250 hotels of world hotel chains can be counted in Samara region nowadays (such as InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) (“Holiday Inn”), Accor (“Ibis”), Marriott (“Renaissance”), Hilton («Hampton by Hilton»), LOTTE, etc.). Samara region as a neighbor of Kazakhstan is his strategic partner in humanitarian spheres, science and business.
Famous national parks such as "Samarskaya Luka", "Buzulukskiy Bor", Zhigulevsky State Natural Reserve offer unique opportunities to enjoy endemic plants and animals. The tourists may hiking in the Zhiguli mountains, national Park Samarskaya Luka or Zhigulevsky reserve, to be enjoyed in the surroundings, including fishing in the Volga river or one of the many lakes in the region. The colors of golden autumn or bright spring on the hills of parks may leave all visitors speechless. Beautiful nature of these territories has attracted artists, writers, composers and travelers for centuries. The world famous painting Boatman on the Volga by Ilya Repin was created in Shiryaevo village in 1870s. Nowadays “Historical and Museum complex in the village of Shiryaevo” is a branch of the Samara Regional Art Museum.
Togliatti is the second most populous city in the region. It is located on the left bank of the Volga river, opposite to the Zhiguli mountains. Togliatti also has some good museums that are worth to visit - the technical Museum of Avtovaz, and “The park complex of
the history of technology named after K.G. Sakharov”: the largest open-air museum with an area of 38 hectares. The technique of both military and peaceful purposes is presented.
Samara region is one of the player on the Russian cruise and yacht scene – 4 yacht clubs are situated in Togliatti and lot of championships take place on the banks of Zhigulevskoye sea. Samara was one of the host city during Mundial 2018 and it is obviously gave the start to a lot of sport initiative. The region is included into the Conceptions of Development of Yacht Tourism in R ussia till 2030 and Conceptions of Development of Cruise Tourism till 2024 as well as Ecological Tourism. Both Concepts are part of the Strategy for tourism development in the Russian Federation till 2035. According to Rostourism, by 2025 the volume of inbound tourist flow to Samar a Region is planned to increase to 850 thousand tourists per year which may be compared with the amount of Russian tourists visiting Cyprus annually before pandemia. Samara region as a regionnominee of Russian Travel Awards, it is represented in three nominations: Territory of Mice Tourism, Territory of Cultural and Educational tourism, Territory of Children’s tourism. The ceremony of awards will take place in Saint-Petersburg in the end of February 2022. Samara region is included into TOP 10 regions according rating of Event Potential of the Russian regions (9th place in 2020 and in 2021) compiled by the R&C Exhibition Research Center (VNIC). In post-covid conditions the reorientation of tourist flows towards inbound tourism forced the regions to upgrade their capabilities and to reopen the local places. Discover your own Samara region and visit its stand at Intourmarket and MITT 2022. Photos by@ Zaur Karamyzov and Sergey Korostelev Article by Mrs. Olga N. Mamonova, graduated from Moscow State Social University in 1999 (specialization - sociology), she has Ph.D. in sociology (Moscow State University, Russia, 2002) and M.Phil. in Sociology and Health Care (De Montfort University, UK, 2004). She is a member of International and European Sociological Associations as well as a member of Russian Society of Sociologists. Olga is the author of more than 60 scientific and popular science publications, including scientific monograph. For several years she worked on radio station and in scientific journals as a scientific editor, before to come to market research and tourism industry.
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ASIA-PACIFIC REGION NEEDS 17,600 NEW AIRCRAFT Over the next 20 years, passenger traffic growth of 5.3% per annum and increased retirement of older fleet aircraft will see the Asia-Pacific region require 17,620 new passenger and freighter aircraft. 30% will replace older less fuel-efficient models. In a region which is home to 55% of the world’s population, China, India and emerging economies such as Vietnam and Indonesia will be the main markets of growth in the region. GDP growth will be 3.6% per year compared to the world average of 2.5% and double in value by 2040. The middle class sector will increase by 1.1 billion to 3.2 billion and the travel trend is set to triple by 2040. Of the demand for 17,620 aircraft, 13,660 are in the small category like the A220 and A320. In the medium and long-range categories, Asia-Pacific will continue to drive demand with some 42% of global requirement; 2,470 medium and 1,490 large category aircraft. Cargo traffic in the region will also increase at 3.6% per annum, above the global 3.1% average and will double by 2040. Glob ally, express freight boosted by e-commerce will grow even faster at 4.7% per year. Overall, reflecting that strong growth o ver the next 20 years, there will be a need for some 2,440 freighters, of which 880 will be new-build. Globally, in the next 20 years, there will be a need for some 39,000 new-build passenger and freighter aircraft, of which 15,250 will be replacements. By 2040 the vast majority of commercial aircraft in operation will modern low fuel emitting commercial aircraft fleets. Global aviation continues to be in the spotlight for efficiency gains. To date there has been a 53% decline in aviation’s CO2 emissions per revenue passenger kilometre since 1990. Airbus aircraft supports at least a 20% CO2 efficiency gain over previous -generation aircraft. As technology and fuels develop, Airbus has an ambition to achieve the air transport sector’s target to reach net -zero carbon emissions by 2050.
SKY EXPRESS TO COOPERATE WITH EL AL AIRLINES A new interconnection cooperation between SKY express and Israeli airline EL AL Airlines, will provide the option of booking a single ticket in the network of both airlines. EL AL Airlines operates flights worldwide from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport. While SKY express operates in important European countries and serves 34 Greek destinations. The alliance between the two airlines gives access to interconnection deals with American Airlines, Air Serbia, Qatar Airways, Air France, KLM, Middle East Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Condor and Dohop. In addition SKY express and easyJet have announced connections service, opening up more than 20 new Greek destinations for easyJet customers that travellers via Sky Express will now be able to connect via Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Zakynthos, Preveza, Kefalonia, Rhodes, Larnaca, Chania, Heraklion and Thessaloniki to over 20 new Greek destinations. Passengers flying with easyJet will now have access by air to the Greek Islands including Mytilene, Paros, Icaria, Astypalaia, Naxos, Vathi, Scio, Lemnos, Karpathos, Kythera, Milos, Alexandroupoli, Kastoria, Skiros, Kozani, Kasos Island, Sitia, Syros, Kalymnos and Laros Island.
IATA EXPECTS AIRLINES WILL PICK UP SOON With a quick recovery expected in aviation, airlines are expected to hire many more staff to meet demand over the next year. Although there was an increase in passenger numbers during the Q4 2021, IATA said the air travel recovery had been driven by the relaxation of cross-border travel restrictions in some key markets, including the reopening of transatlantic routes.
SAUDIA ARABIAN AIRLINE RECUITS FEMALE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS Saudi women aged 20-30 can now apply to work as flight attendants at Saudi Arabian airline, Saudia. A secondary education and fluency in English is a minimum qualification for the job. Candidates will have to clear various tests, and a two-month training programme. They will also have to clear a medical examination. The move comes following the low-cost Saudi private airline ‘Flynas’, also began recruiting Saudi women as air hostesses in 2020.
SEA AND ENI TO SUPPLY OF BIOFUELS FOR COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS SEA, the operator of Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate airports, has agreed with oil and gas company Eni to promote decarbonisation initiatives in the aviation sector and accelerate the ecological transition of the 2 airports. The collaboration will see the supply of biofuels (SAFs) for private flights as well as for commercial flights and includes the supply of pure HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) biofuel for ground transpo rtation, as well as a joint development programme for smart mobility services. Eni is the 2nd largest producer of HVO biofuel in Europe. Its EcofiningTM technology allows it to produce sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) from waste and plant based raw materials. The agreement will help the airport to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, well ahead of its comparable competitors
KOREAN AIR BIOMETRIC SELF-BOARDING At Seoul Gimpo Airport, Korean citizens who are passengers of Korean Air can now use biometric self-boarding. This means that passengers can now pass through Korean Air’s domestic boarding gates with a scan of their palms, and will not need to present an actual boarding pass. The palm vein scan will allow the airline to immediately check the passenger’s identification and boarding pass information without checking a paper or mobile boarding pass. Palm vein biometric information, cannot be stolen, duplicated or lost. It will help increase efficiency and strengthen security of the identity verification process, and reduce flight boarding times. The airline plans to expand the service across all domestic route departure g ates by the end of 2022 and to Busan Gimhae Airport in August 2022.
BA PASSENGER EXPERIENCE ENHANCEMENTS British Airways (BA) has a range of improvements, both on the ground and in the air, in order to offer more to customer experience. The airline is to introduce a new baggage tracing system, allowing customers to track their bag via their phone throughout their journey. Automated lounge entry and new digital airport signage, will make the journey from start to finish more seamless. Changes at check-in will see dedicated desks for World Traveller Plus customers and a reimagined Skyflyers programme for children.
ETIHAD AIRWAYS FLIES TO CRETE, GREECE Etihad Airways has added a new destination to its schedule this summer; the Greek island of Crete. From 15th June 2022, Etihad will launch a seasonal twice-per-week service to Crete, using an Airbus A320 aircraft and will connect Abu Dhabi to the main city of Heraklion.
NEW AIRLINE ‘NICEAIR’ BASED IN NORTHERN ICELAND Niceair is a new airline based in Akureyri, North Iceland. It will begin flying from June 2022 and initially serve the UK, Denmark and Spain. The airline will use a 150-seat Airbus A319. The airline is funded by numerous companies in North Iceland, none of which own more than 8% of shares.
AIRBALTIC ANNOUNCES FLIGHTS TO BATUMI, GEORGIA From May 2022, Latvian airline airBaltic is to launch new scheduled flights between Riga and Batumi, Georgia, with twice weekly flights, using an Airbus A220-300 aircraft. airBaltic still offers great connectivity to and from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, connecting them with leading European business centres and transit hubs.
PRIVATISING ALITALIA Italy’s national carrier Alitalia has been making a loss for years. The government has tried to sell the company and airlines have come on board to rebrand and help turn it around but all with no success. Last year, it was agreed that the privatisation of ITA Airways ex Alitalia, would be owned by Lufthansa. However, it is clear over the past decade, that the German plan for aviation dominance across Europe has taken the process of bringing the company to its knees and then making it bankrupt, followed by them then buying the company at a super low cost. Having seen this pattern, it would appear that the Italian government has decided to open up the sale to all potential bidders, despite a request from Lufthansa for a 90-day period of exclusivity in the negotiations. ITA Airways will not survive without the support of a major European airline. In the first 2 months of operation last October, it lost €135 per passenger it carried.
UNITED AIRLINES EXPANDS TO CAPE TOWN FROM NEW YORK/NEWARK United Airlines is to expand its service with a year-round, non-stop flight, 3 times a week between New York/Newark and Cape Town International Airport. Once approved, the new route will begin from June flying a Boeing 787 -9 Dreamliner aircraft that includes 48 lieflat, United Polaris business class seats, 21 United Premium Plus seats and 39 seats in Economy Plus. All seats are equipped with seatback on-demand entertainment. United is the only airline to offer nonstop flights between the U.S. and Cape Town and offers more flights to South Africa than any other North American carrier. Following the success of the links it has already made to Africa, with the launch of flights between New York/Newark and Johannesburg in June 2021; Washington D.C. and Accra, Ghana; and between Washington D.C. and Lagos, Nigeria, this new route will be very popular. In 2022, United is to introduce new services to new international destinations; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Azores, Portugal; Bergen, Norway; Tenerife, Spain and Nice, France.
TATA OVERHAULS AIR INDIA AFTER GOVERNMENT HANDS OVER STATE CARRIER Air India’s 13,500 workers are now employed by TATA Sons after the Indian national carrier was handed over to the company. For over 20 years the Indian government has tried to privatise the airline. Now in the hands of TATA, major reform and restructuring is taking place to bring the airlines aging fleet of Airbus and Boeing planes into modern times. It is expected to take 3-5 years to turn around. TATA has a huge challenge ahead of itself. Indian Aviation has seen many ups and downs over the past decade with the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines and the grounding of Jet Airways in 2019, added to that the damage the health crisis has done. By taking over Air India, Tata now has approx. 23% of the market share in India and is able to consolidate its presence in the highly competitive low-cost sector. Air India adds capacity to Tata’s 51% stake in full-service airline Vistara and its 84% stake in budget carrier AirAsia. All 3 airlines are currently unprofitable. Tata aims to use Air India’s 900 landing slots at airports around the world and 6,200 slots in India. It is expected that Tata’s airlines could eventually merge with Air India; to combine the low-cost carriers of Air India Express owned by Air India and AirAsia India.
AIR CORSICA NON-STOP ROUTE:
CORSICA - GÖTEBORG
Sweden’s Göteborg Landvetter Airport has a new route for the summer. From June2022, Air Corsica will offer a new direct route between Gothenburg and the French island of Corsica. At the beginning of 2020, Air Corsica announced a new air link between Gothenburg and Bastia, but the pandemic postponed that route. The new direct route between Göteborg Landvetter Airport and Bastia Airport, in the northwest part of the island, will run once a week on a Saturday from 11th June until 20th August. The route will use an Airbus A320neo, with a flying time of approx. 2.5 hours. The majority of seats have been chartered by the Swedish tour operator Langley. With travel returning, but with many keeping fairly close to home, Corsica is a popular tourist destination for Sweden. Corsica is famous for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, but also has magnificent landscapes, beautiful beaches and delicious French food.
LOGANAIR EXPANSION AT ABERDEEN AIRPORT WITH NEW ROUTE TO OSLO Scottish airline, Loganair is to expand at Aberdeen International Airport with the introduction of a new route to Oslo and the creation of over 20 new jobs. The year-round route between Aberdeen and the Norwegian capital will commence from June 2022 and fly up to 6 weekly flights, with a daily service Sunday – Friday, in each direction with its 49-seat Embraer 145 Regional Jet aircraft. Loganair is the largest airline operator at Aberdeen International Airport and serves 14 destinations from its Aberdeen hub.
DUBAI, U.A.E TO REOPEN AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL As travel restrictions ease globally, more travel will restart with more people and cargo going through airports. The head of Dubai International Airport has said that Al Maktoum Airport will re-open in May in anticipation of travel growth. Dubai airport expects passenger traffic to more than double in 2022 to 57 million, up from 29.1 million in 2021. However that is still far less than the 86.4 million passengers the airport saw in 2019. Bookings for the coming months are positive with the 57 million hopefully being a conservative target figure.
LEPTIS MAGNA, LIBYA The Forgotten Monument Of Time by Dimitri Laspas
As one of the largest empires in the world, the Roman Empire dominated many lands. It created magnificent cities and temples and some still survive today, most notably the sites in the city of Rome itself and the various well known temples that are today top tourist attractions, like Baalbek in Lebanon, the temple of Córdoba, Spain or the Roman Temple of Évora in Portugal.
There is one of its imperial city’s which is perhaps the best preserved and is the largest Roman city outside Rome itself, yet it is the least visited. This is Leptis Magna in Libya, North Africa. It was a huge city and a major Roman hub for good travelling between Europe and Africa. Today, Leptis Magna is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once home to 80,000 people it was a prominent city of the Carthaginian Empire and Roman Libya at the mouth of the Wadi Lebda in the Mediterranean, which saw it grow as a major trade centre of the region. Founded by Phoenicians from Tyre or Sidon (now Lebanon), in th the 7 century BC, over time, it has witnessed many influences and rulers over time.
Leptis Magna was once one of the most important African cities of the Roman Empire. However it has been pillaged and left abandoned with much of it buried beneath the desert sand for many years. The site began being excavated in the 1920s by the local Libyan Antiquities Service, and Italian archaeologists.
The site today sees the remains of the marketplace, Severan Basilica, the Forum, the Amphitheatre and the Severan Arch, which are still some of the best-preserved Roman sites in the Mediterranean. Perched on a hillside with stunning views over the Mediterranean, the ruins are a site to behold, with the above as well as a racecourse. The vast amphitheatre could seat 15,000 spectators on its terraces overlooking the sea beyond.
Libya has seen many rulers of the years including the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians and Greeks before the entire region becoming a part of the Roman Empire. Later it also saw both Ottoman and Italian rule. It is therefore no wonder that Libya offers some stunning and diverse sites. In recent times, due to the political instability in the country, many countries around the world advise their citizens not to travel to Libya. But as the nation stabilises, it is tourism that will bring it back onto the global map with such amazing sites. If travel and borders open and business normalises for Libya, there are plenty of things to see in this fascinating land. Cyrene - is considered to be one of the most impressive Greco-Roman sites in the world and one of the best Classical Greek sites beyond Greece itself. Here you will find the ruins of the great sanctuary of god Apollo. The Cyrene Amphitheatre, built in the 6th century BC, is the largest Greek site in Africa. Sabratha – the picturesque Roman ruins overlook the Mediterranean and again this was an important ancient trading route of the Libyan coastline.
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Much of the ruins were reconstructed by the Italians under Mussolini who gave speeches from the ancient theatre. Today, there is a 3-storey theatre, temples and the remains of luxury Roman villas, offering stunning mosaics. Sabratha is also home to the Byzantine-era Basilica of Justinian. Ghadames – located close to the Algerian/Tunisia border, this ancient city consists of a labyrinth of tunnels, houses, courtyards and places of worship, built underground to offer protection from the hot Sahara Desert. Arch of Marcus Aurelius – this was constructed around 165AD in the city of Oea. The marble arch stood at the intersection of the city’s main streets at the time. Leptis Magna was and in a way still is a jewel in the Roman Empire’s crown and one that has been magnificently preserved. Perhaps its Libya’s limited global standing that has allowed for it to still be so perfectly preserved, but when the time comes to open up to visitors, the site must be heavily protected in order to not be spoilt.
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TOURISM News
TOP 3 PREFERRED DESTINATIONS FOR NORTH EUROPEANS Italy
Italy, Spain and Greece sit in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place of holiday destination preference for tourists coming from North Europe in a recent survey from 5 countries - the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Russia. The short haul element offers more security for many as we come out of the pandemic, but still these destinations offer fabulous weather, great good and a real change of culture. Over 80% plan to travel by 2022 and are willing to spend more than normal. The study was looking at how post ‘health crisis’ behavioural changes will change the way we travel, live, work and have fun from 2022 onwards.
Spain
The desire for total leisure vacations, the typical sea, sun and sand and relaxation have returned to the top of the list of activities with city breaks due to remerge as a top option later on in the year. The desire for a holiday in nature has also risen and a staycation is still taking a considerable market share. 55% of respondents will travel within Europe with 13% planning a holiday in North America and 11% to Southeast Asia. With confidence returning, booking are also looking positive into 2023. Changes in traveller priorities are evident with 22% saying that flexibility in bookings and high health standards are important. While 31% want clearer health and safety standards and 19% would be willing to pay more for a hotel room if they had a recognised cleanliness initiative award. Increased desire for things to be online or use technology is also important allowing for less contact as well as more payments to be made using contactless payments. 16% expect less air travel in 2022, 18% will return to train and car travel and 13% expect multi-trip planning to continue in 2022. Sustainability is now a priority. The impact of travel on climate and the planet is an important factor for 87% of people. This runs from where to travel, how to get there, where to stay and what to do while in a destination. Mindful Travel is a sector expected to be a major trend in 2022, with 66% saying that the emotional and experiential role of travel is important.
Greece
END OF MASS TOURISM FOR THAILAND Thailand used to be flooded with foreign tourists from all over the world, mainly as it was a cheap destination with masses of destinations and beaches for all. It is now moving away from this and focusing on a more sustainable tourism sector. This will make its recovery after the pandemic slower, with predictions that it will be 2023 before the country sees 50% of its former level of foreign tourism again. Tourism represented 20% of the country’s GDP, and now it needs to find a new way to make up the shortfall. Their answer is to focus on a new high class tourist. Thailand saw final visitors arrivals for 2021 reach just 350,000, approximately 0.87% of what it was in 2019. That is a 99% wipeout in numbers and revenue, despite the select opening in specific locations since July last year. With high season for international visitors being between November to March, when most is spend, the figures are not encouraging with just 133,924 foreign tourists entering Thailand between November and the beginning of December 2021. With just a 10% increase in flights into the country, more needs to be done to make Thailand attractive to any tourists over the coming months, if its plan for high class tourists is to work.
MUSEUM OF THE FUTURE OPENED IN DUBAI, U.A.E The Museum of the Future symbolises both future progress and the regional design influence of Dubai with its use of modern materials, and Arabic poetry written by HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum which is represented in 3D on the facade surface. The quotations express his vision for the future of Dubai. Located adjacent to the Emirates Towers, the Museum of the Future is designed to be an incubator of new ideas, a catalyst for innovation, and a global destination for inventors and entrepreneurs. It offers a mosaic of elements from the virtual to the physical, offering a platform to exchange varied and different ideas, philosophies and spiritual learnings. The museum will help find solutions to problems to build a better world for tomorrow as well as being a place to learn and explore the possibilities and create something anew. Created by the Dubai Future Foundation, the Museum of the Future is an interpretation of the Foundation’s motto: imagine, design and execute.
The futuristic design of the building is meaningful and symbolic; the circular structure represents humanity; it sits atop a green mound representing the earth, and the void represents the unknown future. It consists of 7 floors that bridges the past and the future bringing technology and traditional art forms together. The museum hopes to attract over 1 million visitors a year.
THE ROYAL HILL OF AMBOHIMANGA, MADAGASCAR 20 YEARS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Ambohimanga is a hill and traditional fortified royal settlement on the island of Madagascar. The Royal Hill has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. To celebrate its 20th anniversary in December 2021, a celebration with various speeches from the country's authorities and generous contributors to the much needed recent restoration work were held. The site is now well preserved with upgraded signage, visual aids, site locations and information all given a new lease of life.
HOKKAIDO GOES GREEN SUSTAINABILITY AND NET-ZERO IN NORTHERN JAPAN Hokkaido aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The project called ‘Zero-Carbon Hokkaido’ will promote decarbonisation and sustainable community development, while the local government plans a new green economy utilising Hokkaido's abundant sources of renewable energy and its carbon-absorbing forests. The mountain resort town of Niseko has been selected as a Future City for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and it’s set to become the model for the rest of Japan. The tiny village of Kamishihoro is one of the main dairy producers on Hokkaido, with more than 40,000 cows and just 5,000 residents. So much thriving livestock does generate quite a lot of waste, and manure disposal has become a major issue. So the waste is now reused in all sorts of smart ways including producing clean biogas to generate electricity for the local area, while the by-products of this process are reused both as liquid fertiliser, and as bedding for the cows! Surplus heat is even recycled into local greenhouses growing soft fruit. In the town of Shibetsu, a group of eco-conscious fisherman are changing the fishing industry by respecting the sea and becoming less wastefully, while making sure fish stocks are not exhausted.
TOURISM HOPE FOR TURKEY'S ECONOMY 2022 is to see tourism in Turkey set to return to pre-pandemic levels, adding hope to the economy following its currency crash recently. However, increased utility and food and drink costs are likely to wipe out any profits. But bookings by Europeans are looking positive so far, especially from the UK.
WESTIN PARIS HOTEL FOR SALE One of Paris’ historic French buildings in an enviable location has gone on the market for sale. The a price of UK£667 million, the Westin Paris Vendôme hotel, which was built in 1878 has seen many of the rich and famous over the years walk through its doors. Henderson Park purchased the hotel in 2017 but is run under franchise by the Marriott group. The hotel is one of Paris’ largest hotels and occupies an entire block. The hotel is in need of reconfiguration or redeveloping, but has already caught the attention of several interested parties. Many luxury hotels have struggled through the pandemic and still do as there are still very few international visitors arriving. In addition, overheads are also high in terms of staff and services in older buildings. It is thought that approx. UK£146- UK£209 million would need to be spent on it to bring it back to a true luxury hotel. The hotel has also been successful in hosting many meetings and events, like high-end fashion shows, but this is unlikely to pick up soon.
MONTENEGRO, KNOW THE RULES FOR USING DRONES Montenegro Civil Aviation Agency receives many questions regarding drone import and regulatory requirements for drone operations in the country. Here is what you should know, if you are coming from abroad with a drone.
1. Prior to your visit, you should contact the Ministry of Economic Development regarding importing drone in Montenegro. 2. If your unmanned aircraft can develop kinetic energy above 79J, or have an operational mass above 0.5kg, or have an operational mass less than 0.5kg, but their maximum speed is over 20m/s and it can develop range more than 15m and maximum height more than 10m, you will have to register it. 3. In order to be registered as unmanned aircraft operator, visit the following link for further information and registration https://www.caa.me/en/flight-operations-unmanned-aircraft. 4. In case you plan to fly in narrow urban zones, inhabited areas, at the distances smaller than allowed in the vicinity of people, facilities, vehicles, vessels… you need the approval of the Civil Aviation Agency for those operations.
PURSAT, CAMBODIA DEVELOPS TOURISM SECTOR The Provincial Administration of Pursat is looking at ways to improve and develop its tourism sector. In Pursat City nearly 1,000 LED lights have been installed in the city to improve the view of the city. Paving of roads and creating proper pavements, repairing roads, installing better lighting and keeping the city clean are all part of the project to build tourism in the city.
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TANZANIA TOURISM HOPE WITH 126% GROWTH After much hard work, Tanzania’s tour operators’ efforts to restart the tourism industry have paid off with help too from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) support. During the pandemic, Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) through the UNDP’s backing in collaboration with the Government, undertook a number of response measures, yielding tremendous impact in terms of commanding solid tourist traffic and new bookings thus paving the way for a prosperous future for the industry. Despite the pandemic, recent statistics show the tourism industry recorded a 126% growth in terms of the number of visitors from 2020 to 2021. 1.4 million tourists flocked into the nation in 2021, compared to 620,867 in 2020.
TOURISM IN ROME LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY Rome has seen international visitor attendance drop by 80%, double the national average. The recovery has begun and will see the opening of 20 high-end hotels by 2023. Rome was racing ahead with a growth rate from international arrivals of 15% in 2019, but now sees a drop is -80% over the past 2 years. With planning key, competition between other European cities always adds pressure to be the best. However, Rome and its surrounding region are stunning, with Lazio growing by 6% compared to 6.3% of the national average, even without the contribution to tourism. With the 2025 Jubilee and Expo 2030 Rome is set for some positive growth helped by the 20 new hotel opening by 2023, including luxury and 4* superior hotels. Continued growth will be to focus on not just the famous sites but on the city’s parks, the province, and the environmental beauties. A sector offering huge growth is congress tourism: Italy is currently rated 6th in the world, Rome 18th but attracts events with a lower number of participants than Milan or Barcelona. Among the best practices adopted by other European capitals to be inspired by, the creation of a single tourism promotion body, participated by private individuals and with high decision-making power. The development of the DMO-Destination management organisation is fundamental with a strong impulse to digitisation.
VIETNAM OPENS TO INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS FROM 15 MARCH Vietnam is to open to international tourists from 15 March following the lifting of most covid restrictions. However international tourists must meet all government requirements. A negative test is required before boarding a flight, self – quarantine is required for 24hr upon arrival are among the requirements needed to gain entry. Vietnam welcomed just 157,000 foreign arrivals in 2021 compared to 18 million in 2019. Since November 2021 foreign tourists were allowed to visit designated places under a vaccine passport programme.
ANGOLA MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR UPGRADING TOURIST SITES The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Environment has acknowledged the need to upgrade and rejuvenate some touristic places in Bibala municipality, Namibe province.
Funding would go towards recovering the Mutipa thermal waters and Agro-Ecological tourist centres, in the Mukua-howahona area, as these areas have the potential to generate income for the country. In addition, local jobs will be created and more tourists would be attracted to the area.
DUBAI, U.A.E ON THE WINTER SPORT MAP As one of the hottest cities in the world, winter sports is not the first things that comes to mind. However, Dubai has proved to make winter sports possible even in 50 degrees heat! Since it opened the Ski Dubai centre in 2005, the artificial snow run is always busy. With such success, Ski Dubai has won the ‘Best Indoor Ski Resort’ in the world for 6 consecutive years! Sharing the same goal as the UAE, Saudi Arabia is also wishing to diversify from its main oil and gas industry and plans to build a vast indoor ski resort across an area of 40,000sq.m and called the City of Snow.
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This year sees MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine celebrate its silver anniversary - 25 years in publication. We began with just 25 paper copies sent out to clients by post informing them of events and news from around the World. As technology advanced, so did we and soon we became an online publication in 1997. We have expanded and adapted over time and today we are one of the more unusual e-magazines serving the ever changing world of travel, tourism & MICE and all the sectors within. Always offering you a new perspective or an interesting feature, you can be sure we will be here for many more years to come. Thank you to all our readers for their continued support over the years. THE MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine Team
