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Foreign Tourism Returns to ASIA PACIFIC
At the recent St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Glavkosmos announced that ‘some of the wealthy Russian citizens’ could have the chance to fly to the ISS in 2024. Russian citizens are not normally allowed to fly to the ISS as tourists using their own money.
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Glavkosmos is also to begin flights on the Soyuz spacecraft in low Earth orbit without docking with the station. Last year, Glavkosmos went into agreement with 4 space tourists who could fly on 2 Soyuz in 2024. On one 3-seater ship, 2 tourists can go to MSC together with the ship's commander, a professional cosmonaut.
U.S.A YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK REOPENS FLOODING
After unprecedented flooding recently, which dmamaged roads and vital park infrastructure, Yellowstone National Park has now re-opened.
Three of Yellowstone's 5 entrances have opened, allowing visitors to access the south loop of the park. The 8,991sq.km park, located mainly in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho, were closed due to heavy flooding, rockslides and very hazardous conditions, an event seen only one every 500 years!
The north loop, North and Northeast entrances will remain closed, for the time being due to extensive damage.
As part of the reopening plan, park staff have engaged over 1,000 business owners, park partners, commercial operators and residents in surrounding gateway communities to determine how to manage summer visitation.
Summer is the busiest season in Yellowstone. The park attracted approx. 4.86 million visitors last year.
FOREIGN TOURISM RETURNS TO ASIA PACIFIC
The Pacific Asia Travel Association’s latest figures on international visitor arrivals provided by 39 Asia Pacific destinations show a gradual return of visitors from 2022-2024.
Visitor recovery rates are projected to reach 25-48% of that in 2019 this year. This is an improvement from 16-18% in 2021.
The figures are based on the possibility of further health crisis restrictions coming into play as the months go on, the outlook due to high oil prices, the Ukraine conflict and some limited air connectivity.
At the individual destination level, recovery rates vary greatly in 2022 ranging from -15% to nearly +99%, while in 2024, they range from +86% to +120% under that same scenario.
Sifnos island, Greece
The tourism season is looking good across all of Greece this year with hotel occupancy levels at positive levels so far.
Therefore, the Greek Hotel Association estimates the goal of UK£13 billion in tourism revenue is achievable, representing 80% of revenues made back in 2019.
Northern Greece is being favoured mainly by tourists from the Balkan countries with popular destinations being Halkidiki region, Pieria and Thassos Island. Islands destinations of the Aegean Sea, Ionian sea Greece are again the focus for English, German and French markets. Greece is also now a top destination for tourists from Israel.
MEXICO TO ATTRACT MORE CANADIAN HOLIDAYMAKERS
The Secretary of Tourism of Mexico has developed a working tour of Canada, holding meetings with leaders of the sector. Together with the Consul General of Mexico in Vancouver, the Ministry of Tourism, Sectur, has held meetings with the Minister of Tourism, Art, Culture and Sports of British Columbia, in a bid to increase tourism between the two countries.
A meeting was also held with the CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, with the purpose of undertaking indigenous nature tourism projects in Mexico.
They agreed on the importance of dignifying and strengthening indigenous communities that are of great value to cultures and a fundamental part of our roots. Different projects will be created to undertake ethnic and nature tourism in Mexico.
Talks also took place with the President and CEO of Destination Canada, about the trends in the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the collaboration agreements that will boost tourism activity.
Mexico aims to increase its GDP in 2022 from tourism activities to 14.7% of the national GDP and contribute about UK159,000 million to the Mexican economy.
ITALY TOURISM ON A POSITIVE LEVEL
Tourism in Italy is booming, despite the current issues the world is facing. Predictions for 33 million foreign tourists seem to be hopeful with the sector almost restored to pre-pandemic levels.
With the health crisis still going on last year, from June to September arrivals from abroad to Italy decreased by 55%. But today with all restrictions withdrawn, tourism is back and contributes to the upward trend of arrivals.
The cities of Rome, Naples and Venice, are already full of international visitors, while in famous resorts, such as Sardinia and Puglia, restaurants and hoteliers are also seeing growth. A recent survey conducted in Italy, Spain, France, Britain and Germany, saw 60% of respondents would choose Italy as their first European destination to go to.
