Holiday & Travel

Five months into her role as CEO of Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB), Joy Jibrilu has her sights set on raising up the next generation of Bahamians to ensure the future of the archipelago’s tourism industry is better and brighter than ever.

“It has been an incredible experience to discover even more about the great work that Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board has done over its 53 years in existence,” said Jibrilu, while recognizing the vision and dedication of Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Clement Maynard, and George Myers in laying a strong foundation for the organization’s work.

The British Office for National Statistics reported that the cost of air travel in the United Kingdom has been rising at the fastest rate ever, accelerating sharply from an increase of 24.3% in November, to a 44.4% spike in December, compared with the previous year.

Current air travel costs increase is the country’s largest year-on-year surge in air fares since at least 1989, with industry analysts saying that it could be a sign that budget travel is coming to an end in the UK.

The much-awaited Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show returns to the NEC, Birmingham, from the 21 - 26 February, kicking off the New Year with the UK’s biggest start of year display of tents, camping equipment, Leisure Vehicles and trailer tents.

With destinations from the UK and beyond also at the Show, including campsites, holiday parks and day-out destinations, there’s plenty on offer for those with a love of the outdoors to start planning their next trip on the road. 

Accomplished tourism professional Latia Duncombe is no longer acting as the country’s top tourism executive. She has been named Director General of Tourism, Investments & Aviation for the Bahamas.

“During the past year, Mrs. Duncombe has brought energetic leadership to our senior executive management team at the Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation,” said Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper, who is also the minister responsible for the tourism sector.

On January 18, 2023, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) hosted its first Tourism Business Licensing Clinic at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. For one day, existing and new tourism business owners were able to connect with key regulatory agencies to expedite the processes and address the challenges related to registering and licensing their businesses.

Building on its success and wanting to offer clients a broader choice, Authentic India Tours has expanded its portfolio to include destinations in the Indian Subcontinent.

The team's dedicated travel experts based in Cochin, London and Swansea are excited to offer extra special holiday experiences with an 'authentic' feel in Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as well as offering tours throughout India.

The Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, announced the appointment of Mrs. Latia Duncombe as Director General.
 
"During the past year, Mrs. Duncombe has brought energetic leadership to our senior executive management team at the Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation," said Deputy Prime Minister Cooper. She has made a seamless transition from the corporate sector to public service, parlaying her wealth of knowledge and experience into outstanding leadership of Team Tourism.

The Fitur 2023 tourism fair has exceeded all its expectations and in its first three days has gathered more than 136,000 professionals, 68% more than last year, surpassing all expectations, according to a first estimate, sources from Ifema informed Europa Press. To these data must be added the digital call of its LIVEConnect platform, which today has 40,000 registrations, 29% more than in 2022.

HF Holidays, the award-winning walking and special interest holiday operator has appointed leading travel PR and marketing agency LOTUS to raise awareness of the British heritage brand through a communications campaign.

An award-winning walking and special interest holiday operator, it has appointed leading travel PR and marketing agency LOTUS to raise awareness of the British heritage brand through a communications campaign.

Led by tourism and hospitality veteran Angella Bennett, the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) operations in Canada are having a positive outcome on tourism revenue generated by arrivals from the Great White North. With nearly 30 years of experience in private sector hospitality under her belt, Bennett has transitioned smoothly and firmly into her role representing Jamaica and establishing solid relationships with Canada’s vast network of professional travel advisors and tour operators.

The King and Queen of Spain inaugurated the 43rd edition of FITUR, the International Tourism Trade Fair organized by IFEMA MADRID, which is being held at a key moment in consolidating the recovery of tourism activity worldwide. H.M. King Felipe VI and H.M. Queen Letizia were received by the president of IFEMA MADRID's Executive Committee, José Vicente de los Mozos, and were able to greet the president of Guatemala, a FITUR Partner Country, Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla. 

Barbados will host the 41st edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace, May 9-11, 2023.

CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig announced that the influential trade association’s largest annual event, which brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products and services, will be staged in Barbados for the first time in the organization’s history.

Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Jamaica, among other island nations are outspoken when it comes to the deep bond with Africa.

Cuthbert Ncube, the Chairman of the African Tourism Board, feels this bond with the Caribbean as well. Caribbean and African ties run deep. They are based on a shared history, culture, and sense of a common identity forged by the slave trade. African Diaspora in the Caribbean is everywhere.

China’s decision to ditch its zero-COVID policy has triggered a surge in flight bookings, according to the latest data from the industry analysts. And it’s China’s intra-regional neighbours in Asia who will reap the benefits the most.

According to the Chinese Traveller Sentiment Report, more than 60% of survey respondents said they wanted to travel outside of mainland China in 2023. This group expressed high expectations about the freedom of cross-border travel this year.

Three service providers have been commissioned to conduct passenger screenings on behalf of Fraport AG from January 1, 2023. Since January 1, 2023, Fraport has assumed responsibility for the organization, management, and performance of the security checkpoints at Frankfurt Airport (FRA).

The German Federal Police, who were previously tasked with these responsibilities, will continue to hold statutory oversight and supervision roles, as well as overall responsibility for aviation security.

Just a few hours away from the tee-off of the FITUR 2023 International Tourism Trade Fair, some destinations are wasting no time and have begun to showcase their charms. Such is the case of the Mexican state of Querétaro, which this Sunday at noon held a presentation for Spanish tour operators and media at the Casa de México in Spain, in Madrid.