Colors: Yellow Color
Colors: Yellow Color

Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has highlighted that revenue from both cruise and stopover arrivals is outpacing total arrival figures.

Speaking at the Ministry of Tourism’s recent two day mid-term review and strategic planning retreat, Minister Bartlett said, “Preliminary data from the Jamaica Tourist Board shows that foreign exchange earnings are outpacing arrival figures by ten percent,

Last year we saw an unprecedented 4.3million visitors which translated to USD3billion in foreign exchange earnings and the projection is that by the end of this year, Jamaica will see earnings of USD3.3Billion.”

Minister Bartlett lead the two day mid-term review and strategic planning retreat, held at the Terra Nova Hotel, where heads of agencies, divisions and senior manages within the ministry discussed the progress they have made in meeting key performance indicators set ahead of their last meeting. The meeting included all agencies of the Ministry of Tourism – the Jamaica Tourist Board, Tourism Enhancement Fund, Tourism Product Development Company, Devon House Development Company, Jamaica Vacations Ltd, Bath Fountain Hotel and Spa and Milk River Hotel and Spa.

“From this two day self-analysis we were able to drill down to critical programme areas and review our progress so far using data. Of note is that it has been highlighted that for the last five years, our arrivals have grown by 35% and revenue by over 40% which means that we on a positive upward trajectory in both areas,” said Minister Bartlett.

In 2016, Minister Bartlett established 5x5x5 growth targets for the Ministry and its agencies, which seeks to grow the tourism contribution to the economy by providing 5 million visitors over a 5 year period; earn US $5 billion; employ 125,000 directly in the industry; increase room stock by 15,000; and grow at 5% per annum.

Minister Bartlett added that “Through the strategic and deliberate approach of my Ministry and agencies, we are seeing that the KPIs established may have to be revised as we are well on target to achieving and even surpassing these benchmarks. The team has done a tremendous job and through their hard work the sector is experiencing a boom we expected to continue.”

The White Harte and the Anchor in Bristol are conjuring up a ‘Perfect Storm’ ahead of this year’s Halloween Screamfest 2.0 - as the pub prepares to transform itself into a house of horrors for what they’re dubbing ‘Hallo-week’.

The tempestuous times come in the form of a scrumptious Kraken Black Spiced Rum cocktail – the Caribbean rum’s take on the traditional Dark and Stormy – served in a ‘Perfect Storm’ limited-edition tankard, especially for customers to enjoy on the annual spook-fest.

With Halloween falling on a Wednesday this year, the two pubs will ensure that there is plenty of chance to get in the spirit, with the spooky celebrations extended througoughout the week. There will be decorations galore, fancy dress and a party atmosphere on Friday and Saturday night, either side of the Hallowed Eve.

You won’t be missing out if you visit the them on the night however, as on the 31st October things will be spicing up on the food front, with hellishly-hot wings at just 25p a go, courtesy of the aptly named, Hallo-wing Wednesday.

“We’re planning on building up our spooky décor over the course of the month,” said Chris, General Manager of the White Harte “a cobweb here, some ghostly apparitions there – just as teasers, until we’re all set for Hallo-week from the 26th October. The team are pretty excited, particularly about dressing up and, of course, even more so, because they get to do it twice! It’s going to be SPOOK-tacular!”

Efteling – the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland – has revealed that a new attraction is to launch where the Bob bobsleigh run is currently located, scheduled to open in spring 2020.

After more than 34 years of service as a children's roller coaster, next year the Bob will make way for a new rollercoaster aimed at children aged between 4 and 10 years old. Max & Moritz will be a dual-tracked roller coaster, based on a well-known German visual poem about two naughty boys called Max and Moritz.  Like Bob, Max & Moritz will be suitable for the whole family (with a minimum passenger's height of one metre) and will open in spring 2020.

The Bob's current Swiss theming and its station building will be retained for the new attraction, while the construction of the track will start in September 2019 and is expected to cost 15 million euros. The Bobsleigh run will remain open until then.

Max & Moritz will be themed on the 1865 German illustrated story of the same name, written and drawn by Wilhelm Busch. The forerunner of the comic strip, the original copy consists of drawings and text, with each image accompanied by a few lines in rhyme.  The story follows Max & Moritz, two naughty boys who make fun of villagers with their mischievous behaviour. Efteling will create a free adaptation of the original story in the attraction; a happy nod to the story about the two boys.

With the announcement of Max and Moritz, the opening of another new attraction in a soon-to-be expanded area to the east of the amusement park will be postponed until 2021. It will be part of a completely new themed area. The new themed area will be part of the adventurous Reizenrijk, and include the new attraction next to the Efteling Hotel, renovations at the hotel and a few smaller attractions.

The new Chairman gave his first remarks under his new post to press at an early morning Press Conference at Atlantis Bahamas.

"Let me first of all, publicly thank my colleague ministers for placing their faith in me by electing me on Tuesday as chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. I’m humbled by their confidence, yet excited about the opportunity to help guide such an important regional institution for the next two years.

I’m also excited at the prospects for the CTO and the critical role it can play in unifying the Caribbean, not simply as a tourism destination, but as a people destined for greatness.

I’m convinced that a well-supported, well-funded, CTO can take its place alongside other venerable institutions to lift the people of the Caribbean to incredible heights that are attainable but not yet achieved.

The organisation’s leadership in tourism and its contribution to the development of our human resources will help drive strong economies and build reliable, competent and productive workforces and Caribbean populations that are ready to face an ever-changing global environment.

The CTO’s leadership was on full display this week through the experts we brought together to share insights into how we can better build a lasting and sustainable tourism sector that will benefit every individual, every community, every country in this region.

We dared to challenge the region to build better, not just the infrastructure, but the entire industry. We explored applicable recommendations for the use of technology, not only to improve the visitors’ experience, but our lot as a people. We boldly tackled controversial issues such as commoditizing our cultures without exploiting them and embracing the Caribbean as a region of roots.

We brought these issues to the forefront not because they’re popular, but because we are convinced they must be successfully addressed sooner rather than later, if we are to truly build a Caribbean tourism industry for the future.

And there’s no better way to shape the future than to involve our young people. There isn’t a single person among those who were in the room for yesterday’s youth congress, or among the approximately three thousand people who watched it live on the CTO Facebook page, who will disagree with me when I say we have some of the most creative, imaginative and smartest young people anywhere.

They are the ones who will be challenged to continue building the tourism industry on the foundation that has been laid by today’s leaders and yesterday’s pioneers. Based on the strength of their performances yesterday, I’m confident that the future of tourism is bright.

In this context, allow me to congratulate the youth congress winner, Jamaica’s Bryanna Hylton, as well as St. Maarten’s Kiara Meyers and Caroline Pain of Martinique, who placed in the top three.

I know you’d also like an update on our The Rhythm Never Stops campaign; I’m happy to advise that the campaign will be launched this coming Monday, thanks to the public- and private sector stakeholders who contributed to this important first phase.

On the region’s tourism performance, it has been a tale of two situations. On the one hand, we have robust growth in countries that were not affected by last year’s hurricanes.

On the other, we have seen dramatic decreases in arrivals to those hit by the storms, although the performances of these countries are steadily improving.

Of the 22 reporting destinations, 13 of them registered increases in tourist arrivals during the first half of the year, ranging from 1.7 per cent to 18.3, while seven recorded decreases of between a negligible -0.3 per cent and 71 per cent.

The top performing destination during this period were Guyana at 18.3 per cent, Belize at 17.1 per cent, the Cayman Islands at 15.9 per cent, and Grenada at 10.7 per cent and the Bahamas at 10.2 per cent.

These individual results substantiate the regional messaging of the openness of the destinations for business and the confidence in destinations to deliver quality experiences.

The performances of the key source markets varied considerably, with some destinations recording strong growth, while others registered declines.

In the US market, for example, while Jamaica reported growth of 8.4 per cent, the Dominican Republic was up by 6.3 per cent and 11 other destinations achieved growth, six of which were by double digits, the Caribbean received Seven million visits from the US during the first half of the year.

This was a 15.8 per cent decrease when compared to the corresponding period last year, due mainly to a 54.6 per cent fall in arrivals to Puerto Rico and decreases in arrivals to Cuba.

On the other hand, there was a new record in arrivals from Canada for this time of year, with 2.4 million overnight international tourists, representing a 4.7 per cent increase.

Arrivals from Europe also increased, though marginally at 0.3 per cent, with three million tourists visiting the Caribbean during the first half of the year.

Belize led the way with 24.3 per cent growth, followed by Guyana at 9.4% per cent, Curaçao 6.2 per cent and Saint Lucia at 4.5 per cent. However, overall growth was impacted by steep falls in arrivals to Anguilla, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

There was also a marginal decline of 0.5 per cent in cruise visits, although there are signs of improvement. Of the 23 reporting destinations, 15 realized improvement upon their 2017 performances with Trinidad & Tobago registering increases of 166 per cent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines up by 84 per cent and Martinique at 54.7 per cent, leading on growth rates.

However, this was countered by declines of nearly 90 per cent in the British Virgin Islands, Dominica was down by 88.4 per cent, St. Maarten down 27.5 per cent, and the US Virgin Islands decreased by 22.5 per cent. Puerto Rico, though hurricane-impacted, posted a 1.1 per cent increase during the period.

The region’s competitive advantages of a diverse tourism product and safety and security are still intact. Destinations are rebuilding, and new tourism products and services are being restored daily in the destinations impacted by last year’s hurricanes.

Our research department anticipates an overall decline of between three and four per cent this year, but predicts a 4.3 per cent increase next year.

Cruise, on the other hand, is projected to grow by five per cent to six per cent this year.

Let me take the opportunity to thank Minister Dionisio D’Aguillar, director general Joy Jibrilu and team at the Bahamas ministry of tourism, as well as our own CTO staff for working so hard to pull off a wonderful State of the Tourism Industry conference, and I thank you for your participation."

New Zealanders are traveling abroad in record numbers – over 2.9 million people travelled out of New Zealand airports last year – and one of their favourite destinations is the United States. Kiwis are a responsible bunch, according to MoneyHub, only one in six Kiwis holiday or venture abroad without travel insurance. Kiwis are also fiercely loyal, they overwhelmingly prefer to purchase travel insurance from New Zealand-based travel insurance companies. However, there is a new trend on the horizon of non-US travellers purchasing US-based travel insurance based on lower cost, increased benefits and ease of filing medical or loss claims for luggage, flight delays and other travel mishaps.

Silicon Valley-based travel insurance company, VisitorsCoverage, reports a 120 percent increase in New Zealanders searching for and comparing travel insurance policies on their site, and an almost 100 percent increase in sales of travel insurance policies to Kiwis for travel to the US for the first half of 2018, compared to 2017 statistics.

The United States does not provide universal medical coverage. Unprepared travellers who did not purchase travel insurance and sustain serious injury or a catastrophic medical incident in the US risk incurring financial liability that can easily run over $100,000, as the US also has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the world. Should a fellow Kiwi require medical air transport back to New Zealand, costs could easily double or triple for medical repatriation.

“Visitors to the US are realizing the cost savings, coverage advantages and convenience of purchasing US-based travel insurance,” says Rajeev Shrivastava, CEO and founder of VisitorsCoverage, an InsurTech company that provides online comparisons of travel insurance policies. Not only do more US-based providers recognize and accept US-based insurance, but non-US policies are generally reimbursement-based and travellers may be required to pay medical costs out-of-pocket at the time of service. Filing a claim for reimbursement later could be complicated, frustrating and lengthy as a result of different time zones and countries.”

Most non-US travel insurance companies use third-party providers to enable them to offer medical and travel insurance in the US, which may result in higher costs to the purchaser as well as higher deductibles. Most policies offered through third-parties rarely offer comprehensive coverage that utilize US-based Preferred Provider Networks (PPOs) – these often have low or no deductibles, and little or no co-pays – provided the traveller uses only physicians and hospitals that are part of the approved provider network.

US-based travel insurance companies partner directly with medical insurance providers who often directly pay all covered claims filed by the traveller, with little or no payment at the time of treatment. Companies like VisitorsCoverage partner with top-rated providers such as IMG, Seven Corners and underwriters like Lloyd’s of London, giving peace of mind to unlucky travellers who actually have to file a claim for medical treatment or loss. Many comprehensive policies offer coverage beyond medical, including lost luggage, flight cancellation or delay, repatriation or border entry denial.

The bottom line for Kiwis travelling to the US? “Take the time to shop around and compare New Zealand-based travel insurance policies with those offered in the US,” Shrivastava continues. “Most US-based travel insurance policies cost the same or more as non-US based policies, depending on age, but the small added cost is worth it if you need to use your plan. It’s really not worth the risk of buying a cheaper policy that could still leave you with a huge, unpaid portion of medical fees should a catastrophic incident occur.”

Indonesia has unveiled a package of steps to help Tanzania to unleash the tourism potential, as it seeks close ties with the resource-rich country.

In his maiden interaction with the members of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) in Arusha, Indonesian Ambassador to Tanzania, Prof. Ratlan Pardede vowed to work with the government to attract massive Indonesian tourists.

“I will promote Tanzania’s abundant tourist attractions back home and encourage youths to come and explore the country as part of the strategy to boost tourism” Prof. Pardede told the TATO members.

The Indonesian diplomat who recently sampled Serengeti, the Tanzania’s flagship national park, said he would also foster a strong link between TATO and Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) to work together in promoting both countries for mutual benefits.

Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is Africa’s best safari park because of to the sheer numbers, variety of wildlife, abundance of predators and spectacular wildebeest migration.

According to the latest ratings by safari travellers and African travel experts, Serengeti National Park polled 4.9 out of 5, emerging the winner.

TATO Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sirili Akko who spearheaded the talks said idea behind the interaction was part of comprehensive approach to promote Tanzania’s tourist attractions in Asia, the biggest emerging travel and tourism market.

Mr Akko further said that TATO has resolved to diversify its tourist market from the long-established sources of western countries and a few African counterparts.

Lack of direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Jakarta coupled with little information on tourist attractions in Tanzania among Indonesians, have been cited as among factors leading to few tourists from the Southeast Asian country.

However, the Indonesian Embassy in Dar es Salaam are upbeat that there could be an increase of between two and five per cent in the coming years from the current 350 travelers from Indonesia.

Indonesia’s tourism industry is booming, Prof. Pardede said, adding that the country’s visa-free policy is one of the secrets behind the tourism thriving.

In 2017, the country welcomed over 14 million overseas visitors an increase of more than 2 million from the previous year.

This rapid increase in visitors, and the billions of dollars in foreign currency flowing with them, seems likely to continue.

This is not mere happenstance, but rather the result of a coordinated and strategic government effort to drive growth in the industry.

In 2015 the Ministry of Tourism set a goal of 20 million foreign visitors by 2019.

At the time, with numbers hovering around 9 million, this appeared to be an optimistic target but the most recent data suggests they are on pace to achieve it or come very close.

The question then is what’s driving this rapid growth?

The answer seems fairly clear: with the election of Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, the government set clear benchmarks for what it wanted to accomplish in the tourism sector, then designed and implemented a multipronged effort to achieve those goals.

These efforts have been helped by a weakening rupiah, which increases Indonesia’s allure as an affordable tourist destination.

But that is only a one part of a bigger picture which includes multifaceted efforts to restructure the Ministry of Tourism, market Indonesia more aggressively as a tourist destination, enact regulatory reforms to attract investment, and target strategic destinations outside of Bali for development and promotion.

Since the program kicked off in 2015, the industry has grown by leaps and bounds, generating a flurry of economic activity and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

In 2015, the ministry rolled out a new 5-year strategic plan setting clear goals for itself to achieve by 2019.

These included the 20 million-visitor numbers, as well as attracting Rupiah. 240 trillion ($17.2 billion) in foreign exchange, employing 13 million people in the industry and boosting the sector’s contribution to national GDP to 8 percent.

To accomplish these goals, the ministry was first overhauled. Prior to 2015, tourism development and promotion were grouped under the umbrella of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, meaning that in addition to tourism promotion, the ministry was also engaged in financing and producing films, art and music that represented Indonesian culture and society.

The 2015 restructure spun off the creative economy activities, allowing the ministry to focus more narrowly on only the development and marketing of tourist destinations.

Along with this narrower mandate, it also received a significant budget increase. For instance, the budget for overseas marketing in 2016 was Rupiah 1.777 trillion ($127 million), which is more than the entire ministerial budget for 2014.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the tourism development agency for the region, joins the global community today in celebrating World Tourism Day 2018 under the theme, “Tourism and the Digital Transformation”. Digital advances have had a profound and transformative impact on our lives. They have influenced the way we learn, changed how we work, and altered the way humanity’s social fabric is connected. This behavioral evolution will continue; and in the travel and tourism business those who adapt will reap the rewards of technological innovation.
As the Caribbean’s primary foreign exchange earner, tourism remains the region’s lifeblood, contributing up to two-thirds of gross domestic product (GDP) in some cases. In order for the sector to drive continuous and inclusive growth in line with sustainable development goals, we must fully explore the economic, societal and environmental impacts of technology and innovation on tourism’s contribution to GDP.
The CTO is positioning Caribbean tourism to capitalize on emerging technologies. We’ve consulted with some of the foremost thought-leaders and are encouraging public and private sector investment in digital innovations that have disrupted traditional business models.
It is our duty to our members to explore and introduce new tools and capabilities which alter the way we approach tourism marketing and development; and we must do so at all levels. One of the best examples is our digital learning series of e-workbooks containing creatively designed audio visual and multi-lingual materials, designed to encourage and facilitate the teaching of tourism in Caribbean schools.
Among other objectives the e-workbooks are meant to build greater awareness among young students regarding the significance of tourism to the Caribbean; demonstrate the importance of preserving our environment for ourselves and for our visitors; enlist the creativity of students to enhance tourism’s success; and showcase the full range of career opportunities tourism presents to Caribbean people.
Then there is the Tourism Information Management System (TIMS), an online application launched by the CTO in 2015 to capture, analyze and display tourism related data for the benefit of our members. This tool captures arrival and departure data from embarkation and disembarkation records via a business analytics system which illustrates the data in a more visual and comprehendible way, facilitating additional reporting and actionable insights.
With the launch of our Visitor Intelligence Database for Analytics (VIDA) in 2016, some CTO member states began to maximize returns on their marketing investment with the VIDA segmentation tool, utilizing postal codes to reveal rich data on the region’s visitor demographics. Additionally, the CTO is actively collaborating with innovative and disruptive companies such as Airbnb, an online community marketplace that connects travelers with hosts in over 190 countries.
Together with Airbnb, the CTO is assisting Caribbean tourism officials and stakeholders to maximize the benefits of the sharing economy, and home-sharing in particular. This work includes informing stakeholders of the value of peer-to-peer review mechanisms; providing economic analyses of Airbnb’s impact; developing policy guidelines and recommendations for the consideration of Caribbean lawmakers; exploring ways to make the sharing economy beneficial to our destinations while working in concert with all segments of the accommodation sector; and identifying ways to more effectively market the Caribbean as a region.
We are also working with Bitt, a financial technology company to develop ways of using blockchain technology and mobile money systems to the advantage of the tourism industry in the Caribbean. This work includes promoting the inclusion of micro, small and medium tourism enterprises; providing fast, simple and secure methods for visitors and locals to complete a wide range of transactions; and assisting vendors and policymakers to improve data-processing and decision-making.
The CTO’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) at Paradise Island, the Bahamas from 1-5 October, 2018, will feature a key session on ‘Modernizing the Experience: Using Technology to Enhance the Visitor Experience’. The discussion will cover a broad range of applications from customer-centric hospitality models leveraging technology, to the way industry leaders are using mobile and virtual reality innovations to differentiate brand identity.
In the coming months the CTO will continue to develop an agenda which encourages and assists member states’ efforts to create digitally-enhanced tourism services via entrepreneurship and innovation. It is our firm belief that more efficient resource management will empower our local communities and help build a truly inclusive tourism sector.
Tourism must bring benefits to all members of our society. Emerging digital technologies provide a range of new tools that can tackle challenges faced throughout our member states, increase profitability and bring about positive change for stakeholders that will improve the quality of life for all Caribbean people.

By Patricia Affonso-Dass
President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association
The Caribbean's tourism sector is uniquely important to economic and social life in the region, and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) will indeed be celebrating  World Tourism Day 2018 when it is launched in Budapest, Hungary on September 27.
Apart from the importance of tourism to sustainable development, this World Tourism Day highlights the importance of digital technologies to the sector.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) also hails the power of innovation to boost growth for a more sustainable and responsible tourism sector.
Competing, as we do, in a global market, we in the Caribbean are leveraging digital technology to attract visitors and keep them coming, and also transferring those skills to our wider economy.
Digital technology helps us to customize our product, so that discerning travelers can decide what they want to do and what they want to experience.
The internet has fostered our economic growth through tourism by shortening the trip planning and purchase process, bridging the gap between dreams and the decision to book, allowing small operators to show their wares and answer questions, and allowing online bookings and follow-up.
Data-driven marketing and promotion allow suppliers to understand guest preferences so travelers can connect with our people and our destinations even before they land on our shores.
CHTA members are investing heavily in digital technology and we look forward to the upcoming launch of The Rhythm Never Stops marketing campaign as we, along with our partners in the public sector, build our region's brand and let the world know more  about the many exciting and diverse travel choices they can experience today throughout the Caribbean.
As the preeminent private sector travel and tourism association in the Caribbean, we will continue to lead the search for innovative ways to market our destinations and to improve the product and the profitability of the industry.
We welcome World Tourism Day with vibrant Caribbean enthusiasm and pledge our region's support for, and involvement in, technological innovation.

Step into the shadows. Throw down your garlic. Put away those crucifixes. They’re of no use in warding off the newest challenge at The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience this Halloween*; The Blood Baron - a time vampire, rising to menace the maze!

The Blood Baron is the sworn enemy of all resident maze masters and has them quaking in their sequinned boots. As a time vampire, he will use his powers to steal time from competing teams in the maze.

Be warned, the Blood Baron is a master of manipulation, and betrayal is his greatest weapon. He will never miss a chance to try and trick you into betraying your own team, and for those willing to accept the Blood Barons traitorous missions, leaving their teammates screaming “BUT WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT???”, there will be both reward and redemption.

Your senses will need to be on high alert as the Blood Baron will be lurking in the shadows of the maze and creeping up behind you when you least expect it. For the ultra-competitive, adventure-seekers the stakes are raised; as if a team loses a game, they also lose a crystal, and, in the event of a lock in, the price is two crystals for release rather than the usual one.

Can you take on the maze and defeat the Blood Baron at the same time?

Will your teammates betray you?

Or, will you become the traitor?

In addition to the challenges within the Maze’s Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic themed zones, you’re guaranteed a spooky Halloween experience much more frightening than a haunted house and unquestionably more adventurous than your typical trick-or-treat outing.

With two attractions, one in London** and one in Manchester***, be sure to book tickets in advance if you’re planning a visit to The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience this Halloween or October half term.

Vietnam Airlines, in collaboration with The Hanoi Municipal People's Committee, yesterday announced the Vietnam Airlines Classic - Hanoi Concert 2018. Following the success of last year's inaugural event, Vietnam Airlines Classic - Hanoi Concert 2018 marks the return of more than 90 well-known artists from the London Symphony Orchestra - one of the best symphony orchestras in the world, led by one of the world's finest conductors, Elim Chan. LSO will bring a performance filled with musical virtuosity and enthusiasm.

Taking place at the Ly Thai To Statue and Garden in Hanoi's famous Hoan Kiem District, from 7.00pm – 9.00pm on Saturday 6 October 2018, the concert will showcase the beauty of Vietnam; its people; and its thousand-year old capital Hanoi - a city of peace, and a world-class destination for international cultural events. The event will also be brought to an even larger audience via big screens placed in locations including Hoan Kiem Lake, Dinh Tien Hoang Street and Tonkin Free School Square.

This annual event will bring world-class cultural and artistic works to local audiences, as well as serving as a cultural bridge connecting Vietnam, and its capital Hanoi, to the world - not only in terms of tourism, but also as a country, and city, of rich cultural traditions and identity.

Lightwater Valley is set to be transformed into 'Frightwater Valley' as part of its spooky Halloween celebrations (October 27th-31st).

The North Yorkshire theme park will be hosting a series of spooktacular events and activities designed to appeal to visitors of all ages.

From family-friendly scares to truly terrifying encounters there's something for everyone to enjoy.

For younger visitors there will be Spooky Character Meet and Greets, Scary Magic Shows and Trick or Treat Doors.

Visitors can also join in the frightful fun as part of the Halloween Fancy Dress Competition which will be taking place on the Lightwater stage between 3pm-3.30pm each day.

For the more intrepid there's the chance to enjoy some grown-up thrills and chills inside the Live Scare Maze in the Events Hall and the Scare Maze Walkthrough in the Marquee; both of which will be open for risky business from 1pm.

The mazes are definitely not for the faint-hearted and are not suitable for children under the age of 12 due to the extreme nature of the scares.

The scares culminate with the Frightwater Finale lakeside fireworks spectacular (6pm Saturday, 5.30pm Sunday-Wednesday).

With over 35 rides and attractions for thrill seekers of all ages, Lightwater Valley Theme Park is one of the UK's most popular theme parks.

Among its signature rides is the 1.5 mile long Ultimate rollercoaster – the longest coaster ride in Europe - and the Eagle's Claw aerial ride.

Saint Lucia continues to prove why she is a destination that inspires travelers to visit and explore her beauty and splendor.

Visitors can now enjoy a stress-free vacation while they play and stay at 22 properties on the island that are offering guests a holiday guarantee if their vacation were to be interrupted by adverse weather.

Though Saint Lucia is seldom affected by hurricanes, hotel operators associated with the Saint Lucia Hotel Association and Tourism Association created the holiday guarantee, so visitors could book their vacations with confidence at any time of the year. This unique Holiday Guarantee programme covers cancellations made prior to arrival and if the vacation is cut short because of a hurricane.

The guarantee becomes effective when a hurricane warning is issued by the Saint Lucia Meteorological Service and offers a waiver of cancellation penalties and an opportunity to rebook the vacation.

Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Mrs. Tiffany Howard said, “Given the impact of the 2017 hurricane season on the region, it is utterly important that this guarantee remains in effect to assure visitors that Saint Lucia takes pride in its tourism product. While Saint Lucia is rarely affected by hurricanes, this guarantee provide another security blanket to our visitors.”

Hotels offering holiday guarantees include Coco Palm Resort; Rex Resorts; Harmony Marina Suites; Hotel Chocolat; Ti Kaye Resort & Spa; Villa Beach Cottages; Bay Gardens Resorts; Cleopatra Villas;  Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort;  Stonefield Villa Resort; Sugar Beach- A Viceroy Resort; Villa C'est La Vie;  Marigot Beach Club; Dive Harmony Marina Suites; St. James Club; Calabash Cove, and Castles in Paradise.

ARE people living and working in major tourism destinations happy and content, or miserable due to tourism? Or somewhere in between? We will soon find out.

A new global survey of local residents’ happiness in World Heritage sites called Planet Happiness has been launched to address the issue. In an age of escalating overtourism, the initiative aims to show that measuring community wellbeing and happiness is, arguably, a more important metric than GDP, money, and perpetually growing visitor numbers.

The 15-minute online survey is available in 18 languages and is open for anyone to do. The survey measures key indicators, such as satisfaction with life, access to nature and arts, community engagement, standard of living, life-long learning, and health.

“The purpose of tourism in destinations such as Barcelona, Brasilia, Kakadu, Luang Prabang, Kyoto, Yosemite, Mt Everest, Victoria Falls and other renowned places is to strengthen and support the happiness and wellbeing of local people,” says tourism consultant Dr Paul Rogers, co-founder of Planet Happiness. “If tourism fails to do this, it is neither responsible nor sustainable, and local policies should change accordingly.”

Planet Happiness has been launched at a time when overtourism is becoming a major concern in visitor hotspots around the world, especially World Heritage sites. At the same time there is growing interest in happiness and wellbeing issues among individuals, communities, small and large businesses and nation states.

Rogers admits that the survey results may show that people in tourism destinations are happy and that no major changes are needed. Either way, he believes it will be highly useful to compare reactions and responses to tourism and wellbeing in different travel hotspots around the world.

“It’s more about finding where there are deficiencies – such as having meaningful access to community fulfilment and feeling valued,” says Rogers. “The survey will show people where they are doing well compared to other tourism destinations, and possibly where they should seek to improve their lives.”

He added: “It’s a new, fresh, more responsible and holistic way of looking at tourism.”

The Planet Happiness survey is a response to the fact that travel and tourism is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries, with over 1.33 billion visitor movements across borders in 2017. Today more than 1 in 10 people are employed in tourism globally.

“The more people who do the survey, the better,” says US-based Laura Musikanski, a lawyer, sustainability process expert and Executive Director of the Happiness Alliance at happycounts.org.

Musikanski says that aggregated local and global data from the Planet Happiness Survey Index will be open source and accessible to everyone with an interest in sustainable tourism and community wellbeing. The project will never share information that could personally identity any individuals.

The Planet Happiness project encourages all residents and workers in UNESCO World Heritage destinations to take the 15-minute online survey here. The Planet Happiness website will post and regularly update results and share them with journalists, students, businesses, government officials and interested parties around the world.

Vivid Sydney is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from individuals and organisations across the global creative community to participate in the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas in 2019.

Following the success of this year's festival, NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall announced EOIs have opened for Vivid Sydney 2019 across the pillars of Vivid Light and Vivid Music, and that Vivid Ideas will open soon.

“Vivid Sydney brings together emerging and pioneering global creative innovators and this year attracted 2.25 million attendees from Australia and across the globe, generating more than $172 million for the NSW visitor economy,” Mr Marshall said.

“The Festival is a grand platform for out-of-the-box thinkers, artists, musicians, creative professionals, educators and businesses to showcase their talents to local and international audiences and I encourage everyone to submit their Expression of Interest and be part of this exceptional event.”

The Vivid Sydney EOI invites submissions across the Festival's three program pillars – Light, Music and Ideas.

Vivid Light transforms the city into a kaleidoscope of colour with awe-inspiring light sculptures and large-scale architectural projections onto iconic landmarks. Artists, designers, creative industry practitioners, equipment suppliers, businesses, and educational institutions are invited to present their ideas, designs, concepts and interest for inclusion in Vivid Light.

Vivid Music features an extensive program of performance, multi-genre musical collaborations, and contemporary and experimental music at venues across Sydney , and includes the Vivid X|CELERATE program; a partnership with the City of Sydney which is devoted to celebrating Sydney's local musical talent by awarding grants and marketing support to venues, artists, and promoters with good ideas. Submissions are being sought from across the industry including music venues, producers, promoters, industry associations and innovators interested in being part of Vivid Music.

Vivid Ideas celebrates and champions creativity and innovation; connecting audiences and creative professionals with world-class creators, makers and thinkers, to share cutting-edge insights, market and industry updates, and building tools and skills for the future. Events which ignite a national conversation, bring professional practitioners to Sydney for training and development, and which actively build networks throughout the Asia-Pacific region are sought for Vivid Ideas.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer and Vivid Sydney Executive Producer Sandra Chipchase said, “Whether you're an industry innovator, aspiring creator or have a unique concept to share, this is a chance to be part of Australia's largest event. If you have what it takes to shape, market and present an installation, gig or event with interesting and innovative content, Vivid Sydney wants to hear from you.”

In celebration of 85 successful years, Turkish Airlines has unveiled a fresh look with a new uniform specially designed for its cabin crew. The new uniforms will begin to be used following the opening of the Istanbul New Airport, the “new home” of the flag carrier airline.

Inspired by many classic elements of Turkish design and culture, the new uniforms incorporate traditional patterns found in artisanal glassware, ceramics and calligraphy with contemporary textures and details. The collection combines shapes and colours found in Istanbul Bosphorus with a new ‘flow detail’, created to symbolise the effortless and dynamic energy flowing through Turkey’s most dynamic city as an intersection between East and West.

The global airline, which flies to more countries than any other, paired up with Milan-based Haute Couturier Ettore Bilotta to create the dynamic new uniform design heralding a new era and brand identity for the national flag-carrier.

Unique and recognisable with a deep red and anthracite grey palette, the collection includes hats, gloves, dresses, bags and accessories. Another key aspect of the project is that the uniforms of cabin, cockpit, flying chefs, and ground services will be streamlined under a single design approach to offer the passengers to live a holistic brand experience. Bilotta’s designs bring together the form and function, an essential consideration for an airline that flies to most international destinations in the world. New designs were not only conceptualised in consultation with fashion leaders and Turkish Airlines’ own team of cabin crew, but tested rigorously on long-haul trial flights in different climates.

  1. İlker Aycı, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee commented; “Turkish Airlines is always thrilled to collaborate with such creative and distinctive talents which blend elegant and practical design. While maintaining traditional elements of Turkish design and culture, our new uniforms are professional and stay true to a culture of hospitality, just like our airline.”
Ettore Billotta, the fashion designer behind the uniforms said, “When I started to design for Turkish Airlines, the first thing that inspired me was Istanbul. This city has been a melting pot for art and civilisation for centuries and has a rare richness as a common heritage of many cultures. I wanted to bring elements from traditional calligraphy and mosaics together with the new interpretations of Turkish motifs, which emphasize modern lines, into foulards and ties to reflect a contrast and duality.”

To launch the new look, the national carrier teamed up with globally renowned British photographer and artist, Miles Aldridge to shoot the new Turkish Airlines cabin uniform collection in Istanbul’s unique spots.

Rich in culture and history, and vibrant in colour and texture, Istanbul, spanning two continents, provided a stunning backdrop to the uniforms.  Drawing on his ability to combine a meticulous approach and rare flair for drama and narrative, Miles Aldridge shot the collection using the city to create a selection of bright and distinct images, ready for the launch of the uniforms. A moment that just happens to coincide with the airlines 85th Anniversary. “I was really inspired when I saw the uniforms as they hark back to a golden age of couture fashion from the 1950’s, but with a very contemporary twist. Again, it’s very much like my own work which is always referencing the past but very much being in today.”

Put yourself in the shoes of the 20th Century traveler; just a couple of years ago, the avid explorer would watch interesting programmes on TV or head to the library to research destinations. Then they’d head to a travel agent and browse brochures before making a booking. That would involve a trip to the bank, too, and then still another trip to the mall to get travel supplies and suitable clothing. All that traveling before even leaving home. Now, it’s possible to do all of that and more from your mobile phone or laptop. The world as we know it is changing, with technology disrupting how we explore the global village.

The African experience emerges

Across Africa, countries are coming online at a faster rate than any other continent on the planet, largely because we have lagged in developing the necessary infrastructure, but this is enabling young entrepreneurs to develop innovative travel solutions suitable to our own context. It’s creating jobs that didn’t exist 25 years ago and is at the very heart of a transformative revolution that spans many nations. Travelers and tourism professionals are, quite literally, holding their future in their hands.

The more African countries come online, and visitors can share their travel experiences via social media channels while traveling, the more we’re opening up to the global travel market. It may have been tricky to find out about certain countries previously, with very little being available even in libraries, but now you can follow a hashtag like #ExploreZambia (for example) and get a vivid explorer’s eye view for the land, to whet your appetite for travel.

The theme for the UNWTO’s World Tourism Day for 2018 is digital transformation in tourism, described by the organisation as “helping to put the opportunities provided to tourism, by technological advances including big data, artificial intelligence and digital platforms, on the map of sustainable development. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) sees digital advances and innovation as part of the solution to the challenge of marrying continued growth with a more sustainable and responsible tourism sector.”

Furthermore, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has stated that harnessing innovation and digital advances provides tourism with opportunities to improve inclusiveness, local community empowerment, and efficient resource management, amongst other objectives within the wider sustainable development agenda, and those are critical elements to the development of which we are very much aware in South Africa.

Inclusivity – a call to action

Our innovative approach to addressing water shortages has proven that we’re capable when it comes to doing just that, with initiatives ranging from desalination projects to awareness campaigns that reinforce our activities. New technologies are breaking down barriers to access in business, such as on-the-go payment options like Yoco and Snapscan, widening opportunities for SMEs and making it easier for visitors to pay.

Another means by which we’re tackling transformation is within our neighborhoods, driving inclusivity by showcasing micro-tourism businesses so that the whole world can see what life is like in neighborhoods such as Langa, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha, for example. This enables us to work with communities to ensure that the benefits of tourism don’t just dwell with larger tourism enterprises, but that SMEs can share in the economic impact.

Our journey to sustainability in tourism cannot be steered by one organisation or government department, it must be a factor that’s central to every business strategy. With increased access to remarkable technological solutions, we have no excuse for ignoring this call to action – the more energy we put into expanding our technological transformation, the more we’ll see entire communities benefiting, from increased economic rewards to job and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Enver Duminy is CEO of Cape Town Tourism and has been asked to share his vision at the UNWTO Summit in Seoul, Korea, in September 2018.

The African Tourism Board is in the process to bring Africa together. With Tony Smith, head of the iFREE Group,a global company pioneering new ways to stay connected in the world of travel and mobile communications joining the African initiative. From international calls and data roaming solutions to Wi-Fi connectivity and unique travel products, the iFREE Group has set a goal to break down barriers and bring the world closer together