Holiday & Travel

Put yourself in the shoes of the 20^th 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

Comfort Suites Paradise Island is offering a "Book Now and Receive a FREE Private Island Excursion for Two" special that gives hotel guests a full-day beach excursion to Sandy Toes private island when they stay at the popular hotel.

This Sandy Toes special enhances the exceptional value of Comfort Suites Paradise Island, a 223-room, all junior suite hotel commonly regarded as "one of the most family friendly and affordable hotels on Paradise Island, Bahamas".

Located on Rose Island, Bahamas, Sandy Toes is a private island excursion just off the shores of Nassau and Paradise Island. The popular attraction is home to a sanctuary of protected wildlife, including royal peacocks, curly tail lizards, ocean reef life and the world-famous swimming pigs (a segment of the operation which attracts additional fees).

The limited-time Sandy Toes offer is available to hotel guests who book stays of four (4) nights minimum in any room category for travel through December 15, 2018. The booking window closes on September 30, 2018.

Comfort Suites Paradise Island offers incredible value-added amenities such as complimentary access to the exclusive features of Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, with access to the water parks and charging privileges at all of Atlantis' restaurants and bars. Also included at Comfort Suites are complimentary full American buffet breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking.

In recent years, this unique Paradise Island property has left no stone unturned as it invested more than $11 million in upgrades. Guests can now experience its newly rejuvenated outdoor facilities, which include the extensive refurbishment of the entire pool deck, pool and surrounding areas. The entire outdoor facilities received a complete "facelift" and as a result were totally transformed.

The extensive refurbishment of these areas included a newly resurfaced pool, pool deck retiling, outdoor patio furniture upgrade and a newly refurbished pool bar, which has been rebranded and re-launched as Splash Pool Bar. The Crusoe's Restaurant veranda also received extensive refurbishments, including the retiling of the floors, new outdoor restaurant and bar furniture, as well as the expansion of its lush surrounding gardens.

All Comfort Suites Paradise Island Tour Operator Partners may participate in the offer by using the booking code CSPISANDYTOES2018 . The excursion redemption date should be requested at the time of booking, and is based on availability.

The Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic (Mitur) launches promotional campaign "Smile" which focuses on the beauty and hospitality of Dominicans as the main reason why it is an ideal destination. The campaign presents the distinctive factors of the country that incorporate a contagious smile between tourists and locals alike.

Magaly Toribio, Marketing Advisor of the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, indicates that "The 'Smiles' campaign offers a new approach to destination advertising promoting one of the most valuable but intangible assets of our country, happiness, which is not it's just a feeling in our country, but a way of life. "

Tiribio also highlights that: "The campaign uses stunning visual images and attractive and eloquent content to capture the true warm and welcoming essence of the Dominican Republic, while extending a personal invitation to visitors from all corners of the world to experience it first-hand, causing an endless and contagious smile "

The campaign includes digital, print, social and traditional public relations tactics that promote the north and east coast of the country. Among the promotions there are two videos that show the wide range of offers, starting in Santo Domingo, the most modern and dynamic metropolis of the Caribbean, to the emblematic white sand coasts of the east coast in Juan Dolio, La Romana and Punta Cana.

The second video invites visitors to explore the north coast and participate in adrenaline pumping activities such as kite surfing in Cabarete, cultural exploration in Puerto Plata, endless natural beauty in Samaná and enjoy the gastronomic delights in Sosúa and Miches.

In addition to the launch of the campaign, the Dominican Republic is proud to share in the first seven months of 2018 more than 4.1 million visitors who entered the Dominican Republic, an increase of 5.9 percent compared to the same time in 2017, according to the Bank. Central.

While the sun and the beach are still the most sought-after attractions in the country, Mitur is dedicated to expanding the knowledge of its diverse offerings, which include golf, culture, gastronomy, sustainability and adventure.

LAX may be known for its high-end shopping experiences and eateries. However, there are also plenty of family-friendly activities that are waiting to be discovered to keep your children entertained while you are waiting to board.

LAX has recently gone through a USD $14 billion dollar transformation, which has changed the whole airport experience!  The renovations have seen a range of new openings, including new escalators and walkways to help travellers and their little ones get to their gate quicker, along with a 'Great Hall' for premier dining experiences.

• LAX Beach Play area - Located in the The Great Hall behind Duty Free shopping in Tom Bradley International Terminal, the play area is the perfect place for kids to run around before a long flight. The space is composed of hand-painted, soft, sculpted foam pieces which resemble beachscapes, along with a slide and equipment for children to climb on and 'ride'. Parents can also relax with adjacent seating to watch their children.
• Taste the variety of Californian inspired dining options and cuisine. From delicious sandwiches at L.A.'s ink.sack, to tacos at the iconic L.A. restaurant and food truck, Border Grill get a taste of L.A.'s world-renowned cuisine right from LAX. You can even wander down to Terminal 3 to taste the milkshakes and burgers at the newly opened Shake Shack. Vanilla Bake Shop also has the perfect cupcakes and delicious, dainty confectionary for kids too.
• Flight Path Museum and Learning Center - Depending on how much time you have to spend, located inside the LAX Imperial Terminal is the hands-on museum perfect for a kids “field-trip” to get out those plane jitters. Aussie travellers have the opportunity to check out showcased scaled models of various aircrafts and LAX's aviation history. The Flight Path Museum is free and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10am to 3pm.
• Bead Factory (TBIT) - Explore the colourful rings, bracelets, necklaces and headpieces at the Bead Factory. The  perfect shop for children where they can design their own jewellery, or pick out their favourite affordable baubles and costume jewellery.
• LAX Presents - Children can boogie their plane jitters away at LAX presents, which features live music by local L.A. artists. This years line-up includes six classical performances, a DJ with dancers and a percussionist, a puppet show and an Indian dance troupe.

Around the world, popular tourist destinations have reached a tipping point. A growing middle class, improved connectivity, and the desire of people everywhere to see the world means that these destinations are being saturated with visitors in a new phenomenon known as overtourism.

Overcrowding is disrupting daily life, degrading precious natural and historic sites, and impacting the traveler experience. This phenomenon, dubbed “overtourism,” has led to civic protects and residents demanding that tourists go home.

The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and The George Washington University’s International Institute of Tourism Studies is presenting a day-long interactive forum to discuss solutions to the global problem of overtourism on September 27, 2018 at The George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052.

The 2018 World Tourism Day Forum will focus on this increasingly important issue. The forum will feature five moderated panel discussions covering historic cities, national parks and protected areas, World Heritage Sites, coastal and beach communities, and national and regional destinations. Speakers will share innovative insights on how to protect these special places.

The heatwave has fizzled out, September beckons and with the onset of autumn, chilly thoughts of winter need to be dispelled with plans for holidays in the sun.

Key ingredient for a winter break is, of course, guaranteed sunshine and the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba is a sure-fire winner. And with different styles of accommodation to suit every budget, the island should be a firm favourite on any winter destination shopping list.

Out of approximately 700 islands in the Caribbean, Aruba consistently ranks as having the least rainfall – averaging about 15 inches for the entire year. Temperatures from November to March will average 27°C, meaning Aruba's fabulous white sand beaches, lapped by the azure Caribbean Sea, are a sun-seeker's dream.

Visitors can choose from luxury and all-inclusive beach-side resorts to cosy B&Bs and a wide range of self-catering accommodation, making it an ideal choice whether you are looking for family-friendly stays on a budget or to splurge with a little luxury.

An online search of winter holidays in Aruba will quickly identify plenty of choice for holidays under *£1,000. And with a good choice of scheduled flights to Aruba – KLM Royal Dutch Airlines daily from 17 UK regional airports via Amsterdam, and British Airways and a number of US carriers offering options from London-Heathrow via US gateways, such as New York and Miami – it is easy to tailor-make a holiday with a departure date to suit personal requirements.

Aruba ticks just about all the boxes for winter sun holidays, whether you want to chill or get up and go. It has award-winning beaches close to many of the island's leading hotels, with safe bathing. The island is very popular with snorkelers and divers and it also offers just about every imaginable activity on or under the water. Golf, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, beach volleyball and fishing are just some of the other activities available.

Renowned for its cuisine, Aruba's multi-cultural make-up is reflected in its restaurants, offering local menus, as well as those specialising in dishes from around the world, including French, Italian and South American. Again, the island serves up choices for the budget-conscious or those who want fine-dining.

And for those who like to party on into the night, Aruba has a vibrant after-hours scene. Clubs and discos, dinner cabaret shows and a wide range of casinos will entertain you into the small hours – before you safely make your way back to your hotel by taxi (no fare surcharges at night) or on foot.

And if you are planning a winter stay in February or March, 2019, you could catch Aruba's colourful and extraordinary carnival season. A series of events culminates in the Grand Parade through island capital Oranjestad on Sunday, March 3. This parade is filled with music and luxurious floats and costumes in various designs and decorated with a wide variety of colourful stones and feathers, creating a unique display. Aruba's main event starts at 12 noon in Oranjestad and continues into the evening. This is the largest and longest of all the Aruba carnival parades with the most spectators and participants. The midnight burning of King Momo, a life-size effigy of the spirit of Aruba's carnival, signals the end of the season.

New research by MoneySuperMarket reveals that Brummies are borrowing more than other locations to pay for their holidays, with those from Birmingham taking out over £7.5 million in holiday loans since 2016 - nearly £3,000 on average per person.

The study shows that almost half (48 per cent) of Brits are willing to borrow money in some capacity to go on holiday, with holiday loans now being the third most common way to fund a trip after saved cash and credit cards.

Millennials are most likely to borrow to fund their travels, with over a fifth saying that they would consider a holiday loan. Two in five millennials who said they would take out a holiday loan would be open to using it to upgrade their hotel, compared to only 12 per cent of those aged 35+, while a quarter would use a loan to upgrade to an all-inclusive holiday.

When looking at the length of the loan, 44 per cent of Brits expect to take less than a year to pay off their debt. This figure rises for millennials, with over half (53 per cent) believing that they’ll be able pay off their holiday loan in less than a year. In reality, the average term is nearly two and a half years (29.3 months).

When it comes to those in the Midlands who are considering a holiday loan…

26 per cent would go abroad rather than staycation

14 per cent would upgrade to all-inclusive

13 per cent would go up one or more stars in accommodation

14 per cent would extend the length of their stay

11 per cent would add excursions or activities

Those in the Midlands could be spending nearly three times as much on their holidays than they initially predicted. The research found that on average, Midlanders are willing to borrow £1,100 to fund a holiday. However, the actual average holiday loan amount according to MoneySuperMarket is just over £3,000 – meaning that a large percentage of holidaymakers could be spending more than anticipated.

Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife has taken the pool party concept to a new level with the launch of 'Lagoon Party'; a series of events featuring renowned international DJs, acrobatic performances, live musical entertainment and tropical vibes around its huge man-made lagoon located next to the hotel on the edge of the island's south-west coast.

Set to the rhythm of live music by the likes of Eric Morillo, Harry Romero, Sebastian Gamboa, Rudimental, Nervo and Roger Sánchez, as well as saxophonists and percussionists, each Lagoon Party offers ten hours of non-stop fun on alternate Saturdays throughout the summer until October.

After premiering in style earlier this summer, bringing together an average of 2,500 people who gathered to party to live sets by Eric Morillo, Harry Romero and Rudimental among others, Lagoon Party returns on 18 August with Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill, and promises to keep surprising party-goers with new performances and musical sessions every other Saturday until 27 October.

In addition to the live sets by some of today's hottest DJs, guests can expect dancers, live music, floating bars with refreshing cocktails and delicious food at The Beach Club and Munchies Surf Bar at each event.  For an even more exclusive experience, there are three VIP areas that can be booked in advance, including three private Jacuzzis next to the lagoon and a dedicated space on the Hard Rock beach, where a special food and drinks menu will be offered.

The family run Northern Lights Resort & Spa, located in the picturesque Yukon River Valley, is building three new extravagantly appointed Aurora Glass Chalets for the 2018-19 winter season. The chalets are purposely built with the ultimate Aurora viewing experience in mind, however, they will be available for year-round use.

Aurora viewing packages in the chalets can now be booked for 1 December 2018 onwards and a minimum of a three nights stay is required. The Aurora Glass Chalets can also be booked for Bed & Breakfast accommodation in the summer season from June to August 2019.

The new chalets are a magical way to experience the wintry star-filled sky and the Northern Lights, while lying comfortably in a warm bed. The large floor-to- ceiling wrap-around windows open to the Northern Sky, directly in front of the queen size bed.

All the chalets are designed for double occupancy with a queen bed, cosy recliner chairs behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, in-floor heating and an elegant fireplace, a small kitchenette, and beautifully appointed bathroom with tiled walk-in shower.

Just a few steps away from the chalets are the resort's other services including a spa, an outdoor jacuzzi, lounge, bar and dining room and other catering services. Northern Lights Resort & Spa also has four cosy and traditional log cabins, all with the same comfort and amenities as the new glass chalets.

Kenya’s tourism industry has undergone challenges such as the uncertainty surrounding the political landscape in 2017. Yet, its resilient performance has been impactfully felt on the Kenyan economy, directly contributing Ksh. 294.6 billion (USD 2.9 billion), which is approximately 3.7% of the GDP in 2017. By the end of 2018, the contribution is expected to rise by 5.2% to Ksh. 310.1 billion and to Ksh. 515 billion by 2028. In a hospitality report by Jumia Travel, Kenya earned 1.2 billion US Dollars from tourism expenditures last year, up from approximately 989 million US Dollars in 2016; a 20% increase. This, as international arrivals to Kenya reached 1.4 million as compared to 1.3 million in the previous year, representing an increase of 9.8%.

Some of the economic drivers that highly contributed to the stability included enhanced security in the country, infrastructural developments like The Standard Gauge Railway, a steady macroeconomic environment, improved budgetary allocations by the government, and increased air connectivity within Africa. Serena Hotels’ Regional Sales and Marketing Director Rosemary Mugambi, applauds the government’s strides in enhancing the industry in the areas mentioned below.

More diverse tourism products

Kenya’s core tourism resources are beach and safari products. It can be noted from the National Tourism Blueprint, that the government has identified existing gaps and is now set to do much more in identifying new opportunities that should allow the opening of a wider scale of diverse tourism products, addressing needs within existing products and developing new ones. It should be expected that in addition to market research to identify best practices and products, there will be closer partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders to ensure long term sustainability and alignment of tourism products with market needs.

Tourism Marketing

Recently, countries like Rwanda, and traditionally South Africa have noticeably upped their tourism marketing strategies to maintain and increase market share in the international tourism market. Whilst Kenya’s reputation as a top African tourist destination has always managed to place the country as a leader in the industry, it is imperative that marketing campaigns for destination Kenya be more innovative to capture the imagination of travelers across different segments; from the niche market to the more budget conscious. Adequate marketing funds also need be availed consistently.

Promotion of Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism has taken off exponentially in the last few years, generating 62% of direct travel & tourism GDP in 2017 as foreign spending contributed 38% according to the hospitality report. Concerted efforts by both government and the private sector to increase the local tourism numbers at times when international tourist figures went down have paid off handsomely; and all players stand to be lauded for the hard work. The unified brand of #TembeaKenya through the Kenya Tourism Board has certainly helped build awareness especially within the counties – a good initiative that must continue to receive the necessary support. Much remains to be done to educate Kenyans on their country as a travel destination, and in continually positioning Nairobi as a regional hub. The resultant benefit is Kenya being a ‘must go to’ destination for both corporate and leisure travel from the region and beyond within the continent.

Protection of Tourism Resources

The conservation of valuable resources like wildlife is paramount. It is commendable that the elephant population in areas like the Tsavo National Park has increased significantly following efforts to contain poaching and management of human-wildlife conflict by the Kenya Wildlife Service. A park which previously had become almost forgotten is now slowly coming back to life as a viable tourism area. This is just one example of success stories that are not told enough for rightful gain.

However, the unfortunate death of 11 rhinos (the eleventh was found dead on the morning of Monday the 6th Aug) during a translocation from Nairobi and Nakuru national parks to Tsavo East; is an example of occurrences that hurt the sector and which should not happen in future. Ultimately, the government must play the role of ensuring that the right policies and regulations are in place and adhered to and provides the enabling environment. The industry must also play by the right rules and procedures in developing the industry to ensure Kenya maintains and grows its slice of the cake in the market. It is all about partnerships.

Birmingham Airport has been named the most family friendly airport in the UK and Ireland. Netflights.com has awarded Birmingham Airport this accolade after working with some expert parenting bloggers to measure 20 airports on their travel experience for families.

Netflights.com polled 2,000 British travellers on their habits and experiences of using airports with children. Birmingham Airport was crowned the most family friendly airport coming out on top with 80% of its flights leaving on time in June 2018, designated baby changing areas, express security lanes, free water fountains and free Wi-Fi all adding up to a positive travel experience for families.

Paul Hopkinson, Marketing Director at Netflights: “We are delighted that Birmingham has ranked so highly against other airports in the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands for its family friendliness. Its central location, free drinking water, free Wi-Fi, play areas and punctual flights meant it scored very highly and is a good option for those travelling with children this summer.”

Stuart Haseley-Neirup, Head of Customer Experience at Birmingham Airport said: “We are delighted at being named the most family-friendly Airport.  We put the passenger at the heart of everything we do, meaning we tailor the airport experience to the needs of all of our 13m passengers that travel through whether they are on business, leisure or as a family.”

As part of the family-friendly brand initiative, Birmingham Airport launched the new look SkyZone area on Monday 23^rd of July to coincide with the start of the school holidays. The Airport’s interactive and educational children’s play area located after security can be found at gate 55. SkyZone is easily accessible for all families bringing a fun and engaging experience for all children pre-flight.

Over the next week Birmingham Airport will be introducing a new child focused initiative at security. Each child will be greeted and awarded with a Zoom sticker. The stickers bearing the Birmingham Airport Mascot, Zoom, will make the security experience for children less daunting and less stress free for the parents too!

To ease travel through the Airport, Birmingham Airport, offers a range of special assistance initiatives, one being for passengers travelling with a hidden disability. If a passenger has a hidden disability and feel they need additional support or recognition in key areas, then the Airport’s special assistance provider will provide passengers with a lanyard which discreetly identifies them to Airport staff.

Birmingham Airport is continually evolving its customer service experience and has recently spent over £14.5m investing in its facilities for passengers.  These new facilities included a new security preparation area which includes a family friendly channel.  The Airport will continue to keep the customer experience for travelling families a priority with a designated Head of Customer Experience on site to ensure the Airport grows and evolves with its passengers.

Dubai welcomed a record 8.10 million international overnight tourists during the first six months of 2018, representing a consistent increase on the same period last year. Figures released by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) have confirmed the continued success of the emirate’s tourism sector, which at the end of 2017 was worth AED109 billion a year. A destination of choice for a number of global markets, Dubai is on track for projected growth into the second half of 2018.

The first half of 2018 also witnessed increased contributions from the USA and Germany, standing strong at seventh and eighth positions with 327,000 and 302,000 visitors respectively. This affirmed the successful delivery of a diversified market strategy, activating multi-pronged efforts to prioritise maintenance of continued strong appeal to travellers from key source geographies, and increasing advocacy by focusing on targeted improvements to the tourism pillars that appeal most to these audiences.

His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, commented: “The first six months of 2018 have both generated and sustained a steady performance, supporting strong growth across our global feeder markets. Attracting 8.10 million visitors during the first half of 2018 stands us in good stead as we accelerate momentum towards our visionary aspiration of becoming the most visited city in the world. The varied offering of Dubai’s tourism proposition has steadily evolved, prudently yet actively responding to market demand, and increasing the emirate’s attractiveness among target visitor segments across our key markets. As such, we have strategically deployed partnerships to ensure we continue to stay relevant and front of mind to both first-time and repeat visitors, while simultaneously creating a steady stream of Dubai ambassadors. Organically expanding the outreach and impact of this authentic advocacy for the city, our integrated networks across digital, social and mobile-led platforms reflect the future-centric mandate of the 10X initiative introduced in 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to embrace innovation and ensure Dubai stays 10 years ahead of any global city.”

From a regional perspective, Western Europe contributed 21 per cent of the overnight visitor volumes, maintaining its position from the same period last year as the largest source of visitors. With double digit percentage increases in visitor numbers in three of the top twenty source markets, France, Italy and Germany witnessed strong increases of 18 per cent, 11 per cent and 12 percent respectively; a key indicator of successful destination marketing efforts aimed at driving consideration from a wider yet highly targeted spectrum of European traveller segments.

With Dubai now attracting even more diverse audiences, Dubai Tourism is continuing to innovate and customise marketing-promotions delivery backed by strong insights-driven analytics and most ‘time and audience’ relevant touchpoints within the travel decision ecosystem. This spans a myriad spectrum from the most recent success of the multi-award-winning #BeMyGuest campaign working with celebrity ambassadors to target a diaspora audience which drove over 100 million video views in just 8-weeks; to strategic market specific agreements with leading Chinese digital and technology giants to further penetrate and raise consideration for Dubai as the travel destination of choice for China. Such market and segment specific initiatives supported by strong network of trade partners in-country and amplified through content partnerships in key markets to deliver consistent, credible and relevant messaging has been the focal feature of Dubai’s 360 integrated marketing approach that has continued to yield results through the first half of 2018.

Other levers enabling future growth include the recent introduction of the stopover visa, whereby transit passengers are exempt from all entry fees for the first forty-eight hours of their stay. Additionally, future visa regulation changes will offer an added benefit for travellers to the UAE over summer, exempting dependents aged 18 years or below from visa fees – a move that is expected to boost tourist numbers even further. Additionally, Dubai’s cruise industry continued to play a pivotal role in contributing to the emirate’s tourism sector, with Dubai strengthening its appeal as the favoured destination amongst international cruise lines and cruise tourists, forecasting a season that expects to drive more visitation. To actively support this segment, Dubai has taken critically enabling steps for hassle-free access and egress visas with the recent multi-entry UAE visit visa exclusively for cruise tourists from over 50 countries.

“The resounding support we receive from our government, public and private sector both in Dubai and across the globe, is testament to the confidence that we collectively share in the inherent strength, appeal and long-term sustainability of Dubai’s tourism proposition and our ability to deliver exponentially superior traveller experiences to the widest range of audiences. This collaboration is fundamental to our success, and together we remain dedicated to continuing to drive record numbers of visitors to Dubai, consequently increasing the tourism sector’s impact on the emirate’s economy. Looking ahead to the second half of 2018, and additional areas of growth for the tourism sector, the recent move to implement a value added tax (VAT) refund mechanism for tourists will also ensure the industry’s competitiveness globally and drive further growth in its GDP contribution to Dubai,” concluded Almarri.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the governments and air navigation service providers of Europe to address the region’s airspace bottlenecks, as new data revealed that delays so far this year have more than doubled compared to 2017.

Data from Eurocontrol shows that in the first half of 2018, Air Traffic Management (ATM) delays more than doubled to 47,000 minutes per day, 133% more than in the same period last year. Most of these delays are caused by staffing and capacity shortages as well as other causes such as weather delays and disruptive events such as strikes. The average delay for flights delayed by air traffic control limitations reached 20 minutes in July, with the longest delay reaching 337 minutes.

Staffing and Infrastructure Investment

As airlines add flights to new destinations and expand their offer to meet the expectations of travelers, air traffic in Europe is on the rise, creating greater demands on the continent’s airspace. Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) manage each State’s airspace and charge overflight fees for the services they provide. As flight numbers have increased, so has their revenue. Eurocontrol calculates that European ANSPs have made an average 9.6% EBIT in recent years.

Unfortunately, key ANSPs in Europe have not made needed investments in their businesses, preferring instead to make super-normal profits. The largest service providers have either under-invested in staff or use outdated employment practices, which don’t deploy staff when and where they’re most needed, resulting in unnecessary delays for passengers. Many European ANSPs have also failed to make planned technology investments intended to increase capacity.

IATA is calling on the European Commission, Member States and ANSPs to take urgent action with the following four-point plan:

Modernize the infrastructure and implement the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) something airlines are already paying for.

Reform outdated work practices so that staff are deployed when they’re required; and, where justified, recruit additional staff.

Empower the European Network Manager to plan and configure the network to meet the demands of air travelers.

Strengthen the Performance and Charging Scheme so that ANSPs not delivering agreed capacity are subject to meaningful penalties.

“The impact of ATC delays ripple throughout the economy. At a time when Europe’s competitiveness urgently needs to be improved, increasing ATM delays is totally unacceptable. Travelers are fed-up. Change must start now,” said de Juniac.

Announcing the welcome return of British Airways (BA), Cologne Bonn Airport has confirmed the UK flag carrier as its newest and 34th carrier to join the gateway’s airline roll call later this year. Flying to London Gatwick on a seasonal basis, the German airport now has direct scheduled flights to seven UK airports.

“We are very proud that British Airways is returning to the airport ‒ an airline that has a high symbolic value for us. With British Airways, we welcome one of the leading airlines in the world, one which also offers our passengers an exciting long-haul network from London Gatwick," says Johan Vanneste, President & CEO, Cologne Bonn Airport.

Adam Carson, BA’s MD at Gatwick said: “We are delighted to be giving our customers the opportunity to fly directly from Cologne to London Gatwick. London has been one of the top destinations for a city break for decades.”

Set to commence a four times weekly connection with its A320 fleet from the UK capital city from 16 November, BA’s new link will be joining Cologne Bonn’s established UK services to Bristol (Ryanair), Edinburgh (Eurowings), London Heathrow (Eurowings), London Southend (Flybe), London Stansted (Eurowings and Ryanair) and Manchester (Ryanair). BA returns to Cologne Bonn after a 12-year hiatus, while easyJet had previously offered flights to Gatwick until March 2016.

As a result of the addition of its latest service by the oneworld member, the airport’s only carrier from this global airline alliance, Cologne Bonn will offer close to 300,000 seats to the UK during W18/19. Based on current schedules, the UK will also jump ahead of Spain to claim its position as the airport’s second largest country market to be served over the winter season.

Cologne Bonn’s H1 traffic has seen healthy growth, with the German gateway handling more than 5.9 million passengers so far in 2018.