news to use MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Confidence mounts for Africa sales
BY JULIE BAXTER Cox & Kings has noted a marked
trend towards tailor-made bookings to Africa as consumer knowledge and confidence in the destination grows. Passenger numbers to Africa increased
by 25 per cent for the operator in 2011, with over half of clients requesting tailor-made itineraries. In response, Cox & Kings has added
many new tailor-made itinerary ideas to its Africa 2012 programme. Africa product manager, Louise Stanion, said: “Clients still want our recommendations and input but are increasingly knowledgeable and are venturing away from the traditional tourist trails to lesser-known sights.” Stanion said demand for tours to
South Africa was returning to pre- World Cup levels and for 2012 Cox & Kings has introduced luxury departures on both its Taste of South Africa and Splendours of South Africa tours, which offer upgraded accommodation. There are two new private itineraries taking in Lesotho,
Voyages bargain Cruise operator Voyages of
Discovery has slashed prices on its cruises to The Holy Land and Red Sea. Savings of up to 44 per cent are
available on the two-week cruise, now priced from £999pp. The cruise follows the trail of ancient civilisation, departing from Athens and then moving on to Cyprus, Israel, Egypt and Jordan, with a transit through the Suez Canal. The price includes return flights from
London, transfers and voyage, based on an October 31 departure.
www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk
EVENTS »
sellinglonghaul.com/events Make a date with the Selling Long
Haul team by checking out the up-coming industry events listed on our online calendar
...more online
Swaziland and Zululand in response to demand for less-well-known regions. The escorted tour to Ethiopia has established itself as the operator’s best-selling group tour in Africa and two new private tours have been added – Ethiopia’s Tribal Kingdom, priced from £4,095 pp for a 13-day tour, and Road to
Dubai to Dublin Emirates is to begin daily flights
between Dubai and Dublin from January, marking its first route serving the Republic of Ireland. The daily service, from January 9, will
leave Dubai at 07.00 and arrive in the Irish capital at 11.30. The return flight leaves Dublin at 12.55, getting into Dubai at 00.25hrs the next day. An Airbus A330-200 will operate a
service that will offer First, Business and Economy classes. Dublin will be the airline's 29th route
that connects Europe to the emirate.
www.emirates.com
MIDDLE EAST IN BRIEF
Abu Dhabi gets arty Abu Dhabi will host an international
sellinglonghaul 12 October 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com .com
art event this November. Abu Dhabi Art attracted over 17,000 visitors in 2010 and this year's event will showcase around 50 international galleries at a boutique-style art fair featuring world- class art, talks, performances, workshops and VIP networking events.
www.abudhabiartfair.ae
Oman is right on time Airline punctuality figures published by
the British Airports Authority for July 2011 show that, for the third time in six months, Oman Air has been ranked top for on-time performance at London Heathrow. The figures suggest that 100% of Oman Air's flights take off on schedule.
www.omanair.com
Dubai sees growth The Middle East Hotel Benchmark Survey
shows July occupancy levels up in Dubai and Abu Dhabi while the rest of the region saw a decrease. Dubai occupancy rose 10 per cent to 80.8 per cent in July, and Abu Dhabi's occupancy rose a couple of percentage points. Bahrain and Egypt registered negative growth.
www.ey.com
Lalibela, £3,975 pp for 14 days. There are new touring options in Madagascar and Namibia and other featured destinations include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
www.coxandkings.co.uk/africa
Alternative
Odyssey Africa Odyssey is focusing on ‘alternative’ safaris with a series of expeditions in Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana. These include a 'serious walking safari' for connoisseurs in Zambia, a canoe and camp trail in the Selinda Reserve, Botswana, and a mobile tented camp following the Great Migration’s mega herds on the Serian Serengeti in Tanzania. Prices from £4000pp for 10 nights.
www.africaodyssey.com
Acacia upgrades
Budget-led adventure specialist, Acacia Africa, has revamped its website to show details of 400 guaranteed Africa departures available from now up to the end of 2011, with another 146 scheduled from the beginning of January 2012. Itinerary details are now backed with country specific insights and sales advice to help agents match clients to suitable itineraries.
www.acacia-africa.com
Oman gears up Oman Air has unveiled a joint
venture with Bahwan Travel Agencies which will promote inbound and outbound holidays to destinations served by the carrier’s network. To be known as Oman Air Holidays,
this is Oman’s first ever public/private partnership and will create the country’s largest travel and tourism business. The deal will see the airline’s current
holidays division integrated with Bahwan Tours so they can share markets, personnel and systems to promote products around the globe.
www.omanair.com
Vote now for your favourite suppliers! Visit
SellingLongHaul.com before October 12 to vote in our
Travel Agents Choice Awards and you could win one of over 75 prizes!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68