WH AT’S H OT I N 2013
the UK. We have 20 fl ights a week from the UK (7,200 seats). “Out of the UK, our numbers increased 6% in 2011 over 2010 and in 2012 it will be the same percentage increase. “Since 2008, we have added 25,000 rooms to the market. In February, the Nobu Hotel is opening at Caesars Palace. We just opened the Neon Museum featuring all the old signs from iconic hotels. And we have a new Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil show opening in May or June.”
WHERE TO BOOK – NORTH AMERICA VIRGIN HOLIDAYS – 0844 557 3973
www.vhols4agents.co.uk Seven nights in Orlando, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic fl ights from Gatwick, room-only accommodation and car hire costs from £749pp, with a June ‘13 departure.
Latin America Brazil will host both the next World Cup (2014) and Olympic Games (2016), while operators including Rainbow Tours and Sunvil also point to Michael Palin’s TV series, Brazil, for raising interest in the country. Both operators also highlight Ecuador as a growth area because of new boutique and luxury hotels, and a major development of its rail infrastructure in 2013.
Sunvil suggests Bolivia as a hot destination for 2013, helped by new Air Europa fl ights from Gatwick to Santa Cruz, in Bolivia, via Madrid starting in December. Sunvil Traveller Director Lloyd
Boutcher said: “Demand for Ecuador,
Previous spread: Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia. This page, from left: Cook Islands culture; St. Kitts, which will be 30 in 2013; New York is set to market its hidden gems; forthcoming Olympic hosts Brazil is in the spotlight; Ecuador is adding luxury hotels.
18 December 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Peru and Costa Rica remains steady whilst excessive transport prices in Argentina has slowed sales.” Peru is undertaking a £5 million
advertising campaign in the UK to target high-spending luxury travellers and increase visitor numbers by 9% by the end of 2014. Guatemala used WTM to launch the
Bak’Tun Route – a tourist route that visits 11 Maya cities associated with
“With the rand weaker than it has been for several years, South Africa will likely be in vogue in 2013”
the Mayan calendar, which ends on December 21, the start of a new era and a new calendar.
TOURISM TALK
MARU ACEVEDO Vice Minister of Tourism, Guatemala “Guatemala is known
as the heartland of the Maya. More than 50% of our people are Maya descendants. We have a lot of archaeological sites important in history. It is important for us to promote Mayan culture and create opportunities for the communities. “This is a very signifi cant moment in our history and we are proud to share it with the world. New product we are launching next year is centred on the Khan Kingdom, a new product for a new era. “At the moment we have about 22,000 tourists from the UK. We want to increase that.”
WHERE TO BOOK — LATIN AMERICA RAINBOW TOURS – 020 7666 1260
www.rainbowtours.co.uk A new 12-night trip to Northern Brazil, incorporating Salvador, Sao Luis, the Lencois Marahenses National Park and Rio, costs from £2,985pp. The price includes all accommodation with breakfast, excursions, transfers and all international and domestic fl ights.
Asia The ‘opening up’ of Burma has seen a stampede of international tourists, but limited accommodation is an issue, say operators. Dagmar Marrocco, Kuoni UK Market Manager for Asia & Africa, said: “Due to such high demand, availability is a problem in Burma. With this in mind, Kuoni has introduced the Orient Express Road to Mandalay cruise, which currently has availability on certain departure dates in 2013.” Thailand and Malaysia are both tipped to be strong performers in 2013 by Travel 2. Thailand is turning its focus to promoting niche products in 2013, covering golf, medical tourism, newly-married couples and eco-tourism. Northern Thailand and Vietnam are new to Virgin Holidays’ worldwide brochure. Sri Lanka will benefi t from a new British Airways service to Colombo next April. New developments are helping to open up the east coast, closed for many years by the civil war (see Sri Lanka feature on page 22). Korea should also benefi t from a
new British Airways fl ight to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, which began on December 2 with a six- times-a-week service. India is planning to focus on
consumers with the new phase of its Incredible India campaign, originally launched 10 years ago (see India
feature on page 48). Macau celebrates two anniversaries in 2013 – the 60th anniversary of street circuit race the Macau Grand Prix and the 25th anniversary of the Macau International Fireworks Contest. Wendy Wu Tours has a new package linking Macau and Hong Kong.
TOURISM TALK
SUE WHITEHEAD UK Rep, Macau Government Tourist Offi ce
“2012 has been a positive year, with new programmes in the UK and a major new resort development in Macau. The Sands Cotai Central integrated resort – which includes Conrad, Sheraton and Holiday Inn hotels – is adding nearly 6,000 rooms to Macau’s room stock along with a host of dining, shopping and entertainment options. We will continue to work closely with Hong Kong on joint events, campaigns and fam trips throughout 2013, including the dragon boat racing day with Selling Long Haul, which was launched this September.”
DAWN PAGE Director UK and Northern Europe, Hong Kong Tourist Board
“We are delighted that arrivals from the UK showed a 5.1% increase in the fi rst three quarters of 2012. Looking ahead to 2013 we expect numbers to carry on growing as Hong Kong’s new cruise terminal at Kai Tak will commence operations mid-2013. “The Hong Kong Tourism Board is
working with Macau as part of its ‘Two wonders one trip’ promotional campaign to highlight exciting Hong Kong travel combinations. By working closely with our trade partners we will continue to showcase Hong Kong
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