4
welcome – dedicated to those who love selling travel –
INDUSTRY COMMENT “Next year has been designated a year of 'dual collaboration', with events
welcome A
taking place in both Mexico and the UK. We're looking to achieve half a million visitors from the UK and we are not far off, so things are looking very positive for 2015." Milko Rivera Hope, Director of Mexico Tourism Board UK. See feature, page 11
“In September Mauritius welcomed 12,600 arrivals from the UK, that’s a 24.7%
increase year on year when compared to September 2013 and higher than any other month in the past five years. In total, UK visitors were up 13.5% in the first nine months of the year. “These positive figures can be partly attributed to the additional flights to Mauritius from Emirates and Thomson."
Dr Karl Mootoosamy, Director of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. See feature, page 26
Steve Hartridge Editor
s another year draws to a close it is worth reiterating that despite the relentless march of online booking tools and the ever- expanding functionality of mobile phones in 2014, knowledgeable agents remain well placed to influence consumer choices. Take, as just one current example, the spread of Ebola in West Africa, which since the summer has taken a terrible toll on the citizens of some West African countries. Yet few destinations tend to be ‘tarred with the same brush’ in the way Africa is when a crisis like this breaks out. Even the original three versions of Sir Bob Geldof’s 1984 Band Aid fundraising song fell into this trap. Take for example, the lyrics: “And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time… The greatest gift they'll get this year is life.”
It's true the 2014 version changed the words of these lines – perhaps someone mentioned that South Africa alone has mountains in three provinces that regularly see snowfall in December - but however well meaning Band Aid is likely to again fuel the fire of misinformation and reinforce popular misconceptions that a problem in West Africa (where Ebola is concentrated) is a problem also shared by Southern and Eastern Africa where there has not been a single reported case of the disease. Operators, even specialists in South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania, are being hit by unfounded fears about the disease but agents can add real value by putting the record straight. They can be at the forefront of the education process by being in possession of the full facts and arming themselves with a few simple retorts to help assuage consumer fears. Perhaps this one might help: London is nearer West Africa than Cape Town is. Improving destination knowledge is what our ‘training’ focused-features are all about, and in this issue we offer plenty of tips on how you can sell a range of destinations from Croatia to Australia to Sri Lanka. We also predict some destinations that will be 'hot' in 2015 and suggest a few others that look set to capitalise on their starring roles in some recent Hollywood movies.
THE 2 0 1 4 WINNERS It's time to ackowledge this year's winners of the
WITH THIS ISSUE... Visit USA travel planner
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Travel Agents Choice Awards – voted for by you, agents in the know. Turn over for the full list of winners, their latest news and pictures and our special awards party for agents!
sellingtravel.co.uk/awards Did you vote?
Read the full prize winners list at Inside... 65 Winners List 66 Winners Gallery 69 Winners News 77 Travel Agents Choice Awards Party
Award-winning champs! Elsewhere in this issue we have a dedicated section on our 2014 Travel Agents Choice Awards (TACA) winners. Congratulations to all our industry champions – and those who made the shortlists – and thanks to all our readers who took the time to vote.
Merry Christmas and see you next year!
Published by BMI Publishing Ltd 2014 Suffolk House, George St, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1SR, UK
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Publishing Director/Managing Editor: Alan Orbell Publisher: Sally Parker Editor: Steve Hartridge Group Editor: Jo Austin Journalists: Andy Hoskins, Julie Baxter & Laura Gelder Associate Publisher: Steve Thompson Advertisement Manager: Lisa Merrigan Business Development Manager: Craig McQuinn Creative Director: Matt Bonner Art Director: Dan Franklin Senior Designer: Tina-Lee McDougall Junior Designer: Louisa Horton Production Manager: Clare Hunter Circulation Manager: Cheryl Staniforth Managing Director: Martin Steady Members of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Visit USA Association, LATA, PATA, MENATA, SATOA, the Foreign Airlines Association and the Institute of Travel & Tourism. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, BMI Publishing cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. © 2014. ISSN: 2056-9319. Front cover image: Aurora Borealis over Mt. Kirkjufell, Iceland.
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