Travel Trade Gazette 20.08.2015
TTGDIGITAL.COM
Sophie Griffiths News editor
With its close proximity to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, Bangkok provided the perfect base for my travels around Asia, and I found myself returning time and again to the Thai capital. It wasn’t just its location that made Bangkok such
T
an ideal base – it was the warm reception of the Thai people that made me fall in love with this crazy, loud, bustling, colourful metropolis. Other comments from travellers in response to the deadly bomb blast outside the Erawan Hindu shrine this week echoed these sentiments. That the atrocity was carried out at a site where
visitors of different religions and nationalities come together for peaceful reflection, and to gain good luck, seems particularly wicked. Prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha insisted those
responsible had deliberately targeted tourists, in a bid to “destroy the country’s” economy. And as with most countries, there can be no denying the importance of tourism to the Thai economy. Last year it generated $72.2 billion – or 19.3% – of the country’s GDP, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. As TTGwent to press, one British national was
understood to have died in the tragedy. However, our own Foreign Office was urging only to take extra caution in Bangkok. With four Chinese and Hong Kong tourists among the casualties though, and Hong Kong already advising travellers to cancel non-essential trips to Bangkok, it seems likely the city’s vital Asian market will be affected. The industry seems hopeful the impact on UK visitors
will be minimal. But as always, it is likely to be the national press that dictates the British public’s response to the tragedy. As the chair of Aito Agents warns on page 5, scaremongering headlines will likely lead to Brits wanting to avoid the Thai capital. It will be up to the industry, and in particular, agents to once again ensure a balanced view is relayed.
It’s easy to get in touch – you can email me
sgriffiths@ttgdigital.com– or tweet me at
twitter.com/ttgtravelqueen
TTG is the Official Media Partner responsible for the Official Daily Publications at WTM 2015
ttgdigital.com/wtm 04 NEWS.
10 Top Travel Tweeters: Who’s made it into this year’s top 25? Our annual rundown of the industry’s wittiest and most insightful voices 14 City: Tui expects to report growth despite the losses incurred as a result of the Tunisia terrorist attacks 16 Cruise: Princess Cruises is searching for a new UK and Europe boss, following Paul Ludlow’s move to head up P&O Cruises in the UK 18 Luxury Travel: Speakers announced for next month’s ttgluxury Seminar in London 20 Round-up: Travel 2 offers Mozambique and Zimbabwe in its new programme, while Premier Holidays’ 2016 Southern Africa brochure looks “Beyond Victoria Falls”
28TALK.
29 Sharon Munro argues that forming a partnership is similar in business and in love, right from the early stages: “Almost like first dates, they’re about getting to know each other, finding out if you want the same things, and seeing if you can build that all-important trust.”
30TOOLKIT.
30 Travel Leaders: 30 Under 30 travel leaders, past and present, on how the scheme improved their prospects 32 Technology: The founder of communication platform Nexmo talks about the brand’s meteoric rise 33 Advisor:Would you rate your boss online? How power at work is shifting 34 Meet the Rep: Celebrity Cruises’ strategic account manager on how the Superman theme tune pumps him up and game show host dreams 36 Mystery Shopper: How do Fakenham agents fare with a return flight enquiry including cycle carriage?
39 FEATURES. 39 On Our Radar: A home
from home in Sri Lanka 41 Air Travel: Customers with special needs; revamps that have enhanced Jetset’s booking portal; easyJet’s innovations; and Hot List 51 Cities and short breaks: Sophie Griffiths falls for the
gritty charms of Detroit; autumn city breaks; Chloe Cann in burgeoning Bucharest
39 64GETAWAY.
Gossip, news, puzzles and much more!
20.08.2015 03
wo years ago, I took a sabbatical from TTGto travel around the world.
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