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Travel & Tourism Sector in Key European Capitals Strongly Recovering Says WTTC


A NEW report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed strong signs of recovery of the economic impact from Travel & Tourism in the five city ‘powerhouses’ of Western Europe. The Cities Economic Impact Report, sponsored by Visa and researched in partnership with Oxford Economics, analysed key indicators such as Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP, employment and traveller spend. The study examined the impact of the sector in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Madrid.


The report from the global tourism body


shows that in 2019, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed over $83.5BN to the economies of the five European capitals, and last year was just 15% below 2019 at almost $71BN.


Paris has shown the strongest recovery


of the five capital cities with the other four being 18% to 30% below 2019, demonstrating slightly slower recoveries than the French capital.


In Paris, the sector GDP contribution was


$38BN in 2019 but in 2022 it recovered to just 6% below pre-pandemic levels at an estimated $35.7BN. Although the sector’s GDP contribution


to London was worth almost $15BN in 2022, it is slightly behind Berlin in terms of recovery to 2019 levels. The German capital’s contribution to the city’s economy was worth over $7.7BN in 2022, 18% below 2019. Madrid’s GDP contribution was more than $5.5BN in 2022, 24% below 2019, however Rome is witnessing the slowest recovery – 30% below 2019 levels with a sector contribution of almost $7BN. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO,


said: “Travellers are flocking back to Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, and Rome. Business travel is growing steadily. And China’s


Finnair Marks One Year of Elevated Long-Haul Travel


Experience The UK


Foreign Office has issued updated travel advice for holidaymakers heading to Thailand warning against accepting drinks from strangers or leaving drinks unattended following a spate of sex attacks at tourists hotspots.


reopening is bringing welcome visitors to cities across Europe. Tourists provide a massive boost to both the economy and job creation.


“It is crucial that the national and local governments continue to recognise the importance of Travel & Tourism for the local and national economies, jobs, and businesses.”


FINNAIR are celebrating one year since the launch of their


haul experience,


they continue to bring innovation to the sky. The €200 million investment included a brand- new Business Class, exciting new Premium Economy


cabin,


elevated long- as


and refreshed


Economy Class as part of a major investment to enhance the customer experience. Since then, the Finnish airline has worked tirelessly to bring the elevated cabin to even more of its customers ahead of its centenary later this year.


SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHES FIRST STOPOVER VISA FOR ALL TRAVELLERS


THE Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), in collaboration with Saudi


Arabia’s Ministry The Stopover Visa will allow of


Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and other relevant authorities, has announced the launch of a new 96-hour Stopover Visa for passengers booked on flynas or SAUDIA flights to the Kingdom.


effort


As part of Saudi Arabia’s to


enhance the


convenience of its tourism offerings under Saudi Vision 2030; the new Stopover Visa comes free of charge to passengers travelling


to


their final destination via any airport in Saudi on SAUDIA or flynas flights. Applications for the visa will be automatically available through the SAUDIA or flynas booking platforms up to 90 days in advance of travel and can be completed in as little as three minutes.


passengers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours, enabling more visitors than ever to explore Saudi’s incomparable historical,


cultural, spiritual sites. and Visitors


can also use the Stopover Visa to break up long-haul flights, extend a business trip or book a bonus trip to experience Saudi’s burgeoning entertainment and seasonal events calendar.


Even more exciting for visitors,


Stopover Visa


holders will be eligible for a complimentary one- night hotel stay during the stopover when booking through SAUDIA. To help visitors make the most of their stopover, custom 24, 48, 72 and 96-


hour itineraries have been developed to inspire visitors to stroll through Jeddah’s Al- Balad, or visit the Al-Turaif district in Diriyah, one of Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.


Our Top ‘Must-Trys’


• The highest rooftop, NŪ Restaurant in Lille • Bec restaurant- The most provençal restaurant in the Vallée des Baux in Provence


• A 100% solar restaurant, Le Présage in Marseille • The most royal, the Grand Contrôle-Ducasse, in Versailles


• The best in the vineyards, Les Belles Perdrix at Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Emilion


• The most alpine, La dame de Pic- The 1920 in Megève • A taste of French Riviera, Bocca Nissa in Nice • The most generous, Le Bouillon du Commerce in Nantes


• The most prominent, L’Observatoire du Gabriel in Bordeaux


• The most Mediterranean, the Chelala in Toulouse • The most convivial, Food Society in Lyon • The most Dolce Vita, Gigi in Ramatuelle on the French Riviera


www.nitravelnews.com


SPRING HAS SPRUNG


March/April 2023 SPRING INTO...


IF YOU are a road-trip kind of traveller, then France offers to take you for a ride, albeit in a good, memorable way! Enjoy all the trappings of a classic road trip journey and chart your own course along vineyards,


villages or the


coast- all at your own pace. We recommend a few routes that promise a memorable drive and let you decide whether you’d like to spend 5, 15 days or even more driving around la belle France!


1: La Route Napoléon


If you’ve already been researching on self-drive scenic routes in France, then this route may have found more than a few mentions. As the name suggests, the route is linked to the great Napoléon Bonaparte and retraces his footsteps from


his exile in Alba (Italy) back to France with the sole purpose of reclaiming the throne. We start from Napoleon’s arrival in Golfe Juan a seaside resort on France’s Côte d’Azur. This 350 km driving experience starts from the Riviera and winds its way into


the Alps Mont


Blanc with Grenoble as your final destination. As you make your way “Alp-wards” from the Riviera, we recommend a stop in glamourous Cannes. However, if you want to steer clear of cities, then plenty of quaint villages en route don’t disappoint. Take your pick from Grasse-the perfume making capital of the world- or others such as Seranon, Gap, Castellane, Digne to name a few. Keep an eye out for French Imperial Eagle statues that mark this famous route.


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