70 | TRAVEL TRADE NEWS
UNWTO Opens Calls for Best Tourism Villages 2023
www.nitravelnews.com
UNWTO has opened applications for the third edition of its Best Tourism Villages initiative. Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO was launched in 2021 as part of the Organisation’s work to make tourism a driver of rural development and wellbeing. To date, over 70 villages from almost 40 countries have been recognised as Best Tourism Villages. A further 40 have been selected to participate in the Upgrade Programme where they benefit from expert mentorship and networking opportunities. One initiative, three components UNWTO’s Members States can present up to eight villages through their National Tourism Administrations (NTAs). Applications will close on 23 June 2023 and the winners announced towards the end of the year. As with previous editions, the initiative has three components: The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ recognises outstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and community based values, products and lifestyle and have a clear committed to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects. Selection is based on an evaluation of their resources and initiatives in nine areas covering the three pillars of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ Upgrade Programme benefits a number of villages among those that do not fully meet the criteria to obtain the recognition. These villages receive support from UNWTO and partners to address the gaps identified in the evaluation process. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ Network provides a space for exchanging experiences and good practices and opportunities. It includes representatives of the villages recognised as ‘Best Tourism Village by UNWTO’ as well as the villages participating
in the Upgrade Programme
and it will benefit from the contributions of experts, public and private sector partners engaged in the promotion of tourism for rural development. The Network also contributes to the work of UNWTO in identifying good practices, developing guidelines and policy recommendations as well as insights and knowledge.
The applications are evaluated by an independent International Advisory Board consisting of experts in different fields (cultural and natural resources preservation, sustainability, tourism product development, marketing, value chain, etc.) based on nine areas, including sustainability, infrastructure, connectivity, and tourism value chain integration. Recognition and mentorship for Villages Announcing the launch, UNWTO Secretary- General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Tourism can make a real difference for rural communities, delivering jobs, supporting businesses and celebrating and protecting traditions. Through Best Tourism Villages, UNWTO is recognising those rural destinations that committed to making tourism a pillar of opportunity and wellbeing.” For the villages in the Upgrade Programme, besides individual mentoring, the villages join also the Best Tourism Villages Network, which today numbers over 100 villages in five world regions. Since its inception the BTV Network had organised a series of training sessions and masterclasses, allowing hundreds of participants to benefit from expert guidance and feedback from sector leaders.
ETIHAD have announced changes for no show fees and voluntary changes on net fare tickets. The now updated No show policy means a guest is considered a no-show if they fail to show up at the airport one hour before the scheduled departure time of their flight. All bookings must be cancelled, reissued or refunded at least one hour before the scheduled flight departure time. If you do not do this, no show fees will be chargeable. If a guest cancels their booking within one hour of departure or if they cancel it and leave it open, they will be charged a no show penalty. Voluntary changes policy has also changed. Etihad Airways’ voluntary change policy allows changes to flight itineraries, including flight dates, times,
May 2023 No Time to Waste- Etihad Update ‘No Show’ Fee Conditions
and class of travel. However, guests are not allowed to cancel their bookings and leave the tickets open. They must choose a new date and reissue the ticket according to the fare rules. Rerouting after the journey has begun is allowed under certain conditions, but some fares cannot be transferred to other airlines. The policy may be different before and after departure, and changes made closer to the departure date may result in higher penalties. The aim is to provide flexibility while being fair to guests who paid higher fares for maximum flexibility.
Irishman Alan Joyce to Step Down as CEO of Qantas
LATA Expo to Celebrate ‘The Power of Tourism’ at 10 Year Anniversary
After 15 years at the helm, Alan Joyce is set to step down as CEO of Australian airline Qantas. Qantas’s chief financial officer, Vanessa Hudson, will take over as the airline’s chief executive in November, making her the first woman to run Australia’s national carrier. The airline’s chair, Richard Goyder, said: “Vanessa has a deep understanding of this business after almost three decades in a range of roles both onshore and offshore, across commercial, customer and finance. She has a huge amount of airline experience and she’s an outstanding leader.”
Tourism Ireland promotes Northern Ireland with
Lastminute.com in Italy
TOURISM Ireland in Italy has teamed up with Lastminute. com, in a new campaign to grow tourism from Italy. The campaign included highly visible ads at around 30 city bike stations in Milan – which featur ed the tagline ‘L’Irlanda è più vicina di quanto pensi’ (meaning ‘Ireland is closer than you think’).
From 19-21 June, the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) will be hosting its 10th edition of LATA Expo; Europe’s largest B2B event dedicated to Latin American travel. The anniversary marks an important point in Latin America’s tourism development and the chosen theme for this special edition is ‘The Power of Tourism’. Colin Stewart, chairman of LATA, says: “Latin America was one of regions that was hardest hit from the pandemic from a travel perspective. Now that connectivity has improved, we look forward to hosting a very special 10th edition of LATA Expo. We have chosen the theme ‘The Power of Tourism,” to showcase how tourism is a force for good; generating growth in local economies, creating job opportunities and raising funds for important local initiatives.” Since the first edition of LATA Expo in
2014, LATA Expo has grown exponentially to become Europe’s largest and most significant B2B show focused on travel to Latin America. It welcomes exhibitors from across the region, including tourism boards, tour operators, accommodation providers, lodges, cruise and airlines partners, as well as travel trade and media from the UK and Europe. In 2022, LATA Expo hosted its inaugural ministerial think tank, welcoming tourism ministers and leaders to discuss and debate how Latin America competes against other tourism destinations, growing the region’s tourism market share in a mindful and responsible way, and capturing a larger percentage of nature tourism. This year, LATA will be expanding the ministerial think tank, to take place over two days with a focus on the benefits of cross- country collaboration to achieve greater competitiveness.
Sad Passing of Railway Travel Specialist
IT is with great sadness that NI Travel News reports the passing of Ian Slaughter.
who after 43 years retired from the industry in 2010,
was
one of the most knowledgeable travel agents in the country.
Surrey-born Ian retired from
Williames
Travel in Howard Street in 2010, more than four decades after being
recruited
by then Williames Travel owner, the late Commander Billy Stephens DSC. An expert on the Indian continent and on the railways of the world – especially steam trains – Ian was an expert at putting together itineraries for both groups and individual travellers. He also sometimes led
parties on
railway trips, which was his particular passion.
Ian was inducted into the NI Travel Industry Roll of Honour at the Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards in 2007 alongside Will Dunlop.
Speaking of Ian at the time of his retirement in 2010,
General Manager of Williames Travel said: “As well as being one of the most
Syliva Mehan,
knowledgeable people in the industry, Ian is a real gentleman. His retirement is not only a great loss to the company but to the industry as a whole in Northern Ireland.”
Ian passed away peacefully at hospital on March 21. He was the much loved husband of Kathleen, devoted father of Anna, Sean, Neil, Stephen and Kieran and father-in-law of Diane. He was also a doting grandad to Matthew, Ross, Liam, Theo, Bradley, Jacob, Caidan and Naomi.
A requiem mass to celebrate the life of Ian was held in Our Lady of Lourdes, Victoria Avenue, Whitehead on Tuesday 28th March at 10.00am.
Ian,
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