New border processes need to be slick A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I attended Clia’s Destination Showcase in Gibraltar this week and was blown away by the hospitality shown to delegates. The British overseas territory is keen to grow its share of the lucrative cruise market and is investing in infrastructure to attract more lines and tourists in general. That investment is obvious in its slick border process, which remains a big consideration for travellers and will become an increasing point of focus as we gear up for the introduction of new EU border restrictions from November. The introduction of the EES and Etias systems and the wider digitisation


of borders is understandable and is to be welcomed if it makes our countries and travel safer. But there is no doubt their introduction will make entry into Europe more arduous – particularly in the early stages


when travellers will be required to submit biometric data for the first time. There is an added consideration for those taking connecting flights, and Clia is just one of the


organisations closely monitoring plans for the new systems, which also include the UK’s own Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. Experts predict the UK ETA will vastly reduce Heathrow transit passenger numbers and will also have a significant impact on round-Britain cruise passengers who will need to pay £10 even if they don’t disembark at a UK port of call. There is a clear logic in the introduction of these schemes, but governments at home and


abroad will need to pay close attention to the impact they may have on the lucrative travel and tourism industries.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS


Operators cool on call for price parity 4 More destinations weigh tourism taxes 4 River lines monitor Europe flood impact 5 Nats criticism; Not Just Travel target


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PTS rebrand; Clia Conference 2025 8 Special Report


COVER photo From left: Not Just Travel’s


Trish Sayers, Hannah Sayers, Steve Witt, Paul Harrison and Dawn Carney, with Virgin Voyages’ Jack Atherton


Photo: Not Just Travel Explora II naming ceremony, Italy 10


comment Ted Wake: Tap into autumn trip demand 12


NEWS YOU CAN USE product Jet2, Travelsphere/Just You, TTC, A&K 15 Titan Travel, Contiki, Just Go Holidays 16 Oceania, AE Expeditions, Windstar 18


FRONTLINE agent diary


Kim Kent: Online forums can be harsh 22 Your Stories Cruise specialist Col Ord, Travel Less Ordinary


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; Shutterstock/Jakub Zajic, Fabrizio Maffei, Andrey Popov, Rachid Dahnoun; Bligh Gillies/Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly 23 close-up


Hays Travel, Designer Travel, Tui, TTC 24 competitions Win break for two in Dubai and more 26


DESTINATIONS The US


Washington DC: Political intrigue and cultural heritage make capital a surprising city-break destination 28


California: Enjoy state’s sea and ski 34 Sporty Stays: Get set for host of events 41 solo travel


First-timers: Operators offer tips for selling to clients most likely to travel solo: women, retirees and cruisers


46 Single Supplements: How to sidestep 49


BUSINESS NEWS Boeing strike; Tui to sell in Latin America 55 Travel Convention 2024 preview: › Ex-NFU president Minette Batters to say: ‘Travel can learn from farming sector’ 56


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 19 SEPTEMBER 2024 3


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHad meetings with two consumer media partners, a trade association, two tourist boards and a big supplier as they plan for 2025.


OSpent 24 hours in Gibraltar moderating Clia’s latest Destination Showcase, which included dinner with a concert in St Michael’s Cave.


OEnjoyed a fab girls’ night out drinking cocktails (followed by eating pizza) to celebrate my friend’s 50th birthday!


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