8 | UPDATES
Wendy Wu Tours Launch FOUR NEW Cherry Blossom Tour Departures for Japan
AS the spring 2024 cherry blossom was only recently declared officially sold- out, leaving many people disappointed, and spurring some severe cases of ‘FOMO’, Wendy Wu Tours have pulled off the impossible by securing four new cherry blossom tour departures in March 2024. In an unprecedented move, the Japan specialist is launching these new departures in the form of a brand-new 18-day, fully inclusive, ‘Best of Japan’ tour which sees the operator following the magnificent cherry blossom trail, travelling from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes, and on to Takayama and Kanazawa. From Kyoto the journey continues to Hiroshima and Nara, culminating in Osaka, known as one of the best cities in Japan, and indeed the world, for cherry blossom.
www.nitravelnews.com
European Tourism Figures Demonstrate Strong Rebound To 2019 Levels
FOLLOWING a summer of strong tourism demand, international
tourist arrivals
to Europe are only 3.2% below 2019 levels, and nights are down by 1.3% for the January-September period. The rebound is being driven by resilient intra-European travel and the influx of US tourists benefitting from favourable exchange rates. Tis
is according to the latest edition of the
ICC Belfast Receives Green Meetings Gold Award
The International Convention Centre Belfast [ICC Belfast], together with
sister entertainment by Green venue,
Waterfront Hall, has been awarded the Green Meetings Gold Award, accredited
Tourism,
becoming the first purpose-built conference venue on the island of Ireland to receive the accolade. This award recognises the commitment of tourism businesses that are actively working to become more sustainable.
The Green
Meetings Gold Award is acknowledged worldwide as the industry standard for exceptional environmental and sustainability practices. The Belfast venue achieved the award for its work in areas including protecting and supporting staff and customer health and wellbeing, energy monitoring and conservation measures, facilitating sustainable travel options for visitors and for the business and its strong support to community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity.
Government Air Travel Guidance Gets a Revamp
The UK Government’s Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed a newly revamped air passenger travel guide. Previously known as the aviation passenger charter, the guide outlines passenger and consumer rights during flight delays or cancellations including what they can expect of airlines, airports and travel companies. It also offers advice on what to do if your baggage goes missing. The guide also details the rights of disabled passengers. Aviation Minister Baroness Vere called it a “one-stop shop of information and advice, which is clear and concise” although Which? believes it will have little effect unless there are real enforcement powers.
‘European Tourism Trends & Prospects’ quarterly report released today by the European Travel Commission (ETC), which provides an overview of Europe’s tourism performance over the summer months and its implications on the outlook for the shoulder season. Year-to-date data show that around 1 in 3 reporting destinations have surpassed 2019 levels of foreign arrivals. Europe’s recovery was mostly driven by Southern European and Mediterranean destinations, notably Serbia (+15%), Montenegro (+14%), Portugal (+11%), Türkiye (+8%), Malta, and Greece (both +7%). However, around 65% of reporting destinations are still below pre-pandemic figures. Slower recoveries are particularly evident among Eastern European countries neighbouring Russia and Ukraine, and those that are normally reliant on Russian travellers. Te Baltic countries have registered the sharpest declines: Estonia (-27%), Latvia (-30%), and Lithuania (-33%). Commenting following the publication of the report, Miguel Sanz, ETC’s President, said: “Despite persistent economic and geopolitical challenges, it is encouraging to observe the ongoing rebound of European tourism. However, we must acknowledge that the true measure of tourism success extends beyond the number of visitors and nights spent at a destination. It is essential to also consider and evaluate its impact on nature, local businesses, and the resident population. As Europe’s tourism industry recovers, we should strive to develop innovative, sustainable metrics
November/December 2023
‘Keep All Liquids IN Your Bag!’- Belfast International’s £100m Investment to Change How we Travel
BELFAST International Airport is set to have a major investment plan which will change how those travelling from NI will travel forever. Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports, announced the launch of a £100 million five-year investment plan that will increase the airport’s operational efficiency, improve passenger experience and environmental performance. Phase one of the program is currently underway, with the construction of a new security building adjacent to the current terminal building. This ultra-modern £25m facility will transform the passenger security experience by implementing the required Standard 3 Xray screening equipment, meaning passengers will no longer have to remove liquids or electronics from their luggage. The new building will be operational by Summer 2024.
VINCI Airports’ investment plan will also revamp existing facilities, improve airside departure area with additional departure gates and extra seating. Shopping offering will include new catering and retail outlets and the immigration area will also be extended over the next five years. Traffic through the airport is already
above 4.5 million passengers in the first nine months of 2023 (+ 22 % compared to 2022) and returning to pre-covid levels. The initiative will also have a direct positive impact for the entire region, creating an estimated 400 jobs with local construction firms for the duration of the build.
to better define its overall health and progress.” Full tourism recovery is in sight despite persistent inflation and geopolitical instability European travel recovery remained resilient during the summer season, even amid significant challenges posed by increased inflation, high costs of living, extreme weather events and airline strikes. Persistent geopolitical instability continues to have repercussions on Europe’s tourism outlook. Te ongoing war in Ukraine still affects arrivals figures in Eastern Europe and the developing conflict in Israel poses risks going into the shoulder season, especially for destinations such as France, Türkiye and Romania which are popular with Israeli travellers. Nevertheless, foreign arrivals to Europe are expected to continue recovering by the end of 2023, albeit at a slower pace, reaching 91% of pre-pandemic levels for the whole year. Forecasts suggest that international tourist arrivals in Europe will reach 2019 levels by 2024, a year earlier than initially predicted. Meanwhile, European airports are close to reaching a complete recovery in passenger demand. Based on ACI Europe’s August traffic report, passenger traffic across the European airport network is down by just 3.4%
compared to the same period in 2019.
VINCI Airports has also announced the launch of a 26 MWp new solar farm on the airport site which will generate 22.4 GWh of electricity and save 12,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The farm will be developed, financed, built, and operated by VINCI Concessions’ photovoltaic subsidiary SunMind. This initiative forms part of VINCI Airports’ global environmental action plan, which aims to reach 50% emission reductions by 2030 and net zero by 2050. A member of VINCI Airports network since 2018, Belfast International Airport has already decreased by 44 % its emissions (scope 1 and 2) by applying VINCI Airports’ environmental solutions. Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI
Concessions & President of VINCI Airports declared: “ VINCI Airports’ investment will support Belfast international airport’s positive dynamic by strongly improving the passenger experience. Te airport plays a pivotal role for aviation, tourism and the wider local economy. As a long-term partner, VINCI Airports is committed to sustainably
develop the airport and increase its environmental performance”. Graham Keddie, Managing Director at Belfast
International Airport adds: “VINCI Airports’s commitment to Northern Ireland has been unwavering and their determination to invest such an amount demonstrates the belief they have in the airport, it’s team and potential for future growth. “As we mark our 60th anniversary at the end of this month, today’s announcement sets out a clear vision of how we intend to provide a long-term strategic vision for the Airport, our passengers, and the wider region.”
Palladium Hotel Group Outlines 2023 Success
Palladium Hotel Group has concluded the 2023 summer season in the Balearic Islands and Marbella with very positive closing figures. The hotel group forecasts a similarly positive winter season for its hotels in Tenerife, Madrid, the Caribbean and Latin America. The group’s hotels have recorded occupancy figures of 77% globally from July to September, exceeding those
during the same period in 2022 by 2%, and accompanying this growth by a cumulative 12% increase in its RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room). The United Kingdom was the largest outbound market for Palladium Hotel Group both overall and within Spain, representing 22% of total visitors globally and 32% of visitors to the group’s Spanish hotels.
YOTEL Announces Signing of First Malaysia Hotel YOTEL has announced its debut in Malaysia with the signing of YOTEL Kuala Lumpur, a 290-room hotel located in the heart of the capital’s Central Business District.
News of the opening reinforces the brand’s commitment to expanding in the region and globally.
Projected to open in summer 2025, YOTEL Kuala Lumpur will boast a prime
location in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) district, in the city’s renowned Golden Triangle. In a sought-after location for business and leisure travellers alike the hotel will be steps away from the iconic Petronas Towers, KLCC’s offices – home to Malaysia’s largest companies – and the KL Convention Centre and shopping centre.
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