News 06.11.18
Boracay clean-up hailed as success
Tom Parry
The “shock” move to close the Philippine island of Boracay (AS1000) due to overtourism issues has been hailed “the best possible outcome” by one of the country’s tourism chiefs, after the hotspot reopened last month.
Boracay began welcoming visitors back to its shores on October 26 – just six months after major sewage problems, caused by decades of unregulated building, forced its closure after its waters were polluted. Prior to ordering its closure, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte branded the destination “a cesspool”. Since then, the island has
Boracay island has reopened to tourists after a six-month clean-up operation
undergone a “rigorous” clean-up programme, with a taskforce created to manage sustainability. As part of the changes, a maximum of just more than 19,000 tourists are now allowed to visit each day. New road infrastructure,
and rules surrounding large parties and the construction of temporary structures are also in place. Speaking to TTG@WTM, Art Boncato, undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Tourism, said the country would look to
Brand USA, British Airways and American Airlines announce the MegaFam news
MEGAFAM FINALE
Brand USA’s big reveal
Brand USA (NA370) has revealed the finale destination for its 2019 UK & Ireland MegaFam will be Phoenix/ Scottsdale in Arizona.
The announcement was made by Cathy Domanico, vice-president global trade development at Brand USA, during a Facebook Live at WTM London. From May 9-17, the MegaFam will take 100 travel agents on seven itineraries across the USA, culminating on May 15 in Phoenix/Scottsdale.
“It’s one of our signature events,” Domanico said. “It gives agents the opportunity to see something new – in my eyes seeing is believing, and agents are our best sales people.”
10 06.11.2018
“We’re really excited to showcase our destination,” added Emily Wininger, tourism sales manager at Experience Scottsdale. The MegaFam is organised in partnership with British Airways and American Airlines, which is launching a seasonal, daily, direct flight from Heathrow to Phoenix from March 31, 2019.
The two airlines are the only carriers offering a direct route to the Arizona capital.
“Without their support, this MegaFam wouldn’t happen,” said Domanico.
Agents can win a place by booking American Airlines and British Airways flights to the USA during the entry period – December 3, 2018 to March 29, 2019. To qualify, agents must also earn a number of USA specialist badges on the Brand USA agent-training site,
usadiscoveryprogram.co.uk.
DRINK TO GOOD HEALTH: Just a Drop (BL4) is celebrating its 20th anniversary – and having provided 1.5 million people with safe water and sanitation – at WTM London this year. The charity was fi rst launched at the event in 1998 by Fiona Jeffery OBE, former chair of WTM London. To mark the occasion, Just a Drop has partnered with Water-to-Go to create Just a Drop-branded eco-friendly water bottles, designed to provide a solution to two world problems: access to clean, safe drinking water and single-use plastic pollution.
become a “trailblazer” within sustainable tourism in Asia and use what it had done with Boracay to help neighbouring nations. “Shutting Boracay back in April, in the lead-up to a bumper summer season was a shock for our tourism industry, but the president made the right call,” he said.
“It was a decision not based around business and making money, but on protecting the sustainability of our country and the welfare of tourists.” Boncato said the Philippines would also look to implement similar strategies around capacity limitation for its other island destinations such as Palawan, Bohol and Siargao. He added that the reopening of Boracay would give the Philippines a “late push” to reach 7.4 million global visitors by the end of 2018. The country is currently enjoying an 8.36% year-on-year increase in global visitors from January to September this year – with 5.3 million tourists visiting during the period.
The bottles, which contain a
fi ltration system to eliminate more than 99.9% of contaminants, are being sold exclusively on Just a Drop’s stand at WTM for the special price of £5, ahead of launching online via Water-to-Go’s website. All profi ts will support Just a Drop’s safe water projects. Get free water refi lls from water stations around WTM London, including at Affordable Car Hire, Air Europa (CA330), Atta – African Travel & Tourism Association (AF685), Discover the Palm Beaches (NA330), Skal International (EU555) and Just a Drop’s stands.
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