NEWS
IN BRIEF
BAHAMAS EYES EUROPE AMID RESTORATION PROGRAMME
Charlotte Flach, acting deputy features editor
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (CA150) has confirmed it is “committed to rebuilding in the next 12 to 18 months” in the Abacos Islands after Hurricane Dorian decimated the destination in September. Director general Joy Jibrilu (inset)
told TTG at WTM London: “There is no infrastructure, so our priority is rebuilding the airport first.” Although global visitor
figures are down 10% year-on- year for October 2019, 2% growth is projected for November and December. “Through to 1 August 2019 we were on
track to have a record year with visitor figures up 17% year-on-year. Then by the
first two weeks of September we were down. For November and December we are forecasting 2% growth year-on-year, so the tide is turning,” said Jibrilu. She confirmed British Airways would be
increasing airlift to Nassau from London for the start of the summer season, adding an extra flight – totalling five a week. Other airlift updates include a new
direct service from Calgary in Canada with WestJet from December 2019; direct from Denver with United Airlines from March 2020; and direct from Boston with Delta Air Lines from January 2020. The Bahamas’ top market is
still the US, but the destination is also focusing on Europe.
“[European travellers] come for longer,
spend more money and are keen to get out and meet the locals. We cannot underestimate their value,” she said.
Israel (EU1550) has almost doubled its number of tourists since 2013. Following a marketing push to promote Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, arrivals to Israel increased from 2.7 million in 2013 to 4.5 million this year. It comes as Virgin Atlantic launched a direct daily service between London Heathrow and Tel Aviv in September this year.
Poland (EU1500) wants to encourage tourists to travel beyond Krakow. President of the Polish Tourism Organisation Dr Robert Andrzejczyk said a B2C and B2B campaign, launching next year, would “redirect tourists” to five lesser-known regions of the country. “It will be an answer to overtourism in Krakow,” he said.
Costa Rica (LA200) welcomed 2.2 million worldwide visitors from January to August 2019, a 3.8% year-on-year increase. Speaking at WTM London, minister of tourism Maria Amalia Revelo said sustainable tourism and fighting climate change remained a key focus for the country. The UN recently named Costa Rica “UN Champion of the Earth” for its policies to tackle climate change.
COLOMBO-SYDNEY BACK ON THE TABLE FOR SRILANKAN AIRLINES Pippa Jacks
Sri Lanka’s national carrier is poised to relaunch a Sydney route in 2020, and hopes to position the island as an alternative stopover route to Australia. SriLankan Airlines (AS245) had hoped
to bring the route back in 2019, but plans were shelved in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks.
“Sri Lanka is a good half-way point from the UK – 10 hours to Colombo and then 10 to Sydney,” said CEO Vipula Gunatilleka. The airline ceased operations to
Sydney in 2001 following a terrorist incident, and currently flies only from Colombo to Melbourne. Gunatilleka confirmed plans for Colombo routes to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Ahmedabad in Gujarat,
India, are also on the table for 2020. He added passenger numbers had
recovered well since the Easter attacks, with numbers currently only 7% down on the same time last year – though he admitted yields have not been high. The airline also confirmed it will
relaunch its website and mobile app next year, while the SriLankan Holidays website will relaunch in January.
05.11.2019 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY 9
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