global e-news for travel, tourism, meetings and incentives, exhibitions & aviation. Founded in 1997

October 2013

● ROYAL DESTINATIONS OF THE WORLD, by Caroline-Artemis Laspas

● THE WEST MUST COMPETE WITH ASIA’S BOOMING TOURISM…

● SAUDI’S NEW TOURISM SECTOR

● SEVILLE, A SURPRISING CITY OF SPAIN, by Dimitri Laspas

● THE ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2014, MALAYSIA

● EXPAND YOUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM BUSINESS INTO CHINA!

● GERMAN ISLANDS, by Dimitri Laspas

● 29,000+ NEW AIRCRAFT NEEDED IN NEXT 2 DECADES

● SINGAPORE AIRLINES TARGETS INDIA

● COLOMBIA - THE STAR OF LATIN AMERICA

● JAPAN - TOP ASSOCIATION MEETING DESTINATION IN ASIA

● TOURISM GROWTH BUT FEW TOURISM GUIDES IN MANDALAY

● GO TO LAOS! WHY?

● MEXICO, MORE THAN A DESTINATION, by Caroline-Artemis Laspas

The god Apollon, The Opera, Paris, France, TATW Monthly 2013 © www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

Letter from the Editor

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to the October edition of

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY

With so many places to see and attractions to visit during a sometimes short visit to a city, it is great to know that many now offer special tourist entry passes on a wide variety of attractions within the city for a great price. As time may be limited, the pass usually gives you fast track entry into the attractions too.

In New York, the New York CityPASS offers reduced entrance into the top 6 attractions across the city and gives great tips and helpful information on directions, transport as well as other money-saving coupons. The CityPASS is valid for 9 days meaning that you do not have to visit all the attractions in one day.

The Scottish capital of Edinburgh offers a sightseeing city card which allows visitors to see over 30 top attractions as well as saving time and money. From historic houses, haunted tours, gardens, and museums. It also includes a free Airlink return from the airport.

In London, the London Pass gives you entry to over 60 popular tourist attractions and is valid for several time scales. You can also add in the option of your underground/bus transport too. In 2012 over 4,700 London Pass customers, 79% said they visited more attractions thanks to their London Pass and over 91% rated it as Good, Very Good or Excellent value for money. A massive 91% of customers would recommend it to friends and family.

In Berlin, the popular 3-day Berlin Museum Pass opens the doors to a number of the city's big museums.

In Rome, although a proper pass that allows the entrance to all the Museums in Rome does not exist, there are several different cards for combined visits to various museums and galleries.

So wherever your next trip is, check out the many different money and time saving city passes on offer. Even if there are none, then try advance bookings into attractions online, which usually will also save you money.

Happy Travels and Happy Reading!

Caroline-Artemis Laspas editor & co-founder

Buckingham Palace, London, UK

ROYAL

DESTINATIONS

OF THE

WORLD

by Carol ine-Artemis Laspas, editor

If you were asked how many ‘Kingdoms’ there were in the world today, would you know the answer? You would be correct if you said 26! From all over the global there are constitutional, parliamentary and absolute Kingdoms. Each Royal family has its palaces, castles, regal history, pomp and ceremony and that makes them even more popular tourist destinations. The country may already be a popular tourism destination due to their natural beauty and cultural history, but with the added bonus of a

royal heritage, makes the destination that bit extra special.

In this edition of TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY we look at a few

Royal destinations and what they offer.

Europe dominates with Royal Houses and so to start with, it has to be the British Royal Family. Over the past 3 years the world’s eyes have been focused on the British Royal family with the Royal Wedding of its future King, Prince William, the Diamond Jubilee of the current Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II and most recently, the birth of a new Monarch, Prince George. This has added huge interest to the attraction of the UK as a tourist destination. London is the top tourism sight for royal tourists, and even from the outside, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace are worth seeing. Other royal attractions in the capital include the Tower of London home to the Crown Jewels as well as the Household Calvary home to all the Queen’s horses and carriages. For past royal history outside of London, Hampton Court Palace on the River Thames is also a great royal treat. Buckingham Palace is the working HQ of the monarchy and all official state visits, banquets, and ceremonies take place there. Part of it is open to the public during the summer months. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. Windsor is still very much a working royal palace and is open to the public.

Germany. Although not governing today, the German Royal family is still going strong with its head being Ernst August V, Prince of Hanover. The royal connections between Great Britain and Germany go back almost 300 years. 2014 will celebrate the joining of the Royal houses and has sparked greater

Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee, in Bavar ia interest in Germany’s royal past offering great opportunities to visit some spectacular palaces like the Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee, in Bavaria. Highlights include the large state rooms, the State Staircase, the State Bedroom and the Great Hall of Mirrors.

Spain. ‘Palacio Real de Madrid’ (The Royal Palace of Madrid), is the official residence of the King of Spain but it is only used for state ceremonies and is open to the public. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family live in the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid. The palace is partially open to public, except when it is being used for official business. The Royal Palace of La Almudaina is the fortified palace of Palma, the capital city of the Island of Majorca. It is the official royal summer residence. The fundamental structure is of an original Muslim fortress.

continuing on page…4

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ROYAL

DESTINATIONS

OF THE

WORLD

by Carol ine-Artemis Laspas,

editor

continuation from page…2

The Netherlands: This year saw the abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands who handed over the Kingdom to her son Prince Willem-Alexander of Orange. The Royal Palace in Amsterdam is one of 3 palaces in the Netherlands which can be used by the King. The Royal Palace is located in the Dam Square, but is not the King’s place of residence, and is used for official events such as the proclaimation and acceptance of sovereignty. The 350 year old Palace was originally the City Hall of Amsterdam. The Royal Palace is open to the public where you can admire the marble floors, magnificent paintings, delicate sculptures and gigantic chandeliers.

Vaduz Cast le , Liechtens tein .

Liechtenstein: Vaduz Castle is located on a hillside above the capital city of Vaduz. It is very much to symbol of the city. The castle was constructed as a fortress in the 12th century, followed by the addition of living quarters in 1287. It has been heavily renovated and today Prince Franz Josef II lives there with his family. It is not open to the pubic, but other castles like the Gutenberg Castle, Obere Burg and Schalun Castle are open to the public.

Monaco. As a sovereign city state in the south of France, Monaco the 2nd smallest and the most densely populated country in the world! Soveriegn House was originally a fortress and ramparts built by the Genoese in 1215. Throughout the centuries it has been transformed into one of the most luxurious residences in the style of Louis XIV. The late Prince Rainier III restored the Palace to its former glory which can be seen today.

T he Imper ial Family, Japan.

The spectacular double-revolution Carrera marble staircase dating from the 13th century leads from the main courtyard and the state apartments which are open to the public.

Japan: The Imperial House of Japan is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world. The imperial house recognises 125 monarchs beginning from 11,600BC and continuing to the current emperor, Akihito. Tokyo Imperial Palace is the main royal residence in Tokyo. The main palace is the private residences of the imperial family, an archive, museum and administrative offices. It is built on the site of the old Edo castle. The palace is closed to the public mostly except at New Year and the Emperor's Birthday, when the public can enter through the Nakamon (inner gate) to see the Kyuden Totei Plaza in front of the Chowaden Hall. There are other palaces around Japan that one can visit including the Kyoto Imperial palace and The Sentō Imperial Palace.

Thailand: The current monarch of Thailand is Bhumibol Adulyadej. He is the currently the world's longest reigning monarch and the world’s longest serving head of state. The Siamese-cum-Thai monarchy dates from 1238. Chitralada Palace is the Bangkok residence of the King and is part of the Dusit Palace complex. The palace grounds are 4sq.kms surrounded by a moat and Palace Guards.

Chi tralada Palace, Bangkok Bhubing Rajanives is a Royal residence in the northern Chiang Mai Province. Built in the mountains on stilts overlooking Chiang Mai, the rose gardens are particularly famous and many flowers are grown here that could not otherwise be grown in Thailand. The palace is open to the public, except when the royal family is in residence.

Brunei. This is the world’s oldest reining and the only remaining Malay Islamic Monarchy. The royal bloodline dates back over 600 years to 1405. The Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the official royal residence just outside the capital city on the banks of the Brunei River. When completed, it was the largest residential palace in the world and the largest single family residence ever built. The palace contains 1,788 rooms, which includes 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall for 5,000 guests, a mosque for 1,500 people as well as a 110-car garage, air conditioned stables for 200 ponies and 5 swimming pools. The palace has 564 chandeliers, uses 51,000 light bulbs and has 44 staircases and 18 elevators. All official duties and functions take place at the palace as well as being the site of the prime minister's office.

Kuwait: Bayan Palace is the main residence of the Emir of Kuwait. It is internationally acclaimed for its architectural style with its best-known feature being the watch tower with its blue tiles and pure gold plated roof. The palace inside has beautiful artificial greenery, large office and residential buildings and a majestic mosque. The Seif Palace is located in Kuwait City, opposite the Grand Mosque.

Although many primary Palaces may not be open to tourists, there are usually other less used residences to see and many with delightful grounds. With royalty comes wealth and many royal families have used their wealth to acquire unique and beautiful, big and small paintings, tapestries, statues, ceramics and furniture, etc which have been handed down through the generations and much of which is on display in many museums and galleries of their nations, so tourists can still get a feel for the royal heritage both past and present.

We have highlight only 10 of the 26 Monarchies of the world, now can you try to

name the remaining 16? ●

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TOURISM

AROUND THE WORLD

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BML

International-UK

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tourism, national and regional tourism board, convention bureaus and

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bring growth to your doorstep!

Ouagadougou, Bur kina-Faso.

THE WEST MUST COMPETE WITH ASIA’S BOOMING TOURISM INDUSTRY At the recent World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Summit held in Korea, a clear message to western governments was given to not miss out on the future of Asia’s travel and tourism industry. The summit highlighted how best to make the most of the huge projected growth in tourism across China, Korea and the whole Pacific region. Asia’s travel and tourism sector is expected to grow 6%.pa. over the next 10 years and of the 70 million new jobs travel & tourism will create globally by 2023, two thirds or 47 million, will be in Asia. Key to this growth is the increase in wealth of Asia’s middle class, which is forecast to triple to 1.7 billion by 2020. It is therefore essential to build now on maintaining the market share of the global travel and tourism industry, who’s power is shifting from the west to the east and quickly. From a global viewpoint, the future of the industry is looking positive with a 3% growth in 2013 and generating (UK£4.2, Euro€5) trillion; 9% of global GDP, and employing more than 266 million people, which accounts for 1 in every 11 jobs on the planet! Further ahead, growth is still positive with an average of 4.4%p.a. But western governments must look carefully at their taxation schemes, which could be detrimental, like Airline Passenger Duty and in other sectors, which in the UK and the rest of Europe is exceeding high. Taxing does not lead to positive economic growth - it leads to the opposite.

TOP ATTRACTIONS FOR DRAMA IN UK With global audiences viewing many dramas and films set in the UK, the resulting influx of tourists into the UK to visit the historic houses and villages featured in such programmes such as Downtown Abbey and the Harry Potter films is giving a significant boost to the tourism sector. Alnwick castle in Northumberland is ‘Hogwarts’ in the Harry Potter films and has previously been seen in other Hollywood films and TV series. In 2011 the castle saw an increase of 230% in visitor numbers adding UK£9, (Euro€10.70) million to the local economy. In a recent survey of international visitors to the UK, 30% visited a historic house or castle. The UK is also still feeling the positive effects of more tourist arrivals following the Olympic Games in 2012 with the help of a big post-games marketing campaign by Visit Britain. Results from the survey showed that 47% of overseas visitors said that ‘heritage buildings’ were a main reason for choosing to come to the UK. The UK’s famous writers also attract many tourists, like Jane Austin, who brings many dedicated tours from America to the city of Bath and the surrounding region. The same goes for William Shakespeare and the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is of course by far the Americans who cannot get enough of English heritage with over 1 million of them coming to the UK and spending over UK£1(Euro€1.19) billion during their stay. However, there are increasing numbers of visitors from emerging markets like China, Russia, India and Brazil. The top 5 attractions in the UK are: The Tower of London (2.44 million visitors - domestic and overseas), St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Old Royal Naval Collage-Greenwich, Westminster Abbey and Edinburgh Castle.

BURKINA FASO TO HOST WORLD TOURISM DAY 2015 Burkina Faso has been chosen as the official host country for World Tourism Day (WTD) 2015. The respective theme will be ‘Tourism and Community Development’, ‘One billion tourists, one billion opportunities’. The annual event is on 27 September, and is widely recognised as the biggest international event in tourism. Its purpose is to promote awareness among the global community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event tries to address the global challenges set out in the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlight the tourism sectors contribution to achieving these goals. WTD 2013 will be held at the Maldives, with the theme ‘Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future’, focusing on the tourism sector´s prime role in facing the global water challenge.

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TOURISM

AROUND THE WORLD

SAUDI’S NEW TOURISM SECTOR Saudi Arabia is well known and established as a religious tourism destination, but a new tourism expansion plan wishes to show the world what else is on offer to tourists visiting the country.

Al Bad, Saudi Arabia

Over the past 20 years the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has unified the country’s regional and fragmented tourism industry on both a national and local level and above all in a sustainable way. SCTA works to preserve and promote the nation’s museums and heritage sites, oversee the accommodation sector, assist with tourist visas, supervise the work of tour agencies, and support tourism projects. It also places great emphasis on liaising with both the public and private sectors to achieve this.

Saudi Arabia has both natural and historical wonders, and has much to offer. Its offers a wide variety of terrains, climates, has desert, sea, bustling cities and World Heritage Sites. Saudi Arabia has a reputation as a peaceful kingdom and as such makes it an attractive tourist destination. In addition to this, its recent incentives to boost its international profile have proved most popular both with Saudi’s and international visitors.

T he Ci tadel , Erbi l , Kurdis tan.

ERBIL CITY - NEW HORIZONS Located at the heart of Iraqi Kurdistan, Erbil is one of the region’s 3 governorates. The city has been neglected for many years due to lack of central government funding, but now with the new governor at the helm, infrastructure and development projects are developing fast. The region now has the power to manage its own budget and is spending it wisely by creating growth and attracting people from the capital to relocate as well as brining in more visitors. The city is also developing its health care centre, which is bringing patients from all over the country to be treated. A decade ago there were approx. 34,000 cars in Erbil, today that figure stands at half a million. All this highlights the economic and social progress that sets Erbil and Kurdistan apart from the rest of the country. The Kurdish Regional Government has a developmental vision, across many sectors, like energy and water and the transport infrastructure with the aim to increase tourism as a consequence of all the improvements. The city’s new airport has a 5km long runway capable of landing a range of aircraft. As a result, new airlines including Emirates have opened a route from Dubai bringing in tourists as well as a new cargo route. In addition, several luxurious hotels have opened and there are plans for a golf course. All this has voted Erbil as the ‘Arab Council of Tourism’s 2014 Tourism Capital’. Regional tourism is booming, but the new focus is on attracting more international tourists in the coming years.

HITCHIKING BY PLANE An American travel writer, Amanda Nolan has hitchhiked across the USA not by the usual ‘hickhiker’ transport of a car, but by private jet. The journey started in July 2012 and till now she had just the states of Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana to go to in order to complete the journey. The biggest challenge to the original way of travelling has been trying to get people to agree to take her on their private jet and in addition to waiting for one that was going to the required destination. During the trip which included 250 cities, to date, Ms Nolan has supported her trip via temporary work along the way.

GREEK INVESTMENT ON THE RISE With steady re-organisation and planning, Greece is beginning to re-establish itself and is receiving increased local and foreign investment. One key investment project is old airport. For many years, Greece has not fully exploited its position as a member of the EU to attract foreign investment, but now the tables are turning and during the 1st half of the year the south Mediterranean nation saw an increase of 40% in requested investment.

UK TOURISM UP THANKS TO ARAB TOURISTS With one of the best summers on record for warm sunny weather, the UK’s tourism industry has seen a huge boost to visitor numbers and revenues. Business was at the highest level since 2007 in the tourism and hospitality sectors, but the overall situation remains difficult for many with rising fuel and food costs and stagnant salaries. It was good news for London with the annual arrival of Arab tourists escaping the scorching heat of their homeland. Estimated foreign tourist purchases in London during the summer season are expected to be worth UK£4, (Euro€4.75) billion. The contribution of Arab citizens to this figure is estimated to be worth UK£1.3, (Euro€1.55) billion. The average expenditure of a Saudi tourist is about UK£2,487, (Euro€2,960) followed by UAE citizens at UK£2,395, (Euro€2,848) then Kuwaiti’s at £1,965, (Euro€2,336) per head and Russia and Singapore tourists at UK£1,169, (Euro€1,390) and UK£980, (Euro€1,165) per head. Retail sales were also up 36% due to Arab tourism. The Arab tourists are well known for spending a considerable amount of time in London, sometimes as long as 3 months. In 2012 Saudi tourists alone spent UK£78, (Euro€93) million on hotel stays in London. This year that figure is expected to be UK£93-UK£101 (Euro€110-(Euro€121) million. Many GCC tourists like to stay in apartments in central London, as it offers more privacy and

allows big and extended families to be together.●

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Seville… A Surprising City of Spain

by Dimitri Laspas, publisher

Seville is the capital and largest city of the autonomous region of Andalusia located in the south of Spain on the River Guadalquivir, the longest navigable river in the country. It is the 4th largest city in Spain. The old town is the 3rd largest in Europe and has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. Seville harbour is the only river port in Spain. Its status as capital and its function as the commercial, artistic and cultural hub of the south of the Iberian Peninsula have been strongly supported in recent years through heavy investment in infrastructure.

The Tower, Plaza de Espana, Sevil le.

Seville has the largest GDP of any in Andalusia, accounting for one quarter of its total GDP. During the 1990’s massive growth was seen with investment in infrastructure due to it hosting of the ‘Universal Exposition of Seville’ in 1992. This economic development of the city and its urban area is supported by good transportation links to other Spanish cities, including a high-speed railway connection to Madrid, and a new international airport.

Puente de Triana, Sevil le.

Seville is approximately 2,200 years old. It was founded as the Roman city of ‘Hispalis’ in 712. During its history it has been ruled by many civilisations including Muslims, Moors and Christians, who all left their distinctive mark on the city.

The Golden Age of Spain came in 1492 with Christopher Columbus’ expedition to the New World which resulted in great wealth for the city. Seville became one of the economic centres of the Spanish Empire as its port, the Casa de Contratacion monopolised all trade imported from the New World before being distributed throughout the rest of Spain. This also meant that merchants from the rest of Europe wishing to buy goods from the New World had to do so through Seville.

In the 18th century industry flourished with the help of the King, Charles III. He also commissioned the building of the Royal Tobacco Factory in 1728, which was the 2nd largest building in Spain, after the royal palace ‘El Escorial’. Today it is part of the University of Seville.

With such a varied history, the sights of Seville are many including the Cathedral of St. Mary, built from 1401–1519 on the site of the city's mosque. It is among the largest of all medieval and Gothic cathedrals with the longest nave in Spain, and is highly decorated with much gold leaf. The ‘Alcázar’ opposite the cathedral was built in 1181 and took 500 years to build and was originally a Moorish Palace. The ‘Torre del Oro’ was designed as a defensive watchtower on the river. There was a chain hidden under the water from the base of the tower to prevent boats from travelling into the river port. The ‘Palace of San Telmo’, is one of the best examples of baroque architecture, due to its ‘churrigueresque’ façade and chapel. The ‘Metropol Parasol’, located in La Encarnación square, is the world's largest wooden structure. The modern structure is home to the central market and an underground archaeological complex. The roof terrace has great city views too. The ‘Plaza de España’, in Maria Luisa Park was built for the 1929 Exposición Ibero-Americana. And is a mixture of diverse historic styles, like Art Deco and Neo-Mudéjar and has many ornamental tiles.

The area of Triana, on the bank of the Guadalquivir River, is today a cultural and folk centre. Other areas around the city include La Macarena with several monuments and religious buildings, such as the Museum and Basilica of ‘La Macarena’

Seville has many museums including the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, The Archaeological Museum, The Museum of Arts and Traditions, The Andalusian Contemporary Art Center, The Naval Museum, The Carriages Museum, The Flamenco Art Museum, The Bullfight Museum,

As with any trip to Spain, it would not be complete without a taste for ‘tapas’ the small dishes of fried and grilled seafood, stewed meat, spinach with chickpeas, Jamón ibérico, lamb kidneys in sherry sauce, caldo de puchero, and gazpacho. With many restaurants catering for many cuisines, including another national dish ‘Spanish Paella’ there is fabulous food for everyone in Seville.

Seville is a major business city with well-equipped meeting and conference facilities. Professional conference organisers and agencies, cutting-edge communications and audiovisuals, conference staff agencies, transport companies, catering companies, large hotels with services perfectly adjusted to conferences, as well as unique and surprising accommodation are just some examples of what this city can offer your conference, event or meeting.

As such Seville is hosting the 2013 MITM Euromed, the interactive 2-day travel trade market directed to the incentive, meetings and events market, where European and Mediterranean travel and tourism organisations and companies meet by individual and pre-requested appointments with European and USA pre-selected hosted buyers organising incentive trips, meetings, conferences, international congresses and events. The event is to take place from 2-4 December and will offer

a number of post show tours to highlight the magic that is Seville.●

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EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

CRUISE INDUSTRY LEADERS AT CRUISE SHIPPING ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM The conference portion of the 3rd annual Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific event, running from 9-10 October kicks off with the ‘State of the Cruise Industry in Asia: The Next Step Forward’. Several of the leading players in Asia’s rapidly expanding cruise industry will discuss the next phase of Asian cruise development and what new opportunities lay ahead for the market. The event will bring together key cruise line executives whose brands are integral to the growth and prosperity of the market. The State of the Industry assembly has long been a mainstay of the conference programme of UBM’s flagship event, Cruise Shipping Miami and organisers expect the Asia-Pacific show to be become another pillar of the Cruise Shipping brand. It is the only plenary session of the event and will set the stage for the 2 days of conference sessions to follow. The conference will be led by a panel of regional and international industry experts covering essential topics; 9 October sees ‘Asia as a Destination - Cruise Deployment and Operations’ and ‘Supplying the Cruise Industry in Asia’. 10 October sees ‘Building Asian Source Markets’ and ‘Cruise Ship Terminal Development’ and ‘The Cruise Geography of Asia’ and ‘Shipbuilding and Refurbishment in Asia.’

THE ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2014 ATF 2014 will be the 33rd anniversary of the event which first took place in Malaysia in 1981. Since then ATF (ASEAN Tourism Forum) has been a key driving force in developing tourism in the ASEAN region. For over 3 decades, government and private sector associations have come together annually at ATF to discuss, review

and strategise ways to continuously promote ASEAN as the world’s top travel destination. From the first

Mr. Klaus Lohmann, Director of German National Tourism Organisation, UK and Ireland.

event, there was a strong will from the ASEAN countries to work together for the common good of every member country and since then ASEAN has grown hugely and achieved international recognition for its diverse culture, and the quality of ASEAN as an unforgettable holiday destination. This has resulted in record numbers of tourists to the region, from the rest of the world, and from neighbouring ASEAN countries. Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. ATF 2014 will welcome over 1,600 delegates who include 150 ASEAN tourism ministers and officials, 800 ASEAN exhibitors, 400 international buyers, 150 international and local media as well as 100 tourism trade visitors. ATF also provides a platform for the selling and buying of regional individual tourism products of ASEAN member countries, through the 3-day TRAVEX event. With special pre-arranged Seller-Meet-Buyer (SMB) and the Buyer-Meet-Seller (BMS) appointment scheduling sessions. The ATF 2014 will take place at Sarawak, Malaysia in Kuching city. The new purpose-built Borneo Convention Centre is less than half an hour’s drive from the city and the newest addition to Sarawak’s business landscape. The Borneo Convention Centre (BCCK) is on the riverfront on the Kuching Isthmus overlooking rich green forest and the majestic Sarawak River. Future plans also include a shopping centre, marina, offices, and on-site hotel to the surrounding area.

GERMANY TRAVEL SHOW (GTS) 2013 The annual German Travel Show was held at the prestigious Tower of London in the UK capital and proved a success for both exhibitors and trade visitors alike. Over 135 visitors attended to meet 52 exhibitors from Germany, with 15 new regions present, including Hamburg, Starnberg, Marienburg Castle and German Wings airlines. Exhibitors presented the latest new offerings from Germany to UK tour operators wanting to take advantage of the continuing rise in visitor numbers and interest from the UK to Germany. The latest figures show a rise in overnight stays by tourists from the UK to Germany, of +5.0% for June 2013 compared to June 2012. For the first 6 months of the year, a rise of +7.5% was seen compared to the same period for 2012. The GTB presented many incentives including: the launch of Germany’s exclusive new ‘Royal Heritage Route’ celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Union of British and German Royal Families through a new tourism website and the anniversary of the ‘Peaceful Revolution’ in Leipzig. In addition, the GNTO has launched a major new multi-media awareness campaign and website for ‘BarrierFree’ which highlights travel without barriers to mobility for anyone. Klaus Lohmann, Director of the GNTO for UK and Ireland said: “the GTS is always a tremendous opportunity to meet our important business partners from the UK and Ireland and this year was no exception. Visitor figures to Germany from both countries seem to be continually on the rise and we look forward to welcoming many more visitors to our beautiful country”.

THAILAND PLANS STRONG PRESENCE AT RUSSIAN TRAVEL FAIR Thailand presented a high-profile presence at Russia’s largest travel fair, the Moscow Autumn Travel Industry Week (MATIW) Leisure 2013 recently. It will be Thailand’s 19th year of participation in the show and with attendance of 39 travel and tourism representative will be one of their strongest presence too. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched its ‘Amazing Thailand: Always Amazes You’ campaign to Russian tour operators, visitors and media. Thai tour operators also introduced new products and tourism services to markets in Russia and the CIS countries. Visitors from Russia to Thailand have been growing steadily. In 2006, Russian visitor arrivals totalled 187,658. In 2012, this number had reached 1.31 million. Russia is now the largest source market from Europe, and one of the 6 countries generating more than 1 million annual visitor arrivals. From January to August 2013, Russian visitor arrivals totalled 1,061,626 up 36.72% over the same period in 2012. For 2013 in total TAT projects 1.67 million Russian visitors will visit the country, up 27.8% over 2012.

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EXHIBITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

EXPAND YOUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM BUSINESS INTO CHINA! Tap into one of the world's biggest markets!

Why China? In 2011 the number of outbound Chinese travellers reached nearly 65 million, confirming the country’s status as the leader for outbound tourists in Asia, ahead of Japan.

China has a growing and prosperous middle class who have more disposable income to spend. Tourism and luxuries are top of their buying list.

More Approved Destination Status (ADS) and the easing of visa requirements have made travel more appealing. In 2000 the number of ADS was just 17. In 2012 the number of ADS is 140 nations.

By 2020, the UNWTO anticipates that 100million tourists will be travelling abroad from China.

Plans to build 97 new airports over the next 10 years to increase the total to nearly 250 - China’s airlines have approximately 500 new aircraft on order. It is predicted that by 2030 China will have added about 4,580 jets to its fleet.

Europe is emerging as the preferred region for Chinese travellers. 4 of the top 5 countries that Chinese tourists plan to visit in 2013 are in Europe. 9 of their top 10 preferred holiday destinations are also in Europe.

To take advantage and tap into this growing outbound tourism sector, you need to be in China; not just Beijing or Shanghai, but other big cities across the country. That is why these 3 international exhibitions are a must to participate in:

Chengdu International Travel Fair (CITF) 2013 6-8 December 2013 www.sc-citf.com Century City New International

Convention & Exhibition Centre

The first mega-scale tourism exhibition in Southwest China, CITF is the one-stop platform for all tourism and travel industry stakeholders to promote their destinations, tour packages, products and services.

Enquiries: In China: citf-intlsales@cemschina.com.cn Outside China: citf-sales@cems.com.sg In the UK, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, Belgium, Luxemburg and MENA: exhibitions@bmlinternational.co.uk

Hangzhou International Travel Fair (HITF) 2014 13-15 March 2014 www.hitf.com.cn Zhejiang World Trade International Exhibition Centre

Strongly supported by the governmental authorities, the 1st Hangzhou International Travel Fair (HITF) 2014 will provide the ideal B2B networking platform for international and domestic tourism and travel industry players to meet quality buyers and trade professionals in South-eastern China.

Enquiries: In China: hitf-intlsales@cemschina.com.cn Outside China: hitf-sales@cems.com.sg In the UK, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, Belgium, Luxemburg and MENA: exhibitions@bmlinternational.co.uk

Participation Rates for CITF 2013 & HITF 2014: Bare Space: USD180/RMB1200 per sqm (Min.18sqm); Shell Scheme: USD210/RMB1400 per sqm (Min.9sqm)

Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) 2014 June 2014 www.bitechina.com.cn China National Convention Centre

Regarded as one of the more successful exhibitions catering to the business and leisure tourism sectors in China, BITE has opened up countless business opportunities for industry players since its inaugural presentation 10 years ago. Enquiries: In China: bite-sales@cemschina.com.cn; Outside China: bite-sales@cems.com.sg; In the UK, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, Belgium, Luxemburg and MENA: exhibitions@bmlinternational.co.uk

Participation Rates: Bare Space: USD310/RMB2050 per sqm (Min.18sqm); Shell

Scheme: USD365/RMB2450 per sqm (Min.9sqm).●

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Germany’s Islands

by Dimitri Laspas, publisher

The mention of ‘islands’ and the north European nation of ‘Germany’ are not two words you would necessarily connect together, unlike, ‘Islands’ and ‘Greece’. However, Germany has many islands and they are all different and idyllic places of paradise to discover.

In this edition of TOURISM AROUND

THE WORLD MONTHLY, we take a

closer look at some of Germany’s lesser known island treasures.

Germany continues to be a leading holiday destination but for most it is to discover the cities of Dresden, Frankfurt, Berlin, among many other attractions. But Germany has a secret! She has tranquil havens of natural beauty, family-friendly holiday destinations with a maritime twist.

Located in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Wadden Sea, these islands offer spectacular views, open spaces, wild wilderness, vast beaches ideal for many water sports like surfing, secluded coves combined with many cycle and walking trails, great varied accommodation and exceptionally fine cuisine plus many are car free and therefore are full of peace and quiet.

The North Sea islands: are blessed with glorious long beaches and unique natural surroundings set in the protected Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, which is home for 10,000 different species of plant and animal and is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage. Almost all the islands offer fantastic spa and thalassotherapy centres, resorts and retreats!

Amrum: The North Frisian island of Amrum is a great day trip destination. It lighthouse is the tallest in the North Sea at 63m above sea level and offers great views of the surrounding area. The island's 5 villages have plenty of charming thatched Frisian

At the Bokrum island, Germany. houses to stay in, or wellness hotels. Fish restaurants provide delicious food and the local beer should be tried in a traditional sailors' tavern.

Baltrum is deep in the Wadden Sea, is a car-free oasis. At just 5km long and 1.5km wide, it is the smallest island and is easily walked round. The Spa centre is also great and there is a variety of accommodation on offer.

Borkum is Germany’s most north-westerly point. It offers a mild climate and unspoilt surroundings. The Old Lighthouse is reached by climbing over the oldest foundations on Germany's North Sea coast. One new attraction is the high ropes course by the sea with a total of 60 stages to climb.

Föhr is got to via a 45-minute mini-cruise from Dagebüll-Mole to Föhr, that passes the Hallig islands on the way. Wyk is the oldest seaside resort on Schleswig-Holstein's North Sea coast. The Hallig islands are dotted amongst the North Frisian Islands.

Gröde is Germany's smallest municipality, but there is still plenty of space. You can only reach the island at high tide on small boats. This magical isolation distinguishes Gröde from the surrounding Hallig islands.

Hooge is a designated biosphere reserve. Its inhabitants live in harmony with nature and practise sustainability.

Nordstrandischmoor is home to rare vegetation and wild birds inhabit the 1.9sq.km island. In summer three quarters of the island glows purple as the sea lavender comes into bloom. Oland is home to a wide variety of water birds and features vast salt marshes - a wetlands oasis in the North Sea.

At the Fohr island, Germany.

Heligoland, just 70kms from the mainland is reached with a small cruise ship which is a great way to see the majestic red cliffs rise up out of the water. Heligoland is in fact an archipelago and car-free. Themed trails guide tourists through the island's flora and fauna to the world's smallest nature conservation area – the

Lummenfelsen (guillemot cliffs).●

global e-news for tourism, travel, m.i.c.e, exhibitions and aviation

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY is a global e-journal for the travel and tourism, M.I.C.E, exhibitions and airlines industries. It provides accurate, detailed, informative and useful information and is produced in English. Started in 1997 it has an ever-growing circulation. It is also the official global media support for several key exhibitions within the industry.

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY ist ein globales e-journal für reise und tourismus, M.I.C.E, messe und ausstellungs und airlines industrien. Es bietet akurate, detailierte, informative und brauchbare Informationen und ist hergestellt in Englisch. Seit dem Beginn im Jahre 1997 hat es eine kontinuierlich steigende Auflage. Es ist auch die offizielle globale Medium Unterstützung für viele Zielmessen und Ausstellungen inerhalb der Industrie.

www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

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AVIATION AROUND THE WORLD

9TH AIRBUS A380 FOR AIR FRANCE Air France took delivery of its 9th Airbus A380, with 516 seats divided between 4 cabin classes. This aircraft is the latest addition to Air France’s long-haul fleet. A tenth aircraft will be delivered in 2014. Air France’s flight schedule sees 6 destinations start in September; New York-JFK (a daily flight), Washington-DC (a daily flight) and Los Angeles (a daily flight); Johannesburg (a daily flight); Tokyo-Narita (a daily flight) and Shanghai-Pudong (3 weekly flights). This route sees Air France as the 1st European airline to fly to Shanghai with its superjumbo.

EMIRATES FLIES TO BOSTON Emirates is to launch a new transatlantic flight to Boston from March 2014. It will be the 8th route into the USA, 9th into North America and 12th into the wider Americas. The daily flight will be with a GE-90 engine-powered Boeing 777-200LR. The service aims to further develop the gateway into the north-eastern United States and is seeing increase passenger demand. Trade and tourism to and from the state of Massachusetts and the wider New England region will also benefit from the new flight. So far in 2013, Emirates has launched new routes to Warsaw, Algiers, Tokyo Haneda and Stockholm. In the coming months, flights will begin to Clark International in the Philippines, between Milan and New York, to Conakry in Guinea, Sialkot in Pakistan, Kabul, Kiev and Taipei.

3RD BEST FOR KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yet again proves to be a favourite airport for travellers ranking 3rd in the Top 10 Airports Worldwide of the Smart Travel Asia 2013 Best in Travel Poll. The position was shared with Korea’s Incheon International Airport. Malaysia Airports places great emphasis on continuously enhancing customer experience through improving its service and facilities standard. With the opening of ‘Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2’ next year; the world’s 1st purpose-built terminal dedicated for low-cost airlines, it will further strengthen Malaysia position as an Asian transport Hub, offering some of the best airports in the world.

Airbus A380. SINGAPORE AIRLINES TARGETS INDIA Thirteen years ago Singapore Airlines stopped flying to India, now it is ready to start again in collaboration with the Tata Group. The 2 companies wish to set up a new New Delhi-based full-service carrier. The new carrier will initially serve the 1.2 billion Indian market and if there are no problems in the meantime, the airline could be flying within a year. Singapore Airlines will have a 49% stake in the carrier. While its core business is the premium flagship of Singapore Airlines, the airline has in recent years been expanding into other aviation sectors like the one third stake in short-haul LCC Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd and a stake in Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. The new Indian airline must get through India's political and bureaucratic red tape for final approval. It can then only serve the domestic market for 5 years before it can operate international flights. Taxes and airport fees are high, and profits are rare for the country's airlines.

HUGE AIRCRAFT ORDER BY LUFTHANSA The Lufthansa Group has placed an order for 59 wide body airplanes worth UK£11.6, (Euro€13.80) billion to include 34 Boeing 777-9Xs, which makes Lufthansa the first customer for the plane which is expected to enter service approx 2020. The order also includes 25 Airbus A350-900s, for delivery in 2016. The planes will replace existing models by 2025. The order is the largest private investment in the history of German industry, and continue the fundamental reorganization of the Lufthansa Group. The company now expects delivery on 295 airplanes worth UK£29.80, (Euro€35) billion, by 2025.

LONDON CITY AIRPORT PLANS EXPANSION While London continues to debate the next step for increasing its flight capacity across all its airports, London City Airport, which sees two-thirds of its traffic from business travellers, is moving forward with expansion plans. Set in the city itself, it has seen a record breaking 2013 with passenger numbers up 14% on 2012 figures. As airlines around the world upgrade their fleets with new, larger, fuel efficient aircraft, London City Airport wants to expand to accommodate these planes and the projected increase in passenger numbers. It wants to add more and larger stands, an aircraft taxi lane parallel to the runway which will boost runway capacity and a terminal extension to process 3 million additional passengers over the coming decade, double the number now. Currently, British Airways, CityJet, Swiss International Air Lines and Luxair use the airport and have placed orders for bigger planes. The airport owners, Global Infrastructure, will fund the £200 million expansion cost. The expansion of the airport is vital for the growing demand for business travel, as well as the continuing development of the Royal Docks and the east of London area.

29,000+ NEW AIRCRAFT NEEDED IN NEXT 2 DECADES Today our first option is to fly everywhere. With new emerging markets, more tourists, ease of travel, affordability and more business around the world, more and more planes are needed to meet the constant growing need. It is estimated that from 2013-2023, air traffic will grow by 4.7% p.a., which will require over 29,220 new passenger and freighter aircraft valued at nearly UK£2.7, (Euro€3.2) trillion; 28,350 passenger aircraft valued at UK£2.5, (Euro€3) trillion; and 10,400 will be replacement aircraft. Today the global fleet is 17,740 aircraft. This will double to nearly 36,560 aircraft by 2023. In addition, more destinations will appear with the doubling of mega cities from 42 today to 89 by 2032 and 99% of the world’s long-haul traffic will be between or through these. By 2032, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to lead the world in traffic overtaking Europe and North America. Today approximately one fifth of the population of the emerging markets take a flight annually and by 2032, this will grow to two thirds. Passenger numbers will increase from today’s 2.9 billion, to 6.7 billion by 2032.

BUENOS AIRES TO NEW YORK NON-STOP From mid-December, Aerolíneas Argentinas will fly daily nonstop flights from Buenos Aires to New York JFK Airport. The night flights will allow for well timed onward connections with strategic partners of the SkyTeam Alliance and vice-versa. The flights will be with Airbus 330-200 aircraft with 264 seats. New York is among the top 3 international destinations for travellers from Argentina. The new flights will help to strengthen Argentina's presence as a touristic, cultural and business destination. 12 www. tour ismar oundthewor ld .co.uk

LATIN AMERICA AROUND THE WORLD

NICARAGUA CONTINUED TOURIST MARKET POSITIONING The Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism (INTUR) says that the development of tourism in Nicaragua continues to grow with increasing tourist arrivals.

The old cathedral, Managua.

This year from January to June, 83,607,000 tourists, a 4.5% increase over the same period of 2012 arrived in the country. By the end of 2013, the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute expects 1.25 million tourists, an increase of 8% on 2012 figures. Most tourists who visit Nicaragua are from Central America. In 2012 the country reached 214,000 American tourists. The government continues to provide strong support for tourism development and aims for greater development and a better tourism offering.

URUGUAY EXPECTS 230 CRUISE DOCKING THIS CRUISE SEASON Uruguay is expecting over 230 cruises to dock this season, from November to April and is also installing cameras for crime control in downtown Montevideo, next to the port area and particularly in areas where cruise visitors like to stroll. The camera network will work efficiently to ensure no-crime areas. There is also an appliance for smartphones where tourists can press an icon that triggers an alert in emergency situations. In last year’s cruise season Uruguay saw a 10% increase in the number of calls to the ports of Montevideo and Punta del Este totalling 240 and approximately 400,000 visitors. Montevideo has also been confirmed as a port for passenger exchanges with the port of Colonia, just across from Buenos Aires which is expected to be included in the cruise

tours in future seasons.

The National Capitol, Plaza Bolivar, Bogota, Colombia.

COLOMBIA - THE STAR OF LATIN AMERICA Amid booming economic growth, the Latin American nation of Colombia is increasingly becoming an attractive location for international investors. With its strong current leadership, the government has an open door policy with the international market including Europe, the United States and Asia. Already Columbia has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, making the country a potential hub for other investors in Latin America. Other FTA has been signed with Switzerland, Canada while negotiations are in place with Turkey, Japan, China, Russia and Germany. The aim of these agreements is to further boost the country’s exports and attract more foreign direct investment. Between 2010 and 2011, investments in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by 35%. In 2011, Colombia received almost UK£9.3, (Euro€11) billion in foreign direct investment, the highest growth in the area and reaching record levels. Much of the funding went to build and improve the country’s infrastructure and is aimed at facilitating the increasing number of tourists visiting the nation each year, including the largest European group to visit the country, the Germans. Medical tourism is also a thriving sector in the Colombian economy, attracting an unprecedented number of international patients. Healthcare in Columbia is modern and technologically advanced, yet costs are often far less than in the USA or Europe. Colombia is striding ahead and has overcome many hurdles. It now has a positive reputation, international economic partnerships and increases in tourism. Columbia has transformed into one of the most prosperous nations in the region.

PARAGUAY RURAL TOURISM As part of the wider ‘Tourism Development Master Plan 2008-2018’, the National Secretariat of Tourism has announced the ‘Rural Community Tourism Plan’. The aim is to increase this sector of tourism sustainably and in rural areas where the tourism can be developed by local villagers and will benefit their community. The plan highlights the balance needed between the tourists and villagers where both meet the social, environmental and economic impact desired which will allow the resident and visitor to feel welcome. The plan covers 3 areas identified according to the characteristics of the country; first companies or colonies of peasants tourism; second and third villages and tourism in indigenous communities.

EL SALVADOR TOURISM BOOST El Salvador plans to expand its tourism attractions in the La Libertad and Usulutan coastal regions, with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank. El Salvador received 1.25 million tourist arrivals in 2012, with the number of hotels and restaurants in the country increasing by 30% over the past 7 years. Domestic tourism alone accounts for more than 4 million trips a year. A lack of infrastructure means that many coastal areas are not big attractions. The country plans to make tourism a priority and to improve the infrastructure in order to increase overnight visitors.

GRANADA AIMING FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 60 Granada entrepreneurs have undergone training on sustainable tourism. Granada receives 25% of foreign tourists to the region. The training programme included issues on climate change, the impact of tourism, sustainability of supply, market regulation, tourism promotion, quality services and the most basic definitions of tourism. In addition a course of 13 sessions for over 180 youth tourism service providers and community leaders taught them how to harness tourism for environmental management.

PUNTA ARENAS-CHILE EXPECTS 58,000 CRUISE VISITORS It is estimated that 58,000 visitors will stop in the city of Punta Arenas in south Chile as part of the upcoming 2013/14 cruise season. The schedule includes the docking of 103 vessels, 50 of which are foreign and 53 Chilian operated. This year also sees the improvements in the port infrastructure of $4million to repair the Arturo Prat pier and the construction of 190m long wave breaker reef to prevent flash tide flooding.

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M.I.C.E AROUND THE WORLD

METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE The National Association for College Admission Counselling (NACAC) will host its annual conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada, its 1st international location in the event's 69-year history. From 19-21 September 2013, the conference will attract nearly 5,000 delegates to Toronto. Based on the conference size and diverse meeting room requirements, MTCC was considered the best venue in Toronto. Toronto's proximity, access to neighbouring hotels and Eastern Standard Time zone were consi-derations by the organisers. Usually only 2-3% of international delegates attend the annual conference, but due to its cross-border destination this year, organisers are seeing attendance rise by 7-10%. The 5,000 delegates represent more than UK£7.80, (Euro€9.30) million in economic impact to the City of Toronto. Offering over 55,742sq.m of flexible convention space, the MTCC is able to easily accommodate the conference's educational plenary sessions, smaller seminars, product updates and panel discussions, and break-out rooms for small study groups.

QUICK UPTAKE OF HOSTED BUYER PLACES AT CONVENE 2014 EXPECTED Vilnius Convention Bureau, organisers of the Baltic Sea region meetings event, CONVENE, are again expecting great interest in the Hosted Buyer programme, which has just opened for registration. Launched last year with great success, the event will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania from 12-13 February 2014 at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre LITEXPO. Successful hosted buyers will receive complimentary air travel and accommodation at a Vilnius partner hotel, as well as participation in the full programme of CONVENE networking and hospitality events. There will also be a range of post show familiarisation trips to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland. As a result of the hosted buyer programme, considerable business was conducted at CONVENE 2013, pleasing both buyers and suppliers alike. The show is expected to increase in size by 30%, but demand will remain high for Hosted Buyers.

Okinawa Convention Centre, Japan

JAPAN - TOP ASSOCIATION MEETING DESTINATION IN ASIA The 2012 annual rating of the ICCA yet again places Japan as one of the world’s leading international association meeting destinations, and the leading destination in Asia Pacific. Japan hosted 341 qualifying meetings, resulting in a global placing of 8th. This shows how quickly Japan has recovered from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which caused a drop to 13th place in annual rating for that year. Japan’s cities have also succeeded with many association meetings. Tokyo and Kyoto were the top meeting destinations in the country as well as the cities of Fukuoka and Kobe being in the top 100 global cities. For the region of the Asia Pacific & Middle East, Japan had 12 cities placed in the top 100. There were 3 key association events that took place in 2012; the Société Internationale d’Urologie Congress in Fukuoka (3,500 delegates), the Annual Meeting of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund & the World Bank in Tokyo (approx. 10,000 delegates), and the Annual SWIFT Conference and Exhibition (SIBOS) in Osaka (6,300 delegates). The World Bank Annual Meeting was relocated to Japan at short notice but was concluded without any problems. 2013 is already looking to follow the successes of 2012 and Japan aims to maintain its No.1 position within Asia for M.I.C.E.

PATTAYA EXHIBITION AND CONVENTION HALL (PEACH) PEACH, a prominent flagship of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, is one of the largest convention venues outside of Bangkok. With its world-class multipurpose award-winning convention facilities it provides versatility as a convenient 'one-stop convention solution' for any meeting needs. Already PEACH has had a long tradition of serving a variety of local and international organisations. And over the past quarter there have been some notable events including the 7th edition of Pattaya Food and Hoteliers Expo and the prestigious events of the TCEB Meetings Industry Day 2013 and the 21st World Conference on Health Promotion.

CANADA WELCOMES ANNUAL TED CONFERENCE The annual TED Conference is one of the world's most prestigious events and in 2014 will take place in Vancouver, BC. The city of Whistler, BC will host TEDActive concurrently. Its annual conference attracts some of the world's most influential people in business, the arts, sciences, academia and philanthropy. TED selected Vancouver for its 30th conference stating that it is one of the world's greatest cities, combining a thriving culture of innovation with glorious nature. The conference attracts upwards of 1,300 delegates. A consortium of tourism partners, led by the Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre, supported by the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association, will welcome the conference to Vancouver. The event will take place at the LEED® Platinum-certified Vancouver Convention Centre with its unconventional design, flexible function space, and waterfront setting, its proximity to world-class hotels, will ensure a successful event. MICE attracts nearly 2million visitors to Canada a year with total spending of UK£1, (Euro€1.22) billion - almost 24% of all money spent by inbound overnight travellers. Canada is the No.1 location for outbound meetings business from the US, bringing in about UK£842 million, (Euro€1 billion).

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ASIA AROUND THE WORLD

TOURISM GROWTH BUT FEW TOURISM GUIDES IN MANDALAY With the increase in foreign tourists to Mandalay there has been increased demand for tour guides. However, the governments rules for obtaining the Tour Guide Licence are proving a sticking point and expensive.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar

Following the initial 2 month training programme, there are free bi-annual 3-day refresher courses, but voluntary specialist classes, like history or folk tales involve a fee. In addition guides must renew their licence every 2 years at a cost and pay a further tax to the government. These issues have led to many guides working unofficially. All guides who work for registered travel companies are required to have a licence. The Myanmar Tourist Guide Association (MTGA), agreed that amateur tour guides are common in Mandalay and they lack the profession-alism and knowledge of licensed guides, but agreed the high costs of getting the licence is a problem. The training however is necessary to teach young guides about culture, history, and in general how to deal with tourists. The MTGA is offering its own free, 2 month informal training course for tour guides. There are presently 85 who are taught by licensed tour guides. The graduates finish the training with all the skills and knowledge they would acquire at the training in Yangon but still have no licence.

Nam Phou Fountain, Vientiane, Laos

GO TO LAOS! WHY? It may not be the top of your Asia holiday destinations, but Laos is a jewel of a tourism destination which can easily surprise travellers with its many attractions, isolated beaches, nature and wildlife. So far it has not met the equivalent tourism figures its neighbour have, like well established Thailand who received 10 times more tourist than Laos. Myanmar, who is new to international tourism, is set to out run Laos in just a few years with a huge burst in tourism figures. The Lao people are very genuine, friendly and respectful. They have a rich culture and still live by the old ways and traditions. Laos is home to 160 ethnic groups which date back many years. It cultural history is preserved in some wonderful temples like Wat Phu in Champasak which is quite like the temple of Angkor Wat and the entire city of Luang Prabang is a World Heritage Site. The Plain of Jars goes back to the Iron Age, and highlights the prehistory era of Southeast Asia. Laos is a pristine nature of biodiversity. Indeed in 2012 a new species of flying mammal was discovered and much of the country is still unexplored. If a rainforest is not for you, then the mountains of northern Laos and the amazing karst formations are a spectacular sight. Laos is a laid back nation and everything and everyone does everything at a slow pace, so enjoy this way of life and relax! Laos' Si Phan Don is a Mekong River archipelago with thousands of tiny Islands, the ideal place for complete relaxation. With most people in Laos living along the Mekong River and its tributaries, the riverbank is the natural choice for people watching over a cool drink and watching the sun go down. After that try the delights of the Laos' native cuisine, which mixes with its neighbours cuisine from Vietnam and Thailand. The food is fresh and spicy, but there is plenty of choice for other international cuisine especially old colonial French restaurants.

5 COUNTRIES- 50 MILLION TOURISTS - BY 2015 The nations of Laos,

Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are to work together to increase tourist arrivals across the 5 countries to 50 million by 2015. Held under the theme ‘Five countries – one destination', the new agreement aims to review the performance of the 5 countries' tourism industries in 2012, when more than 37 million visitors came to the region, an 18% increase on 2011. Major areas of cooperation include promoting tourism and marketing, building facilities for travel, developing human resources and ensuring safety for tourists.

VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2014 LAUNCHED IN UK During his 1st official visit to the UK, Malaysia’s newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Culture, The Honourable Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, launched a series of packages for the UK market for ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2014’. The UK is a crucial market for Malaysian tourism. Malaysia expects to welcome around 28 million tourists during ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2014’ and generate around UK£14.60, (Euro€17.40) billion in income, with the UK as its top European market for inbound tourism and 10th worldwide. The UK represents a huge outbound travel market for Malaysia with the aim of attracting 475,000 tourists from the UK in 2014. Malaysia has much to offer tourists and is ranked as the 10th most visited country in the world. The ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2014’ is based on 4 themes which highlight the diverse attractions of the country; Heritage & Culture, Adventure & Nature, Luxury, Wellness & Spa, and Island & Beaches.

NOT-SO-HAPPY HOLIDAYS FOR CHINESE TOUR GROUPS The Mid Autumn Festival in China is a 7 day holiday with considerable spending; but so far this year low sales are being recorded by retailers. There seems to be a slowing down in the spending of the Chinese at home with a drop food sales, restaurant bookings and luxury hotel rooms across different regions. Starting from 1 October, tour operators will no longer be allowed to collect a commission from the owners of the shops that they force tourists to visit during trips. This lucrative line of business in the past enabled travel firms to offer low prices on trips to destinations such as Hong Kong and Thailand. It is thought that the ban on commissions could raise tour prices by up

to 80% and there has already been a drop in holiday bookings abroad.●

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GERMANY AROUND THE WORLD

PREVIEW OF TOURISM PLANS 2014 The German National Tourist Office has announced its tourism campaigns for 2014 at its annual press conference in London. The latest travel statistics show another rise in overnight stays by tourists from the UK to Germany. A rise of 5.0% for June 2013, compared to June 2012. For the first 6 months of the year, there was a rise of 7.5% compared to the same period for 2012. The new GNTO campaigns for 2014 include; a new ‘Royal’ holiday route and travel website and a new, multi-media campaign and travel website to promote ‘BarrierFree’ (accessible) travel for the UK and Ireland market. Targeted marketing themes include: highlighting Germany’s 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites; celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Wall and the ‘Peaceful Revolution’ which started in Leipzig in 1989 and 600 years of the Council of Constance. In addition to the campaigns launched by the GNTO, there will be major initiatives by UK organisations such as Historic Royal Palaces, The British Library and the British Museum throughout 2014, which will be in keeping with the GNTO’s ‘Royal’ theme.

SHOPPING IN GERMANY IS TOURIST PARADISE While visiting Germany’s many cultural attractions, one should also take time discover that Germany is also a shopping paradise! Germany offers a full range of products for all budgets, and offers value for money and of course a good reputation. The latest data shows that 11% of foreign tourists come to Germany to shop. The most popular items are German manu-factured watches, jewellery, fashion and leather goods. The most popular shopping cities are Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin. Chinese tourists are the largest group of the German tax-free consumption. However, Russian tourists favour Munich for shopping and are Germany's 2nd largest duty-free shopping consumer. They also shop in Berlin and Düsseldorf. Swiss tourists, Germany’s neighbours are also keen to come across the border to shop and are Germany’s 3rd shopping consumer. Visitors to the Gulf countries, find Germany a shopping paradise, especially for fashion and especially from Munich.

The Cathedral, Berl in, Germany

NEW ROYAL HERITAGE ROUTE As part of the 300th anniversary of the Hanoverian accession to the thrones of the UK and Ireland, the GNTO, has launched the ‘The British German Royal Heritage Route’. This new holiday route enables visitors and Royal enthusiasts to trace the footsteps of British monarchs in Germany, a heritage dating from the 1st Georgians in 1714 to the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The campaign was officially launched by HRH Prince Ernst August of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg at the GNTO’s annual press conference recently. Visitors can book their own independent ‘Royal’ tours, via a new interactive ‘Royal Heritage Route’ interactive map on the new website, plus major tour operators are offering special ‘Royal Tours’ of German Cities. Attractions include the fairy-tale like Marienburg Castle, owned by Prince Ernst August of Hanover, which houses a new exhibition of the Crown Jewels of the Kingdom of Hanover, which is on display for the 1st time in 150 years, the Rosenau Palace, the birthplace of Prince Albert and the recently restored Royal Palace, Museum and Gardens of Herrenhausen. Klaus Lohmann, director of the GNTO for the UK and Ireland said: “The 18th and 19th centuries were periods where German and British royal families were closely related with many marriages bringing the two countries closely together and we are delighted to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the beginning of this union with this new ‘Royal’ website for 2014”.

GERMANY CELEBRATES A GREAT MIDDLE AGE GATHERING Between 1414 and 1418 the Council of Constance, was the largest gathering of clergy, politicians and scientists of the Middle Ages. They met in order to discuss the future of the Catholic Church and to elect a new pope. This was a changing moment in European history and in 2014 will be marked by celebrations for the 600th anniversary. They met in the German city of Konstanz. The German National Tourist Board and Tourist Information Konstanz GmbH are working together to offer many initiatives to position the Lake Constance region and Germany's as a top cultural destination.

OCTOBER ATTRACTIONS IN GERMANY Germany continues to offer a wide range of local and national festivals and events across the country. Here are a few of what to look forward to this month; The German Grape Harvest Festival in Neustadt: This is Germany's biggest wine procession, and is the highpoint of the German wine festival season. You can sample wines from all 13 wine growing regions at the German Wine and Sekt Fair, and enjoy wine and delicious Palatinate food in the Haiselscher, the festival's own wine village. Windsurf World Cup in Sylt: The Brandenburg Beach near Westerland, on the island of Sylt, sees this international sporting event stage all 3 disciplines (wave riding, freestyle and slalom). This competition in Schleswig-Holstein has the status of a super grand slam. Festival of Lights in Leipzig: Every year, on 9 October Leipzig commemorates the peaceful revolution in Germany that led to the fall of the Iron Curtain across Europe with projections, video performances and candles. Onion Fair in Weimar: Weimar's Onion Fair is Thuringia's biggest fair and onions are at its heart! Anything that can be done with onions is on display here.

German Touring Car Masters: This is the premier event of international touring car racing and is one of the biggest sporting events in Europe and takes place in Hockenheimring.

WORKSHOP WITH TOP OFFICIALS OF THE U.S. TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN MUNICH The German National Tourist Board together with Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH and other German partners have held a B2B workshop for senior representatives of the U.S. travel industry in Munich. The U.S. companies were able to inform the German partners about the latest U.S. market developments while the Germans presented their latest products and services. The USA is an important overseas market for Germany’s tourism sector. In the 1st half of 2013 Germany

recorded over 2.2 million overnight stays this important source market recorded. ●

18 www. tour ismar oundthewor ld .co.uk

MEXICO more than a destination by Caroline-Artemis Laspas, editor.

The United States of Mexico is a federal constitutional republic of 31 states and the capital City. Mexico is the 5th largest country in the Americas and the 13th largest independent nation in the world. Its population is over 113 million, making it the 11th most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and the 2nd most populous country in Latin America.

Mexico has one of the world's largest economies, and is a regional power. It has a stable economy and a well-capitalised financial and banking sector. Mexico is without doubt an emerging power and is a newly industrialised country that is predicted to be the world's 5th largest economy by 2050.

Chichen- Itza, Mexico.

Mexico is at a strategic location; a bridge between North America, Central and South America. It enjoys coasts on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and therefore has huge geographical diversity.

Its tourism industry is well established and has been steadily growing and developing over the years allowing it to become more competitive regionally and globally. There are more than 50 international airports, 50 world-class golf courses and good roads and motorways.

The tourism industry in Mexico is one that has strong backing from the government and is essential for the future development of the country itself. Indeed, the national tourism policy is entitled ‘Let's open Mexico to the world so that the world will come to Mexico’. The sector represents 9% of GDP and is the 3rd source of foreign exchange. It has the 23rd highest income from tourism in the world, and the highest in Latin America. In terms of its global competitiveness, in 2011 Mexico was ranked 43rd in the world, and 4th in the Americas.

Mexico ranks 6th in the world and 1st in the Americas with regards to UNESCO World Heritage Sites of which there are 32 and in 2010 it was the 10th most visited country in the

Plaza Domingo, Mexico City.

world with 22.5 million international arrivals. Most tourists come from the USA and Canada followed by Europe and Asia with a small number coming from other Latin American countries. Among its many attractions are the Meso-American ruins, cultural festivals, colonial cities, nature reserves and beach resorts, like the famous Cancun and Acapulco resorts. The mild climate and unique cultural mix of European and Meso-American make Mexico an attractive destination.

Tourism is a sector that can incorporate all regions and social classes and can generate development throughout the country’s indigenous communities, especially as it gives job opportunities in areas with limited employment options. It is also the top employer of young people and the sector employs many women workers, allowing it to generate social inclusion as well as regional and social equality.

Tourism is an industry that can bring together the private sector and communities; whether its small and medium sized companies or large investment organisations it is a solid economic jewel to be harnessed and developed to the full by involving the entire country.

As part of the new tourism plan for the nation, and to allow it to become more competitive, the focus is on the quality of its product offerings, which will differentiate Mexico from its competitors. Traditionally an international competitor for sun and sand destinations and this is still important, but the time has come to further develop the tourism offerings and niche markets that generate revenues and attract a new kind of tourist while maintaining the traditions that have made Mexico a great destination. Such new areas include culture, adventure, rural and ecology, sports, luxury, health and well-being, among others. Mexico wants to receive more tourists but also aims to generate greater income. Tourism spans many different government departments and so the Mexican government will work hand in hand with these as well as the Indigenous People Development Commission, in order to generate tourism, tourist projects and development in indigenous communities, which will be able to offer many of the new niche market sectors the country wishes to develop and promote internationally.

Mexico is one of the world’s prime business event destinations. It has hosted world conferences on global issues, major association conventions, corporate meetings and thousands of incentives.

La plaza Independencia, Mexico City.

Mexico is just 3 hours flight from most U.S. cities and has hundreds of direct flights connecting Mexico to the world. It offers 42 major conventions and exhibition centres across its cities, has over 495,000 hotel rooms and 3,100 luxury hotels.

It is therefore not surprising that two con-current events are being held from 2-4 October in the city of Guadalarjara; the 19th MITM Americas and 5th CULTOUR Fair. The Meetings and Incentive Travel Market, is the unification of the former MITM Latin America and MITMarket, has been held in Guadalajara twice as well as in Merida and Leon-Guanajuato in Mexico, proving that Mexico is a prime business destination for the region. The 2011 edition of CULTOUR was held in Ecuador and now returns to the Americas for the 5th edition of this unique event.

Mexico has magnificent nature, mystical Mayan culture and truly is a magical

destination for business and leisure.●

19 www. tour ismar oundthewor ld .co.uk

global e-news for tourism, travel, m.i.c.e, exhibitions and aviation

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY is a global e-journal for the travel and tourism, M.I.C.E, exhibitions and aviation industries. It provides accurate, detailed, informative and useful information and is produced in English. Started in 1997 it has an ever-growing circulation. It is also the official global media support for several key exhibitions within the industry.

环球旅游全球电子新闻 月刊 是针对旅行与旅游业、航空公司, M.I.C.E.行业，

在全球范围内发行的英语版本电子刊物。

它提供准确、详尽的行业资讯，自1997年创刊以来发展迅速，并成为业内几

大卓越展会的官方全球媒体支持方。

TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD MONTHLY ist ein globales e-journal für reise und tourismus, M.I.C.E, messe und ausstellungs und airlines industrien. Es bietet akurate, detailierte, informative und brauchbare Informationen und ist hergestellt in Englisch. Seit dem Beginn im Jahre 1997 hat es eine kontinuierlich steigende Auflage. Es ist auch die offizielle globale Medium Unterstützung für viele Zielmessen und Ausstellungen inerhalb der Industrie.

www.tourismaroundtheworld.co.uk

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