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Archive for May, 2011

24 May, 2011

A Speech That Will Change The Way The Travel Industry Thinks

Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley on Gross National Happiness: “The more I think of our future, the more I am convinced that we need to change. We need to relook at what constitutes true societal progress at the human level in the human context. We need to understand what constitutes real wealth and […]

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19 May, 2011

Ernst & Young Releases “Tracking Global Trends” Report

Source: Ernst & Young

In 2010, the global financial system remained fragile, but economies around the world began moving toward recovery. Some — especially those in emerging markets — hardly broke stride, continuing their rapid growth. The Ernst & Young management consultancy report, Tracking Global Trends, looks at six broad, long-term developments that are shaping our world: Emerging markets […]

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18 May, 2011

Ten Years after 9/11, Pew Poll Shows U.S.-Muslim Schism As Wide as Ever

Ten years after 9/11 and the launch of the so-called “war on terror”, the people of six Islamic-majority countries and the Palestinian Territories continue to hold a negative perception of the United States, its president Barack Obama and American policies towards some of the key issues and conflicts in the Islamic world

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16 May, 2011

Survey Shows Europeans Back on the Road But Staying Close To Home

BUDAPEST, (Europa Press Release) — The findings of a new Eurobarometer survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism confirm other indicators that tourism has recovered from economic crisis. Travel preference for 2011 still inclines towards traditional tourist destinations (58%), while 28% would like to discover emerging destinations.

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16 May, 2011

Exclusive Interview: Israel’s Travel Chokehold on Occupied Palestine

This interview with Majed Ishaq, marketing director, Palestine Ministry of Tourism, is arguably the first time that a travel publication has highlighted the frustrations faced by local Palestinians and tourists in moving to, from and within the Israeli-occupied territories. Within the context of the “Arab awakening”, a closer look at the occupation of Palestine is […]

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15 May, 2011

Siamese Arabesques: American Writer Tells Muslim Tales With A Twist

BANGKOK – It’s not often that American writers take to Arab/Islamic culture and write sympathetically about it. But a new book, “Siamese Arabesques: Tales Of The Islamic World With Thai Twists”, strives to do exactly that, painting a fascinating mosaic of the cultures and cuisines, trials and tribulations of people from all over the Arab/Islamic […]

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13 May, 2011

How a Harley-Davidson Can Help the U.S. Eliminate Visa Bottlenecks

In a unique attempt to help U.S. policymakers and politicians understand the implications of cumbersome visa application procedures and its impact on visitor arrivals, jobs and economic growth, the US Travel Association (USTA) has invoked one of the most visible icons of Americana – the Harley-Davidson motorycle.

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12 May, 2011

Travel Industry Can Join Global Campaign To Cut Millions of Road Fatalities

Resort islands worldwide are perfectly placed to join the global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 launched on May 11 to reduce the estimated 1.18 million fatal road accidents that occur globally every year, many of them involving drunken, motorcycle-riding tourists.

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12 May, 2011

UN Announces Winners of Flagship “Champions of the Earth” Award

From using green technology to cut air pollution in China, to tackling the impact of toxic chemicals in Eastern Europe or crossing the globe to fly the flag for solar power, this year’s award winners are environmental champions whose daily work, leadership and advocacy represent green innovation in action.

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12 May, 2011

European Tourism Trends & Prospects (Q1/2011) Report Released

The European Travel Commission (ETC) has just published its First Quarter report on European Tourism in 2011 – Trends & Prospects. Destination and industry data indicate a positive start to 2011, with continued growth prospects. Rail Europe has announced a 34% sales growth in 2010 vs. 2009 and a 30% growth in Q1 2011 vs. Q1 2010.

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10 May, 2011

Buddhist Scholar’s Point-Blank Pitch: Visit India to Walk the Talk

BANGKOK – An eminent Buddhist scholar accompanying an Indian tourism promotion delegation has called on the millions of Buddhists in Thailand and worldwide to visit India both to encourage the revival of Buddhism in the Hindu-majority country as well as to retrace the Buddha’s footsteps to gain a more personal experience of his teachings.

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10 May, 2011

Top Ten Trends in The Global Hotel Business

David McMillan

David McMillan, former CEO of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association, debuts as the first guest columnist of Travel Impact Newswire, with this anti-mainstream listing of top-ten trends in the global hotel business. More guest columnists are very welcome.

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9 May, 2011

Curb Speculators, Promote Regionalisation, Says UN Asia-Pacific Economic Report

BANGKOK — Asia-Pacific economies are being urged to learn from the mistakes of unbridled globalisation and pursue greater self-reliance through increased intra-regional trade, connectivity and people movements.

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7 May, 2011

Study Links U.S. Foreign Policy and Terrorism Against U.S. Citizens

The announcement that US forces have killed Osama bin Laden, the alleged terrorist mastermind, is set to trigger more violence and geopolitical instability, creating further complications for the travel & tourism industry in terms of costs, security measures, visa curbs, racial profiling and other impediments to travel.

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2 May, 2011

Brand-Building: Top Indian Newspaper Finds That Making News Helps

BANGKOK — Promoting peace with Pakistan even at a time when the Indian public is convulsed by anti-Pakistani jingoism is one amongst a repertoire of “extraordinarily bold moves” the Times of India newspaper regularly makes to maintain and build its brand image in a fast-changing country and a cluttered media market.

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