25 Aug, 2011
Economy, Gas Prices, Air Fares Will Shape U.S. Travel Over Labor Day Weekend
AURORA, Ill., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The American Automobile Association (AAA) forecasts 31.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, a 2.4 percent decrease from the 32.3 million people who traveled one year ago.
more…23 Aug, 2011
Free Advice For Social Media Users In Light Of UK Rioting Jail Terms
In light of prison sentences given to two British men, Protostar Leadership Development, a UK management consultancy is issuing a free 8 page guidance booklet covering everything from cyber bullying to the safe use of Facebook. It hopes that readers will avoid some of the potential risks of using the internet and in particular, social […]
more…15 Aug, 2011
UK Awakening: Post-riots Issues Emerge for Travel & Tourism
The week of rioting in the streets of many British cities has raised many issues for the travel & tourism industry to ponder both in the lead-up to, and during, the upcoming World Travel Market in November. The earlier the industry awakens to the global awakening now under way, the better.
more…12 Aug, 2011
Australia Issues Report on Crimes Against Foreign Students
Responding to a swathe of media reports in 2009-10 about allegedly racially-motivated attacks on Indian students, the Australian government has issued the results of a far more comprehensive study about crimes against students from the five largest source-markets: China, India, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States.
more…11 Aug, 2011
Rising ASEAN says U.S., Europe “No Longer Engines of Global Growth”
Manado, Indonesia, 10 August 2011 – In another sign of the shifting world order and growing economic assertiveness in Asia and the ASEAN countries, Indonesian Vice President Prof Dr Boediono has declared that the US and Europe could no longer power the world economy, but ASEAN economies are in a better situation right now to […]
more…9 Aug, 2011
Bulwarks Up, Asia Confronts Pros & Cons of Financial Globalisation
Recurring financial crises are again exposing Asia to the pros and cons of globalisation and will lead to a stepped-up search for indigenous solutions and protective measures against currency fluctuations and volatile short-term capital flows.
more…8 Aug, 2011
China, India Outline Lessons Learnt From Debt Crisis
This dispatch includes two commentaries published in the official Chinese publication People’s Daily Online and its comments blog section on the lessons that China has learnt and what it could/should do in the wake of the U.S. and European debt crises, and a speech by Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee assessing his country’s economic strengths […]
more…4 Aug, 2011
State of the Future Report: Global Decision-Making Processes Face Overhaul
A “State of the Future Report” issued by a Washington DC-based think tank says it is high time for a major overhaul of the structures and processes to improve the quality of global decision-making, away from short-term, insular, parochial considerations towards more ethical, universal and long-term considerations.
more…2 Aug, 2011
Asia 2050: How Asian Leaders Can Avoid A “Perfect Storm”
“Asia 2050 – Realizing the Asian Century”, a new book commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), says that Asia’s future prospects are bright but face a “perfect storm” of bad macro policies, finance sector exuberance with lax supervision, conflict, climate change, natural disasters, changing demography, and weak governance.
more…28 Jul, 2011
Research Blows Lid On Global Media Spin That Brainwashed Norway Terrorist
In yet another eye-opening research paper, a senior lecturer at the Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, has highlighted how the global public fear of Islam/Muslims gives the military-industrial complex a chance to reap billions.
more…27 Jul, 2011
“Why Do We Harass Muslims But Not White, Nordic Males?”
This dispatch includes a collection of reports and commentaries from global media about the 22/7 Blond bin Laden terrorist attack in Norway. Let there be no mistake: Ten years after 9/11, the tables have turned. The “war on terror” has taken on new meaning.
more…26 Jul, 2011
Eye-Opening Report Exposes How “Fear Factor” Drives Global Islamophobia
On 23 June, exactly a month before the Norwegian terrorist suspect struck, the University of California (Berkeley) Centre for Race & Gender (CRG) and the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), issued a powerful report containing a timely warning about the dangers of Islamophobia to U.S. society.
more…25 Jul, 2011
As A Blond bin Laden Strikes, A “Global Awakening” Awaits
Even if indirectly, the travel & tourism industry bears some burden of responsibility for what is being described as a grotesque act of right-wing “Christian jihadi terrorism” in Norway.
more…25 Jul, 2011
PATA Bids to be “Voice” of Asian Travel, But “Face” Remains Non-Asian
BANGKOK – The Pacific Asia Travel Association last week advanced its recovery and rehabilitation campaign by appointing two senior-management executives to help revive its profile in the Asian region and rebuild its membership base.
more…25 Jul, 2011
Murdoch’s Global Reach Needs Much Deeper Probe
The sordid Murdoch phone hacking saga is only the minute tip of an iceberg of cronyism, corruption and nepotism in the West. The real story is how the Murdoch empire has influenced politicians, manipulated public opinion and shaped the global geopolitical and economic agenda over the last 20 years.
more…21 Jul, 2011
European Travel Steady But Economies Face Downside Risk – Report
With Western economies facing significant headwinds and downside risks, European countries will need to maintain strong promotions of inbound tourism to maintain jobs and growth, according to the latest Quarterly Report (Q2/2011) of European Tourism In 2011: Trends & Prospects, released on 20 July.
more…19 Jul, 2011
U.S. Court Rules Body-Scanners Can Stay, But Public Views Must Be Heard
A U.S. Court of Appeals has allowed the controversial airport body-scanners to remain in place but chided the Transportation Security Administration for not seeking public comment before having them installed in several hundred airports across the U.S.
more…13 Jul, 2011
U.S. Image Sinks Further in Middle East, Poll Shows
Washington D.C., (Arab-American Institute Media Release) — With the 2008 election of Barack Obama, favorable attitudes toward the U.S. more than doubled in many Arab countries. But in the two years since his famous “Cairo speech,” ratings for both the U.S. and the President have spiraled downwards.
more…6 Jul, 2011
PATA, In Comeback Mode, Plans Industry Forums In 12 Global Cities
BANGKOK – In a bold move designed to boost its membership appeal and raise its international profile, the Pacific Asia Travel Association plans to hold strategic industry forums in 12 global cities.
more…4 Jul, 2011
Polarised Thailand Faces Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain
BANGKOK – If buyers and sellers of the Thai tourism product want to know what to do in the aftermath of the July 3 national elections, here’s some free advice: Sell Thailand by all means.
more…3 Jul, 2011
Day of Reckoning for Thai Tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has just completed a week-long marketing planning meeting with a forecast for 19.5 million arrivals in 2012. Whether it meets those targets will depend not on the planning but what happens on national election day, July 3,
more…30 Jun, 2011
American Awakening Gains Traction: Brown Univ Study Pegs Costs of U.S. Wars at US$4 Trillion
In a study designed explicitly “to spur public debate about America at war,” the Eisenhower Research Project based at Brown University has released a comprehensive analysis of the total human, economic, social, and political cost of the U.S. War on Terror.
more…29 Jun, 2011
China Travel Boom Helps Global Tourism Near US$3 billion/day Mark
The most significant change among the top ten destinations by international arrivals in 2010 was the rise of China to third position, according to the UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2011 Edition, released today. China ousted Spain for third place, and has overtaken both the United Kingdom and Italy during the past few years.
more…27 Jun, 2011
An “American Awakening” Looms: U.S.Mayors Blast Wars Costing $2.1 Million A Minute
Much has been read and heard about the Arab spring and the Arab awakening. But yet another spring is emerging that will lead to a geopolitical shift of potentially tectonic proportions – the upcoming American awakening.
more…27 Jun, 2011
OECD: Global Economic Shocks to Become More Frequent
PARIS, 27 June 2011, (OECD News Release) — Disruptive shocks to the global economy are likely to become more frequent and cause greater economic and societal hardship, according to a new OECD report.
more…23 Jun, 2011
Wireless Broadband Subscriptions Top Half a Billion: OECD
PARIS, June 23 (OECD News Release) — The fast-growing popularity of smartphones and tablet PCs is driving growth in mobile broadband services. Wireless broadband subscriptions in OECD countries had exceeded half a billion by the end of 2010, an increase of more than 10 percent on June 2010, according to new OECD statistics.
more…23 Jun, 2011
Unions Seek Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy Disclosure by Hotel Chains
In a move that could open a Pandora’s box for the travel & tourism industry worldwide, the international union of food, farm and hotel workers (known by the French version of its acronym, IUF) has written to hotel chains asking about their policies to prevent sexual harassment of housekeeping staff by guests.
more…23 Jun, 2011
Air France Apology Sought For Worker Sent Home Over Hijab
WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/22/11) – The Council of American Islamic Relations has called on Air France to apologise to a Muslim worker at Washington Dulles International Airport who was allegedly sent home because she refused to remove her Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
more…21 Jun, 2011
“Historic Change” to Internet’s Domain Name System Approved
Singapore, June 21, 2011 — The Board of Directors of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has approved a plan to usher in one of the biggest changes ever to the Internet’s Domain Name System, according to a press release posted on PRWEB.
more…15 Jun, 2011
Study: Female Hotel Staff Face High Stress, Low Job Satisfaction
Female hotel staff are struggling to cope with high levels of stress, with married women being worse affected due to the pressures of trying to maintain a home:workplace balance, according to the results of a research study by Dr Sheeba Hamid of Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, India.
more…13 Jun, 2011
Free Report Can Help Boost Travel for People With Disabilities
A major global report issued last week effectively has provided a free consultancy service for those in the travel & tourism industry keen to meet the rapidly growing need for products and services by people with disabilities (PwDs).
more…12 Jun, 2011
Emerging Stats Show Impact of Tsunami on Japan Travel
The first set of figures released after the tsunami-caused Fukushima nuclear crisis show a 9% decline in outbound Japanese travellers in both March and April, and much higher levels of decline in inbound travellers. Both declines have had a huge impact on Japanese tour companies, travel agencies and hotels.
more…3 Jun, 2011
Hotel Housekeepers End Silence on Assault and Abuse At Work
In light of the Strauss-Kahn and other assault controversies, housekeepers in cities across North America hold public events, speaking out against abuses at work.
more…3 Jun, 2011
Two-way EU-South America Low-Season Travel Project Launched
Brussels, 01 June 2011 (Europa Press Release) — To increase two-way, low season travel, the European Commission is promoting an innovative collaborative project between South America and Europe aimed at generating an 50,000 additional tourists.
more…2 Jun, 2011
Giant Companies “Too Big To Fail” But People “Too Small to Matter”
GENEVA June 1, 2011, (ILO News) — International Labour Organisation Director-General Juan Somavia opened the historic 100th International Labour Conference with a call for an urgent commitment to a new era of social justice and economic growth based on sustainable development to address mounting “turmoil” in the world of work.
more…1 Jun, 2011
Six Key Socio-Economic Issues & Challenges Facing The Asia-Pacific Region
Although the travel & tourism industry tends to focus primarily on economic indicators, its fortunes are more affected by a broad range of key issues and factors related to national, regional and global development as a whole.
more…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 […]
more…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
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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.
more…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.
more…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.
more…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.
more…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.
more…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.
more…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.
more…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.
more…27 Apr, 2011
WikiLeaks Cables Expose Indian Visa Fraud Tactics
From falsifying documents and setting up fake websites to pretending to be “religious leaders”, Indians are resorting to a variety of tactics in the hope of getting a U.S. visa, according to cables from US diplomatic missions in India published on the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.
more…25 Apr, 2011
1.2 Billion Global Muslims Urged: “Travel to Learn from History”
Kuala Lumpur: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims to travel through the Islamic world and beyond not just to sightsee but to learn from the successes and failures of the Islamic civilisations through the ages.
more…21 Apr, 2011
F&B, Front Office Managers Lead Surge In Indian Hotel Salaries
NEW DELHI — Food & beverage directors at first class and luxury hotels in India have seen their salaries surge 43% between 2007/8 and 2010/11. In the mid-scale and budget hotels, front office managers have led the pack with 75% pay-scale increases in the same period.
more…19 Apr, 2011
China Strikes Back, Issues Tit-For-Tat Report on Human Rights in U.S.
BEIJING: One major reason for holding the PATA 60th anniversary conference in China was in recognition of the emergence of the world’s most populous country as a critical player on the global tourism stage. But that is only scratching the surface of the real change taking place.
more…18 Apr, 2011
More Change Awaits Hotels In Managing Chinese Travel, Online Bookings
Two newly-published studies show how the hotel sector’s products and services will need to cater to the growing legions of Chinese travellers, even as they face the ongoing challenge of managing their distribution systems. These stories, and more in this dispatch..
more…12 Apr, 2011
An Era Ends as Curtain Falls on PATA 60th Anniversary Bash in Beijing
BEIJING: As the PATA 60th anniversary conference ended on April 12, it could well mark the end of an era in the annals of travel & tourism. An agenda for change in PATA has been approved, and positive signs are emerging, but given cost and organisational pressures, the conference is unlikely to be held again […]
more…9 Apr, 2011
Energetic Show of PATA “People Power” at Chapters Colloquium
BEIJING: The passion and power of the people of PATA were on full display at the April 8 PATA Chapters Colloquium, the first event of the 60th anniversary conference of the Asia Pacific region’s leading travel association.
more…7 Apr, 2011
Breathing Life into PATA in Beijing — New Strategy to Show the Way
BEIJING — Interim PATA CEO Bill Calderwood is to unveil a strategy designed to pull the Pacific Asia Travel Association out of a years-long nosedive. To be made public at the PATA 60th anniversary conference here on April 10, the strategy is expected to be critical to the survival of what was once one of […]
more…7 Apr, 2011
Smithsonian Journeys Lists Top 10 Destinations, Most Popular Vacation Packages
Smithsonian Journeys, the Smithsonian Institution’s travel program, offers new opportunities for travelers to fulfill their lifetime “must-see” destinations. This, and several other great stories in this dispatch.
more…5 Apr, 2011
Demographic Shifts Changing the “Face” of the World
India’s population has crossed 1.2 billion. Hispanics in the US are on the rise. Expatriate numbers in the UAE are growing far faster than the locals. China’s population is ageing by the millions. These shifts will lead to significant social, economic and geopolitical changes in future, and require commensurate shifts in the way travel & […]
more…3 Apr, 2011
Elderly, Immigrants Vital to Europe’s Future, 2010 Demography Report Shows
Europe’s population is getting older, fertility has begun to rise again, life expectancy is up and the EU continues to attract more immigrants. These demographic changes will have a significant impact on the way the travel & tourism industry markets itself in Europe as well as the way it develops its products and services to […]
more…1 Apr, 2011
Why Mothers and Mothers-in-Law Get Taken on Family Holidays
A compilation of eight interesting reports circulated by PR Newswire / PR Web last week. Also in this dispatch: Long-Holiday Bonanza Awaits Brits in April; Study Examines Impact of New Media on Eating Habits; New Insights on Best Practices in Mobile Apps for Events; Nanjing-Wuhan High-speed Rail Out-competes Airlines, Routes Cancelled; and more….
more…28 Mar, 2011
“Medical Tourism Doesn’t Put Patients at Risk, Poor Planning Does”
A compilation of 10 interesting reports circulated by PR Newswire / PR Web last week. Also in this dispatch: Study Finds UK Expats Cancelling Plans to Return Home; UK Students Seek Original Work Experience Overseas; From Bodger To Broomsquire – New Book Aims To Keep Britain’s Traditional Crafts Alive; Europeans Favour Single-Ticket Use For All […]
more…25 Mar, 2011
India Leads Battle Against Bio-Piracy Of Traditional Knowledge
NEW DELHI: While European and U.S. companies and governments seek to combat violations of their intellectual property rights in the developing world, their own companies are quietly attempting to patent thousands of years of traditional knowledge developed by the indigenous peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. At stake are billions of dollars worth of […]
more…21 Mar, 2011
Outbound Giant Germany Seeks Inbound Travel Glory, Too
ITB BERLIN — Germany, one of the world’s largest outbound travel markets, is on its way to becoming one of world’s top inbound travel nations. The country crossed 60 million overnight stays in 2010 and is targetting 80 million by 2020, with arrivals from China and India expected to figure highly.
more…16 Mar, 2011
Useful Industry Data from ITB Berlin — Downloadable FREE!
ITB BERLIN — The ITB Berlin (held March 9-13, 2011) was full of valuable industry data available free of charge. To save readers time, effort and money, Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil has compiled some of the key reports, research and presentations from its various sources into one comprehensive package.
more…14 Mar, 2011
Highs And Lows Of Women In Global Tourism
ITB BERLIN — In March 2010, 21% percent of countries had a women tourism minister compared to 17% of ministerial positions in general. In seven out of the 23 Caribbean countries, the chairperson of the tourism board is a woman.
more…11 Mar, 2011
Egyptian Tourism Minister Blasts Ex-Regime’s “Cronies”, Liberalisation Policies
ITB BERLIN: Egyptian Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour has blasted the “extreme” economic liberalisation and privatisation policies of the ousted Hosni Mubarak government, saying they had failed to address the country’s glaring rich-poor income gap.
more…10 Mar, 2011
Arabs Hit Back, Urge Europeans To Avoid Stereotypes & Clichés
ITB BERLIN — Arab and Muslim speakers have called on Europeans to try and better understand what is going on in the Middle East, to take a more positive, long-term attitude about the prospects of change and to steer clear of stereotypes and clichés.
more…9 Mar, 2011
Europe Sets Base for Calculating Aviation Emission Caps
BRUSSELS, March 7, 2011 — The European Commission today decided on the historical data for emission of greenhouse gases by the aviation sector which will be used as a base figure on which to calculate the number of emission allowances to be available to airlines from 2012. The move will impact all airlines flying to, […]
more…8 Mar, 2011
100th Int’l Women’s Day: Special Report
This dispatch commemorates the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It celebrates the significant role women have played in the development of the global travel & tourism industry. Marked for the first time in four European countries in 1911, the day has become a critical rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation […]
more…4 Mar, 2011
ITB 2011 Curtain-Raiser 2: The Global Geopolitical Revolution
The second of a two-part report on the two technological and geopolitical revolutions set to dominate the agenda at the ITB Berlin between March 9-13. This part focusses on the geopolitical revolution.
more…2 Mar, 2011
ITB 2011 Curtain-Raiser 1: The Technological Revolution
The 45th ITB Berlin due to open in the German capital on March 9 will be dominated by two ongoing revolutions: The technological revolution which is transforming the way the industry does business; and The global geopolitical revolution which will see the emergence of a new world order.
more…25 Feb, 2011
“UN Women” Launched as Powerful Driver of Women’s Equality
As one of the world’s largest employers of women, the travel & tourism industry ought to take considerable interest in the historic February 24 launch of UN Women, a United Nations organisation dedicated solely to addressing the vast range of problems facing the world’s women and girls.
more…23 Feb, 2011
UNCTAD: Social, Economic Change Must Accompany Political Change
Noting that the momentous events in the Middle East and North Africa are a reflection of “massive social discontent and crises,” a United Nations agency that fights for the cause of developing countries has called for political reform to be accompanied by policies to “reshape economic and labour governance”.
more…16 Feb, 2011
U.S. To Face Talent Crunch, Will Need To Relax H-1B Visas, Says McKinsey Study
The U.S. will need to relax its stringent immigration policies, extend the retirement age and get more women into the workforce in order to generate the huge pool of skilled manpower that it will need to boost productivity in an increasingly competitive global economy, according to new research by the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI).
more…15 Feb, 2011
Polls Track Public Opinion Reactions To Events in Egypt, Tunisia
A number of opinion polls conducted by Pew Research and The Gallup Organisation tracked the shifts in the public views in the United States in response to the changing situation. Here is a compilation of the reports on the findings, as posted on the pollsters’ respective websites.
more…15 Feb, 2011
As Power Shifts & Tables Turn, A Global Good Could Emerge
This essay-cum-commentary is dedicated to the memory of Tunisian fruit-vendor Mohammed Bouazizi and the hundreds of protesters and dissidents in the streets of Tunisia and Egypt who died, were injured or otherwise took a stand for the cause of basic freedoms, dignity and human rights.
more…9 Feb, 2011
Egypt and The Dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The first quarter of the second decade of the 21st century is witnessing the dawn of the Age of Aquarius. By unfolding right in the midst of the Aquarius period, the 11th star of the Zodiac, in the year 2011, these tumultuous and unprecedented events assume an even greater surreal significance.
more…20 Dec, 2010
Special Report: Int’l Day of Persons With Disabilities
Regional countries are on track to declare a third Decade of Disabled Persons in the Asia-Pacific (2013-2022), a move that will give a huge impetus to facilitating employment opportunities, accessibility and mobility for the estimated 400 million PwDs in the region.
more…20 Dec, 2010
Defining Comment of WTM 2010: “Mistakes Were Made”
Arguably the most defining comment of last week’s World Travel Market 2010 came during the tourism ministerial summit organised by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on November 9.
more…6 Nov, 2010
Remembering The Day The World Really Changed
By Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, Travel Impact Newswire Sept 11, 2001, also known as 9/11, is often termed “the day that changed the world”. It is time to revisit that. Two days ago, in the midst of all the other global chaos, no-one even noticed the 15th anniversary of the day the world really changed.
more…2 Nov, 2010
OECD Report Highlights Bid to Attract Students
Faced with ageing populations, OECD countries are increasingly adjusting their migration policies to attract more international students and making it easier for them to stay on, according to the latest 2010 edition of the OECD migration report released earlier this month.
more…20 Oct, 2010
ITB Asia Recovers Big Time In A Global Crisis-Free Year
With plenty of commercial real estate waiting to be filled, Singapore piggybacked on a resurgent ITB Asia to launch a series of travel industry “mega-events” that expanded both the depth and breadth of participation and raised Singapore’s profile on the global travel stage.
more…24 Aug, 2009
US Global Image Up, But Tourism Slump Continues
Although a recent Pew Research Centre poll found that the election of President Barack Obama has improved the global image of the United States, there is no evidence that it is translating into increased business for the country’s travel & tourism industry. Statistics released by the U.S. Commerce Department for the first quarter of 2009 […]
more…20 Jul, 2009
Foreign Students Set to Hit 7 Million by 2020
With the number of students studying outside their home countries projected to rise from 2.5 million to an estimated 7 million by 2020, a report by UNESCO warns that it may only “further skew” the distribution of the world’s wealth and talent unless steps are taken to make education opportunities more equitable. “ One of […]
more…11 May, 2009
Jordanian Elected to Head World Tourism Body
Former Jordanian tourism minister Dr Taleb Rifai has been elected the new Secretary-General of the Madrid-based UN World Tourism Organisation for a four-year term beginning 2010. The 31-member executive council, meeting May 7-8 in the African state of Mali, endorsed Dr Rifai, 60, by a majority vote of 20 as against 10 for his closest […]
more…23 Feb, 2009
ASEAN Tourism Branding Change Under Fire
Replacing “ASEAN” with “Southeast Asia” as part of a regional tourism re-branding strategy would be “an exercise in futility” and “would not serve the fundamental objective of the grouping in the long run,” according to the first and only head of the now-defunct ASEAN Tourism Information Centre (ATIC). In an email interview, Abdullah Jonid, a […]
more…16 Feb, 2009
Airports Blast Airlines For Pressuring Them on Charges, Costs
The head of the global association of airports has blasted airlines for “having no commitment” to their destinations and suggested they back off from pressuring airports to reduce fees and landing charges. Speaking at the Airports Council International AGM in London last week, Angela Gittens said: “During bad times, airports vie more than ever for […]
more…2 Feb, 2009
Civil Society Groups Rue Damage Done by Tourism
Social movements and tourism watchdog groups from around the world met in the Brazilian Amazon last week to discuss the damage done by “predatory neoliberal capitalism” and the proliferation of megaresorts and real estate developments along the coastlines of tropical poor countries. Under the theme “Another Tourism is Possible”, dozens of tourism non-governmental organisations and […]
more…22 Dec, 2008
17 Americans Attend First Tour Operators Convention in Iran
TEHRAN – Seventeen American tour operators and media were amongst a group of 120 tour operators and travel media from 48 countries who attended the first international tour operators convention organised by the Iranian tourism industry late last month. They found a country which is completely different from that which they read about in the […]
more…10 Nov, 2008
PATA Faces “Major Overhaul”, says Acting CEO
The Bangkok-based Pacific Asia Travel Association has embarked upon a “major overhaul” covering just about every aspect of its internal and external structures, membership relevance and future directions, according to acting President and CEO Brian Deeson. Mr. Deeson, a former PATA chairman and secretary/treasurer, is Vice President Industry Affairs for Accor Hospitality based in Sydney. […]
more…13 Oct, 2008
“Another Tourism is Possible,” Say Civil Society Groups
Non-governmental organisations in the travel & tourism industry took advantage of World Tourism Day last month to stress that the present financial crises may prove to be a short-term phenomenon, and that the industry would still have to deal with long-term issues. NGOs in Asia and Europe used Sept 27, World Tourism Day, to issue […]
more…21 Jul, 2008
Coming Next: “Mental Health Tourism”
You’ve heard of “medical tourism” and “health and wellness tourism”. Now, get ready for a new one: “Mental Health Tourism.” A paper presented by a group of Japanese researchers at the Asia Pacific Tourism Association annual conference in Bangkok last week says that this form of tourism would be specifically targetted at urban dwellers suffering […]
more…19 May, 2008
Sports Events Tourism Benefits “Grossly Overstated”
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia — With national tourism organisations facing increasing demands to sponsor multi-million dollar sports events on the basis of their perceived tourism promotion value, a University of Victoria professor has urged that they take a closer look at the “grossly overstated” figures that are being produced to justify the money. Speaking at the […]
more…9 Apr, 2008
Aviation, Tourism In Climate Change “Danger Zone”
Six major industry sectors – aviation, healthcare, tourism, transport, oil and gas and financial services — are in particular danger from climate change risks, claims professional services organization KPMG.
more…3 Mar, 2008
OECD Report Analyses Impact of Globalisation on Tourism SMEs
Helping small & medium sized enterprises in the travel & tourism industry compete and survive in the age of globalisation is the subject of a major report on tourism in the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries released by the Paris-based organisation last week. The report examines the effects of increasing globalisation on […]
more…22 Jan, 2008
Global Survey Highlights Lack Of Faith In World Leaders
The latest findings of a global survey carried out for the World Economic Forum show a lack of faith that the next generation will live in a safer world.
more…7 Jan, 2008
Backlash Against Branding Gains Ground
Imagine a tourist destination that openly brags about having no McDonalds, Pizza Huts, KFC, Starbucks, Travelodge or Holiday Inns.
more…5 Nov, 2007
UNWTO Organises Cordoba Conference to Boost Religious Tourism
CORDOBA, Spain – With millions of people now on the move for “religious tourism,” the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has begun to turn its attention towards studying and analysing the issues related to its sustainability. The growth of interest in the Buddhist circuit is one aspect of this phenomena which covers two kinds of […]
more…17 Sep, 2007
World Exclusive: UNWTO Warns Against Iran Conflict
The Deputy Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organisation, Dr Taleb Rifai said that further hostilities in the Middle East would solve nothing but rather create problems that could cause incalculable damage worldwide.
more…3 Sep, 2007
Sikhs Protest U.S. Airport Profiling
First it was just the metal detectors and body checks, then came removal of shoes, sharp objects and cigarette lighters followed by metal forks and knives as well as nail-clippers. Recently, water, liquids and gels have been placed on the list. Now comes the latest in a long list of insane security checks – permission […]
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