16 Sep, 2019
New WTO indicator finds services trade weakening into second half of 2019
Geneva, 16 Sept 2019, WTO media release – World trade in commercial services lost momentum through the second quarter of 2019 according to the WTO’s new Services Trade Barometer, launched on 16 September. The index’s reading of 98.4 is below the baseline value of 100, suggesting that services trade continued to face strong headwinds leading […]
more…16 Sep, 2019
India joins growing number of “democracies” on human rights violations list
Geneva — The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet has painted a bleak picture of the global human rights situation. Although climate change is having a worldwide impact such as on indigenous peoples and environmental rights defenders, individual geopolitical flare-ups in many countries which are otherwise popular tourism destinations are worsening the problem. […]
more…16 Sep, 2019
Grant Thornton survey: 62% of U.S. business owners see a recession looming
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 12, 2019 — American businesses do not plan on treading water when the next recession hits, according to a new Grant Thornton LLP survey of more than 250 business owners and C-level executives conducted in late June 2019. Innovation will remain a top priority: At least half of respondents identified innovation and innovation-related […]
more…16 Sep, 2019
The Most Enriching Environmental Film Festival launched in Kuala Lumpur with Climate Action Theme
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (Bernama) — The International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival 2019 (KLEFF 2019) was launched at Taman Tugu today to celebrate the 12th installation of the film festival with the theme “Climate Action…Now!”. This year’s theme will explore the stories of people and organizations committed to taking climate action to create maximum […]
more…16 Sep, 2019
Have Your Say: The Rise and Fall of PATA
Bangkok – In 1994, exactly 25 years ago, this was the full membership list of PATA, excluding the chapter members. In 1999, exactly 20 years ago, PATA relocated its HQ from San Francisco to Bangkok to take advantage of the opportunities of a Rising Asia. Instead of rising to new heights, an organisation that had […]
more…13 Sep, 2019
Penang to host 7th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum October 15-17
George Town, 2019.09.05 – The 7th edition of the Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF7) will be held from 15 to 17 October 2019. Touted as the largest and most diverse urban forum in Asia Pacific, this year it will be held in Penang, Malaysia. The forum is themed “Future of Asia and Pacific Cities: Transformative Pathways […]
more…13 Sep, 2019
UN launches new plan to ‘reaffirm the sanctity’ of religious sites, counter hate and violence
United Nations, 12 September 2019 – In a landmark document that should be must-reading across the entire Travel & Tourism industry, the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) on Thursday launched a new plan of action to “counter hate and violence around the globe”. It goes right to the heart of what this editor has termed […]
more…12 Sep, 2019
Minor Corp Chairman Bill Heinecke challenges value of “disruptive” technologies
Bangkok – Mr William Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Bangkok-based Minor Corporation, has raised some serious questions about the growing influence and impact of OTAs, ride-sharing services and other “disruptive” technologies that the travel & tourism industry is going ga-ga about. Speaking at the Thailand Focus 2019 Forum organised by the Stock Exchange of Thailand […]
more…10 Sep, 2019
WAIC 2019 Closes with $1.39 Bn Commitment to Transform Shanghai into Global AI Tech Hub
SHANGHAI, 5 September 2019, PRNewswire – The second World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which welcomed hundreds of global companies, start-ups and universities, ended on August 31 with the unveiling of several groundbreaking AI projects and international cooperation agreements, set to turn Shanghai into one of the biggest technological hubs in the country. The Shanghai AI Investment Fund […]
more…10 Sep, 2019
Life360 Survey Finds 25% of Parents Wish the Internet Was Never Invented
SAN FRANCISCO, 4 September 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – More than 67% of parents surveyed believe that the digital age has made parenting more difficult, and 25% wish the internet was never invented, according to results from a survey released today by Life360, the leading safety and coordination service for families worldwide. To manage family life in […]
more…10 Sep, 2019
PATA Foundation Chairman quits following “inquisition” by two Executive Board members
Bangkok – The Chairman of the PATA Foundation, Mr Peter Semone, has quit abruptly, less than a year before he was due to start an official process to hand over the baton. The shock resignation, the first of its kind in the Foundation’s history, comes in the midst of a major restructuring programme under way […]
more…9 Sep, 2019
AB InBev Targets Rising China’s Gen-Z with New Multi-Cultural “Smart Drinking” Strategy
SHANGHAI, 4 September 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – Global brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD) today celebrated the 12th year of its annual China smart drinking campaign by staging an awareness gala in Shanghai. Reinvented with a multi-cultural approach where heritage meets new lifestyles, this year’s campaign features a virtual character under its popular brand Harbin Beer and […]
more…9 Sep, 2019
New Study Reveals Growing Skills Gap Becoming “Serious Drag on Business Efficiency”
HOBOKEN, N.J., 4 September 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – Wiley Education Services, a division of Wiley (NYSE: JWA) (NYSE: JWB) that provides tailored services and technology solutions for university and enterprise partners, and Future Workplace, an HR advisory and research firm preparing leaders for disruptions in recruiting, development and employee engagement, today announced the results of a survey […]
more…9 Sep, 2019
“Colours of Africa” festival held in Bangkok to drive tourism, trade
Bangkok – Thousands of middle-upper income consumers from Thailand and tourists from all around the world were treated to a three-day “Colours of Africa” festival held in one of Bangkok’s most popular shopping malls over the 6 – 8 September weekend. The festival was intended to promote a better understanding of the African continent amongst […]
more…7 Sep, 2019
Transparency.org: Three ways to stop money laundering through real estate
Source: Transparency.org • 6 September 2019 – Around the world, buying property is a favourite method for the corrupt to launder their ill-gotten gains. When corrupt officials take large bribes, embezzle funds or otherwise steal money from the countries they are meant to serve, the money usually has to be cleaned before it can be […]
more…7 Sep, 2019
Physician burnout, improving patient experience amongst top priorities of U.S. healthcare organisations, study reveals
ALPHARETTA, Ga., 4 September 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – LocumTenens.com, a leading physician and advanced practitioner staffing agency, announced today the results of its newly-released signature study, Locum Tenens Engagements: Strategies, Usage and General Attitudes. The 2019 survey measures the perception and attitudes of hundreds of clinicians and healthcare executives and administrators across the United States about healthcare […]
more…7 Sep, 2019
Gen Z is Highly Optimistic, Purpose Driven (and Less Stressed Out): Korn Ferry Survey Claims
LOS ANGELES, 4 September 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – As Gen Z (born 1997-2010) enters the workforce, a new Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) survey of professionals of all ages examines how the next generation in the workplace is bringing plenty of optimism, a lot of purpose and less stress than Millennials (born 1982-1996). Nearly two-thirds of respondents (60 percent) […]
more…7 Sep, 2019
U.S. Watchdog Groups Planning Grassroots Push to Ban Law Enforcement Use of Facial Recognition
WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept/6/2019 – Almost 30 organizations from across the U.S. political spectrum have joined hands to launch the BanFacialRecognition.com campaign calling for a U.S. federal ban on law enforcement use of facial recognition technology. The groups, which represent more than 15 million combined members, plan to flood lawmakers with emails and calls from constituents. There is […]
more…6 Sep, 2019
New Australian visa rule means 5-day turnaround time for major investors
Canberra, 30 Aug 2019, Austrade media release – Companies with major investments in Australia can quickly bring skilled employers into Australia to fill temporary shortages, after implementation of a change to the Accredited Sponsor Scheme for the Temporary Skill Shortage visa. Announced in March , the scheme is accessible to companies that have invested over […]
more…6 Sep, 2019
Insights, Information key to Thailand’s diplomacy and focus on “Holistic Sustainability”
Bangkok – Insights and information is the fuel that drives diplomacy, the ability to anticipate change and the pursuit of “holistic sustainability” in a rapidly changing world, Thailand’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, said in a speech on 5 September 2019. Addressing a gathering of Bangkok-based foreign diplomats at the relaunch of […]
more…4 Sep, 2019
New WHO report flags Europe’s alcohol epidemic and what to do about it
4 September 2019, IOGT News – Brand new WHO Europe alcohol status report 2019 illustrates the high burden of alcohol across the region and that alcohol use and related harms are not declining at an acceptable rate. In response, IOGT International is calling for a new EU Alcohol Strategy, for an updated and improved Action Plan […]
more…3 Sep, 2019
Partnerships with civil society and youth ‘essential’ for a future that leaves no one behind
Utah, 28 August 2019, UN News – Partnerships with civil society and youth are essential to achieving the goals of key UN-backed international agreements, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on climate change, María Fernanda Espinosa, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, told delegates at the UN Civil […]
more…3 Sep, 2019
‘Extinction crisis’ pushes countries to agree stronger protection for global wildlife
28 August 2019, UN News – At-risk wildlife that is facing a “growing extinction crisis” received a boost on Wednesday, as countries wrapped up a marathon meeting in Geneva, by agreeing to increased protection measures and more sustainable trade in animals and plants across the globe. At its latest three-yearly conference, the UN-backed Convention on […]
more…3 Sep, 2019
Shanghai to host Asia’s largest Musical Instruments Fair in October
SHANGHAI, 3 September 2019, PRNewswire – Music China, one of the most reputable musical instrument fairs in the world, will be held from October 10-13, 2019 in Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Known as Asia’s largest trade show of music industry, Music China 2019, organized by Shanghai Intex Exhibition Co., Ltd., gathers more than 2,200 international exhibitors from […]
more…3 Sep, 2019
Kashmir: The Worst Conflict Area In The World
by Binu Mathew, Editor, countercurrents.org 27 August 2019, countercurrents.org – It won’t be an exaggeration to say Kashmir is the worst conflict area in the world. Look anywhere else in the world where there are conflicts, there is no communication crack down. From Gaza to West Papua, from Hong Kong to the Yellow Vests in France….. […]
more…3 Sep, 2019
Growing neo-fascism today worryingly similar to European fascism in the 1930’s
By John Scales Avery 22 August 2019, Human Wrongs Watch – I would like to announce the publication of a new book, entitled “Fascism, Then and Now”. It can be freely downloaded from the following link: http://eacpe.org/app/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Fascism-then-and-now-John-Scales-Avery.pdf Please circulate the link to your friends who might be interested. Parallels between fascism of the 1930’s and […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
Generation Z and Millennials Desperately Seeking Personal Fulfillment at Work, New Payments Study Finds
CHICAGO, 28 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – A national online study of adults ranging from 18 to 38 years found that Generation Z and Millennial employees are feeling an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction at work. Close to half (43 percent) of Millennials surveyed said they plan to leave their job within the next two years. Even more […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
Cloud Robotics Global Revenue Expected to Reach $170.4 Billion by 2025: Tractica Report
BOULDER, Colo.-August 28, 2019-(BUSINESS WIRE) – While the global cloud robotics market is at a nascent stage of development, companies are becoming aware of its growing importance and are in the early stages of understanding what cloud robotics is, how it works, and what the implications are for their businesses. According to a new report […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
ADB Opinion Piece: How South Asia can continue as world’s fastest growing subregion
By Lei Lei Song Manila, 2 August 2019, ADB News – Since 2014, South Asia has been the fastest growing subregion in the world, with its eight economies collectively boasting average annual growth of 7.0%. This is higher even than East Asia (6.2%), which includes China; Southeast Asia (4.9%); and the Pacific (4.7%). To carry […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
ADB President Pledges $12 Billion in Support of New Flagship Initiatives in India
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 29 August 2019, ADB News – Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Mr. Takehiko Nakao met with India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi today for the third time since Mr. Modi became Prime Minister and pledged to support the government’s new flagship initiatives led by the Prime Minister. He also met with Finance […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
Global Trades Union call for Global Resistance to Bolsonaro’s Amazon destruction
29 August 2019, The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) – The ITUC has expressed its full solidarity with the indigenous peoples of the Amazon who have seen vast swathes of their homeland go up in smoke. The policies and environmental denialism of Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro have been heavily criticised by the international community as […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
HIMSS AsiaPac19 Conference & Exhibition in Bangkok Will Address Shifting Paradigm of Healthcare
BANGKOK, 30 August 2019, PRNewswire – Healthcare and Information Management Systems Society Asia Pacific (HIMSS APAC), supported by the Ministry of Public Health Thailand, will organize the HIMSS AsiaPac19 Conference & Exhibition from 7-10 October 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre. HIMSS AsiaPac19 is into its 13th installment as an annual […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
Russian Railways Demonstrates Driverless Lastochka Train at the PRO//Motion.EXPO
SHCHERBINKA, Russia, 29 August 2019, PRNewswire – Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Maxim Akimov and the Chairman of Russian Railways (RZD) Oleg Belozyorov took a test trip on Russia’s first unmanned electric train Lastochka on the experimental railway ring in Shcherbinka during the International Railway Salon PRO//Motion.EXPO on August 28th. “What we saw is a major technological […]
more…2 Sep, 2019
Survey: One in Four Workers Would Steal Company Information to Secure Job at Competing Firm
LOS ANGELES, 27 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – Gurucul, a leader in behavior based security and fraud analytics technology for on-premises and the cloud, today announced the results of a survey of workplace behavior conducted at Blackhat USA 2019. According to the 476 IT security professionals canvased, nearly one in four (24%) said they would take company […]
more…31 Aug, 2019
Better Sleeping Environment Can Reduce Burnout Risk, Blinds.com Report Reveals
Editor’s Note: An excellent how-to item on upgrading the quality of sleep, one of the most important sources of poor health. HOUSTON, 22 AUGUST 2019, PRWEB – Today, Blinds.com released a new report, State of Sleep: Burnout is a National Epidemic and a Better Home Oasis Can Help, examining the close tie between work related-burnout […]
more…31 Aug, 2019
Beijing expands foreign partnership networks to promote tourism, culture
BEIJING, 28 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – The Second “Beijing Tourism Global Distribution Partnership Summit” was held at the Olympic Tower in Beijing on August 27, 2019. Sponsored by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the summit aims to assist the construction of the cultural centers and international exchanges centers throughout the country and […]
more…31 Aug, 2019
Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia Feature in Eight New National Geographic Journeys for 2020
WASHINGTON, 27 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – National Geographic Expeditions has entered into its fifth year in partnership with G Adventures and has added eight new trips to their National Geographic Journeys collection, all of which provide an enriching, in-depth look at the history, culture, and natural heritage of a destination. The newly announced itineraries add three […]
more…31 Aug, 2019
Yelp App Launches Easier Way to Find Places Based on Personal Preferences
Editor’s Note: Another practical time- and money-saving idea, especially for travellers. But raises obvious questions related to privacy protection. The App developers know your personal preferences. What do users know about the App developers? SAN FRANCISCO, 27 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – Yelp Inc. (NYSE:YELP), the company that connects people with great local businesses, announced it […]
more…30 Aug, 2019
U.S. Denies Entry to Palestinian Harvard Student
by Elias Khoury, ADC Summer Intern 28 August 2019, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee News – Just this week, immigration officials denied entry to Harvard enrollee Ismail Ajjawi, a Palestinian refugee from Lebanon, supposedly due to content that his friends posted on social media. This comes as a result of the sitting administration’s cruel and backwards regime of […]
more…29 Aug, 2019
Decision by Yahoo! Japan to End Ivory Sales Celebrated by Elephant Advocates
GENEVA, 28 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – Elephant advocates are celebrating reports that Yahoo! Japan, the world’s largest internet ivory retailer, has decided to end sales of elephant ivory on its platforms by November 1st, 2019. The decision was based on evidence that ivory purchased on Yahoo! was being exported illegally to China, according to inside […]
more…29 Aug, 2019
New Lawpilot Guardian App Helps Calm Fears of ICE Raids
Editor’s Note: Dallas Immigration Lawyers have launched an Emergency Response Alert App to contact friends, families and lawyers when the midnight knock on the door arrives. Dallas, Texas, 27 August 2019, BusinessWire – As President Trump continues to announce upcoming ICE raids, fear sweeps through immigrant communities even though no evidence of a widespread […]
more…29 Aug, 2019
Survey: Rebooting Healthy Habits Priority for Americans to Relieve End-of-Summer Blues
Editor’s Note: A good story about the socio-psychological effects of vacations. Useful for employers and human resources managers to understand in order to enhance post-vacation staff productivity. NEW YORK, 27 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – The majority of Americans report feeling their happiest during the summer months and experience the blues at summer’s end. Even so, […]
more…29 Aug, 2019
FeganScott: Consumers Sue Apple, Samsung Citing New Study Questioning RF Radiation
Editor’s Note: An issue worth discussing at Travel Technology forums? I wouldn’t hold my breath. CHICAGO, 26 August 2019, BUSINESS WIRE – A group of smart phone owners filed a proposed class action suit against Samsung Electronics (SSNLF) and Apple (AAPL), claiming the manufacturers knowingly subjected smartphone users to RF radiation levels far in excess of mandated […]
more…29 Aug, 2019
Wine Industry survey finds Baby Boomers better targets than Millennials
SAN FRANCISCO, 28 AUGUST 2019, PRWEB — Wine Access, an online direct-to-consumer wine retailer, announced today the findings of a recent internal study of sales data that shows Generation X holds greater immediate purchasing potential than Millennials, despite greater industry focus on wooing the younger generation. The data, which spans 2017 to 2019, supports recent […]
more…29 Aug, 2019
U.S. Lawyer says Immigration Benefits to the Economy are Established and Proven
A Los Angeles immigration lawyer comments on a recent op-ed that evidence establishes that immigrants’ contribution to the US economy is essential for continued growth. “The facts show that reducing immigration would actually harm millions of US workers.” LOS ANGELES, 28 AUGUST 2019, PRWEB – A July 7th op-ed at The Hill argues that a factual […]
more…29 Aug, 2019
Indian Tourism Minister: We Need to Change the Perception of India
Editor’s Note: India’s image has undergone some critical changes in recent years. Until the 1980s, it was seen as a poverty-stricken, disease-ridden country populated by snake-charmers. Then it became a tech and IT giant. Then it suffered from a safety and security deficit image, mainly related to attacks on women. Today, it is seen as […]
more…27 Aug, 2019
Vietjet and Flying Eye Hospital join hands to bring sight to millions of patients
Editor’s Note: Bravo VietJet. One of the world’s best Corporate Social Responsibility Projects. Bangkok, 27 August 2019, Vivaldi Integrated Public Relations – In the 17th year of supporting Vietnam’s eye care services and the 10th year conducting the Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) program in Vietnam, Orbis has accompanied with the new-age carrier Vietjet to bring bright eyes […]
more…27 Aug, 2019
Five Ways to Make a Difference on World Senior Citizen’s Day
Editor’s Note: This article is just as valid today, and perhaps every day. OMAHA, NEB., 21 AUGUST 2019, PRWEB – Today we celebrate World Senior Citizen’s Day, a holiday that should inspire us to do something for an older adult in our life and remind us to make seniors a priority not only today, but every […]
more…27 Aug, 2019
U.S. Healthcare Costs Soar as Patients Seek New Kind of Provider Relationship
Editor’s Note: Useful insights for the health and wellness tourism sector. By Kevin Fleming, CEO, Loyale Healthcare LAFAYETTE, CALIF., 21 August 2019, PRWEB – There is much debate today around the cost of healthcare in the United States. Most of this debate is focused on the shifting responsibility for the payment of these healthcare costs. […]
more…27 Aug, 2019
UK: As Young Drinkers Decline, Baby Boomers Drive Alcohol Consumption
UK, 21 August 2019, IOGT International News – While alcohol consumption steadily declines with young people, baby boomers continue to drive more alcohol consumption. More and more young people across the world are choosing to be alcohol-free, driving a global decrease in alcohol use. According to a recent report by University of Sheffield on alcohol use trends […]
more…13 Jul, 2019
First World Longevity Forum and Life Science Conference kicks off in Hezhou, S. China
HEZHOU, China, July 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The First World Longevity Forum and Life Science Conference (WLF&LSC), organized by Hezhou Municipal People’s Government, opened on Friday in Hezhou city, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The WLF&LSC aims to build a longevity city brand for Hezhou, promote life science applications, and facilitate human health and longevity. […]
more…17 Jun, 2019
Historians in, futurists out, as Thai tourism reflects on the next 60 years
Bangkok – As the Thai travel & tourism industry prepares to mark its 60th anniversary in 2020, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is turning to historians, not futurists, to help it chart a path forward. On June 5, the TAT’s annual trade show, the Thailand Travel Mart Plus, featured a talk on Thailand: The Greatest […]
more…5 Jun, 2019
$2.75 Billion okayed for Malolos–Clark Railway, ADB’s largest infrastructure project financing ever
MANILA, (23 May 2019) ADB media release — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved financing of up to $2.75 billion for the construction of 53.1 kilometers (km) of a passenger railway connecting Malolos, a suburb north of Manila, to Clark economic zone and Clark International Airport in Central Luzon. The Malolos–Clark railway is part […]
more…5 Jun, 2019
Statistical Partnership Website launched to help address global e-waste challenge
Geneva, 04 June 2019, ITU media release – – The Global E-waste Statistics Partnership, of which the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a founding member, today launched globalewaste.org, an open source portal that visualises e-waste data and statistics globally, by region and by country, for policy-makers, industry, academia and the public. Discarded equipment, such as […]
more…3 Jun, 2019
The clock ticketh for India’s under-performing Congress Party
Exclusive to Travel Impact Newswire by Mark Deane “You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God go!” Pune, India — Uttered while booting out the ‘Rump’ Parliament of England in April 1653 during the constitutional […]
more…3 Jun, 2019
ASEAN Parliamentarians pledge to ensure stronger protections for religious freedom
BANGKOK, 03 June 2019 – Lawmakers from across Southeast Asia today pledged to place greater attention and urgency on ensuring religious freedom for all citizens in ASEAN to combat rising inter-communal tensions, religious discrimination and intolerance. “The overall lack of knowledge about FoRB [freedom of religion or belief] in the broader context of human rights […]
more…31 May, 2019
60th anniversary book hails umbilical lifeline that bonds Thailand-Malaysia
Bangkok – Did you know that the first Prime Minister of Malaysia after its independence in 1957 was half-Thai? That the winner of the 1939 Miss Siam pageant was a Muslim who later married the Sultan of Perlis? That in 1979, Thailand would have been hit by a major power crisis had an emergency shipment […]
more…30 May, 2019
World Economic Forum Inaugurates Global Councils to “Restore Trust in Technology”
San Francisco, USA, 29 May 2019 (World Economic Forum media release) – To help policy-makers and businesses strike the right balance between enabling emerging technologies and proactively mitigating the social risks that can result, the World Economic Forum launched six Global Fourth Industrial Revolution Councils today. Covering the most pressing technology areas of artificial intelligence, […]
more…29 May, 2019
India, South Africa and Bangladesh lead number of travelling fans heading for Cricket World Cup
Langley, United Kingdom, 29 May 2019 (Travelport media release): Analysis1 conducted by Travelport (NYSE:TVPT), a leading travel commerce platform, suggests India, South Africa and Bangladesh will have the most traveling fans at the Cricket World Cup 2019, which starts tomorrow in the United Kingdom (UK). Cricket World Cup 2019 Countries Participating in the Tournament Flight […]
more…29 May, 2019
$38 million in ADB loans to transform two Mongolian National Parks as Sustainable Tourism Models
ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA, 28 May 2019, (ADB media release) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $38 million in loans to develop ecotourism in Khuvsgul Lake National Park and Onon-Balj National Park to serve as models for economically inclusive development and conservation in Mongolia. The lending marks ADB’s first project loans in Mongolia to focus […]
more…22 May, 2019
Exclusive Photographs: Timor-Leste’s faith-based tourism potential
Dili, Timor-Leste – On May 17, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded a conference on the theme of “Peace, Harmony and Fellowship: Faith-based Tourism Development” in the Timor-Leste capital of Dili. The event was organised under the USAID’s Tourism For All Project in collaboration with the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) and the […]
more…22 May, 2019
Timor-Leste promotes faith-based tourism as pathway to Peace, Harmony and Friendship
Dili, Timor-Leste – In a high-profile bid to energise its national tourism policy and craft a unique selling proposition, Asia’s youngest country has reached out to its religious leaders to back a new faith-based promotion strategy built around the dozens of elegant Lady of Fatima shrines and churches dotting the country. At the first conference […]
more…10 May, 2019
Uber IPO is a “bad bet,” global Trade Union body warns investors
Brussels, ITUC media release, (10 May 2019) — Loss-making Uber’s stock market float is a bad bet on a business that is facing a precarious future, according to the world’s main trade union body, the International Trades Union Confederation. The company is facing strike and boycott actions called by its drivers in several countries in […]
more…9 May, 2019
What on earth is the PATA CEO talking about?
The difference between a mediocre CEO and a great CEO is his/her ability to articulate a core leadership message in clear, simple language. This week, at the PATA Annual Summit in Cebu, board members will open their working papers to read the message below from CEO Dr Mario Hardy. Frankly, it left me scratching my […]
more…9 May, 2019
More preaching to the converted at the PATA Annual Summit 2019
In April 2018, the Philippines announced a six-month closure of Boracay, a draconian order unprecedented in the history of Asia-Pacific tourism. Referring to it as a “cesspool”, President Duterte ordered the shutdown to facilitate the cleanup of an island once grandiosely cited in the tourist brochures as being “pristine” and “unspoiled”. The move triggered a […]
more…7 May, 2019
Report exposes how U.S. philanthropic groups are being used to fund the global Islamophobic hate agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/6/19 (CAIR media release) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which claims to be America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released a groundbreaking report, called “Hijacked by Hate: American Philanthropy and the Islamophobia Network,” listing the philanthropic foundations, many of them mainstream, that were used by anonymous special interest donors to funnel almost $125 […]
more…7 May, 2019
Singapore “fake news” bill open to serious abuse, ASEAN Parliamentarians warn
JAKARTA, 7 May 2019 (APHR media release) – Singapore must significantly amend a “fake news” bill being debated in parliament this week that threatens to curb free speech and give authorities sweeping powers to punish critics, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said. The Singapore parliament is expected to hold second reading of the Protection […]
more…6 May, 2019
Nature’s Dangerous Decline Unprecedented, Species Extinction Rates Accelerating, IPBES Report says
PARIS, IPBES media release, 06 May 2019 – Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history — and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns a landmark new report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the summary […]
more…5 May, 2019
ADB Launches $5 Billion Healthy Oceans Action Plan
NADI, FIJI (2 May 2019) ADB News release — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today launched the Action Plan for Healthy Oceans and Sustainable Blue Economies for the Asia and Pacific region at the 52nd Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors in Fiji. “The prosperity of our region depends on healthy oceans and sustainable […]
more…5 May, 2019
Indian traffic-choked cities generating 25% of global greenhouses gases – Vice President
New Delhi, Vice President’s Secretariat, 03-May-2019 – Indian Vice President Mr M Venkaiah Naidu has called for adopting a public transport-centric approach to decongest traffic-choked cities and combat growing vehicular pollution. He observed that Indian cities have been witnessing an undesirable shift from the use of public transport to private vehicles. ‘The average two-wheeler and […]
more…5 May, 2019
India’s looming water crisis being ignored in public discourse
New Delhi, Ministry of Water Resources media release, 03-May-2019 – Mr. U.P. Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation expressed concern that inspite of reports of water crisis in many parts of the country, water related issues have not got adequate space in our conversations and our concerns in society as […]
more…29 Apr, 2019
Tourists out, turtles in at Conservation Centre run by Thai Navy
Phuket/Phang-nga, South Thailand – South Thailand’s famous beaches are visited by millions of tourists annually. But just a few kilometres off the coast of Phuket is an island where tourists are out, turtles are in. In an era when overtourism and beach closures are making headlines, Huyong island is a fine example of the need […]
more…31 Mar, 2019
Global e-commerce sales up 13% to roughly $29 trillion in 2017 – UNCTAD report
Geneva, 29 March 2019 (UNCTAD media release) – Global e-commerce sales grew 13% in 2017, hitting an estimated $29 trillion, according to the latest numbers released today by UNCTAD. Editor’s Comment This could herald bad news for the future of shopping tourism. If consumers can buy whatever they want at a click of a button […]
more…31 Mar, 2019
Civil Society under attack in 111 countries, with populists, nationalists and extremists at the forefront
27 March 2019 (CIVICUS media release) – Civil society organisations providing humanitarian assistance to migrants and refugees are being targeted by governments mobilising right-wing populists, nationalists and extremist groups as the world faces a crisis of global compassion. This alarming trend is one of the findings of the State of Civil Society Report 2019, an […]
more…30 Mar, 2019
Sustainable Development Forum flags chasm between rhetoric and reality
Bangkok — When Sabrina Rose Rasu, a young women’s rights activist from Vanuatu, spoke at the Sixth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development on behalf of the Youth and Civil Society movements, she said explicitly, “We demand system change.” In four crystal clear words, she pinpointed both the problem (The System) and the solution (the need […]
more…18 Mar, 2019
June 14, 2019: First Forum on The Greatest Story in Global Tourism HiSTORY
Bangkok – At 0900 hrs on March 18, exactly 59 years ago, what was then known as the Tourist Organisation of Thailand opened for business. Its duty, in the words of Gen Chalermchai Charuvastr, its first Director-General, was to promote visitor arrivals by “creating a wholesome image” of the Thai people. Editor’s Note The Forum […]
more…15 Mar, 2019
Revealed: How Alwin Zecha and I helped the TAT bring the PATA HQ to Bangkok
Alwin Zecha, who passed away on 12 March 2019, was a passionate believer in the grandeur and glory of Asia. His multi-cultural background and multi-lingual capabilities allowed him to convert his passion into action, using the travel & tourism industry and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) as conjoined conduits. He was the first to […]
more…14 Mar, 2019
Asia Foundation releases results of first City Life Survey 2018 in Myanmar
Yangon, Asia Foundation media release, February 22, 2019 — According to a new survey released today by The Asia Foundation, urban residents in Myanmar’s cities report strong social cohesion and personal relationships. Trust is high, people are very charitable, and people say they are willing to make personal sacrifices to improve their communities. Urban residents […]
more…14 Mar, 2019
Humanity ‘at a crossroads’ as damage to planet poses growing risk to health, UN environment agency warns
United Nations, UN News Centre, 13 March 2019 – Human activity is damaging the planet so badly, exacerbated by climate change, that it will increasingly put our health at risk, warns a major report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), released on Wednesday at the UN Environment Assembly, currently taking place in Nairobi. In a […]
more…13 Mar, 2019
As garbage mountains pile up, young Southeast Asian leaders seek ecotourism solutions
Luang Prabang – Appalled by the mountains of garbage and waste being generated by tourists and local citizens, emerging young leaders from Southeast Asian countries ended a five-day workshop in this UNESCO World Heritage City by pitching a broad range of reduce-reuse-recycle solutions designed to cutback everything from household waste and street trash to plastic […]
more…8 Mar, 2019
What the “Industry of Peace” can learn from the Indo-Pak conflict
In 2018, the South Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka) received a total of 27.9 million tourists, a minuscule market share of 2% of the 1.4 billion tourists recorded globally. By contrast, the Southeast Asian countries received 129.3 million visitors (market share: 9.2%) and the Northeast Asian countries 168.4 million (market share: […]
more…5 Mar, 2019
Survey: 1 in 3 Older Adults Feel Lonely
By Kathleen Doheny Source: WebMD, March 4, 2019 — One in three older adults say they lack companionship, a new poll has found, and the feeling is more likely in people with health problems. The poll of 2,000 adults ages 50 to 80 also found that one in four people surveyed say they feel isolated, […]
more…5 Mar, 2019
Alcoholics Anonymous Releases Pamphlets for Women and LGBTQ Alcoholics
Source: Alcoholics Anonymous — “It doesn’t matter whether you are 16 or 60, rich or poor, college graduate or high school dropout, business executive or stay-at-home parent, a patient in a treatment facility, a prison inmate, or living on the street. Help is available.” So states a new pamphlet for women alcoholics issued by Alcoholics […]
more…5 Mar, 2019
U.S. Alcohol Problems Grow as Booze Gets a Bigger Kick
By Matt Smith, WebMD Health News Feb. 14, 2019 — Americans may not be drinking much more than they used to — but they’re drinking more potent stuff.And that trend toward higher-alcohol drinks may be part of what’s driving an increase in alcohol-related deaths and illnesses, according to new research. Sales of wine and liquor […]
more…5 Mar, 2019
Women Who Work Long Hours May Face More Depression – Study
By Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Feeling trapped behind a desk, a counter or on the factory floor does no favors for the mind. Now, research helps confirm that women with jobs that demand long hours may be more prone to depression. Researchers found that compared with women who […]
more…5 Mar, 2019
WWF report reveals staggering impact of human life on Planet’s natural systems
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) — Human activity is pushing the planet’s natural systems that support life on earth to the edge, according to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2018. The report presents a sobering picture of the impact of human activity on the world’s wildlife, forests, oceans, rivers and climate. It calls for an urgent need […]
more…4 Mar, 2019
ITB Berlin good place to start monitoring “mental health” of Travel & Tourism executives
As the ITB Berlin, the world’s largest trade show, gets under way today, it may be a good time to shine a light on one of the most important UN Sustainable Development Goals – improved global health, or more specifically, mental health. “Health and Wellness” is one of the most high profile niche-market segments of […]
more…19 Feb, 2019
Asia-Pacific countries global leaders in mobile payments, report finds
DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE), 15 Feb 2019 — A new report highlights the growth in online and mobile payment services in Asia-Pacific. The report, entitled Asia-Pacific Online Payment Methods 2019, accents the potential growth of mobile wallets and showcases digital buyers’ payment preferences in Asia-Pacific’s top markets. The nations of the Asia-Pacific region are the global leaders […]
more…18 Feb, 2019
Travel Impact Newswire Editor quits PATA membership. Here’s why.
Bangkok – This year, PATA began its third decade in Asia. I marked the occasion by terminating my membership. It was not an easy decision, but one I feel will actually benefit PATA over the long run. Everyone joins an association, or any club or organisation, for a reason. Mostly, it is to grow a […]
more…12 Feb, 2019
Nominations open for prestigious ASEAN Prize 2019
JAKARTA, 11 February 2019 – ASEAN is calling for nominations for the ASEAN Prize 2019—a prestigious regional award which aims to acknowledge the inspiring and outstanding achievements of an individual or organisation in fostering the ASEAN identity, promoting the ASEAN spirit and championing the ASEAN way. Nominees should have exceptional merit in contributing to the […]
more…7 Feb, 2019
How Social Media is Dehumanising Humanity
Global communications, both professional and personal, is dominated by social media. Like legacy airlines and travel agents, the mainstream channels of media and marketing, such as newspapers, magazines, TV and Radio, are gradually losing ground to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the like. Note from the Editor This inaugural column by Reshma Dhewan, a […]
more…6 Feb, 2019
The best analysis of Thailand’s 2018 record-breaking visitor arrivals
Bangkok — A detailed and comprehensive analysis of Thailand’s 2018 visitor arrivals and expenditure released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports last week show some fascinating results that will have long-term implications for Thailand, ASEAN and the entire Asia-Pacific region. The two charts below show total Thai visitor arrivals and expenditure by month. More […]
more…16 Jan, 2019
Global Cross-Channel Payment Fraud Grows 13% During 2018 Peak Holiday Season
NAPLES, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– January 15, 2019 – New benchmark data from ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ:ACIW), a global provider of real-time electronic payment and banking solutions, revealed a 13 percent increase in fraud attempts in the ‘buy online pickup in-store’ (BOPIS) channel during the 2018 peak holiday season. Based on hundreds of millions of merchant transactions, including some of the world’s leading global […]
more…16 Jan, 2019
Data Breach Class Action Powerhouses Team Up to File Fifty-State Lawsuit Against Marriott Over Disastrous Data Breach
GREENBELT, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–January 10, 2019 — National class action law firms DiCello Levitt; Hausfeld; Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll; Cohen & Gresser; and Kramon & Graham have teamed up to file the nation’s largest class action complaint against Marriott (NASDAQ: MAR) following a massive, long-running data breach at the company. With 176 Plaintiffs from all […]
more…16 Jan, 2019
DiscoverEU gives 14,500 more young people the chance to explore Europe
Brussels, 14 January 2019, European Commission – Press release – More than 14,500 18-year-olds have been selected from almost 80,000 applications to receive a DiscoverEU travel pass. Participants will be able to travel between 15 April and 31 October 2019 for up to 30 days. The second round of the European Commission’s DiscoverEU initiative attracted […]
more…11 Jan, 2019
Thailand plans seven ASEAN centres in 2019 to enhance regional sustainability, security and culture
Bangkok – Seven ASEAN Centres that could provide significant intellectual support for the growing challenge of managing the region’s rapidly growing travel & tourism industry are expected to be established/upgraded in Thailand over the course of 2019, when the kingdom will hold the chairmanship of the 10-member grouping. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Division Director […]
more…8 Jan, 2019
India: Mass worker protests against Modi government ahead of elections
Brussels, 7 January 2019 (ITUC OnLine): Trade unions are holding a two day nationwide general strike 8 – 9 January in opposition to further attacks on working conditions in India. The government is under pressure ahead of elections as ITUC affiliates CFTUI, HMS, INTUC and SEWA with other unions in India mobilise millions of workers […]
more…8 Jan, 2019
In “disruptive” move, Thai Tourism Minister publishes stats on scams, cheats and rogue cabbies
Bangkok – Thai Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat has taken an extraordinarily “disruptive” step by publicly releasing the results of a crackdown by the Thai Tourist Police on hundreds of scams, frauds and other illegal actions faced by visitors to Thailand between Jan-October 2018. This is arguably the first time that any Tourism Minister worldwide has […]
more…24 Dec, 2018
Looking to liven up a boring tourism conference? Call “The Intrepid Traveller”
Many in the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry are familiar with publications such as TTG Asia, industry events such as IT&CMA, editorial personalities such as Yeoh Siew Hoon. Not many are aware of the behind-the-scenes persona who facilitated the rise of all three in the 1980s-90s. The 1980s was a golden period for Asia-Pacific travel. […]
more…19 Dec, 2018
First Buddhist University conf on SDGs mulls challenge of averting Global Warming AND Global Meltdown
Bangkok – When the Rector of the World Buddhist University (WBU), the Venerable Phra Anil Sakya was invited to speak recently at a conference of bankers and economists on alleviating poverty and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he asked if they had made a mistake inviting him in the first place. After listening to […]
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