The North Europe Hub of South African Tourism has successfully concluded an engaging two-week showcase, leaving a lasting impression on industry partners in The Netherlands and Belgium.

The journey commenced with a prominent presence at Vakantiebeurs, a leading trade and consumer show held at Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from 10-14 January. This event provided an ideal platform to showcase the diverse and vibrant offerings of South Africa.

Building on the success at Vakantiebeurs, the North Europe Hub extended its reach with an additional four days dedicated to a comprehensive roadshow. Spanning four cities across The Netherlands and Belgium, the roadshow offered a unique opportunity for SA Tourism and South African product owners to engage in business-to-business interactions with Africa specialist tour operators and travel agents.

The roadshow featured 23 South African products, with each engaging one-on-one with Dutch and Belgian trade partners, presenting unique itineraries and exciting new products awaiting travelers in South Africa. The cohort of South African trade and businesses included ten SMMEs, seven of which were supported by the Department of Tourism’s tourism incentive program. Additionally, three provinces and a variety of accommodation, adventure, and niche experiences relevant to North European market needs were represented. Both emerging and established DMCs were part of the product mix showcased to the North European travel trade over the two weeks.

The in-person interactions proved to be of immense value for both trade partners from the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as for South African product owners. The direct interaction provided insights into the preferences and expectations of Dutch travelers, fostering a deeper understanding on both sides. South African Tourism is proud to facilitate such quality engagements, anticipating positive outcomes and a solid return on investment as a result of these interactions.

Abby Jacobs, the Acting Hub Head for North Europe, overseeing the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden, expressed satisfaction with the positive reception of the roadshow. Jacobs highlighted the strategic decision to spend extended time in both The Netherlands and Belgium, reflecting a commitment to cultivating strong relationships and promoting South Africa as a preferred destination. She emphasized the crucial role roadshows play in establishing personal connections and building lasting business relationships for South African and Dutch partners alike. Jacobs concluded by stating that such engagements are instrumental in conveying the essence and allure of South Africa as a destination.

The Netherlands remains South Africa’s third-largest international source market out of Europe and fourth-largest source market globally. Facilitating market access and strategic engagements of this nature is pivotal to sustaining and growing tourism from both these countries.

The post South African Tourism wows in Netherlands and Belgium showcase appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

The North Europe Hub of South African Tourism has successfully concluded an engaging two-week showcase, leaving a lasting impression on industry partners in The Netherlands and Belgium.

The journey commenced with a prominent presence at Vakantiebeurs, a leading trade and consumer show held at Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from 10-14 January. This event provided an ideal platform to showcase the diverse and vibrant offerings of South Africa.

Building on the success at Vakantiebeurs, the North Europe Hub extended its reach with an additional four days dedicated to a comprehensive roadshow. Spanning four cities across The Netherlands and Belgium, the roadshow offered a unique opportunity for SA Tourism and South African product owners to engage in business-to-business interactions with Africa specialist tour operators and travel agents.

The roadshow featured 23 South African products, with each engaging one-on-one with Dutch and Belgian trade partners, presenting unique itineraries and exciting new products awaiting travelers in South Africa. The cohort of South African trade and businesses included ten SMMEs, seven of which were supported by the Department of Tourism’s tourism incentive program. Additionally, three provinces and a variety of accommodation, adventure, and niche experiences relevant to North European market needs were represented. Both emerging and established DMCs were part of the product mix showcased to the North European travel trade over the two weeks.

The in-person interactions proved to be of immense value for both trade partners from the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as for South African product owners. The direct interaction provided insights into the preferences and expectations of Dutch travelers, fostering a deeper understanding on both sides. South African Tourism is proud to facilitate such quality engagements, anticipating positive outcomes and a solid return on investment as a result of these interactions.

Abby Jacobs, the Acting Hub Head for North Europe, overseeing the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden, expressed satisfaction with the positive reception of the roadshow. Jacobs highlighted the strategic decision to spend extended time in both The Netherlands and Belgium, reflecting a commitment to cultivating strong relationships and promoting South Africa as a preferred destination. She emphasized the crucial role roadshows play in establishing personal connections and building lasting business relationships for South African and Dutch partners alike. Jacobs concluded by stating that such engagements are instrumental in conveying the essence and allure of South Africa as a destination.

The Netherlands remains South Africa’s third-largest international source market out of Europe and fourth-largest source market globally. Facilitating market access and strategic engagements of this nature is pivotal to sustaining and growing tourism from both these countries.

The post South African Tourism wows in Netherlands and Belgium showcase appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

As India’s travel and tourism sector anticipates budgetary revelations, Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder & Group CEO of ixigo, highlights expectations for continued growth, infrastructure development, and sustainability.

The past year witnessed remarkable transformations in India’s travel and tourism sector, and as the 2024 budget approaches, Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder & Group CEO of ixigo, shares insightful expectations for the industry’s future. With a focus on boosting domestic and inbound travel, Bajpai emphasizes the government’s commitment to making India the fastest-growing aviation market globally in the next decade.

Bajpai highlights the encouraging rise in domestic air travel from tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, urging the budget to allocate resources for the development of infrastructure, technology, and safety measures under the UDAN scheme. Spiritual tourism emerges as a key focus, with expectations for increased measures to enhance infrastructure, accessibility, and last-mile connectivity in spiritual and cultural hubs across India.

The PRASAD Scheme has played a pivotal role in transforming Varanasi’s tourism sector, evident in the unprecedented footfall of 100 million visitors at Kashi Vishwanath Dham since its opening in December 2021. The recent inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the new Ayodhya airport are anticipated to replicate this success, improving connectivity in regions where alternative modes of transportation predominate.

Aviation sector considerations form a crucial part of Bajpai’s expectations, with a call for waivers or support to alleviate the impact of high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs. Reducing ATF costs to pre-pandemic levels could significantly enhance air travel accessibility and benefit the industry.

Additionally, Bajpai emphasizes the importance of simplifying visa requirements to encourage hassle-free and convenient international travel experiences, aligning with the observed trend of travelers opting for visa-free destinations in 2023.

In conclusion, the travel and hospitality sector anticipates budgetary measures that foster growth, innovation, and sustainability, aiming to solidify India’s position as a premier travel destination.

The post India’s travel sector: Anticipating growth in the 2024 budget appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

As India’s travel and tourism sector anticipates budgetary revelations, Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder & Group CEO of ixigo, highlights expectations for continued growth, infrastructure development, and sustainability.

The past year witnessed remarkable transformations in India’s travel and tourism sector, and as the 2024 budget approaches, Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder & Group CEO of ixigo, shares insightful expectations for the industry’s future. With a focus on boosting domestic and inbound travel, Bajpai emphasizes the government’s commitment to making India the fastest-growing aviation market globally in the next decade.

Bajpai highlights the encouraging rise in domestic air travel from tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, urging the budget to allocate resources for the development of infrastructure, technology, and safety measures under the UDAN scheme. Spiritual tourism emerges as a key focus, with expectations for increased measures to enhance infrastructure, accessibility, and last-mile connectivity in spiritual and cultural hubs across India.

The PRASAD Scheme has played a pivotal role in transforming Varanasi’s tourism sector, evident in the unprecedented footfall of 100 million visitors at Kashi Vishwanath Dham since its opening in December 2021. The recent inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the new Ayodhya airport are anticipated to replicate this success, improving connectivity in regions where alternative modes of transportation predominate.

Aviation sector considerations form a crucial part of Bajpai’s expectations, with a call for waivers or support to alleviate the impact of high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs. Reducing ATF costs to pre-pandemic levels could significantly enhance air travel accessibility and benefit the industry.

Additionally, Bajpai emphasizes the importance of simplifying visa requirements to encourage hassle-free and convenient international travel experiences, aligning with the observed trend of travelers opting for visa-free destinations in 2023.

In conclusion, the travel and hospitality sector anticipates budgetary measures that foster growth, innovation, and sustainability, aiming to solidify India’s position as a premier travel destination.

The post India’s travel sector: Anticipating growth in the 2024 budget appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Deputy PM of The Bahamas, I. Chester Cooper, spoke at Florida’s “Alpha Day on the Hill,” promoting The Bahamas to African American fraternity leaders.

This week, The Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation of The Bahamas, made a significant visit to Tallahassee, Florida. He addressed the leadership gathering at the “Alpha Day on the Hill” event organized by the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters, emphasizing the theme “Continuing the Legacy of Service and Advocacy in our Communities.” The event, which took place on January 25th at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, was a key opportunity for Deputy Prime Minister Cooper to promote The Bahamas as an exemplary destination for African American fraternity meetings and conferences, particularly targeting the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector.

DPM Cooper said: “I embraced this opportunity to speak to a gathering that encompasses representatives from all Florida chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha. Our sales team in the United States has been seriously engaging with social groups like fraternities, and as a result, we are seeing more and more fraternities such as Alpha Phi Alpha selecting The Bahamas as the location for their meetings. Alphas in Florida are just half hour away from The Bahamas.”

Alpha Phi Alpha, a prestigious fraternity with a rich heritage in the African American community, holds the honor of being the first Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men at the collegiate level. Founded in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, by seven African American college men, Alpha Phi Alpha now boasts a global membership of over 290,000.

“The year 2023 was a banner year in tourism that brought us an unprecedented 8 million plus in visitor arrivals.” said DPM Cooper. “Meetings, Incentive, Conferences 8 Exhibitions, what we call the MICE industry, accounts for 40% of all tourism business to The Bahamas. Fraternities are an important subset of the overall MICE market. MICE is a high growth market that delivers large numbers of visitors per event, hundreds, and in some cases thousands of visitors. This is a sector that we are pursuing vigorously, with the overall goal of increasing our stop-over visitor numbers.

In the previous year, The Bahamas experienced a significant 25% increase in its MICE business compared to pre-pandemic levels. Looking ahead, the incentive research foundation has forecasted a 37% rise in incentive program budgets across the United States in 2024, a promising trend for The Bahamas as it aims to become a leading MICE destination in the Caribbean for African American and other groups.

The Alpha Day on the Hill, a yearly event held by the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters in Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, coincides with the start of Florida’s legislative session. The event is a crucial platform for African American community leaders to discuss various bills, legislation, and advocacy issues that impact the African American community.

Concluding his visit, Deputy Prime Minister Cooper of The Bahamas made a courtesy call to Dr. Larry Robinson, President of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and took the opportunity to meet with Bahamian students attending the university, further strengthening the ties between The Bahamas and the African American community.

The post Tourism leader highlights Bahamas for events at Alpha gathering in Florida appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Deputy PM of The Bahamas, I. Chester Cooper, spoke at Florida’s “Alpha Day on the Hill,” promoting The Bahamas to African American fraternity leaders.

This week, The Honorable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation of The Bahamas, made a significant visit to Tallahassee, Florida. He addressed the leadership gathering at the “Alpha Day on the Hill” event organized by the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters, emphasizing the theme “Continuing the Legacy of Service and Advocacy in our Communities.” The event, which took place on January 25th at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, was a key opportunity for Deputy Prime Minister Cooper to promote The Bahamas as an exemplary destination for African American fraternity meetings and conferences, particularly targeting the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector.

DPM Cooper said: “I embraced this opportunity to speak to a gathering that encompasses representatives from all Florida chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha. Our sales team in the United States has been seriously engaging with social groups like fraternities, and as a result, we are seeing more and more fraternities such as Alpha Phi Alpha selecting The Bahamas as the location for their meetings. Alphas in Florida are just half hour away from The Bahamas.”

Alpha Phi Alpha, a prestigious fraternity with a rich heritage in the African American community, holds the honor of being the first Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men at the collegiate level. Founded in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, by seven African American college men, Alpha Phi Alpha now boasts a global membership of over 290,000.

“The year 2023 was a banner year in tourism that brought us an unprecedented 8 million plus in visitor arrivals.” said DPM Cooper. “Meetings, Incentive, Conferences 8 Exhibitions, what we call the MICE industry, accounts for 40% of all tourism business to The Bahamas. Fraternities are an important subset of the overall MICE market. MICE is a high growth market that delivers large numbers of visitors per event, hundreds, and in some cases thousands of visitors. This is a sector that we are pursuing vigorously, with the overall goal of increasing our stop-over visitor numbers.

In the previous year, The Bahamas experienced a significant 25% increase in its MICE business compared to pre-pandemic levels. Looking ahead, the incentive research foundation has forecasted a 37% rise in incentive program budgets across the United States in 2024, a promising trend for The Bahamas as it aims to become a leading MICE destination in the Caribbean for African American and other groups.

The Alpha Day on the Hill, a yearly event held by the Florida Federation of Alpha Chapters in Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, coincides with the start of Florida’s legislative session. The event is a crucial platform for African American community leaders to discuss various bills, legislation, and advocacy issues that impact the African American community.

Concluding his visit, Deputy Prime Minister Cooper of The Bahamas made a courtesy call to Dr. Larry Robinson, President of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and took the opportunity to meet with Bahamian students attending the university, further strengthening the ties between The Bahamas and the African American community.

The post Tourism leader highlights Bahamas for events at Alpha gathering in Florida appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Tourism Ireland’s golf promotional initiative for 2024 commences this week at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. A total of 34 golf and tourism operators from the island of Ireland are participating in this significant event in the golfing calendar.

The PGA Show, among the largest golf exhibitions in the United States, drew approximately 30,000 golf professionals and journalists last year. Prior to the show’s commencement, Ireland’s exceptional golf offerings were showcased to around 120 golf professionals and buyers during a special Ireland Golf Day at the Reunion Resort & Golf Club near Orlando. This event was sponsored by Tourism Ireland, North & West Coast Links Golf Ireland, and SWING Golf Ireland.

During the show’s second day, Tourism Ireland orchestrated a panel discourse tailored for influential American golf journalists. Matt Adams, the host from NBC Golf Channel, led the discussion, featuring Paul Vaughan from Ardglass Golf Club and Jason Straka, the mind behind the upcoming Curracloe Links in Co Wexford, slated to unveil in 2026. This conversation served as an outstanding platform to highlight Ireland’s exceptional golf offerings and unveil significant events, such as the Irish Open at Royal County Down in September, The Open’s return to Royal Portrush in 2025, and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, stated, “The American golf market remains a priority for Tourism Ireland in 2024, and we will continue to promote the island of Ireland as a top golf destination. We are seizing every opportunity to highlight the upcoming Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down, The Open returning to Royal Portrush in 2025, and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027. Tourism Ireland, in collaboration with our partners Fáilte Ireland and Tourism NI, is dedicated to conveying the message that the island of Ireland offers American golfers a complete package – featuring some of the world’s finest golf, breathtaking scenery, and the warmest of welcomes.”

The post Ireland shines at PGA Show in Orlando, showcasing golf excellence appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Tourism Ireland’s golf promotional initiative for 2024 commences this week at the PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. A total of 34 golf and tourism operators from the island of Ireland are participating in this significant event in the golfing calendar.

The PGA Show, among the largest golf exhibitions in the United States, drew approximately 30,000 golf professionals and journalists last year. Prior to the show’s commencement, Ireland’s exceptional golf offerings were showcased to around 120 golf professionals and buyers during a special Ireland Golf Day at the Reunion Resort & Golf Club near Orlando. This event was sponsored by Tourism Ireland, North & West Coast Links Golf Ireland, and SWING Golf Ireland.

During the show’s second day, Tourism Ireland orchestrated a panel discourse tailored for influential American golf journalists. Matt Adams, the host from NBC Golf Channel, led the discussion, featuring Paul Vaughan from Ardglass Golf Club and Jason Straka, the mind behind the upcoming Curracloe Links in Co Wexford, slated to unveil in 2026. This conversation served as an outstanding platform to highlight Ireland’s exceptional golf offerings and unveil significant events, such as the Irish Open at Royal County Down in September, The Open’s return to Royal Portrush in 2025, and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, stated, “The American golf market remains a priority for Tourism Ireland in 2024, and we will continue to promote the island of Ireland as a top golf destination. We are seizing every opportunity to highlight the upcoming Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down, The Open returning to Royal Portrush in 2025, and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027. Tourism Ireland, in collaboration with our partners Fáilte Ireland and Tourism NI, is dedicated to conveying the message that the island of Ireland offers American golfers a complete package – featuring some of the world’s finest golf, breathtaking scenery, and the warmest of welcomes.”

The post Ireland shines at PGA Show in Orlando, showcasing golf excellence appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

During the final day of the Saudi Tourism Forum 2024 in Riyadh from January 22nd to 24th, the Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) formalized agreements by signing two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). These partnerships involve the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) and the National Maritime Academy (NMA), reflecting SRSA’s commitment to sharing its core responsibilities, services, and advancements in fostering coastal tourism.

Aligned with SRSA’s mandates, the first MoU, signed by Mr. Mohammed Al-Asiri, the Acting CEO of SRSA, and Eng. Ziyad Al-Shiha, the CEO of SIRC, underscores the objective of formulating essential policies, plans, and programs to oversee navigational and marine tourism. This includes the development of mechanisms to safeguard the marine environment associated with these activities and enhance human capabilities within the coastal tourism sector.

The second MoU, inked by HH. Prince Saud Al Saud, Head of Partnerships at SRSA, and Capt. Turki Alshehri, Managing Director of the National Maritime Academy, aims to provide training and consulting studies in sustainable marine protection, marine tourism, and recreational activities.

The collaboration between SRSA and SIRC seeks to establish a coastal tourism command center in Riyadh, focusing on key aspects such as environmental protection, security, safety, and tourism. Additionally, the initiative includes a project to install, supply, monitor, and maintain mooring buoys along the Red Sea, as well as efforts to regulate waste management and recycling in facilities and sites where navigational and marine tourism activities take place. This involves initiatives for waste treatment and disposal in the Red Sea.

Emphasizing integration with partners in both the public and private sectors, domestically and internationally, SRSA’s objective through these MoUs is to expand strategic partnerships, exchange experiences, and implement best practices. The overarching goal is to promote regenerative tourism, sustainable development, and showcase the pristine wonders of the Red Sea as a global tourism destination while preserving and protecting its environment.

The post Saudi Red Sea Authority signs crucial MoUs for coastal tourism growth appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

During the final day of the Saudi Tourism Forum 2024 in Riyadh from January 22nd to 24th, the Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) formalized agreements by signing two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). These partnerships involve the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) and the National Maritime Academy (NMA), reflecting SRSA’s commitment to sharing its core responsibilities, services, and advancements in fostering coastal tourism.

Aligned with SRSA’s mandates, the first MoU, signed by Mr. Mohammed Al-Asiri, the Acting CEO of SRSA, and Eng. Ziyad Al-Shiha, the CEO of SIRC, underscores the objective of formulating essential policies, plans, and programs to oversee navigational and marine tourism. This includes the development of mechanisms to safeguard the marine environment associated with these activities and enhance human capabilities within the coastal tourism sector.

The second MoU, inked by HH. Prince Saud Al Saud, Head of Partnerships at SRSA, and Capt. Turki Alshehri, Managing Director of the National Maritime Academy, aims to provide training and consulting studies in sustainable marine protection, marine tourism, and recreational activities.

The collaboration between SRSA and SIRC seeks to establish a coastal tourism command center in Riyadh, focusing on key aspects such as environmental protection, security, safety, and tourism. Additionally, the initiative includes a project to install, supply, monitor, and maintain mooring buoys along the Red Sea, as well as efforts to regulate waste management and recycling in facilities and sites where navigational and marine tourism activities take place. This involves initiatives for waste treatment and disposal in the Red Sea.

Emphasizing integration with partners in both the public and private sectors, domestically and internationally, SRSA’s objective through these MoUs is to expand strategic partnerships, exchange experiences, and implement best practices. The overarching goal is to promote regenerative tourism, sustainable development, and showcase the pristine wonders of the Red Sea as a global tourism destination while preserving and protecting its environment.

The post Saudi Red Sea Authority signs crucial MoUs for coastal tourism growth appeared first on Travel And Tour World.