The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has declared its ongoing commitment to upholding Thailand’s reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations at Spain’s largest travel trade fair, Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR) 2024, taking place in Madrid from January 24 to 28.

Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, said “TAT’s participation at FITUR 2024 symbolises Thailand’s invitation to tourists from the Spanish-speaking markets. We want to inspire them to embark on a discovery journey to indulge in meaningful relationships with every aspect of Thailand, from the locals and the communities, to stunning natural attractions and rich cultural heritages, as well as immersive, sustainable experiences.”

This marks Thailand’s 28th participation in FITUR, the foremost travel trade fair for Spanish-speaking markets, encompassing Spain and Latin America. Collaborating with TAT at the Thailand Stand are 16 Thai tourism entities, comprising eight tour operators specializing in the Spanish and European market, seven hotels and resorts from Bangkok, Phuket, and Krabi, and Thai Airways International.

The Thailand Stand is designed to showcase a diverse array of unique travel experiences exclusive to the North, Northeast, and Central regions of Thailand, tailored to align with the preferences of the Spanish tourist market.

The concept comes to life through demonstrations and performances of traditional Thai arts and crafts, such as Bo Sang umbrella coloring and dance, Gingala Lanna bird dance from the North, Phi Ta Khon mask painting and dance, Serng Isan from the Northeast, and Thai potpourri making, long drum dance, and Thai dance from the Central region.

Given the absence of direct air connectivity between Spain and Thailand, TAT has collaborated with international airlines and tour companies based in Spain to promote package tours to Thailand.

The focal point for this year revolves around inspiring returning tourists from Spain to explore new immersive experiences in key destinations, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, and Ko Samui. This is facilitated through linkage routes that include emerging destinations such as Phuket-Khao Lak-Khao Sok, Bangkok-Kanchanaburi-Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai-Phuket.

Honeymoon, health and wellness, LGBT+, and golf are identified as potential market segments for 2024.

Spanish tourists, on average, spend 57,635 Baht per person per trip in Thailand, with an average stay duration of 15.07 nights. Their preferred activities include indulging in Thai cuisine, exploring historical sights, enjoying beaches, partaking in massage and spa treatments, and engaging in snorkeling.

In the previous year, FITUR hosted 8,500 tourism companies (both sellers and buyers) from 131 countries. The event drew the participation of 136,000 trade professionals and 86,000 members of the public, along with 6,374 local and international media representatives.

The post TAT enhances Thailand’s spotlight at FITUR 2024 appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

The much-anticipated Meetings Africa 2024 trade show is poised to inject vitality into the African business events sector, presenting a significant economic boost for South Africa. According to the country’s Tourism Minister, Patricia De Lille, who made this statement during the media launch at the Radisson Blu hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, the event is set to surpass expectations.

Minister De Lille expressed her confidence in the forthcoming show, scheduled from February 26th to 28th at the Sandton Convention Centre, asserting that it will deliver heightened value to delegates and contribute positively to the global business events sector. Meetings Africa, renowned for bringing together exhibitors, buyers, and key decision-makers in the global business events arena, has become a coveted platform for industry players.

Anticipating a substantial impact, Minister De Lille projected the participation of over 350 exhibitors, 350 local and international buyers, more than 20 international media representatives, and over 3,000 delegates. Highlighting the success of the previous year, which contributed a staggering R388.5 million to the South African economy, the minister emphasized the show’s role in promoting Africa as a prime destination for business events and tourism.

Meetings Africa, characterized as a Pan-African trade show, is expected to host exhibitors from 19 African countries, showcasing diverse destinations and products to international buyers from 52 countries. Minister De Lille stressed the importance of the event in narrating the African story and fostering collaboration among nations.

Acknowledging the economic benefits extending beyond the host province, Gauteng, Minister De Lille detailed organized tours to small towns and villages, promoting inclusivity. The agenda includes activities for emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses, such as educational sessions, speed marketing, and a marketplace.

The panel discussion during the media launch featured industry leaders exploring the economic impact of hosting business events. Minister De Lille underscored the significance of collaboration among African nations to harness opportunities in the growing business events industry, emphasizing its potential for job creation and socio-economic development.

Highlighting the success of bid submissions for international meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions, Minister De Lille revealed that South Africa secured 16 bids for the 2023/24 financial year, with an estimated economic value of R71 million and the potential to attract 2,505 delegates.

The closing remarks emphasized the commitment to supporting local enterprises in the dynamic business events sector, with a call to reimagine, reinvent, and reignite success. The consensus among participants was clear: the business events industry holds substantial economic benefits, necessitating increased efforts for its growth.

The post The rise of the African business events sector: A powerful engine driving economic growth appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

The much-anticipated Meetings Africa 2024 trade show is poised to inject vitality into the African business events sector, presenting a significant economic boost for South Africa. According to the country’s Tourism Minister, Patricia De Lille, who made this statement during the media launch at the Radisson Blu hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, the event is set to surpass expectations.

Minister De Lille expressed her confidence in the forthcoming show, scheduled from February 26th to 28th at the Sandton Convention Centre, asserting that it will deliver heightened value to delegates and contribute positively to the global business events sector. Meetings Africa, renowned for bringing together exhibitors, buyers, and key decision-makers in the global business events arena, has become a coveted platform for industry players.

Anticipating a substantial impact, Minister De Lille projected the participation of over 350 exhibitors, 350 local and international buyers, more than 20 international media representatives, and over 3,000 delegates. Highlighting the success of the previous year, which contributed a staggering R388.5 million to the South African economy, the minister emphasized the show’s role in promoting Africa as a prime destination for business events and tourism.

Meetings Africa, characterized as a Pan-African trade show, is expected to host exhibitors from 19 African countries, showcasing diverse destinations and products to international buyers from 52 countries. Minister De Lille stressed the importance of the event in narrating the African story and fostering collaboration among nations.

Acknowledging the economic benefits extending beyond the host province, Gauteng, Minister De Lille detailed organized tours to small towns and villages, promoting inclusivity. The agenda includes activities for emerging entrepreneurs and small businesses, such as educational sessions, speed marketing, and a marketplace.

The panel discussion during the media launch featured industry leaders exploring the economic impact of hosting business events. Minister De Lille underscored the significance of collaboration among African nations to harness opportunities in the growing business events industry, emphasizing its potential for job creation and socio-economic development.

Highlighting the success of bid submissions for international meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions, Minister De Lille revealed that South Africa secured 16 bids for the 2023/24 financial year, with an estimated economic value of R71 million and the potential to attract 2,505 delegates.

The closing remarks emphasized the commitment to supporting local enterprises in the dynamic business events sector, with a call to reimagine, reinvent, and reignite success. The consensus among participants was clear: the business events industry holds substantial economic benefits, necessitating increased efforts for its growth.

The post The rise of the African business events sector: A powerful engine driving economic growth appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

National Tourism Day, celebrated on Jan 25 in India, highlights tourism’s impact on the economy, culture, and heritage, with diverse events.

National Tourism Day, celebrated on January 25th across India, is a day of joy and fervor, emphasizing the significance of tourism in preserving Indian culture and age-old traditions. Every year, National Tourism Day is marked with a unique theme designated by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The objective of National Tourism Day is to raise awareness about the importance of tourism and its role in cultural preservation.

National Tourism Day celebrations are widespread, with specific activities organized to mark the occasion. In Andhra Pradesh, for example, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department organizes a variety of activities across the state’s 26 districts in honor of National Tourism Day. These include:

Morning rallies and heritage walks on National Tourism Day, followed by tributes to freedom fighters at statues and their birthplaces.

Photo exhibitions showcasing state tourism locations and freedom fighters.

Quiz, painting, and song competitions for school children in respective districts as part of National Tourism Day festivities.

Display of hoardings signifying the importance of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at prominent locations in all 26 districts for National Tourism Day.

Cultural programs organized in respective districts to celebrate National Tourism Day.

Felicitation of freedom fighters and their family members.

A food festival focusing on authentic, delicious Andhra cuisine as part of National Tourism Day celebrations.

These activities on National Tourism Day not only highlight the cultural richness and diversity of India but also showcase the unique heritage of Andhra Pradesh. National Tourism Day plays a crucial role in promoting tourism and preserving the rich tapestry of Indian culture and history, making it a significant event celebrated with enthusiasm and pride nationwide.

The post India celebrates National Tourism Day with vibrant cultural events appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

National Tourism Day, celebrated on Jan 25 in India, highlights tourism’s impact on the economy, culture, and heritage, with diverse events.

National Tourism Day, celebrated on January 25th across India, is a day of joy and fervor, emphasizing the significance of tourism in preserving Indian culture and age-old traditions. Every year, National Tourism Day is marked with a unique theme designated by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The objective of National Tourism Day is to raise awareness about the importance of tourism and its role in cultural preservation.

National Tourism Day celebrations are widespread, with specific activities organized to mark the occasion. In Andhra Pradesh, for example, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department organizes a variety of activities across the state’s 26 districts in honor of National Tourism Day. These include:

Morning rallies and heritage walks on National Tourism Day, followed by tributes to freedom fighters at statues and their birthplaces.

Photo exhibitions showcasing state tourism locations and freedom fighters.

Quiz, painting, and song competitions for school children in respective districts as part of National Tourism Day festivities.

Display of hoardings signifying the importance of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at prominent locations in all 26 districts for National Tourism Day.

Cultural programs organized in respective districts to celebrate National Tourism Day.

Felicitation of freedom fighters and their family members.

A food festival focusing on authentic, delicious Andhra cuisine as part of National Tourism Day celebrations.

These activities on National Tourism Day not only highlight the cultural richness and diversity of India but also showcase the unique heritage of Andhra Pradesh. National Tourism Day plays a crucial role in promoting tourism and preserving the rich tapestry of Indian culture and history, making it a significant event celebrated with enthusiasm and pride nationwide.

The post India celebrates National Tourism Day with vibrant cultural events appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

The seaside city of Rizhao, situated in East China’s Shandong province, is heightening its countryside growth by discovering its local traditional assets and increasing its united culture and tourism improvement.

One instance of this is Bailuwan, which is an advanced town in Rizhao’s Wulian County. The town is completely utilizing its indigenous traditional assets, converting itself into a dedicated relaxation resort, merging art museums, bookstores, themed restaurants and open-air stadiums, with backing from the local administration.

Bailuwan has formed a dozen cultural places by assimilating leisure travel, contemporary farming and native creative culture. These enterprises comprise a chocolate museum, a maple themed art museum, a riding club along with several bookstores.

This effort has not only improved the town’s reputation among tourists and increased its travel worth, but also delivered work prospects for adjoining villages, supporting amplified resident earnings and encouraging rural growth.

With advancement of financial and social expansion, culture becomes not only a soft influence, but is also a commanding support motivating local improvement.Located on the Yellow Sea, Rizhao has a welcoming milieu, scenic seashore backdrop and a profusion of wonderful seafood. Countryside areas here exhibit unique traditional assets, comprising ethnicities, folk customs and natural sceneries, offering an exclusive charm for tourists.

The post Rizhao emphasizing its rural growth by exploring local assets appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Xiuwen county in central Guiyang province of Southwest China has been identified as the most charming counties of the country and is known for its offerings related to cultural tourism, part of the drive of Guiyang to shape itself into a “Cool Guiyang”.

A British vlogger, AJ Donnelly, visited Xiuwen to understand the amazing impact of culture and nature together in the region.

Xiuwen holds historic implication as the birthplace of Wang Yangming’s theory, the famous Chinese philosopher and claims of historical sites like Den for Fun Book of Changes, Wanyiwo and Yangming Cultural Park. 

AJ was awe-struck that Yangming culture is still spread extensively and has turned out to be a cultural brand of Xiuwen.

AJ while traveling along the Liuguang River in Xiuwen where Wang Yangming had expended good amount of time, was astonished by the stunning valley and eye-catching falls.

Besides the Yangming culture, Xiuwen is well-known for quality kiwis as well that is quite popular among domestic and international markets as well.

The post An amazing voyage to Xiuwen county appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Xiuwen county in central Guiyang province of Southwest China has been identified as the most charming counties of the country and is known for its offerings related to cultural tourism, part of the drive of Guiyang to shape itself into a “Cool Guiyang”.

A British vlogger, AJ Donnelly, visited Xiuwen to understand the amazing impact of culture and nature together in the region.

Xiuwen holds historic implication as the birthplace of Wang Yangming’s theory, the famous Chinese philosopher and claims of historical sites like Den for Fun Book of Changes, Wanyiwo and Yangming Cultural Park. 

AJ was awe-struck that Yangming culture is still spread extensively and has turned out to be a cultural brand of Xiuwen.

AJ while traveling along the Liuguang River in Xiuwen where Wang Yangming had expended good amount of time, was astonished by the stunning valley and eye-catching falls.

Besides the Yangming culture, Xiuwen is well-known for quality kiwis as well that is quite popular among domestic and international markets as well.

The post An amazing voyage to Xiuwen county appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

A recent report, a collaboration between Amadeus and UN Tourism, reveals a positive trend in air travel and hospitality in the Americas at the beginning of 2024. The report, titled “Travel Insights 2024: Focus on the Americas,” indicates a substantial increase in air capacity from January to April 2024.

Based on Amadeus’ global travel data, the report highlights a 20% surge in air capacity in the Americas during the initial four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Released today, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of forward-looking insights into the travel industry, focusing on the Americas. It aims to assist destinations and travel providers in understanding travel performance and gaining insights into traveler preferences for the region.

Key findings from the report show North America prominently featured as the most searched destination in the region, with New York, Cancun, and Los Angeles leading the list. Amadeus Search and Booking Analytics, as of January 8, 2024, indicate a high volume of activity in North America.

Moreover, the report emphasizes that hotel demand in North America remains robust, with forward-looking occupancy in the first four months of 2024 comparable to the same period in 2023. Notably, 51% of hotel reservations are made within a week of travel, despite shorter booking lead times.

The report also sheds light on Argentina’s emergence as a strong outbound market, evidenced by a more than doubling of searches to the US. The Caribbean, Central America, and South America continue to attract strong interest from the US.

Examining travel behaviors by origin market across the Americas, the report utilizes Amadeus data on available air capacity to provide insights into the number of potential travelers for each destination. This information aids destinations in understanding global travel movement, regional and market performance, and seizing opportunities.

In terms of demand for the four regions, domestic travel ranks as the top market searching for travel to the US, followed by Canada and the UK. Argentina stands out with a remarkable 159% increase in year-over-year search volumes for US travel.

The report concludes by highlighting that hotel occupancy performance in the Americas closely mirrors that of 2023, with the Caribbean leading in the first four months of 2024. Despite shorter booking lead times, hoteliers have the opportunity to adapt strategies to capture more bookings closer to the arrival date, as revealed by Amadeus’ Demand360+ ® data.

Collaborating within the industry to share profound insights into current trends

“The competitiveness of our sector increasingly depends on the availability and analysis of market data,” says Zurab Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Secretary-General. “At UN Tourism we are committed to strengthening the ability of our members to access relevant market intelligence by creating tools that allow them to better plan and manage tourism development. That is why we are pleased that this
report has been delivered together with Amadeus, one of our key Affiliate Members in the region, and we trust that this initiative can be replicated in other regions.”

Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, President, Hospitality, Amadeus adds, “Access to insights across the global travel ecosystem provides a new perspective into traveler behaviors. We are excited to partner with UN Tourism – enabling destinations and travel providers alike to plan for the future. The past few years have accelerated the adoption of technology to make the experience of travel better, smoother, and faster, creating greater accessibility and opportunity to connect the world.”

The post Amadeus & UN Tourism: Confident start to 2024 travel in the Americas appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

A recent report, a collaboration between Amadeus and UN Tourism, reveals a positive trend in air travel and hospitality in the Americas at the beginning of 2024. The report, titled “Travel Insights 2024: Focus on the Americas,” indicates a substantial increase in air capacity from January to April 2024.

Based on Amadeus’ global travel data, the report highlights a 20% surge in air capacity in the Americas during the initial four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Released today, the report offers a comprehensive analysis of forward-looking insights into the travel industry, focusing on the Americas. It aims to assist destinations and travel providers in understanding travel performance and gaining insights into traveler preferences for the region.

Key findings from the report show North America prominently featured as the most searched destination in the region, with New York, Cancun, and Los Angeles leading the list. Amadeus Search and Booking Analytics, as of January 8, 2024, indicate a high volume of activity in North America.

Moreover, the report emphasizes that hotel demand in North America remains robust, with forward-looking occupancy in the first four months of 2024 comparable to the same period in 2023. Notably, 51% of hotel reservations are made within a week of travel, despite shorter booking lead times.

The report also sheds light on Argentina’s emergence as a strong outbound market, evidenced by a more than doubling of searches to the US. The Caribbean, Central America, and South America continue to attract strong interest from the US.

Examining travel behaviors by origin market across the Americas, the report utilizes Amadeus data on available air capacity to provide insights into the number of potential travelers for each destination. This information aids destinations in understanding global travel movement, regional and market performance, and seizing opportunities.

In terms of demand for the four regions, domestic travel ranks as the top market searching for travel to the US, followed by Canada and the UK. Argentina stands out with a remarkable 159% increase in year-over-year search volumes for US travel.

The report concludes by highlighting that hotel occupancy performance in the Americas closely mirrors that of 2023, with the Caribbean leading in the first four months of 2024. Despite shorter booking lead times, hoteliers have the opportunity to adapt strategies to capture more bookings closer to the arrival date, as revealed by Amadeus’ Demand360+ ® data.

Collaborating within the industry to share profound insights into current trends

“The competitiveness of our sector increasingly depends on the availability and analysis of market data,” says Zurab Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Secretary-General. “At UN Tourism we are committed to strengthening the ability of our members to access relevant market intelligence by creating tools that allow them to better plan and manage tourism development. That is why we are pleased that this
report has been delivered together with Amadeus, one of our key Affiliate Members in the region, and we trust that this initiative can be replicated in other regions.”

Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, President, Hospitality, Amadeus adds, “Access to insights across the global travel ecosystem provides a new perspective into traveler behaviors. We are excited to partner with UN Tourism – enabling destinations and travel providers alike to plan for the future. The past few years have accelerated the adoption of technology to make the experience of travel better, smoother, and faster, creating greater accessibility and opportunity to connect the world.”

The post Amadeus & UN Tourism: Confident start to 2024 travel in the Americas appeared first on Travel And Tour World.