Destinations
A Pause For Understanding
Keith Campbell, Marketing Manager -- Canada & Golf, VISITSCOTLAND After the UK entered lockdown on March 23, Keith Campbell, Market Manager – Canada & Golf for VisitScotland, says the organization decided to pause all destination marketing to focus on understanding the impact of the coronavirus. This included cancelling its biggest travel trade exhibition, VisitScotland Expo, for which they were due to host buyers from across the globe. “We recently published a phased market recovery strategy to help reopen Scotland to visitors and like most countries will be focusing on...
Looking Beyond The Pretty Pictures
Travel is far from being down for the count. In fact, prominent figures in the travel industry told a Tuesday Baxter Media webinar that they remain upbeat about their industry's future, despite the heavy toll coronavirus has taken on it during the past few months. "I'm very optimistic about the future," Jamaican tourism minister Edmund Bartlett told the webinar, the first of three Baxter Media is holding this week during its #TravelWebcastWeek event. Bartlett's Jamaica reopened to tourists just over a week ago, with 6,000 people arriving on the island since June 15. Half were...
Europe Leads, As Travel Restrictions Easing: UNWTO
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that restrictions on travel -- introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic -- are slowly being eased, allowing tourism to restart in a growing number of destinations. In its latest research, the UNWTO found that 22% of all destinations worldwide -48 destinations -- have started to ease restrictions, with Europe leading the way. At the same time, the UNWTO’s research found that 65% of all destinations worldwide -- 141 destinations -- continue to have their borders completely closed to international tourism. UNWTO...
Spain Unveils Responsible Tourism Seal
The Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism has created a "Responsible Tourism" seal for establishments that follow guidelines for reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the tourism sector, with the developed by the Secretary of State for Tourism, and are the only ones approved by the Ministry of Health. To obtain the seal the establishment must show its commitment to follow the guidelines. The seal is personal and non-transferable and must be renewed every year. Secretary of State for Tourism Isabel Oliver said, “offering trust and safety is crucial at this time to attract both...
Let’s Talk About Racism In The Travel Industry
Shalene Dudley can list off too many examples of the times she’s experienced racial discrimination while travelling — like being completely ignored in the check-in line for priority seating for flights or having to provide additional ID to prove her business platinum AMEX truly belongs to her. “A DMC representative in Cancun that I pre-arranged my transfer with, refused to believe that my final destination was the luxury five-star I showed him documentation for. I waited for over an hour until they received a phone confirmation. Even after this, he insisted that I must be a...
#TravelWebcastWeek Kicks Off Today
There is still time to register for #TravelWebcastWeek, Baxter Media’s series of free webcasts exploring the future of travel and tourism in a post-COVID-19 world, at https://www.travelpress.com/travel-webcast-week/ Don’t miss today’s session at 1PM EST, Destinations: Where, when, and how will international hotspots open for tourism, featuring the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Dana Welch, Tourism Ireland + European Travel Commission, Canada Chapter; Susan Webb, VoX International + Discover America Canada; Michael Lim, Hong Kong Tourism Board +...
Finding The Balance
Mélanie Paul-Hus, Director, Canada, ATOUT FRANCE When thinking about the future of travel post COVID-19, Mélanie Paul-Hus, Director of Atout France in Canada, sees the trade playing a pivotal role. “We believe travel agents and tour operators will be sought after once international travel bounces back,” Paul-Hus tells Travel Courier. “They will be the best source of information to advise travellers on the safest destinations, the type of activities most fitting the clients risk level and expectation. Agents will also be able to present new insurance products benefits and...
Restarting Responsibly
With tourism slowly restarting in an increasing number of countries, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released new data measuring the impact of COVID-19 on the sector. Emphasizing the need for responsibility, safety and security as restrictions on travel are lifted, the UNWTO also reiterated the need for credible commitment to support tourism as a pillar for recovery. Following several months of unprecedented disruption, the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer reports that the sector is beginning to restart in some areas, most notably in Northern Hemisphere destinations. At...