Destinations
TravelBrands Puts Europe On Sale
TravelBrands is bringing savings on European travel for agents and clients alike this summer. Until July 2, travellers can save up to 45% on European vacations and get a $50 add-on credit. Travel agents can also earn 5X Loyalty Rewards points. Travellers who make qualifying bookings are eligible to receive a $50 add-on credit. To redeem the credit, agents must simply use promo code EUR50 at...
RIU Enters Senegal
RIU Hotels & Resorts has purchased a 25-hectare site in the Pointe Sarène area on Senegal’s west coast, a “paradise destination in the midst of the tourist development process.” With it, the chain strengthens its commitment to Africa, where it already owns six hotels (five in Cape Verde and one in Tanzania) and runs a further five hotels in Morocco. The planned investment amounts to 150 million euros, which includes the purchase of the site and the development of future hotels in the destination. The size of the site will allow two properties to be built, and it is being...
NCL Homeports in Amsterdam for the First Time
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is celebrating its first season of cruises from the Netherlands, Amsterdam with the European debut of Norwegian Pearl, growing the brand’s presence to six ships in the region for the first time. On June 8, Norwegian Pearl’s Captain, Paul von Knorring, and the ship’s officers were honoured with a plaque and key to the city of Amsterdam from local officials from the Port of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cruise Port and Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, as part of the maritime tradition. On May 11, the 2,400-passenger Pearl embarked on its first summer season in...
Travel Leaders Tackles Overtourism
With destinations continuing to focus on increasing year-over-year visitor arrivals and agencies on increasing their bottom line, Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko believes those in the travel industry can take a more active role on combatting overtourism. “We’re a little bit drunk on the economic impact,” he said, speaking to media at the Travel Leaders Network EDGE conference in Washington DC. “Travel Leaders Group plans to take a leading position in finding business solutions to overtourism by working with destinations, supplier partners, and travel advisors to proactively...
Endangered Species Bouncing Back Thanks to Ecotourism
Between Botswana ending its five-year ban on elephant hunting and giraffes being considered for the endangered species list, there’s good reason to be concerned about wildlife conservation in the face of climate change, poaching and overpopulation. Yet there are conservation success stories to tout, too – and eco-conscious wildlife tourism certainly plays a part. Natural Habitat Adventures, a global leader in responsible nature travel and the conservation travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, takes travellers to destinations where some threatened and endangered wildlife species...
U.S. Parks Maintenance A Top Tourism Priority
Concern for the welfare of the national parks system in the United States was a priority theme in a presentation by a top US tourism official during the recent IPW conference and travel trade mart. Elliott L. Ferguson II (pictured), the national chair of the U.S. Travel Association, said the national parks welcomed 318 million visitors last year – more than a third of which were from abroad – but “the truth is, many of these treasures are falling into disrepair.” “The National Park Service is facing almost $12 billion in deferred maintenance repairs,” said Ferguson,...
USVI Working With Cruise Lines Following Cuba Restrictions
Following the US government's renewed restrictions on travel to Cuba, the U.S. Virgin Islands government is working closely with the cruise lines to help them as they develop alternative itineraries. Joseph Boschulte, commissioner of Tourism Designee, said that since news of the policy shift, the Ports of the Virgin Islands has reached out to the cruise lines to offer inconvenienced passengers the opportunity to visit the Territory, including the less busy cruise destination of St. Croix. “We have been in contact with the lines about making calls to both St. Croix and St....
Authentic Experiences Lead The Way In USVI
The U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism has asserted that local people and local experiences have become the biggest draw for travellers to the Territory. Speaking to participants at the recent Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) in Miami, Joseph Boschulte, pictured below, commissioner of tourism designee for the Territory, said that studies have shown that the focus for visitors has shifted over the past few years from shopping and beaches to culture and the people. “What we've found is that we still get almost two million people a year, but the focus...