Destinations
Hong Kong posts big visitor numbers
Tourism officials in Hong Kong have to be in a good mood these days, after the destination reported that it welcomed 11.22 million visitors during the first quarter of 2012 -- that's a year-on-year increase of 15.6%. Of that, about half (or 5.56 million) were overnight stays, 8.6% more than the same period in the previous year. Hong Kong Tourist Board chairman, James Tien said of the results: "Notwithstanding the volatile global economic environment, we recorded across-the-board increases in long-haul, short-haul and Mainland arrivals during the first quarter of this year. Looking ahead, we...
ACV unveils new collection
Air Canada Vacations has launched its 2012 South America, Asia, South Pacific Collection. The 100-page brochure features a variety of newly-added tours, such as treks in Australia or along the Peruvian Inca Trail, Spaceship campervan rentals in Australia and New Zealand and that's just a sampling of what ACV is offering in over 15 countries. As well, when you book your client an ACV Air & Hotel or Air & Tour package in any destination in South America or the South Pacific by July 15, 2012, you can save your clients $250 per couple. And if you book an Air & Hotel or Air & Tour package in any...
Westin Bayshore picks Lemieux
Robert Lemieux has been named director of sales & marketing for the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver. Lemieux brings over 24 years of hotel and sales experience to the 511-room property. Most recently, he was director of sales and marketing at The Westin Harbour Castle and before that he'd been director of sales and marketing at The Westin Ottawa. Lemieux is a member of the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and Meeting Professionals International...
Up in the air in Fernie
Work has started at the Fernie Alpine Resort on a new feature adventure. Along with the Mountain Bike Park, Fernie will also offer a 4 Zipline and 16 element Aerial Playground this summer. Each tour will feature a training session and up to 3 hours of "tree-top fun." Along with the new features, the Fernie Alpine Resort also offers activities such as the Mountain Bike Park, Hiking, Mountain Top Lunch, Sightseeing, Tennis and more. Fernie's preview weekend is set for June 23 and June 24, while the official opening is June 29. Go to http://www.skifernie.com/summer for complete...
Travel enthusiasm spreads in the U.S.
The U.S. Travel Association is reporting that for the second consecutive year, the outlook for summer travel continues to brighten with over three in five U.S. adults (64%), or an estimated 154 million Americans, planning on taking at least one trip for leisure purposes during the next six months. The percentage of Americans planning to travel between May and October is up from 61% last April and 56% in April 2010. Results were revealed in the travelhorizons quarterly report, which is co-authored by MMGY Global and the U.S. Travel Association, and which was based on a survey of 2,200 U.S....
Want more visitors, don’t raise taxes
Leave it to the Irish to come up with a pretty straightforward approach to increasing tourist arrivals -- don't raise taxes. Tourism Ireland reports that the value added tax (VAT) on tourism services in the Republic of Ireland will remain at 9% until the end of 2013. Jayne Shackleford, manager of Tourism Ireland in Canada, points out that: "The island of Ireland continues to offer great value to visitors throughout 2012 and into 2013. Value for money remains one of our key messages this year as we promote Ireland as a vacation destination to Canadian holidaymakers. The perception of value...
Costa doubling up in Asia
Costa Cruises plans to position a second cruise ship in Asia beginning in May 2013. Currently, the line operates the 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria in Asia and will start sailing from Shanghai May 18, 2012. The Costa Victoria replaces the 1,680-passenger Costa Classica, which has been repositioned to the Mediterranean. In May 2013 the 2,680-passenger Costa Atlantica will also be deployed in the region, giving Costa a combined total passenger capacity of 5,074 -- a 67% increase. With the debut of Costa Victoria in May 2012 and Costa Atlantica in May 2013, Costa Cruises will offer a unique...
Thailand is on the move
Thailand is moving on up. The destination is continuing to see its popularity with travellers grow as it posts increasing higher rankings on international listings and barometers. Most recently, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) ranked Thailand at number 11 -- up by one place since the previous year. With that momentum, tourism officials in Thailand are hopeful the country will ranked as one of the top 10 destinations, in terms of international tourism receipts, in 2012. Thailand was one of only five international destinations whose tourism receipts grew by more than $5 billion in...