"We came, We Saw, We Got The T-shirt (Pens, Food, Drink etc)...

GTI at International Confex...

It must be said that our expectations of the show were not to high thanks to our previous experience at Earls Court at the "Travel Technology Show" last month. But we had no reason to worry. Where the travel industry had previously failed, the events industry was quick to show true professionality. and splendour...

Well presented stands with happy people that were not too pushy made for a pleasant atmosphere to seek out the new and innovative ideas at the show...

Two that we thought to be really worthy of recognition on these pages were, first, Tikes and Tiaras, (www.tikesandtiaras.com) for their entertaining range of upmarket kids party ideas, that they showcased on the day with an amazing "Alice in Wonderland" set up that made me wish I was a child again (and is sure to be a huge hit with the new Depp/Burton version just hitting cinemas). Next was a fantastic idea from Lumacoustics (www.lumacoustics.com) that had a wall (T.V.) that you could graffiti with a motion sensor spray can (similar to the WII idea) and create pictures and tags that could be instantly updated to anything, including social mediums. What great fun...

Also, we should give a big GTI "whoop whoop" to all of the companies for their generosity and overall hospitality. It was a great show, and we already cant wait for next year...

Barticus.

"Sympathy for the Devil..."

And BA staff...

The British Airways situation is starting to really worry me...

I understand the grievances of the staff that are involved in this on-going debate and legal actions as to whether or not it is legal to strike. But surely at some point they must look at what they are doing to the corporate image and faith that people once had in what was called "The worlds favourite airline," and the irreparable damage that is being caused...

Remembering that this once great bastion of the British corporate world posted huge losses last year that forced them to go looking for partnership and support, it has to be a question as to how long they can continue to operate in their current format. But the proposal of "strike" action added to the fact that many travel insurance companies openly stated that they would not pay out on the basis of a British Airways strike, and it doesn't take a brainiac to work out that people will start to book with other carriers instead...

Personally, I am all in favour of unions and the unity that they can bring amongst their members, but please guys, work this out before everything that you have becomes destroyed...

Barticus.

"Confex and the study of Event Tourism..."

Today sees the opening of International Confex at Earls Court in London, and your dedicated roaming reporters from "Global Tourism Issues" will be attending tomorrow to try to evaluate the emerging trends from the events sector that have the possibility of a profound effect on travel and tourism...

With this year seeing the staging of the football/soccer world cup in South Africa, no one can deny the effects of "Mega" events as a tourism product, but what of other events? "Hallmark" events may have regional appeal, but can they be developed to push for international status and therefore tourists? Is it all about the product? or is it about staging and timing?

Well, keep tuned in to see if we can find any of these answers (and more) from the "guys" in the know within the events sector...

Barticus.

"Work it baby, work it..."

Yesterday saw the publication of figures from Skyscanner that shows who (in the current economic climate) are the tourists that spend the most amount of money on holidays and related services...

TravelDailyNews report that "At number one, it’s the Germans who spend over $90 billion a year on their travels, a disproportionate amount compared to their population which numbers just over 80 million, less than a third of the next biggest spenders – the USA, who splash $79.7 billion a year on holidays. Known for tipping big in restaurant and bars, Americans certainly know how to spend...

In third place it’s the UK who splurge $68.5 billion to escape the UK on cheap flights each year. No doubt the lure of sun and sand plays a huge part in the mass exodus, with Spain by far our favourite holiday escape. This is also backed up by recent Skyscanner stats, with cheap flights to Malaga topping the most popular searched in January...

France, which is also the world’s most popular country in terms of tourist arrivals, empty their wallets of $42.1 per year, whilst the Chinese spend $36.2 billion annually on their travels...

China is part of a new force of international tourists. The country’s huge economic boom over the last decade has created a new middle class and with travel restrictions now a distant memory, more and more Chinese are taking advantage of their new found wealth and travelling the world - normally in tour groups...

Italy, Japan, Canada, Russia and the Netherlands made up the rest of the ten big spenders list..."

These figures are important for all tourism provides as they help with the planing of where to focus efforts in marketing and promotions within the industry...

The full figures are,

1. Germany - $91.0 billion (+2%)
2. USA - $79.7 billion (+4.4%)
3. UK - $68.5 billion (+4.4%)
4. France - $43.1 billion (+9.6%)
5. China - $36.2 billion (+21.4%)
6. Italy - $30.8 billion (+4.9%)
7. Japan - $27.9 billion (-7.9%)
8. Canada - $26.9 billion (+8.4%)
9. Russia - $24.9 billion (+11.8%)
10. Netherlands - $21.7 billion (+9.2%)

For this full report, please go to http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/35691-Skyscanner-reveals-the-world%E2%80%99s-biggest-spenders:-tourists-who-splash-the-cash

Barticus.

"Sign of the times..."

It's good to see that at least one of the worlds major airlines is moving to cope with the issues of the global economic situation, by removing first class seat/beds from one of its aircraft...

Dinah Hatch reports for TravelMole that "Qantas is to start removing first class cabins from its B747-400s and installing business class flatbed seats as used in its A380s from the end of 2011.

It will also remove first class cabins from all new A380s, freeing up cabin space.

Nine of its B747s will be fitted with the airbus’ standard seats and inflight product. In business, this means a fully-flat Skybed sleeper seat. Both classes will have Panasonic on-demand inflight entertainment. The new configuration will offer 359 seats, an increase of 52 seats.

Qantas’ current 12 A380s will continue to fly with a four-class configuration but will be refitted to reduce business class and increase Premium Economy and economy seats.

Its A380s due to be delivered in 2012 will offer no first class seating.

Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce said the $400m investment is happening in order to make the Qantas experience more consistent and in anticipation of forecast changes in premium cabin demand.

He said: “The major upgrade will give all our long-haul customers access to our award-winning seats and inflight entertainment Qantas offers on its flagship aircraft, the A380...


“Customer feedback on the Qantas A380 experience is overwhelmingly positive, and this experience, including the fully flat Skybed in Business, the all-new Economy seat and the inflight entertainment system will be available to customers travelling on Qantas B747-400 services...

“We are committed to investing in premium customer product and service – to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers, maximise yields and generate revenue and investor returns...”

It will be interesting to follow if this becomes a one off or trend within the industry...

Barticus.

"Keep it in the community..."

With the 90's buzzword "eco-tourism" now well and truly on the decline, the tourism industry must learn methods to deal with the ever growing area of concern that is "sustainability" within the sector...

But what is sustainability within tourism? And how will this effect the future of how and where people choose to travel? Let me share my (personal) thoughts on this...

For many sceptics there is only one answer to end the damage that travellers and tourists inflict on destinations, and that is not to go there in the first place. But this can never be the total answer. Yes, this would alleviate the problems that the tourists can cause, but would in the end lead to a state of total ignorance about the actual destinations themselves, which would quickly mean people forgetting about the issues that led to the issues of sustainability in the first place...

Traditional lines of tourism and tourism investment (especially in the developing world) lead to more money being taken out than left in the country, so helping the developed world more than the developing one. So not much is left...

At least with community based tourism it is all about the hosts themselves. With all decision making processes and controls left to them they are in a position to gain pride and empowerment as well as the more obvious economic benefits. This pride will cut acculturation and other negative effects of tourism whilst allowing the host to grow and become more independent...

So, is this the answer? Only the future will know...

Barticus.

"Not such a happy St. Patricks day..."

With Paddys day looming (17th March)there is rumblings of unhappiness from within the Irish tourism sector with the news that governmental restrictions are making it harder and harder for potential tourists to obtain the required visas to enter the country...

Irishtimes.com report that "Strict visa requirements for visitors from certain countries are causing “huge problems” for the tourism industry, the body representing coach operators said yesterday...

Gerry Mullins, chief executive, of the Coach Tourism and Transport Council (CTTC) said that while the conditions are not new things have changed...

“In the past, visitors from China would not have made a difference because many were poor and not allowed out of their country. But now they are travelling by their millions and becoming richer than we are,” he said...

Newly wealthy visitors from countries such as China, India and Russia are being refused because of a “strange and stupid system”.

Documentation needed for a Chinese person applying for an Irish holiday visa include six months of bank statements and a letter from their host in Ireland stating that they will support them during their visit...

“Can you imagine booking a room in a Dublin hotel, and then asking the receptionist if the hotel would forward a letter saying they will support you during your visit?” Mr Mullins said business for his members was down by a quarter last year and would be down again this year. Ireland needs new markets and should be exploiting them because the traditional market in the EU, UK and US are going through a “rough time” ...


He asked what was the point of the marketing undertaken by Tourism Ireland in China when there were such strict visa requirements.

One of his members recently spoke to an agent in Indonesia who said he could sell 1,000 coach tours to Ireland this year with 40 people on each tour, if it was not so difficult to get into.

“That is the equivalent of 200,000 bed nights that are lost. In just this one example, we see how our own Government is costing jobs and livelihoods...”

Why? With all that all industries are facing at the moment (with Ireland being particularly hard hit) can these government "pen pushers" not see the irreversible damage that they can do to the tourism industry???

Follow more of this news at http://www.eturbonews.com/14417/strict-visa-rules-causing-huge-problem-irish-tourism-industry

Barticus.

"Brits go for a quick one..."

Holiday break that is...

This follows the release of a recent YouGov report that shows that the idea of the British "Staycation" looks set not just to continue, but to grow over the coming months with Brits opting for more "bite size" getaways than traditional one or two week holidays...

Dinah Hatch reports that "Brits are taking more holiday “snacks” and less vacation three course meals, according to a YouGov poll and Hoseasons booking patterns.

The operator asked YouGov to sample survey 2361 adults online and ask them about their holiday plans for 2010. It found some 30% indicated they are more likely to go on a short break in the UK in 2010 compared to last year.

Hoseasons' own data shows that short break holiday bookings are already 25% up in 2010 while 2009 Christmas shortbreaks soared by 68%.

Hoseasons chief executive Richard Carrick said: “Over the last 10 years we have seen a big shift in the number of holidays people take, but during this time holiday entitlement has stayed broadly static. We’ve therefore had to find ways of fitting in more breaks, and more often than not people are using their weekends to boost their holidays by tagging on an extra couple of days.”

“Last year had a big impact on peoples’ views of the UK as many rediscovered Britain. This newfound love, combined with an increasing reluctance to fly and a tightening of holiday budgets, means that the UK is become the default destination for many short break holidaymakers...

Carrick said that the British mood for avoiding flights, saving money and staying on home shores had been underpinned by the media’s current focus on staycationing holidays. He added: “This reflects the way the media, through programmes like the BBC’s Coast and Rivers series, and ITV’s Islands of Britain, fronted by Martin Clunes, has supported and showcased Britain’s diversity and history to new audience...

“All this strongly points towards the rise of the ‘holiday-snacking’ and more frequent shorter breaks to enable holidaymakers to make the most of their time and budgets in 2010..""

For more on this and other news and trends, please go to http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1140889.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=s~bvs~bm

Barticus.

"G.T.I. storm the Travel Technology Show..."

Ok, so I think that I should start off by pointing out that we were lost, very lost...

Nothing matched up to our expectations, nothing was where we expected it to be, we had no idea what was going on...

It was at about this time that we realised that we were in fact at the wrong show! Seriously. Poor planning and a lack of signage meant that instead of being at the travel technology show (where we expected to be, especially as I remember checking in for this event) we had actually ended up at the business travel show...

Beating a quick trip from the glitz and glamour this event we entered the travel technology show by an (almost) hidden doorway to realise why this show had been hidden away. Unlike the business travel show, this had what appeared to be, all the glitz and glamour of a “Star Trek” convention, in suits, and with nothing whatsoever to do with “Star Trek!!”

Computer Nerds and Geeks shuffling their feet whilst trying their best not to meet your gaze did not make for the “Amazing blend of technology and travel” that I had been led to expect, and after staring dumbfounded at what was most possibly the most boring lecturer I have ever seen (a category filled with many a lecturer past, yet triumphed, almost worth the visit) we beat a hasty retreat back to the business travel show...

Here things were a bit more comforting. Many vendors so happy to answer questions and provide information packs as well as food and drinks (big GTI “Whoop Whoop” to Lufthansa for their award winning Vinhos Nieport 2004 (winner of best business class fortified/sweet wine) at this point) while only slightly pushing their products (buy me, buy me)....

Along with Lufthansa, the show contained many airlines, and note should be made of Emirates airlines, that once again showed off their flair and beauty with superb smiles and assistance for all, as well as the charming lady from Continental who tried so hard to rip my feet off with her business class “flat bed” seat (we would advise anyone who flies by this method to make sure that they don’t leave their feet on the floor when erecting the bed)...

With many other business travel solutions there, Kings Ferry must take the prize for “Tat” of the show for their “lump of foam” stress toy, which you actually end up feeling more stressed when you use it...

Yet one idea that really caught our eye (and our vote) was Maiden Voyage (www.maiden-voyage.com) and their ideas for the lone female traveller that build around a data base of solo travellers and “female friendly” hotels, well done them...

So, despite our intended visit being a bit hit and miss, it was a good and interesting day...

Barticus.

"P&O Cruises head for an Indian summer..."

Further observations of the developing "BRIC" nations as both destinations and centres for tourism generation can be seen by the latest steps being made by P&O Cruises in India...

Travelmole report that "Historic links between the P&O Cruises brand and India could make it the perfect vehicle for expansion by parent company Carnival Corporation into the country...

The prospect of an Indian cruise venture - potentially similar to the Australia offshoot - was raised by the global cruise giant's chairman and CEO Micky Arison...

Speaking to TravelMole in an exclusive video interview, he pointed out that no decisions had yet been made on establishing a cruise business dedicated to the burgeoning Indian leisure travel sector..."

So, with a worldwide economic crisis deflating the potential spending power of traditional major spenders on tourism and tourism related products, is it possible that P&O Cruises have moved at the right speed into these developing markets?

Read this report in full at http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1140797.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=s~bvs~bm...

Barticus.