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New Trends Of Growth In Tourism

I have been following the travel news dailies for last two weeks, for getting prepared to this seminar and looking to see whats happening. A report stated that Brisbane and Perth have both bumped themselves, considerably. While, Brisbane has moved from a respective eighth place to second place in hotel occupancy and Perth from eighteenth to third place and the whole world perceives that it is safe to go there. Cuba recorded a 12.4 percent increase in arrivals in Jan 2003 as against 2002, now perhaps its being perceived as a safe place to go within the Island Community.” Said Dr. Nancy Loman Scanlon, Associate Professor, Washington. “India with 2.8 million arrivals up, which is 15.3 percent, while outbound tourists arrivals hacve been 4.5 million which means certainly that more people are travelling out. Hong Kong with 1.72 million Chinese tourist arrivals from Mainland China in January is upto 48 percent over 2003 and is looking for 31 percent growth in arrivals over 2004. American destinations seek tremendous growth internally as well as regionally. I think that the call of US dollars to the world traveling will really call us home. But, I like to close by saying perhaps for all those negative thoughts in mind for the rest of world and it is going to be hard to resist United Airline’s offer of $99 one way fare to London, Israel out of New York, Philadelphia based on round trip ticket. We are nation of adventures and I have faith in tourism because its the back bone of an economy in the world today”, she further added.

Importance Of Database In Exhibitions

I don’t know much about trends in tourism, I organize the tourism trade exhibitions. E-mail, fax and telephone conferences has affected the tourism exhibitions and what we have to do is to contact parties individually. So that we can increase the participants in our exhibition. We have to arrange buyers and sellers.
We have to improve the image and product of exhibitors by advising them time-to-time. We also wish to pre register the exhibitor, which has given a big boost and success to the exhibition. By doing presentation we could confirm the date of the show. We have created a database for exhibitors and buyers, which help in the growth of exhibition. During the exhibition we collect the opinion from exhibitors, buyers and press to make a database. Next year we will create a database services which will provide the profile of exhibitors to the buyer so that they can approach them directly. while the number is not important; it is quality of data, which is important,” said Tom Nutley, Chairman, Reed Travel Exhibitions, London.

Industry recognizes China & India as next big growth markets
ITB Asia to fuel tourism boom and explore business avenues

ASIA is going to be the future of tourism since America and Europe are going through a phase of recession with United Kingdom going to face the same situation in the next ten years said, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), U.K. He was speaking at the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) seminar on New Trends In Tourism and Aviation held at Berlin during ITB. The seminar was attended by more than two hundred people representing seventy countries of the world and was presided over by Dr. Ghassan AIDI, President, International Association of Hotels and Restaurants.

Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said, “India and China are fastly becoming popular as a result of the emergence of the TATA group in India and are playing a key role compensating for the weaknesses of the established markets. Gross Domestic Product of travel and tourism is not going to go down in United States and Europe after September 11th because WTTC, as a private organization giving economic value for travel and tourism, downsizes the price panic among the companies which is quite usual in such a situation. Developed countries, to get rid of the economic depression, are taking the help of manual pilots in place of the automatic pilots with their chief executive officers also taking their help in their traveling ventures. Looking at the ranking of 2008 regarding the ten biggest countries in terms of travel and tourism, China among them is showing a steady growth by grabbing the second position in the list.”

Jean-Claude Baumgarten further said, “ We forecast United States still remaining number one in respect to its development in the field of travel and tourism according to a survey done from the year 2008 to 2019 by WTTC, which since fifteen years has been indulging itself in the research of one hundred and seventy six countries regarding their growth in travel and tourism. Aviation is one field which is the most crucial for the development of travel and tourism of any country requiring a new dynamics and more diversified source of aviation travel as domestic travel is very often done by land. Carriers and air traffic in India is growing which was not forecasted ten years before. Massive carriers and air traffic are already operating with the proposal of many new carriers in the pipeline. Naresh Goyal was the first person who introduced the concept of private air carrier in India which is now taken forward by the emergence of many low cost carriers.”

Talking about China, Jean-Claude Baumgarten said, “China which on an yearly basis gets twenty percent of the gross domestic air traffic catering to eighty million passengers with the help of four of its terminals is facing the problem of accommodating the growing demand of the air traffic as till 2016 the slot for new airlines and airbus have already been booked in advance. On the other hand we are facing the problem of pilots which is showing a huge discrepancy in terms of their demand and supply. The developed countries are not taking into consideration intermediate and long term planning for example the United Kingdom have not built a single runway after the Second World War. We all will have to use our power of persuasion in the direction of convincing the political powers all over the world to exert a force upon integrating intermediate and long term planning for the development of infrastructure like roads, airlines, etc. One thing has to be kept in mind that though the demand for infrastructure is increasing at a rapid pace we all have to just try and accommodate all the demands effectively between each and every country in a way that a proper balance is maintained.”

Michael T. Hofer, Director, Press and Public Relations, Messe Berlin spoke about tourism and travel industry of Germany. He said there are seven new trends in the field of tourism, “first trend is the distinct polarization and development in the travel industry of the countries like Germany and Asia where the policy of pricing is adopted in where to give an impetus to the travel industry. Hotels are made available at an affordable price is given the utmost preference in this year’s ITB, Berlin (Germany) where economical accommodation has been arranged for both business and leisure travelers. Dining and lodging in Germany will be offered at a discount and appropriate products combined with superior products. Individualization is the second aspect where each and every country is trying to give an impetus to travel and tourism by reflecting their awareness and sustainability regarding the climate change which will be showcased through twelve of the programmes organized. Third trend is the massive use of internet all throughout the world which is helping people in getting updated about the new developments in travel and tourism sector with hotel reservations which could also be done on the website has increased the importance of the clients who are involved with the reservation process.”
Fourth, trend is the orientation of people with the travel and tourism culture of a place through magazines which provides the utmost information required by the eager travelers for their traveling ventures. Fifth trend is the ecological science or to be more accurate ecological awareness which is created by appropriate products offering better information has guided the countries in developing products more precisely superior products for maintaining the ecological sanctity. Sixth trend is the saturation of the European markets as a result of theirs being under immense demand which has led to the expansion of standard tourism towards the developing countries getting attracted by the niche products and the new products coming up in their markets has led to the growth of cruise sector and long haul tourism towards these destinations. Seventh trend is the new spots and destinations gaining popularity which has led to the massive growth of travel and tourism towards these places.”This year ITB Asia will be held in Singapore in the month of October for this sole purpose. We foresee a five percent growth in the field of travel and tourism sector prevailing at the present which is going to follow in the future also, informed Hofer.”

Renton de Alwis, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, said, “new trends in tourism and aviation have acted as challengers towards the ecological life of all the living beings. Year 2004 witnessed a downfall in the global arrivals to Sri Lanka because of the visitors not being sure of which destination to visit in Sri Lanka, combined with the internal conflicts, terrorism and health concerns of the people due to the effect of climatic change which made them stay away from Sri Lanka. United State’s traditional economy also received a jolt due to an increase in the price of oil. For the year 2008 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has forecasted the effect of growing price of oil and climatic change which the whole world is facing in the present scenario slowing down and on the other hand a scenario of growing tourism and aviation coming to the forefront. New economies like that of China and India in comparison to the developed economies are showing a mighty growth with ninety seven airports which will be coming up in China. The concept of mass tourism is coming up with the Golden Week of China celebrated in a swimming pool has led to the emergence of new consumers taking into consideration the packages, offering things to experience is attracting fifty million travelers from within China and one million travelers from the rest of the world. Sri Lanka, with a good tourism base, boasting of holiday resorts, is trying to seek a balance between the lifestyle needs of the people.

He further said, “Sri Lanka as a tourist destination has got a huge tourism opportunity in which we can find the communities exploring the treasured island in the name of natural cultural experience whose main focus is directed towards attracting youths from all around the world. Tourism is a human right in which people associated with the travel associations try to come up to the standard of dreams of the people which in a way is making all of us the dream sellers.

The challenges which Sri Lanka as a tourist destination is facing in the present scenario comprises of managing growth in the field of tourism and sustaining it by offering proper channels in the form of adventure, leisure tourism on behalf of which visitors are attracted towards the destinations. Getting the right challenge for the service providers, developers and for the products being produced in the country, overcoming the challenge of climatic change in the form of global warming threatening the natural sanctity of the whole world, establishing coordination between the people associated with tourism and aviation companies are the other problems faced by Sri Lanka.

Strategic planning which needs to be made assuming the greater future challenges in the field of both tourism and aviation can be possible only when each one of us on our parts do our best for the development of the country and above all assertive action which needs to be taken for achieving all the goals which the country has set for itself has to be kept in the forefront.”

Maharaj Jai Singh, Chairman, FICCI, Rajasthan, India talked about the International Travel Bazaar taking place in Jaipur in April and tourism in Rajasthan. He said, “ In the recent past we have seen a slowdown in the economy of the developed countries with the new economies like, India and China, showing a good growth both in the fields of tourism as well as aviation. Rajasthan, as one of the most famous tourist destination of India, is offering new opportunities for the tourism industry in consideration to its traditional sites, adventure opportunities in the form of white water rafting and ballooning with the proposal of developing new circuits which the destination is going to provide to its visitors. The popularity of Palace on Wheels, the luxury tourist train, has led to a new train being launched on 2nd October 2008 from the pink city of Jaipur. The aviation industry of India has also witnessed a growth in the recent past with many low cost carriers starting its operation and the already operating airlines offering competitive fares. Jaipur, which as a destination used to operate four to five flights, now boasts of twenty four flights out of which three are for international destinations. In the recent past we have seen an expansion of Air India with Jet Airways boasting of sixty one wide bodied aircrafts at present with two aviation companies, Kingfisher and Air Deccan, having already started their operation for the international destinations. Air India, presently operating on forty eight domestic routes, has developed its own air taxi service, Helicopter service is attracting hundred percent investment from the foreign companies.

The Great Indian Travel Bazaar 2008 will be organized by FICCI at Jaipur from 21st to 23rd April showcasing all the aspects of travel and trade in which sixty international writers will be attending the three day function. The writers will be covering the pre and post British era of Jaipur comprising of heritage palaces, hotels, forts, castles and havelis and traditional buildings still maintained by the families of the then royal era showcasing the old style of living which prevailed in that era.

Maharaj Jai Singh, while focusing on the highlights of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) 2008, said, “the main highlight of this event will be the 200 booths which will be put across three days showcasing innumerable traditional products of India. We will also have interactive sessions between the innumerable buyers and sellers. Meetings will take place in all these three days, acting as a good platform for social networking between the travel and tour operators. The GITB 2008 will provide its visitors the privilege of enjoying the cuisine and vibrant culture of Jaipur. Among the participants will be the 100 travel and tour operators, with 100 hotel operators from across 40 countries. FICCI has not only invited the people involved with the decision making process but has also invited a foreign airline company for becoming partner in this venture.

Dr.Ghasssan AIDI, President, International association of Hotels and Restaurants, speaking on the occasion said, “the survival of the hospitality industry depends on recognizing the new relevant trends. In the past few years behaviour of the travelers has changed with their asking for more trips abroad and less of overnights stay, are spending less time at work and more time at leisure. In the western society aging factors are important as aging population is increasing and family structure is changing with retirement funds being available. These factors have helped increase travelers who are looking for new destinations and new ventures. Retirement age, brought down to 55 with them being called “Senior Citizens”, has helped increase the tourism consumption. They drive their family into the tourism culture especially into the medical and wellness tourism like “SPA”. For a long time wellness tourism was reserved for senior citizens, nowadays it is witnessing much younger population traveling worldwide looking for spas.They are looking for larger rooms, more comfort in their rooms, more amenities in their bathroom, with a better quality of service at the hotels. Five and four star hotels have started getting more leisure travelers. Family reunions have helped improve the way of traveling as various members of a family today are dispersed for work and these family reunions is providing the facility to the people of meeting somewhere together. We still need to remember the effect of national disaster on the hospitality sector which creates a need for security. Usually after a crisis the destination recovers quickly its charms and its travelers which we have seen in several locations worldwide. New travelers are emerging from countries like China and India. After Russian travelers discovered the world in the nineties now the Chinese have started discovering it. Today 50 million Chinese are allowed to leave their country for vacation. In 2010 this number will get double. This new trend of travelers needs to be accommodated specially after trying to resolve the barriers of language issue. Russian travelers in the nineties were looking for warm and ocean destination, while the Chinese travelers are looking for the same thing, who in addition to warm and ocean issue are looking for cultural and historical sites.

International Association of Hotels and Restaurants unfortunately do believe that directly several human factors have contributed to this disaster of climate change which has led to the increased percentage of gas emissions, transportation with fuel consumption leading to high emissions of carbon dioxide and deforestation combined together have led to the destruction of coral in ocean and sea.

Dr. Ghassan AIDI emphasised that In the hospitality sector, “Public awareness towards reducing energy consumptions, recycling of the waste combined with adopting a new technology of energy needs to be created. The best way to apply what we are talking about is by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating the increased costs of energy by doing a carbon trading, diversifying our sources of energy like solar energy and reinforcing coastal infrastructure in addition to encouraging building of eco-hotels which will surely help reduce the carbon footprint.”

Dr. Nancy Loman Scanlon, Assistant to the Provost and Professor of Hospitality, Resort and Culinary Management at Paul Smiths College speaking on America said, “The environmental and the technological factors which have surrounded the American industries since 10 years needs to be talked about. United States saw the devaluation of its economy which affected the international travel in the States. Since 2004 the ratio of American capital in comparison to dollar has also gone down but still Americans will remain where they were and are still welcoming the rest of the world to come to the country, but in consideration to the challenge of the immigration formalities which needs to be dealt with in the process. American people believe in the philosophy of accommodating themselves with the circumstances which is indicated through the inclination of the Americans which they have still got towards traveling. In the economic sector if Americans are measured on a scale will still come out in the mid and the luxury range.

America, like all other countries, is also facing the brunt of climatic change in the form of global warming. A new specifics needs to be developed for the natural resources, destinations regarding beach or winter ski destinations which can be visited by the people at appropriate weathers in combination to its infrastructure and business.Earlier visitors to America knew two weeks beforehand regarding after a beach sun and fun vacation where they will be heading for a winter ski vacation. The visitors used to book their stay in America for one year which came down to nine months and at the present scenario has reached to its minimum of that of six months taking into consideration the weather and the snow conditions which they get information about from the weather channels which is a beautiful thing.

Dr. Nancy Loman Scanlon pointed out ways to get rid of the situation America is going through at present She said, “Economy of America has to be geared up if the expected development on the basis of finance ensuring individual properties has to be achieved. A strategic planning has to be made regarding climatic changes and for the new products and destinations which will be coming up in next five to fifteen years. Recreational facilities have to be taken into consideration and all the businesses should start thinking creatively for supporting the new products launched and for educating visitors about the destination helping them in be flexible towards facing the obstacles if at all they encounter in their traveling venture. Above all a strategic plan for providing visitors with the best of the available products needs to be made.

Sagar Ahluwalia, Secretary General, Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) speaking on the occasion said, “Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) has been in the forefront for organizing international seminars on current topics such as environment, heritage, aviation, travel, tourism and global warming. Talking about Global warming he said it brings disaster disaster to human life because of tsunami, earthquakes, floods, etc. PATWA has taken the initiative of making people aware about global warming.” He further said, PATWA is also supporting United Nations World Tourism Organisation UN (WTO) in the field of global warming, poverty and environment. PATWA is getting the support of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Messe Berlin, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Reed Travel Exhibitions, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the different departments of tourism in different countries.He informed that PATWA is planning to organize an Asian Tourism Summit in Singapore with the cooperation of ITB Asia. This summit will be attended by ministers of tourism from the Asian countries and leaders of tourism from international organizations, United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The PATWA seminar was followed by a glittering award ceremony.

Super Seven

PATWA to come out with a book, “Super Seven”. It will contain seven best destinations in the world. The destination which is very common with the tourists and there will be seven best hotels, seven best individuals and seven aviation people.

Aviation And Tourism A Key Synergy

Tourism was riding on the crest of new era and it had become the biggest industry of the future. The first three years of the new millennium however had brought in tremendous changes we need to keep in mind”, said M P Bezbarua, former president of PATWA.“If you realize the fundamental truth that during this period sluggish economic development was prominent cause of tourism decline and it proves beyond doubt that tourism income is huge. It also established that civil aviation derives tourism and therefore in any planning strategy civil aviation must be a key synergy. Most countries have realized the importance of short haul markets as India was talking about regional tourism as well as sustaining power of domestic tourism. China, Korea, everywhere domestic tourism had sustained in a period of crisis which is a realization that is coming up in countries like India”, he said while concluding his speech about the importance of Aviation.

Incredible India

International tourism is bouncing back with greater energy and vigor. It’s been through a huge amount of crisis during last two years. But every crisis is an opportunity in many ways and we in India have utilized this time to focus our self on better infrastructure, said Amitabh kant, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, India. “We focused on positioning the product, in terms of brand marketing and I am very happy to inform you that 2003 has been incredibly good year for India. It’s been a year when foreign exchange earnings have gone up by almost 24 percent and our tourist arrivals have gone up by about 16.5 percent. The trend continues and if you look first at first two months of 2004, January and February, we recorded a growth of almost 30 percent, which is quite unprecedented. So, the kind of crisis we have been through, in 2001 till the second half of 2002, there has been very good recovery, good growth and good progress”, he added further.We focus very strongly on marketing ourselves in destinations within South Asia.Our traditional markets in UK, France, Italy and Germany. We have seen a huge resurgence from these markets coming in 2003. So actually the growth from the traditional market for India has been very strong. All these markets have grown at a rate of 20- 25 percent, plus we have looked at American markets quite closely. American market hasn’t grown so strongly, so we have not advertised strongly on print and electronic media. We have used Internet quite strongly and ten of the top websites to promote and market India through the Internet. We now see a trend of growth taking place in American market as well. We are quite convinced that in partnership we will be taking India’s tourism forward.” He concluded.

Enchanting Tamil Nadu

In India developments that are taking place in the world has also impact on tourism. India is a complete destination for all seasons because for tourism point of view, we have variable conditions and irresistible hospitality. It is a huge and fascinating country, one needs a month time to see it properly, but if a person comes for a week time or ten days then we recommend Tamil Nadu, which is in the southern part of India. It has everything 1000 km coastline, temples, monuments, heritage, art, culture and tradition. In a sense, this our campaign that we have launched. It’s an all 365 days and all season destination, but you have to see it to believe it. The backbone of this state is basically its temples and monuments.”, said Shaktikanta Das, Commissioner of Tourism, Tamil Nadu.“Firstly, we are trying to introduce new products with emphasis on tourism experience. Chittanad a place where rich people have set up their houses is a nice place. Houses built here are as old as 100 – 150 years old. while rich and prosperous community lives in the other bigger cities of India and other parts of the world. These houses are locked and families come only once or twice a year for marriage or other social gatherings. These houses are made up of Italian Marble. The pillars used are made-up of Iron and are very beautiful. Items used are as good as one used in European Museum and Palaces. We are trying to openthese houses for common people and turn them into heritage properties. One can experience the local cuisines, local settings and local lifestyles. Secondly, we do realize the single state destination will not be able to sustain in future. So we are looking to a group of states in India. We need to work together and synergies our efforts. to offer regional circuit tours. In India we can cover two three southern states in close circuit tours and groups.Thirdly, micro-level infrastructure development, ultimately, when a tourist comes, he likes to have a satisfying experience and for that infrastructure has to be good, so that he goes with a nice experience. The places of world heritage site of Mavalapuram near Chennai are as old as 07 A.D. We have also done a lot of landscaping and those places now look much beautiful and full of tourists from all over the world, especially from Europe, France, Germany and other parts of the world.We also have an annual dance festival in which dancers from different parts of the India participate. Every day more than 50 percent audiences are basically from Europe. Finally, we want elimination of poverty and linking up with employment. We are planning to buy and get things related to tourism community from local people so that they are also benefited.”, he further added and also gave a presentation of the state.

Maldives Success Story

We started tourism in 1972, and at that time the Government of Maldives invited experts to advise the government as to how to develop tourism and the experts report is well documented in the Ministry of Tourism even today. The report stated that we don’t have

water, vegetable, airport, trained people and also that its a Muslim country. Last year we recieved over half a million-tourist and that is twice as much as the population of Maldives”, said Hassan Sobir, Minister Of Tourism, Maldives. “How did we do it actually we are very grateful to the experts as, they pointed out all the negatives and we are able to turn those negatives into positives. We are also facing certain problems along with the kind of tourism that has developed. For once we are being punished badly by the international community for doing well. We are categorized as LDC(least developed country) and UN wants to show their success story, so they picked up on us and we will be graduating very soon. Well, it’s just a matter of fact but we will be losing all the privileges that we are enjoying. But, now it is going to be harder for us. Obviously we take pride in our efforts as well. Now what’s been the driving force for this success, nothing but tourism itself. So, the trends will keep.”, he further added.

“Today we have actually 30 percent of people who visited Maldives for diving. There are people who go for leisure activity and lay down under the coconut palm doing nothing but just relaxation, is becoming more and more popular. Attitudes are changing at the time as when most of the German men go diving, their wives lay down in the beach. But now they have realized that they are not spending as much as their husband do, so, for women folks we opened spas, so they can go to the Spa and spend an equal amount of money as their husband do. Every time they walk out of spa they look younger and better. Last year we did extremely well as we also signed an agreement with China and were recognized as an approved destination.”, he explained.