A group of global Beauty Divas visited Kashmir yesterday as a precursor to the Miss World pageant 2023, in a big boost to MICE tourism and a historic development for the tourism sector of J&K, with Tourism Department making all required arrangements for the visit.

Miss World, Karolina Bielawska; Miss World Caribbean, Emmy Pena; Miss World America, Shree Saini; Miss World India, Sini Shetty; Miss World England, Jessica Gagen; Miss Asia, Pricilia Carla Saputri Yules; Julia Eric Morley, Chairman and CEO of Miss World Organization, and her team; Ms. Rouble Negi, founder Rouble Negi Art Foundation are among those in the group.

The Tourism Department coordinated the Beauty Divas’ visit in partnership with the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation.

The visit of these celebrities is expected to give a further boost to MICE tourism in J&K, which is already witnessing a very encouraging scenario following the successful holding of the 3rd Working Group meeting of G 20 countries in May this year. The G 20 event, which proved to be a game changer and a transformative event for the local tourism, has led to an increased footfall of foreign tourists visiting the UT, which has gone up several notches after the successful eve.

In this context, the visit of world-renowned beauty queens to Kashmir will draw the attention of the global tourism market to what J&K has to offer in terms of natural beauty, corporate events, wedding tourism, local craft and cuisine, as well as positioning J&K as a destination for major global and corporate events. This is intended to boost local tourism, craft, and economy to unprecedented levels.

Speaking on the event, PME Chairman Jamil Saidi characterized Kashmir as India’s finest gem, which holds a particular place in his heart. The gorgeous terrain and kind people here, he says, remind him of unity in variety. He expressed gratitude to Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and the Tourism Department for hosting them.

The visit of worldwide Beauty Divas to Jammu and Kashmir promises to be a combination of elegance, talent, and cultural interaction. The visit, which embraces the spirit of art, culture, and worldwide allure, will not only promote the region’s scenic surroundings but will also create a global platform for local artists and artisans to engage.

During their tour, the divas are scheduled to immerse themselves in the beauty and indigenous craftsmanship of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as connect with the local population and promote the region’s distinct legacy.

In response to a query, Mr. Saidi stated that J&K is set to hold such significant worldwide beauty and corporate events, for which he thanked the persons involved.

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The 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City 2023 (ITE HCMC 2023) will be held in the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), District 7, from September 7 to 9, 2023. ITE HCMC 2023, with the theme “Connectivity, Growth, and Sustainability,” intends to promote Vietnam’s tourism sector, assuring sustainable growth while presenting its attraction internationally.

Over 1.04 million international tourists arrived in Vietnam in July 2023, representing a 6.5% increase over June. This was the first time in 2023 that the country had more than one million tourists in a month. The country received about 6.6 million international tourists in the first seven months of the year, accounting for 83% of the annual target.

Several initiatives, particularly Government Resolution 82, have aided recovery and long-term growth. Furthermore, the National Assembly accepted the Government’s plans to extend the validity of e-visas for foreigners to 90 days, establishing advantageous conditions for international visitors to visit Vietnam and improving Vietnam’s regional tourism competitiveness.

The theme of the 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2023) will be “Connectivity, Growth, and Sustainability.” More than 20,000 participants, including foreign buyers and exhibitors, are expected to attend the event to explore potential for innovation and collaboration.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, and the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center are organizing ITE HCMC 2023 in conjunction with CIS Vietnam JSC and Le Bros Company.

The expo, which is aligned with Government Resolutions 82 and 127 for international e-visas, serves as an important platform for promoting Vietnam’s image and Ho Chi Minh City to both local and foreign travelers. The event attempts to improve supply and demand by connecting travel and tourism firms.

The event comprises more than 400 exhibitors and businesses, including worldwide tourism marketing organizations, and has more than quadrupled in size since 2022. Seventy percent of participants are likely to be domestic businesses, with the other 30% being foreign peers.

As of now, the fair has registered over 400 booths, including more than 370 from domestic units and 30 from international ones.

ITE HCMC is Vietnam’s only international travel expo with an International Buyers Program.The program offers chances for foreign tourism enterprises looking to develop their market and bring tourists to Vietnam and the Mekong area.

Over 150 international buyers from more than 31 countries and territories attended ITE HCMC2023. As a result, the ITE HCMC 2023 is expected to host around 6,000 B2B trade appointments between buyers and exhibitors. Over 50 local media partners and 20 overseas press units and influencers from other countries have also covered the event.

Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, stated that while changes in Vietnam’s visa laws have made foreign travelers more comfortable, synchronized solutions are required to increase the attraction of tourism in Vietnam.

To boost Vietnam’s tourism industry and competitiveness, the 17th International Travel Expo in Ho Chi Minh City will encourage commercial activities, produce and renew tourism goods, and improve destination management.

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Thai Vietjet was awarded a 5-star rating in sustainable tourism at the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s STAR: Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating on August 25, 2023, at an award event in Bangkok.

Under the ‘Fly Green Fund,’ which was formally created in early 2021, the airline was recognized for its ongoing efforts in environmental preservation and sustainable tourism.

Since the inception of the Fly Green Fund, the airline has launched a number of campaigns, including Garbage Hunter, in which the airline formed a group of volunteers to remove trash and garbage from various cities/provinces across Thailand, and ‘Metro Forest,’ in which the airline aims to increase green space in Thailand’s urban areas.

“As an air transportation service provider, Thai Vietjet believes that we are also responsible for environmental sustainability. We have put an enormous effort into reducing pollution from our daily operation, and have taken many actions to protect the environment, reducing the cause of the global warming issue that humanity has been facing. Our appreciation goes to the Tourism Authority of Thailand for recognizing our hard work and effort toward sustainable tourism. We believe that by working together, we will be able to achieve the common goal of promoting sustainable tourism in Thailand” said Mr. PinyotPibulsonggram, Director of Commercial, Thai Vietjet.

The “STAR: Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating” initiative is a TAT sustainability program that aids Thailand’s transition to sustainable tourism. Businesses who complete the program’s self-assessment standards will be issued the “Sustainable Star” certificate, which is valid for two years, under the program.

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ITB China appoints Maldives as the Official Island Travel Partner of ITB China 2023, emphasizing strategic partnership. The collaboration will make the top tourism destination one of the highlights of the trade expo, which will be hosted in Shanghai from September 12 to 14, 2023.

The Maldives booth will be the focal point of the island republic’s expanded participation at ITB China 2023. There will be 33 companies co-exhibiting with the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), providing the ideal opportunity for domestic tourism professionals to connect with the Maldivian travel trade, establish new business relationships, and explore the endless opportunities awaiting the Chinese tourism industry in the Maldives.

MMPRC will organize a variety of onsite activities, including a raffle, and will be the sponsor of the ITB China customized and themed networking lunch on September 13th, 2023, to bring together industry experts, travel trade, media, and all other stakeholders under one roof, as well as the Presentation Hub Showcase to provide more information on the destination.

“The Chinese market is traditionally one of the most significant markets to the Maldives tourism industry.

The first direct flight from China arrived in January 2023 following a 3-year hiatus. Since then, we have observed a remarkable growth in the arrivals from the Chinese market. ITB China, the leading travel trade fair in China, will bring together industry professionals under one roof for exclusive marketing and networking opportunities. We cannot think of a better opportunity for the Maldives right now to reconnect with the Chinese travel trade and elevate the Maldivian brand to new heights,” says Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director at MMPRC.

The collaboration is one of the centerpieces of MMPRC’s strategy to enhance awareness of the Maldives as a top tourism destination for China’s outbound travel industry. Until the breakout of the pandemic in 2020, the Chinese market regularly topped the arrival charts in the Maldives.

Up to 2019, China led the list of Maldives source markets with a 16.7% market share of incoming passengers. Whereas these statistics were naturally affected during the pandemic years, the Maldives is now aiming for China to quickly reach pre-pandemic arrival figures.

Clearly committed to this goal, the MMPRC has implemented a wide range of activities, including e-learning campaigns, digital campaigns in collaboration with top Chinese apps, outdoor marketing campaigns, joint promotional campaigns, familiarization trips, social media campaigns, and a slew of other physical promotion activities to be held onsite in China for the first time since 2019.

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The return of prominent foreign musicians and live concerts to Bangkok benefits the Thai economy in a variety of ways. International travel for music, sports, and other important events is becoming more popular. Thailand is ideally positioned to capitalize on the worldwide music tourism business, which is expected to reach $11.3 billion by 2032, according to Travel Daily News report.

The increased demand for live music performances in Asia Pacific, with its rapidly rising young population, is expected to drive the worldwide music event industry. That’s one way a constant supply of international performances, with their tremendous crowd-pulling skills, might play a key part in Thai tourism growth.

According to internet research firm QuestionPro, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is an excellent illustration of how concerts drive spending in host towns, with its US leg estimated to generate up to $5 billion in economic activity. This analysis extends beyond event ticket sales to cover not just product and food and beverage prices, but also the costs of flights, lodging, and retail sales in host towns.

Thailand is well on its way to benefit from the ‘experience economy,’ with the resumption of live concerts nearing pre-pandemic levels, which began early this year with Blackpink’s two-day Bangkok visit in January and Harry Styles and Arctic Monkeys’ shows in March. According to Traveloka statistics, there has been a considerable surge, particularly for inward flights, with the number of flight transactions nearly tripling for the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. This increase in flights is also mirrored in the trend of hotel bookings in Bangkok, which has increased by over 30%.

Traveloka Thailand saw a substantial amount of reservations in the first half of 2023, with the bulk coming from both inbound and domestic passengers travelling to Bangkok. China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, England, Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia were the leading contributors to inbound tourist bookings.

Domestic travelers were equally enthusiastic, as Traveloka saw an increase in reservations from Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Chian Rai, Phuket, Chonburi, Songkla, and Suratthani to Bangkok.

Thailand’s tourism business was thriving in the first half of 2023, and this trend is expected to continue into 2024. This will increase demand for hotels and airlines, and with music tours making a comeback, it will also help move the tourism sector forward. Music tourism is not restricted to live performances; nearby attractions such as restaurants and historical buildings, to mention a few, can profit from increased attendance as well.

Thailand should expect excellent tourism earnings from the upcoming Charlie Puth and Sam Smith performances in October, as well as the fast-selling-out Coldplay concerts in February 2024. This will help travel and tourism enterprises who have the correct strategy and approach.

According to Iko Putera, CEO of Transport, Traveloka, this is an opportunity for those in the travel & tourism industry to work on delivering experiences that are complementary to the most popular concerts and music festivals, such as city’s attractions and activities, cruises, entertainment.

“What we are seeing from Traveloka data, is that international concerts in Bangkok are could be one of the key drivers for leisure travel spending across a wide demographic. Celebrating culture through music performances and entertainment should also be an integral part of Thai tourism strategies. The lineup of world-class performers for multiple shows in Bangkok serves as a remarkable achievement for its tourism industry. As a leading travel platform in Southeast Asia, Traveloka is eagerly embraces the opportunity to forge a stronger collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to make Thai tourism even better and more popular in the region.”

“This success not only promises prosperity for local businesses but also presents significant opportunities for other local services such as culinary experiences, travel insurances, etc. We are hopeful this phenomenon will have a positive contribution in boosting Thai small and medium-sized tourism businesses, which benefits Thailand’s overall economy and tourism industry”, Iko added.

This success not only promises prosperity for local businesses but also presents significant opportunities for other local services such as culinary experiences, travel insurances, etc. We are hopeful this phenomenon will have a positive contribution in boosting Thai small and medium-sized tourism businesses, which benefits Thailand’s overall economy and tourism industry”, Iko added.

With changing travel requirements and dynamic travel expectations, communication among industry actors and government organizations is critical to ensuring that all stakeholders are working toward the same goals.

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Tourism Holdings (thl), a Campervan company has declared a full-year profit, mirroring the tourism resurgence observed in last week’s results from Auckland Airport and Air New Zealand following the relaxation of travel restrictions.

According to CEO Grant Webster, the findings came after the firm combined with Apollo in November of last year.

“We have been incredibly active as an organisation, not only with the momentum in integrating thl and Apollo, but across all aspects of our business, opening new locations, launching new fleet, and driving forward with our sustainability initiatives, all while managing the return of international tourism and delivering a record result,” he said.

“The tourism industry is in a positive position, ready to be a key driver of the economies in New Zealand and Australia in particular over the coming 12 months.”

These are the key numbers for the 12 months ended June compared to a year ago:

• Net profit $49.9m vs net loss $2.1m
• Revenue $663.8m vs $345.8m
• Final dividend 15 cents a share vs no dividend

Around 1800 employees were being rewarded with a bonus of $1000 worth of thl shares net of tax, or a cash equivalent for qualified employees outside of Australasia.

“I am hugely proud of the efforts of our crew over what was the most challenging period in our company’s history,” he said.

“The results that we are now achieving are a real testament to all our thl crew globally (old and new), who come to work every day with an immense passion for creating unforgettable journeys.”

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A Buller tourist attraction that was hampered by rules enacted in the aftermath of the Pike River Mine catastrophe has been permanently shuttered. Denniston’s subterranean Banbury Mine, branded as the ‘Denniston Experience,’ has been closed by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

The old mine ceased operations as a tourist attraction in 2017, when it became an unintended victim of new rules enacted in the aftermath of the 2010 Pike River tragedy.

The rules made no distinction between an operating coal mine and a tourist mine. WorkSafe determined that a mine manager who was suitably qualified and experienced required to be on-site at all times.

“Since the last Denniston Experience concession was surrendered in 2017, the Banbury Mine, and an area of conservation land around it, has been in care and maintenance,” DOC western South Island operations director Mark Davies said today.

“This requires regular site visits and inspections.

“As the site is no longer feasible as a tourism operation, DOC has decided it would be better to rehabilitate it and offer other opportunities for visitors to explore Denniston and learn about its history.”

The decision has been communicated to the West Coast Conservation Board, according to Davies. The DOC was currently looking at rehabilitation options in order to provide the best possible experience for guests.

“We’re taking the opportunity to work on an overall heritage and visitor plan for Denniston as it’s such an important historic place with so much to offer. We need to strike a balance between heritage values, visitor experience and safety and cost in this planning.”

Davies stated that DOC saw an opportunity to develop a new short walk with spectacular vistas to connect the Brakehead to the mines at Coalbrookdale and Burnetts Face.

The Denniston Experience was designed as part of the DOC’s Denniston Enhancement project in 2007. The new tourist activity was created in collaboration with the Denniston Heritage Trust, Buller District Council, Development West Coast (DWC), Solid Energy, and Friends of The Hill.

The DOC, DWC, Buller District Council, and corporate donors contributed around $3.5 million to the tourism attraction. The Denniston Experience transported visitors back to the 1880s by reenacting the life and work of a mountain miner.

The experience was operated by DOC for five months when it debuted in March 2011, and subsequently by two different concessionaires until 2017.

It was open for roughly six years and attracted about 3000 visitors per year until shutting in February 2017.

“Over this time there were challenges such as lightning strikes, financial viability and maintenance and upkeep of assets,” Davies said.

In 2016, new regulations mandated that the operator hold a First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate, the same as an active underground coal mine. Because the concessionaire was unable to satisfy the criterion, he forfeited the concession.

In 2018, the Westport News reported that Charleston-based Geotech was seeking a DOC concession to revive the mine. At the time, DOC stated that it had replaced the mine’s electrical wiring and was spending around $12,000 to prepare the tourist attraction for reopening.

Davies stated today that the legislative, budgetary, and practical obstacles were insurmountable.

Denniston, which previously had a population of 1500 people, is now a ghost town.

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The West Coast is experiencing a surge in tourism, and residents believe ‘the Summer of the Coast’ is just around the corner.

The region was heavily damaged by the epidemic, and as tourists returned, it struggled to attract employees.But things are looking good, and on Thursday, operators will gather in Greymouth for a sold-out hui to exchange ideas, brainstorm, and plan for the season ahead.

Development West Coast is one of the primary organizers of the second annual hui.

Last summer, the West Coast was in strong demand, surprise and gratifying tourist operators after a difficult few years.The forthcoming summer also has a lot of people excited.

According to Nick Rogers of Greymouth’s Monteith’s Brewery, companies are nervously enthusiastic, especially now that the employment market has eased and it is simpler to hire workers.

“It’s quite nice now when you put an advert on TradeMe to get more than three or four applications, where as six months ago, you wouldn’t get any. That’s the big one for us, is actually getting the right people in place for the summer period.

“Because January, February, March, for us, the turnover is double what it will be in June, July August, and this year, it’s actually looking stronger than ever.”

The West Coast Tourism Summit this week brings together local companies as well as Tourism New Zealand, Christchurch Airport, and Air New Zealand.

Rogers was looking forward to the hui, which he described as a chance for businesses to catch up, collaborate, and keep informed.

“We are a little bit isolated at times but knowing what the forward loadings are for Christchurch Airport and things like that just gives us a little bit of a knowledge or confidence going into the summer, knowing that we are going to be busy and where the pinch points are going to be.

“And then also meeting the other suppliers and inbound operators so making sure what we’re delivering is up to expectation.”

Tourism expenditure recovered quicker than expected following the pandemic’s peak, according to CEO Heath Milne.

“We had a $63 million increase in the year ending June to the previous year, which was obviously a Covid year.

“But that actually equated to even higher than 2019 figures which was obviously pre-Covid so 8 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels for the year ended June this year, so very much a rebound.”

The region’s main challenges, according to Milne, are locating staff housing, high interest rates, and compliance expenses.However, he stated that pre-bookings were looking positive.

The multi-million-dollar Pounamu Pathway is a partnership with local rnanga and Development West Coast to construct four exhibition centers that employ interactive multimedia technologies to explain the region’s tales and promote its culture.

The Greymouth facility is expected to open before Christmas.

Toko Kapea, chief executive of Pounamu Pathway, stated that the Westport facility will not be long behind.

“It’s obvious that if we can provide an experience that touches their hearts and minds, shows them what the Coast is all about, shares our stories, we will hopefully have our first suite of people that will go back to their regions, to their countries and tell their friends and family, ‘you have to go to the Coast’.”

Businesses on the West Coast expressed confidence that they will be able to put their best foot forward this summer.

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There’s some good news for Brits tired of opening their umbrellas over the Bank Holiday weekend – there might be one more hurrah of warmth and sun.

August has been a month marked by grey skies, thunderstorms and buckets of rain.

And surprise, surprise forecasters from the Met Office and weather forecasting company say that the remainder of the long weekend won’t exactly be a ‘washout’, but not necessarily sunny either.

According to weather forecasting company, this late August Bank Holiday weekend will have a normal mix of weather across the UK, but it will not be a washout, unlike a number of our weekends during July and early August.

Today will be drier, with only the odd drizzle pushing eastward while clouds crawl through Scotland in the afternoon and evening.

Temperatures will be pushing between 20 to 22°C. Often cloudy on Monday, with further outbreaks of light rain and drizzle across eastern areas at first.

Elsewhere sunny spells soon developing with some isolated showers here and there, state meteorologists added.

However, according to weather maps from a weather forecasting company, September is shaping up to be a little different.

Between September 2 to September 6, Britain will be blasted with a toasty jet stream from the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe.

Temperatures are set to rise slightly above the monthly average of 17°C, with the mercury rising to 24°C in London, parts of East Anglia and the Midlands on September 2.

The following day, the heat will be cranked up to the same number in Leeds, Manchester and the wider north as well as in the south of England.

Wales and patches of Scotland will be a little cooler for those five days but still generally in the low 20s.

For those two days, the nation will be one degree hotter than it is slated to be in Barcelona, Spain, according to a weather forecasting company and WX charts.

As planet-warming gases continue to inflame climate change, these kinds of temperatures may be what most Brits will be running out to grab their pumpkin-spiced lattes in for the years to come, scientists say.

The Met Office says in its long-range forecast from next Thursday up to September 24 that the rain will remain for the coming week.

Temperatures are likely to be near normal. Through the weekend, high pressure may build allowing a more settled interlude to develop for parts of the country, the national weather service said of the week ahead.

Overall, the Met Office says it’s uncertain what kind of temperatures and weather Britain will see in September.

Temperatures are more likely to trend above the seasonal average, the Met Office added.

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SWISS warmly congratulates its home hub of Zurich Airport on its 75 years of eventful aviation history. Switzerland’s largest airline is delighted to be part of the ‘Flughafenfest’ celebrations and help entertain its attendees with various activities and some unique insights into the fascinating aviation world. Visitors will be able to follow a series of aircraft turnarounds with live commentary provided, and can also attend the official naming ceremony for a SWISS Airbus A220.

Zurich Airport will be marking its 75th anniversary next month with a three-day ‘Flughafenfest’ from 1 to 3 September. SWISS offers its home hub its warmest congratulations on this landmark birthday, and will be well to the fore in the accompanying celebrations, giving visitors some exclusive behind-the-scenes insights over the three-day period.

Fascinating glimpses into the world of SWISS

SWISS will be offering a host of activities and attractions during the three days of celebrations. Throughout the long weekend, aviation fans will be able to view and inspect a SWISS Airbus A220, which is deployed on short- and medium-haul routes, and one of the company’s long-haul aircraft ‘up close and personal’ and put any questions they may have to SWISS’s specialists on the spot.

SWISS pilots and cabin crew members will be on hand to offer extensive insights into their multi-faceted professions. And SWISS’s technical apprentices have come up with an especially original idea: they’ll be giving visitors the opportunity to work on a replica engine and try their hand as an aircraft engineer. Attendees will also be able to view an Airbus A320 simulator from close quarters.

On the Friday at 16:15, the Saturday at 12:45 and the Sunday at 11:15, ‘Flughafenfest’ visitors will be offered a close-up and detailed viewing of an aircraft turnaround, including the aircraft’s fueling and its loading with cargo and its passengers’ bags. The entire procedure will also be accompanied by a live expert commentary, and will continue all the way until the aircraft taxies off to depart.

A focus on sustainable flying

Sustainable air travel is a key SWISS concern. And it will be duly focused on at the ‘Flughafenfest’, too, where specialists will be in attendance to explain just how Switzerland’s biggest airline is working steadily towards its ambitious carbon goals.

A further highlight of the festivities is sure to be the formal naming of a SWISS aircraft on the party site. On Saturday 2 September at 15:30, visitors will be able to look on as a SWISS Airbus A220 is named ‘Bad Zurzach’. Airfans young and old are warmly invited to witness the naming ceremony together with a surprise VIP guest and become part of the history of the aircraft concerned.

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