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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New York City Tourism + Conventions, Destination DC and Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board in partnership with DMC, Discover Destinations successfully organised an event in Indore for travel trade on 25th August.

This gathering attracted considerable attention, as 29 agents from the travel industry in Indore, including senior agents and company leaders, were in attendance. Their esteemed presence underscored the significance of this collaborative endeavour. The campaign incorporated various strategic components to actively engage the travel trade community.

The agents were informed by New York City Tourism + Conventions about the recent airport, hotel and sightseeing developments along with key events including the 2023 US Open Tennis Championship, TCS New York City Marathon, Sail GP in 2024 and the FIFA World Cup coming to New York and New Jersey in 2026. Additionally, New York City Tourism + Conventions informed the agents about the relaunching of Travel Trade Academy, an educational trade resource, with Hindi subtitles.

Destination DC’s presentation highlighted how to increase overnights in Washington, DC by adding activities in neighborhoods including The Wharf, Georgetown, and Capitol Hill in an effort to educate what’s “beyond the National Mall’s monuments, memorials and museums.

The Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board highlighted new developments in the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) along with new and upcoming neighbourhoods like the Destination Crenshaw and the LA Arts District. The city is also proud to be hosting IPW in May 2024. The presentation also talked about centennial celebrations of the iconic Hollywood Sign, Warner Brothers Studio and Disney.

Mr. Hemendra Singh Jadon, Chairman TAAI MP & CG Chapter and Member of Airport Advisory Committee, Indore, said, “Indore is a key market that cannot be ignored, it is cash rich with a tremendous growing potential for business in the US. Efforts like this help to educate the travel trade and thereby equip them to sell better.”

The aim of the event is to reach out to Tier 2 cities like Indore which have a high VFR segment to the US from India, besides the growing number of leisure travellers to the US. The event aimed to promote and increase awareness to the travel trade fraternity in Indore about US Travel and to inform of developments in the respective cities. Senior members of the travel industry attended the event and applauded the initiative taken by the partners to promote travel to the US.

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On Sunday, Gina Raimondo, U.S. Commerce Secretary, came to Beijing for a four-day visit.

This visit was aimed to encourage business relations between two of the largest economies of the world’s while declaring the national security trade of America off-limits for debate.

On Friday, Raimondo informed reporters before he left for China that if anyone wants to put a tagline to the trip and the mission, its protection is a must and promote where they can.

He also said that they won’t be violent on him next week when he will be there but he intends to be practical in anyway.

As the United States is working with allies to stop the access of China to advanced semiconductors, relations are tense as Beijing is limiting shipments from Micron Technology, a well-known chip company and raided and fined Mintz Group, U.S. firm with $1.5 million for doing non-sanctioned statistics related work.

Raimondo was welcomed upon arrival by Lin Feng, the Chinese Commerce Ministry official. He will hold bilateral meetings on Monday and Tuesday with Chinese officials in Beijing before she goes to Shanghai.

To the President of the US, Joe Biden, Raimondo spoke on Thursday about her visit and his message was improved discussions with China can make tensions evaporate.

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This summer, wildfires in Canada have forced out inhabitants and limited visitation in some places, just as the nation attempts to resurrect its tourism industry following years of pandemic-related restrictions.Some business leaders are concerned that the most recent climate-related disruption may harm the nation’s standing as a major tourist destination.

Following fires in Ontario, Quebec, and the east coast in the spring, wildfires in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories in August forced thousands of individuals to leave their homes and affected several businesses during the peak summer tourism season.

The safety of citizens, business owners, and tourists in towns affected by the wildfires is the group’s main concern right now, according to Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC).

She does point out that the flames are halting the recovery for the tourism industry, which was depending on this summer to make a crucial comeback from the effects of the COVID-19 limitations.

“We are not back yet operating at 100 per cent. We have not recovered from the lack of business over the last few years because of restrictions related to the pandemic,” Potter tells Global News.

“Additional crisis situations like wildfires and extreme weather are just impeding our ability to make that return to business as usual.”

Premier of British Columbia David Eby last week issued a temporary travel ban to regions affected by the wildfires due to the continued destruction on the west coast. The ministry declared that enough lodgings had been found for the nearly 30,000 inhabitants who had been forced from their homes, therefore the restriction was removed for West Kelowna on Friday and other areas earlier in the week.

A week after being suspended, flights are also beginning to resume to the Central Okanagan region.

According to Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia, it is still too early to predict how severely wildfire interruptions and related prohibitions would affect companies.

In addition to dealing with the immediate effects of wildfires on their operations, many operators are also having communication issues, according to Potter.

Since news of the ongoing flames in Canada, Greece, and Hawaii dominates headlines, she adds, even tourist destinations in regions that are not directly affected by wildfires are being forced to communicate with foreign guests to reassure them that it is safe to travel.

The record wildfire season is only the most recent extreme weather event to affect Canadian provinces this summer; Ottawa was devastated by destructive storms, and Nova Scotia is still recovering from flooding from last month.

International news outlets have covered Canadian wildfires and the accompanying smoke that traveled south of the border and even over the Atlantic Ocean.

According to Potter, climate-related disruptions are jeopardizing Canada’s tourism industry’s reputation.
According to Potter, a lot of firms are focusing on how they can increase their resilience to extreme weather, and TIAC is in talks with governments about developing infrastructure to adapt to the new climatic realities.

Obtaining adequate insurance coverage is one of the most significant financial interruptions for businesses affected by wildfires and flooding.

According to specialists who talked to Global News this week, climate change would probably cause insurance prices for coverage connected to natural catastrophes to skyrocket.

“Insurance actually started to become a real big problem for our industry when the pandemic hit. And that challenge is continuing to grow,” Potter says. “It’s become unwieldy, it’s incredibly costly, and it’s going to have a direct impact on whether a business can afford to open or not.”

She claims that TIAC is now in discussions with the governments over the establishment of insurance coverage standards.

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U.S. Travel Association announced recipients of the 2023 Destiny and Mercury Awards at the 39th annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) conference, held August 19-22 in Savannah, GA.

“These awards—the only of their kind to recognize excellence in travel and tourism marketing campaigns at the city and state level—are a best-in-class showcase of creativity reflecting the unique travel destinations of our country,” said Nan Marchand Beauvois, Senior Vice President of Membership and Industry Relations at the U.S. Travel Association. “Congratulations to this year’s Destiny and Mercury award winners for their outstanding achievements in travel promotion.”

Honors in 21 categories were awarded for excellence and creativity in destination marketing and inspiring visitation, a critical component of the continued growth of the travel industry.

DESTINY AND MERCURY AWARDS
Destiny Awards recognize excellence in destination marketing on the local and regional level, while Mercury Awards recognize achievements on the state level. A panel of more than 60 esteemed marketing experts selected this year’s honorees.

Award categories included: broadcast advertising; video, film or podcast series; public relations campaign; integrated marketing and messaging campaign; and destination website, among others.

ESTO is an annual conference for destination marketing professionals from city, regional, and state tourism offices. Each year the conference is held in a different destination and features four days of educational sessions, networking opportunities, and industry awards.

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The educational tourism market in the United States and Canada has demonstrated remarkable growth, reaching a valuation of $83.1 billion in 2022. This flourishing trend is projected to continue, with estimations indicating a substantial increase to $304.3 billion by 2033.

The anticipated growth is substantiated by a projected sales revenue CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2033. Notably, this market constitutes a significant share of around 25% to 30% in the global educational tourism industry.

The surge in demand for educational tourism in the United States and Canada is attributed to several factors. Renowned for their diverse course offerings and educational institutions, along with favorable visa policies, both countries have become attractive destinations for students seeking high-quality education and immersive cultural experiences. Additionally, the availability of scholarships, internship programs, and employment opportunities contributes to the appeal.

The educational sector’s commitment to international education has led to the development of tailored programs that offer comprehensive support services and enhance the overall student experience. Both countries boast rich cultural heritage and landmarks, adding to the allure for tourists interested in history, art, architecture, and traditions.

Furthermore, the United States and Canada house some of the world’s top-ranked universities, further enhancing their draw for international students. Educational tourism extends to campus visits, conferences, and exchange programs. Language immersion programs, language courses, and cultural experiences cater to those aspiring to learn English and French, the primary languages spoken in the respective countries.

The educational tourism market is also influenced by the countries’ leadership in scientific research, technological advancements, and innovation. Travelers flock to these nations to access cutting-edge research, seminars, workshops, and interactions with experts.

The market has seen notable trends, such as experiential learning programs, virtual and online education platforms, sustainable tourism practices, and specialized programs like STEAM education. The emergence of educational tourism agencies and the blending of tourism and education are reshaping the landscape.

Despite this growth, potential hurdles include stringent visa regulations, political instability, safety concerns, and increasing costs. However, collaborative efforts between educational institutions and tourism organizations, rise in educational tourism agencies, and the blend of tourism and education are contributing to the industry’s positive trajectory.

The United States and Canada are witnessing a surge in educational tourism demand, driven by diverse factors such as high-quality education, cultural experiences, language immersion, and access to cutting-edge research. The market’s growth is supported by collaborative initiatives and emerging trends that are reshaping the educational tourism landscape.

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The U.S. Travel Association’s “Travel Works for America” roadshow visited Savannah today, where 20 national and local travel and business leaders joined U.S. Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA) to discuss travel’s essential contributions to the economy. The Travel Works tour spotlights how travel powers nearly every industry and community across America.

Monday’s Travel Works roundtable, held at the Westin Savannah Harbor hotel, was also attended by U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman, Visit Savannah President Joseph Marinelli and Visit Savannah board members, and Mark Jaronski, Chief Marketing Officer of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, among more than a dozen other business leaders and officials.

The travel industry powers the U.S. economy, and its growth is reliant on an effective partnership between lawmakers and industry leaders, said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman.

U.S. Travel thanks Congressman Carter for joining today’s discussion and advancing priorities in Congress that will improve the travel experience.

In 2022, travel spending generated $2.6 trillion in economic output and supported jobs for nearly 15 million American workers—including over 27,000 leisure and hospitality workers in Savannah.

In the state of Georgia, domestic and international travelers directly spent $34 billion in 2021, supporting 422,600 jobs.

BARRIERS TO TRAVEL, ECONOMIC GROWTH

While domestic leisure travel has fully returned to pre-pandemic levels and business travel is rising, challenges to international inbound travel – a lucrative economic segment – threaten a full and swift recovery.

In our top 10 visa-requiring markets, travelers are experiencing year-long waits (over 400 days) for a U.S. visitor visa, a significant barrier to welcoming millions of new visitors.

Further, visitors arriving at top U.S. airports can experience average wait times exceeding an hour at Customs checkpoints, a result of too few U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.

The federal government must prioritize visa processing and ensure that airports and ports of entry are appropriately staffed to effectively compete for travelers and gain the associated economic benefits.

Congress must focus on policies that fix issues that have resulted from a lack of federal progress on essential travel services, said Freeman.

Waiting 400 days for a visa to visit the U.S. or 13 weeks to get a U.S. passport deters travelers—and local economies and small businesses pay the price.

The 2023 Travel Works for America roadshow kicked off in the Washington, DC, region in May, amplifying the industry’s impact on the economy at stops on Capitol Hill, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Old Town in Alexandria, VA.

The next Travel Works for America stop is planned for Detroit, Michigan in September

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For B.C. tour operators and travel agents, building up post-pandemic business was quite a challenging task, serving the Chinese market.

Beijing excluded Canada just a week earlier from its list of approved countries for group tours, even though it raised restrictions in travel to Australia, U.S., Japan and South Korea, among many other countries.

The owner of Happy Times Travel, Glynnis Chan, said that they’ve undergone bad experiences for more than three years already. The tourism sector of B.C. has gone through a considerable spring back with the arrival of US and Mexico visitors along with other destinations like India.

Chinese visitation, with no all-powerful approved destination status for group tours, dropped by 70 per cent compared to the levels of pre- pandemic levels.

Chan’s expectation was that lifting the restrictions of pandemic-era travel of China would assist the country in rebuilding what had turned out to be the second-largest tourism market after the U.S. However, now it’s all disappeared, Chan added.

Due to the split created by accusations of Chinese interference in Canadian politics, Canada was dropped off the list of 78 countries actually.

Also, the Chinese embassy based in Ottawa raised issues about uncontrolled and prejudiced anti-Asian incidents in Canada.

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After a flexible mix of strategy and product with an expectation to greet 306,000 Indian travellers and 11 million visitors from abroad in 2023. The Senior Vice President of Tourism Development, Makiko Matsuda Healy, talks to the media on similar lines.

In terms of arrivals from India, how is the performance & what is your expectation from 2023?

To welcome over 63 million visitors in 2023, the City remains on track. The speed of the bounce back helps fuel the economic recovery of the New York City, having helped almost 340,000 jobs in the hospitality and leisure sector, over $40 billion in direct visitor spending, and roughly $60 billion in
total financial effect for 2022. The City in 2023 is hopeful to welcome 11 million international visitors.

For New York City, India continues to be a core market with growth more than the last decade and increases in visitation expected.

For the upcoming winter season, what new tourism products are you planning to launch?

Beginning with Thanksgiving, NYC celebrates winters with style and continues to the Eve Ball Drop in New Year in Times Square. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, and festivities are included in annual celebrations.

Also, NYC will introduce its yearly NYC Winter Outing, a value-driven program spanning dining, hotels, Broadway shows and attractions, tours, museums, and performing arts and many more.

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Visit Chelan County is a new stewardship and destination marketing association. It is organizing a
review for local inhabitants inclusive of introducing the Destination Stewardship Plan.

The Destination Stewardship Plan is for 10 years for offering an accountable background for advertising and expansion of the tourism segment.

Jerri Barkley, the Executive Director of Visit Chelan County for improving the Destination Stewardship Plan,
their objective is to assemble and paying heed to all expressions so that they can generate a common vision not only for building Chelan County an even improved place for living and working but also projecting it as an attractive place for visiting.

The online review was displayed previously this week which takes around 15 minutes to finish off. It
comprises queries regarding the present situation of tourism in Chelan County, and how it generally impacts the lives of native people and thoughts for development.

A second study is also being dispersed that straightaway aims stakeholders and a group of
frontrunners in the native tourism sector.

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