Category: Latest Travel News

Niigata, Japan, October 28, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Radixx, a Sabre company and leading airline retailing software provider, today announced the company has entered into an agreement for the full Radixx product suite with TOKI AIR, a start-up low-cost carrier based in Japan’s port city, Niigata. TOKI AIR will initially focus its strategy on the regional leisure market with flights originating out of Niigata Airport to major domestic destinations within Japan.

TOKI AIR chose Radixx as its technology partner due to its established presence within Japan as well as its ability to meet the airline’s implementation timeline. As part of the engagement, TOKI AIR will take advantage of the full Radixx product suite including Radixx ezyCommerce, Radixx Res, Radixx Go, Radixx Go Touch, and Radixx Insight. The adoption of the full suite will enable the airline to launch sales with the most modern solutions and drive efficiencies from the start of operation.

“We were impressed by each of the product demos that we saw in regard to response times and automated processes that will help establish our airline operations,” said Masaki Hasegawa, Representative director, TOKI AIR. “We are grateful to the Sabre and Radixx team for their commitment to meet our implementation time. We believe that their existing footprint in Japan along with their breadth of products has allowed us to establish an exciting path forward with Sabre and the Radixx product suite as our chosen technology partner.”

To showcase its e-commerce offers, TOKI AIR will use Radixx ezyCommerce internet booking engine including a fully integrated Travel Agency Portal which will be used by local travel agents. TOKI AIR will maintain a high level of control over their online branding and offers using the Radixx ezyCommerce Content Management System.

TOKI AIR will go live on the Radixx Res passenger services system designed to optimize retailing strategies and conversion, with retailing built in the core, enabling centralized management of flight and value-added services. It is this centralized logic that will allow the airline to quickly setup fare and ancillary offers as well as automate processes that enable efficiency. The modern, intuitive interface supports their need for double-byte characters, enhancing the agent experience.

Radixx Go departure services suite and Radixx Go Touch mobile solutions will enable TOKI AIR to evolve its check-in operations at the airport and easily expand capacity during peak season using roaming agents. Together, the departure services desktop and mobile solutions will help create an efficient airport experience for travelers.

TOKI AIR will use Radixx Insight reporting and analytics tool to proactively make swift and meaningful business decisions in real-time.

“We are thrilled to further expand our valued partnerships in Japan and welcome TOKI AIR to the Sabre and Radixx community,” said Chris Collins, senior vice president and general manager for Radixx. “We are proud to provide their airline with our industry-leading technology and are deeply committed to facilitating a seamless implementation and go live for their airline.”

Together, Sabre and Radixx’s robust travel platform will provide the airline a one-stop shop in offer and order management through fulfillment and post-flight operations.

TOKI AIR operated a test flight from Tokyo Narita Airport to Sado Airport on May 24, 2021. TOKI AIR plans to launch sales in March 2022 and commence flight operations towards the middle of 2022. The airline also plans to expand its cargo business with ATR Cargo Flex aircraft.

About Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre’s technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.

About Radixx
Founded in 1993, Radixx, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, combines an innovative technology approach with unique partnership models enabling airlines of all sizes and business models to be effective retailers and efficient operators. Radixx caters to LCC and ULCC airlines, including the support of GDS distribution. Radixx offers a world-class Internet Booking Engine, Radixx ezyCommerce™, a cloud-based Passenger Services System, Radixx Res™, and a leading Departure Services Suite, Radixx Go™, uniquely designed to enable airlines to increase their profitability and maximize productivity through expanded distribution services. Since 2016, Radixx has delivered its sixth-generation, micro-services-based passenger services system.

About TOKI AIR
Established in 2020, TOKI AIR is a low-cost carrier jointly established by the Niigata Chamber of Commerce and Niigata Association of Corporate Executives. The new airline is expected to operate ATR aircraft to attractive routes such as Kansai area, Nagoya, Sendai, and Sapporo. TOKI AIR plans to commence operations in 2022. And TOKI AIR plans new route connected SADO-island and Tokyo.

London, United Kingdom, October 28, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals the Middle Eastern Travel & Tourism sector should grow by 27.1% this year, slightly behind the global average of 30.7%. If governments prioritise Travel & Tourism, jobs in the sector could reach 6.6m in 2022 approaching pre-pandemic levels.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, says slow vaccination rates in some countries, coupled with international restrictions in key source markets, have prevented people from travelling to the region, hindering the sector’s recovery in the Middle East.

Before the pandemic struck, the Middle East’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP represented US$ 270 billion (8.9% of the total economy).

According to the research, at the current rate of recovery, the Middle East region will recover just over a quarter in 2021, following a drop of 51.1% in 2020.

This growth, whilst slower than expected, is ahead of other major Travel & Tourism regions such as Europe and Latin America and represents a year on year increase of US$36 billion to the region’s economy.

The data also reveals that the Middle East region could see a similar year on year rise of 28.1% in 2022, representing a further boost of US$ 47 billion.

Whilst the local economy has benefited from a rise in domestic spend of 38.6% this year, and a projected 19.2% in 2022, recent changes to international travel restrictions are expected to provide a significant boost in international spending, which is critical to the region’s economy.

The global tourism body’s research shows that international spending is expected to grow by 37.9% this year, driven by a rise in visitors from neighbouring countries which provided a boost to the sector over the recent months.

As this trend continues into 2022 and with more international visitors expected from outside of the region, WTTC predicts a further year on year increase in international travel spend of 51.8%.

After a loss of almost 1.2 million Travel & Tourism jobs last year when travel restrictions brought international mobility to a halt, employment is set to rise by a mere 1% in 2021.

However, employment could rise by 8.2% year on year in 2022, providing an additional 470,000 Travel & Tourism jobs, to a total of 6.2m people employed in the sector.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Our research clearly shows that while the Middle East’s Travel & Tourism sector is slowly beginning to recover, it is still far from pre-pandemic levels in terms of the sector’s contribution to the region’s economy and employment.

“As we look into the future, the Middle East has strong growth potential following the reopening of its borders to international travellers. We have seen countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE implement policies to restart international travel safely and we hope to see a harmonised approach across the region.”

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

These measures include allowing fully vaccinated travellers to move freely, irrespective of their origin or eventual destination.

Secondly, the implementation of digital solutions which enable all travellers to easily prove their COVID status in turn speeding up the process at borders.

Thirdly, for safe international travel to fully restart, governments must recognise all vaccines authorised by WHO.

Fourthly, continued support of the COVAX/UNICEF initiative to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.

Finally, the continued implementation of enhanced health and safety protocols.

The future could be brighter for the Middle East

If these five vital measures are followed before the end of 2021, research shows the impact on the economy and jobs across Middle East could be considerable.

The Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP could rise by 33% (US$ 44 billion) by the end of this year, and a further year or year rise in 2022 of 30% (US$ 53 billion).

According to the research, domestic spending could increase by 40.1% this year, followed by a 21.7% growth in 2022.

However, international spending could outpace domestic spending this year, with a year on year increase of 50%, followed by a similar rise next year of 52.1%.

This in turn could have a positive effect on employment in the region with a 5.7% increase in jobs this year, and a year or year increase of 9.8% in 2022.

These additional jobs would bring the total number of those working in the sector to 6.6m in 2022, approaching pre-pandemic levels.

Barcelona, Spain, October 28,2021 / TRAVELINDEX / For the second time, the Santander Golf Tour and the Ladies European Tour Access event under the name of Santander Golf Tour Barcelona, has returned to Real Club de Golf El Prat.

• Discover the World’s Best Golf Courses at TOP25 Golf Courses.

From October 20th to 22nd, 95 players came to play in the last event of the year of the Let Access Series. Thanks to its proximity to Barcelona, just 25 minutes away, it has been very easy for the players to fly to Barcelona from 29 different countries to play one of the finest golf courses in Europe.

The course was nicely prepared to receive the Letas players in the best conditions. The fairways were smooth and the greens were fast being one of the great challenges of the course.

During the first two days, the weather was nice with just a few hours of rain but the girls showed an amazing game. After all, 59 players made the cut that was set at +11.

On the 3rd round, the amateur Charlotte Liautier was in first position with -2 followed by the local player, Mireia Prat at level par and the English player, Rachael Goodall, also at level par. A very close final, with birdies and triple-bogey that were changing the leaderboard all day long. At the last minute, another amateur appeared at the first positions of the leaderboard: 16-year-old German Helen Briem.

” The strategy on the course is very important because the course is demanding. But i have played very good and I stayed patience along the way” – Charlotte Liautier

On the last 18th hole, par 5, she had an eagle putt and came out with three putts for a total of +1. These three putts kept her from going to playoff or even winning the tournament, which was for the French amateur Liautier with a total of par. In addition, as this tournament has been the last of the year, the first six players on the letas ranking have secured and have been giving the LET card for the 2022 season: : Lily May Humphreys, Gabrielle Macdonald. Nina Pegova, Rachael Goodall, Sofie Brigner y Emilia Tukiainen.

• Discover the World’s Best Golf Courses at TOP25 Golf Courses.

The general feedback has been positive, praising the course, the Club staff and the organization of the tournament by Deporte & Business. A demanding course that has put the best players in Europe to test.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 27, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, will expand its global collection of world-class resorts with the opening of Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai on 14th October 2021, a fantastic new family-friendly destination which is inspired by mythical Thai and Arabian adventures and promises fun-filled, activity-packed stays for all ages.

The new resort, a joint venture with world-leading master developer Nakheel, creator of the award-winning Palm Jumeirah and the new Deira Islands waterfront city – will bring a new concept in hospitality to Dubai, in line with the emirate’s tourism strategy.

Nestled in a prime waterfront setting on the Deira Islands, overlooking the Arabian Gulf just 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport and just minutes away from the newly opened Souk Al Marfa seafront souk and marketplace, this brand-new themed resort offers 607 rooms and suites, ranging from Superior, Family and Mirage Rooms to Junior and Two-Bedroom Suites with 32 to 95 square metres of bright, contemporary space and panoramic city or sea views.

Mirage represents Centara’s themed family resort concept, where the whole family’s, and especially the children’s, happiness is at the heart of the experience. Parents can rest assured that their youngsters will enjoy unforgettable, inspiring stays, with a wonderful water park, multiple kids’ clubs, a colourful candy-themed children’s spa, and the dedicated Mirage Family Lounge, a club lounge experience for all the family. The rooms are perfectly suited to families, with flexible bedding options including bunk beds that accommodate up to two children.

Youngsters can spend exhilarating days at this aquatic oasis, which is centred around a thrilling water park with lagoon pools, a lazy river, kids’ splash play area, waterslides and cliff jumping platforms, rope climbing course, all surrounded by palm trees and sun decks. Winding wooden walkways lead to the golden beach and turquoise sea, which creates a sparkling setting for water sports.

Children will be kept entertained at three age-specific kids’ clubs, an outdoor playground and Candy Spa, the colourful, candy-themed children’s wellness zone. Adults can work out at the fully-equipped fitness centre and unwind with Thai-inspired therapies, including couples’ treatments at Spa Cenvaree.

Outstanding cuisine and social venues can be enjoyed at a choice of our nine dining experiences. Suan Bua specialises in authentic Asian cuisine, while Uno Mas is a traditional Argentinian grill with its own wine cellar. Fresh seafood and prime meats can be savoured at Sands, the casual beach club, Waves Pool Bar and Zing promise refreshing drinks and light bites, and Sheesh is a chic rooftop shisha lounge and Lebanese restaurant. Finally, meeting planners can host one-of-a-kind events in a choice of indoor and alfresco function spaces.

Like all Centara hotels and resorts worldwide, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai adheres to the highest health and safety standards as part of the Centara Complete Care programme, which was developed in partnership with Ecolab and SGS.

“It gives me great pleasure to introduce Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, our inaugural resort in the UAE, as we continue to bring our timeless values of Thai hospitality to travellers around the world. The Centara Mirage concept immerses visitors in a world of wonders, creating unparalleled guest experiences. This marks another major milestone for Centara in 2021, following the opening of Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne in Vietnam and Centara Reserve Samui, the world’s first Centara Reserve resort in Thailand,” commented Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer, Centara Hotels & Resorts.

Omar Khoory, Chief Assets Officer at Nakheel, said: “Our joint venture with Centara Hotels & Resorts is a shining example of our commitment to partnering with reputable, international hotel brands to bring new tourism concepts to Dubai in line with the government’s tourism vision. We are delighted that one of Thailand’s biggest, most popular hotel operators has chosen to invest in Dubai and help us create another unique offering at Deira Islands.”

“We are delighted to welcome the world to Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, a fully immersive oasis that will excite visitors of all ages with its enchanting Thai and Arabian theme. Dubai is a world-class tourist destination with many iconic attractions. With our fantastic leisure facilities, including our beautiful beach and wonderful water park, this spectacular new resort is set to become a favoured destination for families and exceptional events,” said Sebastien Scheeg, General Manager, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai.

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai becomes the first Centara property in the United Arab Emirates and represents the third Mirage family-themed resort worldwide, following the Lost World-themed Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, one of Thailand’s most popular family resorts, and the Explorer’s Playground-themed Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne, Vietnam, which opened its doors this year. This remarkable new resort also represents Centara’s debut in Dubai, one of the world’s most iconic cities.

To celebrate its launch, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai has created an opening offer with rates starting from just AED 499++ per night, including daily breakfast. Up to two children stay and dine for free when ordering from the kids’ menu.

Deira Island is a new coastal city that is transforming Dubai’s Deira district into a world-class hub for tourism, retail and entertainment. Located at Dubai’s oldest and most traditional trading hub, Deira Islands has added 40 kilometres, including 21 kms of beachfront, to Dubai’s coastline.

London, United Kingdom, October 27, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Latest research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) shows Europe’s Travel & Tourism sector’s year on year recovery may only achieve a growth of 23.9% this year. European Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP to grow by less than a quarter this year. Sector employment remains stagnant in 2021, however, with the right measures, the number of those employed in the sector next year could surpass pre-pandemic levels. With millions more European citizens fully vaccinated, international spending is expected to rebound by nearly 80%% in 2022.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

The data from WTTC says this slow recovery is due to travel restrictions throughout the year, particularly in the first half, which continued to hinder the sector’s recovery.

Before the pandemic struck, Europe’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP represented €1.92 trillion (9.5% of the total economy).

However, according to the research, and based on the current rate of recovery, the sector’s contribution to GDP could see an increase of less than a quarter (23.9%) in 2021, falling behind the expected growth of the global sector of 30.7%.

The data also reveals that in 2022 Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the European economy could see a further year on year rise of 38%, representing an increase of €439 billion.

Although far from pre-pandemic levels, the growth of the sector has seen a slight rise due to the successful vaccination rollout, and intra-European mobility, supported by the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which was launched in early July this year. But with borders closed internationally Europe has struggled to recover.

The global tourism body says whilst the surge in domestic travel has provided some relief, it is not enough to achieve the full recovery the region needs in order to salvage Europe’s economy and millions of jobs.

The research goes on to show that while domestic spending is set to rise 30.2% year on year in 2021, international spending is expected to see a smaller increase of just 19.3% this year, reaching €242 billion, well below pre-pandemic levels, of €560 billion in 2019.

Next year, domestic spending is set to rise 27.7%. However, with relaxed restrictions in many European countries and with millions more European citizens fully vaccinated, international spending is expected to rebound 77.2% year on year.

In 2019, the European Travel & Tourism sector supported more than 38 million jobs. After suffering a loss of 3.6 million jobs last year when the pandemic brought international travel to an almost complete standstill, employment growth is set to remain stagnant this year.

However, WTTC’s research reveals an expected 15.7% rise in jobs in 2022, increasing by 5.5 million jobs to reach pre-pandemic levels.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “Our research shows that while the European Travel & Tourism sector is slowly beginning to recover, there is still a long way to go.

“With many European countries’ borders now open to international travel for fully vaccinated travellers, the region’s economic recovery will be accelerated next year. This could restore millions of jobs and livelihoods which rely on a thriving Travel & Tourism sector.

“We need governments to replace the patchwork of restrictions with a set of harmonised rules for travel.”

According to the research conducted by Oxford Economics on behalf of WTTC, the sector’s contribution to the region’s GDP and the rise in jobs could be more positive this year and next, if five vital measures are met by governments worldwide.

These measures include allowing fully vaccinated travellers to move freely, irrespective of their origin or eventual destination.

Secondly, the implementation of digital solutions which enable all travellers to easily prove their COVID status (such as the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate), in turn speeding up the process at borders around the world.

Thirdly, for safe international travel to fully restart, governments must recognise for all vaccines authorised by WHO and fourthly, continued support of the COVAX/UNICEF initiative to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.

Finally, the continued implementation of enhanced health and safety protocols, which will underpin customer confidence.

If these five vital measures are followed before the end of 2021, research shows the impact on the economy and jobs across Europe could be considerable. Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP could rise by 28.8% (nearly €270 billion) by the end of this year, followed by a year on year increase of a further 40.3% (over €480 billion) in 2022.

International spending would also benefit from government action, and experience a growth of 26.3% this year, and a significant boost of 81.8% in 2022. The sector’s growth could also have a positive impact on employment, with a 4% increase in jobs in 2021. However, with the right measures to support Travel & Tourism, the number of those employed in the sector next year could surpass pre-pandemic levels with a year on year increase of 17.6%, reaching almost 43 million jobs.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

Earlier this week, WTTC also joined forces with a number of Travel & Tourism associations such as Airports Council International, the European Travel Commission, and Cruise Lines International Association, calling on EU governments to remove all ‘traffic light’ systems and move towards a traveller risk approach, instead of risk based on entire countries.

Together, WTTC and the associations believe this approach would further speed up the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector.

Barcelona, Spain, October 27, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO joined the Advanced Leadership Foundation and the Incyde Foundation of the Chambers of Commerce of Spain for the opening day of the Future of Tourism World Summit (26-27 October 2021). The Summit represents the first time the sector has been brought together to look ahead held since the start of the pandemic.

Highlighting the unprecedented relevance of tourism, the Summit counts on the participation of leaders from business, politics and the international arena, with His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain serving as Honorary President. Joining UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili were Rebecca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mauricio Claver-Carone, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Spain, Juan Verde, President of the Advanced Leadership Foundation, and José Luis Bonet, President of the Chambers of Commerce of Spain. Alongside them were 10 Ministers of Tourism attending in person, with more Ministers joining virtually.

Collaboration, financing and innovation

This Summit makes clear the importance of collaboration, as well as the vital role funding tourism and harnessing the power of innovation will play in building a more resilient and sustainable tourism

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This Summit makes clear the importance of collaboration, as well as the vital role funding tourism and harnessing the power of innovation will play in building a more resilient and sustainable tourism.”

Joining Secretary-General Pololikashvili for a high-level debate on ‘Funding the Future of Tourism’, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebecca Grynspan stressed that “tourism needs political support and investment.”. Ms Grynspan credited UNWTO for its work in promoting accreditation and certifications since the start of the crisis and added: “Tourism can be a very good energy and force to build back better, differently and together.”

In a programme which reflected the key priorities of UNWTO and global tourism in general, the focus of the first day was on funding the future of tourism, particularly accelerating the shift towards net-zero growth. With world leaders set to arrive in Glasgow for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) next week, the discussions in Barcelona made clear tourism’s determination to embrace innovation and secure the funding necessary to enable the sector lives up to its climate action responsibilities.

Barcelona ‘Call to Action’

The Summit will culminate in the ‘Barcelona Call to Action’, a statement of intent signed by governments, destinations and businesses outlining a shared vision for a greener, more inclusive and resilient tourism, citing the sector’s potential contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals and the shift to net-zero.

Madrid, Spain, October 26, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will hold the 24th General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, from 30 November to 3 December 2021. The General Assembly is UNWTO’s main gathering and the platform for Member States to approve UNWTO’s programme of work and budget for the coming biennium (2022-2023).

The 2021 General Assembly will place a special emphasis on the importance of innovation, education and rural development, as well as tourism’s role in inclusive growth, the theme of World Tourism Day 2021. Additionally, delegates will be presented with the International Code for the Protection of Tourists, a landmark legal instrument designed to restore trust in international travel.

Other key items on the agenda for the General Assembly include proposed reforms to the UNWTO Affiliate Membership Legal Framework, the finals of the UNWTO Students’ League and appointment of the UNWTO Secretary-General for the period 2022-2025. The General Assembly will also see the winners of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages competition named.

Alongside this, and in line with UNWTO’s heightened emphasis on digital communications and visual storytelling, winners of the 2021 UNWTO Tourism Video Competition, aimed at recognizing promotional videos of Member States and Affiliate Members that highlight the sector’s resilience and its contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will also be announced in Madrid.

Restarting tourism together

Following protocol, the Secretary-General will present his report to the General Assembly on the implementation of UNWTO’s Programme of Work, actions and new initiatives since it last met in 2019. The agenda includes the selection of the UNWTO Executive Council Members for 2022, the World Committee of Tourism Ethics, as well as choosing the location and dates of the next session of the General Assembly, with Egypt, Portugal and Uzbekistan all set to submit bids. The Kingdom of Morocco had been scheduled to host this year’s General Assembly but subsequently confirmed that changing public health considerations meant it was unable to do so. In accordance with the Statutes and the rules of the Organization, the 24th session will take place at its Headquarters in Madrid, Spain.

Members will also be provided with updates on the opening of Regional Offices, including a first Regional Office for the Middle East, to work alongside the UNWTO Secretariat in Madrid, Spain, and planned themes for World Tourism Day in both 2022 and 2023.

Geneva, Switzerland, October 26, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Economic Forum announced today that Gim Huay Neo has been appointed to the organization’s Managing Board.

“We are delighted to welcome Gim Huay Neo into our leadership team. Through her experience in sustainability in both the public and private sectors, she will ensure the Forum’s continued leadership position at the forefront of developing innovative partnerships and solutions to progressing the global environmental agenda”, said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

• For a better understanding of Space and to join the economic and industrial development of space. Contributors welcome – MadeInSpace.com

“I am honoured and humbled to be appointed to the Managing Board of the World Economic Forum. I look forward to working closely with the team and our partners to foster trust and understanding, harness our collective wisdom to strengthen collaboration and catalyse solutions, across the public-private-people sectors, between countries and cultures and across generations”, said Gim Huay Neo.

As a member of the Managing Board, Gim Huay will head the Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate from 1 January 2022. She is currently the Managing Director of Climate Change Strategy at Temasek International.

As a recognised leader in the global environmental field, Gim Huay brings a rich set of skills to the Forum, cultivated through several decades of experience in both the public and private sectors. She has been leading the enterprise development, sustainability and climate strategy at Temasek for the past decade, developing deep expertise and networks in the areas of policy development, impact investing, as well as capability building and stakeholder engagement.

• For a better understanding of Space and to join the economic and industrial development of space. Contributors welcome – MadeInSpace.com

About Neo Gim Huay
Ms Neo Gim Huay is the Managing Director for Enterprise Development and Managing Director for Sustainability in Temasek. Temasek is an investment company, headquartered in Singapore with a net portfolio value of S$240 billion. Gim Huay is responsible for seeding new businesses as well as working with Temasek’s existing portfolio of companies to develop strategy and build new capabilities. She also spearheads Temasek’s sustainability strategy and initiatives across the organisation and within the community. Prior to joining Temasek, Gim Huay was a Management Consultant at McKinsey & Co in the Lagos, New York and San Francisco offices. She also served in the Singapore Public Service as an Administrative Officer, with stints in the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Singapore Embassy in the United States. Gim Huay holds a Masters in Business Administration (Arjay Miller Scholar) from Stanford University and a Masters of Engineering (Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honors) from Cambridge University. She was selected as an Eisenhower Fellow in 2015.

London, United Kingdom, October 26, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / High testing costs and continued travel restrictions hinder accessibility of travel and create elitist system. With only 34% of world population fully vaccinated, immunisation inequality threatens economic recovery. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia launched today an important new report that highlights the pain points to restore international mobility, and recommendations to drive the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector, while enhancing its resilience.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

With the pandemic bringing international travel to an almost complete standstill, due to border closures and severe travel restrictions, Travel & Tourism suffered more than any other sector over the past 18 months.

The sector’s contribution to global GDP fell from nearly US$ 9.2 trillion in 2019, to just US$ 4.7 trillion in 2020, representing a loss of almost US$ 4.5 trillion. Furthermore, as the pandemic ripped through the heart of the sector, a shocking 62 million Travel & Tourism jobs were lost.

This new report highlights WTTC’s latest economic projections which reveal the sector’s recovery is set to be slower than expected this year, largely linked to continued border closures and challenges linked to international mobility.

The sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to rise by a modest 30.7% year-on-year in 2021, representing only US$ 1.4 trillion increase, and at the current rate of recovery, Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP could see a similar year-on-year rise of 31.7% in 2022.

Meanwhile, the sector’s jobs are set to rise by a mere 0.7% this year, representing only two million jobs, followed by 18% increase next year.
Representing the worst crisis for the Travel & Tourism sector, COVID-19 not only impacted the global economy, but also the wellbeing and livelihoods of people all over the world.

Before the pandemic began to severely impact the sector, Travel & Tourism was one of the largest sectors globally, responsible for one in four new jobs created worldwide between 2015-2019 and was a key enabler for socio-economic development and poverty reduction, offering unique opportunities to women, minorities, rural communities, and youth.

This new report from WTTC, in partnership with Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia reveals pain points that focus on the urgent challenge to restore international mobility, framed by the need to address the weaknesses of the sector shown during the pandemic by redesigning a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.

This important new report demonstrates how international border closures, uncertainty due to changing rules, the prohibitive cost of testing, and the lack of reciprocity and uneven vaccination rollout have hindered the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector during the past 18 months.

By June 2020, all countries still had some form of travel restrictions, playing an important role in the drop in international spending by 69.4% that year. These restrictions, ever-changing and confusing, continued to significantly affect traveller’s confidence to book, as there was no clear pathway, nor global consensus, in terms of testing requirements, quarantine, and vaccination standards.

According to the report, the latest global traveller sentiment survey published by Oliver Wyman shows only 66% plan to travel abroad in the next six months, and less than one in 10 (9%) have booked a future trip, showing the continued uncertainty of traveller’s decision-making. Costly PCR tests continue to have a detrimental impact on travellers, reversing any progress of making travel accessible and creating further inequalities.

Julia Simpson, President & CEO WTTC, said: “The Travel & Tourism sector is key for many livelihoods which continue to be affected by the failure to harmonise and standardise COVID-19 regulations worldwide. There is no excuse for a patchwork of regulations, countries need to join forces and harmonise the rules. Many developing countries rely on international travel for their economy and have been left devastated.

“As is stands, only 34% of the global population have been fully vaccinated, showing that there are still large vaccine rollout inequalities globally. A swift and equitable immunisation plan, alongside worldwide reciprocal recognition of all WHO approved vaccines, is needed to safely reopen international travel and promptly resume the economic activity.

“WTTC recognises the importance of restoring consumer confidence, and we have developed, with the public and private sector working together, a set of harmonised Safe Travel protocols for 11 industries across the Travel & Tourism sector. Our globally recognised Safe Travels stamp has been adopted by more than 400 destinations worldwide.”

His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia said: “This report shows the impact COVID-19 has had on the global travel and tourism industry – and the unevenness of the recovery now underway. We need to be clear: unless tourism recovers economies will not recover.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

“We must come together to support this critical industry, which before the pandemic was responsible for 10% of GDP globally. With this report, Saudi Arabia is calling for the sector to come together to Redesign Tourism for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.”

The report outlines recommendations to achieve a swift recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector, as COVID becomes an endemic.

A focus based on international coordination to reopen borders, fair testing conditions, and digitalisation for travel facilitation, together with sustainability and social impact at the core of the sector, will restore international mobility and the Travel & Tourism sector. These measures will save millions of jobs, and enable communities, businesses, and destinations which rely on the Travel & Tourism sector, to fully recover and prosper again.

Montréal, Québec, Canada, October 25, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and the International Civil Aviation Organization have agreed to strengthen their partnership with the aim of supporting the safe restart of travel and tourism and accelerating the two sectors’ shift towards greater resilience and sustainability.

Confirmed a week ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), the new agreement underscores UNWTO’s call for enhanced collaboration in order to realize tourism’s potential to lead recovery and drive sustainable and inclusive growth. In the immediate term, UNWTO and ICAO will work to support aviation and tourism bounce back from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coordination at every level

Tourism and air travel are essential pillars of growth and opportunity, most notably for developing countries and communities

At the same time, the agreement illustrates a shared commitment to enhancing coordination at every level, from policy research and management areas, to border management and facilitation of safe and seamless travel, one of UNWTO’s long-standing priorities. The Memorandum of Understanding also recognizes the importance of securing relevant finance mechanisms to accelerate the shift towards greener travel and tourism, with a commitment to joint advocacy and fundraising efforts.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism and air travel are essential pillars of growth and opportunity, most notably for developing countries and communities. As air travel resumes and tourism restarts, both sectors must collaborate to support the livelihoods of today and to build a more resilient and sustainable future. The partnership between UNWTO and ICAO will allow exactly this.”

ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano added: “This agreement is an important step to help our organizations address joint data and research initiatives, the modernization and financing of aviation infrastructure, and the alleviation of economic regulatory constraints to enhance air connectivity and seamless travel.”

Building on past partnerships

ICAO has been part of UNWTO’s Global Tourism Crisis Committee, established at the start of the current crisis to unite the diverse tourism sector behind a common response and recovery plan. At the same time, UNWTO has also contributed to ICAO’s COVID-19 Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), working to identify and recommend strategic priorities and policies for countries and aviation industry operators.  Moreover, ICAO has been part of the UNWTO’s Committee for the development of an International Code for the Protection of Tourists as an observer, actively contributing to the drafting of the Code together with 98 Member States, five non-UNWTO Members and several observers from a diverse range of international organizations and private stakeholders.