Category: Latest Travel News

New York, New York, United States, September 21, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Hotel Management and Bar & Restaurant—two publications under the Questex Hospitality umbrella—are partnering to host the first-ever Hotec F&B virtual conference in early December.

The two companies have a network of senior purchasing professionals and suppliers in both the hotel and the food-and-beverage spaces and will join forces to bring top buyers and designers together with suppliers of food- and beverage-related products and solutions in one-on-one meetings.

For the past 20 years, Hotec Events have connected hotel buyers, designers and suppliers through live individual meetings and networking opportunities. In the fall of 2020, Hotec went virtual and connected attendees through an online platform.

This event will expand Hotec’s virtual meeting experience to the F&B space. Attendees will be able to learn which buyers/suppliers are attending in advance and review company profiles, preselect who they would like to meet using an advanced appointment system, preview a unique meeting schedule and spend 17 minutes of uninterrupted time with each buyer or supplier.

Hotec F&B will run from Dec. 8-9, 2021. Each day’s activities will run from 9 a.m. to noon so that designers, buyers and suppliers can go back to work for the afternoon.

Learn more about Hotec F&B and apply to attend at HotecFNB

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, September 26, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO will be a co-organizer of the Future of Tourism World Summit, presented by the Advanced Leadership Foundation and the INCYDE Foundation of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce with the support of Barcelona City Council, the Barcelona Provincial Council and the Zona Franca Consortium (CZFB). The event will be held in a hybrid format on October 26 and 27 at La Llotja de Mar and will bring together more than 80 speakers from 70 countries.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

After announcing their incorporation as co-organizers of the summit, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that it represents “an opportunity to rethink tourism development, ensuring the fairer distribution of its benefits and advancing the transition towards a carbon-neutral and more socially resilient tourism economy.”

An opportunity to rethink tourism development, ensuring the fairer distribution of its benefits and advancing the transition towards a carbon-neutral and more socially resilient tourism economy

For two days, experts will explore creative ways out of the crisis caused by the pandemic. They will also address issues related to sustainability, cultural identities, accessible tourism, wine tourism and personalized travel experiences, among others.

The event will be attended by 20 Ministers of Tourism from around the world, alongside former heads of state and government, as well as representatives of international organizations, business associations and global knowledge networks, including UNWTO, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the International Youth Organization (IYO), the Organization of American States (OAS), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Commission (EC).

The aim of the Future of Tourism World Summit is to find solutions to the challenges facing tourism worldwide in the aftermath of COVID-19, to develop collaborative systems to turn this crisis into an opportunity for shared progress and to contribute to the global economic reactivation of the sector.

The event will culminate in the signing of the Barcelona Declaration, which aims to become an international benchmark, establishing a framework for a new, more ethical and sustainable tourism model.

First forum on the future of post-pandemic tourism

The vice-president of the Advanced Leadership Foundation, Jorge Brown, explained that the summit aims to make tourism visible as “a central driver of the economy in all countries worldwide” and “must take measures to adapt to all contemporary challenges, especially after the pandemic”. “It is the first forum exclusively dedicated to addressing the future of tourism, and we are gathering leading decision-makers from all over the world,” he added. Brown also stressed that they have chosen to host the Summit in Barcelona because it is a “dynamic, diverse and inspiring city that looks to the future as an opportunity, while at the same time embracing its history.”

For the president of the INCYDE Foundation, José Luis Bonet, this Summit is “a sign of our ability to promote a global debate on how tourism can contribute to making the whole planet prosper in a sustainable and inclusive way, and of Spain’s firm commitment to UNWTO, whose headquarters are located in our country”. According to Bonet, “this summit means turning Barcelona, one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, into an area for reflection, debate and the generation of new proposals for the recovery, modernization and reinvention of tourism, a position that will be extraordinarily reinforced with the signing of the Barcelona Declaration.”

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

The forum also aims to identify and promote leadership in the tourism sector to contribute to the future of the economy. As part of the summit, there will be an international call for 300 leaders who will be trained during the two days of the congress and then virtually for a further 12 months. The selected participants will work to replicate the knowledge they have learned, as well as to seek new allies for the Barcelona Declaration.

Zurich, Switzerland, September 26, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / More than 400 destinations around the world now proudly hold the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, with New Zealand, Switzerland, and Oman among the latest major destinations to adopt the globally recognised stamp. 400 destinations around the world now hold the globally recognised stamp.

WTTC, which has been continuously leading the private sector in the efforts to rebuild global consumer confidence and encourage the return of safe international travel, made history when it launched the world’s first ever global safety and hygiene stamp just over one year ago.

The stamp, which has been crucial to restoring confidence in travellers and revive the global Travel & Tourism sector, has now also been adopted by major destination countries such as Trinidad & Tobago, Madagascar, Samoa and Réunion Island.

Julia Simpson, President & CEO, WTTC said: “We are delighted that our Safe Travels stamp continues to go from strength to strength and has been adopted by destinations from every corner of the world.

“From Portugal to Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka to Slovenia, Thailand to Tunisia, our stamp is now recognised around the globe. This is testimony to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in making our stamp work for both destinations and holidaymakers.

“This sets a standard of health and safety protocols so visitors can travel safe in the knowledge that a destination is following the highest standards.”

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report (EIR), in 2019, Travel & Tourism contributed 10.4% to global GDP and supported 334 million jobs (one in 10 jobs across the world). However, following a year of global lockdowns and closed borders, some 62 million jobs in Travel & Tourism were lost around the world, and the sector’s contribution to global GDP slumped by US$4.5 trillion (-49.1%).

Blue Bay Marine Park, Mauritius, September 25, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The beautiful Indian Ocean island of Mauritius offers the perfect antidote to lockdown-weary travelers and is reopening to vaccinated travelers for quarantine free travel on October 1st. With exquisite natural scenery, miles of jaw dropping coastline and unrivalled experiences, the island is the destination of choice for discerning guests seeking a combination of luxurious adventure and holistic wellness. One of the newest properties on the island, Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas is welcoming back guests with the introduction of daily activities focused on wellness and active wellbeing and the launch of its brand-new pool villas.

• Discover exceptional spas, wellness retreats and medical spas in the world and each destination – TOP25 Spas.

Upon reopening, the Resort will become a choice destination for those looking for an active and relaxing holiday with a daily schedule of multiple immersive activities. Guests can enjoy activities such as nearby guided forest walks, local cultural tours, snorkeling in the Blue Bay marine park, plus a selection of wellness therapies ranging from yoga, meditation, tai chi and stretching to de-stress and unwind in pure natural surroundings amplified by nature.

For those looking for a tailormade programme also incorporating spa, the new three, five and seven-day packages offer a series of therapeutic experiences making use of the award-winning spa and fitness facilities at Anantara Iko Mauritius and connecting guests to the rugged scenery of the locale. The full seven day ‘Back to Basics’ package includes a wide selection of personalised experiences for guests to pick from and can also be adapted for shorter stays.

A haven of modern tranquillity, the Anantara Spa forms a pivotal role in the wellness retreats of any length stay and guests are invited to surrender to the expert hands of highly experienced therapists to pamper and wind down. Indulgent treatments include Shirodhara Massage and Avant-garde musicotherapy to counter balance the effects of regular exercise on tired limbs. The 90-minute Anantara Signature Massage combines indigenous ingredients such as locally sourced salt scrubs and essential oils infused with flora and fauna native to the island. A schedule of spa therapies is included within each of the programmes.

Delectable dining is the pièce de résistance of any five-star retreat, and Anantara Iko Mauritius delivers all this, whilst showcasing the eclectic mix of cuisines from the island’s cauldron of cultures. Foodies will be satiated with daily wellness smoothies and a wide variety of healthy breakfast options on offer at the all-day dining Horizon, whilst vegans and fitness enthusiasts will delight at Bon Manzer offering innovative clean eating; for luxurious dining experiences, Sea.Fire.Salt offers signature seafood and grill with divine Indian ocean views with a feet in the sand option.

The luxury five-star resort is also delighted to soon unveil its Two- and Four-Bedroom Anantara Pool Villas, which are set within tropical gardens and combine modernity with indigenous design in homage to the serene surroundings of the southeast coast of Mauritius.

The new Anantara Pool Villas offer the luxury of flexibility, with in-villa check in and private entrances – guests simply choose between soaking up the sun on the spacious deck, taking a dip in their private pool, or just relaxing ensconced in privacy and luxury. With 270 sqm of space, the Two-Bedroom Pool Villa has all the comfort and amenities required to provide a perfect balance of togetherness and alone time. Generously sized at 395 sqm, the Four-Bedroom Pool Villa is perfect for a multi-generational family holiday allowing loved ones to reunite in absolute comfort while retaining a true sense of tranquillity and escapism.

Nestled in luscious and secluded surroundings, the Anantara Pool Villas are exquisitely designed with a continuation of the resort’s laid back luxe colour scheme and textiles. Inspired by the pristine white sands and accented with pops of tropical colour reflecting the sparkling shades of the Indian Ocean, golden beaches, amber sunsets, green sugar cane fields and rare corals. Indigenous materials honour the warmth and detail of local Mauritian architecture and craftmanship. Spaciously designed, each villa features a comfortable living space with a smart TV, a fully-equipped kitchenette and an alfresco dining area for feasts prepared by a private chef.

A tailor-made experience awaits with a personal butler on hand to cater to guests’ every need, from organising a private breakfast on a desert island or making restaurant reservations, to arranging cultural tours in the nearby cultural and historic town of Mahebourg together with in-room spa treatments.

Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas has something for everyone – foodies, history buffs, nature lovers, and adventurers. Book a Two-Bedroom Anantara Pool Villa with special rates from USD 692 per night on a bed and breakfast basis, bookable by the end of October 2021, and experience sophisticated luxury, exclusive privacy and ultimate relaxation under the tropical sun of Mauritius. Wellness packages start from USD 475 for the perfect combination of discovery and relaxation.

• Discover exceptional spas, wellness retreats and medical spas in the world and each destination – TOP25 Spas.

About Anantara Hotels & Resorts
Anantara is a luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, connecting them to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world’s most exciting destinations. The collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts provides a window through which to journey into invigorating new territory, curating personal travel experiences.

From cosmopolitan cities to desert sands to lush islands, Anantara connects travellers to the indigenous, grounds them in authentic luxury, and hosts them with passionate expertise. The portfolio currently boasts over 40 stunning properties located in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Mozambique, Tunisia, Zambia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Portugal and Spain, with a pipeline of future properties across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Sydney, Australia, September 25, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, has promoted experienced travel industry leader Nicole Regel to oversee the Sabre Travel Solutions agency business across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.

Nicole, whose career in the travel business spans 25+ years, has been promoted to Senior Director in a significantly expanded role as she takes on the leadership of the Australia and New Zealand team while also retaining her role overseeing Sabre’s ongoing partnership with the Flight Centre Travel Group. Her focus will remain on leveraging Sabre’s best-in-class technologies and unrivalled access to global markets to grow its travel business in the region.

She has experience across the wholesale, airline, TMC, and technology sectors and has held leadership roles within operations, sales, and account management. The move builds on three years as Director, Global Accounts, at Sabre for Nicole as well as high-level roles within other well-known travel and airline businesses including CT Connections, Virgin Australia, and Creative Holidays.

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys socializing with family, friends, colleagues, and industry peers and is looking forward to resuming travel as soon as she is able to do so. She is taking the opportunity while international travel is not possible to learn to sail.

As Senior Director, Nicole will continue to be based in Sydney, reporting into Sabre’s regional headquarters in Singapore.

Ras al Khaimah, UAE, September 25, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Set to open in 2023, Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort, Ras al Khaimah, will be the group’s flagship Sofitel resort in the northern Emirates. Accor, a world-leading hospitality group with over 400 hotels across India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey is expanding its luxury portfolio in the UAE with the introduction of the Sofitel brand into the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Set to open in 2023, the property will become a landmark resort for the group in the region.

The group is collaborating with Al Hamra, the leading real estate development and investment company in Ras Al Khaimah, with plans to expand its hospitality portfolio. The group is focused on developing premier lifestyle destinations, including luxury hospitality and leisure developments.

Benoy Kurien, Group CEO of Al Hamra, said: “We are committed to supporting Ras Al Khaimah’s transformational growth to make it the topmost liveable destination through its urban developments of the future. As the first destination to be certified safe and to record significant growth in tourism and hospitality following the pandemic, the Emirate is focused on strengthening its tourism infrastructure and we will contribute to this by bringing exceptional hospitality experiences. Through our partnership with Accor to bring the Sofitel brand to the Emirate, we strengthen our portfolio of hospitality and leisure assets, in addition to revolutionizing the hospitality landscape in Ras Al Khaimah

Nestled between the Arabian Gulf and Hajar Mountains, the resort is set alongside a private beach, surrounded by landscaped gardens and an 18-hole golf course. Set on the pristine coastline of Ras Al Khaimah, the destination offers visitors an unparalleled experience with a unique topography. The landscapes vary from the highest mountain in the UAE, terracotta deserts to lush mangroves, white sandy beaches and the longest stretch of coastline in the UAE. The property is located less than one hour drive from Dubai International Airport.

“We have been witnessing an accelerated economic growth over past few years for Ras Al Khaimah, which has now positioned itself as a contending Middle Eastern hospitality destination”, says Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “The introduction of Sofitel Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort positions Accor as a key player in Emirate’s commitment to develop tourism through enhanced visitor experience with differential and sustainable product while showcasing Accor’s branding capabilities as a leading hospitality group in the region.”

The resort will be strategically located at the heart of the Al Hamra integrated tourism destination, offering its guests direct access to a range of hospitality and leisure offerings which include Al Hamra Golf Club’s s championship 18-hole golf course, Al Hamra Marina and Yacht Club, Al Hamra International Exhibition and Conference Centre (AHIECC) and Al Hamra Mall. All of which is located within an integrated destination with various residences and the future expansion of Al Hamra with a beach board walk and a sport’s complex.

Once open, the property will present 300 keys including contemporary rooms, suites and villas providing views of the gardens, the golf course or the sea. Moreover, the hotel will present six stylish restaurants serving excellent cuisine from around the globe.

Accor currently operates 62 properties (18,562 keys) in the UAE with 20 (5,831keys) properties in the pipeline, including 5 properties under the Sofitel brand.

ABOUT ACCOR
Accor is a world leading hospitality Group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The Group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing luxury and premium brands, midscale and economy offerings, unique Lifestyle concepts, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor also boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and approximately 260,000 team members worldwide. Over 68 million members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a daily Lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States.

About Al Hamra:
Al Hamra is a Ras Al Khaimah based real estate development and investment company. The group is focused on providing premier lifestyle real estate developments, while investing in hospitality and leisure segments. In line with the Emirate’s growth, Al Hamra has been instrumental in shaping the real estate landscape in the Emirate since its formation in 2003. The company is committed to reimagining life and hospitality through the friendly and safe environment Al Hamra Village has developed while also capitalising on the close proximity to Dubai, just 40 mins away, the financial benefits, the airport and the free-trade zones. Entities under the Al Hamra brand name include; Al Hamra Golf Club, Al Hamra Marina & Yacht Club, Al Hamra Mall, Manar Mall, the multi-award-winning Al Hamra Village and Al Hamra Real Estate Development. Al Hamra is also the developer of Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort and Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / At this year’s Arabian & African Hospitality Investment Conference and Global Restaurant Investment Forum, serial entrepreneur Ian Ohan, founder and CEO of KRUSH Brands officially announced the launch of Rise Up, Dubai’s first food accelerator contest.

• Discover Dubai’s Best Fine Dining Restaurants at Top25Restaurants.com

– Rise Up is a nationwide call, to anyone who believes they have an idea, a product, a business that needs a little help and the right infrastructure to thrive.
– Rise Up wants to find the best and brightest culinary talents and entrepreneurial thinkers in the UAE.
– Winners will receive coaching, get access to a long list of industry expertise, and operational know-how.

The great recession of 2009 was exactly what Dubai F&B needed. It cleaned up an over-saturated landscape, full of boring, unimaginative venues, kept alive by a steady stream of hungry investors and even hungrier tourists.

History will also show us that Covid 19 was, in some ways, good for the food and beverage industry of Dubai.

Covid has forced innovation. It’s accelerated the marriage of tech and food, of digital and analogue. It has re-defined the boundaries in which food can operate. It has shone a light on some of the industry’s “shadows”, bringing light and understanding where there was once darkness and confusion. It has created a fragmented marketplace that is ripe for new relationships and collaborations.

Never in Dubai’s illustrious 50-year history has so much “domestic” talent been available yet not used. However, talent rarely stays still for long, and nor should it.

Dubai has innovation, ambition, and opportunity as part of it’s DNA. Dubai has entrepreneurship and success coursing through its veins and food is its heartbeat.

However, launching or even running a business can be overwhelming. Considerations like licenses, facilities, tech, staffing, marketing, all come into play when establishing a business. The most talented and determined often need support and guidance to succeed.

Enter Rise Up DXB, Dubai’s first food accelerator contest. Rise Up wants to find the best and brightest culinary talents and entrepreneurial thinkers; to foster the growth of start-up concepts and businesses and capitalize on Dubai’s culture of drive, ambition, entrepreneurship, and success.

Rise Up DXB & Krush Brands are looking for glimmers of inspiration and innovation, glinting in the ashes of this pandemic.

All that is needed to enter this foodpreneur contest is a great product, a defined purpose, an obsession about customers and of course, drive and determination.

Powered by Krush Brands, the winners will receive coaching, and get access to a long list of industry experts available to provide unique assistance in build, fit-out, marketing, menu development, business advice and more.

Resources will be available, whether it is desk space, wifi and a good coffee machine or graphic design, videography and business admin, Krush Brands offers it all.

Finally, there is a valuable community of like-minded, talented F&B entrepreneurs and operators, who have built a positive, encouraging environment. A haven for budding talent to build a legacy for their future.

• Discover Dubai’s Best Fine Dining Restaurants at Top25Restaurants.com

This is a nationwide call, to anyone who believes they have an idea, a product, a business that needs a little help and the right infrastructure to thrive. A culinary spark that can be nurtured into a roaring flame, felt and seen across the region.

About KRUSH Brands
KRUSH Brands is a locally owned “made in the UAE”, full-service, multi-kitchen, brand development, operating and franchising company. Developing and partnering with cool local brands that you love, bound together by technology, convenient and reliable, better-for-you food, from a company that cares.

KRUSH Brands owns and operates Freedom Pizza, Wildflower Poke & More, Coco Yogo Vegan Kitchen, Salad Jar, and has recently partnered with local, lovable brands Jet Lagged Chef and Viking Bageri with more brands coming soon.

It also owns Big Dwarf Food Technology that develops KRUSH Brands’ proprietary digital, online ordering, operating and delivery platforms and has recently developed Locale – the only full-stack, food technology, restaurant and delivery company, that owns its entire value chain.

Locale is positioned to capture the exponential growth of the online food and cloud kitchen market and will power all KRUSH Brands with proprietary technology, a robust delivery platform and its fleet of professional delivery drivers delivering fast, fresh and safe, every time.

London, United Kingdom, September 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announces the launch of a Net Zero Roadmap for the Travel & Tourism sector to support the industry in combatting climate change during its virtual climate week event. Global tourism body also announces new ground-breaking social and environmental indicators for the sector.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

It also announced the launch of ground-breaking social and environmental research data. The first time such data will be produced across the whole sector, building on WTTC’s annual high-anticipated  Economic Impact Report (EIR).

These vital pieces of work represent WTTC’s biggest deliverables in the sector’s drive towards net zero by 2050.

The powerful initiative is being run in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and professional services and consulting experts, Accenture.

WTTC made the announcement at its virtual ‘Net Zero Travel & Tourism – From Ambition to Action’ event today, during annual Climate Week NYC.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The launch of our Net Zero Roadmap for the Travel & Tourism sector and development of sector wide data to measure our success are major steps to show how Travel & Tourism is playing its part in addressing climate change.

“WTTC, alongside our partners and sponsors, looks forward to offering tangible and meaningful solutions to meet the climate change challenge.

“In collaboration with UNEP and Accenture, WTTC will launch the Net Zero Roadmap for the Travel & Tourism sector at COP26 in Glasgow next month. This is a major new initiative that will support our industries on their journeys to become Net Zero.

“As a sector, we are aware that not all industries can achieve such goals at the same time, which is why our Net Zero Roadmap will be so critical.

“As the new President & CEO of WTTC, I am committed to putting climate change front and centre of everything we do.”

The Net Zero Roadmap will include a status quo overview of climate actions in Travel & Tourism, direct lessons learned from the past 18 months, and will include action frameworks for specific industries to help accelerate climate commitments and emissions reduction.

WTTC will regularly monitor and update this climate action inventory research, providing continuous updates until the Travel & Tourism sector’s targets are achieved.

During the virtual event, which was sponsored by IHG, participants discussed the sustainability challenges the Travel & Tourism sector faces, along with the creation of the way forward in the sector’s quest to become net zero.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

The interactive session included remarks by Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, representatives for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Arnold Donald, WTTC Chair and President and CEO of Carnival Corporation, Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer Americas, IHG, Alex Zozaya, Chairman of Apple Leisure Group, and Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Global CEO of JLL Hotels and Hospitality among others.

Lloret de Mar, Catalonia, Spain, September 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, and the Minister of Business and Labour of the Government of Catalonia, Roger Torrent, presented the first World Sports Tourism Congress and its programme, within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, at a press conference held in Lloret de Mar and Barcelona.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

The Congress, which previously had to be postponed due to the pandemic, will take place on 25 and 26 November at the Olympic Conference Centre in the Catalan town of Lloret de Mar. The presentation was attended by Marta Domènech, Director-General of Tourism, Ion Vilcu, Director of the Department of Affiliate Members of UNWTO, Narcís Ferrer, Director of the Catalan Tourist Board, and Jaume Dulsat, Mayor of Lloret de Mar.

The Congress will have a total of 62 speakers from different countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Wales, Northern Ireland and Croatia. Leading figures from the world of sport and tourism, representing entities that are also UNWTO Affiliate Members, have already confirmed their attendance as speakers, such as Petra Stusek, President and CEO of European Cities Marketing; Kattia Juarez Dubón of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme; Edwin Moses, Olympic medallist; Marco Mazzi, Vice- President of the International Sports Travel Agencies Association, and Mafalda Magalhaes, Director of FC Porto Museum.

Registration is now open at . The Congress will be a hybrid event, allowing both in-person and virtual participation, and aims to strengthen the relationship between sports tourism and sustainable and inclusive development, diversification, differentiation and de-seasonalization. Also collaborating in the organization of the event are the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board and the City Council of Lloret de Mar through Lloret Turismo.

The Congress, which already had almost 400 pre-registered participants before the official opening of registration, will address topics such as the challenges for the sector posed by COVID-19; trends in sport and physical activity; innovation in the development of sports tourism; mass attendance at sporting events; as well as the environmental framework, diversity and inclusion in the world of sport.

The programme also includes other aspects, such as different public-private governance strategies, the digital transformation of the sector, e-sports, digital marketing, communication and commercialization. Over the two days of the Congress, there will be different sports activities for the participants, academic presentations and technical visits; in addition, spaces will be set up for networking to maximize synergies among the attendees.

Telepresence at the Congress through holograms

Among the innovations that the Congress will bring, as presented at the press conference, are two hologram booths to enable the participation of different speakers who will not be in Lloret de Mar in person. It will be the first event in Catalonia to use this advanced technology, presented at the Mobile World Congress 2021. Fibre-optics and 5G connectivity will make it possible to bring personalities from all over the world closer to the Congress remotely and in real time, through giant screens.

Tourism and Sports, a priority line of action for UNWTO

For the World Tourism Organization, Tourism and Sport represents a priority that it has been actively developing over the past two years. In addition to organizing this World Sports Tourism Congress together with the Catalan Tourist Board, UNWTO has supported other projects focused on this line of action.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

UNWTO recognizes the beneficial bond of mutual reinforcement that unites tourism and sport. Key indicators such as employment linked to sport, the percentage of trips initiated for sports reasons, the total expenditure associated with these trips and public spending linked to sport, have been registering remarkable growth in recent years. Sports tourism also raises the visibility of destinations and encourages investment in infrastructure, with its positive multiplier effects at the economic and social levels.

In the current context of crisis that the tourism sector, in particular, and all other sectors of society and the economy are experiencing, the contribution of each component and subsector will be very important, and the area of tourism and sport will be no exception.

Beyond the economic indicators mentioned above, it is imperative to highlight the values that sport inspires and promotes, and that apply to all aspects of economic and social life, including tourism.

The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili said: “… the gradual resumption of the calendar of competitions and major sporting events is an important driver of the restart of tourism after the unprecedented shock of the pandemic. Sporting events can play a decisive role in the tourism development in destinations”.

Lloret de Mar – Costa Brava

In recent years, sports tourism has become a strategic sector in Catalonia thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities and the wide range of possibilities it offers for sports-themed stays for individuals and teams alike. In 2003, the Catalan Tourist Board created its Sports Tourism Brand, a distinction that is granted to municipalities, facilities and specialized companies that meet quality standards in the different sports disciplines and recognizes excellence in resources and services to practice sports or enjoy events and championships for elite athletes, professionals and fans of major sporting events.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Since 2006, Lloret de Mar has been recognized by the Catalan Tourist Board as a certified Sports Tourism Destination in the disciplines of football, athletics, swimming, group sports, triathlon and cycling. The municipality has an extensive hotel infrastructure to accommodate all attendees of the Congress and the different parallel events. Each year it receives more than 60,000 athletes and accompanying persons, and during 2019, it hosted a total of 446 sports events and competitions.

Nairobi, Kenya, September 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Africa is bleeding without its tourists. The impact of 18 months of lockdown has been devastating. Revenue from tourism is central to the conservation of some of the planet’s most important habitats and wildlife; without it, many of these are in trouble. Poaching, bushmeat, illegal logging and the exploitation of natural resources have all risen dramatically. Those charged with preventing this, wildlife rangers, have seen an increase in their workload, despite many having their funding and salaries slashed. Rangers need help.

• For the African Tourism portal , Connecting Africa to the World, go to TourismAfrica.org

With this in mind, Jasper, Josh, Ivo and Robbie, four conservation minded adventurers living in Kenya, decided to embark on a daring and bone rattling expedition to raise both awareness and money for rangers on the frontline – by driving from Kenya to Cape Town in Tuk Tuks!

The Tuk South team is in the process of transforming its two 8HP Piaggio Tuk Tuks into machines capable of surviving 7000 kms of famously bumpy roads. Installing everything from skid plates and roll cages to solar panels and fold out kitchens (the progress of which you can follow online), their Tuk Tuk’s safari capabilities are slowly being realised.

As they journey from the equator to the southernmost tip of Africa, they will be crossing nearly 35⁰ of latitude and travelling through 7 countries, elephants, jungles, mountains, savanna and the ever hospitable Kalahari desert. The thrills and spills of their journey will be shared on social media as they go. Tuk South has over 155,000 followers on TikTok, clocking up an impressive 15 million views, with many of their followers sharing their passion for sustainability, adventure and conservation. They will be putting their video-making skills to good use – visiting many conservancies, parks and reserves on the way down and telling their ranger’s stories. These stories will form the backbone of a documentary they aim to make on Covids impact on conservation (trailer below). Their content will also cover a healthy dose of adventure and the stories of the grassroot sustainability projects, conservation initiatives and community projects they search out along the way.

• For the African Tourism portal , Connecting Africa to the World, go to TourismAfrica.org