Travel News Europe - #80 - January/February 2008 - (Page 1)

TRAVEL NEWS EUROPE The information you need to make decisions www.travelnewseurope.com January 2008 Issue 80 NEWS I ABTA PREDICTS 2008 HOLIDAY INSPIRATIONS IMEX 2008 WILD CARD WINNERS REFLECT NEW MARKET GROWTH COTTM GEARS UP AS CHINESE OUTBOUND TOURISM SOARS SONESTA ANNOUNCES NEW HOTEL IN HURGHADA FRAGMENTATION OF HOLIDAYS IS BREAKING UP SEASONAL NATURE OF TOURISM CONCLUDES FITUR SURVEY I I I DESTINATIONS CHINA MACAU PAGE 8 HONG KONG PAGE 11 PAGE 14 BUSINESS S SKI PAGE 16 ECO TOURISM PAGE 19 CAR HIRE PAGE 22 EXHIBITIONS PAGE 24 ome time ago, holidays were an almost exclusively annual event. Now, however, trips are taken fairly frequently, albeit for shorter periods. This change in the requirements of tourists has been a key factor in bringing about a reduction in the seasonal nature of the sector. This is the conclusion of the 4th survey carried out by FITURNEWS (the electronic publication that informs exhibitors, visitors and the media of new features taking place before, during and after FITUR), which asked respondents to consider the following statement: The trend towards a decline in the significance of seasonal factors is caused by… Over half of those who participated in this survey (50.2%) opted for the answer ‘Greater fragmentation of holiday periods’. The next most popular option, with 31.6% of the votes, was the answer that attributed this change to ‘Special offers and reduced prices in off-peak periods (low cost, more destinations and products etc)’. In last place, 15.8% of those surveyed chose the option ‘A preference for active leisure’. Spanish tourists are representative of this change in requirements. Over the last few years, they have swapped their habitual long stays at the beach for trips which are shorter and more spread out. Moreover, holidaymakers are generally seeking out ever more unique experiences, which often take place ‘off the beaten track’. The increased number of journeys, together with the desire to visit unusual places, has consolidated Spain’s status as an important supply market for the most exotic destinations. The growth of the international dimension at FITUR will be reflected in the 2008 edition; regions such as the American Continent and AsiaPacific have expanded by 18% and 12%, respectively, in terms of their exhibitor numbers. Bhutan, Madagascar, Greenland and St. Thomas & Prince will attend FITUR for the first time in 2008, whilst Niger, Azerbaijan and Zimbabwe will repeat their attendance thanks to their success at the 2007 edition, when they made their FITUR debut. Furthermore, destinations, including Portugal, will considerably increase their exhibition space. 2008 will be especially important for China, Switzerland and Austria, in their roles as venues for important “Spanish tourists have swapped long stays at the beach for shorter and more frequent trips involving unique experiences” sporting events, the 29th Olympic Games and UEFA Euro 2008. Saragossa in Spain will strongly promote its forthcoming International Exhibition, Expo Zaragoza 2008 (14th June - 14th September), based on the theme of “Water and Sustainable Development”. The Pope has also announced that Tarragona, Spain, will be the setting for Jubilee Year in 2008. South Africa will focus on it’s staging of the football World Cup in 2010. Poland will promote Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan and Wroclaw, cities scheduled to host the staging of matches for UEFA Euro 2012. Canada will promote the Winter Olympic Games in 2010 in Vancouver, whilst London will present new features relating to it’s staging of the Olympic Games in 2012. G The 28th edition of FITUR will be open from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. during days devoted too professional visitors (30th and 31st January, and 1st February) and from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. during days open to the general public (2nd and 3rd February). http://www.travelnewseurope.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Travel News Europe - #80 - January/February 2008

Cover & Contents
ECO TOURISM
- Macau
DESTINATIONS
EXHIBITIONS
- Hong Kong
- China
BUSINESS - Ski
NEWS
CAR HIRE

Travel News Europe - #80 - January/February 2008