• Scandinavia : A Hot Destination for U.S. Travellers

    July 24, 2014
    Scandinavia : A Hot Destination for U.S. Travellers

    By Monique Burns  ——————

    Scandinavia is sizzling hot for U.S. travelers. All four countries – Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway – are reporting record growth in American visitors, with Norway leading the pack.

    “Many Americans are seeking new destinations after having visited the better-known European destinations,” said Helena Niskanen, president of Scandinavian Tourism Inc., the U.S. marketing organization for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

    Also fueling U.S. travel to Scandinavia is increased airlift to the region on Finnair, SAS and the new low-cost carrier Norwegian Air, which offers 20 weekly flights between the U.S. and Scandinavia.

    For travel agents, a boom in travel to Scandinavia is good news, given that more than two-thirds – 69% – of Americans who travel to Scandinavia book their trips through agents, acccording to Scandinavian Tourism Inc.

    Positive indicators
    Agents who sell Scandinavia tap into a rich market. Well-heeled baby boomers and retirees typically book long stays of 10 to 14 days.

    Most visit several countries in a single trip, using a network of planes, trains, ferries and cruise ships, giving agents additional commission-earning opportunities.

    Scandinavia is also becoming a year-round destination. Summer is high season, and spring and fall are popular, too. But there’s been a huge increase in winter travel to see the Northern Lights and to visit Lapland with its native Sami people and reindeer.

    Price not a deterrent
    Even the region’s traditionally high prices aren’t deterring U.S. visitors.

    “Scandinavia always has had a reputation as a high-priced destination, but I think the rest of Europe is catching up,” said Siv Wadlin of Travel by Siv, a New York-based agency that’s part of the Tzell Travel Group.

    Wadlin attributed Scandinavia’s popularity in part to the fact that “it’s undiscovered.”

    “American travelers have tried other parts of Europe, and what is left is Scandinavia with its big open spaces.”

    Air, train and ferry links between countries also “make it easy to travel,” said Wadlin. “And most people speak English.”

    Norway is cool
    Norway is leading the charge in U.S. bookings. “Interest in Norway has tripled since November 2013,” said Niskanen.

    U.S. and Norwegian tour operators report a 22% to 50% increase in sales to Norway, and searches for flights to Norway are up 150%, she said, citing Flighttracker.

    One factor generating interest in Norway right now is the popular Disney movie “Frozen” with its settings inspired by Norway.

    “We’ve become cool because of that,” said Harald Hansen, public relations manager for Innovation Norway, the country’s New York-based marketing organization.

    Norway has other cool factors too, he said. “Oslo is cool, with design and architecture, and the New Nordic food movement, using ingredients from farmlands, fjords and forests.”

    Cruising Norway’s fjords
    Travel to northern Norway in particular is up 50% from last year, said Hansen. He attributed the growth to the U.S. market push by the cruise line Hurtigruten, which sails a popular 12-day roundtrip Classic Norwegian Voyage that visits 34 ports.

    Hurtigruten has been making big investments in the U.S. market with the aim of doubling business over the next three years, said managing director Gordon Dirker, who just opened the company’s first U.S. sales office in Seattle.

    Toward that end, Hurtigruten is offering travel agents ad hoc booking incentives. “We are in a position to offer shipboard credits, to subsidize part of the airfare. In the past, we offered bonus commissions to agents booking Northern Lights cruises,” said Dirker.

    Though Americans currently make up just 10% of Hurtigruten’s market, the line saw 20% growth in U.S. traffic in 2012-13 and 30% growth in 2013-14.

    Welcome to Sweden
    Meanwhile travel to Sweden from the U.S. is up approximately 25% through April, according to Mats Wessman, Visit Sweden’s U.S. country manager. He added that “bookings from the big agents’ networks are up by approximately 40% for Sweden.”

    Sweden’s promotional campaigns targeting leisure mainstream as well as gay and lesbian travel have helped drive up U.S. visitor numbers he said, noting in particular increased travel from the U.S. market to the ICEHOTEL, in Jukkasjärvi, 128 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

    “Sweden is perceived as a safe, progressive and liberal destination,” said Wessman.

    Last week’s launch of the new NBC-TV comedy, “Welcome to Sweden,” could push up bookings further.

    Exploring Finland
    In neighboring Finland, U.S. travel is up 15% year to date, according to Niskanen, who also serves as Finland’s U.S. Marketing Representative. “In January and February, we were up 25%,” she added.

    “Helsinki, the capital, and Southern Finland are the No. 1 areas, with 55% of overnights,” she said.

    She added that Finnish Lapland and northeastern Finland, including Kuusamo and Kainuu, are gaining in popularity, “due to unique winter accommodations, such as heated glass igloos.”

    Neighbors
    Close neighbors across the Baltic Sea, Finland and Sweden often share U.S. visitors who visit both countries in one trip, using ferry and air links, or take multi-day Baltic cruises.

    As Scandinavia’s easternmost country, Finland also benefits from its proximity to Russia.

    The high-speed Allegro train, which connects Helsinki and St. Petersburg in three and a half hours, is popular with U.S. travelers.

    Another popular choice: visa-free 72-hour cruises between Helsinki and St. Petersburg on St. Peter Line.

    Denmark: Copenhagen’s cool
    Denmark reports a rise in American visitors, too, with a 6.6% increase in bed nights from the U.S. in 2013, the country’s biggest increase in U.S. travelers in eight years.

    Visit Denmark predicts a 4% to 5% increase for 2014 and a 5% to 7% increase for 2015.

    As Scandinavia’s southernmost destination, Denmark offers easy proximity to the European mainland. Copenhagen is also Northern Europe’s biggest turnaround port for cruises, making it a perfect destination for pre and post tours.

    Along with design, fashion and architecture, Copenhagen is renowned for its New Nordic cuisine.

    “With 17 Michelin restaurants, Copenhagen has made a mark on the international culinary scene, attracting food aficionados from all over the world,” said Bruno Bedholm, director of Visit Denmark, North America. “We see more and more Americans traveling to Copenhagen just to experience the food scene.”

    Most U.S. visitors head to Copenhagen, then make day-trips to the nearby countryside.

    U.S. visitors are also seeking out museums and historic sites. “The TV show, ‘Vikings,’ on the History Channel, and Lonely Planet’s inclusion of Denmark’s Viking sites on its ‘Best of Europe’ list, is making Scandinavian prehistory increasingly of interest to Americans,” said Bedholm.

    -Courtesy : travelmarketreport.com ( July 2014 )

    • Connecting you with the world of travel and tourism

      28th East Mediterranean Tourism and Travel Exhibition https://emittistanbul.com/en

      Asia Pool & Spa Expo , May 10 – 12, 2025 , Guangzhou , China

      An Opportunity to enter South-East Asian market in 2023

      KAZAKHSTAN International Exhibition “Tourism & Travel” Almaty, Kazakhstan

      CHINA- Beyond your imagination

      Africa and Americas Unite

      at Landmark Summit to Plan

      Shared Tourism Future

      Tourism leaders from both Africa and the Americas have jointly committed to working together to make the sector a pillar of collective sustainable and inclusive development across both continents.

      The “Punta Cana Declaration” was adopted at the conclusion of the very first joint meeting of UN Tourism’s Regional Commissions for Africa and the Americas and followed two days of shared dialogue around the key themes of education and investments into the sector. Recognizing the historic ties between the two regions, as well their unique and complementary cultures, the Summit served as a landmark platform for strengthened cooperation, capitalizing on innovation, education, investments and creative industries for the future development of tourism.

      This summit offers a unique platform to forge connections and build bridges between Africa and the Americas, create strategic cross-regional partnerships, foster South-South cooperation projects, all for the benefit of the tourism sector of the two regions

      Welcoming around 200 high-level participants among them 14 Ministers, representing 27 countries (15 from the Americas and 12 from Africa), UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This summit offers a unique platform to forge connections and build bridges between Africa and the Americas, create strategic cross-regional partnerships, foster South-South cooperation projects, all for the benefit of the tourism sector of the two regions.”  – 3 Oct 2024 ( UN Tourism )

      UNWTO becomes “UN Tourism” 

      The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enters a new era  with a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that “people and planet” are always center stage.

      UN Tourism: Transforming tourism for a better worldTo achieve this goal, UN Tourism engaged the services of Interbrand, the leading global branding agency. Interbrand successfully translated the Organization’s renewed vision for tourism into a new visual identity and brand narrative.

      This involved renaming the Organization, transitioning from UNWTO to UN Tourism. At the same time, a new brand narrative was meticulously crafted, one that seamlessly aligns with UN Tourism’s central mission and priorities. This narrative pivots around three main messages: the UN as a global altruistic organization, the notion of connecting humans around the world, and the concept of proactivity and movement.

      Enhancing the well-being of individuals, safeguarding the natural environment, stimulating economic advancement, and fostering international harmony are key goals that are the fundamental essence of UN Tourism

      By moving away from acronyms, UN Tourism adopts a more approachable stance and capitalizes on its strengths: the “UN”, signifying authority, and tourism, a simple and relatable concept for all. This change has been endorsed by the Organization’s membership, highlighting its united support for the profound transformation and reinvention of UN Tourism in recent years, as it has become more agile, visible, and ever closer to its Member States, partners and the sector as a whole.

      With 160 Member States and hundreds of private sector affiliates, UN Tourism has its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, and Regional Offices in Nara (Japan) covering Asia & Pacific, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) for the Middle East, as well as forthcoming Regional Offices for the Americas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Africa (Morocco). Its priorities center on promoting tourism for sustainable development in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals. UN Tourism promotes quality education, supports decent jobs in the sector, identifies talent and drives innovation and accelerates tourism climate action and sustainability . – UN Tourism Jan. 2024

      TAT launches

      “Thais Always Care” Campaign 

      “The Tourism Authority of Thailand launches ‘Thais Always Care’ campaign in collaboration with other organizations to ensure tourists’ safety and enhance positive image.”

      The “Thais Always Care” online communication campaign was officially launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with the Tourist Police Bureau, Grab Taxi (Thailand), and Central Pattana (CPN) to ensure the safety and welcome of tourists from around the world. The campaign aims to provide seamless travel experiences for visitors to Thailand while also reinforcing the positive image of the country as a safe destination.

      The campaign reflects Thailand’s renowned hospitality and warmth to visitors, showcasing the country as a desirable destination for tourists. “CARE” stands for Compassion, Assistant, Relief, and Elevate, encompassing the generosity of the Thai people and their commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for tourists.

      Partners involved in the campaign have strengthened their safety measures and are utilizing technology to ensure the safety of tourists in Thailand. This includes installing CCTV cameras, implementing strict security checks at department stores, and utilizing technology like the “POLICE I LERT U” application to offer emergency assistance to international visitors. The campaign will also involve working with international KOLs to enhance the positive image of Thailand’s tourism assets and reinforce the country’s reputation as a safe destination. -Tourism Authority of Thailand

      China’s resort island receives

      90 m tourists in 2023

      More than 90 million domestic and overseas tourists visited south China’s tropical island province of Hainan in 2023, up 49.9 percent year on year, local authorities said .

      Hainan’s total tourism revenue surged 71.9 percent year on year to about 181.3 billion yuan (about 25.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the provincial department of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports.

      Last year, Hainan experienced rapid development in cruise tourism. Cruises to the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea saw 400 trips, up 277.8 percent year on year, and received 149,400 domestic tourists, up 405.33 percent.

      This year, Hainan aims to receive 99 million tourists and its tourism revenue is expected to reach 207 billion yuan. The province aims to receive more than 1 million inbound tourists in 2024.

      China aims to build Hainan into an international tourism and consumption center by 2025 and a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035. – Xinhua

      Vietnam  to welcome 17-18

      million tourists  this year

      Việt Nam’s tourism industry has set a target to welcome 17-18 million foreign visitors in 2024, approaching the pre-pandemic record in 2019 when COVID-19 had yet to disrupt global travel.

      In 2023, the figure hit 12.6 million, surpassing the initial target set earlier in the year (before China, which accounted for a third of foreign arrivals to Việt Nam pre-pandemic, announced reopening plans) by 57 per cent and achieving the adjusted goal of 12-13 million.

      The number of domestic travellers, meanwhile, stood at 108 million, up 6 per cent compared to the set target. Tourism activities generated about VNĐ678 trillion (US$27.85 billion) in revenue, 4.3 per cent higher than the yearly plan.

      Despite substantial recovery in 2023, the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said the domestic tourism recovery will still face challenges in the year ahead. This is particularly true in the context of the unpredictable global developments stemming from economic uncertainties, regional conflicts and climate change.

      Việt Nam’s socio-economic conditions remain stable; the economy continues to grow and inflation has been kept in check. But the persistent threat of disease and natural disasters are likely to create uncertainty affecting production, business activities and the daily lives of citizens.

      According to forecasts from the UN World Tourism Organisation and the World Travel and Tourism Council, international travel activities may fully recover by the end of 2024, reaching the levels achieved in 2019. However, the recovery is expected to be uneven across different regions.

      The ever-changing demands of international tourists require higher standards in product quality, diversity and unique experiences. The trends of integrating information technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation are envisioned to drive the emergence of new forms of tourism.

      Based on these analyses and projections, Việt Nam aims to serve 17-18 million foreign and 110 million domestic visitors this year, with an expected total revenue from tourism nearing VNĐ840 trillion.

      To achieve the stated objectives, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng has instructed the VNAT to continue focusing on advising and improving the institutional framework, policies, reviewing identified deficiencies for adjustment, and international commitments in the field of tourism. Collaboration with other ministries and sectors is emphasised to formulate policies for developing various types of products such as agricultural tourism and digital transformation in tourism. He also noted the need for attention on strengthening tourism statistics and digital transformation to enhance the effectiveness of data collection, providing reliable figures to efficiently support tourism policy planning.

      The ministry also calls for enhanced training for tourism officials and workers to meet requirements of new situations, especially in terms of language proficiency and technology expertise. — VNS

      Global Medical Tourism market 

      USD 136.93 billion in 10 years

      Newark, Jan. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 20.07 billion in 2022 global Medical Tourism market will reach USD 136.93 billion by 2032. There is a growing trend towards health and wellness tourism, with individuals seeking medical treatments, preventive care, wellness programs, and holistic health experiences. Medical tourism destinations can capitalize on this trend by offering comprehensive health and wellness packages.

      Furthermore, integrating digital health technologies, including telemedicine, virtual consultations, and electronic health records, can enhance the accessibility and coordination of medical tourism services. Digital platforms can streamline pre-travel consultations, post-treatment follow-ups, and information exchange between healthcare providers and patients. Introducing new and advanced medical treatments, therapies, and procedures can attract medical tourists seeking cutting-edge healthcare solutions. Countries and healthcare providers that stay at the forefront of medical innovation can position themselves as leaders in the industry.

      In addition, customized and personalized medical tourism packages catering to individual patient’s unique needs and preferences present an opportunity for service providers. Tailoring experiences that include cultural activities, recovery retreats, and concierge services can set providers apart in a competitive market.

      Besides, wellness tourism, including genetic testing and personalized health assessments, is gaining traction. Medical tourism destinations can offer specialized wellness packages, including genetic evaluations and preventive health screenings, to attract individuals interested in proactive healthcare.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)