Online booking sites such as Booking.com have increased the business for hotels but at the cost of almost disempowering the hotelier. In order to cater to these sites’ commissions, hotels have had to raise their base rates. The Senior VP at Phocuswright, which is a marketing research firm dedicated to tourism industry, says that 2016 was the year when for the first-time traffic from these third-party websites was more than that from native hotel websites. To counter this parasitic approach from them, hotels are looking at blockchain as a way to bail themselves out. Blockchain networks are easy to implement and much less costly than working on their websites. They also provide long-term reward points far more attractive than through any other means. A study conducted by IMI some time back revealed how more than two-thirds of customers were expected to return when the right reward points was in place. This is another reason why the Crown Prince of Dubai has invested heavily in the same.

Source:https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/the-benefits-of-blockchain-in-the-travel-and-hospitality-industry-201809130726

Uploaded Date:26 September 2018

Tattoos are seeing a resurgence in popularity across Europe and North America. That is all the more reason that travelers from the two most prosperous continents must consider before visiting Japan. Here, tattoos are seen in a negative light due to their historical association with the Yakuza thugs. This disdain in public life originated during the Edo period in the 1600s when criminals were branded with such tattoos. As a result of this association, several marginalized groups in the country began to copy tattooing as a sign of protest. The business innovation of the tattoo artist trade emerged after the occupying American forces in Japan got fascinated by the large-scale body art. Now, it is advisable for travelers to temporarily cover these tattoos.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/traveling-in-japan-without-any-tattoos-news10731

Uploaded Date:15 September 2018

Hotel room rates are set to rise substantially in the year 2019. These are cause by a multitude of factors depending mainly around demand and supply. A tourism consulting report titled Hotel Monitor 2019 published by the American Express Global Business Travel, has confirmed these figures. Rates will grow between 3 and 17% in most European cities, but will be more moderated in the US or Latin America. The only region that will go away from this trend is the Middle East where rates will actually drop on average by 13%. This is because of a large number of underused properties built in recent years, plus the tensions generated by geopolitical unrest. Among cities with the highest rise will be Istanbul, Ankara and Dublin at 17, 11 and 7% respectively. In the Asia-Pacific region, Auckland, Shenzhen and Manila are expected to see the highest rise.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/hotel-rates-expected-to-increase-news10729

Uploaded Date:13 September 2018

Tourism consulting firm Refund My Ticket has confirmed that the percentage and absolute number of cancelled flights across Europe has actually worsened in 2018. 1.28% of flights got cancelled compared to a figure half that at 0.63% for last year. Among the thirty airlines identified as the most active in Europe, only three- Transavia, Air Baltic and Air Europa- have reduced their flight cancellation rates while two more- Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines- have maintained the previous rate. All others have gone down. Vueling has best compensation rate at 4.065 while only five of the airlines have actually improved this rate over last year. These five are- Aeroflot, Transavia, Turkish Airlines, Air Baltic and Air Europa. Alitalia meanwhile has maintained last year’s figures, but others have gone down.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/european-air-traffic-is-less-punctual-news10724

Uploaded Date:13 September 2018

A trip to Antarctica is of course a once-in-a-lifetime experience, majority cannot even dream of accomplishing. However, those going ahead need to take adequate precautions while planning. To start with a good travel agency or tour operator would be needed. Poseidon Expeditions ins one such reliable travel partner because they were amongst the first ones to come up with this business innovation and further scale it up. Before going ahead, one needs to consult a doctor, because such extreme temperatures cannot be tolerated by all, irrespective of age. One must take up special extreme weather clothes. One mustn’t end up packing too much, as most cruise ships contain the essential items anyway for a comfortable stay. The traveler must be clear on what activities he/she wishes to undertake. Different packages are available from separate tour providers, so thorough research on the activities on board is a must.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/antarctica-expedition-tips-news10723

Uploaded Date:11 September 2018

Several traditional players in the tourism industry, notably travel agencies are losing control over the choices that travellers make, thanks to the vast treasure trove of digital data now available. Review websites, online comparison tools and booking search engines have further complicated the survival of some industry players. To cope with these major disruptions, Big Data needs to be leveraged. There are five major use-cases as highlighted in a report by the IMF Business School, where this technology is being used by tourism players. The first such is Smart Bracelets which using a radio frequency system, can unlock hotel rooms or make purchases as done very well at Disney’s theme parks. Similar gadgets are also being used to executive a direct charge at mini-bars. Geolocated offers have also emerged taking advantage of location tracking. Airports 4.0 is a mechanism by which airport transfers can take place with the minimum of fuss. Personalized welcomes are also now available at hotels taking advantage of the vast data warehousing now being done, which helps service providers pinpoint the exact tastes and preferences of regular users. Blockchain is one area not yet used in a big way, but is a definite must for the coming times.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/big-data-apps-are-used-more-often-news10713

Uploaded Date:11 September 2018

People travel to different countries for various reasons. One reason now emerging is fertility tourism. This is meant for couples to get assisted reproductive procedure. As per business intelligence gathered, several countries are popular for this version of travel such as – Spain, India, Hungary, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, Greece and Ukraine. But among these, the Czech Republic stands out due to its popularity with both British and American travelers. There are multifold favorable factors which leads to this, starting with its location right in the middle of Europe, so easy to reach. The costs are also quite reasonable. The fertility laws are liberal on the one hand, but with the right checks-and-balances necessary to ensure fair practices. Neither has there ever been any complaint regarding the quality, which is by-and-large regarded as top-class.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/fertility-tourism-czech-republic-top-destination-news10711

Uploaded Date:04 September 2018