For the eighth consecutive year, international tourism numbers saw an increase. This year though, the growth was particularly high at 7%. As per business research conducted by the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the number has crossed nine-hundred million for this year, with July and August alone accounting for about a third of that figure. The usual sluggish rates during the summer months did not impact this year. Africa and Europe grew the fastest in comparison to relative laggards in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and the Americas which experienced a mere three percent growth. Within Europe, it is the Mediterranean region that has seen double-digit growth, while in Asia, it was the south that led the way. There was a growth among outbound tourist numbers in all major source markets. The top growth among source markets remained China, South Korea, USA and Canada followed by the UK, Australia and Italy while France grew the least. Outside the top ten, Russia and Brazil both saw double-digit growth.

Source: https://www.tourism-review.com/international-tourism-registered-positive-numbers-news10371

Uploaded Date:23 November 2017

Beyond the conventional path, Italy wants to experiment with what is called ‘slow tourism’. This will include offerings away from international mass tourism, which is why, the country’s Minister of Culture has set up an internet portal catering to environmentally conscious travellers. The cultural circuits could be covered up on bikes, horses or old trains. This web portal is a true business innovation listing more than forty long hiking trails such as the Frankenweg which runs from Canterbury to Rome. Another is the Via Francigena path that connects Reims, Lausanne, Siena and the Aosta Valley. Italy, UK, Spain and France are the major sources for travellers to such trails.

Source: https://www.tourism-review.com/slow-tourism-is-the-trend-in-italy-news10372

Uploaded Date:21 November 2017

Like most industries, tourism and hospitality need to wake up to digital trends. While the larger chains with professional managers are faring better, smaller outlets are not being able to keep up. Digital trends are also proving to be especially effective in communicating sustainable forms of tourism. It can also lend voice to greater individuality or authenticity. It has been observed that meaningful pictures can convey the message better than long-winded texts. Use of blogging and rating platforms are an effective method of expanding the reach of digital marketing. In the digital age, it is all the more pertinent that the team responds to feedback, queries or criticism as soon as possible. Online booking- both direct as well as indirect- can also be well boosted using digital platforms.

Source: https://www.tourism-review.com/digital-trends-for-the-hospitality-industry-news10366

Uploaded Date:21 November 2017

Genealogical research has become highly democratized thanks to the proliferation of websites dedicated to the same such as Genea Net, My Heritage and Ancestry. One part of the world where in particular genealogical tourism is trending substantially is the French-speaking Quebec province of Canada. Many Quebeckers trace their origin to the French province of Normany, evidenced by the fact that four of the ten most common surnames among Quebeckers are of exclusive Norman descent with another five being of partially so. A lot of pioneering settlers were also from the cities of Paris, Rouen, Dieppe and La Rochelle, especially women, many of whom were sent from orphanages to resettle and eventually populate the colonies in Canada. Local authorities are hopeful that this genealogical journey provides the economic impetus this ageing part of the country requires especially by creating new tourism jobs.

Source: https://www.tourism-review.com/genealogical-tourism-to-boost-normandy-economy-news10369

Uploaded Date:18 November 2017

The latest form of tourism to have hit the circuit is called prefixed Dark. This form of tourism relates to visiting places with an unpleasant background. Places could include mausoleums, cemeteries, battlefields, mass graves, places of executions or torture or ones where prominent people may have died. Also on this list are those related to slavery or those that witnessed natural calamities such as hurricanes and tsunamis. Some of the most popular sites on this circuit include the Bran Castle in Romania, Auschwitz in Poland, Naples in Italy, the Paris catacombs in France and the Eastern State Penitentiary in USA. A tourism consulting exercise taken up by the Council of Europe has gone to the lengths to define thirty-seven such sites across sixteen countries on the continent, with Spain featuring most numerously. Latest innovations on this circuit include tours to re-enact the plight of illegal migrants on the Mexico-US border and now narco-tours in Colombia.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/dark-tourism-includes-various-niches-news10368

Uploaded Date:18 November 2017

In a detailed tourism consulting report prepared by UNESCO, thirty-one world heritage sites from twenty-nine different countries have been listed which are endangered due to climate change. The Institute of Oceanography affiliated to the University of San Diego explains that Venice in Italy has seen substantial rise in sea levels and could sink further over the next twenty years, rendering it unsuitable for human survival. Rising sea levels and fierce storms also endanger the Neolithic structures at Stonehenge in the UK. Drier and warmer winters are also playing their part. The Easter Islands off Chile are getting threatened by ever rising sea waves. The Galapagos Islands off Ecuador are being affected by illegal fishing and the effects of El Nino. In addition, threatened sites include the Statue of Liberty in the US, the Cape Floristic Region in South Africa and Cartagena de Indias in Colombia.

Source:https://www.tourism-review.com/climate-change-endangers-world-heritage-sites-news10339

Uploaded Date:16 November 2017

Studies have shown that reward points in the travel and tourism industry are not creating the impact they were supposed to and created for. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that another study reveals that more than four billion reward points went unused in the UK alone last year. The entire system is designed by the travel operators to cater to the hotels rather than guests. That is where Trippki’s business innovation can prove to be of great value to the industry and travellers alike. They have created a stock of cryptocurrencies which work using blockchain technology. With each transaction, the tourist receives a TRIP token which can be redeemed across properties.

Source:ttps://www.tourism-review.com/trippki-introduced-brand-new-travel-reward-system-news10343

Uploaded Date:15 November 2017