The Emirate of Dubai in positioning itself as one of the leading travel destinations of the world, has stepped up its efforts to attract more of Chinese tourists. At present, as per data submitted by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) of Dubai, Chinese travelers form only three percent of total overnight stays. To increase the numbers, Dubai Duty Free has partnered with Ctrip, which is one of China’s largest online travel agencies with more than one hundred and forty million registered users. The body has also partnered with Union Pay which will now offer similar services as Visa or MasterCard to Chinese visitors to Dubai. Such initiatives will also have a positive effect on tourism jobs for Chinese nationals as presently they make up only ten percent of total employees of Dubai Duty free at less than six hundred but now expected to cross seven hundred.

Source:http://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-tourism/dubai-adds-partnerships-to-bring-in-more-chinese-visitors

Recent studies conducted in China have confirmed that quality of life for rural residents especially senior citizens remains a major quandary. It needs to be improved but quickly. Thus the idea of rural tourism is doing the rounds. What is particularly critical for rural tourism to achieve is to foster a sense of pride for the people about their rural hearths. Due to China’s stupendous economic rise over the past three decades, rural life has almost attained comical status in the country with images of poverty, ignorance, insanitation, backwardness and even barbarism being common themes cited by those based in urban areas. Thus the form of rural tourism being attempted seeks to integrate the traditional life along with modern comforts, aesthetics and recreation. A “bed and breakfast” model is being developed in order to avoid the trappings of mass tourism. The model is being developed in accordance with some tourism consulting professionals.

Source:http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4077946.html

Dubai has reached the landmark of a hundred thousand hotel rooms with the addition of Westin’s property on Al Habtoor City. A tourism consulting report prepared by the Master Card Global Destination Cities Index ranks Dubai at number four among cities visited globally but on top for international overnight visitor spend. The Emirate is expected to reach thirty five million plus room nights by the year 2018 representing a nearly eleven percent growth since 2015. Also the forecast for 2018 says that Dubai is expected to boast a 77% room occupancy ratio. The Dubai government is targeting more theme parks, cultural districts and other entertainment avenues to attract more tourists by 2020.

source:http://www.traveldailymedia.com/242518/dubai-reaches-100000-hotel-room-milestone/

Agri-based tourism is booming in Hawaii. One of the reasons for that is progressive government policy regulating but also promoting the integration between agriculture and tourism. While, traditionally, mainland Americans and other travelers have been visiting Hawaii for the purpose of ‘sun, sand and surf’, there is more to the archipelago. The agricultural region is authentic where visitors can try the authentic food and drink. This initiative is also generating numerous tourism jobs in the region. A symposium has been organized at the college on Hilo island to promote this new thinking.

source:http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/agritourism-group-sees-bright-future

The state of Johor in Malaysia wants to emulate the South Korea’s success as a medical tourism destination. South Korea has emerged as prime destination for not only Koreans but also foreigners who want specific treatments. Recently, the Chief Minister of Johor has signed MoUs with two leading hospitals in the country. These specialty hospitals- Daejon Wellness and DK Medical Centre- will act asbusiness consulting partners to Johor as the latter seeks to attract medical travelers. It has been observed that scores of middle-class Indonesians travel to Singapore to get their treatments done. This is the space that Johor primarily wants to attract in the initial phase.

Source:  http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/johor-wants-emulate-korean-model-medical-tourism

Tourism numbers both inbound as well as internal are growing in Germany. This has been a constant theme over the last few years. A tourism consulting report provided by the DTV (German Tourism Association) has confirmed that overnight stay numbers have risen by four percent or seventeen million totaling now to more than four hundred and fifty million. The rise has been especially strong along the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas as well as Bavaria and around Lake Constance. Not all parts of the country are gaining from this boom though and they need to get their act together in order to leverage the current situation.

Source: http://www.dw.com/en/tourism-in-germany-takes-off/a-19512602

The Spiti Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh has long been hidden from most of the world but all that changed when the Indian government opened up the place for tourism in the early 1990s. The people here used to lead simple lives where greed was spurned and violence was condemned. The influx of tourists has brought massive changes such as economic development but also related problems. Grains and lentils not possible to grow here are now part of the diet but so are junk food items. There now are asphalt roads being constructed and flush toilets depleting or even polluting the Spiti river. Tourism consulting provided by Ecosphere confirms that the influx of foreign tourists like every year has increased again in 2016. While mass tourism has its pitfalls, the local community with help from outsiders is forging ahead with eco-tourism.

Sourcehttp://columbustelegram.com/travel/tourism-transforms-long-hidden-buddhist-valley-in-himalayas/article_dff898f9-a5e3-56f3-971e-d741dad2434e.html