Starfish Travel Corporation Team

There are almost 120 graduates from the current batch of 290—23 nationalities and 27 women—who are already employed by Emirates as full-time pilots. These aspirational and driven individuals are cadets of the Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA), forming the next generation of pilots vital to the aviation industry. EFTA, which was founded with an emphasis on the national cadet pilot program for Emirates, currently provides cadets from all over the world with their top-notch instruction. In addition to the amazing success of its grads, all of whom were hired by Emirates following a rigorous hiring process, the academy is soaring thanks to the incorporation of three brand-new Diamond planes into its training curriculum. The cadets range in age from 17 to 26 years old, however the bulk are fresh high school graduates. As a matter of fact, an Emirates cabin crew member has fulfilled the rigorous qualifying requirements of EFTA and is now a cadet. “EFTA is fully focused on establishing a reliable stream of pilots for the aviation industry, which has been staring at scarcity in the short to long term,” stated Captain Abdulla Al Hammadi, Divisional Vice President of Emirates Flight Training Academy. “We are providing ambitious cadets with a visionary academy based in an iconic and one of the safest cities that is also one of the largest aviation hubs on the planet.” With over fifty highly qualified teachers and the support of Emirates, the largest international airline in the world, we offer one of the most advanced cadet training programs available. Seeing the unity and cooperation among our cadets as they graduate with the greatest levels of abilities and competences needed by commercial pilots, ready for the real world, is encouraging. The Diamond DA42-VI light piston twin-engine aircraft, which has successfully introduced multi-engine piston training at the academy, is currently another aircraft that EFTA’s cadets fly. Essentially, this implies that cadets receive training on light jets with one, two, and three engines. Among flight training academies, which typically train cadets on one or two types of aircraft, this is an unusual occurrence. Instructors from EFTA will be available to discuss details of the Academy’s fleet and cadet training program while the organization displays its Diamond DA42-VI and Cirrus SR22 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow. Following the epidemic, occupations in flight deck have experienced a significant upsurge in demand. Aviation is becoming a more sought-after vocation due to factors such as rising salaries, fast-paced career paths, rapid airline expansion, sophisticated aircraft, and rising travel demand. Oliver Wyman’s most recent research indicates that by 2026, there would be a 24,000 pilot shortage compared to the current deficit of roughly 17,000 available pilots. In order to provide UAE citizens and foreign students who have never flown before with flight training, Emirates introduced EFTA in 2017. Every graduate has the exclusive chance to go through the hiring process at Emirates. Modern fleet of 29 training aircraft, including 4 Embraer Phenom 100EV very light jets, 3 Diamond DA42-VI light piston twin-engine aircraft, and 22 Cirrus SR22 G6 single-engine pistons, are combined with state-of-the-art learning technology at the Academy. Spread across 12.5 million sq.ft (1.2 million sq.m), or 200 football fields, EFTA’s state-of-the-art complex houses 36 contemporary classrooms, 6 full motion flight simulators, a separate air traffic control tower, and a 1,800-meter runway. Cadets reside on campus in individually designed studio apartments that are completely furnished and offer an excellent array of social events, recreational opportunities, and fine food. Ground school (52 weeks): Two 86-inch touchscreens with custom training software designed just for EFTA are installed in each of the 36 classrooms. Cadets receive at least 1,100 hours of instruction on the ground, and they use their own digitally connected devices to access the curriculum in an interactive learning environment. During the 52-week, 272-hour Flying Phase, cadets receive training on three different types of training aircraft and simulators. These are the words of two EFTA alums Who are presently Cadet Pilots With Emirates:  Australian native Thomas Saunders, a cadet pilot with Emirates, stated: “I’ve been fascinated by how these big machines could stay in the sky from a very young age, and that has led me down the most amazing career path.” One excellent way to get a job at the top airline in the world is through Emirates Flight Training Academy. Additionally, I believed that an airline with such high standards and a strong focus on quality would inevitably provide the greatest mentoring and training in the aviation industry. My intuition turned out to be correct. “The EFTA cadet group is incredibly close-knit and cooperative. Our training brings out the best in us and positions us for a long, fulfilling, and prosperous career. All the necessities are conveniently located near your home, and the facilities and infrastructure are quite magnificent. “It felt like a dream when I took my first flight. I had only ever dreamed of this: it was just me in control, nature at its most beautiful, and the breathtaking Dubai scenery below me. Prospective cadets thinking about a career in aviation should persevere and embrace the ups and downs since the experience shapes character and the results are beyond anything you could have imagined. Australian citizen Jordan Engeler, an Emirates cadet pilot, stated: “I’ve always had a deep fascination for the aviation industry and the sense of freedom it offers.” I found it immensely fascinating to think that I could pilot a highly advanced aircraft, travel the sky, and see the world from a different angle. The three main aspects of EFTA that I cherished were its world-class training facilities, knowledgeable and encouraging instructors, and a diverse and welcoming community. In the aviation sector, Emirates is well known for its remarkable dedication to excellence, innovation, and safety. These ideals are shared by EFTA, which also provides an excellent training program that exactly matched my goal of becoming a highly experienced pilot. With its cutting-edge facilities, contemporary fleet of aircraft, and knowledgeable instructors, EFTA provided the perfect setting

Nguyen Thi Huong Lien was an aspirational young lady. She opened a modest tour company with just $100 USD in hand, knowing that it would give her plenty of opportunity to improve her English through conversations with foreign visitors to Hue. The CEO of I Love Hue Tour, Nguyen Thi Huong Lien, spoke with the IWTA Committee about her love of travel and tourism and how she founded a tour company while still a student. How did you begin working in the travel sector? And why does the travel sector? A: In my third year of college, I launched my tourism business, I Love Hue Tour. My goal was to increase my English language skills by conversing with strangers. After realizing that the tourism business is a sensible one that gives me regular opportunities to interact with international tourists, I made the decision to become qualified as a tour guide and organize female scooter excursions in Hue, Vietnam. It became my passion because I saw the potential in female students working in the tourism sector; as a result of our employment, we gain confidence every day. Furthermore, the neighborhood prospers when we do the trips to nearby companies and non-governmental organization initiatives. Indeed, tourism has a significant positive impact on our economy. Could you describe a pivotal experience from your life that sparked your love of travel? A: In 2017 at the APEC summit, I got to meet Mrs. Sheryl Sanberg. It was the pinnacle of my experience managing I Love Hue Tour, my own business. I vividly recall that when we first met, we talked a lot about community and gender equality. My enthusiasm for women’s empowerment was ignited after meeting her, and I worked assiduously to establish the business in five Vietnamese towns and one Laotian city in the hopes of helping more female students with their English language proficiency and financial literacy through employment in the travel and tourist sector. We rebranded the business as the I Love Asia Tour in 2020. In total, 180 female students from the area came and assisted us as tour guides. Being a CEO is not an easy journey; in order to be able to guide my team, I must embrace the fact that I am a lifelong learner. Could you describe a difficult project you worked on in your travel industry and the steps you took to overcome it? A CEO’s journey is not a simple one; in order to effectively manage my team, I must embrace the daily learning that comes with the job. Managing the finances is a problem for me because I have to ensure steady revenue growth and profit for the company. I took several finance classes to gain additional knowledge of this crucial ability, and it was beneficial. Q: In what ways has your employment or work in travel increased your awareness of various cultures and customs? A: Tourism is a sensible sector, as I have stated. It enables me to gain knowledge from individuals worldwide on a variety of viewpoints. I continually learn new things about history, culture, customs, language, and tradition as a tour guide so that I can educate visitors. I am really appreciative of my tour guide profession since it has allowed me to travel the world and make many friends. I also get to learn new things every day at work. Tour I Love Hue Could you tell us about how you came to launch your own travel-related project or business? A: I got $100 USD in cash when I developed and organized the I Love Hue Tour. When I was a university student, I constructed nearly everything by myself. My goals were to improve my English and use tourism to give back to the local community. While I initially had assistance from IT for the website builder, I put in a lot of effort on my own to handle the remaining tasks, which included recruiting, forming partnerships, social media marketing, content authoring, tour guiding, financial administration, and tour operation. All of them have forced me to quickly pick up the skills I need to properly manage the startup. The company was once known as I Love Hue Tour, then in 2018 it changed its name to I Love Vietnam Tour. We finally created the I Love Asia Tour, a global branding initiative, in 2020. After COVID 19, we are now growing a small business once more, thus the I Love Hue Tour is still in place. What alterations in travel patterns do you foresee following the pandemic? A: I believe the tourist sector is working to grow sustainably, and following COVID 19, I want to see more environmentally friendly travel. I hope more eco-friendly travel may be developed. Furthermore, it would be fantastic if tourism could encourage more neighborhood events. What character or identity would you choose if you could inhabit any role in the world? A: My goal is to represent women in the travel and tourism sector. Source- Travel daily

Kershing Goh has been appointed as the Regional Director of Europe by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), with the responsibility of spearheading business development efforts, marketing campaigns, and strategic planning for Singapore across the continent. The main offices in London, Frankfurt, and Brussels are under Ms. Goh’s purview, and she is tasked with expanding the European markets as a major source of tourism to Singapore. Ms. Goh left her position as Senior Vice President, Future tourist, located in the US, to take up her new role in London. In that capacity, she developed strong relationships with international technology and idea bellwethers to recognize trends and implement them in the nation’s tourist industry. Additionally, Ms. Goh played a key role in enabling STB to be the first destination partner to adopt Google’s early access program, which allowed STB to jointly develop new use cases for XR and geospatial tourism. “Europe remains an important region for Singapore, with strong air connectivity coupled with a deep consumer appetite for international travel,” Ms. Goh said in response to her nomination. Being able to join the European team during this period of great transition is an honor. My main goal is to make sure Singapore stays innovative for people who already know us and surpasses expectations for those who are visiting for the first time, with amazing new offers for both business and pleasure that are beautifully encapsulated in our new “Made in Singapore” campaign. We push ourselves to always present Singapore as the preferred travel destination in Asia by means of continuous innovation and revitalization. Ms. Goh has been employed by the Singapore Tourism Board since 2014. She spent more than five years as the region director for the Americas before taking on the position of senior vice president for future tourism. During her time in the private sector, she held positions as the first USA country manager for the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Vice President of the US-based destination representation company, MMGY Myriad, with headquarters in New York. She also worked on strategy and market development projects for numerous international clients. Kershing taught the Master of Tourism Planning and Policies at New York University as an adjunct lecturer as well. As Executive Director of World Expo and Special Projects, Ms. Goh succeeds Ms. Carrie Kwik, who is returning to Singapore and will continue to work with STB. Source- Travel daily

With the largest-ever delegation of 108 Portuguese travel agencies, Visit Portugal is thrilled to announce its presence at the World Travel Market, one of the most important gatherings for the world’s travel sector. “I am very pleased to attend WTM this year and be a witness of the largest Portuguese participation ever in this relevant fair, in the UK, the Portugal’s primary tourism market, with proposals for every British target,” said Nuno Fazenda, Secretary of State for Tourism. We are dedicated to creating and promoting unique travel experiences that enhance the value of the destinations and the traveler experience, increasing Portugal’s appeal and achieving our goal of expansion. We firmly believe in the importance of accepting diversity and standing by our goal of making Portugal one of the world’s most competitive, secure, and environmentally friendly travel destinations. The growing number of Portuguese companies at WTM is indicative of Portugal’s strong desire to grow its business in the UK market, of the bilateral relations between Portugal and the UK, and of Portugal’s exceptional attraction as a travel destination. We draw attention to the importance of the UK market, which is Portugal’s main source of tourists and has so far produced consistently outstanding outcomes. January through August 2023 will see a 5% increase in overnight stays and an 11% increase in tourism-related income compared to 2019. Furthermore, with a rise of more than 5%, travelers from the UK accounted for the greatest proportion of foreign overnight stays in Portugal. Portugal continues to thrive and is becoming a popular travel destination for British tourists. In addition, there was an 11% increase in international airport arrivals in 2023 compared to 2019, and a roughly 25% increase in year-over-year growth (2023 vs 2022). Portugal has introduced a diverse and excellent array of year-round tourism experiences, including wine tourism, nature, cultural heritage, art, literature, architecture, and gastronomy, as part of its strategic approach to the tourism industry. Portugal has been able to stand out and reinvent itself. Portugal’s tourism plan, which is dedicated to funding tourist-related investment projects and supporting and prioritizing investments in technology, infrastructure, and human resources, also places a strong emphasis on sustainability and authenticity. Portugal is committed to boosting travel to its interior regions, hoping to establish year-round travel throughout the nation, improve locals’ quality of life, draw tourists to the area, and revitalize the local landmarks, customs, history, and culture. All delegates are cordially invited by Visit Portugal to stop by their stand at WTM 2023, where they can learn about Portugal’s many attractions and network with representatives from a vibrant and varied tourism sector. At Visit Portugal stand N4-200, Visit Portugal looks forward to seeing you. Source- Travel daily Link-https://www.traveldailymedia.com/visit-portugal-gears-up-for-largest-participation-ever-at-wtm/

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) UK and Europe office has revealed that 2023 tourist numbers are expected to exceed the target of over 70% of 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Air arrivals during the month of January through August 2023 are in line with the Cayman Islands’ busiest year, when 14,583 visitors from the UK arrived. Arrivals from outside the UK are estimated at 8,597 as of August 2023, with the busiest travel season still to come and forward bookings appearing healthy. Rosa Harris, the director of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, states, “We are thrilled with the numbers this year. The Cayman Islands’ economy is mostly dependent on tourism, and with our top-notch eating and diving options, we have enough to offer visitors of all stripes. In order to revive the Cayman Islands’ tourism industry following the epidemic, my team and I have made investments in and strengthened our ties with British Airways and the travel industry. “Going ahead, 2024 will be a significant year for the Cayman Islands as we welcome the opening of Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, the first of its kind in the Caribbean, Kailani, A Curio Collection by Hilton Resort, and VIDA Cayman, an eco-sustainable tourism development centered on wellness and adventure. We also anticipate welcoming the five-star Mandarin Oriental Grand Cayman and Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Hotel & Residences, which are both slated to open in 2025, to our portfolio. Working closely with our industry partners, we will be attending events and trainings to improve trade engagement and, above all, to reaffirm our position as the premier location for unhurried exploration on vacation. The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) UK and Europe office announced this year that the Cayman Islands Training program and related agent incentive would be relaunching. When the course was first introduced in 2019, it was updated with new and relevant information. For example, British Airways started offering a fifth weekly flight to the destination in January 2023. Other updates included information about accommodations, such as the recently renovated Palm Heights and Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, as well as the exciting new properties that will open this year: Vida Ocean Adventure Lodge and Kailani Cayman, A Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel. The program now offers expert-led content videos as well, which allow viewers to delve deeper into each of the three islands—Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Hannah Stitfall, presenter of Springwatch on the BBC, hosts the inaugural webcast. and highlights the amazing fauna of the area, such as the native blue iguanas that are unique to Grand Cayman, while a well-known TV personality hosts a gourmet series. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/cayman-islands-on-track-to-surpass-visitation-goals/

The greatest strategies for travelers to deal with the impending disruptions to their travel plans are disclosed by AirHelp, the largest air passenger rights organization in the world. According to data from AirHelp, 7.3 million travelers in the UK experienced interruptions during their winter air travel. Over 166,000 planes with registered passengers left the UK between December 2022 and February of this year. 23.7 million people traveled during this time. Compared to 2022, when 2.9 million passengers experienced delays or disruptions, this is an increase. During the previous winter, 372,000 flights in the UK were completely canceled and over 203,000 passengers experienced delays longer than three hours. 496,000 of these travelers qualified for reimbursement. It is imperative that travelers are aware of their rights while departing from UK airports, since several airlines have announced flight cancellations this winter in an attempt to prevent additional travel disruptions. All flights leaving from UK airports, flights arriving in the nation on UK or EU airlines, and flights entering the EU on UK airlines are covered by the air passenger rights legislation UK 261. According to this rule, travelers who have delays longer than three hours, cancellations made fewer than fourteen days in advance of departure, overbooking-related denials of boarding, or missed connections resulting in three-hour delays upon arrival are eligible for up to £520. It’s crucial to remember that when disruptions are caused by unusual circumstances, passengers are not entitled to reimbursement. In terms of care, travelers from the UK are entitled to lodging for overnight delays, alternate flights, or a complete refund in the event of rejected boarding, cancellation, or missed connection. Along with being informed of their rights, passengers must also be provided with food and drink after a few hours and be allowed to make two phone calls, send two faxes, or send emails. In addition, travelers should receive up to 75% of their initial ticket price back if an airline downgrades them. This winter, airlines are being forced to postpone flights due to staff shortages, strikes, and overall travel turmoil. At AirHelp, we want to inform travelers of their rights and assist them in using them in the event of unavoidable delays and cancellations. According to Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, “Our disruption data has proven that UK-based airlines and airports have significant opportunities for improvement, to ensure the service they are providing to passengers is as punctual as possible.” Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/airhelp-shares-ways-for-uk-passengers-to-weather-winter-flight-disruptions/