Starfish Travel Corporation Team

A partnership between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Italian State Railways, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, has made it possible for tourists and visitors to reach Pompeii on Sundays in less than two hours by direct train from Rome. The new service was formally launched on Sunday, 16 July when dignitaries such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, CEO of the FS Italiane Group Luigi Ferraris, and Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano boarded the train for its inaugural trip from Rome’s Termini Station. The project, which boosts the appeal of one of the most well-known archaeological sites in the world and promotes tourism, a significant industry in Italy, was praised by the premier. A Frecciarossa 1000 train, the flagship of the Trenitalia fleet, provides the no-change service between Rome and Pompeii, serving as a tool to promote tourism and culture while enhancing access to the nation’s historical resources. Every Sunday at 8:53, the train will depart from Roma Termini and arrive in Pompeii at 10:40. A video clip will be streamed on the in-flight monitors during the trip to provide passengers with an overview of the history of the ancient city of Pompeii. A Pompeii Link shuttle bus will be waiting to transport passengers to the archaeological site when the Frecciarossa arrives at its destination. Return passengers arrive at Roma Termini at 20:55 after leaving at 18:40. With the new service, there will be 50 Frecciarossa daily return trips between Rome and Pompeii. Passengers will board the high-speed train at the Napoli Centrale station and transfer to a Trenitalia regional train at the Piazza Garibaldi station. A fresh opportunity to learn more about a spot where time stopped in 79 CE. A priceless archaeological heritage site that annually attracts millions of tourists and fascinates them. Source- Travel daily

Travellers can now get travel tips and destination recommendations in 11 languages from Digitrips, the company that owns the popular French multi-product travel platform MisterFly. The brand-new function, created by the mobile solutions division of Digitrips called mTrip, is currently being tested in the group’s MisterFly App and will soon be included in the app’s white-label version used by travel companies and tour operators around the world. The move coincides with mTrip’s celebration of an impressive 70% increase in the number of Passenger Name Records (PNRs) managed in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. mTrip provides custom-branded travel companion applications for travel providers. The software provider serves 140 B2B clients globally, processes over 4 million PNRs annually, and powers a number of apps for the Digitrips group, including MisterFly, the largest multi-product travel platform in France. “With generative AI, we’re witnessing the birth of a new way of searching for information,” said Emilie Dumont, CEO of Digitrips. Travellers will receive precise and personalised recommendations from our new virtual assistant, enabling them to efficiently plan and maximise their trip. It won’t be long before our primary B2B clients and their travellers can enhance their custom-branded travel apps with our tailored, user-friendly, and intelligent AI assistant. The intelligent tool is already live for MisterFly users. “Our virtual assistant service assists travellers with discovering attractions and experiences, as well as giving them insightful knowledge about their chosen destination and local tips such as “where should I go for my jogging this morning?”,” said Frédéric de Pardieu, CEO of mTrip, a division of Digitrips. Although it is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, our flexible solution is built to integrate seamlessly with other conversational AI tools, such as Google Bard, to maintain the ease and speed of travel planning for both leisure and business travellers. Source- Travel daily

In its 18th year of operation, Corendon Airlines has added Boeing 737-8 aircraft to its fleet in order to upgrade the travelling experience for passengers and boost productivity with cutting-edge technological features. With its direct flights from numerous European nations, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Poland, and many others, Corendon Airlines has established itself as a major international holiday airline. Corendon Airlines, which is starting its 19th season, keeps renewing its fleet. It is one of Turkey’s top airlines and flies to well-liked vacation spots in Greece, Spain, and Egypt. There will be a total of 7 Boeing 737-8s flying in the Corendon colours. According to research done by the Turkish Exporters Assembly, Corendon Airlines, which rose to the eighth-ranked company with the highest number of service exports in 2022 and established itself in Europe and Turkey with its successful flights and operations, has added a new aircraft to its fleet. The newest aircraft in the Corendon Airlines fleet is a TC-MKG registered Boeing 737-8 model that was produced at the Renton factory of Boeing and delivered directly from the delivery facility in Seattle. Corendon Airlines acquired a total of 7 Boeing 737-8s after the new aircraft were delivered last year. The airline is continuing to revitalise its fleet with the factory-built aircraft it has added. These aircraft’s cutting-edge technology allows the airline to operate more effectively while providing passengers with a high level of comfort and a quieter flight. The new generation of aircraft also supports Corendon Airlines’ sustainability and environmental protection policies with 15% less fuel consumption, lower carbon emissions, and a 40% lower noise footprint. Source- Travel daily

Due to increased disruption and cancellations in the airline industry, analysis from BR-DGE shows that UK online search volumes for travel refunds increased 17.9% in the seven days leading up to Friday, July 21. The busiest day in June 2023 for UK consumers looking for airline and travel agency refunds was Wednesday, June 7. During June 2023, searches for travel refunds on the five biggest airlines and travel sellers’ websites in the UK decreased by 44.1% year over year, with EasyJet experiencing the biggest decline. “The situation for airlines and travel agents right now is a tale of two stories,” said BR-DGE Senior Travel Specialist Emily Whaley in response to the analysis. One the one hand, as consumer demand for vacations and quick getaways continues to be high, travel demand is outpacing expectations and supply. On the other hand, the sector faces a number of challenges because a summer of strike action will make it more likely that vacationers will experience cancellations, delays, and disruptions. This summer, there will undoubtedly be a large number of refund and delay repayment requests due to the severe travel disruption that has recently affected Europe, as most recently demonstrated by the recent heatwave and wildfires. The industry cannot rest on its laurels when it comes to refunds, even though our analysis shows that searches for refunds among UK consumers have decreased by almost half since last year when airports experienced staff shortages. The refund process is cumbersome and difficult for many holiday travellers who have encountered disruptions, which worsens the already unpleasant experience. However, because refunds play a significant role in the customer experience, there is a real chance for airlines and travel agencies to replace antiquated systems and offer customers a top-notch end-to-end payment experience. “The speed at which travel companies handle refunds strengthens their credibility, ensuring that their relationship with customers doesn’t deteriorate. It is crucial that travel sellers put forth great effort to make refunds first-class as demand for refunds rises amid growing disruption. Source- Travel daily

The UK has long been a popular travel destination for both domestic and foreign travellers looking to experience the best of the British countryside, according to Max Schmidt, Head of CamperDays. In fact, its popularity doesn’t seem to be declining, as shown by a 58% increase in campervan vacations to the UK in the first half of 2023. “Campervanning is just a more opulent version of the familiar and beloved camping trip. Many travellers don’t want to leave the conveniences of home and have to make do without necessities like being able to make a cup of tea, using the lavatory, getting a hot shower and having a decent bed to sleep in. The ideal answer to this is a motorhome, which serves as your very own mobile, fully furnished hotel or vacation rental. “Another factor contributing to the rising popularity of campervan holidays is without a doubt the flexibility and freedom offered to travellers regarding their route, schedule, and duration of travel. Since they are not bound to a single hotel or apartment, vacationers are free to explore the area at their own pace. Since there are no check-in or check-out times, they can either make more spontaneous plans or set their own agenda. Unsurprisingly, Scotland has received 55% of the UK’s campervan bookings this year. Harris Beach, the enchanted Fairytale Pools on the Isle of Skye, and not to mention the renowned Loch Lomond, all contribute to Scotland’s unrivalled beauty. Additionally, it is the only country in the UK where it is currently legal to camp wild, giving potential campers many more options for experiencing nature without paying campsite fees. The Cotswolds and the South Downs are two additional well-liked vacation spots in the UK. These bucolic regions of the country are accessible to city dwellers seeking a quick break from the bustle of the city and the stresses of modern life because they are only two hours from the centre of London, where one in four of this year’s campervan bookings were made. Camping has lost some of its appeal when attending live, multi-day events like sporting events and music festivals. Visitors can travel to these events with the confidence that they’ll get a good night’s sleep and a hot shower at the end of a busy day because sporting events and festivals like Glastonbury and Le Mans 24 Hours allow guests to glamp in their own vehicles. Source- Travel daily

To speed up the creation and adoption of digital identities for travel, SITA announced a co-innovation agreement with Indicio, the industry pioneer in open-source verifiable data technology and trusted digital ecosystems. SITA and Indicio, two market leaders in their respective industries, are advancing open-source, decentralised identity technologies that allow for efficient, secure, and privacy-preserving operations both inside airports and throughout the entirety of a journey. Passengers can securely create a digital replica of their physical passport in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards thanks to the development of digital identities or Digital Travel Credentials (DTC). The passenger’s mobile wallet stores the DTC as a verifiable credential. This means that while travelling, travellers retain control over their personal data and give their consent to share it as necessary with various entities. Passengers arrive at the airport prepared to fly with all document checks already completed because only necessary passenger data is shared prior to travel. Since ownership can be automatically and repeatedly verified, the technology has been developed to ensure authenticity and integrity, reducing the likelihood of fraud. The deal comes after a fruitful partnership in which this technology was tested with the government of Aruba. A streamlined procedure that did not require manually entering data from paper travel documents was used by passengers arriving at Queen Beatrix International Airport to apply for their travel authorization. Passengers could then give their consent using a DTC to share any pertinent data with multiple parties directly from their mobile device’s digital wallet, including the government at the port of entry and other touchpoints like hotels or car rental agencies. The adoption of digital identities will represent the biggest technological advance in the travel sector in decades, according to Jeremy Springall, SVP of SITA AT BORDERS. Every step of the identification process will be made simpler, and it will allow the air transport sector to fully benefit from seamless travel and the digital economy. SITA and Indicio are honoured to be driving the effort. Indicio CEO Heather Dahl stated: “Over the past three years, we’ve worked together to advance this technology with a shared vision for what it can do. It is difficult to understate just how significant SITA’s leadership has been in the field of open-source verifiable credential technology and decentralised identity. And we were fulfilled . Now that the horizon has widened, a wide range of applications are available. We will make all of these applications a reality for travellers, flight crew, airports, borders, hotels, and governments with SITA’s DTC utilising Indicio ProvenTM technology. We are eager to see what this partnership can create and accomplish. Source- Travel daily

Three artists, three extraordinary train rides. Taking The Ghan, Indian Pacific, or Great Southern across Australia from three different perspectives. At Adelaide Parklands Rail Terminal in Adelaide, where each of the rail journeys starts, ends, or in the case of the Indian Pacific, pauses on their way through, these journeys served as the inspiration for the artwork in an exhibition that is being held throughout August. The exhibition, which is being presented by Journey Beyond as a part of the South Australian Living Arts (SALA) festival, is free and open to the public every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday in August from 1-4pm. The artworks will be offered for online bidding by art and rail enthusiasts in South Australia and elsewhere, with the majority of the proceeds going to charities chosen by each of the artists. Australia’s landscapes, according to David Donald, Executive General Manager, Rail at Journey Beyond, “are as varied as they are large.” “It’s inspiring to see how three different artists have interpreted the story of Australia in The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern, which each tell the tale of Australia. I’m thrilled to extend an invitation to anyone who enjoys art or taking trains to visit Adelaide Parklands Terminal to see this outstanding exhibition or to browse the artwork available for bidding online, knowing that the money raised will benefit other Australians. The train journeys of each artist taking part in The Art of Rail have been interpreted in a variety of ways. An impressionist painter named Roscoe Shelton rode The Ghan across the dusty red earth of central Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. Roscoe took up painting later in life after having a career full of colour and tales, and he now uses it to transport you to a different reality through his work. As his preferred charity, Roscoe has suggested Rotary Adelaide. Rotary Adelaide is one of 1.4 million leaders and problem-solvers worldwide who collaborate with various communities to bring about long-lasting change. Mali Isabel is an Adelaide-based Arabana and Kokatha artist who resides and works on Kaurna land. Mali travelled from Brisbane to Adelaide during the summertime on the Great Southern, gliding past picturesque coastal landscapes under clear skies. Mali uses modern dot paintings that feature every colour of the rainbow to spread her message of equality and positivity and to spark meaningful dialogue. The Healing Foundation has been proposed by Mali as her chosen charity. The Stolen Generations survivors’ voices and lived experiences are amplified by The Healing Foundation, a national organisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Artist Luke Rabl produces work in a variety of media, including ceramics, paintings, and illustrations. Themes range from the whimsical and eclectic to abstract landscape images that emotionally engage the viewer. Luke used the colour schemes and textural qualities of the Australian landscape he saw during this journey as inspiration as he travelled across the continent on the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth, stopping to eat in the middle of nowhere under a blanket of stars. Luke has suggested GIVIT, a national nonprofit group that uses an online platform to match generosity with real need. GIVIT CEO Sarah Tennant expressed her excitement to be a part of the Art of Rail project. Due to the rising cost of living, the recovery from natural disasters, domestic and family violence, or homelessness, the needs of vulnerable people throughout Australia have more than doubled in the last 12 months, according to data from the GIVIT platform. Mali Isabel, Roscoe Shelton, and Luke Rabl are all artists, and we are so appreciative of their support of the vital work we do across the nation. On August 1 and running through August 31, the Adelaide Parklands Terminal will host the Art of Rail exhibition. All Australians have access to the exhibition through the online auction platform. Source- Travel daily

Australia’s largest festival, Vivid Sydney, is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for its 2024 event schedule after breaking attendance records in 2023. More than 3.28 million people visited Vivid Sydney in 2023 to take in the program’s 300+ light, music, idea, and food events. As of right now, anyone who wants to be a part of the 2024 programme and share the unifying, creative vision of “Vivid Sydney, Humanity” is invited to do so. As part of an event that exemplifies Sydney’s status as the major events capital of the Asia Pacific, Vivid Sydney, according to Steve Cox, CEO of Destination NSW, presents an extraordinary opportunity for those in the creative sector to showcase their talents to a large and far-reaching audience. According to Cox, “Vivid Sydney is a globally recognised event that combines creativity, innovation, and technology through the eyes of local and international talent in our magnificent Harbour City.” “There is no other city in the world that could host this festival in the same manner. Vivid Sydney has become an icon in its own right thanks to the special fusion of location and creativity, and it is an excellent example of how the arts, culture, and creative industries can come together to create unforgettable visitor experiences that draw people to the city repeatedly, according to him. Cox said, “I strongly encourage all creatives in the arts, music, thought, and food to express their interest in being a part of Vivid Sydney 2024. The Light, Music, Ideas, and Food pillars of Vivid Sydney 2024 are now accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI). Ideas, Music, and Food EOIs will close on September 18, 2023, and Light and Cross Art Form EOIs will close on August 21, 2023. In order to submit their ideas, designs, concepts, and interest for inclusion in the festival schedule, artists, designers, creative industry professionals, equipment suppliers, architects, engineers, businesses, restaurants, event companies, chefs, producers, and educational institutions can do so through the Vivid Sydney EOI. Source- Travel biz

According to the summer 2023 Global Rescue Travellers Sentiment and Safety Survey, travellers are planning multiple trips in 2023. According to Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, “half of the world’s most seasoned travellers are planning four or more trips this year, and they’re using credit card reward points to help pay for them.” One-fifth of those polled said they would take six or more vacations in 2023, while 31% said they would take four to five leisure trips and 41% said they would take two to three. Only 7% of respondents said they would take a single vacation, and 1% said they would not take any vacations at all in 2023. It’s not surprising that the majority of respondents (64%) said they used credit card reward programmes to reduce the cost of vacations and leisure travel due to inflation and rising travel costs. Travellers are making up for missed opportunities to travel because of the pandemic. Since COVID-19, the demand for adventure tourism has skyrocketed, with African safaris, hiking excursions, camping trips and motorbike tours seeing the fastest growth. However, the survey found that travellers’ willingness to take risks has a limit. Even if they could afford to pay half a million dollars for a few minutes of weightlessness, the vast majority of respondents (75%) would opt out of space travel. 65% of respondents indicated that they would go on snorkelling or scuba diving tours to see shipwrecks, underwater caves, reefs, and other marine life. Only 5% of people say they would visit an underwater hotel or eat at an underwater eatery. Less than 2% of people would sign up for a submarine tour of the deep sea. In an increasingly interconnected and globalised world, travellers are demonstrating a growing desire for authentic experiences, according to Richards. Although pent-up demand is contributing to the adventure travel boom, we don’t anticipate it to slow down anytime soon. In 2023, the majority (61%) of travellers will be using a guide, an outfitter, or an expedition company as more people plan multiple trips and return to travel. “Respondents consistently indicated they include on-the-ground experts on their trips to reap the benefits of their local language skills, cultural knowledge, touring efficiency, and overall safety,” said Matt Aubin, associate director of Global Rescue partner and channel programmes. Source- Travel daily

The 29th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV29), which will be held at the Hilton Prague hotel in the Czech Republic from July 9–13, 2023, is being organised by the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration (IIAV) and the Society of Acoustics (Czech Republic). There were 727 abstracts submitted from 45 different countries overall this year. The 14 themes that made up the scientific programme each had structured sessions and regular sessions. The ICSV29 featured a sizable exhibition of noise and vibration control technologies, equipment, and instruments for sound and vibration measurement for the world’s acoustic-and-vibration experts. MTG actively participated as an exhibitor at the extensive international Congress exhibition of noise and vibration control technologies along with its longtime partner Sinus Messtechnik GmbH. Source- Travel daily