Starfish Travel Corporation Team

The European Union (EU) travel and tourism industry is anticipated to achieve 98% of the high seen in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the 2023 Economic Impact Research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). In line with the pre-pandemic high of €1.47 billion reached in 2019, it is anticipated to contribute €1.44 billion to the EU GDP this year. Additionally, according to WTTC, the sector will add more than 687,000 employment in 2023, replacing almost 90% of the positions lost due to the pandemic. With nearly one in nine individuals employed in the sector, the overall number of jobs in the EU travel and tourist business would rise to around 22.4 million. Looking back at 2022, the travel and tourism industry contributed 8.7% of the EU’s GDP, or more than €1.37 billion, a growth of 40.5%. This was not far from the high point of 2019. Additionally, the industry added 2 million employment from the previous year, bringing the overall number of jobs in the EU up to 21.8 million, or one in every ten workers. Out of the 3.6 million jobs lost due to the pandemic, the data shows that 3.1 million have been recovered in the travel and tourist industry. Spending by visitors from other countries climbed by 81% in 2022 compared to the previous year, totaling approximately €385 billion. When compared to 2019, domestic visitor spending fully rebounded and surpassed the pre-pandemic record, reaching €814 billion in 2022. Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the WTTC, emphasised the robust recovery of the travel and tourism industry in the EU, which has been fueled by strong tourist demand. By the end of 2023, she pointed out, the sector is predicted to have added roughly 22.5 million jobs, a little 2% less than in 2019. In nations like Germany, Italy, Spain, and France, the sector is a key contributor to economic growth and the generation of jobs, according to Simpson. According to WTTC, the EU’s travel and tourism industry will contribute about €1.9 billion to the GDP by 2033, or over 10% of the EU economy. Over 26.3 million people are expected to be employed in the sector, with one in eight EU citizens working in the travel and tourist sector. Source: travelbizmonitor

The all-in-one engagement platform CleverTap recently published a benchmark assessment on the travel app market. It’s critical for marketers to stay one step ahead of the competition in the quickly changing mobile apps industry. In order to stay competitive, benchmarking performance has become essential. The report’s insights will help marketers of travel apps increase conversions and app activity. Only 42% of users who sign up for a travel app do so within the first month, even though 80% do so in under 31 seconds. This is significantly less than the registration to conversion rates of 65% for foodtech and 95% for the financial sector. According to studies, users do not perceive using travel apps to be all that different from working with travel agents. The procedure of conducting a transaction may contain the same reservations as with traditional travel agents, even though they may sign up for an app with ease. Travel app marketers must prioritise client retention strategies by going above and beyond to give users real value in order to overcome this obstacle. In addition to 64.17 million monthly active users (MAUs), CleverTap examined 17.9 billion push notifications, 3.8 billion emails, and 919.1 million in-app messages. The conclusions are based on data gathered in North America, Europe, Latin America, India, and the Middle East. The following are a few of them: Install to sign-up rate: 28% of users who install travel applications do so within the first week. 80% of users who join up do so within 31 seconds after using the app for the first time, according to the average time it takes to sign up. 42% of newly signed-up users complete a purchase within the first month, according to the sign-up to conversion rate. Within a week of onboarding, 36% of newly registered users migrate from onboarding to deeper-in-the-funnel engagement. Session frequency: Users of travel apps typically open the app 12 times per month. 13% of newly registered users make repeat purchases in the first week on average, according to data from the first week. The average percentage of users that click on and interact with push notifications is 5.29% for Android users and 3.97% for iOS users. The average click-through rate for in-app alerts is 22.8%, and it is particularly high for travel-related messages. Email open rate on average: Users open emails sent by travel app companies 35.17% of the time. Travel apps have an average stickiness quotient of 18%, which means that less than one-fifth of monthly active users (MAUs) regularly utilise the app. “With more than a billion people using travel apps today, marketers must place a greater emphasis on retention. Users may occasionally only need a tiny reminder here or nudge there to finish incomplete transactions or return to the app. However, in order to optimise client lifetime value over the long run, marketers must be flexible and proactively recognise weak points in the app’s data. CleverTap’s VP of Data Science, Jacob Joseph, remarked. Our benchmark study analyses billions of data points, such as emails, push notifications, and in-app notifications, to provide marketers with a comprehensive picture of the market. Coupled with our world leading platform which spans the entire lifetime of a customer, we are confident this will equip marketers with the right tools to raise the bar even higher.” Source: travelbizmonitor

The “Children’s Smile Spot,” a location created to support parents navigating the city with newborns and young children, opened on Friday, July 7, 2023, in Ueno-okachimachi Station on the Toei Subway Oedo Line. The announcement was made by the Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG). There are currently a number of services at Ueno-okachimachi station for people travelling outside with infants and young children. Inside the station, a nursing room was set up in February of this year. It started providing a stroller rental service in April, making it the country’s first subway station to do so. The Children’s Smile Spot will offer both of these services in addition to a recently installed vending machine where parents can buy childcare supplies like disposable diapers and liquid infant formula. To make it simpler to find, the region will also have a unique look. The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation seeks to promote a community that supports and encourages childrearing through programmes like this one, which gives parents and other carers of small children peace of mind while they travel. Children’s Smile Spot (pending trademark registration) Opening day is Friday, July 7, 2023 (see below for operational hours). Location: The concourse outside the ticket gates of the Toei Subway Oedo Line’s Ueno-okachimachi Station. Provided Services Open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. is the nursing room. The room has barrier-free floors, a nursing sofa, a shelf, and a ventilation fan. The door to the chamber can be locked from within. JRE Babycal is the company that installed and runs the stroller rental service. Easily accessible between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. The cost is $250 for the first hour and $100 for each additional 30 minutes, tax included. 1,500 for the first 12 hours; 100 for every 30 minutes after that 12 hours Strollers on hand: Combi SC51, developed for child care centres, for kids up to 4 years old (18 kg is the maximum weight) Childcare product vending machines Installed and run by Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. Service hours: from the first train to the last one, within the station’s operating hours. Products offered include baby wipes and disposable diapers (M and L sizes, in packs of 2). beverages (water, green tea, brown tea, liquid infant formula, sports beverages, fruit and vegetable juice, etc.) Source: traveldailymedia

The Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy has been invited by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to speak on the advancement of international tourism and how it relates to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) at the UN headquarters the following week. Reddy will present at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF), which will take place in New York City from July 10 to July 14. “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels” is the theme of the UN HLPF. On July 13 and 14, Reddy will speak at the UN headquarters in his capacity as the G-20 Tourism Chair. According to officials, the debates and gatherings will bring together senior political and business leaders to talk about how to speed up the tourism sector’s efforts towards the SDGs while acknowledging the importance of tourism in economies and society around the world, as demonstrated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The implementation of the “India Declaration” and “Goa Road Map,” which were agreed upon during the Goa Ministerial Meeting, is intended to further partnerships and collaborations between nations and stakeholders as well as advance the SDGs, they added. The HLPF serves as the main UN platform for monitoring and reviewing the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on a global scale. According to authorities, the attendees will talk about inclusive recovery strategies to address the pandemic’s effects on the SDGs and consider policy recommendations for carrying out the 2030 Agenda. Source: travelbizmonitor

The 67th Convention of TAAI will take place in Colombo from July 6 to 9, 2023, with H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President of Sri Lanka, serving as the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony. He will address the delegation and wish them a warm welcome to Sri Lanka. H.E. the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Bagley will be in attendance and will speak to the TAAI delegates during the opening ceremony. Dinesh Gunawardena, the honourable prime minister of Sri Lanka, will attend the event on July 7th, 23 and all delegates to the Indian Travel Congress will be hosted for dinner at Lemon Trees, the prime minister’s residence. The Association has scheduled an engaging combination of Knowledge Sessions and Speakers to keep the delegates interested throughout the 67th TAAI Convention and Exhibition in Colombo, which is just around the corner. The Convention, which is set to take place from July 6 to July 9, 2023, has drawn a sizable contingent from India, with 500 stakeholder members. The Convention this year is entirely futuristic, according to Jyoti Mayal, President of TAAI, when discussing its theme. The pandemic is officially over. Despite the fact that it was horrible, cruel, and utterly devastating, the moment has come for us to go on. Since tourism doesn’t require boundaries, when we talk about “transcending borders,” we mean crossing international borders. Every nation benefits from tourism, which is a highly economically driven industry and forms the foundation of every nation, bringing prosperity and peace. However, TAAI would like to move beyond the Transcending Borders because this is where tourism is headed and you have to transcend all of your thoughts in order to literally smash the glass ceiling. Tourism is undergoing significant change. Different travel interests exist among people. They are seeking out novel experiences and new locations. Your intellect must therefore evolve in the same way that you have. Instead of dwelling on the past, we need to concentrate on how growth may occur. To transform lives, we must transcend our brains. ‘India Tourism Vision 2047: A Transformed Landscape of Experiences and Connections’; ‘The boundless potential of the skies’; ‘Experiential Travel: A Paradigm Shift in Tourism’; ‘Differentiating Travel: Perspectives from Industry Experts’; ‘Transcending Borders: Strengthening International Relations for a Transformed World’; and ‘TAAI: The Road Ahead’ are among the topics covered in the business sessions scheduled for the convention. Some of the Speakers includes Arvind Singh, former Secretary Tourism, Government of India; Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook India Limited; Nipun Agarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer, Air India and . K.B. Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor – South Asia, Radisson Hotels Group, Ashish Gupta, Consulting CEO, FAITH; Pieter Elbers, CEO Indigo; Amitabh Khosla – Country Director – India, IATA; Praveen Iyer – Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air; Rajeev Bhatia – Chief Commercial Officer, Amadeus India; Vinay Malhotra – Head of Global Sales, Indigo; Richard Nuttall – CEO, Sri Lankan Airlines; Kapil Kaul, CEO and Director, CAPA India; Ajeet Bajaj, Dev Karvat – Founder and CEO Asego Insurance; G B Srithar – Regional Director, India, Middle East & South Asia, Singapore Tourism Board; Commander Nevil Malao – Senior Vice President, JM Baxi & Co.; Noel Swain, COO – Passport, eVisa, Identity & Citizen Services, VFS Global; Sandeep Dwivedi – CEO – InterGlobe Technology Quotient, to name a few. The Honourable Minister of Tourism and Lands of Sri Lanka, Harin Fernando, will deliver a special address on the convention’s last day. “Our convention will act as a conduit for fostering stronger bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka,” said Jay Bhatia, Vice President of TAAI. We anticipate that this event will be a beneficial place for networking and building solid business relationships because there will be 200 or more Sri Lankan tourism stakeholders present during the B2B sessions. This kind of connection is essential for utilising the rising inbound and outbound travel from India and directing it towards places that provide novel, exciting experiences. Given the enormous potential for outward travel, Mayal continued, “The Indian market will surely become one of the most sought-after markets globally. Let’s take advantage of this chance as we all get ready to meet in Colombo to investigate these trends, exchange our knowledge, and collaborate to create a future where travel transcends boundaries and genuinely changes lives. Source: travelbizmonitor

The 2023 edition of Booking.com’s APAC Travel Confidence Index (TCI) has been made public. The paper offers a thorough analysis of travel mindsets throughout Asia-Pacific (APAC) in light of the current macroeconomic conditions. It exposes a startling paradox: astonishingly, 73% of APAC tourists remain unwaveringly optimistic about their future travel intentions over the course of the next 12 months, despite the fact that financial issues are their top worry (42%). Despite the intricate and linked challenges pressing on the world economy, such as inflation, climate change, and supply chain disruptions, more over half (53%) of travellers questioned have no intention of cancelling any of their trip plans. What’s more impressive is that 59% of these travellers not only stick to their original travel schedules, but also want to take additional trips and spend more money on travel this year. Over 8,000 tourists from 11 different APAC nations and territories, including Singapore, participated in the TCI 2023 research, which was commissioned by Booking.com and independently carried out by Milieu Insight between April and May 2023. It provides a thorough investigation of traveller confidence and interest in sustainability across a range of APAC destinations. Singapore comes up at number four (4th) in the rankings that evaluate travellers’ levels of confidence in each market. In addition, the research introduces four different traveller personas for the first time, including insightful information about their primary driving forces, priorities, and travel habits: Eco-friendly and sustainable travel are aggressively pursued by Conscious Explorers (Hong Kong, India, China, and Taiwan). They are committed to discovering while reducing their negative effects on the environment. To be consistent with their ideals, they participate in ecotourism, stay in eco-friendly hotels, and give to the community. Comfort and convenience are prioritised by Comfort Seekers (Singapore, Australia). They look for luxurious getaways and lodgings that promote the utmost in relaxation. In their travel choices, they place a premium on comfort above sustainability and appreciate individualised services and high-quality amenities. Due to their awareness of their environmental responsibilities and motivation to support the places they visit, Mindful Voyagers (Vietnam) take a deliberate and mindful approach to travelling. However, they frequently feel anxious in strange settings and actively look for methods to get over their fears and build confidence. Homebound Pragmatists (New Zealand, Korea, Japan, and Thailand) favour practical travel and relocating close to their current location. They prioritise convenience, efficiency, and optimising time and resources. They seek seamless travel experiences that are well-organised and efficient, making the most of their limited time and resources. Source: traveldailymedia

With the addition of a number of new properties to its global network of hotels and resorts, BWH Hotels celebrates the continuous expansive growth of its 19 distinctive brands across every chain scale sector, from luxury to premium economy. The business has most recently grown in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The expanded number of BWH Hotels properties in countries including Austria, Canada, Dubai, Ethiopia, France, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, and the United States will pleasure tourists. According to Larry Cuculic, president and chief executive officer of BWH Hotels, “We are excited to offer travellers even more convenient accommodations in popular locations around the world this summer season.” “We are strategically expanding our global footprint to better serve our cherished visitors wherever their travels may take them. BWH Hotels offers accommodations that may accommodate all types of travel demands, including upmarket, luxury, and lifestyle hotels as well as midscale, premium economy, and extended stay brands.According to Ron Pohl, President of International Operations at WorldHotels, “We invite new properties to join our distinguished global portfolio with great enthusiasm.” “I’m especially proud of WorldHotels’ ongoing expansion. These great independent hotels benefit from the standing and substantial global footprint of BWH Hotels by joining WorldHotels while retaining their uniqueness. We are eager to introduce visitors to these wonderful hotels for their forthcoming global travels. Source: traveldailymedia

The 2023 edition of Booking.com’s APAC Travel Confidence Index (TCI) has been made public. The study provides perceptions into the attitudes of APAC travellers and the significant influence that economic and global concerns have on their travel choices. India is the nation with the second-most confident passengers out of the 11 APAC nations surveyed, just behind Hong Kong. After Singapore and Taiwan, China comes in third. This year’s research reveals a startling paradox: a remarkable 86% of Indian travellers are brimming with optimism about their future travel plans, while 61% have no intention of postponing their travel plans in the next 12 months, in spite of complex global challenges like inflation, geopolitical instability, climate change, and supply chain disruptions. What’s more interesting is that more than half of these travellers (59%) plan to maintain or even increase the number of trips they take, and 68% want to increase their travel spend for the coming year. Key Findings Despite economic difficulties, 86% of Indian travellers are optimistic about their next travel plans, and 61% say they won’t be delaying their travels in the upcoming year. Indian travellers are more likely to want to explore their own country (43%), think that travel may help people improve personally (40%), and want to make important connections (33%). Three out of five people would prefer to travel over the long weekends, and the majority would like to visit North or South India. When it comes to travel experiences, Indian tourists like to go for natural beauty and picturesque locales, then beaches and cuisine More than half of Indian visitors (57%) create thorough itineraries in advance, along with reservations for lodging, activities, and meals, and 60% believe that having access to Indian food is essential. Travelling Patterns Indians stand out for their unusual travel behaviours, especially in how they approach itineraries and how much attention they place on cuisine. More than half (57%) prefer to follow a set schedule and reserve their lodging, activities, and meals in advance. This suggests a desire for a planned travel experience and the confidence that requested services will be booked in advance. While they are open to exploring different cuisines, a substantial number (60%) consider it crucial to have access to Indian food when deciding on travel plans. Indian visitors are more likely than other travellers to discover their own country (43%) and make lasting friendships (33%). When it comes to destinations they would like to explore domestically, a majority of the respondents (71%) want to travel to North India, 60% lean towards destinations in South India, 41% West India, 37% North East India, 16% East India and 13% opted for Central India. Travel Inspiration Travel is one of the most apparent desires of people across the APAC region, providing an escape from the daily routine. For 3 in 5 APAC travellers, their top motivation to travel is the pursuit of relaxation, rejuvenation and an escape from the chaos of everyday life. However, when it comes to Indian travellers besides the desire for a relaxing vacation (57%), other travel motivators include the desire to learn about their travel destinations (34%) and to immerse in the local culture (26%). Leading Travel Issues While there is a strong desire to travel, there are some travel concerns that are also facing travellers in India and across APAC. 39% of Indian travellers consider taking time away from work as one of the main challenges when planning a trip (Hong Kong 37%, Singapore 35%) 34% have financial concerns when choosing to embark on their travel (Thailand 57%, New Zealand 55%) 32% of Indian travellers wishing to travel outside the country are concerned about the complicated, expensive and time-consuming visa processes (Singapore 26%, Vietnam 25%) Additionally, environmental issues emerge as another significant concern, reflecting the growing awareness and consciousness towards sustainable travel practices among travellers in the region.To save on travel costs 39% stated that they are inclined to plan their trips around travel discounts and deals, 38% would travel during off-peak season and 36% would take advantage of staying with friends or family to save on travel costs. Top Places and Activities of Interest while Travelling When it comes to travel experiences, Indian travellers show a significant inclination towards nature and scenic locations (67%), indicating a desire to immerse themselves in the beauty of natural landscapes followed by beaches (63%) and food and dining (57%), that also holds a strong appeal. Other activities of interest include tourist attractions and landmarks (56%), local culture and lifestyle (55%) and shopping (52%). As compared to Indians, when it comes to APAC travellers like to seek out food followed by nature, tourist attractions and beaches. “The survey clearly demonstrated that despite the ongoing global and economic hurdles, there is a prevailing sense of positivity and enthusiasm among travellers. A significant 84% of respondents are actively planning their next trip within the upcoming 12 months,” said Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com. “Along with the high travel confidence that places India among the top three countries, Indian travellers are also most keen to prioritise sustainable travel. Our Travel Confidence Index 2023 shows that despite certain macroeconomic headwinds and fewer COVID-19 restrictions, APAC travellers’ spirit of adventure and desire to make lifelong travel memories remain unwavering and robust. We are confident that the travel sector will continue to thrive in the years to come with this zest and enthusiasm for travelling among people.” Source: travelbizmonitor

SpiceJet reported that the settlement of the payment of INR 100 crore to City Union Bank had been accomplished satisfactorily. “The last tranche of INR 25 crore was paid on June 30, 2023, successfully closing the entire loan account which was taken in the year 2012,” the airline stated in a stock exchange filing. All securities that were pledged to the bank are released upon loan repayment. In accordance with the press release, “the repayment to City Union Bank follows a successful settlement agreement with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), a significant lessor for SpiceJet’s Q400 aircraft.” The deal with NAC also clears the way for the return and addition of three more aircraft to SpiceJet’s fleet, according to the airline. “The agreement with NAC settles all past liabilities for the Q400s leased by NAC to SpiceJet,” it said. As the airline rebuilds its fleet and its operations, SpiceJet also stated that it is still dedicated to reaching amicable agreements with all of its debtors. Source: travelbizmonitor