Starfish Travel Corporation Team

A hamlet in Austria has adopted a novel strategy to deal with undesired visitor behaviour. It appears that desperate times necessitate equally desperate methods, as some individuals simply cannot “Let It Go.” This week, the Austrian town of Hallstatt, which is thought to have served as the inspiration for the Disney film Frozen, erected a temporary wooden fence to ward off selfie-takers. Tourists are drawn to the town’s snow-capped mountains, candy-box architecture, and clear waterways. Although this UNESCO-protected location has a population of less than 800, it may apparently draw up to 10,000 tourists every day. A 2020 CNN interview with a representative of the Hallstatt tourist board revealed that the organisation intended to “focus on quality tourism in the future.” And it appears that they are testing a number of other measures as well. The barrier was a test project that was only up for a short while, but like everything else in this much-discussed community, it has drawn a lot of attention from across the world. Source: nine

The planned attraction was opened ahead of time by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Head of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Miral and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment collaborated to create the newest theme park on Yas Island.Sheikh Khaled was given a tour of the facility and given information about it. The 183,000 sq m complex offers guests entertainment and education focused on marine life, further enhancing Abu Dhabi’s status as a major travel destination. Sheikh Khaled also paid a visit to Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue, the region’s first centre for integrated research, rescue, rehabilitation, return, and education. Sheikh Khaled went over the center’s initiatives, which aim to preserve the marine species, habitats, and ecosystems of the Arabian Gulf while enlightening and motivating a new generation of marine enthusiasts.Along with Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, he was accompanied by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The new Abu Dhabi attraction is home to rides and attractions, as well as food and retail options. It also offers entertainment, education, and family-friendly experiences, including close-up animal interactions and animal presentations. “Today marks a great milestone for Abu Dhabi as we open SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, a landmark attraction that is unparalleled in the region and the world on every level,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral. “SeaWorld Abu Dhabi symbolises the next generation of theme parks, complementing the world-class experiences on Yas Island, further establishing it as a top worldwide destination, and supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism ambition. The Park will be crucial in fostering environmental awareness and safeguarding marine life in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, and the surrounding area. Visitors will definitely be motivated to look after and defend our priceless marine life in the years to come by the Park. In order to build a genuinely unmatched knowledge hub that upholds the best standards of animal care and welfare, we are happy to be pushing the boundaries of science and conservation. “At this one-of-a-kind park, we look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the world to showcase the beauty and wonder of the ocean.” “It is with great privilege that we celebrate this highly anticipated grand opening alongside our valued partners at Miral,” said Scott Ross, chairman of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “The extraordinary SeaWorld Abu Dhabi Marine Life Theme Park was created through years of innovation and cooperation, fusing SeaWorld’s nearly 60 years of expertise in animal welfare and dedication to marine conservation with Miral’s unmatched track record as a top developer of world-class destinations. Together, we built a cutting-edge Marine Life Theme Park that is unlike anything the area has seen before and fully embodies the SeaWorld experience of the future. We are certain that the attractions at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will astound visitors, and we are happy to do our part to encourage their dedication to marine conservation for years to come. The leading animal welfare certifier in the world, Global Humane, the international brand of American Humane, recently announced that SeaWorld Abu Dhabi has received its accreditation. The MENA region’s first facility to receive this accreditation is this one. The most recent addition to Yas Island’s collection of theme parks and activities is SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. World Abu Dhabi’s Warner Bros. Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari WorldAbu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld CLYMB. Yas Island was honoured with seven honours at the prestigious World Travel honours in 2022 for its top-notch theme parks, activities, and attractions. Yas Island won the Middle East’s Leading Tourism Development title for the fourth year in a row in addition to being named the World’s Leading Theme Park Destination 2022, demonstrating the island’s growing international recognition as a centre of leisure and entertainment. Source: breakingtravelnews

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau and the Bureau of Foreign Trade have teamed up and are prepared to continue marketing Taiwan’s MICE image in full force this May after IMEX 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic. The MICE sector is a significant component of many nations’ goals for economic growth. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau and the Bureau of Foreign Trade will work together to send specialists from the MICE sector to IMEX Frankfurt from May 23 to 25, hoping to hasten the recovery of business tourism. The IMEX press claims that because the Asian market as a whole is expanding, there is a huge increase in demand for international conferences. This purchasing power is anticipated to show up in the transactions at IMEX Frankfurt in 2023. Many professional MICE organisations, NTOs, travel agencies, and worldwide hotel groups are attending IMEX this year. On the showfloor, numerous new service offers and exchanges relevant to the most recent MICE updates will be unveiled. The largest worldwide show for incentive travel, meetings, and events, IMEX Frankfurt, annually draws over 15,000 professionals from more than 160 countries. Since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were approved by the United Nations in 2015, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has developed into a trend and is now a key indicator for evaluating a company’s sustainability. By employing rental furniture, reducing the amount of paper used, and avoiding all single-use goods, the Taiwan Pavilion at IMEX 2023 will use as little resources as possible. In addition to lowering trash, this will demonstrate the MICE sector’s commitment to sustainability in Taiwan. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau and the Bureau of Foreign Trade have teamed up and are prepared to continue marketing Taiwan’s MICE image in full force this May after IMEX 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic. To display Taiwan’s rich and varied tourism attractions, the Taiwan Pavilion will be decorated with specially displayed local photographs of Taiwan. Three days into the show, the Taiwan Pavilion will give visitors a taste of the fantastic Taiwan experience with a performance of sugar painting, a tasting of Taiwanese drinks, and freshly baked classic wheel cakes. At the information desk, there will also be additional Taiwanese foods and tea that have been carefully chosen. Additionally, the Taiwan Pavilion will host a number of group meetings to highlight Taiwan’s extensive and varied tourism offers as well as its top-notch conference facilities. In an effort to draw more incentive tour buyers and foreign associations to Taiwan this year, the Taiwan Pavilion has been successful in recruiting 12 of the top businesses from across the economy to form a delegation. This delegation is expected to help the Taiwan MICE industry flourish. Source: traveldailynews

The full-scale worldwide COVID-19 transportation crisis has led to a severe decline in Asia-Pacific in terms of direct routes, aircraft frequencies, and seat capacity between 2022 and 2019. Contrarily, airports in the Middle East region, particularly the big international airports, have recovered far more quickly. JAPAN’S KOBE A trade association representing 622 airports from 47 countries/territories, Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, adopted a resolution at its 18th Regional Assembly in Kobe, Japan, to promote, restore, and develop air connectivity in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East in order to ensure social and economic development and to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The resolution highlights how crucial it is to completely restore and further enhance air connection in the area, acknowledging the crucial role that airports—driven by effective and reasonably priced air connectivity—can play in fostering social and economic development. The full-scale worldwide COVID-19 transportation crisis has led to a severe decline in Asia-Pacific in terms of direct routes, aircraft frequencies, and seat capacity between 2022 and 2019. Contrarily, airports in the Middle East region, particularly the big international airports, have recovered far more quickly. According to the preliminary results of the ACI Asia-Pacific study on airport connectivity, which was carried out with PwC’s help, medium/large airports in the region, which are more heavily dependent on international traffic, will see a 42% reduction in the connectivity index by August 2022, compared to small airports, which benefited from more resilient domestic traffic, which will see a 17% reduction. A 19% rise in connectivity at large/medium airports and a 5% increase at small airports may be found in the Middle East, where airports have recovered significantly more quickly. The ACI Asia-Pacific Board encourages airport operators to start a new conversation with national authorities and industry stakeholders in order to modernise the aviation sector. The ACI Asia-Pacific Board is aware of the current operating conditions at airports, which are characterised by rising airfares, decreased airline competition and the aviation ecosystem workforce, as well as the significant resources needed to finance the necessary infrastructure modernization. Given that the aviation industry supports employment, trade, tourism, education, and foreign investments in addition to generating economic value, a comprehensive strategy is needed to foster the growth of the sector. Increasing connection through more market liberalisation in international aviation. Rethink the strategy for maximising the use of current infrastructure (via slot allocation, a modernised and more flexible charging system) in light of the predicted significant growth and the resulting congestion. Funding and finance for airport infrastructure should be encouraged with a respectable return on investment. Whenever appropriate, compel countries to simplify and streamline the visa application procedure for overseas visitors. Achieving environmental and other sustainability goals, such as lowering CO2 emissions to meet the long-term global aspirational target (LTAG) of net-zero carbon emissions for international aviation by 2050 Mr. Emmanuel Menanteau, President of ACI Asia-Pacific, commented on the resolution and stated that “Connectivity is a crucial facilitator for social and economic success. To help their economies recover, it is crucial to restore air connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region and expand the number of Middle Eastern flights. This resolution emphasises the commitment of the Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern airport community to collaborate with national and regional authorities in a way that is both economically viable and ecologically sound, in order to benefit both the travellers and the local populations that the airports serve. The Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific, Mr. Stefano Baronci, stated that “Asia-Pacific is resurrecting after three difficult years. By closely collaborating with institutional and industry partners, modernising the sector entails critically evaluating what may be done differently and better. We urge States to implement a more liberalised market and strengthen cooperation and harmonisation on safety, security, environmental protection, and ATM optimisation in line with the example of the first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement between the EU and the ASEAN States and the recent summit between India and the EU. It will take strong leadership, a sizable investment, as well as the development of ability and knowledge. ACI Asia-Pacific is eager to contribute at all levels to this process of transformation. Source: traveldailynews

Richard Ireland, President of SACEOS, will preside over the 44th Executive Committee, assisted by an outstanding group of Executive Committee members with a variety of MICE industry expertise. At its annual general meeting on May 18, 2023, the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) elected its 44th Executive Committee to promote the expansion of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Singapore and to lead advocacy efforts. The MICE business is still recovering strongly, and the return of international MICE events and tourists to Singapore makes the election of the new SACEOS Executive Committee critical. The Association is determined to building on the outstanding work it has done to help the industry’s recovery over the previous three years with the mandate that has been given to the new leadership. SACEOS is dedicated to its objective of working with its members, industry participants, and the government to address issues in areas like personnel and talent, as well as to lead the sector’s efforts towards a more sustainable future. Despite the positive prognosis for the industry as a whole. SACEOS will host the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) from July 26–28, 2023, a flagship event that will draw influential policymakers, stakeholders, and MICE practitioners from all over the world, in an effort to make this vision a reality. Richard Ireland, President of SACEOS, will preside over the 44th Executive Committee, which is made up of outstanding individuals with a variety of MICE sector credentials. SACEOS President Richard Ireland stated: “We are honoured and privileged to be guiding the Association and MICE sector into an exciting new chapter of growth, together with the SACEOS 44th Executive Committee. Since its reopening, the MICE sector has had a significant rebound and is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels in the coming years. As a result, SACEOS’s position as the industry’s advocate and voice has never been more crucial during this crucial stage of development. “Although the industry’s prognosis is quite promising, there are still difficulties it must overcome, including a lack of talent, workforce, and sustainability. In order to further the sector’s growth and solidify Singapore’s position as a premier international MICE destination, SACEOS is dedicated to working in partnership with our members, industry players, and the government to solve the issues. Source: traveldailynews

A 160-seat Boeing 737MAX will be used for flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through October 30, 2023. MA QUINCY – The nonstop, seasonal service between Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Reykjavik, Iceland, has officially begun. Four times every week at 8:30 p.m., flight 872 is planned to leave the Motor City for Keflavk International Airport (KEF) and arrive in Iceland at 6:30 a.m. Returning passenger flight 873 will leave Iceland for Michigan at 4:55 p.m. and land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport at 7:20 p.m. the same day. A 160-seat Boeing 737MAX will be used for flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through October 30, 2023. There are connections available at Icelandair’s Keflavk hub to more than 25 locations in Iceland, Greenland, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and continental Europe on the roughly six-hour journey from DTW to Iceland. Along the way to their ultimate destination, Icelandair customers can stopover there for up to 7 nights at no additional cost. “Icelandair is happy to give Detroiters a new, energising option for travelling to Europe. Our additional flights will provide business and vacationers from Michigan more opportunities to travel to Iceland and other places, according to Bogi. President and CEO of Icelandair Group Nils Bogason. “These additional flights will make Detroit a viable gateway in our network by allowing for both incoming and outgoing travel, therefore promoting tourism and trade to and from the Motor City. We are eager to have Detroit on board and are thrilled to assist in bridging Motown with Europe. Detroit, the hub of American car production and the famed Motown music industry, is the second-largest regional economy in the American Midwest. DTW shares the title of “Best Airport of 25 to 40 million passengers in North America” with Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, according to a recent assessment by Airports Council International. Passengers passing through the Motor City can connect at DTW to over 125 destinations. According to Chad Newton, CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority, “geothermal springs, breathtaking vistas of the northern lights, and active volcanoes are just five and a half hours distant from Detroit Metropolitan Airport for our clients. “We’re prepared to reintroduce Iceland to the Midwest. We think two further factors that will influence people to pick DTW are nonstop service to Iceland and the availability of connections to other locations across Europe. Source: traveldailynews

Greater than a third of Brits (almost a third) say they place greater priority on enjoying life and prefer to create enduring experiences over spending their money on material objects. almost half of Brits (56%) believe the epidemic impacted their views on travel.Along with utilising their cash savings, Brits are opting to spend less this summer on takeout (45%), restaurants and drinks out (42%) and apparel and accessories (30%), as well as flying on more affordable airlines.Nine out of ten British citizens think they will travel more or about the same in 2024, indicating that this emphasis on travel will continue.According to recent study by easyJet of 2,000 British people, vacations abroad are more important to Britons than ever, despite the high expense of living. According to new research, Brits are not only not being deterred from taking vacations by the economy but are instead giving travel even higher priority than before. The Worth of the Holiday Despite the rising expense of living, more than half of Brits (57%) believe they will always safeguard their summer vacation. According to recent study, individuals (45%) need something to look forward to when they travel, and 37% need a break from their regular routines at home and at work. Due of this, eighty percent (80%) of Brits stated they will still travel this summer. Two-thirds (74%) of British tourists will travel to Europe this summer, with Spain (23%), Greece (9%) and France (5%) being the most popular countries. Despite rising living expenses, research shows that the majority of Britons (87%) will spend more or roughly the same amount on vacations this year as they did last year. Many Brits place a high value on having time off (42%) and think that creating memories is more essential than anything else (37%). Trends after Pandemics The epidemic, according to 56% of Brits, has altered their perceptions of travel, with 35% saying they now place a higher importance on having fun. Brits said they used to take travel for granted but now want to take advantage of it because of the pandemic restrictions—nearly one in three (30%). Due to this, almost a quarter (23%) report that they are travelling even more than they were before the epidemic, with half (48%) stating that they now place a higher value on experiences than on material possessions. More over half (46%) say they need more time away from their routines, and nearly as many (39%) say they want to make up for the years they weren’t able to travel. In fact, 47% of Brits saved throughout the epidemic and are now utilising that funds to fund their vacation. Protecting the summer break Eighty two percent (82%) of Brits are already cutting back on expenses like takeout (45%), dinners and drinks out (42%), and apparel and accessories (30%) in order to secure their summer vacation. If given the option, Brits would rather spend their money on a summer vacation (66%) than on home improvements (49%), a new car (39%) or a home office (16%). Nearly half (45%) of Brits will be more likely to book flights with a low-cost carrier than they were prior to the epidemic. Additionally, more than two thirds of vacationers are travelling more affordably this year (65%), choosing more affordable hotels and resorts (27%) and more than two thirds (65%) of Americans are doing the same. Johan Lundgren, CEO, stated: “For many, the summer vacation has traditionally been the best time of the year since it allows people and families to travel, unwind, and create lifetime memories. Travel is now once again highly valued and the top priority for household discretionary spending as a result of the epidemic. Travel appears to be more vital than ever, with more customers choosing airlines like EasyJet that guarantee the best value, rather than the cost of living reducing demand. Future Nine out of ten British citizens predict they will travel more or about the same in 2024, indicating that this concentration on travel will continue in the coming year. Source: breakingtravelnews

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Bitkub Blockchain Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to advance the Bitkub Metaverse as part of the TAT’s continuous initiative to use technology and innovation to convert Thai tourism into Smart Tourism. According to Mr. Nithee Seeprae, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Digitalization, Research, and Development, “With the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, TAT is reviving Thai tourism towards digital transformation in recognition of the significance of the digital economy and digital as a game changer. Blockchain technology will be crucial in growing and promoting tourism, and it also gives Thailand the chance to set an example by embracing virtual reality as a powerful marketing tool. Through the Bitkub Metaverse, TAT and Bitkub Blockchain Technology will collaborate to promote Thai tourism under the terms of the MoU. In addition to promoting tourist landmarks and year-round travel experiences that imitate real-world tourist sites and destinations with 3D visuals and videos, this will be further enhanced to include an information hub on Thai tourism. By using Web 3.0 technology and the use of digital assets, a new virtual environment in the metaverse that integrates NFT (Non-Fungible Token), Blockchain, cryptocurrency, XRB Token, and other technologies will be created. Tourists may have a virtual travel experience and shop for travel-related goods and services in the real world using digital coupons and NFT. After enjoying their virtual experience, travellers from both Thailand and outside will be motivated to visit Thailand more frequently. “We are excited about the possibilities to further develop the Bitkub Metaverse, a project that has received much attention in Thailand’s blockchain industry,” said Mr Passakorn Pannok, CEO of Bitkub Blockchain Technology. Our partnership with the renowned animation production and design studio The Monk Studio provides consumers with a genuine connection to the characters, which may help advertise Thai travel and tourism to both local and foreign tourists. The ‘Amazing Thailand Metaverse: Amazing Durian’ project, the ‘Thailand Travelution 2022’ event, and two seasons of the ‘Amazing Thailand NFTs’ tourist experience were all part of TAT’s innovation strategy for digital tourism in April 2022, November 2022, and April 2023, respectively. Source: breakingtravelnews

Recognised for satisfying guests’ requests for a user-friendly, immediately personalised, and secure in-room entertainment experience is an innovative video streaming system created specifically for hotels. Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service supplier of internet services and solutions for the hospitality sector, has announced that their GuestCast streaming solution has won a TravelTech Breakthrough Award. Because of its cutting-edge functionality and design, GuestCast won the award for best in-room entertainment system of the year, showcasing the most advanced industry solutions for meeting the needs of contemporary hotel guests. The annual TravelTech Breakthrough Awards program’s goal is to perform the most thorough research and evaluation of the leading technology firms, solutions, and goods available in the travel technology sector right now. More than 1,250 submissions from more than 12 different nations were submitted for this year’s programme. The ability of GuestCast to guarantee easy and uncomplicated engagement, especially for first-time users or visitors inexperienced with content casting technology, is crucial to its selection over competing options. In contrast to other platforms, GuestCast’s device-pairing process is as simple as scanning a QR code and avoids the possibility of visitors becoming frustrated. Other systems frequently need guests to perform a number of challenging processes in order to link their personal devices to a guestroom TV. Due to the fact that hotels routinely host visitors from all over the world, GuestCast’s quick compatibility with tens of thousands of mobile streaming applications also makes sure that each visitor may tailor watching experiences to suit their particular interests. Gary Patrick, CEO of Hotel Internet Services, said, “The hospitality industry has struggled to keep up with changing guest expectations when it comes to in-room entertainment. We are absolutely thrilled, then, that our peers recognise the tremendous value and potential that GuestCast represents in fully bridging this service gap. Countless hours of research and development went into creating GuestCast in order to create a system that replicates the personalisation and simplicity that guests experience while streaming from home. This resulted in GuestCast’s market-leading capabilities. As more travellers base their booking decisions on their ability to quickly and safely access their own multimedia streaming subscriptions, we are extremely pleased of the dedication and hard work of our team in developing a solution that meets current guest requirements. “Meeting current visitor expectations requires experience personalisation, as many travellers base their booking decisions on the opportunity to quickly and safely access their own streaming subscriptions. The most recent improvements in customised in-room entertainment are available with GuestCast by Hotel Internet Services. “We’re happy to present them with the ‘In-room Entertainment Solution of the Year,’” stated Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of TravelTech Breakthrough Awards. Now, content-viewing preferences may be as varied as the demographics of a property’s visitors without compromising data security and privacy. Hoteliers may now further improve the comfort and experiences of their guests. GuestCast guarantees confidence and trust while utilising the platform by combining additional security measures as a solution designed exclusively for the hotel guestroom. This includes removing worries about login and password theft as well as enhanced device isolation features that stop visitors from unintentionally casting video to TVs in adjacent bedrooms. GuestCast is also compatible with almost every television model and internet network now used by hotels, ensuring a smooth adoption process and hassle-free device administration. The exceptional Analytics Dashboard that GuestCast offers is yet another distinguishing feature. Hoteliers may use the dashboard to check the health of each individual device from a single interface, ensuring constant high performance quality. In addition to providing meaningful real-time information into device usage trends, the GuestCast Analytics Dashboard also enables hotel operators to assess the effectiveness of in-room entertainment programmes. Additionally, hoteliers may use the Dashboard to keep an eye on the WiFi service quality in each guestroom, ensuring that any performance issues are swiftly found and fixed before having an impact on the experiences of the guests. Source: traveldailynews