Holiday & Travel

Official figures show a record-breaking start to the year for inbound tourism to Britain. Today’s figures show that a new record has been set for inbound visits to the UK in the first two months of the year with 5.2 million visits, up 6% on the same period last year. Overseas visitors spent a record £2.7 billion in January and February, up 11% on the previous year.

Qatar Airways has become the first airline in the world to achieve compliance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Resolution 753 at its hub in Hamad International Airport (HIA).

The resolution requires the airline to track every piece of baggage from the start of the journey all the way through to its finish. The certification has been achieved thanks to the airline’s Baggage Management System (“HAQIBA”) developed in-house, as well as its seamless real time integration with the Qatar Airways website and mobile app.

Qatar Airways offers real time updates on checked baggage through the “Track My Bags” feature on its website and mobile app, providing passengers with a truly hassle-free baggage experience. The mobile app provides real time notification to passengers with relevant updates on the bag, as well as the ability to retrieve the details on need basis using “My Trips”.

The information includes various stages of the baggage handling process such as check-in, transfer, arrival, as well as reference to bag tags and baggage belt. This information guides passengers during the journey and provides insight into any instance of delayed or lost baggage. The HAQIBA system enables Qatar Airways’ staff to proactively manage the delayed bags to provide an optimized handling process.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our careful attention to our passengers’ baggage, from the beginning of their journey all the way through to its finish, is yet another indication of the importance we place on customer experience. We have proactively taken steps to align our baggage management systems with IATA’s requirements. As a result, we are delighted that the association has declared Qatar Airways the first airline worldwide to become certified for end-to-end tracking for our hub at Hamad International Airport.”

New research from leading escorted tour operator Intrepid Travel highlights a trend towards gastronomy and authentic culinary experiences becoming the most important part of a holiday for Brits. Intrepid Travel has unveiled that a staggering 71% of Brits believe it is important to eat local dishes while on holiday and almost 40% spend up to five hours researching where to eat whilst on holiday. Almost 50% of those surveyed regard eating local dishes as 'important' and more than half believe guided group tours provide more authentic experiences. As Brits continue to place food at the top of their holiday agenda, Intrepid is adding to its dynamic range of Real Foodie Adventures with new tours in South Korea, Southern Italy, Portugal and Galicia, with the first departures from April.

The new tours offer authentic, mouth-watering experiences by pairing the classic grassroots Intrepid Travel style with a special food focus, uncovering the world's most exciting food cultures, whether its sharing a traditional meal with Buddhist monks in South Korea or sampling organic mozzarella di bufala direct from the source in Italy. An increasing number of Brits are recognising that these small group tours using knowledgeable local guides allow for culinary experiences that wouldn't be possible if travelling alone. The Intrepid survey results underline this as it emerges that 61% of Brits have joined guided group tours because it gives them access to places they wouldn't see on their own and more than a quarter (27%) have joined a group tour as they wanted an authentic experience. Interestingly it is millennials who are putting the most value on eating local dishes on holiday and experiencing culinary culture, contrary to recent reports that it is this generation who are to blame for food wastage. 45% of respondents who said they were 'likely' to book a holiday around food were in the 25-34 year old category, followed closely by the 16-24 year old category at 39%. To further highlight this trend, 40% of those who said they dedicate time to researching where they eat on holiday are in the 16-24 year old category, seconded by the 25-34 year old category.

2016 results on expenditure from major outbound markets reflect increasing demand for international tourism across the world, as reported in the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With a 12% increase in spending, China continued to lead international outbound tourism, followed by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and France as top five spenders.

“The latest data on outbound tourism spending are very encouraging. Despite the many challenges of recent years, results of spending on travel abroad are consistent with the 4% growth to 1.2 billion international tourist arrivals reported earlier this year for 2016. People continue to have a strong appetite for travel and this benefits many countries all around the world, translating into economic growth, job creation and opportunities for development” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

Chinese tourists spent 12% more on tourism abroad in 2016

2016 was another strong year for outbound tourism from China, the world’s leading outbound market. International tourism expenditure grew by US$ 11 billion to US$ 261 billion, an increase by 12% (in local currency). The number of outbound travellers rose 6% to 135 million in 2016. This growth consolidates China’s position as number one source market in the world since 2012, following a trend of double-digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004.

The growth in outbound travel from China benefited many destinations in Asia and the Pacific, most notably Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, but also long-haul destinations such as the United States and several in Europe.

Aside from China, three other Asian outbound markets among the first ten showed very positive results. The Republic of Korea (US$ 27 billion) and Australia (US$ 27 billion) both spent 8% more in 2016 and Hong Kong (China) entered the top 10 following 5% growth in expenditure (US$ 24 billion).

The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2018 is a three-day niche event with both conference and travel mart components, bringing together public and private sector tourism professionals involved in adventure travel and responsible tourism. Key elements of this annual event are environmental protection and social sustainability with special focus on empowerment of local communities. This is the first Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) event to be held in the UAE and the only event to be staged in West Asia in the last 14 years.

The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2018 will take place in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Al Ain is one of the world’s oldest permanently inhabited settlements and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for PATA members and for the adventure travel sector at large. Al Ain is a truly fascinating destination with a wealth of culture, heritage and opportunities for adventure travel,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “Connectivity is easy via the award-winning Abu Dhabi International Airport. Al Ain, together with the surrounding landscape, has so much to offer travellers of all ages. This event provides an exceptional platform for travel trade professionals to learn much more about this compelling city and region.”

Commenting on the selection of Al Ain to host the event, HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, the government body responsible for the promotion of the emirate said: “Abu Dhabi has experienced significant growth in guest arrivals from countries within the PATA region in recent years, especially from India and China, and since joining the association we have been working with PATA members to place greater emphasis on seeding growth in visitor arrivals from these priority source markets.

Australia's new hotel brand, TRIBE Hotel Group (TRIBE), is focused on giving guests everything they need and nothing they don't, in a space that is intelligent and sophisticated with high-end design.

Instead of being something to everyone, TRIBE has been created for tech savvy design lovers and urban explorers, who are meticulous when it comes to where they stay and prudent about what they pay. The result is a hotel that is as stylish as it smart.

Its first location, TRIBE Perth is a nine-storey 126 room hotel in West Perth - next to Kings Park - that will launch on Tuesday, 16 May 2017, with interiors by award-winning architect and interior designer Travis Walton; architecture by Idle Architecture Studio; and brand campaigns shot by Nicole Bentley.

TRIBE Perth has highly functional rooms and shared spaces that are luxurious and contemporary, with cutting edge technology, entertainment and office facilities as standard. Gone are out-dated and unwanted services, inefficient check-in and checkouts, overpriced mini bars and restaurants and room service.

Its luxurious and contemporary living areas – styled by Walton in collaboration with celebrated art director Marsha Golemac – are part collaborative workspace, part social club featuring break out spaces, lounges, an outdoor courtyard and TRIBE Foods. Design details include: lighting by Tom Dixon, Moroso feature chairs, Jean-Paul Gaultier cushions, Febrik upholstered sofas, and an impressively curated collection of work by Australian contemporary artists.

Walton has cleverly crafted the rooms to complement the unique and innovative living areas, all complete with free Wi-Fi, signature queen beds with a custom designed bed base to allow for 'out of the way storage', floor-to-ceiling windows and blackout blinds, and amenities including Nespresso pods and T2. Bathrooms feature rain showers and Kevin Murphy shower products.

2017 has been declared the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the General Assembly of the United Nations. NAUSICAA, (the French National Sea Experience Centre) is fully supporting the initiative and has made it a key subject in a number of presentations, talks and special events in 2017. Each month, NAUSICAA will focus on a different aspect of the topic and invites visitors to learn more about sustainable tourism through its agenda, events and press trips.

Based in Boulogne-sur-Mer on the Opal Coast, Hauts de France, NAUSICAA is uniquely focused on the exploration of the marine environment. With giant aquariums and using the latest technology, NAUSICAA creates an entertaining, educational and scientific setting for discovery.

Here's what's coming up:

April - Marine mammals. Along the coastline of the Hauts de France region you can see more than 20 species of marine mammals including seals, dolphins and even humpback whales. In April NAUSICAA will put citizen sciences in the spotlight to encourage observation and living in harmony.

 6-23 April: 26th Festival of Sea Imagery. A rare chance to see some of the world's most stunning underwater images, admire the wealth of the ocean and gain insight into the importance of preserving it.

15 April: Grand Easter egg hunt. Gather at Le Noirda beach in the charming fishermen's village of Audresselles and help collect conservation data by searching for “mermaids' purses” in a ray egg hunt.

May: NAUSICAA will highlight sustainable tourism and eco-responsible holidays on the Opal Coast. With coastal nature reserves, a regional country park, a marine park, Cap Gris Nez and Cap Blanc - two areas of environmental interest, plus the Somme Bay, this is a region of exceptional natural beauty.

8 June: World Oceans Day. NAUSICAA, is a founding member of establishing this crucial awareness day, and will in particular highlight the level of plastic pollution in the oceans through a range of events, workshops and meetings.

July-August: The Tropics. An exhibition aiming to present ways in which everyone can make a contribution to sustainable tourism.

Throughout the year sustainability will be a permanent showcase in the tropical Mangrove area of the museum. The areas will also welcome new animals such as land hermit crabs, Atlantic mudskippers and Kaho stick insects.

Lodge Hill Bluebells, at Yoxall, Staffordshire, opens in April and will offer bluebell walking trails through 20 acres of mature woodland, a pop-up café, lawn games and plenty of space for families to enjoy time together. It's the latest business to sign up to The National Forest's 'forestlife' campaign.

'Forestlife' is an expression of all the good things to do and see throughout the 200 square miles of the Forest, and what better evocation of woodlands in springtime than a beautiful bluebell wood with its heady scent and carpet of blue?

Dave Garner, of Lodge Hill Bluebells, said: “My wife and I are really excited and proud to be opening up this piece of ancient woodland that was once part of the Needwood forest. We've worked very hard to create a place where the public can enjoy the stunning beauty of rural East Staffordshire, our carpets of bluebells and a slice of delicious cake. Working with The National Forest and the 'forestlife' campaign has further inspired our journey to deliver an amazing day out in the woods for everyone.”

Richard Drakeley, Tourism Development Manager for the National Forest Company, said: “'Forestlife' is a way of capturing the personality of the Forest, this special woodland place. It's about connecting with the landscape and with each other, to discover great places to walk and enjoy different activities. We're encouraging businesses who share this ethos to sign up with us and be part of our 'forestlife' campaign, marketing the Forest as a destination for people locally and nationally to enjoy. Lodge Hill Bluebells is a perfect example of this and we're delighted to welcome them on board.”

Dave and his wife Charlotte have further plans for this attractive corner of The National Forest. In addition to the bluebell woods that provide a wonderful celebration of spring, the couple have created Field & Forest Weddings. This unique wedding venue provides couples with a beautiful natural setting to design their day around a woodland wedding ceremony and Tipi or vintage-style marquee reception.

A regional workshop on sustainable destination management and marketing has ended in Saint Lucia with a commitment by participants to improve the tourism product and stakeholder engagement.

The 27-31 March workshop, organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the United Nations agency, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), brought together 26 stakeholders in the tourism industry from 12 CTO member countries to explore ways to make their destinations and the region more globally competitive.

“The workshop is a very pertinent one.  It gives the stakeholders an opportunity to look at sustainable tourism, which is very important to our territories and Caribbean countries,” said Percival Hanley, the general manager of Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society in St. Kitts.

“Tourism is one of the major industries for our countries and very meaningful to our economies, and is one of the growing industries that will significantly affect our area, not just now but well into the future,” he added.

During the five-day seminar, participants shared best practices, including the successes of destinations outside the Caribbean.

It was an eye opener for Elecia Myers, the senior director for strategic planning and evaluation at the Jamaica ministry of tourism, who said she would now look at sustainable destination management and marketing in a more strategic light.

“I’ve been looking at how I can institute systems at the national level to ensure there is follow through within our agencies, and within our stakeholder practitioners – hoteliers, attractions, transport service providers  - how to infuse strategic planning in a more meaning and measurable way so we can track it over time,” she said.

For the Turks and Caicos Islands the sessions were quite important because the country is at the crossroads as to where it wants to go in terms of tourism development, said Brian Been, the senior product development officer at the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board.

“Whenever we talk about sustainability, we tend to lean on the environmental side, and not realise there must be a balanced approach,” he said.

The workshop came at a time when destinations are paying greater attention to product development, and social media is changing the way tourism marketing is done.

Among the key areas explored were innovation in marketing, destination competitiveness, developing sustainable tourism experiences and successful models in destination management and marketing. The participants were also able to take the learning process out of this room and  into the real world by going on study tours to Fond Latisab Creole Park, Lushan Country Life and Sulphur Springs and Volcano for real-life experiences.

“Sustainable destination management and marketing is an area that most of the countries in our region are looking at seriously – how to we effectively market and manage our destinations so we can be globally competitive,” said Bonita Morgan, the CTO’s director of resource mobilization and development.

The executive training workshop was organized by the CTO and the UNWTO through its Themis Foundation, and was held in collaboration with the Saint Lucia ministry of tourism and the board of tourism.

“This UNWTO/CTO workshop main objective was to constitute a participative platform where we all could share experiences and knowledge as well as instruments that can be applied back in participants’ countries, institutions, businesses and destinations. And I believe we have achieved that objective by bridging theory and practice in a very participative workshop,” said Alba Fernández Alonso, the course coordinator at the Themis Foundation, the entity responsible for implementing the UNWTO’s education and training programme.

Experience Corsica at U Palazzu Serenu, a small, high quality hotel perched on the hillside at the foot of the mountain town of Oletta. Set within the confines of a converted, old Corsican palace, its grandeur is further defined by its laid-back comfort and high level service. With just eight rooms, guests will enjoy an intimate and relaxed atmosphere, which perfectly complements the serenity of the surrounding mountain scenery.

The immaculate presentation throughout the hotel is inspired by the owner's love for all things artistic, making it an intriguing and striking place to stay. Each room is large and airy, designed in a minimalist fashion which helps to amplify the art and artefacts on show, which are enjoyed both in the rooms and around the hotel. Facilities include a first-class restaurant with an outdoor dining terrace to take in the views out across to the Gulf of St Florent. Guests will also enjoy access to a large swimming pool which sits beside the sea-view terrace, further presenting the wonderful countryside and coastal vistas.

For those keen to get active there are some fantastic walking opportunities to be had in the undulating landscapes that surround Oletta, while the chic seaside town of St Florent with its harbour and La Roya beach is just a 15-minute drive.

International tourist arrivals to the European Union increased by 4% in 2016, reaching almost 500 million or 40% of the world’s total. This preliminary result is included in the first release of the ‘European Union Short-Term Tourism Trends’, a regular monitoring of EU tourism by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in the framework of the cooperation with the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROWTH) of the European Commission (EC).

Despite many challenges facing Europe in 2016, tourism has once again shown extraordinary strength and resilience, reinforcing its contribution to economic growth, job creation and social wellbeing in the European Union (EU-28).

The 28 countries of the EU boasted a solid growth in international tourist arrivals of above 4% in 2016, exceeding the world’s average growth rate, and increasing by 21 million to 499 million. 2016 was the 7th consecutive year of sustained growth for the EU-28 following the 2009 global economic and financial crisis, with 107 million more tourists than the pre-crisis level of 2008.

“Tourism is today one of the key pillars of the EU strategy for jobs and inclusive growth. UNWTO is very pleased to be working alongside the European Commission in monitoring international tourism trends, advance product development and sustainable tourism in Europe”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

There are many offers for camping and caravan holiday lovers in Cornwall this summer and with places like Crantock Beach and Newquay just a car ride away, plenty of fishing lakes, outdoor pools, activity centres and golden-white beaches provide a perfect setting for families, couples and singletons to enjoy the county’s coast.

Available to you are a wide array of award-winning 5-star holiday park that you can read about as they regularly appear in the press, with reviews from international national and regional newspapers, magazines and mum bloggers.

Many of Cornwall’s best beaches are within easy reach, as are lots of Cornwall’s most popular attractions – like parks with mini golf, cafés serving breakfasts, snacks and evening meals and shop selling locally produce, food, toys and gifts.

Cornwell is blessed with a superb location, with everything you need for that perfect holiday break.