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Dubai focuses on families and events to drive vision for tourism in 2020
Destinations“Dubai has mastered the art of the comeback”. That was the verdict of experts at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) as HE Helal Al Marri expanded on Dubai’s Vision 2020 plans, which he stated was both “possible and achievable.” Following the statement that Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) aims to triple [...]
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Italy’s new prime minister bets success on Milan’s Expo 2015
DestinationsNew Italian Premier Enrico Letta says his government is determined to make sure that organized crime does not infiltrate the Expo 2015 World Fair in Milan. The fair is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and attract 20 million tourists. Letta says its success will be a litmus test for his new government. [...]
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Vietnam pegs tourism growth to cultural festivals after unexpected drop in visits
DestinationsA series of festivals kicked off the tourism season over the past week as the industry launched a fight back following news that the number of international vistors to Vietnam took a dip during the first four months of the year. The bid to win back trade and showcase the very best of the nation [...]
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Bahrain hosts a second Formula One Grand Prix amidst nationwide protests
DestinationsBahrain’s rulers can breathe a sigh of relief after a prized Formula One race went off largely unhindered by unrest, but in villages beyond the well-protected Grand Prix bubble simmering communal tensions still pose a stubborn challenge to stability. Last year’s race was seen as a public relations own-goal for the tiny but strategically vital [...]
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Music festivals drive U.S. tourism in warm weather months
DestinationsKaren Pery doesn’t consider herself a jazz fan. Yet for each of the past four years, she’s spent $3,000 and flown nearly 4,000 miles (nearly 6,500 kilometers) roundtrip to attend the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. “It’s humid. It’s hot. It’s crowded,” the 42-year-old Los Angeles resident recalled. But, “It’s so much fun and [...]
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Qatar is still planning for a summer Wold Cup, but isn’t adamant
DestinationsQatar organizers are pushing ahead with plans to hold the 2022 World Cup in the summer, although they’re willing to host in the winter. UEFA President Michel Platini has led calls to play the tournament in the cooler winter months. FIFA’s ruling body also could move the dates because of medical concerns about the desert [...]
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Dubai needs more conference space to keep up with hotel room boom
DestinationsThe general manager of one of Dubai’s largest hotel complexes has expressed concern that the emirate will “desperately need convention space” in the near future. Yannis Anagnostakis, area GM at InterContinental Hotels Group Dubai Festival City properties, said he believed Dubai World Trade Centre was operating close to capacity. “Meeting space, conference space is desperately [...]
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SkiftSeedlings: Five early-stage travel startups offer niche travel experiences
DigitalEach of this week’s SkiftSeedlings targets a different consumer and sector of the travel industry, but their execution reaffirms the trend towards local, specific experiences. Tour booking platforms are becoming more specific in an effort to offer consumers exactly what they want, but with so many small niche sites out there few travelers know where [...]
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Atlantic City lures back Miss America pageant with plans to boost tourism
DestinationsAtlantic City’s casino and tourism industries are providing financial incentives that helped lure the Miss America pageant back to the seaside city where it started 93 years ago. The pageant returns to Atlantic City in September after spending six years in Las Vegas. New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwa-DAHG’-noh) announced a three-year deal with [...]
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The local economic impact of the Super Bowl, as visualized by Square
DestinationsAmerican football’s Super Bowl, like all major athletic events, is traditionally a huge boon for the city that hosts it. Analysts estimated that this year’s game, held this past Sunday in New Orleans, Louisiana, would bring $185 million to the city, which is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The jury is out [...]
