Travel Trade Journal - October 2021

IGLTA: Ensuring an Equal and Inclusive World for All Travellers

Founded in 1983, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) is one of the very few organisations in the world dedicated solely to promoting and supporting LGBTQ+ tourism businesses. In an exclusive interview with Travel Trade Journal, John Tanzella, President and CEO, International LGBTQ+ Travel Association shared with us the organisation’s mission and vision, as well as the hurdles and the challenges faced by them. Tanzella also shed light on the IGLTA’s expansion plans and their noble act of spreading awareness, to make this world LGBTQ+ friendly. Read on to know more.

Must have experiences at THE KUMAON for a refreshing 2023!

Pay heed to the calling of the mountains and begin 2023 with an unforgettable retreat in the heart of the Himalayas. The Kumaon sitting atop a ridge, surrounded by the sanctity of the Nanda Devi Range, boasts of diverse experiences where one can disconnect with the tangible workings of the world and reconnect with one's truest self.

CELESTIAL DISCOVERIES IN NEW ZEALAND

Stargazing in New Zealand is an incredibly wonderful experience thanks to the country's pitch-black skies, distinctive celestial formations, and exotic landscapes. Be it shooting stars and constellations in the clear sky or starry night; New Zealand has some of the best public observatories in the world. Wish to fall deeper in love with the dark skies? Find out where to get a billion-star view of some of the clearest skies from earth.

Pride Hotels to double its portfolio to 100 hotels by 2030

S.P. Jain, Founder and CMD of Pride Hotels, is a Chartered Accountant with over thirty years of expertise in hotels, construction, and finance. He made his initial foray into the hospitality industry when his first hotel was commissioned in 1988 in Pune, under Pride Hotels. Over the years, SP Jain has contributed to the industry with his knowledge and expertise. In this exclusive interaction with TTJ, he talks about the group’s performance, success, challenges and ambitious expansion plans.

The Apurva Kempinski, Bali: a luxurious gateway to the Bali life

The Apurva Kempinski is a blend of traditional Balinese architecture and tropical island at Nusa Dua, Bali “Bali is more than a place. It’s a mood, it’s magical. It’s a tropical state of mind.”

Uttar Pradesh Tourism: Pressing all the right buttons

Speaking to Travel Trade Journal recently, Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, shared some latest insights into the strides that Uttar Pradesh was lately making in developing a multifaceted, safe and tourist-friendly tourism product. The endeavour is to fill in all the missing links, and gaps and echo the sentiment of 'Athiti Devo Bhava'.

Dubai Holding Entertainment's Hala Dubai to shake up India market

Despite the pandemic's blow, Dubai has seen a speedy recovery and is on the path to reaching pre-pandemic growth levels. With the commitment to its visitors and inclusivity, Dubai Holding Entertainment projects soaring numbers in the future. In an exclusive interview with Travel Trade Journal, Rami Mashini, Executive Director, Sales, Dubai Holding Entertainment, also revealed the group's efforts to attract visitors from the India market, which has become the group's biggest source market in 2022. Dubai Holding Entertainment's upcoming project, Hala Dubai, in collaboration with Real Madrid, is going to be bigger than ever. Mashini hinted that the launch would take place within Dubai Parks and ResortsTM, and more details would be revealed closer to the date.

MALDIVES NAVIGATES PANDEMIC CHALLENGES: Evolves into a Destination for All

The Maldives is a nation of over 1,000 islands located in the Indian Ocean. Known for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and luxurious resorts, the Maldives has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing travel restrictions and shutdowns worldwide, the Maldives, like many other tourist-dependent economies, has faced challenges in keeping its tourism industry afloat. In this article, we'll explore how the Maldives has navigated the pandemic and hear from Fathimath Afra, Chief Marketing Officer, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, about the strategies that have been implemented to keep the tourism industry going during these difficult times.

TOURISM WESTERN AUSTRALIA: WITNESSING A ROBUST AND FASTGROWING INTEREST FROMINDIA MARKET

As a major focus market, India represents an enormous growth opportunity for Western Australia's (WA) visitor economy. In the period May to September 2022, arrivals from India to WA recovered to 87 per cent of pre-COVID levels, which far outstripped the average of 46 per cent from other countries and reflects the Indian markets' rapidly growing interest in WA as a holiday destination. TTJ interacted with Carolyn Turnbull, Managing Director, Tourism WA, who is responsible for promoting WA as an incredible tourism destination, along with delivering world-class tourism experiences and events calendar. She shares with us more about the sun-kissed destination with jaw-dropping, dreamlike scenery and authentic cultural experiences and how they are targeting and working to get in more Indian tourists.

Hope, Caution And Alarm For The Travel Industry

The Union Budget 2023-24 was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2023. Expectations ran high, as every industry and its verticals have their own wishlist and pain areas which they look forward to being addressed. The travel, tourism and hospitality industry has its own long pending list of unaddressed issues for which constant representations have been made over the years. As usual, they remained unaddressed even in this budget. What was presented was a progressive, growth-oriented agenda for tourism at a macro level. However, the issues relating to the immediate survival and global competitiveness of the industry remained unaddressed. To add insult to injury, a massive hike in the TCS regime was proposed.