In the news: UNWTO’s report on overseas travel, Thai Lion Air’s first GDS partner, Amadeus’ new rebooking solution for travellers, SLH’s redesigned Apple app
Good year for international tourism in 2015, record of 1.2b travellers
50 million more tourists travelled around the world in 2015. (Image credit: Meinzahn/iStock)
Despite fear of terrorism and attacks on holidaymakes in various parts of the world last year, tourism saw an upward trend growing by 4.4% to 1.18 billion international tourist arrivals.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in its latest World Tourism Barometer, revealed 50 million more tourists (overnight visitors) travelled around the world in 2015 as compared to 2014.
2015 marked the sixth consecutive year of above average growth with arrivals increasing by 4% or more yearly since post-crisis 2010.
Growth in advanced economy destinations (+5%) exceeded that of emerging economies (+4%).
Europe had the most growth (5%) to 609 million arrivals. Asia and the Pacific also recorded 5% growth to 277 million, and the Americas saw arrivals grew by 191 million, another 5% growth.
The Middle East recorded a slower growth, an increase of 3% to 54 million. Africa, due to limited data available to UNWTO, had a 3% decrease to 53 million and was mostly due to weak results in North Africa that accounts for over one third of arrivals in the region. (see infographic below).
“The robust performance of the sector is contributing to economic growth and job creation in many parts of the world. It is thus critical for countries to promote policies that foster the continued growth of tourism, including travel facilitation, human resources development, and sustainability,” said UNWTO secretary general, Taleb Rifai.
The 2015 results were influenced by exchange rates, oil prices, natural and man-made crises in many parts as well as increased safety and security concerns.
On the issue of safety and security Rifai urged for collective action to promote safe, secure and seamless travel.
“UNWTO urges governments to include tourism administrations in their national security planning, structures and procedures, not only to ensure that the sector’s exposure to threats is minimised but also to maximise the sector’s ability to support security and facilitation, as seamless and safe travel can and should go hand in hand.”
The UNWTO forecasts 2016 to be “largely positive” for international tourism. Based on current trend the organisation projects tourist arrivals worldwide to grow by 4% this year.
By region, growth is expected to be stronger in Asia and the Pacific (+4% to +5%) and the Americas (+4% to +5%), followed by Europe (+3.5% to +4.5%).
The projections for Africa (+2% to 5%) and the Middle East (+2% to +5%) are positive, though with a larger degree of uncertainty and volatility.
• Click on infographic to enlarge
Thai Lion Air teams up with Sabre to drive growth
Thai Lion Air flying on a growth path.
Thai low-cost airline, Thai Lion Air, has chosen Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific as its first global distribution partner to expand from within the B2B channel.
The partnership will make the airline’s inventory available to over 100,000 Sabre-connected travel agents in the Asia Pacific region.
Thai Lion Air currently serves 10 domestic routes from Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok, and recently added international flights to neighbouring Singapore. It is planning to launch more routes to Asian hubs, one of which is the new Kuala Lumpur service operated by partner, Malindo Air.
“Bookings from Sabre-connected travel agents will help us to increase our frequency, while channelling demand for the new routes we have planned,” said Aswin Yangkirativorn, chief executive officer of Thai Lion Air.
“We are operating in a very competitive climate and appreciate that with Sabre, we have the opportunity to present the Thai Lion Air proposition in a way that differentiates our brand,” he added.
Amadeus offers travellers self-service online rebooking tool
Travellers can change bookings online with the ATC Shopper. (Image credit: scyther5/iStock)
Amadeus has launched the Ticket Changer (ATC) Shopper, which it billed as “the world’s first self-service online rebooking solution”.
With 24/7 online online access to different routes, itineraries and schedules, customers of online travel agents (OTAs) who offer this solution can independently rebook their flights before and after departure. This will save time and reduce calls for the OTAs.
“We created ATC Shopper because we know that passengers want to have control of their itinerary and travel agents want to provide their customers with the best possible experience. ATC Shopper is another step forward in the world of personalised travel,” says Rudy Daniello, VP distribution product management for Amadeus.
ATC Shopper is the latest addition to the ATC suite that includes Amadeus Ticket Changer Reissue, Amadeus Ticket Changer Involuntary, and Amadeus Ticket Changer Refund.
SLH launches new mobile app for the iPhone
SLH’s newly designed iPhone app.
In the last 12 months Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has seen a sharp rise in mobile activity, recording a 49% increase in visits to the mobile site and a 71% increase in reservations made via mobile.
In response to this SLH has completely redesigned its mobile app for the iPhone to include new features to make customer interactions quick, simple, informative, and user-friendly. It also includes an Interactive Hotel Directory and the introduction of a new internet booking engine.
Key features include:
• Ability to search over 520 hotels by hotel name, destination, or experience using Google maps including a ‘hotels near me’ search function.
• Detailed information about each hotel including rooms, restaurants, facilities, services ,and location – all accompanied by photo galleries.
• Book Now button to make reservations via the app or click to call a local SLH reservations agent.
• Sharing function to allow guests to share favourite hotels with friends by email and social media channels.
The app also has live maps with turn-by-turn directions for registered guests to their hotels. It also invites them to sign up to The Club of SLH to take advantage of member benefits that begin as soon as they complete their first stay.
Filip Boyen, CEO for SLH, said: “While we have always seen healthy visitation to our mobile site, the increase in reservations being made via mobile in 2015 was striking and demonstrates how consumer confidence in making transactions through mobile devices has changed.”
The app for Android phones will be released in March.
