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It is impossible to ignore immense potential india presents in hospitality: sebastien bazin, ceo, accor, ‘gcc grand tours’ to allow travellers visit all 6 gulf countries and stay for over 30 days, says uae minister, ‘slow travel’ gains traction as prominent travel trend, ahmedabad among asia’s top destinations for 2024, goa showcases holistic approach for sustainable tourism at atm, exhibitors forge value tie-ups, south africa to host over 40 indian trade partners at africa’s travel indaba, to be held from 13-15 may, 59% indians prefer short weekend trips, 79% prefer domestic over global destinations: videc’s report, diverse experiences and easy visa will attract indians to saudi arabia: alhasan aldabbagh, president, apac.

• Goa top summer holiday destination for Indians, search for Udaipur & Srinagar increases: MMT report
• Akasa Air Enhances Its Pet-Travel Service: ‘Pets on Akasa’

Indian airlines to capture nearly 50% of international passenger traffic by FY2028, predicts CRISIL

Fhrai hosts gathering to boost j&k’s travel sector, aims to make the ut a premier tourist destination, breaking news (all categories).

Associations

OTOAI ties up for organising mega FAM trip for Indian travel agents to Türkiye from 30 June to 6 July

13.8% increase in global passenger demand compared in March 2024 vis-a-vis the same month in 2023: IATA

It is critical to resolve supply chain issues and for airports to operate at max efficiency to meet demand: IATA

New german passenger tax increase to weaken german economy and hamper decarbonization: iata.

Hospitality industry is responsible for 1-2% of global carbon emissions: HRAWI president

Sector closed 2023 with 63-65% occupancy rate, up 3-5 percentage points from previous year: HVS ANAROCK

After Colombo, ITC Hotels plans to open more properties overseas and 70 hotels in India: Sanjiv Puri

IHCL to relaunch Gateway brand with 15 hotels in tier II & III cities, starting with Bekal and Nashik: Puneet Chhatwal

Ministry of tourism launches ‘coolcation’ campaign to promote india as a year-round tourist destination.

India showcases its strength at ATM 2024, launches campaign to promote nation as holistic destination

Mumbai agents struggle with tourist guide rates for their cruise passengers

MOT conducts special training session for TAAI members on agent accreditation in Mumbai

Suman Billa returns to MOT as Additional Secretary

HRAWI proposes to set up bureau to promote Maha as an enticing destination for M!CE events

UPTCL Indo Jaya Cup, held in Lucknow, will offer opportunities to expand tourism business in UP

Environment-friendly travel to Kashmir guarantees prosperity of the Union Territory, says Jyoti Mayal

Goa shifts focus from beach tourism, adds culture and sustainability to boost tourist footfall in state

Total air traffic in India reaches 370 mn in 2023, 26% surge over 2022 with 9.2 million foreign arrivals

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Senators want limits on the government’s use of facial recognition technology for airport screening

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Consumer groups push Congress to uphold automatic refunds for airline passengers

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London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is showcasing sculptures inspired by nature. (01 May 2024) (AP/ Cassandra Allwood)

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Tourism recovering, but not back to pre-pandemic levels

Paris (AFP) – Global tourism is roaring back to life despite Covid travel headaches and the effects of the war in Ukraine, but it has yet to return to its pre-pandemic health.

Issued on: 12/05/2022 - 09:56 Modified: 12/05/2022 - 09:55

International tourist arrivals worldwide have more than doubled, up 130 percent in January 2022 on the same period last year, according to the latest UN World Tourism Organization figures.

Travellers are regaining confidence, and Europe and the Americas are leading the resurgence.

Worldwide, there have been 18 million additional visitors, the UNWTO said, "equivalent to the total increase recorded over the whole of 2021".

In 2019, global tourism revenues reached $1.48 trillion. That figure dropped by almost two thirds due to the pandemic the following year.

While January confirms the recovery trend that began in 2021, the UNWTO highlighted how the Omicron Covid variant recently put the brakes on the rise. International arrivals in January 2022 were still 67 percent lower than before the pandemic.

Most regions have seen travellers return and rebound from the low levels of early 2021, with Europe faring three times better and the Americas twice as well.

That's still some way off pre-pandemic numbers, but Larry Cuculic, general manager of the Best Western hotel company, is optimistic.

"I travelled earlier this week and I can tell you that the airports, the international terminals in the US are very crowded and there is a demand or an interest in travelling to Europe, because for several years we couldn't do that," he told AFP.

"We miss going to Paris, Rome and Berlin."

The Middle East is also experiencing a boom, with arrivals up 89 percent on 2021, and so is Africa, with numbers up 51 percent -- but these two regions are still very far from their 2019 totals, according to the UNWTO.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the number of travellers is falling in the Asia-Pacific region, where several destinations remain closed. In January, international tourist arrivals were down 93 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

Travel by Chinese tourists, the world's biggest spenders before the pandemic, is also severely affected by China's zero-Covid policy.

According to travel analyst ForwardKeys, the second quarter of 2022 still looks "more promising for international travel in the world than the first quarter".

The Caribbean and South America are drawing tourists looking for sea and sunshine in the northern hemisphere summer. Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Aruba and Jamaica are among the 20 most popular destinations, even exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

In Europe, tourists are flocking to France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Iceland, but not in the same numbers as before Covid.

The French exception

France is doing well enough, though. In February, international tourism revenues in the country "came close to those of 2019", according to France's tourism minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

At 2.7 billion euros ($2.8 billion), revenues were up 1.5 billion compared to last year and down eight percent compared to 2019, he told reporters.

In 2019, before the pandemic, the tourism sector in France represented 7.4 percent of GDP and 9.5 percent of jobs.

According to Lemoyne, France is "very well positioned" as the "number one destination for travel in Europe for Americans, Belgians, Italians and Spaniards".

The French, for their part, are "a European exception", the minister said, pointing out that 60 percent plan to stay in their own country over the holidays.

"With a domestic base that will remain very strong and the return of international customers, this means that we are in for a summer season that can be very, very dynamic," he said.

But Didier Arino, director of the Protourisme consultancy, warned there could be trouble ahead.

"It is not the market that is going to be problematic, it is the cost of production of tourist stays, competitiveness, the suitability between the prices of products and purchasing power," he said.

"The players are all increasing their prices, and right now it is going well because people want to enjoy themselves. But we are reaching the limit of what is acceptable for many customers."

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At the Top of the Golden Gate Bridge, Governor Newsom Announces Tourism Spending Hit an All-Time High in California

Published: May 05, 2024

California remains the #1 state for tourism

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW : New data released today shows that California continues to have the largest market share of tourism in the nation, with travel spending in the state reaching an all-time record high of $150.4 billion last year.

SAN FRANCISCO – Governor Gavin Newsom and Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta today announced that travel spending in the state reached an all-time high of $150.4 billion last year, surpassing the record $144.9 billion spent in 2019. This comes after the state retained its title as the  world’s 5th largest economy  and had a  population increase , both of which are directly tied to California’s nation-leading tourism and entertainment industries.

VIDEO: Gov. Newsom makes announcement at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge

WHAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM SAID : “From our world-renowned coastline, to the world’s tallest trees, to our iconic cities and theme parks, California is the nation’s coming attraction. Visitors from all over the world are coming here to experience the wonder of the Golden State, boosting our economy and creating good-paying jobs for years to come.”

BY THE NUMBERS : The Economic Impact of Travel in California, prepared by Dean Runyan Associates and released by Visit California, detailed spending that is 3.8% higher than 2019 and 5.6% higher than 2022.  Spending exceeded 2019 levels in a majority of counties.

WHAT VISIT CALIFORNIA CEO BETETA SAID : “California tourism is back where it belongs – setting records and providing for the workers, business owners and all Californians who depend on the travel industry as a cornerstone of our state’s economy. The industry has once again proved its ability to recover from any challenge, whether it be economic or environmental. California continues to be the largest, most diverse and most resilient tourism economy in the United States.”

WHAT THIS MEANS : California has the largest market share of tourism in the nation. The new travel-spending record generated $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue by visitors in 2023, marking a 3% increase over 2019. Tourism created 64,900 new jobs in 2023, bringing total industry employment to 1,155,000.

California remains the  5th largest economy in the world  for the seventh consecutive year, with a nominal GDP of nearly $3.9 trillion in 2023 and a growth rate of 6.1% since the year prior, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. California’s per capita GDP is the second largest among large economies.

In addition to visiting the state, more people are moving to California. Earlier this week, Governor Newsom  announced  the state’s population is increasing for the first time since the pandemic.

The Golden State, which has the most equitable tax system in the  entire country , is #1 in the nation for new  business starts , #1 for access to venture capital  funding , and the #1 state for tourism  spending ,  manufacturing ,  high-tech , and  agriculture .

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Senate Approves Bill to Reauthorize F.A.A. and Improve Air Travel

The Senate also passed a short-term extension of the current F.A.A. law to give the House time to clear the longer-term package early next week.

By Kayla Guo

Reporting from the Capitol

The Senate on Thursday passed legislation to reauthorize federal aviation programs for the next five years and put in place new safety measures and consumer protections for passengers, at a moment of intense uncertainty and disruption in the air travel system.

The bill , which still must win final approval in the House before becoming law, would provide more than $105 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration and another $738 million to the National Transportation Safety Board for airport modernization, technology programs and safety. It would also bolster the hiring and training of air traffic controllers, codify airlines’ refund obligations to passengers, ensure fee-free family seating and strengthen protections for passengers with disabilities.

“Aviation safety has been front of mind for millions of Americans recently, and this F.A.A. bill is the best thing Congress can do to give Americans the peace of mind they deserve,” Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said on the Senate floor on Thursday evening.

It passed in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 88 to 4, just one day before the current law is scheduled to lapse. The Senate also unanimously approved a short-term extension to allow time for the House to take up and clear the longer-term package next week, a step that would send it to President Biden.

The legislation is a bipartisan compromise negotiated over months by the Senate and House committees with jurisdiction over the F.A.A., after Congress authorized several short-term extensions of the agency when lawmakers failed to meet earlier deadlines. The House passed its version of the bill almost a year ago in a lopsided vote of 351 to 69.

Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington, chairwoman of the Commerce Committee, celebrated the bill’s provisions on consumer protections, aviation safety, air traffic controllers, airport infrastructure and work force development on the floor after passage.

“This is a big moment for aviation,” Ms. Cantwell said. “We have had safety issues and concerns that we need to make a big investment. This legislation is that investment — in safety standards, in protecting consumers and advancing a work force and technology that will allow the United States to be the gold standard in aviation.”

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, said: “This legislation is a strong, bipartisan, bicameral bill that includes hundreds of priorities for senators and representatives, both Republican and Democrat. This bill gives the FAA the safety tools it needs at a critical time.”

As one of the few remaining bills considered a must-pass item this year, the F.A.A. package, which prompted several regional disputes, became a magnet for dozens of amendments and policy riders that threatened to delay it in the Senate.

With the legislation threatening to stall, the House on Wednesday approved a one-week extension for the F.A.A. before leaving Washington for the weekend. The Senate followed suit on Thursday, steering around lingering disputes that had threatened to scuttle the effort and cause a brief lapse for the F.A.A.

The debate came at a time of acute uncertainty about the aviation system, which has had a recent spate of concerning episodes such as dangerous near collisions on runways, plane malfunctions and thousands of flight delays and cancellations.

It was unclear for much of Thursday whether the Senate would be able to push through the legislation and the extension, as senators demanded votes on amendments or threatened to block speedy passage. No amendments were ultimately brought to a vote.

The most intense regional fight was over a provision in the bill that would add five round-trip long-haul flights out of Ronald Reagan National Airport outside Washington. Proponents, which include Delta Air Lines, have said they want to expand access to the nation’s capital and increase competition.

The proposal incensed lawmakers representing the area , who argued that the airport maintains the busiest runway in the country and cannot support additional flights. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia and Benjamin L. Cardin and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, all Democrats, filed an amendment to strike the new flights.

Mr. Kaine and Mr. Warner threatened to hold the bill up if they did not receive a vote. But Mr. Cruz blocked an effort to bring up a compromise amendment that would have given the transportation secretary the final say on new flights after considering any effects they would have on delays and passenger safety.

“The Senate abdicated its responsibility to protect the safety of the 25 million people who fly through D.C.A. every year,” Mr. Kaine and Mr. Warner said in a statement. “Some of our colleagues were too afraid to let the experts make the call. They didn’t want to show the American people that they care more about a few lawmakers’ desire for direct flights than they care about the safety and convenience of the traveling public. That is shameful and an embarrassment.”

The senators from Virginia and Maryland were the only votes against the bill.

Another group of senators failed to secure a vote on a proposal to halt the Transportation Security Administration’s expansion of facial recognition technology at airports and restrict it where it is in use.

Senators had also proposed adding a number of unrelated bills, including one that would compensate people harmed by exposure to the nation’s nuclear weapons program , legislation to fully fund the replacement of the collapsed Francis Key Scott Bridge in Baltimore, and a credit card competition measure. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, and Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, were pushing for a vote on their bill to protect minors online into Thursday. None of them made it into the final product.

Kayla Guo covers Congress for The New York Times as the 2023-24 reporting fellow based in Washington. More about Kayla Guo

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Politics | President Joe Biden arrives in the Bay Area on…

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Politics | google, rivian automotive trim bay area jobs as tech layoffs persist, politics | president joe biden arrives in the bay area on fundraising trip, the president is expected to attend fundraisers with former yahoo ceo marissa mayer and venture capitalist vinod khosla.

President Joe Biden returned to the Bay Area for a two-day visit on Thursday evening, arriving at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View around 7:38 p.m.

Air Force One arrived in Mountain View at 7:25 p.m. After disembarking from Air Force One, Biden walked directly off the ramp and boarded a chopper to San Francisco, where he was expected to spend the night. He boarded Marine One around 7:40 p.m., and the helicopter took off around 7:45 p.m. for San Francisco.

One of the fundraising events will be held at the Portola Valley home owned by Khosla, according to a report by The Almanac, a local news outlet. Tickets are expected to range from $6,000 to $100,000.

Earlier this year, President Biden visited the Bay Area for a two-day visit in February , where he met with donors in San Francisco and attended a fundraising event in Los Altos Hills. The president was also in the Bay Area last November, when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the famed Filoli estate during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference held in San Francisco.

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Customers left stranded as Air Vanuatu enters voluntary liquidation, all flights cancelled

Customers have been left stranded after a major airline entered voluntary liquidation, cancelling all flights.

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Air Vanuatu has been placed into voluntary liquidation, with Australian liquidators stepping in to wind up the beleaguered airline as it cans international flights.

In a statement, Ernst and Young Australia confirmed Morgan Kelly, Justin Walsh and Andrew Hanson had been appointed as voluntary liquidators of Air Vanuatu following a special resolution of shareholders.

It follows a turbulent week for the Vanuatu-based airline – the island nation’s national carrier – after it suspended all flights across the board.

The liquidators will conduct safety and maintenance checks before the resumption of normal operations, Ernst and Young said in their statement.

Affected travellers will be informed of this disruption and rebooked on flights as soon as operations resume.

“Air Vanuatu is critical to the people of the Republic of Vanuatu and a strategically important business to the nation,” Morgan Kelly, partner in Strategy & Transactions at EY said.

“Our team is working closely with management to ensure continuity of service to customers and to ensure services continue as seamlessly as possible,” said Morgan Kelly, Partner

“The outlook for the airline is positive, despite pressures on the broader industry, and we will be focused on securing the future of this strategically vital national carrier.”

The first creditors meeting will be scheduled shortly.

Air Vanuatu has been particularly affected by disruption of tourism activity due to cyclones, Ernst and Young said.

Bonza plane “Bruce” has flown out from the Sunshine Coast for Honolulu, leaving the futures of Shazza, Malc, Sheila and Bazza uncertain.

The Prime Minister has called on Melbourne Airport owners to get on with a major infrastructure project to make it easier for passengers.

Hopes have been shot down for Bonza after fresh fleet negotiations failed, leaving all flights cancelled and a majority of staff without work until at least May 14.

Housing | Newsom backs bill requiring cities to plan for…

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Housing | oakland airport to be renamed ‘san francisco bay oakland international airport’ after commission vote, housing | newsom backs bill requiring cities to plan for housing california’s poorest residents, at stake are hundreds of thousands of homes for extremely low-income residents.

The requirement would be part of the every-eight-years housing plans that cities and counties already must send to the state for approval.

“This new approach will require locals to better account for the needs of the lowest-income households and people experiencing homelessness,” Newsom said in a statement.

Currently, local governments must plan to meet specific homebuilding targets set across a range of affordability levels, with the lowest level being for residents earning less than 50% of an area’s typical income. Assembly Bill 3093 would split that category into three new levels between 0% and 50%.

In Santa Clara County, 50% of the typical annual income is $96,000 for a single person, according to the state housing department. If the bill went into effect today, the county’s lowest affordability level would be for those earning between $0 and $19,050. (The upper income limit would increase for larger households.)

Residents of affordable housing typically pay no more than 30% of their income on rent, though the amount can vary.

The new rules would apply to the next round of housing plans, which Bay Area localities must finalize by 2031.

Under the current plans, the Bay Area is expected to permit about 441,000 new homes — roughly half of them for low- and middle-income residents — over the remaining seven years of the present cycle. Early results show the region is behind schedule in meeting that ambitious goal.

Should the bill pass, a team within the state’s Housing Accountability Unit will be tasked with assuring that cities and counties plan for more extremely low-income homes and supportive housing for homeless people. Last year, the unit worked with the state attorney general to sue Huntington Beach for failing to develop a housing plan. In March, a judge stripped the city of some of its authority to block new housing.

But even when jurisdictions satisfy the state’s planning expectations, that doesn’t mean affordable housing automatically gets built. With public funding severely oversubscribed, most local governments haven’t come close to hitting their affordable housing targets during recent eight-year cycles.

The bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward of San Diego, is still in the early stages of the committee process. It’s next set to go before the Assembly’s Committee on Housing and Community Development.

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