Hotel booking sites may hinder Malta’s tourism – study

A recent study comparing different online tourist accommodation booking platforms indicates that people planning a trip to Malta may get a better deal when booking directly with local hotels or other accommodation establishments rather than using international booking websites.

As part of their studies, a group of students reading for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Enterprise at the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology’s Institute of Business and Commerce compared the prices of collective accommodation establishments in Malta for a seven-night stay between June 13 and 20.

The study showed that direct prices offered by establishments in Malta are cheaper than those quoted by booking engines.

Commenting on these findings, the students noted that this situation may be problematic due to tourists’ preference in using booking engines.

“Malta’s competitiveness is being undermined, either be­cause tourists might be unaware that the establishments offer a better price if booked directly, or, even if they are aware, they might still opt for a more expensive price due to security concerns.”

The students, Christabelle Attard, Simon Camilleri, Melanie Cauchi, Annalise Gatt, John Gauci, and Sue Micallef commented that first-time visitors to Malta would most probably be unaware of the hotels available locally and would therefore seek accommodation through a booking engine, which is perceived to offer greater security. This, they said, continues to undermine Malta’s price competitiveness in this sector.

“Establishments should make more effort to promote their own websites with customers to encourage repeat tourists to book future accommodation directly through their websites.

“It would also be beneficial if they offer better deals to the booking engines so that these can in turn offer better prices to their users.”

The study also compared local accommodation prices with those in Corfu and Cyprus.

Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121111/university/Hotel-booking-sites-may-hinder-Malta-s-tourism-study.444930

Cultural, tourism group established in Xi'an

The Shaanxi Xixian Cultural and Tourism Industry Group Co Ltd was set up on Thursday in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Established by three State-owned companies — the Shaanxi Xixian New District Development Group, the Shaanxi Tourism Group and the Western Movie Group — the group has a registered capital of 2 billion yuan ($317 million).

Its business scope comprises culture, education, tourism, the construction of cultural parks, publications, film and TV production and distribution.

The establishment of the group was in response to the requirements of the Shaanxi provincial government to develop the province into a region with strong cultural offerings, said group chairwoman Li Zhao'e.

The group will also build the Xixian International Culture and Education Park, the Northern Scenery, Cultural and Tourism Central Area and the New Western Film and Television Base in the Xixian New District, which has an 882 square-kilometer area, she said.

Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-09/07/content_15743458.htm

SA tourism is booming

Total income for SA's accommodation industry increased by 13.4 percent in June this year compared with the same month last year‚ Statistics SA's (Stats SA) tourist accommodation survey released on Monday showed.

The 13.4 percent translated into R1.748bn in monetary terms.

The survey is conducted monthly and covers a sample of public and private enterprises involved in the short stay accommodation industry‚ with the results used to compile estimates of tourism satellite accounts as well as the gross domestic product.

Total income for the industry for the second quarter of this year rose by 11.2 percent compared with the same quarter last year‚ figures showed.

Total income includes income from hotels‚ caravan parks and camping sites‚ guest houses and guest farms‚ and "other" accommodation.

Stats SA said that income from accommodation for the second quarter of this year lifted by 14.3 percent compared with the second quarter of last year.

The main contributor to the 14.3 percent rise was hotels‚ which contributed 8.5 percentage points; followed by "other" accommodation‚ with a 3.7 percentage point contribution; and guest houses and guest farms‚ which contributed 1.9 percentage points.

There was a 17.6 percent increase in the income from accommodation in June this year compared to June last year‚ also mainly due to the contribution by hotels‚ "other" accommodation‚ and guest houses and guest farms.

The number of stay units available in June this year and stay unit nights sold also rose on an annual basis‚ Stats SA reported.

Total income for SA's accommodation industry increased by 13.4 percent in June this year compared with the same month last year‚ Statistics SA's (Stats SA) tourist accommodation survey released on Monday showed.

Source: http://business.iafrica.com/news/812000.html

'Thainess' tourism campaigns get clear direction

A broad-based destination image research study conducted across 14 countries by the Tourism Authority of Thailand has provided clear pointers on ways to sharpen the imagery and message of the country’s upcoming “Thainess” tourism campaigns.

Approved at the TAT’s annual Action Plan meeting in July 2012, the “Thainess” campaigns will highlight unique selling propositions such as Thai boxing, Thai cuisine, Thai health & wellness, Thai culture and heritage and many other such characteristics of the country’s identity.

Thailand has a broad range of products in each of these categories nationwide, and the TAT feels that they need to be given greater prominence as part of the marketing mix.

Because all the categories of the “Thainess” campaigns lend themselves to powerful imagery, the research study was designed to identify the “trigger points” that will convince the potential visitors to move from “looking” to “booking.”

The countries included Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, U.S., United Arab Emirates, Australia, China, South Korea, India, Russia, Germany, Sweden, and Italy. A total sample of 3,000 were surveyed including both those who were first time or repeat visitors.

The study used secondary and primary data and both quantitative and qualitative surveys. Interviews conducted included a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including Thais and foreigners, working both in and out of the industry.

TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, “The most important factor in the advertising message always has been the quality of the imagery. But with the many changes taking place these days, both the content and means of delivery of those images had to be re-examined within the context of our “Thainess” campaign strategies.”

He noted that some target groups felt attracted by a “story-telling” strategy. Others favoured a more static approach or responded to powerful images delivered via mobile devices. In all instances, the response differed depending on such factors as gender, age, location and the number of times the potential customers had visited Thailand.

“We found that some of the traditional perceptions of Thailand were still strong, such as those related to fun, excitement, good service, hospitality,” Mr Suraphon said. “This works well when trying to attract the family market, for example. Other images may need to be reinforced in other ways.”

“Altogether, it has been an interesting and challenging exercise. We became much more aware of how the world is changing and the constant need to keep up with these changes in order to maintain visitor flows.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/thainess-tourism-campaigns-get-clear-direction-32478.php

Numbers looking up for summer tourism in Michigan

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island officially opens this weekend, signaling the beginning of Michigan's spring-summer tourism season. This year marks the 125th anniversary for the iconic hotel, and reservations for the 385-room hotel are up 4 percent over this period last year. Some summer weekends are nearly sold out.

Guests are ready to vacation and planning earlier, which bodes well for the travel industry, said Ken Hayward, executive vice president and managing director of the Grand Hotel.

"We are looking forward to a really good year," he said.

So, too, are other businesses that make up Michigan's $17 billion tourism industry. The state expects a 6 percent jump in tourism spending this year, according to a forecast by Michigan State University tourism professors Dan McCole and Sarah Nicholls. That's even after last year's busier-than-expected travel season, marking a third consecutive year of a travel spending recovery.

Furthermore, average gasoline prices statewide fell below $4 a gallon during the past month, lightening the travel budget burden.

Even if fuel costs spike above the sensitive $4-a-gallon threshold, the impact will be low, said Bill Rasmussen, owner of Traverse City's Island View Cottages.

"I've owned the business since 1975, and I've learned that people are going to vacation no matter what," Rasmussen said. "They will find a way to afford it."

Nancy Cain of AAA Michigan agrees.

"If they really want to go away, they'll cut back on souvenirs or dinners out to offset any rising gas prices," she said.

Mother Nature will be the driving force behind a superior season, MSU's McCole said. Just as Michigan's warmer-than-usual winter weather hurt the snowmobiling and ski industry this year, a rainy or cool summer can scare off the all important last minute traveler.

McCole's research finds that 30 percent of travelers book trips six days or less before departure, allowing them to consult the weather forecast. If the traveler is affluent, the number climbs to 38 percent.

The weather has already helped Jane Verplank, owner of Saugatuck's Victorian Inn, a bed and breakfast in the western Michigan arts community. March's warm temperatures brought vacationers to Saugatuck earlier than usual.

"I've made three times as much in the first quarter than I did at this time last year," Verplank said. At the rate reservations are going— several summer weekends are booked solid at her seven-room inn— she expects to keep that pace.

"The early spring got people thinking about summer vacation, so they began planning earlier," she added.

It helps, too, that there is pent-up demand to take an escape, since many winter jaunts were cancelled after lack of snow, said Mark Hitchcock, director at the Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce. Tawas promotes its northeastern location — the "Sunrise Side of Michigan" — on Lake Huron.

Michiganians also will be competing for reservations with tourists from other states, reports Brian Lawson, director of public relations for Crystal Mountain Spa and Resort in Thompsonville, about 30 miles southwest of Traverse City.

"We've got a double-digit increase in reservations from guests who are visiting from other states" for business and leisure travel, Lawson said. "I credit the nationwide Pure Michigan ads for that."

The Tim Allen-voiced Pure Michigan advertising campaign brought record numbers of out-of-state visitors to Michigan in 2011, a study by Longwoods International shows. It motivated an estimated 3.2 million trips to Michigan last year, with 1.2 million tourists crossing borders to get here.

"Those visitors spent $1 billion at Michigan businesses, paying $70 million in Michigan taxes," said George Zimmermann, vice president for Travel Michigan, part of the public-private Michigan Economic Development Corp. "We increased our advertising budget to $12 million this year, so those numbers should be even bigger."

As long as the weather cooperates, AAA Michigan's Cain quipped, "It should be the summer of our content."

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120504/BIZ/205040412/1361/Numbers-looking-up-for-summer-tourism-in-Michigan

GCC travel and tourism to generate $44 billio

MANAMA: The travel and tourism industry in the GCC is expected to generate $44 billion this year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The total direct contribution of travel and tourism to GCC's GDP will hit $44bn, up 27 per cent from 2009, the peak of the financial crisis in the Gulf, said the council.

The new figures were released as top industry executives and officials head to the annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2012 (AHIC), which takes place in Dubai from April 28-30.

They will discuss investment opportunities in a region where governments are ploughing billions of dollars into tourism infrastructure.

Flush with petrodollars, with oil prices consistently above $120 a barrel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have embarked on aggressive hotel and transport development programmes as they seek to diversify their economies away from oil and boost revenues from the tourism sector.

"AHIC provides a platform for investors, government officials, developers, hotel executives and advisers to come together," said conference organiser Bench Events chairman Jonathan Worsley.

"Investment into the region's tourism industry is still an attractive proposition despite the Arab Spring and the prospect of a recession in Europe," he added.

In the UAE, this figure is expected to hit $19.9bn this year, compared with $16.6bn in 2009.

Some its major tourism infrastructure investments include the $8bn expansion of Dubai International Airport, as the emirate seeks to increase its capacity from 60 million passengers to 90m by 2018 to become the world's busiest airport.

"The economic conditions in the GCC are excellent and hotel revenues are continuing to grow steadily, so we see the region as a key hotel investment destination," said Golden Tupil Hotels Middle East North Africa president Amine Moukarzel.

The direct contribution of travel and tourism to Saudi Arabia's GDP is expected to reach $14.9bn, or 2.9pc in 2012, up from $10.4bn in 2009, or 2.7pc, as the kingdom focuses its efforts to provide travel infrastructure to boost religious, business and domestic tourism.

Saudi Arabia is spending more than $500m on expanding its airports and planning a new $7bn airport in Jeddah.

Well-documented but still impressive is Qatar's infrastructure spending which will dominate the next five years as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup and for life beyond, with around $65bn due to be invested in new transportation schemes.

These include the new $11bn Doha International Airport, the $6bn Doha port project and a $25bn metro and railway.

The direct contribution of travel and tourism to Qatar's GDP is expected to reach $1.1bn in 2012, compared to $800m in 2009.

As well as focusing on the Middle East's investment landscape after the Arab Spring, AHIC will hold a session that looks at the issues facing Egypt.

Key industry figures will address challenges of developing and operating in Mecca and Medina.

Source: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=326095

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Tourism Sector Sets Modest Expectations for 2012

Although last year was exceptionally good for the tourism sector, the expectations set for 2012 are humble, said Feliks Mägus, chairman of the Hotel and Restaurant Association.

Economic and political instabilities around the world have made tour operators and hospitality businesses cautious. "No one in the field is actually planning to launch any large-scale projects and their estimates [for this year] remain modest," Mägus told uudised.err.ee, adding that the sector is still recovering from the economic downturn.

So far, however, booking figures in accommodation establishments suggest that demand is high among both business travelers and holidaymakers, Mägus said.

In 2011, foreign tourists left 1.2 billion euros in Estonia - an increase of around 130 million euros compared to the year before, according to Enterprise Estonia. The number of incoming visitors rose by nearly 15 percent.

The opening of the St. Petersburg-Tallinn-Stockholm ferry line, simpler border crossing for Russian tourists, extensive campaigns launched by tour operators and cities, Euro 2012 football preliminaries and foreign media coverage of Estonia's positive economic indicators during the Eurozone crisis were just a couple of reasons cited by the Association behind last year’s outstanding figures.

The European Capital of Culture events in Tallinn last year, however, did little to increase the number of overnight stays in the capital's accommodation establishments, but instead had a more future-oriented effect, Mägus argued.

Source: http://news.err.ee/economy/2d66415e-0b36-4d32-b4e4-94f4ef27f2ab