“The UAE play a central role not only in the development of tourism in the region but also in linking the Middle East with other regions and we expect that by working together we will enhance tourism within and to the Emirates as well as increase regional cooperation,” said the UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai at the UNWTO & Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum on Tourism and Aviation in Dubai.

In a news release, UNWTO said it will work with UAW on several initiatives including the measurement of the economic impact of tourism, statistics and human resources development.

The Middle East is one of the fastest growing tourism regions in the world. According to the UNWTO, between 1980 and 2010, international tourist arrivals in the Middle East rose from 7.1 million to 60.9 million. This represents an average annual increase of 7.4 per cent, which is higher that the world’s average of 4.2 per cent.

Mr. Rifai said that tourism in the region continued to grow despite the countless challenges it faced. “Much of this dynamism has been led by the strong political commitment awarded to tourism in the region and the vision that tourism is a key pillar of development in the Middle East of which the UAE is a perfect example,” he said.

UNWTO estimates that tourism growth in the Middle East is set to continue, with arrivals expected to reach 149 million by 2030.

A number of factors, mainly the ongoing financial crisis and intense competition from newcomers to the global tourism industry, make the coming years a critical period, as it is important for both Greece and Cyprus to remain resourceful and in the spotlight.

Destination Marketing has always been a challenging discipline, one where strategy and creativity are of critical importance. There have been a number of excellent campaigns over the last few years, while advertisers and communication consultants have in some cases even proposed extreme actions by countries and regions! New Zealand was the recipient of such a proposal: change the country’s name and flag, in order to make it more exotic as a destination! Last time I checked, they still haven’t adopted this!

The Web and specifically Social Media are transforming the way countries and regions are marketed. Gone are the times when TV would attract the largest part of a National Tourist Bureau’s budget. Also, the high cost of running Tourist offices in other countries and participating in exhibitions has stimulated the demand for a cost-effective platform.

Social Media are increasingly gaining the attention of Marketeers: they are effective and produce results that can be tracked and acted upon. Travel and vacations are inherently social functions. Prior to the advent of Social Media, friends would discuss and exchange views offline.

Apparently, research data shows that 60% of Europeans are influenced in the selection of holiday destinations, by comments, posts, suggestions that they read on Social Media, such as Facebook and Twitter.

In the case of Facebook, approximately two out of three users globally (in actual numbers, this translates to 700 million people), post pictures and discuss their holidays, while 50% admit that they are influenced by friend’s suggestions and comments, when it comes to picking a holiday destination.

It is also worth mentioning that research indicates that by 2016, social media will be a primary way to generate travel bookings and revenue for half of the travel industry.

Where do the above data leave Mediterranean countries as well as other aspiring tourist destinations?

Social Media should be placed at the center of the Promotional Strategy, as the return on investment will be much higher than any other Medium. Print Media and TV should be used as supportive Media and no more than 30% of the annual budget should be allocated to them.

There are a number of successful case studies of National Tourism organizations and their Social Media campaigns. Two of them are worth mentioning.

First, Tourism Australia’s Facebook fan page has 3.4 million fans already, with 200,000 of then engaging and talking about Australia as a tourist destination every week!

Visit Britain’s Facebook campaign brought a staggering 42,000 new fans to their Facebook page in one day!

Keeping in mind the tremendous growth in people engaging with Facebook and Twitter around the world, which is 1.1 billion and more than 600 million, respectively, makes them the most important Social Media platforms for Greece and Cyprus, for the years to come.

So, time is precious. Engage and Tweet to get more tourists talking and eventually visiting these beautiful countries!

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the volume of international trips by Chinese travellers has grown from 10 million in 2000 to 83 million in 2012. Their expenditure abroad has also climbed rapidly, increasing by 40 per cent from 2011 to 2012.

In addition to urbanization and rising incomes, other factors such as the relaxation of restrictions on foreign travel and an appreciating Chinese currency have contributed to this boom in tourism.

“With this sustained growth, China has become the largest spender in international tourism globally in 2012,” UNWTO said in a news release.

In 2005 China ranked seventh in international tourism expenditure, and has since successively overtaken Italy, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. With last year’s surge, China leaped to first place, surpassing the top spender, Germany, and the United States. Both of these counties spent close to $84 billion in 2012.

Other emerging markets have also increased their share of world tourism spending over the past decade. Russia saw an increase of 32 per cent in 2012, spending $43 billion, which brought it from seventh to fifth place in the international tourism spending rankings.

“Emerging economies continue to lead growth in tourism demand,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “The impressive growth of tourism expenditure from China and Russia reflects the entry into the tourism market of a growing middle class from these countries, which will surely continue to change the map of world tourism.”

Brazil also experienced a significant increase, which allowed it to move from the 29th position in 2005 to the 12th position in 2012.

Countries which have traditionally ranked high in tourism expenditure also experienced growth albeit at a slower pace than emerging economies. Spending on travel abroad from Germany and the US grew by 6 per cent each, while UK spending grew by 4 per cent allowing the country to retain its fourth place in the list of major source markets.

Expenditure by Canada grew by 7 per cent, while both Australia and Japan grew by 3 per cent. France and Italy were the only countries in the top ten to record a decline in international tourism spending of -6 per cent and -1 per cent, respectively.

The balloon which was carrying at least 20 foreign tourists was flying at 300 meters when it caught fire and then exploded in mid-air near Luxor killing 18 people, Al Ahram state-run news agency said. Reports by other news agencies said that 19 people had died.

According to the ministry of health, three people, including the balloon’s pilot, were transferred to the hospital for treatment.

The pilot survived by jumping from the basket when it was 10-15 meters from the ground.

The dead were from Britain, France, Japan and Hong Kong, the state news agency MENA reported, citing a security source.

According to Al Ahram, Egypt’s prosecutor-general Talaat Abdallah has launched an investigation into the hot air balloon accident with a team of prosecutors arriving in Luxor to look into the case on Tuesday afternoon.

It was one of the worst accidents involving tourists in Egypt and likely to push Egypt’s tourism industry deeper into recession.

The last hot air balloon accident in Luxor, which left 16 people injured in 2009, led to a halt in all air balloon activity for six months until security measures were implemented.

Luxor, which stands on the banks of the river Nile is a major destination for tourists visiting but Egypt’s tourism industry has suffered amid the political instability that has rocked the country since the beginning of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak  in 2011.

Naleba is a rice farmer in the Eastern District of Butaleja in Uganda. He has been growing rice since 1982 at his Lwoba irrigation farm in Masulula village.

“We started with low production,” Naleba says. “Now we are reaching 1.2 tons per acre.”

According to Naleba, the last few years have seen high demand from Sudan. “There’s no rice in Sudan, so this is an opportunity to harness,” he says.

A new report from the World Bank shows how, in addition to produce, this “Pearl of Africa” can export manufactured goods to the region, as well as services like education, tourism and even transit. But, it says, transport and logistics, and non-tariff barriers remain a hefty challenge.

International experience suggests that it is hard for a small landlocked country like Uganda to move alone along the path to economic development. That is the challenge the country faces today, a challenge the World Bank and its government partners are seeking to address in the new Uganda Economic Update, the first in a series of bi-annual reports taking stock of the country’s economy. The report identifies challenges and proposes solutions to facilitate inclusive and healthy growth.

The new study suggests Uganda can earn an additional US$2.5 billion from non-traditional trading partners in the region, and close the trade deficit in the next five years, if it removes trade barriers with neighbors. Other messages;

- To maximize its trade potential, Uganda must look beyond the East African Community (EAC) to all of Sub-Saharan Africa

- Uganda can grow its economy by developing deeper links between its domestic producers and external markets

- To unleash the potential of service exports, Uganda should eliminate restrictions in the strategic sectors of tourism, transport and logistics, and education and professional services

- Uganda should diversify exports beyond food commodities, improve infrastructure and reduce transport costs

The country has performed well over the past two decades, the report says, brushing aside one of the world’s highest population growth rates, to record an impressive seven percent average gross domestic product (GDP) growth, and halving the number of people living in abject poverty from 56% of the population in 1992 to 24% in 2010.

Uganda’s economy has recently faced major challenges. Economic growth slowed to 3.4% and inflation soared and remained at double-digit levels under shocks for most of 2011 and 2012. This contrasted recovery of other economies in the region.

As stability returns, the economic outlook is positive, the report says. Growth will turn around as constraints abate and begin to raise the country’s growth potential, but the key vulnerability remains as Uganda continues to export far less than it imports.

A glimpse of hope to address these vulnerabilities is in regional trade.

According to Julius Onen, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Uganda has not suffered a significant decline in its trade because over 45% of the country’s commerce is within the regional market, EAC and COMESA, and the demand for the country’s products is fairly steady.

“Uganda’s strategic location at the hub of The Great Lakes region, gives it a comparative advantage in terms of moving heavy goods to the market,” says Onen. “This has also resulted into Uganda attracting investments from the region, particularly Kenya, which feels it has to be nearer to markets like DRC and Sudan.

Uganda has a comparative advantage in the trade of fruits, vegetables juices, grains and cereals, as compared to other countries in the region, but fortunes have been good and bad, according to Godfrey Ssali the Policy and Advocacy Officer of the Uganda Manufacturers Association.

“Good fortunes in that there has been growing demand from South Sudan and DRC,” Ssali says. “In the last 4 to 5 years the two destinations have been good trading partners for Uganda actually overtaking Kenya. The bad fortunes being the civil war and civil strife in South Sudan and DR Congo.”

Musa Waswa, a Ugandan businessman, frequently travels on Gulu-Nimule road from Kampala to Juba, a 24-hour journey that serves as a clear example of how trade can be improved.

“On two occasions, my truck full of fruits and vegetables has overturned along Gulu-Nimule Road,” says Waswa. “My truck overturned when I hit a pothole, the produce covered (blocked) the road. It took me almost three days to get out of there. By then all my fruits had either gone bad or were stolen.”

According to the Uganda Economic Update, Uganda must look beyond poor maintenance of roads and explore the cheaper railway and water transport options that are almost non-existent. Rail and water transport currently cater for only 10 percent of Uganda’s trade.

“To transport a container from China to Mombasa can cost one up to US$1000, but to transport the same container from Mombasa to Kampala can cost up to US$4000 to- US$4500. That shows you the real cost of transport,” says Ssali.

A plausible solution, Ssali adds, is for Uganda to better use the waterways through Kisumu, Mwanza, Portbell and Bukakata in Masaka, which would reduce traffic on the roads.

For small farmers like Hajji, his prosperity and that of future generations depend on it.

Source: World Bank

According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals surpassed 1 billion for the first time in history in 2012, up from 996 million in 2011, with demand holding well throughout the year and concluding with a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter.

“2012 saw continued economic volatility around the globe, particularly in the Eurozone, yet international tourism managed to stay on course,” UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai confirmed in a news release.

“The sector has shown its capacity to adjust to the changing market conditions and, although at a slightly more modest rate, is expected to continue expanding in 2013,” he continued.

Looking back at the past year, the UNWTO reported that growth was stronger in emerging economies with tourism arrivals for Asia and the Pacific up seven per cent while Africa and the Americas saw a six and four per cent increase in arrivals, respectively.

Meanwhile, leading the pack in the total number of tourist arrivals for 2012 was Europe, the most visited region in the world, which registered “a very positive result” in view of the economic situation with a total of 535 million tourists.

In a report released yesterday, however, the UNWTO urged European nations to relax their visa restrictions in order to promote a greater circulation of tourists and assist in the region’s economic rebound.

Underscoring the necessity of less stringent visa requirements as well as the facility of an electronic visa system, Mr. Rifai warned yesterday that “an overall restrictive visa policy means lost opportunities for economic growth and jobs, which tourism could bring to destinations.”

“Travellers regard visas as a formality which entails a cost. This can be a deterrent to travel if costs – whether monetary or indirect – including distance, wait times and service, exceed a certain threshold.”

In its latest forecast, the UN agency has predicted tourist arrivals to increase by 3 to 4 per cent in 2013, in line with its expectations as detailed by its Confidence Index, a report compiled from statistical analyses by over 300 international experts.

As a result, Mr. Rifai once again urged Member States to do more in sustaining tourism, adding that financial assistance for the tourism sector would also help in promoting economic recovery for regions hard hit by the recession.

“Tourism is thus one of the pillars that should be supported by governments around the world as part of the solution to stimulating economic growth,” he said.

“UNWTO welcomes the adoption of this resolution on the importance of ecotourism,” said the Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai, in a news release.

“The remarkable support that the resolution has received, from all regions and across the development spectrum, is a clear testimony that sustainable tourism has a vital role to play in a fairer and sustainable future for all,” he added.

The resolution, adopted on 21 December and entitled ‘Promotion of ecotourism for poverty eradication and environment protection,’ calls on UN Member States to adopt policies that promote ecotourism, highlighting its “positive impact on income generation, job creation and education, and thus on the fight against poverty and hunger.”

It further recognizes that “ecotourism creates significant opportunities for the conservation, protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and of natural areas by encouraging local and indigenous communities in host countries and tourists alike to preserve and respect the natural and cultural heritage.”

According to UNWTO, the resolution – facilitated by Morocco and sponsored by a record 105 delegations – draws on the recommendations contained in one of its reports, put together on the basis of responses from 48 Member States, “which, in a notable departure from its normal practice, was welcomed by the UN General Assembly.”

In line with the UNWTO report’s recommendations, the resolution underscores the need for national tourism plans to account for market demand and local competitive advantages.

It also encourages Member States to promote investment in ecotourism, in accordance with their national legislation, including creating small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting cooperatives and facilitating access to finance through inclusive financial services such as microcredit initiatives for the poor, local and indigenous communities, in areas of ecotourism potential and rural areas.

UNWTO added that the resolution builds on a 2010 resolution on the same subject, and reflects developments since then – namely, the inclusion of tourism in the outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Brazil in mid-2012, and the results of the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity.

Rio+20 saw world leaders acknowledge the importance of an inclusive, transparent, strengthened and effective multilateral system to better address the urgent global challenges of sustainable development.

Held in the Indian city of Hyderabad, the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity unveiled a strategy to combat unprecedented levels of biodiversity loss and called for “significant” increases in biodiversity investments in 100 countries – while at the same time aiming to foster economic growth and create jobs in addition to protecting endangered species and habitats.

“The resolution keeps ecotourism clearly on the agenda of the United Nations as it requires UNWTO to submit a follow up report to the sixty-ninth session of the UN General Assembly in 2014,” UNWTO added.

Last year, the UNWTO said that despite global economic uncertainty, international tourism continued to grow in 2012, with the estimated number of tourists travelling that year reaching a record one billion.

Tourism accounted for nine per cent of global gross domestic product when totalling its direct, indirect and induced impact, according to the agency, which also noted that one in every 12 jobs and up to eight per cent of the total exports of the world’s UN-designated Least Developed Countries (LDCs) depend on tourism.

Drawing its name from the Sanskrit-derived word for ‘peace’ and zoe (pronounced zoi), the Greek word for ‘life’, Amanzo’e is situated on a hilltop close to the quaint town of Porto Heli on the east coast of the Peloponnese.

The resort offers almost 360º panoramic sea views as well as a private Beach Club in a picturesque bay.

Surrounded by undulating olive groves and overlooking the island of Spetses and the Argosaronic Gulf beyond, Amanzo’e is just a 10-minute drive from the tavernas and vibrant life of Porto Heli.

The road approaching Amanzo’e ascends to the porte-cochere, a grand marble-clad edifice which serves as the entrance. Beyond lies the hilltop resort, arranged around an expansive reflection pool with spectacular views of the sea.

Some details according to amanresorts.com:

“Dining: The Restaurant is a shaded, high-ceilinged structure defined by floor-to-ceiling windows that maximise the sea views. It is fronted by an expansive outdoor terrace designed for alfresco dining. The more relaxed Lounge Bar is the ideal venue for a quiet aperitif or light bite to eat, while the Pool Restaurant offers a casual spot for all-day dining. The Beach Club also offers an informal restaurant.

Library: The Library provides a broad range of reading materials in several languages. Reference works on many subjects are available, including a wide spectrum of material on Greek history.

Boutique & art gallery: A variety of unique Greek handicrafts, jewellery and artwork is on display and available for purchase.

Beach club: Amanzo’e guests and villa owners, as well as a select number of Aman Club members can enjoy the exclusive use of the Beach Club. Situated in a beautiful bay with sparkling turquoise waters, the Beach Club is only a five-minute drive from the resort through a thick pine forest. Alternatively, guests can stroll (30 minutes) or mountain bike (10 minutes) the picturesque route. The Beach Club provides refreshments and a dining area, as well as water sports equipment.

Aman spa: Amanzo’e’s Aman Spa comprises seven double treatment rooms, two hammams and a hair and finishing salon, all looking onto a peaceful open-air courtyard. Treatments include massages, facials, scrubs and wraps, combining the best Asian techniques with ancient Greek beauty rituals, and using Aman Spa’s own range of chemical-free skincare products. A variety of local ingredients including olive oil, clay and olive seeds – chosen for their natural healing and regenerative powers – are used in some treatments.

Fitness facilities: Amanzo’e offers various options for fitness and recreation including a fully-equipped gym, Pilates facilities, a yoga studio overlooking the surrounding hills and two outdoor tennis courts. A generously-proportioned main swimming pool and a children’s pool and free-play area offer additional recreational alternatives for guests of all ages.”

The Internet-based initiative aims to further promote the positive publicity of Greece as a tourist destination on the Internet utilizing social media. On this basis, it was considered necessary to develop an online reputation management mechanism and brand monitoring mechanism to oversee and manage the comments, opinions and observations made about Greece as a tourist destination.

The initiatives’ key priorities are: a. The promotion and communication of key elements and competitive advantages of the Greek tourism product; b. The promotion and dissemination (through social media) of positive messages/opinions that visitors have about their experiences (via video spots, web testimonials, reviews, posts, tweets).

The aforementioned will focus on three key subject areas: 1. Business as usual; 2. Value For Money/Affordability; 3. Safety.

The initiative is already being supported by a series of government agencies including Greek Radio Television S.A, Athens News Agency and the Hellenic Foreign Ministry. The agencies will be assisting the effort by tracking and gathering news and other related material as well as working with local, national and international media outlets.

“We don’t need Israeli tourists in Turkey and we don’t feel their absence,” Erdogan told journalists of Maariv newspaper during a reception in Istanbul yesterday.

“Thirty-one million tourists came to Turkey last year. Israel’s tourism boycott won’t affect us,” he said.

He also insisted that only when Israel takes necessary steps for the clash, like apologizing for the commando raid that killed nine Turkish activists on the Mavi Marmara in 2010, paying compensation to their families and removing the blockade against Gaza, bilateral relations will improve between the two countries.

“Only if Israel apologizes for IDF soldiers boarding the Marmara and killing Turkish activists, and pays compensation to the families of the dead, and removes the terrible blockade on Gaza, will I be ready to meet with the Israeli prime minister, and perhaps normalize relations between the countries,” Erdogan said.

On May 31, 2010 the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)  boarded the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara, the largest ship in a flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s siege on Gaza in May 2010, leaving nine pro-Palestinian activists dead, according to AFP.

Turkey, which in the past was very friendly with Israel, has elected a government with an increasingly worsening stance toward Israel, as well as increasing support for Palestinians and pro-Palestinian activists. “Palestinian men, women and children that have done nothing wrong are being killed wholesale or held in the largest prison,” Erdogan also said according to Globes.

Israeli state officials warned citizens not travel to Turkey on March 13, 2012, Hurriyet daily news reported.