innovate off the beaten track
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Top of world's tourism tree

Innovate off the beaten track

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Innovate off the beaten track

Mountains near village of Bonneval-sur-Arc
London - Arab Today

Mountains near village of Bonneval-sur-Arc London - Arab Today Europe needs to think different if it wants to remain top of the world's tourism tree, with innovations such as pitching pure Alpine air to the Chinese or teaching Americans petanque, industry experts say. According to the World Tourism Organization, Europe still earned the lion's share of global tourism revenues in 2012 -- a full 43 percent, or $457 billion (356 billion euros). But success should leave no room for complacency, professionals from the sector said last week during a congress in the picturesque Swiss city of Lucerne, the Alpine country's top tourist destination. While the tourist business argues that it is also up to the authorities to make it easier for would-be visitors to get visas -- a lack of bureaucratic headaches can be a selling point for a market -- it is also planning a rethink. Marketing campaigns devised from Europe have fallen short when it came to taking into account the real expectations of tourists before they leave home. "It should be done the other way around," said Eduardo Santander, head of the European Tourism Commission. The ETC, tasked with promoting the continent's charms, has opted to poll potential tourists in their home countries. In particular it is focussing on China, the world's top emerging market where the ranks of the middle class are swelling. "When the Chinese tourists come to Europe, they don't just want to visit the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum. They also want to see a beautiful blue sky" Santander explained. ETC research in China underlined that residents of its megacities face a constant battle with pollution -- a simple fact that enables Europe's tourism industry to add pure-aired Alpine stops to group travel itineraries. The study also said that Chinese travellers place great store in feeling at ease and safe, with language barriers a leading concern. "The Chinese are looking for very safe destinations because many of them don't speak a European language. They want to see more adaptation. It means that hotels or restaurants should provide them more brochures or menus translated into Chinese," Santander said. Increasing use of social media in emerging markets makes it crucial to understand what tourists want, because they are increasingly likely to write reviews of their experience online. Industry officials underline that it is also important to understand the needs of Chinese tourists and counterparts from emerging powers India and Brazil, given that competition is getting tougher with destinations such as Florida, Las Vegas or Dubai. "In Dubai, tourism is not just an extra, it's not just a nice thing to have. It is fundamental to how the whole state will develop," said James Philipps, vice-president for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Fit Hotel Sourcing, which is part of the GTA Travel group. When it comes to increasing its competitive advantage, the Gulf emirate has no space constraints for the construction of breathtaking hotels and other infrastructure that will pull in tourists, Phillips added. In contrast, travel agents in Europe often have to battle to find places for their customers to stay in major tourist draws such as Venice and Rome in Italy, and Paris in France. The problem affects travellers from both emerging markets and more traditional tourist source countries. "We have some concerns over inventories in some of the major cities. Paris is really tough. It's really hard to find a good fit in places like Paris," said Jennifer Tombaugh, head of US company Tauck, told congress participants. Given the clogged market in many classic tourist hubs, family firm Tauck has opted to develop off the beaten track, and focusses on the niche market of river cruises. It offers US tourists a different take on France, as their vessel winds down the River Rhone, stopping at what it pitches as hidden treasures such as the small medieval town of Viviers in the Ardeche region. There, they can take a class in petanque, the typically-French bowling game. Other stops include the Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape vineyards. "We need to be rethinking tourist trails, beyond the big cities," Tim Fairhurst, head of strategy at the European Tour Operators Association, told AFP. "An American who comes to Europe for a few days doesn't necessarily want to spend three hours queueing a the foot of Eiffel Tower. So you need to find something else, go take a few pictures of the Trocadero, then head off to visit the chateau at Vaux-le-Vicomte, near Paris," he said. Source: AFP

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

GMT 10:12 2018 Friday ,19 January

Emirates announces $16 bn deal

GMT 12:39 2018 Thursday ,18 January

Philippine volcano 'fireworks' draw

GMT 12:35 2018 Wednesday ,17 January

Tripoli flights still suspended after fighting

GMT 12:13 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

Spain expected to replace US

GMT 11:42 2018 Monday ,15 January

Turkish passenger plane skids off

GMT 11:40 2018 Sunday ,14 January

Air France-KLM denies bidding

GMT 09:28 2018 Friday ,12 January

India allows 49% foreign investment

GMT 12:47 2018 Thursday ,11 January

Heavy snowfall strands 13,000 tourists
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

innovate off the beaten track innovate off the beaten track

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

innovate off the beaten track innovate off the beaten track

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 07:43 2017 Monday ,16 October

'Final phase' of battle for Raqa

GMT 07:58 2011 Monday ,17 October

Chinese stocks close 0.37 pct higher Monday

GMT 13:38 2011 Friday ,11 November

Tips to great skin and hair

GMT 16:57 2017 Tuesday ,24 January

Bahrain condemns attack on market

GMT 19:36 2017 Thursday ,13 April

Despite warning, Assad regime uses barrel bombs

GMT 18:42 2017 Tuesday ,11 April

Muscat Securities Market Loses 29 Points

GMT 11:44 2014 Saturday ,01 November

Arab League council to hold emergency meeting Sunday

GMT 09:21 2011 Monday ,17 October

Tulisa showed on X Factor

GMT 18:08 2017 Tuesday ,17 January

Jordanian Royal Decree Approves Cabinet Reshuffle

GMT 09:07 2011 Sunday ,12 June

Israel to allow limited goods into Gaza

GMT 12:16 2011 Saturday ,18 June

Marilyn Monroe dress stars in Hollywood sale

GMT 13:42 2011 Sunday ,30 October

Watermelon helps reduce atherosclerosis

GMT 21:45 2017 Thursday ,27 April

US dollar exchange rate stable at major banks
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday