2024 | My Vxw Site C0uoja

2024 News

News space...

Inspiring women who shaped the travel landscape forever

Gertrude Bell’s upper class background meant she was privileged enough to travel extensively, yet many of her journey’s were grueling and dangerous and she was never afraid to get out of her comfort zone. The mountaineer and explorer became an expert on the Middle East, first visiting Persia in 1892, and later publishing a translation of the works of the Sufi poet, Hafez, since she could speak every dialect of Arabic and Persian. Famed for climbing the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, she later undertook numerous desert expeditions through Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Iran, writing about the experiences in her travel books...

Inge Morath is perhaps most well known for her images of Marilyn Monroe, yet it’s her travel photography in Iran, as well as her work as a translator and journalist that really marks her out from the crowd. At the age of 33, Morath travelled to Iran solo to document the country through photography capturing religion, dress, politics and commerce, noting the difficulty “to photograph there as a woman”...

With a 40-year travel writing career, Robyn Davidson is perhaps best known for her book Tracks, detailing her incredible journey crossing the deserts of Western Australia using camels. The 2,700 km trek, beginning in Alice Springs took a total of nine months to complete, going on to form the base of her memoir following her articles about the feat being published in National Geographic...

Documentary photographer Martine Franck worked tirelessly for over 40 years documenting remote or marginalised communities. Her work took her to the Far East, Tibet and Nepal with the resulting images being published across nine photography books...

As one of the greatest adventure travel writers of our time, Dervla Murphy wrote over 20 books, including Full Tilt, a fascinating account of the author’s solo self-funded travels from Ireland to India, by bicycle. While Murphy was met with dangerous encounters and situations along the way she inspired countless curious women to get out of their comfort zone and see the world solo. In her later life, she spent time volunteering and advocating for anti-globalisation, as well as speaking out about climate change. After she died in 2022, The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, said, "Her contribution to travel writing had a unique commitment to the value of human experience in all its diversity."

Travel writer Noo Saro-Wiwa gained recognition in 2012 when her first book, Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria, was named The Sunday Times Travel Book of the Year and The Guardian included it among its 10 Best Contemporary Books on Africa. Saro-Wiwa’s travels through China form the base of her latest book, Black Ghosts, where the author takes a specific look at the African community in the East Asian country. Travel writer Paul Theroux describes her as “a brave and resourceful traveller-interrogator - outstanding in the so-called travel writing genre".

To read the full article click here.

Story by Lydia Swinscoe

11Dec24 - Source: Inspiring women who shaped the travel landscape forever | Woman & Home

Just over half of Brits plan summer staycation, claims survey

One third (33%) of Brits are planning to take both an overseas and a UK-based holiday this year, according to new research.

And more than half of UK adults (53%) are planning to take, or have already taken, a staycation this summer, according to the poll.

Holidaymakers in the UK will go on nearly two (1.8) domestic summer trips, on average.

City breaks are the most popular type of UK holiday, with nearly a third (30%) of domestic travellers planning to go away to a British city this summer.

Word-of-mouth is the most likely factor to inspire UK holidays with 41% saying staycation choices are influenced by family and friends.

Source: travelweekly.co.uk 26Jul24 Click here to read more!

Global tourism is booming. These people would rather it wasn’t

Globally, many more people now have the money to travel. This presents big questions about the future of tourism.

The year 2024 is set to be a record-breaking one for tourism, surpassing the previous high in 2019. It appears that the travel and tourism industry is back with a vengeance after the pandemic, with any lingering doubts over the safety of travelling now banished.

In Spain’s Balearic Islands - which include Majorca - pent-up demand post pandemic has contributed to rents rising to such an extent that locals say they are being priced out of living in their own home towns.

It’s not hard to see why locals can end up feeling like extras in their own movie.

In spite of recessionary pressures, more people in the West feel they can afford regular foreign trips – indeed, some see it as an essential purchase and a virtual human right.

But in the Canaries, affordability is not the only issue. The environmental impact of tourism is also viewed by some as increasingly unsustainable.

“They keep building more hotels and expanding the area of tourism,”

source:bbc.co.uk/news 03June24

Wellness tourism is expected to hit $1.3 trillion by 2025. Anticipating that the next generation will continue to fuel that growth, acclaimed adults-only retreats are finally opening up to kids and teens and even offering multi-generational spa retreats.

The Global Wellness Institute estimates that the world’s wellness tourism market is projected to reach $1 trillion in 2024, and rising.

And yet, reading the news suggests we have never been more anxious or exhausted. In 2024, travellers are seeking to slow down, recharge and most importantly, be healthier. Pinterest cites ‘rest stops’ and ‘slowcations’ among 2024 priorities for Gen Z and millennials, with ‘ASMR sleep’ as a trending search term.

Immersive outdoor wellness

While hiking, biking and swimming are perennially popular, hotels are offering more adventurous outdoor activities informed by local culture and tradition.

source: roadbook.com

F1 makes ‘significant progress’ in sustainability as first Impact Report released

Formula 1 has released its first Impact Report, revealing that the sport is on target to meet the goals set out in its sustainability strategy.

The comprehensive report shows how the strategy is being successfully delivered through F1’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities, plus the latest carbon footprint calculations show a 13% reduction in the sport’s carbon footprint compared to 2018.

The Austrian Grand Prix reduced relevant emissions by more than 90% in the pit lane, paddock, and broadcast compound through a next-generation energy pilot. That trial is expanding in 2024 and beyond.
The solar farm at the Bahrain International Circuit produced 5.28 MW of clean energy between the 2022 and 2023 Grands Prix – enough renewable energy to cover all the circuit usage for F1 with significant capacity to spare.
The British Grand Prix was fully powered by green energy alternatives. This included 2,746 solar panels and the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel in all temporary generators.

Click here to read more source: www.formula1.com 16apr24

G Adventures announces return of GX Summit

G Adventures and its non-profit partner Planeterra have confirmed that the GX Community Tourism Summit will return this year, taking place in India.

Following the inaugural event in Cusco, Peru last year, this year’s summit will again give agents, suppliers, media and travellers a chance to experience first-hand the impact community tourism can have on a destination and its people.

Running from September 24-29, the second GX Summit will incorporate the Change Makers agent event before culminating in a World Community Tourism celebration on World Tourism Day (September 27, 2024).

The World Community Tourism Day Summit on September 27 will include talks from a range of speakers about how community tourism has the power to change people’s lives for the better.

Read more by clicking here - source: tw 27mar24

The biggest travel trends for 2024

2024, travellers will be putting what’s important to them front and centre of their plans, valuing deeper experiences that leave a positive impact, time spent with loved ones and wellness moments that last well after checkout. We’ll be choosing destinations carefully, slowing it down to enjoy the silence and the stars, indulging in our love of food in new and interesting places, and immersing ourselves in wellness practices that help us live longer.

Astro tourism

What’s the trend? Astronomy, of course, is a field of study that has been around since the dawn of civilisation, and the act of gazing up at the stars has long been a source of soul-soothing wonder. Today, the more society falls deeper into an ever-expanding virtual world, the more we feel a need to broaden our horizons in the real universe.

Astro tourism, or star bathing, Increasingly, wellness-centric hotels and spas are creating the space for guests to gaze upwards, watching for comets, spying constellations and identifying patterns in the glittering expanse.

Eco diving

A rise in divers choosing their travel destinations based on the sustainability of the scuba centres, and having a more positive, regenerative impact on the ocean once there.

Train stations are the new food destinations

Train stations around the world are usually passed through as quickly as possible, having not been designed for commuters to stay and hang out. Nowadays, as travel delays increase and visitors want more local experiences, it pays for train stations to welcome travellers with shops, restaurants and bars for them to explore.

Sports tourism

Sports tourism has evolved in the past few years with a new generation – and type – of sports fan emerging thanks to glossy TV documentaries (Formula 1: Drive to Survive). Now, we’re taking our fandom out of the house and following a host of different sports in destinations across the world, planning holidays that hinge around seeing games, races and other activities in exotic locales, and extending trips on either side to see the sights too...

Train travel gets glam

Rising climate consciousness has fuelled a rail travel revival, the luxury train niche is reaching new heights of popularity, extravagance and ambition.

A new wave of rail lines and itineraries launching in 2024 puts an emphasis on deeper immersion into the culture and landscapes of the destinations, which are more and more off the beaten track.

Restaurateur-owned hotels

Restaurants and hotels are the two linchpins of the hospitality industry. And naturally, the two are often intertwined on one premises. Food-focused travel keeps increasing...

Plan-free travel

The rising counter movement is travel with no plans at all. The plan-free appeal is going one step further in 2024. Booking.com recently reported that 50 per cent of UK travellers want to book a surprise trip in 2024, where everything, even the destination, is unknown until arrival.

Frontier tourism

To go above and beyond. Or below and under. As crossings of the tumultuous Drake Passage to Antarctica rack up millions of TikTok views and traffic jams form on Everest, canny travellers are seeking more individual, less obvious experiences that combine thrill-seeking with more meaningful self-empowerment.

Read the full article here - source: cntraveller.com 18mar24

This year will bring a new era of travel

Chris Ross of airport lounge experience provider Collinson says it’s time to look to the future with optimism after the international rebound of travel.

The exploration of the trends shaping the travel industry today is a must. It is no secret how unprecedented the last few years in travel have been, challenging every aspect of how we explore the world, and we should all stay focused on how these trends can shift the travel experience.

Now that international travel has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, and global travel is just 5% off the 2019 travel peak, we can look to the future of the industry once more. Whether this is AI in travel or a shift towards personalised loyalty programmes, this year will be a memorable one for many reasons.

Consumers will increasingly seek and prioritise experiences that align with their lifestyles and values, from wellness retreats to sporting events, adventure and sustainable travel, the experience seekers will drive sustainable growth across these niche travel segments. To service these needs travel brands and destinations, need to leverage tools, consumer segmentation and personalisation to deliver an experience that matters to today’s consumer.

Read more here source: travelweekly 14mar24

Here’s why Europe has some of the world’s best passports for digital nomads

Unlike with other passport rankings, the Nomad Passport Index (NPI) focuses on wider criteria, including global perception and personal freedom within a particular country.

Digital nomadism has shot up in popularity recently. While many destinations have simple citizenship requirements in place, the country a person hails from can still significantly impact their travel opportunities.

That has a knock-on effect on passports too - and, now, you can find out exactly how nomad-friendly your own travel documents are.

This year’s annual ranking by Nomad Capitalist, a company which aims to ‘maximise freedom’, has been released.

Unlike the Henley Passport Index which ranks the world’s most powerful passports and uses International Air Transport Association data, the Nomad Passport Index (NPI) takes a different approach.

They look at 199 global passports and how they fare in terms of visa-free travel, global perception and taxation of citizens. The ranking also focuses on dual citizenship and personal freedom

Switzerland came in first, with Ireland and Portugal following close behind in second and third places respectively. Holders of these passports can make the most of visa-free travel to a majority of countries around the world as well as be more likely to be accepted by their adopted homes.

"With Switzerland standing out as the world’s best passport in 2024, our Nomad Passport Index shows global citizens how to open their lives to new opportunities, enhancing their freedom to travel, work, and do business with peace of mind in a volatile world.”

Read the full article here source: euronews.travel 14mar24

The UK is the world’s second-most miserable country, as per research

In the UK, 35% of respondents express distress or struggle with their mental wellbeing, particularly affecting young adults and economically challenged families.

The report notes a decline in mental wellbeing for the 18-24 age group since 2020, indicating a challenging period marked by economic recessions, a relentless cost-of-living crisis, and a turbulent property market.

A recent mental wellbeing report reveals that the United Kingdom is currently one of the least content places globally, surpassed only by Uzbekistan. As the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain of the cost-of-living crisis persist, Britain finds itself in the 70th position out of 71 countries.

Factors contributing to the UK's mental wellbeing crisis include political instability, exacerbated by changing Prime Ministers and scandals like Partygate.

The study also highlights the adverse impact of consuming ultra-processed foods, which constitute 60-70% of diets in the UK and the US.

A breakdown in interpersonal relationships leading to increased loneliness.

Read more here - source: timestravel 13Mar24

There's something for everybody at the Royal Parks

Covering over 5,000 acres of historic parkland, the parks provide beautiful green spaces right in the heart of the capital where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Albert Memorial: Under and Over Experience

Go behind the railings...

Friday 15 March, 12:30pm - 3:30pm

In our exclusive Albert Memorial Under and Over experience you will delve deeper into the history and stories of this incredible monument to Albert, Prince Consort Queen Victoria’s beloved husband.

The experience will be divided into four parts:

An exclusive experience underneath the Albert Memorial, the under croft, an area seldom opened to the public
Learn about the Albert Memorial from outside the railings, what the four corners of the memorial represent and how to interpret the top of the memorial
A close up behind the fence experience of the canopy, Prince Albert statue and the Parnassus frieze
We will finish up with tea, coffee and a cake/slice while visiting the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851, one of Prince Albert’s greatest achievements – with the spectacular building that housed it brought to life using Augmented Reality.

Castle Howard, North Yorkshire

Early purple crocuses line the drive before a huge wave of daffodils rolls down the lawn at Castle Howard, 15 miles north of York, from February until April (often peaking around Easter).

Borde Hill, West Sussex

With a self-guided spring trail through citrus-fragrant magnolia and flamboyant camellias, Borde Hill is a hidden gem. Five thousand February Gold narcissi have been newly planted for 2024 and there’s a cafe in the old Peacock House.

RHS Hyde Hall, Essex...

Find out more here source: theguardian.com 06Mar24

How to Have a Great First Visit to Miami

Even if you've never been to Miami, you've sort of already been to Miami.

This South Florida city has starred countless times on the silver screen and television and is always coming up in popular music, too, with many of these Miami-centric works becoming downright iconic.

You simply have to wake up before dawn and take in a sunrise during your trip to Miami, preferably on your first morning. Darkness gives away to soft light as the sun slowly rises above the Atlantic Ocean, streaking the sky in hues of pink, gold and blue, casting a soft glow over the water and the sand below. Famed for its prime role in revitalizing South Beach during the heady hedonistic days of the '90s, News Cafe is open 24/7 and located at the heart of South Beach (8th & Ocean Avenue). You’re probably going to pass it anyway so you might as well pull up a chair outside and chill for a bit.

Back in the day, this cafe was frequented by the glamorous, the fabulous and everyone in between as it served up one of the first slices of European cafe culture on South Beach—and today the pulse of the neighbourhood still beats strong here...

Read more here source: - travelpulse 04mar24

California to Launch New Tourism Campaign: First Look at ‘The Ultimate Playground’

California's reputation as an ideal tourism spot was dinged during the pandemic. The state is trying to remind travelers that it's still a fun destination.

Visit California is reintroducing itself globally with a new $32.8 million tourism re branding campaign – its first in a decade — on March 4.

The tourism body is adopting a new “brand platform” called “The Ultimate Playground.” The tourism campaign plays off of California’s free-spiritedness and abundance of destinations and experiences.

Read more here - source:skift.com 01mar24

William Blake's Universe - Fitzwilliam Museum

Pay What you wish - Open now 23 February 2024 - 19 May 2024

Discover William Blake’s universe and a constellation of European artists seeking spirituality in their lives and art in response to war, revolution and political turbulence.

Sometimes seen as an eccentric figure or lone genius, 'William Blake’s Universe' is the first exhibition to explore Blake’s boundless imagination in the context of wider trends and themes in European art including romanticism, mysticism and ideas of spiritual regeneration.

This timely new exhibition brings together the largest-ever display of works by the radical British artist, printmaker and poet from our own collection, alongside artworks by his European contemporaries such as the German romantic painters Philipp Otto Runge and Caspar David Friedrich – many of which have never been displayed publicly in the UK until now.

Though these artists never met or connected in their lifetimes, Blake, Runge and Friedrich shared a strong sense of individuality and an unwavering belief in the power of art to redeem a society in crisis.

Click here for more information - source: Fitzwilliam Museum 29Feb24

London’s iconic BT Tower is being turned into a hotel after €321mil deal

There’s high hopes a revolving restaurant will reopen in the Grade II-listed tower, one of the pointiest landmarks on London's skyline.

An imposing 189 metres up in the sky, London’s BT Tower doesn’t look like the most hospitable place to rest your head.

But the iconic British landmark is set to be turned into a hotel, it was announced last week.

Current owner BT Group - the multinational telecommunications company formerly known as British Telecom - has agreed to sell the tower to American hotel giant MCR Hotels for £275 million (around €321 million).

MCR Hotels owns about 150 hotels, including the New Yorker Hotel and the modernist TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK airport.

The company said it would work with British architect Thomas Heatherwick on the hotel’s design. The once-futuristic building was given Grade II listed status in 2003.

Read more here. source: euronews.com 28thFeb24

Mexico and the United States Team Up for Tourism

"Mexico represents the number two of the 10 most important markets for the United States," said the representative of Brand USA, noting that this year, the market will be fully recovered with the arrival of 18.4 million Mexican visitors, according to their projections, and that, despite the circumstances in recent years, Mexicans have never stopped travelling to the United States.

Experience It All

Dedicated to various types of travellers, from experiences for those who travel with their families, which is in great demand by the market in our country, to luxury experiences outdoors for those who love adrenaline; and above all for travellers who are looking for cultural themes, in addition to thematic experiences that can cover all the interests of the Mexican market.

The United States is a destination in constant renewal, and there is no doubt that seasonal events and festivities are part of the novelties that travellers cannot miss.

Click here to read the full article - source:travelpulse.com 26Feb24

Standing Tall

Experience the magic of art and philanthropy with our upcoming sculpture trail, ‘Giraffes about Cambridge’ running from 21st March until 2nd June.

Join us in spring 2024 as we encourage you to look up at these towering giraffes and see them as a symbol of hope, standing tall for the limitless potential of...

Click here to find out more - 14Feb24

New 'Wizard of Oz' Land Coming To Warner Bros. Movie World

Exciting updates have emerged about the much-anticipated "world-first" Wizard of Oz land slated to debut this year at Warner Bros. Movie World, located in Australia 's Gold Coast region. Part of a $40 million upgrade,

Its’ being touted as the world’s first Wizard of Oz-themed land.

The upcoming fantasy-themed area promises to immerse visitors in a magical experience, featuring two new family roller coasters alongside thematic elements that transport guests into the enchanting world of “Oz”.

The park brought in the classic movie’s protagonist Dorothy Gale and her traveling companions, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion to announce the update on social media and give a preview of the construction that’s already well underway. Instantly recognisable settings from the film include Dorothy’s Kansas cabin, the Wicked Witch’s castle and, of course, the Emerald City.

As part of the reveal, Warner Bros. Movie World has unveiled the names of the new roller coasters that are set to thrill park-goers.

The Flight of the Wicked Witch will introduce a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster, towering at 62 feet with a thrilling top speed of nearly 42 mph.

The Kansas Twister will offer an exhilarating experience with its two-track, racing Vekoma Family Boomerang, reaching heights of 72 feet and top speeds of 36 mph.

Click here to read all about it - source: travelpulse.com 13feb24

Outbound travel sector makes double plea for support in spring Budget

The government is being urged by a group of travel associations to cut business rates in next month’s spring Budget.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is also being lobbied for financial aid for business owners in the travel sector still struggling to pay back loans taken out during the pandemic.

The policy requests have been submitted to the Treasury by the Advantage Travel Partnership, specialist travel association Aito and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (Abtot) under the umbrella of the UK Outbound Travel Group.

The group wants action on business rates at a time when the overall tax burden on course to rise to the highest level for decades.

“This will ensure that the travel businesses – which suffered more than any other sector during the pandemic – can finally recover and, once again, contribute to growing the economy in the long term,” according to the group, which represents some 700 independent travel agents and more than 570 independent and specialist tour operators.

Calling for support for servicing debt, the outbound sector partners said: “The coronavirus pandemic saw leisure and business travel halted, meaning travel agents and tour operators were no longer making money – yet were still having to operate at full capacity to serve customers cancelling and/or changing bookings.

“Travel businesses could not, therefore, take advantage of the furlough scheme. Many were forced to use their own capital reserves to keep their operations above water, along with CBILS loans.

“The UK outbound travel sector has fought valiantly throughout the chaos of the pandemic, and its lingering effects over the past few years, but there is still much work to be done".

“The travel industry plays a significant role in the UK’s economy..."

Happy New Year
2024

pierre-chatel-innocenti-Lk-nu_hX6ms-unsplash 2.png

Travel Trends

Interviews & Articles

Sharing Experiences

Business

2025...
Getting back up after several trip ups
Regulation, Law and Order, the right to a private life

Fairness

Yours To Experience (c) 2016
Worldwide Experiences

Q: What does Travel & Tourism look like? 14th March '24

2024 News

Immersive outdoor wellness

Astro tourism

Astro tourism, or star bathing, Increasingly, wellness-centric hotels and spas are creating the space for guests to gaze upwards, watching for comets, spying constellations and identifying patterns in the glittering expanse.

Eco diving

A rise in divers choosing their travel destinations based on the sustainability of the scuba centres, and having a more positive, regenerative impact on the ocean once there.

Go behind the railings...

Friday 15 March, 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Castle Howard, North Yorkshire

Happy New Year
2024

2025... Getting back up after several trip ups Regulation, Law and Order, the right to a private life

Fairness Yours To Experience (c) 2016 Worldwide Experiences Q: What does Travel & Tourism look like? 14th March '24

2024 News

​​​

Immersive outdoor wellness

Astro tourism

Astro tourism, or star bathing, Increasingly, wellness-centric hotels and spas are creating the space for guests to gaze upwards, watching for comets, spying constellations and identifying patterns in the glittering expanse.

​

Eco diving

A rise in divers choosing their travel destinations based on the sustainability of the scuba centres, and having a more positive, regenerative impact on the ocean once there.

Go behind the railings...

Friday 15 March, 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Castle Howard, North Yorkshire

​

Happy New Year 2024

2025...
Getting back up after several trip ups
Regulation, Law and Order, the right to a private life

Fairness

Yours To Experience (c) 2016
Worldwide Experiences

Q: What does Travel & Tourism look like? 14th March '24

Happy New Year
2024