Category: Europe

A new €1.8 million initiative specially designed to boost tourist numbers from Britain to the Wild Atlantic Way has been launched. The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin,  Niall Gibbons of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland’s Paul Keeley launched the new campaign. A €1.35 million marketing campaign in Britain will be complemented by Fáilte Ireland’s €500,000 programme to support businesses along the Wild Atlantic Way to position themselves to benefit from the campaign, as well as to boost its own marketing campaigns in Northern Ireland. The ‘campaign will be rolled out by Tourism Ireland in Britain in ... Read more

Bollywood heartthrob Ranveer Singh, Switzerland’s ambassador in India, has managed to drive a 25 per cent growth rate in the overnights in the Alpine nation. “We couldn’t be luckier to have Ranveer Singh as our brand and country ambassador. He has really boosted the image of Switzerland in terms of tourism to make it younger, fresher, more exciting and more active. This is exactly how we want to position Switzerland in future to place it as the most desirable outdoor destination and he is helping us in doing just that,” said Martin Nydegger, the newly appointed CEO of Switzerland Tourism. ... Read more

Swiss National Park Swiss Tourism board is looking at the strong potential in medical tourism, and is eying UAE as a source market for medical tourism to Switzerland. “At the moment, it’s (medical tourism) less than 10 per cent of total visits to Switzerland. That’s why we see so much potential and opportunity to grow. We’re looking at the UAE because we already have substantial clientele who come to visit Switzerland,” said Martin Nydeggar, chief executive officer of Switzerland Tourism. Switzerland welcomes around 70 million visitors a year. However, these numbers are not in the country for medical tourism. “We ... Read more

According to the Central Statistics Office, the total number of trips to Ireland in 2017 was 9,932,100, an increase of 3.6 per cent over 2016. There was an increase of 7.2 per cent in the number of overseas trips made by Irish residents in 2017 to 7.9 million. Trips by residents of Great Britain decreased by 5.0 per cent in 2017 to 3,728,900 while trips by residents of European Countries other than Great Britain (Other Europe) increased by 5.5 per cent to 3,482,400. “The fall in value of sterling since Brexit referendum has made holidays here more expensive for British ... Read more

The Baadshah of Bollywood, who received a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, re-created a Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge moment amidst the Swiss Alps. Striking his famous signature pose, Shah Rukh captioned it: “Switzerland main aake yeh na kiya toh kya kiya…?” (What will I do after coming to Switzerland, if I am not doing this)! It was in Switzerland that one of SRK’s Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge was filmed. Shah Rukh received the award on Monday for his “leadership in championing children’s and women’s rights in India” with Meer Foundation, an organisation that works extensively towards empowering women subjected to acid ... Read more

Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down golf course Emiratis can now enjoy visa-free travel to Ireland. Tourism Ireland tweeted sometime back that they are very happy about the order and hopes that the lifting of visa requirement is likely to benefit trade and tourism. The move is effective from January 31 and is a sign of the growing ties between the two countries The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan T.D., announced the lifting of the visa requirement for citizens of the UAE travelling to Ireland with effect from the 31st January and has signed an order to give effect ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: youtube.com The number of tourists visiting Netherlands recorded a new high with 17.6 million visits in 2017, a 11 per cent increase from the previous year. According to the statistics published by NBTC Holland Marketing, tourists from Germany, Belgium, and United Kingdom were the highest in number. They altogether spent about 13 billion euros. Predictions also state that there would be an increase in foreign tourist arrival in the coming years also. “If we don’t do anything now, future guests will visit the same places at the same time. We therefore need to work even more firmly on, ... Read more

With an aim to promote its tourism sector among Chinese population, the Spanish island of Ibiza, located in the east, has launched a new website in Chinese language. The island, which is the third largest of the archipelago of the Balearic Islands, launched the website the FITUR event being held from January 17 to 21. The Chinese travellers, who wished to travel in groups earlier, are now turning to individual travellers and this is the right time to attract them to the destinations. Conversing with a non-English speaking Chinese traveller is a bit of a difficult task for the destination ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: VisitScotland Scotland sets new record with 15 per cent increase in overseas arrivals in 2017. The new flight routes and favourable exchange rates are said to be the driving forces behind the increase in foreign tourist arrivals. The combined number of domestic and overseas tourists in Scotland has increased by two percent, taking the tally to 14.1 million visitors. Overnight trips by Great Britain residents for holiday purpose increased to 8.5 per cent compared to the January-September 2016 period. Expenditure increased £163 million or 12.7 per cent to £1.5 billion over the same period. Although September 2017 saw ... Read more

Inauguration of the EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY) 2018. Photo Courtesy: Elzbieta Bienkowska The EU-China Tourism Year (ECTY) 2018 is officially launched from the Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy on January 19, 2018. Qi Xuchun, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Elzbieta Bienkowska, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, launched the official opening of 2018 EU-China Tourism Year. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker sent congratulatory messages to the opening ceremony of the China-European Union (EU) Tourism Year “Today, China and Europe are making efforts to ... Read more

Crowne Plaza London – Albert Embankment Crowne Plaza London – Albert Embankment, the first luxury hotel in the Albert Embankment area, is all set to launch in May 2018. Located on the South Bank of the River Thames, this new hotel is symbolic of the new brand platform from Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resort that launched earlier in 2017 called ‘We’re All Business, Mostly’. Created by ADS Design and RPW Design, Crowne Plaza London – Albert Embankment offers breath-taking views over The Thames, including the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. The sky terrace on the 14th floor offers ... Read more

The Met Department of the UK has issued ‘do not travel’ warnings as heavy snow storms hits different parts of the country. Drivers in Scotland and Northern England had been urged not to travel, as snow storms hit parts of the UK for a third day. “Snow showers will be heaviest and most frequent across western Scotland where a further 10-20 cm is likely to build up above 200-300 m with 30 cm possible over the very highest routes. The high ground of Northern Ireland and Northern England will also see 10-15 cm building up,” says the official statement. At ... Read more

Web Desk Marriott International launches its third property in the UK and the second in Stratford under its experiential hotel brand Moxy Hotels. The 294-bedroom Moxy London Stratford is located very close to the Stratford International Station. Moxy is an affordable hotel for every budget with the soul of a boutique hotel. Marrying smart service and technology with contemporary style, Moxy is do-it-yourself made easy. Photo Courtesy: Marriott “Our Fun Hunter guests continue to seek inspiration from their travel. The new Moxy London Stratford will offer guests a cocktail at check-in, spontaneous games in the lively communal spaces, and an ... Read more

Web Desk Photo Courtesy: Offthemaptravel From the Arctic beauty of the North with its midnight sun, to the castles of the southernmost province Skåne with its more continental flavour, Sweden has never failed to attract globetrotters to this magnificent land. And now, to add to its magnanimity and the magic it offers, Sweden is going to be home to a new floating hotel and spa that freezes into the ice of the Lule River in the winter and floats on top of the water in the summer. Photo Courtesy: offthemaptravel The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa will be launched in ... Read more

Web Desk The Colosseum in Rome, built C. 70 – 80 AD Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s largest bank by assets, invests €5 billion in tourism by striking a deal with the country’s cultural ministry. A lion share of the money will be used for restoration and redevelopment projects, making more buildings available for cultural use. The investment will take place over three years in a deal called ‘Pact for Tourism 4.0’. The money will also spend for the training of workers in the tourism sector, technological innovation, and modernization of accommodation. According to a study carried out by the Intesa Sanpaolo ... Read more