The world’s travel and tourism has changed significantly from 2013 to 2015 despite geographic location specific disturbances; notably from Middle East, Ukraine to South East Asia and fear of spread of global pandemics.
Sadly significant decrease in number of international arrivals for those countries, there was a significant increase for unaffected countries.
For a while, some other areas also saw an increase in the national visitors. The most interesting part is that travel to both rich and poor countries actually continued to grow over the past years.
Over the period, International arrivals reached a record 1.4 billion in 2014 with 51 million more than 2013 according to United Nations World Travel and Tours Council (WTTC) WTTC estimates that the sector now accounts for 9.5% of global GDP and a total value of $7 trillion, whiles it also account for 5.4% of world’s export.
The industry now play a vital role as a driver of growth and job creation growing at 4% in 2014 and providing 266 million jobs directly and indirectly. This means that the industry account for one in every 11 jobs on the planet and the number could rise to 1 in every 10 jobs by 2022 according to travel and tourism organisation on its travel and tourism competitiveness report 2014 involving 141 economies. The report was from leading and well established travel and tours companies, including ourselves.
The current trend is first, travel and tourism industry continue to grow more quickly than the global economy as a whole. The country’s performing more strongly on travel and tours are those that are better prepared to capture the opportunities of growing demand from emerging and developing countries, the differing preferences of travellers from ageing population and new generation of younger travellers coupled with the growing importance of online services and marketing especially mobile and social marketing tools.
Secondly, developing the travel and tourism sector provide gross opportunities and social benefit for all countries regardless of their wealth. Developing and emerging economies are ranked among the 50 most travel and tour competitive countries. There are strong indication it will translate into job opportunities and skill levels
In Africa, South Africa, first on the Africa’s regional table came 48th on the global index and Egypt, Kenya and other countries did well too but Ghana came 120th out of 141 economies including Nigeria who went steep downwards.
Ghana also went back to 18th on a regional level. Ghana’s drawbacks was mainly health & hygiene, ICT readiness and quality of human resource. These three things actually undermined Ghana’s growth in the travel and tourism sector. On the other hand, Ghana improved slightly on business environment and security
Thirdly, Sub Saharan Africa travel and tour industry has significant potential to grow due to its richness in natural resources and culture. There is great potential for Africa to further develop. Some economies have framework in place however, it is mostly still in the early stages of development. It is strongly connected with more general and long-standing development challenges including infrastructure as well as health and hygiene
Most economies identified the strategy to penetrate the sector however, the extent to which the actual implementation of those plans is a national priority very significantly since 1995 to 2011 and afterwards the initial “chosen moral piles” saw high income earners country visits dropping slightly and rest of the world increasing significantly.
In a nutshell, economies who took the challenge competently continue to grow quickly and has proven resilient to shocks, seeking trends and using the most effective tools to attract more international arrivals. Those who prioritised their plans were better equipped to capture the opportunities by recognising that the travel and tourism sector provide growth opportunities for all countries regardless of their wealth and offer job opportunities and increased skills levels.
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label WTTC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WTTC. Show all posts
Monday, 5 September 2016
Wednesday, 10 August 2016
INDONESIA: Indonesia Grants Free Visa To CitizensFrom 169 Countries
Government of Indonesia to grant free visa to citizens from 169 countries. The measure looks for attracting international tourism to the country by simplifying travel procedures and follows research by UNWTO and WTTC that shows that visa facilitation in the ASEAN economies could create between 333,000 to 654,000 new jobs in a period of three year.
The visa-free policy is valid for a maximum stay of 30 days, has no restriction on the number of visits per year, and is non-extendable nor convertible to any other stay permit. Nationals of visa-free countries can enter Indonesia in any of the 124 immigration check points that the country possesses.
Indonesia is setting an example to the world. UNWTO welcomes the decision of the Government of Indonesia which clearly reflects the commitment of the country with the development of the tourism sector as a driver of economic growth, jobs and well-being for its people.
UNWTO has been extensively advocating for the benefits of safe, secure and seamless travel as a means to promote tourism development and multiply socio-economic benefits of the sector.
According to the UNWTO/WTTC Report Impact of Visa Facilitation in ASEAN Member States, ASEAN stands to gain 6 to 10 million additional international tourist arrivals from improved visa facilitation. The additional receipts generated by these tourists could reach between US$7 and US$12 billion.
Progress has been made at global level yet many opportunities remain for improvement, namely through maximizing the use of new technologies.
The 2015 UNWTO Visa Openness Report shows that the share of total tourists required to obtain a traditional visa prior to travelling continues to decline and is at its lowest level ever. In 2015, 39% of the world population could travel for tourism without obtaining a traditional visa prior to departure as compared to only 23% in 2008.
Above goes to show where African countries fail their own tourism industries by making impracticable demands in regard of Visa application requirements, scrapping Visa on arrival facilities and making Visa fees too high, in particular for travelers from other African countries.
The visa-free policy is valid for a maximum stay of 30 days, has no restriction on the number of visits per year, and is non-extendable nor convertible to any other stay permit. Nationals of visa-free countries can enter Indonesia in any of the 124 immigration check points that the country possesses.
Indonesia is setting an example to the world. UNWTO welcomes the decision of the Government of Indonesia which clearly reflects the commitment of the country with the development of the tourism sector as a driver of economic growth, jobs and well-being for its people.
UNWTO has been extensively advocating for the benefits of safe, secure and seamless travel as a means to promote tourism development and multiply socio-economic benefits of the sector.
According to the UNWTO/WTTC Report Impact of Visa Facilitation in ASEAN Member States, ASEAN stands to gain 6 to 10 million additional international tourist arrivals from improved visa facilitation. The additional receipts generated by these tourists could reach between US$7 and US$12 billion.
Progress has been made at global level yet many opportunities remain for improvement, namely through maximizing the use of new technologies.
The 2015 UNWTO Visa Openness Report shows that the share of total tourists required to obtain a traditional visa prior to travelling continues to decline and is at its lowest level ever. In 2015, 39% of the world population could travel for tourism without obtaining a traditional visa prior to departure as compared to only 23% in 2008.
Above goes to show where African countries fail their own tourism industries by making impracticable demands in regard of Visa application requirements, scrapping Visa on arrival facilities and making Visa fees too high, in particular for travelers from other African countries.
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
SOUTH AFRICA: IATA Welcomes Visa Changes
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) would like to congratulate the government of South Africa for adopting new visa policies that will see the implementation of biometric visa applications on arrival and changes to the unabridged birth certificate policy.
The new recommendations that were presented by the inter-ministerial committee were accepted by Cabinet last week and will be implemented over the next three months to over a year.
David Scowsill, president and CEO of the WTTC, said the organisation is extremely pleased that the South African government has decided to adopt new visa policies that ensure a smoother visa application process for business and leisure travellers that are looking to visit this great destination.
"South Africa is a rich tourism economy, in 2014 our sector contributed 9.4% to the country’s total GDP, which accounts to a total of R357bn, a number which is expected to grow by 3.4% in 2015. We commend the government, specifically Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, for the quick response to address the dropping visitor arrivals figures," said Scowsill.
"The change in the country’s visa policies are necessary for the country to continue to grow its travel and tourism sector and meet its forecast travel and tourism GDP."
He said in order to benefit from the great economic and social benefits of the sector WTTC encourages governments to provide visitors with a safe and smooth passage, which means adopting smarter visa processes, more visa waiver agreements and trusted traveller programmes.
"The announcement by the South African government is an important step in the right direction. However, it is important for the government to ensure these changes are implemented in a timely and appropriate manner and that the government continues to look for ways to improve its visa processes. There is more scope for the government to attract a higher number of visitors through more favourable visa policies,” he cautioned.
In the next three months medical travellers and visitors from countries that have no South African mission can apply for a visa by post rather than having to appear in person at centres to apply for a visa. In this same period the government will also start collecting biometrics at the port of entry.
After three months to a year, South Africa will be expanding the number of visa facilitations centres in key countries while after a year the government will move towards a pre-flight biometrics checking system at international airports.
Furthermore, foreign travellers under 18 no longer have to carry copies of an unabridged birth certificates. South African minors have to continue to bring a certificate when they travel, though the name has changed to a “birth certificate containing parental details” as to avoid confusion.
This certificate can be printed in passports, which means that parents no longer need to carry birth certificates on them. The government will implement these changes within the next three months to a year.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) also welcomed the South African government’s decision to amend some of its visa and immigration requirements.
"We believe this is a positive move in the right direction. We urge the South African government to communicate the changes clearly, expeditiously and effectively to all markets so that there is no confusion. This will require far greater clarity on the dates from which the amendments will become effective," said Raphael Kuuchi, Iata's vice president for Africa.
"It is crucial the changes are implemented quickly, to avoid further lost opportunities for South Africa’s travel and tourism sector, which has already been damaged and will experience a notable downturn in business over the coming high summer season, traditionally the sector's busiest period of the year."
In his view the speedy adoption of the amended requirements will also support the combined marketing campaigns led by airlines and their tourism industry partners which aims to restore consumer confidence in South Africa as a value-for-money destination for business and leisure travel.
"At the end of the day, we all want to live in a safe and secure society and in this respect IATA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with South Africa in combatting child trafficking and other illegally exploitative practices. At the same time, it is imperative, given South Africa’s current socio-economic challenges, that airlines are permitted to safely, securely and efficiently transport people and goods between South Africa and its markets around the world," he said.
"This will promote economic growth, create and sustain jobs, drive skills development and advance genuine and meaningful transformation."
Protea Hotels also said it is thankful that the SA government has taken the concerns of the tourism and hospitality sector so seriously and has decided to look at alternative ways of achieving its goals while, at the same time, not harming the sector.
"We expect to experience greater numbers of bookings from visitors from countries that were hit the hardest, such as China and India. Because the previous regulations required applicants for visas to appear in person, in these geographically vast countries, for many prospective visitors it was extremely difficult to obtain a visa – if the individual did not live close to the place where he/she had to appear in person," said Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue management for Protea Hotels.
"Since this requirement has now been dropped, we anticipate that we will see an increase in visitor numbers from these locations."
However, it will take a good few months before this is likely to happen, he cautioned. Government has indicated that the revised requirements will be implemented over the next few months. In addition, the communication and training that will be needed for both embassy officials and for travel agents and others involved in the marketing of our country abroad will also take some time.
"One concern we have is that there may well be other destinations internationally that filled the gap during the period that South Africa lost its attraction as a destination of choice. Recovering from this will require a substantial effort on behalf of our marketing staff and agents around the world," said Bryer.
"Protea Hotels also markets extensively to the South African domestic tourist base to encourage locals to be tourists in their own country."
The new recommendations that were presented by the inter-ministerial committee were accepted by Cabinet last week and will be implemented over the next three months to over a year.
David Scowsill, president and CEO of the WTTC, said the organisation is extremely pleased that the South African government has decided to adopt new visa policies that ensure a smoother visa application process for business and leisure travellers that are looking to visit this great destination.
"South Africa is a rich tourism economy, in 2014 our sector contributed 9.4% to the country’s total GDP, which accounts to a total of R357bn, a number which is expected to grow by 3.4% in 2015. We commend the government, specifically Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, for the quick response to address the dropping visitor arrivals figures," said Scowsill.
"The change in the country’s visa policies are necessary for the country to continue to grow its travel and tourism sector and meet its forecast travel and tourism GDP."
He said in order to benefit from the great economic and social benefits of the sector WTTC encourages governments to provide visitors with a safe and smooth passage, which means adopting smarter visa processes, more visa waiver agreements and trusted traveller programmes.
"The announcement by the South African government is an important step in the right direction. However, it is important for the government to ensure these changes are implemented in a timely and appropriate manner and that the government continues to look for ways to improve its visa processes. There is more scope for the government to attract a higher number of visitors through more favourable visa policies,” he cautioned.
In the next three months medical travellers and visitors from countries that have no South African mission can apply for a visa by post rather than having to appear in person at centres to apply for a visa. In this same period the government will also start collecting biometrics at the port of entry.
After three months to a year, South Africa will be expanding the number of visa facilitations centres in key countries while after a year the government will move towards a pre-flight biometrics checking system at international airports.
Furthermore, foreign travellers under 18 no longer have to carry copies of an unabridged birth certificates. South African minors have to continue to bring a certificate when they travel, though the name has changed to a “birth certificate containing parental details” as to avoid confusion.
This certificate can be printed in passports, which means that parents no longer need to carry birth certificates on them. The government will implement these changes within the next three months to a year.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) also welcomed the South African government’s decision to amend some of its visa and immigration requirements.
"We believe this is a positive move in the right direction. We urge the South African government to communicate the changes clearly, expeditiously and effectively to all markets so that there is no confusion. This will require far greater clarity on the dates from which the amendments will become effective," said Raphael Kuuchi, Iata's vice president for Africa.
"It is crucial the changes are implemented quickly, to avoid further lost opportunities for South Africa’s travel and tourism sector, which has already been damaged and will experience a notable downturn in business over the coming high summer season, traditionally the sector's busiest period of the year."
In his view the speedy adoption of the amended requirements will also support the combined marketing campaigns led by airlines and their tourism industry partners which aims to restore consumer confidence in South Africa as a value-for-money destination for business and leisure travel.
"At the end of the day, we all want to live in a safe and secure society and in this respect IATA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with South Africa in combatting child trafficking and other illegally exploitative practices. At the same time, it is imperative, given South Africa’s current socio-economic challenges, that airlines are permitted to safely, securely and efficiently transport people and goods between South Africa and its markets around the world," he said.
"This will promote economic growth, create and sustain jobs, drive skills development and advance genuine and meaningful transformation."
Protea Hotels also said it is thankful that the SA government has taken the concerns of the tourism and hospitality sector so seriously and has decided to look at alternative ways of achieving its goals while, at the same time, not harming the sector.
"We expect to experience greater numbers of bookings from visitors from countries that were hit the hardest, such as China and India. Because the previous regulations required applicants for visas to appear in person, in these geographically vast countries, for many prospective visitors it was extremely difficult to obtain a visa – if the individual did not live close to the place where he/she had to appear in person," said Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue management for Protea Hotels.
"Since this requirement has now been dropped, we anticipate that we will see an increase in visitor numbers from these locations."
However, it will take a good few months before this is likely to happen, he cautioned. Government has indicated that the revised requirements will be implemented over the next few months. In addition, the communication and training that will be needed for both embassy officials and for travel agents and others involved in the marketing of our country abroad will also take some time.
"One concern we have is that there may well be other destinations internationally that filled the gap during the period that South Africa lost its attraction as a destination of choice. Recovering from this will require a substantial effort on behalf of our marketing staff and agents around the world," said Bryer.
"Protea Hotels also markets extensively to the South African domestic tourist base to encourage locals to be tourists in their own country."
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