The U.S. and China will improve air connectivity and streamline visa processing, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in public remarks on Wednesday. Xi made the remarks at a dinner hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and US-China Business Council.
Africa's Booming Middle Class Poised to Boost Domestic Tourism
31.10.2023 - 11:05 / skift.com / Geoff Freeman / Rashaad Jorden / Sean Oneill / Marc Speichert / Africa
Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, October 31. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Google Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts
Visa processing delays have hurt the travel industry’s recovery, especially in the U.S. and Europe. Associate Editor Rashaad Jorden turns to Ask Skift, our artificial intelligence chatbot, for more information about how lengthy visa waits are impacting tourism.
Jorden reports visa delays for the U.S.’ top inbound markets top 400 days on average. U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman said at the recent Skift Global Forum that the long visa wait times make the U.S. an unwelcoming environment for travelers and the U.S. is losing ground in the race to attract tourists.
Meanwhile, lengthy visa waits for travel to Europe are driving more Indian travelers to visit destinations closer to home. One India-based travel executive said it’s taken travelers as long as 45 days to land an appointment for a Schengen visa.
Next, the Four Seasons recently enhanced its latest marketing campaign that showcases employees’ efforts to enhance customers’ stays.
Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill said the Four Seasons is looking to unveil more guest-centric tech, including mobile keys for all guest rooms. The company is also working to enable guests to pay check-out invoices from their phones.
However, Marc Speichert, the Four Seasons’ executive vice president, said the hotel isn’t looking to add any large properties to its portfolio.
Finally, African travel executives believe the continent’s growing middle class could significantly boost tourism, especially domestic tourism, writes Travel Experiences Reporter Selene Brophy.
Brophy reports that South Africa in particular has had a surge in domestic tourism. The sector has seen a 31% jump in overnight trips during the first four months of 2023. And domestic travel spending in the country has increased 41% in the same period.
Analysts believe the growth could be replicated around Africa. The World Bank estimated that the continent was home to a pre-pandemic middle class of 170 million people. In addition, Brophy writes Africa has the youngest population in the world, with more than 60% of Africans under the age of 25.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
cntraveler.com
16.11.2023 / 21:15
The 11 Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Dubai
Dubai is one of the Middle East’s most cosmopolitan hubs, so naturally, you’ll find the best of the region’s cuisine on the menu. The variety of Middle Eastern food on offer here is as eclectic as the food-loving city itself, from Michelin-starred fine dining to no-frills, hole-in-the-walls. Whether you want freshly baked gooey cheese fatayer or a hearty plate of steaming machboos (a spiced chicken and rice dish), these are the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Dubai.
euronews.com
16.11.2023 / 00:01
Saudi Arabia is building a futuristic ski resort in the middle of the desert
Nothing could be further from the image most people have of Saudi Arabia than a winter wonderland. And yet the country is building exactly that within the mountains of Neom, its €461 billion ($500 billion) ‘city of the future’.
cntraveler.com
15.11.2023 / 14:33
The Best Places to Go in Africa in 2024
This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024—find more travel inspiration here.
skift.com
14.11.2023 / 15:09
Google Partners with South Africa to Fix Unfair Search Results
Google teamed up with South Africa’s tourism department Monday to boost travel marketing efforts after a government inquiry concluded in July that Google’s practices impede competition.
skift.com
13.11.2023 / 23:53
Ask Skift: How Do Wars Affect Tourism?
Major conflicts in recent years, most notably in Israel and Ukraine, have significantly impacted travel worldwide, another hurdle for the industry in its quest to make a complete recovery from the pandemic.
skift.com
12.11.2023 / 12:31
Trevor Noah launches Charm Offensive in FAQ Ad about South Africa
Trevor Noah, world-renowned comedian and 2024 Grammy nominee for best comedy album, has taken on a new title: ‘chief tourism comedian for South Africa.’
skift.com
12.11.2023 / 06:53
Dubai Air Show Will Test Impact of Middle East Tensions
Dubai will stage its high-profile aerospace pageant next week against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza that is pushing up demand for weapons while closing airspace and making flights longer and more expensive for some airlines.
breakingtravelnews.com
10.11.2023 / 06:55
WTTC first-of-a-kind report reveals DEIB efforts in Travel & Tourism
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled its first-ever global Travel & Tourism report focussing on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) during its Global Summit, taking place in Kigali. The report “Creating Belonging: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in Travel & Tourism” is the result of a collaboration between WTTC and HospitableMe, a global leader in inclusive hospitality.
breakingtravelnews.com
08.11.2023 / 19:51
South Africa and Brazil sign trade marketing agreement at WTM London 2023
Brazil and South Africa have signed an agreement to foster collaboration between the two countries in their tourism initiatives.
skift.com
07.11.2023 / 20:23
Amadeus: Rising Revenue, Middle East Impact, Tech Innovations
Amadeus is nearly recovered in terms of revenue compared to pre-pandemic levels. Executives shared those details during an earnings call on Tuesday, as well as information about the impact of conflicts in the Middle East and technical innovations the company is developing.
breakingtravelnews.com
06.11.2023 / 17:05
WTM Global Report: Domestic tourism leading Africa’s post-pandemic recovery
Major destinations and source markets across Africa are expected to end 2023 ahead of pre-pandemic values in terms of value, with domestic tourism performing strongly, reveals new research published today. The WTM Global Travel Report, in association with Tourism Economics, is published to mark the opening of this year’s WTM London, the world’s most influential travel and tourism event.