It’s not a merger, but Air Transat and Porter Airlines plan a new joint venture that would allow the Canadian companies to join forces to grab a larger marketshare.
20.11.2023 - 15:38 / travelweekly.com
A transformative trend to explore beyond well-trodden tourism areas and attractions in major urban destinations is gaining momentum, fueled by travelers of all generations who are seeking more experiences that are true to local culture.
The trend, which has been referred to as ‘life-seeing’ versus sightseeing, is documented in key research studies, including a 2023 report by booking.com that found 75% of survey participants said they want, “authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture.”
The American Express 2023 Global Travel Trends Report also identified a strong traveler focus on unique touring opportunities “that give them a taste of local culture and let them explore hidden gems that friends back home don’t know about.”
Tourism officials in major urban destinations have also observed the trend. “Guests now seek immersive experiences and a connection with local identity and lifestyle, valuing regional specialties, crafts and culture,” said Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board. “They crave genuine, inspiring encounters away from the usual tourist crowds.”
Travelers who are seeking out those encounters are increasingly getting off well-worn tourism tracks and into lesser-known city neighborhoods.
“There has been a broad, clear trend of travelers seeking more unique experiences,” said Douglas Quinby, co-founder and CEO of Arival. A recent Phocuswright (sister brand to Travel Weekly) and Arival research report on The Outlook For Travel Experiences that surveyed more than 4,000 travelers across Europe and the U.S. found that 42% of travelers say ‘going off the beaten path’ is ‘very important’ to them when they travel. “This rises to 50% for millennials and Gen-X,” Quinby added.
© WienTourismus/Paul Bauer, YppenplatzAs leisure travel volume has roared back, travel advisors and tour operators are increasingly fielding requests from clients who want different, more personalized experiences on their urban explorations.
The lesser-known neighborhoods always have the ability to surprise you,” adds Gabriela Knöbl, tour guide and co-owner of Rebel Tours Vienna. “There is always a new door to open, a new restaurant to eat at, or a hidden courtyard to discover.”
The quest for more individualized and personal experiences is also fueling the trend to go beyond a city’s tourist hub.
Noted Gwen Kozlowski, president of Exeter International, “I hear over and over from travel advisors that their clients want to get off the beaten path, go outside of the box, do something that is ‘unGoogle-able’. For each traveler I think that means something different. Maybe it’s bragging rights, maybe it’s a personal
It’s not a merger, but Air Transat and Porter Airlines plan a new joint venture that would allow the Canadian companies to join forces to grab a larger marketshare.
A sweeping storm system is impacting much of the United States on this, the final day of the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel weekend. Nearly 14 million people found themselves under various winter weather alerts on Sunday, according to The New York Times.
Montréal has long been renowned for its gorgeous architecture and charming downtown district, and in the modern era, this storied Canadian city is developing one of the most impressive cocktail scenes in all the nation. While visitors can stumble upon a wealth of polished lounges and cozy speakeasies during a stroll across Old Montréal, the 2023 North America’s 50 Best Bars list has shined a light on specific destinations like Atwater Cocktail Club and Cloakroom—and while the city may not be known worldwide for its stellar cocktail scene, this designation comes as no surprise to local industry professionals.
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One of the biggest impediments to recovery so far has been a lack of airline capacity and competition. Conditions are gradually improving, which is expected to benefit travellers as the year progresses, but the concern remains regarding the lack of available seats on services between Australia and Europe, via the Middle East.
The tourism industry, a vital contributor to this economic growth, continues to flourish with increased foreign national arrivals. For the mentioned quarter, stopover visitor arrivals surged by 5.5% to 682,586 visitors. While cruise passenger arrivals experienced a modest decline of 20.5%, totaling an estimated 178,412 visitors compared to the corresponding quarter in 2022.
The app has already been downloaded over 2,000 times, and the Visitors and Convention Bureau is excited to promote it.
During the closing ceremony, La Rioja handed over the symbolic amphora to Armenia, marking the country’s status as the next host for the 8th UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism in 2024.
Only 8% of U.S. tourism boards strongly prioritize addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero. In contrast, 62% of European tourism boards and 29% of Canadian tourism boards have made it a top priority. That’s according to Sojern’s “State of Destination Marketing 2024.”
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.