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Author: Buy2Greece

  • Cruise tourists book more often with travel agencies and spend more money

    In recent years cruises have become a boom segment of the travel industry. In 2015, around 22 million cruises were undertaken worldwide, so that compared to the previous year the cruise market grew by around three per cent. These are findings of a special survey by the World Travel Monitor, carried out by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin.

    Europe is the second most important source market
    Behind North America, the undisputed leader with a market share of 59 per cent in 2015, Europe, with a market share of 32 per cent, has become the world’s second most important source market in the cruise sector.
    Cruises to European destinations account for 78 per cent of the European market, with Spain being the most popular destination (18 per cent).

    The Caribbean occupies second place (16 per cent) and is the only destination outside Europe among the top 5 destinations of European cruise tourists. Italy is the third most popular cruise destination among Europeans.
    Diversity and relaxation
    Few other type of holidays offer similar opportunities for relaxation as well as for making new experiences, either on board or on local excursions. When on cruises, Europeans especially enjoy relaxing, sightseeing as well as exploring foreign countries and cultures. Ultimately, it is also important to them to enjoy ’the sea, water and nature’.
    Cruise tourists spend more money
    There are many opportunities for tourists to spend extra money while being on a cruise – be it on an excursion, while shopping or enjoying an on-board spa. Even if cruises are said to no longer be as exclusive or expensive as they used to be, spending in this holiday segment is significantly higher than in others. While Europeans on average spent 107 euros per night on all holiday trips in 2015, cruise tourists more than doubled that figure with an average of 218 euros.
    Large number of travel agency bookings
    At 60 per cent, the internet is also the preferred booking channel of Europeans when it comes to cruises. However, travel agencies continue to account for an above-average number of cruise bookings. On average, 25 per cent of European holidaymakers book via travel agencies, whereas among European cruise tourists this figure is 42 per cent and hence much higher than in any other holiday segment.

     

     

    Source:-  ITB Berlin

  • How corporate travel added to the growth of international tourism?

    A recent report by the World Economic Forum on ‘What will travel look like in 2030?’ predicted that international tourist arrivals might reach 1.8 billion by 2030, from 1.2 billion in 2015.  Travel and tourism industry has been reported as one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world and its diversification across all categories adds to its growth.

    Going by the initial definition of travel, it was confined only for the leisure travellers however, with the surge of corporate travellers across the world, the total growth of international travel increased manifold. In this recent report, it has been found that Africa will be the biggest winner with an increase of 157% in the number of outbound tourists, from 35 million in 2015 to an estimated 90 million in 2030.

    Keeping the millennial business class rise in mind, diversity in products and travel services in the tourism market has become mandatory. Company executives and representatives are often on the move to attend events, meetings, and conferences and are required to remain connected and productive throughout. Although unforeseeable economic downturns, changing business models and rising costs of travel affect the budgeting of international travel plans; companies, thus are increasingly getting dependent on corporate travel solutions and partnerships with travel agents.

    Online travel agents thus regulate special rates for corporate and in return streamline the entire travel processes. The loyalty programs call for more than just an e-biz relationship and create a business partnership drive to address the supply and demand.

     

  • China Airlines to operate A350 XWB for improved flight experience

    China Airlines became the ninth airline to operate the world’s newest and most efficient twin engine wide-body airliner with the delivery of first A350-900.

    CAL’s A350-900 has some of the most advanced features such as a premium three class layout with a total of 306 seats, which comprises of 32 Premium Business class. 31 in Premium Economy, 243 in the main cabin and convertible to fully lie-flat beds are the other features. CAL has ordered 14 A350-900s altogether.

    The aircraft will be serving initially on small regional routes, between Taipei and Hong-Kong, and will then be deployed on long route flights. Amsterdam, Vienna and Rome will be the first long route flights of A350-900.

    The latest aerodynamic design with carbon fibre fuselage and wings and new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines are the features of A350 XWB which makes it one of the most advanced series of fleet.

    Together, these latest technologies will provide unprecedented levels of operational efficiency along with 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs.

    The posh interior designing with spacious leg-room and quiet ambience through lighting will set new standard of flight experience for both leisure and business passengers.

    Till date, Airbus has recorded a total of 810 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 43 customers worldwide which makes it one of the most successful wide-body commercial aircraft.

  • London ranked as best business hub by US tech executives

    London ranks as Europe’s leading destination for technology and financial services, and is the best city in which to build a European operation according to a post-Brexit survey of over two hundred senior US tech executives. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced the findings in New York during his international trade mission to North America, aimed at strengthening business ties between London and the US following the EU referendum vote.

    The findings of the poll commissioned by London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s promotional company, reveals that more of the tech execs surveyed rank London as Europe’s leading tech hub ahead of other cities such as Berlin, Paris and Dublin. Fifty seven per cent also view London as Europe’s leading financial services centre ahead of Frankfurt, Zurich and Amsterdam.

    Further analysis of the survey, which was conducted in August after the EU referendum vote, shows that London is seen as the number one destination for US tech executives looking to establish a European operation. The American tech leaders cited London’s superior access to finance, rich talent pool and ease of doing business, in terms of favourable time zones and lack of language barriers.

    The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan addressed the leading figures from New York and London’s tech and business communities at an event hosted at WeWork’s HQ in New York City. He will call for greater collaboration between London and US tech hubs such as New York, and declare that London remains open for US businesses.

  • Brits might face red tape while travelling abroad following Brexit

    With the claims that Britons may be forced to pay some amount of fee for visiting Europe after Brexit, the United Kingdom’s second-highest placing on a list of the world’s most powerful passports suddenly saw a deceleration in its demand.

    Global financial advisory firm Arton Capital’s Passport Index said that UK passport holders are currently able to visit 157 countries visa-free. They are ranked just after Germans and Swedes, who has the authority to enter 158 countries with just their passports for documentation.

    However, Prime Minister Theresa May’s promise that she would trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017, the UK’s likely exit from the EU by mid-2019 could see a significant weakening of that passport’s power.

    the executive body of the European Union suggests on the other hand suggested that Britons may need to apply online in advance of visiting EU countries after Brexit and then pay a fee much like with the United States’ ESTA scheme.

    This scheme is nothing but an extra barrier of red tape that UK passport holders are unaccustomed to and does not necessarily mean to affect the Passport Index rankings. Frankly, this rule is nothing compared to the countries with the least powerful passports.

    Afghanistan is rated in the bottom of the Passport Index and citizens with only an Afghani passport to their name can visit just 24 countries visa-free. But not to forget, out of these 24 countries, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Dominica and Micronesia are some of the lovely options.

    Still, that’s a difference of 134 countries between the most powerful and the least powerful passports.

    Behind Afghanistan was Pakistan, with just 27 countries it can enter visa-free, and then Iraq, with 29. Completing the bottom five are Syria and Somalia, with 31 countries apiece.

    Reduction in passport power comes from various reasons, although, most of the time it is from the relationships with the other countries. It covers everything from security risks and potential infractions of immigration rules, to “tit-for-tat” fees.

  • Buy2Greece.com channel Domaza.ru

    73 websites of Domaza.org in over 20 languages!

    Buying real estate in Greece as a profitable deal

    Recently, the demand of real estate in Greece by foreigners has increased significantly. As you know, housing prices in Greece during the crisis greatly decreased in all regions of the country. At this moment, buying a home in the capital or the prestigious recreation centers in Greece is possible not only for the wealthy investors, but also for the people with modest financial incomes. Last but not least is the fact that buying a property from the owner or builder in the amount of above two hundred fifty thousand Euros from third-country nationals gives a unique opportunity automatically to obtain a residence permit.

    Real estate in Greece – the most attractive among tourist countries

    It is easy to understand buyers of properties in Greece. They are attracted by the warm Mediterranean, Aegean and the Ionian Sea and the well preserved beaches, many of which are awarded with the prestigious international Blue Flag for the excellent ecological environment and favorable mild climate, where summers are long and cool, and the winter is short and snowless… The real estate prices of homes at the sea or in the mountains are affordable, the locals are friendly and the standard of living in Greece is rather high… In addition, the realty market in the country offers the best deals not only in the housing segment, but also in the segment of commercial properties  and might be the first step to establishing a successful business.

    Real estate in Greece near the sea will bring additional income

    Every year increases not only the number of buyers in Greece, but also the tourist flow. However, if property prices here still continue to fall in some parts of the country, rents are steadily rising – especially the luxury housing. This means that the residential real estate at the sea can be a source of additional income for their owners. Not everyone can be in Greece all year round, even having his own home. After a beautiful and long-lasting rest, many owners of holiday homes rent them out during their absence from the country.

    Selling property in Greece – without pitfalls

    Foreigners can easily purchase homes in Greece. The only exceptions are the border areas of the country, where buying real estate is possible only with the permission of the Greece Ministry of Defense. The purchase and sale of a property can be concluded by legal and private owners. The whole procedure is accompanied with a notary public and has no risk or pitfalls.

  • www.buy2greece.com – Aviation market to reach $6tn within 2036 as Boeing estimates

    This year, Boeing has estimated a demand of an overwhelming 39, 620 airplanes over the following 20 years marking a 4.1 percent increase over the forecast of last year.

    On the very first day of Farnborough International Airshow 2016, Boeing released its Current Market Outlook. Here, the company predicted that the total valuation of the brand new airplanes would be about $5.9 trillion.

    Randy Tinseth, vice president, marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes has declared that the aviation industry would witness long-term growth that would lead to doubling of the commercial fleet although the financial markets have been hit of late.

    He also said that he was expecting the air passenger traffic to expand by at least 4.8 percent over the next twenty years. The emerging markets triggering growth and reasonably priced aircraft carriers are believed to be the crucial factors that drive the growth of the aviation sector.

    As many as 28, 140 new airplanes would be required in order to make this prediction come true. This would mark an increase in the number of airplanes to over 5 percent over the last year.

    9,100 airplanes would be required immediately, with a large number of planes that would be sent for replacement in the period between 2021 and 2028.

    Boeing has decided to replace the huge airplanes with medium and small-sized ones including the 777x, 777 and 787.

    Cargo traffic is expected to grow by 4.2 percent every year. This is one of the main reasons why Boeing Airlines would require 1, 440 converted freighters and 930 new freighters.

  • www.Buy2Greece.com – UNESCO’s World Heritage List has four new sites

    The World Heritage Committee has put four new sites on the World Heritage List. Let’s see which sites are these in the order in which they have been inscribed. Read on.

    The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (Argentina, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Japan, Switzerland)- Selected from the work of Le Corbusier, the 17 sites comprising this transnational serial property are extended to seven countries and are proof enough of a novel architectural technique far removed from the past. They took a long time to be built, and Le Corbusier called it “patient research”. They were built over a period of a half-century, in the course of what Le Corbusier described as “patient research”. National Museum of Western Art, The Complexe du Capitole in Chandigarh (India), the House of Dr Curutchet in La Plata (Argentina) the Tokyo (Japan), and the Unité d’habitation in Marseille (France) also show how solutions were found out to the problems that arose out of finding new architectural techniques. All these magnificent creations also reflect the internationalization of architectural practices all around the world.
    Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites (Antigua and Barbuda)— This site has some buildings made in Georgian style . It has very pleasant natural scenery, the bays covered by highlands that prevented the attack of hurricanes was also suitable for getting ships repaired. The British navy would not have been able to construct the Dockyard without the work of the enslaved Africans. The main idea behind it was to preserve the well being of sugar cane planters when European powers were fighting to take control over the Eastern Caribbean.
    Pampulha Modern Ensemble (Brazil)—The Pampulha Modern Ensemble was the central part of a wonderful garden city project made in 1940 at Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais State. It has a ballroom, a casino the Golf Yacht Club and the beautiful Francisco de Assis church. It also has an artificial lake around it. Architect Oscar Niemeyer created it, along with other artists who had novel ideas. The influence of the Brazilian climate and local traditions can be seen clearly.
    Khangchendzonga National Park (India) – It is situated at the centre of the Himalayan range, in Sikkim/. Diversity of plains, lakes, valleys, snow-capped mountains define this national park. It has the world’s third highest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga.. There are various mythological stories attached with this mountain and it is also worshipped by indigenous people of Sikkim.

  • Buy2Greece.com – CSR, World Summit 2016

    This CSR, World Summit 2016 in conjunction with the BMAM EXPO Asia 2016 will be a real CSR summit for those who really want to practice CSR in their corporation, community and society at large.  The theme will be on green buildings, soft laws and professionals There will be no invited sponsors such as those transnational corporation who exploiting developing countries, those face-lifting NGOs who fakely love the environment.  There will be no registration fee so that this will be an event for all.  Participants and speakers need to send an application form to us so that an invitation letter will be sent to them directly.

     

    http://www.thaiappraisal.org/csr/index.php

  • Buy2Greece.com – 2017 Global Travel Price Outlook Identifies Key Risks for Global Market

    New research out today highlights six key risks heading into 2017 that could impact both travel industry prices and the global economy as a whole. They are emerging market performance, financial market turbulence, geopolitical risks, uncertainty surrounding Brexit, potentially fluctuating U.S. interest rates and oil prices.

     

    “While business travel repeatedly demonstrates its resilience, the high level of global uncertainty we face heading into 2017 means travel buyers have to be more nimble and flexible than ever in crafting travel programs,” said Jeanne Liu, GBTA Foundation vice president for research. “The outlook shows only marginal increases or flat travel prices, but for 2017, the key to building successful travel programs will be watching and reacting to an ever-changing global landscape.”

     

    These findings come from the 2017 Global Travel Price Outlook, research from the GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), and leading travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). The third annual report provides global, regional and country-by-country projections for air travel, hotel, ground transportation and meetings and events prices in 2017.

     

     

    Kurt Ekert, President and Chief Executive Officer of CWT, said, “We are seeing relatively low, inconsistent and in some cases fragile economic growth.  Travelers and travel managers need to understand their travel patterns and spend, and be alert to the impact of economic uncertainty and volatility.  Proper planning will put them in position to make changes when necessary, and to avoid downside financial risk.”

     

    Air
    Airline prices are projected to increase only slightly (2.5 percent) in 2017, while fares may actually fall below 2015 levels in some markets due to continued low oil prices. Ancillary fees will have an increasing impact: they grew to 7.8 percent of global airline revenue in 2015, up from 6.7 percent in 2014 and that trend is set to continue.

     

    • Asia Pacific, while projected to experience a 1.1 percent decrease in prices, is expected to remain mostly stable throughout 2017, helped by lower fuel prices. Japan and Singapore however, are expected to see a significant impact on airfare pricing given currency exchange rate projections.
    • EMEA is a mixed bag.  It is anticipated that Eastern Europe will see a 4 percent increase in prices due in part to [limited competition prices in Western Europe prices are expected to increase by 0.5 percent and in Middle East and Africa by 2 percent.
    • Latin American and the Caribbean are expected to experience a 1.9 percent decrease in prices.
    • In North America fares are projected to increase 3.7 percent.  Carriers are expected to reinvest some of the profits enabled by low fuel prices to purchase new aircraft and improve their product.

     

    Hotel
    Mega hotel mergers are grabbing headlines, but their impact on prices likely won’t be felt until 2018. Hotel services such as room service, laundry and security remain important to corporate travelers. Traditional hotels, therefore, remain an attractive option for business travelers, despite the sharing economy options.

     

    • Asia Pacific is expected to see hotel prices fall slightly, by 0.6 percent.
    • EMEA again varies by region as geopolitical issues impact on hotel rates. Also, low oil and gas prices have decreased corporate travel for [the sector, primarily in the Middle East, Africa and Russia. It is anticipated that Eastern Europe prices will fall 2.4 percent, Western Europe prices will increase 1.8 percent, and Middle East and Africa rates will fall slightly, by 0.5 percent.
    • Prices in Latin America and the Caribbean are projected to decrease by 0.9 percent.
    • Overall, North American hotel prices are expected to rise by 4.0 percent in 2017, but it will be a tale of two coasts. West Coast cities, including Seattle, Los Angeles, San Jose and Vancouver, will experience high single- to double-digit growth because of the high-tech boom and a shortage of hotel rooms. Meanwhile, East Coast cities including New York City and Toronto, as well as Canada’s oil and gas region, will face low growth or even a reduction because of an over-supply of hotel rooms.

    Ground
    An intensely competitive climate will dictate continued flat pricing for the global ground transportation sector.

     

    • Asia Pacific prices are expected to increase slightly, by 0.8 percent.
    • EMEA is projected to remain flat across the board, with a very slight 0.1 percent decrease expected in Western Europe.
    • LATAM prices will edge forward by 0.5 percent.
    • Prices in North America are expected to remain flat in 2017.

     

    Meetings & Events
    Modest increases in cost per attendee, per day, for meetings and events are expected for Asia Pacific and North America. Europe is expected to remain flat and Latin America will see a decrease of 10 percent. Group sizes will increase marginally in the 3-6 percent range for Asia Pacific, Europe and North America, while remaining flat in Latin America.