The UNWTO has formally adopted its Tourism Opens Minds initiative at its 25th General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on October 20.
Designed to help develop tourism in less-visited areas, the initiative was unveiled at World Tourism Day celebrations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where attendees were invited to pledge to help make lesser-known destinations more welcoming and accessible, and foster a spirit of open-mindedness to new destinations.
The Tourism Opens Minds initiative was formally adopted during the UNWTO’s 25th General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on October 20 (Photo: UNWTO)
Consumers, meanwhile, are being encouraged to be more receptive to other parts of the world when making a travel choice, following a recent YouGov survey showing around half of respondents are uncomfortable travelling to places they know little about and a minority of tourists intend to visit new destinations as they start travelling again.
“Tourism Opens Minds will showcase the powerful role that tourism plays in bridging cultures and promoting a more interconnected and harmonious world,” stated UNWTO, noting that the initiative’s symbol is inspired by the colours of the flags of every country.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said the campaign “extends a compelling invitation for travellers to broaden their horizons and explore the unchartered corners of our world”.
He added: “By doing so, it not only reveals the beauty of diverse destinations but also nurtures an appreciation for the cultures and people who call these places home.”
Tourism Opens Minds can also help ensure “that every country can harness the potential of a thriving tourism industry” and builds on the UNWTO’s “duty to foster people’s desire to discover the entire world, making the unknown more inviting and enabling new connections between strangers, to give back to tourism the power to build bridges”, he said.
Attendees at the UNWTO General Assembly recommended the secretariat takes steps to advance the initiative, including through the funding of relevant programmes and campaigns.
Thailand’s prime minister Srettha Thavisin presided over the signing ceremony of a letter of intent (LOI) between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and eight leading tourism players in China during his first official visit to China last week.
These included Huawei Technologies, Trip.com Group, Meituan.com, Spring Airlines, Sina News, Alipay, iQIYI, and Jego Trip.
Thavisin: the Thai government places importance on reinforcing the comprehensive Thailand-China strategic partnership
The cooperation with eight of China’s leading tourism players, including top tech companies, online tourism platforms, airlines, and online banking, is expected to help strengthen cooperation in tourism-related technology for the Thai tourism industry as well as promote quality tourism to Thailand.
Thavisin said: “The Thai government places importance on reinforcing the comprehensive Thailand-China strategic partnership and strengthening cooperation in areas, such as trade and investment, education, art and culture, and tourism.
“This signing of the LOI will lay a framework for long-term strategic cooperation on promoting quality tourism and maintaining tourists’ confidence in Thailand.”
To facilitate Chinese travellers, the visa exemption scheme has been put in place from now to February 29, 2024, to help reach the target of four to 4.4 million Chinese tourists in 2023, generate over 200 billion baht, and bring the overall number of this year’s tourist arrivals to 25-30 million.
As the largest cooperation agreement that represents the greatest coverage of travel alliance businesses in the Chinese market covering all steps of the customer journey, TAT aims to leverage these LOIs to elevate Thailand as a tourist destination, boost Chinese tourists’ confidence, and roll out tourism promotions to stimulate more travel to Thailand.
Kempinski CEO Bernold Schroeder, who led the independent luxury hotel chain through one of its most challenging periods, is understood to be leaving the company in April 2024.
Speculation about his departure appeared in a report on October 18 in Munich-based Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of the largest daily newspapers in Germany.
Bernold Schroeder, who joined Kempinski in 2017, may be leaving the company next year
According to the article, Schroeder has informed the Kempinski supervisory board of his wish to move on to other opportunities in the global hotel industry upon the end of his contract in April next year. However, the source of the information was not revealed while both Kempinski and Schroeder declined to comment.
TTG Asia was not able to reach Schroeder for comments at press time.
Schroeder first joined Kempinski in 2017 as vice chairman of the management board and COO Europe. He stepped into the role of interim CEO of Kempinski when the former CEO, Martin Smura, left in December 2020.
Aside from handling the crushing impact of the pandemic on the business, Schroeder also battled an apparent smear campaign against Kempinski by an unknown party in 2021, which might have affected the organisation. A Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, presented to Kempinski in 2022 and 2023, however suggests the leadership was able to pull the team together.
When giving Schroeder the mandate to lead the group as CEO in September 2021, chairman of Kempinski supervisory board, Abdulla H Saif, said at the time in an official statement: “Bernold Schroeder has demonstrated his leadership qualities (as interim CEO) by successfully steering our company through a global pandemic and setting it on a course of sustained long-term growth and profitability as international travel resumes.”
In an interview earlier this year with this author about the group’s 2022 performance, Schroeder said that Kempinski had achieved record profits: “We are debt-free, with a strong balance sheet. We had record profits in 2022, the highest profits in the company’s history.”
Kempinski does not disclose financial figures.
Schroeder also shared continued development focus in Asia in his October profile interview with TTG Asia.
The UNWTO has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host its 26th General Assembly in 2025.
The news follows the recent hosting of the United Nations Environment Programme’s MENA Climate Week, held in Riyadh in October this year.
Saudi Arabia has been selected to host UNWTO’s 26th General Assembly in 2025; Riyadh, pictured
The UNWTO announcement was made during the participation of Ahmed Al-Khatib, minister of tourism, at the 25th General Assembly, held in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 16 to 20.
He commented: “Our hosting of the 26th General Assembly underscores our commitment to lead global tourism towards a brighter and more collaborative future. It also highlights our significant achievements in the Executive Council, which the Kingdom assumed leadership of in 2023.”
Saudi Arabia recognises the tourism sector’s potential as a catalyst for change, innovation, and prosperity, and is committed to supporting a global tourism sector that can be both sustainable and prosperous.
The hosting of the 26th General Assembly in 2025 will provide an opportunity for the Kingdom to showcase its tourism and cultural developments, and bolster international cooperation in this vital sector.
During the 25th General Assembly in Uzbekistan, the Kingdom hosted a dinner party, where ministers and dignitaries celebrated Saudi Arabia’s selection as the location for the next edition. The occasion served as an opportunity to introduce the rich and diverse experiences that Member States can look forward to during their visit in 2025.
Anam Group has appointed Norbert Meyer as resort manager and Geoffrey Crabbe as culinary director at The Anam Cam Ranh.
German national Meyer has amassed more than 20 years of hospitality experience and returns to the resort where he was previously resident manager and acting general manager during his two years there starting January 2018.
His career has seen him work for major international hospitality brands in Europe, the Middle East, South-east Asia and mainland China.
In March, Vietnam announced that Binh Thuan province – home to Mui Ne and its stunning stretches of coastline, white beaches, sand dunes, and rich culture – will host the National Tourism Year 2023 initiative to boost tourism development in the region.
According to Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the province still has strides to make to attract international visitors, with the campaign aiming to create “breakthroughs, contributing to further promoting tourism development in the south-central region”.
Fishing boats in Mui Ne
To aid this, authorities have developed a series of policies to support investors in the area. This includes shortening the time to process documents and provincial leaders inviting businesses to invest.
“This is contributing to promoting tourism in Binh Thuan in general, and Mui Ne in particular, quickly achieving the goal of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector,” said Pham Ha, CEO and founder of Lux Travel DMC.
“Currently, the coastal areas have been heavily invested in with regard to infrastructure. High-end resorts have appeared more with a variety of services. This means tourists now have access to professional resort experiences instead of the lack of facilities before.”
These include the opening of The Anam Mui Ne, Azerai Ke Ga Bay, Centara Mirage Mui Ne and a range of projects developed by Novaland, such as Novaworld Phan Thiet, Novaworld Mui Ne, and NovaHills Mui Ne Resort & Villas.
Another game changer was the opening of the Dau Giay-Phan Thiet highway in April. This cut down transport time between Ho Chi Minh City and Mui Ne from 4.5 hours to two. An international airport is also slated to open in 2025, expected to further drive foreign tourists to the area.
“With the new highway and airport, travelling to Mui Ne will become easier and more convenient for visitors. This can enhance the attractiveness of the destination and attract more domestic and foreign tourists. When infrastructure is improved, Mui Ne tourism can attract more investors and businesses operating in this field,” noted Ha.
Mui Ne Red Sand Dunes
Currently, Mui Ne is developing a policy on the night economy to lure visitors, especially international. This includes the two-kilometre night street at Mui Ne Summerland. The pedestrian area takes in restaurants, entertainment and shopping facilities, with festival and art performances taking place weekly.
This is an area Peter Ye, resort manager at The Anam Mui Ne, said needs attention. “Mui Ne still faces some challenges that prevent it from reaching its full potential. One of these is the post-pandemic recovery, in particular of the secondary tourist infrastructure, such as restaurants, bars and entertainment places. We expect that to be over by next year.”
Linh Le, principal and co-founder of Luxperia, said the last few years have seen Mui Ne emerge as the “go-to beach destination” for local residents.
“From that, we are seeing more referrals and recommendations from our client base, as well as interest from foreign guests wishing to avoid another flight,” he added.
According to the official Department of Statistics figures, since April 30, the number of guests visiting the Ham Tien-Mui Ne area has increased, reaching high capacity at weekends when room occupancy hits about 80 per cent.
Mui Ne kite surfing
In May, Binh Thuan tourism continued to make an impression, welcoming more than 805,000 visitors. This marks an increase of 9.18 per cent compared to April 2023 and an increase of 66 per cent over the same period last year.
While pre-Covid, Mui Ne had established itself as a firm favourite with Russian visitors, with Russian-owned resorts, restaurants, and signage catering specifically to the market in abundance, Ha said the area is now rising in popularity with European tourists, as well as visitors from Australia, China, and nearby South-east Asian markets.
The Anam Mui Ne opened its doors in January and has played a significant role in raising the profile of the area, attracting high-end guests from various markets. It is the only affiliated member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World in Vietnam, offering prestigious recognition.
Ye said the main source markets have been locals and expatriates in Vietnam, South Korea and Europe.
“In the next quarters, we expect to see more guests from Australia, China, and other regions,” he added.
The third edition of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages programme has recognised 54 villages from all regions in a ceremony on October 19 during the UNWTO General Assembly; 14 of which are in Asia.
The programme, established in 2021, recognises villages that are leading in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.
UNWTO celebrates an expansion of its community of quality tourism villages around the world
The stringent selection, which took into consideration factors such as Cultural and Natural Resources, Social Sustainability, and Governance and Prioritisation of Tourism, was made from almost 260 applications.
A further 20 villages have joined the Upgrade Programme, which supports villages on their journey to meet recognition criteria, helping to close gaps identified during evaluation.
All 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network, which will allow operators to share experiences and good practices, and learn from tourism and rural development experts in the public and private sectors.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions. This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.”
The list of Asian tourism villages new to the programme this year are: Biei, Hakuba, Oku-Matsushima and Shirakawa in Japan; Dhordo in India; Dongbaek, Mosan and Sehwa in South Korea; Huangling, Xiajiang, Zhagana and Zhujiawan in China; Penglipuran in Indonesia; and Tân Hoá in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Asuka in Japan; Madla in India; and Bilebante, Pela and Taro in Indonesia are now being supported under the Upgrade Programme.
The call for submissions for the fourth edition will take place in the first months of 2024.
Earthcheck is a tourism advisory and certification group developed by the Sustainable Tourism CRC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) have entered into a partnership that will result in a structured framework for hotel sustainability that leads to GSTC Certification.
The partnership endorses the existing WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics, which is a three-year programme.
GSTC endorses the WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics and paves the way for a stepped progression toward GSTC Certification for sustainable hotels
Both organisations intend to send a potent message to the market regarding the coherence and collaboration in the travel and tourism sector.
The three-stage framework for hotel sustainability will now see the integration between the WTTC Hotel Sustainability Basics verification and GSTC Certification, designed to support hotels in their pathway towards full sustainability.
Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, said: “Collaborating with an esteemed body like GSTC reinforces our dedication to leading the industry towards a more sustainable future. It’s imperative that we work with key global players like GSTC to drive change, set benchmarks, and inspire others to follow.
With members spanning across the world, GSTC’s rigorous accreditation programme not only elevates our initiative but also ensures that the hospitality sector worldwide moves toward a unified vision of sustainability.”
The next phase in collaboration with GSTC is scheduled to launch in 2024.
Christchurch International Airport, the second largest airport in New Zealand, has brought in Amadeus to upgrade its passenger service infrastructure with the use of more efficient, flexible and sustainable Common Use technology shared by multiple airlines.
The new system allows multiple airlines a simpler check-in process, more flexibility for seasonal operations, and to connect with passengers at locations away from the airport, such as the Christchurch convention centre Te Pae, or Lyttelton Port, during the cruise season. Doing so means the airport can unlock capacity ahead of demand from its airline partners.
An Amadeus airport systems upgrade will benefit Christchurch International Airport’s airline partners and passengers
Swifter check-in processes for both airlines and passengers also mean more time for travellers to relax before boarding.
The airport will work with Amadeus to enable future transition to more self-service kiosks and bag drops for all airlines and passengers.
With this upgrade, the airport will decommission 80 energy-intensive workstations and replace them with super-efficient thin client devices. Thin-client devices are simple, low-power, computers that provide an interface to the cloud, where computing tasks are undertaken by more efficient servers*.
Craig Dunstan, head of customer & commercial, Christchurch Airport, said: “We are especially pleased to have this first upgrade in place ahead of our upcoming very busy summer season. We will see all our international airlines return, some with larger aircraft and more flights, as well as a new direct service between Christchurch and San Francisco. The transition to the Amadeus Cloud Use Service is another exciting step forward in embracing new technology to enable a more streamlined and frictionless journey for our passengers.”
The Ascott’s portfolio of charming bespoke hotels and serviced residences under The Crest Collection brand is on a strong growth trajectory, with seven properties in operation and more to come in London, Bucharest, Hanoi, Tokyo and Paris.
The company debuted the brand in Asia with the opening of three properties in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, between the months of August and October 2023. Newest in this lot is The Robertson House by The Crest Collection, which stands along the Singapore River. It opened on October 14 following a seven-month refurbishment.
The Crest Collection opens three properties in Asia in quick session; The George Penang by The Crest Collection pictured
The Grand Mansion Mentang by The Crest Collection in Jakarta, Indonesia and The George Penang by The Crest Collection in Penang, Malaysia were both signed and rebranded in August and October 2023 respectively.
These properties join The Crest Collection’s four in France, which have recorded a strong occupancy rate of about 73 per cent, with the average daily rate increasing by up to eight per cent over the previous year.
Riding on the success of the portfolio in France, The Crest Collection has gained strong traction and further recognition in Europe. The 230-key The Cavendish London – the brand’s first property in the UK – will undergo a one-year renovation next year and reopen in 4Q2025. It will expand into Bucharest, Romania with a 171-unit property set to open in 3Q2025, and add a fourth to Paris come 2026.
Serena Lim, Ascott’s chief growth officer, said: “Ascott has seen a growing demand for collection brands from owners as they provide flexibility of a distinctive property positioning while being backed by the power of a global brand through its global sales and distribution platforms, and strong loyalty base. The ease of conversion with a collection brand means increased speed to market, and that is key especially in today’s economic climate amidst tighter lending conditions and rising construction costs.
“At Ascott, we are committed to manage our owners’ assets not only for the short and medium term. Bearing in mind long-term strategic growth, we work closely with our owners to uplift the value of their real estate, ensure longevity and future proof their business.”
His career has seen him work for major international hospitality brands in Europe, the Middle East, South-east Asia and mainland China.
The third edition of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages programme has recognised 54 villages from all regions in a ceremony on October 19 during the UNWTO General Assembly; 14 of which are in Asia.
The programme, established in 2021, recognises villages that are leading in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.
The stringent selection, which took into consideration factors such as Cultural and Natural Resources, Social Sustainability, and Governance and Prioritisation of Tourism, was made from almost 260 applications.
A further 20 villages have joined the Upgrade Programme, which supports villages on their journey to meet recognition criteria, helping to close gaps identified during evaluation.
All 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network, which will allow operators to share experiences and good practices, and learn from tourism and rural development experts in the public and private sectors.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across regions. This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.”
The list of Asian tourism villages new to the programme this year are: Biei, Hakuba, Oku-Matsushima and Shirakawa in Japan; Dhordo in India; Dongbaek, Mosan and Sehwa in South Korea; Huangling, Xiajiang, Zhagana and Zhujiawan in China; Penglipuran in Indonesia; and Tân Hoá in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Asuka in Japan; Madla in India; and Bilebante, Pela and Taro in Indonesia are now being supported under the Upgrade Programme.
The call for submissions for the fourth edition will take place in the first months of 2024.