Sri Lanka Tourism reveals 2016 Strategic Marketing Plan

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The tourism industry of Sri Lanka is poised for growth to achieve sustainable development phase within the next few years, based on the strategic direction determined by the new government. Sri Lanka Tourism has formulated a broad Strategic Marketing Plan for year 2016, with the participation of private and public sector stakeholders addressing long standing needs of the industry and the future expectations of the country as a tourism destination. The new strategy was refined for its contents to maximise the benefits to the tourism industry and to position Sri Lanka as the most sought after travel destination in Asia.

During year 2015 up to November , Sri Lanka Tourism recorded 18.1% growth on arrivals with 1.5 million arrivals. The total tourism revenue generated was US$2.2 billion. At this backdrop, the tourism promotional plan of year 2016 is formulated based on five key strategic objectives. Attracting a target number of 2.2 million visitors with 26% annual growth, increasing average daily expenditure of a tourist up to US$ 200 and average stay, contributing to generate a total tourism revenue up to US$ 2.75 billion will be the key performance measures. Uplifting Sri Lanka's brand value up to US$ 80 million through tactical marketing campaigns focusing on main product offerings of the county will serve as the overall goal of the promotional strategy devised for 2016.

The core destination promotional tools will be enhanced such as advertising and PR to implement a global advertising campaign and global PR initiative to stay ahead of the major competitors to Sri Lanka. The advertising campaign will be implemented in line with the Nation Branding Campaign initiated by the government of Sri Lanka thus by choosing leading service providers following the government procurement guidelines. Tourism promotional strategy 2016 has addressed the long standing need of appointing PR agencies for key markets especially in Europe, East Asia, Benelux and emerging markets. Sri Lanka Tourism wish to appoint PR agencies for major source markets in order to achieve country promotional objectives and aggressively promote the country enhancing tourism brand in the world.

The strategic choice for country promotions has been constantly challenged by the global trend towards internet/online based destination marketing in the recent years. Most of the traditional marketing tools have been outdated with the introduction of web based booking engines, tour planning, e-marketing and other real time services available to frequent travelers online. Considering these developments, Sri Lanka Tourism has opted to implement a fully-fledged online and digital marketing campaign for year 2016. The campaign will create language specific web sites for all main markets and will promote the destination on focused online and social media platforms identified in each country. Special prominence has been given to attract travel bloggers with high reputation who will act as brand ambassadors generating credibility providing first-hand publicity for Sri Lanka based on experience gathered by visiting the country.

The trade familiarization tours and media familiarization tours will continue to be a major component of year 2016 marketing plan. Overall 300 travel agents and 200 travel media will be facilitated from the countries around the world under the familiarization tours hosted by Sri Lanka Tourism. Familiarization tours will attract prominent print and electronic media to Sri Lanka to produce and generate articles on the destination and its tourism products.

The traditional promotional activities such as participating for travel fairs, conducting roadshows and outdoor promotions will also be carried out in each country. However this will be focused and implemented based on the need analysis. For year 2016 SLTPB will participate at 46 travel fairs and road shows in 20 key countries in order to develop the product brand and generate sales by B2B agent interactions.

While there is an uncertainty of Sri Lankan Airlines continuing to operate in Europe and several other destinations of choice, Sri Lanka Tourism hope to enter into strategic partnerships with new and existing Airlines connecting the regions capitalising on the "Open Sky" policy of the government of Sri Lanka. It is planned to develop strategic partnerships with all existing key airlines and work with new airlines like Austrian Air and Malindu Air and Air China who will have new operations to Sri Lanka. The tourism strategy has allocated budgets for working with airlines and strategic partnerships along with attracting charter flights.

Positioning Sri Lanka as a venue for international and domestic events will be a key component of the 2016 marketing strategy. Sri Lanka Tourism hope to stage internationally acclaimed tourism related events in Sri Lanka during next year such as Arugam Bay Pro- Surf, Kiteathelon, Adventure Tourism events etc. In the meantime more than 25 cultural /religious events and arts and entertainment events that has direct impact for tourism development will be conducted by Sri Lanka Tourism . The activities will be strengthened by increased monetary contribution in year 2016.

On the other hand , steps will be taken to improve the quality of tourism products by investing on the infrustructre developments. Tourism information centers will be strengthened for better serving the travellers . Local media Campaigns , New product developments, niche segments developmemt, working with provincial councils for domestic tourism development are part of the strategy formulated for year 2016.

During the year 2016 Sri Lanka will host the largest ever French travel agent's congress SNAV, by attracting 600 travel agents from France to the country. The congress will provide huge exposure for the destination in Europe, especially in French speaking countries. Sri Lanka Tourism hope to promote the country as a destination for MICE travel and leisure travelers by proving its capasity to host events of this capasity. Sri Lanka has also won the host country status for PATA 2017 which provide similar exposure to the destination. The bidding process will continue to attract more congresses, incentive travellers and events with the objective of making Sri Lanka the MICE hub of Asia. The government of Sri Lanka has provided special consessions to MICE travel development which is an encouraging factor to invest in this sector.

The new tourism strategic marketing plan of 2016 will focus on the long term result oriented approach to develop tourism industry in Sri Lanka than serving short term goals.Supported by the strong presence of the newly appointed Tourism Advisory Committee, Hon. Prime Minsiter, Board of Directors ,Chairman, Hon.Tourism Minister & Deputy Minister and the Ministry Secretary, it is aimed at laying the foundation for a far sighted tourism development strategy based on the industry inputs garnered from decades of experience , analysing research findings and country's competitive position while being attuned to constant challenges faced by soci-political and cultural environment in the world tourism landscape.

The Budget Proposal of 2016 has introduced a comprehensive policy framework for tourism development.Under the guidence of Hon. Prime Minister several key initiatives have been proposed such as setting up an Aquaculture park in Batticaloa, promote sale of gem and jewellery, encourage MICE tourism by establishing necessary infrastructure, encourage spending by tourists, trasform and upgrade touirst attraction sites and local tourism zones, encourage theme parks and removal of tax for water sport equipments yachts etc & introduce hovercrafts and other water based sports for tourists, tax holidays for investors and removal of TDL are key areas proposed. With the view of improving operational efficiency and to facilitate investement a new organisation will be formd under the name "Agency for Development".Tourism branding plan, training and development for tourism youth, registration of tourist hotels based on quality standards etc of the Budget Proposal 2016 , will heavily cont ribute to sustainable tourism development strategy for Sri Lanka.

As such Sri Lanka Tourism is confident that the new strategic direction will move the country forward making it the most sought after travel destination in Asia while all stakeholders of the industry reap its benefits. It is very clear that within the next few years to come, tourism industry will become a sustainable sector in the Sri Lankan economy being the top GDP contributor within next few years. Sri Lanka will adopt a concerted and coordinated approach linking private and public sector and all stakeholders ,to assess policies that govern future industry development and provide knowledge to guide successful and sustainable Travel & Tourism strategy for the country.

Source: Sri Lanka Tourism reveals 2016 Strategic Marketing Plan

Five Questions for Europe's Gloomy Natural Gas Market in 2016

As the new year begins, Europe's natural gas markets stand at the center of a web of geographic, financial and political factors that could reshape their future.

In 2015, natural gas prices declined as the result of an oversupply made worse by the falling cost of coal, rising use of renewables, better energy efficiency and the warmest year on record. The result: benchmark contracts had their first consecutive annual loss, ending the year at their lowest levels since 2009.

Now, amid a drop in Asian demand, Europe is becoming a more likely target destination for natural gas as the U.S. prepares to ship its first tankers of liquefied fuel from the shale boom, Australia expands its exports, forcing Middle Eastern suppliers to seek new customers, and Russia fights to maintain market share.

"With Europe increasingly becoming the dumping ground for the world's surplus LNG, 2016 should see a continuation of the oversupply situation in European gas markets," Alan Whitefield, managing director of AW Energy Solutions, a gas and LNG consultant in London, said by e-mail. "An unseasonably mild winter can only exacerbate this situation if we head into spring with ample storage stocks."

Here are the biggest questions facing the European market.

1. How much gas will the EU produce?

Europe's largest gas field in the Dutch province of Groningen faces production restrictions after extraction was linked to earthquakes in the region. The government said Groningen can produce only 27 billion cubic meters (950 billion cubic feet) of gas in the 12 months through September. Only if it's cold can the cap go up to the prior limit of 33 billion.

The cuts have already pushed the Netherlands into becoming a net importer of gas despite being the European Union's largest onshore producer. Dutch gas buyers Germany, France and Belgium are also in the process of adjusting their networks to replace Groningen supply by 2030.

Meanwhile, the U.K. has said it wants to move forward in exploring its shale gas resources, potentially adding to European supply, as the depletion of North Sea fields caused its gas output to drop 62 percent in 2014 from a decade earlier. Next year production companies may drill some of the first exploratory wells to assess the country's deposits.

2. Will Europe see more LNG arrivals?

European LNG deliveries are rising as new plants in Australia boost supply to Asia amid declining demand, causing some cargoes from the Middle East to divert to northwest Europe, the only region outside North America with a sufficient amount of gas trading to absorb the excess.

Import terminals in the U.K., Belgium and the Netherlands are set to get 167 cargoes this year, up from 132 in 2014 and the most since 2011, according to port and ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The restart of reactors halted since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, lower industrial growth and increasing renewable generation are reducing consumption of gas in Japan, the world's biggest LNG buyer, leaving more cargoes available for Europe.

Next year, Europe's net LNG imports will probably gain 22 percent to 45 billion cubic meters, according to Societe Generale SA.

3. Will U.S. gas come to Europe?

Europe, with its accessible trading hubs and underused import infrastructure, may lure U.S. LNG, which has no restrictions on destination and would have to compete with pipeline supplies from Russia and Norway.

"Given the volumes of gas shipped to Europe, the marginal cost of additional Russian gas is low and they should be able to compete with U.S. LNG supplies," said Malcolm Johnson, a Guildford, England-based faculty member of The Oxford Princeton Programme, an energy training provider. "However, it is clear that in certain countries there is a desire to diversify supplies for supply security."

That desire to diversify away from Russian dependence has motivated countries such as Lithuania to sign supply agreements with U.S. exporters including Cheniere Energy Inc. U.S. LNG will probably be able to compete on European hubs this winter, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said earlier this month.

4. How much Russian gas will Europe get?

Gazprom PJSC plans to keep gas supplies to Europe at about 156 billion to 160 billion cubic meters (5.5 trillion to 5.6 trillion cubic feet) a year in 2016-18, according to Sergei Komlev, head of pricing and contract structuring at the Moscow-based producer's export arm. The piped gas export monopoly also has guaranteed sales in Europe due to contract terms that oblige buyers to take agreed minimum volumes each year. 

Russian gas meets about a third of the region's demand, is cheap to produce and linked to oil prices that crashed 34 percent this year, with recent declines set to filter into long-term contracts next year thanks to a six- to nine-month time lag. Imports from Russia increased in 2015 as the fuel became competitive against gas on hubs.

Meanwhile, Gazprom is battling EU accusations that it charged Poland and the Baltic States as much as 21 percent more than the average, with regulators stepping up efforts to cut the bloc's dependence on Russia. More LNG making its way to Europe will probably also start squeezing out some Russian gas, according to Energy Aspects Ltd., a London-based consultant that sees imports from Gazprom decreasing 4 percent next year.

5. Can storage still dictate prices in Europe?

If you wanted to make money in gas storage in the EU, 2015 wasn't your year. 

"Those who invested in gas storage or gas-fired power have all burned their fingers, if not their entire arm," Frank van Doorn, head of gas trading at Vattenfall Energy Trading, said at a conference in September.

Storage levels are at their highest for the time of year since at least 2009, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe, because no one takes gas from the facilities if it's warm and flows directly from suppliers are cheap. Full storage sites reduce volatility, hurting those who profit from buying gas at a low price and selling it high.

Source: Five Questions for Europe's Gloomy Natural Gas Market in 2016

Rahul Gandhi goes to Europe: 5 European destinations for the Congress Vice President!

Venice, Corsica, Athens, Amsterdam, Ibiza: Any idea where RG could possibly be? Travel Staff | Last Updated: December 29, 2015

Rahul Gandhi today tweeted his plans of traveling to Europe and Twitterati went berserk. Like everything about Rahul Gandhi's life, his travel plans remain a secret. No one knows where the Gandhi scion will be vacationing; obviously it got us speculating about the possible destinations that RG may be traveling to. We look into our crystal ball and with tongue firmly in cheek speculate just where Rahul Gandhi may be traveling to in Europe.

ALSO SEE Top 8 places every man should visit while he's still single

1. Venice

Surely nothing can be as relaxing as a gondola ride and the very single Rahul Gandhi could certainly do with some pretty company. Any matchmakers around?

2. Corsica

The idyllic French island may have first been made popular by Asterix but has shot into limelight thanks to Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor's outing in Tamasha once again. Surely Rahul Gandhi could expect a red carpet welcome there?

3. Athens

Rahul Gandhi's Congress party is credited with turning around India's economy when it was on the brink of a collapse in 1991. Greece that is facing a similar crisis right about now would most certainly do with some borrowed wisdom.

4. Amsterdam

What can we say about Amsterdam that hasn't already been said? Legalized marijuana and a nightlife that could put most other cities to shame! Certainly Rahulji could let his hair down for just a few days!

5. Ibiza

Ibiza is one long endless party. With a thriving EDM scene and the world's largest nightclub, Privilege that has a capacity of 10,000 people, Ibiza is the place to be for all you single young men. And last we checked Rahul Gandhi was just that!

First Published: December 29, 2015
Source: Rahul Gandhi goes to Europe: 5 European destinations for the Congress Vice President!

Europe's 10 best hidden beach resorts for 2016

Mljet is a green refuge from Dubrovnik Photo: AP/FOTOLIA

Privacy, tranquillity and simplicity characterise these European seaside destinations. You can stay clear of the crowds, the trinket shops and the nightclubbers, but still enjoy local life and culture.

To be at the beach is to revel in simplicity: there is sand, sun, and water; anything else is extraneous. The coasts of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic are fringed with an almost overwhelming array of beaches – from tiny coves tucked between dramatic limestone cliffs, to long stretches of powdery sand, strewn here and there with nature's flotsam. However, many of the most obvious treasures on Europe's coastlines have unfortunately been spoilt by concrete tower blocks and the accompanying hordes of tourists. If your idea of the ideal beach is a hidden one with hardly anyone on it, read below to discover our destination experts' top picks for European beaches that combine natural seafronts with just enough infrastructure – found usually in laid-back, traditional seaside towns and villages – to ensure a truly relaxing holiday.

1. Palagruza, Dalmatia, Croatia

Rising from the deep blue Adriatic, the remote rocky islet of Palagruza lies halfway between Croatia and Italy. Measuring just 4,590ft by 985ft, Palagruza's arid slopes support scanty Mediterranean vegetation, and on its highest point (295ft), the lighthouse, dating from 1875, affords magnificent views over an apparently endless seascape. Through the centuries, many passers-by (who used the island as a reference point when navigating the open sea) were drawn to its glorious isolation. Archaeologists have unearthed fragments of painted ceramic vases and jewellery, dating from the 6th-2nd centuries BC, possibly intended as votive offerings, that were left by the ancient Greeks. Today Palagruza is uninhabited, but for the lighthouse keeper. Its two pristine pebble beaches, Stara Vlaka and Veli Zal, give onto shallow turquoise-blue waters, in total solitude. No one will bother you here.

Stay in Palagruza lighthouse, which has two basic but comfortable self-catering apartments. A four-bed apartment for one week is from £422 (lighthouses-croatia.com). On request, local fishermen will deliver freshly caught seafood, but you'll still need to bring a week's supply of groceries.

Jane Foster

2. Mljet, Dalmatia, Croatia

A green refuge from Dubrovnik's summer crowds, this undeveloped island offers dense pinewoods and two interconnected saltwater lakes. Contained within Mljet National Park, the emerald-green lakes are perfect for swimming (and normally a few degrees warmer than the open sea) and you can rent kayaks, too. Alternatively, hire a bike and cycle the 7.5-mile perimeter of the Big Lake, hike up to Montokuc (830ft) for fantastic views, and visit the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on an islet on the "Big Lake". As most visitors to Mljet come on organised day trips from Dubrovnik, once the last excursion boat has left, tranquillity reigns. Just a few yachters stay overnight, putting down anchor in sheltered bays, then hopping ashore to eat the local speciality: lobster. French deep-sea explorer Jacques Cousteau was especially fond of Mljet – you can investigate underwater caves and wrecks with the local aquatic scuba diving club (aquatica-mljet.hr).

Stay in Hotel Odisej (adriaticluxuryhotels.com), the only hotel on the island, offers basic but comfortable three-star accommodation, plus a small spa. Double rooms from £55 per night in June.

Jane Foster

3. Anamur-Iskele, Turkey

Relax on this 7.5-mile-long coarse white sand beach, book-ended by a medieval castle and a Roman city. The benefits of Iskele, the seaside resort companion to the town of Anamur, a mile and half inland, are obvious: there are no all-inclusive complexes, few high rise hotels, little in the way of water sports and even less nightlife. These factors alone mean few foreigners visit. Laid-back Iskele is not empty, however, as its welcoming mix of mainly small, family hotels and pensions just minutes from the gorgeous beach and smattering of simple restaurants make it a haven for Turks. In summer, families head down here from Ankara and other inland cities to laze in the shallows, sunbathe, read, eat, drink and mind their offspring. Stay here and you really do mix with the locals – and pay Turkish, not tourist, prices.

Iskele is relaxed, and attracts locals, not thousands of tourists  Photo: Alamy

Stay in the Yan Hotel, a small family-run place with great sea views just a hop away from the beach. Doubles from £33, includ ing breakfast (yanhotel.com).

Terry Richardson

4. Koufonisia, Greece

Head to Koufonissia for the sort of sand, sea and sun that recalls the long-forgotten Greece of the Sixties – it's where Athenians in search of an unpretentious and reasonably priced beach break go. Hidden away between the larger Cycladic islands of Naxos and Amorgos, Koufonisia is made up of two tiny islets, Ano Koufonisi (Upper Koufonisi) and Kato Koufonisi (Lower Koufonisi), which are separated by a 655ft sea channel. While Kato Koufonisi remains uninhabited, Ano Koufonisi, with its whitewashed Cycladic cottages, has a buzzing little community of 366. Locals live mainly from fishing – it is claimed that there are more boats than residents – there are no real roads and hardly any cars, so everyone either walks or cycles. Even the larger island can be circled in a day on the flat coastal path, with little for company other than the endless sea views, and maybe a few goats. On the lovely lo ng beach of Pori, where the sand is satin white and the sea a dazzling turquoise. Facilities come in the form of a beach bar serving cold drinks and snacks – but not much else.

Chora, the harbour town on Ano Koufonissi, is a traditional Greek fishing port with impossibly blue water  Photo: AP

Stay in Above the port, Koufonisi's windmill dates from 1830 and was in use until 1956. Since 2006, it has been available for rent as an apartment sleeping four. It is beautifully furnished with local antiques, and has a private sea-view terrace. From €150 (£119) per night for four people (00 30 22850 74294; windmill-villa.gr).

Jane Foster

5. Paleochora, south-west Crete, Greece

Giving onto the Libyan Sea, on Cret e's southern coast, Paleochora (48 miles south of Hania) is an easygoing seaside village, popular with Greeks in search of an unpretentious summer retreat. Everything is local and family-run: low-key B&Bs, informal tavernas and cafés, plus a much-loved therino (open-air summer cinema). The main beach, Pachia Ammos, is a half-mile curving swathe of sand, dotted with umbrellas and sun-beds, with a naturist area at the far end. Beyond the village are more secluded bathing spots, some nudist-friendly. Peaceful Gialiskari (2.5 miles east) is a pebble beach that was popular with hippies in the Seventies, while Grammeno (three miles west) is a sand-and-pebble beach backed by a grove of cedar trees. There are excursion boats from Paleohora to Elafonissi, and a coastal ferry to Agia Roumeli and Sougia, or you can hike up a rocky gorge to the village of Anydri (three miles) for lunch at an old-fashioned taverna.

Stay in Manto Studios, a welcoming family-run B&B near the mai n beach (mantostudios.gr; two-person studio, with breakfast, £39 in June).

Marc Dubin

6. Viveiro, Galicia, Spain

Most of Spain's best beaches are on the northern coast. Using the small town of Viveiro (population: 16,000) as a base, you could go to a different one every day of your holiday, driving for less than an hour, too. The ideal spot for friends and family to descend upon en masse in the summer months, this is hometown Spain, a far cry from the country's glitzier resorts. Area beach is a tantalisingly long strip of sand a few miles from Viveiro town and the harbour in Celeiro. Area is totally unspoilt and backed by low dunes with a cluster of vines growing on them. There are two hotels set back from the beach, a couple of dozen houses, a youth hostel and that's about it.

Most of Spain's best beaches are on the north coast

Stay in the stylish Ego hotel – most of the 45 rooms have sea views, some with terraces and all with floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel's restaurant, Nito, with a smart terrace, is one of the best in the region. Doubles from £71, including breakfast (hotelego.es).

Annie Bennett

7. Cíes Islands, Spain

Known to locals as the "Galician Caribbean" or the "Galician Seychelles", thanks to its sparkling white-sand beaches, Cíes is an archipelago of three islands in Galicia, north-west Spain. Stretching for more than half a mile between Monteagudo and the Faro islands, Rodas is the longest beach on the archipelago and by far the nicest. Since 2002, the Cíes have been part of the Galician Atlantic Islands National Park, which means that the land and the surrounding sea are highly protected – 86 per cent of the park is underwater. Visitors are limited to 2,200 a day; there are no hotels – only a campsite – and just a couple of basic restaurants. There are not even bikes, let alone cars.

Ría de Vigo, one of the deep inlets of the Galician coast  Photo: Alamy

Stay in Pazo los Escudos, a five-star traditional Galician mansion right by the beach, just outside the town centre. It has a spa and outdoor pool, and its 54 rooms are divided between the main building and a stylish new section. Superior rooms have large balconies with views across the Ría de Vigo (pazolosescudos.com; doubles from £133, including breakfast).

Annie Bennett

8. Comporta, Tróia, Portugal

While Portugal is spoilt for beaches in every hue of gold, the white sands which stretch along the coastline by Comporta, 90 minutes south of Lisbon, offer an unrivalled paradise. It's long been a well-guarded secret by those – from Princess Caroline of Hanover to Christian Louboutin – who summer here in breezy villas. The arrival of Sublime, a sleek, boutique hotel, last year means now there is the perfect bolt hole from which to enjoy it. On Comporta beach, the colours are reminiscent of the Indian Ocean – turquoise waters wash up onto the deserted, sun-bleached sands. You can ride over the dunes through the emerald paddy fields which dot this area – the rice bowl of Portugal – or treat yourself to the freshest of sea bass or sea bream at Comporta Café, which sits on the beach with unblemished views of the diaphanous waters as far as the eye can see.

Stay at Sublime has doubles from £136 (sublimecomporta.pt).

Mary Lussiana

9. San Pantaleo, near the Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Sardinia's Costa Smeralda evokes visions of five-star luxury, with every whim catered to, yet paradoxically its famous beaches are mostly primitive affairs, often with the minimum of fa cilities. If regimented ranks of sunloungers aren't your thing, the best tip for winkling out the top spots for a bit of beach therapy is to take the smallest road running alongside the coast in order to search out any dirt path running off it seawards. At the end of the track, you've a good chance of finding your own beach of beaches. True, not all are so secluded; some are better known and even signposted, such as the trio Romazzino, Spiaggia del Principe and Capriccioli, around three miles south of Porto Cervo, each with white powdery sand, clear water, a scattering of granite boulders and a decent bar. Some of the most seductive accommodation lies inland, for example the Locanda Sant'Andrea, where sybaritic comforts and friendly but efficient service come at a reasonable rate. Located in the mountain village of San Pantaleo, couched among granite peaks, the small hotel is equipped with a shady pool, the ideal venue for relaxing with a glass of vermentino and comparing tans .

Rocky hills near San Pantaleo  Photo: AP/FOTOLIA

Stay at Double rooms at Locanda Sant'Andrea from £102 (locandasantandrea.com).

Robert Andrews

10. Notre Dame, Porquerolles, France

The island of Porquerolles, off the Giens peninsula south of the Provençal town of Hyères, recalls the way the French Riviera was before it started playing to the crowds. Car-free and little-developed beyond the port-village, Porquerolles devotes itself to vines and olives, scrub and forest and the contention that nature is OK. To the south are cliffs and creeks, to the north fine sand beaches. And the finest of all, because furthest from the village, is Notre Dame. A 40-minute walk, or 20-minute hire-bike ride, puts it beyond the range of many, so the great sweep of sand may be underpopulated, even in August. The slope behind is smokily scented with eucalyptus, pine and herbs. There's no commerce – not even one building. The sand is between white and gold, depending on the light; the sea so clear that one can see every twiddle of the toes. This is the Med beach of your dreams.

Stay at the village at the three-star Villa Sainte-Anne, half-board doubles from £125 (villasainteanne.com).

Anthony Peregrine

Source: Europe's 10 best hidden beach resorts for 2016

Looking for a 2016 vacation? Here are 16 must-see destinations

Elsewhere called. It misses you. In fact, it wants you to hit the road soon. Here are 16 destinations (alphabetically arranged) that look especially pleasing in 2016.

Botswana 

It's a smallish country, about the size of France, with not quite 2 million people. But Botswana, in southern Africa, has the Okavango Delta and the vast Central Kalahari Game Reserve. In fact, 38% of the country's territory is set aside for national parks, reserves and wildlife management areas. And as of 2016, it also has 50 years of independence. Before 1966 it was a British protectorate known as Bechuanaland.

Now, as a democracy with a reputation as the least corrupt country in Africa,

Botswana is an increasingly popular destination for safari-seekers. In the delta, you can canoe past hippos. In Moremi Game Reserve, you see lions on the prowl. In Chobe National Park — well, you'll find about 50,000 elephants for starters. Among tour operators offering safaris here are Abercrombie & Kent, Micato Safaris and Wilderness Safaris.

Info: www.botswanatourism.co.bw

Bozeman, Mont.

Bozeman makes a great gateway to Yellowstone National Park 80 miles south,

in part because of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Day by day, this

college town (population: about 42,000) seems to sprout more reasons for a visitor to linger, especially if it's summer. The Lark Hotel, opened early this year, has transformed an old motor lodge into a snappy, stylish stop. In its parking lot is the gleaming silver trailer of Victory Taco, a casual food stand that's also a popular summertime ice cream stop for families strolling Main Street. For more gr own-up pleasures, there's Montana Ale Works, which serves hearty meals and about 40 draft microbrews in a big, old railroad freight building. Locals line up for breakfast at the Nova Café and Main Street Overeasy. But do remember to get to the national park. It was America's first, after all.

Info: www.downtownbozeman.org

Cartagena, Colombia

This Caribbean-facing coastal colonial city is far safer than it was in the dark days of Colombia's internal strife at the turn of the 21st century. The colonial city center is rich with boutique hotels and restaurants made from old homes. La Vitrola is a long-standing see-and-be-seen restaurant; gourmets head for Carmen Cartagena (seven-course tasting menu, $78, plus wine). Instead of arriving by way of Bogotá or Medellin, many U.S. travelers now fly straight to Cartagena from New York's JFK (JetBlue), Ft. Lauderdale (JetBlue) or Atlanta (Delta). Intercontinental, Radisson and the W brand opened hotels here in 2014. A stylis h Delano Cartagena is due in 2016. The previously gritty Getsemani neighbor is especially trendy, with night spots and the upscale 10-room Casa Lola hotel (which occupies one building from the 17th century and one from the 19th). For information on crime and safety, see the U.S. State Department's June 5 warning on Colombia.

Info: www.ticartagena.com/en; http://1.usa.gov/1MfDuaS

Dublin, Ireland

A hundred years ago, Dublin's Easter Rising launched Ireland on a path to independence from British rule. The armed insurrection brought bloody results, including the execution of 16 leaders, but in 1922 the Irish Free State was established. In months ahead, dozens of centennial events are planned in Dublin, including an exhibition at the National Library of Ireland, lectures at Trinity College and various historical reenactments. On Jan. 1, the Cross Border Orchestra — whose young players are gathered from Ireland and Northern Ireland — will deliver a Peace Proms perfor mance in the Convention Center. The National Museum of Ireland will unveil "Proclaiming a Republic: the 1916 Rising" on March 3. On Easter Sunday, March 27, at 1:15 p.m., wreath-laying ceremonies are planned at spots throughout the city.

Info: www.ireland.ie; www.museum.ie

Harlem, New York

For too long, Manhattan above 110th Street was terra incognita among tourists. But that's been changing as the area gains prosperity. Harlem Heritage Tours offers half a dozen itineraries, as does Big Apple Jazz Tours. On lively 125th Street, there's the Apollo Theater, opened in 1934 and busy with music and comedy acts as well as Wednesday-night amateur acts. Nearby stands the Studio Museum in Harlem. Sylvia's may be the neighborhood's best-known restaurant (especially its Sunday gospel breakfast). But there's plenty more well-loved soul food at Amy Ruth's Restaurant and Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too. The Abyssinian Baptist Church gets so many Sunday morning tourists that it urges visitors to attend 11 a.m. services, leaving the 9 a.m. service to members.

Info: www.Harlemheritage.com; www.bigapplejazz.com

Iran

Many Americans are eager to visit Iran, and several tour operators are helping them. (In terms of U.S. government red tape, it's easier than going to Cuba.) Iran is full of historic towers, mosques and squares, especially in the ancient city of Esfahan (where the atmospheric Abbasi Hotel is a favorite of western visitors). Persepolis, not far from the city of Shiraz, holds some of the most striking pre-Christian ruins outside of Egypt and Peru. Both destinations are well removed from the Iraq and Afghanistan border zones, which the U.S. State Department urges travelers to avoid. Tehran, more modern, includes many museums. To get there, Americans often fly to Istanbul, then continue on to Tehran or Esfahan. At Distant Horizons in Long Beach, owner Janet Moore says she is sending 14 groups to Iran in 2016 — twice the number she sent i n 2014.

Info: www.distant-horizons.com

Myanmar

The allure of its culture and scenery has never been in doubt. And now, after decades as an outcast nation controlled by the military, it's edging toward the mainstream. Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, is full of faded grandeur that will remind some people of an Asian Havana. The Shwedagon Pagoda is a 335-foot golden spire (crowned with diamonds, rubies and sapphires), the nation's most revered Buddhist site. The plains of Bagan, along the Irrawaddy River, are dotted with hundreds of 11th to 13th century temples (and popular with balloonists). Irrawaddy cruises between Mandalay and Bagan are offered by Avalon Waterways, Belmond, Viking River Cruises and others. Lodging can be buggy and rustic, and infrastructure is shaky, but change is coming: Hilton opened hotels at Nay Pyi Taw, the capital, and Ngapali in 2014, with others to follow at Bagan, Inle Lake and Mandalay in 2017.

Info: www.myanmartourism.org; www.lat.ms/1QNND4W

Natchez, Miss.

This small Mississippi city, about 170 miles upriver from New Orleans, celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2016. Natchez is on a bluff above the Mississippi and full of tragic, surprising history (it seems to be the oldest settlement on the river) and elegant architecture. It's also the southwestern end of the Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic highway through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee that was once a Native American trail. No billboards, no businesses, no commercial vehicles but plenty of cars and bicycles. Natchez has home and plantation tours; horse-drawn carriages; art galleries; a Museum of African-American History and Culture; more than 40 bed-and-breakfasts and Natchez National Historical Park. That park preserves Melrose, the antebellum Greek Revival mansion of plantation owner John McMurran, and the downtown brick home of African American barber and diarist William Johnson. Johnson's brick home and McMurran's white-columned mansion gi ve different windows onto life in Mississippi before the Civil War. The city's birthday celebration at Ft. Rosalie, Aug. 3, will feature a 300-gun salute.

Info: www.visitnatchez.org; www.nps.gov/natr; www.natchezms300.com

Orange County coast

No, it's not exactly remote. But this territory is about as pleasant as California gets, and you need not suffer an airline experience to get there. And as these four examples show, improvements continue. In Dana Point, the St. Regis Monarch Beach this year completed a $30-million overhaul. (It has two goats on site to supply fresh goat cheese for the restaurants.) Another five-star property, the Montage Laguna Beach, upgraded its spa offerings and further gilded its Catalina, Sunset and Aliso suites. The former Aliso Creek Inn has been reborn as the Ranch at Laguna Beach. Many rooms opened late this year; the rest, as well as a lobby and restaurant, are due to open early next year. The property aims to be a four-star "ranch ch ic" resort (with nine-hole golf course and spa). Rates start at about $249 a night, but once all work is complete, they'll jump up. At Newport Beach's Island Hotel — the former Four Seasons property next to Fashion Island — a major upgrade was completed this year, delivering a new Oak Grill and bolder colors in the hotel's 292 rooms.

Info: www.stregismb.com; www.montagehotels.com/lagunabeach; www.islandhotel.com; www.theranchlb.com

Paris

Many travelers canceled their Paris plans within a week of the terrorist attacks against the city on Nov. 13. (City tourism officials say the hotel occupancy rate dropped 15 points between Nov. 13 and Dec. 8.) Yet many other travelers, eager to send a message of defiance, resolved to get there as soon as possible. You can join the latter group any time in 2016 and, chances are, get a warm welcome. The main attractions reopened quickly. At the Grand Palais, the blockbuster Picasso.Mania exhibition, which explores the artist's in fluence on those who came later, will stay up through Feb. 29. The Philharmonie de Paris, a 2,400-seat music venue in the Parc de la Villette, opened this year. And the Musée de l'Homme, which explores anthropology, reopened in October after six years of renovation. LAX-Paris round-trip airfare rates for 2016 are about the same as 2015's: typically $1,100 or more for winter travel. But Paris officials expect first-quarter tourism to be down 10% to 15%. That, along with the strong dollar, seems to be reducing hotel and tour operator prices.

Info: http://en.parisinfo.com

Penang Island, Malaysia

George Town (population about 500,000), Penang's main city, is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a 500-year history of trading and a hotel boom in progress. As many as 10 new hotels may open in 2016, and a bevy of cruise lines call at the port. With luck, this growth will leave intact the city's most historic architecture and encourage its lively food scene. George Town was a British trading post from the early 19th century (hence its name) until Malaysian independence in 1957. It gives you British echoes, Malay essence, Chinese and Indian commercial traditions, scattered rickshaws and a stew of religions.

Info: www.tourismpenang.net.my

San Sebastián, Spain

This city, part of the Basque Autonomous Community on Spain's northern coast, is one of Europe's two 2016 cities of culture. Stroll the creamy sands of Concha and Ondarreta beaches. Take a boat ride to uninhabited Isla Santa Clara. Try surfing at Zurriola Beach. Learn the word pintxo (peen-cho), which are the small plates that figure prominently in Basque cuisine. Bilbao, home to the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum, is about 65 miles to the east. San Sebastián also has a long roster of civic celebrations, including notable festivals of jazz (July) and film (September).

Info: www.sansebastianturismo.com/en; www.dss2016.eu/en

Seattle

The Seattle light-rail system in April will add stops in Capitol Hill (perhaps the city's best restaurant neighborhood) and the University of Washington. Later in the year, a new streetcar line will connect Capitol Hill to Pioneer Square. Meanwhile, Pike Place Market will sprout a new western entrance, terrace and plaza area called Marketfront, making room for 47 new market stalls. A Thompson hotel is due to open in 2016 at First Avenue and Stewart Street.

Info: www.visitseattle.org

Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

Because a mysterious writer and actor named William Shakespeare died in 1616 at age 52, his hometown makes an especially ripe destination. The Royal Shakespeare Co., with two theaters in Stratford, will mount productions of "Hamlet," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Cymbeline" and "Don Quixote" (written by Shakespeare's Spanish contemporary Cervantes between 1604 and 1615). In Stratford, where legions visit Shakespeare's birthplace and grave, a "Shakespeare 's Schoolroom" attraction is to open in April in the city's 15th century Guildhall. April 23, long celebrated as the day of the bard's birth and death, will be especially busy.

Info: www.shakespeare400.org; www.lat.ms/1O9wUE6

Washington, D.C.

When its doors open in the fall, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will become the 19th museum in the Smithsonian family, a project more than a decade in the making. Meanwhile, D.C. tourism leaders estimate that more than 200 restaurants have opened in the last three years — pretty good for a city just 10 miles square. Alongside the Potomac River, the long-closed Watergate Hotel is due to reopen in March after a $125-million renovation. Among its features: a rooftop bar (Top of the Gate); staff uniforms designed by "Mad Men" costumer Janie Bryant; and rates north of $500 a night. Also, no matter the results of the Nov. 8 election, there will be a new Trump in town — a Trump hotel, due to open in t he fall after a $200-million renovation of the Old Post Office building.

Info: www.washington.org; www.s.si.edu/1uQwVU5

Williamstown, Ky.

Here's a destination for the traveler who's been everywhere and done everything. In Williamstown, a devoted creationist group is building an ark, a 510-foot-long wooden sailing vessel that matches the one described in Genesis. If all goes as planned, the Ark Encounter (and petting zoo) will open July 7, a date chosen based on another passage in Genesis. The builder is AiG (Answers in Genesis), which also runs a Creation Museum nearby in Petersburg, Ky.

The Cincinnati Enquirer estimated the project's cost at $92 million, paid for with private money, loans and advance ticket sales. Tickets are $40 per adult, plus $10 parking.

Info: www.arkencounter.com; www.answersingenesis.org

chris.reynolds@latimes.com

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EMEA’s Biggest Winners and Losers for 2015

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

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In 2015, major airlines and hotels were able to recover from a dismal stretch of in-the-red years. The flow of tourists in Europe and Asia led to new winners and losers when it came to destinations. Some countries were able to overcome negative events and get their tourism industries back on track, but others saw their stock fall to levels that will not be easy to recover from going forward. 

Here are three of the biggest winners and three of the biggest losers in Asian and European travel industries for 2015. 

WINNERS

Thailand

Thailand did not have a straightforward year. The military is still in charge after last year's coup, and a bomb attack on the Erawan Shrine in Central Bangkok killed a number of tourists in August. Even many experts believed that Thailand's final tourist tally for 2015 would be disappointing. However, the Kingdom defied the odds and actually posted record-breaking numbers this year.  Over 30 million tourists had their passports stamped by Thai immigration officials in 2015. That is more than the 27 million that the Tourism Authority of Thailand was hoping for. 

Even after the 2004 tsunami, violent street protests in Bangkok (on more than one occasion) and military coups, the country's tourism industry kept thriving. Tourists never felt targeted or caught up in the unrest. That changed with the Erawan Bombing in August, which directly targeted tourists. This was the first sign that Thailand's tourism industry might not be bulletproof after all. The arrival numbers, however, showed that tourists were not deterred. 2015 proved that Thailand's tourism industry is indeed made of Kevlar. 

India's low cost carrier

Asia's best low cost carriers have always managed to be profitable. However, this year was tough for airlines in India. Every major company struggled, except one. LCC IndiGo scored its sixth straight profitable year and got a huge amount of interest when it went public late in 2015.

Like Thailand, IndiGo has shown that it is immune to hard times. IndiGo's secret is similar to that of AirAsia, Southwest and others: it can afford to offer low fares by keeping its services simple. Its planes are basic, but always clean. Its flight attendants are unfailingly polite and its food is passable. The carrier's CEO once explained it like this: "we serve food that doesn't make them sick." 

If India is able to improve its air travel infrastructure, IndiGo will be in a great position to take advantage of the situation while its competitors are still trying to get out from under their debt and improve their image.  

TUI, Thomas Cook and other major tour operators in Europe

Terror attacks and unrest dominated the news in Europe this year. No one would have blamed people for staying home after seeing the headlines. Major junket operators like TUI and Thomas Cook had to offer refunds for travelers who had already booked trips to Egypt and Tunisia. This was certainly a short term hit, but things did not go as badly as you might have expected. 

Rather than simply staying home, travelers in Europe chose destinations that their foreign office or state department deemed safe. Cyprus and Spain's Canary Islands were favorite options, as were Cape Verde and Malta. Because of this switch to new destinations, TUI and its peers actually managed to earn a profit this year despite all the fear-inducing media coverage. 

LOSERS

China's inbound market

For many in the travel industry, the biggest story of 2015 was China's outbound travel market. Everyone from Kenya to England to Australia was scrambling to promote themselves as suitable destinations for travelers from the PRC. China's domestic and inbound markets did not fare well, however, Yes, the country claimed more than 100 million international arrivals, but a vast majority of those were repeat visitors from Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan (yes, Hong Kong and Macau arrivals were considered "international").  

Meanwhile, would-be domestic tourists were traveling internationally. Terrible pollution problems have been plaguing Beijing this year, causing some travel agents to advise their tour operators to stock surgical masks to give clients when they arrive in China's capital. There are some signs of hope going forward. More Chinese travelers are showing interest in the nature-dominated Western provinces, and the government has promised some changes that will make it easier for travel and hospitality companies to operate inside the country. 

Russian tourists

Russian tourists have not had a good year. The world was well aware of the travel warnings issued by the Kremlin for Egypt (and the Metrojet crash) and Turkey (after an airspace dispute that led to a Russian fighter jet being shot down). Because of these events, Russian tourists lost two of their favorite wintertime destinations to safety concerns. 

However, Russian tourists were staying home before the Sinai crash and the Turkey trouble. The ruble lost value against virtually every other major currency in the world this year. Even the struggling Australian dollar maintained a favorable exchange rate. Many Russians simply could not afford to travel. The struggling economy compounded the problem. 

On the upside, a few destinations started courting Russian snowbirds late in the year with cheap flights. Eilat, Israel's Red Sea resort town, began offering discounts to airlines that flew from Russia in a bid to capture some of Egypt's market share. 

Macau

Asia's gambling haven seemed unstoppable just a few short years ago. Macau's casino revenue shot past Las Vegas, and all the world's biggest gaming firms were bending over backwards to get a spot along the Cotai Strip next to iconic casinos like the Lisboa. 

That buzz has now almost completely died. Macau's revenue has been dropping for more than a year. Chinese high rollers have been staying on the mainland in the midst of a corruption crackdown and economic woes. Other tourists are heading elsewhere — to Singapore's "integrated resorts" and other newer regional gaming destinations. 

Macau's attempts to build more mass-market appeal may be too late. Theme-park-like resorts like Hollywood-themed Studio City are now open, but they have yet to live up to expectations.  

Source: EMEA's Biggest Winners and Losers for 2015

China’s European Century

Image Credit: REUTERS/Yves Herman

A Wikistrat crowdsourced simulation

By Tilman Pradt for The Diplomat

December 24, 2015

While the U.S. is shifting its strategic focus to Asia (the "Asian Pivot"), China is rapidly intensifying its relations with Europe – and appears to be filling the strategic gap left there by Washington. As Chinese investment in (and trade with) Europe grows, so does Beijing's influence on EU politics.

In an online, crowdsourced analytic exercise, Wikistrat's experts recently predicted that the coming years will see a deepening of this China-Europe interdependence.

Background

At the end of June 2015, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang urged European policymakers to begin negotiations for a Chinese-European investment treaty. Li requested the EU lower – or even abolish – existing trade barriers (e.g., tariffs), as the higher rate of exchange of goods and products would be a boost for both economies. Reaching such an agreement will be long and time-consuming, but the appeal to start negotiations at this time fits into the bigger picture of China's economic shift towards Europe.

In November, China hosted political leaders of Eastern European states to discuss deepening cooperation at the so-called "16+1 Summit." The aim was to integrate Eastern European economies into the comprehensive New Silk Road project, thereby intensifying regional trade and opening Western European markets for Chinese goods. With massive investment in the necessary infrastructure projects, Beijing will gain in two respects: new orders for China's huge construction industry, and favorable relations with the countries where these infrastructure projects are realized. Poland already considers itself to be Europe's upcoming logistics center.

Trade Routes

Western Europe is both the world's largest single market and the most important for both China and the United States. Indeed, the European market is a key final destination – especially for sophisticated electronics and other consumer products. Notably, the high average income of Europe's consumers results in a purchasing power critical for producers.

Total trade between the EU and China increased from €178 billion ($195 billion) in 2004 to €467 billion in 2014. Given the average growth ratio of this period, China-EU trade will grow to approximately €650 billion by 2020. However, this projection is based on old growth rates; China's recent efforts to increase trade by improving trade logistics will probably lead to higher numbers in this respect.

China already ranks as the EU's number-one partner with regard to imports and is the EU's number-two export destination. Trade between China and Europe is dominated by industrial/manufactured goods, which represent over 90 percent of all bilateral trade.

China is putting significant effort into upgrading and modernizing land and maritime trade routes with Europe. The land-based trade route – the so-called New Silk Road – connects China with Europe via Central Asia, Iran and Turkey. This trade route is already operational; it takes two weeks for a freight train to traverse it. But the route's logistical infrastructure is underdeveloped. The recently established Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is designed to finance infrastructure projects; a main focus thereof will be upgrading the facilities along the New Silk Road.

The establishment of the AIIB – which took place despite the opposition of Washington – had 57 founding members, including key U.S. allies like the U.K. and Germany. Seventy percent of the organization's capital, however, originates from within the Asian region – thus guaranteeing China an influential role. China's overall stake is 30 percent and its voting share is 26 percent, thus giving the power to veto projects. The Financial Times called the establishment of the AIIB "China's most ambitious foray into financial diplomacy."

As a further trade route initiative, China is investing in port facilities to improve maritime trade with Western Europe in a project known as the Maritime Silk Road. This trade pathway connects China with Europe via harbors in the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Key new ports along this trade route are in Pakistan's Gwadar and Kenya's Nairobi. Additionally, Greek ports (Piraeus and Thessaloniki) will be used as transshipment points, where container-handling facilities are already operational and will be upgraded by Chinese investments.

Finance

Trade between Europe and China is still handicapped by exchange rates between the euro and renminbi (RMB). Frankfurt, however, has recently been appointed as a clearing point for China-Europe transactions, and the Bank of China, with German Bundesbank support, is establishing a clearing system. The establishment of this clearing point for China-Europe transactions is an important step by which to improve investment procedures, and is critical for trade relations between the world's "workbench" (China) and the world's largest single market (Europe). In London, the overall trading volume in RMB has doubled since 2014. Just recently, the London Metal Exchange (LME) has agreed to accept the RMB. This represents a validation of China being the world's top consumer and producer of most metals. It fits well into this picture that in December, the IMF decided to accept the RMB as a reserve currency (effective by October 2016).

These recent developments will further solidify the RMB as a global currency – and with it, China's growing economic and financial stature: In 2014, the RMB was the seventh-most-used currency in the world. In 2015, it is already the fifth-most-used currency.

European Bridgeheads

As outlined above, China's investments are meant to improve the New Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road with regard to travel speed, operability and safety. Better logistics infrastructure will facilitate trade between China and Europe, as well as trade between China and the markets along these routes. Key points for China's investments in Europe are trade hubs in Greece and Bulgaria. Both countries present significant opportunities in terms of low labor costs and investment possibilities. They therefore qualify as bridgeheads in Beijing's economic strategy and will attract further Chinese investments in the future. While China's investment in Europe was negligible in 2000, it soared to direct investment of €14 billion in 2014. The focus of China's investment has thus far been the U.K., Germany and France (in that order), with interest concentrated on sophisticated industrial producers. Future Chinese investments will also focus on strategic logistics locations.

China Turns West: Options for the U.S.

The U.S. pivot to Asia is at its core a geopolitical, security-driven move conceptualized in strategic military assessments. By contrast, China's turn to Europe lacks similar security and military characteristics (save the anti-terror efforts in Central Asia that China is conducting in concert with Russia via the Shanghai Cooperation Organization). China's focus is instead on trade relations and investment – and has a distinct possibility of finding success.

The U.S. and Europe have been negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) for several years now; however, several disagreements have yet to be resolved, and the outlined timeframe to reach an agreement had to be postponed again this July. The U.S. should push for this trade agreement and win the consumer and industry market shares in Europe before Beijing's companies have laid the groundwork for China's European Century.

Tilman Pradt obtained his PhD in political science at Freie Universität Berlin, his thesis focused on China's new foreign policy. He is a supervisor and contributing analyst at the geostrategic analysis and business consultancy Wikistrat, additionally he works as a senior advisor for companies and business associations.

Source: China's European Century

2016 Meeting Trends According to One of Europe’s Best Convention Cities

Glasgow does conventions better than nearly anywhere else in Europe.

More than 4,600 readers of UK-based Meetings & Incentive Travel media group voted Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) as the best British convention bureau in 2015 for the ninth consecutive year.

Supporting the M&IT acknowledgement, professor John Heeley is director of BestDestinationMarketing.com and author of "Urban Destination Marketing in Contemporary Europe: Uniting Theory & Practice."

He writes, "The convention department of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau — alongside Vienna Convention Bureau — is widely acknowledged by conference industry experts and practitioners as the best of their kind in Europe."

In addition, Glasgow achieved a new annual record in conference revenue for the 2014/15 fiscal year, up 3% over last fiscal to $270 million.

Because the destination marketing organization has been viewed as an innovator for so many years, it provides a good lens into best practices and what's trending in the meetings industry heading into 2016.

Conference Ambassador Program

For Glasgow, the number one meetings industry strategy is showcasing local conference ambassadors who are experts within a specific business sector to attract conferences within that sector.

Working as liaisons for the bureau, the local ambassadors are familiar with the language and nuances of any one particular industry. They also provide visiting conference planners with direct access to industry-specific thought leaders and resources in the destination.

The practice of tapping a destination's intellectual capital to help drive business to the destination is not new. Glasgow is regarded as the first bureau to officially establish that system 25 years ago.

What is new, more bureaus are promoting their local knowledge base as a primary market differentiator, versus just a behind-the-scenes value add. The GCMB's website, for example, dedicates significant space to promoting its Conference Ambassador Program with extensive news updates, profiles, and case studies.

The strategy is working more effectively than ever.

In the 2014/15 fiscal year, for the first time ever, over 50% of the contracted conference business in Glasgow was sourced with the assistance of local industry ambassadors, who now total over 1,700 business and academic leaders.

In the previous year, only 35% of conferences were secured with the help of local experts.

According to Aileen Crawford, head of conventions at the GCMB, the biggest value of ambassadors is that they provide relevance. They customize the destination and personalize the event experience to deliver a higher return on spend.

That's how convention bureaus are positively impacting business outcomes for planners today. They're identifying and partnering those local contacts that best align with a particular visiting organization. And, the more local experts available to choose from, the more opportunity to differentiate the destination and drive business to local industry.

"We constantly ask ourselves, 'What do conference organizers need from the convention bureau of the future?'" explains Crawford. "I believe today that just offering information on new hotels is not representative of the era we're in anymore. Maybe it was 10 years ago.

"Now it's all about being as relevant as possible to planners and relevant to our city and stakeholders. The unique level of support we provide isn't available in other European cities."

Better Engagement With Ambassadors

So what's next? We asked Crawford, if other bureaus are developing similar programs, especially in Europe where the trend is becoming more mainstream, how does Glasgow continue to innovate?

On the GCMB website, Crawford wrote a post called "Smart Cities vs. Leisure Destination Cities," where she explains: "Smart cities understand the worth of knowledge exchange and its impact to the conference and to the association. More and more organizers are working with destinations that recognize that fact."

Therefore, among the top priorities for 2016, Crawford says the bureau needs to work more closely with its ambassadors to get a better understanding of new developments in the city's primary economic sectors, and the value of those developments for conference planners.

Those sectors include: higher education, life sciences, medical, energy, engineering, manufacturing, low carbon industries, financial and business services, and tourism.

In 2015, over 40% of conferences in Glasgow were affiliated with those industries, in part because Glasgow has Scotland's largest array of academic and health research facilities.

"Ambassadors are always up to date on the latest research in their fields so they're also a direct resource for us to keep up with the trends in each sector," says Crawford. "So for us it's about being smarter about what's happening across our sectors, recognizing when there's new world class research, and plugging that in with conferences in that sector."

Better Engagement With Organizers

For the months of April and May 2013, the GCMB launched a dedicated website asking "What Makes Glasgow Great?" to crowdsource ideas for a new destination brand that best communicated the Glasgow visitor experience.

For those two months, the website topped 7,000 visits with more than 1,500 people from 42 countries sharing their opinions.

Overwhelmingly, the most popular theme of the responses focused on the people of Glasgow as the city's greatest attraction. In June, the newly minted "People Make Glasgow" website launched as the official GCMB portal, which won first place in the branding industry Transform Awards that year for "Best External Stakeholder Relations."

Crawford wants to develop that crowdsourcing strategy for conference organizers, attendees, and local businesses aligned within the conference industry. So she and her team are looking at potential digital content campaigns to aggregate more user-generated content.

"This is going to be an interesting chapter because there's loads of lessons we can learn around our digital from that [People Make Glasgow] campaign," she explains. "So how can we support our conference organizers to attract more delegates? If we can be smarter with content and giving better content to conference organizers, that help drive more delegates to our city."

However, everyone's trying to do that in some form or another these days. We asked Crawford how she intends to start the process of developing in-house content to attract external commentary.

"We need to get a greater understanding of the communication tools that our conference organizers use, and the timing of that communication," she said. "When do we use our content, when a potential attendee might be considering coming to a conference, so they say, 'You know what, I'm going to go to that conference next year.'"

Successful 2015 Conference Bids

The following conferences are a sample of future events secured by the GCMB in 2015 with the assistance of local ambassadors:

Academics at the University of Strathclyde, led by principal professor Sir Jim McDonald, play a pivotal role in the delivery of the All Energy conference, confirmed for 2015, 2016 and 2017. It will be worth $7.15 million per year to the local economy, attracting 4,000 delegates.

The bid for Meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology 2019 (ESPGHAN) was a joint win for local ambassadors, Dr. Richard Russell and Dr. Richard Hansen, both consultant paediatric gastroenterologists at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children. The conference will draw 4,500 delegates and will inject $6 million to the local economy.

The European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery & Arthroscopy (ESSKA) Congress 2018 will attract 2,500 delegates over four days, injecting $6 million to the local economy. The conference was secured by the GCMB in partnership with William Leach of Glasgow's Western Infirmary, Dr. Mark Blyth of Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and Frederic Picard of the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

Glasgow won the bid to host the European Association for Chinese Studies EACS 2018, led by ambassador Dr. Minna Torma, lecturer in Chinese Art at the School of Culture and Creative Arts at the University of Glasgow. Over 500 delegates will spend an estimated $1.5 million.

Source: 2016 Meeting Trends According to One of Europe's Best Convention Cities

Top 10: European city breaks for 2016

Planning a short break? Here are 10 great suggestions for the top destinations in Europe for a city break.

Venice

Venice never loses its capacity to enchant. Summer brings some of the most daunting crowds, but there's a reason why they come: the sheer loveliness of an exquisite city that seems miraculously built on water. Venice's churches and museums offer antique glories aplenty, but there is also a vibrant contemporary art scene, even away from the Art Biennale. Venice is a unique, magical place 365 days a year. But much of the time you'll be sharing that magic with thousands of other visitors.

Read more:

Paris

Paris is one of the world's most beautiful cities (with its golden stone facades and famous monuments), and a vibrant, densely packed collection of villages. Behind the grandiose palaces and boulevards, you can discover intimate courtyards and gardens; behind historic façades are craft workshops and eminent research institutions. Perhaps the true clue to Paris's appeal is that despite being one of the most visited cities in the world it is also intensely lived-in. With its flats, playgrounds, food markets and cafés, there is no empty heart in the centre; and you, too, can play at being a Parisian.

Read more:

Rome

Rome's mild Mediterranean climate is a persuasive draw for visitors from the cool north, but the main draw will always be the pulsating energy of a place which lives life as a form of theatre. There are great neighbourhood trattorias, quirky shops and a buzzing aperitivo scene. The challenge is deciding what not to do: there are so many churches, archaeological sites, piazzas and paintings to see that a lifetime is hardly enough.

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Amsterdam

Amsterdam has the buzz of a metropolis, with few big-city drawbacks. It's small enough to wa lk or cycle almost anywhere you want, yet is rarely dull. Dinky gabled buildings, pretty bridges and quiet canals give it village-like charm, yet you'll also find top-ranking art museums and one of the best orchestras in the world. Most of all, Amsterdam combines its glittering past with a wry, rough, rebellious contemporary edginess. Popular songs have it that spring's the time to come tulip-plucking, but really any season in Amsterdam has its allure.

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Florence

Florence is one of Europe's great art cities. Giotto's frescoes, Michelangelo's David, canvases by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and a host of other greats in the Uffizi Gallery… there's so much exquisite art and architecture, it's difficult to know where to start. Florence is also a living city with a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene, and a lively cultural movida that goes beyond old masters to embrace opera, classical music and contemporary art. Handsome, historic, full of quirky shops and quality crafts, and close to the vine-covered hills of Chianti.

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Barcelona

Barcelona is a patchwork of architectural styles displays dark, Gothic façades next to the harlequin buildings of the Modernistas and the skyline-piercing constructions of Jean Nouv el or Herzog and de Meuron, and a day spent admiring them can be topped off with a sundowner on one of the city's seven beaches before dinner at any number of Michelin-starred gastronomic temples or humble, family-run tapas bars. Barcelona has a relaxed pace, months of endless sunshine, unbeatable food – with the cultural and design clout of almost any city in the cold north.

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Berlin

In summer, the city's residents take full advantage of the decent weather to hit the streets, rivers and lakes and partake in endless events across the city. Since the fall of its world-renowned Wall, Berlin has busied itself with becoming one of the most stimulating creative and cultural centres in Europe. These days it's a city of many faces, known equally as a hedonistic hub, a magnet for history buffs and, increasingly, as a destination for families thanks to a wealth of green spaces that includes the sprawling Tiergarten, the Sunday flea market at Mauerpark and the Volkspark Friedrichshain.

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Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is one of the world's most magnificent walled cities. Now a Unesco world heritage site and Croatia's most up-market destination, it was once the capital of the wealthy sea-faring Republic of Ragusa (1358-1808). Today, visitors come to Dubrovnik for leisure, not to trade. The main draw is the charming pedestrian-only old town, packed with aristocratic palazzi and elegant Baroque churches, contained within sturdy medieval fortifications. Add to this the beaches, pristine sea, informal eateries serving top-notch seafood, chic five-star hotels and adventure sports facilities, and your holiday is made.

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Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the world's great cities. Superbly situated either side of the blue ribbon of the Bosphorus Strait separating Europe from Asia it is, unlike any other city in the world, split between two continents. The old quarter , with its oriental-fantasy skyline of domes and minarets, and its narrow cobbled streets lined with quaint old wooden houses, lies on a tapering peninsula pointing gravely across the straits to Asia. To the south, the blue waters of the Sea of Marmara glitter invitingly. North, across the graceful curve of the Golden Horn, flicker the bright lights of the pulsating entertainment quarter of Beyoğlu.

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London

People pour in from across the world to visit, work or live in London. Colossal infrastructure projects such as Crossrail, King's Cross-St Pancras and the Embassy Quarter and Battersea Power Station projects so uth of the river, are transforming the skyline. The range of restaurants, bars, theatres, sports, pop-ups, performance art and large-scale events is astounding. Right here, right now, London is somewhere you have to be.

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For the best hotels in more than 130 destinations worldwide, go to telegraph.co.uk/hotels

This article was first published on December 31, 2014 and updated in full on May 12, 2015

Source: Top 10: European city breaks for 2016

Top Europe Travel Stories of 2015

December 21, 2015 By: Ana Figueroa

Travel to Europe showed healthy gains in 2015, thanks in large part to a strong U.S. dollar. New tour product appealed to niche markets; new hotel openings enticed luxury travelers and new promotions piqued interest in some lesser-known destinations.

Agents, wholesalers, tour operators and hoteliers were for the most part, extremely optimistic about Europe travel this year.

Of course, not all headlines from the region were positive. Paris was rocked by the Charlie Hebdo shootings in January, and again by the tragic attack in November. In late summer, an attempted attack was foiled on a high speed Amsterdam-Paris train.

Enhanced security and extra precautions are a sign of the times in Europe. But they're the new normal in most places. Travelers are a resilient lot; not easily deterred. Throughout the year, agents remarked that first-time visitors were especially eager to explore a more-affordable Europe. And frequent visitors were eager to venture beyond popular tourist destinations.

Here's a look back on stories and topics Travel Agent readers were most interested in this past year. 

Not surprisingly, river cruising tops the list. The segment continued to grow in Europe, both in terms of fleet expansion and market entrants. Several tour operators announced new or enhanced collaborations with established lines. Examples include the strategic brand alliance between Backroads and AmaWaterways; new A&K Connections River Cruise & Land Journeys on Amadeus Silver III and Avanti Destinations' first-ever river cruises, aboard CroisiEurope.

Top river cruise news items included last summer's low water levels on the Elbe and Danube. A number of lines either cancelled sailings entirely or adjusted schedules to work around the problem in mid and late July. Those workarounds included ship swaps, motor coach tours, "bonus" excursions and future cruise credits. The vicissitudes of Mother Nature no longer lead to major disruptions in the river cruise industry. 

The vicissitudes of the Greek economy did, however, cause some worry. 

As the year began, tour operators and wholesalers were especially bullish about Greek sales. But by mid-year, attention was fixed on reports about civil aviation strikes, bank closures, cash withdrawal limits and protest rallies. All came as Greece struggled to renegotiate loans to the IMF, its future in the Eurozone hanging in the balance.

Despite fears that the tourism industry would collapse, tour operators and agents reported surprisingly few disruptions. That's mostly due to the fact that credit card transactions continued without problems. And, the Greeks redoubled their famous hospitality to the vital tourist segment.

Nearby in Turkey, the hotel scene in Istanbul is attracting attention. 

Noteworthy openings in the past year or so include the Raffles Istanbul. It's located in a luxury shopping mall that also houses the country's largest performing arts center. Also in a luxury shopping area is the Art Deco-inspired St. Regis Istanbul. And the Soho House Istanbul is next to the former U.S. Consulate building. There's a private member-only club in the consulate that Soho guests can access. 

Elsewhere in Europe, travel professionals with whom we spoke consistently mentioned two destinations: Spain and Portugal. Interest in both is on a definite upswing, with travelers venturing beyond the major tourist centers. 

Portugal's Douro River saw additional cruise lines enter the market. And hotels such as the Six Senses, which opened in the Douro Valley this year, are highlighting the region. 

In Spain, luxury operators are entering the acclaimed Santiago de Campostela market. And Barcelona continues to hold its own as the country's hippest hotel scene. Among the high-profile openings this year: The Hotel Cotton House. The 83-room Autograph Collection property is located in the 19th-century headquarters of the Cotton Manufacturers Association.

Other major luxury hotels to open this year are La Grande Maison Bordeaux; Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden, Germany; Mandarin Oriental Milan; The Gainsborough Spa in the UK; Villa Làrio in Lake Como; and Villa René Lalique in Alsace. 

Airlines in the news this year included Lufthansa Group. Enhanced Lufthansa service to Frankfurt from New York's JFK on flagship Boeing 747-8 aircraft was our most-read airline story. Another story that resonated with readers was Lufthansa Group's decision to charge EUR 16 extra for tickets booked via GDS. 

The group airlines (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and Brussels Airlines) claimed the charge was needed to offset higher costs associated with GDS. The fee isn't assessed against bookings made directly with the carriers. 

The move is part of an overall shift of commercial strategy to focus on flight operations rather than ticket sales as a revenue base. 

The new charge has been roundly criticized by agent advocacy groups since its implementation on September 1, 2015. It remains no doubt, one top story that will remain in the headlines in the coming year.

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Source: Top Europe Travel Stories of 2015

Thai Airways secures 11 European destinations

Thai Airways International has secured its flight services to 11 destinations in the European Union. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

Thai Airways International (THAI) has obtained a third country operator certificate from the European Union (EU), effective on Dec 15, and secured its flights to 11 destinations there.

THAI president Charamporn Jotikasthira said officials of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had checked the safety standard of the national airline on Nov 12 and 13 and that it had already categorised THAI as a third country operator (TCO).

The certification for THAI took effect on Dec 15 and means the airline can operate flights to countries in the EU for good, he said.

The EU started to issue TCO certification to non-EU airlines this year and any non-EU airlines without the TCO status could not operate flights to the EU from November next year onwards, Mr Charamporn said.

He assured that THAI had maintained its high standard and implemented its Safety Beyond Compliance project in May this year. The project was aimed at upgrading its safety standards to the highest international level and these were also based on the standard of EASA, he said.

THAI operates flights to 11 European destinations - Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Stockholm and Zurich.

Get full Bangkok Post printed newspaper experience on your digital devices with Bangkok Post e-newspaper. Try it out, it's totally free for 7 days.

Source: Thai Airways secures 11 European destinations

10 destinations that are more popular with holiday travelers than ever, according to Airbnb

Shutterstock/cowardlionOsaka, Japan, came in third on the list.

Where are people going to ring in the New Year? 

Airbnb set out to answer this question by analyzing the growth in reservations for destinations with at least 100 bookings for New Year's Eve. 

They then ranked the destinations according to their increase in popularity over the last year. 

From white-sand beaches in Europe to bustling cities in Asia, here are the up-and-coming destinations travelers are putting on their radar for New Year's Eve.

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Source: 10 destinations that are more popular with holiday travelers than ever, according to Airbnb

Elena Kountouras: Greece Should Become One of the Five Most Attractive Destinations in the World!

The Alternate Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism of Greece, Mrs. Elena Kountoura, was in New York earlier this week in order to participate in an investment conference and, at the same time, to develop contacts with major tourism stakeholders of the American metropolis, further promoting the Greek tourist product.

In an interview, Elena Kountouras stated that her ministry's goal is to extend the tourist season throughout the year and to systematically develop thematic tourism.

She noted that Greece expects a record for arrivals and tourist revenues for 2015 (the final figure is expected to surpass 25.5 million visitors by year's end), providing immensely important economic benefits for the country. Declaring Greece to be the safest destination in the region, Mrs Kountouras pointed out that the refugee crisis is a matter of concern, not only for her nation, but for Europe and the whole world.

How did Greece's tourism sector perform last summer given the fact that the country had to deal with the imposition of capital controls?

"It's been a record-breaking year. Arrivals in Greece are expected to exceed 25.5 million in 2015, while tourism receipts reached an all-time peak, contributing 14.5 billion euro to our national economy. Despite the difficulties, this year's success is attributed to our new national strategic plan for tourism development which we began implementing this year. Our plan comprises six strategic objective: to expand the season, develop thematic tourism, access new markets through new agreements and direct flights, enhance legislation for all tourism-related activity, engage the local authorities and the private sector and to boost investments and entrepreneurship.

Throughout the year, we have been closely collaborating w ith all the Greek regions and the private sector to promote our new and cohesive marketing plan abroad which highlights Greece's unique identity as one of the world's most attractive destinations."

How has the cruise industry added to the development of tourism in Greece?

"The cruise industry is of great value and contributes significantly to our national economy.It's a sector we want to further develop, expecting to increase foreign arrivals from overseas to some of our very famous cruise destinations such as Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes, as well as other islands, less known, which can be included as new and emerging cruise destinations, in packages offered in the Mediterranean. We have gorgeous beaches, thousands of islands and some of the safest and cleanest waters worldwide and we are working on a plan to expand cruising, as well as yachting in the Greek seas. "

What are the key elements of the Greek tourist product?

"Greece is diverse and authentic . It has a rich landscape, high-end quality service and a very warm hospitality offered not only by those involved in the tourism sector, but by all Greeks who are by nature very friendly, welcoming and engaging.

Above all, we stand out as a destination where visitors experience a sense of home away from home. During their trip they step out of their hotel room and mingle with the locals, they delve deeply into the Greek culture and way of life, care-free and lighthearted. This is what makes Greece a timeless and authentic brand name for hospitality."

Has the Ministry of Tourism any plans for so-called "thematic" tourism?

"It's a strategic choice to develop sustainable tourism in our very diverse landscape, which is ideal for tourism all year round. For decades Greece was a very popular sea and sun destination, but now we are set out to show its less known beauties. The Greek mainland has often been overlooked by tourists. This is about to change. We are curren tly promoting new destinations ideal for medical tourism, hot springs tourism, for winter vacation, for outdoor activities and other forms of alternative tourism. For example city break destinations such as Athens and Salonica, and other cities are ideal locations for holding large-scale conventions and business meetings. Combining culture, sports, nature, local gastronomy and wine-tasting, this thematic uptake is part of this new holistic approach in tourism development. "

Has there been any progress in the realm of cultural and religious tourism?

"Greece is one of the world's most -known cradles of civilization. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, we will extend the hours of operation of museums, archeological sites and monuments of World Heritage.

Religious tourism is among our priorities. We promote programs of special interest, such as the Steps of Saint Paul, and invite tourists to discover our rich heritage in our monasteries and important sites of religious interest. "

Why hasn't sports tourism flourished given the infrastructure and publicity surrounding the Olympic Games of 2004?

"Eleven years later, it is evident that very few effort has been put in capitalizing on the success of hosting the Games, both in terms of communication and investment. But the infrastructure is still there and now it's an opportunity to revive it through new projects.

Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the great Olympic Ideas values this heritage and therefore acts with great responsibility as we develop our new plan for sports and recreation.

Our plan involves a new set of initiatives to combine sports with recreation, and develop new winter and summer destinations and facilities geared towards sports tourism. Similarly, we plan to further promote the Marathon, as an international symbol of peace and stability, a very important message to the international community especially in times of regional or global turbulence."

How does Greece promote its tourist product given the fact that there are minimal funds for advertising?

"We worked intensively with all the available resources to maximize Greece's appealingness in the international tourism market. Indeed the funds are minimal, but we continued to be present in all our traditional markets but also the emerging markets which we managed to open. For example, in the summer peak we introduced a cost- free campaign through social media (Happening Now: #GreekSummer) promoting Greece and we managed to increase last-minute bookings. Part of this success had to do with targeted articles and interviews which portrayed Greece.

It is our aim to increase the budget within the next years especially in markets like the US and Canada, where Greek diaspora has a strong presence and also give incentives to Greeks who wish to visit home."

How can the industry be improved?

"We are currently working on a plan to attract tourists of special interests. Our goal is to offer high end quality accommodation and services. Thematic tourism is an international trend, and we want to be steps ahead to become one of the top choices for conferences, yachting, cruises, recreational sports, outdoor activities, and gastronomy.

We have a unique product. In that sense, and as we seek more visitors, we need accommodation, that follows international trends. Luxury resorts, complex tourism accommodation, boutique hotels, spas, well-being and thalassotherapy centers will experience increased demand. And this is an open invitation to investors to explore this emerging field for business. "

How can Greece improve its tourist accommodations and services? Is there any plan for increasing investment in the industry?

"Great opportunities arise for large and small scale investments in the Greek tourism sector. By the end of this year, the government will announce the new investment framework tha t will set the pace for innovative investments in all sectors, including luxury resorts and high end tourism accommodation. The new development law is designed to bring sweeping changes and boost investment. Our fast track law offers fast licensing process. At the same time, we encourage entrepreneurship and innovative ideas for existing and new tourism businesses, through the EU funding programs for the period 2014-2020. "

What is your dream for Greece as a tourist destination? What are your plans as the country's Minister for Tourism?

"The tourism sector accounts for almost 20 per cent of Greece's overall GDP, generates directly and indirectly around 1 million jobs, and is the key to economic stability and growth.

My vision for Greece is to become one of the five most attractive destinations worldwide within the next four years. It's a vision we share with all the authorities responsible for tourism development as well as the private sector. And we work intensi vely towards achieving this goal."

Has any progress been made in the efforts to make Greece a year-round destination?

"In 2015, our official season expanded, as a result of a series of agreements with the largest international tour operators. Our collective effort with the local authorities and the private sector has made it possible to expand the summer season in South Aegean islands and Crete from 1st of March until end of November 2016. The weather is ideal for vacation. Santorini, one of the top world destinations, offers this year vacation all year round, following the islands decision to maintain more than 100 hotels open throughout the winter. Athens is now implementing a long-term plan for 12 months tourism. At the same time, we are now promoting new destinations within Greece, unknown outside of Greece, yet ideal for winter vacation. "

Do you think that the Turko-Russian crisis will channel more tourists to Greece this summer?

"Tourism is a ver y flexible, yet vulnerable sector, impacted by a number of circumstantial events or geopolitical tensions that might arise, as we have lately seen in neighboring regions. Greece remains firmly a safe destination, but it is our hope and goal to ensure stability and prosperity in the wider region. Seeking occasional benefits from the shift in regional or global travel trends, is not part of our plan. We work steadily aiming at the big picture which is to keep attracting more visitors on a long-term basis, who will choose Greece for what it uniquely has to offer."

Has the refugee crisis negatively impacted tourism in the Aegean?

"Our first response was to act immediately to save lives giving priority to human rights. Visitors were also very understanding, and overall, tourism in the Aegean islands wasn't significantly impacted. Greece, being a safe and a very attractive destination is exactly what we emphasize in our global campaign. We continue to support the image of our beautiful and peaceful islands, which are a major contributor to our overall tourism performance. The refugee crisis is a European and a global issue which should be dealt with great responsibility on the highest level of decision making in Europe and worldwide.

We did what we ought to do. Now it's on Europe and Turkey to do their part, to take responsibility and ensure the refugees' safety and their smooth transition journey towards Europe."

When do you foresee the completion of the long-awaited road projects, such as the Athens-Patras motorway, for instance?

"Such projects are progressing according to commitments having been undertaken by the contractors, in cooperation with the competent governmental authorities. Our ultimate goal is to provide safe and high standards motorways for Greeks and foreigners who travel through our dense road network. We are committed to promote all areas crossed by these large projects, either existing or newly emerging tourism destinations. Modern highways allow fast and easy interconnection between many popular Greek destinations, and make access easier to neighboring countries, which are a great pool of road trip tourists. "

Photo:Courtesy of the Alternate Minister For Tourism, Mrs. Elena Kountouras.

Source: Elena Kountouras: Greece Should Become One of the Five Most Attractive Destinations in the World!