European Tourism Readies for the Peak Travel Season

European tourism maintains a firm footing this year according to the European Travel Commission's latest report "European Tourism 2015 – Trends & Prospects". A significant majority of European destinations registered positive growth in the pre-summer months proving the resilience of the sector and underlining its significance as a contributor to the region's ongoing economic recovery.

Best performers are Iceland (+30 percent), Montenegro (+19 percent) and Romania (+16 percent) experiencing a substantial growth in the number of international tourist arrivals. Following are Ireland (+14 percent), Croatia (+14 percent), Slovenia (+10 percent) Serbia and Cyprus (both +10 percent) also reporting double-digit increases. Among Europe's most popular destinations, Germany (+5 percent), Spain (+4 percent), Italy (+4 percent) and the UK (+3 percent) saw healthy growth with optimism set towards the peak travel season.

Travel-hungry citizens keep boosting travel flows in the pre-summer months, especially those from Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy. Meanwhile, travel from the UK is spurred by favorable exchange rates increasing the attractiveness of Europe as a travel destination.

Long-haul markets perform better and remain an important source of international tourist arrivals, particularly from North American and Asian markets. Macro-economic indicators in the US point to a solid recovery with GDP growth expected to reach +3 percent in 2015 according to the World Economic Outlook report in addition to favorable financial conditions, an increase in power spending and business and consumer confidence beside low oil prices. A weaker Euro keeps supporting an upturn in demand for European destinations pointing at solid growth over the summer months.

On the downside, the Russian economy continues to face difficulties to level off and it is still expected to see a deep backdrop in 2015. A decrease in oil prices and the consequent plunge in the Rubble against the Euro are expected to hit European tourism destinations in 2015 while international sections have already affected on the tourist industry.

Foreign travel has become costly for Russian tourists with traditional hot-spot destinations being the most affected. Besides, the influx of tourists across borders declines so is the spending among those that actually travel as their expenditure continues to plummet in 2014.

Fostering the region at a pan-European level to strengthen competitivenessInternational tourism worldwide is experiencing growth primarily driven by the performance of advanced economies and long-haul markets. The travel and tourism sector still remains Europe's main driver of growth under the cloud of socio-economic disruptions.

However, to ensure Europe's leading position as the #1 tourist destination worldwide amid a challenging and uncertain socio-economic environment, European tourism organizations are called to foster sustainable product development and promotion encouraging the diversity of products and experiences offered by the destination at a pan-European level.

"In order to remain the world's first tourist destination, Europe must respond to these shifting patterns in global tourism capitalizing on the potential of tomorrow's outbound travel markets whose expanding middle classes are a growing market for European destinations", said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director European Travel Commission. 

Source: European Tourism Readies for the Peak Travel Season

Insight Vacations Releases 2016 Europe Preview Program with 80 Itineraries Now on Sale

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Source: Insight Vacations Releases 2016 Europe Preview Program with 80 Itineraries Now on Sale

Day Tripping: Famed sculptor’s home a great summer destination

CORNISH, N.H. >> A bigger-than-life-sized statue of Abraham Lincoln is making its way to the only National Park Service site in New Hampshire.

With next year's presidential primary coming up, don't be surprised if front-runners from both parties attend the Sept. 26 gathering.

A 12-foot bronze, "Standing Lincoln," is one of the many pieces that launched Augustus Saint-Gaudens' career as America's pre-eminent sculptor of the late 19th century.

"Saint-Gaudens was greatly influenced by Lincoln," said Ray Auger, a ranger at the artist's home, Aspet, in Cornish, N.H. "He heard Lincoln speak at Cooper Union in New York during the 1860 presidential campaign. And when Lincoln's body was brought to New York following his assassination, Saint-Gaudens went through the long line twice to see the president lying in state."

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The original statue is found in Lincoln Park, Chicago. A new bronze casting will be unveiled at Aspet to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's passing, and the 50th anniversary of Aspet as a National Historic Site. Saint-Gaudens named the brick Greek Revival house, built as a country inn around 1800, and the picturesque landscape around it for his father's birthplace in France.

The artist purchased the site as a summer retreat in the 1880s and spent his final years there on a year-round basis. Its spacious grounds with sculpture gardens, tall hedges and expansive lawns provide panoramic views of Ascutney Mountain, directly across the Connecticut River in Vermont. At more than 3,100 feet high, it is the tallest "monadnock" – isolated mountain – east of the Mississippi River.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Saint-Gaudens came to New York with his parents at a young age. Following an apprenticeship making cameos, he went back to Europe to study art in France and Rome, which greatly influenced his later works depicting Lincoln and Union heroes of the Civil War.

Saint-Gaudens' first major work, a sculpture of Admiral David Farragut – who proclaimed, "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!" – was done to convince his bride-to-be's father that he was capable of supporting a wife. The statue stands in New York's Madison Square Park.

Saint-Gaudens also did an immense bronze, in Boston, of the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry, an African-American outfit led by Col. Robert Shaw, a white officer who was killed during the assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, S.C. The film version of the 54th's story was the subject of the movie "Glory" starring Matthew Broderick as Shaw.

Soon, "Standing Lincoln" will join the replica castings of Farragut, the 54th Infantry and many other famous statues found at Aspet.

"The 'Standing Lincoln' is in many ways the reason we have a National Park in Cornish today," said Rick Kendall, site superintendent. "Saint-Gaudens moved to Cornish specifically to work on this piece and found a local model to pose for the sculpture. It would be the first monument he would complete here in New Hampshire."

In the early 1900s, President Theodore Roosevelt called on Saint-Gaudens to do the intricate artwork for U.S. coinage including handsome $10 and $20 gold pieces.

Visits to Aspet include tours of the home and the artist's studios along with an informative Visitors Center orientation film. Spacious grounds include wooded trails where people may absorb the beauty, solitude and natural surroundings that helped Saint Gaudens produce his masterpieces.

The trip there, through rural central Vermont, is half the fun. Route 103 takes travelers past covered bridges, quaint New England towns and countless pristine working farm fields.

The longest covered bridge in America crosses the Connecticut River near Aspet between Windsor, Vt. and Cornish, N.H. The 460-foot long Cornish-Windsor Bridge, built in 1866, is also the longest two-span covered bridge in the world.

Like Saint-Gaudens' art, it has stood the test of time and is an enduring part of America's heritage.

An early autumn leaf-peeping trip for "Standing Lincoln's" Sept. 26 dedication would be a great time to visit this historic site. However, there's plenty on tap this summer, too. The calendar for July and August features a variety of fun concerts and interesting sculpture workshops.

For information go to: www.nps.gov/saga/index.htm.

Source: Day Tripping: Famed sculptor's home a great summer destination

12 Hour Destination Guide to Bled, Slovenia

By College Tourist; Author: Emily Poklar, University of Wisconsin - Madison

A city surrounded by the Julian Alps, small neighborhoods, homemade stews and wine, and with a stunning lake in the center - the Slovenian city of Bled is the perfect "off the beaten track" day trip to add to your itinerary.

While Slovenia is commonly overlooked in European vacations, it is one of the most beautiful countries. Not only is the food amazing and the people friendly, the country never feels tourist heavy. No matter the restaurant, bar or museum, it feels as if you are always surrounded by locals.

The city of Bled is the perfect glimpse of Slovenian culture. Here's a 12 hour guide to make the most of your trip.

10AM: Whether you spent the night in the capital of Ljubljana or booked a hotel room in Bled, grab a hearty breakfast to fuel your adventurous day. The Vila Ajda in Bled is the perfect restaurant to grab a Slovenian brunch with a view. Whether you sit inside or on the summer patio, you will have an incredible panoramic view of Lake Bled and the surrounding mountains. Plus, you'll get an authentic Slovenian meal! Opt for the bread with fresh marmalade to blend in with the locals.

11AM: Grab a taxi and head over to Bled Castle. The narrow and winding road may be a bit daunting but the view at the top makes it worth the nerves. The castle itself has a small museum, printing press, winery and smithery. After an hour exploring the grounds and the history of Bled, grab a bottle of wine from the winery. For €10, you can fill and cork your own bottle! Enjoy yourself while drinking in the view, and your wine.

12PM: Take another taxi to the other side of the lake. Just tell the taxi driver you want to take a boat to Bled Island, which is at the center of th e lake. For €8, a man will row you across the lake, and tell you a little about the history of the island. Fun fact: The steep steps leading from the waterfront to the church at the top are a hard climb for most soon-to-be husbands. Why? Because it's urban legend that when a couple is married in the church, the husband has to carry her up all 99 steps to have a blessed marriage.

1PM: After exploring the island, and probably buying a few souvenirs, head into town to eat lunch. Golstina Murka has an incredible selection of lunch food and is known for being the best traditional restaurant in Bled. If you're still feeling pretty satisfied from breakfast but know you have a long day ahead, order one of the stews. They are full of vegetables and pasta, and taste wonderful.

2PM: By now, you'll have realized just how stunning Slovenia's landscape is. Take a 10 minute taxi from the restaurant to Vintgar Gorge, a natural gorge running through the forest. The walk through the gor ge takes about 45 minutes and really emphasizes Slovenia's natural beauty. Look forward to the waterfall at the end!

3PM: After your walk through the gorge, stop for an ice cream cone at the end. There is a little stand that sells various treats. You deserve a reward!

3PM-6PM: Celebrate your walk by heading over to Grajska Beach, right by Bled Castle. Packed with water slides, a rock climbing wall, and thermal pools, it's the perfect way to cool off after your long day. Admission is only €5 per adult!

6PM: At this point, you're probably feeling exhausted and ready to shower. Head to your hostel to clean off and check-in, if you haven't already. Hostel Bled is only 2 km outside the city and is the perfect price for the amenities. If you flew into Ljubljana or trained to the main sta tion, the woman who works there will shuttle you to and from the hostel. Also, the beds are super comfortable and the Wi-Fi is free. Check it out on Hostelworld to see more reviews.

7PM: Time to eat! At this point, you've eaten your fair share of authentic Slovenian food. Switch things up and head to Pizzeria Rustika for a cheap, GOOD pizza. For less than €9, you can choose from a large list of toppings.

8-10PM: While Bled isn't known for its nightlife, there are a couple of bars you can head to for a good glass of wine. Apropos Cocktail bar is the perfect spot for a hot summer night. Order a bottle of wine for you and your friend and enjoy the live music on the terrace. Wander the main shopping area after your drinks, you never know what you'll find!

You did it! 12 hours in Bled, Slovenia. After experiencing just what makes this city so postcard perfect, I'm sure you'll be ready to come back soon.

Read more student travel stories at The College Tourist

Source: 12 Hour Destination Guide to Bled, Slovenia

Some 150,000 Migrants Have Reached Europe By Sea This Year — 1,900 Have Not

This past Monday, the remains of five migrants were discovered in the waters off the coast of Tunisia.

A day later, four — or perhaps five — more lost their lives, and at least 15 others were reported missing, after a boat carrying 40 refugees capsized between Turkey and the sparsely populated Greek islands of Farmakonisi and Agathonisi.

On Thursday, another four bodies were discovered off Tunisia; at least 12 would later perish off the Libyan coast at the bottom of a rubber dinghy, authorities said.

This grim tally provides a snapshot of the risks taken by a wave of humanity fleeing the clutches of war and poverty to face a perilous journey over water and into Europe.

So far this year, 1,900 migrants have died in the Mediterranean — twice the number that didn't make it to their destination over the same period in 2014, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday.

For every tragic death, scores more survive the gamble: IOM estimated that some 150,000 migrants have reached Europe by sea to date this year, almost all bound for Italy and Greece.

On average, 1,000 refugees are now arriving on the Greek islands every day, according to the UN Refugee Agency, with more than 77,000 touching land in 2015. That's more than the number that arrived in all of last year, the IOM said, and a dramatic influx for a small country in the midst of an economic crisis.

"An urgent response from Europe is needed before the situation deteriorates further," UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler said at a press briefing in Geneva on Friday.

Syrians are now overwhelming choosing Greece over over Italy as their preferred destination, and using an eastern Mediterranean route through Turkey and Greece to get there.

More than 60 percent of the Greece-bound refugees hail from Syria, with others traveling from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Somalia. Eritreans make up the biggest group of refugees to Italy, at more than 18,000 so far this year, while Nigerians, Somalians and Syrians are also arriving in droves. A total of 170,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in all of 2014, IOM reported, and 34,400 landed in Greece. 

Some of those who make it have to thank the efforts of Italian and Hellenic coast guards, along with European Union vessels deployed in the region. Just this week, Italian vessels managed to save 393 migrants crowded onto four dinghies about north of Libya, including one that was partially submerged with the remains of the aforementioned 12.

Federico Soda, a Rome-based official with IOM, noted that while the number of migrants arriving in Europe is "substantial", it should not be described as "an invasion".

"Lebanon, a country of 4 million people, is hosting 1.5 million Syrian refugees and Turkey is hosting about 2 million," he said in a press release. 

Related: Migrants Suffer as Greek Islands Buckle Under Dual Crisis

Source: Some 150,000 Migrants Have Reached Europe By Sea This Year — 1,900 Have Not

UNWTO: Global tourism arrivals up with strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe

International tourism demand continued to be robust between January and April 2015 with tourist arrivals increasing 4% worldwide according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Almost all regions enjoyed strong growth. Prospects for the May-August period remain upbeat, with close to 500 million tourists expected to travel abroad during these four months.

Destinations worldwide received some 332 million international tourists (overnight visitors) between January and April 2015, 16 million more than the same period last year, corresponding to an increase of 4%.

This result follows an increase of 4.3% in 2014 and consolidates the upwards trend of international tourism in recent years (+4.5% international tourist arrivals a year on average since 2010).By region, the Americas (+6%) led growth, followed by Europe, Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East, all recording 4% to 5% more arrivals. By subregion, Oceania and South America boasted the strongest increase (both +8%), followed by the Caribbean and Central and Eastern Europe (both +7%), the latter rebounding from last year's decline. In Africa, demand weakened in 2014 after years of solid growth, affected mainly by the Ebola outbreak among other challenges. Limited data currently available for January-April 2015 points to a 6% decline, as African destinations struggle to recover from the misperceptions affecting the continent.

"It is encouraging to see the tourism sector consolidating its excellent results despite security concerns and unrest in many parts of our world", said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. "This underscores that tourism is a surprisingly resilient economic sector which increasingly contributes to development in many countries around the globe. For national governments, it is a reminder that tourism can be part of the solution to foster socio-economic development and job creation", he added.

Strong results across many destinations with a rebound in Central and Eastern Europe

In the Americas (+6%) all four subregions continued to enjoy significant growth in January-April 2015, led by South America (+8%) and the Caribbean (+7%). Strong outbound demand from the United States fuelled results as 20 million US tourists travelled abroad through April, 7% more than during the same period last year.Asia and the Pacific (+4%) consolidated its growth of recent years, with Oceania (+8%) and North-East Asia (+5%) in the lead. South-East Asia (+3%) recorded moderate results this four-month period as the rebound in Thailand (+25%) was offset by declines in other destinations.

Europe, the world's most visited region, enjoyed continued strength with international tourist arrivals growing by 5% through April. Arrivals in Central and Eastern Europe increased by 7%, rebounding on the poor results of 2014 following the conflict in Ukraine and the slowdown of the Russian economy. Southern Mediterranean Europe (+5%) maintained strong growth, though for many destinations these are low season months. Western Europe and Northern Europe both enjoyed a solid 4% increase in arrivals, partly due to good results in traditional winter sports destinations.

International tourist arrivals in the Middle East are estimated to be up by 4% through April, further continuing the region's recovery which started in 2014 after three consecutive years of declines. Africa's international tourist numbers, on the other hand, declined by an estimated 6% as a consequence of the decrease in arrivals to North Africa (-7%) as well as to sub-Saharan Africa (-5%). Figures for both Africa and the Middle East should be read with caution, as they are based on limited available data for these regions.

"The Ebola crisis in West Africa and the security concerns are serious challenges for Africa's tourism and for the international community as a whole. We must work together in managing and overcoming these challenges and in supporting destinations for a prompt recovery. It is important to remember that tourism is the lifeline of many communities around the world and that we face today a global threat that affects all our societies", said Mr. Rifai.

Optimistic prospects for the coming months

Close to 500 million tourists are estimated to travel abroad between May and August 2015, the Northern Hemisphere holiday peak season, a total that accounts for some 41% of all international tourist arrivals registered in a year.

According to the latest results of the UNWTO Tourism Confidence Index, prospects for this period continue to be bullish and are the highest for this period since the pre-crisis year 2007. The sentiment is positive among all regions and areas of activity.

Business intelligence tool ForwardKeys also shows healthy growth in international air travel reservations for May-August 2015. Overall bookings are up 5% thanks to strong demand for domestic air travel (+7%) and continued growth in international travel (+4%). By region, air reservations increased most in Asia and the Pacific, the Americas and Europe, while reservations to and from Africa and the Middle East are weaker.

According to the forecast issued by UNWTO in January this year, international tourist arrivals are expected to increase by 3% to 4% for the full year 2015, in line with UNWTO's long-term forecast of 3.8% a year for the period 2010 to 2020.

Please note that results presented here reflect preliminary data reported to date and are subject to revision.

Source: UNWTO: Global tourism arrivals up with strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe

European Group Picks Ethiopia as Top Global Tourist Destination for 2015

Ethiopia has been chosen as this year's top destination in the world for tourists by the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT), a non-profit group of European Union tourism trade organizations.

Africa's second-most populated country was chosen for its "excellent preservation of humanity landmarks" such as the ruins of the city of Aksum, known as the heart of ancient Ethiopia, and Fasil Ghebbi, which served as the residence of the Ethiopian emperors during the 16th and 17th century.

It is also home to Harar Jugol—considered the fourth holiest Islamic city with 82 mosques, 102 shrines, and unique interior design in the townhouses—and Lalibela, a holy site encompassing 11 medieval stone carved churches from the 13th century.

Other sites include the Konso Cultural Landscape (containing 55 kilometers of stonewalled terraces and fortified settlements) and Lower Valley of the Awash, where the fossil remains of Lucy were discovered. All these sites are registered as UNESCO World heritage monuments.

In addition to heritage sites, Ethiopia is recognized for its natural parks and reservations, including the Simien National Park.

The Ethiopian embassy celebrated the award with a tweet including some of the country's popular tourist spots.

Tourism has been identified by the Ethiopian government as one of the key areas of development to help eradicate poverty. Tourism has grown consistently, according to World Bank data: In 2013, the country welcomed 681,000 visitors compared with 468,000 in 2010.

While civil society has been stunted in Ethiopia, economic growth has charged ahead. Between 2003 and 2013, the country averaged a growth rate of 10.8%—more than twice the regional average of 5.3%. The country's growth has been driven not just by agriculture, but also by industrial production and the services industry—a rare example of economic diversification in Sub-Saharan Africa. The government has brokered deals with international investors led by the Chinese, and has been directing investment into productive sectors.

The IMF has classified Ethiopia as one of the five fastest growing economies in the world. Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, has been described as 'the Dubai of Africa.' The construction boom there is a microcosm of the country's overall transformation.

Later this month Barack Obama will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Ethiopia, when he travels there as part of an Africa trip that will also include Kenya.

This story originally appeared on Quartz, a Skift content partner.

Additional links from Quartz:

Source: European Group Picks Ethiopia as Top Global Tourist Destination for 2015