People in India and Brazil are especially eager to travel in 2011 as a result of the economic recovery in progress. 49% of Brazilians intend to travel in 2011, with some possibly taking more trips than in previous years and 21% want a holiday similar to the one they took in 2010.
43% of the respondents from India are planning one or more trips, 33% are planning holiday trips similar to those they undertook in 2010.
16% of the Americans said they were unlikely to travel in 2011. 32% are planning to travel less next year, compared with 2010
Dr. Martin Buck, Director Competence Center Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin: “As always, people’s travel plans for next year reflect the economic situation in their respective countries. India and Brazil are looking very promising. People there are beginning to travel and make plans. We can only hope that now that the world’s economies are recovering people in the United States will once again be planning holiday trips.“
According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, which is compiled by IPK International and assesses the trends in the major source markets. 22% of people in France said they will take more trips next year compared to 2010. By contrast, German travel behaviour remains very stable. Overall, 49% in Germany said they would travel as often as they did in 2010. Only 16% said they would travel more.
The Swiss are among the nations most eager to travel. 47% of respondents in Switzerland plan to take as many trips in 2011 as they did this year. 32% even believe it is possible they will travel more in 2011.
Category: Travel News
As “Airport of year 2010” was rewarded among the leading air transportation companies Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, in recognition of quality of services to the passengers and his customers, but also for the powerful enterprising model and his competitiveness. This important rewarding was realized in Qatar, during the annual Doha Aviation Summit.
The airport of Athens was distinguished between important world airports, for the most excellent operation, the quality of his services, the innovation and the initiatives in the use of technology, but also for the business dexterity and his developmental strategy. The evaluation strengthened particularly the success of his enterprising model, with important contribution in the national and local economy, as well as his corporate responsibility to the passengers, the collaborators, and the workers. Moreover the airport distinguished for the pioneering programs of economic motives and the developmental of marketing practices that provides to the air companies, supporting consequently his collaborators in a particularly difficult period for the sector.
In the three day Congress of Air transportations of Doha, more than 200 representatives of airports, air companies and government owned institutions, examined the important challenges that faces the sector. For the airport of Athens, Middle East is the market that presents the best records last 3 years (January-September 2010: + 13.8% in the flights and + 10.9% in the passenger movement).
On behalf of Athens International Airport, the reward received by Mr Giorgos Kallimasias, Director of Corporate Planning, from the Chairman of Service of Civil Aviation of Qatar, HM Abdul Aziz Al Noaimi.
Mykonos Island was selected for one more year as the most popular island destination in Europe by the readers of American publication of Condé Nast Traveler. Mykonos exceeded once again the most competitive islands of Mediterranean and Southern Europe in the category “Best European Island”, between Ibiza, Kapri, Madeira and Majorca.
The results of research for the opinion of readers of magazine, for the period starting April 2010, are announced analytically in the November copy of magazine.
“We feel satisfaction but also compurgation that our island gained once again the preferences of American tourists. This means that the common effort of Municipality, professionals and all residents is in the right direction and has the recognition of thousands of readers of most recognized travelling magazine of world “, declared for the rewarding the Mayor of Mykonos, Mr. Athanassios Kousathanas – Megas.
High grades, however, in the preferences of American readers gained also Greek hotels resort, in the category of Best European Resort. Specifically in the category of best 20 were found Mykonos Grand Hotel Resort (in the beach of Saint Ioannis) and the Elounda Mare of Elounda SA, occupying the 15th and 17th place respectively.
The rewarding took place in a black tie Gala event at the IAC Building in New York, at the presence of personalities of World Tourism, important Americans tour operators and popular actors and television presenters. The ceremony of rewarding presented the actor Liev Schreiber and the model and actor Angie Harmon, while participated Matt Dillon, Marcia Gey Harden, Kate Rutherford, Kerry Washington, Penn Badgley and the composer Marvin Hamplisch.
The Easytraveller Team
According to the latest representative survey by ADAC, 71.2 % of the population are firmly intent on booking a lengthy holiday trip next year, nearly 6% more than in 2009. Together with an improving economy in Germany, the nation’s citizens are once more eager to go on trips for several weeks at a time. Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Centre Travel & Logistics of Messe Berlin: “Backed by a resurgent economy the tourism industry is picking up speed once again. The worst of the recession is now over and German citizens are again living up to their reputation as the world’s most travelled nation. In this context two categories are emerging: in the first category the principal focus is on the choice of destination, and in the other it is the travel budget that mainly decides where holidays will take place.“
Almost 60 % of the members polled are planning to take a trip even before the year is out. According to the survey, holiday decisions continue to be strongly influenced by individual economics. Nevertheless, holiday travel has become a priority again, regardless of social class. Thus, 41.1 of those polled who said their economic situation was “bad to very bad” are planning to go on a holiday trip before the end of the year.
More than 50 % of the members polled believe that package tours, hotels and cruises will become more expensive. In particular, the introduction of an air fare surcharge is expected to raise the cost of chartered flights (63.2 %) and scheduled flights (72 %). 79.1 % expect train fairs to rise in the future.
For Germans, their home country is by far the most popular holiday destination. More than 28 per cent of those polled are planning to take next year’s holidays somewhere between Flensburg and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Italy as a destination ranks second (at marginally over 11 %), followed by Spain (at close to 10 %).
Protocol of Collaboration was signed by the Greek Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr Pavlos Geroulanos and the Vice-president of National Tourism authority of China and head of Chinese delegation, Mr Jiang Du, concerning mutual actions in the tourist sector and exchange of know-how in the sector of tourist education and training.
Both sides agreed to encourage the direct air link of two countries and to strengthen the collaborations of tourist businessmen, cultural institutions, and journalistic missions.
Also contribute to the creation of tourist sustainable growth via the exchange of most optimal practices in the sector of Special and Alternative forms of tourism.
The Chinese delegation showed particular interest of attendance in the “Crossroad of Cultures 2013” in Thessalonica where the honored country will be China which committed to strengthen the institution with important presence.
Special attention was given to the efforts of Greek state to facilitate the Chinese visitors at the visa process.
The Easytraveller Team
12 October 2010 is the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon at the end of which the runner soldier ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon and once he made it, died whispering “have won”.
The 28th Athens Classic Marathon which will take place on October 31, 2010 is set to commemorate the feat of this soldier and the legend that was the reason for the Marathon
Besides the Marathon and the other Road Races of the 28th Athens Classic Marathon, the participation is expected to surpass all expectations
The anniversary of 2,500 years since the Battle of Marathon is the reason for conducting in Athens of the 18th World Congress of Marathon Roads, which will be held on 28-30 October 2010, concurrently with the 4th Marathon Symposium AIMS-IAAF.
To commemorate the anniversary of the 2,500 th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, the Athletics Federation is already planning a major event, open to the public two days before the race in 2010, which is a real journey through 2500 years in time and history, a tribute to past and a vision ahead to today and the future of Marathon Movement.
The British Posts published and this year the results of their research for the cost of vacations in various destinations of British tourist (the Post Office Holiday Cost Barometer). In this research is recorded the cost for various expenses: – in Bar/Cafe (coffee, beer Heineken, Coca-Cola), – in Super Market (bottled water, tuning oil, anti mosquitos custard, cigarettes Marlboro), – in local Restaurant (a dinner of 3 dishes with wine, for 2 individuals).
The research took place in 30 destinations, included also Greece, from Canada up to Indonesia and from Brazil up to Japan.
According to the analysis of data made by the GBR Consulting, Greece occupies the 18th place, in total of cost, in the list of the 30 destinations with total expense 63,4 Pounds. In the individual categories however, it occupies: – the No. 1 place in the category Bar/Cafe with total expense 11,83 Pounds – the No. 16 place in the category Super Market with total expense 13,73 Pounds, – the No. 23 place in the category Restaurant with total expense 37,86 Pounds.
In absolutely numbers for the total of mentioned before expenses, and concerning our direct competition, the research shows that Greece is considerably more expensive than Spain (44,84 Pounds in the total), roughly in the same levels with Egypt (60,76), Croatia (62,44), Portugal (64,21) and Malta (64,95) and considerably cheaper than Cyprus (72,42) and Turkey (75,21).
In the last year’s research between 18 destinations, Greece occupied the 8th more expensive place on the total, while in the individual categories: – the No. 1 place in the category Bar/Cafe – the No. 9 place in the category Restaurant – the No. 13 place in the category Super Market/Tourist Shop
That is to say, the number one more expensive for the tourists –with the repercussions for the total picture for the Greek tourist product – are Bar/Cafe while in the Restaurants and the Super Market Greece are straightly competitive.
Considering that this research was made with the exchange parities of 4 January 2010 and since then the Euro has weakened considerably (from 0,9 British Pounds in 0,84 and from 1,44 Dollars in 1,23) it is clear that destinations with Euro, as Greece, are now more attractive.
Posted by The Easytraveller Team
Almost all coasts of Greece, Cyprus, France and Portugal fulfill the microbiological criteria for safe swimming and are found in the top of 20.000 coasts and internal waters of swimming of Europe, according to evaluation of European Committee, that is expected to be published shortly. The Greek coasts represent roughly the 10% of total of Europe.
The Committee confirms very important improvement of quality of coasts in all Europe at the last 20 years when the percentages of suitable coasts were increased at this period from 80% to 96%.
Posted by The Easytraveller Team
Common Statement for the tourism and the culture signed Friday of 14 May by the minister of Culture and Tourism Mr Pavlos Geroulanos with the Turkish minister Ertugrul Gunay, as part of the Council of Collaboration between Greece and Turkey, that was realized in Athens with the presence of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey.
The Common Statement for the Tourism forecasts inter alia:
• The common promotion (Greek-Turkish) of travelling packages to third countries, mainly to China. On 30 May travel professionals from China will visit Greece and Turkey.
• The investigation of possibility of collaboration in the sector of cultural tourism mainly via the cultural roads ( roads of Wine, roads of Olive…).
• The 8th Greek-Turkish Forum on the Tourism which will take place in Athens, in the fourth quarter 2010.
• Making stronger the already good collaboration of Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA), with the Organism of Turkish Travelling Agencies (TURSAB).
In the sector of Cultural Heritage the two ministries:
• They will exchange know-how and experiences on issues of protection, maintenance and restoration of monuments, mainly for the protection of cultural heritage that is influenced by big public works.
• They will collaborate for the protection of cultural property and the dissuasion of illegal excavations and distribution of antiquities.
• They will encourage the collaboration in the sector of excavations and will exchange of visits of archaeologists from the two countries.
• They will organize common conferences on the protection of cultural heritage with the attendance of representatives of world community.
In the sector of Modern Culture the two ministries:
They will encourage the reciprocal organization of cinematographic weeks dedicated in Greece and in Turkey.
They will encourage the already good collaboration between theatrical organisms and their attendance in festivals of two countries. Will also be promoting the exchange of theatrical representation each two years. Corresponding initiative will be received for the dance.
Will be promoting the collaboration of directors of orchestra of each country, with big Symphonic Orchestras of the other country.
Will be promoting the further collaboration of government owned organisms of book, writers, translators and editors and will arrange common deliberations and meetings on the approach of translations.
Will be promoting the exchange of exhibitions of photograph and figurative arts.
The Croatia Airlines, the Croatian national air carrier and member of Star Alliance association, includes now also Athens in the network of his European destinations. This year, from 1 June, for first time in the history of company, they start regular international flights Zagreb-Athens, three times per week – Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The capitals of Croatia and Greece will connected with modern and comfortable planes Airbus of 319 (capacity of 132 places) and Airbus of 320 (capacity of 162 places).
The plane leaves from Zagreb at 15:25 and arrives in Athens at 17:15. From Athens leaves at 18:05 and arrives in Zagreb at 20:05.
The Croatia Airlines expects that the launch of the Zagreb-Athens flights will contribute in the promotion of world product that offers to the passengers the bigger air federation in the world, the Star Alliance. The carriers, members of Star Alliance, offer more than 19.500 daily flights serving 1071 destinations in 171 countries. Croatia Airlines became complete member of Star Alliance this year the.