insight - wtcf · 2018. 1. 11. · sir walter scott. these are just a few examples of literary...

■ OCT 2016 1

Travels for BookwormsBooks are an important part of people's lives. Literary travelers

follow in the footsteps of their favorite authors and characters. Explore the best literary destinations as well as book festivals around the world.

（read more please turn to page 3）

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Literary tourism, whereby tourists go to places to see what writers were referring to in their works or visit the places where writers lived, used to be perceived as a branch of tourism for the upper class elite. Nowadays, this is far from the truth as various organisations and travel agencies step up their campaign to promote this branch of tourism to all parts of society.

The quest for people to see how places have influenced writing has been visible in the aftermath of many modern works. A good example is how tourists flocked to Scotland to visit Lothian purely to taste the feeling behind Dan Brown's ‘Da Vinci code' novel. Staying in Scotland, people have been coming for almost

two centuries to see the birthplace and resting place of the ploughman poet, Robert Burns. On the other side of the Atlantic, the popularity of Florida's coastline has recently soared as a result of the latest Stephen King novel, ‘Duma Key'. Although it is set on a fictitious island off the Florida coast, there are some references to the real places, which have grasped the interest of Stephen King fans from all over the world.

There is actually a full range of tours offered around the North America related to literary works. It is also claimed that Canada is a giant in the market just waiting to be woken, as interest so far has only come

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Health Tourism In Italy Has A Positive Outlook

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Indigenous Tourism: Authentic,Educational and Culturally Exciting

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from Toronto. One of their best offers is believed to be the so-called ‘Jewish Montreal', which gives visitors the opportunity to enhance their appreciation behind the motivation of works by authors such as Mordecai Richter and Leonard Cohen. As the agencies put it, people are offered the opportunity to travel ‘through space and time'.

The World's Three Cities of LiteratureThe UNESCO Cities of Literature programme was founded in

2004 and has chosen three world cities, which provide the greatest opportunity to indulge in literature. Somewhat in keeping with political correctness, the three cities represent three different continents - Iowa City, Melbourne and Edinburgh.

Many modern tourists consider a place to be worth visiting if there is plenty to see and do. Cultural elements are often narrowed down to just monuments or theatres, yet many neglect the beauty of literature. After all, one doesn't really need to visit Stratford to read Shakespeare. However, UNESCO has rightly pointed out that the presence of such materials in the place of their origin certain lends the places a certain magic.

The case of Edinburgh as the first city of literature in the world is particularly spectacular. The Scottish cultural centre was and is the home to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott. These are just a few examples of literary greats to emerge from Edinburgh and the city is known to be built on books. It is the absolute paradise for the traditional bookworm. Special trails, events and festivals dedicated to local writers lure crowds of tourists to the city every year.

Moving down under: it is worth noting that Melbourne is by far the biggest book centre in Australia, with more bookshops per head than anywhere else. There is a robust publishing environment to encourage writers and the number of literature enthusiasts in Melbourne is rising all the time. The Americas are represented by the “Athens of the Midwest”, or Iowa City as the third city of literature. The Iowan library in fact has more patrons than the whole place itself, leading to the UNESCO recognition. The activities organised by the famous library are almost entirely focused on promoting literature to outsiders even more than ever before.

Remarkable Literary Festivals for Enthusiastic Readers

It isn't just music festivals that attract huge gatherings to the biggest as well as most remote cities in the world. Much like band groupies, bibliophiles can nowadays get to know new places and cultures while chasing their favorite authors and new literary trends.

Let's take a look at the major literary festivals taking place all over the world in 2016.

Port Eliot Festival (UK)The festival may aim to go way beyond words, with a

programming that includes art and food, among other things, but the literary events still stand out with their creativity. The singular location at the historic Port Eliot estate also makes it one of the most unique literary festivals, as performances take place across a walled garden and the festivalgoers also have the option of refreshing themselves in the near river or watching bands play inside a historical church. It all takes place on July 28-31.

FLIP - Paraty International Literary Festival (Brazil)Paraty's scenic landscape wouldn't have been more perfect

for a book festival if it had been designed for the effect. The area is surrounded by mountains enclosed in the forest, as well as gorgeous colonial buildings, which are an ideal setting for

One of their best offers is believed to be the so-called ‘Jewish Montreal', which gives visitors the opportunity to enhance their appreciation behind the motivation of works by authors such as Mordecai Richter and Leonard Cohen

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Feature

round-table discussions followed by long beach days. The well-established festival, which also hosts other artistic events and exhibitions, has had names like Julian Barnes and Don DeLillo as headliners in the past.

You can attend or follow all the action between June 29 and July 3.

Edinburgh International Book Festival (Scotland)Edinburgh's Charlotte Square Gardens transform every August

since 1983 to welcome a host of 800 writers, from bestsellers, to Nobel Prize winners, and even aspiring novelists and poets. Book enthusiasts can also bring their children over to participate in workshops and storytelling sessions which help cement their affection for books.

The line-up for the festival taking place on August 13-29 is unveiled in June.

Berlin International Literature Festival (Germany)A truly global festival which takes over most of Berlin's cultural

institutions, including theatres and museums, for ten days in September since 2001, this year's Berlin literature festival is said to have writers from all continents and genres in its line-up.

You can go check them out on September 7-17.

Brooklyn Book Festival (USA)Home to a lot of the greats of today's literature, Brooklyn,

specifically its Downtown Park, is also home to New York's biggest free literary festival, which brings writers from all corners of the world to the Big Apple. All inclusive, the festival whose details

start emerging in January also has a dedicated Children's Day. The bookworm invasion takes place on September 17-18.

Irrawaddy Literary Festival (Myanmar)Myanmar's inspiring non-profit event brings some of the

country's biggest names as well as international novelists to the scenic Mandalay Hill Resort to share their love for the written word. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the patron of the four-year-old event and its headliner.

You can see her and the others in November.

Celebrate Shakespeare's Legacy 400 Years After His Death Western Europe

Even after four hundred years after his death, when he was just 52 years, William Shakespeare's legacy is being celebrated this year all over the world. He is by far the finest poet and playwright who wrote in the English language.

In the UK, events and activities to commemorate his life and works have been held in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town in Warwickshire. This is the best place to celebrate the author's legacy because he was born, attended school, married, raised a family and got inspired to write many of his plays and poems in this very town. He was even buried in a local church after his death.

For the purpose of celebrating Shakespeare's legacy on April 23, 2016, a joint action committee comprising of Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council was formed. The events, which included a traditional Annual Parade across the town, combined birthday as well as commemoration in a unique manner.

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thirst for books. Here are the reasons why Amsterdam should be on the must-see list of any literary tourist.

Thousands of Books Around the CityFirst and foremost, there are a lot of book shops in Amsterdam

and there is little doubt that this is a city that likes to read. Books are not confined to public libraries and high-street retailers. Instead,

there are many second hand stores, stalls and other opportunities around most corners. The Oudemanhuis Book Market is a clear highlight for many tourists, but it is just as much fun to explore the back streets and public spaces, such as Spui Book Square.

Smart Libraries for AnyoneThe Dutch have adopted an

interesting approach to their public libraries in the way they charge users for 50 or 100 book passes. Also, a number of exhibitions, readings and cafés can be found in the library buildings, which are thus quite profitable. Local authorities managed to make the libraries inviting and accessible to students, seniors as well as the unemployed, and yet still the institutions provide a great selection of reading material.

Diverse Literary FestivalsBook festivals represent a big

part of the literary tourism industry. All book lovers appreciate a good book festival when it provides a breadth

of talent and entertainment options. Amsterdam offers a range of fascinating book shows. While some options will lean on the white male bias a little, others make a point of inviting men and women of different nationalities and backgrounds for frank, honest discussions about their work. The best example of this has to be Read My World, a festival dedicated to international literature, taking place in Amsterdam in October.

Immigrant Female WritersOne of the most famous books to come out of Amsterdam has

to be Anne Frank's diary – so much so that the house where it was written is still a major tourist attraction there – but this is not the only example of a literary classic that highlights the issue of immigration in The Netherlands. Ayaan Hirsi Ali's autobiographies and the work of Dubravka Ugresic also highlight race tensions and other problems immigrant women have to face in the Netherlands.

The Setting of Bestselling BooksAmsterdam is not just famous for its writers and festivals; it has

some familiar locations for the readers too. It is easy to spend your days in Amsterdam browsing through the book stores and reading a piece of classic Dutch literature by the water, but it also pays to research your reading locations. A number of modern classics, such as The Miniaturist, Filth, and The Fault in Our Stars, were set here and it is easy to retrace the steps of the protagonists and seek out key locations.

(Source: tourism-review)

His birthday was celebrated over a whole week and culminated in a weekend of entertainment and festivities at several venues within the town. Many events were conducted outdoors free of charge.

Fascinating new attractions that opened up in Shakespeare's home town include Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust's re-imagination of New Place, his final home, and opening up of King Edwards School classroom where he started his literary pursuits. The historic Guildhall and Schoolroom were extensively renovated for the purpose as well.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) organizes an exhibition at the Swan Theatre to celebrate the magic he created on stage and Stratford-upon-Avon's 100 years of theatre making. Additionally, a discovery tour is on offer at The Other Place, the research/development hub that was recently reopened by RSC.

The initiative, Shakespeare's Celebrations, was established in order to ensure that the traditional annual Birthday Celebrations, recognized all over the world, would continue in the future as well.

All literary travelers who love Shakespeare's work as well as certain level of adventure should consider hiking the Shakespeare's Way. This route retraces the path William Shakespeare might have followed in his journeys from his Stratford-upon-Avon home to London.

The path from his birthplace to Shakespeare's Globe in London covers a distance of 146 miles and makes use of existing footpaths, minor roads and bridleways. It has been planned in such a way that it closely resembles the path he is most likely to have followed during his journeys between his birthplace and London during his productive years.

In fact, the route connects some of the most loved tourist spots such as London, Oxford, the Chilterns, Blenheim Palace, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Cotswold. As the route can be accessed by walking a mile or two from the Heathrow Airport, it provides a great hiking experience to travelers interested in walking eastwards into London or north-westwards into the English countryside.

Shakespeare would not have experienced any major problems during his journeys to and from the capital city of London, but to avoid the present day challenges of negotiating the urban sprawl a green corridor that runs parallel to the probable path originally taken by Shakespeare has been created. This route might have been established 200 years after the Bard's time, but it does offer an approach that is surprisingly quiet.

Literary Tourism: Why Is Amsterdam a Must-Visit Destination?

Amsterdam is without doubt a city with a unique personality and it continually draws in thousands of visitors each year thanks to its scenic canals, architecture, cafe culture and history.

A large part of this cultural identity is the connection between Amsterdam and the literary world. In fact, literary tourism is sure to thrive in the Dutch capital thanks to the diversity of authors and titles, a range of events and facilities and a seemingly unquenchable

6 OCT 2016 ■


WTCF News

Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2016 (5th) was held in Macao on October 15th-16th, 2016. WTCF Executive Deputy Secretary-General, Li Baochun, and Deputy Secretary-General, Yan Han, attended this forum with a delegation.

This forum’s theme was “The Growing Consumer Class - Rethinking and Reshaping the Future Tourism Landscape.” WTCF hosted the sub-forum: Transformation of City Tourism Consumption.

The development of tourism economy and the development of city economy fuse day by day. On the one hand, tourism markets continues to boom. Tourism industry plays an important part in improving economy development and elevating employment of the city. On the other hand, the city is the major carrier of tourism development. Facility and service improvement on transportation, communication, networks, and finance supports the boom of tourism. Additionally, city residents and tourists fuse more and more. Tourists are an important group in the daily life of the city. Development of shared economy makes tourism a part of the life of local residents.

WTCF hosting the sub-forum of Trans-formation of City Tourism Consumption is based on the context that city tourism has become an important part in tourism consumption in this era of tourism globalization. Development of the Internet gives birth to cross-border integration of city tourism and profound transformation of tourist behavior. Analysis on tourist consumption in the city will help tourism participants grasp the pulse of tourism development.

This sub-forum was chaired by Fang Meng, member of WTCF Expert Committee and Assistant Professor at the School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management, University of South Carolina. The guests included Roger Carter, member of WTCF Expert Committee

WTCF Hosts Sub-Forum at Global Tourism Economy Forum—— Transformation of City Tourism Consumption

Hu Zhimin said as the overall situation changes, the whole city would be a big tourism product. Therefore, as the cities develop and maintain traditional scenic spots and tourism projects, they should also explore and meet emerging tourist’s demands on city travel.

Rudy Salles, Vice Mayor of Nice, em-phasized that as we value new technologies, we should not ignore high-standard service and hospitality of local residents, which is a reason why tourists would want to visit the city again. He took Macao as an example, and praised that Macao Government Tourism Office had brought great convenience for tourists on downloading tourism APPs from the Internet and so on, which created good tourism experiences for tourists.

Jos van der Sterrn reminded that as more tourists flood into the city and participate in local life, the government should take measures to avoid a situation where tourists might be rejected by local residents, and let tourists live in harmony with the residents.

The guests of the sub-forum included scholars, executives of tourism enterprises, and officials of tourism cities. They explained and explored new phenomena and trends of city tourism consumption. They provided examples with references and advice with guidance for the topic of City Tourism Consumption. It is a novel deconstruction and powerful support for the forum theme of “The Growing Consumer Class - Rethinking and Reshaping the Future Tourism Landscape.”

WTCF hosting the sub-forum at the “Global Tourism Economy Forum” is creating further cooperation ventures on the base of comprehensive strategic partnership. Since the signing of the cooperation agreement in 2015, the two organizations have established good partnership on academic research and business exchange to support each other. This promotes the development of the two organizations as well as world tourism industry.

and the Managing Director of TEAM Tourism Consulting; Helena Egan, Global Director of Industry Relations, TripAdvisor; Hu Zhimin, Vice CEO of CITS; Luo Xingqiang, Chairman of Tourism Development Committee and Penang Tourism Administration; Rudy Salles, Vice Mayor of Nice; and Jos van der Sterrn, Director of Academy for Tourism, NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences. The guests shared opinions on “What New Consumption Changes Have Occurred in City Tourism, What Impact the Changes Will Bring on City Tourism, How Cities Should Cope with the Changes, and so on.”

Helena Egan believed analysis of data of tourists is very important for tourism participants to master change of tourists and took TripAdvisor as an example. TripAdvisor analyzed data of 400,000 tourists from 70 markets of the world and concluded that 74% tourists did not know where to go at all before they set out, and some seemingly unremarkable things affect the travel choices of tourists, like Wi-Fi, the air conditioner, and the movie.

Hu Zhiman believed extending and liberalization of consumption and more convenient consumption patterns are the two major reasons why city tourism appeared. The guests mentioned together that development of new technologies is the main reason why obvious and profound changes have happened in tourism industry. Rapid development of shared economy helps tourists blend into local life and creates demand for deep experiences in tourism increases greatly.

Tourism administrations and industries should attach importance to new models and new business forms of tourism influence by new technologies.

Mr. Luo Xingqiang from Penang took Penang as an example and explained how shared economy like Airbnb and Uber benefited tourism of the city. Mr.

■ OCT 2016 7


WTCF News

Right after saying goodbye to the Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit in September, member cities of the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) gathered again in Macao to attend Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar co-hosted by WTCF, Global Tourism Economy Forum (GETF) and Macao Government Tourist Office. New and old friends got together to strengthen friendship and share opinions, which made it destined to be a fruitful autumn.

Following the successful International Tourist Destination (City) Promotion and Marketing Training in Beijing, WTCF holds Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar to better serve Chinese member cities. On October 14th, 23 tourism administrative department representatives from Chinese city member including Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Qingdao, Xiamen, Tianjin as well as special guest, Law Heng Kiang, Tourism Minister of Penang, attended the seminar.

The seminar was hosted by Yan Han, Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF. Pansy Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum made a speech. She introduced changes and development of Macao's tourism industry in recent year based on her practical experience. Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, introduced results of 2016 WTCF Chongqing Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit, WTCF's development in the past few years as well as member services of WTCF. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of Macao Government Tourism Office shared her experience on Macao tourism marketing promotion with participants.

Other guests who also gave speeches at the seminar includes Roger Carter, member of Expert Committee of WTCF and Managing Director of TEAM Tourism Consulting; Jos van der Sterrn, Director Academy for Tourism NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences, He Shengkang, Counselor of WTCF Secretariat. They discussed and exchanged opinions on issues including “International Tourism Cities Management Philosophy and Experience” and “International Tourist Destination Marketing Experience”.

Taking London, Singapore and New York as examples, Roger Carter made a speech themed on “How to Create a City Tourism Brand and How to Tell a Good City Story” to attendances. Accurate data, vivid contents and exact analysis made Mr. Carter’s speech essentially on-target with strong

Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar Held in Macao, a Productive Gathering in Haojiang

practical operability. After the speech, many representatives asked for his presentation and hoped that WTCF would collect city cases into a document. In the Q&A session, Jos van der Sterrn asked a question first to representatives: "Which country's tourists would you like to attract most?" When they showed their lists of countries, Jos van der Sterrn wittily replied: "Four of you chose Korea and several others voted for America, so who do you think your competitors are or all these present cities today are your competitors?" Based on an example of his two children, he gave advice to attendances that travel market should be divided into small groups based on types of traveler and their habits.

After listening to Pansy Ho and Maria Helena de Senna a representative Fernandes’ introduction about Macao’s tourism marketing promotion, the representative from Kunming Tourism Council was inspired by the means of Macao expanding its flight connection options to attract overseas tourists and hoped to make further contact with Macao Government Tourist Office and build cooperation on more air routes. The representative of Xiamen innovatively proposed an idea of cooperation among three cities. He explained that Xiamen has been working with Kinmen of Taiwan on tourism; it would make full use of these three c i t ies ’ advantages if Macao could join the cooperation. He thinks that WTCF's positioning to serve city members cooperation is meaningful in this point.

As the specially invited guest of the seminar, Law Heng Kiang, Tourism Minister of Penang, engaged in discussion with Chinese member cities. He considered the seminar a very practical and effective face-to-face and one-on-one interaction with other cities and he would have a further discussion with other member cities on cruise tourism.

Representatives all agreed that this small-grouped and targeted meeting is practical and instructive and they have a chance to communicate with experts in depth and also peers on practical matters in their work. They also praised guests who gave lectures. After the seminar, some of representatives hope that WTCF would hold such events in their own cities and to have further cooperation with WTCF.

Based on the 2016 International Tourist destination (City) Promotion and Marketing Training, the Chinese Tourism Cities Overseas Promotion Seminar is aiming to better serve members. During the seminar, issues on overseas marketing promotion concerned by Chinese tourism administrative departments were thoroughly discussed, which has provided extensive and practical communication and cooperation opportunities to members.

8 OCT 2016 ■


Insight

As respect for indigenous cultures continues to grow rapidly in the 21st century so too has a sincere desire by travelers to learn about the values that reflect distinctive relationships with nature, traditional and contemporary artistic expression, and a spirituality often unfamiliar to the visitor's way of thinking.

I had the privilege of attending the second Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. Even though I have researched and written about aboriginal/indigenous tourism in different countries for a decade, I was deeply encouraged by the reported successes and dedication of the people involved in developing authentic, sustainable opportunities to share their traditional ways with travelers genuinely interested in such experiences.

According to the United Nations, There Are Approximately 370 Million Indigenous People Spread Across 70 Countries Worldwide.

About 70% of them live in countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, retaining social, cultural, economic and political characteristics distinct from the dominant societies in which they live. While most indigenous people still remain marginalized in their societies, there are some fine examples of successful engagement enriching the tourism opportunities that foster respect for both the visitor and the host and bring economic benefit to rural communities.

In British Columbia, for instance, data show that one in four visitors are looking for an indigenous experience. Unfortunately, demand far exceeds what is presently available. Why? By definition, authentic cultural and educational experiences usually require small groups of participants and low impact sustainable tours in often remoter

regions where indigenous people live on their own land and in close proximity to nature. The Aboriginal Tourism of British Columbia website showcases native-owned and -operated tourism from the Pacific Ocean east to the Rocky Mountains of this vast province.

Tayaka Tours out of North Vancouver offers unique paddling adventures with First Nation guides who share songs, stories and visits to ancient village sites on secluded inlets.

Remoteness is not always an ingredient, of course. Vancouver is a remarkable example of diverse First Nations experiences in one city, ranging from unique native-owned accommodation (Skwachays Lodge), and a popular restaurant specializing in native dishes and beverages

Indigenous Tourism: Authentic, Educational andCulturally Exciting

Over the past two decades in Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, a great deal of thought and money has been invested by governments, native communities, and individual aboriginal entrepreneurs in delivering authentic indigenous experiences to visitors from around the world.

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Insight

(Salmon and Bannock Bistro) to world-class aboriginal-focused museums and art galleries. There are also immersive land and water activities and tours (Takaya Tours) that enrich a visitor's understanding of native heritage, thriving for thousands of years before settlers arrived from other lands. Tourism Vancouver can help develop a memorable First Nations immersion itinerary for any visitor to the city.

Canada's westernmost province, British Columbia, has become a global model for richly-interpreted aboriginal tourism with educational, cultural and nature-based activities that offer something for every age, budget and interest. It hosts the greatest diversity of aboriginal peoples in North America. The goal remains clear: to honor the talents and traditions of BC's 203 First Nation (native) communities and to provide training, cultural revival and sustained employment for local communities and enterprising individuals of First Nations descent.

This dazzling painting-like photo highlights Manitoulin's largest and longest-running traditional gathering, Wikwemikong Cultural Festival and Powwow, held each August.

That said, there is steady growth in this tourism sector right across Canada as indicated by an inviting new Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada website, showcasing indigenous festival events, attractions and experiences. Visitors may browse by region, date and culture for what is being offered by the country's three recognized indigenous cultures, that is, Métis (mixed blood), Inuit (peoples of the Canadian Arctic, formerly called Eskimos), and First Nations who are Aboriginal Canadians of neither Inuit nor Métis descent. The province of Ontario is delivering many quality experiences, including a highly recommendable visit to the largest freshwater island on the planet, Manitoulin Island on Lake Huron. Native communities there are making a pilgrimage worthwhile, presenting 17 nature-based and cultural options (Great Spirit Circle Trail).

On a New Zealand holiday, a visitor shares the traditional hongi or breath of life greeting with a Māori elder.

New Zealand's well profiled Māori culture is second only to its dramatic landscapes as the main reason visitors travel there. Although the traditional aspects such as kapa haka remain important parts of Māori life and its tourism, today there is a much wider range of tourism products that incorporate a Māori element. Experiences such as hiking, white water rafting, art and cultural tours, and the opportunity to hear the unique stories behind the country's places, people and activities first-hand are very popular among international visitors. Indigenous New Zealand is the gateway to Māori culture providing a comprehensive database of Māori tourism experiences in Aotearoa, the Māori name for New Zealand.

Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC), is the leading organization supporting and representing authentic indigenous tourism in the vast state of Western Australia. WAITOC represents over 50 Aboriginal tourism operators ranging from accommodation, traditional dance and dreamtime stories to contemporary history, safari and bush tours and art. The goal is to allow Aboriginal people to participate at a real and meaningful level while still maintaining and valuing their cultural heritage.

Chile's indigenous tourism is quite new, but moving effectively to offer village experiences and educational opportunities for visitors.

Among the Newest Entrants , Chi le Is Beginning to Take Seriously the Potential for Indigenous Tourism

And indeed it should be encouraged to do so with nine different indigenous “nations” making up 11% of the population within its borders. Many developing opportunities to stay and learn provide

the perfect excuse to visit the more unfamiliar central and northerly Atacama Desert region which has been home to indigenous people for 12,000 years! It is a 1,000 kilometer strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean consisting of the driest desert in the world. At this point, there is a lot of enthusiasm but not the collective sources of visitor information I would like to see. I recommend viewing the Chile travel project pages of Travolution and their programs.

Travelers interested in indigenous tourism are looking for authenticity while still accommodating their own needs and abilities. It is a work in progress, in many places a rough diamond that requires tolerance, but it is immensely rewarding for those with an inquiring and adventurous spirit.

By Alison Gardner Editor/journalist, Alison Gardner, is a global expert on nature-based vacations and cultural/educational travel.


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Alps in need of a delicate surgery or cutting-edge treatment. It is because people are looking for lower prices of the treatment and other services.

According to a research, foreign patients in Italian hospitals are mainly Arabs, Swiss, Russians and Albanians. These spend between 20 and 70 thousand euros on treatments and interventions not including tourism expenses, because patients often stay at high-end hotels and enjoy art and nature, either alone or with their whole families.

“The phenomenon of health tourism in Italy is promising both in terms of global positioning of the country and in terms of support of public finances. Now it requires coordinated and targeted action to facilitate the growth of this system of innovative activities,” said general director of the General Hospital Bio-Medico Campus in Rome, Gianluca Oricchio.

He is one of the founders of the nonprofit network Hospitaly, sponsored by the Bio-Medico Campus. This network gathers health facilities and excellent tourism brands such as Alitalia, Italo, Hilton, Sheraton. The aim is to leverage on the strengths of the “Italian life style”, namely art, culture and food.

The network involves hospitals ready to promote their services internationally, e.g. the Rizzoli in Bologna, the Niguarda Hospital in Milan and Health City of Turin. The strategy is more or less the same. To provide interpreters, medical records in the patient’s language, nurses available even at night, but also shuttle services to and from the airport, rooms for relatives, agreements with major hotels, satellite TVs in rooms.

Wellness Tourism Industry Reaches $495 B i l l ion In Revenue

According to a recent report released by the Global Spa and Wellness Summit, wellness tourism has become a $495 billion industry. The study was conducted by SRI International.

The report was released at a press conference in New York. The conference was organized after the 8th Global Spa and Wellness Summit held in September, 2014 in Marrakech,

Health Tourism In Italy Has A Positive Outlook

Italian hospitals plan to benefit more from the growing health tourism in Italy. Each year, seven million people around the world take a trip for medical reasons, generating a turnover of 100 billion dollars.

Italian hospitals plan to benefit more from the growing health tourism in Italy. Each year, seven million people around the world take a trip for medical reasons, generating a turnover of 100 billion dollars. International observers estimate that Italy might reach a revenue of 4 billion euros.

Until now, tourists have been attracted by artistic and natural beauty of the country. The authorities however plan to invest more and develop health tourism in Italy and benefit from the growing numbers of medical tourists.

Recently, Italian hospitals have won the gold seal of quality in the European ranking of hospitals which is awarded by the prestigious Joint Commission International. This commission certifies adherence to 368 safety and standards and quality of care.

The health tourism boom was initiated by an agreement adopted two years ago by the EU. It allows citizens of 28 countries of the EU to receive treatment in all other countries of the Union.

The hunt for medical tourists has therefore already begun and the stakes are very high.

A study by Deloitte estimates that worldwide every year 7 million people take a trip for health reasons. A turnover of 100 billion dollars is generated annually which is expected to increase to 150 billion dollars in 2018. The revenues generated by medical tourism in Europe amount to about 12 billion euros. This data was provided by SDAB Bocconi OCSP.

Today, Italy represents 17% of the medical tourism share in Europe, amounting to 2 billion euros. According to international observers, this number could increase to 4 billion euros. Italian health tourism promoters are well aware that the country has a great potential. Recent surveys revealed that 53% of Europeans are ready to seek healthcare in other countries of the EU. Italy offers quality treatment especially in the field of neurology, cardiac surgery, oncology, bariatric surgery, and orthopedics.

Currently, the balance of health tourism in Italy is somewhat negative. Only 5,000 foreigners seek treatment in the country every year compared to 200,000 Italian patients who go abroad. Italians are not so patient to cross the

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Morocco. At the summit, over 400 leaders from 45 countries were present to analyze the future of the wellness tourism industry.

According to GSWS CEO and Chairman, Susie Ellis, the wellness industry, including wellness tourism, has been gaining incredible momentum in the last few years. SRI International conducted its first study in 2007. During the period, the wellness industry was expected to become a fruitful field in the global economy. However, no one had expected such a rapid growth in revenue.

At the time, it was called the Global Spa Economy. The term spa was dropped for wellness because the former was a narrower concept. According to Ellis, the wellness industry includes a lot more than just spa and rejuvenation. It is also reaching many other industries, including real estate, hotels, architecture and more. More people have started taking wellness seriously.

According to Ellis, there are many reasons for the rapid growth. Some of these include the aging population, rise of lifestyle illnesses, widespread economic prosperity, stressful living, traditional healthcare failure and more. All these factors have led to the wellness movement. Some reports suggest that the worldwide wellness economy is worth $3.4 trillion. This is thrice the revenue for the worldwide pharmaceutical industry.

According to reports, wellness tourism shares a major part in the global wellness economy. While wellness tourism earned more than $494 billion in 2013, the spa industry earned more than $94 billion and the mineral/thermal springs industry earned over $50 billion. The mineral/thermal springs industry is relatively new to the wellness tourism industry. However, it is rooted in ancient traditions of rejuvenating and bathing in mineral and thermal waters. There are many destinations around the world that are modernizing their mineral and thermal water facilities. Some of them are even building resorts and hotels near the water sources. Japan, Germany and China are the top three countries modernizing the mineral/thermal industry.

Additional Findings of the Study ● In 2013, around 586.5 million wellness

trips were taken around the world. This was a 12% increase from 2012.

● International tourists spent around $1,639 per wellness trip in 2013. The amount is 59% higher than what an average international tourist spends.

● Domestic tourists spend around $688 per wellness trip. The amount is 159% higher than what an average domestic tourist spends.

● The top 5 wellness tourism markets include the United States, France, Germany, Austria and Japan.

● In 2013, there were 105,591 spas around the world. This was a 47% increase from 2012.

● In 2013, there were more than 27,000 mineral and thermal spring establishments around the world.

Medical Tourism Helping a Number of Economies

Medical tourism is now a common phenomenon with more and more people seeking affordable and quality healthcare abroad. Countries that attract medical tourists have in turn benefited economically.

In the past, medical tourism was associated with terminally-ill wealthy individuals seeking top-notch healthcare in advanced hospitals. It also connoted people traveling mainly to Brazil and Thailand, for cheap cosmetic surgeries. Whereas all these may have been true, medical tourism now involves patients going for medical attention and non-cosmetic surgery. Destination countries are also now more varied.

The trend now is more people seeking affordable healthcare than cosmetic operations, and this has attracted companies and countries that have seen the commercial opportunity. Nations like Turkey, Romania and Mexico are investing heavily in private healthcare system with an eye on American and European clientele.

Reports point to an increase in the amount of American patients traveling to Mexico in search of affordable treatments. Estimates by Patients Beyond Borders put the figure of American patients visiting Mexico at between 200,000 and 1.1 million. Mexico is capitalizing on this with plans to offer incentives to ailing Americans willing to go south. The country's Tourism Board is also aggressively promoting health and medical tourism to Americans.

Turkey is also a major player in medical tourism. The country has a particular branch in their tourism board dedicated to promoting Turkey as a medical tourism hub. Romania has been pushing for a Turkish-Romanian collaboration that would boost investments along the Black Sea. Romania’s selling point is the country's natural resources that include health spas and baths.

Thailand’s selling point is an existing excellent healthcare system that offers quality services at an affordable cost. On average, medical services in Thailand are cheaper than in America by 50-70%. Thailand also has experience in the market having been a major player in

the cosmetic surgery and gender reassignment operations. With the changing face of medical tourism, Thailand is adapting to the emerging market. The country is revamping its mainstream healthcare system to be ready for traveling patients. Patients Beyond Borders’ figures indicate that an estimated 2 million foreign patients sought treatment in Thailand in the year 2013.

Singapore has an advanced health care system that also attracts many foreigners. According to Patients Beyond Borders, about 610,000 people visited Singapore either for treatment or cosmetic procedures in 2013. The government and private healthcare investors continue to invest in their bid to bring in more ailing tourists. It is estimated that traveling patients make up 30% of the sick in Singapore.

Patients choose to seek treatment abroad because of cost considerations or because they are in need of alternative treatments. In the pursuit of health, they are willing to spend, and this makes them vulnerable. Their vulnerability and the astronomical figures involved make the industry very attractive to unethical professionals. Recently numerous online travel agencies appeared promising to match patients with best hospitals and doctors.

The very nature of these travel agencies makes regulation hard, and this has led to many cases of duped patients. There are also many horrifying stories of patients being operated by rogue surgeons who offer them no post-operative support system. Other doctors leave the patients after surgeries gone wrong.

When patients return home, some cases develop complications, and this has led to cost implications for the home countries as they try to correct or reverse procedures gone wrong. It is for such reasons that organizations like The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and Patients Beyond Borders have taken it upon themselves to educate patients going overseas for medical care.

All pointers indicate that people will continue traveling in search of treatment or cosmetic surgery. The industry will keep on growing if demand for cheaper options continues to rise. Unless developed nations like the US and Britain look for ways to bring down health care costs, their citizens will keep giving business to the countries lining themselves up to cater for medical tourists. The destination countries have an obligation in regulating their professionals and promoting only what is safe and responsible. Those willing to travel must, however, remain vigilant and go for quality that is affordable.


12 OCT 2016 ■


Leaders in trade

Interview: Amex Global Business Travel’s CTO on Corporate Travel Going Mobile

As travel management companies begin to embrace mobile for booking, expect business travelers to push for more personalized service.

— Andrew Sheivachman

Online booking tools are becoming the new normal in corporate travel. For years, a focus on traveler safety and adherence to travel policy were primary concerns. But business travelers, trained by consumer tools for years now, are now clamoring for better control of their trips while on the go.

Philippe Chérèque, chief technology and commercial officer of American Express Global Business Travel, says the company will launch a new online booking tool by the end of the year that will combine travel options across all available formats.

We asked Chérèque about playing catch up with the leisure space, how data can be leveraged for better security, and why a robust online booking tool is essential for business travelers and travel managers alike.

Q: When it comes to corporate travel technology, what is American Express GBT focusing on right now?

Chérèque: We need to make sure we get more efficient technology and a multi-channel platform. The technology is very important because traditionally travel management companies are offline; you interact on the phone. You hear a lot about online booking tools, about mobile. When I started at GBT two years ago, as a travel management company we relied a lot on third-party technology.

So what we’ve been doing is developing a product strategy that is trying to achieve a couple of goals. The first goal is to have a multi-channel platform. A platform that whatever you do, whether booking, communication, changes, whatever have to be able to be done on an online booking tool, mobile or phone.

Philippe Chérèque,Chief Technology and Commerical Officer

of American Express Global Business Travel

■ OCT 2016 13


Leaders in trade

Before, if you made a booking on an online tool, and you called a consultant, they may not have had the correct information. We’re testing an online booking tool and I can tell you before the end of the year we will have our own online booking tool. Online tools are becoming necessary to provide services to a corporation. The level of bookings can change, but you need to make the booking online.

We are launching a mobile application where the travelers will be connected to data, we’re migrating to a new voice network where we will have the capability of recognizing who’s calling, and we’re investing in a platform to solve content fragmentation, because we’re depending a lot on global distribution systems.

You have more and more content outside the global distribution network like regional carriers, Uber or Airbnb. If you want to have a complete offering, we need a platform that offers all that content.

Q: Why do you think technology in corporate travel lags so far behind leisure travel? Online booking sites for consumers have been around for decades.

Chérèque: Yes, corporate travel agencies have been behind leisure, and I think the leisure business have succeeded because of the investment of the online travel agencies or travel providers. But still, for a business traveler, the booking is a small piece of what we have to do. What is really important for a business traveler is that you’re able to take care of them when somethings is wrong. Online is an important piece of cost-saving and ease of booking, but the priority to take care of a corporate traveler has always been duty of care or having someone on the phone to change a trip.

big company, they want to make sure we are fulfilling their policy compliance. And by policy I don’t mean loyalty programs or seat preference, I really mean compliance with corporate policy. That’s why we’ve developed a global travel policy system that gets the same data whether something is booking online or offline. We also practice proactive care, because there is a significant cost savings for the corporation if we take care of things before they happen [by monitoring our data].

Right now we have data engineers working on personalization. We are looking how to apply personalization techniques to business travel, because we get travel data in addition to expense data. We know which restaurants they eat at, etc. The system knows what you do and wants to make [spending] propositions automatically. Data management is something that business travel is still behind in. We’ve invested a lot, but how do we use data to propose decisions to the traveler?

Most travel management companies have made significant investments to take care of the traveler when something goes wrong, but have not integrated an online booking tool except some players like Egencia or Orbitz for Business. That’s why we’re investing to make sure that a very easy to use and efficient online booking tool is part of our offer to our customer.

I definitely believe we need to have our own. People don’t really realize that our clients are all asking for offline [service]; we have some customers who do 80 or 90 percent of bookings online already, but we have others that do just 10 percent. But as soon as there is an issue, they want to talk to somebody if they can’t take care of it themselves.

Q: What would you say is the main focus for big corporations when choosing a travel management company? How does GBT try to innovate while meeting the basic needs of its clients.

Chérèque: Travel policies and policy compliance are the important thing. When we answer a request for proposal from a

Q: What big innovation during your tenure at GBT are you most excited by?

Chérèque: The last really important innovation besides mobile booking, which is more catch up, is a tool that graphically lets clients see where their travelers are on a map. If something happens, the HR department of travel manager has from travel data from all data related to corporate cards and we can visualize exactly the last position of their traveler. They can say, send an SMS or message to my employees in an affected area or tell them to contact us. All of this is only possible because of a digital travel record where we combine travel and [credit] card data.

Q: How do you assess the impact of sharing economy services on corporate travel? Do you see more companies adding them into policy?

Chérèque: It depends on the corporations. With Uber, we’re working on integrating the accounting record into our digital travel record because we don’t need it on mobile [booking]. Everyone wants to use the Uber app on mobile, we do it if it’s requested by the corporation. There are some corporations who ban Uber and others who allow them to use Uber and want everything integrated.

It’s more complicated with Airbnb. We’re working with them because several of our clients have asked to integrate them into our booking tools, but there is a lot of resistance from our customers because of the duty of care noncompliance. We are managed travel, we work with big corporations that spend from $1 million to $700 million on travel per year. Right now they’re questioning how it can meet compliance. Technically, we have built the platform where we can implement content from any booking system, but we do it on a case-by-case basis.

(Source: skift)

14 OCT 2016 ■


City

Mother City – Cape Town

Cape Town is South Africa’s beautiful playground. With its combination of stunning natural landscapes, the large, culturally diverse population, and bright African sunshine, Cape Town is a place where time slows and life is savored. Every now and then, you’ll catch a sobering glimpse of the extent of the city’s population living below the poverty line, and you’re reminded that transition doesn’t happen overnight. Visitors are bound to feel the all-encompassing warm spirit that transcends any historical hardship, and will gain a fond appreciation of South Africa’s Mother City.

Below gives the introduction to the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop, including the best things to do and what to do on a short break.

Why Go?You really can’t overstate the case for visiting Cape Town. First,

there’s the in-your-face beauty of a craggy mountain range that drops precipitously into a glittering sea, its flanks carpeted in greens and delicate florals – the Cape Floral Kingdom, smallest yet richest in the world.

Then there’s the pristine white beaches lapped by – it must be said – a chilly Atlantic, their curves defined by giant granite boulders to bake on, and burbling mountain streams in dappled forests. The proximity of nature is a constant source of amazement here, whether it is spotting zebra and wildebeest grazing on the slopes of Table Mountain from the highway, watching whales breach from a

Cape Town is fondly known as the Mother City—but Mother of All Cities might be a more accurate description. From jaw-dropping scenery to centuries-old architecture mingling with minimalist modern design, this scenic South African beauty encompasses it all. Its buzzing harbor and streets house nightlife and storefronts, and its beaches and mountainous surroundings are bursting with flora and fauna. The city is set against the backdrop of the iconic Table Mountain plateau and sapphire blue Table Bay, famous for its seal population and great white sharks.

■ OCT 2016 15


City

restaurant deck overlooking False Bay, supplicating before the Twelve Apostles mountain during a yoga class on Camps Bay beach or being halted by cavorting baboons near Cape Point.

Yet Cape Town has a cool urban edge, too: excellent art galleries, hip bars, world-rated restaurants, design-savvy shops, and home to Africa's innovative artists and designers, drawn by the city's innate beauty.

Certainly it has always been the most cosmopolitan city in Southern Africa: the Dutch who planted the first gardens and built the sombre Castle of Good Hope in 1666 were followed by

wonder then that Cape Town has - for the third year in a row - won the Telegraph reader’s survey award as the best city in the world to visit. Despite this the city remains highly seasonal, which keeps a cap on development – and the number of beds. Like most things, it pays to plan ahead.

When to GoYou can visit Cape Town pretty much any time of year. Summer

is the most popular, with peak season falling between mid-December and early January.

Another surge of visitors descends during the hot months of February and March. In April, the temperatures are balmy, the light is softer, the Cape Doctor (the South-easterly wind that howls through the city) is dormant and the sunsets are spectacular.

The temperate winter sometimes starts in May, more often June/July. Sunny days alternate with downpours that bring verdant relief, the mountain streams gushing into rocky gullies and watering the winter-flowering fynbos, including proteas, lilies and aloes. This is the most exhilarating time of year to explore the slopes of Table Mountain on foot.

July to November is the time when the southern right whales migrate to calve and nurse, providing the best land-based whale-watching in the world – but be warned, July and August can be wet. October to November is when the Cape floral kingdom again wows with a new cycle of flowering species, while the beaches, still relatively empty, sparkle in the temperate sun. This is when some of the best deals of the summer season are to be had – especially if you book early.

Where to GoNo visit to Cape Town is complete without circumnavigating the

peninsula, travelling south from the city, Waterfront or Camps Bay (the most popular areas where visitors choose to base themselves) along the M3, stopping at Kirstenbosch (these gardens are essential viewing) and visiting a few Constantia wineries en route (Klein Constantia and Eagles Nest make a good contrast). I’d recommend you stop for lunch in the charming seaside village of Kalk Bay, and

Then there’s the pristine white beaches lapped by – it must be said – a chilly Atlantic, their curves defined by giant granite boulders to bake on, and burbling mountain streams in dappled forests.

Sunny days alternate with downpours that bring verdant relief, the mountain streams gushing into rocky gullies and watering the winter-flowering fynbos, including proteas, lilies and aloes.

the French, who augmented the wine-making skills and gabled homesteads of the original colonists; Malay slaves brought spices and minarets; the English left Georgian mansions and Victorian terraced homes, and refugees from all over Africa have made their way south to seek their fortune in the shadow of its flat-topped mountain.

Food, jazz and gospel tours introduce a broad spectrum of cultural experiences, and no visit is complete without at least one full day exploring some of the surrounding vine-carpeted valleys, their rich terroir spawning not only award-winning wines but superb produce, accounting for some of the best (and most affordable) fine dining in the world. It’s a city that has only really been open to the world for the last two decades, and - at R17/18 to £1 – still offers excellent value for money, and a sense of new discovery. Small

16 OCT 2016 ■


City

Visitors are bound to feel the all-encompassing warm spirit that transcends any historical hardship, and will gain a fond appreciation of South Africa’s Mother City.

set aside an hour or so to browse the quaint shops and art galleries there (or revisit them at a later time), before tackling Cape Point and Chapman’s Peak Drive. Llundudno, Clifton and Boulders are the city’s prettiest beaches. And do set aside a day to tour the Winelands options, ringed with mountains – Stellenbosch terroir produces the best red wines and has a lovely historic town centre. With so much choice, it’s best to book a winetour (gourmetwinetours.co.za) but do ask that your tour includes the Helshoogte pass: linking Stellenbosch to pretty Franschhoek, the scenery will have your spirit soaring.

Know Before You GoEssential contacts

Emergency services: Dial 082 911 or 084 911 (ambulance), 10111 (police and fire). To contact any emergency service from a mobile phone, dial 112.

Medical care: To find the nearest private clinic, or to contact a specialist, see netcare.co.za. For travel-specific queries, seetravelclinic.co.za.

Tourism offices and information: The biggest and best-staffed is the centrally located Cape Town Tourism (00 27 21 487 6800; capetown.travel) on the corner of Burg and Castle Streets. Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5.30pm; Sat-Sun, 9am-1pm. For any itinerary queries in and around Cape Town, or how best to combine Cape Town with a

■ OCT 2016 17


City

suitable safari and/or Victoria Falls, please feel free to contact me, [email protected].

The BasicsCurrency: South Africa Rand (R or ZAR). Telephone code: From the UK, dial 00 27 for South Africa,

followed by 21 for Cape Town. From within South Africa, dial 021 for Cape Town.

WiFi: Most hotels and guest lodges offer free Wi-Fi as do an increasing number of excellent coffee shops. For a list of some of them, see redbutton.co.za (then click on “sites”). Loading Bay (30 Hudson Street, De Waterkant) ticks all the right boxes - good coffee, good food, cool people, close to Cape Quarter shopping precinct and

free Wi-Fi. If you want a bit of a sea view, head to Caffe Neo at 129 Beach Road, Mouille Point.

Local Laws and EtiquetteAs in any large city, crime is an ongoing concern, but note that

most incidents occur away from tourist areas. That said, take the usual precautions: don’t flash your wealth; don’t visit no-go zones (your host or concierge will advise); don’t walk when there are no other people around; and be alert/keep a close eye and hand on your belongings. It takes only a fraction of a second to clone a card, using a skimmer concealed in the hand. Don’t let your card out of sight and keep a close eye on how it is handled.

(Source: The Telegraph )

18 OCT 2016 ■


News

Held in front of the Taipa Houses-Museum, Lusofonia is the ideal place for families to indulge in the festive season bringing in people together from various countries and regions. The 19th Lusofonia Festival 2016 showcases culture and cuisine with authentic food, drinks, and handicrafts from Portuguese-speaking countries around the world. Furthermore, one can also join the festive revelry and enjoy the wonderful music and dance performances and great games and activities for the kids.

Known for providing a true, popular festive atmosphere, the Lusofonia Festival perfectly demonstrates the vibrancy of Macao as an international tourism city in the heart of Asia which has retained the rich culture of its Portuguese-speaking communities.

Barcelona Works with Oasis to Launch 360 Videos of Travel Destinations

Oasis, the innovative hospitality company that pioneered the "Home Meets Hotel" concept, unveils a series of immersive 360 video city guides that give

Part of the photos in the magazine came from online sources. If you have any questions regarding copyrights, please kindly contact our office at: 010-8532 3611 ext. 8015 Contact: Ms. Li Dan

travellers an insider's peek into destinations around the world. The latest editions are Barcelona and Mexico City.

Join Oasis for a 360-degree video exploration of Barcelona. See Gaudi's architectural triumphs, wander through the famous food stalls of La Boqueria and visit La Guingueta, our favorite beach bar from chefs Carles Abellan and Joan Feria.

Explore Mexico City, or DF as it's known locally, with Oasis in this 3-minute 360 video guide. We'll show you how our favorite churros are made at Churreria El Moro, take you on a tour of trendy Mercado La Roma, and introduce you to one of our favorite shops tucked away in La Roma: Cordoba 25.

Macao Cultural Vibrancy at 19th Lusofonia Festival 2016

‘The City Of Duality’, Macao, is all set to celebrate the highly anticipated 19th edition of the annual gala event, Lusofonia. Organized by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macau Government Tourist Office, the highly anticipated 19th Lusofonia Festival 2016 is held during 28th- 30th October at Casas – Museu da Taipa with all the Portuguese-speaking communities of Macao. The very first Lusofonia Festival was held on June 10, 1998 on Portuguese National Day to honour Portuguese-speaking individuals residing in Macau who had contributed to Macau’s development.

Paris to Introduce SeaBubbles Water Crafts for Tourists

Paris has yet again though of an innovative and environmentally friendly transportation system - flying river taxis, which are sometimes referred to as SeaBubbles.

SeaBubbles are high-tech water crafts which are designed with smart technology and can carry up to five people. These are much common around the waterways of Paris and can speed up to eight knots.

Designed by French sai lor Alain Thebault and Swedish surfer Anders Bringdal, the SeaBubbles water crafts are made up of fiber glass and high-density foam. They use the renewable form of energy source, solar energy to move and transport people.

Paris and its Mayor Anne Hidalgo have been instrumental in the development of the project; however, Thebault said that the host city could have been London.

The long-term goal for the SeaBubbles would be to make them available for service on ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft, with estimated fares costing just over $12. The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will be displaying the working prototype of the water craft. In a statement, Thebault said that by next spring season, they would hold a public demonstration on the Seine in front of the National Assembly (parliament) in Paris with five SeaBubbles. With more development, this transport might be introduced in London or Geneva.

The new series coincides with a com-prehensive brand redesign and campaign launch-"Transform Your Travels"- designed to bring to life Oasis' unique offering: a curated collection of over 2,000 homes around the world with hotel-like amenities, on demand concierge services, and insider access to in-culture travel experiences.

Featuring hidden neighborhood gems as well as renowned cultural institutions, the 360 video series offers an immersive, digital extension of Oasis' city guides and unmatched hospitality services. For example, Oasis has dedicated teams in each of its destinations, including "Guest Experience Specialists" who serve as a guest's personal concierge. These local cultural experts can assist with pre-trip planning, coordinating transportation, restaurant and event bookings, and more. Oasis also offers exclusive perks from partners such as SoulCycle, Zeel, and private members' clubs, giving guests access to amenities that they might expect at a boutique hotel at a more accessible price point.

Oasis currently operates in 25 destina-tions across 13 countries, and is expanding rapidly with recent openings this fall in

Chicago, Madrid, Milan and Rome. Amsterdam and San Francisco will follow next month.

The videos were shot with the new Samsung Gear 360 Degree Spherical Camera and are available on Facebook and YouTube.

insight - wtcf · 2018. 1. 11. · sir walter scott. these are just a few examples of literary...

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