Interstate visitor numbers start to improve

FIGURES released by Tourism Research Australia show the total number of interstate visitors to Western Australia grew by 4.8 per cent in the year ending March 2018.

The results of the National Visitor Survey (NVS) also shows the total number of intrastate visitors grew by 3.6 per cent and daytrips by 4.2 per cent over the same period.

However the average length of overnight stays dropped from 9.3 to 7.4 nights – largely driven by a fall in the nights spent by people visiting friends and relatives or here for business purposes. One positive sign was interstate holidaymakers increasing by 18,000 when compared to the previous year, which represents a 4.7 per cent rise.

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British? . . . Beach holiday please

THE global tourism industry has been flourishing over the past few decades and vacation or holiday travel is one of the key sectors in this industry. Travelers seem to choose beach holidays more often, which makes the beach holidays segment more popular than most of the others in vacation travel domain. More than any other reasons, holidaying currently seems to be one of the top reasons to travel, besides business tours. Leading holidaymakers in the United Kingdom have been offering several vacation plans for those who wish to travel abroad but evident rise in the number of ‘staycations’ within the UK since the past few years is expected to provide a decent boost to the growth of holidays market in UK.

According to a report by Market Research Hub (MRH), a majority of UK consumers choose to travel with their friends and family just to relax, experiencing the sun and beach. This tendency will play a key role in strengthening the potential of UK’s beach holiday industry. Italy, Spain, and France have been topping the list of consumers’ choices over the years. However, holidaymakers are now deliberately promoting local, nearby beaches, which could present a range of more convenient and affordable choices to those who are planning a beach holiday in coming years.

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British Airways uncovers mixed feelings

AN online study by British Airways reveals that on average, Hong Kong people had three holidays abroad in 2017, and over half of them said their holidays had lasted five to nine days on average. Three trips abroad may seem like a lot, but in fact this figure is in line with the global average, with respondents in France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and South Africa also reporting that they had taken three trips during last year. Countries where respondents had more trips abroad than anyone else include Singapore (4 trips), UAE (6 trips), India (7 trips) and Japan (8 trips). However, respondents from the UK were on the bottom of the list, saying they only had two holiday trips abroad in 2017.

Hongkongers have their minds wired to work on holidays  - the purpose of going on a holiday is to relax and to recharge. However, the study shows that people haven’t had a long enough break to let their minds go offline as 63 per cent said that they felt like they had not properly switched off after coming back from a holiday. 

Busy bees not making the most of their holiday allowance - the study also shows that 63 per cent of employed adults have had left over holiday allowance at the end of the year. The main reasons include that they were too busy at work to take time-off, are saving them up for a holiday or were not able to take their holiday at certain times of the year. Guilt also comes into play as 12 per cent said they feel guilty for using up all of their holiday allowance. 

Hong Kong people do not mind going back to where they’ve visited before. 64 per cent of the respondents have gone back to the same holiday destinations for up to five times and 20 per cent said that they have been back to the same places for more than six to 10 times already. 

Lastly, when asked what type of holiday they would like to take in 2018, 65 per cent said they preferred city breaks and beach holidays in Europe, followed by Asian cultural breaks (53%).

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The idiot’s guide to staying alive

BRITISH holidaymakers heading out to hotels around the Med have been given some advice by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA): don’t get drunk and fall off balconies. 

Sadly, the advice is needed: tour operators say that three British nationals had died and three more were seriously injured after falling or jumping from balconies while on holiday overseas last year. This represents just a fraction of the total number of such incidents. So far in 2016, says the FCO, there have been three balcony falls resulting in serious injury. One of them involved a 34-year-old British holidaymaker who jumped from his hotel balcony into the swimming pool. He is in a critical condition after suffering a serious spinal cord injury.

Many balcony falls involve young people and alcohol. For the last five years, ABTA and the FCO have run campaigns warning of the dangers as well as providing advice and tips on staying safe, including in hotels popular with younger travellers.

Nikki White, ABTA’s director of Destinations and Sustainability, said: ‘As we head into the peak summer season, we are again urging holidaymakers to think about the potential risks of balconies. We see too many people badly injured or much worse because they’ve tried to climb over, jump, or dive from their hotel balcony. A moment of thoughtlessness can have a devastating impact, not just on the holidaymaker themselves, but also on their family and friends. By working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, ABTA Members and local authorities in resorts, we hope to help holidaymakers use their balconies sensibly and safely, as do millions of hotel guests around the world.’

Will Middleton, FCO consular director for Southern Europe, said: ‘We have already seen a number of very serious injuries caused by balcony falls this summer. We really do urge people to avoid taking risks around balconies, particularly if they have been drinking. A momentary lapse of judgement can lead to a lifetime of consequences.’

ABTA and the FCO have put together the following tips on using balconies safely:

Never lean over, sit, or climb on the balcony wall or railings.

Don’t try to pass items to someone on another balcony.

Don’t climb from one balcony to another.

Never stand on balcony furniture.

Never jump into the pool from your balcony.

Take extra care on balconies after drinking alcohol as your judgement may be affected.

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ABTA to reboot ‘Travel with Confidence’ campaign

THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS (ABTA) has launched the second phase of its ‘Travel with confidence’ nationwide advertising campaign, Running until the end of July, it will specifically target 18-24 year-old holidaymakers, the consumer group most likely to be late bookers.

The campaign will promote ABTA’s ‘Travel with confidence’ message, and highlight why customers should ‘Look for the logo’ and book with an ABTA member as they navigate the late holiday booking period.

The first phase of ABTA’s ‘Travel with confidence’ campaign ran earlier in the year and was specifically aimed at families and older travellers who are more likely to book holidays further in advance.

Victoria Bacon, ABTA head of Brand and Business Development, said: ‘Our travel with confidence message underpins everything we and ABTA members do for customers and is particularly important at the moment, given uncertainties around issues such as geo-politics, global terrorism, and online holiday fraud.

‘We know from our own research that one in five 18-24 year olds are planning to go on a summer holiday, but haven’t yet booked it. This phase of our campaign will help us to engage with these younger travellers, encouraging them to book with an ABTA member and helping them to get the holiday they’ve paid for.’

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London named ‘most desirable city’ for holidaying in UK

HOLIDAYMAKERS are increasingly discovering the pleasures of staycationing as Brits have named London as the most desirable city to visit within the UK, according to research by hotel group Jurys Inn. 

The survey (of 2,500 people), found that Brits are increasingly opting to holiday in their homeland instead of overseas, with more than one in 10 taking up to four #staycations a year.

The Jurys Inn study revealed the top 10 most desirable UK cities. London topped the list, with Edinburgh and Brighton taking second and third place.

The other cities to feature in the list were:

• Liverpool 
• Manchester 
• Cardiff 
• Glasgow 
• Plymouth 
• Bristol 
• Newcastle 

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Top 10 items stolen from hotels revealed

RESEARCH has revealed the top ten most commonly stolen items from hotels by Brits abroad: holidaymakers are most likely to help themselves to towels, soft furnishings, batteries, and cutlery/crockery.

In the survey by www.sunshine.co.uk, 2,623 people aged 18 and over from around the UK were asked to answer honestly questions about items they’d taken from hotels in the past … if any. 

When asked ‘Have you ever stolen anything, however small, from a hotel during a holiday abroad?’ 56% said ‘yes’. A further 14% of the respondents confessed that they had been caught in the act of taking something that wasn’t theirs from a hotel abroad. Anyone who had stolen a hotel item in the past was asked to name everything they had taken in this manner in the past, which revealed the following top 10 answers:

1. Pool towel(s) – 31% 
2. Room towel(s) – 27% 
3. Soft furnishing (e.g. cushions) – 22% 
4. Batteries – 20% 
5. Cutlery/crockery/glassware – 18% 
6. Slippers – 12% 
7. Robe – 9% 
8. Light bulbs – 8% 
9. Bedding (duvet cover, pillow cases, blankets) – 4% 
10. Decorative accessories (e.g. a vase) – 2% 

1% of the hotel thieves said that they had taken electrical items (such as alarm clocks, music players or remote controls). Two respondents admitted they had previously taken a television from a hotel on holiday abroad. Another admitted to stealing a bible from their hotel room.

When respondents were asked why they had stolen items from hotels, 47% said the ‘hotel would have plenty more spare’ and 28% said it was in order to get their ‘money’s worth’.

Chris Clarkson, managing director of sunshine.co.uk, said: ‘Stealing is wrong on many levels and unfortunately I think many people don’t consider taking from hotels to be theft. The truth of the matter is that taking anything that doesn’t belong to you is stealing. Hotel guests need to respect the fact that the items in rooms they stay in aren’t there for the taking, but are there to enjoy during their stay.’

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Spend expectations are increasing, Spain comes out on top … and Brits just can’t do without a cuppa

UK HOLIDAYMAKERS are expected to flash the cash in 2016, with most of the spend occurring in European destinations, according to research compiled by My Travel Cash. 

Twenty-three percent of those surveyed said they expect to spend more on holidays next year, a three percent rise on 2014, when 20 percent of UK holidaymakers were prepared to increase their holiday budgets for 2015.

Spain proved to be the most popular holiday destination of 2015, followed by France and Italy.

Ian Johnson, sales director at my Travel Cash, says: ‘We wanted to get an insight into holiday trends, which is why we have analysed all of our data and research from the past year. While some people may have been wary about travelling last year, we’re happy to report that this hasn’t deterred Brits from taking holidays. Spending abroad increased by 13 percent in 2015, and more people are committing to learning new languages … this suggests a positive outlook for 2016.’ 

Despite the growing willingness of Brits to spend more abroad, they still rely on home comforts bought before they travel. Sixty-four percent of holidaymakers admit to taking their own tea or coffee with them on holiday, 12 percent taking lavatory roll and four percent packing even a pot of Marmite.

The ten most popular holiday destinations in Europe for Brits, according to data from My Travel Cash:

1.     Spain
2.     France
3.     Italy
4.     Portugal
5.     Greece
6.     Ireland
7.     Germany
8.     UK
9.     Netherlands
10.   Cyprus

www.mytravelcash.com

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They want to get away … alone

GOING on holiday alone – once considered an awkward by-product of being single in later life – is now an ambition for almost a third of middle-aged Brits seeking adventure … and time to themselves. 

A survey of 10,000 UK holidaymakers has revealed that almost a third of over-50s have taken a solo trip in the last year, with many of them planning to do so again. Of those who’ve never done it, 17 percent said they would like to try it.

Top reasons cited for flying solo include doing what you want whenever you want, eating and drinking without any judgement from anyone, and getting quality ‘me’ time.

A city break in Barcelona, with its mix of beaches, culture, and nightlife was revealed to be the favourite solo holiday destination, closely followed by exploring the canals in Venice and visiting New York City.
The research (by over-50s travel and insurance specialist Stay sure) looked into the reasons behind changing attitudes to solo travel. 

Almost a third of over-50s cited said that enjoying their own company was one of their top reasons for going away alone, followed by being single or widowed, while seven percent said their children were now adults and would no longer go on holiday with them. Almost a quarter felt that they did not want to rely on partners or friends to plan their holidays. Others said they enjoyed the sense of adventure in a solo trip.

Making new friends was also highlighted as a reason to book a trip for one, with 16 per cent considering a solo trip as a chance to meet new people. Some said they had made a new friendship when they were on holiday alone, and had subsequently planned a trip together afterwards.

The research also highlighted common concerns about travelling alone. Paying single supplements for hotel rooms top of the list of anxieties, followed by personal safety worries and anxiety about having to eat alone in restaurants.

Chris Rolland, Staysure CEO said: ‘Our customer research confirms that people in their 60s, 70s and 80s have the sense of adventure for things that may have seemed unexpected from this age group in previous generations. Brits are now choosing to leave their partners at home to expand their horizons by planning incredible solo trips and discovering a world of truly unique experiences, including new friendships and even romance. 

In light of this trend, it’s important that travel and insurance providers are able to offer an increasingly wide range of affordable options to help Brits fulfil their ambitions.’ 

Top destinations that people travelling alone would choose to travel

1. Barcelona
2. Venice
3. New York
4. Rome
5. Malta
6. Sydney
7. Algarve
8. Amsterdam
9. California
10. Dublin

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Global travel risks mapped

THE medical and travel security services company, International SOS has partnered with Control Risks to launch a 2016 Travel Risk Map to help organizations understand the safety risks in the markets where they operate and travel. 

The map displays each country’s medical and travel security risk rating.

Rob Walker, head of Information and Analysis at International SOS and Control Risks, said: ‘Education and information – and, in some cases, training – are vital to helping employees understand and mitigate threats to their personal safety. Our comprehensive overview reveals that in 75% of countries the medical risk is assessed to be at a different level from the travel security risk. This range within individual countries highlights the complexities organizations face when preparing staff to travel abroad. Organizations are encouraged to review both medical and security issues when preparing their employees for travel and assignment abroad.’

A recent Ipsos Global Advisor study asked participants about their concerns and preparations when travelling abroad. The report found that while eight in 10 travellers believed their personal safety could be threatened while abroad, fewer than four in 10 researched crime risks, neighbourhoods to avoid, safety standards of public transport, or security features of their accommodation before they travelled.

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Airport security review signalled by UK government

TRAVELLERS face the prospect of a further airport security clampdown amid growing suspicions that a bomb smuggled on board brought down a Russian aircraft over Egypt killing all 224 passengers and crew. 

Britain’s foreign secretary Philip Hammond said that security measures will have to be reviewed in areas where Islamic State militants are active if the crash is found to have been caused by a bomb.

His comments came as reports emerged over the weekend that a Thomson Airways flight with 189 passengers was forced to take evasive action after the pilot saw a rocket as it approached #Sharmel-Sheikh in August. According to the company, a Department for Transport investigation found it was probably a flare.

Flights which were delayed on Friday due to Sharm el-Sheikh airport’s inability to cope with new government restrictions imposed on hold luggage began operating over the weekend but many holidaymakers in the Red Sea resort face lengthy delays before they are repatriated.

While flights to the UK were limited, as many as 20 left for Russia on Saturday after Moscow followed the UK’s lead in advising against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el-Sheikh.

Approximately 3,000 British holidaymakers returned on Friday and Saturday, with some 2,000 put on flights on Sunday.

But a government spokesman said: ‘With a limited number of flights able to leave Sharm el-Sheikh each day for the UK, it is likely that tour operators or airlines will advise some people to extend their stay at their resort. We understand that tour operators and airlines are working to ensure that where people need to extend their stay at their resort necessary, costs will be covered.

‘The additional security measures we have put in place have led to delays to flights, and we understand the frustration that has caused, but our top priority will continue to be the safety of British nationals returning to the UK.’

easyJet says it has 2,500 passengers still in Sharm el-Sheikh due to limitations on the number of aircraft allowed to operate from the airport. The airline faces a backlog of flights with delays of up to four days. 

Describing the situation as ‘becoming clearer, although no less difficult,’ easyJet told passengers stuck in Sharm el-Sheikh: ‘To help us to help you, we recommend you speak to your hotel and try and extend your stay for up to a further 4 days. We hope that most customers will not be delayed for more than that, but the situation remains fluid. Our plan is to bring home as many passengers every day as we can, and to prioritize those who have been delayed the longest. However, if the situation doesn’t change, this means that many customers may be delayed in Sharm el-Sheikh for between three to four days.’

All outbound holiday flights to Sharm el-Sheikh remain cancelled until this Thursday. 

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UK boost for Greek tourism

THE number of British holidaymakers going to #Greece has increased by 29.3% to date in 2015, making the UK the country’s second-largest source market for tourists, says Elena Kountoura, one of Greece’s tourism ministers. 

‘Greece is extremely fortunate to have been a destination favourite with British holidaymakers for many years,’ she says. ‘The UK is one of our most significant sources markets, the second-biggest for Greece.’

Greece has welcomed a record 25 million tourists so far this year, compared to 22 million in 2014.

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Thomson Cruises to base ship in Dubai

THOMSON CRUISES is to base a ship in #Dubai in winter 2016-17. Thomson Celebration will run two itineraries in the Gulf region from December next year.

The two seven-night itineraries – Arabian Nights and Cities of Gold – will include an overnight in Dubai and calls in Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

Flights will operate to Dubai from Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick, Cardiff, Newcastle, and Glasgow, with #cruise-and stay-packages also available when the programme goes on sale in November.

Thomson Cruises managing director, Helen Caron, said: ‘We know that destinations are one of the key deciding factors for our customers, and our decision to set sail from Dubai will allow holidaymakers to see and experience more destinations than ever before. With the average Brit visiting more than 14 foreign countries in their lifetime, we can’t wait for everyone to discover Arabia, from the glamour and opulence of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to the ancient heritage sites in Oman.’

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Turkey specialists appeal after Exclusive Escapes collapse; media coverage blamed for ‘unfair’ negative image

THE failure of holiday firm Exclusive Escapes has prompted calls for agents to inform holidaymakers about the country’s geography and to avoid being swayed by ‘sensationalist reporting’. The plea came as statistics revealed the extent to which the destination is suffering in the current market.

According to industry analyst GfK, year-on-year bookings to #Turkey for the year to August 22 were 9% down, while the general market was up 1%. Summer 2016 bookings to Turkey to August 22 were 24% down, compared with a 10% increase for the overall market.

Upmarket Turkey specialist Exclusive Escapes, which traded as HiddenTurkey, collapsed last week, affecting 2,000 holidaymakers. Managing director Andrew Lee cited ‘two challenging years’ for the destination. He said: ‘It’s no secret that 2015 has been one of the toughest years for tourism in Turkey, largely due to the country’s geo-political situation.’ He cited Turkey’s recent military action against ISIS as having an impact, adding that it had fuelled the perception of the country as unsafe.

Akin Koc, managing director of rival Anatolian Sky, said his firm was re-booking hundreds of Exclusive Escapes’ clients. He blamed the bookings slump on negative perceptions following media reports that Turkey was on an ISIS hit list.

‘This year, media coverage has created huge problems for Turkey,’ said Mr Koc. ‘Unfortunately, agents, and the general public have no idea about the size of Turkey and its geography. The Syrian border is 745-930 miles from resorts. As an industry, we have to educate the public to understand there is no more risk in [western] Turkey than in Greece, Spain, or Egypt. The perception problem is frustrating, unfair, and upsetting. Some agents seem to see Turkey as difficult to sell and not offer it, but there is potential risk everywhere.’

His company is increasing capacity in Turkey next year, but reducing the amount of committed properties from 50% to 30%-40% to reduce operational risk.

Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) chairman Noel Josephides had suggestions as to how bookings for Turkey could be improved. ‘First, agents need to resist falling prey to sensationalist reporting and understand how journalists work – that disasters sell newspapers – and follow more closely what ABTA and the Civil Aviation Authority are saying. The message to #destinations is to be a lot more robust in their re-actions, with factual information from the tourist offices and to have policies in place.’

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Ocean escape

FOR a get-away-from-it-all holiday destination, it would be hard to beat #StHelena, the tiny British colony in the middle of the South Atlantic, the government of which – looking forward to the start of direct flights next year – that has recently hired a director of #tourism.

Here’s all you need to know – but never got around to asking – about one of the planet’s remotest settled islands.

Size: 10.5 miles by 6.5 miles.

Where is it?: 1,200 miles from the South-West coast of Africa, and 1,800 miles the coast of South America.

Population:  3,800. 

Language: English, but with a distinctive dialect and pronunciation.

Currency: The St. Helena £ is used on the island, which is fixed at parity with the British Pound Sterling, which is accepted on the island. Scottish bank notes are accepted, but payment card use is limited, and there are no ATMs.

Climate: For much of the year, temperatures remain between 70-80°F. The rainy seasons are late March to early May, and July to September.

History: The first, very small, settlement was established by Portuguese and Spanish traders. Their shipping was harried by English warships, and in 1657, Oliver Cromwell gave the island to English East India Company, which fortified the island and colonized it with planters. The first English governor arrived in 1659, making it one of Britain's oldest colonies outside North America and the Caribbean.

Getting there: The RMS Saint Helena runs between St. Helena and Cape Town, also visiting Ascension Island and Walvis Bay, Namibia, and sometimes sailing north to Tenerife and Portland, UK. It berths in James Bay, St. Helena, approximately 30 times a year. The ship was due to be de-commissioning in 2010, but its service life has been extended until the completion, expected next February, of a £250 million airport being built by the UK government, with weekly flights to and from Johannesburg.

Who’s been there:  The British Empire found it a useful place on which to dump people it wanted kept out of harm’s way, the most infamous of whom was Napoleon Bonaparte, who died there 1821 after six years in exile. More than 5,000 Boers were held there as prisoners during the Second Boer War. 

What is there to do and see when you get there: Diving, fishing, golf, rifle shooting, walking, sports, and bird watching. Jamestown, the capital, is said to have the atmosphere of a small English country village, with colourfully-painted 18th century houses. #Sightseeing highlights include:

• Longwood House, where Napoleon lived and died. 
• Castle Gardens, where some of the island’s endemic plants can be seen. 
• Jacob’s Ladder, built in 1829 as an inclined plane, which was used to haul manure up from Jamestown and send goods down. The ladder is 600ft high and has 699 steps. 
• St James Church, built in 1774, and the oldest Anglican church in the southern hemisphere. 
• St. Helena Distillery, which makes rum and island’s own Juniper-flavoured gin. 
• High Knoll Fort, with views across much of the island, and occasionally open for guided tours. 

http://sthelenatourism.com
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Morocco – FCO raises terror threat level

BRITISH travellers to #Morocco have been warned of a ‘high threat’ of terrorism in the North African country. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has changed its terrorism threat level in amended travel advice.

The revised travel advisory said: ‘Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.Protective security measures are in place at many Moroccan hotels and sites popular with tourists. Security measures, including security personnel, may be visible in certain areas.’

The FCO added: ‘The Moroccan authorities have warned of an increased threat linked to the growing number of Moroccans sympathetic or belonging to international terrorist organizations operating in Syria, Iraq, and Libya, and regularly report the disruption of terrorist cells.

‘There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.You should be vigilant at this time.”

Seventeen people were killed and 25 injured in an explosion at a restaurant in Marrakech in April 2011.

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Crime rates in Magaluf down by 87%, says hotel association

CRIME rates have fallen by 87% in #Magaluf following a drop the number of young British holidaymakers visiting the notorious Majorcan party resort.

The number of Britons aged 16 to 25 has dropped, replaced by couples aged 30 or more, according to a report by the Magaluf Hotel Association.

Organised pub crawls have significantly reduced, with pubs in the #PuntaBallena area reporting revenues down by 40%.

It’s reported that positive progress has been made in security and public order. After the approval of new law-enforcement measures and a greater presence of both Spanish and, more recently, British police, anti-social behaviour in Punta Ballena and nearby streets is said to be in decline.

Figures show a fall in crime – robberies, prostitution, hawking, and drug dealing –with three arrests compared to 23 in 2014; and 50 percent fewer guests being expelled from hotels for bad behaviour. Fifty per cent fewer cases of balcony falls in Magaluf have also been reported.

The resort is cutting its dependency on British tourists with an increase in Italian, German, Portuguese, and Swedish holidaymakers. However, the UK still represents more than half of the 1.5 million stays up to July.

Hotels are moving away from all-inclusive packages, which make up around 30% of the Magaluf market, in an effort to attract more ‘affluent and sophisticated’ visitors.

More than 40 hotels have been renovated since 2011 as part of re-positioning efforts in Magaluf which will see a further 10 being refurbished and four being upgraded to 4* during 2015/16.

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Upgrade for Darwin’s Frances Bay waterfront

DARWIN’S Frances Bay basin – also known as the Duckpond – is to be turned into a waterfront precinct for tourists, locals, and boaties.

Northern Government chief minister Adam Giles said the area presented a golden opportunity for an imaginative, mixed-use re-development which would draw in visitors to the overlooked waterfront location.

‘We’ve seen fabulous waterfront developments occur around #Darwin and I believe there’s a great opportunity to rejuvenate #Frances Bay,’ Mr Giles said. ‘The Duckpond is the heart of our commercial fishing industry and we want to keep it that way.

Auckland and Hobart have turned their fishing ports into attractive harbourside destinations, where visitors can enjoy a drink, meal, or catch a cruise. Darwin can do the same.’

The city council’s city centre master plan envisages an improved marina in the area.

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They’re there to help

#MALTA’S tourism authority (MTA) has trained and employed a team of students whose job is to assist holidaymakers. 

Armed with tablets loaded with location maps and information about places of interest, they are there to answer tourists’ questions and to approach tourists and offer assistance when it is thought necessary.

They are covering, initially, the main tourist sites in #Valletta, the Sliema Ferries, #Mdina, and St George’s Bay in St Julian's.

The MTA’s chief executive Paul Bugeja said: ‘This is one of the initiatives we are taking in direct support of tourists visiting our islands. We are combining the personal contact together with technology, always with the intention of providing the best possible service.’

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Boost for Iran as FCO relaxes travel warning

BRITAIN’S Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) move to relax its advice on travel to #Iran is expected to lead to increased interest from adventure holidaymakers. 

Advice against travel has been lifted for most parts of Iran, says the FCO. It still advises against travel to the areas of Iran bordering Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan but has downgraded its previous guidance to avoid all but essential travel.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: ‘Our policy is to recommend against travel to an area when we judge that the risk is unacceptably high. We consider that continues to be the case for specific areas of Iran, notably along Iran's borders with Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

‘But we believe that in other areas the risk has changed, in part due to decreased hostility under President Rouhani's government.’

#IntrepidTravel has already seen UK bookings double to the country since Iran's historic deal to close its nuclear facilities was agreed in July 14.

UK managing director, Michael Edwards, said: ‘We consistently get fantastic feedback from our Iran tours – the ancient ruins, incredible architecture, and especially the warm and friendly Iranian people. However, the FCO advice has always been a barrier for many people who wanted to travel to Iran.’

He described the relaxing of FCO travel advice as being a ‘massive boost’ for tourism to the country. ‘It will make insurance easier to obtain and ensure more people feel comfortable travelling to this fascinating country. The key is to get there now before the country is well and truly on the tourism map.”

The introduction of an electronic visa would be the final step to opening up tourism to Iran, he said, because UK citizens must currently travel to Dublin or Paris to get visas.

Intrepid plans 23 departures on its Iran Adventure trip next year, up from 21 this year.in 2015. The 16-day tour starts from £1,765 per person, including accommodation, selected meals, ground transport, and a local leader.

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