A new manifesto detailing important issues in the tourism sector has been launched by Abta

With the next general election looming on the horizon, Abta has released it’s first ever travel manifesto, underlining many of the most important issues faced by the travel and tourism sector. Representatives from the travel industry association along with MP’s and civil servants all attended an event held at the House of Lords to introduce the document. The manifesto has five main demands all aimed at increasing confidence in the tourism industry from both a consumer and an employee perspective.
1. Reform consumer protection for flights, accommodation and package holidays to ensure that the travelling public stays protected.
2. Reform Air Passenger City to give incentives to  planes to fly full with a determined tax contribution based on the actually efficiency of the air plane instead of the per-passenger basis which is used at the moment.
3. Safeguard jobs in the tourism sector by removing barriers and limits which hinder employees from doing business successfully.
4. Increase UK airport capacity especially in the south east to ensure that they are prepared for future demand.
5. Create a dedicated tourism minister responsible for domestic, inbound and outbound tourism sectors.
With this election manifesto, Abta is showing that it is serious about taking the concerns of the industry right to the heart of the government. Chief executive of Abta states that the manifesto ensures that all of these issues are recorded in black and white and that ‘none of the political parties should be in any doubt where the travel and tourism sector now stands on out key issues’.

Shanghai Opens New Airport Terminal

Shanghai is China’s second largest city and Hongqiao Airport has just made the addition of a new terminal which is expected to welcome millions of visitors to its Expo in 2010. The new build is to be known as the ‘Rainbow terminal’ and is part of a $2.2 billion makeover bringing it well into the modern era, a travel hub was also created with a metro and a high speed train taking people to and from the city centre just 35 minutes away.

A member of Hongqiao Airport authority believes that, “An airport with the size of a world class hub has taken place, which will provide a high quality aviation service for the World Expo.” It was over a week ago when the first flight took off from the new Rainbow terminal which is considered to be around four times bigger than the old one.

The name of Rainbow terminal comes from the actual name of the airport itself, Hongqiao, which means Rainbow Bridge. Hongqiao isn’t Shanghai’s main airport it is used more for domestic flights, whereas Pudong Airport deals with international visitors. With the new terminal Hongqiao Airport is expected to get quite busy with the Expo coming up as around 70 to 100 million visitors from around China will be coming, many of which will check in a Hongqiao. By the year 2015 the airport is hoped to be dealing with 40 million passengers with three quarters coming through the four levelled rainbow terminal.

The old terminal was only supposed to deal with around 10 million passengers over a year but now will be able to welcome 25 million annually.

Tourism officials state that the country’s main tourism areas are untouched

After Cyclone Tomas hit Fiji on Monday night many tourists were left wondering if their travel plans were in jeopardy. The majority of the main Fiji resorts on the island of Viti Levu were untouched according to a leading Fiji tourism expert. All international air services are back on to their full schedule however domestic flights are still suspended pending a thorough check of local airfields.
The islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni experienced the full brunt of Cyclone Tomas, communications and power supplies were taken out and fallen palm trees caused damage to the islands. In a statement released this morning, the islands have had all power restored and the damage was restricted to felled trees falling onto property. Hoteliers and resort operators have managed to clear the majority of the debris ready to open their doors.
The majority of Fiji’s tourism infrastructure is located on Viti Levu and the offshore island of Mamanuca; luckily these areas were untouched by the cyclone allowing tourism to continue as normal. Cruise companies had suspended their operations to and around Fiji; however they are expected to resume service in the next 24 hours.
The majority of Fiji’s resorts have their own form of cyclone protection with many being cyclone proof buildings. One small, exclusive hotel invites guests into their large wine cellar which is stocked with provisions to enjoy until the storm passes.
After international media coverage branded Fiji as being a total disaster area, officials are keen to distinguish between the varied affects of Cyclone Tomas on the countries 350 islands