Independent Business news website, Scoop, recently reported on New Zealand’s latest tactic to score Australian tourists – technology.
The campaign, launched this week, states that the New Zealand Tourism office will be using text downloading, interactive billboards, WAP technology, and ‘live’ film advertisements, along with regular television commercials to try to bring in more Australian tourists. Chief executive of the National Tourism Organization pointed out that the idea came from the realization that people were using their mobile phones for news, sports and weather, so the tourism office wanted to jump on the bandwagon.
The official offer is called the ‘Spring Pass’. Prospective tourists with the Spring Pass will get offers sent to their phone, and will be directed to the new WAP site, as well as the regular tourist sites, where they can find a New Zealand travel deal to suite them. They can also continue to receive offers on their phone once they arrive in New Zealand.
Interactive billboards set up in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will send messages to BlueTooth capable phones as they pass the billboards, offering them travel deals.
Journalists from Australia and abroad have been invited to see demonstrations of all the new features that the progressive Tourism office has to offer.
August 10, 2007 No Comments
An Australian publication, The Age, recently reported on the growing need for tourists traveling to Egypt to be guaranteed a safe, hassle-free trip.
Egypt is famous for its touts; infamous merchants who make a living offering rides around monuments, such as the Pyramids in Cairo, for a low, hourly fee. Touts usually rise as early as 5 a.m., in order to beat their competition, and tour around visitors on horses, donkeys, or camels. Some are fortunate enough to have a “licence-to-hassle”, and most started working as a child, bypassing any formal education.
With recent crises in the Middle East, tourism has become a top priority for the Egyptian Government. And, because of its deep-rooted ancient history, tourism is Egypt’s second biggest earner, after the Suez Canal. Though there was little problem between authorities and touts in the past, the government is recognizing the increasing irritation from tourists. There was even a touts’ protest march to protest a potential ban from the Pyramids.
However, unfortunately for the tourists and authorities, the touts seem to play an integral role in the tourism industry. For example, if a tourist is driving towards the Pyramids in a taxi was persuaded by approaching men to divert down a side road, and take a camel or horse up the plateau, the taxi drive would get a commission, and the guy who persuaded them would get a commission, not to mention the tout himself. And in order to stay off the radar, the touts sometimes have to pay off the tourist police as well, so most are benefiting.
If the touts were ever to be banned, there would not only be outrage, but a large unemployment increase. Almost all touts are uneducated, and with today’s heavy reliance on computers, they are unfit to do anything else.
August 10, 2007 No Comments
In a surprising upswing, South Africa has seen an increase in tourism over the last few years, despite other African nation’s conflict.
The Voice, a Francistown publication, noted that Botswana was now one of the leading tourist providers for South Africa. In 2006, more than 760,000 Botswana tourists traveled to South Africa, making Botswana South Africa’s fourth largest source market globally. Because Botswana shares a border with South Africa, and has similarities in language, it is an important market and should be targeted accordingly. And, to secure the future for Botswana tourists, the South African Tourism Office has invited a number of Botswana journalists to sample all some of the things they offer tourists.
Similarly, Travel Blackboard, an Australian newsletter, said that around 35,000 Australians traveled to South Africa in 2007 so far. This 6.7% increase, also makes Australia one of the largest tourist providers along with Botswana. Because both Australia and South Africa are in the southern Hemisphere, it is easy for Australians to take their families on when both countries’ schools will have vacation, and when the weather is similar.
With these increases, almost 900,000 tourists have visited South Africa in the first five months of 2007.
August 10, 2007 No Comments
Don’t miss a wonderful opportunity to experience Guatemala! LatinEscapes.com has recently announced a great travel deal that offers a 7-day trip to Guatemala. The trip features a tour through the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, the volcanoes of the Guatemala highlands, the colonial city of Antigua, a volcano-surrounded lake Atitlan, as well as tour through a mountain town of Chihcicastenango. Rates begin at $789 (for Miami departures) and includes air fares, 4 nights in Antigua at Las Floras Hotel, 2 nights in Atitlan at Porta Hotel Del Lago, daily breakfast, guided tours, and transfers throughout the itinerary. Taxes and fees are not included. Flights are also available from New York ($794/person), Los Angeles ($879/person) and other cities. In order for this offer to apply, the travel needs to be scheduled for dates prior to December 10 and must be booked by August 31. Note that the rates are calculated per person and are based on a double occupancy and mid-week flight dates. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information, visit: http://www.latinescapes.com/promotions.asp?id=132#
July 31, 2007 No Comments
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