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EUROPEEurope Scotland pitches for more US visitors A major new campaign aims to increase US arrivals in Scotland by almost a third to 450,000 in 2010, generating some US$470mn (£250mn) in visitor spending. The wide-ranging initiative follows a 15% decline in visitors from the US in 2005 – in part a result of London’s terrorist bombs in July 2005. Wales cultures visitors Culture is a focus for Wales, particularly National Museum Wales (Amgueddfa Cymru), which runs seven major museums in the country. As a component of its centenary celebrations in 2007, it will embark on a two-year programme of renovations. Two big events for Spain Spain is highlighting two upcoming international events. The 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia, which runs in June/July 2007. A pre-Cup series of races sponsored by Louis Vuitton will offer visitors plenty of sailing interest from April onwards. In 2005, Valencia’s international visitor-nights increased around 15% to 2.5mn, and 2006 performance seems to be as good, boosted as it is by low-fare-airline flights from eight UK airports. UK arrivals in Valencia doubled in 2005 to around 82,000. Italy benefits from Olympics Figures from the World Tourism Organization indicate that the Winter Olympic Games in Turin at the start of this year had a positive impact on Italy’s visitor arrivals count. In the first quarter of the year, arrivals increased 4.6%; in 2005, the count fell 1.5% to 36.5mn, which followed a 6.4% fall in 2004. The risk, however, is that some travellers may have brought their trips forward to visit the Olympics – which could then mean a relative fall over the rest of the year. Italy is said to be rated by Chinese as their favourite destination in Europe, or, for those who have not yet visited Europe, as top of their European wishlist. Italy is also said to be Japan’s favourite European destination. Baltics business The meetings industry business was a major contributor to growth in visitor arrivals in Latvia (29%) and Lithuania (up 16%) in the first four months of 2006. Latvia, with recent growth in flights (mostly by low-fare-airlines) is gaining a higher profile in west European markets. Arrivals increased 3% in 2005 to 1.1mn, according to World Tourism Organization figures. Lithuania, however, says it has strong growth from central and Eastern Europe. Its arrivals grew 21% in 2004 to 1.8mn (2005 figures are still not available). However, Estonia, the other Baltic state, experienced a 4% drop in visitors in the first four months, following 9% growth in 2004. Main reason for this is a decline in its main source market Finland, which comprises over half of all visitors. Slovenia adds an island Slovenia plans to build an artificial island off its Adriatic coast. Construction, starting 2013, would finish in 2020. The US$125mn island would measure 30,000sqm and would have beaches, marina, bars, restaurants, and a health centre. The cost will be shared by Slovenia, the European Union, and private investors. In the past five years, UK tourism to Slovenia has increased five-fold, with a 19% increase in 2005, much as a result of Easyjet low-fare flights. Hungary expects 400,000 visitors from the UK by the end of this year, making the UK the country’s second largest visitor source after Germany. Russia - Moscow’s hotel count to surge? There is a surge in hotel construction in Moscow, says Iosif Ordzhonikidze, the city’s deputy mayor. Hotel accommodation, particularly mid-level, has been in short supply in the Russian capital, but he says plans to build new 3-star hotels are being approved every two weeks on average. He believes there will be 248 new hotels in the city before 2010. Moscow counted 3.5mn foreign visitors, up 21%, in 2005 - figures for international arrivals at Moscow’s airports and so excluding those arriving by other modes of travel. France - More museums for Paris The strong cultural image of Paris was boosted this year by the opening of two museums - the magnificent Musee des Arts Premiers on the River Seine is dedicated to all forms of art from Africa, Oceania, South America, and parts of Europe.The Musee des Arts Decoratifs reopened after undergoing four years of renovation. The museum has an exceptional collection of objects spanning 1000 years. In 2005, the 50 most prominent museums and monuments (M&M) in Paris attracted 59.6mn visitors (up 4.4%). The Notre Dame cathedral remains the city’s most-visited M&M, estimated as 13mn visitors. Sacre Coeur was second with 8mn, followed by The Louvre Museum 7.6mn, Eiffel Tower 6.4mn, and the Centre Pompidou 5.4mn . Switzerland hopes for good year Based on current results from Swiss hotels, this year should be a good one. Guest overnights through July grew 5.5% - and the foreigner total was even stronger, with 6.4% growth. Ireland links sports and tourism Ireland, which hosted the Ryder Cup golf tournament in September this year, estimates the event will have brought US$165mn to the economy. (That figure is based partly on the economic impact of the Ryder Cup at Birmingham’s Belfry in 2002, calculated to have added US$123mn to the West Midland’s economy. An official economic impact assessment will be done next year, but some analysts have already said the estimates are over-optimistic.) Failte Ireland, the national tourist office, says the event has allowed Ireland an unprecedented opportunity to show itself as a mature, world-class golfing destination. It has more than 400 courses and live television coverage to an estimated 1bn viewers in 150 countries has given the country’s facilities greater global exposure. Luxembourg rejoins culture club Luxembourg will be European Capital City of Culture* next year; it last won the title in 1995. Coverage will actually be stretched to the Walloon region in Belgium, Lorraine in France, and Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland in Germany. Luxembourg’s programme is based on migration and cultural cooperation. More than 350 projects will spread beyond the borders of the Grand Duchy, including music, dance and theatre festivals, exhibitions, open air parties, and more. Resort expansion in Turkey Turkey’s Lykia World group, owned by Silkar Turizm, the developer of holiday village Lykia World Oludeniz, plans to open a similar resort – Lykia World Antalya - in May 2007. The US$57mn development will have 450 units consisting of rooms, suites, apartments, villas and about 1200 beds on a 200,000sqm site. And in October 2007 Lykia World is due to open Turkey’s first ‘links’ golf course on a 1.5km strip by the sea, next to the Antalya holiday resort. (In international golf terms, ‘links golf’ is the name given to a seaside golf facility; out of the 36,000 golf courses in the world about 300-400 are links courses.) Greece upgrades Greece’s newly-announced tourism strategy for 2007-13, puts strong emphasis on upgrading the country’s tourism services and products, with the tourism ministry conscious it must create a better climate for tourism investment. Bulgaria counted 2.8mn international visitors, up 5%, in the first seven months of 2006. The UK market is ahead of that, up 12% to 250,000. The marketing focus in 2007 will be on Bulgarian Spa resorts and hotels both at the Black Sea and up in the mountains, along with the ski resorts of Bankso, Borovets, and Pamporovo and some coastal towns along the Black Sea - where some British are investing in holiday homes. Hungary’s national tourist office is promoting a winter deal that offers guests four nights in Budapest hotels for the price of three. France is host in September/October 2007 to the Rugby World Cup, an event which will be played in 10 cities: Bordeaux, Lens, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint Etienne, and Toulouse. The event should bring additional visitors to the country. According to the Organising Committee, RWC games will be attended by 2.4mn spectators and 4bn TV viewers. During the last RWC in 2003 in Australia, it was estimated that 65,000 international visitors went for the event.
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