Rochelle Knight’s Post

Canadian Visits to the Caribbean Expected to Jump 14% Canadian visits to the Caribbean are increasing at a more rapid pace than visits from the rest of the world, and Toronto is the leading origin city.

Best cities and towns in Portugal that are worth a visit the most. Insider tips including the best things to do in each town. Find out!

Last week, I visited the South African Parliament to attend the Tourism.gov.za Portfolio Committee meeting on behalf of the Parliamentary Monitoring Group to report on crucial discussions around short-term rental regulations—an area aligned with my PhD research which provided recommendations for the regulation of Airbnb in South Africa. Key insights from the meeting regarding short-term rental regulatory concerns: 1) Need to Level Playing Field: The need for balanced regulations to ensure fair competition with traditional tourism businesses. 2) Follow a Proportionate Approach: Threshold-based rules to differentiate smaller hosts from larger operators, supporting both community stability and market growth. 3) Promote Policy Certainty: Clear guidelines will build confidence, enabling responsible growth in the short-term rental market. It’s exciting to see these regulatory developments, and I look forward to supporting a framework that benefits the tourism sector, short-term hosts & the many other stakeholders impacted by short-term rentals.  #Tourism #ShortTermRentals #Airbnb #PropertyLaw #SouthAfrica #ParliamentaryMonitoringGroup #SustainableTourism #Booking.com #Lekkerslaap

💡 Many places of disaster and death inevitably lure tourists motivated to experience ‘dark tourism.’ This can naturally prove contentious, as those impacted by the tragedies which intrigue tourists may be understandably less enthusiastic about the prospect of dark tourism. Being from Monaghan, a border area, I was interested to read Ironside and James’ (2024) study, which investigates the Northern Ireland tourism industry with a focus on dark (Troubles) tourism. 👇 The study surveyed Northern Ireland residents and potential tourists, conducted a focus group, and interviewed tour guides and a local MP to ascertain perspectives on Troubles tourism. 🤔 Some findings I found interesting included: ✅ Most overseas respondents were interested in Troubles Tourism, with those from Great Britain and ROI responding most positively. This demonstrates the potential of this form of tourism to attract tourists to Northern Ireland. ✅ The tours emotionally affected all the focus group members who had done one, and they were all positive about the experience. This suggests that the tours positively impact the image of Northern Ireland, showing a diverse and forward-looking society that has embraced the Peace Process. ✅ Residents from Republican and Loyalist communities were interviewed. Over half of residents felt that the tours had a somewhat positive effect on society moving forward. There was no real disparity between the views of the two communities and no differences in opinion between those who were older and experienced the conflict personally and those of the new generation. Tour guides emphasised the potential for those involved in past conflict to find work in tourism, and it was also suggested that tourism facilitated peace-building between the two communities of NI. ✅ Locals feel it is time to open these sites, experiences, and stories to the tourist market. Still, the stories should remain authentic, with each side of the conflict discussing it from its perspective. Tour guides believe the tours bring people together from both sides of the conflict and encourage tourists to develop empathy. People want to tell their stories, and others want to listen to them. ✅ Troubles Tourism has brought the RC and Protestant communities closer together and has broken down barriers, with former combatants working collaboratively to benefit future generations. Each side must tell its own story from its perspective and not speak for others. Accordingly, stakeholders should allow this type of tourism to develop but not become over-commodified. 👇 This article, published last year, outlines Northern Ireland's tourism journey.

UK Remains Greece’s Top Market in Unpredictable Summer #GreekSummerChallenges #UKGreeceBookings #TourismVolatility #LastMinuteGetaways #GrecotelSuccess #ResilientUKMarket #TravelTrends2021 #GreeceTourismUpdates #LateBookingSurge #SummerSalesRise

Recent data in the UKCCA 2024 Economic Benefits Report indicates a renewed interest in UK holiday parks, posing a challenge to foreign destinations. UK holiday park visitors stayed up to 82% longer and spent about 12% more than the national tourism average. Cornwall leads the way with a substantial +57% year-on-year interest, while Ayrshire and Kent experience noteworthy spikes at +90% and +81%, respectively. The growing preference for domestic holiday parks is influenced by factors such as geopolitical tensions, increased travel costs, and rising inflation rates impacting international travel. It's an interesting time for holiday park owners to make the most of this changing scene and redefine how we see staycations in the UK. This comes as no surprise to Seventy Ninth Group as they have consistently demonstrated a keen understanding of market trends and opportunities. Leveraging their 30+ years of expertise in the UK property sector, the Webster family steering Seventy Ninth Group has not only anticipated but actively embraced the evolving holiday park market. #seventyninthglobal #seventyninthgroup #uk #holidayparks #leisureparks #analysis

In four weeks time, a little over half the international arrivals into New Zealand will start paying $100 each for the international visitor levy, up from $35 now. The Government says it will have little impact on arrivals. #TourismIndustryAotearoa has estimated it could result in 48,000 fewer visitor arrivals over the next 12 months, reducing international visitor spend by $273m. Meanwhile, the government will collect an extra $100m or so each year from the increased levy. It is a significant change for tourism in New Zealand, but the big question still to be fully answered - what is the money collected by the Government going to be spent on? Will it improve the visitor experience for those paying the tax, and will it relieve pressure on tourism destinations? https://lnkd.in/gxqteZwt

#Taxes and fees:. #Venice recently launched an entry fee for tourists coming to see its famous canals but only staying for one day. The city also has an overnight tax in place, the rate of which is based on the number of nights spent and the level or number of stars the accommodation has. #Bans: #Amsterdam recently joined Venice as the latest destination to consider restricting tourist levels through bans of cruise ships in its city centres. While the plan has been approved by the city council, the changes have yet to be enacted. #Rewards for good behavior: #Copenhagen has taken a slightly different approach, rewarding visitors who contribute positively to the environment – litter picking or using public transport, for instance – with free food or cultural experiences, reports CNN. Setting #limits: The French city of #Marseilles introduced a reservation system to limit the number of tourists entering the Calanques National Park. It wanted to protect a cove it says is "the area's most sensitive, vulnerable, and degraded" site. https://lnkd.in/d5QZhjvt #tourism #Tourisminsights #pakistan #tourismindustry #AtharJ #ecotourism #sustainabletourism #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment #tourismmarketing #60seconds