European Tourism Market News
European Travel Commission calls for looser Chinese visa restrictions
The European Travel Commission has published a report quantifying the potential impacts of visa facilitation for Chinese travellers on European tourism.
EU Council backs new EU rules giving more protection to holidaymakers
New EU rules that will bring protection for package holidays in line with today’s digital age moved a step closer today following a political agreement by EU government ministers at today’s Competitiveness Council. The rules will extend protection of the 1990 EU Package Travel Directive to cover not only traditional package holidays, but also give clear protection to 120 million consumers who book other forms of combined travel.
New European Commission guidelines on passenger compensation
Airline passengers have been give new rights under guidelines unveiled by the European Commission. They include the right to be rerouted with rival carriers if travellers are delayed for more than 12 hours.
Berlin hotel demand set to grow six per cent in 2012
The European hotel market reported overall positive revenue per available room growth 12-months to January, according to hotel data provider STR Global. Despite the economic conditions a majority of the 157 cities and destinations tracked in Europe, only 15 saw declining demand while demand growth is expected in Berlin, London and Vienna in 2012.
European leaders agree new framework to promote destination
Antonio Tajani, vice-president of the European Commission and Petra Hedorfer, president of the European Travel Commission, have signed a historic Joint Declaration between the two organisations, which sets out the basis for strengthening the image and promotion of ‘Destination Europe’ in the future.
Roaming costs fall as EC offers tourists protection
Travellers in Europe are set to see the cost of calls and texts fall as the European Commission introduces limits on charges. Under the new rules – which came into effect over the weekend – the maximum retail prices for roaming calls will fall from the current 39 cents to 35 cents per minute for calls made and from 15 cents to 11 cents per minute for calls received.
Estonia welcomes the Euro and becomes a European capital of culture
January 1st 2011 sees the northern European country of Estonia become the latest country to adopt the Euro and enter its 12 months as one of two European Capitals of Culture in 2011, the largest cultural event in the history of Estonia with over 7000 cultural events planned.
European hoteliers on an upward path to recovery
Hoteliers in Europe have seen revPAR growth accelerate each month since December last year, with September posting the strongest yet, up 16.8 percent. This enabled the region to secure a 9.5 percent revPAR rise year-to-September to €64, compared to €58 during the same period in 2009, with occupancy the main driver of growth.
UK’s West Country benefits from downturn
Responding to the latest provisional International Passenger Survey* findings, which reveal that Brits took 16% fewer overseas trips in the first four months of the year compared to 2008, Alan Taylor, Managing Director of Blue Chip Vacations, the South West’s leading luxury self-catering holiday property business, said: “The fall in overseas travel is having a positive effect on UK tourist-related businesses that are able to provide high-quality experiences at competitive prices.