The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.
Numbers. The latest air passenger traffic from industry groups ACI and IATA indicate that the rate of growth moderated in most parts of the world in March, although globally, Latin America was the only region to see an improvement in March over February (Carnival-driven, no doubt.) See who else reported double-digit growth that month. Page 1.
Despite the slowdown, tourism arrivals to the United States are showing strong growth, which the US Department of Commerce is forecasting will stay apace through 2018, at least. Moreover, tourism company Attract China, which runs a destination portal to connect its clients with the independent Chinese traveler, forecasts that 2.5 million Chinese tourists will visit the US this year, spending more than $14 billion while they are here. More details on page 4.
In more airport news, St. Kitts‘ new Private Air Terminal – one of the government’s key tourism projects – has opened for business. Page 1. And in Toronto Pearson International, Nuance has unveiled three beautiful Estée Lauder Travel Retail specialty boutiques, in addition to the one for Victoria’s Secret reported on last month. Page 2.
The allure of the Chinese market is being felt on the sea, as well as in the air – Carnival Corporation reports that China is the fastest-growing cruise market in the world, and the giant company is adding a fourth ship to its China portfolio, in a move to accelerate its leadership position. Page 3.
SUPPLY SIDE. YSL Beauté and Calvin Klein name glamorous new faces for key product launches. The new Suntory Beam company is aiming to double sales by 2020; and Danzka Vodka wins a Double-Gold medal in a prestigious blind taste-test. Pages 2 – 3.
TFWA. Amid all the news regarding China and the Chinese traveler, TFWA announces details of the 2nd China’s Century Conference, to take place in March 2015 in Shanghai. See page 1 for venue and dates.
An industry milestone. This Saturday, May 17, Hand in Hand for Haiti will officially inaugurate the Lycée Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable school and sports complex in Saint-Marc, Haiti. TMI will carry a full report next week.
