Travel Markets Insider Newsletter Vol. 19 No. 45

The Travel Markets Insider newsletter is attached to this post as a PDF file. To open the PDF file, please click on this link.

 

We start off this issue of Travel Markets Insider with an update on the important Tocumen International Airport Terminal 2 duty free tender won by Motta Internacional and Duty Free Americas, with a comment by DFA President Leon Falic and photos of some of the new shops opened by both companies recently in Terminal 1. Page 1.
BY THE NUMBERS
The final accounting is completed and the UNWTO reports that global tourism hit another record in 2017, with the highest growth rate in eight years. Tourism is currently the world’s third-largest export sector, reaching US$1.6 trillion last year, and generating an incredible $4 billion a day worldwide. See full story on page 2.
Arrivals to the Americas increased about 4%, says UNWTO, with North America reporting slower growth than most of the rest of the region. Page 2.
One reason for the slower growth? The new “trade war” between the US and China is taking a toll on tourism arrivals to the U.S., reports air flight tracking agency ForwardKeys, with Chinese outbound bookings to the US for the rest of the year nearly 10% below where they were the same time last year. Page 3.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Leading duty free company Gebr. Heinemann is showing its commitment to responsible business practices by joining the United Nations Global Compact. Details on page 3.
CARIBBEAN
Nearly 3,000 deaths are estimated to have taken place in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria last September, drastically higher than the official toll, according to an independent study released today from the Milken Institute School of Public Health ant George Washington University. See page 5 for more information.
AT THE POINT OF SALE SPECIAL FEATURE
The L’Occitane Group is pursuing a robust customer-first retail strategy around the world, with a “glocal” approach to adapt to differing consumer preferences. The concept can be seen in new flagships in Brazil, France, china, London and Toronto, and most recently, the new interactive experiential concept opened at 555 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Page 4.
COUNTDOWN TO CANNES
 
Guylian Belgium Chocolates premiumizes with a new Travel Retail exclusive Golden Collection range, launching in Cannes. Page 5.
Perfetti van Melle is connecting with its travel retail sales staff via a unique interactive E-Learning tool. Read more on page 5.