Travel Magazine

Frankfurt Airport Serves More than 70.5 Million Passengers

January 15, 2020 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) served more than 70.5 million passengers in 2019 – achieving a new all-time record by exceeding the 70-million mark for the first time in a calendar year. Compared to the previous year, this represents a passenger increase of 1.5 percent. Following a positive trend in the first half of 2019 (up 3.0 percent), passenger volumes largely stagnated in the second half of the year (up 0.2 percent). In the months of November and December 2019, passenger numbers declined for the first time since November 2016. The relatively weaker growth in full-year passenger numbers can be mainly attributed to domestic traffic (down 3.4 percent) and European traffic (up 1.2 percent). In contrast, intercontinental traffic to and from FRA increased by 3.4 percent in 2019.

Fraport AG’s executive board chairman, Dr. Stefan Schulte, commented: “The reduction of airline flight services for the current winter schedule had a noticeable impact on passenger volumes at Frankfurt. After a long and extraordinarily strong growth phase – during which we gained almost 10 million passengers in the last three years – we can now see that the aviation industry is entering a consolidation phase. Broader economic and geopolitical uncertainties have worsened, while unilateral national measures – such as raising the local air traffic tax – are placing an additional burden on the German aviation industry in 2020.”

The number of aircraft movements at FRA rose by 0.4 percent to 513,912 takeoffs and landings in 2019. Accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) were up 0.8 percent to about 31.9 million metric tons. Cargo throughput (airfreight + airmail) contracted by 3.9 percent to 2.1 million metric tons, reflecting the ongoing slowdown of the global economy.

In December 2019, FRA’s passenger traffic declined by 1.2 percent year-on-year to 4.9 million passengers. With 36,635 takeoffs and landings, aircraft movements shrank by 4.4 percent. MTOWs slipped by 2.9 percent to just under 2.4 million metric tons. Cargo volumes decreased by 7.2 percent to 170,384 metric tons.

The airports in Fraport AG’s international portfolio continued to show largely positive performance during 2019. Affected by the bankruptcy of home-carrier Adria Airways and other factors, Ljubljana Airport (LJU) in Slovenia recorded a 5.0 percent traffic decline in the reporting year (December 2019: down 21.6 percent). In contrast, Fraport’s two Brazilian airports of Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto Alegre (POA) posted combined traffic growth of 3.9 percent to 15.5 million passengers (December 2019: up 0.3 percent). Peru’s Lima Airport (LIM) continued the strong performance of previous years, with traffic rising by 6.6 percent (December 2019: up 5.4 percent).

Traffic at the 14 Greek regional airports expanded slightly by 0.9 percent to nearly 30.2 million passengers in 2019 (December 2019: down 2.2 percent). Following years of dynamic growth, traffic at Varna (VAR) and Burgas (BOJ) airports in Bulgaria declined by 10.7 percent, due to airlines consolidating their flight offerings (December 2019: up 23.3 percent).

In 2019, traffic at Turkey’s Antalya Airport (AYT) once again advanced rapidly by 10.0 percent to almost 35.5 million passengers (December 2019: up 2.8 percent). Pulkovo Airport (LED) in St. Petersburg, Russia, saw traffic climb by 8.1 percent to some 19.6 million passengers (December 2019: up 5.7 percent). At Xi’an Airport (XIY) in China, traffic jumped by 5.7 percent to more than 47.2 million passengers (December 2019: up 4.7 percent).

SOURCE Fraport AG
https://www.fraport.com

Zehnder’s Snowfest Celebrates Its 29th Snow and Ice Extravaganza January 22 – 27, 2020

January 14, 2020 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Snowfest

Six days of winter fun is on the menu for the 2020 Zehnder’s Snowfest, January 22-27. Larger than life snow sculptures and dazzling ice creations will fill the Bavarian-themed village of Frankenmuth, just 90 miles north of Detroit. Both amateur and professional snow and ice sculpting teams will compete for championship titles. If Michigan weather is too mild, snow machines will pile up giant blocks of snow for the carving competitions.

Visitors can take the chill off at the festival warming tent that will feature live music from rock to the U.S. 338th Army Band and a Karaoke contest. On January 24, the Detroit Tiger Winter Caravan returns to Snowfest. Visitors can meet staff, coaches and players during a question/answer period. Free admission, but sorry, no autographs for this event. Outside there will be pony rides, a petting zoo, carousel rides and more for youngsters.

“Every year we work to create a special week to celebrate the winter season,” said Zehnder’s Chairman/CEO Al Zehnder. “Our staff, volunteers, sponsors, Frankenmuth businesses and our Chamber of Commerce comes together to welcome visitors and area residents to the best of Frankenmuth.” More than 100,000 winter enthusiasts are expected to attend Zehnder’s Snowfest.

The fun begins on Wednesday, January 22 when World Class professional snow sculptors begin to carve out giant works of art. Local teams from Michigan will also compete in the State of Michigan category. High School snow teams will join in at Frankenmuth Riverplace later in the week.

The “All Things Chocolate Baking Contest” returns on Wednesday, January 22 in the Warming Tent. There will be door prizes, food samples and demonstrations plus complimentary recipe books and live musical entertainment.

Doors open for the Snowfest Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on January 23. The show stars Gary Todd who is a one-man show. His program features his mastery of 10 instruments, music, song, comedy and more. Tickets are $45 per person; includes meal, tax, tip and entertainment. Call (989) 652-0450 for reservations or for more information.

The Collegiate Alumni Ice Carving Challenge and Collegiate Ice Carving Competitions begin on Friday, January 24 embracing the theme, “Under the Stars.” The event takes place on Main Street at the Edwin L. Zehnder Park. The annual fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday, January 25 at 6:45 p.m.

On Monday, January 27, Snowfest concludes with the 29th annual Chef’s Hot Food Competition and Tasting at Zehnder’s restaurant beginning at 6:00 p.m. This year the theme is a Culinary Salute to Caribbean Cuisine. Food will be prepared by local chefs and area culinary students. Sponsored by the American Culinary Federation/Saginaw Valley Chapter, tickets are $30 per person. Proceeds support the Saginaw East Side Soup Kitchen “After School Meal Program”. Reservations: 989-652-0450.

For a complete Snowfest schedule filled with activities, concerts, food, fireworks, entertainment and directions, go to www.zehnderssnowfest.com
Source: Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth

Tourism to Japan reaches record figures in 2019: Japan’s tourism boom in 2019 in figures

January 7, 2020 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Japan's tourism boom, Tourism to Japan

In 2019, Japan recorded its highest number of foreign visitors , ending a ten-year growth period in the country’s tourism sector, with more international travelers using Japanese railways than ever before in the decade. Visitors are also increasingly choosing to travel with a JR Pass as the number of pass sales doubled during the year.

Japan’s tourism boom in 2019 in figures

The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached its highest level in 12 months, reaching 2.3 million in September 2019.
68,400 British tourists visited Japan in October 2019, enough to fill 51 Shinkansen trains during the peak period.
Japan ends the decade with its highest overall tourism statistics in the past ten years (more than 32.5 million foreign visitors).
In 2019, Japan welcomed 3% more train passengers compared to 2018, reaching 25.6 million rail passengers .
The number of JR Passes sold in 2019 doubled compared to the previous year, with 44% more American citizens buying a pass, as well as 8.5% more British travelers.
Japan carries 4.5 million more rail passengers per year than the German railways, despite 28,000 fewer rail routes.
The number of international travelers to Japan in September 2019 reached 2.3 million (an increase of 5.2% compared to 2018).
Japan’s revolutionary transportation plans for 2020

Japan aims to target 40 million foreign visitors in 2020, with a high number of vacationers scheduled for the Tokyo Olympics .

This year will also see the launch of the N700S Shinkansen trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka . The N700S class is the first improved Bullet type train to be introduced in 13 years and has the potential to reach speeds of 360 km / h.

A new station will be opened on the Yamanote line from Tokyo to serve events taking place in Tokyo Bay during the Olympic Games. The Takanawa entrance station will be the first new stop in 48 years on the Yamanote line.

The Tokyo Olympics will also host 100 autonomous vehicles , the operation of which is planned around the new station and the Olympic venues. These autonomous cars will be supplied by the national car manufacturers Nissan and Toyota.

About JRailpass.com: JRailpass.com is a private company not affiliated with any government service specializing in international sales. It offers a simple and user-friendly method of purchasing a JR card online before arriving in Japan.

SOURCE: JRailPass.com
https://www.jrailpass.com

Shaanxi, the Ancient Millennium Capital is Growing Into a Web Celebrity in the Tourist Destinations

January 5, 2020 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Ancient Millennium Capital, Shaanxi, Shaanxi tourist attractions, Tourist Destinations, Xi'an

In recent years, Shaanxi has been taking the globally leading position of promoting tourism and culture, and now has grown into the “web celebrity” in the global tourism market. In the era dominated by social media and network flow, Shaanxi has been closely following the pace of the development of the Times.

The history and culture of Shaanxi are everywhere, and the perfect integration between the thousand-year-old capital and the modern city is irreplaceable in China. City Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Tang Paradise, and many other historical spots are “the most searched hashtags” among the tourists.

Shaanxi puts traditional resources creatively displayed. Xi’an, its capital, has been striving to build “Music City,” “Museum City,” and “City with Book Aroma.” It also held a variety of fantastic events, including the Silk Road International Film Festival, International Marathon, and light show in the Tang Paradise, to present the visitors an international metropolis with ancient charm.

VidCon, the world’s largest celebration of digital video and online creators, was grandly held in the USA this July and attracted thousands of web celebrities and fans from all over the world. The creative booth brought by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism made a debut at the event, which broke through the traditional mode of promoting the tourism and culture in the global market. Interactive experiences it brought blended with various elements of Shaanxi tourist attractions and culture, leaving the fans with deep impressions. By integrating the web celebrity marketing, TikTok and the VidCon, it effectively improved the exposure and the international reputation of Shaanxi tourism and culture, introducing Shaanxi history and human civilization to the fans all over the world.

Shaanxi has been insisting on an open and inclusive attitude and has been positively building the international first-class cultural tourism center with historical and cultural characteristics. In the future, Shaanxi will continue to focus on providing excellent cultural products and services, combined with the promotion on the international social media and the launch of online and offline creative activities at home and abroad.

SOURCE The Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism

History and Modernity Converge in the Ancient City of Xi’an

December 30, 2019 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Ancient City of Xi'an, Terracotta Warriors

One of the best tourist destinations in China, Xi’an is home to numerous historical and cultural sites, including Terracotta Warriors. According to data released by Xi’an Cultural and Tourism Bureau, Xi’an received 294 million visitors from home and abroad from January to November of 2019. On December 12, Xi’an held a conference on the integration and promotion of cultural tourism, and proposed the goal of making Xi’an a world-class tourist destination by the end of 2022. Xi’an has in recent years vigorously promoted the deep integration of cultural tourism. Numerous historically and culturally rich and innovative tourism projects have given the ancient city of Xi’an greater vitality.

Recently, Feng Jiachen, a tumbler girl dressed in a Tang Dynasty costume, became an online celebrity for her elegant dancing performance in Xi’an. On Douyin, one of China’s most popular short-video social media platforms, videos of the tumbler girl’s performance have recorded over 1.62 billion views. Her performance every night attracts a huge audience, including many visitors from outside of Xi’an who come to watch her performance.

The street where she performs every day is located at the foot of the world-famous Dayan Pagoda. When night falls, the evening lights are resplendently beautiful, lighting up the night sky of the ancient city. As a name card of Xi’an, the street, known as the Grand Tang Mall, is home to some of the most popular elements such as online celebrity bands, performance art, delicious food from all over the world and shopping malls, as well as traditional Chinese history and culture. As a representative of “Culture + Tourism + Commerce” and a trend indicator of “night economy”, the Grand Tang Mall has been among the first batch of national pilot pedestrian streets.

In recent years, Xi’an has taken frequent measures to revive inbound tourism market. Xi’an became the first 144-hour transit visa-free city in Northwest China starting from 1 December 2019. At the end of 2019, Xi’an Xianyang International Airport had a total of 88 routes connecting with international destinations and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan at, with access to 36 countries and 74 major hubs and cities worldwide, covering 43 cities in 20 countries along the “Belt and Road”.

In March 2019, Xi’an was elected as the “East Asian Cultural Capital 2019”. In October, Xi’an was ranked 6th among the world’s top 20 trending travel destinations for 2020 by Airbnb, and was also the only Chinese city in the list. Nowadays, when visiting Xi’an, in addition to traditional scenic spots like the Terra-Cotta Warriors and the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, more and more tourists from home and abroad are attracted by many new spots such as the resplendent Grand Tang Mall, the ever-changing Xixian New Area, the Chanba Ecological District, and the Xi’an International Trade & Logistics Park.

SOURCE: Xi’an Cultural and Tourism Bureau

Travel Trend Expectations for The 2020s

December 27, 2019 By Travel Guide Tagged With: Travel Trends

Single apps for all travel needs, passport free travel, and mobile app check-in are the top three ‘new travel norms’ expected by travelers in the next decade, according to new research by Agoda, the world’s fastest growing digital travel platform.

With the continued advancement of technology, revolutionary travel apps, and better connectivity, people expect a lot more from their travel experience in the next decade. Specifically, Southeast Asians half of all respondents in Indonesia (56%), Singapore (54%), Malaysia (53%), Taiwan (50%), the Philippines (48%) and Thailand (48%) considering this the norm in the next decade. This compares to only a third of people in the United Kingdom and the United States (33%).

Specifically, in Taiwan (50%) and in Southeast Asia half of all respondents in Indonesia (56%), Singapore (54%), Malaysia (53%), the Philippines (48%) and Thailand (48%) considering this the norm in the next decade. This compares to only a third of people in the United Kingdom and the United States (33%).

Meanwhile, Singapore (50%), Vietnam (47%), Philippines (45%), China (44%) and Australia (41%) are the top five origins most likely to see a future with passport-free travel. In the UK and US, they are less expectant of this advancement with only 1 in 5 expecting it to be the norm within the next decade.

Technology has already made such a positive impact on how and where people travel as innovative technologies, like those developed at Agoda, give travelers instant access to millions of hotels and home properties around the world with real time pricing and availability.

“It is a technology golden age for travelers, as technology is developed to simplify the way anyone, anywhere can search, book and pay for flights, hotels or holiday accommodation. The 2000s was defined by the mouse and the computer, putting online travel booking just a click away. The 2010s, was defined by the smart phone and app, and put a travel agent in the pocket of every phone owner, and the 2020s will be defined by the power of data and Machine Learning (AI). This will enable companies like Agoda to provide personalized, more relevant recommendations to make booking travel even easier,” explains Timothy Hughes, Vice President of Corporate Development at Agoda. “Asian travelers, in particular, are enthused by, and expectant of, technology developments that enhance and simplify their travel experience. Asian based companies are now leading the world in technology adoption and development to achieve this. I expect to see Asia press ahead with that lead in the 2020s – especially in areas such as video and augmented reality, improved mobile services with more chat and voice solutions, and payments to help bring the “unbanked” online”.

Globally, people want to increase travel, but also to make eco-friendlier travel choices

Universally, people want to increase the amount of travel they undertake in the 2020s. Exploring more of their own country is cited by 40% of respondents globally, while international travel more often is anticipated at 35%.

What’s also interesting, in the context of global narratives on climate sustainability, is the trend that more than a quarter want to make more eco-friendly travel choices in the next decade. Travelers from Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are most keen to make eco-friendlier choices perhaps more aware than others with the recent closure of Maya Bay in Thailand, and the Boracay rehabilitation program in Philippines, and thus travelers want to do their bit even when on holiday.

Travelers in the 35-44 and 55+ age groups are most likely to want to explore their own countries and territories more (40% and 42% respectively), with those from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, The Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, US and Vietnam choosing domestic destinations within their top three wishlist destinations for the coming decade.

Meanwhile Korean and Japanese travelers see themselves taking more solo trips in the next decade. Taiwanese and Indonesians would prefer taking a sabbatical or gap year.

Kyoto scoops #1 spot as the world’s most desired destination to visit in the 20s

Asia dominates the global travel wishlists destinations for the next decade, as travelers from both Asia and the West showcase a growing curiosity for Asian treasures like Kyoto (Japan) famed for its Shinto shrine, Kyoto is an eclectic blend of culture, food and history, followed by Bangkok, (Thailand) and Bali, (Indonesia).

Travelers in Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia want to cross off their own capital cities from their travel lists. Meanwhile, South Korea, the UK, and Australian travelers are the only one who don’t choose a domestic destination on their wishlists for travel in the next decade.

American and British travelers alike are most excited about visiting New York in the coming decade, with New York also a top three choice for travelers from Australia, Japan and South Korea. Both Malaysian and Indonesian travelers would like to visit Makkah by 2030.

USA

Next Decade of Travel

42% of Americans expect to check into hotels using their mobile phones as the norm while 29% expect to use a single app for all their travel needs.
12% of Americans want to make more eco-friendlier choices when traveling in the next decade.
New York tops wishlist travelers in the US in the 2020s. This is followed by London (#2) and Sydney (#3).
38% of Americans would like to explore more of their own country in the next decade, while 26% would like to travel more internationally
Notes to Editors:

About the travel data

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Singapore PTE Limited. Total sample size was 16,383 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12 December 2019 and 18 December 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of adults in the respective countries (aged 18+). Additional country breakdown can be found in the Agoda Press Room.

Source: Agoda

Agoda is one of the world’s fastest growing online travel booking platforms. From its beginnings as an e-commerce start-up based in Singapore in 2005, Agoda has grown to offer a global network of over 2.5 million properties in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, offering travelers easy access to a wide choice of luxury and budget hotels, apartments, homes and villas to suit all budgets and travel occasions.

Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 5,000 staff across 67 cities in more than 30 countries. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 38 languages.

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