<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
     xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
     xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
     xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
     xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
     xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
     xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
    >

<channel>
    <title>TravMagazine</title>
    <atom:link href="https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/category/magazine-en/report/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
    <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/category/magazine-en/report/</link>
    <description>Het grootste reisvakblad van Nederland</description>
    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:12:35 +0000</lastBuildDate>
    <language>en-US</language>
    <yeartag>2026</yeartag>

    <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
    <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>

    <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4</generator>

<image>
	<url>https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cropped-cropped-TravMagazine-1-32x32.png</url>
	<title>Report Archives - TravMagazine</title>
	<link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/category/magazine-en/report/</link>
	<width>32</width>
	<height>32</height>
</image> 

    
        <item>

                        <title>&#8216;It&#8217;s a shame to go to Albania just for the beach&#8217;</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/its-a-shame-to-go-to-albania-just-for-the-beach/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/its-a-shame-to-go-to-albania-just-for-the-beach/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:00:42 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Theo de Reus]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Interview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/its-a-shame-to-go-to-albania-just-for-the-beach/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
Photo: In the centre of Berat, with guide Irilda, Pual van Laarhoven, Maaike van der Windt, Gianpaolo Galipò and Marie Vermeesch (both Sais Tours) How much Albania can you see in just over four days? Much, very much, becomes apparent during a round trip from Tirana in the north to Gjirokastër in the south and &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Photo: In the centre of Berat, with guide Irilda, Pual van Laarhoven, Maaike van der Windt, Gianpaolo Galipò and Marie Vermeesch (both Sais Tours)  
How much Albania can you see in just over four days?
Much, very much, becomes apparent during a round trip from Tirana in the north to Gjirokastër in the south and back again.
At the invitation of Maaike van der Windt and Paul van Laarhoven of de Jong Intra Vakanties, Theo de Reus (Editor-in-Chief of TravMagazine) travels on their introductory trip through the country that is going to be very successful on the Dutch market.    Arrival at Tirana airport is smooth.
Because Albania is outside the Schengen zone, I finally get a stamp in my passport again.
After customs we are met by countless people who hold up signs from behind gates at the exit.
Not an unusual sight at airports.
But in this case, no names of arriving passengers on the signs, but only one word: e-SIM or Vodafone.
With the exception of Vodafone, mobile subscriptions from the Netherlands do not work in Albania.
As a visitor, you have to rely on e-SIM, which is best purchased and installed in the Netherlands, or else at one of the vendors at the airport.
Vodafone couldn&#8217;t wish for a better advertisement.
Gianpaolo Galipò, owner of incoming agent Sais Tours with whom de Jong Intra Vakanties works, has rented a sturdy Range Rover, with plenty of room for five people and luggage.
Number five is for Marie Vermeesch, who does the shopping in Albania for the Italian Sais Tours and turns out to be a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Albania and knows every hotel. View of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Berat The destination for the first night is Berat, a city with the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage stamp, which Albania is richly endowed with.
In fact, you should do your best to visit a place that is not recognized by UNESCO.
One of the few Dutch-language travel guides I could find about Albania calls Berat &#8216;a historical gem that you should definitely not miss&#8217;.
But for the time being, we still have to drive more than three hours, while Tirana also appears to have a real Monday afternoon traffic jam.
From the back seat, a green and sometimes rugged landscape passes by.
On the way, the question is: do we first go to the hotel in the center to check in or do we do the planned wine tasting in the village that is on the route?
An hour later we are sitting at the Nurellari wine farm, a village on the outskirts of Berat, behind tall glasses.
After the usual tour of wooden barrels and a tour of the wine cellar, we taste white and red wines, of which the family business produces 65,000 bottles per year locally.
The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavia are major buyers of Albanian wines.
They are top wines, is also our conclusion. The center of Gjirokaster in the south of Albania In a cheerful mood we set off for our first dinner on Albanian soil.
Paul van Laarhoven says from the co-driver&#8217;s seat that he is &#8216;quite hungry again&#8217;.
Occasional driver Gianpaolo Galipò deftly winds us over the dark mountain roads, to a village east of Berat.
Thanks to its exuberant lighting, Restaurant Alpeta is visible from afar.
On a weekday Monday evening we expected a deserted restaurant, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Two birthdays are celebrated at long tables.
They are families of three or even four generations.
The age of the partygoers varies from four years old to well into their eighties, we estimate.
Old men keep an eye on us from behind their half-full glasses, while the children curiously come to look at our table.                           We are introduced to the natural cuisine of Albania.
Lots of salads, lots of feta, everything with fresh ingredients, no-frills food.
And served with a big smile by the owner himself, who asks a hundred times if everything is still okay. The villa in the centre of Tirana where the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha lived until his death in 1985, is now a place of interest Hotel Colombo in the centre of Berat, where we arrive well after eleven o&#8217;clock in the evening, is housed in an imposing former bank building, with a domed roof and a wing to the left and right.
It gives the five-star hotel the allure of the White House in Washington.
A double room costs 60 euros per night.
&#8216;But that will soon change&#8217;, Marie expects.
&#8216;There is a lot of renovation going on, which drives up the price.&#8217; The swimming pool that is still under construction is proof.
During a morning walk, Berat presents itself as the historical gem that my travel guide had promised.
We walk across the Bulevardi Republika, where old men sit on benches under trees discussing whether their lives depend on it.
We pass an endless row of restaurants and coffee shops.
The central square will be provided with new pavement.
A parking garage may be built under the square to accommodate the tourist cars, so that the authentic character of Berat is not affected.
Everything is being prepared for the bulk of tourists who will come.
If not this year, then certainly in the years to come.
I realize that I am an eyewitness to how a destination develops into adulthood.
That feeling will stay all week. The beach of Ksamil in the southwest of Albania We walk along the fast-flowing river Osum and admire the houses and churches that seem to be carved into the surrounding rocks.
After the walk we drink coffee at the Bulevardi Republika.
Paul insists that he can pay.
I quickly understand why; For six cappuccinos and six bottles of water (including those for the guide), the bill is 8 euros and 50 cents.
With such prices, you can treat again.
I intend to pay for the coffee next time.
If Berat is a pearl, then Gjirokastër in southern Albania is a diamond.
Fortunately, there is still an uncut diamond, although we meet the first visitors from Japan who take turns photographing each other in the small center.
Gjirokastër gained a certain fame through the series Wie is de Mol?
which partly took place here in 2022.
The city is built on a hill.
The square at the bottom of the hill is temporarily a construction site, where the new underground parking garage has just been put into use.
We walk silently up the narrow main street, with small boutiques, shops with local trinkets and restaurants to the left and right.
Everything here exudes a certain tranquility, something that undoubtedly has to do with the steepness of the streets.
We will skip the castle and spend our time having a local lunch.                              When we leave the parking garage after a few hours, the guard walks with us to the exit to personally open the barrier with our exit ticket.
He stands there for a moment and waves before he dives back into his garage.     Sarandë or Saranda, a coastal town in the south, is a holiday resort in development as tourists like to visit.
Hotels with sea view and a promenade with restaurants and terraces.
The hotel complex where we spend the night has just opened a third building.
Inside, it smells like a new car.
In the elevator I meet two elderly German couples, who enthusiastically tell me that there must be a beer party somewhere.
They just need to figure out where.
Holiday fun at its best.
On our way to our dinner restaurant further down the boulevard, we find ourselves in the middle of the annual Fish Festival, complete with live music.
On the other side of the water we can see the contours of the Greek island of Corfu in the twilight.
The coastal town of Vlorë, we are already heading north, is less massive in terms of tourism than Sarandë.
The place is a great base to discover the coast with a fast boat.
An afternoon at sea while the sun is doing its best is not a punishment.             A walk through the center takes you past the huge independence monument on the main square, the Muradi mosque (from 1542) and most importantly, the old district of Vlora, car-free, colorful and with many coffee shops.
Our hotel for the night is brand new.
The owner doesn&#8217;t want to complain, but explains that the tourist season in Vlorë is relatively short.
His clientele consists mainly of passers-by who make a round trip from Tirana airport with a rental car, but there are few overnight tourists.
He says he is eagerly awaiting the opening of the new southern airport near Vlorë, which should be trial run in 2025 and should really start in 2026. The Pyramid of Tirana On the way to Tirana, we stop in Durres, also a coastal town, and visit one of the popular beach hotels in the offer of the Jong Intra Vakanties.
It is located directly on the beach and offers everything for a holiday in the sun at a competitive price.
Many young people book this hotel, but there are guests of all ages in the hotel lobby.        



  If I were to say that we have saved the most beautiful thing, in this case the capital Tirana, for last, I would be doing an injustice to the rest of Albania.
But Tirana is a pleasant city to explore.
Shops, restaurants and coffee shops are lined up.
There are local markets and many terraces in the spacious town.
We walk through the neighborhood where the villa is located where the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha lived until his death in 1985.
Under his rule, tens of thousands of Albanians disappeared into camps or were executed in the 1950s.       
&#8216;Five days in Albania is too short.
It&#8217;s a destination to come back to&#8217; 
  After his death, his daughter and son-in-law designed the Pyramid of Tirana, which was to serve as a museum for the late dictator.
It didn&#8217;t come to that.
The building was used as an exhibition space and event venue.
Today, it is a climbing object and landmark that symbolizes the transition from a strict communist regime to a more democratic society.
In any case, the pyramid is a tourist attraction.
At our farewell dinner in the center of Tirana, Alina Starove, head of marketing at the National Tourist Board of Albania, joins us.
I can ask her the question that has been occupying my mind for four days: how can Albania maintain its unique characteristics, such as small-scale hotels and low price levels, when at the same time it wants to grow strongly?          Her answer is partly reassuring. The government of Albania does not want to allow mass hotels. &#8220;We have learned from the mistakes of our neighboring countries,&#8221; she says firmly, emphasizing that the tourist board wants to focus its marketing on the higher customer segment. These core countries also include the Netherlands and Belgium. There is even interest from tourists from the US and Asia who are willing to pay higher travel sums. And then there is the remarkable friendliness of the people, which we have been encountering everywhere all week. It&#8217;s a cliché to write it down. And besides, there are also nice people living in Spain and Greece, and even in the Netherlands there seem to be non-unsympathetic people. Amela Rexho, who works for Sais Tours in Tirana, has the answer: &#8220;Albanians have hospitality in their genes. We have a saying here: &#8216;Our house is also the guest&#8217;s house.&#8217;  



In short Conclusion, you can see a lot of Albania in four days, but you have to go back a longer time to discover the rest.
Tip: if your customer has an early flight home, book a hotel near the airport for the last night and not in Tirana itself to avoid the traffic.
Tirana airport is extremely modern, equipped with self-scanners for your passport for a quick passage.
For the coffee lovers: every right-minded Albanian loves coffee.
In four days, I haven&#8217;t drunk a bad cappuccino anywhere.
The tour guide from de Jong Intra Vakanties, including incoming agent Sais Tours, has set up an informative and varied trip.
Five stars out of five.        
&#8216;Undiscovered and adventurous&#8217;

Albania, touted in travel guides as a hidden gem on the Adriatic Sea, has been offered by de Jong Intra Vakanties since this summer.
Maaike van der Windt (director) and Paul van Laarhoven (tour operating manager) have high expectations of Albania, especially as a tour destination.   According to Van Laarhoven, the return of Albania to the offer is &#8216;absolutely&#8217; related to the fact that Transavia is flying to this destination again.
&#8216;I knocked on Transavia&#8217;s door in May last year to ask if Albania would be an interesting destination for them. In October, we got the green light and they announced that they were going to fly. We decided to focus on the northern part, such as Durrës and to a lesser extent Vlorë, because they are a pretty good driving distance from Tirana. We also offer fly-drives.&#8217;   How do you stand out as a tour operator?  Van der Windt: &#8216;We distinguish ourselves with small-scale, boutique-like accommodations. In addition, we also offer beautiful tours, which you can also extend with some extra nights at the beach.&#8217; Van Laarhoven: &#8216;We work together with Sunny Cars for rental cars and Transavia as a flight partner. Our customers can also fly from Düsseldorf via Eurowings, which works amazingly well. We have long and short tours through the south of Albania. Next year, we will further expand that offer.&#8217;  Where does the attention for Albania suddenly come from?  Van der Windt: &#8216;On the one hand, Albania is popular because of programmes such as &#8216;Who is the Mole?&#8217; in 2022. It offers good quality for a relatively low price. The country is still undiscovered and adventurous, which attracts a lot of people.&#8217; Van Laarhoven: &#8216;Albania offers affordable quality. For example, a five-star hotel costs around 60 euros per night. Food and drinks are also affordable. As de Jong Intra Vakanties, we have two products: individual tours and sun holidays on the coast. Albania is a perfect fit for both. Our traditional customers love itineraries, but we also offer beach holidays that are suitable for sale through retail and online partners. And optionally, beach accommodation can be added to the tour.&#8217;  What are the plans for Albania?  Van der Windt: &#8216;We are also planning to offer group travel from next year. That will be air bus trips and maybe even a bus trip from the Netherlands. Our current Byzantine Balkan bus tour is already visiting Albania. Most of the programmes are already ready. We may also want to combine Albania with surrounding countries such as northern Greece, Montenegro and Macedonia for a complete Balkan experience for both groups and individual tours.&#8221;
The post &#8216;It&#8217;s a shame to go to Albania just for the beach&#8217; appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Foto-6-1-730x421.jpg"
                    length="94476"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/its-a-shame-to-go-to-albania-just-for-the-beach/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
        <item>

                        <title>Expect the unexpected in Albania</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:56:04 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Arjen Lutgendorff]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
If you go on holiday to Albania, you are guaranteed to experience a holiday that you can live on for years to come with &#8216;strong&#8217; stories. What can tourists expect from it? TravMagazine went on one of the two study trips that TUI Netherlands organized to the country. We look back at the tour operator&#8217;s &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[













If you go on holiday to Albania, you are guaranteed to experience a holiday that you can live on for years to come with &#8216;strong&#8217; stories.
What can tourists expect from it?   TravMagazine went on one of the two study trips that TUI Netherlands organized to the country.
We look back at the tour operator&#8217;s offer, the excursions made and the findings of Chantal van der Meer and Vera Schilder of the sales team of TUI Netherlands, and Ali Chhaib of TUI Experiences.   
Accommodations
  Albania is, despite the fact that the tour operator already offered it ten years ago, a &#8216;new&#8217; destination for TUI.
The TUI offer in Albania is diverse, from &#8216;simple&#8217; to &#8216;Instagrammable&#8217; hotels.
Arjan Kers (CEO TUI Netherlands &amp; Belgium), Manfred Lahey (Head of Product Sun &amp; Beach TUI Netherlands) and Kirsten Frazer-Zwiers (Product Manager Albania TUI Netherlands) visited the country last year to explore the possibilities for re-inclusion in the travel offer.
Chantal: &#8216;The hotels are fresh and modernly furnished. We offer beautiful accommodations near the seafront, where you can stay on a bed and breakfast basis, half board or all-inclusive. All-inclusive here can be a bit different than expected, but it is clearly indicated on our website. So it&#8217;s good to mention that in the sales conversation. We have a lot of contact with our partners about these kinds of matters, because we want to offer a level of service that the Dutch are satisfied with. But try to see through certain things and see the charm of them.&#8221;     Ali, Vera and Chantal  The group will spend the first two nights at Hotel Delight in Golem, which is about 45 minutes from the airport.
The hotel is within walking distance of the beach, where you will find a long boulevard with many restaurants, beach bars and sunbeds.
Hotel Delight, like all the hotels TUI offers on the coast, has a swimming pool.
The rooms are fine and equipped with a rain shower.
The breakfast is varied and tastes good.
Prices on the boulevard can be very reasonable, but also comparable to the prices in the Netherlands.
The second overnight hotel is Sol Tropikal Durres, which is located right on the beach.
The entertainment team here really packs a punch, with beach volleyball, a cooking workshop and a kids&#8217; club.
The last hotel we stay in is Melia Durres.
This hotel has by far the best restaurant of the hotels we stayed in, but also the most beautiful swimming pools, location on the beach and the modern rooms are beautiful.
The fact that it is remote does not detract from the experience.
Site inspections also took place at Brilliant Hotel &amp; Spa, hotel Monaco Garden, Klajdi Resort, Epidamn White Sensation (the &#8216;Instagrammable hotel&#8217; and fully booked months in advance) and Mövenpick Lalez Durres.             Epidamn White Sensation
Excursions
  &#8216;Albania has become hip and trendy, partly because of TikTok,&#8217; says Chantal.
&#8216;The excursions we have done are actually all within driving distance of the beach hotels. Of course, we also offer excursions to the places that have also become known on TikTok and are a little further inland. These places are perfect to visit if you book a round trip or fly-drive. For me, Albania is really worth repeating, because after this week I have become very curious about the interior, with the combination of nature and culture. I would really like to do that one day by means of a fly-drive, which TUI also offers.&#8217;   
Tourism development
  Albania is a new destination for both Ali Chhaib (TUI Experiences) and TUI Experiences, with more than 50,000 products (excursions and numerous activities) worldwide.
With the country&#8217;s popularity increasing at a rapid pace, the number of English-speaking guides is becoming scarce.
Ali was impressed by the country during his stay: &#8216;I had no idea what to expect from it, because it is a completely new destination for me. It will be quite a challenge to develop tourism here as we know it in Spain and Greece, but I notice that the Albanians really have very good intentions. The infrastructure is very good, in terms of traffic it is not too bad and the hotels cooperate well. I&#8217;ve already visited a lot of destinations and I&#8217;m positively surprised about Albania.&#8217; Dinner at Agriturismo Huqi  
Architecture, nature and gastronomy
  Ali: &#8216;If you are going to Albania yourself or sending your customers to Albania, be sure to check out travelagents.tuiexperiences.com where you can find excursions and activities in Albania and easily book them.&#8217; During this short study trip, there was time for three excursions.
A trip to Kruja where the old bazaar and the castle of the folk hero Skanderbeg were visited, with a visit to the capital Tirana in the afternoon with the stories about the communist past.
Today, Tirana is a city bustling with life with coffee shops, parks, squares and modern buildings that were designed by several Dutch architects.
Lunch in Tirana at Oda, with traditional Albanian food, was delicious.
Another architectural highlight during the study trip was the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Berat, with its old white houses and brown roofs.
The view from the castle is magnificent on all sides.
Swinging through the &#8216;maze&#8217; of the historic &#8216;city of a thousand windows&#8217; was a special experience and offers beautiful squares. The Roman amphitheatre of Durres The group also responded very enthusiastically to Durrës, a port city with a large city beach, historic buildings and terraces.
The day before departure there was a delicious meal.
First at Agriturismo Huqi, where Albanian gastronomy was enjoyed in abundance.
In the evening, this was done again in the buffet restaurant of Melia Durres.
Ali: &#8216;I think Albania has a very tasty cuisine, a bit similar to Turkish-Greek cuisine. Delicious vegetarian snacks, salads, cheeses and lots of chicken and lamb on the barbecue.&#8217;            
Amsterdam-Zuid
  About three million people live in Albania, one million of them in Tirana, and everyone drives a car.
Not surprising, because during the communist regime almost no one was allowed to own a car.
In some places, traffic can be chaotic and busy.
&#8216;There is no normal middle class in between&#8217;, &#8216;it seems as if the car is more important than the house&#8217; and &#8216;in streets where you don&#8217;t expect it you see cars that in the Netherlands you only see in Amsterdam-Zuid&#8217;, according to some of the reactions in the bus about &#8216;the car in Albania&#8217;.
Jokingly, someone wonders if there are enough parking spaces.
There is no other option than a rental car, besides booking an organized excursion, for tourists.
There is no public transport, for which the plans are ambitious.
In a few years, an electric train will be running across the country.         
Communism
  The guide&#8217;s stories make the study tour group realize why some Albanians come across as a bit stiff.
Chantal points out the importance of also giving this explanation during sales conversations.
&#8216;The communist era left such a huge mark and still affects people and the way they treat each other and tourists. They are not used to providing service here, but it is of paramount importance and they really want to run for you if you ask for it. But definitely don&#8217;t expect an all-inclusive like in Turkey. Knowing the history, it makes sense that they are not used to providing the same service in certain ways. We really felt welcome during the study trips.&#8217;    
Back in time
  Chantal also emphasizes several times that Albania is a country with potential.
In the weeks following the study trip, the country is also put in the spotlight by TUI colleagues in national media.
&#8216;A lot is going to change here within the next five years, because construction is still going very fast. In some things, you sometimes go back in time in that respect,&#8217; says Chantal.
&#8216;When it comes to the prices (you can pay with both the Albanian Lek and the euro) of food and drinks, one moment it&#8217;s cheaper, and the next moment less cheap than you might expect. It also depends on where you end up. At the tourist spots, you pay (on average) €4 for a corona beer, €6 for an Aperol Spritz, €1.80 for a cappuccino and €6 for a pizza.&#8217;     
Suitable
  Last but not least, Vera also says that she thinks Albania is a very diverse destination with something for everyone.
&#8216;This is also reflected in the accommodations. We offer quieter accommodations, as well as accommodations that are located in a bustling area. I also really liked the villages and towns we saw&#8217;, says Vera.
&#8216;I would definitely like to go back again. I want to see more of the interior and the south, of the different beaches. During the study trip, I noticed that the Albanians are incredibly hospitable. The guides, the drivers; Everyone helps you when you ask for something. In that respect, Albania is very suitable for a wonderful holiday.&#8217; That was also the conclusion that could be heard several times from the group: beautiful beaches, culture, nature, beautiful cities, terraces and affordable good food and drinks, where you sometimes have to expect the unexpected.    






The post Expect the unexpected in Albania appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/albanie1-730x421.jpeg"
                    length="100988"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
        <item>

                        <title>Expect the unexpected in Albania</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania-2/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania-2/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:50:37 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Arjen Lutgendorff]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania-2/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
If you go on holiday to Albania, you are guaranteed to experience a holiday that you can live on for years to come with &#8216;strong&#8217; stories. What can tourists expect from it? Photo: Ali Chhaib (TUI Experiences), Vera Schilder and Chantal van der Meer (both from the sales team of TUI Netherlands). TravMagazine went on &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
If you go on holiday to Albania, you are guaranteed to experience a holiday that you can live on for years to come with &#8216;strong&#8217; stories.
What can tourists expect from it? 
Photo: Ali Chhaib (TUI Experiences), Vera Schilder and Chantal van der Meer (both from the sales team of TUI Netherlands).  TravMagazine went on one of the two study trips that TUI Netherlands organized to the country.
We look back at the tour operator&#8217;s offer, the excursions made and the findings of Chantal van der Meer and Vera Schilder of the sales team of TUI Netherlands, and Ali Chhaib of TUI Experiences. Accommodations Albania is, despite the fact that the tour operator already offered it ten years ago, a &#8216;new&#8217; destination for TUI.
The TUI offer in Albania is diverse, from &#8216;simple&#8217; to &#8216;Instagrammable&#8217; hotels.
Arjan Kers (CEO TUI Netherlands &amp; Belgium), Manfred Lahey (Head of Product Sun &amp; Beach TUI Netherlands) and Kirsten Frazer-Zwiers (Product Manager Albania TUI Netherlands) visited the country last year to explore the possibilities for re-inclusion in the travel offer.     
In the center of Tirana.
  Chantal: &#8216;The hotels are fresh and modernly furnished. We offer beautiful accommodations near the coast, where you can stay on a bed and breakfast basis, half board or all-inclusive. All inclusive can be a bit different than expected, but it is clearly indicated on our website. So it&#8217;s good to mention that in the sales conversation. We have a lot of contact with our partners about these kinds of matters, because we want to offer a level of service that the Dutch are satisfied with. But try to see through certain things and see the charm of them.&#8221;  
&#8216;I am positively surprised about Albania&#8217;
  The group will spend the first two nights at Hotel Delight in Golem, which is about 45 minutes from the airport.
The hotel is within walking distance of the beach, where you will find a long boulevard with many restaurants, beach bars and sunbeds.
Hotel Delight, like all the hotels TUI offers on the coast, has a swimming pool.
The rooms are fine and equipped with a rain shower.
The breakfast is varied and tastes good.
Prices on the boulevard can be very reasonable, but also comparable to the prices in the Netherlands.
The second overnight hotel is Sol Tropikal Durres, which is located right on the beach.
The entertainment team here really packs a punch, with beach volleyball, a cooking workshop and a kids&#8217; club.
The last hotel we stay in is Melia Durres.
This hotel has by far the best restaurant of the hotels we stayed in, but also the most beautiful swimming pools, location on the beach and the modern rooms are beautiful.
The fact that it is remote does not detract from the experience.
Site inspections also took place at Brilliant Hotel &amp; Spa, hotel Monaco Garden, Klajdi Resort, Epidamn White Sensation (the &#8216;Instagrammable hotel&#8217; and fully booked months in advance) and Mövenpick Lalez Durres. Epidamn White Sensation.Excursions &#8216;Albania has become hip and trendy, partly because of TikTok,&#8217; says Chantal.
&#8216;The excursions we have done are actually all within driving distance of the beach hotels. Of course, we also offer excursions to the places that have also become known on TikTok and are a little further inland. These places are perfect to visit if you book a round trip or fly-drive. For me, Albania is really worth repeating, because after this week I have become very curious about the interior, with the combination of nature and culture. I would really like to do that one day by means of a fly-drive, which TUI also offers.&#8217;              Tourism development  Albania is a new destination for both Ali Chhaib (TUI Experiences) and TUI Experiences, with more than 50,000 products (excursions and numerous activities) worldwide.
With the country&#8217;s popularity increasing at a rapid pace, the number of English-speaking guides is becoming scarce.
Ali was impressed by the country during his stay: &#8216;I had no idea what to expect from it, because it is a completely new destination for me. It will be quite a challenge to develop tourism here as we know it in Spain and Greece, but I notice that the Albanians really have very good intentions. The infrastructure is very good, in terms of traffic it is not too bad and the hotels cooperate well. I&#8217;ve already visited a lot of destinations and I&#8217;m positively surprised about Albania.&#8217;    
Terrace in Tirana.  Architecture, nature and gastronomy Ali: &#8216;If you are going to Albania yourself or sending your customers to Albania, be sure to check out travelagents.tuiexperiences.com where you can find excursions and activities in Albania and where you can easily book them.&#8217; During this short study trip, there was time for three excursions.
A trip to Kruja where the old bazaar and the castle of the folk hero Skanderbeg were visited, with a visit to the capital Tirana in the afternoon with the stories about the communist past.
Today, Tirana is a city bustling with life with coffee shops, parks, squares and modern buildings that were designed by several Dutch architects.
Lunch in Tirana at Oda, with traditional Albanian food, was delicious.
Another architectural highlight during the study trip was the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Berat, with its old white houses and brown roofs.
The view from the castle is magnificent on all sides.
Swinging through the &#8216;maze&#8217; of the historic &#8216;city of a thousand windows&#8217; was a special experience and offers beautiful squares.
The group also responded very enthusiastically to Durrës, a port city with a large city beach, historic buildings and terraces.
The day before departure there was a delicious meal.
First at Agriturismo Huqi, where Albanian gastronomy was enjoyed in abundance.
In the evening, this was done again in the buffet restaurant of Melia Durres.
Ali: &#8216;I think Albania has a very tasty cuisine, a bit similar to Turkish-Greek cuisine. Delicious vegetarian snacks, salads, cheeses and lots of chicken and lamb on the barbecue.&#8217; Enjoy Albanian gastronomy at Agriturismo Huqi.Amsterdam-Zuid About three million people live in Albania, one million of them in Tirana, and everyone drives a car.
Not surprising, because during the communist regime almost no one was allowed to own a car.
In some places, traffic can be chaotic and busy.
&#8216;There is no normal middle class in between&#8217;, &#8216;it seems as if the car is more important than the house&#8217; and &#8216;in streets where you don&#8217;t expect it you see cars that in the Netherlands you only see in Amsterdam-Zuid&#8217;, according to some of the reactions in the bus about &#8216;the car in Albania&#8217;.
Jokingly, someone wonders if there are enough parking spaces.
There is no other option than a rental car, besides booking an organized excursion, for tourists.
There is no public transport, for which the plans are ambitious.
In a few years, an electric train will be running across the country. Communism The guide&#8217;s stories make the study tour group realize why some Albanians come across as a bit stiff.
Chantal points out the importance of also giving this explanation during sales conversations.
&#8216;The communist era left such a huge mark and still affects people and the way they treat each other and tourists. They are not used to providing service here, but it is of paramount importance and they really want to run for you if you ask for it. But don&#8217;t expect an all-inclusive like in Turkey. Knowing the history, it makes sense that they are not used to providing the same service in certain ways. We really felt welcome during the study trips.&#8217;                      
Back in time Chantal also emphasizes several times that Albania is a country with potential.
In the weeks following the study trip, the country is also put in the spotlight by TUI colleagues in national media.
&#8216;A lot is going to change here within the next five years, because construction is still going very fast. In some things, you sometimes go back in time in that respect,&#8217; says Chantal.
&#8216;When it comes to the prices (you can pay with both the Albanian Lek and the euro) of food and drinks, one moment it&#8217;s cheaper, and the next moment less cheap than you might expect. It also depends on where you end up. At the tourist spots, you pay (on average) €4 for a corona beer, €6 for an Aperol Spritz, €1.80 for a cappuccino and €6 for a pizza.&#8217; Suitable Last but not least, Vera also says that she thinks Albania is a very diverse destination with something for everyone.
&#8216;This is also reflected in the accommodations. We offer quieter accommodations, as well as accommodations that are located in a bustling area. I also really liked the villages and towns we saw&#8217;, says Vera.
&#8216;I would definitely like to go back again. I want to see more of the interior and the south, of the different beaches. During the study trip, I noticed that the Albanians are incredibly hospitable. The guides, the drivers; Everyone helps you when you ask for something. In that respect, Albania is very suitable for a wonderful holiday.&#8217; That was also the conclusion that could be heard several times from the group: beautiful beaches, culture, nature, beautiful cities, terraces and affordable good food and drinks, where you sometimes have to expect the unexpected.       
The post Expect the unexpected in Albania appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/albanie2web-730x420.jpg"
                    length="184511"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/expect-the-unexpected-in-albania-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
        <item>

                        <title>Icelandair &amp; Brand USA to Iceland and the Midwest: &#8216;Best of Both Worlds&#8217;</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/icelandair-brand-usa-to-iceland-and-the-midwest-best-of-both-worlds/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/icelandair-brand-usa-to-iceland-and-the-midwest-best-of-both-worlds/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jul 2024 12:53:51 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Judith Wetselaar]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/icelandair-brand-usa-to-iceland-and-the-midwest-best-of-both-worlds/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
What happens when you mix the fire-and-ice magic of Iceland with the blues, skyscrapers and culinary delights of the Midwest through Icelandair thanks to Brand USA? Then you get a dynamic cocktail that the winners of their campaign were able to experience at the end of May, for no less than ten days. TravMagazine had &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
What happens when you mix the fire-and-ice magic of Iceland with the blues, skyscrapers and culinary delights of the Midwest through Icelandair thanks to Brand USA? Then you get a dynamic cocktail that the winners of their campaign were able to experience at the end of May, for no less than ten days. TravMagazine had the pleasure of coming along and reporting on the trip to Iceland, Chicago and Michigan in the United States.  During the Icelandair and Brand USA campaign, which ran from June to November 2023, travel professionals were able to win a study trip spot by completing the Icelandair course on TravEcademy and five training sessions per month in the Brand USA Discovery Program. They fought diligently and worked until the late hours to get on board Icelandair last May 29. &#8216;It was really addictive and very educational. I wanted to get as many badges as possible and spent hours, but I also wanted to win so badly&#8217;, says Grace Stuurman of TravelXL Van Limburg.
Vivian Heugen of Personal Touch Travel adds: &#8216;I really went for it and had even asked for time off for the travel period in May and June!&#8217; Posing in a colorful street in Reykjavik, Iceland. No less than six Dutch and six Belgian travel agents eventually took the win and were allowed to enjoy the program for ten days in Iceland, Chicago (Illinois), St. Petersburg.  Joseph, Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan.  
Logical collaboration
  Following an online training course is a good way to gain knowledge quickly, but experiencing it yourself is of course even better. That&#8217;s why Icelandair and Brand USA have teamed up to make this happen. Charonne in het Veld-Oling, trade manager for Brand USA in the Benelux: &#8216;We wanted to put the Midwest more on the map and draw attention to it, because it is simply a beautiful and versatile region. It has not yet been discovered by the masses, so you will experience the real USA. The people are friendly, hospitable and you won&#8217;t find many tourists. In combination with Icelandair&#8217;s strong network, the collaboration was quickly established.&#8217; Bike tour of Detroit with Canada in the background. Iceland is a welcome stopover on the route to North America and Canada. &#8220;When you fly transatlantic with Icelandair from Amsterdam (daily) or Brussels (3-7 times a week) to one of the seventeen airports in North America, you can choose to add a stopover of one to seven days in Iceland without an additional airfare,&#8221; says Marieke van der Weijden, account manager at Icelandair for the Netherlands. &#8216;You can enjoy hot springs, the northern lights, puffins, whales and the overwhelming nature with volcanoes, waterfalls, lakes and glaciers. The slogan &#8216;Easy to Stop – Hard to Leave&#8217; applies for a reason. This way you get two trips for the price of one plane ticket,&#8217; adds Van der Weijden.  
Þetta Reddast (Everything Will Be Alright)
  The winner&#8217;s trip starts in Iceland with the message on the local news: &#8216;Intense earthquake at Sundhnúksgígar &#8211; the magma flow has started with an eruption as a result&#8217;. TravMagazine is ready to report, with the ash cloud from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 still in the back of our minds, but it turns out to be a daily occurrence for Icelanders. They respond with &#8216;Þetta Reddast&#8217;, an often heard credo, which means as much as &#8216;Don&#8217;t worry, everything will be fine!&#8217;.  Marieke van der Weijden (Icelandair), Norbert Kets-Correljé (Travel Time) and Kaat Versele (Omnia Travel, Belgium).  It&#8217;s the umpteenth eruption that week, so we can &#8216;cool off&#8217; in the Sky Lagoon, a hot spring just a fifteen-minute drive from Reykjavik and also a great alternative to the more famous Blue Lagoon, which attracts many visitors. Reykjavík is explored, including its brightly colored houses and the special Harpa concert hall. Because Iceland is only visited for a short time, FlyOver Iceland was chosen, a virtual flight with full-motion seats, wind, sound and even smells that take you on an exciting journey through the ever-changing Icelandic landscapes. Afterwards, the winners will be amazed at the interactive Lava Show, where a volcanic eruption is simulated by heating real lava to 1100°C and seeing it flow up close, hear it hiss and feel the incredible heat.  
Great Lakes &amp; Concrete Jungle
  We continue our journey with Icelandair to Chicago, also known as the Windy City. This nickname refers not only to the powerful winds from Lake Michigan, the largest lake in the United States and one and a half times the size of the Netherlands, but also to the boastful nature of the city&#8217;s residents and politicians, who were known for their &#8216;blow a lot of wind&#8217;. In Chicago, we take a city tour through Millennium Park, a green oasis where countless cultural activities and landscaping can be found, including the famous Cloud Gate, nicknamed The Bean. Afterwards, we will view the impressive skyscrapers and history of Chicago from the water during an Architecture Cruise and the stomachs will be well filled through a Chicago Food Tour. Afterwards, the group hangs in a sloping glass viewpoint at a height of 300 meters above the city in the John Hancock Center and enjoys blues at Legends, run by the Grammy-winning blues legend Buddy Guy. The Shedd Aquarium and Art Institute of Chicago, one of the world&#8217;s leading art museums, can also count on a visit from the winners. &#8216;What a surprisingly nice city Chicago is. No crowds of tourists, friendly locals and very clean and cared for. If you like architecture, then this is the city to visit during a trip through America&#8217;, says Freek Sikkema of De Reis Expert.  
Jewelry in Michigan
  Via Warren Dunes State Park, a stop will be made in the seaside town of St. Joseph, also known as &#8216;the Riviera of the Midwest&#8217;. Here, you can take a dip in the cool, clear waters of Lake Michigan, explore the towering sand dunes, and take in the scenic shoreline lined with lighthouses.  View of the Chicago skyline from the water.  The lively university town of Ann Arbor is also visited. This city is home to the University of Michigan and is known for its excellent educational institutions, eclectic bookstores, and a wide range of cultural events. The town also offers a variety of outdoor activities, including kayaking on the Huron River and walking through the special gardens and ecosystems of Nichols Arboretum, affectionately known as &#8216;The Arb&#8217;. Ann Arbor is also home to the largest stadium in the United States, Michigan Stadium, where the winners feast their eyes. With a capacity of 115,000 visitors, this impressive stadium rightly deserves the nickname &#8216;The Big House&#8217;. Before the journey continues to the final destination, Detroit, the winners will visit the Michigan Firehouse Museum, a restored 1898 fire station.  
Iconic Detroit
  Detroit, Michigan&#8217;s largest city and bordering Canada, is one big surprise for everyone in the group. The grim picture of the supposedly high crime rate disappears like snow in the sun when we are introduced to the pleasant, industrial and cultural charm of the city. Declared a UNESCO City of Design, Detroit can be seen as a resurrected city after a bankruptcy in 2013. On the day of our departure, one of Detroit&#8217;s most iconic buildings opened after an extensive renovation, Michigan Central Station. During a walking and cycling tour we explore the raw beauty, the street art and the photogenic inhabitants of the city. In addition, the group will visit the Detroit Institute of Arts, which houses one of the most important art collections in the U.S. with works by great masters.  
&#8216;Don&#8217;t worry, everything will be fine&#8217;
  The city, once the heart of the American automobile industry and known as &#8216;Motor City&#8217;, has as its major attraction the Henry Ford Museum, which is also on the program. It also offers a dynamic arts and music scene with the headquarters of Motown Records, where the winners explore the legendary studio used by the likes of Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. The trip ends with a visit to the huge Ford River Rouge complex, where a car rolls out of the factory every minute, the spacious Henry Ford Museum and the adjacent open-air museum Greenfield Village, where you can imagine yourself in a setting from America&#8217;s past.  Street art in Detroit.  Detroit is transforming and becoming more and more trendy, with trendy restaurants and bars popping up like mushrooms. Lucienne Litjens-Weijs of Reiscreaties is pleasantly surprised by Detroit. &#8216;I was expecting a big, dirty and busy city. Detroit is certainly big, but everything is spacious, clean, green, not too busy and there is a good atmosphere. I have been more overrun in many major European cities than I am here. I won&#8217;t immediately recommend it as a city trip, like Chicago, for example, but if you&#8217;re traveling around the Midwest by car or camper, Detroit is definitely recommended.&#8217;  
Eat Your Way Through the USA
  During the winner&#8217;s trip, culinary enjoyment was high on the agenda. From tasty street food with deep-fried pizza, Italian beef and (Coney) hot dogs to gastronomic delights at wineries. The stomachs were spoiled daily with the most diverse dishes, from early in the morning until late at night. This tastes like more, literally and figuratively.  Charonne in het Veld-Oling (Brand USA Benelux) and Marieke van der Weijden (Icelandair) in front of the Chicago skyline
Potential &amp; Prospects
  &#8220;The Midwest is welcoming, friendly, and not yet discovered by the masses. You will be invited to your home in no time. It is all smaller and more authentic than the well-known cities such as New York, Miami or Los Angeles. International tourism is still in its infancy, but it offers so much potential&#8217;, says In het Veld-Oling of Brand USA. &#8216;For people who want to avoid the real crowds, but still want to experience the big-city vibes, Chicago and Detroit are highly recommended. In addition, the Midwest has a pleasant climate with relatively cool winters and warm summers, but many times less hot than cities in, for example, Texas, Florida or California.&#8217; Freek Sikkema, personal travel advisor at De Reis Expert, knows well who he can offer the region to and knows how to get a first booking during the trip. The charm of Chicago, the versatility of Michigan, and Icelandair&#8217;s extensive network make the Midwest a promising destination. The upcoming IPW inbound tourism trade shows to the United States, which will take place in Chicago in 2025 and in Detroit in 2028, strengthen the region&#8217;s position as a leading global travel destination. The Midwest is ready to welcome you and show you the diversity of the region, so feel and be welcome!  
Want to see more?
  View an impression of the trip  on our Facebook page

&nbsp;
The post Icelandair &amp; Brand USA to Iceland and the Midwest: &#8216;Best of Both Worlds&#8217; appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240604_111547-730x421.jpg"
                    length="144139"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/icelandair-brand-usa-to-iceland-and-the-midwest-best-of-both-worlds/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
        <item>

                        <title>Flexible Autos presents B2B strategy at special location</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/flexible-autos-presents-b2b-strategy-at-special-location/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/flexible-autos-presents-b2b-strategy-at-special-location/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:55:46 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Arjen Lutgendorff]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/flexible-autos-presents-b2b-strategy-at-special-location/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
Photo: Marlene Kist, Mariela Prosee-Wever and Annemieke Seegers. At an informative evening in the Kinepolis Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, travel professionals gathered for a presentation of Flexible Autos. Annemieke Seegers, Account and Sales Manager of the NTG group, led the session highlighting the benefits of their B2B approach. The evening ended with a screening of the &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Photo: Marlene Kist, Mariela Prosee-Wever and Annemieke Seegers.
At an informative evening in the Kinepolis Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, travel professionals gathered for a presentation of Flexible Autos. Annemieke Seegers, Account and Sales Manager of the NTG group, led the session highlighting the benefits of their B2B approach. The evening ended with a screening of the film &#8216;Bed &amp; Breakfast&#8217;.  Flexible Autos, originally an English company and founded in 2007, is represented in the Netherlands and Belgium by Net Travel Associates (NTA), part of Net Travel Group BV (NTG). Flexible Autos is ANVR, SGR and SGRZ and focuses exclusively on the B2B market. &#8216;That&#8217;s what we do with all labels, such as NTG&#8217;s Vuelandia and Dutch Travel Services,&#8217; Seegers emphasises. &#8220;This shared focus also strengthens the cooperation between the labels in the group, which offers clear advantages for the Dutch market. The handling of the bookings and support is done by NTG&#8217;s Customer Support team from Hoofddorp.  
Dominant market position in Europe
  Thanks to the collaboration with its headquarters in Spain, Flexible Autos has a firm grip on the market and a strong position in Southern Europe. &#8220;The Flexible Autos office in Spain is our contact for all markets in mainland Europe, where they are truly market leaders. This leadership role enables Flexible Autos to offer competitive services and terms and conditions and a wide range of vehicles. We work with more than 40 suppliers and offer at more than 22,000 locations in more than 120 countries,&#8221; says Seegers.  Annemieke Seegers
Clear package options
  Flexible Autos offers clearly structured packages, such as the premium package with no excess and the standard package with deductible reimbursement. Seegers explains: &#8220;With Flexible Autos, you can actually choose from very crisp, clear options. You have the premium package, where the full is full scheme applies without deductible. And you have the standard package, where full is also full and the refund of the deductible applies and the customer in the Netherlands gets his money back. The all-inclusive packages are equivalent to those of other providers.&#8217;  
Easy-to-use booking options
  The user-friendliness of Flexible Autos&#8217; booking tool was also highlighted. The booking tool provides direct insight into available suppliers and options during the search. &#8216;For example, you can also filter on the cheapest total costs, which is useful when booking a one-way. Our filtering options simplify the booking process for travel agents, and cancellation is free of charge up to 48 hours in advance.&#8221;  
Transfers
  The attendees also received some news, fresh from the press. Soon, Flexible Autos will make booking transfers from any pick-up point to any drop-off point available for any destination in the world. For airports with meet and greet service, cancellation free of charge up to 24 hours before the start of the rental and the GPS tracking tool for customers who receive a text message 30 minutes before the rental period.
The post Flexible Autos presents B2B strategy at special location appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/fa-header-730x421.png"
                    length="628958"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/flexible-autos-presents-b2b-strategy-at-special-location/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
        <item>

                        <title>&#8216;More attention to less beaten paths&#8217; on South African Travel Indaba</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/positive-vibe-at-south-african-travel-indaba-more-attention-for-less-beaten-paths/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/positive-vibe-at-south-african-travel-indaba-more-attention-for-less-beaten-paths/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 06:00:26 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Eva Hopstaken]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/positive-vibe-at-south-african-travel-indaba-more-attention-for-less-beaten-paths/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
The Netherlands has the Vakantiebeurs, Germany has the ITB and England has the WTM, but everyone who sells South Africa and its neighboring countries wants to be present at Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba. At the invitation of South Africa Tourism, TravMagazine went to Durban for the 44th edition of the event. Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba, owned by &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Netherlands has the Vakantiebeurs, Germany has the ITB and England has the WTM, but everyone who sells South Africa and its neighboring countries wants to be present at Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba. At the invitation of South Africa Tourism, TravMagazine went to Durban for the 44th edition of the event.  Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba, owned by South African Tourism, is an iconic African leisure fair and aims to create market access to African leisure tourism products. Dirk de Bruijne, owner/COO AfrikaPlus, Aeroglobe International, had high expectations before the start. &#8216;In the 25 years that our company has existed, we have visited South Africa and the trade fair many times. Indaba is the place where South Africa and East Africa come together. As a buyer, I am always looking for novelties for our customers and I was positively surprised by the abundance of inspiration and valuable connections, because to be honest, that has not been the case in the past. Glad to see that the fair is back to business.&#8217;  
Charm
  Dirk, like other colleagues, was able to get (re)acquainted with KwaZulu-Natal, the province that hosted Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba this year. Kim Nooyens, owner of Reisbrigade and Kuyo Afrika and chairman of VvKR, traveled to South Africa several times and previously to KwaZulu-Natal in 2022. &#8216;Before I left, I was very curious about the Midlands and Nambiti. On the spot I was very impressed by the rock paintings at Kamberg and the helicopter flight at sunrise. This province has so much to offer. Many travellers focus on St. Lucia and Hluhluwe, but there is so much more.&#8217; The Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, also emphasizes the charm of this part of South Africa in her opening speech, praising the World Heritage Sites, rich history, and diverse cultural experiences in the area.  
Growth, hidden gems and sustainability
  &#8216;We are all here with one goal: to grow our tourism sector enormously and we do this by working together,&#8217; De Lille said in her opening speech. &#8220;We are pleased to have made significant progress in the number of tourists arriving. Looking at January to March 2024, we see a robust and growing South African tourism sector, with a total of 2.4 million international tourists. This represents an increase of 15.4% compared to the same period in 2023. Much has been achieved since last year&#8217;s Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba, in which South Africa&#8217;s Cabinet approved the tourism sector master plan, which includes a post-COVID-19 recovery plan.&#8217; The fact that an upward trend can be observed has not escaped Abby Jacobs, acting head of the North Europe Hub and therefore responsible for the Dutch market.
&#8216;The Dutch market already reached the visitor numbers of 2019 in March.&#8217; Nombulelo Guliwe, the CEO of South Africa Tourism, who took office in March 
New places
  In order to continue to attract the Dutch market, South Africa Tourism focuses on hidden gems. The minister emphasizes that, in addition to the fact that South Africa is good value for money and the sun and beaches are fantastic, the focus should be more on diversity. More attention to less beaten paths. That&#8217;s why more than 120 small organisations have been invited to represent these gems on the exhibition floor, so that the traveller no longer only visits Table Mountain and goes on safari, but also discovers places such as Franschhoek or the largest, but least populated province of the Northern Cape. Nombulelo Guliwe, the CEO of South Africa Tourism, who took office in March, likes to focus on responsible and sustainable travel. &#8216;Leave the place you came from better than how you found it&#8217;, is her credo. &#8216;We invest a lot in the field of sustainability, but at the same time there are always challenges. We are therefore happy that our team at South Africa Tourism in the Netherlands is helping us with this. Together, we can ensure that tourism also benefits the local population and not just the multinationals, which is also a form of sustainable travel.&#8217; South Africa Tourism, from left to right: Zora Klaasen (trade relations manager), Abby Jacobs (Acting Lead North Europe Hub), Jordy Liems (Marketing &amp; Communications Manager)
Speed marketing
  The fact that Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba is not just about scheduled appointments is immediately apparent on the first morning when a breakfast moment is planned for the invitees. While enjoying a snack and a drink, the attendees will be updated by the mayor and other speakers. For those who, before the official opening time of the fair, want to get to know different travel companies in a short time, join the so-called speed marketing sessions between half past eight and ten in the morning, in which a different theme is central every day, ranging from culture &amp; township, active adventure &amp; seaside resorts and wildlife &amp; camping. Through a short elevator pitch supported by audiovisual material, the speakers put themselves and their company in the spotlight. If you want to know more, you can visit the exhibition floor for more information afterwards.  Speed Markerting sessions
Yoga
  The second morning starts early. Pretty early. Exactly at 6:00 a.m., the annual Fun Run will kick off, this year organized by the Robben Island Museum and graced by the rousing dance and music from KwaZulu-Natal. Exhibitors, speakers, buyers, they all put their best foot forward on the beachfront promenade in Durban. For those who prefer to take it easy, take part in a yoga session with a view of the waves of the Indian Ocean, whether or not after the five-kilometre running event. Tomas Tiekstra, Travel Consultant at Yaxa Reizen, is one of those early birds. It is his fourth time in South Africa, but his first visit to Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba. &#8216;My diary was full of appointments with representatives of accommodations, wildlife parks and various regions, among other things. It&#8217;s nice to get to know these providers and fellow visitors better in this informal atmosphere.&#8217;  
Once again
  The Dutchman, as is evident from the various presentations, press moments and conversations with South Africa Tourism, is a welcome guest. The same Dutchman is also happy to return to South Africa. More than half of the travelers plan a follow-up visit. The luxury(er) traveler and the safari enthusiast know how to find the destination, which is why the focus is on the wanderlust generation. Those who want to discover, appreciate hidden gems and go for sustainability. In doing so, SAT not only opens up a new target group, but also prevents overtourism in popular places in the country.  Dutch tour operators at the welcome breakfast
Important market
  According to Julia Louw, head of tourism at WESGRO (Cape Town &amp; Western Cape tourism, trade &amp; investment), this wanderlust generation is exactly the right description of its Dutch target group. &#8216;This group of travellers loves the outdoors, wants to meet the locals and get to know local customs. These travellers usually stay for a long(er) period of time and once they have taken South Africa to their hearts through the special moments in our region, they come back and continue to do so.&#8217; Ntwanano Mtungwa, Executive Manager Tourism Region Mpumalanga, also emphasizes that the Dutch market is an important market. What would he like to pass on to the visitor? &#8216;Ubuntu&#8217;, which means &#8216;I am human, because it is you&#8217;. &#8216;That&#8217;s how you learn to do things, like the locals do.&#8217;  
Seeing is selling
  After three full, intensive and instructive exhibition days, it is time to head into South Africa. Under the guise of seeing is selling, the Dutch invitees set off in two groups. One group awaits an adventurous adventure in KwaZulu-Natal, complete with ziplining, hiking in nature and spending the night among the wildlife. The other group will immerse themselves in the Stellenbosch wine region and take a segway tour and jeep safari among the vines. In the remaining time, they will discover the highlights of Cape Town.  Ntwanano Mtungwa, Executive Manager Tourism Region Mpumalanga
Why you want to be at Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba&#8230;
  Got excited? Then make sure you&#8217;re there next year. As a hosted buyer, you will easily get to know more than twenty African countries and more than a thousand exhibitors, ranging from accommodation providers, airlines, DMCs and companies specialized in safaris, wildlife or lodges. Marjolein Schipper-Rutten, owner of TravelMood, traveled to South Africa more than twenty-five times and the 2024 edition of Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba was her fourth visit to the fair. &#8216;In order to gain product knowledge, my focus was on making appointments (easy to schedule via the exhibition app, ed.) with new providers. In addition, it is also fun and educational to catch up with existing relations. In addition to being busy, the three days on the exhibition floor are also the ideal way to quickly gain a lot of knowledge. Thanks to the versatile offer, you will be completely up-to-date in just a few days.&#8217; Titia Doornbos Clevering, independent travel advisor at TUI at Home in conversation with potential partner  &#8216;A visit to this fair is an absolute must&#8217;, says Leonie Wünker, Operational Manager at Klooster Reizen. &#8216;You can really ask the exhibitors anything, I have gained so much knowledge that I can in turn share with colleagues from the office.&#8217; Titia Doornbos Clevering, ZRA at TUI at Home, adds: &#8216;Not only did I learn a lot during the hours on the exhibition floor, but also from all the stories of my fellow travellers that they shared about their experiences and companies.&#8217; You will definitely find us again in 2025 in Durban, Africa&#8217;s Travel Indaba, see you next year.
The post &#8216;More attention to less beaten paths&#8217; on South African Travel Indaba appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/header-3-indaba-Yoga-sessie-730x418.png"
                    length="780771"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/positive-vibe-at-south-african-travel-indaba-more-attention-for-less-beaten-paths/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
        <item>

                        <title>Dutch travel managers in Turkey: &#8216;We can learn something from this&#8217;</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/dutch-travel-managers-in-turkey-we-can-learn-something-from-this/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/dutch-travel-managers-in-turkey-we-can-learn-something-from-this/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:04:51 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Theo de Reus]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/dutch-travel-managers-in-turkey-we-can-learn-something-from-this/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
The Dutch participants at the Izmir summit were all pleasantly surprised by the way in which Turkey is shaping sustainability in tourism. And the way in which this policy is reflected in the development of new product offerings, which are more than sun, sea and sand. Here are the reactions. Frank Oostdam (ANVR) &#8216;Approach is &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Dutch participants at the Izmir summit were all pleasantly surprised by the way in which Turkey is shaping sustainability in tourism. And the way in which this policy is reflected in the development of new product offerings, which are more than sun, sea and sand. Here are the reactions.  
Frank Oostdam (ANVR)
&#8216;Approach is State of the Art&#8217;
  ANVR director Frank Oostdam is impressed by Turkey&#8217;s efforts in the field of sustainability. Or as he puts it: &#8216;What Turkey is doing in the field of sustainability is state of the art.&#8217; According to Oostdam, the tourism sector in Turkey has already come a long way when it comes to sustainability, actually further than expected. &#8216;I think the strong thing is that Turkey really has its entire strategy in order. And in line with that, they have a number of activities and products that can be very attractive for tour operators and travel organizations to market. I find that very inspiring.&#8217;  
Future-proof
  Since the end of last year (the last ANVR congress), the ANVR itself has been working energetically on its own sustainability trajectory. According to Oostdam, the Turkish model fits in well with this. &#8216;As a travel industry in the Netherlands, we are of course a bit of an intermediary. We build trips, but for that we are dependent on suppliers, so on airlines, hotels and also destinations themselves. And when you see that a destination like Turkey is doing so incredibly well, it helps to make the vital chain more sustainable. We don&#8217;t immediately make travel completely sustainable with that, but we do make it future-proof.&#8217; Oostdam continues: &#8216;Sustainability is not an empty slogan here, it is not green washing. The tourism sector here is really working on it.&#8217; According to Oostdam, the Dutch travel sector can also use Turkey&#8217;s top performance in the field of sustainability in discussions with the government and other agencies.
&#8216;We can demonstrate that, as a sector, we work together internationally with a sustainable destination such as Turkey. I would say: Be good and tell. I think it&#8217;s an inspiring journey.&#8217; Frank Oostdam and Pinar Bilgen Ermis 
Günay Uslu (Corendon)
&#8216;Get started right away with the product team&#8217;
  Immediately after returning from the short visit to Izmir, Günay Uslu, CEO of Corendon, started work. Together with her Turkey product team, she wants to turn the inspiration and ideas she has gained into practical travel combinations. &#8216;We have seen a completely different side of Turkey in a short period of time. As a tour operator, that triggered me. You can make very nice combinations, just like we did. A nice hotel where you can rest, but also opportunities to make a trip in the area, with a bike into nature or with a rental car to the remains of the ancient city of Ephesus. And then afterwards eat in a good restaurant, where the chef might even have Michelin stars. And then another day at the beach. As Corendon, we already offer culinary and historical tours, but we are going to look at how we can expand that.&#8217;  
Retrodestination
  According to Uslu, the Izmir region on the Aegean coast fits well with Corendon&#8217;s range of retro destinations, which this summer is marketing Alanya as a retro destination that is cheaper and quieter than Antalya. &#8216;The region around Izmir, with places like Kuşadası, is also such a retro destination where nature, culture, history and local cuisine come together. And why not copy that combination to other destinations? I think it would be fantastic to combine a stay in Istanbul with a visit to Troy by rental car.&#8217; The focus on sustainability in Turkey has pleasantly surprised Uslu. &#8216;You see it in your hotel room, with towels made of sustainable materials, sustainable shampoo, organic food. The hotels in Turkey are legally obliged to obtain a sustainability certificate, but I think that this way you get a different mindset among hoteliers and that they would also do it on their own. I thought it was an impressive visit.&#8217;  
Gert-Jan Bressers (ANWB/Fox)
&#8216;Can we learn something from it?&#8217;
  For Gert-Jan Bressers, director of tours at Fox/ANWB Reizen, it was a surprise that the tourism sector in Turkey has already made such progress in terms of sustainability. &#8216;Turkey is a relatively small destination for us. I never thought they would be this far along with sustainability. It really opened my eyes. I think that Turkey is further ahead than us in some areas. As a company and as a sector in the Netherlands, we can learn something from this. I see a lot of opportunities for us and for the entire industry.&#8217; According to Bressers, Turkey has the potential for a wide range of products that goes beyond the well-known sun, sea and sand. &#8216;This means that we can still do some product development in the other Turkey, while at the same time taking steps in our sustainability policy. First of all, this destination is a bit closer to home, but also at the destination itself you will see a more environmentally conscious and sustainable offer, with activities in nature, in the culinary field, combating food waste in hotels. Turkey is making good progress in this area. With all these elements together, you can take a significant step forward in your supply chain responsibility. Apart from that variety, Turkey also has a bit of that Asian mystical. I think that&#8217;s the beauty of Turkey, it&#8217;s not the usual European destination. I see a lot of opportunities for our product developers.&#8217;  
Arjan Kers (TUI):
&#8216;Example for other destinations&#8217;
  Arjan Kers, Managing Director of TUI Netherlands/Belgium and chairman of the ANVR, is very pleased with the way in which Turkey is working on sustainability. &#8216;I think that the holistic approach, in which all entrepreneurs and all parts of the sector are included, works well here. That also gives a kind of obligation that everyone has to contribute in their own way. As far as I am concerned, this broad approach is the reason for the success story that Turkey presented at this meeting. Just like Frank Oostdam, I didn&#8217;t expect them to be so far ahead here. Turkey is really an example for many other destinations.&#8217; When asked whether he heard things during the Izmir summit that he wants to get started with right away, Kers says: &#8216;As ANVR, we have worked out a strategy in the field of sustainability together with all members in recent years. It is great to see that this joint approach is also working in Turkey. That&#8217;s the lesson we&#8217;ve learned: you have to do it together. The tourism sector in Turkey has tackled the subject of sustainability well and we in the Netherlands can learn from that. The aim is to get commitment from all ANVR members, so that you are strong together.&#8217;  
Future gem
  As a result of this renewed acquaintance, will TUI focus more on the Aegean coast as a destination? Kers: &#8216;The Aegean coast has always been a popular destination with the Dutch. In recent years, a lot of new hotels have been built in the Antalya region and more focus has been created on that destination. During our visit to Izmir and its surroundings, we saw many other sides of this fantastic destination, more small-scale activities, the different culture, the culinary offer. Perhaps we should focus less on Sun &amp; Beach in this region. I am very surprised what this region of Turkey has to offer. This is another future gem for the Dutch travel market.&#8217; According to Kers, Turkey is known as an affordable all-inclusive destination. &#8220;The service in Turkey is at a high level. You get a lot of bang for your buck. The only confusing thing is that the better hotels with five-star service suffer from cheap so-called five-star hotels that actually have three-star level.&#8221;  
Martine de Knoop (The Travel Club)
  &#8216;I mainly see opportunities&#8217;
  Martine de Knoop, director of The Travel Club, sees a lot of opportunities. &#8216;Contrary to my expectations, Turkey is much more developed in the field of sustainability and that offers opportunities. We are looking for destinations, types of trips with reduced CO2 emissions. As a retailer/tour operator without our own hotels or airline, we are dependent on the offer of third parties, so it is good to see how Turkey is the first country to commit to the standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). At the moment we mainly bring customers to Turkey for sun, sea and beach holidays. During our trip we have seen that the Izmir region is also suitable for active cycling and walking holidays, culture and gastronomy. A large part of our customers are also interested in this, but we do not yet offer Turkey for this type of travel.&#8217;  
Maarten van Os (Prijsvrij/D-reizen)
&#8216;Match offer&#8217;
  Maarten van Os is General Counsel at Prijsvrij/D-reizen. As far as he is concerned, the ball is now in the Netherlands&#8217; court to take the next steps. &#8216;My conclusion is: it is admirable what steps Turkey has already taken towards a more sustainable way of travelling. It is now important to respond to these promising initiatives from the Netherlands and to adjust our offer accordingly. Together we will work towards a more sustainable and carefree journey for the best price.&#8217;  
Floor van der Zee (Corendon)
&#8216;The need for sustainability is urgent&#8217;
  Floor van der Zee, Director Corporate Responsibility at Corendon, was in Turkey for the first time with the Izmir summit. It won&#8217;t be the last time. &#8216;This trip was the first time I set foot on Turkish soil: a great experience. I am impressed by Turkey&#8217;s efforts to make the tourism sector more sustainable. That&#8217;s something a lot of people don&#8217;t know about this country yet. With concrete steps such as a mandatory sustainability certificate for hotels, Turkey is far ahead of other countries. And that is desperately needed, because the task of making the travel industry more sustainable is enormous and very urgent. The trip also had many culinary highlights: Turkish gastronomy is amazing, where local products and respect for nature and the environment are central. Finally, I enjoyed the beautiful surroundings of Izmir and the many historical treasures that can be found there.&#8217;  
Michelin-starred chef Osman Sezener is an example of a new culinary course
  Osman Sezener (1982) is a well-known example of the new generation of chefs and the new course that Turkey has taken in the field of gastronomy. After an international career, working in renowned kitchens, he fulfilled his long-time dream by opening the OD Urla restaurant in 2018. Here he put his sustainable principles into practice: &#8216;from farm to fork&#8217; and &#8216;zero waste&#8217;. The chef gets half of his ingredients from his own giant vegetable garden. The rest comes from local suppliers located within a radius of ten kilometers. Sezener now holds a Michelin star and various other awards. On his family estate, he has a residence with seven guest rooms and a wine cellar containing 450 types of wine from 14 countries. OD Urla is half an hour&#8217;s drive from Izmir and four hours from Istanbul. Among the guests are a striking number of visitors from Istanbul, as the license plates of the cars in the parking lot reveal. They are regulars who complete their evening of starred food with an overnight stay.  Osman Sezener
Want to read more about the Izmir Summit in Turkey? Click here!
The post Dutch travel managers in Turkey: &#8216;We can learn something from this&#8217; appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Foto_6_resized_cropped-730x420.jpg"
                    length="75753"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/dutch-travel-managers-in-turkey-we-can-learn-something-from-this/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
        <item>

                        <title>Turkey surprises at Izmir summit: &#8216;Sustainable strategy offers opportunities&#8217;</title>

            <link>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/turkey-surprises-at-izmir-summit-sustainable-strategy-offers-opportunities/</link>
            <comments>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/turkey-surprises-at-izmir-summit-sustainable-strategy-offers-opportunities/#respond</comments>

            <pubDate>Tue, 28 May 2024 10:50:29 +0000</pubDate>

            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Theo de Reus]]></dc:creator>

            		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category>

            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.travmagazine.nl/turkey-surprises-at-izmir-summit-sustainable-strategy-offers-opportunities/</guid>

            
            <description><![CDATA[
Turkey is at the forefront of Europe when it comes to a sustainable tourism strategy. The tourism sector in Turkey wants to work together with the Dutch travel industry on the further development of a more sustainable offer and at the same time ensure a further diversification of the tourism product. To use a cliché: &hellip; Lees verder            ]]></description>

            
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Turkey is at the forefront of Europe when it comes to a sustainable tourism strategy. The tourism sector in Turkey wants to work together with the Dutch travel industry on the further development of a more sustainable offer and at the same time ensure a further diversification of the tourism product.  To use a cliché: Turkey wants to be more than a destination for sun, sea and sand. The country also wants to show its other side, which is less focused on the masses. And that &#8216;different&#8217; product range fits in well with the pursuit of more sustainability in tourism. The &#8216;new&#8217; product range with which Turkey wants to be more distinctive includes a wide range of cultural, culinary and sporting activities. This diversity can play an important role in attracting new segments of tourists and differentiating Turkey as a destination, rather than just being known as an all-inclusive destination at an attractive price.  
Start
  Turkey&#8217;s big lead in the field of sustainable tourism was a big surprise for the Dutch participants in the Izmir summit, which took place in Turkey at the end of April. An eight-person Dutch delegation, led by the ANVR, traveled to the popular city of Izmir to meet with more than 20 tourism partners from Turkey. The Turkish Tourist Board and the ANVR had taken the initiative for the three-day meeting, with the well-known five-star hotel Club Marvy as the backdrop for the &#8216;Izmir summit&#8217;. The three-day program consisted of exploring the destination and a full-day meeting where views and experiences were exchanged. The Dutch delegation, led by ANVR director Frank Oostdam, consisted of Arjan Kers (TUI), Günay Uslu (Corendon), Floor van der Zee (Corendon), Maarten van Os (Prijsvrij/D-reizen), Gert-Jan Bressers (ANWB/Fox) and Martine de Knoop (The Travel Club). The Turkish delegation included providers from all tourism levels, from the airports of Izmir, Antalya and Dalaman, to airlines such as SunExpress and the Turkish Hotel Association. In addition, a large representation was present from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Türkiye Tourism Promotion &amp; Development Agency (TGA), a public-private partnership between the government and the tourism sector.  
Policy
  In short presentations, it was explained which sustainable initiatives are already being successfully implemented in Turkish tourism. And there are a lot of them, because all entrepreneurs and all parts of the tourism sector are included in the government&#8217;s policy. Turkey wants to take a leading role in the transition to a sustainable tourism offer, stated İsmail Bütün, General Manager of TGA. Sustainability is therefore number one on the agenda of the organization that promotes Turkish tourism worldwide. The TGA takes sustainability extremely seriously, which is why Turkey now has the most certified hotels according to the standard of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).  
Ambitions
  At the same time, Turkey has great ambitions when it comes to tourism. Last year, the number of international visitors to Turkey increased by 10 percent to a total of approximately 56.7 million. For fiscal year 2024, the popular holiday country is targeting 60 million international visitors, with $60 billion in tourism revenue. Just for the statisticians: in 2023, 1.2 million visitors from the Netherlands were counted. At the same time as the growth ambitions, sustainability is not lost sight of. In the TGA&#8217;s view, you can&#8217;t have one without the other. &#8216;What Turkey is doing in the field of sustainability is state of the art, with one million certified hotel beds,&#8217; says ANVR foreman Oostdam. &#8216;We can only roll out something like this further together.&#8217; Arjan Kers, managing director of TUI Netherlands and Belgium, was also pleasantly surprised, just like the other participants. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t expect Turkey to be so progressive. This is an example for many other destinations.&#8217;  
Cycling Tours
  Although Turkey is known for its all-inclusive resorts, the country aims to be more than a resort destination. This means a much-needed and far-reaching diversification of the offer. So more attention for active holidays such as cycling trips (according to experts, the Izmir region is a cycling paradise), culture and gastronomy. On the latter note, Turkey has a lot to offer, with 111 restaurants in Istanbul, Bodrum and Izmir touted as hidden gems in the 2024 Michelin Guide. Oostdam: &#8216;We shouldn&#8217;t make it more difficult than it is. Turkey has a very nice product, but the customer does not ask for a sustainable product when booking. But they do book a walking or cycling trip that is sustainable.&#8217;  
Leader
  Bütün, who has been General Manager of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion &amp; Development Agency (TGA) since February this year, is very satisfied with the meeting. &#8220;With the results we have achieved in the National Sustainable Tourism Program, Turkey has proven itself to be a leader in the field of sustainable tourism. All hotels in Turkey have made significant progress towards fully meeting the sustainability criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) by 2030. We are proud to have been able to share these developments with the Dutch tourism sector during the senior management meeting that we organised together with ANVR. Moreover, we consider it a valuable achievement to introduce our beautiful city of Izmir to the ANVR and the managers of the participating tourism organizations. We cordially invite our Dutch visitors to discover the sustainable tourism opportunities in Izmir and the surrounding area.&#8217; Pinar Bilgen Ermiş (director of the Turkish National Tourist Board) also called the meeting &#8216;unique&#8217;. &#8216;This is the first time that such close consultations have taken place at this level. I am happy to be able to inform our stakeholders about all the initiatives that Turkey is taking on sustainable tourism. It is therefore our aim to continue to emphasise and promote Turkey&#8217;s initiatives in the field of sustainability in the Netherlands.&#8217;   
Club Marvy: ideal five-star conference location
  It has long been midnight when the group of Dutch tour managers arrives at Club Marvy, on the coast near Özdere, south of Izmir. Despite the late hour, the welcome is warm. After check-in, guests are taken by electric carts to their hotel rooms, which are spread out in smaller complexes on the premises. The drive through the semi-darkness to my room takes more than ten minutes, it seems, although it turns out not to be that bad. But still, how do you get back to the central reception, the breakfast restaurant, the conference room the next day? In my mind, I had already lost myself ten times. The concerns appear to be unjustified. The next morning I call the reception and order a buggy, which will be at your door within less than two minutes and you will drive to the reception without a hitch. Coincidentally, there is also the central breakfast room with a beautiful terrace and the congress building within walking distance. Club Marvy is known for its comfort, convenience, and five-star service for travelers who are in need of a vacation. The hotel, which is also popular with Dutch people, also turns out to be a more than suitable conference location. The best part of the conference room is the large outdoor terrace, with a wide view of the sea. Try that in a conference hotel on the Veluwe.  
The post Turkey surprises at Izmir summit: &#8216;Sustainable strategy offers opportunities&#8217; appeared first on TravMagazine.
            ]]></content:encoded>

                            <enclosure
                    type="image/jpeg"
                    url="https://www.travmagazine.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/tm-Foto-3-730x421.png"
                    length="757802"
                />
            
            <wfw:commentRss>https://www.travmagazine.nl/en/turkey-surprises-at-izmir-summit-sustainable-strategy-offers-opportunities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
            <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>

                        
        </item>

    
</channel>
</rss>