Bologna – Italy | Tourist Tax will Increase in 2025

 

Bologna, lively, historic and captivating capital and largest city of the Emilia – Romagna region in northern Italy, home of one of the oldest university in the world, hosting numerous students who animate its cultural and social life, known for its towers, long porticoes and a well - preserved historic centre among the largest in Italy, will increase the tourist tax in 2025 and this is one of the salient data of the 2025 – 2027 budget approved by the city council.

The Mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore said that there is an increase for the Jubilee, because the government has decided only for 2025 to allow municipalities to increase the cost of tourist tax up to €2.0 and therefore Bologna will take the advantage of this possibility to meet the many cost that the city faces.

 Roberta Li Calzi, Councilor for Sport and Budget of the Municipality of Bologna in the city council chamber presenting the budget commented that in the face of the positive trend in tourists presences in the city and the full - year consolidation of the tariff adjustment in force from April 2024, as well as the planned tariff increase valid only for 2025 and connected to the Jubilee, revenue from the tourist tax is growing + €3.9 million compared to 2024 for a total of €18.0 million and this is the only tax that will be raised by Bologna's municipality.

Link - https://travelnostop.com/emilia-romagna/cronaca/anche-bologna-aumenta-la-tassa-di-soggiorno_614933

The Philippines | Tourism on the Rise and Goal to Reach 9.7 Million Visitors by 2028

 

The Philippines, island country consisting in a large archipelago located in Southeast Asia, over the Pacific Ocean is experiencing a tourism on the rise according to BMI by Fitch Solutions, research firm providing macroeconomic, industry and financial marketing analysis covering 29 industries and 200 global markets.

In a report BMI by Fitch Solutions said that the growth of tourist arrivals in the Philippines is expected to average 14.8% annually to reach 9.7 by 2028 and this year it noted that the country tourism sector continues in a post – pandemic recovery phase.

Data coming from DoT, the Department of Tourism of the Philippines showed that tourist arrivals in the period january – october rose 10% to 4.5 million from 4.1 million a year ago and BMI by Fitch Solutions said that this figure represents only 65% of tourist arrivals in the comparable period of 2019.

DoT commented that with 10 months of tourist arrivals data published for 2024, we maintain our view that arrivals throughout the year will not be sufficient for a full recovery from the pandemic.

BMI by Fitch Solutions projects arrivals to rise 19.5% annually to six million this year but that still accounts for only 73% of the 8.2 million arrivals in 2019 while the DoT is targeting 7.7 million tourist arrivals this year.

BMI by Fitch Solutions commented that the 2025 country forecast about arrivals in 38.4% year - on year growth to 8.3 millions arrivals, which will mark a full recovery reaching 101.1% of 2019 arrivals.

The President of the Philippines Toursim Congress, James M. Montenegro said that it is crucial to open the country to more Chinese and Indian tourists to boost the recovery of the tourism sector.

In 2019 China was the second - largest source of international visitors in the Phlippines with 1.74 million arrivals out of a total of 8.26 million and in the 2025 in the Philippines does not solves its restrictions on China and India, it will still be Japan, Korea, the United States of America while Australia is an emerging market and there are European markets as well.

The Philippines has not been able to take advantage of the rebound in Chinese tourism in Southest Asia unlike Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, which offers visa – free entry to Chinese tourists and Thailand expects to expect to receive 36.7 million of international tourists this year, of which nearly six million will be from China.

Link - https://www.expreso.info/noticias/internacional/103738_filipinas_confia_alcanzar_los_97m_de_turistas_en_2028

The Bahamas | Consolidated Destination and Constant Inspiration for MICE Tourism

 

The Bahamas, island state of Central America within the Lucayan Archipelago consisting of 700 islands and islets, some of which uninhabited, located in the Atlantic Ocean, east the U.S. state of Florida, highlighted by marvelous, sandy beaches, a mild climate all year round, excellent resorts and hotels, idlyllic, luxury retreats has established itself as an unparalleled destination for incentive groups, meeting trips in paradisiacal sites and events of all kinds.

The country offers in 16 destinations islands a wide variety of superb and comfortable hotels, resorts and villas very suitable accommodations for different budgets, group sizes providing personalized and customized options for every need and all that is undoubedtly something the planners and organizers into the MICE tourism take in high consideration as a fundamental and essential resource to develop a successful event.

2023 was certainly a banner year for meeting tourism in the Bahamas, experiencing a 25% increase over pre - pandemic levels and with an unprecedented data of more than 8.0 million visitors with protagonists conferences, exhibitions and incentive trips which accounted for 40% of the Bahamas'total tourism business.

The MICE segment continues to show to stand out as a high - growth market with inexhaustible resources that brings in a large number of visitors per event.

A great ally for these excellent performances is undoubtedly the air connectivity thanks to direct flights from major U.S. cities especially from the state of Florida with great options from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and a flight time of less than 50 minutes.

In addition, there also direct flights from Central America with Panama and its relevant airport hub, working as strategic bridge connectiong the Bahamas to the region and with all the Latin America.

The Bahamas with all these resources and advantages can turn the vision of everyone into reality, whether it's attending a conference, a convention, a small corporate event or a team - building exercise that combines work and a tropical getaway, the Bahamas are the perfect destination.

Nassau boasts 29 hotels that can host relevant seminars with a total capacity of 12.031 rooms, superb highlights are the emblematic Atlantis resorts on Paradise Island and also Baha Mar on Cable Beach, all accommodations equipped with top services, modern convention centers perfectly designed for events of any size and type.

Grand Bahama Island and the other 14 Out Islands in the archipelago are open to the MICE tourism, thanks to the high – level of hotels and resorts, services, amenities and activity infrastructure.

The Out Islands stand for their unique concept denominated "barefoot luxury" based on emphasizing comfort, authenticity and connection with nature which aims to provide a high-end experience and together these islands have an additional capacity of 5.500 rooms, always ensuring a unique experience in a paradisiacal environment always ready to inspire everyone.

Link - https://infoturlatam.com/las-bahamas-inspiracion-para-proximos-encuentros-de-turismo-mice/