Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican Republic | Announced an Economic Support Plan to Boost Tourism Development of the City

Santiago de los Caballeros, the second most populated city in the Dominican Republic and third in the Caribbean area, located in the north - central region of the country known as Cibao Valley, crossed by the Yaque del Norte River, a centre with a strong agricultural sector and major exporter of cigars, rum and textiles, known as "La Ciudad Corazón",  the Heart City will have an investment to enhance its image, attractiveness and to position itself as a destination of relevance.

The Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, David Collado, announced an economic support plan to boost tourism development of the city, starting with the delivery of RD$90 million to the Apedi, the Association for Development, after a meeting with the city's private sector. 

Of the first installment, RD$60 million will be allocated to the renovation of the “Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración” the Monument to the Heroes of the the Restoration, built in 1944 and dedicated to the Dominican Restoration of Indepencence, the highest building in the city with a surrounding park, located on a a hill in the middle of Santiago de los Caballeros.

The remaining RD$30 million will be allocated for the development and strategy of the City of Santiago brand and works in the historic centre and for the development of a common agenda until December to enrich the cultural and permanent offer that city has and which will be coordinated by "Visit Santiago" to reinforce the image of a city which is a blend of culture,  history and natural beauty.

The Minister of Tourism explained that Santiago de los Caballeros is an example of an alliance of the private sector, everyone was at the meeting, including representatives of the city's areas, in which with participation of all is possible to organize tourism in the Ciudad Corazón". The common vision in this city is convention, cultural, gastronomic and sports tourism.

The Minister stressed the importance of bringing public management closer to the communities, stating that the presence with all the deputy ministers and directors to immediately resolve any pending issue with DPP, Confotur and other areas of the Ministry of Tourism is a vision of closerness to the people and to the destination.

Link - https://noticias.mitur.gob.do/noticias/turismo-entrega-rd90-millones-para-impulsar-desarrollo-turistico-en-santiago/

Hilton | To Develop First Branded Residences on Yas Island, UAE

 Hilton Worldwide Inc, American multinational hospitality company founded in 1919 and headquartered in Tysons,Virginia established a partnership with Abu Dhabi - based real estate developer Aldar to develop the first branded residences under Waldorf Astoria brand on Yas Island.

Yas Island is a leisure island and one of the largest tourism projects in Abu Dhabi occupies a total area of 25 square kilometres,  home to world - famous theme parks, including Ferrrari World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros, World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.

The residences will be situated along the Yas Link Golf Course, the Middle East's first true links course and the Abu Dhabi Championships host and they will enter in the luxury hotel Waldorf Astoria brand owned by Hilton, boasting properties known for its elegant service, sophisticated accommodations, and once in  a -  lifetime experiences.

 Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is positioned as the flagship within Hilton's portfolio, founded in January 2006 when Hilton Hotels Corporation announced that it would launch a luxury hotel chain, called The Waldorf Astoria Collection, branded after its Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City features a global residential portfolio that includes more than 20 residential properties open or in development.

The complex will offer premium furrnished apartments and penthouses, featuring top - tier amenities and services that will provide sweeping views on the lush fairways and the iconic Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Waldord Astoria Residences Yas aims to bring the luxury hospitality brand's presence to Abu Dhabi, and the development aligns with Aldar's ambition to infuse a hospitality mindset across its organization and deliver signature customer experiences with a globally renowned brand.

The upcoming residences are expected to launch for sale in the coming weeks, introducing Waldorf Astoria's legacy of timeless elegance to Yas Island.

Residents will have direct access to world - class attractions such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros, World Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi,  Etihad Area, Gardenia Bay waterfront promenade and the stunning mangroves of West Yas will be within easy reach.

Link - https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article136478.html

H10 Hotels | European Expansion with the Acquisition of a Hotel in Paris, France

H10 Hotels, a hotel chain with head offices in Barcelona, Spain, expanded its presence in Europe with the acquisition of a hotel in the capital of France, Paris.

The hotel acquired is the Juliana Paris hotel, s five - star establishment located in the 7e arrondissement in a majestic and stylish building on Rue Cognacq - Jay, just a 14 - minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and a few metres from the Seine River.

With this acquisition H10 Hotels currently boasts eight properties in different European countries and the Parisian hotel joins the portfolio of the One by H10 Hotels, the company's urban luxury brand, and will operate under the name The One Alma Paris.

The new The One Alma Paris features 40 rooms and suites, a panoramic restaurant located on the seventh floor of the building, as well as a complete wellness area, which offers an experience pool, sauna, hammam, gym and a treatment room.

According to the company, the combination of noble materials and a sophisticated design creates a welcoming and contemporary space, perfect for offering an experience of absolute comfort. 

Link - https://www.hosteltur.com/170046_h10-hotels-amplia-su-presencia-en-europa-con-un-hotel-en-paris.html

Russia | Ready to Invest More than $2.1 Billion in New Hotels

Russia is ready to invest more than $2.1 billion in new hotels through an initiative led by the public bank Sberbank, within the framework of a state programme to promote national tourism.

The Public JSC Sberbank, a Russian majority state - owned banking and financial services company headquartered in Moskow, the largest bank in the Russian Federation, Central and Eastern Europe will invest more than $2.174 million for the construction of hotels in the country to boost domestic tourism.

The bank press service said that the government approved 66 agreements with Sberbank to finance the development of tourism infrastructure as part of the "National Tourism and Hospitality Program" whose financing by the bank will amount to 174.500 million rubles which will translate into 9.012 hotel rooms.

According to the information provided by the bank, most of these facilities, about 2.307 rooms will be built in the Krasnodar, in southern Russia and on the shores of the Black Sea, 708 rooms in Karelia, on the border with Finland, and 682 in Altai, the central territory bordering Kazakhstan.

Earlier under the same program, Sberbank invested in the construction of nine four and - five - star hotel facilities with a total of 1.902 rooms in the regions of Primorsky, Tatarstan, Irkutsk, Yaroslavl, Krasnodar and Adyegya.

This special program also provides for the construction of sports and leisure facilities a move to boost domestic tourism continuing a plan developed between 2021 and 2024, which was later extended until 2030, by which time it expects to reach the number of trips within Russia to 140 million a year compared to the current 65 million, and the objective is for national tourism to participate 5% in the gross domestic product.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 and the cancellation of air connections with Russia by several Western countries, international tourism has fallen in the Russian Federation.

Similarly, Russian travellers are also finding it difficult to visit other countries due to the restrictions imposed by the West and price hikes, which has increased domestic demand and incentivized the country to invest in domestic tourism.

Link - https://www.hosteltur.com/170035_rusia-invertira-2100-millones-de-dolares-en-nuevos-hoteles.html

Panama | Using Visa Destination Insights as a Driver to Attract More International Tourists

In an effort to strengthen its tourism sector, Panama through PROMTUR, the Panamanian Tourism Tourism Authority announced a strategic partnership with Visa that will allow the Central American country to have access to the Visa Destination Insights platform, which offers intelligence based on aggregate and despersonalized data from transactions made with Visa Cards to use it as a driver to attract more tourists.

The information provided by the platform will make it possible to identify consumption trends, visitor profiles by country of origin, purchasing behaviour and traveller prefereces, among other key indicators and an use of advanced data analysis tools to design more effective international promotion strategies and to boost the demand of visitors to the country.

The initiative seeks to optimize international marketing campaigns and increase Panama’s competitiveness as a tourist destination, in a sector that approximately represents thr 8% of the country GDP, Gross Domestic Product.

The tool will also allow the Panamanian private sector, including microenterprises and tourism services providers, to adapt their offer to the preferences and beahviours of travellers, thus strengthening public - private collaboration.

Visa Destination Insights has been implemented in various destinations around the world, demonstrating its usefulness in guiding tourism development policies and improving the visitor experience and Panama decided to use it in a strategic plan to enhance its tourism potential.

The Minister of Tourism Gloria de León Zubieta, said that this initiative will benefit the local tourism industry, as it will allow strategic decisions to be made based on data intelligence.

The General Manager of Visa Panama, Liz Marie Pareja highlighted that this collaboration represents an opportunity to add value to the efforts of PROMTUR, and the Panama Tourism Authority, contributing with valuable information that supports planning in one of the most important economic engines of the country.

Link 
https://www.ecotvpanama.com/nacionales/panama-usara-visa-destination-insights-atraer-mas-turistas-internacionales-n6038582

Kenya | New Global Adventure Tourism Campaign Launched

Kenya, a country in East Africa highlighted by a stunning coastline on the Indian Ocean and unique landscapes in its interior encompassing savannah, lakelands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley and mountain highlands, a destination that boasts a diverse range of attractions, from its iconic wildlife and national parks to its pristine beaches and a vibrant culture, through its Tourism Board launched a new global adventure tourism campaign.

The campaign title is "A Journey Through the Wild Heart of East Africa" aimed at positioning Kenya as a leading destination for adventure tourism showcasing all its attractiveness, beauty, options and also with the objective to diversify the tourism offer.

Developed in partnership with BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, the multimedia series follows Australian travel Photographer and Videographer Jack Swynnerton, based in Nairobi, as he jouneys across Kenya's landscapes by land, water and air capturing its wildlife, natural beauty and cultural diversity.

The three - part campaign features immersive and authentic experiences including a hot air balloon safari over the iconic Maasai Mara, hiking Mount Kenya, the second - highest peak in Africa, after Kilimanjaro and exploring via paddleboard and dhow, Watamu, a small coastal town north of Mombasa.

Kenya Tourism Board CEO, June Chepkemei said that the iniative reflects efforts to diversify Kenya's tourism offering beyond safaris, promoting activities for thrill - seekers and nature lovers.

The "A Journey Through the Wild Heart of East Africa" campaign marks a strategic shift towards adventure tourism to attract new visitor segments and boost international arrivals.

Link - https://atta.travel/resource/kenya-tourism-board-launches-new-adventure-tourism-campaign.html

Colombia | International Air Bookings to the Country Notably Grow According to a Report by the Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies

Colombia, a very popular tourism destination, a South American country highlighted by a vibrant culture, diverse landscapes, a rich biodiversity, offering a unique blend of historical and modern attractions, a country that significantly improve its offering, infrastructure with new products, entertainment, enhancement of attractions and urban renovations is experiencing a notable growth in International Air Bookings according to a report provided by ANATO, the Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies.

International air bookings registered an increase of 5.7% between April and September of this year compared to the same period in 2024, confirming the notable appeal of Colombia as one of the favourite destinations in South America for many travellers, a country offers a diverse range of tourism experiences, from exploring vibrant cities, immersing yourself in nature and culture to different interests including adventure and relaxation.

With a total of 487.980 reservations in the aforementioned period, Colombia shows a good performance compared to other relevant destinations in the region such as, Mexico and Costa Rica, which reported falls of 4.3% and 1.2%, respectively, according to the source.

Among the countries with the highest number of reservations are : 

•    The United States of America - 154.000 
•    Spain - 36.000 
•    Chile - 27.000 
•    Mexico - 25.000 
•    Brazil - 24.000

These travellers mostly visit relevant destinations such as the capital of the country Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena de Indias and Medellin.

According to travellers, 75.5% of the visitrs are motivated by pleasure, followed by meetings with friends and family, 9.5%, while 8.9% are motivated by knowing other places in groups and 6.1% said that their interest was in business.

 ANATO, the Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies also specified the time in advance with which travellers make their reservations to Colombia and the result is that 36.3% of these are made on average more than four months before the flight, 18.1% with more than two months, 15.8% do them with a little more than 90 days and 11.7% with less than a month.

Colombia also stands out for having longer stays, as 45.8% od reservations are for nine nights or more, that is, higher than the regional average, since only 30% of travellers usually do so for that number of days.

Link - https://infoturlatam.com/crecen-reservas-aereas-internacionales-hacia-colombia/