Dubai, Maldives, Singapore launch social media campaigns to woo Indian traveller - Mint
Dubai, Maldives, Singapore launch social media campaigns to woo Indian traveller - Mint |
| Dubai, Maldives, Singapore launch social media campaigns to woo Indian traveller - Mint Posted: 06 Jan 2021 12:00 AM PST NEW DELHI : Some short-haul destinations such as the UAE, Maldives, and Singapore are trying to woo Indian tourists with influencer campaigns and attractively-priced packages in partnership with airlines with popular long-haul destinations such as the UK under lockdown because of a surge in covid-19 cases. "With international destinations reopening for tourists there has been a significant demand. We have witnessed an impressive growth rate of 25-30%. Destinations such as Dubai and Maldives have seen 100% growth in bookings in December compared to previous months. We have obtained not just queries, but also encouraging bookings for Egypt," said a spokesperson of travel firm SOTC. Also Read | The race to take fashion retail online Indian tourists planning to visit the UAE, which started welcoming visitors from July, are required to take two covid-19 PCR tests, one not more than 96 hours before departure and a second test upon arrival in Dubai. The tourism board of Dubai is running phased campaigns since April to woo travellers from India, which remains its top source market. To boost demand, it is also running the 'Live Your Story' campaign across social media platforms to encourage travellers. "South Asia makes up for 32% of all visitors in this period (July onwards) and we've seen positive growth month-on-month with Indian travellers. We have worked hard to curate a robust calendar of events and attractions to delight travellers in 2021. Starting with the annual Dubai shopping festival (in January), Dubai has a lot to offer across interests and budgets," said Abdulla Yousuf, acting director, proximity market, Dubai Tourism. Dubai will kick-start its food festival, Gastronomy, in February, while the Art Dubai event will begin in March. The board said visitors travelling with Emirates or FlyDubai airlines, will be offered free global coverage for covid-19 health expenses and quarantine costs till December 2020. Maldives has also started attracting tourists to its white sand beaches and luxury resorts after India established an air bubble agreement in August. Maldives is collaborating with major airlines, tour operators and agents to create awareness and promote the destination, with different marketing activities in India. "We have worked with Singapore Airlines and AirAsia and will start new campaigns this month with Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Air Astana. Other key campaigns with stakeholders (hotel properties and resorts) are in process. As we have opened resorts, guesthouses and liveaboards, we see various attractive offers from different properties. We have provided industry stakeholders with a platform to promote those packages and their experiences," said Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corp. Singapore is taking a long-term view of the India market as its borders remain closed for tourists. However, it has been investing in digital and social media outreach in partnership with Zomato, BookMyShow, and NH7 Weekender music festival to stay connected with Indians. The Singapore Tourism Board is set to launch an influencer campaign 'Singapore thru Passionistas' Eyes" with five popular social media influencers to create a community of advocates for Destination Singapore. |
| Calgary airport 1 of only 4 international hubs as sun destination flights suspended - Global News Posted: 30 Jan 2021 01:56 PM PST The federal government has announced Canada's major airlines will suspend service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico starting this Sunday until April 30 as more infectious variants of COVID-19 continue to spread. All international passenger flights must land at only four airports in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary. READ MORE: Airlines suspend flights to sun destinations until April 30 amid growing variant concerns The Calgary Airport Authority said it is working with the federal government and airline partners to implement the changes. "The pandemic has had a devastating impact on our airport and there will be further significant business impacts arising from these new requirements," said Reid Fiest, Calgary Airport Authority external communications and media relations manager. On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced a new mandatory PCR testing requirement at airports for people returning to Canada. Trudeau said while these travellers wait for this COVID-19 test result, they'll be forced to quarantine for up to three days at a designated hotel – on their own dime. Trudeau added that the cost for this is "expected to be more than $2,000." "Foreign travel, international travel, travel of any kind is just something you don't want to do; it's not the time for it," Calgary-based aviation industry analyst Rick Erickson said. "They put some very very tight restrictions on what already was a fairly difficult environment to ensure that Canadians – it's not as though it's impossible, it's not as though you can't come back to the country, but, boy, there are some very large fences that we hadn't seen before." READ MORE: Travellers to pay 'more than $2K' for new mandatory COVID-19 hotel quarantine, Trudeau says Erickson said suspending travel to popular sunspot destinations will be a major financial hit on Canada's airline industry, particularly because the suspension is happening at a time when Canadians typically travel to warmer climates. "If it's -20C, those sunspot destinations are really attractive. A lot of Canadians are in that pattern, a lot of Canadians have property abroad," he said. "If you want to travel, it's still possible but you better have deep pockets, you better be able to live with uncertainty, you better be able to understand risk and the like, and it's going to be very, very difficult to go travel abroad." Fiest said the Calgary Airport Authority will continue to advocate for federal government assistance for the air transportation industry amid the latest changes. "To date, there has been no meaningful aviation sector support despite many of the most recent government policies having a significant adverse impact of Canada's airports and airlines," Fiest said. Related News "We acknowledge the Prime Minister recognized the dramatic impact of the pandemic on our industry and we hope to see urgent action and support." READ MORE: Coronavirus — 6.3M travellers entered Canada and didn't have to quarantine Erickson believes the suspension of sunspot destination flights signals the federal government is prepared to announce an assistance package for Canada's airline industry. "There's got to be a tradeoff; I believe that tradeoff is finally some kind of financial compensation package and I'm listening with open ears as to what that's going to be because we definitely want to ensure that Canadian carriers coming through this pandemic are on some kind of solid footing," he said. On Friday, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said the federal government is developing an assistance package for Canadian airlines, airports and the aerospace industry, but did not provide specifics. "Our government understands that a strong air sector is vital for Canada's economy and the well-being of Canadians," Alghabra said. "With passenger levels still down almost 90 per cent, airlines have been forced to take drastic measures to remain viable. The sector cannot respond to these challenges on its own." The new measures are aimed at discouraging travellers from taking non-essential trips outside of the country, amid numerous reports that some Canadians have been escaping the chilly winter with vacations to sunny destinations. Cases linked to international travel account for just two per cent of COVID-19 cases in Canada. The measures come amid an uncomfortable reality about the number of travellers that are skipping quarantine measures altogether. More than 6.3 million travellers who have entered Canada since the start of the pandemic were not required to quarantine, according to new figures Global News obtained Thursday from the Canada Border Services Agency. —With files from Rachel Gilmore, Andrew Russell © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. |
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