Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/411125
www.travelweekly-asia.com Making A Difference www.travelweekly-asia.com 31 October 2014 Published by Northstar travel Media siNgaPore Pte ltd issN: 2382-6061 MCi (P) 166/07/2014 Day 1 ITB ASIA Official Dailies | 3 OFFICIAL DAILIES Borrowed time, borrowed home – a new way of travelling There's a Mouss about the house where Yeoh Siew Hoon camps in France Talking PoinT 2 Dispatch, Egypt: Why there's hope for a turnaround For the first time since the aftermath of the 2011 revolution, Travel Weekly US is sending a reporter to Egypt DesTinaTion 8 The Millennial Voice: How we will book travel Google any country in the world right now meeT The cusTomer 7 Qatar Tourism to open offices in Asia World Cup build-up driving hotel growth, and confidence. hoT news 22 National parks and culinary treats to be a feature of tourism promotion IT'S ALL THE WAY WITH USA Jay Gray (centre), Vice President of Global Market Development, Brand USA, with representatives of the USA team at ITB Asia 2014. The only way is up for United States tourism as it bounces back from a few lean years and powers towards record international arrival numbers and tourism receipts. Across the nation small communities and the largest cities are getting behind Brand USA, the destination marketing organisation, to portray the United States through its natural attractions, food and diversity. Backed by an IMAX film, 'Wild USA, National Parks', and a strong emphasis on the culinary experiences available throughout the nation, Brand USA has set itself the challenge of "improving the US image" across key source markets, including South-east Asia. Brand USA Vice President of By Ian Jarrett global market development, Jay Gray, said previously there had been little international marketing of the United States but this was about to change, particularly in Asia. Among the initiatives being rolled out is an online agent training programme, the USA Discovery Programme, which will include six specialist experiences modules. The world faces a sharp shortage of talent in the travel industry and this will grow to be more acute in the years to come. This talent crisis will affect the quality of product with eight millions jobs to fill in the travel industry in the next 15-20 years. David scowsill, the President & ceo of the world Travel & Tourism council (wTTc) is appealing to the public and private sectors to work together to solve this issue and prevent the economic contribution of the industry from being severely constrained. while governments have been investing heavily in time and money infrastructure – airports, ports, hotels and ground infrastructure – they fail to invest in the skills to fill the jobs to face subsequent demand. Travel and tourism are important pillars in the asian economy as the sector generated us$2 trillion last year – an 8.75% share of asia's economy – and directly employs 65 million people across the region. chun-Yi lai, market Development manager of north asia, hotelbeds shared that the turnover rate of the travel industry is very high, thus "many leave in a short time despite the training that the company gives its employees". hence, he suggests that the company could "invest in long-term training to ensure that employees feel secure and therefore would be more inclined to stay in the same industry". WTTC Warns of aCuTe shorTage in Travel TalenT By Natalie Chen