Record numbers of UK tourists are taking to the high seas upon cruise liners, according to new research.

The Passenger Shipping Association annual report, published last night, has predicted passenger numbers will rise by 13 per cent during 2008.

It is also claimed the number of people taking cruises will increase from 1.33 million in 2007 to two million in 2012.

William Gibbons, director of the PSA, said there had been a “sustained boom” in cruising over the past decade, with the number of UK tourists taking a cruise holiday more than doubling.

“We expect to see that growth increase even further,” he added, revealing that there were 44 new cruise ships currently on order.

The PSA report also indicated that many consumers were repeat cruisers, with 28 per cent taking more than one holiday.

Now in its 50th year, the association represents both small and luxury cruise companies operating in the UK.

France remained the world’s number one tourist destination in 2007, according to the nation’s ministry of tourism.

Keeping its position at the top of the charts ahead of neighbouring Spain, France welcomed almost 82 million visitors from across the globe, reports Reuters.

In a statement, the ministry said 62 million of the visitors made France their final destination, with a further 14 million stopping off en route to another country.

Some 46 per cent of the visitors were European, although a seven per cent rise was seen in the number of American tourists holidaying in France.

The country’s diverse physical and cultural landscape means visitors to France can choose between various types of breaks in the country.

While Paris is the cultural as well as political capital of France, many of the rural provincial towns are popular with sightseers.
 
The west of the country is popular with wine enthusiasts and skiers can choose from a range of winter resorts in the Pyrenees and Alpine mountain ranges.

Warmer climes of the south of France make the area popular with sun-bathers, with visitors to the Mediterranean coastline also able to spend a day in the casinos of land-locked principality Monaco.

The Cuban tourism industry should aim to attract visitors from all over the world in order to continue its growth, it has been claimed.

Amir Girgis, economist at the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), said it highly recommended Cuba targets the “entire global market” rather than focus on specific regions.

He added: “The rise of emerging markets creates a new source of travellers as well as travel destinations.

“Cuba should thus embrace globalisation and use it to their advantage.”

Meanwhile, the Cuban ministry of tourism has reported a 15 per cent increase in visitors to the Caribbean island during the first quarter of 2008.

Maria Elena Lopez, a vice minister of Cuban tourism, said the figures hinted at an industry recovery following a two-year slump.

The ministry also reported that the number of international visitors in 2008 reached the one million mark 22 days faster than last year.

A forum for business leaders in the travel industry, the WTTC works to raise awareness of tourism as one of the world’s largest industries.

The good people at Chapel Down have been working hard to open their new flagship restaurant, and at the end of July the hard work turned to a sparkling success. Frazer’s words are below along with some pictures of the new restaurant.

“At last! Despite the usual nightmares of building projects, we opened the new restaurant - Richard Phillips at Chapel Down at the end of July. Its what people in the trade call a “soft launch”. Apparently this means that we dont do any marketing and people gradually discover the place and the kitchen gradually builds up to full tilt over a period of weeks. It didn’t quite work that way! Word has got around so fast we’re getting fully booked. But when you see it, and taste the food, you’ll understand why. Richard and his team have done a fabulous job… If you want to book, go to … www.richardphillipsatchapeldown.co.uk or call on 01580 761616

Personally, I think the lunch menu at just £12.95 for three courses or £10.95 for two is a fantastic deal. I can honestly say that I have eaten everything on the menu, and its ALL fantastic! The restaurant is open every day except Monday from 10 am to 5pm and open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 6pm to 11pm”
Frazer Thompson
Managing Director

Increasing numbers of tourists are interested in sampling traditional dishes when they go on holiday, according to a leading tourism association.
 
Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) spokesperson Frances Tuke said more and more people were looking for “good gourmet experiences” on their travels, describing local gastronomy as “part and parcel” of what people want.

While claiming there were still tourists who are “not very adventurous”, she added “there are those who want to go for the authentic travel experience and that includes proper local food.”

Research by the World Travel Market shows more than 53 per cent of holidaymakers said eating traditional was a “very important” or “important” part of their holiday, while 86 per cent of UK tourists questioned said they enjoy eating local food while abroad.

The international culinary tourism association defines culinary tourism as “the pursuit of unique and memorable culinary experiences of all kinds”.
According to this definition, it is possible to be a culinary tourist at home as well as on holiday

Amsterdam is currently the most popular destinations for stag dos, it is claimed.

Designaventure project manager Anna Makin Made said revellers have re-established the Dutch capital at the top of the charts, although a number of eastern European destinations are seeing more and more group visits.

The Slovakian city of Bratislava, Czech Republic capital Prague and Riga in Latvia are said to have all grown in popularity with UK trippers as low-cost air travel has advanced.

Ms Made commented that trip organisers should decide what they fancy doing and then search on the internet to decide on a destination.
She claimed it is necessary to “have a meeting with a couple of people in the group and share your ideas” before agreeing a budget.

“A lot of stags literally have the flights, the hotel and the transfers to and from the hotel, in say Riga, and that can cost them £160,” she added, claiming that the average cost of a stag-do is £365.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office statistics from 2005 found that seven in ten young British people would rather spend their stag and hen weekends abroad.

A motoring official has offered advice to British drivers considering taking a break in Ireland.

Thomas Brosnan of the AA says most holidaymakers arrive in eastern ports of the emerald isle such as Cork, Belfast and Dublin before travelling to the more scenic west.

Reminding visitors that speed and distance road signs differ in the north and south of the island, he said the imperial measurements used in Northern Ireland change to metric units as you cross the border into Eire.
He added: “We like to think that signposting has improved – it probably has a long way to go at times, but it has improved.”

“There might be issues with signposting and getting around if you go to Gaeltacht areas, where all the signs are in Irish without the English translation, but if you buy a map in English for the Gaeltacht areas, the Irish is given on the map also.”

Statistics for 2006 from Tourism Ireland show that, in that year, 4.97 million Britons visited the country, spending a total of 1,722 million euros.

South Australia has been hailed as a top holiday destination at a recent tourism award ceremony.

The region won four out of the 20 awards up for grabs at the Travelling in Australia awards, the first such event organised by the international tourism magazine.

Industry experts from around the globe commended South Australian attractions such as Kangaroo Island, which was voted Best Eco Experience, and its resort Southern Ocean Lodge, which won Best New Product Experience.

Bookabee Australia triumphed in the Best Indigenous Experience category, while Rodney Fox Great White Shark Expedition claimed the Best Adventure Experience prize.

Jane Lomax-Smith, tourism minister, said: “These awards have extra credibility because they are voted on by the travel agents from around the world who recommend and book Australian holidays for international visitors.

“The South Australian Government is committed to growing the State’s tourism industry in a sustainable way, and South Australia is a leader in the growing field of ‘environmentally-friendly’ holidays.”

South Australia, whose capital is Adelaide, experiences very warm weather conditions in summer, especially in the northern outback parts of the state.

The 2008 Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM) event will help promote Gulf Air’s new carrier route to Shanghai, it has been reported.

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, will advertise its new route at the luxury travel show at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre on June 17th.

The air travel provider’s chief executive officer Bjorn Naf said China was one of the fastest growing economies in the world and entering this market was very important to Gulf Air.

He added: “We are delighted to be associated with the ALTM to promote our entry into the Chinese market, as we will be offering our sky beds and other award-winning in-flight services such as the Sky Nanny service to this new route, which is part of our expansion strategy to become the airline of choice.”

ALTM event director Jay Martens said the launch of Gulf Air’s first direct flight to Shanghai was an event the industry wished to celebrate.

Gulf Air provides luxury travel services to more than 40 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, supporting business in the Persian Gulf region and the Bahrain tourist industry.

An area of southern Thailand hit by bombings last year has witnessed a revival in its tourist industry, it has been reported.

Security fears had led to holidaymakers avoiding the Songkhla province close to the Malaysian border, but the Bangkok Post has reported that the tourists are returning.

A rise in the number of foreign visitors to Hat Yai city and the surrounding area has been largely attributed to the return of tourist groups from neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia during the recent school holidays.

Somchai Pimthanapunporn, president of Hat Yai-Songkhla hotels association, said tourism in Songkhla has risen in recent weeks, with more than 200 million baht entering the local economy.

Increased confidence in the safety of the area comes as a boost to western backpackers in the area, or those taking long-haul trips for an extended summer break.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand describes Songkla as an “undeniably historic town endowed with ancient ruins, arts, and places of cultural importance”.

Meanwhilem, Hat Yai is said to be the “commercial, transportation, communication, educational, and tourism hub of the south”.