ITB Berlin News 2018 - Review Edition

NEWS
19
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
have unveiled the design of the new
and dedicated Norwegian Cruise Line
terminal at PortMiami. The terminal
represents the continued relationship
and strong ties between Norwegian
and Miami, which has been the
company’s home since its launch
in 1966. Pending the final approval
by the Miami-Dade County Board of
County Commissioners, the project
will commence in May 2018, and is
scheduled for completion by Q3 of 2019,
as Norwegian Encore, the newest ship
of the Breakaway Plus class, makes her
debut in Miami with seasonal cruises to
the Caribbean.
“This terminal marks the latest step
in our continual efforts to strengthen
our presence in strategic home ports
around the world. We look forward
to welcoming Norwegian Encore and
PortMiami Terminal
Norwegian Cruise
Line Announce New
Terminal at PortMiami
the thousands of guests sailing on
Norwegian Cruise Line and her sister
brands to this state-of-the-art terminal”
said Frank Del Rio, president and chief
executive officer of Norwegian Cruise
Line Holdings Ltd during the company’s
ITB Berlin press conference.
At nearly 166,500 square feet, the
debuting Norwegian terminal will
accommodate ships of up to 5,000
passengers, and feature new technology
to support faster and more efficient
embarkation and disembarkation
processes, as well as expedited security
screening and luggage check-in. A
dedicated lounge and service area will
facilitate a warm and welcoming sense
of arrival for large groups and charters,
and a new parking garage, and valet
parking area with direct access to the
terminal and lounge are also scheduled
to be completed
© Bermello Ajamil
RAS AL KHAIMAH
LAUNCHES CHALLENGE
TO DEVELOP “NEXT BIG
THING” IN ADVENTURE
TOURISM
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism
Development Authority
(RAKTDA) has partnered
with The George Washington
University International
Institute of Tourism Studies
to launch the 2018 Ras Al
Khaimah Adventure Travel &
Sports Innovation Challenge
during the UAE Innovation
Week
The initiative invites
students from across the
globe to develop innovative
and sustainable ways of
growing adventure tourism
and making the Emirate the
world’s leading destination
for thrill-seeking travellers.
Powered through
crowdsourcing platform,
HeroX, students will be
challenged to identify
athletic events that could be
developed in Ras Al Khaimah.
The Challenge will run from
February to September 2018.
Proposals will be judged by a
panel of international tourism
experts and the senior
leadership at​​RAKTDA. Two
members of the winning
team will travel to Ras Al
Khaimah to present their ​
proposal​at a World Tourism
Day conference scheduled
for 27th September 2018.
Haitham Mattar, CEO of
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism
Development Authority
(RAKTDA) said: “Over the
last two years, we’ve focused
on the development of our
adventure tourism product
on and around Jebel Jais, the
UAE’s highest mountain. The
trekking and climbing routes
on Jebel Jais Via Ferrata
earned plaudits as the UAE’s
most thrilling attraction and
just last month we officially
opened Jebel Jais Flight: The
World’s Longest Zipline at an
incredible 2.83km long”
The First EuroVelo Cycle Tourism Awards go to France
and EuroVelo 15 - Rhine Cycle Route
France and EuroVelo 15 - Rhine Cycle
Route has been selected as the most
popular cycle tourism country and
EuroVelo Route in 2017.
The inaugural EuroVelo Cycle Tourism
Awards were held at ITB Berlin. The
ceremony formed part of the first ever
Cycle Tourism Day organised by ECF
(European Cyclists’ Federation) and ADFC
(German National Cyclists’ Association)
at the ITB Berlin, the world’s leading
travel trade show. Representatives from
France and EuroVelo 15 - Rhine Cycle
Route received the awards from Michael
Cramer, Member of the European
Parliament and “father” of EuroVelo 13
– Iron Curtain Trail.
Cycle tourism is becoming an increasingly
significant sector of the tourism industry.
According to a study commissioned
by the European Parliament cycle
tourism contributes over €44bn to the
European economy annually in addition
to the environmental, health and
transportation benefits
ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 21 st March 2018