36 REGION AMERICAS Miami
36 REGION AMERICAS Miami Gets All on Board Miami relies upon public-private partnerships and transport infrastructure to drive tourism growth AEROMEXICO OPENS NEW ROUTES TO EUROPE Already a big player in Latin America, Aeromexico will start operating nonstop service from Mexico City to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, in May 2016. It will be the fourth European destination for the airline, which is also the only Mexican airline to offer direct flights to the Continent. Mexico’s global airline will add three weekly nonstop flights between Mexico City and Amsterdam, while the new route will be operated using Boeing 787 aircrafts with 243- seat capacity, including 32 seats in Aeromexico’s Business Class Cabin. Aeromexico also increased the number of flights between London Heathrow and Mexico City in June 2015 from three to five flights a week due to a 10.8% increase in the number of UK visitors to Mexico over the preceding year. Mexico was the ITB Berlin partner country in 2014 and the Latin American country has experienced steady growth in both inbound and outbound tourism, which explains Aeromexico’s decision to open another European route. In 2014, the tourism industry accounted for 8.4% of Mexico’s GDP, and remains and important source of employment with over 3 million jobs generated throughout the country. MEXICO WINS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD AT ITB BERLIN This year’s awards for the best projects entered in the TO DO! Competition for Socially Responsible Tourism went to Mexico and India. Awarded on March 10, the winners exemplified efforts to involve local residents in sustainable tourism practices, providing them with alternative sources of income and strengthening understanding of their culture and traditions. The projects also encourage visitors to take a closer look at the country and its people in order to gain a first-hand experience as a tourist and learn from a foreign culture. The Mexican winner was the Pueblos Mancomunados in the State of Oaxaca, a group of eight small villages which have combined to promote local tourism while practicing sustainable forestry and protecting the environment. Hall 25 / Stand 130 GMCVB President & CEO Bill Talbert continues to steer a steady course for the USA’s “hottest” resort town. We asked Mr Talbert how the industry has been performing over the past year. Well, it’s another record year. Clearly in 2015 we had a record number of overnight visitors in Greater Miami. A magic number, 15 million spending over billion dollars — and for our community, that translates into jobs. Our hospitality industry for many, many months has led our community in terms of the number of new jobs and the percentage increase in jobs. We’re proud of that. 96% of our visitors come through the airport, and today, Miami International Airport is the only airport in USA served by more than a hundred airlines. That makes accessibility one of our strongest points. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE ONLY AIRPORT IN USA SERVED BY MORE THAN A HUNDRED AIRLINES. What are the biggest points of evolution in terms of source markets? One of our strongest growth markets is Bill Talbert President & CEO, GMCVB Colombia. Brazil, Canada and now, number three is Colombia. Colombia has been growing consistently at double digits. Not coincidentally, in early December, Viva Colombia, the low cost carrier, launched service and became the 104th airline serving Miami International Airport. Here at ITB Berlin, what kinds of promotions are on the table? Well, we are pushing accessibility. We’re pushing new hotels- -we’ve got new developments all over town. The point is that Greater Miami continues to evolve. You know the airport now has a rail line to downtown? In fact, we are building a privately financed high speed rail system, “All Aboard Florida.” The connection between Orlando-Miami, Miami- Orlando is in some ways too short to fly and too long to drive. A new rail line (“The Bright Line”) will help people get around: downtime Miami, downtown Fort Lauderdale, downtown Palm Beach and the airport in Orlando. Hall 2.1 / Stand 480 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 11 th March 2016 www.itb-berlin-news.com
AMERICAS REGION 37 Brazil Aims For Olympic Records As Rio De Janeiro prepares to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, President of EMBRATUR (the Brazilian Tourist Board) Vinicius Lummertz tells ITB Berlin News why he has no doubt that hosting the event will lead to record-breaking levels of tourism for Brazil. This summer, the self-proclaimed “Biggest Sporting Event On The Planet” is coming to the largest country in Latin America. As the first Olympic Games ever to be held in South America, it will bring the world’s attention to the host city Rio De Janeiro. With a likely television audience of four billion viewers, and up to 500,000 foreign visitors expected to enter the country in the period around the event, ITB Berlin News asked Vinicius Lummertz what unique qualities Rio and Brazil can bring to such a global phenomenon. “Rio de Janeiro has several venues where athletes and tourists will have the privilege of enjoying the Olympics and interact with the landscape like no other city. Since the 1920s, Brazil has taken part in every Olympics all around the world. Now it is our turn and we know how to fulfill our duty. Visitors will experience the diversity of the Brazilian tourism market and enjoy cultural activities, ecotourism, adventure, the sunshine and beaches, as well as the sports, through many different destinations around the whole country. The beautiful city of Rio will be the gateway to the Olympics, but we will focus our efforts to make sure tourists from all over the world get to know other Brazilian cities. We will show the world the meaning of Brazil.” What are your strategies for a successful Olympics and to attract tourists from around the world? WE WILL SHOW THE WORLD THE MEANING OF BRAZIL Big events are exceptional opportunities for the country because of the great competitiveness of the tourism sector in the international market. Since Brazil was announced as the Olympic host, EMBRATUR and the Ministry of Tourism developed focused strategies to promote Brazil as the host of big sporting events and seeking to attract more foreign tourists. With the Rio Olympics 2016, we intend to increase the flow of domestic tourists and to hit records of international visitors. Being present in tourism fairs like ITB Berlin and organizing marketing campaigns and actions to promote Brazil abroad, the Institute is dedicated to disclose various destinations and products for visitors to enjoy Rio landscapes and also to know other Brazilian cities. How will the Olympic Games contribute to the legacy of Brazil? All initiatives undertaken seek to contribute to the legacy that will remain for future generations: the consolidated image of Brazil as a nation that is ready to be one of the five largest economies in the world. Just like the 2014 FIFA World Cup the two main effects for tourism were the improvement in infrastructure and big, sustained exposure of the country’s image towards the world. Regarding infrastructure, we are carrying out several construction projects for the upcoming events - this is critical to improve the incoming tourism to the country, in the areas of airports, urban mobility, tourist signage and professional qualifications. For Brazilians, the potential gain is invaluable. There is a global concern about Zika virus in American countries. What measures has Brazil taken to minimize the risk of contamination during the Olympics? Brazil is fully committed to fighting the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the disease. The Brazilian government has set up an unprecedented task force with a budget of .87 billion, plus we are coordinating international efforts in order to produce a vaccine. There is no special World Health Organization restriction for tourists and travelers intending to visit, except for the special warning to pregnant women, who should consult their doctor before traveling and take measures to minimise contact with mosquitoes. We are working so that the event will take place in total safety and tranquility; moreover, the Games will take place during Brazilian winter, when historically there is a low rainfall rate and thus a lower incidence of the disease vector. Hall 1.1 / Stand 211 Hall 3.1 / Stand 209a Vinicius Lummertz President, EMBRATUR ITB BERLIN NEWS • Friday 11 th March 2016
