NEWS 5 PREFACE Richard
NEWS 5 PREFACE Richard Barnes Chief analyst © 2019 Aurora Expeditions Paying more than lip service to sustainability History in the making The Greg Mortimer, the first passenger vessel with X-Bow, hits the water in Shanghai The travel industry, and indeed the world, is at a crossroads at which the right actions need to be taken without further hesitation, when it comes to the future of our planet. The travel industry does of course contribute to the global output of CO2. But by the same token, perhaps no other industry has the capacity that tourism does for raising awareness of those who travel as to the fragility of our world, to the damage that has already been done, and to the urgent need to protect what’s left. A perfect case at hand is that of tourism in the Arctic and the Antarctic, which is seeing a massive boom, and is set to grow at lightning speed in coming years. But the prime movers in this trend are totally dedicated to the cause of the planet. More people need to see and experience this beauty that is ITB CHINA NEWS is a CLEVERDIS Publication. 65 av. Jules Cantini - Tour Méditerranée, 13006 Marseille, France • Tel: + 33 442 77 46 00 • SARL capitalised at €155,750 • VAT FR 95413604471 • RCS Marseille 413 604 471 • info@cleverdis.com • www.cleverdis.com. • info@itb-china-news.com • www.itb-china-news.com crying out for our protection. An example is that of Hurtigruten, the largest player in the polar regions, connecting people with their “inner explorers.” Their two new state-of-the-art expedition ships, Amundsen and Nansen, set to be delivered in 2019 and 2020, will revolutionise adventure travel at sea. They’re the world’s first expeditionary ships able to sail fully electric with sustainable hybrid technology. As more people venture to places that take their breath away, the movement to keep our planet alive is bound to pick up pace. As Sir David Attenborough said recently, “It’s really not too late…” adding, “The idea that we can make a dramatic difference is really there for the taking.” Let’s take it. At ITB China, sustainability is no longer an after-thought. It is at the heart of the industry’s offering. • Publisher: Gérard Lefebvre • Managing Director: Jean-François Pieri • Publishing Director: Jean-Guy Bienfait • Project Manager: Wenchao Wang • Chief Analyst: Richard Barnes • Analysts: Jack Wang, Jingnan Zhao • Head of Editorial Team: John Falchetto • Editorial coordination: Kira Behr • Marketing Manager: Nathalie Meissner • Art Director: Hélène Beunat • Design & Page Setting: Guillaume Kaercher • With the participation of: Bettina Badon, Benjamin Klene, Siyu Geng, Jasdeep Singh >To contact them : first name.last name@itb-china-news.com • Printing: Shanghai HongMo YingXiaoCeHua, Shanghai, China • Cover: © Ctrip Registration of Copyright May 2019 Information presented in this publication is purely indicative in order to illustrate subjects contained therein. No guarantee can be given as to the accuracy of data or content at time of printing and thus the latter should not be used for professional or commercial ends. 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Cleverdis assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements during the period of publication. Photo Credits and Copyright: All Rights Reserved. Aurora Expeditions are promoting an historic moment at ITB China this year, with the recent sea launch of a firstever “X-Bow” ship in Shanghai. On Tuesday 12 March 2019, Aurora Expeditions co-founder and Australian explorer and mountaineer, Greg Mortimer OAM attended the official sea launch of Aurora Expedition’s new state-of-the-art expedition ship, the Greg Mortimer here in Shanghai. The ceremony was attended by guests from SunStone Ships and Aurora Expeditions, including Managing Director Robert Halfpenny, who were present as the Greg Mortimer officially launched into its sea testing phase. Aurora Expeditions Asia Pacific Sales Director, Dianna Schinella, based in Sydney, is at ITB China to promote the new ship. She explains that the company was founded over 27 years ago by Mortimer and his wife, as they wanted to take like-minded travellers to Antarctica “to educate them on the pristine environments and why it is important to protect those environments and the wildlife, but also to share the wonders of Antarctica and the polar regions in general with the world.” The current owners took over in 2009, and since then, plans to launch the new ship have been under way. “It’s the first of its kind in the world with the X-bow design, and construction has taken Dianna Schinella Director, Aurora Expeditions Asia Pacific Sales place just outside of Shanghai,” explains Schinella. Capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, the Greg Mortimer is built to world-class polar standards – designed in close consultation with Aurora’s expedition specialists. Accommodating 100 landing passengers in the polar regions, with an average of 120 per voyage, the Greg Mortimer is built to contend with adverse weather conditions, while its added creature comforts make for a more enjoyable journey out on the open ocean. The Greg Mortimer remains true to the company’s ethos and focus on multiple landings, flexible itineraries and family atmosphere – just with an improved home base. Construction of the new ship is progressing ahead of schedule and is now entering the final construction phase, with work commencing on the interior design STAND D079 ITB CHINA NEWS • Friday 17 th May 2019
