News in Brief: Wednesday May 7
Youth operator Contiki has expanded its South America program with the addition of Belize, Guatemala and Colombia for 2015-16.
There are seven new trips across the three destinations such as the 14-day Central Trail, the 25-day Mexico, Guatemala and Belize and the 11-day Hola Colombia.
“Contiki has seen amazing success since our launch into Latin America in 2011 and we continue to experience incredible demand. This has required us to increase departures into Costa Rica by 40% and Mexico by 70% alone this coming year,” managing director Australia Katrina Barry said.
“Expanding on our existing product along with the addition of three exciting new destinations is just another way that Contiki is making sure that young travellers make every moment count, by including internal flights, we gets travellers from A to B faster which allows them more time to enjoy every destination.”
The growth of global air traffic slowed in March, the latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have revealed.
Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) increased 3.1% compared to March 2013. Although a slowdown on February’s growth of 5.6%, cumulative traffic growth for the first quarter was 5.6% – a slight improvement over the 5.2% overall growth achieved in 2013.
“After a number of very strong months we are seeing a slowing of demand growth. The strong performance of advanced economies nevertheless is likely to support the continued growth of traffic in the coming months,” IATA director general and chief executive Tony Tyler said.
Carnival Cruise Lines’ latest Australian ship Carnival Legend will cross the Pacific to Hawaii next year, while her more settled sister ship Carnival Spirit will make the cruise line’s first ever visit to Asia on a voyage from Sydney to Singapore.
Fares start from $1049 per person quad share for Carnival Spirit’s 15-day Sydney to Singapore cruise which departs August 1, 2015.
Helen Wong’s Tours has extended its 2014 Year of the Horse celebrations by announcing further $200 discounts on its group tours to China and Vietnam.
In addition, travel agents who book one of the tours will receive a $50 Coles gift card for each person booked before the end of August. The offer applies on group tours to China until the end of June 2015 and to Vietnam until the end of March 2015.
Bentours’ and Tempo's top 10 producing agents each week during May in 2014 will receive 2% extra commission.
This applies to all new bookings of land product excluding flights and certain other elements and must be deposited in order to qualify.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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