After exceptional results in April (6.4 percent plus), German camping sites and lodging establishments with nine or more beds saw overnight stays drop by 3 percent this May in year-to-year comparison, according to preliminary results provided by the Federal Statistical Office. Smaller communities with populations of less than 100,000 were most strongly affected, while overnight stays in major cities remained nearly unchanged.

This edition includes the preliminary data on International Tourist Arrivals for the first four months of 2009 and a revised forecast for the full year, as well as the estimates of last year’s and the 2008 rankings for tourism destinations, source markets and tourism spenders.

The number of international tourist arrivals reached 247 million between January and April 2009, down from 269 million compared to the same period in 2008 (a decline of 8%).

By 2020 every second vacationer will be over 50 years of age, according to the researchers at ADAC Reisemonitor – New markets for best agers offer fresh opportunities for the travel sector

The German advertising industry has identified its major target group as consumers between the ages of 14 and 49, who wield significant purchasing power. However, in a few years time the powerful travel industry will no longer conform to this pattern. According to findings by the ADAC Reisemonitor (Travel Monitor), by 2020 every second holidaymaker will have passed the age of 50.

Firefly, Malaysia Airline’s regional airline, will be offering flights headed for Singapore from various destinations in Malaysia starting from July, 2009. This will include four flights a day departing from Kuala Lumpur’s city airport SkyPark Subang headed for Singapore (Changi Budget Terminal), with the corresponding four flights a day from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Firefly will also offer four flights a week (Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday) from Ipoh to Singapore and from Singapore to Ipoh.

by editor’s office, ch, tophotel

The issue of reduced working hours has reached the German hotel industry. Close to 20 percent of lodging establishments have filed short-time work. This was found by a survey among 269 employees and employers in the hotel industry, conducted by trade magazine “Top hotel“. However, only 16 percent of respondents are personally affected by reduced hours. Still, 40 percent of hotel employees have looked up regulations on state benefits in the event of reduced working hours – as a precaution. This indicates that short-time work may yet become an issue for many establishments.

by editor’s office, ch

The premium hotel industry is growing around the globe: More than 3,500 new first-class and luxury hotels will be opening throughout the next four years. 200 hotel projects are being built in Germany, alone, with 45 developments in Austria and 35 in Switzerland. This marks a 7.3 percent increase in four and five-star hotels in Germany, 2.3 percent in Austria and 4.8 percent in Switzerland. On a European scale, the number of top hotels will rise by 2.2 percent by 2012. This was found by a recent study conducted by hotel project database tophotelprojects.com©.