ECTAA and Macao strengthen tourism ties between Europe and Asia
MACAO – ECTAA, the European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Association, is holding this week its 2025 Summit, from 2nd to 5th of June in Macao, as part of its partnership of Preferred Destination for 2025 with the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). This strategic collaboration aims to intensify tourist flows between Europe and Asia, positioning Macao as a destination of choice for European travellers.
The meeting is taking place at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort and brought together leaders of European travel agencies, representatives of national associations from across Europe, as well as
institutional partners and local authorities. The presence of Mrs Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the MGTO, and Mr Tai Kin Ip, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, demonstrate the territory's strong commitment to diversifying its international customer base and strengthening cooperation with European markets.
One of the highlights of the meeting will be a round table discussion on tourism opportunities between Europe and Asia, focusing on new market dynamics. The speakers – Frank Gulin, Tiago Brito, Nigel Wong and Mary Huang, from European national tourism organisations, Asian professional associations and the private sector – will share their vision of the changes underway: the rise of independent travel, the search for authentic cultural experiences, growing demands for sustainability, and the need for European destinations to adapt their communication to the new
expectations of Asian travellers. The discussions should show a convergence of interests: on the one hand, European destinations keen to win back the Chinese market; on the other, Asian
destinations seeking to diversify their customer base and raise their profile in Europe.
'Cooperation between Europe and Asia in the travel sector is obvious, but it requires a new approach based on better mutual understanding, tailored products and concrete collaboration between professionals,' said Frank Oostdam, President of ECTAA in a press conference. 'The partnership with Macao illustrates this desire to go beyond intentions and create real connections between markets.'
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, remarked at the same occasion that 'it is a great opportunity for Macao to welcome this significant group of the European tourism industry, especially now that a new wave of tourism development is emerging, highlighting that travel agencies are key partners that MGTO wants to work with to continue to increase visitor flows from Europe.' I The meeting is also providing an opportunity for a B2B session between 30 European delegates and more than 50 local companies, facilitating the emergence of new business partnerships. Although Europe is not yet one of Macao's main source markets, this partnership aims to reverse this trend. With a high-end hotel offering (150 establishments, 24 Forbes 5-star hotels by 2025), a rich cultural heritage, an internationally recognised gastronomic scene (UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy), and a solid tourism infrastructure, Macao has all the assets to attract a demanding European clientele.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Travel Daily News
14-07-2025
- Travel Daily News
Google 's AI Mode to transform travel search
Google's AI Mode will soon dominate search, urging travel brands to adapt for AI mentions over clicks or risk losing visibility entirely. Google is moving closer to making AI-first search the default experience – and travel brands must respond now or risk becoming irrelevant. At the core of this shift is AI Mode, a conversational interface that is already live in a separate tab and poised for full integration into Google's main search engine within the next 12 months. Unveiled by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, AI Mode enables dynamic, multi-turn conversations. Instead of presenting a list of links, it delivers personalized, contextual responses – for example, refining results based on follow-up questions like 'Which family tours in Costa Rica are best for kids under 8?' or 'Do they include wildlife experiences?' 'This goes far beyond AI Overview snippets,' says Brennen Bliss, CEO of Propellic, a digital agency specializing in AI-driven strategies for travel brands. 'It's the equivalent of speaking to a personal travel advisor. And it's going to redefine search faster than most anticipate.' The end of top-of-funnel dominance? For years, travel companies have built their marketing around top-of-funnel content such as blogs, guides, and itineraries. These assets fueled SEO rankings, website traffic, and retargeting. AI Mode threatens to upend this model by keeping users within Google's ecosystem through continuous conversation. 'Users won't need to visit multiple websites to compare experiences,' Bliss notes. 'Instead, they'll consult Google's AI, which may surface your brand – or not. In this new model, your content might not drive traffic at all; it may simply train the AI.' Despite the shift, key decisions in travel still require context and trust – areas where conversational AI excels. Users often ask about accessibility, age-appropriateness, weather, or what to pack. AI Mode is tailored for such nuanced journeys. And while the AI may recommend a product – such as a sunset cruise in Santorini – it still cannot complete the booking (yet), though Google's commerce-focused Project Mariner may soon change that. Mentions replace clicks- The industry's focus must now shift from rankings to relevance. 'The goal is no longer to rank #1 – it's to be mentioned and trusted by Google's AI,' explains Bliss. 'Mentions are the new clicks.' For travel brands, this means adapting content and brand positioning to become part of the AI's trusted memory – the internal database of reliable, high-quality references the model repeatedly recommends. Google's cautious but inevitable rollout To mitigate risks to its ad business – which still accounts for nearly 80% of Alphabet's revenue – Google is integrating AI Mode features gradually, only when they show better engagement and monetization. Once the business case is proven, full-scale deployment will accelerate. 'Brands waiting for clarity may be left behind,' warns Bliss. 'Those acting now have a window to establish trust, fine-tune messaging for AI consumption, and position themselves for long-term visibility.' A clear call to action for travel marketers With over 15 million global travel queries per day on Google, the shift to conversational search is already underway. For travel and tourism brands, the priority is clear: adapt strategies, audit content for conversational relevance, and optimize for trust and AI visibility – or risk fading from the discovery journey altogether. In the age of AI-first search, discovery doesn't begin with a click – it begins with a mention.
Travel Daily News
14-07-2025
- Travel Daily News
Turkish Airlines and Airlink have signed a codeshare agreement
Turkish Airlines and Airlink sign codeshare agreement effective August 1, expanding connectivity across South Africa and enhancing travel options across both networks. Turkish Airlines, flag carrier of Turkey, has signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement with South Africa-based Airlink to strengthen its presence on the African continent. The agreement, which will take effect on August 1, 2025, was signed at a ceremony held at Airlink's Head Office in Johannesburg, with the participation of senior executives from both companies. This strategic collaboration will significantly expand guests' travel options by integrating Turkish Airlines' unparalleled global network with Airlink's extensive domestic and regional routes across South Africa and its region. The partnership enables seamless multi-sector travel on a single ticket, offering greater convenience and flexibility for international and regional travelers. Under the new agreement, Turkish Airlines will place its 'TK' flight code on Airlink-operated flights, allowing smooth connections from Turkish Airlines' services into Cape Town and Johannesburg to a wide range of South African and regional destinations. Commenting on the agreement Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Strategy Officer Levent Konukcu stated; 'As Turkish Airlines, we give importance to this cooperation with Airlink so as to enhance our connectivity in South Africa and the region. We aim to improve our partnership to maximize the travel opportunities offered to our guests. We believe that this partnership will not only bring benefits to both carriers from a commercial perspective but also improve the cultural and tourism relations between the two countries.' Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht said: 'This collaboration with Turkish Airlines represents a significant opportunity to deepen ties between the two airlines. The agreement is a further endorsement of Airlink's brand, while for our respective customers, it means more convenient travel options, with world-class service and easier access to destinations across our combined and extensive route networks.' With this collaboration, Turkish Airlines will not only advance its strategic growth in Africa but also further strengthen its regional presence while offering enhanced options for its guests.
Travel Daily News
30-06-2025
- Travel Daily News
Tanzania is ready for World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2025
Tanzania hosts the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala 2025, showcasing regional tourism excellence and national attractions. Tanzania is making final preparations as it steps up to host the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2025 on 28 June. Travel and tourism leaders from across the region are gathering in the capital Dar es Salaam to discover who among them has been voted the industry's finest. The VIP reception at Johari Rotana Dar es Salaam will mark the opening leg of WTA's Grand Tour 2025, which includes regional events in Cancun (Mexico), Saint Lucia, Hong Kong, Sardinia (Italy), Dubai (UAE), culminating in the Grand Final in Bahrain. From the legendary Serengeti safaris and the majestic heights of Mount Kilimanjaro to the paradise beaches of Zanzibar, Tanzania is a destination that belongs on every traveller's bucket list. Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: 'Excitement is building for our Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2025 in Tanzania, and I am eager to join travel industry figureheads from across the region for what promises to be a memorable start to our Grand Tour 2025.' 'Tanzania is one of the great success stories of Africa's tourism sector, and is consistently setting records for economic contribution and visitor spend. I am delighted our guests will sample its charms and incredible attractions.' The Gala Ceremony promises to be the region's premier travel event of the year. The Official Host Venue, Johari Rotana Dar es Salaam, is part of the landmark MNF Square development. It enjoys a prime location in the Central Business District, overlooking the Indian Ocean, and close to the port, beaches and other key attractions in Tanzania's vibrant capital. Ephraim Mafuru, Director General, Tanzania Tourist Board, says: 'We are delighted and proud to host the WTA Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2025 here in Tanzania on 28 June. This is a unique opportunity to showcase our country's breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cultures and world-class hospitality to key figures in the travel and tourism sector. Tanzania is more than a destination – it is an experience that leaves a lasting impression, and we look forward to sharing this with the world.'
