iPMI Magazine Travel and Tourism News: International SOS and Control Risks has issued the latest guidance to Muslims travelling from all over the world to attend Hajj in Saudi Arabia this month. Close to 2 million foreign and domestic pilgrims are expected to perform their religious duties in Mecca between August 30 and September 4, with many also travelling to Medina in the weeks before and after the pilgrimage. Hundreds of thousands of travellers have already arrived in Saudi Arabia, and local authorities and transportation hubs have been preparing for the busy period ahead. All members heading to Saudi Arabia,…

"Co-planing" – a new phenomenon which sees pilots of leisure aircraft sharing the costs of a flight among passengers who sign up on the Internet much along the lines of the Blablacar carpooling site – and which had severe restrictions put on it last August by the French Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), has finally been authorised by the country’s Council of State, Les Echos says. Legal victory over the DGAC Passenger security was the reason why the french DGAC imposed these restrictions last August, limiting co-planing over French territory to circular flights of a maximum of 30 minutes…

iPMI Magazine Global Travel and Tourism News: 28 out of 30 reporting destinations recorded growth so far in 2017 with almost one in two posting double-digit increases. Iceland(+56%) was the fastest growing destination, as its tourism boom shows no signs of abating to date. Montenegro (+25%), Malta (+23%) and Cyprus (+18%) also enjoyed substantial increases. Since these destinations are heavily reliant on peak summer demand, growth outside this period reflects their success in reducing seasonality. "Despite a stable European domestic market, growth is also driven by long-haul source markets. Cheap oil prices, favourable currency exchanges, raising middle classes, improved air…

After a dip in 2016, more travelers from the U.S. and Europe will be packing their bags and heading on a vacation this summer, according to an annual consumer survey conducted by Generali Global Assistance. The survey, in its 17th year, found that 66% of Americans plan to travel this summer, up five percentage points from 2016. That compares to 63% of Europeans who will travel this summer which is an increase of nine percentage points from last year. The survey noted that although more people are travelling, they are doing so for a shorter duration. Americans will go on…