Europe
Scotland moves to put value on agritourism
Agricultural businesses across Aberdeenshire are taking part in a survey which aims to recognise the true impact and value of one of Scotland’s fastest growing rural sectors.
VisitBritain names ANZ manager as high profile events set to boost UK
Britain’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain has appointed Kristen Angus as country manager for Australia and New Zealand, effective now.
Portugal a hospitality ‘stand-out’
Portugal’s hospitality industry continues to stand out as one of Europe’s most dynamic and resilient markets, according to Horwath HTL’s 2025 Portugal Hotels & Chains Report.
New tiny house options
Tiny Away has launched of five new tiny houses in Europe.
Ireland tours guaranteed
Innovative Travel is offering guaranteed departures for its remaining 2025, eight and 12-day tours of Ireland.
New Scotland tour
Luxury Gold has launched a Spectacular Scotland itinerary developed in partnership with Visit Scotland.
Monaco event returns
The Principality of Monaco is again set to host the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival, now in its 18th edition, from 5 July to 15 August 2025.
WJ's 2025 Croatia deals
World Journeys has savings of up to 20% on select departures of two of its most popular Croatia packages.
Rail Europe expands Renfe offer in Spain
Rail Europe now offers seat reservations on Renfe’s long and medium-distance trains for customers travelling with Eurail / Interrail Global Passes. These are available on all Rail Europe’s channels.
Monaco refreshed for the 2025 season
Monaco is gearing up for a spring and summer filled with new dining, hotel, re-openings and events.
Croatia Times Travel 30 years on – into Greece, plus expanded Italy
Croatia Times Travel (CTT) has added Greece to its 2025 brochure – a first for the company as it celebrates 30 years of business.
Petra Bagust to escort art tour
Insight Vacations will operate An Art Lover’s Taste of Europe tour with media personality and art lover Petra Bagust, departing on 18 August 2025.
Golden Eagle Paris to Istanbul
Golden Eagle Luxury Trains has launched a Paris to Istanbul journey with four departure dates for 2025, in either direction.
APT launches Europe season
APT has launched its Europe holidays for the 2026 season. The programme features tours that offer luxury across a variety of travel styles, including river cruising, small ship cruising, yacht cruising, small group tours, land tours and rail tours.
Self-drive in Iceland with Adventure World
Adventure World has launched Scenic Reykjavík Routes offering travellers a blend of urban exploration and natural attractions.
Walking app launched
European self-guided walk operator, On Foot Holidays, has launched a companion app that eliminates the need to carry paper maps, notes and guides. It works offline, and beeps if walkers go the wrong way.
Scotland ‘picking up’ for Kiwi incentives
Improved air access has seen interest in Scotland as an incentive travel destination pick up, according to a destination management specialist who visited Auckland earlier this week.
Business-leisure combos help fuel Kiwi interest in Germany says visiting DMC
Germany is seeing a strong resurgence of travellers from New Zealand, particularly from business travellers extending their stays, according to a tour operator visiting the country this week.
Escorted Europe with WJ
World Journeys’ 25-day Best of the Med cruises many of the must-see sites of Spain, France, Italy, Montenegro and Croatia combined with touring time in Venice, the Cinque Terre and Lake Como.
New partnership provides more ways for NZ clients to explore UK’s Cotswold region
Walker’s Britain has a new partnership with the Cotswold Way Association and is offering clients a selection of options to explore the region (recognised as England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) on foot.
Private wine touring in France
World Journeys has created two new private touring itineraries in France, with a particular focus on regional wine experiences.
Rail Europe famil to Austria and France
Rail Europe recently hosted two groups of New Zealand and Australian travel advisors on a week-long famil to France and Austria, where they experienced Europe’s landscapes and history, while learning about the culture, cuisine and ways of life in places they visited.
Trending in Europe
Insight Vacations reports growth and sales opportunities for agent partners by booking emerging European destinations.
Back-Roads discounts for 2025
Back-Roads Touring has launched its BIG Promo campaign offering savings of $275 per person on bookings made until 13 November 2024, excluding May and September departures.
Rail Europe adds Denmark
Rail Europe has integrated Deutsche Bahn (DB) connections to Denmark into its B2B platforms RailAPI, RailFlash and RailPortal.
Slow paced famil in France
CroisiEurope’s GSA, Innovative Travel’s Nicholas Bloom recently hosted a CroisiEurope small group boutique barge famil, up the Oise to Paris, with agents and a media representative.
Switzerland: Panoramic trains, seasonality, chocolate
The advantages of selling beyond the main scenic trains and looking away from peak season are two of the messages being promoted by a visiting Swiss tourism group this week.
Ireland immersion suits Kiws
New Zealand travellers are embracing opportunities to connect with Ireland’s locals more than ever, as well as searching out opportunities in the outdoors, says the managing director of a leading destination management company (DMC) in the country.
Rail Europe and iryo partner
Rail Europe and Spanish high-speed rail operator iryo have a new partnership that marks a step forward in rail travel across Spain.
Rail Europe campaign
Rail Europe has launched its Only Europe. Only by Train campaign featuring a new detailed map and a series of competitions to win dream train journeys across Europe.
On the Go's new UK choices
On The Go Tours has launched its United Kingdom small group tours with seven trips in England and Wales. Scotland will soon follow.
New Alps hiking adventure
Active Adventures has launched its Italian & Swiss Alps Hiking Adventure, a fully-guided, small group tour of the Monte Rosa massif.
Venice and beyond
More Kiwis are discovering the wider Itaian region of Veneto and exploring beyond Venice, says Jill Grant of A Walker’s World/Cycling Europe.
More than the aurora borealis: Nordics promote year-round appeal
Getting to and around Scandinavia is easier than most people think and packaging up an itinerary for clients is also straightforward if agents know where to go for assistance, exhibitors at the Nordic and Baltic Travel Workshop told attendees in Auckland in October.
Northern Ireland City of Peace
Derry-Londonderry has been designated a UN City of Peace.
The United Nations International City of Peace programme acknowledges cities worldwide that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in fostering peace, tolerance, and cooperation among their diverse communities. Derry-Londonderry’s transformation into a symbol of peace is a testament to the city’s resilience and dedication to moving on from the past.
Over the years, the city has made tremendous progress in bridging divides, fostering dialogue, and nurturing a culture of understanding among its citizens.
Derry-Londonderry is a cosmopolitan, creative city steeped in history. The hit TV series ‘Derry Girls’ has captivated audiences worldwide. Set against the backdrop of the city’s tumultuous history, it highlights the resilience of the people of Derry-Londonderry.
Some of the city’s most compelling events can be explored through a collection of museums, including the Siege Museum, the Museum of Free Derry and the Tower Museum.
Guided tours such as the Free Derry Tour and the Bogside History Tour are ideal for explaining the history of the area.
Derry-Londonderry’s Peace Bridge stands as a symbol of the city’s determination to bring people together.
The ancient city walls, dating back to the 17th century, are the only fully intact city walls in Ireland. They provide a glimpse into the city’s past, offering panoramic views of the cityscape and the River Foyle.
Ireland over eight days
Innovative Travel’s MD, Robyn Galloway, has just completed an Innovative Travel eight-day Unforgettable Ireland coach tour and says tourism on the island is buoyant.
Having experienced the product first hand, Galloway assures agents that it is an easy sell.
Bike, Boat & Barge 2024
Cycling Europe has released a collection of 43 Bike & Barge or Bike & Boat routes in 16 countries for 2024. All tours are a week long except the 15-day Danube Six Country tour that travels beyond Austria and Hungary to Croatia, Serbia and Romania. All vessels offer ebike options and meals are included.
Trenitalia fares with Rail Online
Rail Online is offering travel agents an expanded range of B2B Trenitalia fares delivering price reductions of up to 70% off high-speed Frecce journeys, discounts of up to 60% for groups of three-to-five people, and 50% rate cuts when two people travel as a pair.
Spain promotes specialist programme, plus prizes as Kiwis visit in big numbers
The Spain Tourism Board is currently giving New Zealand travel agents the chance to win a Spanish-themed prize each quarter.
Agents need to register themselves on the Spain Specialist Program website and start one of the four learning modules. They will then be in the running to win a range of prizes, from Spanish wines to gift cards for mouth-watering Spanish restaurants across the country. The first quarter prize winner will be announced on 31 August 2023.
Stories of Irish life and death
The oldest urban domestic building in Ireland now houses a museum which traces the customs, traditions and superstitions associated with death from the earliest times to the 20th Century.
Rail Europe adds Greek islands
Rail Europe has added the Eurail Greek Islands Pass to its inventory, available via its B2B website and API.
This is a complementary product to the Eurail Greece Pass.
Rail Europe adds Berner Oberland
Rail Europe has added Switzerland’s Berner Oberland Pass to its B2B website and API.
A regional pass that complements the Swiss Travel Pass and with validities ranging from three, four, six, eight to 10 consecutive days between 1 April and 31 October, the Berner Oberland Pass includes unlimited travel within the Bernese Oberland region. It gives access to more than 25 mountain excursions and cable car rides; and up to 50% discount on numerous other mountain railways in the region.
Wendy Wu into Turkey
Wendy Wu Tours will add the Dawn Ceremony at Gallipoli as an option for New Zealand and Australian travellers in 2024.
Managing director Paul Dymond says people attending the service will then go onto the Treasures of Turkey tour that the company recently launched.
More on Rail Europe’s B2B
The Swiss panoramic train journeys of the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are now available on Rail Europe’s B2B websites and via its API.
Rail Europe’s GM of APAC, Richard Leonard, says that post pandemic, Switzerland has emerged as a top mono European destination to explore.
Europe still hot, late bookings continue, says niche wholesaler
Phenomenal demand for Europe through travel agents does not look like abating any time soon, according to a specialist in the market.
Jay Soysa, product and reservations manager of Orton International, says that while this is obviously pleasing another ongoing trend continues to add pressure on the trade.
More support from Rail Europe
New Zealand travel agents can expect increased ‘love, care and attention’ from Rail Europe this year as the company plans a number of visits to the market, targeted webinars and new trade friendly booking and procurement features.
Rail Europe will also be launching a fresh new brand at ITB in Berlin next week. Full details will be released then.
Race for Monaco Grand Prix 2024
Agents are being urged to get in quick if they have clients interested in attending the Monaco Grand Prix in 2024.
‘New Zealand is a few steps behind Australia, which is almost back to pre-pandemic numbers for us,’ says Alison Roberts-Brown, regional director for Visit Monaco. ‘However New Zealand is coming back, there is definitely interest here.
New hiking route in Spain
European self-guided walk operator, On Foot Holidays, has launched a new hiking route in the wine region of Galicia in north-west Spain.
Hikers stay in historic inns and a former monastery and explore gorges, ancient citadels, medieval hamlets, and terraced vineyards established by monks in the Dark Ages.
Back-Roads' 'Save Your Seat'
Back-Roads Touring has launched its 2023 ‘Save Your Seat’ sale offering a $275 per person discount on a range of trips to the UK and Europe departing in 2023.
The discount is available on new bookings made between Wednesday, 12 October until Wednesday, 23 November, on select departures (excluding all trips departing in May and September 2023).
Moselle Valley highlight of brochure
The just released Cycling Europe’s 2023 Bike Boat & Barge brochure offers 41 routes in 14 different countries.
The company’s director, Jill Grant says the programme allows clients to live aboard a traditional vessel and bike a well-researched route to places of interest each day before meeting their vessel in the afternoon at a new location.
French bike tours fit for rugby
Rugby enthusiasts in France next year can experience the Canal Entre Deux Mers between games, reports Jill Grant of A Walker’s World and Cycling Europe.
The first game kicks off in Paris on 8 September after which fans will be heading south to the city of Toulouse to catch the next NZ game on 15 September.
Slowly through Switzerland: ‘Urge clients to take their time’
Agents should advise clients there is plenty to do in a 10 to 12-day stay in Switzerland, says Silvio Goetz, director Australia and New Zealand with Switzerland Tourism.
‘We are advising the trade to try to get people to stay longer, take it easy and see the smaller villages and rural areas, visit local craftsmen and really get into the mountains and lake areas.’
Innovative adds campervan GSA
Innovative travel has signed a GSA agreement with Ireland’s BUNK campervan rentals, the latest step in the company’s expanding Irish product portfolio.
‘A lot of New Zealanders went out and bought campervans during Covid and that has rekindled people’s love for this sort of travel,’ says Robyn Galloway, managing director of Innovative Travel. ‘It is also an ideal way to see Ireland, get off the beaten track and discover the smaller towns and villages.’
Paris Region among highlights at workshop
Paris Region will have a high profile at the French Travel Workshop next month.
Organised by Atout France, the French Tourist Bureau, the event is being held on Friday 9 September at Sofitel Auckland.
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Cycling in Champagne
The soon-to-be-released Bike Boat & Barge brochure from Cycling Europe will feature new tours in Champagne, France and the Moselle region of Germany.
During a 15-day circuit tour of the Champagne region, guests board a traditional barge and cruise downstream past the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Paris then embark on daily rides across the vineyards on the banks of the Marne.
Switzerland Travel Experience is returning to NZ – famil spots to win
The Switzerland Travel Experience Roadshow is back in New Zealand mid-September.
Nine key partners from Switzerland will be joining Livio Goetz and Birgit Weingartner from Switzerland Tourism ANZ on a visit to Auckland and Christchurch, where they will meet with key industry partners, travel advisors and local media.
Italian trains add initiatives
Trenitalia and the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) have new initiatives to enhance inter-city train travel and help promote some of the country’s key tourist attractions and destinations.
Savings on motorhome holidays
Early bird savings are available on a selection of 2023 tours in the UK and Ireland with Worldwide Caravan & Motorhome Holidays. Clients can save up to $1,200 per couple for any new bookings made by 31 August 2022.
