News from the markets: Sustainable Coach Tour Operator

Toureasy was launched recently claiming to be the first and only sustainable coach tour operator in Europe. It was founded by this week’s guest, Sean Taggart, former Chair of the Coach Tourism Association. We decided to put Sean’s claims to the test and find out how a coach operation can be truly sustainable.

NDE: Hi Sean. Thanks for joining us today. Can you begin by telling us, with all the experience you have had in the industry, what made you decide to launch a sustainable coach tour operator?

ST: Thanks, Robert. For my sins I have now spent about 30 years in tourism…

News from the destinations: Sustainability in Albania

Our guest this week is Elton Caushi, CEO of Albanian Trip and Cofounder of Albanian Responsible Travel Initiative. He gives us a fascinating insight into growing up under communism and how the desire to travel gave him motivation to escape. He doesn’t hold back on sharing his views on how tourism is developing in his country, and the fight to ensure that tourism growth is done sustainably and responsibly.

NDE: Hi Elton nice to have you as our interview guest this week. Can you start by telling us how you got into tourism?

EC: Hi Tine. Many thanks for inviting me here. Well I believe it came quite naturally. A lot of love and passion for history, nature, people…

News from the markets: Kuoni Tumlare, Japan, Korea and The Phillippines

Following our very popular interview last week with Adam Lotinga of Miki Travel, we thought we’d go directly to Japan for a view from there. We talk with Tokyo based Victor Lopes, President of the market leaders for outbound travel, Kuoni Tumlare, and get his views, not only on Japan…

News from the markets: Miki Travel, Japan

When news broke last week that industry giant, Adam Lotinga, was retiring after 39 years with Miki Travel we came knocking on his door for that first post-retirement interview. Adam was Managing Director of Miki Travel, which was the leading operator from Japan to Europe thoughout his tenure. He has…

Sports Tourism - Operator from Slovenia

This week, as the Olympics take place in Tokyo, it seems appropriate that we should turn our attention to the world of Sports Tourism. We were lucky to grab some time with Rok Bulc, founder of Slovenian sports tour organiser, PasSport Europe, in what was a busy week for him…

Report from a Tour Operator on a FAM trip to the Balkans

The UK government announced that from 19th July travel to amber list countries will no longer be discouraged for those who have been double vaccinated. This opens up massive opportunities for the Balkan region, as all the countries there are currently on the UK’s amber list. We spoke with Sunita…

News from the consumer media in the UK

We examine a very different aspect of tourism this week. We take a look at travel journalism through they eyes of Mary Novakovich, the leading UK travel writer on the Balkan region. We find out what it is about this region which continues to attract her, how she sees tourism…

A letter from Robert Dee, NDE co-founder to Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Elmet and Rothwell

I have worked in travel all my adult life. The travel industry has given me and my family great personal opportunities, and professionally it has allowed me to support other businesses, develop careers and make an economic and social contribution to this country, and to countries beyond our borders.

Today…