AFTA update

From AFTA’s chief executive, Jayson Westbury

DREADFUL and very sad events in Russia with the Saratov Airlines jet crashing near the village of Argunovo, about 80km south-east of Moscow. Our thoughts go out to the families of the 71 lives lost in this tragedy. However, at least there appears to be no mention of terrorism and no doubt the travel and aviation industry will await the report of the investigation into what happened. The airline industry does an amazing job to fly so many people all over the world every day, but these incidents do unsettle people, let’s hope that the report brings with it some concrete answers.

On a more positive note, it is the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Dog and for those of you in the travel and tourism industry that interact and have business with China, I am sure you will be joining the celebrations. As readers of Travel Daily know, I am the Vice Chairman of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), which is based in Beijing and so I join my WTA colleagues from around the world to wish everyone a safe and prosperous year ahead and a very Happy Lunar New Year. The WTA has in fact supported members with the icon below to recognise the event and I pass this on to all those in the Australian travel and tourism industry on behalf of the WTA. The Dog is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac that relates to the Chinese calendar. The Dog is ranked as the 11th animal in the zodiac and represents loyalty and honesty. For people who are born in the year of the dog they hold the best traits of human nature. They are friendly, faithful, smart, straightforward and hold a strong sense of responsibility. So to all of you in the industry I am sure that you would like to be known to be of the year of the Dog.

Again, Happy Lunar New Year.