Language barriers and flight etiquette
For those travelling to France this year, Paris has recently launched the ‘Yes I Speak Touriste‘ app to help travellers with the language barrier. The free app features an interactive map, directing tourists to local hotels, shops or restaurants that have staff that can speak foreign languages. The application was created by the Paris tourist board and Paris area’s chamber of commerce and industry in a bid to ‘make the French more welcoming’ and encourage locals to communicate with tourists. With over 500 shops speaking a range of nine languages, the app should help tongue-tied tourists find their way around the city.
Jet Blue released the fifth instalment of its latest Flight Etiquette campaign this week to show travellers how not to behave at the airport. The short humorous clip exaggerates the rush to get onto an aeroplane and was launched on Jet Blue’s Twitter account along with the caption ‘we promise – the plane won’t leave without you’. The video covers a number of airport taboos such as; trying to get on the plane before your row is called and blocking other passengers. ‘¨’¨Apple Pay launched in UK this week offering users the chance to pay for items with their iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple iWatch. Users are required to add their payment card details to the platform and can then hold the handset on a card reader and use the iPhone’s fingerprint scanner to make payment. The #ApplePay hashtag has seen a mixed response on Twitter, with some users praising the new service and others complaining that their banks’ are not compatible with the service. More than 250,000 shops and services across the UK now accept payment through Apple Pay including; Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Transport for London.
And finally, a recent survey has suggested that we are easily influenced by social media when it comes to travel plans. It says 49% of us have altered travel activities based on social media posts, however word of mouth still remains the number one influencer, as 51% that they like to get thoughts on where to go, stay and eat on trips from social media.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season