SITE Newsletter September 2021
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, MICE.
Written by Traveltalksteam on . Posted in Destination news, Airline.
07 September 2021
KLM flies to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal several times a week. KLM also operates an even larger network in Canada in collaboration with its partner Westjet. Vaccinated travellers who have a negative PCR test result will be able to make use of this service again starting Tuesday 7 September, when they can once again fly to Canada.
Pieter Elbers, President and Chief Executive Officer, KLM: “We are delighted that the Canadian government is setting a good example by allowing vaccinated people to travel again. Thanks to its decision to ease restrictions, we can once again do what we do best: connect people and give them an unforgettable experience. Our customers can now reunite with their families in Canada, or do business face-to-face. Being able to fly passengers to our various Canadian destinations is an important milestone and another step on the road to recovery. We hope that travel restrictions to and from the US will also be lifted soon.”
KLM: strict hygiene standards, flexible booking and outstanding customer ratings
KLM is committed to flying passengers to their destinations as safely as possible. KLM maintains the highest possible hygiene standards before, during and after the flight. Its efforts have been recognised with the APEX Diamond Award, making KLM one of the leading airlines in terms of hygiene and health safety. KLM offers its customers maximum flexibility when it comes to booking, rescheduling or cancelling their trip and has retained its five-star APEX status based on global passenger service and product ratings.
Canadian network
KLM is offering the following flights to destinations in Canada in September:
Destination | Days of the week | Times |
Vancouver | Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat | departure 11:15 arrival 12:05 |
Toronto | Daily | departure 10:50 arrival 12:45 |
Montreal | Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun | departure 15:20 arrival 16:50 |
Calgary | Daily | departure 12:10/12:25 arrival 13:15/13:30 |
Edmonton (via Calgary) | Thu/Sat | departure 12:10 arrival 16:15 |
source: KLM
Written by Traveltalksteam on . Posted in Destination news, Airline.
Mobile check-in possible again on many flights with Lufthansa
Lufthansa is once again offering its passengers a more convenient check-in process. On all 2000 weekly flights from non-risk areas of the Schengen area (currently from Spain, Italy or Sweden, for example) to Germany, travelers can once again have their boarding pass issued directly on their smartphone when checking in. This is made possible by the automatic and digital verification of EU vaccination certificates, which prove full vaccination protection, and Covid-19 test results from the Centogene laboratory.
During mobile check-in, the QR codes of the paper certificates can now be scanned and thus checked quickly and conveniently. This means that the digital boarding pass can be issued and an additional document check at the check-in counter at the airport is no longer necessary.
But the same applies to many other flights: anyone who is concerned that they do not have the right certificates for the trip can have them checked by a Lufthansa Service Center up to 72 hours before departure. These can be proof of tests, a survived Covid-19 disease and vaccinations. Confirmations of digital entry applications can also be checked in this way. Thanks to new digital solutions, the check is now partly automatic and therefore much faster, also at the Service Center.
The airline advises its guests that in addition to the digital proof, the printed original certificates must still be carried on the trip until further notice.
Which documents must be carried and where Covid-19 tests can also be made for the return journey can be read here lufthansa.travel-regulations.com.
Written by Traveltalksteam on . Posted in Destination news.
South Korea: From September 1, 2021, South Korea has launched a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization system, known as K-ETA. It is a new electronic authorization allowing visa-free travelers to visit the country.
Foreign nationals will only be able to enter South Korea without a visa by registering for a K-ETA. Upon acquiring the waiver, visitors will be exempt from submitting arrival cards, enabling them to clear immigration quickly.
It permits eligible travelers to visit South Korea for short stays for tourism, visiting family members, or business activities. In addition, the K-ETA is valid for 2 years, allowing the holder a stay of between 30 to 180 days per entry, depending on the nationality.
Visitors must apply for the K-ETA at least 24 hours before boarding the flight. Those who apply now can also use the visa waiver for future trips to South Korea.
To enter the country for purposes other than those authorized with the K-ETA or for extended consecutive stays, travelers must contact the nearest South Korean Embassy.
How to get a K-ETA
Application form: Click Here
To complete the online form, applicants need to enter basic information including:
✓ Personal details: name, nationality, date of birth
✓ Contact information: including email address
✓ Passport data: passport number, issue, and expiry date
✓ Health and security information
✓ A recent individual photo
✓ A non-refundable application fee of 10,000 KRW (about 7,5 euros) is paid using a debit or credit card to finalize the request.
On approval, the travel permit is sent to the applicant by email.
Travel Conditions
✓ For a full list of eligible countries, Click Here
✓ All travelers must stay in quarantine for 14 days on arrival in South Korea at designated facilities (at their own expense)
✓ A negative Covid-19 test is required for all passengers no more than 72 hours before departure
For essential information and further details, Click Here
source: Phoenix Voyages
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Profile.
The Hall of International Tourism Heroes is open by nomination only to recognize those that have shown extraordinary leadership, innovation, and actions. Tourism Heroes go the extra step.
The Yearly or Special Tourism Hero Award is presented to selected members of the Hall of International Tourism Heroes.
Today Professor Klodina Gorcia from Tirana, Albania was accepted as a Tourism Hero into the International Hall of Tourism Heroes.
Prof. Gorica was nominated to the Hall of Tourism Heroes by Blendi Klosi, Minister of Tourism and Environment for Albania.
The minister stated:
1. She has been, for decades, a crucial person dedicated to the promotion of Western Balkan Countries and especially Albania as a unique destination in Europe and further;
2. She has worked a lot in creating the best politics and strategies for achieving sustainability. tourism in region
3. Due to her capabilities and efficient effort has created a strong partnership between Higher Education Institutes and public institutions (Ministry of Tourism and Environment), in common projects and initiatives;
4. Due to her initiative and wide international network in the Balkan Region, but not only, in 2017 (30th year of sustainable tourism), together with InSET (www.inset.al) where she is CEO and Executive Director and under the direction of UNWTO, and also Ministry of Tourism in Albania, she well organized the first International Conference on “Building public-private partnership for Sustainable Development through Tourism”.
The most important stakeholders were presenting critical and crucial moments for sustainable tourism in Albania.
From 2011 to 2016 she has been Vice Dean in Faculty of Economy, University of Tirana; member of Scientific Council 2008-2012, and after 2016 member of Council of Professors; National Expert in Higher Education Quality Assurance Albanian Agency since 2008; is involved in international initiatives, forums and projects, not only expert but serving as Guest speaker, creating networks for Balkan and European Sustainable Tourism, monitoring, creating and managing round tables and forums; member in editorial board/research committee/keynote speaker in international journals and conferences, and international experiences in training and teaching since 1997 in universities abroad.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Featured events.
A “landmark loan of ancient objects” with some dating back to 3,000 years ago will travel from Peru to be a part of a new exhibition at the British Museum from November 11 2021 to February 20 2022.
The exhibition on the ancient cultures of the South American country will feature over 40 “remarkable objects”, with some having never travelled to the United Kingdom before, the museum said.
They will be showcased alongside around 80 other pieces from the London museum’s collection in a new exhibition Peru: A Journey In Time.
Cecilia Pardo, co-curator of Peru: A Journey In Time, said: “While the Incas are one of the most well-known civilisations from Peru, they were actually relatively recent in terms of the long history of this region.
“We’ll be taking visitors back many thousands of years earlier, to show how the extraordinary past cultures of Peru were shaped by unique ways of living within the landscapes of the central Andes, one of the cradles of world civilisation.
“They’ll discover the story of how these ancient Peruvian societies had unique approaches to economy, gender, agriculture, power and beliefs, and how they thrived against the odds right up until the Inca conquest by the Spanish.
“It will be eye-opening, and will challenge common Western assumptions about how societies are constructed.”
Peru: A Journey In Time is the first major exhibition The British Museum has curated on Peru and it will explore the rise and fall of six societies within the country across thousands of years.
It also coincides with the 200th anniversary of the country’s independence from Spain.
Among the artefacts travelling from Peru include a 2,500-year-old gold headdress and a ceremonial drum believed to be from around 100 BC to AD 650 which depicts the capture of defeated enemies in ritual combat.
The oldest object on loan is a ceremonial vessel in the shape of a contorted human body from the Cupisnique culture, which flourished along what is now Peru’s northern Pacific coast, and is thought to date from up to 1200 BC.
Hartwig Fischer, director of the British Museum, said: “A single step through the front doors of the British Museum is always the first step on a journey, and with this exhibition we invite visitors to travel through the history of one of the most captivating regions in the world.
“The scale of the generous loan of ancient objects from museums in Peru is unprecedented and a landmark opportunity to see them here in the UK.
“The fascinating range of material on display collectively challenges perceptions of how the world can be viewed and understood.
“We are grateful for the support of Promperu for making it all possible.”
The British Museum’s Peru: A Journey In Time exhibition is supported by governmental promotional agency Promperu, and will run from November 11 to February 20.
Written by Traveltalksteam on . Posted in Destination news, Airline.
Lusaka and Harare Now Boarding – Qatar Airways Debuts Two New Gateways in Africa
08 August 2021
The award-winning airline now operates to 27 cities in Africa, including six new destinations introduced during the COVID pandemic, further consolidating its strong network position on the continent among other international airlines
Passengers can enjoy greater travel options to the widest global network operated by any airline based in the region, via Hamad International Airport, the Best Airport in the Middle East
DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways enhanced its presence in Southern Africa with the launch of a new linked service between Doha and Lusaka, Zambia and Harare, Zimbabwe. To mark this milestone, the new linked service was inaugurated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 featuring 36 seats in the award-winning Qsuite Business Class and 247 seats in Economy Class.
Qatar Airways now operates to Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN). The country’s largest city and commercial centre, Lusaka is the gateway to experiencing Zambia’s legendary tourist attractions from the Victoria Falls which it shares with Zimbabwe, to game reserves and a variety of wildlife. Meanwhile, Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, will be served via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE) is also a destination with rich culture, World Heritage–listed archaeological sites, and diverse natural landscapes. The aircraft was greeted in Lusaka and Harare by traditional water cannon salutes upon arrival.
The airline has demonstrated its steadfast commitment to Africa throughout the pandemic having significantly grown its network by adding four routes to Accra, Abidjan, Abuja, Luanda and restarting services to Alexandria, Cairo and Khartoum bringing its footprint to 27 destinations in 21 countries. Earlier this month, Qatar Airways also signed an interline agreement with RwandAir giving customers greater access to the combined networks of both airlines.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We have ambitious plans for Africa which is one of the fastest-growing economic regions of the world, with rising consumer demand and an abundance of natural resources. We see enormous potential in not just outbound travel from Zimbabwe and Zambia, but also inbound traffic from India, UK, and Americas. We look forward to strengthen trade and tourism links between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and destinations on the Qatar Airways network, and steadily grow these routes to support the recovery of tourism and trade in the region.”
Businesses and traders will also benefit from the airline’s cargo offering, allowing more than 30 tonnes of cargo capacity per week, each way to support the two countries’ exports such as vegetables and flowers to destinations on the Qatar Airways network such as London, Frankfurt and New York and multiple points in China. Imports will consist of pharmaceuticals, automotive and technology equipment.
Customers can look forward to the quintessential on-board hospitality from Qatar Airways’ cosmopolitan cabin crew, including Zambian and Zimbabwean nationals, and a generous baggage allowances ranging from 46 Kg for Economy Class split over two pieces and 64 Kg split over two pieces in Business Class. For more information, please visit https://www.qatarairways.com/en-qa/baggage/allowance.html
As travellers return to the skies with Qatar Airways, they can take comfort knowing that they are travelling with the only airline in the world that has, together with its state-of-the-art global hub Hamad International Airport, achieved four 5-Star Skytrax ratings – including the prestigious 5-Star Airline Rating, 5-Star Airport Rating, 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating and 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating.
For full details of all the measures that have been implemented on board and in HIA, please visit www.qatarairways.com/safety.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. Hamad International Airport was also recently announced as the “World’s Best Airport” in the Skytrax 2021 World Airport Awards.
Flight Schedule:
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (all times local)
Doha (DOH) to Lusaka (LUN) QR1455 departs: 02:20 arrives: 08:50
Lusaka (LUN) to Harare (HRE) QR1455 departs: 10:20 arrives: 11:20
Harare (HRE) to Lusaka (LUN) QR1456 departs: 18:55 arrives 19:55
Lusaka (LUN) to Doha (DOH) QR1456 departs: 21:25 arrive 05:55 (+1)
Written by Traveltalksteam on . Posted in Destination news.
Israel To Allow Tourist Groups Starting Sept. 19
In what is being called a “pilot program” for the country, Israel will allow groups of visitors from select foreign nations – the United States included – beginning Sept. 19.
In order to qualify, the tourists will need to present proof of a second vaccination recognized by the Israeli Health Ministry received within the last six months or of a third vaccination, according to the Jerusalem Post.
When they land, visitors will not be subject to isolation but will be required to take a serological test to prove the presence of antibodies in their blood.
Only tourists coming from countries deemed safe by the Israeli Health Ministry can be part of the groups. Currently, these include all the nations in the world except for Brazil, Bulgaria, Mexico and Turkey.
For travel agents and tour operators, you can submit requests for groups to travel to Israel that range from 5 to 30 members. Individual tourists are still not allowed into the country, which just opened its borders on a limited basis earlier this year.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Featured events.
The City Council of Ghent announced that they have set a new date for the next edition of the popular Ghent Light Festival. The event will take place from Wednesday, 10 November to Sunday, 14 November 2021.
Again, the organisation of the widely anticipated event remains contingent, depending on the unfolding of the health situation in the autumn.
The Light Festival is one of the most popular and accessible free culture festivals in the Flemish city of Ghent. It takes place every three years and lights up the city with works by international light artists, who reveal the hidden beauties of historical buildings and public spaces.
The last edition of the event in 2018 gathered as many as 835 000 visitors, so it really is an event of large scale. The authorities now believe that the postponement of the event will allow them to organise a Festival of Light the way the locals and visitors used to know in previous years and to turn it into something to look forward to for all citizens and entrepreneurs in Ghent.
Thus, should there be no further changes, the 2021 Festival of Light in Ghent will take place from 10 to 14 November, with shows starting at 7 pm and ending at midnight. On the last day, Sunday 14 November, it will start at 6 pm in order to offer families with young children the opportunity to visit the festival.
More information about the content of the festival, the participating artists and the route (a walk past a selected number of illuminated buildings and squares) will be announced at a later date on the official event website or the page of the City of Ghent.
The Ghent Light Festival route showcases 37 light art projects of local, national and international artists over 6.6 km. It’s designed as a loop so you can start wherever you like, but you do need to follow the designated direction. The light festival is usually very crowded so it’s best if everybody’s going the same way.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Featured events.
The international music and city festival Tallinn Music Week (TMW), scheduled to take place in Tallinn from September 29 to October 3, has revealed the music program line-up. The festival will showcase a hundred and fifty-five artists, from nineteen countries.
A Place To Bury Strangers and DVS1 from the U.S., the Icelandic band Hatari, featuring Palestinian artist Bashir Murad, and the Finnish accordionist Antti Paalanen, are among the international names appearing at this year’s event.
The opening night of the festival will feature two premieres: a new work by Estonian composer Liisa Hõbepappel, and an international collaboration “Themes For Great Cities: Tallinn”
TMW’s new program partners are the Latvian festival Skaņu Mežs, the Lithuanian festival What’s Next In Music?, Blow Up from Finland and Estonia’s own Võnge, as well as the Association of Global Independent Music Agents (AGIMA).
From Thursday, September 30 to Saturday, October 2, the TMW music program will bring together musicians from 19 countries, from Estonia to Palestine and from Russia to the United States. 155 artists, including 96 great acts from Estonia, will perform across 26 showcase nights from the modern Telliskivi Creative City and Port Noblessner to the picturesque Old Town.
The TMW 2021 Opening Night at the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads on Pikk Street on September 30 will see the world premieres of two musical compositions. Young Estonian composer Liisa Hõbepappel will perform her new piece, written especially for the festival, with the group Trio ’95. The night will also premiere a collaboration project “Themes For Great Cities: Tallinn” of Estonian musicians Jonas Kaarnamets and Erki Pärnoja, Danish artist Jonas Bjerre (Mew) and American musicologist Alex Maiolo. The novel concept involves ambient and industrial sounds to produce a piece that has its very foundation in the city where it’s being presented.
There will be more new sounds and presenters to explore in the 14th century House of the Blackheads where The Chamber Choir Encore and Duo Telluur will perform new works by Estonian composers Karl Tipp, Pärt Uusberg and Karin Kuulpak. The same venue will also be the meeting place of the Estonian multidisciplinary Üle Heli festival and TMW debutante Skaņu Mežs, Latvia’s most adventurous music and art festival. Together they will present a line-up that includes the Italian experimentalists L’impero della Luce, the acclaimed Estonian future pop artist Mart Avi and the Latvian sound synthesists +K+M+B.
Station Narva night at the Tallinn Creative Hub will feature well-known international names like the celebrated US noiseniks A Place To Bury Strangers and the Icelandic techno-punks Hatari, featuring the Palestinian musician and civil rights activist Bashar Murad.
The full lineup of the TMW music festival as well as the free city stage program will be revealed during the upcoming summer. The other festival elements are a music industry conference at Nordic Hotel Forum and HALL, public talks, an art program, music workshops for children and special events in the district of Lasnamäe.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Hotel.
Jumeirah Group today announced a new international resort, Jumeirah Maldives, which will welcome its first guests from 1st October, 2021.
José Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group, said: “Jumeirah Maldives upholds our brand values of providing unparalleled hospitality with a genuine flair that exceeds guest expectations while pushing the limits of design, culinary and service expertise. A truly breath-taking addition to the brand’s portfolio, Jumeirah Group’s new home in the Maldives guarantees an immaculate guest experience from the very moment they set foot in our new contemporary resort.”
Jumeirah Maldives offers 67 beach and over-water villas in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations, all assuring stunning panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Each villa features a private infinity pool and large roof-top terrace with a dedicated dining area for guests to take in the sensational views while indulging in delicious culinary dishes or relaxing with a picture-perfect movie-under-the-stars experience.
Dining experiences are the focus of attention for Jumeirah Group, who has infused the island experience with exquisite Mediterranean and Nikkei flavours, with two of their award-winning signature restaurants, Shimmers and Kayto, for a truly memorable stay.
The Talise Spa, featuring six overwater treatment rooms, provides a range of therapeutic and re-energising treatments for wellness and relaxation. Guests can also enjoy an array of activities from daily yoga classes, water sports, beach volleyball, billiards and tennis, or partake in other enriching experiences from underwater photography to planting coconut trees and making coconut oil. A highlight for any stay is the unique submarine tour exploring the vibrant marine habitat.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Activity.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy Switzerland’s natural beauty, from scenic train rides to epic hikes and more. As of this summer, that list got a little bit longer, thanks to the grand opening of Senda dil Dragun, the longest treetop walkway in the world.
Stretching 1.5 kilometers (slightly less than a mile), Senda dil Dragun connects the villages of Laax Murschetg and Laax Dorf in southeast Switzerland, with an elevated trail that soars above the forest floor. Senda dil Dragun, which appropriately translates to “Way of the Dragon,” opened to the public on July 11 and has since welcomed over 45,000 visitors.
Throughout the walkway, guests will find different ways to enhance their experience, all while admiring the trees at eye level. This includes four platforms with seating and informational displays describing the plants, trees, and animals that can be found in the forest. If the thrill of walking through the forest canopy isn’t enough, younger visitors can get an added dose of adrenaline on the spiral slide, which is built into the tower in Murschetg.
Starting Oct. 11, 2021, guests will also be able to complement their visit to Senda dil Dragun with a digital experience. Using a rented tablet at five designated areas throughout the walkway, visitors will enter the world of augmented reality (AR) and access information about the regional animal and plant life, geology, agriculture, and human settlement.
And while this walkway may seem like a warm-weather activity, organizers already have plans to turn Senda dil Dragun into a winter wonderland this upcoming holiday season. Visitors can also look forward to music, storytelling, and children’s character appearances along the path.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, MICE.
Bookings and enquiries about travel to Southern and East Africa remained strong in July, although postponements still dominated as the highest category of ‘enquiries’.
This is according to the latest African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA) Snapshot Survey. Throughout 2021, ATTA has been taking a ‘snapshot’ at the end of each month from the perspective of accommodation providers, DMCs, tour operators and agents and private guides.
The survey is only sent to those within the ATTA membership and its greater industry network, spanning thousands of companies around the globe.
Here is the final summary of the report.
Arrivals
Postponements
Staffing
Enquiries and bookings
Lead times
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Airline, MICE.
Ethiopian Airlines Group, the Largest Aviation Group in Africa is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed a new passenger terminal at its hub Addis Ababa Bole International Airport with emphasis on Bio Security and Bio Safety measures.
The new terminal has check-in hall with sixty check-in counters, thirty self-check-in kiosks, ten self-bag drop/SBD/, sixteen immigration counters with more e-gate provisions, sixteen central security screening areas for departing passengers are the new faces of the airport. In addition, it has three contact gates for wide body aircraft along with ten remote contact gates with people mover – travellator, escalator, and panoramic lifts. It will house thirty-two arrival immigration counters with eight e-gate provisions at the mezzanine floor level.
Regarding the expanded infrastructure, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines remarked, “I am very pleased to witness the realization of a brand-new terminal at our Hub. While Addis Ababa Bole International Airport has overtaken Dubai to become the largest gateway to Africa last year, the new terminal will play a key role in cementing that position. What makes the new terminal unique is that it’s the first terminal in the world to be completed after Covid-19. It was designed, not re-purposed, with Bio safety and Bio security in mind. I’m sure our esteemed customers will highly appreciate that. “
Aviation infrastructure expansion is one of the core pillars of Ethiopian’s Vision 2025. Ethiopian is continuously working on expanding airport facilities. The features of the new airport play a key role in protecting passengers’ and employees’ safety as airport experience becomes contactless.
About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.
Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 127 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft. Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with Six business units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services and Ethiopian Airports Services. Ethiopian is a multi-award-winning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past seven years.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Hotel.
In a bid to preserve and generate tourism around Ghana’s natural assets, Ridge Nest Hotel, a luxury hotel based in the verdant Akuapem Ridge, has embarked on an afforestation project in several strategic locations. According to a report, thus far, Ridge Nest Hotel has planted 2 700 trees of 13 different species with the latest being in a ‘sacred grove’ in Apirede, Okere District.
Expressing his support of RNH’s initiatives, Nana Saforo Okuampah III, the Chief of Apirede, has also committed to dedicating an area of land towards the development of a golfing facility to further promote tourism in the area.
RNH’s mission is to become a destination of choice for customers seeking a connection with nature.
As part of its core values, RNH states on its website that it aims to plant 2 000 trees annually of four different species “to promote eco-tourism through reforestation for the next five years”. In addition, it will “Offer educational scholarships to brilliant but needy students interested in environmental careers such as green energy, eco-tourism, forestry, etc., from Adukrom and the Akuapim Ridge.”
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news.
TV series set in France such as ‘Emily in Paris’, ‘Lupin’ or ‘Marseille’ boost city tourism at the locations. The French news magazine ‘L’Express’ reported that viewers, especially from abroad, are attracted to the series’ prominent locations. In the capital, it was the locations of the clichéd series ‘Emily in Paris’ where tourists took selfies in masses.
A restaurant much frequented by the protagonist has put a ‘Menu Emily’ on the menu. A bookstore often present in the series is also happy about the new customers. And their interest is not going to wane anytime soon:
Meanwhile, the crook series ‘Lupin’ has brought an unexpected increase in visitors to the seaside resort of Étretat in Normandy, with its chalk cliffs, since an important plot line was set there in the second season. Inquiries from journalists and viewers from abroad have been piling up, the spokesman for the local tourism office, told Éric Baudet. “Even if we can’t quantify it, the impact of Netflix on Étretat cannot be denied.” Environmentalists, meanwhile, warn that the chalk cliffs and their surroundings are being overburdened by the many visitors.
The port city is still benefiting from the Netflix series ‘Marseille’, which was launched in 2016 and 2017, according to ‘L’Express’. Even if the share of the series in the city tourism boom cannot be put into figures, quite a few foreign guests mention the series, said the director of the Tourism and Convention Bureau, Maxime Tissot. He added that there was also an additional positive side effect: Marseille had also come into focus for other film and TV productions – the city hosted 441 filming days in 2019.
The fact that films can boost tourism is also proven by a 2018 study conducted by the French Center for Film and Moving Image (CNF). According to the study, 74 percent of tourists who had seen a film or series shot in France said that it had made them want to travel to the country.
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, MICE.
ICCA, Global Meetings industry Association announced the launch of a new initiative – Net Zero Carbon Events – to connect the events industry globally to the rapidly growing movement towards net zero by 2050.
This initiative is hosted by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC).
In November 2021, world leaders will meet in Glasgow, Scotland at COP26 to present how their countries will achieve the 50% reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 in order to deliver on the Paris Agreement. In advance of this meeting, for profit and non-profit organizations from across all sectors are setting forth their own pathways towards this goal, and the ultimate goal of net zero by 2050.
Through this initiative, JMIC aims to link all stakeholders in the corporate, professional, academic and destination communities world-wide that have also committed to engagement in what is one of the biggest collective challenges we all face today, and to invite those that have not done so yet to join.
The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative aims to bring together a wide range of industry stakeholders to:
Jointly communicate our industry’s commitment to tackling climate change and driving towards net zero by 2050
Develop common methodologies for measuring the industry’s direct, indirect and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions
Construct an industry-wide roadmap towards net zero by 2050, and emissions reductions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, with support and guidance on key issues
Foster collaboration with suppliers and customers to ensure alignment and common approaches
Establish common mechanisms for reporting progress and sharing best practice.
The new initiative arises from the work of an organizing task force initiated by JMIC members ICCA, AIPC and UFI joined by representatives of Emerald Expositions (US), ExCel (UK), Freeman (US), HKCEC (China), Informa (UK), Javits Center (US), MCI (Switzerland), Messe München (Germany), RX (UK) and Scottish Event Campus (UK) and it was born from a discussion with the UNFCCC secretariat — United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat — which is also supporting the initiative.
All interested parties are invited to join this journey at https://netzerocarbonevents.org. The aim is to grow this initiative that represents the events industry as a whole and provide a collaborative commitment all can act on.
James Rees, ICCA President: “ICCA is committed to driving sustainable development within the meetings industry and our global membership. We are proud to be a part of such an initiative which is becoming more important than ever and through collaborative effort with our JMIC partners, we look forward to playing a very active role in developing and implementing sustainable event strategies that are of the highest standards.”
Written by Gill Dewar on . Posted in Destination news, Airline.
The efficiency of passenger flow at Zimbabwe’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is set to improve significantly thanks to a new terminal building currently under construction.
According to a statement from the presidency, refurbishment of the current terminal will begin once the new facility is completed, after which the two facilities will be merged. When complete, the airport will handle six million passengers annually.
The project will cost $153 million and is expected to be completed by 2023.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa toured the facility on Wednesday and expressed his satisfaction with the quality of work and the progress so far.
“As time has passed, we realized we needed something better, that has international appeal and facilities that you get elsewhere should also be available here,” Mnangagwa said.
“We are happy that this airport, after completion, will match any other airport in the world in terms of facilities and the design to attract airlines coming here, as well as our own people coming here to watch as the planes arrive and have a good time.”
Zimbabwe’s aviation industry has been on the up in recent months after a turbulent period exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The national carrier Air Zimbabwe resumed domestic and regional flights in June having previously suspended all flights for most of 2020 due to operational challenges and restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, Qatar Airways, one of the world’s leading airlines, made its inaugural flight to Zimbabwe touching down in Harare with the state-owned Gulf carrier operating three weekly scheduled flights to more than 140 destinations across its network.
Written by Traveltalksteam on . Posted in Destination news, Airline.
Based on demand, Norwegian has opened new routes to destinations in Europe this Autumn. From Bergen passengers can fly direct to Berlin, Krakow, Malaga, Alicante, Antalya, Chania, Copenhagen and London. From Ålesund there is a now direct route to Alicante.
“We have reopened several routes that have been suspended since the pandemic started. It is now possible again to travel to several cities in Europe, such as Pisa, Edinburgh, Munich, Prague and Vienna. We know that the pandemic can still affect people’s ability to travel, however, we will continue to adapt our network to the positive trend in passenger demand,” continued Geir Karlsen.
Norwegian had an average of 38 aircraft in operation in August. A total of 99.8 per cent of the planned flights were operated in August, of which 91.9 per cent departed on time.
Norwegian’s traffic figures for August show a continued increase in the number of passengers. The number of future bookings has also continued to increase in line with Norwegian’s expanding route network as more people are fully vaccinated and EU / EEA countries accept international COVID certificates for travel.
Due to increased demand, Norwegian has further expanded the autumn season route offering.
“We are pleased with the positive increase in passenger numbers and demand. Everybody at Norwegian has worked incredibly hard to achieve these results and we will continue to deliver good customer experiences while running our business as efficiently as possible”. Said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.
In August, Norwegian carried 790 220 passengers, one and a half times more than at the same time last year. Compared with August 2020, the total capacity (ASK) has increased by 129 per cent and passenger traffic (RPK) up 168 per cent. Furthermore, the load factor in August was 72.6 per cent, an increase of 10 percentage points compared with last year.
Source: Norwegian airlines
Written by Traveltalksteam on . Posted in Destination news.
Portugal said on Wednesday it would allow entry for tourists from Brazil, nearly 18 months after it imposed a ban on non-essential travel from the Portuguese-speaking South American nation to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Although Brazilians, who make up Portugal’s biggest expatriate community, were allowed access for reasons such as work, family or health, the lifting of the tourism ban has been long-awaited.
Portugal is now open to tourists from the European Union who present the bloc’s digital COVID-19 certificate, as well as the United States, from where visitors must show a negative test result on arrival.
Travellers from Brazil now no longer need to quarantine but must provide a negative COVID-19 test. The same rule applies to visitors from Britain, according to the government.
Spotted in Reuters
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