World News

Guests from abroad often name Heidelberg as their favorite destination in Germany. Around 12 million guests a year make their way to explore the flair of the historic university town in a picturesque location. The city on the Neckar not only offers magnificent history, but also advanced modernity, culture, entertainment, diverse shopping possibilities and a varied gastronomy for all requirements.

In addition to the Heidelberg Castle, Schwetzingen is particularly well worth seeing, as is the world-famous Speyer cathedral. The wine and asparagus region of Kraichgau, attractive golf courses, the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena and the bathing area in Sinsheim offer a great experience in the surroundings.

And who would have thought that the first “gas station” in the world could be found in the neighboring wine-growing city of Wiesloch! In August 1888, Bertha Benz, the wife of the Baden-based automobile inventor Carl Benz, was driving from Mannheim to Pforzheim with her two sons with her car, the Benz Patent Motor Car No. 3. On this first long-distance journey of world history, the three automakers south of Heidelberg, however, ran out of fuel. The light-weight Ligroin, which was offered as a cleaning agent at that time, was fortunately on purchase in the Wiesloch City Pharmacy. Thus Bertha Benz was able to continue her journey with a full tank. The City Pharmacy became the first gas station in the world, its pharmacist Ockel the first gas station attendant ever! The pharmacy still exists today and can be visited. There is also a specially designed Bertha Benz Memorial Tour for interested tourists.

1. KFC is the traditional meal on Christmas Eve 

2. Mountains, mountains everywhere 

3. It's good manners to slurp your noodles 

4. There's a Rabbit Island in Japan 

5. The number four is unlucky 

6. There's a naked festival Japan 

7. Japan's trains are some of the worlds most punctual 

8. The Japanese love wacky flavours 

9. Everyone has their own family seal 

10. Anti-ninja floors 

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has activated its "CTO Relief Fund" through GoFundMe to help families and countries rebuild after hurricanes, particularly in the wake of the massive category 5 Hurricane Irma, which has impacted a number of member countries.

All of the money raised through the CTO's Relief Fund will be sent directly to CTO-member destinations affected by the catastrophic storm, which hit some countries with winds up to 185 mph.

"The damage caused by the force of Hurricane Irma is an important example of why we must do whatever is possible to provide financial relief to those who need it most. It's through this fund that the CTO channels monetary assistance to our impacted member states," CTO secretary general Hugh Riley said. "The CTO appreciates all donations to assist in the recovery efforts in these countries."

For more information on CTO's Relief Fund or to make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/hurricane-relief-fund-cto.

In March 2018, a bold Secret Compass team of 12 will leave life's responsibilities and excesses at the desert's edge, to undertake a tough traverse of Sudan's Bayuda desert by foot and camel. Bound on three sides by a giant 600km bend in the meandering River Nile, the Bayuda Desert route has been crossed by desert nomads for centuries, connecting the north and south of the ancient Kingdom of Kush.

A new venture for 2018, this 280km journey will follow a route steeped in history, a shortcut between Nile communities and the route taken by the Gordon Relief Expedition – a desperate military march across Egypt and Sudan to relieve General Gordon and the siege of Khartoum. The historic significance of this lifeline route combined with the parched landscape of sand sheets, acacia forests and yellow, ochre and brown rocky outcrops provides a grand sense of perspective to complement a back-to-basics desert adventure; top and tailed by the mesmerising ruins of the Meroë and Nuri pyramids and temples still standing at each end.

“Secret Compass is no stranger to this remote eastern region of the Sahara,” explains Tom McShane, Operations Director at Secret Compass. “We led the first commercial expedition across the Bayuda in 2013, before planning and leading the Sudan phase of Levison Wood's trademark adventure; Walking the Nile.”

On his epic journey, Levison walked over 4,000 miles from the source of the Nile in Rwanda to the Nile delta in Egypt where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Part of this journey saw him make a testing crossing of the Bayuda Desert in blistering summer heat. Making the crossing in March rather than July, this Secret Compass team can expect much cooler temperatures than those experienced by Levison.

However, the team mates will undoubtedly face the harsh realities of desert life on this testing expedition, connecting wadis and wells to water their camels and preparing for the possibility of sandstorms on the way. But with great challenges come even greater rewards, and Project Manager, Amy Bibby, explains that this is no regularly-trodden tourist trail: “To our knowledge, no other commercial teams have made this crossing, which will put the individuals in this 2018 team in the select company of a few privileged explorers to have ever made this journey.”

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) continue to receive updates from their members in the northern Leeward Islands and the northern Caribbean following the passage of Hurricane Irma.

Following is an update regarding Irma’s impact on Caribbean destinations, as well as reports from CHTA-member hotels.

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua was not impacted minimally by Hurricane Irma with electricity being restored to the capital, St. John’s and most parts of the island. The V.C. Bird International Airport opened for all flights on Thursday, 7 September.

On the other hand, Barbuda, with its approximately 1,800 residents, was severely impacted by the hurricane which passed directly over the small island, resulting in one fatality. The prime minister, Gaston Browne said 90 per cent of homes were destroyed. Barbuda’s hotel infrastructure was also damaged, but with less than 100 hotel rooms the overall effect on tourism as a whole is minimal.

Updates from individual hotels on Antigua are as follows:

          Curtain Bluff: The property emerged from the storm without any damage, and all staff and their families are unharmed. The clean up of the property has begun and communications will soon be restored.

·         Cocos Hotel: No long term damage

·                     Galley Bay: Guests are safe. An in-depth assessment of the property will take place on September 21.

·                     Hermitage Bay: A little waterlogged from the swells, otherwise all is well.

·                     Jumby Bay Island: There is no structural damage to any of the resort or homes. A landscaping clean-up will be needed, however. Jumby Bay Island is currently closed as part of its annual maintenance programme and therefore no guests were on the island when Hurricane Irma passed. The reopening remains on schedule for 9 October, 2017.

·                     Keyonna Beach Resort: No long term damage.

·                     Pineapple Beach Club: Guests are safe. Scheduled to welcome guests starting 14 September .

·                     St. James Club: Guests are safe. Scheduled to welcome guests starting 14 September .

·                     Verandah: Guests are safe. Will reopen as scheduled on 14 October after renovations.

Anguilla

Anguillians are breathing a sigh of relief as Hurricane Jose largely bypassed the island, which was under a tropical storm watch on Saturday, 9 September. Islanders are moving swiftly to rebuild. The Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA) is now open from sunrise to sunset for charters and emergency flights. The Road Bay Port at Sandy Ground has also reopened and can now receive cargo.

The governor and chief minister are continuing to assess the damage, identify priorities, and coordinate the response through the National Emergency Operations Centre. Aid from the United Kingdom in the form of food, water, medical supplies and technical support has begun to arrive on the island. Community volunteers are fully engaged in the massive clean-up campaign, with centres for the collection of debris from the storm established in key areas around the island.

Many properties are still conducting assessments, but following is a brief update from select stakeholders on island. Additional property updates will be issued as they are made available.

Anguilla Resort Hotels

Carimar Beach Club Management and staff are safe and Carimar is standing strong. The garden looks a little worse for the wear and a few doors and windows were damaged. The clean-up has begun and management will advise of the reopening date, now that Jose has passed.

CeBlue Villas & Beach Resort - Staff are safe and the resort had no guests as it was already closed for the season. The villas and resort buildings held up well against the hurricane and they are all structurally sound. The resort has begun the clean up process, and looks forward to welcoming guests for the season.

Fountain Anguilla The Fountain buildings and grounds are structurally intact. A few of the units suffered some damage from debris. Assessment and clean up are under way and the resort is expected to open for the season.

CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and The Reef by CuisinArt This property was significantly affected, and engineers are currently assessing the full extent of the damage. The ownership and management have said they are steadfastly committed to restoring, rebuilding and reopening, as well as doing everything possible to help and support their employees through this most difficult time.

Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort Upon preliminary review there appears to be no major structural damage to the resort. The team is now assessing the extent of the clean up required and will advise on their proposed reopening date.

Quintessence Boutique Resort The property sustained a fair amount of damage, but nothing that can’t be repaired. However, the proposed 1 November opening will be delayed.

Zemi Beach House Zemi Beach had closed to guests in advance of the hurricane. The property held strong during the storm and will be able to welcome guests k before long, although the timing is still uncertain.  .

Anguilla Villas

Neveah Villa This property suffered only cosmetic damage. A clean up of the grounds is under way.

Sunset Homes Properties Spyglass Hill will be ready for reopening on 1 November; Little Butterfly survived intact.

Bird of Paradise Bird of Paradise was designed to withstand r 200 mph winds. There was no structural damage to the buildings or to the roof, nor was there any damage to the contents of the villa.

Anguilla Restaurants

Blanchards received moderate damage and Blanchards Beach Shack is in great shape, requiring just a little clean-up. The owners expect to be able to open both restaurants as soon as the major resorts are open.

daVida Restaurant & Bayside The main restaurant is still intact. However, the canape on the second floor of the loft was lost. The Bar at the Bayside is still intact, but the dining area will be rebuilt. The staff are all safe.

Garveys, Pumphouse and Mango’s were devastated, while Dune Preserve, Elvis’ Beach Bar, Dolce Vita and Ripples also suffered severe damage. Jacala, Geraud’s Patisserie and Grands Vins de France all survived. Johnno’s, Dads, and Picante are still standing, but will require some repairs.

The Islands of The Bahamas

The Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau is open and international flights are beginning to return to The Bahamas. The remaining airports will resume operations once they have been assessed and cleared for opening by aviation officials.

Additionally, the Port of Nassau reopened on Sunday,10 September. However, no vessels are expected to arrive until Wednesday, 13 September. All other ports remain closed at this time. Cruise reservation holders should check directly with their cruise provider for updates on departures and itineraries.

There are currently no reports of severe damage to the tourism product throughout the islands.

Below is information on hotel status at this time. Reservation holders should contact properties directly for complete information.

Nassau and Paradise Island

·                     Atlantis, Paradise Island – open

·                     Sandals Royal Bahamian – open

·                     Warwick Paradise Island – Bahamas – open

·                     Breezes Resort & Spa – Bahamas - Open

·                     Baha Mar Resort and Casino – open Tuesday, 12 September

·                     Melia Nassau Beach Resort – open Wednesday, 13 September

The Exumas

·                       Sandals Emerald Bay – open

British Virgin Islands

The destruction caused by Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands has been devastating, according to a statement from Sharon Flax-Brutus, the director of tourism. With cell phone towers down and power outages, communication to, from and within, the territory has been difficult, impacting the ability to fully assess the damage. The destination has lost entire structures and many homes are without roofs, or have been diminished to mere foundations.

The Government has begun to coordinate humanitarian relief efforts and an initial clean-up operation. The United Kingdom government has sent relief and support.

Updates from individual hotels in the British Virgin Islands are as follows:

·                     Anegada Reef: Anegada is fine.

·                     Bitter End Yacht Club: The hotel was not operational due to annual closure.

·                     Guana Island: Closed at the time  All guests and on-island staff are safe  .

·                     Rosewood Little Dix Bay: Rosewood Little Dix Bay is currently closed for renovation and therefore no guests were present at the resort.

·                     Scrub Island: All guests and associates are safe.

·                     Sugar Mill Hotel: The hotel has suffered some damage but so far it appears manageable. The restaurant is expected to open as planned on 12 October, 2017 and 14 October for the hotel.

 Cuba

Hurricane Irma passed over the northern portion of Cuba. It has been reported that Havana has experienced major flooding, power has been knocked and widespread wind damage has impacted the area. Ten people have died in Cuba, according to state television reports issued on 11 Septemer.

Dominican Republic

Punta Cana International Airport has resumed normal operations following the passage of Hurricane Irmat. The area’s hotel sector is reporting no major damage. Damaged homes and flooded streets in Cabarete and Sosua have been reported.

Barceló Resorts: Barceló Hotel Group confirmed that all of the brand’s resorts in the Dominican Republic are fully operational.

Viva Wyndham Playa Dorada: The hotel is open and operating.

Haiti

Haiti was relatively unscathed. All services remain in operation and the country continues to welcome visitors. Travellers are advised to contact their local travel or booking agent for detailed arrangements about their bookings.

Moulin Sur Mer has advised it was not affected by Hurricane Irma.

Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) is reporting that major tourism infrastructure and attractions are operational and the island can continue to welcome new visitors. The PRTC said while there have been power outages, many hotels, as well as essential services such as hospitals, have generators and are operational. The majority of hotels throughout mainland Puerto Rico are ready to welcome new guests. Attractions such as parks and beaches are currently being assessed to ensure a committed focus on quick clean up in the coming days.

Flights to and from Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport have resumed. Puerto Rico’s port is operational and started receiving ships on 9 September.

Updates from individual hotels in Puerto Rico are as follows:

·                        Condado Plaza Hilton: Minor damage.

·                        El Conquistador Resort: El Conquistador Resort is operational. Las Casitas Village will reopen when electricity is restored.

·                        El San Juan Hotel: The hotel received minimal damage and will reopen as soon as  power is restored.

·                        Hotel El Convento: The hotel escaped damage. Operations were due to resume on 11 September.

·                        Hyatt House San Juan: The hotel is open and operating.

·                        Hyatt Place Bayamon: Open and operating.

·                        Hyatt Place Manati:  Open and operating.

·                        Hyatt Place San Juan City Center: Open and operating.

·                        Hyatt Residence Club Dorado: Open and operating.

·                        InterContinental San Juan: Business as usual.

·                        Rincon Beach: Open for business.

·                        San Juan Water Beach Club Hotel: Sustained no damage, have full power, and open for business.

·                        Wyndham Garden at Palmas del Mar:  Open and operating.

·                        Wyndham Grand Rio Mar: Sustained minimal damage and is currently open.

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts & Nevis sustained minimal damage overall and both St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport and Nevis’ Vance W. Amory International Airport have reopened.

Hotels in St. Kitts reported no structural damage while Nevis’ hotel updates include:

·                     Four Seasons Resort Nevis  - The resort is in fine shape

·                     Hermitage Inn General debris, but no structural damage

·                     The Great House and Cottages at Nisbett Plantation Beach Club  in excellent condition. However, there was damage to the Sea Breeze Beach Bar, the decking and the beach.

St. Barthelemy

It has been reported that St. Barth’s was heavily impacted by Hurricane Irma which destroyed government buildings and badly damaged private homes The French government has sent people and supplies to the country to assist with recovery efforts.

St. Maarten (Dutch) / St. Martin (French)

The recovery effort continues. Director of tourism for Dutch St. Maarten Rolando Brison is reporting that Sun Wing has evacuated some visitors to Montreal, Canada, while other guests have also been evacuated. The Princess Juliana International Airport has been receiving flights that are bringing in relief supplies, and evacuating guests. No passengers, including media, are being allowed in at the moment due to a shortage of staff to man the airport. The airport reopened on Sunday 10 September for relief flights after the passage of Hurricane Jose in the region.

Updates from St. Maarten / St. Martin hotels are as follows:

·                     Beach Plaza: Badly damaged

·                     Belair Beach Hotel: Sustained damage and it will take time to repair. Phone service and internet down.   .

·                     Esmeralda Resort: Hotel 70 per cent destroyed.

·                     Hotel Mercure : Damaged

·                     La Vista Hotel: The Beach building is relatively in decent shape. The roof tiles came off but the roof itself in still there. Some water damage and missing doors and windows.

·                     Oyster Bay Beach Resort: Significant damage.

·                     Princess Heights: Minor damage.

·                     Riu Palace St. Martin: Infrastructures severely affected. All guests and employees are fine.  .

·                     Summit Resort Hotel: Due to extensive damages, the Summit Resort will remain closed.

·                     Westin Dawn Beach: Suffered significant damage.·

·                     Sonesta: Resort damage is severe. All further reservations from now through the end of 2017 have been cancelled.

Both the French and Dutch governments have sent people to the country along with supplies and vital aid.

St. Eustatius

Director of Tourism Charles Lindo says St. Eustatius was spared the worst by Hurricane Irma. Telephone, electricity and internet are back up and both the airport and seaport are open.

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has announced the reopening of the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) for scheduled flights as of 11 a.m. on, Monday, 11 September

The department of disaster management and emergencies is currently conducting assessments throughout the islands. Initial reports indicate localized flooding, and damage to roofs and some property but no reports of loss of life.  fe.

Several of the hotel properties were scheduled for annual closure PRIOR to Irma; some properties have now elected to remain closed, to assess any damage to their properties and looking to reopen by the beginning to middle of October 2017.

Updates from individual properties in the Turks & Caicos Islands are as follows:

CURRENTLY OPEN The Palms Resort Shore Club Seven Stars

CLOSED One to Two Weeks Windsong The Regent Grand Villa Community

CLOSED FOR TWO Months as of 1 September, 2017 Property Gansevoort TCI West Bay Club Somerset Point Grace Royal West Indies Club Med Beaches TCI Parrot Cay (scheduled closer August 26^th to November 18^th, 2017)

CLOSED FOR ONE Month The Alexandra Resort Beach House TCI Blue Haven La Vele Seven Stars Tuscany The Sands

United States Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas)

The Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Executive Director, David Mapp, provided the following updates regarding the airports and seaports in the US Virgin Islands.

The Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix is open and fully operational. American Airlines is expected to resume flights to HERA tomorrow, 12 September. The Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas received extensive damage during Hurricane Irma. CEKA is only open to emergency relief flights. VIPA is currently conducting assessments and cleanup, with a tentative date of 16 September, 2017 to resume daily commercial flights to St. Thomas.

All seaports on St. Croix are open and fully operational. There is currently no seaplane service available. VIPA will announce when service resumes. All seaports in the St. Thomas/St. John district are open. However, service between Cruz Bay, St. John and Red Hook, St. Thomas is limited to daylight hours only.

The following updates have been shared by individual properties in the U.S. Virgin Islands:

St. Croix

·         The Buccaneer: Open for business. Facilities are in good shape, but there may be some limitation of services over the next few days.

·         Club Comanche Hotel St. Croix: Open and accepting guests as of Friday, 8 September

·         Hotel Caravelle: The hotel is open and accepting guests.

·         Hotel on the Cay: The resort will be accepting guests beginning Tuesday, 12 September

St. John

·         Caneel Bay: Complete power outage at the resort. Team assessing the damage.

·         Westin St. John Resort Villas: The resort and the surrounding areas experienced some damage and overall impact is being assessed.

St. Thomas

·         Bluebeard's Castle Resort: Sustained major damage,  .

·         Marriott Frenchman’s Reef: Those planning to visit the hotel should check the news for the most current information The resort is waiving hotel cancellation and change fees for specific arrival dates. Customers should call 1-800-228-9290 (US) for more information about their reservations. Those in countries outside of the United States seeking information about their reservations should call the Marriott toll-free number in their country.

·         Margaritaville Vacation Club:. Recovery efforts to begin

·         Point Pleasant Resort: Currently  assessing damage, and will share new information when available.

·         Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas:. Those planning to visit the hotel should check the news for the most current information and amend their travel plans accordingly. The resort is waiving hotel cancellation and change fees for specific arrival dates. Customers should call 1-800-228-9290 (US) for more information about their reservations. Those in countries outside of the United States seeking information about their reservations should call the Marriott toll-free number in their country.

·         Secret Harbour Beach Resort: No major structural damage to the buildings. The generator is still working.

·         Sugar Bay Resort & Spa: The damage is being assessed and an update will be provided when available.

·         Windward Passage: Will close for six months.

Palm Springs, California's famous desert playground, is set to host two vibrant and diverse LGBT events this autumn; Cinema Diverse and Greater Palm Springs Pride will be taking place in September and November respectively and celebrate the diversity, equality and solidarity of the LGBT community.

Movie enthusiasts are invited to experience Cinema Diverse, a unique silver screen celebration, which is solely dedicated to showcasing the leaders in LGBT cinema. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Cinema Diverse will take place from 21st to 24th September 2017 in the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs.

To open the festival, Cinema Diverse will be airing a new documentary called 'The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin', which tells the story of gay pioneer and beloved author, Armistead Maupin. Armistead, who wrote a series of novels called 'Tales of the City', will be attending the opening night to participate in a Q&A session, receive a coveted lifetime achievement award, as well as sign copies of his upcoming memoir 'Logical Family: A Memoir', which is due to be published in October.

Greater Palm Springs Pride has been running for 31 years and is the largest LGBT gathering in the Coachella Valley. Located in the city's beautiful downtown, the festival will take place on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th November 2017. With live bands, cutting edge DJ sets, dancing in the streets, as well as delicious street food stands, Greater Palm Springs Pride will bring the city's downtown to life.

Elite Havens has announced that the seven villas of the sensational Sava Beach Villas estate are now part of their exclusive Phuket holiday rental collection.

Sava Beach Villas comprises seven designer villas set in a beachfront estate, just 25 minutes from Phuket international airport in peaceful Phang Nga province. These Natai Beach rentals offer a choice of seven bedrooms with Villa Tievoli, six bedrooms at Villa Amarelo, Villa Cielo, Villa Malee Sai and Villa Essenza, and four-bedroom escapes at Villa Roxo and Villa Aqua. Each villa has a distinct personality reflecting its individual owner's design tastes, while all offer a modern haven with sea and sunset views.

An immersion into complete tranquillity and care awaits at Sava Beach Villas, with large private pools of 18 or 25 metres, stylish indoor and outdoor living areas, private dining rooms, ample entertainment and sports facilities and a professional team of staff including Thai chefs and villa managers to cater to every guest whim – all just steps away from the soft sands of Natai, a quiet beach that extends 10 kilometres up the glorious Andaman coast. And for those in search of a fantasy beachfront Phuket wedding venue, Sava is a dream destination.

Natai Beach is less than an hour's drive from the busy tourist areas of Phuket, yet it offers a sense of seclusion and exclusivity with only a handful of luxury villas and boutique resorts lining its sandy shore. From relaxing on the sands of Natai and kayaking or standup paddle boarding along the shore to venturing out for a yacht charter cruise of majestic Phang Nga Bay or snorkelling the pristine waters of the Similan islands, Sava Beach Villas offer the ultimate tropical beach getaway.

The Italian National Tourist Board will be the Premier Partner at WTM London 2017 – the leading global event for the travel industry – as Italy takes a “fundamental step” towards a new marketing strategy. Known as ENIT, the tourism body has signed the Premier Partnership deal to ensure widespread media coverage; to offer maximum support its tourism industry; and to highlight Italy's diverse range of holidays.

ENIT will have two main stands at WTM London (EU2000, EU2070) and will share its exhibition space with around 230 Italian travel trade partners, including regional tourism bodies, hotels, travel agencies, resorts and operators.

Through its Premier Partnership status, Italy aims to “reposition and widen the Italian tourist offer” beyond the traditional tourist destinations. ENIT will also shine a spotlight on its themed years, with Italian villages being the focus for 2017, and food and wine in 2018. Both themes promote the Italian way of life, which can be experienced by tourists across the whole country – from its mountains to the coast, lakes and cities. Indeed, the country's cuisine is already a major draw, and it is regarded as the number one destination for food and wine tourism, according to the Food Travel Monitor.

Italy will also use WTM London to highlight its cultural attractions and the fact it has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country, with 53. According to FutureBrand's Country Brand Index, it is ranked top for Tourism & Culture – and it is the most photographed country on Instagram, with 64 million tags and counting.

Its varied attractions mean Italy is the fifth most popular destination worldwide for international arrivals, with 52 million visitors in 2016 – up 3.2% on 2015. These visitors generated more than €36 billion euros last year for the Italian economy, with Germans accounting for the highest amount at €5.7 billion. The US was the second biggest market (€4.6bn), followed by France (€3.6bn), the UK (€2.9bn) and Switzerland (€2.4bn). Cities famed for their art and culture – such as Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples and Turin – are the most popular option for overseas tourists, who spend about €14 billion in this sector. Overseas tourists visiting for seaside holidays, meanwhile, generate almost €5 billion.

Dario Franceschini, Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, said the special themed years mean that regional tourist boards and cities can work together with the trade to create itineraries which enable overseas visitors to experience Italian lifestyles.

“In the tourism sector, where competition is so fierce, it is fundamental for Italy to diversify its attractions and spread tourist flows over the entire national territory,” he said.

“Tourism, this extraordinary engine of economic development, is a medium of peaceful encounters between cultures and a fundamental antidote to the fear of the different.”

WTM London, Senior Director, Simon Press, said: “WTM London is thrilled to welcome Italy as its Premier Partner for 2017.

“Italy has long been a key exhibitor at WTM London and we're delighted that this Premier Partnership will help the country to take its tourism marketing to the next level.

“Being WTM London's Premier Partner means Italy has the perfect platform promote the extensive range of Italian holidays to buyers and media from across the globe.”

The official signing ceremony of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Photography Ambassador Program took place at Visit Maldives Head Office in Male..

The MMPRC Photography Ambassador Program was created to provide a new platform for established and upcoming local photographers with an opportunity to be recognised on an international level and therefore venture into new international tourism domains. It is an initiative designed to enhance the local photography industry and to help create future job opportunities for local photographers within the Maldives tourism industry.

The photographers who take part in the ambassador programme will work closely with MMPRC to promote the destination “Maldives…the sunny side of life”, enhancing the official social media channels of MMPRC as well as recording events such as World Travel Market and ITB Berlin.

The ceremony was attended by Mr Hussain Lirar, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Haris Mohamed, Acting Managing Director of MMPRC, senior representatives of MMPRC and the Ministry of Tourism as well as the MMPRC Photography Ambassadors.

Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has disclosed that the country earned a record US$2 Billion during the first eight months of this calendar year from 2.8 million visitors.

The figure represents an increase of 8.3 percent in gross foreign exchange earnings than the US$1.83 billion earned last year over the same period. In addition, cruise passenger arrivals were up 5.1 percent for the same period.

“My mission is to enhance the retention of the dollar from this US$2 billion. In fact, the latest report from the World Travel & Tourism Council indicates that the retention of the dollar, from the consumption side has risen to 70 percent. The Tourism Linkages Council is going to drive that value added that is needed to take the retention levels in Jamaica from 30 cents to at least 50 cents, for the total dollar that is spent,” said Minister Bartlett.

He also highlighted that direct contribution from tourism to the GDP at the moment is 8.4 percent but the induced and indirect contribution is now 27.2 percent. So, tourism remains one of the few labor-intensive sectors and directly employs 106,000 Jamaicans while generating indirect jobs for one in four persons, linked to sectors such as agriculture, creative and cultural industries, manufacturing, and construction.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (second left) engages Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF)/National Export Import Bank of Jamaica (EXIM) Small Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTE) Loan Facility beneficiaries Danville Davidson, Director of Irie Safari Tours Ltd (second right) and Patria Kaye Aarons, Director Sweetie Confectionary Ltd (center) in dialogue. The occasion was a press briefing to report on the loan facility at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on August 30, 2017. Sharing in the moment are TEF Chairman Godfrey Dyer (left) and EXIM Bank’s Managing Director Lisa Bell. While there, Minister Bartlett disclosed that the country has earned a record US$2 billion during the first eight months of this calendar year, from a total of 2.8 million visitors. The figure represents an increase of 8.3 percent in gross foreign exchange earnings over the US$1.83 billion earned last year for the same period.

The Tourism Minister was speaking at the press briefing to report on the year-old TEF/EXIM Bank Small Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTE) Loan Facility, at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on August 30, 2017.

According to reports received from the EXIM Bank, as at August 29, 2017, they have received twenty-eight completed loan applications, totaling J$509.9 million, under the SMTE loan program.

“The excellent response of SMTEs to the loan facility is proof that it is welcomed and well needed. Operators of SMTEs, who access up to $25 million dollars at 5 percent interest, over 5 years, will now be able to better respond to the demands of our thriving tourism sector,” said the Minister.

With the West End and Broadway blockbuster, Miss Saigon, currently thrilling audiences at Birmingham Hippodrome until Sat 23 Sept, principal cast members Sooha Kim and Ashley Gilmour took time out from their busy performance schedule for an up-close encounter with an original Vietnam UH-1 HUEY helicopter, the only working model of its kind to exist in the UK today.

Widely used to transport troops and equipment during the Vietnam War, as well as support and attack missions, the UH-IH model ‘Huey’ helicopter first arrived in Vietnam in 1963 and was the most common utility helicopter used in the conflict between 1965-1973.

The Huey 509, was contracted by the US army in 1972. The aircraft saw active service in the Vietnam conflict between 1972-1973, where it flew over 500 combat missions with the 129 Helicopter Assault Company.

Winner of a record-breaking nine Whatsonstage awards including Best show, Miss Saigon tells the story of the last days of the Vietnam War, in which a 17 year-old Kim is forced to work in a Saigon bar run by a notorious character known as the Engineer. There she meets and falls in love with an American GI named Chris but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For 3 years Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he's fathered a son.

Ashley Gilmour, who plays Chris in the UK Tour of Miss Saigon, said: “It’s incredible to see a machine of such power and scale in the flesh. I fly on stage in a replica ‘Huey’ every night on UK Tour so coming face-to-face with the vehicle which inspired it is just incredible. As a cast, the research that goes into this production is something that we take really seriously. At the start of the rehearsal process, we watched countless documentaries and films from the height of the Vietnam conflict to really get to grips with the world we were representing on stage. So to see something like this in person gives you a real sense of what those soldiers were experiencing. And the noise! It’s just mind-blowing, like nothing I’ve heard before…”

Phil Connolly, Owner of the Huey 509 added “I’ve seen Miss Saigon several times before so when we got the call from Birmingham Hippodrome, we jumped at the chance to be involved. It’s a real honour to meet Sooha and Ashley and introduce them to this iconic piece of military history.”

“I first got into flying in the early 90s as a fixed-wing pilot. I eventually got so fed up of the English weather that I moved into helicopters. My first purchase was an ex-military gazelle helicopter which I flew for two or three years. As my enthusiasm grew, there was only one helicopter that I wanted to own and fly and that every other pilot I knew wanted to fly too and that’s the ‘Huey’. I think I was the first one in the UK to achieve it and still am. The ‘Huey’ is one of the most versatile models of military helicopter. It can carry up to ten troops and comes equipped with three stretchers that can be fitted onto its sides. In Vietnam, it doubled-up as a battlefield taxi, medi-vac vehicle and as an invaluable source for transporting and carrying equipment. It’s a truly amazing piece of engineering”.

Since its London premiere in 1989, Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s legendary musical Miss Saigon has become one of the most successful musicals in history.

The original Broadway production of Miss Saigon opened on April 11, 1991 with what was the largest advance sale in Broadway history ($37 million).  The show went on to play for nearly ten years and 4,063 performances seen by more than 5.9 million people.

Miss Saigon has been performed in 28 countries, over 300 cities in 15 different languages, has won over 40 awards including 2 Olivier Awards, 3 Tony Awards, and 4 Drama Desk Awards and been seen by over 35 million people worldwide.

In March, this production of Miss Saigon opened on Broadway where it plays to nightly ovations and has just been nominated for the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

When the smash-hit run of this production opened in London in May 2014 to record-breaking advance sales and critical acclaim, Dominic Cavendish in The Daily Telegraph wrote, “This thrilling new production spills out beyond the theatre and speaks directly to the times we live in”. The show swept the board at the 2015 Whatsonstage.com awards winning a record breaking nine awards, the most awards ever won by a single show in the 15-year history of the awards including: Best West End Show and Best Revival of a Musical.

Neil Buchan-Grant, winner of the 2013 British Travel Press Photographer of the Year, will be leading an exclusive photography tour to Vietnam and Cambodia with travel holiday experts Kuoni UK.

Touring Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hoi An in Vietnam and Siem Reap in Cambodia, the focus will be on capturing memorable scenes under the expert guidance of Neil who has over 30 years' experience.

All of the main sights are covered on the tour, capturing Angkor Wat temple at sunrise in Siem Reap and taking an overnight Halong Bay cruise in Vietnam, which is a photographer's paradise with its incredible natural scenery.

There is also an authentic taste of village life and food experiences, from a cyclo tour of Cam Thanh Village, a small fishing community and eco-village in Hoi An where traditional scenes of village life can be explored, to a traditional local meal with a contemporary twist at the renowned Home Restaurant in Hanoi.

In Siem Reap there is an opportunity to photograph Apsara dancers wearing traditional dress and ornate jewellery during a photo shoot.

Suitable for all levels, whether a complete beginner equipped with just a smart phone or an experienced photographer with a top of the range camera, Neil offers expert tuition and is available beforehand for any pre-departure advice.

The World Cheese Awards is now open for entry, with producers from across the globe invited to submit their cheese to be judged during the competition's 30th anniversary celebrations. Dedicated only to cheese, with no other dairy products able to enter, the awards will return to London on Friday 17 November, to form part of Taste of London Festive Edition at Tobacco Dock.

Following a record-breaking edition of the World Cheese Awards in San Sebastián last year, organisers, the Guild of Fine Food, are expecting this to be the largest cheese-only competition the UK has ever seen, with around 3,000 cheeses from six continents anticipated in the capital this autumn. As the international curd community gathers, entrants from over 30 different countries will be looking to take advantage of this golden opportunity to spotlight their cheese on a world stage.

250 experts from across the planet, including international buyers, retailers, writers and cheesemakers, will nose, taste and deliberate, judging every entry within a single day to identify any cheeses worthy of a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. Each table will then select its Super Gold cheese to go forward to the final round of judging, before the World Champion Cheese is crowned later in the afternoon, beamed live across the world on WCA TV.

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of the World Cheese Awards, explains: “This global celebration of cheese seems to gather momentum every year, so we can't wait to bring the world's finest cheese back to home soil once again and give Taste of London Festive Edition's 30,000 attendees a glimpse behind the rind. Beyond the serious business of identifying the winning wedges, we've got a few surprises up our sleeve to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the World Cheese Awards, so we're hoping that cheesemakers, judges, graders and consumers alike will join us in marking our three decades at the heart of the cheese community.”

Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra is a contemporary 5-star hotel set in an urban oasis within Ghana’s central business district. The Accra Financial Centre, World Trade Centre, International Conference Centre and Government Ministries are all situated close by.

Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra has received its sixth consecutive Green Globe Certification. Both management and staff have worked together on improving the hotel’s sustainable goals. As a result, the overall audit score has increased from 73% to 81% compared to the previous year.

Axel Hauser, General Manager of the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra said: “I am extremely proud of the team’s achievements and know that it has taken a great deal of work and dedication to achieve this fantastic result. The Green Globe Certification Award shows the hotel’s long-term commitment to sustainability, involving and educating the whole team on how they can make a difference.”

In its quest to sustainably utilize resources, the hotel has invested over half a million dollars into six special projects which aim to reduce energy consumption over the long term. This includes the diversion of steam from the boiler to the hotel dehumidifier to cut down on energy used in heating dehumidifiers, the installation of an adiabatic cooling system and chiller plant management system, heat recovery from chillers, chiller power factor correction and the installation of a duty cycle programmer fitted on pool pumps.

In line with the Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts global sustainability initiative Shine, the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel gave back to the community through organizing various events. Guests were encouraged to support a fundraising event last December. Proceeds from this were then used to hold a Christmas party and sports event for children from Kinder Paradise on Boxing Day, the 26th of December. The hotel also invited Chance for Children, an NGO for street children in Accra to participate in its Christmas lighting ceremony. To assist those in need, food donations were given to the Princess Marie Louis hospital and retired bedspreads and bed sheets were donated to support a local leprosarium.

Several training sessions were held for staff from all departments by the Innovations Manager of the property’s waste contractor, Jekora Ghana Limited to encourage better waste segregation procedures amongst employees. In 2016, the hotel successfully increased the amount of paper and cardboard it recycled by 71% (5,026 kg) according to the Hotel Optimizer Report that is compiled by Green Globe’s preferred partner FARNEK Middle-East.

The property’s new owner, Quantum Global, remains committed to supporting the hotel’s sustainability initiatives to ensure that the property remains a leader in sustainability in the Sub-Saharan African region.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, an international upscale hotel management company with over 16,000 staff members, is represented in 24 countries with 83 hotels, resorts and Nile cruisers currently in operation. Around 20 properties are planned or under construction, including those in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Bali (Indonesia) and Nairobi (Kenya).

Focusing on expanding within its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts specialises in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts, all reflecting a sense of place and respect for their local communities. Of Swiss heritage and with headquarters in central Switzerland (Baar), Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is passionate about delivering premium service and culinary enjoyment – all with a personal touch. Committed to supporting sustainable environments, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has become the most Green Globe-certified hotel company in the world.

Don't miss a visit to the new Blenheim Palace Classic & Supercar show on Sunday 3 September.

See the Bugatti Chiron, the world's fastest car valued at over £3million pounds! This rare supercar is the only one in the country, offering visitors an exciting opportunity to get up close to this exceptional motor.

Spot the Lamborghini Reventon and Reventon Roadster on display together for the very first time. The rare duo represents Lamborghini's most expensive road car until 2010. Only 35 cars have ever been produced making a sighting of the two together a must-see.

Discover the Aston Martin Vulcan, a track only supercar on display at the event. This car is engineered with such speed and weight that if you were to drive upside down, it would glue itself to the ceiling! Costing almost £2million, and with only 24 produced this is well worth seeing.

Find the elusive prototype supercar, the Jaguar C-X75 at the show, which is returning to Blenheim Palace following its starring role in James Bond's Spectre. Scenes, including the beginning of the epic car chase were filmed at the Palace, within the Great Court.

See the Jaguar XJ220, once owned by Rod Stewart, the 30-year-old supercar is a modern classic to rival the Ferrari F40, with 10 of these on display to compare!

Blenheim Palace Classic & Supercar show will showcase more than 500 of the world's greatest classic and supercars in stunning surroundings.

All of these cars and more can be seen in the Pirelli Prestige & Performance Competition, featuring 80 sensational super and hypercars built from 1977 to the current day and hosted within the Palace's Great Court.

With eight pre-selected classes including 'Hypercars from the Lawn', 'Super Roadsters', '30th Anniversary of the Ferrari F40', 'Pin Ups' and 'Porsche GT Specials', it's an exciting competition culminating in the Winner's Parade later in the afternoon.

A wide selection of food and refreshments will also be available from Blenheim Palace's eateries throughout the day.

Peek Freans Sooper has officially broken the Guinness World Records title for the Largest Cookie Mosaic in the shape of Pakistan’s flag made with 150,000+ cookies measuring 226.51 m2 (2,438.15 ft2). Peek Freans Sooper perfectly embodies the spirit of the nation. As the highest selling biscuit of Pakistan, the brand has grown into a household name for its quality and wholesome goodness, as well as for its positive and memorable campaigns over the past two decades. Pakistan itself bears the same positive spirit that is often kept out of the mainstream conversation – the fact that it is a land of immense opportunity, and brimming with talent that has continually defied odds to surpass barriers.

Peek Freans Sooper, Pakistan’s favourite biscuit, wanted to unite the country under one umbrella with the inspiring and positive message of “Sooper Hai Pakistan”. On the 70th Independence Day, the EBM family came together to do the impossible… to set a new Guinness World Records title! The plan? Build the world’s largest cookie mosaic … in the shape of Pakistan Flag with a solid resounding message of how Sooper a nation it is!

The team worked with great fervour and passion as they slowly pieced together the mosaic, block by block, biscuit by biscuit with none other than, Peek Freans Sooper cookies themselves. With hard work, dedication and a Sooper attitude, the flag mosaic was finally completed in 6.5hours. Upon completion of the cookie mosaic, the biscuits were distributed in custom built containers to notable charities across Pakistan.

Dr. Zeelaf Munir, EBM Managing Director and CEO said, “We are a nation that is continuously rebuilding, reshaping and pushing forward – no matter what the odds. Our campaign, ‘Sooper Hai Pakistan’ seeks to highlight this national positivity by disseminating content that is the exact opposite of what the popular media continues to cover.”

Safety and hygiene were of paramount importance and the team ensured that the strict quality standards employed by Peek Freans were followed throughout the process. The record building process was overseen by independent witnesses including a health and hygiene inspector and a survey or from Islamabad).

Speaking on the occasion, Ayesha Janjua, EBM Head of Marketing said, ‘Pakistanis are brimming with raw talent; surpassing the world’s expectations on each and every pivotal moment and the participation of EBM sales and marketing team in this historic event demonstrates the true spirit of every Pakistani.”

This record breaking event was attended by a number of celebrities like Younis Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Adnan Siddiqui and Hareem Farooq to name a few. They came out to support the efforts of Peek Freans Sooper and were seen cheering for the team and encouraging them throughout the event.

As the Guinness World Records team announced the result, the participants were finally rewarded with the confirmation that Pakistan and Peek Freans Sooper had made the history books by bringing home a Guinness World Records title on the day of the country’s 70thIndependence day.