World News

The stunning city of Hangzhou, the capital of China's Zhejiang province is preparing to celebrate the start of Chinese New Year from 7 – 13 February 2016. 2016 marks the year of the monkey and as part of the celebrations, the city will welcome thousands of tourists to its stunning West Lake, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China during the holiday. However, there is more to Hangzhou than Chinese New Year.

These are the worlds when the Turkish Tourism Minister was addressing challenges in Turkey this morning. The message of Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, HE Mahir Unai, said at a fully-packed EMITT opening conference: Tourism has a healing effect on international conflicts. The Governor of Istanbul, Vasip Sahin, and a representative of the Mayor, both acknowledged challenges through terrorism but each claimed his city is as safe as any major city and listed New York, Tokyo, London, Brussels, or Paris among others.

Group Chief Executive of Hamad International Airport-Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, was joined by Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer of HIA-Qatar and Mr. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Chairman and Member of the Executive Board at FC Bayern Munich, to announce the sponsorship, alongside a special surprise appearance by FC Bayern Munich team member Mr. Franck Ribéry together with Ms. Lena Lotzen of FC Bayern Munich Women’s Team and the German National Women’s Team.

Qatar Airways wrapped up a successful presence at the airline industry’s first air show of the year in Bahrain on Saturday. Hundreds of guests were welcomed on board the three Qatar Airways display aircraft, dozens of high-level meetings with industry and political leaders took place and many international media interviews were conducted at the airline’s premium chalet.

Tourism Australia has launched its latest campaign, which is focused on highlighting the country's world-class aquatic and coastal experiences, in a bid to lure more international visitors to Australia. The new creative, the latest instalment in Tourism Australia's global There's Nothing like Australia campaign, was officially unveiled at an event in New York on Australia Day eve attended by Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon. Julie Bishop.

2016 will welcome the third Iceland Winter Games (IWG), which is one of the world's biggest winter festivals.  Based in Akureyri, the ski capital of Iceland, the festival  draws in some of the biggest names in winter sports and hosts events unseen anywhere else. This includes challenging ski jumps in the shape of volcanoes, mountain top to sea skiing, Arctic horseback riding and dog sledding championships.

Where better to spend your Valentine's weekend than in the land of Love, Loveland, Colorado, America's Sweetheart City. In Loveland, Colorado, Valentine's Day is more than a day – it is a celebration of everything you love. Here, romantic heart-shaped love notes dot the streets, fire and ice intersect for a romantic getaway and local craft brews are transformed into love potion during the Loveland Fire and Ice Festival, the largest Valentine's Day celebration in the US.

Hundreds of Caribbean tourism vendors from around the world gathered at the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Marketplace 2016 held at the Atlantis Paradise Island from January 21-23. The marketplace brings together tour operators, hoteliers, and tourist boards. It’s instrumental in creating a buzz in the international marketplace as hundreds of journalists, bloggers and media personalities are also in attendance.

Question: Were dinosaurs hot, as in hot lovers? Answer: probably yes, when they were “in heat.” This is a serious scientific question.  We know some dinosaurs had flamboyant head gear: horns, frills and crests. Add the evidence that many had feathers and were related to birds, and a whole new vista of possibilities opens regarding their courtship, mating and display activities.

The year kicks off for Aruba with the biggest event of the year and everyone's favourite, Aruba's spectacular annual Carnival. Following the opening Torch Parade and Carnival Queen elections, there is a Children's Grand Carnival Parade in capital Oranjestad on January 31, when hundreds of youngsters come together to show off their dancing skills and colourful costumes.

After a complex restoration effort, David Ireland's Mission district house at 500 Capp Street—the late conceptual artist's enigmatic residence and site-specific art installation—opens to the public on Jan. 15, 2016 as the city's first historic artist's home. During the thirty years Ireland lived there, he embedded the house with his own pieces and transformed it into a work of art in its own right.

Set to reach new heights for its fifth anniversary, The World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE®) returns to Hamburg on 5 – 7th April as part of the Passenger Experience Week 2016. The world-class exhibition will offer a unique platform for professionals from across the rail and air industry to meet over 300 industry suppliers, source the latest products, attend a wide range of networking events and view demonstrations from world-class chefs.

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has been announced as the global ambassador for Tourism Australia's new campaign, which will focus on the country's world-class aquatic and coastal experiences.  Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O'Sullivan said that whilst Australia would still be the star of its latest campaign, Chris Hemsworth would provide an authentic Australian voice to help tell the country's story globally.  

Riding the New York subway -never mind the temperature- take your pants off. Described as “an international celebration of silliness,” the unusual holiday is always planned for winter. This year it took place on Sunday, January 10. One day a year subway riders across the world get rid of their trousers and skirts to show off their new knickers and have fun as part of the “No Pants Subway Ride” day.

The Mediterranean island of Malta was named #3 on the prestigious New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2016” list in its Sunday Travel Section. A European country situated between Sicily and the North African coast, has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Valletta, Malta’s capital, was named the European Capital of Culture 2018.

International tourist arrivals in 2016 are expected to hit a record high of 32 million compared with an estimated 29.88 million last year, the Thai tourism and sports minister said. "Actually, 32 million is just a calculation. We do not put that as a target because we are now emphasising only revenue," Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said. Ms Kobkarn said 32 million foreign visitors - a 7% increase over 2015 - likely would generate 1.67 trillion baht in revenue.