World News

PK Media were once again on top of their game at the 37th National Leadership Prayer Breakfast at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, with Paul Harrison meeting with a number of high profile people at the annual meeting. Held under the theme of 'God-Empowered Intervention for Transformation', the NLPB is sponsored by Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) and announced that the NGO, Children First, based in Spanish Town will be the beneficiary of the proceeds from the event.

2017 is a big year for Catalonia with a number of exciting new openings, attractions, flight routes and hotels. From riding Europe's fastest and tallest roller coaster at Ferrari Land to learning how to build a human tower with the Minyons de Terrassa or marvelling at Gaudi's first work; Casa Vicens Catalonia has it all. The 'What's New for 2017' guide will tell you everything you need to know for 2017 and beyond. The guide includes as well the events calendar planned for this year, which showcases amazing activities suitable for all kind of travelers.

The Empire State Building (ESB) Observatory has announced the launch of its official Empire State Building Observatory Experience App, which guides visitors through the icon's extraordinary exhibits and views with additional in-depth information on the building's history. Created by industry leader Antenna International, the free app is available via the Apple Store and Google Play and will replace the device-dependent, self-guided multimedia tour previously given to each guest upon admittance to the World's Most Famous Building.

Accommodation can be much more than just a place to rest your head, it can be the highlight of your trip. NSW has a range of quirky accommodation that will make lasting memories, whether it's bedding down in a former double decker London bus, stretching out in a private treehouse, or snoozing underground. According to Destination NSW, CEO Sandra Chipchase, “Experiencing a new type of accommodation can be the reason to book a journey.

PK Media, one of the UK's most respected PR agencies invited The Phoenix Newspaper to attend the soft launch of the Zierlich International Dialysis Centre at the Jamaica High Commission, hosted by JAMPRO's European Regional Manager, Laurence Jones. Making first official speech since taking his position as the High Commissioner of Jamaica to the UK, His Excellency Seth George Ramocan was in attendance at the event.

It is not everyday you return from holiday with a 4500-year-old souvenir. But inadvertently that is exactly what happened to Mrs Thelma Bishop of Gatley, near Stockport. Last year Adam Partridge Auctioneers and Valuers in Macclesfield were approached by Mrs Bishop seeking further information on a ceramic jug she and her husband Malcolm had bought after visiting Ephesus in Turkey in the early 1960s.

Community Tourism will be celebrating the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, which is taking place in Madrid Spain (Travel, Enjoy, Respect), at the Mandeville Hotel, Manchester Jamaica on January 18. The UN International Year will promote tourism’s role in the following five key areas: Inclusive and sustainable economic growth; social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction; Resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change; cultural values, diversity and heritage; and mutual understanding, peace and security

2017 marks 50 years since the death of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, bringing to an end the career of arguably the world's most iconic revolutionary. Best known for his role alongside Fidel Castro in Cuba, Che actually died in Bolivia, at the hands of CIA-trained Bolivian Special Forces, amid the jungles and ravines of the Quebrada del Yuro. This wild and remote part of Bolivia has always been difficult to reach, but this year, South America specialists RealWorld will be running special anniversary tours to the area, and to all the sites associated with Che in Bolivia.

Qatar welcomed some of football’s greatest as German champions, Bayern Munich visited Hamad International Airport for a special fan meet and greet event, as part of the unique partnership that pairs aviation’s newest, most advanced international hub with the Bundesliga’s most successful club ever.

12 months to celebrate and promote the contribution of the tourism sector to building a better world. This is the major goal of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development recalling the potential of tourism to advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Forecasts from VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, indicate that 2017 is set to be another record year for inbound tourism to the UK.  Spending by overseas visitors is predicted to reach £24.1 billion in 2017, an 8% increase on spending this year which is expected to top out at £22.3 billion. The number of overseas visitors to the UK is expected to rise next year to 38.1 million visits, up 4% on 2016 which is likely to see about 36.7 million visits by year end.

The Non-Teaching Staff Association of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore organised a ceremony for its Christian employees in connection with Christmas Day. Vice-Chancellor Meritorious Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha presided over the Christmas cake-cutting ceremony while Pastor Yousaf Nawab, NTSA President Muhammad Arif, Prof Dr Habib-ur- Rehman, Dr Muhammad Afzal and many Christian employees of the UVAS and a large number of university staff attended the function.

In a magnificent reception held by Global Traveller magazine, Qatar Airways was awarded three honours: Best Airline for International First Class, Best First-Class Seat Design and, for the third time, Best Airline in the Middle East. The event, held in The Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel, was attended by over 25 other industry representatives and also marked the start of the Global Traveller’s charitable initiative for The Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society.

Greece received approximately 2.4 million UK visitors between January and September 2016, an increase of 15.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2015, according to the latest figures from the Bank of Greece. According to GFK, bookings made between January and November 2016 saw an increase of 4 per cent compared to the same period in 2015, while there was a 21 per cent year-on-year increase in forward bookings for 2017 during the same period.