airBaltic will launch a direct service between Riga and Abu Dhabi on October 29th, 2017.
The Latvian airlines will operate the Riga-Abu Dhabi route four times weekly with a long-range Bombardier CS300 aircraft.
Etihad Airways will be a codeshare partner on the route.
Martin Gauss, chief executive, airBaltic: “We are delighted to link Latvia and the UAE with our brand-new Bombardier CS300 that fly longer distances and reach airports that we were not able to serve with our fleet before.
“Our codeshare cooperation with Etihad Airways will offer convenient connections to passengers travelling from the Baltic airports to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi and further to key destinations in Australia, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as provide new travelling opportunities from Abu Dhabi to European and Scandinavian airports.
“Abu Dhabi is a strategic aviation hub in the Middle East and its landmark tourist attractions such as Formula 1 and Ferrari World will attract many travellers from the Baltics and Scandinavia.”
airBaltic serves over 60 destinations from its home base in Riga, Latvia.
From every one of these locations, airBaltic offers convenient connections via Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, CIS and the Middle East. In addition, airBaltic also offers direct flights from Tallinn and Vilnius.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief executive, said: “Through this new agreement with airBaltic, we are offering guests greater travel options to and from Latvia and the surrounding region.
“This reflects Etihad Airways’ ongoing commitment to provide the travelling public with more choice and an expanded network in collaboration with our partners around the world.”
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Friday, 3 March 2017
Govt To Destroy Seized Horns, Tusks, Hides At Delhi Zoo
The Union environment ministry plans to celebrate World Wildlife Day on March 3 by destroying ill-gotten trophies of poachers including hides, scales, horns and tusks. The items will be burned in the incinerator at Delhi Zoo in the presence of environment minister of state Anil Madhav Dave.
State chief wildlife wardens have been invited by the environment ministry to contribute to the stock being burnt. Some of the confiscated items will come from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
The Delhi Zoo was also the site of the last such destruction devised by the ministry. In 2014, at least four truckloads of confiscated items were destroyed and the incineration lasted for four days, according to Riyaz Khan, the curator at the Delhi Zoo. On that occasion, a stockpile worth Rs 20 lakh was destroyed.
World Wildlife Day is celebrated on March 3 to mark the signing of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Under CITES there are bans in place on the trade of ivory and rhino horns.
Destruction by incinerator, open burning of stockpiles or crushing of tusks and horns are all done to deter poachers. Kenya burnt down the largest stock of ivory last year in April weighing about 105 tonnes.
The ministry is not revealing how much stock will be incinerated because all state governments have not responded yet.
Supporters believe incineration stifles the market for these goods by curbing supply. Shekhar Kumar Niraj, head of wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, said that destroying the confiscated stash is important because storing it comes with risks. “There is a possibility that the ivory gets out because of the connivance of officials,” Niraj said, “the price of these goods is always rising, the stockpiled items are at risk.”
“In some of the raids conducted by the bureau the items confiscated were already marked,” Niraj said suggesting that they had been leaked back into the market.
Safeguarding confiscated goods also requires resources, both infrastructure and manpower.
Other conservationists support this move but believe more needs to be done. “The demand side is equally important, the markets have to be closed,” Varun Goswami, a conservationist at the Wildlife Conservation Society, said. Demand for these wildlife products is high in countries like China and Japan because they are believed to have medicinal value.
In December last year, the Chinese government committed to stamp out the market for poached animal parts in the country by end of 2017. It was hailed as a big step towards making the trade in these items unattractive.
However, some countries in Africa like South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe have pushed for legal sales of the stocks of confiscated items and investing some of the proceeds in conservation efforts. Goswami believes that legalising ivory sales is no way to curb poaching as it keeps demand alive.
More than 1200 animals were killed by poachers in India between 2013 and 2016, as per government data.
In 2014 items that are ostentatiously luxurious were destroyed at the Delhi Zoo incinerator. India faces a somewhat peculiar problem. Some of the items may not just be high monetary value in the black market but hold sacred value like ivory idols.
The less glamorous option of incineration may be a safe choice for the government since burning stockpiles in the open like Kenya has done might invite protests and could also aggravate Delhi’s high pollution.
State chief wildlife wardens have been invited by the environment ministry to contribute to the stock being burnt. Some of the confiscated items will come from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
The Delhi Zoo was also the site of the last such destruction devised by the ministry. In 2014, at least four truckloads of confiscated items were destroyed and the incineration lasted for four days, according to Riyaz Khan, the curator at the Delhi Zoo. On that occasion, a stockpile worth Rs 20 lakh was destroyed.
World Wildlife Day is celebrated on March 3 to mark the signing of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Under CITES there are bans in place on the trade of ivory and rhino horns.
Destruction by incinerator, open burning of stockpiles or crushing of tusks and horns are all done to deter poachers. Kenya burnt down the largest stock of ivory last year in April weighing about 105 tonnes.
The ministry is not revealing how much stock will be incinerated because all state governments have not responded yet.
Supporters believe incineration stifles the market for these goods by curbing supply. Shekhar Kumar Niraj, head of wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, said that destroying the confiscated stash is important because storing it comes with risks. “There is a possibility that the ivory gets out because of the connivance of officials,” Niraj said, “the price of these goods is always rising, the stockpiled items are at risk.”
“In some of the raids conducted by the bureau the items confiscated were already marked,” Niraj said suggesting that they had been leaked back into the market.
Safeguarding confiscated goods also requires resources, both infrastructure and manpower.
Other conservationists support this move but believe more needs to be done. “The demand side is equally important, the markets have to be closed,” Varun Goswami, a conservationist at the Wildlife Conservation Society, said. Demand for these wildlife products is high in countries like China and Japan because they are believed to have medicinal value.
In December last year, the Chinese government committed to stamp out the market for poached animal parts in the country by end of 2017. It was hailed as a big step towards making the trade in these items unattractive.
However, some countries in Africa like South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe have pushed for legal sales of the stocks of confiscated items and investing some of the proceeds in conservation efforts. Goswami believes that legalising ivory sales is no way to curb poaching as it keeps demand alive.
More than 1200 animals were killed by poachers in India between 2013 and 2016, as per government data.
In 2014 items that are ostentatiously luxurious were destroyed at the Delhi Zoo incinerator. India faces a somewhat peculiar problem. Some of the items may not just be high monetary value in the black market but hold sacred value like ivory idols.
The less glamorous option of incineration may be a safe choice for the government since burning stockpiles in the open like Kenya has done might invite protests and could also aggravate Delhi’s high pollution.
USA: Uber Executive Resigns After Harassment Complaints
A new engineering executive at Uber left Monday after the ride-sharing titan learned he ended his career at Google after a sexual harassment complaint, according to US media reports.
Amit Singhal has denied acting in any such improper manner while head of search at Google but did not disclose that there had been an internal investigation that ended with the complaining employee found "credible," , which shared what it had learned about the situation with Uber.
Singhal, a well known figure in Silicon Valley, worked at Google for 15 years before retiring early last year. He was recently hired by Uber as senior vice president of engineering.
Nothing about the complaint at Google was uncovered in a background check done on Singhal before being hired by Uber, Recode and other outlets reported.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick asked Singhal to resign early Monday for not disclosing the investigation, according to Recode.
Singhal condemned harassment in any setting and said "I do not condone and have not committed such behavior."
Accusations of sexism, cut-throat management, and a toxic work environment have Uber trying to pull its image out of a skid as competition revs in the on-demand ride market.
Uber hired former attorney general Eric Holder to review workplace conditions after ex-employee Susan Fowler alleged sexual harassment and sexism at the firm in a detailed online post.
A New York Times report on Friday depicted an environment at Uber in which workers were pitted against one another and misbehavior by top performers was overlooked.
Controversies threaten to revive a #DeleteUber campaign triggered by Kalanick´s short-lived plan to be part of a business advisory group for US President Donald Trump.
Kalanick quit the group under pressure from a growing movement to stop using the ride-sharing service because of his connection to the new administration, and by extension an anti-immigrant agenda.
As the campaign picked up speed, rival Lyft´s popularity accelerated.
Meanwhile, the race to develop self-driving vehicles took a turn last week when Google´s parent company Alphabet filed a lawsuit against Uber, accusing it of using stolen technology.
Alphabet contends that a manager at its autonomous car subsidiary Waymo took technical data with him when he left to launch a competing venture that went on to become Otto, Uber´s self-driving vehicle unit, in a reported $680 million deal.
San Francisco-based Uber acquired commercial transport-focused tech startup Otto last year as it pressed ahead with a pursuit of self-driving technology.
In the eyes of consumers, Uber´s controversies pack together into "a snowball of trouble rolling down the hill getting bigger and bigger," said brand management specialists Bruce Turkel.
Amit Singhal has denied acting in any such improper manner while head of search at Google but did not disclose that there had been an internal investigation that ended with the complaining employee found "credible," , which shared what it had learned about the situation with Uber.
Singhal, a well known figure in Silicon Valley, worked at Google for 15 years before retiring early last year. He was recently hired by Uber as senior vice president of engineering.
Nothing about the complaint at Google was uncovered in a background check done on Singhal before being hired by Uber, Recode and other outlets reported.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick asked Singhal to resign early Monday for not disclosing the investigation, according to Recode.
Singhal condemned harassment in any setting and said "I do not condone and have not committed such behavior."
Accusations of sexism, cut-throat management, and a toxic work environment have Uber trying to pull its image out of a skid as competition revs in the on-demand ride market.
Uber hired former attorney general Eric Holder to review workplace conditions after ex-employee Susan Fowler alleged sexual harassment and sexism at the firm in a detailed online post.
A New York Times report on Friday depicted an environment at Uber in which workers were pitted against one another and misbehavior by top performers was overlooked.
Controversies threaten to revive a #DeleteUber campaign triggered by Kalanick´s short-lived plan to be part of a business advisory group for US President Donald Trump.
Kalanick quit the group under pressure from a growing movement to stop using the ride-sharing service because of his connection to the new administration, and by extension an anti-immigrant agenda.
As the campaign picked up speed, rival Lyft´s popularity accelerated.
Meanwhile, the race to develop self-driving vehicles took a turn last week when Google´s parent company Alphabet filed a lawsuit against Uber, accusing it of using stolen technology.
Alphabet contends that a manager at its autonomous car subsidiary Waymo took technical data with him when he left to launch a competing venture that went on to become Otto, Uber´s self-driving vehicle unit, in a reported $680 million deal.
San Francisco-based Uber acquired commercial transport-focused tech startup Otto last year as it pressed ahead with a pursuit of self-driving technology.
In the eyes of consumers, Uber´s controversies pack together into "a snowball of trouble rolling down the hill getting bigger and bigger," said brand management specialists Bruce Turkel.
UNITED KINGDOM: Emirates Passenger To Birmingham Airport Spits In Flight Attendant's Face
Khalid Mir was on a seven hour Emirates flight from Dubai to Birmingham when the incident unfolded.
Birmingham Magistrates Court heard how the 39-year-old from the West Midlands city, had become involved in an altercation with a female passenger on the flight on November 17, 2016.
Mir was asked to calm down, but his behaviour became more aggressive and the crew were forced to restrain him.
Prosecuting, Colin Phillips, said: “The defendant consumed a few drinks before boarding the aircraft and had purchased three bottles of vodka from duty free.
“He also shared a bottle with a friend.”
Just half an hour into the flight, Mir became involved in the altercation.
He was repeatedly asked to calm down, however, his behaviour became more “disorderly and threatening”.
It was at this point Mir received a formal warning from the captain.
Despite this, his behaviour continued and the flight attendants felt it was necessary to “restrain” him “for the protection of other passengers”.
Mir was taken to the back of the plane where he was tied to a chair and his hands and feet were tied together. A mask was also placed over his face.
The court heard how he then went on to spit in the face of a crew member as she attempted to give him a drink through a straw.
He was also reported to have called the air hostess a “dirty white”.
In a statement read out in court, the female flight attendant said she was “disgusted” when Mir “started spitting and spat directly in my face”.
Mir pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft and failing to obey a lawful command of a pilot.
The court was also told that Mir has 57 prior convictions. These include more than 20 offences for theft and drug related incidents.
Mir is due to be sentenced on March 8 at Birmingham Crown Court.
The story comes after a video captured two lawyers getting into a heated fight on a Monarch flight from the UK to Malaga.
Birmingham Magistrates Court heard how the 39-year-old from the West Midlands city, had become involved in an altercation with a female passenger on the flight on November 17, 2016.
Mir was asked to calm down, but his behaviour became more aggressive and the crew were forced to restrain him.
Prosecuting, Colin Phillips, said: “The defendant consumed a few drinks before boarding the aircraft and had purchased three bottles of vodka from duty free.
“He also shared a bottle with a friend.”
Just half an hour into the flight, Mir became involved in the altercation.
He was repeatedly asked to calm down, however, his behaviour became more “disorderly and threatening”.
It was at this point Mir received a formal warning from the captain.
Despite this, his behaviour continued and the flight attendants felt it was necessary to “restrain” him “for the protection of other passengers”.
Mir was taken to the back of the plane where he was tied to a chair and his hands and feet were tied together. A mask was also placed over his face.
The court heard how he then went on to spit in the face of a crew member as she attempted to give him a drink through a straw.
He was also reported to have called the air hostess a “dirty white”.
In a statement read out in court, the female flight attendant said she was “disgusted” when Mir “started spitting and spat directly in my face”.
Mir pleaded guilty to being drunk on board an aircraft and failing to obey a lawful command of a pilot.
The court was also told that Mir has 57 prior convictions. These include more than 20 offences for theft and drug related incidents.
Mir is due to be sentenced on March 8 at Birmingham Crown Court.
The story comes after a video captured two lawyers getting into a heated fight on a Monarch flight from the UK to Malaga.
Woman Sues Emirates Claims She Fainted And Sustained Injuries After Airline Staff Denied Her Water.
Lina Di Falco is taking on one of the biggest airlines in the world after she was allegedly refused a glass of water on a long-haul flight to Dubai.
Lina claims she collapsed from dehydration during the flight, where she sustained serious injuries.
The Australian woman was travelling from Melbourne on flight EK407 in March 2015, when the incident occurred.
She said the cabin was hot and asked the flight attendants for some water on numerous occasions as she was feeling dehydrated.
However, Lina claims the staff refused to give her water and told her that food would be served in a couple hours time and refreshments would be provided then.
But the woman continued to feel queasy and decided to make her way to the bathroom where she fainted.
She claims that she injured her right ankle as a result of collapsing and has since had two surgeries.
Despite this, Lina says that she has been left with some permanent damage to her ankle.
Now, Lina has filed her claim to the Supreme Court seeking a payout for damages, interests and costs.
The statement of claims alleges that “the incident by reason of the failure of the defendant… to provide water when requested by the plaintiff in order to rehydrate herself.”
Lina’s lawyer, Danielle D’Alessandro said: “Had Ms Di Falco been provided with water upon request, this injury could have been avoided.
“Emirates’ omission turned Ms Di Falco’s holiday into a nightmare.”
She added: “Ms Di Falco has been left with a significant lifelong injury that could have been avoided by the simple provision of water by aircraft staff.”
Lina claims she collapsed from dehydration during the flight, where she sustained serious injuries.
The Australian woman was travelling from Melbourne on flight EK407 in March 2015, when the incident occurred.
She said the cabin was hot and asked the flight attendants for some water on numerous occasions as she was feeling dehydrated.
However, Lina claims the staff refused to give her water and told her that food would be served in a couple hours time and refreshments would be provided then.
But the woman continued to feel queasy and decided to make her way to the bathroom where she fainted.
She claims that she injured her right ankle as a result of collapsing and has since had two surgeries.
Despite this, Lina says that she has been left with some permanent damage to her ankle.
Now, Lina has filed her claim to the Supreme Court seeking a payout for damages, interests and costs.
The statement of claims alleges that “the incident by reason of the failure of the defendant… to provide water when requested by the plaintiff in order to rehydrate herself.”
Lina’s lawyer, Danielle D’Alessandro said: “Had Ms Di Falco been provided with water upon request, this injury could have been avoided.
“Emirates’ omission turned Ms Di Falco’s holiday into a nightmare.”
She added: “Ms Di Falco has been left with a significant lifelong injury that could have been avoided by the simple provision of water by aircraft staff.”
Beware Of Bed Bugs In Hotel Rooms
Bed bugs are on the rise in homes and hotel rooms across Australia and other countries because of a huge increase in international travel.
So what is the best way to avoid getting bitten in a hotel room?
According to the experts, the insects can be found on almost every surface of the room. But as they prefer dark crevices where they can hide properly, they are unlikely to be found in the bathroom.
So as soon as you get into your room for the first time, head straight to the bathroom and put your luggage in the tub.
That way, if you find any bugs during a search of the rest of the room, you can rest assured they are unlikely to have snuck into your bags.
The next thing you should do is check the mattress and the bed frame for signs of bedbugs, as these are the most likely places to find them, followed by the sofa.
The critters can also be found hiding in the cupboards, along the skirting boards where the wall meets the fabric of the carpet, and inside or behind the bedside tables.
If you spot any small blood smears, tiny faeces that resemble a sprinkling of ground pepper, or any small white eggs, there is a chance your room could have bed bugs and you should report the situation to the front desk immediately.
In January, a Scottish holiday-maker revealed that her romantic getaway with her partner in Portugal turned into a nightmare after flesh-eating bedbugs left her in unbearable pain.
Nicola Stone said about two days into her stay in a Lisbon hotel, she noticed a “pin prick” on her arm that she ignored.
But the next morning she woke up with severe bites all over her body — and, just as startling, her bed was covered with blood and bug poo.
So what is the best way to avoid getting bitten in a hotel room?
According to the experts, the insects can be found on almost every surface of the room. But as they prefer dark crevices where they can hide properly, they are unlikely to be found in the bathroom.
So as soon as you get into your room for the first time, head straight to the bathroom and put your luggage in the tub.
That way, if you find any bugs during a search of the rest of the room, you can rest assured they are unlikely to have snuck into your bags.
The next thing you should do is check the mattress and the bed frame for signs of bedbugs, as these are the most likely places to find them, followed by the sofa.
The critters can also be found hiding in the cupboards, along the skirting boards where the wall meets the fabric of the carpet, and inside or behind the bedside tables.
If you spot any small blood smears, tiny faeces that resemble a sprinkling of ground pepper, or any small white eggs, there is a chance your room could have bed bugs and you should report the situation to the front desk immediately.
In January, a Scottish holiday-maker revealed that her romantic getaway with her partner in Portugal turned into a nightmare after flesh-eating bedbugs left her in unbearable pain.
Nicola Stone said about two days into her stay in a Lisbon hotel, she noticed a “pin prick” on her arm that she ignored.
But the next morning she woke up with severe bites all over her body — and, just as startling, her bed was covered with blood and bug poo.
UKRAINE: Meals Inflight On Ukraine International Airlines
On a recent trip to Greece I decided to fly the long way and overnight in Kiev in order to test out the Ukraine International pre order meals for economy class passengers. The airline doesn’t offer free meals in economy class on most European flights, you can make purchases from the inflight menu onboard or pre order a meal during the flight booking process online.
As I had booked two sectors I booked a different meal on each sector, a total of two meals, but the airline made a mistake with my order and gave me the same meal on both flight sectors. Oh well, first world problems, not a big deal right? So this review will only cover one of the sectors from Amsterdam to Kiev, I did contact the airline after the flights to find out what happened but they never got back to me…
Note that since writing this piece the airline has apparently upgraded the menus onboard.
The meal itself cost EUR9.00 which isn’t too bad when compared to similar meals, however when you pay for a meal in economy the airline will usually spend a bit more money on the concept, or give you an upgraded meal experience. This was your typical economy class airline food tray that you could get on any airline for free normally.
The meal itself wasn’t that appealing at all, it was meant to be some sort of chicken burger dish, the chicken was swimming in that brown/orange sauce and didn’t look appealing at all. The desset was cheaply made with low quality ingredients and the salad was probably the only thing edible.
Probably one of the worst meals of 2016 so far! Check out the comments on Instagram in regards to getting the same meal on a different flight I particularly loved (not) flight attendant Heather Poole’s comments.
As I had booked two sectors I booked a different meal on each sector, a total of two meals, but the airline made a mistake with my order and gave me the same meal on both flight sectors. Oh well, first world problems, not a big deal right? So this review will only cover one of the sectors from Amsterdam to Kiev, I did contact the airline after the flights to find out what happened but they never got back to me…
Note that since writing this piece the airline has apparently upgraded the menus onboard.
The meal itself cost EUR9.00 which isn’t too bad when compared to similar meals, however when you pay for a meal in economy the airline will usually spend a bit more money on the concept, or give you an upgraded meal experience. This was your typical economy class airline food tray that you could get on any airline for free normally.
The meal itself wasn’t that appealing at all, it was meant to be some sort of chicken burger dish, the chicken was swimming in that brown/orange sauce and didn’t look appealing at all. The desset was cheaply made with low quality ingredients and the salad was probably the only thing edible.
Probably one of the worst meals of 2016 so far! Check out the comments on Instagram in regards to getting the same meal on a different flight I particularly loved (not) flight attendant Heather Poole’s comments.
AUSTRALIA: Tourists Like Sydney But Some Dissapointments
They can call the bridge a coat hanger, complain about bad service or the buses that never come on time and we’ll cop it on the chin.
But when it comes to some tourists’ takes on Sydney’s gems, it seems it’s not the city that has something wrong with it, it’s them.
From the Blue Mountains to Bondi, popular sightseeing sites are crawling with crowds wielding sunscreen and selfie sticks.
And while plenty of the happy horde pose for smiling photos in front of the sparking harbour, some landmarks are lost in translation, leaving perplexed tourists to take to website TripAdvisor to voice their confusion.
The Rocks is a wonderfully preserved example of a Sydney from a bygone era — but for one confused traveller there was one big thing missing.
“Where is the rock??? A tad disappointing. No rocks to see. A little dead area,” user Punithakumar said.
The Bondi to Coogee walk was crowned the number one tourist attraction in Sydney in 2015, but the stunning ocean panoramas and dramatic cliffs are not enough for everyone.
“Lovely views but there is only so much sea to look at before it gets repetitive,” one clearly miffed British man wrote.
Mrs Macquarie’s Chair cannot escape the criticism either, with some people decidedly underwhelmed despite its spectacular views — and the lack of chair.
“All it is a cut in the stone. Nothing too spectacular,” user bas0921 wrote.
“Not exactly a chair more a rock shelf,” golf 475 said.
Meanwhile Circular Quay’s shape was a bone of contention, “ironically Circular Quay is not round. It is a rectangle” and even the world-famous Opera House cops it, with holiday-maker griping TV shows give a false impression of the glistening sails.
“Dirty looking brown building that somehow always appears to photograph white,” someone called JuicyLucy2208 said.
“Wasn’t over impressed they make it look so good on telly but in real life could do with a lick of paint”.
Cockatoo Island is also a disappointment for one man, who took its name all too literally: “The whole island is full of birds and bird poo, but no cockatoo’s like the name suggests.”
The Blue Mountains were a sore point for one reviewer.
“The Wentworth Falls didn’t t have water (beginning of January). The Three Sisters are three normal rocks . At the Echo Point there is no echo anymore. And the so called Scenic World is an excellent marketing gag. 2 minutes ride with a steep train (52 degrees) then 10 min walk (or 30 or 50 minutes) .”
But when it comes to some tourists’ takes on Sydney’s gems, it seems it’s not the city that has something wrong with it, it’s them.
From the Blue Mountains to Bondi, popular sightseeing sites are crawling with crowds wielding sunscreen and selfie sticks.
And while plenty of the happy horde pose for smiling photos in front of the sparking harbour, some landmarks are lost in translation, leaving perplexed tourists to take to website TripAdvisor to voice their confusion.
The Rocks is a wonderfully preserved example of a Sydney from a bygone era — but for one confused traveller there was one big thing missing.
“Where is the rock??? A tad disappointing. No rocks to see. A little dead area,” user Punithakumar said.
The Bondi to Coogee walk was crowned the number one tourist attraction in Sydney in 2015, but the stunning ocean panoramas and dramatic cliffs are not enough for everyone.
“Lovely views but there is only so much sea to look at before it gets repetitive,” one clearly miffed British man wrote.
Mrs Macquarie’s Chair cannot escape the criticism either, with some people decidedly underwhelmed despite its spectacular views — and the lack of chair.
“All it is a cut in the stone. Nothing too spectacular,” user bas0921 wrote.
“Not exactly a chair more a rock shelf,” golf 475 said.
Meanwhile Circular Quay’s shape was a bone of contention, “ironically Circular Quay is not round. It is a rectangle” and even the world-famous Opera House cops it, with holiday-maker griping TV shows give a false impression of the glistening sails.
“Dirty looking brown building that somehow always appears to photograph white,” someone called JuicyLucy2208 said.
“Wasn’t over impressed they make it look so good on telly but in real life could do with a lick of paint”.
Cockatoo Island is also a disappointment for one man, who took its name all too literally: “The whole island is full of birds and bird poo, but no cockatoo’s like the name suggests.”
The Blue Mountains were a sore point for one reviewer.
“The Wentworth Falls didn’t t have water (beginning of January). The Three Sisters are three normal rocks . At the Echo Point there is no echo anymore. And the so called Scenic World is an excellent marketing gag. 2 minutes ride with a steep train (52 degrees) then 10 min walk (or 30 or 50 minutes) .”
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick Verbally Abuses A Driver, Apologises
Uber chief Travis Kalanick has apologised, acknowledging that "I must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up," after a video showed him verbally abusing a driver for the service.
In a message to Uber employees late Tuesday, Kalanick cited the widely circulated video and said he "treated an Uber driver disrespectfully."
The incident which circulated on social media was the latest hit for the image of the global ridesharing giant, which faces accusations of sexual harassment and a lawsuit contending it misappropriated Google's self-driving car technology.
In the dashcam video, Kalanick responded to a driver's complaint by saying, "Some people don't like to take responsibility for their own shit. They blame everything in their life on somebody else."
In the message to employees later, Kalanick wrote "To say that I am ashamed is an extreme understatement."
He added: "My job as your leader is to lead ... and that starts with behaving in a way that makes us all proud. That is not what I did, and it cannot be explained away."
Kalanick also offer his apology to the driver and said the incident shows he needs to work on his leadership.
"It's clear this video is a reflection of me—and the criticism we've received is a stark reminder that I must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up. This is the first time I've been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it."
Uber is one of the largest investor-backed start-ups with a valuation estimated at $68 billion, and has operations in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities, even as it battles regulators and an established taxi industry.
Kalanick also faced criticism for agreeing to be part of a business advisory panel for President Donald Trump, but then quit the panel amid a campaign by Trump opponents to delete the application.
In a message to Uber employees late Tuesday, Kalanick cited the widely circulated video and said he "treated an Uber driver disrespectfully."
The incident which circulated on social media was the latest hit for the image of the global ridesharing giant, which faces accusations of sexual harassment and a lawsuit contending it misappropriated Google's self-driving car technology.
In the dashcam video, Kalanick responded to a driver's complaint by saying, "Some people don't like to take responsibility for their own shit. They blame everything in their life on somebody else."
In the message to employees later, Kalanick wrote "To say that I am ashamed is an extreme understatement."
He added: "My job as your leader is to lead ... and that starts with behaving in a way that makes us all proud. That is not what I did, and it cannot be explained away."
Kalanick also offer his apology to the driver and said the incident shows he needs to work on his leadership.
"It's clear this video is a reflection of me—and the criticism we've received is a stark reminder that I must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up. This is the first time I've been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it."
Uber is one of the largest investor-backed start-ups with a valuation estimated at $68 billion, and has operations in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities, even as it battles regulators and an established taxi industry.
Kalanick also faced criticism for agreeing to be part of a business advisory panel for President Donald Trump, but then quit the panel amid a campaign by Trump opponents to delete the application.
PAKISTAN: Members Senate Say Pakistan International Airline Services Are Like A Local Bus Services
Members of the Senate's Special Committee on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Wednesday slammed the national flag carrier for its poor performance and prevailing corruption.
The committee held a meeting on Wednesday where it was presented a report on the performance of the national airlines. The report annoyed members, who likened the airline to a local bus service due to poor flight standards.
"PIA has been transformed into Khan Bus Service, in which people fly to their destination standing in plane's aisle," Senator Tahir Mashhadi said.
"The national airline is functional because of prayers, while animals' sacrifices are offered for the safety of its planes" he added.
Senator Mushahidullah, the chairman of the committee, lambasted, "The CEO, who sold out a PIA aircraft for just Rs5.1 million, is not willing to respond to queries".
The members of the committee said that there had been political interference in national institutions, including the PIA, in past ten years, which they said resulted in appointments on a political basis.
They added that there had also been evidence of corruption in the airlines' catering and ticketing services.
The committee held a meeting on Wednesday where it was presented a report on the performance of the national airlines. The report annoyed members, who likened the airline to a local bus service due to poor flight standards.
"PIA has been transformed into Khan Bus Service, in which people fly to their destination standing in plane's aisle," Senator Tahir Mashhadi said.
"The national airline is functional because of prayers, while animals' sacrifices are offered for the safety of its planes" he added.
Senator Mushahidullah, the chairman of the committee, lambasted, "The CEO, who sold out a PIA aircraft for just Rs5.1 million, is not willing to respond to queries".
The members of the committee said that there had been political interference in national institutions, including the PIA, in past ten years, which they said resulted in appointments on a political basis.
They added that there had also been evidence of corruption in the airlines' catering and ticketing services.
Best Food To Enjoy Inflight
Nik Loukas has flown around the world reviewing airline food, from fabulous first-class fare to inedible mystery meals.
But there’s still a few Aussie airline offerings he’s itching to try — including a vegan burger on Tigerair Australia.
Since Melbourne-born Loukas moved to Europe six years ago, his quest to find the world’s best airline food has seen him set up website InflightFeed, clock up about 500,000 air miles and consume about 400 in-flight meals.
Despite a few shockers of meals (ahem Ukraine International Airlines and Air India), he says running the review site has opened his eyes to how much work goes into each meal, “even that economy class dish!”
And he’s now working on delving behind the scenes to discover the inside stories of airline kitchens with his upcoming documentary “The Inflight Food trip”.
“I don’t want to give away too much else of the storyline, but basically I want to show people what happens behind the scenes, and the lengths that airlines go to in order to give you something decent,” he says.
While Aussie airlines may not serve the world’s best inflight food — that honour is shared by Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Spain’s Air Europa — they’re doing a pretty good job, according to Loukas.
Here’s a few of his tips for eating well on Australian flights:
“I’m loving what Qantas is doing in economy class, removing the trays and increasing the meal portions. I remember reading they even offered a Wagyu beef dish in economy!” Loukas says.
“They’re the only airline that I know of that allow economy class customers to pre order their main meal for their upcoming flight, that’s quite a great system they have in place.”
Tigerair
Avoiding meat when flying Tigerair could score you the best meal on the plane, Loukas suggests. Although he’s yet to try it himself, he’s had good reports about the airline’s vegan burger.
“Rowie’s veggie burger” is a chickpea, coriander and sweet corn patty with paprika and rancheros sauce in a chia and quinoa bun.
“I’ve heard it’s meant to be great,” Loukas says.
Jetstar
“I really enjoyed my pre order meals on a recent flight from Melbourne to Tokyo with Jetstar, I loved how they offered some well known Melbourne brands (like Harry and Larry’s chocolate mousse from Brunswick) on my tray,” Loukas says.
“Jetstar allows you to pre-order a meal on international flights up to four hours prior to departure. That’s a great service to offer, as most airlines require at least 24-48 hours notice.”
Virgin Australia
“I love that Virgin decided to bring back complimentary offerings in economy,” he says.
GOLDEN RULES OF INFLIGHT FOOD
What to eat
“If there’s a curry offering on your flight, take it. It’s one of the best tasting inflight meals that works really well at altitude. Also ice cream is always a winner at high altitude too.”
What to avoid
“Try to avoid too much bread, it can bloat you and may even make you feel sluggish later on. I once only ate cold soups and cold dishes for all my main meals on a 12 hour flight from Seoul to Frankfurt, and felt really good when I walked off the flight at the other end.”
How to get the best deal
“Pre order, either at the time of booking your ticket, or a week before your flight. Most airlines will offer an incentive for you to pre order before your flight, sometimes 10 maybe even 20 per cent. That’s not a bad incentive,” says Loukas.
“But of course if you’re not interested in doing that you can always pack your own lunch and enjoy it when you get in the air. Most of us complain about the prices inflight, but have you seen the prices at the airport too?”
Have you found fantastic food in the air - or had a disappointing dining experience? Share your tips on the best food to order, and what to avoid with us at tourismobservermag@gmail.com
But there’s still a few Aussie airline offerings he’s itching to try — including a vegan burger on Tigerair Australia.
Since Melbourne-born Loukas moved to Europe six years ago, his quest to find the world’s best airline food has seen him set up website InflightFeed, clock up about 500,000 air miles and consume about 400 in-flight meals.
Despite a few shockers of meals (ahem Ukraine International Airlines and Air India), he says running the review site has opened his eyes to how much work goes into each meal, “even that economy class dish!”
And he’s now working on delving behind the scenes to discover the inside stories of airline kitchens with his upcoming documentary “The Inflight Food trip”.
“I don’t want to give away too much else of the storyline, but basically I want to show people what happens behind the scenes, and the lengths that airlines go to in order to give you something decent,” he says.
While Aussie airlines may not serve the world’s best inflight food — that honour is shared by Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Spain’s Air Europa — they’re doing a pretty good job, according to Loukas.
Here’s a few of his tips for eating well on Australian flights:
“I’m loving what Qantas is doing in economy class, removing the trays and increasing the meal portions. I remember reading they even offered a Wagyu beef dish in economy!” Loukas says.
“They’re the only airline that I know of that allow economy class customers to pre order their main meal for their upcoming flight, that’s quite a great system they have in place.”
Tigerair
Avoiding meat when flying Tigerair could score you the best meal on the plane, Loukas suggests. Although he’s yet to try it himself, he’s had good reports about the airline’s vegan burger.
“Rowie’s veggie burger” is a chickpea, coriander and sweet corn patty with paprika and rancheros sauce in a chia and quinoa bun.
“I’ve heard it’s meant to be great,” Loukas says.
Jetstar
“I really enjoyed my pre order meals on a recent flight from Melbourne to Tokyo with Jetstar, I loved how they offered some well known Melbourne brands (like Harry and Larry’s chocolate mousse from Brunswick) on my tray,” Loukas says.
“Jetstar allows you to pre-order a meal on international flights up to four hours prior to departure. That’s a great service to offer, as most airlines require at least 24-48 hours notice.”
Virgin Australia
“I love that Virgin decided to bring back complimentary offerings in economy,” he says.
GOLDEN RULES OF INFLIGHT FOOD
What to eat
“If there’s a curry offering on your flight, take it. It’s one of the best tasting inflight meals that works really well at altitude. Also ice cream is always a winner at high altitude too.”
What to avoid
“Try to avoid too much bread, it can bloat you and may even make you feel sluggish later on. I once only ate cold soups and cold dishes for all my main meals on a 12 hour flight from Seoul to Frankfurt, and felt really good when I walked off the flight at the other end.”
How to get the best deal
“Pre order, either at the time of booking your ticket, or a week before your flight. Most airlines will offer an incentive for you to pre order before your flight, sometimes 10 maybe even 20 per cent. That’s not a bad incentive,” says Loukas.
“But of course if you’re not interested in doing that you can always pack your own lunch and enjoy it when you get in the air. Most of us complain about the prices inflight, but have you seen the prices at the airport too?”
Have you found fantastic food in the air - or had a disappointing dining experience? Share your tips on the best food to order, and what to avoid with us at tourismobservermag@gmail.com
Great Sanga Scandal Of 2009
Qantas was threatening to remove its famous steak sandwich from its first-class menu, but its high-flying customers wouldn’t have a bar of being denied their favourite in-flight tucker.
They kicked up such a stink the airline that their pleas couldn’t be ignored.
“The steak sandwich was promptly reinstated to the menu, where it remains a firm favourite today,” the airline relates in its recap of the past two decades of in-flight dining.
As it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its culinary union with Rockpool chef Neil Perry, Qantas names the Rockpool signature steak sandwich with tomato relish as the hero of the partnership — the one constant of Qantas’ First Class in-flight menu for the past 20 years.
Every year, Qantas serves up more than 600,000 of them.
The celebrity chef says employing the attitude that the customer is always right has been one of his keys to success during his time working alongside Qantas.
“Listening to customer feedback, engaging with the crew who prepare the menu in-flight and being sure to create dishes that use the best seasonal produce across each destination that Qantas flies to, are the three vital components to creating a successful menu each season,” Perry says.
Reflecting on the journey with Qantas, Perry notes how Aussies’ tastes have changed over the 20 years.
“Twenty years ago, we put tagine on the menu and had to call it Moroccan braised lamb, but now we use terms like baba ganoush and garam masala without thinking twice,” he says.
“Australians today are also incredibly food savvy — they understand what’s in season and love exploring food and wine regions around Australia and overseas. They expect to see great produce grown by passionate locals both in-flight and in our lounges.”
Qantas is marking the anniversary by bringing back some “blast from the past” menu items on both in-flight and lounge menus over the next six months.
Popular dishes of the past 20 years set to get a re-run include:
• Stir fried crab omelette with oyster sauce
• Korean style yellowfin tuna tartare with sesame dressing
• Lobster with XO sauce, lo mein noodles, bok choy and sesame seeds
• Grilled salmon with chilli, garlic, cherry tomatoes and squid ink noodles
• Chermoula lamb rack with vegetable tagine, couscous, harissa and coriander yoghurt
• Rockpool Bar & Grill style beef fillet with “mac and cheese” and green beans
• Spice Temple inspired caramel, chocolate and sesame ice cream sandwiches
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says Perry’s influence has become is an integral part of the Qantas experience.
“It’s impossible to imagine food and wine on Qantas without Neil’s influence, which shows you the way he’s made it his own over the past two decades,” Mr Joyce.
“We say that when you step on a Qantas flight overseas you’re already in Australia — and a Neil Perry meal is part of that experience.
“We love the passion and perfectionism that he brings to the job, but also the way he challenges us to experiment and evolve. Qantas has always worked with brilliant Australians, and Neil is well and truly part of the hall of fame.”
They kicked up such a stink the airline that their pleas couldn’t be ignored.
“The steak sandwich was promptly reinstated to the menu, where it remains a firm favourite today,” the airline relates in its recap of the past two decades of in-flight dining.
As it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its culinary union with Rockpool chef Neil Perry, Qantas names the Rockpool signature steak sandwich with tomato relish as the hero of the partnership — the one constant of Qantas’ First Class in-flight menu for the past 20 years.
Every year, Qantas serves up more than 600,000 of them.
The celebrity chef says employing the attitude that the customer is always right has been one of his keys to success during his time working alongside Qantas.
“Listening to customer feedback, engaging with the crew who prepare the menu in-flight and being sure to create dishes that use the best seasonal produce across each destination that Qantas flies to, are the three vital components to creating a successful menu each season,” Perry says.
Reflecting on the journey with Qantas, Perry notes how Aussies’ tastes have changed over the 20 years.
“Twenty years ago, we put tagine on the menu and had to call it Moroccan braised lamb, but now we use terms like baba ganoush and garam masala without thinking twice,” he says.
“Australians today are also incredibly food savvy — they understand what’s in season and love exploring food and wine regions around Australia and overseas. They expect to see great produce grown by passionate locals both in-flight and in our lounges.”
Qantas is marking the anniversary by bringing back some “blast from the past” menu items on both in-flight and lounge menus over the next six months.
Popular dishes of the past 20 years set to get a re-run include:
• Stir fried crab omelette with oyster sauce
• Korean style yellowfin tuna tartare with sesame dressing
• Lobster with XO sauce, lo mein noodles, bok choy and sesame seeds
• Grilled salmon with chilli, garlic, cherry tomatoes and squid ink noodles
• Chermoula lamb rack with vegetable tagine, couscous, harissa and coriander yoghurt
• Rockpool Bar & Grill style beef fillet with “mac and cheese” and green beans
• Spice Temple inspired caramel, chocolate and sesame ice cream sandwiches
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says Perry’s influence has become is an integral part of the Qantas experience.
“It’s impossible to imagine food and wine on Qantas without Neil’s influence, which shows you the way he’s made it his own over the past two decades,” Mr Joyce.
“We say that when you step on a Qantas flight overseas you’re already in Australia — and a Neil Perry meal is part of that experience.
“We love the passion and perfectionism that he brings to the job, but also the way he challenges us to experiment and evolve. Qantas has always worked with brilliant Australians, and Neil is well and truly part of the hall of fame.”
PAKISTAN: Pakistan International Airlines Denies Carrying 7 Extra Passengers On A Flight To Medina!
PAKISTAN’S national airline said it would investigate allegations too many people were allowed to board an international flight, amid claims the extra passengers had to stand in aisles during the flight.
Pakistani news outlet Dawn has reported as many as seven passengers were told to stand in aisles during a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Karachi to Medina, Saudi Arabia, on January 20 because all the seats were booked.
It claimed the airline put passengers’ lives at risk by allowing 416 people to board the Boeing 777, which can only seat 409 passengers.
The airline confirmed 416 passengers boarded the flight and said it would investigate how the passenger allowance on the flight exceeded the maximum allowed.
But Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesman Danyal Gillani denied reports those extra passengers were forced to stand during the three-hour flight, dismissing the claims as “exaggerated and baseless”.
“It is not possible for anyone to travel like that in an aircraft, regardless of the duration of the flight,” he said.
Mr Gillani said a pilot and two other crew members were being disciplined over the incident.
“All concerned are being questioned,” he said. “PIA is committed to ensure the safety of the passengers and cannot allow any incident to happen which compromises safety,” he added.
This could constitute a serious air safety breach as passengers without seats would not have access to oxygen, and would also cause congestion, in the case of an emergency.
Reports also claimed passengers were given handwritten boarding passes and the seven extra passengers were not listed on the official list of passengers on board.
The flight’s captain, Anwar Adil, said he only found out there were extra passengers on board after takeoff, when it was too late to turn the plane around without having to dump its fuel load.
“I had already left and the senior purser did not point out extra passengers before closing the aircraft door. Therefore, after takeoff, immediate landing back in Karachi was not possible,” he said.
“It may be appreciated that immediate landing in Karachi after takeoff required a lot of fuel dumping, which was not in the interest of the airline.”
It was the latest embarrassing incident for the airline, which was considered a global leader until the 1970s but was plagued by controversies over recent years and saddled with billions of dollars of debt.
A Pakistan International Airlines turboprop built by European manufacturer ATR plummeted into a mountain in a northern region on December 7, bursting into flames and killing all 47 people on board.
The airline was later mocked after its staff were photographed sacrificing a goat on a runway to ward off bad luck.
Domestic flights are often delayed for VIPs while flight employees have been caught smuggling goods ranging from iPhones to narcotics.
In 2013 one of its pilots was jailed for nine months in Britain for being drunk before he was due to fly from Leeds to Islamabad with 156 people on board.
Pakistani news outlet Dawn has reported as many as seven passengers were told to stand in aisles during a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Karachi to Medina, Saudi Arabia, on January 20 because all the seats were booked.
It claimed the airline put passengers’ lives at risk by allowing 416 people to board the Boeing 777, which can only seat 409 passengers.
The airline confirmed 416 passengers boarded the flight and said it would investigate how the passenger allowance on the flight exceeded the maximum allowed.
But Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesman Danyal Gillani denied reports those extra passengers were forced to stand during the three-hour flight, dismissing the claims as “exaggerated and baseless”.
“It is not possible for anyone to travel like that in an aircraft, regardless of the duration of the flight,” he said.
Mr Gillani said a pilot and two other crew members were being disciplined over the incident.
“All concerned are being questioned,” he said. “PIA is committed to ensure the safety of the passengers and cannot allow any incident to happen which compromises safety,” he added.
This could constitute a serious air safety breach as passengers without seats would not have access to oxygen, and would also cause congestion, in the case of an emergency.
Reports also claimed passengers were given handwritten boarding passes and the seven extra passengers were not listed on the official list of passengers on board.
The flight’s captain, Anwar Adil, said he only found out there were extra passengers on board after takeoff, when it was too late to turn the plane around without having to dump its fuel load.
“I had already left and the senior purser did not point out extra passengers before closing the aircraft door. Therefore, after takeoff, immediate landing back in Karachi was not possible,” he said.
“It may be appreciated that immediate landing in Karachi after takeoff required a lot of fuel dumping, which was not in the interest of the airline.”
It was the latest embarrassing incident for the airline, which was considered a global leader until the 1970s but was plagued by controversies over recent years and saddled with billions of dollars of debt.
A Pakistan International Airlines turboprop built by European manufacturer ATR plummeted into a mountain in a northern region on December 7, bursting into flames and killing all 47 people on board.
The airline was later mocked after its staff were photographed sacrificing a goat on a runway to ward off bad luck.
Domestic flights are often delayed for VIPs while flight employees have been caught smuggling goods ranging from iPhones to narcotics.
In 2013 one of its pilots was jailed for nine months in Britain for being drunk before he was due to fly from Leeds to Islamabad with 156 people on board.
Thursday, 2 March 2017
TUNISIA: Police Cowardly Responded To Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel Attack
30 British victims of the 2015 terror attack on a hotel in Tunisia were ‘unlawfully killed’, a coroner has ruled.
The tourists were brutally killed in the attack on the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel, carried out by jihadist Seifeddine Rezgui.
After the coroner’s ruling, families of some of the British victims are preparing civil proceedings against tour operator TUI.
Rejecting calls to rule ‘neglect’ by the travel firm or hotel, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said there was nothing staff or owners could have done that would have ‘possibly made a difference’.
However, he said the response by local police was ‘at best shambolic, at worst cowardly’ – adding that they were ‘most certainly’ responsible for ensuring tourist security.
The inquest heard that the hotel had just a handful of unarmed guards, while the ‘cowardly’ local police delayed their arrival to fight Rezgui.
‘Their response could and should have been effective,’ the judge told the victims’ inquest, held at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Rezgui opened fire on the beach and grounds of the Sousse hotel in June 2015, killing 38 people in total.
Lawyers for more than 20 victims had wanted ‘neglect’ included because they said they were not warned of the danger of travelling to Tunisia before they left.
Judge Loraine-Smith said he couldn’t include ‘neglect’ by holiday firm TUI or the hotel’s owners in his ruling, because the law regarding neglect did not cover tourists on holiday.
He did, however, say that there were customers who would not have gone to Tunisia if they had seen the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice.
‘Even prior to the attack on the Bardo Museum [in March 2015], the advice was that there was a high threat of terror,’ he said.
The judge added, though, that ‘neglect’ only applied in cases where someone had a duty of care towards someone because of their ‘youth, age, illness or incarceration’.
‘That does not cover, it seems to me, tourists who have voluntarily agreed to go on holiday abroad,’ he said.
The judge then said that although in general the response of the hotel staff was ‘disorganised and chaotic’, some of them displayed ‘conspicuous personal courage’ in their efforts to protect guests.
He said this courage was also shown by guests themselves.
But summing up the evidence heard during the six-week inquest, Judge Loraine-Smith referred disparagingly to the response of police and military.
He described one officer who ‘fainted through terror and panic’, and another guard who took his shirt off in order to hide the fact that he was an officer.
One unit even stopped off to pick up more weapons instead of going straight to the scene.
‘They had everything they required to confront the gunman and could have been at the scene within minutes,’ the judge said. ‘The delay was deliberate and unjustifiable.’
With the exception of two marine guards, the judge continued, no police officers entered the hotel grounds until all 38 tourists had been killed.
Victims’ relatives fought back tears as Judge Loraine-Smith ruled on each of the dead in alphabetical order.
He sad: ‘At approximately 11.45am on the morning of June 26, 2015, a terrorist who was armed with a high-velocity firearm and improvised explosive devices began shooting at the tourists who were on the beach at the rear of the Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse in the Republic of Tunisia.’
The tourists were brutally killed in the attack on the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel, carried out by jihadist Seifeddine Rezgui.
After the coroner’s ruling, families of some of the British victims are preparing civil proceedings against tour operator TUI.
Rejecting calls to rule ‘neglect’ by the travel firm or hotel, Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said there was nothing staff or owners could have done that would have ‘possibly made a difference’.
However, he said the response by local police was ‘at best shambolic, at worst cowardly’ – adding that they were ‘most certainly’ responsible for ensuring tourist security.
The inquest heard that the hotel had just a handful of unarmed guards, while the ‘cowardly’ local police delayed their arrival to fight Rezgui.
‘Their response could and should have been effective,’ the judge told the victims’ inquest, held at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Rezgui opened fire on the beach and grounds of the Sousse hotel in June 2015, killing 38 people in total.
Lawyers for more than 20 victims had wanted ‘neglect’ included because they said they were not warned of the danger of travelling to Tunisia before they left.
Judge Loraine-Smith said he couldn’t include ‘neglect’ by holiday firm TUI or the hotel’s owners in his ruling, because the law regarding neglect did not cover tourists on holiday.
He did, however, say that there were customers who would not have gone to Tunisia if they had seen the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice.
‘Even prior to the attack on the Bardo Museum [in March 2015], the advice was that there was a high threat of terror,’ he said.
The judge added, though, that ‘neglect’ only applied in cases where someone had a duty of care towards someone because of their ‘youth, age, illness or incarceration’.
‘That does not cover, it seems to me, tourists who have voluntarily agreed to go on holiday abroad,’ he said.
The judge then said that although in general the response of the hotel staff was ‘disorganised and chaotic’, some of them displayed ‘conspicuous personal courage’ in their efforts to protect guests.
He said this courage was also shown by guests themselves.
But summing up the evidence heard during the six-week inquest, Judge Loraine-Smith referred disparagingly to the response of police and military.
He described one officer who ‘fainted through terror and panic’, and another guard who took his shirt off in order to hide the fact that he was an officer.
One unit even stopped off to pick up more weapons instead of going straight to the scene.
‘They had everything they required to confront the gunman and could have been at the scene within minutes,’ the judge said. ‘The delay was deliberate and unjustifiable.’
With the exception of two marine guards, the judge continued, no police officers entered the hotel grounds until all 38 tourists had been killed.
Victims’ relatives fought back tears as Judge Loraine-Smith ruled on each of the dead in alphabetical order.
He sad: ‘At approximately 11.45am on the morning of June 26, 2015, a terrorist who was armed with a high-velocity firearm and improvised explosive devices began shooting at the tourists who were on the beach at the rear of the Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel in Sousse in the Republic of Tunisia.’
Valencia Invaded By British Tourists
Valencia received a record 95,106 British visitors in 2016, 19.9 per cent more than in 2015 and, with new direct flights from London Luton, Birmingham,
Glasgow and Edinburgh being launched in the next few months, that figure is expected to grow further this year.
Overall, 976,133 million foreign tourists visited Valencia last year, with Italians being the largest group, followed by the British.
There were 450,000 new seats on international air routes in total, and capacity for the winter 2016/17 season alone increased by 20 per cent.
Ryanair recently announced new flights from Edinburgh to Valencia for winter 2017/18, in addition to a new route from Glasgow starting on March 27th, and the existing flights from London Stansted, East Midlands and Manchester.
Monarch is also launching its first direct flights to Valencia from Birmingham, operating twice weekly from June 22nd
Finally, easyJet has just started flying three times a week to Valencia from Luton, adding to its existing route from London Gatwick.
Cruise tourism is also on the up, with 403,564 passengers arriving in 2016, a 7.7 per cent increase on the previous year.
A total of 210 cruise ships are expected to dock in Valencia this year, ten per cent more than in 2016, bringing in approximately 450,000 passengers.
Valencia remains a popular destination for British travellers, offering a privileged location by the Mediterranean Sea with a mild, sunny climate, and a great combination of culture, historic buildings, amazing architecture, diverse shopping opportunities, a rich gastronomy and vibrant nightlife.
Glasgow and Edinburgh being launched in the next few months, that figure is expected to grow further this year.
Overall, 976,133 million foreign tourists visited Valencia last year, with Italians being the largest group, followed by the British.
There were 450,000 new seats on international air routes in total, and capacity for the winter 2016/17 season alone increased by 20 per cent.
Ryanair recently announced new flights from Edinburgh to Valencia for winter 2017/18, in addition to a new route from Glasgow starting on March 27th, and the existing flights from London Stansted, East Midlands and Manchester.
Monarch is also launching its first direct flights to Valencia from Birmingham, operating twice weekly from June 22nd
Finally, easyJet has just started flying three times a week to Valencia from Luton, adding to its existing route from London Gatwick.
Cruise tourism is also on the up, with 403,564 passengers arriving in 2016, a 7.7 per cent increase on the previous year.
A total of 210 cruise ships are expected to dock in Valencia this year, ten per cent more than in 2016, bringing in approximately 450,000 passengers.
Valencia remains a popular destination for British travellers, offering a privileged location by the Mediterranean Sea with a mild, sunny climate, and a great combination of culture, historic buildings, amazing architecture, diverse shopping opportunities, a rich gastronomy and vibrant nightlife.
EGYPT: Etihad Airways In Codeshare With EgyptAir
Etihad Airways and EgyptAir, the flag carrier of Egypt, have announced a new codeshare partnership.
Under the initial phase of the agreement, Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on EgyptAir operated flights between Abu Dhabi and Cairo, while EgyptAir will place its ‘MS’ code on Etihad Airways flights between the two capital cities.
During the second phase, Etihad Airways will gain access to major cities across Africa on flights operated by EgyptAir via its Cairo hub.
In turn, EgyptAir will be able to access key routes to Australia and the Far East served by Etihad Airways from its Abu Dhabi operational hub.
The third phase will see the EY code placed on domestic flights across Egypt.
Members of Etihad Airways’ and EgyptAir’s loyalty programmes - Etihad Guest and EgyptAir Plus - will be able to earn miles on the codeshare flights at a later stage, with a view to expanding the partnership to include additional destinations on both airlines’ networks.
More than 390,000 passengers were carried on the Abu Dhabi–Cairo route in 2016 and over two million guests have travelled between the two countries since 2007.
Etihad Airways currently operates 28 flights each week between Abu Dhabi and Cairo, while EGYPTAIR serves the route 21 times a week.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief executive, said: “EgyptAir is one of Africa’s most established and renowned airlines with an extensive network spanning cities across the African continent.
“This new codeshare agreement reinforces Etihad Airways’ commitment to a partnership strategy with airlines around the world that provides guests with more travel options to destinations worldwide.
“Our newest partner will also help further promote tourism, cultural and business opportunities between the UAE and Africa.”
Under the initial phase of the agreement, Etihad Airways will place its ‘EY’ code on EgyptAir operated flights between Abu Dhabi and Cairo, while EgyptAir will place its ‘MS’ code on Etihad Airways flights between the two capital cities.
During the second phase, Etihad Airways will gain access to major cities across Africa on flights operated by EgyptAir via its Cairo hub.
In turn, EgyptAir will be able to access key routes to Australia and the Far East served by Etihad Airways from its Abu Dhabi operational hub.
The third phase will see the EY code placed on domestic flights across Egypt.
Members of Etihad Airways’ and EgyptAir’s loyalty programmes - Etihad Guest and EgyptAir Plus - will be able to earn miles on the codeshare flights at a later stage, with a view to expanding the partnership to include additional destinations on both airlines’ networks.
More than 390,000 passengers were carried on the Abu Dhabi–Cairo route in 2016 and over two million guests have travelled between the two countries since 2007.
Etihad Airways currently operates 28 flights each week between Abu Dhabi and Cairo, while EGYPTAIR serves the route 21 times a week.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways chief executive, said: “EgyptAir is one of Africa’s most established and renowned airlines with an extensive network spanning cities across the African continent.
“This new codeshare agreement reinforces Etihad Airways’ commitment to a partnership strategy with airlines around the world that provides guests with more travel options to destinations worldwide.
“Our newest partner will also help further promote tourism, cultural and business opportunities between the UAE and Africa.”
MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines Berhad Reported Increased Booking In Late 2016
Malaysia Airlines Berhad has reported booking accelerated in the last quarter thanks to a focus on the premium business traveller and all-inclusive economy fares.
Chief executive Peter Bellew explained: “The last quarter saw a good performance in a challenging environment.
“Our staff have worked hard to improve customer service which is reflected in increased bookings.
“Our focus is to be a five star premium Asian airline, offering the best of “Malaysian Hospitality” to 15 million customers a year, travelling to 54 destinations in 21 countries.
“At the core of our brand is the Golden Rule - treat customers as you would wish to be treated yourself.
“The Golden Rule will be supported by simpler customer service policies and a large investment in training in 2017.”
Passenger load factors improved in quarter four of 2016 to 81 per cent year on year, up from 70 per cent for the same period of 2015, peaking at 90 per cent in December.
Malaysia Airlines has maintained fare discipline despite competitor fares dropping.
Bellew added: “We remain focused on cost control and have identified a further RM400 million of cost reductions in 2017 to offset US dollar strength.”
Average fares at the carrier fell by three per cent, to RM484, per passenger quarter on quarter.
At the same time traffic grew five per cent to 3.8 million customers over the same period.
Chief executive Peter Bellew explained: “The last quarter saw a good performance in a challenging environment.
“Our staff have worked hard to improve customer service which is reflected in increased bookings.
“Our focus is to be a five star premium Asian airline, offering the best of “Malaysian Hospitality” to 15 million customers a year, travelling to 54 destinations in 21 countries.
“At the core of our brand is the Golden Rule - treat customers as you would wish to be treated yourself.
“The Golden Rule will be supported by simpler customer service policies and a large investment in training in 2017.”
Passenger load factors improved in quarter four of 2016 to 81 per cent year on year, up from 70 per cent for the same period of 2015, peaking at 90 per cent in December.
Malaysia Airlines has maintained fare discipline despite competitor fares dropping.
Bellew added: “We remain focused on cost control and have identified a further RM400 million of cost reductions in 2017 to offset US dollar strength.”
Average fares at the carrier fell by three per cent, to RM484, per passenger quarter on quarter.
At the same time traffic grew five per cent to 3.8 million customers over the same period.
GERMANY: 80 Million Visitors Entered Germany In 2016
Germany registered more than 80 million overnight stays by international visitors for the first time in 2016.
This is the seventh consecutive record result for the destination.
From January to December the German Federal Statistical Office recorded 80.8 million international overnight stays in accommodation establishments with a minimum of ten beds – an increase of 1.1 million compared to the previous year.
This constitutes a 1.4 per cent rise in the volume of German incoming tourism compared to 2015.
Iris Gleicke, German federal government commissioner for tourism, explained: “Destination Germany is enjoying continued popularity with international visitors.
“We have achieved record highs for incoming tourism for the seventh year in a row, which reflects the strength of our tourism industry.”
In the year 2016 Europe remained the largest source region for Germany’s incoming tourism, with a market share of 73.7 per cent and a 1.9 per cent increase, continuing to stimulate strong growth.
With a reduction of 1.1 per cent, Asia is a little below the prior year comparative figure, while America recorded a slight increase of 1.2 per cent.
Six of the ten most important European source markets bolstered Germany’s incoming tourism numbers in 2016 with higher than average growth rates.
Switzerland generated an increase of 3.3 per cent and Austria was 2.0 per cent above the comparison values for the previous year.
At 4.5 to 5.7 per cent, France, Belgium, Spain and Poland experienced especially strong growth.
The Netherlands, as the most important incoming market, was slightly above the prior year result with an increase of 0.7 per cent; Great Britain achieved a rise of one per cent, following the Brexit vote.
The United States, as the largest source market abroad, came in 2.5 per cent higher for incoming tourism in Germany than the previous year.
Petra Hedorfer, chief executive at of the German National Tourist Board, added: “Economic factors, for example the Brexit issue or financial crises in high volume source markets, but also security aspects such as fear of terrorist attacks can temporarily dampen the wanderlust in individual source markets.
“However, in the mid and long term, the value of a country’s brand as a travel destination is characterised by its touristic appeal, infrastructure, customer service orientation and its cost/performance ratio.”
This is the seventh consecutive record result for the destination.
From January to December the German Federal Statistical Office recorded 80.8 million international overnight stays in accommodation establishments with a minimum of ten beds – an increase of 1.1 million compared to the previous year.
This constitutes a 1.4 per cent rise in the volume of German incoming tourism compared to 2015.
Iris Gleicke, German federal government commissioner for tourism, explained: “Destination Germany is enjoying continued popularity with international visitors.
“We have achieved record highs for incoming tourism for the seventh year in a row, which reflects the strength of our tourism industry.”
In the year 2016 Europe remained the largest source region for Germany’s incoming tourism, with a market share of 73.7 per cent and a 1.9 per cent increase, continuing to stimulate strong growth.
With a reduction of 1.1 per cent, Asia is a little below the prior year comparative figure, while America recorded a slight increase of 1.2 per cent.
Six of the ten most important European source markets bolstered Germany’s incoming tourism numbers in 2016 with higher than average growth rates.
Switzerland generated an increase of 3.3 per cent and Austria was 2.0 per cent above the comparison values for the previous year.
At 4.5 to 5.7 per cent, France, Belgium, Spain and Poland experienced especially strong growth.
The Netherlands, as the most important incoming market, was slightly above the prior year result with an increase of 0.7 per cent; Great Britain achieved a rise of one per cent, following the Brexit vote.
The United States, as the largest source market abroad, came in 2.5 per cent higher for incoming tourism in Germany than the previous year.
Petra Hedorfer, chief executive at of the German National Tourist Board, added: “Economic factors, for example the Brexit issue or financial crises in high volume source markets, but also security aspects such as fear of terrorist attacks can temporarily dampen the wanderlust in individual source markets.
“However, in the mid and long term, the value of a country’s brand as a travel destination is characterised by its touristic appeal, infrastructure, customer service orientation and its cost/performance ratio.”
ISRAEL: Seeking To Attract Indian Tourists
Seeking to attract Indian tourists, Israel plans to ease visa norms for India and has hiked its marketing budget for the country by ten times to USD 2.5 million in the last two years.
"We realise that India is going to be one of the top three countries sending tourists to Israel and so we have started to invest a lot in marketing our tourism potential there," Director General of Israel's Ministry of Tourism, Amir Halevi, said.
"We have already opened a tourist office in India. We also launched our first campaign last year which was a big success," he told
"We realise that India is going to be one of the top three countries sending tourists to Israel and so we have started to invest a lot in marketing our tourism potential there," Director General of Israel's Ministry of Tourism, Amir Halevi, said.
"We have already opened a tourist office in India. We also launched our first campaign last year which was a big success," he told
SOUTH AFRICA: Tourist Captures Bird Storm
South Africa's wild spaces are not only teeming with the iconic big five species, but prolific bird life too as this new Latest Sightings video shows.
A group of tourists were treated to what one of them describes as a "once-in-a-lifetime sighting" of a mammoth flock of Quelea in flight. While said to be a common sight in South Africa and the world, these birds are often only seen in an ad-hoc 'swarms' moving across the grasslands.
However for David Fisher, a 41-year-old visitor to the Tamboti lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province - a recent, well-timed sighting has led to what can only be described as mesmerising wildlife footage of thousands of these birds moving in swift formation around the lodge's waterhole.
Fisher says his group arrived at the lodge in the afternoon, and he noted the camp was quiet, however their camp ranger had told them to be ready for the "queleas that had chosen the camp as their nesting ground". He warned us that the queleas would arrive and possibly "bring in the snakes and small predators".
"We didn't think much about it and settled into the camp taking in the scenery and afternoon sounds," says Fisher.
But then they arrived.
"Almost to the minute, swarms of Quelea from all sides started arriving from all directions" explains Fisher.
"The camp came alive, you could not walk anywhere. It was vibrant and the trees felt alive, we could hardly talk let alone sleep. The buzz around us was so amazing we were not willing to miss out."
The group was given the option to forgo the morning game drive the next day, in the hopes that they could see the birds in flight over the waterhole. And at precisely 06:15 the following day, they were rewarded with this footage.
"After being told about their routine, we decided to wake up early and stay in camp."
"Our alarm went off, we jumped into the shower and left our room at 05:45. Walking to the main room, the pathways were again alive. It felt like the birds had not gone to sleep, yet they were chirping in a manner like a pilot prepping his squadron.
"The tone was intense but was gaining in character. We grabbed our coffees and sat down by the waterhole in front of our deck.
Fisher says their ranger had given them insight into the strategy and timing of the birds' flight and after a few mock flights in camp one swarm took off towards the waterhole.
"Instantaneously, every bird and swarm roosting within our camp took flight. Like a coordinated event, the swarms swooshed down on the waterhole taking over the entire area. It was a mass of darkness streaming in from all sides, the noise was intense and consuming.
"We did not know where to look or turn. Every direction had Quelea in flight heading for the waterhole."
The quelea can be seen swarming down in what is best described as "a coordinated managed agenda, grabbing a drink, evading predators".
Fisher says, "We just happened to be privileged enough to get our timing right to experience such an amazing site and capture it on camera.
And yet within minutes of the event starting, it came to an end. In the video footage their guide can be heard saying a similar nesting site had in fact been blow up in Botswana. Thankfully not in South Africa.
A group of tourists were treated to what one of them describes as a "once-in-a-lifetime sighting" of a mammoth flock of Quelea in flight. While said to be a common sight in South Africa and the world, these birds are often only seen in an ad-hoc 'swarms' moving across the grasslands.
However for David Fisher, a 41-year-old visitor to the Tamboti lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province - a recent, well-timed sighting has led to what can only be described as mesmerising wildlife footage of thousands of these birds moving in swift formation around the lodge's waterhole.
Fisher says his group arrived at the lodge in the afternoon, and he noted the camp was quiet, however their camp ranger had told them to be ready for the "queleas that had chosen the camp as their nesting ground". He warned us that the queleas would arrive and possibly "bring in the snakes and small predators".
"We didn't think much about it and settled into the camp taking in the scenery and afternoon sounds," says Fisher.
But then they arrived.
"Almost to the minute, swarms of Quelea from all sides started arriving from all directions" explains Fisher.
"The camp came alive, you could not walk anywhere. It was vibrant and the trees felt alive, we could hardly talk let alone sleep. The buzz around us was so amazing we were not willing to miss out."
The group was given the option to forgo the morning game drive the next day, in the hopes that they could see the birds in flight over the waterhole. And at precisely 06:15 the following day, they were rewarded with this footage.
"After being told about their routine, we decided to wake up early and stay in camp."
"Our alarm went off, we jumped into the shower and left our room at 05:45. Walking to the main room, the pathways were again alive. It felt like the birds had not gone to sleep, yet they were chirping in a manner like a pilot prepping his squadron.
"The tone was intense but was gaining in character. We grabbed our coffees and sat down by the waterhole in front of our deck.
Fisher says their ranger had given them insight into the strategy and timing of the birds' flight and after a few mock flights in camp one swarm took off towards the waterhole.
"Instantaneously, every bird and swarm roosting within our camp took flight. Like a coordinated event, the swarms swooshed down on the waterhole taking over the entire area. It was a mass of darkness streaming in from all sides, the noise was intense and consuming.
"We did not know where to look or turn. Every direction had Quelea in flight heading for the waterhole."
The quelea can be seen swarming down in what is best described as "a coordinated managed agenda, grabbing a drink, evading predators".
Fisher says, "We just happened to be privileged enough to get our timing right to experience such an amazing site and capture it on camera.
And yet within minutes of the event starting, it came to an end. In the video footage their guide can be heard saying a similar nesting site had in fact been blow up in Botswana. Thankfully not in South Africa.
SOUTH AFRICA: SA Visa Requirements For US
As the US Travel ban against seven predominantly Muslim countries was pulled back over the weekend, a fake news report claiming South Africans no longer require visas to travel to America has been doing the rounds.
The US Embassy in Pretoria has however debunked the report which stated US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order granting visa-free status to South Africans.
It posted a tweet saying, "No change to US visa policy for South African passport holders. For more info on our visa policies."
If you plan on travelling to the US and need to apply for a US visa, click here for the full requirements.
The issue of fake news has been raised by the SA National Editors’ Forum, who has called for an investigation for the confusion being created by these fake reports.
The US Embassy in Pretoria has however debunked the report which stated US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order granting visa-free status to South Africans.
It posted a tweet saying, "No change to US visa policy for South African passport holders. For more info on our visa policies."
If you plan on travelling to the US and need to apply for a US visa, click here for the full requirements.
The issue of fake news has been raised by the SA National Editors’ Forum, who has called for an investigation for the confusion being created by these fake reports.
INDIA: Promoting Germany Tourism In India
An analysis of statistics from the last two years shows a steady rise in the numbers of tourists, who have been visiting Germany from India.
Owing to this, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany conducted their annual press conference along with the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) at the German Embassy here on Thursday.
Prior to the event, Romit Theophilus, Director, GNTO (India), revealed that Germany has now reached the second position on the list of top leisure travel destination chosen by Indian travellers, with the Great Britain surpassing it.
?After we launched our 2016 promotion theme-travel affordability, we have got over 7, 00, 000 visitor overnights. There has been an eight percent growth in number of tourists, from 2015 to 2016,? Theophilus said.
Statistics have revealed that Germany has been a preferred travel destination for the Indian tourists, aged 15-65. There have been several factors, which have contributed to this. One of the most crucial factors, as mentioned by the officials, is the vibrancy offered by the country, be it food, culture, travel or shopping opportunities.
Furthermore, it was claimed that the number of individuals choosing German universities to pursue their studies has doubled in the past year. Students have also been familiarised with the concept of exchange programs.
GNTO, which resorts to theme-based marketing, elected the theme ?Palaces, Parks and Gardens? to represent the face of the tourism promotional event.
Elaborating on the same, Theophilus revealed that Germany has almost 20,000 castles, which are yet to be discovered on a global level. Therefore, with this theme, GNTO is looking to promote barrier-free travel and sightseeing to Germany.
?Germany is widely recognised as one of the top travel destinations. For good reasons: It offers incredible art treasures and magnificent architecture, breathtaking natural beauty and an unrivaled tourism infrastructure. Germany is also a welcoming, comfortable, safe, and affordable place to visit. And there is so much to see, do and enjoy,? said Ambassador Dr Martin Ney at the joint press conference with the GNTO.
In 2016, aiming to digitise its marketing campaign, GNTO India setup its Facebook page, which engages subscribers with contests, trivia and updates matters related to travel to Germany. The page has recorded more than 8,00,000 followers in a year?s time.
Owing to this, the GNTO has predicted a growth in number of visitor overnights from India to be between three and five percent, aiming to achieve the target of 2 million visitor overnights from India lone, by 2030.
Owing to this, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany conducted their annual press conference along with the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) at the German Embassy here on Thursday.
Prior to the event, Romit Theophilus, Director, GNTO (India), revealed that Germany has now reached the second position on the list of top leisure travel destination chosen by Indian travellers, with the Great Britain surpassing it.
?After we launched our 2016 promotion theme-travel affordability, we have got over 7, 00, 000 visitor overnights. There has been an eight percent growth in number of tourists, from 2015 to 2016,? Theophilus said.
Statistics have revealed that Germany has been a preferred travel destination for the Indian tourists, aged 15-65. There have been several factors, which have contributed to this. One of the most crucial factors, as mentioned by the officials, is the vibrancy offered by the country, be it food, culture, travel or shopping opportunities.
Furthermore, it was claimed that the number of individuals choosing German universities to pursue their studies has doubled in the past year. Students have also been familiarised with the concept of exchange programs.
GNTO, which resorts to theme-based marketing, elected the theme ?Palaces, Parks and Gardens? to represent the face of the tourism promotional event.
Elaborating on the same, Theophilus revealed that Germany has almost 20,000 castles, which are yet to be discovered on a global level. Therefore, with this theme, GNTO is looking to promote barrier-free travel and sightseeing to Germany.
?Germany is widely recognised as one of the top travel destinations. For good reasons: It offers incredible art treasures and magnificent architecture, breathtaking natural beauty and an unrivaled tourism infrastructure. Germany is also a welcoming, comfortable, safe, and affordable place to visit. And there is so much to see, do and enjoy,? said Ambassador Dr Martin Ney at the joint press conference with the GNTO.
In 2016, aiming to digitise its marketing campaign, GNTO India setup its Facebook page, which engages subscribers with contests, trivia and updates matters related to travel to Germany. The page has recorded more than 8,00,000 followers in a year?s time.
Owing to this, the GNTO has predicted a growth in number of visitor overnights from India to be between three and five percent, aiming to achieve the target of 2 million visitor overnights from India lone, by 2030.
Plans For A Continental Passport
President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, to attend the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
The summit will be conducted under the theme: "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in the Youth".
The AU Assembly will be preceded, on 29 January 2017, by a retreat of AU Heads of State and Government, where the leaders will consider a report to be presented by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, on institutional reforms of the AU aimed at enhancing the continental body's governance systems.
Amongst other things, the Assembly will consider and deliberate on reports focusing on the state of peace and security on the continent, the African Peer Review Mechanism and Climate Change.
The Assembly will also consider the 2016 Annual Report of the AU Commission, which is expected to focus on the implementation and domestication of Agenda 2063, economic integration, the continental passport as well as peace support and peace-keeping missions.
Integration on the African continent, through business and travel, is a major focus point for global and continental leaders at the moment.
In November last year, new research released by the global travel technology provider indicated that African air travel spend is expected to rise 24% with the introduction of the pan-African passport in 2018.
The new passport will enable African travellers to visit other countries on the continent without a visa, and will mean a seamless travel experience for especially business travellers on the continent.
A key obstacle to the much-anticipated passport is the access to biometric systems, needed to register the passports. Currently only 13 of the 54 AU members offer biometric passports. Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana and Tunisia, for example, do not have them. South Africa is currently on a mission to roll new biometric capturing system out with trials being piloted across SA's major international airports.
The summit will be conducted under the theme: "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in the Youth".
The AU Assembly will be preceded, on 29 January 2017, by a retreat of AU Heads of State and Government, where the leaders will consider a report to be presented by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, on institutional reforms of the AU aimed at enhancing the continental body's governance systems.
Amongst other things, the Assembly will consider and deliberate on reports focusing on the state of peace and security on the continent, the African Peer Review Mechanism and Climate Change.
The Assembly will also consider the 2016 Annual Report of the AU Commission, which is expected to focus on the implementation and domestication of Agenda 2063, economic integration, the continental passport as well as peace support and peace-keeping missions.
Integration on the African continent, through business and travel, is a major focus point for global and continental leaders at the moment.
In November last year, new research released by the global travel technology provider indicated that African air travel spend is expected to rise 24% with the introduction of the pan-African passport in 2018.
The new passport will enable African travellers to visit other countries on the continent without a visa, and will mean a seamless travel experience for especially business travellers on the continent.
A key obstacle to the much-anticipated passport is the access to biometric systems, needed to register the passports. Currently only 13 of the 54 AU members offer biometric passports. Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana and Tunisia, for example, do not have them. South Africa is currently on a mission to roll new biometric capturing system out with trials being piloted across SA's major international airports.
SOUTH AFRICA: Visa-free Travel For Russian Nationals
The Russian Embassy to South Africa has warned Russian nationals that visa-free travel between the two countries for a period up to 90 days is not yet in effect, and the procedure could take another month.
Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete says South Africa is still busy with internal processes for visa-free travel between Russian and South Africa.
Tshwete sad an immigration directive will be issued once the DHA is ready for implementation - with no official time-frame confirmed.
Tass.com reports the introduction of visa-free travel between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa was part of an instruction signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on January 18.
It is estimated that regulation for mutual abolition of visas for holders of regular international passports "through an exchange of notes" could take up to 30 days.
"We expect that this process may be completed by the end of February 2017," the embassy says In February, the countries will mark 25 years since they established diplomatic relations.
Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete says South Africa is still busy with internal processes for visa-free travel between Russian and South Africa.
Tshwete sad an immigration directive will be issued once the DHA is ready for implementation - with no official time-frame confirmed.
Tass.com reports the introduction of visa-free travel between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa was part of an instruction signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on January 18.
It is estimated that regulation for mutual abolition of visas for holders of regular international passports "through an exchange of notes" could take up to 30 days.
"We expect that this process may be completed by the end of February 2017," the embassy says In February, the countries will mark 25 years since they established diplomatic relations.
COSTA RICA: Visit Corcovado National Park
While the park is one of the more remote in the national park system, Corcovado provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
Flora and fauna
National Geographic called Corcovado National Park the "most biologically intense place on Earth" and this is no exaggeration. All four of the monkeys species found within Costa Rica (Mantled Howler, Squirrel Monkey, Spider Monkey and White-faced Capuchin) exist in large numbers throughout the park. Two crocodilians (the occasionally large and saline tolerant American Crocodile and the small Spectacled Caiman) persist within all of the park's major waterways, as do Bull sharks.
The Jaguar population within the park is the healthiest in all of Central America, however it is still extremely unlikely for a visitor to spot one (most locals have never seen them either.) Many other elusive cats call the park home as well, including the Puma (which is slightly smaller and more arboreal in Central American than in the United States, probably due to competition with the Jaguar,) Ocelot, Jaguarundi and Margay.
The park is one of the last strongholds of the Baird's Tapir and there are hundreds within decent proximity from Sirena Station, usually found lounging in the shade or in shallow pools of stagnant water. There are dozens of snake species present, many of them venomous, including the Fer-de-lance (also known as terciopelo or "Costa Rican landmine",) the Bushmaster, the Eyelash Pit Viper, and the Coral Snake. The largest snake within the park is the non-venomous Boa Constrictor.
Numerous other small mammals and reptiles are common within the park including, but by no means limited to, the White-nosed Coati, Sloth, Tamandua, Giant Anteater, Basilisk, and Ctenosaur. Birds include the highly endangered Scarlet Macaw, the Tiger Heron, Black Vulture and the Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan, among hundreds of others including the critically endangered Harpy Eagle.
Climate
Dry season. Running from mid-December until mid-April with occasional rain showers.
Wet season. Running mid-April until mid-December.
Getting There
Travel to and through the park is perilous and is best accomplished during the dry season.
Drake Bay lies on the north side of the park and provides entrance and easy access to its trails. Drake Bay, although sometimes difficult to get to, is an excellent alternative to traveling through Puerto Jimenez.
Puerto Jimenez. This is the nearest sizeable town to the park and most people entering the park will probably need to pass through this town.
Park Entrances:
From the north. Travel along the beach through San Pedrillo.
From the south. Travel along the beach through Carate.
From the east. Through Los Patos. It is a 13km hike from La Palma to Los Patos.
By bus
Regular bus service is available to Puerto Jimenez. Passenger truck service from Puerto Jimenez to the southern entrance at Carate occurs on a biweekly or greater basis. The journey generally takes between 3-5 hours by road depending on weather, traffic conditions. In May 2007 passenger trucks were on a twice a day schedule (morning, and late afternoon).
By 4WD
All roads on the Osa Peninsula exhibit the disrepair characteristic of Costa Rica outside of the main tourist destinations. The road from Puerto Jimenez to Carate require a 4WD vehicle as it is a gravel road with several required river fordings. It recommended that this drive should only be attempted during the dry season. Note that Carate is next to the beach. Take care not to pass Carate as it is poorly marked. Parking is available by paying the store/bus stop which is Carate.
4WD Taxis are available for the passage from Puerto Jiminez to Carate. They are easy to find on the main strip of Puerto Jiminez. Price is about $10 per person if you have a reasonable sized group or share a taxi with a new amigo.
By foot
From Carate, it is a 4 km walk on the beach to the park entrance at the ranger station Las Leonas. Park permits and camping are available at the ranger station.
Park passes are required a month in advance of going into the park and can be purchased on line.
By plane
Small planes fly from the city of Puerto Jimenez on the mainland directly to the small airstrip at the central ranger station.
Corcovado Drivers Map.
Fees/Permits
Permits must be reserved in advance. You must have a permit to stay overnight at Sirena. The park no longer allows overnight or day hikers to enter the park without a reservation permit. Sirena does not offer dormitory lodging As of Sept. 1, 2015. However, hot meals and camping are still available. La Leona and San Pedrillo offer only camping with no food service.
It is possible to secure park permits directly from the Ranger Station in Puerto Jiménez, but they do not accept credit cards, so it requires visiting Banco Nacional in Puerto Jimenez to make the payment. Many travel agents and guides can assist in securing your park reservations if you need assistance.
Note that the Park Service (MINAE) does not issue park permits more than one month in advance of anticipated arrival. You can contact the park office directly by email: pncorcovado@gmail.com
Fees as of 2014 for non-Costa Rican's (not including guide services or transportation to and from the park) are:
Entrance: $10 per day per person, $1 for children under 12.
Dorm Bed: $8 per night per person
Camping: $4 per night per person
Breakfast: $20 per person
Lunch: $25 per person
Dinner: $25 per person
Trails
Carate to La Leona. 3.5km hike along the beach.
La Leona to La Sirena. The 16km long hike to La Leona is on a trail which is on and off the beach. It is imperative that visitors time the hike so as to arrive at the river fording 2 km shy of La Sirena at the lowest possible tide. There is potable water at a stream "Quebrada la Chancha" (Chancha Stream) just east of "Ponta La Chancha" (Chancha Point).
Los Patos to La Sirena. This 20km hike is approximately eight hours through secondary rainforest. The trail slopes slightly down toward La Sirena.
San Pedrillo to La Sirena. This 29km hike is approximately thirteen or fourteen hours and is almost entirely along the beach. After the dry season of 2009 it will be closed.
Drake to San Pedrillo. This trail is outside of the park and leads to its entrance. The hike is approximately six hours along the beach and just inside the forest.
There are several short trails in and around Sirena
- Ria Clero
- Espaveles
- Naranjos
- Guanaenste
Ollas Corcovado
Flora and fauna
National Geographic called Corcovado National Park the "most biologically intense place on Earth" and this is no exaggeration. All four of the monkeys species found within Costa Rica (Mantled Howler, Squirrel Monkey, Spider Monkey and White-faced Capuchin) exist in large numbers throughout the park. Two crocodilians (the occasionally large and saline tolerant American Crocodile and the small Spectacled Caiman) persist within all of the park's major waterways, as do Bull sharks.
The Jaguar population within the park is the healthiest in all of Central America, however it is still extremely unlikely for a visitor to spot one (most locals have never seen them either.) Many other elusive cats call the park home as well, including the Puma (which is slightly smaller and more arboreal in Central American than in the United States, probably due to competition with the Jaguar,) Ocelot, Jaguarundi and Margay.
The park is one of the last strongholds of the Baird's Tapir and there are hundreds within decent proximity from Sirena Station, usually found lounging in the shade or in shallow pools of stagnant water. There are dozens of snake species present, many of them venomous, including the Fer-de-lance (also known as terciopelo or "Costa Rican landmine",) the Bushmaster, the Eyelash Pit Viper, and the Coral Snake. The largest snake within the park is the non-venomous Boa Constrictor.
Numerous other small mammals and reptiles are common within the park including, but by no means limited to, the White-nosed Coati, Sloth, Tamandua, Giant Anteater, Basilisk, and Ctenosaur. Birds include the highly endangered Scarlet Macaw, the Tiger Heron, Black Vulture and the Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan, among hundreds of others including the critically endangered Harpy Eagle.
Climate
Dry season. Running from mid-December until mid-April with occasional rain showers.
Wet season. Running mid-April until mid-December.
Getting There
Travel to and through the park is perilous and is best accomplished during the dry season.
Drake Bay lies on the north side of the park and provides entrance and easy access to its trails. Drake Bay, although sometimes difficult to get to, is an excellent alternative to traveling through Puerto Jimenez.
Puerto Jimenez. This is the nearest sizeable town to the park and most people entering the park will probably need to pass through this town.
Park Entrances:
From the north. Travel along the beach through San Pedrillo.
From the south. Travel along the beach through Carate.
From the east. Through Los Patos. It is a 13km hike from La Palma to Los Patos.
By bus
Regular bus service is available to Puerto Jimenez. Passenger truck service from Puerto Jimenez to the southern entrance at Carate occurs on a biweekly or greater basis. The journey generally takes between 3-5 hours by road depending on weather, traffic conditions. In May 2007 passenger trucks were on a twice a day schedule (morning, and late afternoon).
By 4WD
All roads on the Osa Peninsula exhibit the disrepair characteristic of Costa Rica outside of the main tourist destinations. The road from Puerto Jimenez to Carate require a 4WD vehicle as it is a gravel road with several required river fordings. It recommended that this drive should only be attempted during the dry season. Note that Carate is next to the beach. Take care not to pass Carate as it is poorly marked. Parking is available by paying the store/bus stop which is Carate.
4WD Taxis are available for the passage from Puerto Jiminez to Carate. They are easy to find on the main strip of Puerto Jiminez. Price is about $10 per person if you have a reasonable sized group or share a taxi with a new amigo.
By foot
From Carate, it is a 4 km walk on the beach to the park entrance at the ranger station Las Leonas. Park permits and camping are available at the ranger station.
Park passes are required a month in advance of going into the park and can be purchased on line.
By plane
Small planes fly from the city of Puerto Jimenez on the mainland directly to the small airstrip at the central ranger station.
Corcovado Drivers Map.
Fees/Permits
Permits must be reserved in advance. You must have a permit to stay overnight at Sirena. The park no longer allows overnight or day hikers to enter the park without a reservation permit. Sirena does not offer dormitory lodging As of Sept. 1, 2015. However, hot meals and camping are still available. La Leona and San Pedrillo offer only camping with no food service.
It is possible to secure park permits directly from the Ranger Station in Puerto Jiménez, but they do not accept credit cards, so it requires visiting Banco Nacional in Puerto Jimenez to make the payment. Many travel agents and guides can assist in securing your park reservations if you need assistance.
Note that the Park Service (MINAE) does not issue park permits more than one month in advance of anticipated arrival. You can contact the park office directly by email: pncorcovado@gmail.com
Fees as of 2014 for non-Costa Rican's (not including guide services or transportation to and from the park) are:
Entrance: $10 per day per person, $1 for children under 12.
Dorm Bed: $8 per night per person
Camping: $4 per night per person
Breakfast: $20 per person
Lunch: $25 per person
Dinner: $25 per person
Trails
Carate to La Leona. 3.5km hike along the beach.
La Leona to La Sirena. The 16km long hike to La Leona is on a trail which is on and off the beach. It is imperative that visitors time the hike so as to arrive at the river fording 2 km shy of La Sirena at the lowest possible tide. There is potable water at a stream "Quebrada la Chancha" (Chancha Stream) just east of "Ponta La Chancha" (Chancha Point).
Los Patos to La Sirena. This 20km hike is approximately eight hours through secondary rainforest. The trail slopes slightly down toward La Sirena.
San Pedrillo to La Sirena. This 29km hike is approximately thirteen or fourteen hours and is almost entirely along the beach. After the dry season of 2009 it will be closed.
Drake to San Pedrillo. This trail is outside of the park and leads to its entrance. The hike is approximately six hours along the beach and just inside the forest.
There are several short trails in and around Sirena
- Ria Clero
- Espaveles
- Naranjos
- Guanaenste
Ollas Corcovado
Health Benefits Of Coconut Water And Milk
Long before the coconut water craze, we"agua de pipa" on Tortugero Island in Costa Rica, fresh from the nut. We were taught to simply poke a hole into the shell with a sharp knife, stick in a plastic straw, and voilà, a mildly sweet, refreshing beverage that's very healthy. That was years ago, and we were actually surprised and slightly disappointed at the taste. Until that time, we only knew the creamy white coconut milk found in Thai dishes, and we were expecting something milky and opaque.
Clear Water
Coconut water is clear and found in young coconuts, whereas the mature fruit offers the rich, high-caloric milk and meat most people are accustomed to. In the Caribbean, South Asia and Southeast Asia, coconut water has been popular long before it started appearing in U.S. markets packaged in tetra paks. These days, you cannot enter a Whole Foods or health food store without stumbling upon a stack of packaged coconut water, ranging in flavors from plain to passion fruit. It tastes really good, but why is it so popular?
All-Natural
That's simple: it's full of health benefits. Coconut water is the only natural substance that can be injected into the human blood stream as an intravenous fluid. In fact, it is even used in some developing countries in lieu of medical saline. A cup-full is low in calories, contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks and has more potassium than a banana.
Full of Potassium
Besides athletes, why do people need all that potassium? Aside from preventing muscle cramps, potassium has a slew of other health benefits for the body and mind. The Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center for Optimum Health cites several studies that associate increased potassium intake with decreased risk of stroke, higher bone density in premenopausal, perimenopausal, postmenopausal women and elderly men, the prevention of kidney stones and the lowering of blood pressure.
Other recent studies explore the relationship of potassium and the brain. Can potassium compete with Prozac? Yes, potassium has been shown to help with PMS and mood disorders with symptoms such as irritability, fatigue and confusion. Depression, for instance, can result in potassium deficiency and acute anxiety. So, is a serving of coconut juice the answer to all of our ailments? Certainly not, and, as with most natural remedies, the FDA is far from supporting any health claims.
Best Fresh
So try for yourself, next time you have a tension headache or worked out really hard or are feeling cranky from PMS. The water fresh from a just-cracked coconut tastes sweeter, richer and denser, but the available packed choices from ZICO and Vita Coco are really good. We are definitely nuts for coconuts.
Clear Water
Coconut water is clear and found in young coconuts, whereas the mature fruit offers the rich, high-caloric milk and meat most people are accustomed to. In the Caribbean, South Asia and Southeast Asia, coconut water has been popular long before it started appearing in U.S. markets packaged in tetra paks. These days, you cannot enter a Whole Foods or health food store without stumbling upon a stack of packaged coconut water, ranging in flavors from plain to passion fruit. It tastes really good, but why is it so popular?
All-Natural
That's simple: it's full of health benefits. Coconut water is the only natural substance that can be injected into the human blood stream as an intravenous fluid. In fact, it is even used in some developing countries in lieu of medical saline. A cup-full is low in calories, contains more electrolytes than most sports drinks and has more potassium than a banana.
Full of Potassium
Besides athletes, why do people need all that potassium? Aside from preventing muscle cramps, potassium has a slew of other health benefits for the body and mind. The Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center for Optimum Health cites several studies that associate increased potassium intake with decreased risk of stroke, higher bone density in premenopausal, perimenopausal, postmenopausal women and elderly men, the prevention of kidney stones and the lowering of blood pressure.
Other recent studies explore the relationship of potassium and the brain. Can potassium compete with Prozac? Yes, potassium has been shown to help with PMS and mood disorders with symptoms such as irritability, fatigue and confusion. Depression, for instance, can result in potassium deficiency and acute anxiety. So, is a serving of coconut juice the answer to all of our ailments? Certainly not, and, as with most natural remedies, the FDA is far from supporting any health claims.
Best Fresh
So try for yourself, next time you have a tension headache or worked out really hard or are feeling cranky from PMS. The water fresh from a just-cracked coconut tastes sweeter, richer and denser, but the available packed choices from ZICO and Vita Coco are really good. We are definitely nuts for coconuts.
COSTA RICA: Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park and the nearby town of Quepos are located on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The rich biodiversity of this area, coupled with a wealth of activities make this a destination that offers something for everyone. It’s easy to spend your entire holiday in this area of the country!
Manuel Antonio is the premier destination of the Central Pacific region offering a variety of small intimate hotels artistically built into a rainforest hillside between town and the popular Manuel Antonio National Park.
Manuel Antonio National Park (closed on Mondays) contains three beautiful beaches, casual forest trails, and a dense rainforest teaming with animal life. In 2011, it was named by Forbes as one of the world’s most beautiful parks.
Manuel Antonio is the smallest park in the Costa Rica, but abundant with wildlife. Capuchin, Howler, and Squirrel Monkeys are some of the most social creatures of the park. Don’t feed them, and hold on to your snacks! You can also expect to see sloths, iguanas, and hundreds of species of birds – just to name a few. Book an early morning guided tour of the park with a professional naturalist guide to avoid the crowds and increase your odds of seeing more wildlife. Naturalist guides have an eye and an ear for locating wildlife that most people miss.
The two main beaches inside the park, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio are about a 30 minute hike from the main entrance of the park. The beaches of Manuel Antonio are singularly beautiful with stunning, brightly-colored sunsets. The light sand beaches in the coastal park are popular for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, and surf lessons.
Because of environmental restrictions, the hotels in the Manuel Antonio area are not beachfront, but set cliff-side with sweeping views. Only a few Manuel Antonio hotels have direct beach access. To reach the public beaches and the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park, travelers can take the hotel or public shuttle.
Quepos: Gateway to Manuel Antonio
The town of Quepos could be described as the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s just a 15 minute drive (4 1/2 miles) from Quepos to Manuel Antonio and a 25 minute drive (7 1/2 miles) from the Quepos Domestic Airport to Manuel Antonio. Quepos has a great selection of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. The streets of Quepos are easy to walk, with a mix of local shops, markets, and cafes. It has all the amenities of a tourism-hub, yet maintains that ineffable charm of Costa Rica with an authentic laid-back feel.
Manuel Antonio Attractions
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- Beaches
- Rain Forest
- Wildlife
- Multi-Sport Adventures
- Sport Fishing
- Surfing
- Santa Juana Mountain Village
- Damas Estuary
What To Do In Manuel Antonio
- Manuel Antonio National Park Hike
- Damas Island Estuary by Kayak
- Zip Line Canopy Safari
- Whitewater Rafting
- Coastal Sea Kayaking
- Butterfly Botanical Gardens
- Jungle Night Walk
- Santa Juana Mountain Tour
- Birdwatching
- Villa Vanilla Spice Tour
- Catamaran Cruise
- Cerro Nara Horseback Riding
Climate: Dry- December to April, Wet- May to November, Wettest- September & October
Temperature: Average high 92°, tropical weather with brief afternoon showers typical May to November.
Bring: Beach wear, hiking sandals and an appetite since there are many great local restaurants.
Don’t Miss: Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most spectacular beaches in Costa Rica. Go in the morning to avoid crowds. We highly recommend a visit to the park with a naturalist guide. Please keep in mind the park is closed on Mondays.
Manuel Antonio is the premier destination of the Central Pacific region offering a variety of small intimate hotels artistically built into a rainforest hillside between town and the popular Manuel Antonio National Park.
Manuel Antonio National Park (closed on Mondays) contains three beautiful beaches, casual forest trails, and a dense rainforest teaming with animal life. In 2011, it was named by Forbes as one of the world’s most beautiful parks.
Manuel Antonio is the smallest park in the Costa Rica, but abundant with wildlife. Capuchin, Howler, and Squirrel Monkeys are some of the most social creatures of the park. Don’t feed them, and hold on to your snacks! You can also expect to see sloths, iguanas, and hundreds of species of birds – just to name a few. Book an early morning guided tour of the park with a professional naturalist guide to avoid the crowds and increase your odds of seeing more wildlife. Naturalist guides have an eye and an ear for locating wildlife that most people miss.
The two main beaches inside the park, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio are about a 30 minute hike from the main entrance of the park. The beaches of Manuel Antonio are singularly beautiful with stunning, brightly-colored sunsets. The light sand beaches in the coastal park are popular for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, and surf lessons.
Because of environmental restrictions, the hotels in the Manuel Antonio area are not beachfront, but set cliff-side with sweeping views. Only a few Manuel Antonio hotels have direct beach access. To reach the public beaches and the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park, travelers can take the hotel or public shuttle.
Quepos: Gateway to Manuel Antonio
The town of Quepos could be described as the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s just a 15 minute drive (4 1/2 miles) from Quepos to Manuel Antonio and a 25 minute drive (7 1/2 miles) from the Quepos Domestic Airport to Manuel Antonio. Quepos has a great selection of restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. The streets of Quepos are easy to walk, with a mix of local shops, markets, and cafes. It has all the amenities of a tourism-hub, yet maintains that ineffable charm of Costa Rica with an authentic laid-back feel.
Manuel Antonio Attractions
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- Beaches
- Rain Forest
- Wildlife
- Multi-Sport Adventures
- Sport Fishing
- Surfing
- Santa Juana Mountain Village
- Damas Estuary
What To Do In Manuel Antonio
- Manuel Antonio National Park Hike
- Damas Island Estuary by Kayak
- Zip Line Canopy Safari
- Whitewater Rafting
- Coastal Sea Kayaking
- Butterfly Botanical Gardens
- Jungle Night Walk
- Santa Juana Mountain Tour
- Birdwatching
- Villa Vanilla Spice Tour
- Catamaran Cruise
- Cerro Nara Horseback Riding
Climate: Dry- December to April, Wet- May to November, Wettest- September & October
Temperature: Average high 92°, tropical weather with brief afternoon showers typical May to November.
Bring: Beach wear, hiking sandals and an appetite since there are many great local restaurants.
Don’t Miss: Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most spectacular beaches in Costa Rica. Go in the morning to avoid crowds. We highly recommend a visit to the park with a naturalist guide. Please keep in mind the park is closed on Mondays.
What Is Your Best Choice Of Bottled Mineral Water
March 22 is National Water Day, so why not break out a bottle of H2O to celebrate? Whether you enjoy bubbly or flat water, it can be difficult to choose between all of the thousands of bottled water brands available. Try flat water from Fiji, sparkling water from France, or the water enjoyed by both Elvis Presley and the racehorse Secretariat.
We've created this primer on the top brands to take the guesswork out of your next trip down the grocery store aisle. Next time you're thirsty, why not try reaching for one of the ten best bottled waters around?
Voss Artesian Water
Two Norwegian entrepreneurs created Voss, a classy, designer-savvy tube of water from the crisp, frigid aquifers of their Nordic homeland. Shielded for hundreds of years from pollutants by thick layers of rock and sand, Voss water is bottled in Southern Norway, “naturally unfiltered” and served both still and sparkling. But its rugged purity is not Voss’ only selling point. The company’s designers painstakingly developed the bottle’s look and feel to reflect a brand that embodies both health and high fashion. Voss first became available mostly in upscale hotels and in health spas in Europe and in the United States but has since seen much wider distribution in gourmet food and retail stores on both continents.
Saint Geron Mineral Water
Saint Géron, known as "the queen of mineral waters," stems from an ancient spring in the Auvergne region of France. The light, sparkling mineral water in a bottle of Saint Géron is the product of an 1,100-year filtration process. This results in the water being cleansed of all bacteria and nitrates, which show up at less than .1 milligrams per liter. Unusually rich in calcium and magnesium, Saint Géron has long been used as a treatment for digestive problems, diabetes, anemia and even gout. Although the water was not bottled until the nineteenth century, the Romans patronized the spring long before — ancient coins from the Gallo-roman period (50 BC–486 AD) have been found scattered all around the source. The water comes in a modern, elegant glass bottle created by painter and designer Alberto Bali.
Hildon Natural Mineral Water
One of the UK’s most prestigious bottled waters, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is served at the House of Commons and the Royal Opera House (and is rumored to be the water of choice at Buckingham Palace). Hildon begins as rainfall, which percolates through the chalk hills of the Hampshire countryside. After a period of 50 years the water emerges at an underground aquifer beneath the nineteenth-century Hildon Estate. The chalk acts as a unique natural filtration system, protecting the water from pollution and endowing it with high levels of calcium. Once it reaches the source it is immediately bottled without chemical treatment. Naturally low in sodium, the water is prized for its purity and well-balanced taste. Hildon, which produces both still and sparkling varieties, was the first company in the world to sell a natural mineral water with a carbonation level below 2.9. This low level of carbonation makes their "Gently Sparkling" water ideal for sipping alongside fine wines and subtly flavored dishes, which risk being overwhelmed by more robust bubbles.
Evian Natural Spring Water
Discovered by a French nobleman during the French Revolution, Evian stems from a source that was thought to hold curative and restorative powers from the start. Evian begins as water that emerges from the Source Cache in France in a mountain tunnel at 52.88 degrees Fahrenheit. The source is fed from the melted snow and rain that filters through glacial sand from the Vinzier Plateau over a period of fifteen years. The glacial sand is surrounded by clay, which protects the water from pollution and gives it its mineral composition and taste. The water is bottled at a nearby bottling plant, which is highly automated and exceptionally hygienic.
Fiji Natural Artesian Water
FIJI Water, natural artesian water, began being bottled in 1996 at the source in the Yaqara Valley of Viti Levu, one of Fiji’s two principal islands, and is now the number one imported bottled water in the United States. FIJI’s natural artesian origins provide the water with a unique mineral profile, including its high silica concentration. FIJI Water is known for its iconic square bottle and its signature soft, smooth taste, which comes from the natural silica content and trace amounts of calcium and magnesium. As part of that strict commitment to quality, no human hands are allowed to touch it. Perfectly protected from outside air and external elements, FIJI Water is untouched until you unscrew the cap.
Gerolsteiner Mineral Water
Founded in 1888, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water is the number one water export in Germany. In the German style of stringent purity and cleanliness, Gerolsteiner’s production follows strict purity protocols. Originating in springs from the area of Volcanic Eifel, Gerolsteiner flows from ancient, rocky volcanic reservoirs 200 feet beneath the earth’s surface. Minerals and carbonic acid leach into the water as it percolates up through the volcanic rocks, giving Gerolsteiner its exceptionally high amount of calcium, bicarbonate and magnesium. Gerolsteiner is a great source of essential nutrients that our bodies need daily and its natural carbonation gives Gerolsteiner its refreshing, neutral taste.
Ferrarelle Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water
Relatively unknown in America, Italy's number one brand of sparkling mineral water was established in 1893, though Italians have been drinking from its source for hundreds of years. This naturally effervescent water is bottled directly at a spring located in the protected Sorgeto di Riardo Park near the extinct Roccamonfina volcano in Italy's Campania region. Ferrarelle is extremely mindful of the quality of its products, testing them more than 600 times each day. Care is also taken to safeguard the habitat surrounding the spring, and the company's bottling plants are powered by solar energy.
Ferrarelle water, both sparkling and still, is bottled in glass containers rather than plastic, which protects its taste and purity and lessens the impact on the environment. Ferrarelle water begins as rainfall, which trickles through layers of rock in the ground, soaking up valuable minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and fluoride. Nevertheless, it has no mineral taste and no unpleasant saltiness. It does have the thirst-quenching, pure taste of simple water, with a pleasant amount of fizziness
Perrier Mineral Water
Perrier is a naturally sparkling mineral water sourced from a spring in Vergèze, France. Originally called Les Bouillens, the spring has been used as a spa resort since Roman times. The distinctive bottle shape is said to have been inspired by Indian clubs used for exercise by spring owner Sir Saint-John Harmsworth. The water and carbonation are captured separately and recombined in the bottling process to preserve the natural sparkling flavor of the original water from the spring. Today, Perrier is marketed as a healthy alternative to soda drinks and cocktails and is available in a variety of flavors, ranging from pink grapefruit to lemon and lime.
Mountain Valley Spring Water
Since 1871, Mountain Valley Spring Water has been praised by U.S. presidents, world-class athletes and even Hollywood stars for its refreshing taste and potent health benefits. Bottled at its source in the hills between the Glazypeau and Cedar Mountains in Arkansas, Mountain Valley Spring Water has a unique mineral composition that is believed to have medicinal properties that can help alleviate chronic disorders.
Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Joe Lewis were firm believers in the restorative powers of this water, and they weren't the only ones. Thirteen presidents (from Coolidge to Clinton) had Mountain Valley regularly served to their guests while they were in office, and the water is currently being served in the United States Senate. In fact, President Dwight Eisenhower drank the water medicinally following a heart attack. It was also served to a number of famous racehorses, including Nashua, Sunday Silence and the great Secretariat. This sparkling water is light and clean, with a delicate pH balance for premier taste.
Volvic Natural Spring Water
Volvic is bottled exclusively at its unique source in France and available in more than 60 countries. The basin supplying the Volvic spring source is located in the Regional Park of the Old Auvergne Volcanoes, a volcanic region that has been dormant for 10,000 years. The name Volvic refers to the town as well as a type of gray volcanic rock. The source of the water, the Clairvic Spring, was discovered in 1927. In 1965, the French Ministry of Health authorized the bottling of Volvic water. Volvic emerges year-round from its protected source at the constant temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius.
We've created this primer on the top brands to take the guesswork out of your next trip down the grocery store aisle. Next time you're thirsty, why not try reaching for one of the ten best bottled waters around?
Voss Artesian Water
Two Norwegian entrepreneurs created Voss, a classy, designer-savvy tube of water from the crisp, frigid aquifers of their Nordic homeland. Shielded for hundreds of years from pollutants by thick layers of rock and sand, Voss water is bottled in Southern Norway, “naturally unfiltered” and served both still and sparkling. But its rugged purity is not Voss’ only selling point. The company’s designers painstakingly developed the bottle’s look and feel to reflect a brand that embodies both health and high fashion. Voss first became available mostly in upscale hotels and in health spas in Europe and in the United States but has since seen much wider distribution in gourmet food and retail stores on both continents.
Saint Geron Mineral Water
Saint Géron, known as "the queen of mineral waters," stems from an ancient spring in the Auvergne region of France. The light, sparkling mineral water in a bottle of Saint Géron is the product of an 1,100-year filtration process. This results in the water being cleansed of all bacteria and nitrates, which show up at less than .1 milligrams per liter. Unusually rich in calcium and magnesium, Saint Géron has long been used as a treatment for digestive problems, diabetes, anemia and even gout. Although the water was not bottled until the nineteenth century, the Romans patronized the spring long before — ancient coins from the Gallo-roman period (50 BC–486 AD) have been found scattered all around the source. The water comes in a modern, elegant glass bottle created by painter and designer Alberto Bali.
Hildon Natural Mineral Water
One of the UK’s most prestigious bottled waters, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is served at the House of Commons and the Royal Opera House (and is rumored to be the water of choice at Buckingham Palace). Hildon begins as rainfall, which percolates through the chalk hills of the Hampshire countryside. After a period of 50 years the water emerges at an underground aquifer beneath the nineteenth-century Hildon Estate. The chalk acts as a unique natural filtration system, protecting the water from pollution and endowing it with high levels of calcium. Once it reaches the source it is immediately bottled without chemical treatment. Naturally low in sodium, the water is prized for its purity and well-balanced taste. Hildon, which produces both still and sparkling varieties, was the first company in the world to sell a natural mineral water with a carbonation level below 2.9. This low level of carbonation makes their "Gently Sparkling" water ideal for sipping alongside fine wines and subtly flavored dishes, which risk being overwhelmed by more robust bubbles.
Evian Natural Spring Water
Discovered by a French nobleman during the French Revolution, Evian stems from a source that was thought to hold curative and restorative powers from the start. Evian begins as water that emerges from the Source Cache in France in a mountain tunnel at 52.88 degrees Fahrenheit. The source is fed from the melted snow and rain that filters through glacial sand from the Vinzier Plateau over a period of fifteen years. The glacial sand is surrounded by clay, which protects the water from pollution and gives it its mineral composition and taste. The water is bottled at a nearby bottling plant, which is highly automated and exceptionally hygienic.
Fiji Natural Artesian Water
FIJI Water, natural artesian water, began being bottled in 1996 at the source in the Yaqara Valley of Viti Levu, one of Fiji’s two principal islands, and is now the number one imported bottled water in the United States. FIJI’s natural artesian origins provide the water with a unique mineral profile, including its high silica concentration. FIJI Water is known for its iconic square bottle and its signature soft, smooth taste, which comes from the natural silica content and trace amounts of calcium and magnesium. As part of that strict commitment to quality, no human hands are allowed to touch it. Perfectly protected from outside air and external elements, FIJI Water is untouched until you unscrew the cap.
Gerolsteiner Mineral Water
Founded in 1888, Gerolsteiner Sparkling Mineral Water is the number one water export in Germany. In the German style of stringent purity and cleanliness, Gerolsteiner’s production follows strict purity protocols. Originating in springs from the area of Volcanic Eifel, Gerolsteiner flows from ancient, rocky volcanic reservoirs 200 feet beneath the earth’s surface. Minerals and carbonic acid leach into the water as it percolates up through the volcanic rocks, giving Gerolsteiner its exceptionally high amount of calcium, bicarbonate and magnesium. Gerolsteiner is a great source of essential nutrients that our bodies need daily and its natural carbonation gives Gerolsteiner its refreshing, neutral taste.
Ferrarelle Naturally Sparkling Mineral Water
Relatively unknown in America, Italy's number one brand of sparkling mineral water was established in 1893, though Italians have been drinking from its source for hundreds of years. This naturally effervescent water is bottled directly at a spring located in the protected Sorgeto di Riardo Park near the extinct Roccamonfina volcano in Italy's Campania region. Ferrarelle is extremely mindful of the quality of its products, testing them more than 600 times each day. Care is also taken to safeguard the habitat surrounding the spring, and the company's bottling plants are powered by solar energy.
Ferrarelle water, both sparkling and still, is bottled in glass containers rather than plastic, which protects its taste and purity and lessens the impact on the environment. Ferrarelle water begins as rainfall, which trickles through layers of rock in the ground, soaking up valuable minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and fluoride. Nevertheless, it has no mineral taste and no unpleasant saltiness. It does have the thirst-quenching, pure taste of simple water, with a pleasant amount of fizziness
Perrier Mineral Water
Perrier is a naturally sparkling mineral water sourced from a spring in Vergèze, France. Originally called Les Bouillens, the spring has been used as a spa resort since Roman times. The distinctive bottle shape is said to have been inspired by Indian clubs used for exercise by spring owner Sir Saint-John Harmsworth. The water and carbonation are captured separately and recombined in the bottling process to preserve the natural sparkling flavor of the original water from the spring. Today, Perrier is marketed as a healthy alternative to soda drinks and cocktails and is available in a variety of flavors, ranging from pink grapefruit to lemon and lime.
Mountain Valley Spring Water
Since 1871, Mountain Valley Spring Water has been praised by U.S. presidents, world-class athletes and even Hollywood stars for its refreshing taste and potent health benefits. Bottled at its source in the hills between the Glazypeau and Cedar Mountains in Arkansas, Mountain Valley Spring Water has a unique mineral composition that is believed to have medicinal properties that can help alleviate chronic disorders.
Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Joe Lewis were firm believers in the restorative powers of this water, and they weren't the only ones. Thirteen presidents (from Coolidge to Clinton) had Mountain Valley regularly served to their guests while they were in office, and the water is currently being served in the United States Senate. In fact, President Dwight Eisenhower drank the water medicinally following a heart attack. It was also served to a number of famous racehorses, including Nashua, Sunday Silence and the great Secretariat. This sparkling water is light and clean, with a delicate pH balance for premier taste.
Volvic Natural Spring Water
Volvic is bottled exclusively at its unique source in France and available in more than 60 countries. The basin supplying the Volvic spring source is located in the Regional Park of the Old Auvergne Volcanoes, a volcanic region that has been dormant for 10,000 years. The name Volvic refers to the town as well as a type of gray volcanic rock. The source of the water, the Clairvic Spring, was discovered in 1927. In 1965, the French Ministry of Health authorized the bottling of Volvic water. Volvic emerges year-round from its protected source at the constant temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius.
COSTA RICA: The Costa Rican Jungle Where You Will Sleep In A Plane
Spending the night on an airplane is typically an uncomfortable, sleepless ordeal, but not so for guests staying in the 727 Fuselage Home at the Hotel Costa Verde. Situated between Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean, the hotel features a two bedroom suite inside a refurbished Boeing 727 airplane from 1965.
Salvaged from Costa Rica’s San Jose Airport and meticulously restored, the plane is perched on a 50-foot pedestal, jutting out from the jungle canopy. Inside the 130-foot structure, find wood panelling, hand carved teak furniture from Indonesia, a kitchenette, and a bathroom inside the cockpit. Two private balconies rest on top of the wings, and feature views of the ocean and surrounding jungle with monkeys, sloths, toucans, and other wildlife.
Costa Verde’s director Allan Templeton was inspired to create the suite after he built El Avion, the hotel’s bar and restaurant inside a refurbished U.S. military airplane. The bar is crafted from the plane’s original wheel covers, and guests can drink, dine, and dance inside and under its wings.
The hotel also recently unveiled the Cockpit Cottage, made from the cockpit section of a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 passenger plane. The one bedroom suite consists of a king-sized bed and kitchenette, and has the same teak-lined walls and spectacular ocean and jungle views as the 727 Fuselage Home.
Other accommodations on site include guest rooms and bungalows, and the property has three cliff-side pools, on-site spa services, and adventure outings, from a motorised canopy bike that lets riders glide across the jungle sixty feet in the air to a classic zip line.
Rates for Hotel Costa Verde’s 727 Fuselage Home start at $260 in the off-season, and from $500 in the high season. After sleeping here, it may be difficult to spend the night on any other airplane.
Salvaged from Costa Rica’s San Jose Airport and meticulously restored, the plane is perched on a 50-foot pedestal, jutting out from the jungle canopy. Inside the 130-foot structure, find wood panelling, hand carved teak furniture from Indonesia, a kitchenette, and a bathroom inside the cockpit. Two private balconies rest on top of the wings, and feature views of the ocean and surrounding jungle with monkeys, sloths, toucans, and other wildlife.
Costa Verde’s director Allan Templeton was inspired to create the suite after he built El Avion, the hotel’s bar and restaurant inside a refurbished U.S. military airplane. The bar is crafted from the plane’s original wheel covers, and guests can drink, dine, and dance inside and under its wings.
The hotel also recently unveiled the Cockpit Cottage, made from the cockpit section of a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 passenger plane. The one bedroom suite consists of a king-sized bed and kitchenette, and has the same teak-lined walls and spectacular ocean and jungle views as the 727 Fuselage Home.
Other accommodations on site include guest rooms and bungalows, and the property has three cliff-side pools, on-site spa services, and adventure outings, from a motorised canopy bike that lets riders glide across the jungle sixty feet in the air to a classic zip line.
Rates for Hotel Costa Verde’s 727 Fuselage Home start at $260 in the off-season, and from $500 in the high season. After sleeping here, it may be difficult to spend the night on any other airplane.
NEPAL: Protecting Snow Leopards
Nepal has announced a new four-year plan aimed at protecting snow leopard numbers, with a goal of ensuring that at least 100 of the animals of breeding age, populate three of the country’s landscapes by 2020.
The Snow Leopard Conservation Action Plan sets out to address the urgent need for continued research and monitoring of snow leopards using cutting-edge technology, as well as addressing the need for improvement of habitat and corridors, the reduction of wildlife crimes and the strengthening of trans-boundary co-operation.
The commitment was made under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program, a combined effort of all twelve snow leopard range countries. To date Nepal has achieved many milestones in conservation, including satellite telemetry of snow leopards, livestock insurance schemes and increased participation of communities in research and conservation. The ambitious new plan is estimated to cost $3.15 million.
“Snow leopards are the guardians of the water towers and the indicator of the health of the ecosystem. Thus it is not just the responsibility of a handful of snow leopard range nations to protect their habitat. It is the need of everyone who needs clean air and water,” said Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister of Nepal.
The plan was prepared by a team formed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, with financial and technical support from WWF Nepal.
Earlier this week, Nepal’s government also presented the status of a climate-integrated landscape management plan to secure snow leopard ecosystems in the Eastern Conservation Landscape, discussing it with practitioners from the twelve snow leopard range countries.
The 7 and 8 September 2017 will also see the Global Snow Leopard Summer of the twelve range nations being held in Kyrgyzstan.
The Snow Leopard Conservation Action Plan sets out to address the urgent need for continued research and monitoring of snow leopards using cutting-edge technology, as well as addressing the need for improvement of habitat and corridors, the reduction of wildlife crimes and the strengthening of trans-boundary co-operation.
The commitment was made under the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program, a combined effort of all twelve snow leopard range countries. To date Nepal has achieved many milestones in conservation, including satellite telemetry of snow leopards, livestock insurance schemes and increased participation of communities in research and conservation. The ambitious new plan is estimated to cost $3.15 million.
“Snow leopards are the guardians of the water towers and the indicator of the health of the ecosystem. Thus it is not just the responsibility of a handful of snow leopard range nations to protect their habitat. It is the need of everyone who needs clean air and water,” said Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prime Minister of Nepal.
The plan was prepared by a team formed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, with financial and technical support from WWF Nepal.
Earlier this week, Nepal’s government also presented the status of a climate-integrated landscape management plan to secure snow leopard ecosystems in the Eastern Conservation Landscape, discussing it with practitioners from the twelve snow leopard range countries.
The 7 and 8 September 2017 will also see the Global Snow Leopard Summer of the twelve range nations being held in Kyrgyzstan.
RWANDA: Rwanda’s Wilderness In The Heart Of The City
While most cities battle with urban sprawl and the lack of truly wild spaces, the city of Kigali in Rwanda is planning a major greening project in the heart of the city.
A new €2.7 million plan is being developed to create a large eco-tourism park just a short drive from the city’s main international airport. The wetlands park will be around 130 hectares in size, and will be developed over the next three years, according to the local government.
City planners are hoping it will become a paradise for bird lovers, with Rwanda already considered one of the best locations for birding in the world. Despite the country’s comparatively small size (about the size of Belgium) – it is home to more than 700 different bird species in its dense forests, mountains, and wetlands. The new plan will also see walking and cycling trails developed alongside bird hides and leisure fishing ponds.
The Nyandungu Wetland park as it will be known, will also feature picnic areas, a café, and a spot specially designated for wedding photos.
The area had slowly been encroached on by development, with cattle grazing in the wetlands, and also the illegal development of garages and other light industry. Under the new plan, the site will be protected in an attempt to return it to its former glory as a vibrant wildlife habitat. Rwanda has emerged from its violent recent past with tourism playing a key role in getting the country’s economy back on its feet.
Many travellers are attracted by the opportunity to see rare mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in the famous Virunga Mountains.
With the opening of the eco-tourism park in Kigali however, visitors can still get a taste of Rwanda’s wilderness without even leaving the city. For those heading into the country, there are three different national parks to visit: Akagera, the location for a lion reintroduction programme; the Nyungwe rainforest, home to thirteen different primate species, and Volcanoes National Park.
A new €2.7 million plan is being developed to create a large eco-tourism park just a short drive from the city’s main international airport. The wetlands park will be around 130 hectares in size, and will be developed over the next three years, according to the local government.
City planners are hoping it will become a paradise for bird lovers, with Rwanda already considered one of the best locations for birding in the world. Despite the country’s comparatively small size (about the size of Belgium) – it is home to more than 700 different bird species in its dense forests, mountains, and wetlands. The new plan will also see walking and cycling trails developed alongside bird hides and leisure fishing ponds.
The Nyandungu Wetland park as it will be known, will also feature picnic areas, a café, and a spot specially designated for wedding photos.
The area had slowly been encroached on by development, with cattle grazing in the wetlands, and also the illegal development of garages and other light industry. Under the new plan, the site will be protected in an attempt to return it to its former glory as a vibrant wildlife habitat. Rwanda has emerged from its violent recent past with tourism playing a key role in getting the country’s economy back on its feet.
Many travellers are attracted by the opportunity to see rare mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in the famous Virunga Mountains.
With the opening of the eco-tourism park in Kigali however, visitors can still get a taste of Rwanda’s wilderness without even leaving the city. For those heading into the country, there are three different national parks to visit: Akagera, the location for a lion reintroduction programme; the Nyungwe rainforest, home to thirteen different primate species, and Volcanoes National Park.
THAILAND: Tourists To Learn Disadvantages Of Elephant Riding
an elephant ride in the jungle before dinner. For many visitors to Thailand’s largest island, elephant-riding is as integral to the holiday experience as sun loungers and snorkelling, and carried out without any knowledge of the harm caused to the animal beneath them.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is hoping to change all that. Opened in 2016, it has been conceived as a refuge for elephants rescued from the tourist and logging industries, and no riding is allowed. It’s the first of its kind on the island. ‘Before we opened, there was nowhere on the island for old, sick, injured, tired or overworked elephants to go, no retirement home.
The sanctuary aims to educate travellers about elephant-riding. Visitors to the park begin their tour by watching a video that explains how the wild animals are first trained or ‘crushed’ into domesticity so they can accept riders; a process that can involve being being tied up with ropes, beaten with a stick or bullhook, and starved. Visitors can then join the animals as they bathe and walk in the grounds and play.
‘What amazes me is that we have taken in these elephants, some in their 60s, which have spent their entire life in cruel servitude to man, and they have recovered so quickly,’ says Rogerson, ‘elephants are emotional animals, they feel happiness, sadness and show love, and here we allow them to be themselves again, unafraid.’
There are now five elephants at the sanctuary, after three joined in December. It is modelled on the award-winning Elephant Nature Park , near Chiang Mai, and follows the same ‘saddle-off’ approach where the animals welfare is put before everything else. Visitors can observe the elephants from a close vantage point, but otherwise the animals are encouraged to follow as close as possible the natural behaviour of a wild herd.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is located in Paklok, in the Thalang District of Phuket and offers half day tours and week-long volunteering programmes. It was founded by Mr Montri Todtane, a Phuket camp owner, conservationist and founder of Chiang Mai’s Elephant Nature Park Lek Chailert and Louise Rogerson, found of EARS Asia. You can find more about their work on the sanctuary’s website. Read more about how to interact ethically with elephants in Thailand.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is hoping to change all that. Opened in 2016, it has been conceived as a refuge for elephants rescued from the tourist and logging industries, and no riding is allowed. It’s the first of its kind on the island. ‘Before we opened, there was nowhere on the island for old, sick, injured, tired or overworked elephants to go, no retirement home.
The sanctuary aims to educate travellers about elephant-riding. Visitors to the park begin their tour by watching a video that explains how the wild animals are first trained or ‘crushed’ into domesticity so they can accept riders; a process that can involve being being tied up with ropes, beaten with a stick or bullhook, and starved. Visitors can then join the animals as they bathe and walk in the grounds and play.
‘What amazes me is that we have taken in these elephants, some in their 60s, which have spent their entire life in cruel servitude to man, and they have recovered so quickly,’ says Rogerson, ‘elephants are emotional animals, they feel happiness, sadness and show love, and here we allow them to be themselves again, unafraid.’
There are now five elephants at the sanctuary, after three joined in December. It is modelled on the award-winning Elephant Nature Park , near Chiang Mai, and follows the same ‘saddle-off’ approach where the animals welfare is put before everything else. Visitors can observe the elephants from a close vantage point, but otherwise the animals are encouraged to follow as close as possible the natural behaviour of a wild herd.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is located in Paklok, in the Thalang District of Phuket and offers half day tours and week-long volunteering programmes. It was founded by Mr Montri Todtane, a Phuket camp owner, conservationist and founder of Chiang Mai’s Elephant Nature Park Lek Chailert and Louise Rogerson, found of EARS Asia. You can find more about their work on the sanctuary’s website. Read more about how to interact ethically with elephants in Thailand.
INDONESIA: Indonesia Slowly Becoming A Gastronomy Destination
While Bali is perhaps best known as a popular beach destination for travellers, the Indonesian government is hoping to turn the area into a foodie destination.
According to local media, the tourism ministry has announced that it hopes to promote the island as a gastronomic destination, highlighting the local cuisine for travellers from around the world. The island is seen as a good area to develop as a culinary destination in Indonesia, as it is already accessible to tourists and has many other attractions.
And the idea would extend beyond just restaurants; it would include markets, food tasting, and visiting producers. The move to promote Bali as a foodie destination in 2017 will be done along with the World Tourism Organization.
As food tourism grows in popularity, more and more places are looking to draw in travellers with the lure of delicious food. In Cyprus, the Virtual Food Museum is organising trips to promote the famous Mediterranean diet.
The trips will take people around the country, familiarising travellers with three important elements of the local cuisine – wine, oil and wheat – and where they come from. The trips will take people deeper into Cypriot culture through the island’s diets.
Tourism groups are also looking to accommodate different diets with the hope of helping attract travellers, such as New Zealand, which has just released a new halal food guide, with the hope of encouraging more Muslim travellers to visit.
The guide helps directs visitors to certified halal businesses, like restaurants, grocery stores and takeaways.
According to local media, the tourism ministry has announced that it hopes to promote the island as a gastronomic destination, highlighting the local cuisine for travellers from around the world. The island is seen as a good area to develop as a culinary destination in Indonesia, as it is already accessible to tourists and has many other attractions.
And the idea would extend beyond just restaurants; it would include markets, food tasting, and visiting producers. The move to promote Bali as a foodie destination in 2017 will be done along with the World Tourism Organization.
As food tourism grows in popularity, more and more places are looking to draw in travellers with the lure of delicious food. In Cyprus, the Virtual Food Museum is organising trips to promote the famous Mediterranean diet.
The trips will take people around the country, familiarising travellers with three important elements of the local cuisine – wine, oil and wheat – and where they come from. The trips will take people deeper into Cypriot culture through the island’s diets.
Tourism groups are also looking to accommodate different diets with the hope of helping attract travellers, such as New Zealand, which has just released a new halal food guide, with the hope of encouraging more Muslim travellers to visit.
The guide helps directs visitors to certified halal businesses, like restaurants, grocery stores and takeaways.
UNITED KINGDOM: Heathrow Was Busiest Airport In 2016
Travellers with a habit of arriving at the airport at the very last second, pay close attention to the latest list of the busiest airports in Europe.
London Heathrow was the busiest airport in 2016, serving 75.7 million passengers, according to statistics from the European airport trade association, ACI Europe. That was far ahead of Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 65.9 million and Amsterdam-Schiphol at 63.6 million. Frankfurt retained its position as fourth busiest, followed by Istanbul-Atatürk. This year set a new record for airport travel in Europe, with more than two billion passengers travelling through airports on the continent.
Overall, passenger traffic around Europe grew about 5%, with low-cost carriers driving much of the increase in traffic. The increase in low-cost flights – often landing in smaller or secondary airports – led to a lot of growth in those kind of facilities, like Keflavik (Reykjavik) with an increase of 40.4%, Berlin (+36.7%), Sofia (+21.8%), Bucharest (+18.3%) and Krakow (+18.1%).
The fastest-growing airports for passenger traffic are centred in Eastern Europe, with Oradea, Iasi, and Bucharest BBU in Romania at the top of the list. Oradea, a city in the northeast near the border with Hungary, saw its passenger traffic grow by an astounding almost 500%. The Romanian cities were followed by Ostend, Belgium and Palanga, Lithuania. Iceland’s Keflavik Airport saw an incredible increased in traffic as well, with a 66% increase in passenger traffic in December 2016, compared to the same month 2015.
Around the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport is the busiest. According to 2015 statistics, London Heathrow is the sixth busiest airport worldwide, while Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport came in ninth. The busiest airport for international passengers in 2016 is Dubai Airport.
London Heathrow was the busiest airport in 2016, serving 75.7 million passengers, according to statistics from the European airport trade association, ACI Europe. That was far ahead of Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 65.9 million and Amsterdam-Schiphol at 63.6 million. Frankfurt retained its position as fourth busiest, followed by Istanbul-Atatürk. This year set a new record for airport travel in Europe, with more than two billion passengers travelling through airports on the continent.
Overall, passenger traffic around Europe grew about 5%, with low-cost carriers driving much of the increase in traffic. The increase in low-cost flights – often landing in smaller or secondary airports – led to a lot of growth in those kind of facilities, like Keflavik (Reykjavik) with an increase of 40.4%, Berlin (+36.7%), Sofia (+21.8%), Bucharest (+18.3%) and Krakow (+18.1%).
The fastest-growing airports for passenger traffic are centred in Eastern Europe, with Oradea, Iasi, and Bucharest BBU in Romania at the top of the list. Oradea, a city in the northeast near the border with Hungary, saw its passenger traffic grow by an astounding almost 500%. The Romanian cities were followed by Ostend, Belgium and Palanga, Lithuania. Iceland’s Keflavik Airport saw an incredible increased in traffic as well, with a 66% increase in passenger traffic in December 2016, compared to the same month 2015.
Around the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport is the busiest. According to 2015 statistics, London Heathrow is the sixth busiest airport worldwide, while Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport came in ninth. The busiest airport for international passengers in 2016 is Dubai Airport.
SAUDI ARABIA: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Travels To Indonesia With Huge Luggage
While the rest of us struggle with Ryanair’s baggage restrictions, there are no such worries for the Saudi Arabian king during his latest trip. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud begins his nine-day visit to Indonesia this week, and reports in that country’s press claim that he hasn’t travelled lightly
According to Adji Gunawan of airfreight company, PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta, a total of 572 workers from his company handled the king’s 459 tonnes of cargo when it arrived in Indonesia. There were two Mercedes-Benz S600 limousines and two electric elevators among the monarch’s luggage for his first visit to Southeast Asia since ascending to the throne in 2015. 63 tonnes of the cargo were unloaded at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta, while the remaining 396 went to the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali.
The Indonesian visit forms part of King Salman’s month-long visit to Asia, which began in Malaysia on Sunday. After Indonesia, he will visit Brunei, Japan, China, the Maldives and Jordan.
It has been reported that the king’s entourage is similarly grand, and is comprised of approximately 1500 people, including 10 ministers, 25 princes and at least 100 security personnel. This is not out of scale with foreign visits made by other world leaders however. Former US president, Barack Obama, often travelled with a very large entourage and multiple vehicles.
According to Adji Gunawan of airfreight company, PT Jasa Angkasa Semesta, a total of 572 workers from his company handled the king’s 459 tonnes of cargo when it arrived in Indonesia. There were two Mercedes-Benz S600 limousines and two electric elevators among the monarch’s luggage for his first visit to Southeast Asia since ascending to the throne in 2015. 63 tonnes of the cargo were unloaded at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta, while the remaining 396 went to the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali.
The Indonesian visit forms part of King Salman’s month-long visit to Asia, which began in Malaysia on Sunday. After Indonesia, he will visit Brunei, Japan, China, the Maldives and Jordan.
It has been reported that the king’s entourage is similarly grand, and is comprised of approximately 1500 people, including 10 ministers, 25 princes and at least 100 security personnel. This is not out of scale with foreign visits made by other world leaders however. Former US president, Barack Obama, often travelled with a very large entourage and multiple vehicles.
BAHAMAS: Bahamas’ Swimming Pigs
Uninhabited island of Big Major Cay is home to a colony of remarkably friendly pigs who regularly take to the water and splash around with visitors. The island has now gained the name ‘Pig Beach’ and the animals have proven to be a huge tourist draw in the tropical paradise.
Recently, seven of the pigs were found dead and, after an examination by a government vet, the owner confirmed they were given the wrong food. In an interview, Wayde Nixon said: “We had them pigs there almost 30 years, and never has this happened before, but now we are going to have to regulate it. Right now it’s blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there….We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff.”
The pigs live freely on the island and it’s estimated that 15 of them still survive. The key to survival, local tourism operators say, is for all visitors to continue to treat them with respect and care, which the majority have been doing. The animals have become Instagram-favourites as they regularly swim alongside tourists who partake in snorkeling or scuba-diving.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism said it plans to introduce a law to ban the feeding of the pigs in the hopes of preventing any further tragedies occurring. On their official website, they had stated that visitors and passing crew members were freely able to give them treats up until now. An official investigation is also underway to try and determine exactly what happened to them.
The remaining pigs have been given a clean bill of health by the vet and it’s expected that tourists will still be able to interact ethically and safely with the animals.
Recently, seven of the pigs were found dead and, after an examination by a government vet, the owner confirmed they were given the wrong food. In an interview, Wayde Nixon said: “We had them pigs there almost 30 years, and never has this happened before, but now we are going to have to regulate it. Right now it’s blowing out of proportion with people, anybody bringing food there….We have people coming there giving the pigs beer, rum, riding on top of them, all kind of stuff.”
The pigs live freely on the island and it’s estimated that 15 of them still survive. The key to survival, local tourism operators say, is for all visitors to continue to treat them with respect and care, which the majority have been doing. The animals have become Instagram-favourites as they regularly swim alongside tourists who partake in snorkeling or scuba-diving.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism said it plans to introduce a law to ban the feeding of the pigs in the hopes of preventing any further tragedies occurring. On their official website, they had stated that visitors and passing crew members were freely able to give them treats up until now. An official investigation is also underway to try and determine exactly what happened to them.
The remaining pigs have been given a clean bill of health by the vet and it’s expected that tourists will still be able to interact ethically and safely with the animals.
MALAYSIA: Upside Down House Is The latest Tourist Spot
'Upside Down House' at the KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the latest tourist attraction at the country's capital.
Visitors are allowed to enter and take pictures alongside the furniture and decor of the Upside Down House, recently started as an exhibit at KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Everything inside the structure such as the furniture has been placed in an upside down position.
This isn't the first upside down house to be constructed in the country. The Rumah Terbalik (Upside Down House) located in Tamparuli, a small town and a sub-district of Tuaran on the west coast of Sabah, Malaysia, has been a popular tourist attraction for some time, with a guided tour available for visitors at daytime.
In the early 1960s, Developer and F. E. Dykstra developed and built an "upside-down house" to lure prospective property buyers to Sunrise, a city in central-western Broward County, Florida, United States.
The home was completely furnished, and the carport featured an upside-down car. Public interest was aroused through numerous news stories and the structure became a national attraction that drew thousands to Sunrise.
People came to stand on the ceiling – and many stayed to make their home in the community.
Lee Vining, a town in California, United States, is the site of an Upside-Down House, a distinctive local landmark built by silent film actress Nellie Bly O'Bryan.
An upside down house was built as a source of tourism at Trassenheide, a seaside resort with 1,000 inhabitants, on the island of Usedom in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in Germany. The construction was completed in August 2008.
Designed by Polish partners Klaudiusz Golos and Sebastian Mikiciuk, the house was used purely as an exhibit as the creators felt that the whole interior, which was upside down could disorient some visitors.
Terfens, a municipality in the Schwaz district in the Austrian state of Tyrol is famous for having an upside-down house.
Foreigners' Street or Yangren Jie, an amusement park and entertainment area in Chongqing, China has an upside-down house as one of its attractions. A structure known as 'Mad House', which has been designed and constructed upside-down is a tourist attraction in Bispingen, a municipality in the Heidekreis district of Lower Saxony, Germany.
Visitors are allowed to enter and take pictures alongside the furniture and decor of the Upside Down House, recently started as an exhibit at KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Everything inside the structure such as the furniture has been placed in an upside down position.
This isn't the first upside down house to be constructed in the country. The Rumah Terbalik (Upside Down House) located in Tamparuli, a small town and a sub-district of Tuaran on the west coast of Sabah, Malaysia, has been a popular tourist attraction for some time, with a guided tour available for visitors at daytime.
In the early 1960s, Developer and F. E. Dykstra developed and built an "upside-down house" to lure prospective property buyers to Sunrise, a city in central-western Broward County, Florida, United States.
The home was completely furnished, and the carport featured an upside-down car. Public interest was aroused through numerous news stories and the structure became a national attraction that drew thousands to Sunrise.
People came to stand on the ceiling – and many stayed to make their home in the community.
Lee Vining, a town in California, United States, is the site of an Upside-Down House, a distinctive local landmark built by silent film actress Nellie Bly O'Bryan.
An upside down house was built as a source of tourism at Trassenheide, a seaside resort with 1,000 inhabitants, on the island of Usedom in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in Germany. The construction was completed in August 2008.
Designed by Polish partners Klaudiusz Golos and Sebastian Mikiciuk, the house was used purely as an exhibit as the creators felt that the whole interior, which was upside down could disorient some visitors.
Terfens, a municipality in the Schwaz district in the Austrian state of Tyrol is famous for having an upside-down house.
Foreigners' Street or Yangren Jie, an amusement park and entertainment area in Chongqing, China has an upside-down house as one of its attractions. A structure known as 'Mad House', which has been designed and constructed upside-down is a tourist attraction in Bispingen, a municipality in the Heidekreis district of Lower Saxony, Germany.
Wednesday, 1 March 2017
IRELAND: French Tour Operators Visit Donegal, Ireland
Members of the French Marketing Partnership Group (MPG) are visiting Donegal and the Wild Atlantic Way this week, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
The MPG is made up of leading French tour operators, as well as air and sea carriers, and is the official vehicle for consulting with tourism partners in France. As well as acting as a fact-finding trip to Ireland, their visit is an excellent opportunity for Tourism Ireland to highlight the north-western section of the Wild Atlantic Way to senior travel representatives from France.
Their programme includes visits to Glenveagh National Park and Castle, Dunfanaghy Workhouse, Doe Castle and Fanad Head Lighthouse. This evening (Tuesday, 28 February), the group will drive to Horn Head, on a special excursion to see the Northern Lights.
Monica MacLaverty, Tourism Ireland’s Manager of Southern Europe, said: “We are delighted that the members of the French Marketing Partnership Group have taken the time to come and visit Donegal. We invited this group of senior travel industry representatives here to showcase Donegal and the North West Wild Atlantic Way.
We believe the distinctive scenery and cultural attractions in Donegal, and elsewhere along the western seaboard, hold tremendous appeal among French travellers.”
France is one of the top four markets for tourism to the island of Ireland and 2016 was the fourth record-breaking year in a row for French visitors to Ireland.
Monica MacLaverty continued: “2016 was the best year ever for tourism from France to the island of Ireland, when we welcomed more than 500,000 French visitors for the first time ever. For 2017, we are rolling out an extensive programme of promotional activity, to keep the momentum going and build on that growth.”
The MPG is made up of leading French tour operators, as well as air and sea carriers, and is the official vehicle for consulting with tourism partners in France. As well as acting as a fact-finding trip to Ireland, their visit is an excellent opportunity for Tourism Ireland to highlight the north-western section of the Wild Atlantic Way to senior travel representatives from France.
Their programme includes visits to Glenveagh National Park and Castle, Dunfanaghy Workhouse, Doe Castle and Fanad Head Lighthouse. This evening (Tuesday, 28 February), the group will drive to Horn Head, on a special excursion to see the Northern Lights.
Monica MacLaverty, Tourism Ireland’s Manager of Southern Europe, said: “We are delighted that the members of the French Marketing Partnership Group have taken the time to come and visit Donegal. We invited this group of senior travel industry representatives here to showcase Donegal and the North West Wild Atlantic Way.
We believe the distinctive scenery and cultural attractions in Donegal, and elsewhere along the western seaboard, hold tremendous appeal among French travellers.”
France is one of the top four markets for tourism to the island of Ireland and 2016 was the fourth record-breaking year in a row for French visitors to Ireland.
Monica MacLaverty continued: “2016 was the best year ever for tourism from France to the island of Ireland, when we welcomed more than 500,000 French visitors for the first time ever. For 2017, we are rolling out an extensive programme of promotional activity, to keep the momentum going and build on that growth.”
JAPAN: Tokyo Overtakes Hong Kong As Most Expensive Business Travel Destination In Asia-Pacific Region
Hong Kong is no longer the most expensive destination for business travellers in the Asia-Pacific region, with Tokyo overtaking the city last year, according to the latest survey conducted by human resources consultancy ECA International.
But this did not mean Hong Kong had become a cheaper place for such trips. Daily expenses – including hotels, food, transport and incidentals – rose 2 per cent to US$508 (HK$3,900) compared with figures in 2015.
Lee Quane, the consultancy’s regional director, attributed the city’s drop from the No 1 spot to the Chinese economic slowdown, as well as the appreciation of the Japanese yen against the US dollar in the past year. “Declines in tourism and business travel to Hong Kong, factors associated with the current regional economic malaise, are the main drivers behind this fall,” he said.
Quane explained that many international business representatives would stay in the city for one or two days before setting off for the mainland. But this demand had declined in the past year due to slow business on the mainland.
He also expected the strong Hong Kong dollar to rein in the city’s competitiveness, especially at a time when most Asian currencies had been depreciating against the US dollar. This would deter international companies from hosting its regional meetings in the city, Quane added.
Among the three major categories on the survey, the cost of the city’s hotels compared with its regional rivals stood out.
A room at a four-star hotel – a commonly used standard for international business travellers – charges US$284 per day in the city, 13 per cent higher than in Singapore and 8 per cent higher than in Seoul, according to the survey.
“One thing that keeps Singapore competitive for business is its cheap accommodation,” Quane said, as expenses for meals, drinks and transportation were similar among major Asian cities.
Despite an overall drop in Hong Kong hotel rates last year, the limited choices in business hotels had kept the cost high for business trips in the Asian financial centre.
He explained that although the city had a large number of five-star hotels and cheaper hotels for tourists, both were not suitable for typical business travellers. Companies sometimes end up paying more to upgrade the service standard and allow their employees to stay at five-star hotels in the city, he said.
At the same time, the city’s tourism sector continues to recover at the start of the year, with visitor numbers rising 4.8 per cent last month on a yearly basis.
The Tourism Board said the improvement was mainly due to the strong numbers of mainland overnight visitors during the month of the Lunar New Year, which saw the figure jump 14.1 per cent.
But the board said the January figures might not be able to reflect the overall tourism trend because of the strong seasonal factors.
But this did not mean Hong Kong had become a cheaper place for such trips. Daily expenses – including hotels, food, transport and incidentals – rose 2 per cent to US$508 (HK$3,900) compared with figures in 2015.
Lee Quane, the consultancy’s regional director, attributed the city’s drop from the No 1 spot to the Chinese economic slowdown, as well as the appreciation of the Japanese yen against the US dollar in the past year. “Declines in tourism and business travel to Hong Kong, factors associated with the current regional economic malaise, are the main drivers behind this fall,” he said.
Quane explained that many international business representatives would stay in the city for one or two days before setting off for the mainland. But this demand had declined in the past year due to slow business on the mainland.
He also expected the strong Hong Kong dollar to rein in the city’s competitiveness, especially at a time when most Asian currencies had been depreciating against the US dollar. This would deter international companies from hosting its regional meetings in the city, Quane added.
Among the three major categories on the survey, the cost of the city’s hotels compared with its regional rivals stood out.
A room at a four-star hotel – a commonly used standard for international business travellers – charges US$284 per day in the city, 13 per cent higher than in Singapore and 8 per cent higher than in Seoul, according to the survey.
“One thing that keeps Singapore competitive for business is its cheap accommodation,” Quane said, as expenses for meals, drinks and transportation were similar among major Asian cities.
Despite an overall drop in Hong Kong hotel rates last year, the limited choices in business hotels had kept the cost high for business trips in the Asian financial centre.
He explained that although the city had a large number of five-star hotels and cheaper hotels for tourists, both were not suitable for typical business travellers. Companies sometimes end up paying more to upgrade the service standard and allow their employees to stay at five-star hotels in the city, he said.
At the same time, the city’s tourism sector continues to recover at the start of the year, with visitor numbers rising 4.8 per cent last month on a yearly basis.
The Tourism Board said the improvement was mainly due to the strong numbers of mainland overnight visitors during the month of the Lunar New Year, which saw the figure jump 14.1 per cent.
But the board said the January figures might not be able to reflect the overall tourism trend because of the strong seasonal factors.
FIJI: Sydney Couple Kate And Nick Claim Food Poisoning At Fiji Hotel
The Fiji Tourism and Hoteliers Association is aware of claims made by an Australian couple that they ate rotten food while staying at a hotel in the Coral Coast.
CEO Fantasha Lockington says they cannot comment or act on it unless a formal complaint is made by the couple.
She says they also cannot comment on something that is now being heavily sensationalised on social media.
Lockington says there has never been a complaint of this nature against the hotel in question.
The Office of the Director of Tourism is also looking into the issue.
The woman who was on holiday with her partner in Fiji said that she ate a steak sandwich for lunch on their third day in the country and after that went through six hours of intense vomiting and fever.
Her partner also went through the same, saying he vomited partially digested sushi.
The couple claims it was food poisoning as they ended up on drips at the Sigatoka hospital.
CEO Fantasha Lockington says they cannot comment or act on it unless a formal complaint is made by the couple.
She says they also cannot comment on something that is now being heavily sensationalised on social media.
Lockington says there has never been a complaint of this nature against the hotel in question.
The Office of the Director of Tourism is also looking into the issue.
The woman who was on holiday with her partner in Fiji said that she ate a steak sandwich for lunch on their third day in the country and after that went through six hours of intense vomiting and fever.
Her partner also went through the same, saying he vomited partially digested sushi.
The couple claims it was food poisoning as they ended up on drips at the Sigatoka hospital.
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