MEXICO: Cancun 3Million US Dollar Wax Museum

What if we told you that on your next trip to Cancun we could guarantee that you’d see Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt and Leonardi Da Vinci?

No, we’re not delusional.

We’re just clued in to the city by the sea’s newest attraction, the Cancun Wax Museum, which opened in the Hotel Zone last month at La Isla shopping village.

The city’s first wax museum has a “population” of more than 100 life-size figures, including super heroes, celebrities, storybook characters, athletes, historical figures and heads of state.

It takes about two-and-a-half hours to tour the 23-room facility, where visitors can snap selfies with Harry Potter, Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama and Mexico’s own Frida Kahlo, as well as Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi.

The $3 million-museum is a project of Brazilian company Dreams Entertainment, and opens from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

JAMAICA: Jamaica Has A New Rising Star Chef

This time it’s Kingston-born, New York city-based chef Andre Fowles, who competed on this week’s episode of the Food Network’s cooking show, “Chopped,” and walked away with the title of Chopped Champion and a $10,000 prize.

The theme of the episode was “Cooking Caribbean,” a perfect fit for Fowles, who cooks Caribbean food every day at Miss Lily’s Jamaican/Caribbean restaurants in New York. For the appetizer round, Fowles whipped up Jamaican-Spiced Shrimp with Papaya Chutney, and presented his version of the island favorite, curry goat, as an entrée .

From a dessert round mystery basket containing sweet potatoes, mango, sugarcane and rum, Fowles crafted a sweet potato mousse with candied mangoes that eventually gave him the edge over the other three contestants, Trini chefs Brandon Soverall and Keisha Bocage, and Miamian Rocco Nankervis.

Chef Fowles began cooking professionally at 17, and was formerly sous chef at Jamaica’s Round Hill, where he cooked for Paul McCartney and designer Ralph Lauren during his four-year stint.

Now 27, the graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and Jamaica’s Runaway Bay Academy is currently sous chef at Miss Lily’s, overseeing the kitchens in its Soho and East Village, New York locations. He says he will use the prize money to travel to England to reunite with his mother, who he hasn’t seen in 15 years.

Watch the Cooking Caribbean episode again when it reruns on Thursday, March 3 at 9pm ET; Friday, March 4 at midnight; and Saturday, March 5 at 5pm ET. And stay tuned for another Fowles sighting in “Chopped Champions,” which airs later this year.

JAPAN: Usain Bolt Is Now a Japanese Airline Promoter

Usain Bolt has endorsed some of the world’s biggest brands in his landmark sporting career, from Puma to Nissan.

Now, he has another brand: Japanese airline All Nippon Airways, or ANA.

The Jamaican superstar is now featuring in a new campaign for the airline, which will be the official airline partner of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The spot feature Bolt dancing in ANA’s “Hello Blue Hello Future” campaign.

JAMAICA: Exclusive Resorts In Montego Bay

Montego Bay, Jamaica’s “Second City,” is not only the gateway to the island for millions of visitors, it’s also a hub for the island’s numerous all-inclusive resorts. In many ways, this is one of the Caribbean capitals of all-inclusive resorts, those havens of Caribbean hospitality where convenience is king. These are the best all-inclusive resorts in Montego Bay.

Sandals Royal Caribbean Couples will appreciate the low-key and intimate vibe of this roost, which has its own private island (complete with a pool and Thai restaurant); peacocks that stroll the beachfront gardens; and an over-water swing-set we couldn’t tear ourselves away from.

Sandals Montego Bay Just five minutes from the airport, the Caribbean resort chain’s flagship resort features butler-serviced suites, nine restaurants, and a prime location on one of Jamaica’s best beaches. And we love how the staff wave every time a plane passes overhead.

Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall This sprawling family-friendly all-inc ups the ante with beach butlers, rum sommeliers, a kids’ club, and access to the famously challenging White Witch golf course. And while you’re enjoying all that, we’ll be chilling in the spa.

Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall The adults-only “yin” to neighboring Hyatt Ziva’s “yang” boasts five restaurants and 24-hour room service; an oceanfront spa; and full access to all the amenities of its sister hotel. You know, one resort just isn’t enough for you.

Secrets St James Montego Bay On the Freeport Peninsula, this adults-only enclave shares amenities with neighboring sister resort Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, which means that guests can wine and dine in a whopping total of 15 restaurants and 12 bars. Pack your elastic-waist pants!

Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall If you’re looking for variety you’ll find it here at the fanciest of the Spanish chain’s three Mo’Bay resorts, a 295-room, all-suite adults-only that shares a spa, nightclub, gym and casino with its neighboring siblings.

Sandals Carlyle You won’t find better value than at Sandals’ smallest (52-room) hotel, where couples enjoy full exchange privileges at (and complimentary shuttle service between) sister resorts Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean. Small is beautiful.

Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa Yes, all-inclusive Hilton hotels do exist, and this family-friendly playground impresses with Jamaica’s largest water park, Cinnamon Hill golf course and seven restaurants, all just15 minutes’ drive from the airport.

Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay. This all-inclusive mainstay is adjacent to the Half Moon resort, and it’s got a lovely little stretch of sand and well-appointed rooms. It’s a great affordable option just minutes from the airport.

RIU Palace Jamaica One of five RIU resorts in Jamaica, this adults-only all-inclusive less than ten minutes from the airport is perfect for cash-conscious vacationers in search of sun, sea, and all the food and drink they can scarf down. Large suites (with liquor dispensers and huge showers) and fast and free Wi-Fi are welcome bonuses.

BELIZE: Belize Sees Big Tourism Growth

After a sluggish peak tourist season, things were looking grim for tourism growth in Belize.

But a strong summer season put the Caribbean destination into a strong position by the end of the year.

Belize reported a 6.2 percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2015, according to the latest data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

And while the country reported a 1.2 percent decline in the peak tourist season, it reported a significant 11.3 percent improvement in the summer season.

The country saw a particularly strong increase in arrivals from the United States, with an 8 percent increase compared to 2014, which softened the blow of a 9 percent reduction in tourism from Canada.

ZIMBABWE: Mugabe's Lavish 92nd Birthday Party Angers Critics

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, the world's oldest leader, hosts lavish celebrations to mark his 92nd birthday on Saturday at a time of severe drought and increasing friction over his succession.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, the world's oldest leader, hosts lavish celebrations to mark his 92nd birthday on Saturday (Feb 27) at a time of severe drought and increasing friction over his succession.

Tens of thousands of party loyalists, officials and members of the public are expected to attend a day of concerts, street parades and parties in Masvingo in the south-east of the country.

"Organisers have been working flat-out to ensure the celebrations are a success," Simon Khaya-Moyo, spokesman for the ruling ZANU-PF party said.

"Everything is in place and we are looking forward to tremendous events."

Mugabe, who turned 92 last Sunday, has ruled for 36 years during an era marked by vote-rigging, mass emigration, accusations of human rights abuses and economic decline.

On his actual birthday, state media poured praise on his leadership since independence from Britain.

In its 16-page special supplement, the Sunday Mail said on its front cover: "Thank You Bob, We now have a voice, since 1980".

The main party on Saturday will be held in a large tent at the Great Zimbabwe ruins, a UNESCO world heritage site that was built in the 13th Century as the headquarters of the Munhumutapa empire.

Cattle and wild game will be slaughtered for the feast, with organisers claiming that as many as 50,000 guests are expected.

The scale of the celebrations, costing a reported $800,000 this year, attract annual controversy in Zimbabwe, which recently declared a "state of disaster" due to the drought and widespread food shortages.

- 'Very little to celebrate'

"There is very little to celebrate for a 92-year-old who has presided over the collapse of the economy, reducing the country to a nation of vendors and beggars," Takavafira Zhou, a political analyst at Masvingo State University,said.

"There will be wining and dining at the venue while all around people are starving."

Zimbabwe has suffered a series of food crises and hyper-inflation since Mugabe's land reforms when farms were seized from white farmers for redistribution.

Despite his advanced age and recent speculation over his health, Mugabe has avoided naming a successor, fuelling infighting within ZANU-PF.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is viewed as the likely next president, but in recent weeks he has been publicly criticised by Mugabe's wife Grace in a sign of growing rivalry.

The president continues to give lengthy speeches, often lauching tirades against his Western foes, but he has become increasingly frail.

He courted ridicule in September by reading the wrong speech to parliament, unaware that he had delivered the same address a month earlier.

On Tuesday, scores of young supporters from the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party staged a protest in Masvingo.

Protest placards read: "No birthday when children are starving" and "We want jobs, not bashes."

Last year, Mugabe's 91st birthday celebrations included a cake that weighed 91 kilogrammes (200 pounds).

Local media reported that party activists ordered teachers and villagers in the rural districts of Masvingo to make cash donations to help pay for this year's celebrations.

FIJI: Tourists Flee Fiji Over Cyclone Disaster

International tourists began fleeing cyclone-devastated Fiji on Monday amid fears the death toll from the most powerful storm to ever hit the Pacific island nation is set to rise steeply.

International tourists began fleeing cyclone-devastated Fiji on Monday (Feb 22) amid fears the death toll from the most powerful storm to ever hit the Pacific island nation is set to rise steeply.

The official body count from severe tropical cyclone Winston stands at six but the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reported at least 10 were dead, with fears for another seven fishermen missing at sea.

The super-storm lashed the popular tourist destination overnight on Saturday, packing gusts of 325 kilometres per hour. It was the first maximum category five cyclone to hit Fiji and left a trail of destruction, flattening scores of homes and crippling infrastructure.

Oxfam's Pacific regional director Raijeli Nicole said some of the remote communities that bore the brunt of the storm had still not been heard from and officials feared the worst.

"The Fijians are desperately trying to repair severed lines of communication, but they hold grave fears that the news waiting for them will be dire," she said.

"Given the intensity of the storm and the images we have seen so far, there are strong concerns that the death toll won't stop climbing today and that hundreds of people will have seen their homes and livelihoods completely destroyed."

International tourists caught up in the disaster began to leave as flights resumed at Nadi airport after a two-day suspension.

Air New Zealand confirmed one of its aircraft departed at 9.30am (5.30am Singapore time) and other carriers including Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Fiji Airways were also expected to begin operations again.

Fiji's economy relies on tourism and the island chain is a major destination for Australians and New Zealanders.

Melbourne man Jeremy Bree told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he heard trees being ripped from the ground as he sat out the storm in a hotel at Denaru on the main island Viti Levu.

"It was pretty amazing just looking out and seeing the wind gusts just absolutely buffeting the trees," he said. "The noise around was something I've never heard before, it was a real harrowing whine that came through."

The airport's opening allowed aid efforts to ramp up, with Australia announcing a Aus$5.0 million (US$3.6 million) package including basics such as food and drinking water.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Canberra had also offered the use of a P-3 Orion aircraft and MRH-90 helicopters to reach outlying islands. "The full impact of this disaster is still not known. We stand ready to provide further assistance to support Fiji's relief and recovery effort," she said.

The island nation has declared a month-long state of natural disaster after the storm that Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama described as an "assault on Fiji".

All schools, many of which are being used as evacuation centres, were ordered closed for one week and military leave has been cancelled so troops can help with the clean-up.

The acting head of the Red Cross's Pacific office Ahmad Sami said an accurate assessment of the storm's impact would take time. "We anticipate that humanitarian needs will be very high," he told AFP.

"This is the first time that Fiji has experienced a cyclone of this magnitude in their history, a category five, so we're still trying to find out the figures."

He said priorities were restoring power and repairing damaged homes, as well as maintaining drinking water supplies in more than 700 evacuation centres.

USA: Big Spenders Keep Travel & Tourism Growing Into 2016

Helped by a strong dollar, low inflation and rising wages, US travellers will remain on the move this year and Europe stands to gain, says latest full year forecast

In 2015, US tourists had more money in their pockets, helping travel to outbound destinations rise by 7.7%.

“As our latest report notes, this was the fastest period of sustained US outbound spending growth in the last few decades.

The upward tick was thanks to the strong greenback, which made gains against just about every other major world currency. Traditionally a safe haven in turbulent times, the US dollar’s strength was driven by concerns over global growth, the slump in commodities and the Federal Reserve Bank’s call to raise interest rates from historically low levels.

There were other factors too that helped US consumers feel more flush; unemployment rates, which kept falling throughout the year to 5% in November 2015, as well as low inflation and highest wage growth since the recession. The latest numbers suggest wage growth will continue – good news for discretionary travel spend.

Also helping consumers to travel more were lower airline ticket prices, as carriers passed on savings from a tanking fuel price to tourists, according Mastercard’s Spending Pulse. The financial services provider also reported that in 2015, US consumers spent a record $157 and $217 per person on airlines and lodgings respectively.

And the good news continues. Going forward, the World Travel and Tourism Council forecasts that outbound travel and tourism expenditure for the US will grow at an average annual rate of 4.9% between 2014 and 2025.

Says Hadwick: “The rapidly growing numbers of low-cost-carriers flying across the pond, coupled with an attractive exchange rate, should also make it a particularly good year for US tourism to Europe.”

So despite uncertain times – the outcome of the upcoming presidential election being one – US travellers will keep hitting the road in 2016, with more money going towards discretionary travel spend.

JAMAICA: Jamaica Tourist Board Announces New Deputy Director Tourism

Marcia McLaughlin Heads Jamaica Tourist Board’s Marketing Department

Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has announced the appointment of Marcia McLaughlin, a hospitality and tourism veteran, as Deputy Director of Tourism, Marketing.

With her February 8 appointment, Ms McLaughlin will have responsibility for developing and coordinating the JTB’s global marketing initiatives, overseeing its public relations and advertising agencies as well as directing its destination marketing, communications, digital marketing and research teams. .

An accomplished marketing and public relations professional, Ms McLaughlin’s career spans the hospitality, travel and automotive commercial retail industries in the United States and Jamaica. Prior to joining the JTB, Ms McLaughlin established eMpower Consultants, a marketing consultancy representing transportation, gaming entertainment and education clients.

She is credited with achieving award-winning results for Appliance Traders Limited Group, a member of the Sandals/Beaches Resorts family, as well as at Half Moon, A Rock Resort. At Sandals Resorts International and Air Jamaica Vacations she managed public relations practices for both companies. Her expertise includes brand direction, managing regional and global media relations, concept and creative development, event planning, website development and digital marketing.

“We are happy to have Ms McLaughlin join the team. She has an impeccable marketing track record in both local and international markets,” Mr Pennicook said. “Under her stewardship we are confident that the destination will enjoy continued growth in new and existing markets as she brings new marketing strategies and vehicles to bear.”

She holds a communication arts degree from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in the United States, and has a professional certificate in digital marketing from the University of Vermont.

CANADA: Canadian Airlines Fear Increase Of Cross-border Travel To Cuba

Canadian airlines say impending U.S. travel to Cuba could spur cross-border travelling by Canadians in search of cheaper flights from American airports to the Communist Caribbean island.

While the low loonie has generally discouraged treks by Canadians to border-area airports in recent months, an eventual rise could prompt them to head once again to the U.S., especially if those hubs start offering an array of flights to Cuba, a longtime favourite for Canada's sun-seekers.

"Should U.S. border airports start offering services to Cuba, it definitely has the potential to exacerbate the leakage of passengers," said Marc-Andre O'Rourke, executive director of the National Airlines Council of Canada.

That would add fuel to the industry's long-standing complaint that its competitiveness is hurt by "a Canadian policy framework that treats the aviation industry as a source of public revenue by downloading government taxes, fees and other charges on airfares."

Some of those concerns were addressed in a report released Thursday that recommends the phasing out of airport rent, reducing the security fee and working with provinces to reduce or eliminate fuel taxes on international flights, O'Rourke added.

Gene Richards, director of aviation for Burlington International Airport in Vermont, said he expects Canadian business and leisure traffic to Cuba will pick up after U.S. airlines begin scheduled service through their hubs, possibly later this year.

American carriers face a March 2 deadline to submit applications.

"I think there's going to be endless opportunities," Richards said in an interview.

The U.S. and Cuba, longtime Cold War foes, recently signed a deal to resume commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades. It will eventually allow up to 110 daily flights from the U.S. to Havana and nine other Cuban cities.

Travel purely for tourism, however, won't be allowed until U.S. Congress lifts a long-standing embargo that also restricts most trade with Cuba.
A Cuban tourism boom ensued after U.S. President Barack Obama announced in December 2014 that his country was going to normalize relations with Cuba. Obama is visiting Cuba next month, the first sitting president to travel to the island in 88 years.

In 2015, 3.5 million visitors travelled to Cuba, according to the Centre for the Study of the Cuban Economy at the University of Havana, many of them travellers who wanted to visit the island before an influx of Americans changes the island too much.

Millions of additional U.S. travellers could join the millions of foreigners who visit Cuba annually - the largest contingent from Canada. Canadians spent $780 million in 844,000 visits in 2014, says Statistics Canada.

Nonetheless industry observers believe an expansion of air service to Cuba will be gradual because the island's infrastructure can't handle a tidal wave of new visitors.

"I think the (Cuban) government's got to be very careful because it could flop really quickly if it isn't done correctly," said Richards.
WestJet Airlines expects the influx of American tourists will make the destination more expensive.

"We do expect to see pressure on hotel room inventory and pricing once the market is opened up to U.S. tourist traffic," said spokeswoman Lauren Stewart. The lower Canadian dollar caused prices to rise last fall because hotel packages are priced in U.S. dollars.

Jury Krytiuk, head of the Cuban travel department at Toronto-area agency A. Nash Travel Inc., said the aggressive construction of beach resorts will support existing Canadian traffic and new U.S. travellers. However, the situation is far more challenging in Havana, where there is a shortage of hotels, especially the ritzy five-star offerings many Americans crave.

Hotel prices in Havana have surged 35 per cent because of growing demand in the past year since travel restrictions were eased for Americans, he said.
"Everyone wants to see Havana before it changes," says Krytiuk, who's been sending passengers to Cuba for 40 years.

The lure of Cuba is different for Canadians than Americans, he adds. Americans will initially be attracted to the culture, old cars and architecture of Havana while most Canadians favour all-inclusive beach vacations.

Tour operator Transat A.T. said the impact on the company from the flood of Americans will be limited because some restrictions on travel remain, and many U.S. flights will be converted from charters that currently fly mostly expats to Cuba to visit family.

"There will not be an abrupt change or nothing will happen overnight," said vice-president Michel Lemay, whose company manages three Ocean Hotels in Cuba that it partially owns with a Cuban state-owned agency.

Cuba could be a springboard for Transat's ambition to become a U.S.-based player as either a tour operator or distributor to help grow its presence in the Americas.

Krytiuk said that makes sense since Canadian tour operators like Transat and Sunwing can parlay their hotel ownership and deep knowledge of Cuba to serve the U.S. market - one that isn't familiar with the Caribbean's largest island.

PHILIPPINES: PH Eyes More Muslim Visitors With ‘Halal’ tourism

The Philippines is accelerating its plans to position itself as a preferred destination for Muslim tourists.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has unveiled a series of initiatives as part of a major drive to create a long-term infrastructure across the country to diversify its visitor arrivals by attracting Muslim visitors- especially from the neighboring ASEAN region and the Middle East, reported Emirates 24/7.

It has now partnered with Crescent Rating, a company into Halal travel, to help build capabilities and resources as well as launch a destination marketing campaign to meet its objectives, the report said.

The relationship will see the DOT embark on a series of activities to increase awareness of the availability of Halal food, mosques, and other Muslim-friendly holiday experiences and facilities in the Philippines, said the Dubai-based news portal

PHILIPPINES: PHL Tourism Nears 5.5 m Visit Arrival Target

The Philippine Department of Tourism’s (DOT) 5.5-million global visitor arrival target for 2015 is within sight, said Stalingrad F. Samson, spokesperson of DOT’s market development group, noting that the country already had more than four million tourists in September.

“We are experiencing a good growth rate. In September, we were over four million already, ” Samson told The Filipino Times, adding that the peak holiday period of 2015’s last quarter would suffice to bring in the remaining numbers.

Meantime, inbound tourism traffic from the Middle East, Samson said, has steadily been increasing from 46,811 in 2009 to 76,163 last year with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accounting for the bulk at 43,483 visitors, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 17,000.

“Saudi tourists are one of the biggest spenders among our tourist markets,” Samson said. There were 19,101 visitors from KSA in 2009. The figure has grown to 22,244 in 2010; 27,945 in 2011; 30,040 in 2012; and 38,969 in 2013.

Tourism arrivals to the Philippines from the region was at 48,716 in 2010 and 55,826 in 2011. There were 57,275 Middle East visitors in 2012, and 68,916 in 2013.

UAE: OFWs ‘are ambassadors’ For PHL Tourism

With limited funding to further promote Philippine tourism overseas, the country is leaning on the strength of itsapproximately 12 million citizens worldwide to entice more international tourists to visitthis archipelago of 7,100 islands.

VernaCovar-Buensuceso, the Department of Tourism’s director for Market Development, told The Filipino Times the Middle East remained a significant source market for the Philippine tourism industry. Although the number of arrivals from the region was smaller than that from other countries, tourists from the Middle East stayed longer and had more disposable income, she said.

Covar-Buensucesosaid most Arab tourists visiting the Philippines do so accompanied by an extended family. They typically stay for three days in five-star hotels in Manila and spendmore days at another destination like Palawan, Boracay, Ilocos Norte, Bohol or elsewhere, to explore and to shop.

Saudi Arabia, where more than a million Filipinos live and work, remains the top Middle East source market for the Philippines, followed closely by the UAE, from where the country received more than 17,000 visitors in 2014.

“The UAE is a growing market for us. Last year, we grew it by 12 percent. They (Emiratis and expatriates from the US, UK, Australia, Europe and India) usually stay in Manila for three days and spendanother three days at another destination (in the Philippines),” said Covar-Buensuceso, who was among the top Filipino officials who came to the UAE for the 22nd Arabian Travel Market held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 4 to 7, 2015.

Investing in exposure

Organized by Reed Exhibitions, more than 400 exhibitors participated in ATM, each paying at least EUR350 per square meter of space at the travel fair, which is considered the largest in the region.

Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka had the largest floor space in the show and the largest amount of promotional material.The Philippine Department of Tourism had a 150-sq.m. booth for the four-day event, which cost approximately PhP2.645 million (about Dh216,862).

Covar-Buensucesosaid that’s just about what the government could afford on its tourism promotion budget.She said travel shows like ATM were proven venues to generate interest.

The Philippine DOT delegation was joined by representatives from 24 trade partners in the aviation, hospitality and travel industries all over the country.Among them was Boracay Foundation, Inc., which seeks to promote ethical ecological tourism in the world-famous beach resort of Boracay in Aklan.

Pia Carmela Miraflores, executive director at the Foundation, said their goal isto protect the natural environment of the island, especially its marine resources, by planting coral under the sea.

Miraflores confirmed that the number of Arab tourists visiting Boracayhad witnessed a significant increase in recent years. Arabs visitors were also active in promoting biodiversity and protecting natural resources there, she said.

In Cebu, another popular destination among tourists, Shangri-La Hotel’s representative at ATM told TFT there had been a lot of interest among Arabs to visit the Philippines, booking as early as now for the Eid holidays in July.She said OFWs could pay local resident rates at the hotel, which were about 40 percent lower than published rates.

All OFWs are PHL ambassadors

Acting Consul General Giovanni Palec said all OFWs should consider themselves ambassadors of the Philippineswith a mission to uplift the image of their country overseas.

“It is implied that every Filipino is an ambassador of goodwill for his or her country. Any action that you take is a reflection on our country. If you do good, that’s a positive recognition for us. If you get into trouble, it puts us in a negative light,” Palecsaid in an interview.

He said Filipinos in the UAE had successfully transitioned from low-paid jobs to key managerial positions.This, the diplomat said, would make it easier for Filipinos to convince Arabs and other nationalities in the region to consider visiting the Philippines.

“Fortunately for many Filipinos in the UAE, through hard work and determination, they have transitioned themselves to more key roles in various employment sectors,” he said.

Covar-Buensuceso said that although her agency hada limited promotional budget overseas, Filipinos themselves and their international friends made up for it, which was evident when the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign was launched.

“We may have limited budget, but we have ways of doing things. The “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaignwas positioned and focused on the social media. In the beginning, we only had three memes on whyit’s more fun in the Philippines; now we have 80,000. OFWs are contributing a lot of content with pictures,” she said.

“So natutuwa kami. Even if our budget is not that big, we still generate a lot of impact overseas,” she added.

The Philippines welcomed about 4.8 million tourists in 2014 with Koreans, Americans, Japanese and Chinese accounting for the majority.This year, the country is aiming to attract more than 6 million tourists.

“Filipinos are really well received anywhere. In the UAE, most of them hold frontline positions. Can you imagine if everybody talks about how beautiful the Philippines is… that will really help. We have millions of overseas Filipinos around the world,” said Covar-Buensuceso.

“We’ve also seen OFWs who are investing in resorts and restaurants (back home). They may also have foreign investors behind them. They are now investing in the Philippines, which is a good sign for all of us,” she added.

UAE: Cruise Tourism Sails On Happy Times In Dubai

The city received more than 500,000 cruise tourists in 2014, making Dubai one of the top destinations for winter cruise tourism in the world, according to a media report.

Maj Gen Mohammad Al Merri, Director-General, General Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai) was quoted as saying that development of the services offered by tourism department at Dubai seaports have made sea borders one of the most preferred for winter cruise tourism.

“The cruise tourism in the UAE and Dubai has been increasing steadily. More than 500,000 cruise tourists visited Dubai in 2014, and the number is expected to cross 600,000 this year with more vessels sailing into UAE waters,” he reportedly said, adding that in 1998, only 10,000 cruise tourists came to Dubai.

Meanwhile, Colonel Hussain Ebrahim, Assistant to the Director-General for sea, and land ports at GDRFA-Dubai, reportedly said that there are six seaports in Dubai — Jebel Ali Port, Port Rashid, Al Shindagha Port, Al Hamriya Port, the Dry Dock Port and the Creek.

“The GDRFA offers different kind of services at these ports like registration of ships and sailors, issuing visas to tourists, and more. Since Dubai airport offers flights across the world and unique services offered by all Dubai airports, most of the shipping and tourist companies prefer to come via Dubai seaports,” he further said.

“Tourists on a cruise coming from around the world most often use Dubai airport to return to their countries. According to official statistics, 75 percent of tourists arriving across the seaports in Dubai return to their country through Dubai airport,” he was quoted as saying.

Colonel Hussain added that cruise tourists are expected to increase next years since the number of cruise ships has increased to up to four ships per day during the season. Most of the cruise ships come from Europe, and they stop here to load or unload passengers or tourists.

“The new UAE rule that gives multiple-entry visas to cruise passengers has also boosted the sector in this season,” he said.

The rule, which came into effect last year, allows cruise tourists to get a multiple-entry visa for all the UAE ports in their itinerary for Dh200. Tourists can enter the UAE through any of its airports, continue on a cruise out of its ports, and come back to the UAE on the same visa.

PHILIPPINES: Global Hotel Brands Will Boost Philippine Tourism

With leading international hospitality brands to foray in the Philippine market, helping Manila add a record number of rooms this year, the tourism industry of the country is all set for a rosy take off, media reports said.

First-timers in the Philippines, Accor Group’s Novotel and MGallery, Hilton Worldwide’s Conrad, and Wyndham Worldwide Corp’s Tryp, will be contributing to the majority of the 4,612 rooms opening in Manila this year, Gulf News reported.

That number is more than double the rooms added last year and four times the average increase in the last four years, according to Colliers International Philippines. Manila is one of the most active locations in the region in new hotel openings, Romeo Arahan, a research analyst at the real estate services firm reportedly said.

The number of additional rooms is expected to exceed 3,500 annually in the next two years, mostly in Manila’s integrated resorts, helping the capital city address its chronic shortage of quality accommodation.

The imminent entry of Genting Singapore’s Crockfords Tower, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ Savoy and Hotel Okura’s flagship brand will also help draw visitors accustomed to luxury travel, the report said.

However, just having large number of rooms is not enough to boost tourism, it added.

The archipelago nation suffers from a lack of airports to serve travelers hopping from island to island. Official data shows the country’s 2014 foreign tourist arrivals were slightly below a target of five million, already low by Southeast Asian standards, the report pointed out.

The government expects overall visitors to reach six million in 2015, the report said.

Aileen Clemente, president of the Federation of Tourism Industries of the Philippines, was quoted as saying by Gulf News that she expects 10 million foreign visitors next year, sticking to a target set by the government.

“Attracting tourists is a problem because you have a government that is very ambitious in targets, but infrastructure is insufficient to achieve the numbers,” Colliers’ Arahans reportedly said.

PHILIPPINES: 18-year-old Becomes Miss Aviation Philippines

Tourism Management student Kristine Micah Malicsi, 18, has become this year’s Miss Aviation Philippines, defeating 13 other candidates for the grand title in the prestigious search for the most captivating woman in the Philippine aviation and tourism industry.

Malicsi, who was the youngest candidate won over the audience with oodles of confidence and energy, making her win the Miss Sassy Award as well during the pre-pageant at Camaya Coast in Bataan, The Standard reported.

Meanwhile, pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo is optimistic that Malicsi will be a great brand ambassador of the aviation-tourism industry, the report said.

“We are excited to have Kristine as our new Miss Aviation Philippines. With her good looks, confidence and wit, she will represent the aviation-tourism industry well,” Cabrera-Quimpo was quoted saying.

On the other hand, Reichelieu Emory Santos, a student pilot from Leading Edge International Aviation Academy became the first runner-up, and Trizia Abaya, a Development Communications student from the University of the Philippines was the third runner-up.

Santos also reportedly bagged a special award as Miss Camaya Coast, while Abaya was awarded Miss Body Beautiful and Best in Catwalk.

Miss Aviation Philippines is the annual search that brings together the most beautiful and charming Filipinas from different sectors in the industry. The pageant, now on its third year, aims to inspire the youth to pursue a career in aviation, empower the women in the industry, and support the country’s tourism initiatives, said the news portal.

“We’re very proud to have a lot of beautiful and smart women who are eager to represent the country’s aviation and tourism industry. We hope that through the Miss Aviation Philippines pageant, we will inspire more people to pursue a career in aviation and better appreciate the women’s significant role in the industry,” said the pageant director.

VIETNAM: Three BritishTourists Swept Down Vietnam Waterfall To Death

Three British tourists found dead at the foot of a surging waterfall in Vietnam fell into a current above the 20 metre drop-off, the director of a tour company said.

The bodies of two women and one man were retrieved Friday by scores of aid workers who scrambled down cliffs abutting the tiered waterfalls outside of Dalat, a city nestled in Vietnam's central highlands.

The Datanla falls are a popular hub for adventure tourists, with opportunities to rappel on the rocks and luge around the jungle park.

Le Viet Luc, the director of a company that runs tours to the site, said the trio was exploring one of the area's seven waterfalls without proper permission from the agency when they were swept up by a strong current.

"They fell into the stream of this waterfall and died after being hit by violent waters," he said, adding that their bodies were transferred to Ho Chi Minh City late Friday night.

The British Embassy in Hanoi released a statement on behalf of the family of the man, Christian Sloan, who local media reported to be 25 years old.

"Christian's death is a very sad loss to us. He was a very popular young man, formerly in the Royal Navy, who had many, many friends not just locally but around the world. He lived for life," the statement said.

The embassy declined to release the names of the two women, ages 18 and 25, who entered the country together earlier this month, according to state media.

"Our sympathies are with the families and friends at this difficult time. We are in close contact with local authorities in Vietnam on their behalf," the UK embassy said.

Vietnam and its neighbours in Southeast Asia are travel magnets for young backpackers, but accidents are frequent amid weak law enforcement and scant safety oversight

CAMEROON: Chinese Made Aircraft For Camair

AS the aircraft Cameroon purchased from China amid a series of controversy finally arrived in the central African country, it remained to be seen whether the gamble would boost regional trade or present the region with a time bomb.

The two MA60 aircraft made their inaugural flights last weekend with trips between the two major Cameroonian cities of Yaoundé and Douala.

“It is a new dawn for Cameroon air travel,” the Director General of the Cameroon Airlines Corporation (CamAir), Jean Paul Nana Sandjo, said.

The two aircraft will take CamAir fleet to five and enable the country expand the scope of its internal flights to include towns like Ngaoundere and Bafoussam.

There are possibilities of extending flights to the towns of Bamenda, Bertoua and Koutaba.

Sandjo explained the idea behind naming the aircraft Logone and Mantung.

“These are Rivers in Cameroon and we wanted to give the aircraft a local colour,” he said.

Transport Minister, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, added the aircraft would foster Economic Community of Central African States sub-regional integration.

“We are going to see CamAir to Bangui (Central African Republic), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) and Libreville (Gabon),” Ngo’o explained.

Business has also lauded the introduction of the aircraft hoping the move would boost trade in Cameroon and the sub-region.

“We expect to see an uptick in trade within the CEMAC Zone. Intra-CEMAC trade currently represents only 3 percent of trade that takes place in this region and initiatives like these will definitely ensure that people move faster and trade faster too,” Andre Fotso, President of the Cameroon Association of Businesspersons.

But the safety record of the Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation-manufactured MA60 aircraft suggests the executives must guard against complacency.

These have been linked to several safety concerns across the globe.

In 2013, the Xian MA60 turboprop aircraft was involved in two separate accidents in Indonesia and Myanmar leaving some passengers injured.

In May 2011 an MA60 crashed into the ocean off the coast of Kaimana in West Papua, killing all 25 people on board.

The MA60 features on the blacklist of the American Federal Aviation Administration.

In 2013, New Zealand suspended its programme of development aid to Tonga’s tourism industry after an MA60 donated by the Chinese Government was delivered to the airline, Real Tonga, and advised tourists to not travel on the planes on the grounds that “this aircraft has been involved in a significant number of accidents in the last few years”, and “is not certified to fly in New Zealand or other comparable jurisdictions.”

Such concerns around safety have been echoed in Cameroon where a prominent journalist described the MA60 aircraft as “flying coffins.”

Director of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority, Pierre Tankam, lost his job in December after raising concern about the safety of the MA60 Aircraft.

His criticism did not sit well with authorities.

Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corporation Xu Bo has however assured passengers about safety.

“It is world class in terms of manufacturing quality. The aircraft engine is from Canada. It is the best engine in the world,” Bo told reporters at the launch of the aircraft’s operations in Yaoundé.

In Cameroon, the controversy around the aircraft dates back to 2011 when government commenced the procedure to purchase the aircraft.

Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority decided to delay the process, and went as far as denying MA60 the necessary certification for it to operate in the country.

Government then put in place an inter-ministerial investigation which came up with the findings that the aircraft are safe.

Under pressure, Takam issued the certification in November, but proved too late as the delay had already the government of Paul Biya, culminating in his sack.

Controversy was not far from the procurement process, putting the debt-ridden CamAir under public scrutiny.

The leading opposition, Social Democratic Front, expressed unease with the amounts of money involved.

It questioned how Cameroon could spend CFA 34,4 billion ($56,6 million) to buy the two aircraft whereas in neighboring Congo, the same number, size and type of aircraft were bought for an equivalent of $23 million.

Bo justified the price.

“The price that we have given is that of the overall package of the project. This means that it is not only the plane. We also provide staff training and a large amount of spare parts including a spare engine that is very expensive.

“We will also send a team of experts who will work with Camair-Co. We are willing to accompany Camair-Co for regular maintenance and technical visits,” he said.

On the occasion of the inaugural flights Bo reiterated these commitments, noting that his company has already trained some 70 CamAir personnel.

Only time will tell whether this Cameroon-Sino transaction was a disastrous or beneficial move.

SADC Uni-visa to Boost Regional Tourism

The 2015 Africa Tourism Monitor has uncovered that visa simplification schemes have the potential to further boost tourism revenue and job creation by between 5% and 25%, and thus far supporting visa facilitation initiatives, including e-visa and regional visa cooperation, have already led to immense economic benefits for countries that have adopted this approach.

This revelation comes at a time when SADC states are preparing to expand the KAZA (Kavango Zambezi) visa, a common tourist visa developed by Zambia and Zimbabwe, which has been identified as the first step towards a SADC uni-visa.

The Tourism Monitor published by the African Development Bank (AfDB), further indicates that the continental tourism sector is growing. The report attributes this growth to various initiatives aimed at boosting the industry which include the simplification of visa systems and regional cooperation mechanisms through the KAZA visa and East African Community (EAC) uni-visa.

According to the report the African tourism sector grew by 4% in 2014, making it the second fastest- growing tourist destination (Southeast Asia grew by 6%). In 2014, a total of 65.3 million international tourists visited the continent, which is a significant leap from the 17.4million that visited the continent in 1990.

Among the top five African countries for tourist arrivals were two SADC states South Africa in 3rd place and Zimbabwe in 5th place while Botswana topped Lonely Planet’s list of best places to visit in 2016, beating out countries such as The United States of America and Japan for first place.

The report links the growth of the tourism sector to visa facilitation initiatives such as the EAC single visa, which was launched in February 2014, engaging Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. The same year saw an increase in Uganda and Rwanda’s tourism receipts by 12% and 8% respectively.

Another uni-visa success story is the KAZA Visa which grew out of the 1998 SADC Protocol on the Development of Tourism.

The visa was launched in November 2014, and ran through May 2015 as a pilot project under a World Bank grant of US$900,000 and positive reports on economic indicators related to the project are anticipated to follow.

Article 5.1 c of the SADC Protocol on the Development of Tourism states that Member States shall endeavour to make entry and travel of visitors as smooth as possible and shall remove practises likely to place obstacles to the development of tourism both regional and international by… having a tourism visa which will facilitate movement of international tourists in the region in order to increase the market share and revenue of the region in world tourism on the basis of arrangements to be negotiated and agreed upon by member states.

The KAZA Visa for tourists between Zambia and Zimbabwe has been touted as the first stage towards this envisioned SADC uni-visa. The second phase of the project, will see the visa’s extension to the other three KAZA states (Namibia, Botswana and Angola) while the next stage will include pilot SADC states (Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland). The fourth and final phase will see the visa’s expansion into the remaining SADC states.

Speaking at the re-launch of Somalisa Camp, in Hwange National Park this year, Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism, Dr Walter Mzembi, indicated that the visa will now be extended to the second phase with the hope that final phase will be completed by the end of 2018.

Despite these intentions, many analysts have argued that there has been a lack of progress in the introduction of the uni-visa as the idea was first mooted in 1998 with an initial operational date set for 2002.

A case study into the lack of progress by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) highlighted that among the key issues of concern that have led to this delay are safety and security concerns, as well as a lack of bureaucratic co-operation in the region.

The study further elaborated that the South African government, in particular, is concerned about security issues as a result of an influx of illegal immigrants.

South Africa recently underwent an extreme overhaul of its visa application processes, which has led to tighter security requirements such as biometric data for all visa applications and unabridged birth certificates for children in a bid to limit the movement of terrorists and child traffickers.

In addition to security concerns SAIIA researchers argue that a regional uni-visa will require extensive co-operation among neighbouring countries at various bureaucratic levels, including revenue authorities, embassies and border control, and within regional policing efforts, and thus far, bureaucratic co-operation in SADC has been weak.

The report concludes that “though the benefits of tourism are clear, civil servants stationed at embassies and within the home affairs departments that manage and implement visas have had little or no exposure to the benefits of tourism and their primary concern is safety and security.”

Despite these challenges South African Home Affairs spokesperson, Mayihlome Tshwete, insists that the idea of a regional uni-visa is still “very much alive and negotiations between SADC states were continuing.”

Speaking in response to the SAIIA report he highlighted that one of the main issues still to be sorted out, is how to share the revenue derived from visas, which is an important source of income for some countries.

He further added that there is a fear that most tourists would choose Johannesburg as their point of entry.

With the benefits of regional visa facilitation mechanisms clearly articulated by the 2015 Africa Tourism Monitor it remains to seen whether such negotiations will be successfully concluded, and whether the 1998 vision of a SADC uni-visa will finally be realized.

ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe Shields Struggling Air Zimbabwe FromCompetition

Zimbabwe says it is protecting its struggling national carrier – Air Zimbabwe – by refusing to grant permission to airlines that want to service the lucrative Harare- London route.

Air Zimbabwe has not been servicing the route since 2012 after creditors threatened to seize its planes over debts. The collapse of the airliner has seen a number of low cost airlines securing licenses to ply regional and domestic routes.

I am inundated by many airlines wanting to get into the Harare-London route. That one I am still protecting.

Competition on the Harare- Johannesburg route is threatening to ground Air Zimbabwe, with some airlines slashing fares by at least 40 percent in the past few days.

Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Joram Gumbo said although the government wanted to promote an open skies policy – the Harare- London route would remain a preserve for Air Zimbabwe.

“I am inundated by many airlines wanting to get into the Harare-London route. That one I am still protecting” he said. ”There are many, I can’t even mention them. Some are top international airlines that tell me that they want to partner us and ply the route.

“The likes of fastjet and others have been applying for the Harare-London route.” Gumbo said the route had attracted scores of travellers from other African countries as Air Zimbabwe used to fly direct to London.

“We want to have long-haul airplanes from here going to London and other places in Europe and have other small aircrafts such as flyAfrica, fastjet and Air Zimbabwe, which fly regionally so that Harare becomes the connecting international airport,” he added.

Air Zimbabwe used to fly between Harare and London six times a week. The airliner also offered flights from the UK to Victoria Falls on a charter basis for tour operators. The government is confident that the embattled Air Zimbabwe would resume long-haul flights to London soon.

Meanwhile, the licensing of more airlines to service the Harare-Johannesburg routes has seen ticket prices taking a serious knock, forcing the traditional carriers to introduce promotions.

The lowest priced fares on the route are $80 one-way excluding government and airport taxes ($50 departing Zimbabwe or $35 departing South Africa).

Air Zimbabwe has rolled out a promotion, which has seen it charging $130 for a one way flight to Johannesburg from Harare and $240 for return flights excluding airport departure tax.