World News

Kyoto, the former ancient capital of Japan, is widely known for its rich history and vibrant culture. It is therefore not surprising that the annual Jidai Matsuri festival, which commemorates the relocation of the Japanese capital from Kyoto to Tokyo in the nineteenth century, is one of the city's most anticipated and celebrated events.

The five-star, exclusive use venue has partnered with two of Scotland's leading wedding suppliers to create the perfect winter wedding package - and with the help of a professional snow machine, even the weather can be arranged. The new offer provides all the ingredients for an unbeatable winter wedding atmosphere. From the piper greeting guests on arrival, to the dazzling display of fireworks as night falls, every moment will be taken care of.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are due to arrive in Canada on Saturday, 24 September. With offices both at home in London and in Vancouver, global deals company Travelzoo has put together a guide on how to follow in the Royal footsteps around Vancouver, and what to see and do along the way.

Luxury resort and spa, Shangri-La's Rasa Ria, in Malaysian Borneo has announced Sail Jamaludin as its new Nature Ambassador.  Sail will be responsible for leading the development of the resort's Nature Reserve and promoting its news, initiatives and innovative eco-tourism product to an international audience. Rasa Ria is a luxury beach-side resort with its own 64 acre nature reserve nestled within 400 acres of tropical jungle and all watched over by Sabah's iconic Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The beautiful twin-islands of Antigua and Barbuda will be viewed by millions ahead of the winter booking period, as the unique culture of the destination features on the seventh season of the award-winning documentary TV series, Music Voyager. “Music Voyager: Antigua and Barbuda,” filmed on the islands last year, highlights the story of Antigua and Barbuda through music and culture allowing viewers to experience the country through the eyes of the locals, and their words.

With the International Women’s Empowerment Summit (IWES) quickly approaching, men and women from as far as Ghana are hoping to secure a spot at this inaugural event in paradise. Slated for October 19-21 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, the schedule for the summit is overflowing with purposeful activities, in particular eight revolutionary panels. Some of the featured speakers on the panel are heavy hitters like Pastor of One Church in Los Angeles, Toure Jakes Roberts; Fashion and Swimwear Designer, Amber Atherton and Celebrity Makeup Artist, Gabby Bernstein.

It's known as one of America's most haunted cities – and with good reason too. Selected as the filming location by M. Night Shyamalan for his blockbuster supernatural films, such as The Sixth Sense, and home to some of the oldest relics and institutions in the country, Philadelphia enjoys a highly eerie premise.

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation's State of the Travel Industry Conference (SOTIC) has begun on the beautiful island of Barbados.At the annual State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) Caribbean tourism practitioners, policy makers, strategic partners from the public and private sectors, and travel professionals, gather to discuss issues, identify solutions and courses of action to keep the region competitive and therefore benefit its tourism industry.   

“Safety, security, international cooperation and peace are key factors to ensure the sustainable development of the tourism sector,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, at the Bled Strategic Forum, an annual meeting held in Slovenia. The occasion provided with the opportunity to present the UNWTO/World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC) Open Letter on Travel and Tourism to Miro Cerrar, the Prime Minister of Slovenia.

The under-representation of women and increasing gender inequalities must be reversed if sustainable development goals are to be met, according to the Commonwealth at the Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Apia. Setting its commitment in implementing creative solutions to involve women in tackling pressing global issues including climate change, the Commonwealth Secretariat stressed the economic value of gender equality across political, business and civil sectors.

Look out for more information this week and in the October edition of The Phoenix Newspaper!

When it comes to Uganda's wildlife, it's not just our distant cousins that steal the show; our feathered friends are giving the famous mountain gorillas a run for their money. Birding in Uganda is full of surprises, 1072 to be precise! Condensed into an area the same size as Great Britain, it is arguably the most attractive country in Africa to the birdwatcher and therefore it's no surprise that a bird, the elegant Crested Crane, is Uganda's national symbol too.

The public trust reposed in the Force leadership of the Inspector General of Police Ag. IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM mni, continued to receive boost; as the newly elected executive members of National Association of Nigerian Students led by its President elect, Comrade Haruna Kadir, paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police on the 6^th September, 2016 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

As Lisbon's iconic 25 de Abril Bridge has recently reached its 50th anniversary – and with plans for a new tourist lift just announced – the mighty Tagus River provides the perfect channel to discover the very best of Portugal's capital. In just six stops – and one day – visitors can follow the city's history, from the ancient Belem district with its World Heritage listed monuments, through the Baixa district which was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake through to Parque das Nações, the face of modern Lisbon.

With the Rio Paralympic Games beginning this week, on the 7th of September, accessible tourism is once again in the spotlight. It is a movement that is continuing to grow and is attracting more and more attention from tour operators, agencies and travellers alike, all around the world. Brazil is no exception and the country has worked harder than ever to improve travel options for tourists with disabilities.