World News

“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.

The first ever Desert X art exhibition is set to take place in Palm Springs and the surrounding desert from February to April 2017. Desert X will offer artists a variety of non-traditional as well as institutional venues in which to display their art, with locations including the Palm Springs Art Museum and Sunnylands Center & Gardens. A wide variety of different contemporary artists are set to exhibit throughout the two-month period, and their artwork will shed light on the geographical, historic, social and ethnic landscape of the California desert, whilst examining many of the major movements in contemporary art. 

As the world renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival draws to a close, it's residents in Birmingham who are having the last laugh – having just been crowned the funniest city in the UK, research from lastminute.com reveals. Analysis of over three million social conversations combined with consumer research uncovered the laughter profiles of 25 towns and cities across the UK. Birmingham, who admit to regularly playing practical jokes on friends or family, is closely followed by Leeds and Cardiff in second and third with Newcastle and Hull tying for fourth.

Tourism in Slovakia offers natural landscapes, mountains, caves, medieval castles, spas, ski resorts, active tourism opportunities, hiking, international flight and train connections, as well as rich cultural heritage, gastronomy, attractions and modern newly-developed lodging capacities.  In the last two years, tourism in Slovakia has been rapidly increasing, and more than 4.3 million people visited Slovakia in 2015, especially the most attractive regions like Bratislava – the capital of Slovakia and the High Tatra region.

Avalon Waterways UK has launched its 2017 brochure with a new type of European river cruise featuring active excursions and local authentic experiences to appeal to a new and potentially younger market. Available on one of the most spectacular stretches of the Danube, from Linz to Budapest, the new 'Active Discovery on the Danube' cruises have been carefully planned so Avalon guests can experience the area like a local.

Perth's coastline offers some of the closest whale watching experiences in the world, if you are lucky you can actually see whales whilst standing on the beach! Perth coastal waters are part of the Humpback Highway that stretches along the coast of WA.  Up to 35,000 whales take this trip every year making it the largest whale migration in the Southern Hemisphere!  Between September and December, humpbacks take a rest-stop off the coast of Perth giving you the perfect opportunity to see them from the beach or for an encounter on a thrilling whale watching cruise.   

The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) will return to the spiritual heart of Australia to perform a series of intimate concerts, led by Richard Tognetti, combined with fine dining events and tour activities from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th June 2017. “Following the outstanding success of the 2015 ACO Uluru Festival, it is a great pleasure to welcome the ACO back to Ayers Rock Resort,” said Voyages Chief Executive Officer Andrew Williams.

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau is proving there's plenty to look forward to once the summer heat begins to cool. Following the huge excitement of the recent Democratic National Convention, visitors will be kept well-entertained with the brilliant festivals and exhibitions, ranging from a spellbinding Harry Potter festival to celebrations of the best arts, music and beers Philadelphia has to offer.

China's stunning city of Hangzhou has already welcomed 1.3 million visitors between the months of January and May this year and expects to see many more travellers enter the city before the end of 2016 as a result of hosting the G20 Summit this September. According to the China National Tourism Administration, approximately 625,000 UK tourists visit China annually and, with this autumn's high-profile event further raising awareness of the city, Hangzhou Tourism Commission is expecting this figure to grow significantly from October onwards.