World News

The Martinique Tourism Authority hosted a delegation of Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) officials May 28–29, 2015 as part of its continuing efforts to bolster the cruise sector on the island. The visit comes as Martinique enjoys its strongest cruise results in years, posting a 631-percent increase in cruise passenger arrivals since 2010.

In the early 1900's a railway was built between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. It cut through virgin hardwood forest, and for much of its length it was perfectly straight as it crossed the deep sands of Hwange.  The area then, as now, was home to prolific wildlife – King Mzilikazi declared it his own special reserve.

Martinique was the big winner at this year's Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Travel Media Awards with journalists producing articles promoting travel to The Isle of Flowers earning five of the 10 top honors. Honored journalists and their Martinique stories are as follows:

At the recent TOFTigers 10th anniversary event at the Royal Geographical Society in London, Jeffrey Parrish, Managing Director of the World Wildlife Fund in US, highlighted the ongoing collapse in biodiversity across the globe. More than 53% of wildlife species have been lost since 1970.  He appealed to the global nature travel community to do more to 'inform, incentivise and invest in conservation'.

Qatar Airways announces that at a ceremony in the ‘Salon des Ambassadeurs’, at the Elysée Palace yesterday, President of the Republic of France, Francois Hollande, presented to Qatar Airways' Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker a Legion of Honor.

WWF-Pakistan has been awarded the National Energy Globe Award for its project City-wide Partnership for Sustainable Water Use and Water Stewardship in SMEs in Lahore, Pakistan. Funded by the European Union, it aims to promote water efficient production and consumption practices in the country’s Small and Medium Enterprises through the implementation of Best Water Management Practices.

Visitors took in the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas before the lights went out on Vivid Sydney 2015. NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said for 18 days, Vivid Sydney has captivated the imagination of visitors of all ages from across Australia and the world.

His Majesty King Felipe VI, King of Spain joined Tourism Ministers, Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) and David Scowsill, the President and CEO of the WTTC (World Travel&Tourism Council) for the 15th. WTTC Global Summit in Spain.

The Born Free Foundation has launched a ground-breaking scientific report, Back to the Blue, detailing the successful rescue, rehabilitation and release of two captive dolphins, Tom and Misha. This pioneering report charts the rehabilitation of Tom and Misha, who were rescued from a toxic swimming pool in Turkey in June 2010.

At a Caribbean Week New York news conference, the CTO chairman and Barbados tourism minister, Richard Sealy, reported that the Caribbean “bolted out of the gates” in 2015 with a six per cent rise in tourist arrivals in the first quarter when compared to the same period last year.

Dominica presents the Nature Island Food and Drink Festival, 4 days of culinary excellence and passion.  Organized by Vetivert Inc., the festival to be held from July 1^st – 4^th 2015 incorporates Island Chef Cook-Off Competitions, Mixologist Competitions, Culinary Arts and Ital Food Symposiums and expos and a Farm to Table experience for kids.

This year's theme; 'Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care', encourages people across the globe to rethink their lifestyles and, through conscious consumer decisions, decrease humanity's collective negative impact on nature's resources.

The European Commission has announced that it plans to develop an EU Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking. The European Union is a major transit hub and destination for many illegal wild animals and wildlife products.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority started Caribbean Tourism Week with a splash by hosting the must-attend event of the city, with over 180 attendees including influential, top-tier leading media, and travel trade and executives.

A past chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) board of directors is among four people to be recognized by the CTO allied membership for their contributions to Caribbean tourism.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will recognize travel journalists for their outstanding coverage of the region at the CTO Travel Media Awards Luncheon at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel on Thursday 4 June during Caribbean Week New York.