World News

In the Kingdom of Thailand, world renowned for its magnificent natural splendour, bustling street life and stunning cultural sites, the Thailand Rediscovery Ensemble celebrates the best the Kingdom has to offer with a “city and resort” combination package that fuses the excitement of the city with the tropical tranquillity of the sea.

The Dark Sky Island of Sark will open its first observatory on 10th October 2015. The tiny Channel Island was designated as the world's first Dark Sky Island in 2011 by the International Dark-Sky Association and is now only one of two in the world. The award was in recognition of the exceptional blackness of the night sky which makes for spectacular stargazing on the island.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is seeking donations for its CTO Relief Fund to provide monetary assistance to the people of Dominica following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, which dumped 12 inches of rain on the island on Thursday August 27, causing extensive flooding which killed over 30 people and caused over US$200 million in damage.

Dominica begins to rebuild after the impact of Tropical Storm Erika. Assessments continue to the country’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, sites and attractions which are critical to the Country’s productivity and tourism industry. Douglas-Charles Airport remains the only port which continues its cleanup towards reopening. Canefield Airport, the ferry terminal and both cruise ports – Roseau Cruise Ship Berth and the Woodbridge Bay Port – were unaffected by the TS Erika.

The Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe was appointed Trinidad and Tobago’s new Minister of Tourism on Friday 11^th September 2015. Minister Cudjoe first entered the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago as an Opposition Senator at the start of the 10^th Republican Parliament in June 2010.

Now in its 15th year, the Blackmores Sydney Marathon attracts runners from across the globe and, after being awarded a prestigious Gold Label from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), it has become a world class running event alongside the London, Boston and New York marathons. Blackmores Sydney Running Festival is Australia's most unique running event because of the myriad of iconic sights which can be seen along the course.

Thirty one museums from around the world have been shortlisted for the prestigious 2015 Leading Culture Destinations Awards' 'Best Emerging Culture Destination' accolade. The Award scheme, now in its second year, seeks to recognise and celebrate the success of cultural institutions worldwide, now more than ever defining themselves as centres of attraction for a range of social and leisure activities as well as simply enjoying works of art.

With three-quarters of the state forested and the highest percentage of maple trees in the country, Vermont proves its worthy of the title 'Worlds Best Foliage'. As the oncoming Autumn brings the annual, and magnificent, natural display amidst the unique working landscape of rural villages, pastoral meadows and woody hillsides, the Green Mountain State sets the bar for other states positioning themselves as fall foliage destinations. 

Transnet's iconic Blue Train, which celebrates its 70th birthday next year, has this week signed an innovative partnership agreement with leading African hotel brand Sun International. This 18-month pilot partnership is aimed at repositioning “Africa's Leading Luxury Train” at the centre of the global tourism market, adapting to growing competition and recapitalising, which may include the building of new state-of-the-art train sets and the development of new routes. 

Dr. the Honorable Keith Rowley was sworn in as Trinidad and Tobago’s seventh Prime Minister at a ceremony held on Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain. Also being sworn in by President Anthony Carmona was National Security Minister the Honorable Edmund Dillon, a retired Major General, and the new Attorney General the Honorable Faris Al-Rawi.

The Movenpick Resort El Sokhna is surrounded by the Attaka mountains and the Red Sea, and has recently received certification and notable compliance score of 83% against accredited criteria for sustainability. The five-star resort resembles a green oasis with colorful gardens and a private island connected by a bridge. It is an ideal place to enjoy the sandy beach or see dolphins swimming in the Red Sea.

Qatar Airways, the official airline of FC Barcelona is pleased to announce the launch of the FCB Fan Club exclusively for Privilege Club members. The FCB Fan Club, which follows in the footsteps of the airline’s strategic partnership with the Barcelona football giant, creates an exciting platform to reward loyal football-loving members.

Endless culinary delights, rum, polo, shopping, beach fun and late night parties await the attendees of the refreshed Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival 2015. “We felt that in our sixth year we would shake things up a bit and incorporate more of our other tourism product offerings into this highly successful festival”, said CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), William Griffith, during the Barbados launch event at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion Hotel.

Set to be one of the biggest and most spectacular events of the Winter in the UK, The Festival of Light at Longleat will throw a spotlight on the Safari Park's very own 50th birthday celebrations as we head into 2016. Starting on November 13th, and running through to January 3rd, the Winter spectacular will once again take the age-old tradition of the Chinese lantern and completely transform it for a modern audience.

The key to Las Vegas’ continued success as a tourist destination and how its success is achieved will be shared at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Curaçao in October. While Las Vegas is synonymous with casino gambling, Caroline Coyle, the vice president of brand strategy at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has said that the over 41 million people who visited the city last year went for a lot more than gambling, including shopping and entertainment.

An unprecedented fourth major eruption this year has seen the French island of Reunion once again make headlines as more visitors, in particular volcano spotters, head there. More recently, the island made headlines when debris from missing flight MH 370 washed up on Reunion Island’s eastern beaches.