World News

2016 will welcome the third Iceland Winter Games (IWG), which is one of the world's biggest winter festivals.  Based in Akureyri, the ski capital of Iceland, the festival  draws in some of the biggest names in winter sports and hosts events unseen anywhere else. This includes challenging ski jumps in the shape of volcanoes, mountain top to sea skiing, Arctic horseback riding and dog sledding championships.

Where better to spend your Valentine's weekend than in the land of Love, Loveland, Colorado, America's Sweetheart City. In Loveland, Colorado, Valentine's Day is more than a day – it is a celebration of everything you love. Here, romantic heart-shaped love notes dot the streets, fire and ice intersect for a romantic getaway and local craft brews are transformed into love potion during the Loveland Fire and Ice Festival, the largest Valentine's Day celebration in the US.

Hundreds of Caribbean tourism vendors from around the world gathered at the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Marketplace 2016 held at the Atlantis Paradise Island from January 21-23. The marketplace brings together tour operators, hoteliers, and tourist boards. It’s instrumental in creating a buzz in the international marketplace as hundreds of journalists, bloggers and media personalities are also in attendance.

Question: Were dinosaurs hot, as in hot lovers? Answer: probably yes, when they were “in heat.” This is a serious scientific question.  We know some dinosaurs had flamboyant head gear: horns, frills and crests. Add the evidence that many had feathers and were related to birds, and a whole new vista of possibilities opens regarding their courtship, mating and display activities.

The year kicks off for Aruba with the biggest event of the year and everyone's favourite, Aruba's spectacular annual Carnival. Following the opening Torch Parade and Carnival Queen elections, there is a Children's Grand Carnival Parade in capital Oranjestad on January 31, when hundreds of youngsters come together to show off their dancing skills and colourful costumes.

After a complex restoration effort, David Ireland's Mission district house at 500 Capp Street—the late conceptual artist's enigmatic residence and site-specific art installation—opens to the public on Jan. 15, 2016 as the city's first historic artist's home. During the thirty years Ireland lived there, he embedded the house with his own pieces and transformed it into a work of art in its own right.

Set to reach new heights for its fifth anniversary, The World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE®) returns to Hamburg on 5 – 7th April as part of the Passenger Experience Week 2016. The world-class exhibition will offer a unique platform for professionals from across the rail and air industry to meet over 300 industry suppliers, source the latest products, attend a wide range of networking events and view demonstrations from world-class chefs.

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth has been announced as the global ambassador for Tourism Australia's new campaign, which will focus on the country's world-class aquatic and coastal experiences.  Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O'Sullivan said that whilst Australia would still be the star of its latest campaign, Chris Hemsworth would provide an authentic Australian voice to help tell the country's story globally.  

Riding the New York subway -never mind the temperature- take your pants off. Described as “an international celebration of silliness,” the unusual holiday is always planned for winter. This year it took place on Sunday, January 10. One day a year subway riders across the world get rid of their trousers and skirts to show off their new knickers and have fun as part of the “No Pants Subway Ride” day.

The Mediterranean island of Malta was named #3 on the prestigious New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2016” list in its Sunday Travel Section. A European country situated between Sicily and the North African coast, has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Valletta, Malta’s capital, was named the European Capital of Culture 2018.

International tourist arrivals in 2016 are expected to hit a record high of 32 million compared with an estimated 29.88 million last year, the Thai tourism and sports minister said. "Actually, 32 million is just a calculation. We do not put that as a target because we are now emphasising only revenue," Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said. Ms Kobkarn said 32 million foreign visitors - a 7% increase over 2015 - likely would generate 1.67 trillion baht in revenue.

Tamworth, the home of country music in Australia will come alive for the annual Toyota Country Music Festival from 15 – 24 January 2016. With over 700 performers and 2,800 shows taking place across 120 different venues, the largest country music festival in the southern hemisphere will feature performances from some of the biggest names in country music including Kasey Chambers, Shannon Noll and Brothers 3.

The Seychelles Tourism Board has confirmed the dates of the 2016 edition of the island's Carnaval International de Victoria, the event set to continue to bring together the different cultures and people from around the world to one place. Dubbed as the ‘carnival of carnivals’, Carnaval International de Victoria, now going in its sixth year will be held from April 22 to 24.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake caused weak to light shaking in the Dominican Republic on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake, which occurred at around 11:25 AM local time, struck at a depth of 12 kilometres. Its epicentre was about 3 miles north-northwest of Villa Vasquez in the Dominican Republic and about 101 miles north-northeast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. There were no damage or injuries reported due to the quake.

The 27th December 2015 will mark thirty years since the mysterious death of famed zoologist Dian Fossey who dedicated over thirty years of her life to researching and protecting endangered mountain gorillas in Africa. In support of her achievements and to ensure her values are carried forward to future generations, eco-luxe lodge company Volcanoes Safaris continues to make tracking gorillas accessible to tourists in Rwanda and also organises excursions to visit Fossey's research centre, which is also the site of her grave.