Top Ten places in #Africa

ACACIA Africa has updated its top ten list of the most popular #destinations to visit in Southern and East #Africa (20 January 2019), the results compiled from expert sources and Instagram hashtags. In the 12 months since the original data was made available there have been some significant changes - Uganda taking the top slot from South Africa and Mozambique moving from tenth to third place.

The cost of trekking the endangered mountain gorilla in Uganda is half that of neighbouring Rwanda, and while the price differential might well have drawn more people to visit the country over 2018, Acacia claim our growing concern with over-tourism and eagerness to see places which are less well visited or where tourist numbers are more strictly monitored to protect the environment, in this case the gorillas habitat, is the reason behind Uganda’s rise to fame.

1.   Uganda
2.   Tanzania
3.   Mozambique
4.   Kenya
5.   Namibia
6.   Zimbabwe
7.   Botswana
8.   Zambia
9.   South Africa
10. Malawi

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Lanzhou City on the big screen

A video exhibiting the charming culture of Lanzhou City will be broadcast on the mega screen of the "Crossroads of the World" -- New York Times Square. The video is produced by the News Office of Lanzhou City Government, and is titled "Golden Lanzhou, the City of the Yellow River". 

#LanzhouCity is proud to share the city's image and culture with the world at this very special time, when the People's Republic of China celebrates its 70th anniversary and embarks on its path to pursue new achievements and communicate more with the world for peace and hope. Following its nation's footsteps, Lanzhou City is trying its best to protect Oriental culture as well as develop itself.


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Strawberries anyone?

STRAWBERRY production is flourishing in Chiba Prefecture,Japan home to more than 100 strawberry farms where visitors can enjoy "strawberry picking," which is quite popular with tourists.

Varieties of strawberry species are grown on many of the strawberry-picking farms, and visitors can enjoy eating the berries to compare their tastes. Notably, "CHI-BA+BERRY," a new strawberry variety that hit the stores in January 2017, is available only in Chiba Prefecture.

Chiba Prefecture sits about 40 kilometres southeast of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. There are many attractions making ii an interesting region to visit. The Chiba Urban Monorail, the longest suspended monorail in the world, Kasori Shell Midden, the largest shellmound in the world, Inage Beach, the first artificial beach in the nation and the Chiba City Zoological Park.

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Alton Towers comes out tops

USING search volume data from Google, travel website, The Tourist Trail has published a list of the top 20 most searched for UK attractions in 2018, and the results may surprise you.

Whilst over half of the top 20 attractions were based in London, the top spot went to an attraction much further outside the capital. In fact, only two out of the top five went to London attractions, with the number one spot going to Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire.

Since opening in 1980, Alton Towers has evolved into a large resort with a range of attractions, including a theme park, a waterpark, several hotels, and even a spa.

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Picture Credit: david.nikonvscanon Alton Towers: Rita Queen of Speed via photopin

Practical Paris

FOR several years, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau has been active on the subject of accessibility, leading dedicated workshops and raising awareness among Parisian tourism professionals who are seeking to improve the welcome they offer to their visitors. Helping all visitors to enjoy and explore the French capital they have published the 2019-2020 version of its dedicated brochure Accessible Paris.

This practical 28-page guide provides visitors with everything they need to know on how to get to and around #Paris, where to stay, and also where to find adapted places for entertainment. It is also a source of information for #accessible cultural attractions and recreational activities, and suggests a sightseeing itinerary adapted to wheelchair users. The rich content of this new edition provides an increased number of accessible activities for everyone to discover.

Available in French and in English, at the Tourist Office’s information point, at City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), it is also available on request in large print or in (French) braille. In addition, it can be consulted and downloaded on the website PARISINFO.COM, in the rubric ‘Practical/Visiting Paris with a disability’.


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Focus on tourism in the Solomon Islands

THE Solomon Islands government is looking to the tourism sector to attract 60,000 visitors annually by 2025, in the process netting the country’s economy SBD1 billion. With International visitation to the Solomon Islands growing on average nine per cent annually, the destination is hopeful of achieving the 30,000 mark by the end of 2019.  

Addressing delegates attending the 2019 ‘Measure What Matters’ Tourism Focus in Honiara, #SolomonIslands caretaker prime minister, the Hon. Rick Rick Houenipwela said contributions from tourism in recent years had now grown to the point when the sector was now looked at to plug the gap left by the country’s former key economic drivers, including forestry and mining."

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For the Culture Vulture

CULTURE Attractions of Australia will provide a single point of contact for travellers, trade partners and media to access premium, behind-the-scenes cultural experiences in iconic locations. 

As a collective, its strength lies in the diversity and iconic nature of the sites and collections represented, as well as the direct connection they hold with the people and cultures of #Australia. 

The founding members of Cultural Attractions of Australia are Adelaide Oval, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australian War Memorial, WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle Prison, Melbourne Cricket Ground, MONA, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Opera Australia, Parliament House, Port Arthur Historic Site, Qantas Founders Museum Longreach, Sovereign Hill and Sydney Opera House. 

Each of these institutions has developed one or more rare, premium experiences, ensuring unrivalled access and attention for their guests who can expect the unexpected.  

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A destination to take your breath away

ONE of Australia’s fastest growing, must see destinations is proud to introduce ‘The Tweed Tourism Company’ (TTC) to manage the destination’s marketing, tourism experiences, product development, industry events and visitor information services on behalf of the Tweed region.

The Tweed is located in Northern NSW and offers an abundance of food, art and nature based experiences. The region boosts lush green valleys, majestic mountains, natural river streams and a vast coastline of untouched beaches. With ideal weather, pristine natural environment and a burgeoning arts scene, this is one of Australia’s most desirable travel destinations.

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Picture credit: By Froggydarb at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9592249

Leaving the EU a positive impact for the Isle of Wight

LEAVING the EU is having a positive impact on holiday island the Isle of Wight, according to Wight Coast Holidays who are the island's leading provider of self catering holidays.

Estimates vary but the company have seen a rise in holidays by over 20% for #IsleofWight holiday rentals in 2019 compared to 2018.

According to a spokesman from their office in Bembridge they have received multiple bookings from holidaymakers who normally visit Spain, France and Portugal worried about possible delays at airports after the UK leaves the EU - and the prospect of queueing for their flights with children in tow for hours on end has led to them considering the Isle of Wight in 2019, with some visiting for the first time in a few years.

For many in the UK the Isle of Wight ferry crossing separates them from a staycation on the mainland, and the crossing takes less than an hour with Red Funnel from Southampton and Wightlink from Portsmouth Harbour and Lymington.

While it's likely that other UK destinations will experience a holiday industry boost in Devon and Cornwall for example, the fact that to get to the Isle of Wight involves a ferry crossing for those used to going abroad could mean the island will benefit more from the uncertainty over Brexit.

Top attractions on the island include Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House but for family holidays the beaches of Bembridge, Seaview, Sandown and Shanklin could mean tourists will return again in future years with a positive impact on the tourist industry, which is a major player in the island's economy.


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Celebrate in the Kings playground

KNOWN as the playground of the Kings of France, and remembered as the cradle of the French Renaissance, the #LoireValley will shine even brighter in 2019. The UNESCO World Heritage region will be celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the French Renaissance, which coincides with the anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death in #France. 

During the first year of Francois Ier's reign in 1515, and following his victory at Marignano, the French King met Leonardo Da Vinci. Awed by the genius, and by Italy's artistic and architectural renewal, France's great Renaissance king invited the artist to live in France. In 1516 (with the Mona Lisa, The Virgin and child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist, all now at the Louvre Museum), Leonardo left Rome for Royal Amboise, settling at the Château du Clos Lucé, where he spent the last three years of his life.

The building of majestic Chateau de Chambord, whose staircase and design was inspired by Da Vinci's ideal city, began in 1519. This inspired later Renaissance gems like Chenonceau--of Catherine de Medici fame, Azay-le-Rideau, Valençay and Villandry. The program of events will include a large traveling digital show, an international architecture competition, banquets, and a wealth of exhibitions, including a virtual exhibit of Leonardo's 17 masterpieces at the Chateau du Clos Lucé. 


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Tourism to Japan breaks all records

THE Japan National Tourism Organization announced that more than 30 million overseas travelers visited Japan in 2018, an all-time record and an 8.7% increase over 2017 (the previous record year).

"Tourism to Japan from the United States – about 5% of the total – soared 11%," says Naohito Ise, Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization in New York.

In 2018, America's two most influential travel magazines gave #travel to #Japan a major thumbs-up, with Travel+Leisure pronouncing Japan the "Destination of the Year" for 2018 and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards citing Tokyo and Kyoto as the top two big cities in the world.

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The Louvre crowned as France’s top tourist spot

THE world’s largest art museum the Louvre hosted a record breaking 10.2 million visitors in 2018, up from 25% the previous year, with the Eiffel Tower coming in second place.

The historic museum is home to many renowned pieces such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Théodore Géricault's 19th century masterpiece the Raft of the Medusa, not forgetting many antiquities and sculptures.

Frances’ tourism industry took a sharp decline after terrorist attacks claimed 230 lives between 2015 and 2016, but figures have recently increased, with #Paris once again becoming a European hotspot for tourists.

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History Creates Tourism

WORLD Tourism Day 2019 will be celebrated on September 27 and Cambodia and Djibouti have won the honor to be global examples in the tourism and cultural world for 2019, according to a string of key decisions for tourism and culture future in 2019 taken by the global tourism institutions.

Phnom Penh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia and Djibouti city, the capital of The Republic of Djibouti were selected as the official model cities for World Tourism Day celebrations and official hosts of global tourism events.

Both Djibouti and Phnom Penh where in previous years selected as World`s Capital of Culture and Tourism and globally recognized as centers of heritage, tourism and culture.

The  theme was decided to be History and Tourism: A symbiotic relationship!, destined not only to enliven tourism during 2019, but also to emphasize that tourism is inextricably linked with historical legacy.

History is the main attraction that is creating tourism demand and visitors expectation is linked with the existence of historical and cultural heritage.



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Americans seek unique and novel experiences

EXPEDIA.COM analyzed thousands of data points this year to identify the top trends in travel for 2018, and the results show that American travelers are increasingly interested in unique and novel experiences.

Activities and experiences are increasingly popular as travelers look to personalize and customize their vacations. These are the fastest-growing activity categories in 2018 for the U.S.:

Fastest-growing category: Attractions. Observation decks and architectural landmarks are leading the pack, with the Eiffel Tower, Rome's Colosseum, the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and the High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas among the top trending attractions.

Runner-up: Tours & Sightseeing. Walking and hop-on-hop-off bus tours remain popular among travelers visiting big cities.

Third place: Shopping & Culinary Experiences round out the top categories, as travelers look to get the most out of their destinations and sample local flavors.


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Grand Canyon West: Open for Visitors

THOSE looking to experience the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon amid the federal government shutdown can do so at Grand Canyon West.

Grand Canyon West is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe through its Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. Grand Canyon West is not part of the National Park Service. Thus, the tourism center, which attracts more than 1 million visitors each year, has not been at all affected by the current federal government shutdown.

Visitors are welcome to explore the world-famous Skywalk glass bridge, which hovers more than 4,000 feet about the floor of the Grand Canyon. Other Grand Canyon West experiences include Hualapai Ranch, which is a replica of an old western town, and majestic viewpoints like Eagle Point and Guano Point.

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Alexander Hamilton and the American Revolution

HAMILTON: The Exhibition will premiere in #Chicago on April 6, 2019. Created by Hamilton musical creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and producer Jeffrey Seller, this 360-degree, immersive exhibit is designed to take visitors deeper into the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, while at the same time chronicling the American Revolution and the creation of the United States of America. 

The exhibit will feature an audio tour narrated by Miranda. With a dynamic, interactive mix of in-depth scenography, lighting, sound, multimedia and music, Hamilton: The Exhibition will give visitors an experiential journey from Hamilton’s childhood in St. Croix to his untimely death in Weehawken, New Jersey. 

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Engaging in rural tourism

CHINA has been encouraging poor villages to develop tourism by providing them with subsidies. In 2007, the number of tourist visits to rural areas exceeded 2.5 billion, benefiting 9 million rural households. 17.5 percent of the people who have risen above the poverty line have done so through engaging in rural tourism.

51 year old Chang Ying is a resident of a remote desert village in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He has three daughters, and had almost no source of income. Opportunities came in the summer of 2014 when a tourism company came to invest and turned the desert land into a scenic spot where villagers like Chang can make money by offering tourists horse or camel rides.

It turned out that the revenue from one horse could reach 700 to 800 yuan a day. Apart from that incentive, each poor household is eligible for a subsidized loan of up to 50,000 yuan with which they joined the operation of the scenic spot and get a yearly dividend of 5000 yuan. This policy has helped to greatly improve the life of poor households.


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Explore the beauty of Prague

PRAGUE Airport, CzechTourism, Prague City Tourism and the tourism hub for Central Bohemia have launched an advertising campaign in New York.

The campaign aims to present #Prague and Central Bohemia in the US as an attractive and safe #destination and promote incoming tourism from the country.

The campaign to promote tourism in Prague and Central Bohemia includes approximately 1,000 advertising spaces on New York underground trains and 80 advertising spaces in the underground station on 53rd Street and 5th Avenue, right in the centre of Manhattan.

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Amazing Thailand New Year Countdown Display

MORE than one and a half million people turned out in Bangkok to watch a spectacular, five-minute fireworks display that ran along the length of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River for more than 1,400 metres at midnight on 31st December 2018 as part of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's "Amazing Thailand Countdown 2019" celebrations to mark the arrival of 2019.

The dazzling New Year countdown display, the largest of its kind ever organised in #Bangkok, lit up the sky along the river. It was viewed by locals and international visitors from riverside hotels and unique travel destinations. 



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Fun in the Mud

BALI Zoo does it again with another first in elephant experiences. The new Elephant Mud Fun half-day package allows you to get down and dirty with their friendly Sumatran elephants while also discovering all about their behavior and lifestyle from experienced mahout handlers. 

You’ll learn interesting facts such as, it is very common to find elephants basking in mud during the summer months because their high body temperature generates a great deal of metabolic heat, and with no sweat glands to relieve their internal thermometers they rely on mud to stay cool and protect themselves from the heat of the sun because even though their hide looks tough, elephants can actually get sunburned.

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