M&TatW e-Magazine MICE & TOURISM around the World the global monthly online magazine since 1997 vol. 23, issue 11, November 2020
Ms. Tatiana Harajdova
The Wonderful World of WINDSOR CASTLE, UK Kitarō Nishida / 西田 幾多郎 The Philosopher of Civilisations An Interview with…Ms. Tatiana Harajdova CEO and Managing Director of Worldwide Travel Destination Management Ltd
Remember When… It’s Time To Visit Kyrgyzstan!
MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine Volume 23, Issue 11, November 2020 edition – Online since 1997
Contents 8-14 The Wonderful World of WINDSOR CASTLE, UK
17 11th International Amorgos Film Festival, Greece 18 IMTM - International Mediterranean Tourism Market 2021 19 Korea Mice Expo Returns as Hybrid Event This November
21 D'Archo Travel "touch of perfection", Turkey 25 Airlines Refund Warning 26 Aeroflot Resumes Moscow-Tokyo Flights 30-32 Kitarō Nishida / 西田 幾多郎 The Philosopher of Civilisations 33-34 An Interview with…Ms. Tatiana Harajdova 36 Greek Tourist Season Closes With Big Decreases in 2020 37 China's Tourism Recovery a Lesson We Need to Learn 39 Panama Seeks to Reactivate Tourism 40-41 REMEMBER WHEN… 43-47 It’s Time To Visit Kyrgyzstan!
Sponsored by
BML International-UK
www.bmlinternational.co.uk
Message from
Caroline-Artemis Welcome to November and already we are nearing the end of 2020. I am sure we will all be pleased to see the back of this year and to be looking forward to the prospect of a more positive world in 2021 (fingers crossed)! With the tourism and hospitality sectors being one of the hardest hit industry sectors due to the global health pandemic, still with no tourists, empty hotel rooms and airplanes, the road to recover is expected to take time with the forecast for pre-pandemic levels returning in 2024. So, as we try to adapt to this new way of life, one area that is keeping tourism going is the greater use of Virtual Reality Tourism (VRT). Still a new marketing tool for many, this is now the only way many people can experience a destination and get up close to a real-world travel feeling without actually being there. VRT was considered an added marketing tool, but now it is becoming a long-term essential to tourism marketing. The pandemic has been a huge boost for this technology with a number of countries increasing VR marketing to prepare for the gradual recovery of their tourism industries.
However it is not designed to replace real-world travel but to keep the interest in a destination going while, aiming to inspire and educate potential customers about the destination for a real-life travel experience. VRT may not ultimately increase visitor numbers to a destination, but it will definitely have its place in helping familiarise travellers with a new environment and help rebuild consumer confidence. Wishing you all strength and good health. Enjoy the November edition of MICE & TOURISM around the World e-Magazine
Caroline-Artemis Laspas co-founder & editor
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF
WINDSOR CASTLE by Caroline-Artemis Laspas
© m&tatw
On a bright sunny autumn morning, the MICE & TOURISM around the World team were in for a big treat! We had arrived at WINDSOR CASTLE! © m&tatw
The Castle sits on a high hill overlooking the River Thames; the perfect castle location! The weekend retreat to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Windsor Castle is one of the UK’s top visitor attractions.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II © m&tatw
It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been home to 39 Monarchs. It was built in the th 11 century by William the Conqueror and as we were to discover, every corner and passageway was filled with treasures, luxurious furnishings and with stunning views across the perfectly curated grass courtyard and out onto the lush Windsor Great Park, the Long Mile and beyond. Being just a half hour drive from home, we have been to the town of Windsor many times, and as I child I have been into the castle a couple of times, but now I was old enough and keen to really appreciate the glorious magic of this place.
George IV's Inner Hall
Be sure to allow plenty of time to explore the town, with its many boutique shops within the old station and to walk by the River Thames.
Windsor © m&tatw
Inside the castle grounds, you can really appreciate the architecture and stonework that make up the many varied parts of this impressive castle. Windsor Castle is internationally recognisable for its Round Tower, surrounded by a dry moat and walls. Originally it was the central feature of the Norman defensive stronghold. The visitor tour incorporates the rooms where HM The Queen hosts official visits from Foreign Heads of State, investitures, and awards ceremonies. Visitors enter through the Castle’s Inner Hall, with its beautiful stone arches. This is the State Entrance and has only recently been opened to visitors. The real treat is looking out of the tall window at the end of the hall that overlooks the stunning 2½ mile tree-lined Long Walk. As we continued on the tour, the walls of the hall were lined with beautifully decorated armour, swords and rifles. To keep us going on the tour, we stopped off at the new café. Located in the original medieval Undercroft beneath St George’s Hall, it dates back to Edward III’s reign in the 14th century. It is one of the oldest st surviving parts of the castle and is the 1 café the castle has had for visitors. The Undercroft was at one time the main cellar of the castle. Indeed even this has spectacular medieval architecture. The Grand Staircase that leads to the Vault Room is a site to behold. Each wall is decorated with displays of guns, swords and rifles and shields. The ceiling is a beautiful octagonal wooden and glass dome allowing in plenty of light to highlight the displays including the two bronze horse statues that stand to attention at the top of the stairs. The small canons are also most impressive! The Vault Room is home to some of the many varied state gifts Her Majesty has received on visits from other nations. Encased in huge wooden glass fronted cabinets, bejewelled daggers, glistening platters, to hand woven handbags, simple goblets and native traditional ornaments, show the thought and generosity of nations to our visiting Sovereign.
W St George's Hall © Mark Fiennes
www.miceandtourismaroundtheworld.com
Grand Reception Room © Peter Smith
The Waterloo Chamber is undergoing refurbishment. However, there are still huge fireplaces to marvel at and some previously unseen artwork; 16 ‘pantomime pictures’. These were created to fill the empty frames in WWII as the real priceless portraits had been removed for safe keeping. After the war the portraits were returned on top of the pantomime pictures and it is only now, that these pictures can be seen by the public for the first time. Make sure you also admire the carpet here! It was made my hand in Agra, India in 1893. It was brought to Windsor Castle by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Lansdowne, and it has been in the Waterloo Chamber ever since. It measures 23m x 12m and weighs a huge 2 tonnes. It is believed to be the largest seamless carpet in existence. The Waterloo Chamber is used for various important events and was where royal plays took place, several performed by The Queen and her sister when they were younger.
Windsor Castle, The State Apartments © m&tatw
Crimson Drawing Room, © Peter Smith
The Grand Reception Room takes your breath away! The gilded walls and ceiling and vast chandeliers would still shine on the darkest of a winter’s day! It is also home to a large malachite urn, given to Queen Victoria by Tsar Nicholas I in 1839. It is one of the largest urns outside of Russia. This room was once the main ballroom of the Castle and it was badly damaged in the 1992 fire; but you would never know it. Along its vast walls are 8 huge tapestries showing the story of the Greek hero Jason c.1776-1779. Along each side of the room are many fabulous ornate pieces of French styled furniture. Windsor Castle is home to part of the largest art collection in the world owned by the British Royal Family. The Royal Collection is spread across 13 royal UK residences and includes artworks by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Hogarth and Vermeer. Due to the timing of our visit, we were also lucky to see up close the wedding dress of Princess Beatrice, one of the Queen’s grand-daughters. The Princess had borrowed it from the HM The Queen, who had worn it in the 1960’s. It was designed by the iconic British fashion designer, Sir Norman Hartnell (who I recently discovered from looking at an old family photo album, was a friend of my grandfather’s at school!) It was a beautiful dress and the beadwork was so intricate. An added bonus to our visit! Maintaining a castle of such a grand age is hard enough, but when it was struck by fire, as it was in 1992, it destroyed several rooms including St. George’s Hall. Amazingly almost all the priceless artefacts were saved from the fire. It took 5 years of painstaking restoration to recreate the rooms. What strikes you most about St. George’s Hall, is the amazing array of traditional craftsmanship and skills that still exist across the UK that were th able to restore and recreate the hall in line with its original 14 century appearance. © m&tatw
The fire began in Queen Victoria’s private chapel and in its place is now the Lantern Lobby, with a memorial plaque and original stonework marking the spot where the fire began. The ceiling and walls display the coats of arms of every single Knight of the Garter since the order was founded in 1348 by King Edward III. The Order is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain and each Knight (male or female) is appointed by the Monarch. Currently, HM The Queen is the ‘Sovereign of the Garter’, as well as a few senior Royals, as well 24 knights.
On a spring June day each year, one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Queen's calendar takes place; the Garter Day procession. The Queen and the Knights of the Garter, all dressed in their richly coloured purple velvet robes, feathered hats and garlands walk to St. George’s Chapel, the spiritual home of the Order. The Crimson Room shone like a ruby and gold jewel, with the autumn sunshine beaming into the room. It is a sumptuous room with 2 huge impressive paintings of HM The Queen’s parents; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother on either side of the fireplace. The Crimson room is the main room of the semi-state apartments; if this is ‘semi-state’, imagine the ‘state’ apartments! Its gold gilded ceiling twinkles and offsets the wonderful scarlet red pelmet curtains lining each window along the length of the room. At its centre sits a striking black marble fireplace and above it is one of over 400 clocks within the castle. As with all the rooms, the furniture is smart, elegant and regal, the furnishings are lush and rich in texture and colour, highlighting the history of this royal family over the centuries. You really do not know where to look first. The unique cabinets, bureaus and tables are exquisite works of art with intricate inlaid patterns. There is not a single room that does not have a priceless unique piece of craftsmanship for you to admire. The Queens Ballroom is striking as it is decorated in blue tones rather than red. Yet it has a beautiful ceiling, furniture, paintings. Connecting one room to the next is the China Corridor, with floor to ceiling displays of some of the royal household china collection with examples of Chinese and Japanese pieces th th from the 17 and 18 centuries as well as other dinner services from Europe and England. Queen Victoria © m&tatw
St George's Chapel sits at the heart of the Castle grounds and was built in 1475 and took 50 years to complete. It is a historical feast for the eyes and a superb example of Gothic architecture as well as its miraculous vaulted stone ceiling, which was added by King Henry VII (1485–1509). The chapel is used for daily services and has seen many royal occasions take place. Here lay the tombs of 10 monarchs. Looking up at the West Window, there are 75 panels, of which 65 pre-date 1509. It is the 3rd largest stained glass window in England. The Quire is the oldest part of the Chapel dating to between 1477 and 1483. Its aisles face each other and sit all Knights and Canons. Above each Garter Stall is the banner and crest of that Knight. The Queen's Ballroom © Peter Smith
While some banners have been passed down over generations, others are new and may reflect the Knights life or achievements. In the middle of the striking black and white tiled floor of the Quire, is a plaque marking the burial place of King Henry VIII and King Charles I. Jane Seymour, one of Henry VIII’s 8 wives, is also buried here. Amazingly, this chamber was only discovered in 1837 while restoration was taking place and the stone was created to commemorate the spot. Walking around every part of the chapel you will find memorials and wall hangings, old fonts, religious artefacts all adding to the deeply religious tradition of the chapel and its long history together with its strong royal links. Our tour was over, but once back outside, the castle tower and chapel glowed in the rich afternoon sunshine. A real sense of a living history, many traditions and strong monarchy can be felt. We really did not want to leave! Leave we did via the Henry VIII Gate, which is in fact the main entrance into the castle, but the exit for visitors. It was built in 1511 by King Henry VIII and above the arch sits his coat of arms as well as the pomegranate of Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry’s 1st wife. Whether a royalist, a history enthusiast or just a tourist wishing to see this stunning home, a visit to Windsor Castle is a once (or more) in a lifetime must. We felt even luckier as the Royal Standard was flying high on the day of our visit, a sign that HM The Queen was in residence; when not at home, the union flag flies above the tower. Visiting Windsor is safe and complies with all covid-19 safety rules. It is the perfect time to visit (once open again after the autumn lockdown!) With limited numbers allowed in at a time, you can spend time admiring the rooms more and are able to get up close to priceless pieces. This combined with the friendly and informative knowledge of the many curators along the tour route make your visit one to remember.
M.I.C.E & Events News Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions & Venues
11TH INTERNATIONAL AMORGOS FILM FESTIVAL We are excited to announce the 11th International Amorgos Tourism Film Festival, which will be held on the Greek island of Amorgos at the 5*Aegialis Hotel & Spa from the 10 - 15 November 2020. Due to the global outbreak of COVID-19 and since our intention is to maintain our safety, all sanitary protocols and social distances will be followed for the protection of visitors and organisers. Aegialis Hotel & Spa has been certified with the COVID-Shield by TUV Austria. At the moment, Amorgos island is one of the safest places in the world to visit, not only in terms of personal physical security, but as a COVID-free destination as well. The main goal of Amorgos Tourism Film Festival is to set up an international platform, to encourage global tourism through audio-visual media, to promote the culture and sustainable tourism of Amorgos, the Cyclades Region & Greece and to showcase environmentally-conscious efforts locally and internationally. The Amorgos Tourism Film Festival is a member of CIFFT (ComitĂŠ International des Festivals du Film Touristique), which counts among its members various Tourism Film Festivals from around the globe based in Vienna. Amorgos is an island with very rich history, as it used to be the centre of the Cycladic civilization in antiquity and According to mythology, Amorgos was the island where Ulysses, returning to Ithaki, was attracted like a magnet by Goddess Kirki and stayed for many years. Due to the island's special energy, a water Oracle dedicated to Apollo was built there in ancient times and the holy water can still be seen in the Monastery of St. George Valsamitis which is built on the ruins of the Oracle. The same magnetism brings wellness enthusiasts, who flock to Amorgos, attracted by its strong revitalizing energy and the abundance of therapeutic herbs, which make Amorgos the perfect place for spiritual and physical uplift. In accordance with the current regulations, there will be a limited number of physically present participants, with online live streaming as well. On the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th of November, at 18.00 there will be screenings in Aegiali, Chora, Katapola and South Amorgos, open to the public so that all the inhabitants of Amorgos, as well as visitors, have the chance to watch all films and draw information on current developments in the areas of culture and tourism. The Amorgos Tourism Film Festival is organized by the Women Cultural Association of Amorgos, and the Municipality of Amorgos. www.amorgosfilmfestival.com
RYEN MARTYN EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AFRICAN TOURISM BOARD AND HOTEL ASSOCIATIONS FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENT, PRESENTING THE BIGGEST HOTELIERS GATHERING AT A VIRTUAL SUMMIT WOW Hospitality Trends Summit Africa will be hosted online on the 25-26 November 2020. The Hospitality and Tourism Sector has faced this unprecedented time and aims to recover. As many African nations across the continent are starting to reopen airports, remove restrictions, and slowly resume international tourism, Hoteliers from Africa aims to establish short, medium and long-term growth plan and responsibly reopen hotels. Crisis is an opportunity and the continent will definitely see new names dominating the hospitality chart. Africa will be the destination that secures opportunities that attracts investment options with great market potential that puts itself much above the global average ROI in the hospitality industry and displays the outpace in the business travel together with domestic markets under the leisure segment. These are factors that motivate major players in The Hospitality Industry to invest in the Africa market and will remain competitive post pandemic.
WHTS’Africa is a knowledge sharing platform where Industry leaders and stakeholders such as, officials from the Ministries of Tourism, Tourism Boards, Hospitality & Tourism Associations, Hotel Owners, Hotel Operators, C-Level Executives from African hospitality brands discuss the current challenges during the pandemic and create opportunities for the African hospitality sector post Covid-19. Our goal is to promote & rebrand the African continent as a hot tourist destination post Covid-19 and to enhance the level of knowledge towards building a better African hospitality.
TRAVEL AGENTS, LET’S STAY IN TOUCH NOW! The world of tourism from Greece and abroad every year gives its great and dynamic presence at the Athens International Tourism Expo. Due to COVID19 measures, this year’s edition of Athens International Tourism Expo will be VIRTUAL. It will take place 27 November to 04 December 2020.
We love tourism and we believe in the power of Tourism companies all over the world. So, in this difficult period, the organisers of 7th Athens International Tourism Expo support tourism networking by offering Tour Operators, Travel Agencies and MICE companies the opportunity to participate in a Virtual B2B meetings with many Greek tourism companies through an Online Teleconference system. The Virtual B2B Meetings, through a very friendly online platform. If you are interested in the Greek tourism market, register now! e-mail info (at) miceandtourismaroundtheworld.com FOR YOUR PERSONAL APPLICATION FORM
NORDIC MICE SUMMIT 2020 MOVED TO NOVEMBER 2021 The coronavirus pandemic still has a very strong hold worldwide which continues to affect events that should have taken place in 2020. Denmark- based CCMG – Congress Consulting Management Group- has also been affected and has taken the difficult decision to move The Nordic MICE Summit 2021 to the end of 2021; 4-6 November. The Nordic MICE Summit, originally planned for March 2021, will now take place later in the year at Hotel Ottilia in Carlsberg City District. With a programme of speed date meetings, as well as curates activities and events, organisers will create a strong Nordic MICE marketplace.
IMTM - INTERNATIONAL MEDITERRANEAN TOURISM MARKET 2021 IMTM is a trade show held at Expo Tel Aviv, Israel. It will take place from 9-10 February 2021. IMTM serves to promote incoming tourism, domestic tourism and outgoing tourism, as well as to strengthen cooperation among tourism bodies in Israel and elsewhere in the world. IMTM gives tourism professionals an opportunity to meet with colleagues, buyers and suppliers. Eco-tourism, wellness or cultural tourism, beach holidays or city breaks, package deals or tailormade trips… All these options can be seen on-site, and discussed during the conferences, events and presentations that are held in conjunction with the exhibition.
ITB BERLIN 2021 IS CANCELLED – BUT WILL RUN VIRTUALLY nd
The real life version of ITB Berlin 2021 is cancelled. This is the 2 ITB to not take place in real life and is sending shockwaves through the global travel and tourism industry. Is this the new normal for the travel and tourism industry? However ITB 2021 will take place on a virtual platform. ITB Berlin 2021 and the accompanying ITB Berlin Convention will be open to online trade visitors only. The trade visitor days will take place from 9-12 March 2021, adding an extra day to the event.
KOREA MICE EXPO RETURNS AS HYBRID EVENT THIS NOVEMBER Korea MICE Expo (KME), Korea’s largest trade show for meeting professionals and incentive planners, returns this year as a hybrid event for the first time, held offline at Songdo ConvensiA, Incheon with a corresponding virtual event from 24-27November, 2020. The event will provide a virtual gathering space for over 3,000 expected attending MICE industry professionals to meet with 300 exhibiting local service providers, including convention bureaus, unique venues, travel agencies, PCOs and more. Participants can expect to engage in 1:1 video business consultation with global buyers and gain access to exclusive virtual content available through a new online platform. Under the theme ‘Driving Innovation through Challenges’, this year’s KME will take a look at challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest creative solutions for implementing the latest IT and meeting technology to welcome a new digital era of the MICE industry. The Opening Keynote will be presented by the Vice President of Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the most influential tech event in the world, on how the transition of CES to a virtual exhibition and conference will provide value as a new experience. th
KME will kick-off November 24 with an Opening Ceremony streamed live for online participants. The official program will continue over the following three days with B2B meetings, speaker presentations, exhibitions and more. New this year, participants can see live demonstrations of Korea’s latest MICE industry technology at the Meeting Technology Showcase, and discover MICE-related start-ups at the Smart Tech Exhibition Zone. Also, the CVB Showcase will present updates from Korea’s regional cities. Discover charms of Korea’s MICE cities and meet virtually with members of regional CVBs to learn about new attractions and MICE infrastructure to help you plan for future events and incentive tours in Korea. The Korea Tourism Organization invites event professionals to come and join us for the first hybrid Korea MICE Expo.
UAE AND ISRAEL PARTNERSHIP FOR LARGE-SCALE CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS Dubai World Trade Centre has signed an agreement with Israel Export Institute to create a framework for cooperation and participation in international conferences and large-scale exhibitions. The signing of the agreement is part of a new engagement between the UAE and Israel to further peace, dialogue and stability and enhance cooperation to drive sustainable development.
MELBOURNE’S SCIENTIFIC SECTOR ON SHOW FOR TWO HIGH-PROFILE CONFERENCES Victoria’s scientific community will take centre stage at 2 high-profile international business events thanks to Melbourne’s wins as host city for the International Mass Spectrometry Conference 2024 and International Symposium on Lepton and Photon Interactions 2023. Combined these events will deliver an economic contribution to the state of UK£7.18 million, 6,650 room nights to boost the Victorian hotel and accommodation sector and drive 1,750 delegates through the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) doors. The coveted biotech and scientific conferences secured by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) with support from the Victorian State Government and Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Programme, are testament to a winning ‘Team Melbourne’ approach and Victoria’s global reputation as a leader in science.
PHILOXENIA HELEXPO FORUM 2020 Due to the latest developments on the coronavirus front, the management of TIF HELEXPO together with local authorities have taken the hard decision to cancel the Philoxenia Helexpo Forum 2020.
TIF HELEXPO always guided by public health, faithfully follows the recommendations of experts, and therefore proceeds accordingly.
59th ICCA CONGRESS TRANSFORMING GLOBAL EVENTS TOGETHER The ICCA global network came together once again for the ICCA Congress Broadcast on 22 October, a month after the launch event for this year’s ICCA Congress and the engagement and content have been truly spectacular during that time. ICCA took the decision back in March to stage this year’s event in hybrid-format, and saw it as a rare chance to extend the life of the Congress. The last 3 weeks have been a great time for ICCA members to connect and reconnect, and be part of the incredible knowledge exchange across our Storytelling week, Crowd-sourced topic week and of course the Kaohsiung Protocol strategy week each designed to provide great content to all sectors and all regions. It is part of ICCA’s strategic plan to create and deliver a world-class Congress each year for its members and this year, more than ever, has been a year when we had to be brave and take risks in the knowledge that the congress could not be business as usual. The Congres ICCA’s most unconventional event ever, with a programme containing some of the best, world-leading speakers and educational content in ICCA Congress history. This record-breaking Congress will deliver 85 live hours of content, 100 sessions with over 15 hours on demand, from 180 speakers, and all of this will be broadcast from Kaohsiung and our 8 global hubs to our delegates across the world. ICCA is delighted to confirm that delegate numbers have now exceeded 1,000 with over 150 international association executives and this number is rising daily.
EVENTEX CONNECT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER They say good things come to those who wait. Thankfully the wait is almost over and Eventex Connect is only two weeks away. Here’s what we know about the highly anticipated online trade show for live, virtual and hybrid events. You can start booking your meetings now With two weeks to go, now would be the perfect time to start working on your agenda for Eventex Connect. Connect with participants from around the world, book your video meetings, make the business connections you thought impossible until now. The trade show uses a brand new next-gen matchmaking software to facilitate all this, so you can enjoy peak efficiency during the trade show. The programme is pretty awesome too Eventex Connect promises to deliver a programme of 30+ highly interactive sessions, full of actionable advice, valuable insights, solid strategies, useful solutions, current and upcoming trends in the meetings and events industry, and so much more! Where the previous edition focused mostly on virtual and hybrid, this time the trade show is going the everything events route. Check out the full programme at https://eventex.co/connect/program Eventex Connect for Exhibitors Eventex Connect has a very targeted audience, where more than 80% of the buyers are decision makers and high level management. This means you get to show your products or services globally and in front of the right people. As with the previous edition of the trade show, there’s a FREE exhibitor package for up to 2 meetings. The standard package offers unlimited meetings and access to the event program. The real value propositions come with the two premium packages, which provide exclusive access to the trade show’s Select Buyers – key decision-makers that operate with large event budgets for big agencies, corporations, associations, etc. Eventex Connect for Visitors The #1 online trade show for live, virtual and hybrid events is free for visitors. More importantly, you get to enjoy the full experience without the time and cost associated with travelling. On top of the great program, potential buyers can check out a number of great tech solutions, explore various services, watch venue presentations and meet suppliers for the events industry. Register for Eventex Connect today Don’t linger because two weeks will fly by before you even know it. Now would be a great time to register for Eventex Connect so you can carefully consider your agenda to make the most of the upcoming trade show. See you there!
AIME ANNOUNCES DELEGATE CONNECT AS PARTNER TO POWER EVENT’S ONLINE PLATFORM Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME), the leading meetings and conventions event in the Asia Pacific region, has announced tech-leaders Delegate Connect, as its new partner to power the hybrid event’s 2021 online platform – AIME Online. As part of the new appointment, the Melbourne-based company will launch an innovative meetings algorithm, to match connections between quality buyers and exhibitors from all over the globe. Through its custom functionality, meetings will match through a series of criteria – including business objectives, industry requirements, budgets and region – which will evaluate and summarise an overall percentage rating of each matched meeting. The advanced technology will deliver a seamless user experience both domestically and internationally. With capabilities to host tens of thousands of meetings simultaneously, the new platform will also manage the user experience from end to end. AIME will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 15–17 March 2021 and be available online 15–26 March.
Our Journey from Physical to Virtual
D'Archo Travel ‘touch of perfection’ Few things are exciting as the idea of travelling to the lands of other cultures, other people. But reality of travel seldom matches our dreams. We believe, fine travelling is an art that has to be created in the hands of experienced travel connoisseurs. When experience and the eagerness to excel is the driving force of a travel company, it is easy to imagine its capabilities. With more than three decades of experience in travel and hospitality behind, its founders at the steering wheel, D’Archo is a medium size travel company in boutique class, capable of handling any kind and any size of travel organization in Turkey and Greece; from VVIP services for individuals to 1000+ participant organisations. The Coronavirus forced the corporate events industry to adopt a virtual model in no time. Along with many others, we re-evaluated our sector and our organization to adapt ourselves to the new reality– digital world. Disruptive effect of current health restrictions, necessity of social distancing and very limited air travel motivated us to shift our services to fully virtual or hybrid events. Since it is not possible to estimate the time for going back to our old normal and organize face to face events for our valued customers, we will be offering services in both categories. What are our new products which are in line with the new normal? • Virtual Trade Shows • Custom designed Zoom parties for employees • Webinars • Virtual excursion series with the narration of an expert • On line business coaching • Hybrid events - combination of physical and virtual • Creative virtual events, including sales kick-off meetings • On line yoga and wellness programs for the employees What are the offerings for physical events during Covid-19 period? • Strictly controlled events with limited number of participants to keep social distancing • Well sanitized transportation • Accommodation at boutique hotels or villas for small groups - at the facilities which hold “covid-safe” certificate • Wellness programs for small groups or individuals • Safe catering services to avoid any contamination • Hygiene pack for all guests • Assistance for health tests if needed Digitally or physically, we are looking forward to connecting our potential partners. Dogan Senay – Founder
www.darchotravel.com
Airline & Aviation News
AIRLINES REFUND WARNING With more lockdowns hitting Europe, airlines again face a wave that this time round, customers will not get refunds for flights travellers responsibility. The new ‘month-long’ UK and other travel from 5th November. Other European countries now most airlines seeing massive losses already this year as well many flight schedules in response to new restrictions, thus
of potential cancellations. However, Europeans airlines have said that go ahead even if people are advised not to travel, it is the European countries lockdown bans all but essential international require arrivals to self-isolate, resulting in fewer bookings. With as job losses and many like most low cost airlines plan to cut will affect the entire aviation industry to years to come.
BRITISH AIRWAYS 747 FAREWELL British Airways' final two Boeing 747 aircraft Departed from London Heathrow airport for the very last time with a rarelyseen synchronised dual take off on parallel runways, followed by a flypast along the southerly runway by one of the aircraft. Boing 747 launched in 1969 and BA flew its first one in 1971. BA referred to them as The Queen Of The Skies. The 747 joins the end of the road with the A380 for large aircraft.
AIRLINES CREATE NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES
Thai airlines are looking at new initiative to bring in revenue! Their flight attendants have become waiters and you can buy airlines food from them too. Their pilots still wear full uniform for photo opportunities. Air Asia has also opened a fast food res taurant like KFC to sell food on board. Australia's Qantas Airline has launched very successful ‘flights to nowhere’. Or why not take a flight over the top of Antarctica to see the snow cape; the flight takes an 11hour roundtrip.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES RE-LAUNCHES WORLD’S LONGEST FLIGHT TO NEW YORK’S JFK Singapore Airlines is to re-launch its world’s longest nonstop flight to New York soon, flying to New York City’s John F Kennedy Airport rather than New Jersey Newark Liberty International Airport. The 3 times a week non-stop flight from Changi Airport will Use an Airbus A350-900. Flight time is 18 hours, 40 minutes, making it the world’s longest non-stop flight. AEROFLOT RESUMES MOSCOW-TOKYO FLIGHTS Russian national carrier Aeroflot has resumed flights from Moscow to Tokyo. Initially it will fly once a week building to twice a week. Aeroflot will also increase the number of flights to Belarus, Switzerland and the Maldives.
It also plans to double flights to Belgrade (Serbia) to make them twice a week. The number of flights to Minsk and Geneva will be increased to 3 times a week, to the Maldives – up to 4 times a week. Russia stopped regular passenger flights due to the coronavirus pandemic. Over the summer it resumed flights to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Egypt, UAE, Turkey, Great Britain, Switzerland, Tanzania and the Maldives. It now has the go ahead to resume flights from Russia to Serbia, Cuba and Japan.
ISRAEL – JORDAN: AIRSPACE AGREEMENT The Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Israel have agreed to allow flights to cross over both countries’ airspace. The agreement paves the way for commercial airlines to be able to fly through the Israel-Jordan corridor offering much shorter flight times, as well as reducing fuel burn and CO2 emissions. Previously, airlines were obliged to fly around Israel when flying east/west utilising Middle East airspace. Based on the number of eligible departure airports, this will result in a saving of 155 days of flying time per year and an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 87,000 tonnes.
UK AIRPORTS BUSTLING AS THOUSANDS FLEE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN FOR SUN It must have felt like the old days, as many airports across the UK saw a busy few days with holidaymakers trying to get away before the nation headed into lockdown again. Tour operators saw bookings spike as people looked for last minute deals. Up to 10,000 people booked trips away in a single day - with some Britons heading on extended holidays. Many were retired people or those who can work remotely were booking trips to the Caribbean and the Maldives, or to places where rules are less strict or no quarantine is required. Strict new rules will see outbound international flights banned, while non-essential travel within the UK is not permitted.
LOW-COST CARRIER AIRASIA JAPAN Malaysian budget airline AirAsia Group will the health crisis.
TO CEASE OPERATION stop its operation in Japan as a result of diminished demand following
From December, AirAsia Japan Co. will discontinue domestic routes between Chubu Centrair International Airport in Aichi Prefecture and 3 locations - Sapporo, Sendai and Fukuoka as well as 1 international route connecting with Taipei.
This will be the first airline to shut operation in Japan due to the virus outbreak. The number of foreign travellers to Japan dropped more than 99% from 2019 figures. Global air traffic is not expected to return to precovid levels until 2024.
SPICEJET TURNS TO SEAPLANES TO BOOST TRAVEL Indian airline SpiceJet has begun operating seaplanes in a bid to boost travel due to passenger downturn. The seaplanes offer 18 routes, including to Kevadia, the site of the world's tallest statue; an 182m tribute to the country's first home minister, Vallabhbhai Patel. SpiceJet is focusing on a new source of revenue like cargo and smaller planes and regional routes. The seaplanes help improve regional connectivity and do not require the high cost of building airports and runways as they take-off and land both on small water bodies and short airstrips. SpiceJet uses Twin Otter 300 seaplanes, built by de Havilland Canada. They seat up to 19 people, including passengers and crew.
UAE CITIZENS CAN TRAVEL TO ISRAEL WITHOUT A VISA Citizens of the United Arab Emirates are now able to travel to Israel without a visa for up to 90 days. The new rules are as a result of the new MoU signed between the 2 countries. The agreement “reflects both countries’ desire to strengthen promising relations and opportunities for cooperation” and “open up new horizons for cooperation in the region”. The first ever passenger flight from the UAE to Israel flew to Tel Aviv a month after the countries signed an agreement normalising ties. The agreement allows for 28 weekly commercial flights between the countries.
CANADA’S AIRPORTS EXPECT HUGE FEE INCREASES AND SERVICE REDUCTIONS Highlighting the lack of proper support for the Canadian airline industry during the pandemic, has left the regions around the airports and community airports on the edge of financial collapse. Airlines are expecting massive rates and fees increases in 2021. Canada’s smaller airports have carried the financial weight of maintaining their runways, air terminals, and emergency services without access to any previous or current financial aid. This has left them unable to meet the costs of operating the airports unless local and national government steps in with direct financial support.
BOEING TO CUT 20% OF WORKFORCE BY END 2021 As the pandemic continues to hit aviation, Boeing has announced it will cut another 7,000 jobs as its losses mount. In total, by the end of 2021 its total workforce will be just 130,000, down from its 160,000 prior to the pandemic. Boeing saw a loss of UK£354 million for the 3 months to end September, the 4th consecutive quarterly decline.
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LONDON HEATHROW LOSES
Paris’s Charles De Gaulle airport has overtaking London Heathrow as Europe’s busiest airport. Heathrow is also reporting big losses. 19 million passengers travelled through Heathrow from January to September 2020, compared with 19.3 million who used Charles de Gaulle airport. Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt are also seeing similar numbers with good coronavirus testing regimes in place at the 3 continental rivals. Heathrow recorded a loss of UK£1.5 billion in the first 9 months of the year. Passenger numbers between July and September were down by 84% compared with the same period in 2019. Revenue for the 3rd quarter fell by 72% year on year to UK£239 million. Airport management believes it is vital to get a good Covid test system in place in order to bring business back through the airport and place ahead of its European rivals. Self-isolation rules are also inhibiting arrivals into the country. Overall, European airports are all still suffering and many could close in the coming months if travel does not pick up soon.
QATAR AIRWAYS HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE FOR FEMALE EXAMINATIONS Female passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Sydney recently were ordered by Qatar Authorities to be intimately examined before being allowed back on the plane. This horrific experience of passengers was due to a baby being discovered in a waste bin at Hamad International Airport. The airline later apologised to the passengers for their treatment after the news went viral around the world.
ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS 1ST SUSTAINABLE FUEL AIRLINE IN ASIA Neste and All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest 5-Star airline, are entering a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply agreement. This ground breaking partnership means that ANA will be the 1st airline to use SAF on flights departing from Japan and also represents Neste’s first SAF supply to an Asian airline. From October 2020 ANA plans SAFfuelled flights from both Haneda International airport and Narita International Airport. ANA and Neste plan to expand the collaboration after 2023 based on a multi-year agreement. Neste currently has an annual capacity of 100,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel. With the Singapore refinery expansion on the way, and with possible additional investment into the Rotterdam refinery, Neste will have the capacity to produce some 1.5 million tons of SAF annually by 2023.
MOST SPECTACULAR LANDING IN THE WORLD – IRELAND Ireland’s Donegal airport, in the north of the island, has taken the top position for the most breath taking views on landing. The region is known for its unspoiled natural landscapes, its maritime environment, an important fishing industry and unique fairy-tale islands. Donegal is also famous for its rich Irish heritage of folklore and traditional music and dance.
Kitarō Nishida / 西田 幾多郎 The Philosopher of Civilisations by Dimitri Laspas
Kitarō Nishida / 西田 幾多郎 (1870–1945) was a prominent Japanese philosopher and founder of the Kyoto School of philosophy. He was born in the city of Kanazawa and he taught for 20 years at the University of Kyoto, until his death. There are 23 volumes in the latest edition of his complete works. Nishida Kitarō was the most significant and influential Japanese th philosopher of the 20 century. His work demonstrated the attempt by the Japanese to integrate Western philosophy into the Oriental spiritual tradition. Nishida obtained his basic insights from his dedicated practice of Zen. Nishida’s fame began to spread in the 1920s and he taught many of the later significant Japanese Philosophers. He developed his signature theory of place (basho) in the mid-1920s. In the early 1930s his interests turned to the nature of human actions and interactions in the historical and social world, and eventually to the meaning of culture and nationhood. Nishida’s Philosophy Of Nothingness: After a year as professor at Gakushūin University (Tokyo) in 1909, he was appointed Associate Professor of ethics at Kyōto Imperial University. In 1913 he was appointed Professor of Philosophy of Religion and in 1914 Professor of Philosophy, a post he held until he retired in 1928. At the end of his time at Kyōto Imperial University, Nishida’s philosophy was defined as ‘the philosophy of the topos (place) of Nothingness.’
Nishida expressed his logic of place to counter Neo-Kantian theory that took knowledge to be the subject’s form-ruled construction of an objective world. He sought not only to undermine the distinctions between subjective and objective but also to place both sides within a more comprehensive and concrete conception. Nishida’s philosophy was criticised by the nationalists and militarists during World War II because of the Western way of his philosophical thinking. Since then he has been criticised for his loyalty to his nation too.
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The Stages Of Nishida’s Thought: Nishida says in his memoirs that he thought of his life in terms of a change of position with the blackboard as an axis: in the first half of his life he sat at a desk facing the blackboard, while in the latter half he sat with the blackboard behind him. Continuing this metaphor, the 3rd stage is represented by his philosophy of the topos (place) of Nothingness, he wished to relinquish both positions, so that he and his logic became chalk on the blackboard of the historical world.
1890, Tokyo, Japan
Nishida’s investigations inspired later interpretations of Mahayana Buddhism, just as his thought was influenced by Buddhist ideas. For many, his explanation of pure experience and self-awareness re-interprets Zen awakening; his intertwining of self and world develops the Buddhist teaching of co-dependent origin; and his philosophy of nothingness speaks of the notion of emptiness and the experience of ‘mu’ (nothing).
His philosophy has also shown his Buddhist and Christian readers challenges, such as a notion of a non-dual relation between God and man, and an emphasis, unusual in Buddhism, on the personified self in the historical world.
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An Interview with…
Ms. Tatiana Harajdova CEO and Managing Director of Worldwide Travel Destination Management Ltd Prague, Czech Republic Worldwide Travel Destination Management Ltd – (WWTDM) is a one of a kind Business to Business Wholesale Tour Operator based in London, United Kingdom with a subsidiary in Prague, Czech Republic offering of luxury tours, dedicated customer service and support 24 hrs basis. Over the years, WWTDM has become one of the fastest growing wholesalers, specialised in to Europe, Asia, Russia and North America, allowing their customers discover the secret beauties of the destinations. With years of experience, WWTDM has a distinguished, creative and qualified team making it one of the best tour operators in Europe. In an interview with Ms. Tatiana Harajdova, CEO and Managing Director, with Dimitri Laspas - founder of MICE and TOURISM around the World e-Magazine, Ms. Harajdova reflects on the 2020 syndrome and experiences during the ‘’health’’ crises and the progress through it. In addition, her opinion and expertise on how the industry of travel, tourism and M.I.C.E will be in the future and what she believes needs to be done to overcome the unprecedented situation that humanity and businesses face. What makes WWTDM a successful company? A passion for the travel sector from the very beginning; remembering the global financial crisis of 2007-2008, and working through various challenges with an attitude of not giving up made WWTDM reach 12 successful years. What is your comparative advantage over your competition? The WWTDM team - resourceful, innovative and with mountains of willpower and belief that is powering through stronger than ever with the simple concept “All for one and one for All”, that makes WWTDM different since its establishment. Does WWTDM offer something different to their clients? The WWTDM team - resourceful, innovative and with mountains of willpower and belief that is powering through stronger than ever with the simple concept “All for one and one for All”, that makes WWTDM different since its establishment. What do you see as the biggest challenges and changes facing the travel sector today? Economic uncertainty is the biggest challenge currently facing the travel industry, also the constant ad-hoc GOV announcements, forcing us to cancel confirmed bookings, even 48-72 hrs prior to check in at desired destinations. Based on the effects the health crisis is having on businesses, what do you consider the biggest problem for tourism and in particular luxury tourism in your business? 10 months without bookings, almost zero materialisation and uncertainty is leaving us with a big question mark, coming closer to the new year of 2021. Many of us wonder how travel will look like in this upcoming year. The global Covid-19 has changed our lives in so many ways, and none more so than the restrictions that have been placed on both domestic and international travel. What have you found to be the hardest aspect of this global ‘health’ crisis situation? Tourism is one of the most directly affected sectors in this crisis that WWTDM has been part of since 2008. Finding out that after 12 successful years of building and “connecting bridges together with the MICE & leisure segment”, step by step, Y-O-Y is disappearing. It is heart -breaking and devastating from both points of view economically and emotionally. What impact do you expect this crisis will have on the global tourism/M.I.C.E jobs market? Considering that full recovery of the MICE sector seems unlikely before 2023 - 2024, we are left with the only option of absorbing the direct negative impact on the jobs market globally, same for the lost GDP. How would you advise and encourage holidaymakers to keep enjoying travelling? Exclude and skip from your mind the words such as ‘fear’ and ‘worry’ that is transmitted daily to us through various media. Think of joy, smile and happiness and being grateful for waking up in the morning and seeing yourself at a desired destination.
What would be your advice to the younger generation working in the tourism and MICE industry, seeing that the crisis has harmed the tourism and MICE industry the most? Don’t give up if your heart is beating for the travel sector, courage and can-do attitude! The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely left a mark on our lives, but that doesn't mean that tourism won't kick back up in the years to come. Nowadays changes are in effect, business leaders can craft strategies and plan to capitalise on the new trends and adapt business models to facilitate growth and success in the “new normal”. Finally, there are currently a number of digital platforms being used to keep businesses alive and running and also offering a digital face-to-face aspect. Do you believe that if successful, this could be the new norm for exhibitions and MICE events? OR do you still believe in the importance of human contact; the face to face greetings, the building of trust in person, which we are much more used to? Well, confidence for international conventions is unlikely until fears, applied obstacles starting with testing, quarantine, etc are in place. Open borders alone will not restore confidence for the international MICE consumers for a while, therefore as a temporary solution the digital platforms in place as a quick tool at least, are helping travel professionals to exchange know-how and search for solutions but without human “touch”, personal “face to face” meetings, the building of trust in person which is key for travel business in my opinion, would be difficult. No digital tools/no technology can replace a human handshake, just as for a human’s heart.
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Tourism News Europe, Americas, Asia & Africa
Ydra island, Greece
GREEK TOURIST SEASON CLOSES WITH BIG DECREASES DUE TO THE 2020 CRISIS The unknown solder monument, Athens, Greece
From January-September 2020, 5 million international arrivals were recorded compared to 18.8 million in the same period in 2019, a decrease of -73.4% / - 13.8 million arrivals. For this period, 5 airports recorded a decrease of more than 1 million international arrivals. Just 1.7 million international arrivals were recorded at Athens International Airport, a decrease of -3.5 million / -67.3%. Heraklion Airport on Crete Island saw 757,000 international air arrivals, showed a decrease of -2.2 million / 74.6%. At Rhodes, 455.000 international arrivals showed a decrease of -1.7 million / -78.7%, while at Thessaloniki, 621,000 international arrivals were recorded; a decrease of -1.3 million / -66, 9%. At Corfu saw a decrease of -1 million/- 74.3% with international arrivals reaching just 351,000. At Kos and Zakynthos islands, 254,000 and 191,000 passengers arrived, a drop of -827,000 / 76.5% and -639,000 / 77.7% respectively. For the period January-September 2020, 2.7 million domestic arrivals were recorded compared to 6.4 million in the period January-September 2019; a decrease of -58.4% / - 3.8 million arrivals. Due to the 2020 crisis, tourism has been hit badly in Greece as well as the rest of the world. How will the industry will hold up, only time will tell, but for sure the webinar and online platforms, are providing a way to keep in touch only; tourism is not a virtual product, and professionals in the industry must realise that unless they plan to end the sector as we know it.
JAPAN TO REOPEN TO INTERNATIONAL TOURISM IN SPRING 2021 Although select travel is now allowed to Japan, it is considering a wider reopening of tourism to international tourists in the spring of 2021 before the postponed Tokyo Olympics. The country is working on health and safety protocols, for participating athletes, but also for spectators traveling from abroad, which would mean that the strict entry ban is maintained until April 2021. Foreign tourists may be asked to purchase private health insurance before their trip and a mandatory covid test before and after arrival would be compulsory for all travelers.
Yokohama, Japan
PERU'S MACHU PICCHU REOPENS The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, and top tourist site has now reopened. However, only 675 tourists will be able to access the site per day, just 30% of the number of visitors pre-pandemic. The number of coronavirus cases has been steadily decreasing in Peru, and tourists will be expected to maintain social distancing. Lots of hotels, restaurants and tourismrelated businesses throughout the country closed for good. Before the pandemic there were 80 hotels of various types in Ollantaytambo, a town with an imposing Inca stone fortress located at the end of the road from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Half of them are now bankrupt.
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PERU MACHU PICCHU OPENED FOR SINGLE TOURIST Peru’s top tourist attraction, Machu Picchu opened for a single Japanese tourist recently, prior to a full opening. The tourist had become stranded in Peru due to Covid-19 and had waited almost 7 months to visit the world heritage site. The tourist was due to visit Machu Picchu in March while on a short trip to the country, but it closed suddenly due to the pandemic. The tourist submitted a special request to gain access which was granted. His trip was designed to include a long held dream of visiting the ancient Inca site.
CHINA'S TOURISM RECOVERY A LESSON WE NEED TO LEARN
The Chinese have got COVID-19 well under control and with it comes the positive and quick recovery of its domestic tourism industry. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, said on the 1st day of the National Day, which is the same day this year's Mid Autumn Day falls on, the domestic tourism market of China has seen 97 million tourists, 73.8% of the number last year. The to tal income generated by tourism activities reached ¥77 billion, that’s 68.9% of what it was in 2019. These are figures that most countries are only dreaming of achieveing in the next few years, not just 9 months out of a health pandemic. Controlling the pandemic is key to China’s recovery in all sectors. Strict measures are in place in different parts of the country, but they allow for a strong form of normality. Although the tourism industry has not yet reached a full recovery compared with 2019, the recovery to date is strong. In Beijing the 223 major tourism spots welcomed 1.1 million tourists on 1st October, 143% more than the number on 1st May; another big holiday in China; the income generated increased by 169%. China's aviation industry has also seen a rapid recovery. More than 164,700 domestic flights were scheduled during the holiday, an increase of more than 11%, compared with the same time in 2019. Many local governments across the country are also acting to boost their tourism industry. Like reduced entrance fees, and transport fares. Overall China's domestic tourism industry is recovering promptly. With COVID-19 gradually being contained across the globe, we will see a positive trend in China's cross-border tourism in the coming months?
HAINAN'S SANYA, CHINA st TO HOST 1 BEER FESTIVAL Over a thousand kinds of beer of Chinese and foreign brands will be presented st th at the 1 Hainan International Beer Festival due to take place in Sanya from 24 nd December 2020 to 2 January 2021. The timing of the event being across Gregorian Christmas and New Year will attract more participants and create a wonderful atmosphere. Along side the event will be special golf competitions and a sailing regatta. The festival will help place Sanya as a top tourist destination as well as for the whole Island of Hainan which aims to become an ‘international center for tourism and consumption’ by 2025. PARAGUAY ‘VOLVAMOS AL MUNDO’ THE NEW TOUR OPERATOR CAMPAIGN The main tourism companies in Paraguay and the airlines that use the Asunción route with different parts of the world have a new joint campaign called ‘Volvamos al mundo’ / ’Let's go back to the world’. The main objective is to reactivate tourism in Paraguay to the world, teaching how to travel safely, making known the requirements that must be met before, during and after each trip. The main tourism operating companies decided to work as an alliance with the airlines to launch the campaign that will aim to show people that you can really travel.
HAWAII REOPENS TO TOURISM Visitors arriving in the Hawaiian Islands no longer have to quarantine for 14 days if they take a Covid-19 test prior to travel. The means tourism can begin to return to the Pacific archipelago. Visitors must upload their result onto the state's online safe travel form and complete a health questionnaire within 24 hours of departure. Those who choose not to undergo the tests will have to remain in quarantine for at least 14 days or face the possibility of fines and imprisonment. Temperature checks will also take place at the airport. Cerro Lambaré Monument, Asunción, Paraguay
GOA, INDIA NEW TOURISM RULES The Goa government has approved the Goa Tourism Policy 2020, with the vision of making the state the 'most preferred destination of the year for high-spending tourists' by 2024. Goa Tourism will be the backbone of all Goa tourism planning, development and marketing decisions; with the aim to strengthen tourism assets, expand employment opportunities and tourism infrastructure, from heavy beach belts to inland ecotourism initiatives. 89% of total tourist arrivals, most of whom are domestic tourists, are distributed between October and December, which puts great pressure on Goa's ecology, infrastructure and tourism assets.
RUSSIA ADVISE CITIZENS TO AVOID TRAVELLING TO HIGH RISK COVID NATIONS With the epidemic situation in many nations out of control, and many being popular destinations for Russian citizens, the Russian authorities have advised Russians to approach foreign travel with care because the situation of the coronavirus in tourist destinations may get worse.
LARA- VENEZULA READY FOR CONTROLLED OPENING OF TOURISM
The Lara State Tourism Corporation (Cortulara), has begun to allow the reopening of tourism in the region. Everyone must play their part in making sure the virus does not return and new measures must be followed.
More than 30 service providers and the Lara Chamber of Tourism, are committed to abide by the new regulations and are willing to work together with the Regional Government to continue promoting Larense Tourism.
SAUDI ARABIA SIGN DEAL FOR TOURISM PROJECTS
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund has signed an agreement with Riyadh Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi to finance up to UK£33 billion of tourism projects in the kingdom in line with the national agenda to open up to tourism. Since September 2019, changes have been positive with a new visa regime for 49 countries being created. The coutnry wants tourism to contribute 10% of GDP by 2030.
PANAMA SEEKS TO REACTIVATE TOURISM Panama has resumed international flights as well as opening back up hotels and casinos. The reopening of the airport includes hygiene measures and passengers having a negative COVID-19 test before boarding, as well as for those entering the country. Hotels, rural hostels and lodging places have reopened, as well as cultural and recreational activities, music, art and dance academies, libraries and casinos, but with restrictions and at half their capacity, they also reopened theaters, cinemas, museums, galleries and tourist sites. The reactivation of tourism in Panama is a huge challenge, but is confident that it will gradually begin to take off. In 2019, tourism and activities related to the sector such as transportation, sales of handicrafts and restaurants, among others, represented some UK£6.5 billion for Panama, approx. 14% of the GDP.
REMEMBER WHEN… by Caroline-Artemis Laspas
Without a doubt we have all been affected by the global health crisis this year. Be it your work, the lack of it or the nature in which you now conduct it; the way of life being so much more virtual rather than in person, or the difficulties of having to share a family computer. The changes have been great and we have had to adapt very quickly. As the weeks turned into months many of us from all over the world have had time to think about life and a lot of us have found ourselves looking back on how life used to be. This fundamental change in the way we live our lives is not temporary. We will not go back to our previous way of life. We will permanently adjust to live with this new normal and live with the virus as with all other viruses that exist in on our home planet, as we have done over the centuries. In times of uncertainty we naturally focus on things that make us feel comfortable and secure and it is usually small things from our past. Here are some of the things that I have remembered or heard others refer to. One of the first things I thought of was how my children will remember their lives pre Covid-19. The shift into our new life has been so dramatic that it has fundamentally changed forever. With life being driven by everything taking place online, using mobile’s, ipads, tablets, that I was reminded that when I was growing up we had one static telephone with a dial face, no buttons! Now, we all access so much of what we do via them, least of all to use them to call people. Our need for more powerful internet and wi-fi as we become more digitalised anf therefore more electricity to power everything, reminded me of a letter I read from my grandfather to my grandmother before they married in circa 1932; he was an electrical engineer and was singing the benefits of a ‘new electric light bulb that had the power of ‘40 candles’!’ Many people have listened more to the radio during lockdown and this reminded me of the weekly chart show and recording my favourite songs using a ‘tape recorder’... now I am showing my age! Today you no longer even need a stereo system, or CD’s; you just download songs and listen through a bluetooth/wifi speaker. You would hope that posting a letter would remain unchanged, but no! We are now encouraged to purchase postage stamps online and use new drop off post boxes for larger items. With the huge increase in online orders, postal deliveries have skyrocketed. This has resulted in many small post offices being closed. These were often at the heart of many smaller villages and provided a vital service to the residents. Are the days of stamp collecting numbered! Banking. Back in the 70’s and 80’s the advice was to take a job in the bank, as it was a ‘job for life’. Now with online banking, thousands of bank branches have closed and it is definitely no longer a job for life. When you do make it into a real bank, most transactions are now conducted via an ATM! Many of us are now longing for the day when we can entertain again or have a big party! It’s our human nature to come together to cook, bake, toast and entertain. With Christmas on the horizon, and normal festive times unlikely, when will we be able to ‘party’ again with no limits! Driving; my son is learning and the changes in what is taught has changed greatly since I learnt. There are no 3-point turns anymore and modern cars have made hill starts a thing of the past! It reminded me of a family story; when my great aunt was learning to drive in the 1920’s in a ‘Swift’, she was fine while driving forwards but freaked out at the corners and just let go of the wheel! On a positive note, the lockdown brought many of us back to basics and we all began to cook and bake more. The oven was in overdrive in our house for sure! I am glad too that throughout this period, my love of reading has continued in earnest and I have read even more. I think I needed it more too as it allowed me to escape this uncertain world and dive into the stories and characters of the books I read. Indeed, this seems to be the same for many, with book sales skyrocketing and in paper form rather than digital versions. What will we face in our new world once life settles down? It will not be the same as before and indeed nothing stays the same, I only hope it will be for the better of us and our planet. Stay strong, stay positive and stay happy and continue to Listen, Read & Bake!
Visit Kyrgyzstan! by Dimitri Laspas
Ala-Too Mountains, Kyrgystan
10 Reasons Why You Must Discover this Magical Central Asian Country! This wonderful country should be on everyone’s list of places to go. Indeed this central Asian nation is not greatly known about and that is why now the time to discover it! Created after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyrgyzstan is stunningly beautiful, its unspoilt and there are few places anywhere to match its spectacular wilderness.
1. Experience Wilderness Like Never Before Everywhere in the world is beautiful but Kyrgyzstan is probably the most geographically varied. Mountains cover 90% of the country and there are 3,000 lakes, hundreds of rivers and numerous glaciers, making this an ideal adventure and nature lover’s paradise. With enormous forests, vivid deserts, lush meadows, high-alpine lakes, and mountains reaching 7,000m, there are so many landscapes to choose from in Kyrgyzstan. 2. Which Activity To Choose? A wide variety of activities are on offer from rock climbing, white-water rafting and mountain biking, to wildlife safaris, hiking, and of course horse riding, among others.
Khan Tengri Peak
Bourana Tower
3. Sleep In A Yurt The yurt is the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan, so you must try sleeping in one at least once. These big strong durable tent structures are made from wood, felt and animal hides and are still integral to nomadic society. They are warm and cosy as many have a stove in them.
4. The Locals Are Very Warm And Friendly As in almost all nomad cultures, when it comes to hospitality, guests are treated like royalty. The locals see hosting you as a privilege and in return it is an honour for you to be hosted. They are curious to find out about you your life and intrigued to learn about new people and places! Living as they do and where they do means the Kyrgyz people are resilient and strong willed because they have to be to survive. Few cultures can mix warmth and strength as well as the Kyrgyz. 5. Unique Nomadic Culture Central Asia is vast and its history is full of nomadic tribes. The Kyrgyz are one with their horses, like one free spirit. It is second nature to them and you feel this out in the wilderness. Even with some modern conveniences, they remain descendants of the Mongols and Ghenghis Khan and so they can ride horses before they can walk. Tradition is everything.
6. No.1 For Horse-riding Being a nomadic culture, horses are very important to Kyrgyzstan. Horses provide a means of transport, a source of subsistence, and a friend on long isolated rides. Horses are found all over the country from the countryside to backyards to even on the side of the road! So, if you have never ridden a horse before, now is the time to do it and in the best place on earth too. The Kyrgyz are very experienced horsemen.
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7. Bishkek The Capital Bishkek is one of the world’s smallest and most unknown international capitals. That makes it wonderful! It’s a gateway to the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Mountains and Ala Archa National Park, with glaciers and wildlife trails. The city’s arts scene encompasses the monumental State Museum of Fine Arts and the colonnaded Opera and Ballet Theatre. The Victory monument, Bishkeke
It has everything you need to at the start and end of your trip, with good vibes, good food, and good beer. 8. The History Is Fascinating Kyrgyzstan, like most of Central Asia, is one of the great crossroads of the world. Many of history’s great powers have passed through here, be it on the Silk Road or to conquer. From the Mongols, kingdoms of China, to the Soviets, all have played a part in Kyrgyz history and left their mark, making Kyrgyzstan a fascinating destination.
The Opera & Ballet Theatre, Bishkek
9. The Hot Springs Are Divine There are lots of hot springs around Kyrgyzstan! In Bishkek, the Issyk Ata Springs are located just outside the city. Further away in the Ala-Too Mountains and Karakol, are the thermal springs of Altyn Arashan, but for a more wild experience try some primitive springs near Enylcheck that are less known about. Apart from being relaxing, the water is also believed to have healing properties thanks to an abundance of minerals. So don’t forget to pack your swimsuit!
10. Not Yet Discovered Kyrgyzstan is not a popular international destination‌yet! In 2019, it welcomed just 3.6 million tourists and many of these were from Russia or neighbouring Kazakhstan, very few from Europe. Tourism is still in its infancy, which means an authentic experience but also a lack of traditional tourist infrastructure.
Ala Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan
