Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Sarawak Tourism Board is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated Rainforest World Music Festival 2024, set to be a transformative celebration under the theme ‘Evolution’. In its 27th edition, the RWMF promises an immersive experience that transcends music, incorporating responsible tourism, cultural celebration, and environmental stewardship. The festival lineup is nothing short of extraordinary, featuring a diversity that showcases 20 acts in total, made up of 68 international musicians from 14 countries across 6 continents together with 63 Malaysian artists. This exciting amalgamation of sounds and cultures promises to create a musical fusion like never before, showcasing the richness of global musical traditions right here in the heart of Sarawak. All the acts combined command a massive global fanbase of 12 million, comprising followers from Spotify and various social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Twitter (X), and Facebook. Among the festival’s headlining acts is the Grammy and Golden Globe award winner Kitaro, a Japanese recording artist renowned for his groundbreaking electronic-instrumental music. Kitaro Live World Tour will be coming to the Rainforest World Music Festival for the first time to enchant and captivate audiences with his ethereal compositions and transport them on a musical journey like no other. Kitaro won his Grammy in 2001 at the 43rd Grammy Awards for Best Album in the New Age category. Alongside Kitaro, headlining at the RWMF this year from West Malaysia is none other than Dato’ Zainalabidin, known for his hit song ‘Hijau’ which has been around for over three decades. It was one of the first few songs in the country to be categorized under the genre of ‘World Music’ when the concept was still relatively new in Malaysia. Zainalabidin is …

Türkiye offers visitors a variety of holiday options in every season. One of the country’s most enduring attractions is its renowned Turkish bath and spa tradition, which has been integral to this geography since antiquity. Enjoying this bathing culture in Pamukkale, one of the world’s most stunning landscapes, is an unforgettable experience that can only be found in this remarkable destination… Pamukkale, located in western Türkiye, about 20 kilometres from Denizli, is a true natural wonder with gorgeous snow-white travertines and terraced pools that resemble frozen waterfalls.  Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the travertines appear as a field of clouds dotted with warm, aquamarine-coloured pools. Immerse yourself in these healing mineral waters and discover the captivating beauty of Pamukkale up close. An Enchanting Natural Wonder Considered a bucket list destination for many, Pamukkale is known for its beautiful snow-white travertines, formed by the interaction of oxygen and thermal waters. A perfect blend of history and nature, the Pamukkale travertines, with their mineral waters, are also believed to offer healing properties. Every year, people worldwide flock to this mesmerising destination, enchanted by the breathtaking landscapes and the potential for rejuvenation. It is important to note that most travertines are protected due to their delicate structure. Still, visitors can freely walk in some regions of the travertines containing small terrace-shaped pools. To preserve the travertines, guests must remove their shoes and socks before entering. The Ancient Healing Waters Adjacent to the Pamukkale travertines is the awe-inspiring Hierapolis Ancient City, also part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around 2,500 years ago, King Eumenes II of Pergamon, enthralled by the splendour of the travertines, built a city near the site. Honouring Hiera, the wife of …

• Flights to Oradea, a precious hidden gem for city trippers, commence on 3 June • Athens returns to the network of LOT Polish Airlines LOT Polish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance and a leading airline in Central and Eastern Europe, continues its strategy of sustainable growth and adds two more European destinations to its global network. Flights to Oradea in Romania start on 3 June, while LOT Polish Airlines has now celebrated its comeback in Athens. Oradea is a Romanian city near the border to Hungary which can be described as a hidden gem for city trippers. It is steeped in history with roots reaching back to the ancient Romans and with fantastic architecture from the epochs of baroque and Art Nouveau. LOT Polish Airlines operates four times per week from its global hub in Warsaw to Oradea effective 3 June 2024. This service will be operated by Embraer E170 and E175 aircraft. From Delhi to Oradea in less than 12 hours  Travellers from India, who want to explore an amazing destination, which has not yet been discovered by many tourists, and therefore plan to include Oradea in their European itinerary, can even start their adventure there – thanks to the convenient flight service from LOT Polish Airlines from Delhi via Warsaw: Every Monday and Saturday, departure from Delhi at 8:00h, arrival in Oradea at 17:00h local time the same day; 11:30 hours total travel time including 100 minutes stopover in Warsaw Daily service between Warsaw and Athens A destination not be missed on a roundtrip through Europe is Athens and LOT Polish Airlines has now returned to the Greek capital. The Polish carrier is flying daily between …

STIC Travel Group has been appointed as the General Sales Agent for Celestyal Cruises in India. Effective immediately, STIC Travel Group will market, distribute, fulfill, and represent both dynamic and preformed travel packages for Celestyal, in addition to providing cruise-only services across India. Celestyal decided to cooperate with STIC Travel Group because the India region is an important market with great potential.Celestyal is convinced that with the newcooperation it will be able to accelerate furthergrowth in this region and at the same time offer new touring products to a wider audience leveraging STIC Travel Group robust distribution and technology platforms. STIC Travel Group has great experience in bringing together both cruise and tour whilst offering a comprehensive service, such as sales and marketing activities, service centres in the local language and much more. Isha Goyal, Executive Director & CEO of STIC Travel Group said, “We are very much looking forward to the cooperation with Celestyal and will support the cruise operator with our broad network in the tourism industry, most accurate market knowledge and profound marketing and sales know-how with all our strength”. Marios Polydorou, Vice President Business Development of Celestyal Cruises, said, “STIC Travel Group has decades of outstanding expertise in the cruise segment, making it an ideal partner for us.

Teleport –  India’s Most Trusted Visa Platform, invites Indian travel agents to attend a B2B webinar on 23 April at 3 PM. Participants will learn tips for easy visa appointments; tricks to avoid visa rejections, & all of it at the lowest rates. Contact: jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com, 9650196532.

Naveen Kundu, MD, EbixCash Travel, said, “The size of the MICE market is about 30 million today, including domestic and international. Therefore, there is a huge potential for the organised M!CE industry to come together, collaborate, innovate, and then handle the entire mammoth business that is coming our way.”

Independent Hotels witnessed a 34.5 percent rise in bookings in 2023 compared to 2022 via the Global Distribution System (GDS), according to HotelREZ Hotels & Resorts’ Independent Accommodation Insights Report. Additionally, there was 4.2 per cent increase in reservations compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Moscow City Tourism Committee will host the BRICS+ Tourism Forum from 20 to 21 June this year, in Moscow. They expect to welcome 9 tourism ministers and 18 delegations from countries from the Middle East and South East Asia with over 300 delegates. It was revealed at the conference ‘Shaping the MICE Future,’ held recently.  

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Delhi Office has announced AllKnown Marketers as their designated representative for the Indian market. AllKnown Marketers along with JNTO is mandated to execute Travel Trade and PR initiatives in key target markets, marking a significant milestone in Japan’s endeavors to expand Tourism from India to Japan. Japan, a land where tradition seamlessly intertwines with modernity, beckons travelers to embark on an extraordinary journey of discovery. Within its borders lie treasures both ancient and contemporary, waiting to be explored by those who seek adventure and enlightenment. Hidden among the landscapes are historic castles steeped in legend and rural villages frozen in time, offering a glimpse into Japan’s storied past. Delve into the depths of traditional arts like calligraphy and ikebana, where every brushstroke and arrangement holds profound significance. Japan’s fusion of old-world charm and cutting-edge innovation creates a dynamic tableau of experiences, inviting travelers to wander through bustling city streets or find solace in tranquil temple gardens. Prepare to be enchanted as you discover the captivating allure of Japan—a destination where tradition and modernity converge to create an unforgettable tapestry of culture and beauty. Ryo Bunno, Executive Director, JNTO Delhi Office, stated, “India is one of our primary markets, and we certainly have high expectations owing to its performance trajectory in the recent past. AllKnown Marketers team will serve as our extended arm in the market to orchestrate strategic marketing and communications outreach that drives a consistent flow of Indian arrivals. We are excited to appoint a team of market leaders who will navigate us to introduce our diverse offerings and position Japan as the most coveted getaway for Indian experiential travelers.” Acknowledging the latest addition …

Suman Billa returns to Ministry of Tourism as Additional Secretary in place of Rakesh Verma, who has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development u& Ganga Rejuvenation. Billa was the Joint Secretary, Tourism, from 2014 to 2019, after which he joined UNWTO as Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road. After this, he was appointed as Principal Secretary, Industries and NORKA, Government of Kerala until the recent move.