Recognizing Creativity, Imagination, Innovation, Excellence, Execution and Evaluation

EIBTM 2008 Meeting and Incentive Awards

Whether it’s an event, product launch, conference, incentive program or marketing campaign, now is the time for the industry to showcase their work by entering the prestigious EIBTM 2008 Meeting and

Emirates Airline

Emirates Airline pre-launch events promote world’s first non-stop services from Dubai to Los Angeles and San Francisco

In advance of its launch of the world’s first non-stop services from Dubai to Los Angeles and San Francisco, Emirates Airline recently completed the final instalment of its tour of five West Coast r

Year Long Homecoming Celebrations Beckon Blood And Heart Scots

Come home to Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Beginning in January 2009, Scots from near and far, with Scottish roots or a passion for Scotland, can enjoy the welcoming embrace of Scotland's "Homecoming" celebrations. Extending from January 24, 2009 (the 250th birthday of beloved Scots poet Robert Burns) to November 30, 2009 (St.

PATA

PATA Global Warming Conference Under Fire

The stock market turmoil of early last week has further diminished the chances of meeting the targeted turnout for the PATA climate change conference scheduled for April 29-30, warned board members of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

British Airways

BA named Best Airline at WTA2007

(TVLW) - The World Traveller Awards (WTA) this year named British Airways as the World’s Leading Airline at the Global ceremony which took place earlier in the month.

Hosted this year in the Caribbean, the 14th instalment of the awards drew some 160,000 trade professionals from 190 countries to vote for their preferred travel trade ... read more

Jamaica

JTB chairman calls for increased efforts to fight crime

(TVLW) - JOHN Lynch, the new chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), yesterday told the Government and the police to immediately find a way to address the island's spiralling crime rate.

Crime, the JTB chairman told business leaders, was the single largest threat to tourism and if it was not put under control all efforts to invest ... read more

China to invest in toilet renovations at Tibet tourist attractions

(eTN) - China tourism authorities plan to allocate 10 million yuan (1.3 million U.S. dollars) to renovate toilets in popular attractions in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Pakistan

Train derails in Pakistan, killing 58

MEHRABPUR, Pakistan (eTN) - Plunged into darkness and chaos, Shahid Khan used the light from his cell phone to escape the wreckage of an express train that had been taking holiday travelers home.

New Zealand

Tourist to pay $31,000 for death of four motorcyclists

(eTN) - An Austrian tourist who killed four motorcyclists and injured two others in a moment's carelessness says she will grieve with the victims' families for the rest of her life.

Airline

Travel fears mount over Cathay strike

(TVLW) - The travel industry yesterday warned more than 200 flights a day will be affected during the Christmas season if Cathay Pacific flight attendants go on strike over the airline's medical plan.
Joseph Tung Yao-chung, the Travel Industry Council executive director, said the sector is concerned about the possibility of a strike.

Tasmania

Tourism boss calls for Asian workers

(TVLW) - Tourism chief Simon Currant has called for Tasmania to be allowed to recruit skilled and unskilled workers from Asia to meet shortages in the tourism industry.

Mr Currant, chairman of the Tourism Industry Council, said labour shortages were a threat to the state's hopes of lifting tourism spending past $4 billion within 10 ... read more

Malaysia

Speedboat overturns but 22 (including tourists) safe

Sandakan (eTN) - Twenty-two people, including 10 foreign tourists, were plucked from sea after the speedboat they were riding overturned near Pamaguan Island, about a 20-minute boatride from here, Sunday.

It was learnt the vessel was heading towards Sandakan from Selingan Island when the mishap occurred at about 7.50am.

Hong Kong

HK's Ngong Ping 360 tourism project to reopen on New Year's Eve

HONG KONG (eTN) - Hong Kong's new tourism landmark, the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car system, has won the go-ahead from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department here Tuesday and will be reopened to the public on Dec. 31 after a series of accidents.

Industry

oneworld Voted Leading Airline Alliance for Fifth Year Running

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (TVLW) - The oneworld(R) Alliance has been named the world's leading airline alliance for the fifth year running in the World Travel Awards, which are described by the Wall Street Journal as the "travel industry's equivalent of the Oscars."

Thailand

Cave reopens to tourists

Surat Thani (eTN) - The scenic Nam Talu cave, closed since October after eight people drowned in a flash flood, has been reopened to welcome end of year holidaymakers. Khao Sok National Park head Chaitat Bunpupantanti said visitors can be assured of their safety inside the cave.

Park staff have installed alarms and a rainwater meter ... read more

Botswana

Motsumi Crowned Miss Tourism Africa

(eTN) - She may not have snatched the Miss Tourism World, but Botswana's Mphoentle Motsumi managed to take one of the top prizes on offer at the Miss Tourism World pageant held on December 7 in Malaysia.

Motsumi beat other African contestants to win the Miss Tourism Africa crown. There were 33 beauties competing for the global title.

Zimbabwe

Cynthia Muvirimi is New Miss Tourism Zimbabwe

(eTN) - UNITED KINGDOM-based Cynthia Muvirimi was on Saturday night crowned Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2007 at the national finals held in the Rainbow Towers' main auditorium.

Muvirimi made history by becoming the first model from the Diaspora to clinch the title since its inception in 2005.

Orbitz

Orbitz Worldwide Signs Cruise Distribution and Fulfillment Partnership with World Travel Holdings

CHICAGO and WOBURN (TVLW) - Orbitz Worldwide today announced it has reached an agreement with World Travel Holdings (WTH) to manage cruise fulfillment for the Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com/) and CheapTickets ( read more

December 21, 2007 Deadline for Domain Name Registration Under Nations Priority Program

Tralliance Announces Final Date for Place Names Priority Registration for .travel Registry

FORT LAUDERDALE (TVLW) - Tralliance Corporation, the .travel Registry, announced that the .travel place names program, in place since July 1, 2005, will come to a conclusion at 18:00 eastern US time on December 21, 2007.

The Middle East Meets The Middle Kingdom

Annual PATA event welcomes leaders of Travel, Tourism and Hotel operators.

(TVLW) - PATA shares the latest trends within Asia & Pacific which have an impact on UAE Tourism.

The Annual Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) event was held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel today sponsored by the Jumeirah group.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic now part of the Schengen zone

Prague, December 2007 (eTN) - The long-awaited moment is here. At midnight on the 20th of December 2007, the Czech Republic became a member of the so-called Schengen zone. The border posts which divided the country from its neighbours are now a thing of the past and travel in Europe just got that bit easier.

ASTA

More Time to Explore Lyon at ASTA’s 2008 International Destination Expo

Alexandria, Va., Dec. 17, 2007 (eTN) – ASTA has added three additional days of complimentary sightseeing tours at the 2008 International Destination Expo, April 12-16 in Lyon, France. Taking this extra time to explore Lyon, attendees will have the chance to experience first-hand European sightseeing at its best.

Saudi Arabia

Hajj gets under way in Saudi Arabia

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (eTN) - Millions of Muslims from around the world gathered in Mecca Sunday for the start of the annual Islamic hajj pilgrimage, as the Saudi Interior Ministry announced tough security precautions.

Men and women draped in white robes circled the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, seven times in a ceremony anticipating the ... read more

Palestine

Bethlehem Tourism Picks Up for Christmas

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (eTN) — Palestinians lit a four-story Christmas tree in this biblical town Saturday, kicking off a holiday season free of fighting with Israel that officials say will bring the most pilgrims since hostilities broke out seven years ago.

Airline

Passenger to sue airline over fire

(eTN) - A passenger is sueing PIA after claiming she was burned whilst evacuating a plane that caught fire in Islamabad.

In the incident, which was reported by Asian Image at the time. Saiyea Bi, 25, said she had been on a return flight to Birmingham when one of the engines on the Pakistan International Airlines plane developed a ... read more

UAE

TDIM 08 to feature strong Abu Dhabi presence

(TVLW) - With Abu Dhabi attracting tourism project investments in excess of AED 305 billion, major property and tourism players from the UAE capital will be out in force to showcase their projects and plans at TDIM 08, which is expected to attract a host of big-ticket local and international investors and tourism professionals.

Nepal

Dr Pradhanang Expressed Deep Sorrow on Beating Tourists

(eTN) - Nepal has had the culture of paying a high respect to tourists coming to Nepal.

India tourism office to open in Beijing

BEIJING (TVLW) - An India Tourism Office will be opened here early next year to attract more visitors from China which accounted for a mere 50,000 out of 4.43 million tourists to India last year.

Scotland

Scots stars in new tourism plan

(eTN) - Movie star Ewan McGregor, pop singer Paolo Nutini and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay are among the Scots celebrities taking part in a new tourism campaign.
The scheme aims to attract winter visitors to Scotland and asks women which celebrity they would most like to receive a diamond from this Christmas.

The online poll is ... read more

Malaysia

Street protests have hurt tourism industry: Malaysian PM

KUALA LUMPUR (eTN) - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday said the recent anti-government protests have hurt the tourism industry of the country with many hotels and tour operators reporting cancellations of bookings.