Tourists visiting Egypt can once again travel on Nile cruises from the capital Cairo to Luxor.
Cruises along the famous stretch of water were halted for 18 years because of security concerns, but they have now resumed since the weekend.
A special ceremony was held in Luxor – the mecca of Egyptian tourism – to mark the occasion after the arrival of a vessel from Cairo.
“The restoration of security is the key to the recovery of tourism in Egypt,” said tourism minister Mohamed Hisham Abbas Zazou.
He added: “Security on all cruises is being carried out in collaboration with the ministry of the interior.”
The 2010 tourism season in Egypt generated $13 billion for the economy, and the ministry hopes to match this goal in the coming years.
Tourist numbers, including those travelling from London aiports, fell sharply after an uprising in 2011, seriously damaging the country’s economy. But President Mohamed Morsi said on August 3 that he was committed to ensuring the safety of tourists.
Nile cruises were stopped between Cairo and Luxor in 1994 because of the risk of militant attacks. However, they remained in operation between Luxor and Aswan, the two main tourist hot spots in Upper Egypt.
Copyright Press Association 2012
Officials are planning to host a festival in the Yusmarg region of central Kashmir to promote the potential tourism opportunities offered by the area.
The Yusmarg region is quite remote but the number of tourists visiting Kashmir is increasing every year and the government wants to promote the natural beauty of the area and showcase its potential for outdoor activities in particular.
“The festival is to acquaint tour operators about the vast tourism potential of Yusmarg, especially its unique adventure tourism potential,” a senior tourism official stressed.
The scenery and trekking routes already make the region an attractive proposition for lovers of the outdoors but the three-day festival in the last week of September should raise its profile.
And Yusmarg Development Authority’s chief executive officer, Ghalib Mohi-ud-Din, has revealed that Rs. 4 crore will be invested in a new recreation and sports centre offering activities like zorbing, mountain biking, bungee jumping and trampolining.
Yusmarg is situated on the banks of the Jhelum River in the Kashmir Valley and is less than 50km from the Srinagar Airport in the capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
There are no direct flights to Srinagar Airport from the UK but flights are available to the region from Mumbai and Delhi among other places and flights to India are readily available from London Heathrow and Gatwick.
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ANA Group has launched a new ‘Is Japan Cool’ website showcasing Japanese culture, trends and places to visit in the country.
The site, which is designed to inspire web users to dream about getting down to their local airport and jetting off to Japan, gives people an opportunity to vote on what they believe are the must-see sights and activities in the country.
It highlights both traditional Japanese customs as well as more modern trends that have started to become more popular.
This newest site is the second version of the online concept, which first focused on cool and fashionable Japanese culture, with more than 100,000 visitors voting on whether locations were ‘cool’ or ‘not so cool’.
The latest edition of the website will focus more on featuring attractions in Tokyo, which is a hive of activity combining both new and old attractions, and Okinawa, which is a popular picturesque resort in the south of the country.
ANA Group has also launched a competition for website users to help launch the latest Cool Campaign. The prizes on offer for lucky winners include an all-expenses paid trip for two to Okinawa.
Other Tokyo and Okinaway-based gifts will also be awarded to winning visitors.
Copyright Press Association 2012
Britons interested in ancient history have a new reason to book holidays to Turkey after a 3,000-year-old sculpture of Hittite King Suppiluliuma was unearthed in the country.
The two-tonne figure was found by an international team of archaeologists at the site of Tell Tayinat in Hatay, south-eastern Turkey.
They identified the sculpture as Hittite King Suppiluliuma thanks to an inscription on its back, said Professor Timothy Harrison, director of the Tayinat archaeological project.
Alongside Hittite King Suppiluliuma, the team also uncovered a stone column carved with images of a winged bull and a sphinx.
Professor Harrison said the pieces “provide a vivid glimpse into the innovative character and sophistication of the Iron Age cultures that emerged in the eastern Mediterranean following the collapse of the great imperial powers of the Bronze Age at the end of the second millennium BC”.
After hearing the news, any Brits who are looking to plan their visits to Turkey and book their airport transfers as soon as possible will be excited to note they shouldn’t have too long to wait before the finds go on public display.
Culture and tourism minister Ertugrul Gunay said there are plans to exhibit the artefacts at the Hatay Archaeological Museum within the year, following professional restoration.
Copyright Press Association 2012
Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet autonomous region, has been voted the city with the greatest sense of happiness in China.
It is the fifth year in a row that the city of sunlight has topped the annual survey of residents’ sense of happiness in Chinese cities.
Conducted by China Central Television, the survey polled around 100,000 households from 104 cities.
Lhasa was closely followed in this year’s list by Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi province, while Hefei, capital of Anhui province, was not far behind in third place.
Tianjin municipality, Changsha, capital of Hunan province, and Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, made up the rest of the top five.
Zou Jun, director of the Jiangsu Institute of Urban Planning and Design in Nanjing, claimed the survey is worthwhile as it helps city administrators to create new development paths, allowing them to give greater consideration to the welfare of residents and provide them with what is required.
Zou said officials like to construct landmark buildings or entertainment facilities in city centres as main attractions, but said that “a city exists not just for tourists. It exists, more importantly, for those who actually live there”.
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Travellers looking to book a last-minute holiday were told on BBC Breakfast to “be realistic” regarding the price, by an agent who works for Travel Counsellors.
Donna Waddington joined Travel Counsellors nine years ago after being an agent in Cheshire and she was appearing on the show with Simon Calder, the travel editor of the Independent.
The Woodford-based agent said they had been “inundated” with requests for last-minute deals but many of these were not possible due to costs.
Waddington said: “Customers come to me and say their budget starts at £500 for all-inclusive and they want to be near the beach, have tennis courts and five star standard.
“That’s where our expertise comes in. You have to sell the right holiday and to talk to those people. We do find something but they’ve got to be realistic about what’s on offer.”
She added that customers are flexible about their choice of destination. A coach can take the strain if passengers are flying to an alternative airport such as Gatwick.
Waddington continued: “You might normally be able to say to somebody where would you like to go, this year I’m having to say would you go to Turkey or Greece.
“I’ve got Tunisia which might not be top of my list to offer somebody but I’ve having to think outside the box. The destinations have changed because of demand – people have to keep an open mind.”
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Research has revealed India, Africa and South America offer some of the best-value destinations for British travellers wanting to veer from the beaten track.
According to data from travel money specialist Moneycorp, Brazil, India, Nepal and South Africa offer the best value for money because the pound has risen against their currencies by 18% to 26% over the past year.
The currency markets have changed substantially in the past year or so and Moneycorp expert Olann Kerrison said this is great news for many people planning to embark on a gap year in the near future.
“There has been a great deal of fluctuation in the currency markets over the past 12 months and in countries like Brazil, India and South Africa, the pound has strengthened significantly,” said Kerrison.
“The strength of the pound is great news for gappers heading off on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. However, by the time they reach some of these countries, the economic landscape might have changed and their pound might not stretch quite as far.”
Travel advice website gapyear.com was also involved in the research, which could encourage more young people to arrange flights, airport transfers and guides to embark on holidays with a bit of difference.
Copyright Press Association 2012
The Turks & Caicos Tourist Board has revealed world-renowned chef John DeLucie will take part in this year’s Caribbean Food & Wine Festival.
It is the second annual edition of the festival and the chef and owner of The Lion in New York’s Upper East Side has agreed to participate in the three-day celebration of Caribbean cuisine and culture.
DeLucie has become one of the most renowned chefs in New York over the past decade or so and he is delighted to be taking part in the event.
“I am truly delighted to be a part of the Second Annual Caribbean Food & Wine Festival in Turks & Caicos this fall,” he said.
“The culture, cuisine and stunning atmosphere of the islands are an inspiring combination.”
The welcome reception will kick things off on 1 November and festival co-chair Nikheel Advani thinks the inclusion of DeLucie is a real coup for the event.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have John DeLucie involved in this year’s culinary line-up and feel this is a huge testament to the success of the inaugural Caribbean Food & Wine Festival,” the co-chair said.
“The Caribbean Food & Wine Festival’s primary objective is to bring together the best chefs from around the world, and attracting the attention of one of New York City’s brightest culinary talents will certainly raise the bar for future festivals.”
The news of the festival line-up will likely have whetted the appetites of people heading for Caribbean holidays in the autumn but they should make sure they remember to arrange airport transfers to ensure a smooth journey.
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New research has shown just how much us Brits love our holidays – with us travelling to 17 different countries on average and covering nearly 282,000 miles over the course of our lifetimes.
In addition, Britons will enjoy 114 exotic holidays between the ages of 18 and 75 – equating to two trips every year.
The survey by 72Point, which investigated the travel habits of 2,000 UK holidaymakers, also revealed Brits will spend 90 days – or three months – lounging by the pool.
With all that time by the pool it’s no surprise we’ll get through 228 books, eat 456 ice-creams and drink 2,394 alcoholic beverages.
Meanwhile, more than 13,500 photos will be taken for the family album, documenting every move a person makes from early adulthood to old age.
On average, Brits will travel just over 2,469 miles each time they go abroad, or 4,938 miles a year as the average adult goes on two foreign jaunts each year. This equals a staggering 281,466 miles over the course of a lifetime.
But over the course of these holidays we also pick up the odd bout of sunburn as well, reminding us to top up on that cream.
With so many holidays on the cards over the course of our lives it’s likely we’ll arrange a fair few airport transfers too.
Copyright Press Association 2012
British Airways has confirmed that it will soon be offering its first class service on four of its Caribbean routes from London Gatwick.
The airline’s premium cabin, complete with a 60% wider seat, private wardrobes and personal electronic blinds, will be available on flights on Boeing 777-200 aircrafts to Barbados, Bermuda, St Lucia and Port of Spain in Trinidad from July 30.
The food and drink options on offer in BA’s World Traveller Plus premium economy cabin on long-haul flights from Gatwick have also been improved and Colm Lacy, BA’s head of commercial at the airport, is delighted with the changes.
“These are significant steps forward for our premium customers at Gatwick,” he said.
“The introduction of the new First cabin means our customers can enjoy the very best travel experience British Airways has to offer.”
Passengers in World Traveller Plus premium economy also get a welcome drink prior to take-off and a selection of two entrees from the Club World menu as well as bigger seats with adjustable headrests, lumbar support and leg rests.
Flights operate between Gatwick and Piarco Airport in Port of Spain, LF Wade International Airport in Bermuda, Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown and Hewanorra Airport in St Lucia on most days.
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