Biggest-ever airliner order marks first day of Paris Air Show

LE BOURGET, France — European aircraft maker Airbus got the Paris Air Show off to a soaring start with the announcement of the biggest-ever order for civil aircraft, as the French president joined a big crowd for the event's return after a four-year COVID hiatus.

The 500-plane deal with low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo kicked off what organizers have billed as the "recovery airshow" after the coronavirus ravaged the sector and the biennial trade fair was cancelled in 2021.

Fighter jets and civilian aircraft streaked across the sky while suited and uniformed delegations, including Ukrainian military officials and President Emmanuel Macron, toured the stands.

This year's airshow has a new focus on defense following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as the industry's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, with French President Emmanuel Macron arriving in a helicopter partly using sustainable aviation fuel.

Macron called for "restraint" to protect the environment but said measures for aviation should be "reasonable" rather than "punitive", adding that the world shouldn't "give up on growth".

Huge traffic jams around Le Bourget airport outside Paris were testament to the interest in this year's show, as aircraft makers field hundreds of orders and airlines brace for a near-record number of passengers this year.

The Ukraine conflict has also prompted countries to boost military spending, which could benefit aerospace defense firms.

While Russia has been excluded from the event, Ukrainian military officials toured the huge exhibition space at Paris-Le Bourget airport, some taking photos of missiles on display.

'PASSION FOR AIR HASN'T DISAPPEARED' 

Macron announced that Belgium is to be admitted as an observer to the French-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, which is seeking to develop the next generation of air combat technology.

Macron, closing a ministerial conference on European air defense, called it a " major development".

The FCAS is due to come into service by 2040, but has already suffered numerous delays.

Also on the military front, Macron said that France, Estonia, Hungary, Belgium and Cyprus are to jointly purchase Mistral short-range surface-to-air missiles.

"This is a very fine example of sovereign cooperation between Europeans on a range that is entirely relevant and that was not sufficiently covered", the French leader said.

There were star turns for the Rafale fighter made by France's Dassault and the American F-35 jet, with hundreds of visitors turning their phone cameras skyward and some plugging their ears against the deafening flypasts.

Le Bourget offers a forum to announce deals with some 2,500 firms lining up to show off their latest planes, drones, helicopters and prototypes such as flying taxis.

With 125,000 square meters (1,350,000 square feet) of exhibition space -- the equivalent of nearly 18 football pitches -- around 320,000 visitors are expected during the week-long event.

"Passion for the air hasn't disappeared, that's good news," said Bertrand Godinot, easyJet's Netherlands and France director.

BIG DEALS 

Along with the Farnborough airshow in England, which takes place in even numbered years, Le Bourget is a key sales event for the civil and defense industries.

Airbus and rival Boeing compete fiercely in announcing orders for aircraft running into the billions of dollars.

Monday's IndiGo-Airbus deal covers A320 family planes at a list price of $55 billion.

Although closely held actual sale prices are usually lower, it marks the largest ever civil aviation order by volume, hailed by Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury as "an enormous milestone".

Airbus and Boeing are also battling to solidify supply chains as they increase production to meet growing demand.

The United States has a strong presence with 425 exhibitors, while firms from 46 other nations are present.

China, which lifted COVID restrictions only at the beginning of this year, is also represented.

However, Beijing is not displaying its first homegrown medium-haul passenger jet, the C919, built to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

FLYING TAXIS 

The airshow also hopes to open a window into the future as projects for flying taxis and other vertical take-off aircraft abound.

Several prototypes will be on display as part of a "Paris Air Mobility" exhibition to showcase the latest innovations that developers hope will change how people travel.

Macron arrived aboard Airbus' latest helicopter, the H160, in a flight fueled with 30 percent sustainable aviation fuel before visiting the European group's stand where it laid out its net-zero-by-2050 plan.

Macron had on Friday announced $2.2 billion to help develop technologies to reduce aircraft emissions.

Air travel accounts for nearly three percent of global CO2 emissions but serves only a small minority of the world's population.

With the industry targeting net zero emissions by mid-century, firms are turbocharging efforts to achieve it.

The initial focus is on SAF, made from sources such as municipal waste and agricultural waste.

But companies are also working to develop battery- and hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Agence France-Presse

Airline websites swamped as Hong Kong ticket giveaway takes off

HONG KONG - People hoping to take advantage of a Hong Kong scheme to give away half a million free airline tickets faced hours-long online queues on Wednesday, as the Asian financial hub bids to woo tourists back.

The city last month launched a campaign to reboot its reputation as "Asia's world city", after years of strict pandemic-related travel restrictions and a crackdown on sometimes violent pro-democracy protests.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong became one of the last places in the world to drop its outdoor mask mandate, which city leader John Lee said was a sign that it was "resuming normalcy".

Tourism once comprised nearly five percent of the city's economy, but visitor figures plunged last year to 600,000 -- less than one percent of 2018 levels.

Hong Kong-based carriers Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines were the first companies to launch the government-backed "Hello, Hong Kong" ticket giveaway, which will roll out over several months.

Social media users complained of long online queues to register, and an AFP reporter encountered wait times of more than two hours on the Cathay Pacific website. More than 55,000 users were waiting to access the offer, according to the reporter.

Cathay Pacific said its giveaway of 17,400 round-trip tickets from Thailand to Hong Kong had ended on Wednesday afternoon, despite initially being scheduled to last seven days.

The airline did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

The first stage of the giveaway offered round-trip flights from Southeast Asia. Hong Kong residents will be eligible for a separate campaign for 80,000 tickets to be rolled out in July.

Hong Kong once had one of the globe's busiest and best-connected airports, but travel came to a virtual standstill when the city imposed strict travel restrictions and quarantine requirements as part of China's zero-Covid doctrine. 

The restrictions helped the city remain largely virus-free, until a deadly Omicron outbreak at the start of 2022 that killed more than 9,000 people.

The city has now lifted most curbs, but, as of January, around 20 regional Asian airlines were unable to restart services to the city due to labour shortages.

Agence France-Presse

Thermometers in hand, Dubai opens for tourists amid pandemic

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — From French soccer jerseys to slick online campaigns, Dubai is trumpeting the fact that it reopened for tourism on Tuesday — but what that means for this sheikhdom that relies on the dollars, pounds, rupees and yuan spent by travelers remains in question.

With travel uncertain and the coronavirus still striking nations Dubai relies on for tourists, this city-state wants to begin coaxing people back to its beaches and its cavernous shopping malls. By instilling the idea that Dubai is safe, authorities likely hope to fuel interest in the sheikhdom ahead of its crucial winter months for tourism.


Emirates to put this one-time pearling post on the map. Attractions like the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab luxury hotel draw transit passengers out of Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel.

In 2019 alone, Dubai welcomed 16.7 million international guests, up from 15.9 million the year before, according to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The top seven tourist-sending nations were India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Oman, China, Russia and the U.S. The city’s 741 hotels saw around 75% occupancy for the year, with visitors staying on average 3½ days.

Those travelers also fuel Dubai’s vast restaurant, bar and nightlife scene. Though drinking is illegal in the neighboring emirate of Sharjah and the nations of Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, alcohol sales remain a crucial part of Dubai’s economy.

But even before the pandemic, lower global energy prices, a 30% drop in the city’s real estate market value and trade war fears have led employers to shed staff. The virus outbreak accelerated those losses, especially as Dubai has postponed its Expo 2020, or world’s fair, to next year over the pandemic.

That makes reopening for tourism that much more important, even though Dubai’s top three tourist-feeding countries remain hard-hit by the virus, said Rabia Yasmeen, a consultant at the market-research firm Euromonitor International. Even retail sales are affected by tourism, with some 35% of all revenue coming from tourists, she said.

“It’s good for them to go ahead and announce because there needs to be a call for the confidence to come back,” Yasmeen said. “Someone has to take that step first to show the world.”

And Dubai has, in typical headline-baiting fashion, taken those steps. French football club Olympique Lyonnais, under a sponsorship with Emirates, wore “Dubai Is Open” jerseys at a recent match. Dubai passport controllers have begun putting stickers on foreigners’ passports reading in English and Arabic: “A warm welcome to your second home.”

But there’s a risk, particularly in allowing more travel as the virus stalks other countries. Emirates stopped flying to Pakistan over virus fears. Across the seven sheikhdoms that form the United Arab Emirates, there have been over 50,000 confirmed cases of the virus among the 9 million people living here, with some 40,000 recoveries and 321 deaths.

At Rove Hotels, a new budget chain run by state-linked firms Emaar and Meraas, thermometer-carrying staffers check the temperature of everyone coming inside. Cleaners fog disinfectants over rooms and wipe down tables and chairs. Even a camel statue and an oversized stuffed animal wore a mask. The chain, like others in Dubai, also has sought outside certification over its cleaning routines on top of fulfilling government regulations.

“It’s kind of the icing on the cake to give people comfort that we’re following those standards,” Bridger said.

There are still risks. In order to travel, tourists must take a COVID-19 test within 96 hours of their flight and show the airline a negative result. Otherwise, they will be tested on arrival and required to isolate while awaiting the results, which travelers say typically takes a few hours.

Travelers must also have health insurance covering COVID-19 or sign a declaration agreeing to cover the costs of treatment and isolation.

“A key question comes in: Is the traveler ready to come to Dubai?” Yasmeen asked. “That’s a big question mark.”

___

Associated Press writer Fay Abuelgasim in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

AP

Pandemic a major blow for Airbnb

At the foot of the Acropolis hill, in the touristic Koukaki district, the coronavirus lockdown has silenced the sound of Airbnb customers' wheeled luggage.

The tourist industry in Athens, as in many other European capitals, has ground to a halt, with planes grounded and restaurants, museums and archaeological monuments all closed.

This has left a huge hole in the Greek economy which had been recovering from a decade of crisis.

Owners of small apartments in Koukaki, who had been renting them on the Airbnb platform in order to provide income during the financial crisis, are once again struggling.

"The reservations stopped abruptly," laments Romina Tsitou, an Airbnb host since 2014.

"I hope I won't have to put them for long–term rental, but I may have to if this situation drags on," she adds. For the time being her two Airbnb apartments accommodate medical staff.

Stefania Dimitroula has already put her apartment up for long-term rental.

"Since the beginning of the summer of 2018, it was fully booked via Airbnb, almost exclusively by foreign tourists," the 32-year-old woman said, but "100 percent of the reservations for April, May and June have been cancelled".

Being unemployed, she had no other choice.

"I was counting on the earnings of this apartment, around 1,000 euros per month, to compensate for the loss of my job," she explained, expressing pessimism about the summer season, which the Greek government is hoping to jumpstart on July 1.

Long-term rentals are becoming "a major trend", according to Patrick Tkatschenko, a real estate agent in Athens.

"Airbnb is suffering a huge blow," he told AFP.

- Airbnb slashes staff but will adapt-

The "hard hit" American home-sharing platform announced on Tuesday that it will slash a quarter of its work force -— some 1,900 people all around the world.

"We are collectively living through the most harrowing crisis of our lifetime," Airbnb co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky said in a blog post.

This year the San Francisco-based company's revenue will be "less than the half" of the 2019 figure, and Chesky admits he doesn't know when the tourists will return.

Still there are many who believe that holiday apartments, rather than hotels, have a future, as safe havens away from the crowds.

Enrique Alcantara, president of Apartur, the holiday apartment owners' federation in Barcelona, foresees a 85 percent drop in sales revenue for 2020.

He predicts though that holiday apartments "are going to adapt more easily to the new times that lie ahead, to the new needs of the tourists, mainly as far as security is concerned".

In Athens too, despite the staggering drop in holiday reservations, there remains a glimmer of hope.

"Tourists will benefit from private apartments in order to feel more secure in comparison with hotels where they will have to interact with more people," Stratos Paradias, president of the Greek Federation of Property Owners and of the International Union of Property Owners, told AFP.

He also thinks apartments that manage to stay in the short-term rental market will bounce back "faster than elsewhere" because "Greece is considered one of the safe countries thanks to the way it has handled the COVID-19 pandemic".

- Holding fast to short-term rentals –

In Barcelona, Sybille Campagne's holiday letting calendar is empty.

"For July-August, all reservations were cancelled," the 43-year-old French woman explains.



Nevertheless she isn't considering taking her apartment off the Airbnb platform because it accounts for 80 percent of all her reservations.

Juan Quilis, a 35-year-old telecom technician who owns an apartment in Seville, is also sticking with short-term rentals for the time being.

"I'm not too worried for now, because I have a savings cushion but if I see that things don't come around, I will put my apartment in long term rental. As a last resort."

In France, Airbnb expects to see its reservations come back swiftly thanks to its local clientele, with the French particularly fond of staycations.

Aurelien Perol, Airbnb director of communication in France, expects last-minute reservations to rise as lockdowns are lifted.

Meanwhile in Amsterdam, holiday rentals spiked in mid- April and have plummeted since, according to the local newspaper Het Parool.

- 'Purge is necessary' –

A study conducted by Spitogatos, the most popular online property ads network in Greece, found a clear rise in apartments listed for long-term rentals in mid-April, accounting for 30 percent of the market in central Athens.

Spitogatos CEO Dimitris Melachroinos thinks the long-term rental sector will keep rising as it will be seen as "a safer option".

This new turn in the real estate market will also lead to much-needed regulation of the sector.

"The short-term rentals practice grew out of control in Athens in recent years. The purge provoked by the COVID-19 crisis is necessary," Paradias says.

In Koukaki, the number of short-time rentals skyrocketed between 2017-2019, from 360 to 1,150, according to AIRDNA, which analyses rental platforms like Airbnb. As a result, property prices have nearly doubled causing problems for local apartment seekers.

burx-chv/kan/pvh/mtp

Agence France-Presse 

All beaches in Phuket closed indefinitely

BANGKOK — All beaches in the world famous tourist destination Phuket will be closed indefinitely, provincial Governor Phakkhaphong Thawiphat and president of Phuket Communicable Disease Committee have decided.

The closures extend to zoos and all venues of animal shows for tourists.


The Bangla walking street in Kathu district is also closed.

“The decision is part of an effort to better control and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus,” he said. “By the governor’s authority under sections 22 and 35 of Communicable Disease Act BE 2558, these places will be closed temporarily until further notice.

Those who violate the order could be jailed for up to one year, fined up to Bt100,000, or both, the governor said in a statement.

All nine airlines have suspended their flights while most hotels in the province have closed for service and they will not receive new tourists.

The governor sought cooperation from both Thais and foreigners staying in Phuket to remain indoors from 8pm to 3am from March 28 until further notice, except in cases of emergency.

Meanwhile, the Public Health authorities reported 143 new cases in the past 24 hours on Sunday, bringing the total Covid-19 cases in Thailand to 1,388. One more patient died, bringing total deaths to seven nationwide.

Earlier on Tuesday (March 24), the Phuket committee had approved a proposal to close all high-risk places in the province from Sunday until March 31 in order to prevent people contracting Covid-19. The places the province has closed are: malls, pharmacies, shops, entertainment venues, spas, restaurants, amulet markets, golf clubs, pet-service shops, beauty clinics, barber and tattoo shops, and swimming pools of both government and private organizations.

As of Sunday (March 29), confirmed infections in Phuket reached 53, the highest among southern provinces. Seven of them have recovered and returned to their homes, 46 are under treatment with no serious cases. Test results are awaited of 97 persons.

A total of 944 people are under scrutiny while 794 have tested negative, according to the Phuket provincial health authority.

Asia News Network

Sri Lanka named Asia’s leading destination for 2017

Adventure-seekers and intrepid globetrotters looking to blaze new trails in Southeast Asia will want to consider adding Sri Lanka to their travel bucket list, after the country claimed the title of leading destination and leading adventure tourism destination for Asia over the weekend.

At the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia 2017, held in Shanghai, Sri Lanka took the title of leading destination for the region, an award that reflects a country’s range of tourism products and services. The country was also named the leading adventure tourism destination.

Winners are based on an online voting process cast by industry leaders and travel professionals.

Sri Lanka has been emerging as an interesting travel alternative to Thailand, for its beaches, wildlife safaris and adventure tours. Along with its native land mammals (elephants, leopards and wild buffalos), the island’s marine surroundings make the destination one of the best for whale and dolphin watching.

Sri Lanka is also known among thrill-seekers for offering top-notch surfing and diving experiences, jungle treks, hikes and elephant-riding and rock-climbing adventures.

Other big winners of the night include The Oberoi Udaivilas in India, which took home the title of Asia’s leading hotel 2017 and The Peninsula Hong Kong, which was named Asia’s leading luxury hotel 2017.

For Australasia, the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park in Australia was named the leading hotel, and Yasawa Islands in Fiji Australasia’s leading destination.

Here are some of the big winners from the gala event:

Asia
Leading airline: Hainan Airlines
Leading airline economy class: Cathay Pacific
Leading beach destination: Thailand
Leading boutique hotel: Casa Del Mar Langkawi, Malaysia
Leading city break destination: Hong Kong
Leading cruise line: Star Cruises
Leading fine dining and hotel restaurant: La Maison 1888 InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam
Leading low-cost airline: AirAsia

Australasia
Leading airline: Air New Zealand
Leading private island resort: Laucala Island, Fiji
Most romantic resort: The Remort Resort, Fiji Islands

JB

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Four travel destinations inspired by 2017 Oscar nominees

From Los Angeles in the United States with Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land”, to Kolkata, India with Garth Davis’ “Lion”, this year’s Oscar nominees give travel-hungry moviegoers a taste of all kinds of global destinations. Here’s a look at some of the locations where this year’s Best Picture nominees were filmed.

“Lion” directed by Garth Davis
Kolkata, India

This true story of a young Indian boy fostered by an Australian couple treats viewers to landscapes in India and Australia. While the Tasmanian capital, Hobart, and Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, are good options for a trip to Australia, the child’s search for identity also takes moviegoers to the heart of authentic, rural India, on location in the city of Kolkata. Visitors can take in the local architecture, stroll over Howrah Bridge (crossed by millions of Indians every day) and admire the reflection of the trees in the water surrounding Victoria Memorial.

“La La Land” directed by Damien Chazelle
Los Angeles, California, U.S.

This Oscar favorite, with no less than 14 nominations, pays homage to Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and 1950s with a romantic tale that takes viewers on tour of Los Angeles. The movie was filmed at no less than 40 different locations in the City of Angels. One iconic setting, seen on the movie poster, shows a spectacular view over the San Fernando Valley. Scenes were also filmed at The Lighthouse Cafe, a club where legendary artists such as Miles Davis previously performed. Note that this nightclub is no longer a jazz club, and now plays salsa, reggae and country music. The Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park is also a must for visitors following in the footsteps of Mia and Sebastian. In addition to must-visit L.A. filming locations, visitors to the city can enjoy a trip to Universal Studios, a stroll along Hollywood Boulevard and a trip to Beverly Hills.

“Manchester by the Sea” directed by Kenneth Lonergan
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, U.S.

The American town that lends its name to this feature film is like a character in its own right in the movie’s narrative. However, the film’s main scenes were filmed a few miles away in Cape Ann. Still, moviegoers can be assured that some movie scenes were also filmed in Manchester-by-the-Sea, as well as Gloucester, Essex, Rockport and Beverley. The nearest major U.S. city is Boston, an hour’s drive away. A trip to this former colonial city should include a stroll around the stylish neighborhood of Beacon Hill, plus some chill-out time in the U.S.’s oldest public park, Boston Common. Other sights include Trinity Church and a student-led tour of Harvard.

“Hacksaw Ridge” directed by Mel Gibson
Sydney, Australia                                                                                                              
The historical war movie directed by Mel Gibson was filmed in the region of Sydney, New South Wales, where the battlefields of the Second World War were recreated. In fact, the production team set up in Goulburn, around 121 miles southwest of the stunning Australian city, famous for its iconic opera house. Scenes were also filmed in Bringelly and Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney. For a first trip to the Australian city, must-visits include The Rocks, a historic part of town previously inhabited by the first British settlers. Head to the Central Business District to visit the Sydney Opera House, Hyde Park and the Sydney Tower Eye for 360-degree views over the city. JB

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

28,000 brick models make Legoland Florida a unique theme park

Get drenched in an interactive water ride, have fun on a “dragon coaster” that zips through a castle with smoke-belching creatures, and take all the selfies you want with larger-than-life mascots.

If you think these are just the latest offerings from the usual theme parks in Orlando, Florida, guess again.

As central Florida’s premier resort city, Orlando hosted recently the International Pow Wow (IPW) 2015, America’s largest gathering of travel-related industries, agencies and professionals.

Last year 68 million foreign and domestic tourists visited Orlando, making it America’s top travel destination.

As expected, a huge chunk of these visitors went to Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. But there’s more to Orlando than the “big three.”

Less than an hour’s drive from downtown is the smaller city of Winter Haven, host to one of the biggest Legoland theme parks in the world—a 60-hectare attraction with close to 50 rides and dining, shopping and entertainment options, including the newly opened Legoland Hotel.

Legoland Florida is aimed at children between ages two and 12, according to the park’s spokesperson, Brittany Williams. “We’re able to create a great experience that suits this particular age group. It’s a great park to grow up with—from Duplo Valley for toddlers, to the Dragon Coaster for older children.”

Even without the rides, Legoland has 28,000 brick models—some as big as a two-story house—that are attractions in themselves.

Weatherproof

Consisting of 58 million Lego blocks, these weatherproof models come in all shapes and sizes—from dragons to giraffes, buses to fire trucks, divers to policemen.

Some are built around natural elements such as trees and rocks, while others blend seamlessly into rides and public spaces like restaurants, souvenir shops and Legoland Hotel’s lobby and check-in counter.

Bound by special cement to ensure people’s safety, majority of these miniature and larger-than-life Lego pieces are left outdoors.

One of our favorites is a whimsical section called Miniland USA.

Much like our old Nayong Pilipino, though smaller, the section has iconic landmarks and buildings from such places as Florida, Washington DC, New York, and Las Vegas.

The last two are the most interesting subsections of Miniland USA because of their iconic structures: Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station and Rockefeller Plaza in New York; and iconic theme hotels like New York, New York, Paris, Mirage, Treasure Island, Luxor and MGM Grand on the Las Vegas strip.

Apart from capturing details, Lego designers went to great lengths to add such visual flourishes as New York’s yellow taxis, tiny jets of water shooting up from the Rockefeller Plaza fountain, and actual sounds of street life recorded in Las Vegas.

Legoland Florida, which opened in late 2011, grew from an older theme park called Cypress Gardens. Because of its strategic location and beautiful setting, Cypress Gardens lent Legoland a unique look and ambiance not found in other theme parks.

Landscaping

“The setting gives Legoland Florida a very lived-in look, with mature landscaping,” said Williams. “We’ve completely restored the botanical gardens, which offer guests a unique experience.”

Offering a respite from this summer’s soaring temperatures is one of Legoland Florida’s most popular attractions, the World of Chima. Be ready to get wet!

The water attraction has small boats and a viewing deck equipped with water canons. Families on boats are free to spray water at each other and at spectators, all in the spirit of fun. Since they’re also equipped with water canons, spectators can fire back.

Legoland has “milder” roller-coaster rides such as Dragon Coaster and Technic Test Track. The latter simulates a testing site for cars similar to the one found in certain Lego box sets.

What’s Legoland without its trademark learning tools?

The nerve center of building Lego sets is Imagination Zone. It focuses on exploring and creation, with some of the most visually exciting Lego models, including a huge replica of Albert Einstein’s head that serves as the building’s facade.

The Hero Factory is another immersive play area, while Build & Test allows guests to build a Lego car and test it against the competition on a digitally timed track.

“While we’re a park for kids, adults really enjoy learning about the models, especially in Miniland,” said Williams.

Legoland Florida’s botanical gardens can soothe the nerves of even the most harried parents.

Located “130 kid steps away from the resort,” Legoland Hotel is essential to Legoland Florida’s expansion, as it allows guests to savor the theme park experience.

“From the smoke-breathing dragon made of 445,000 Lego bricks to the Lego Castle, brick pit, Lego carpet and 5,000 mini figures behind the check-in counter, every detail in the hotel was designed with Lego in mind,” said Williams.

Before the summer is over, visitors can spend time and have their pictures taken with Lego Friends at the newly opened Heartlake City.

Inspired by a Lego sub-brand for older girls, Heartlake City goes beyond Legoland’s world of primary colors into a realm of pinks, purples, horses and, yes, a shopping mall!

For details log on to www.legoland.com. Delta, one of the official airline partners of IPW 2015, flies daily from Manila to Orlando.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Japan agency offers travel for your teddy bear

TOKYO–Unable to get to that must-see tourist site but can’t bear for your teddy to miss out? Then Japan has just the thing for you — a travel agency that takes stuffed toys on package tours and even provides the holiday snaps to prove it.

Tokyo-based Unagi (Eel) Travel has a range of offers to suit every cuddly companion’s purse.

For instance, a day trip around sightseeing spots in the Japanese capital is $45, plus travel — by parcel post — from and to the toy’s home address.

The more adventurous bear might like to see some of the grand temples and shrines of the ancient capital of Kyoto for $95, or unwind in the hot spring baths that dot volcanic Japan — a snip at $55.

“Some clients join tours simply because it seems fun but there are also people who want to send stuffed animals as their proxies since they can’t travel by themselves, because they are in hospital, handicapped or too busy,” tour operator Sonoe Azuma told AFP.

“A client asked me to take her companion up some stairs and walk through narrow streets she can’t go into with her wheelchair.

“Another client wanted her animal to get a lot of sunshine as she can’t go outside because of a skin disease.”

A form sent to teddy owners ahead of the trip asks for the tourist’s name, if they are prone to car-sickness or sea-sickness, and if they are allergic to a particular food.

Owners are invited to give a bit of background about the participant’s character, such as what their hobbies are and why they are joining the tour.

On a recent tour of Tokyo, to which an AFP team was invited, a menagerie of creatures were entrusted to Azuma’s care.

The group included a tiger from Osaka, a shark from Kanagawa, a rather well-loved Hello Kitty from Hyogo and a small version of Sesame Street’s Big Bird from Hokkaido. They were escorted around Tokyo by the agency’s resident tour guide, eel girl Unasha.

After an early morning briefing on what to expect, participants were gently packed up and taken to the expansive Meiji Jingu Shrine before heading for the Imperial Palace gardens, where Azuma carefully spread out a towel for the gang to sit on as they posed for one of many group photos of the day.

‘Taking care of other people’s children’

While it may sound a little far-fetched, 39-year-old Azuma, who used to work in finance, takes her task very seriously and objects to the idea that she is just firing off snaps at famous locations.

“Anyone could do it if it was simply about taking pictures of stuffed animals… You must do this with the belief that ‘I’m taking care of other people’s children’,” she said.

Azuma, who has been running Unagi Travel for three years, live-blogs her tours, uploading pictures on Facebook and Twitter (https://www.facebook.com/unagitravel, https://twitter.com/unagitravel).

Each photo is captioned with comments from tour participants, ranging from the simple “yummy!” when sampling food to a more considered “Always important to look at things from a different perspective” as they stand in front of a tall building.

Azuma even prepares tiny costumes for her pint-sized charges that match tour locations — such as kimonos for a sleepover at a Japanese-style inn. She says this helps to add a little surprise to owners who are monitoring the trip online.

And she uses the photos she takes to map out a story that chimes with the background each owner has provided.

On one tour, a Tokyoite bunny carried a frog from a provincial town on her back through the din of the capital city because the frog was not used to crowded places.

And her human clients seem to appreciate the personal attention.

One woman said she had never seen her rabbit looking so happy as in a photo of it eating at a restaurant with other stuffed toys, Azuma said.

A satisfied customer in her 40s told AFP she did not think it was strange at all to send two cuddly companions on a mystery tour.

“I enjoyed the scenery or the food through their eyes, even if I was not physically there,” said the woman, who did not want to be named.

With digital photography, mocking up a picture of your bear at a tourist spot would be easy, concedes the woman, but that rather misses the point.

“I think it is very different when they go there physically by themselves and take pictures,” she said. “They must have their own fond memories of the travel.”

She acknowledges that to many non-Japanese people, the practice may seem a little strange.

“I would be a little more (circumspect) if a non-Japanese friend asks me if I would be interested in the service. But if I talk with my Japanese friends, it’s a very natural thing,” she said.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

PAL London flights showcase of PH pride at WTM

The return of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to London starting November 4 will be the centerpiece of the country’s participation at the World Travel Market (WTM), the biggest global event for the travel industry which opens on the same day PAL arrives at the British capital.

The resumption of non-stop flights to the United Kingdom will serve as the main focus of tourism promotions by the Philippines under the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign at this year’s WTM to be held from Nov. 4 to 7.

PAL will share the 300-square-meter Philippine pavilion with 40 other Philippine exhibitors, including the DoT, at WTM 2013 where almost 5,000 exhibitors from 184 countries are expected to generate more than GBP1,859 million in travel industry deals.

According to Susan del Mundo of DoT’s Tourism Promotions Board, “This is the biggest Philippine participation since joining WTM back in 1980 or any travel fair worldwide. A total of 90 DoT officials led by Sec. Ramon Jimenez will be at WTM.”

Buyers and sellers from every sector of the travel industry around the world converge at WTM, London’s biggest annual travel event attracting more than 47,000 global travel professionals.

PAL President Ramon S. Ang said: “In the first six months of 2013 alone, we had more than 60,000 arrivals from Britain.  This elevated the UK to the Philippines’ top ten visitor markets for the first time – the only European nation on the list. With PAL’s new non-stop flights, we are sure those numbers will increase further.”

The DoT had predicted a 65% increase in European visitors to about 575,000 this year alone and the doubling of current arrivals to around 700,000 in the coming year.

“It is not just tourists who stand to benefit but more importantly our 664,000 Filipino *kababayans* in Europe, particularly the 250,000 living in the U.K., who will now be able to return home more often via the airline that knows them best,” Mr. Ang said.

He will lead a delegation of top PAL and government officials on the inaugural flight including the British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad. Upon arrival at London’s Heathrow airport in the afternoon of Nov. 4, Philippine Ambassador to the UK Enrique Manalo will be welcoming the inaugural flight passengers.

From the airport, some PAL executives will proceed to the PAL booth at WTM.

The five-times-a-week service to London will use PAL’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft which features one of the most spacious cabin equipped with modern inflight amenities.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

10 ways to enjoy Russia

To the intrepid traveler in search of exotic sites and adventures, Russia is the perfect starting point for the trip of a lifetime.

Aside from being the largest country in the world, spanning two continents and covering 1/7 of the earth’s total land area, Russia is also home to some of the most awe-inspiring natural and manmade wonders on the planet. (Some of the most widely televised events in the world will be held there, such as the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow in November and the July 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.)



If the mere thought of navigating your way through this vast territory overwhelms you, fear not. Here are some must-sees and dos to get you started.


Moscow

1. Get to know Russia’s rich and colorful past in Moscow. Start at the Kremlin and get to know the seat of Russian political power. Inhabited since the 2nd century BC and known as a kremlin (“fortress”) beginning 1331, here is where you’ll see five palaces, four cathedrals, as well as the official residence of the president of the Russian Federation. The Moscow Kremlin is also home to what the Unesco describes as “religious monuments of exceptional beauty,” such as the Church of the Annunciation and the Church of the Archangel, as well as the Senate and the historic Red Square.

Another interesting tidbit about Moscow: It is home to the largest number of billionaires in any other city in the world—beating New York by a handful of ultra-rich citizens. If you’d like to get more than the usual taste of glitz and glamour, Moscow is the place to be in.

St. Petersburg

2. Feel like a tsar in St. Petersburg. Approximately 400 miles from Moscow and only 90 minutes via a nonstop flight on Aeroflot, St. Petersburg is home to some of the most stunning palaces in the world. Peterhof (Petrodvorets) is a complex of palaces and gardens commissioned by Peter the Great in the early 1700s, and is known as the “Russian Versailles.” It is recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site, with some famous attractions such as the Grand Palace and the fountain complex known as the Grand Cascade.

Perhaps even grander than Peterhof is the Tsarkoe Selo (Pushkin), which was built by the Romanov tsars in the 18th century and is known to be a symbol of Russian opulence and extravagance. But more displays of grandeur abound in St. Petersburg.

Golden Ring

3. Take a tour around the “Golden Ring,” and explore Russia’s spiritual side. The Golden Ring is a cluster of cities toward the northeast of Moscow, which has become popular with tourists for its many churches, monasteries, and a taste of the Russian pastoral life.

The closest stop would be Sergiev Posad (approximately 83 miles from Moscow), home of the ancient monastery founded by Sergey Radonezhskiy, a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.

For a more rustic feel, head out to Suzdal (approximately 134 miles and four hours by land from Moscow), and find yourself surrounded by 12th- to 13th-century churches and monasteries. While there, make sure to try medovukha, a light alcoholic drink made from honey.

Lake Baikal

4. If you think Russia is all pomp and overindulgence, head over to Lake Baikal in southeastern Siberia (six hours by plane from Moscow to Irkutsk) for a more down-to-earth experience with Mother Nature’s glory. A place of many superlatives, Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest lake (25 million years old) and also its deepest (1,700 meters deep). It is also the world’s largest unfrozen freshwater reserve and is home to some of the world’s richest freshwater faunas, cited by the Unesco for its “exceptional value to evolutionary science.”

Vodka

5. Indulge in vodka, one of the world’s most popular drinks. No trip is complete without sampling a country’s cuisine, but no trip to Russia would be authentic without a sip (or a glass, or more) of vodka. First produced over 600 years ago, vodka is made by distilling grains such as rye, wheat and barley, and then filtering the liquid with birch charcoal.

Its long and fascinating history has survived the Prohibition era, and it has likewise been instrumental to the wealth and the power of the Russian state.

For a closer look at how vodka is made, take a tour at Cristall, Russia’s largest vodka distillery, located in Moscow.

Art and culture

6. Immerse yourself in fine art and high culture—all in St. Petersburg. The Russians certainly love culture, as seen in more than 2,000 libraries and more than 200 museums and galleries that have been established in St. Petersburg alone.

One of the world’s largest museums, the State Hermitage Museum houses more than three million items and is known for its grand art collection.

For something more intimate and quaint, head over to the (Fyodor) Dostoyevsky Memorial Apartment Museum, where the “Crime and Punishment” author resided during the last three years of his life. Aside from a reconstruction of the Dostoyevsky family home, the museum also houses art exhibits and a small theater for conferences, poetry readings and performances.

Russian ballet

7. Fall in love with (or at!) the Russian ballet. Although ballet was really a French import, the Westernization program of Peter the Great and the establishment of St. Petersburg’s Imperial School of Ballet paved the way, centuries later, for the careers of such important names as Anna Pavlova, Mikhail Foskine and Nijinsky.

Today, one of the most prestigious dance companies is the Bolshoi Ballet, housed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Several well-loved productions are lined up this October, including “Swan Lake,” “Don Quixote” and “Spartacus.” (Visit www.bolshoi.ru/en/)


Matryoshka dolls

8. Take home a set of matryoshka dolls. Perhaps the most iconic of Russian souvenir items is the matryoshka or the babushka dolls, nesting dolls that were first introduced at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. Usually made of linden or birch, and then hand-painted, matryoshka dolls became globally popular in the 20th century and were manufactured in Sergiev Posad and Semenov, outside Moscow.

Today, the best place to find a wide variety of gift items is in Izmaylovo Market, Moscow. Before heading out there, remember to wear comfortable shoes and clothing, as your shopping trip could easily last the whole day.

Moscow Metro

9. Travel like a local, in style. One of the most magnificent contributions of the Stalin era is Moscow’s opulent metro system, with stations built as “people’s palaces.” Constructed in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro was built by some of Russia’s best architects and artists, and featured fine examples of different architectural styles, iconography, art.

One of the more popular stations is Mayakovskaya, featuring a sky-theme Art Deco mosaic by Alexander Deineka. If you intend to check out each station, give yourself a few days as there are now over 170 stations in all.

Traveling around Russia

10. Tour the vast expanse of Russia. You may want to try Aeroflot, which flies to 28 destinations there. It is also practical to take as it offers connections to other local cities.  (Contact its Philippine ticketing office at 7592191 and 7592192; or e-mail

info@aeroflot.ph)

There is truly much more to Russia than meets the eye, and it offers many unforgettable experiences to those who open themselves up to its charms. Although it may seem like a world away to many Filipinos, in truth, Russia is much closer and more accessible than many of us think. With a bit of research and planning, a few tips from the experts, and a lot of gumption for adventure and exotic cultures, the trip of your dreams could be just a plane ride away.


source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

KLM is here to stay

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is leaving no stone unturned to attract more passengers to Europe, from a growing Southeast Asian market.

It was the last airline to fly nonstop from Amsterdam to Manila, and vice versa.

How is it gearing up for a good passenger traffic to Europe? By refurbishing its fleet, its business class, among other moves.

KLM has been flying to Manila for the past 61 years. From 2004 until last year, it was the only airline offering nonstop flights between Europe and the Philippines. But because of high Philippine taxes, the airlines had to discontinue the service, said Jurriaan Stelder, KLM’s general manager for South China Sea.

It now flies from Manila to Amsterdam via Taipei, and back.

High fuel prices have also reduced the profitability of long-haul routes. Even KLM—the largest airline in Europe after it partnered with Air France in 2004—was hit hard.

The partnership between the two airlines has a network of 24 destinations and offers more than 200 weekly flights between Asia and Europe.

Low-cost carriers

However, even such a thriving partnership is affected by the growing market share of low-cost carriers.

“Today, one out of four passengers in Asia is traveling low cost,” said Stelder. “Air France KLM is cooperating where necessary with low-cost carriers like Jetstar.”

KLM, unlike Air France, still flies daily to Manila from Amsterdam, but with an intermediate stop in Taipei. It won’t abandon the route anytime soon.




It has announced moves to face stiffer competition in the growing Southeast Asian market.

With the Philippine government’s removal of the common carriers tax earlier this year, a considerable burden on the airline has been lifted, making it more attractive for KLM to grow again in the Philippines.

“Unfortunately, the current economic climate in Europe does not yet allow a return to nonstop operation within a short period,” Stelder said through e-mail. “In the meantime, KLM is on a path of increasing seat capacity on the route.”

Sense of dread  


While some European airlines are viewing the steady expansion of Middle Eastern airlines to Asia and Europe with a sense of dread, KLM is confident that its “excellent prices and competitive service” will help it prevail and maintain its position in the market.

Apart from offering reliable and efficient ground and flight operations, including excellent on-board service such as catering and in-flight entertainment, KLM has one advantage over its competitors. “We provide passengers convenient connecting possibilities to other destinations in Europe and beyond via Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, undoubtedly one of the best airports in the world,” said Stelder.

“KLM is making it more attractive to fly to Europe by offering a free stopover in Amsterdam, he added. “This will give our customers the opportunity to visit Amsterdam and see the beauty and hospitality this historic city has to offer.”

But since most of the long-haul traveler’s time is spent airborne, KLM is beefing up and refurbishing its fleet to make flying convenient and pleasurable. Today’s travel isn’t just about getting from point A to B safely and on time. It’s now all about traveling in style—which airlines like KLM take into consideration.

It has teamed up with top Dutch designer Hella Jongerius to create a new atmosphere—from furnishings to minute flourishes—in the World Business Class.

“The new design’s guiding principle is to ensure that passengers feel at home,” said Stelder. “That involves a transition from a business-like look to greater sense of being at home. This has been achieved by using a characteristically warm color palette, more sustainable materials and by enhancing personal comfort.”

The World Business Class’ new full-flat seat can be reclined so the passenger can lie down completely to sleep. The seat and the partition between TV screens ensure greater privacy. There are also more storage compartments beside the passengers and under TV screens.

Expanding its fleet, KLM got its 12th Airbus 330-200 last April. Its arrival, said Stelder, marks another step in the airline’s thrust to modernize its fleet.

“Even in challenging times, KLM continues to invest in cleaner, quieter aircraft in its drive to guarantee customers optimal service,” he said.

“With the arrival of this latest aircraft, KLM’s A330 fleet now counts 16 aircraft: 12 Airbus A330-200s and four Airbus A330-300s.”

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Brazil concerned about hotel price hikes at World Cup

SAO PAULO—The Brazilian government is concerned that some hotels listed on FIFA’s website for the 2014 World Cup plan steep price hikes during the tournament and is reportedly considering investigating the FIFA-appointed agency in charge of accommodation. 


Brazil’s tourism board has notified the justice ministry after its research showed that rates will be up to 500 percent more expensive during the World Cup in some hotels offered by the agency MATCH Services on FIFA’s website.

“It’s probable that MATCH is exercising intermediation fees that are a lot higher than usually exercised in the tourism market,” the board said in a document obtained by The Associated Press, “harming the rights of potential consumers.”

MATCH denied any wrongdoing on Saturday, saying it “provides a totally transparent price structure.”

“With a small number of exceptions where MATCH Services has had to accept higher than normal rates, all other participating hotels have accepted and agreed to embrace FIFA’s and MATCH’s policy to provide reasonably acceptable rates,” it said in a statement.

The Swiss-based company is primarily responsible for contracting and delivering accommodation for the FIFA community, including its officials, delegates, guests and staff. It also sells rooms to FIFA’s commercial affiliates, the media and customers of the official hospitality program. Rooms are offered to the general public through the FIFA website operated and maintained by MATCH.

The study by the tourism board, known as Embratur, compared prices in several dozen hotels in the 12 host cities. It was conducted through researching prices announced on booking websites, the hotels’ sites and FIFA’s official web page.

Embratur did not say exactly how many hotels were compared, but of the 65 hotels listed in the study’s results 22 increased prices more than 200 percent, with six offering rates at least 300 percent higher. The biggest increase was by a hotel in the northeastern city of Salvador, which will charge $509 per night during the World Cup, a 583 percent increase compared to the $75 it charged this July.

The host cities with the smallest increase in rates are Recife and Sao Paulo, with hikes of about 100 percent on average. The capital of Brasilia had the most expensive hotel in the study, with certain rooms costing $639 per night, a 376 percent increase compared to the current price.

The study showed that the average cost for a room in Rio de Janeiro during the World Cup will be $461, more than double the rate in Johannesburg for the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa.

Embratur said it wants to negotiate better prices in part because it’s afraid that excessive rates during the World Cup may hurt Brazil’s tourism in the long run.

“Raises without limits may satisfy the profit expectations of some, but they are bad for the sustainability of the business,” Embratur president Flavio Dino said in a statement sent to the AP. “We are hosting these mega events in Brazil to help increase the flux of tourists in the country in the long run. The government will do everything possible to protect the image of the country and of the industry itself.”

Pricey hotel rooms became a hot topic last year during the Rio+20 UN conference, when the hotel sector took advantage of the spike in demand to charge exorbitant rates. The average cost of a room in Rio during the conference rose to nearly $800 a night, prompting a barrage of criticism from conference delegates. The European Parliament canceled its entire 11-person delegation due to the costs.

President Dilma Rousseff’s office got involved at the time and negotiated with the hotel sector to reduce some of the prices.

In its letter to the justice ministry, which is responsible for handling consumer rights issues, Embratur also criticized MATCH for imposing minimum stays of at least two nights at the World Cup hotels. The document dated June 17 was obtained by the AP on Friday.

MATCH may also reportedly be targeted by Brazil’s antitrust agency for potential violation of free competition rules. The Valor Economico newspaper has said that prosecutors have already asked the agency to investigate the company’s operations.

MATCH has vehemently defended itself, saying that “it is incorrect to suggest” that the hotels it signed a contract with in Brazil are overcharging.

“The rates secured by MATCH Services from its partner hotels and those it offers to its customers are in the vast majority of cases reasonable and compare well to rates available outside of the FIFA World Cup,” it said in a statement. “(Hotels are) acting in a fair and reasonable manner taking into account the market forces and the investment made by them.”

It added that higher prices were already expected in Brazil during a major event like the World Cup.

“These prices are dictated by the prices MATCH Services have been able to secure from the hotels,” it said. “They are not the product of an abuse of a dominant position held by MATCH Services, but rather the fact that the Brazilian hotel industry by tradition over many decades has enjoyed high yields per room night during major events, whether it is a major conference, Carnival, New Year or Formula 1 racing.”

The president of the Brazilian Association of the Hotel Industry downplayed the Embratur study, calling it opportunistic because nearly all of the rates had already been set a long time ago. Enrico Fermi said the prices were established when MATCH signed agreements with more than 800 hotels right after Brazil was picked as World Cup host in 2007.

“FIFA told us that the prices here are acceptable and compatible with the international market,” Fermi told the AP in a telephone interview.

The average price of a room in Johannesburg for the 2010 final was $200, while in Berlin in 2006 it was $300, according to Embratur.

“To compare room rates in Sao Paulo and Rio for the 2014 FIFA World Cup to those that MATCH Services provided in Johannesburg for the 2010 FIFA World Cup does not make sense,” MATCH said in its statement. “All it would prove is that the difference is in line with the difference at any given time between the cost of accommodation in Rio or Sao Paulo and Johannesburg.”

Brazil ranks 33rd in the list of most expensive hotel rates in the world, according to Fermi.

The local World Cup organizing committee and Brazil’s sports ministry referred all requests for comment to Embratur. FIFA said only MATCH would comment.—Tales Azzoni

source: sports.inquirer.net

For gay travelers: Sights to see in Vienna in 48 hours

VIENNA - Vienna's opulent Habsburg-era coffee houses, architecture, palaces, operas, and other cultural institutions give the city an air of imperial grandeur.

Yet the Austrian capital with 1.7 million residents is not stuck in the past, regularly topping quality of life lists and hosting numerous large-scale gay events such as the Life Ball, Rainbow Parade, Rainbow Ball, and Identities Queer Film Festival.

This month Vienna reviewed its gay and lesbian tourism strategy and is now promoting its music, culture and imperial history to LGBT travellers with money to spend.

Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a short stay in Vienna, once home to the likes of Sigmund Freud, Austrian author Arthur Schnitzler and Empress Elisabeth, known as Sisi to her family and friends. Friday

4:30 p.m. - Start with a visit to Schloss Belvedere, the former residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736),that houses the world's largest Gustav Klimt collection. The baroque palace is a showcase of the prince's power in Habsburg Austria, after he repelled the Turks who were laying siege to Vienna.

Rumoured to be gay, his sister-in-law is reported to have said: "He doesn't trouble himself with ladies, a nice couple of page boys would be more his thing." The palace is home to Klimt's most famous painting, "The Kiss".

6:30 p.m. - Time for some food and philosophy at a Viennese coffee house. Legend has it that when the Turkish army was repelled in 1683, they left sacks of coffee beans behind, thus sparking the coffee houses for which Vienna is famous. For an expensive coffee try Cafe Central, whose patrons included Freud, Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky in 1913 alone. (http://www.palaisevents.at/cafecentral.html)

7:30 p.m - Attend a concert in the golden hall of the Wiener Musikverein but be sure to buy tickets in advance as the philharmonic orchestra tends to be booked months out.

10:00 p.m. - Wind through the narrow medieval streets of the first district to find the wine bar Santo Spirito. Frequented by local performers and a gay favourite, the bar plays classical music with baroque and camp flair. (http://www.santospirito.at/)

Saturday

9 a.m. - Grab a snack and coffee in one of dozens of cafes in the Naschmarkt, an open-air market stretching between the Karlsplatz and Kettenbrueckengasse U-bahn stations. An established gay haunt, Cafe Savoy near the end of the Naschmarkt has chandeliers, statues and wood paneling, enlarged by one of largest single-piece mirrors in Europe. (http://www.savoy.at/)

10:30 a.m.- Take the U-bahn to the south-west of the city to the 1,441-room rococo Schoenbrunn, the Habsburg imperial palace and summer residence of Viennese icon Empress Elisabeth. Known as one of the most beautiful queens in Europe, she maintained a 19 inch waist through strict diet and a workout routine unique for the 19th century. (http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en.html)

12:30 p.m. - Head north to grab a book at the Loewenherz Bookstore, one of the largest gay bookstores in Europe with over 12,000 titles, and have lunch at neighbouring Cafe Berg.

Loewenherz is named after Richard the Lionheart. As the story goes, Vienna's original city wall was built from ransom money gained from the release of Richard the Lionheart in the 11th century. The ransom was only made possible because his male lover Blondel heard his love song coming from Castle Duernstein.

2:00 p.m. - Meander along the Ringstrasse, the imperial circular boulevard which replaced the city walls and is lined with a wealth of beautiful buildings. Enter the Albertina Museum in the Hofburg Palace, which boasts the largest and most valuable graphic collections in the world. The 18th century founder, Archduchess Marie Christine, is reputed to have been in a lesbian relationship with her sister-in-law, Isabella, the first wife of Emperor Joseph II. (http://www.albertina.at/en

4:00 p.m. - Continue to the gothic Stephansdom Cathedral in the centre square and climb the tower for an excellent view of the Austrian capital before heading down Kartnerstrasse, making a short detour to Kaiserbruendl sauna, Vienna's best known gay sauna harking back to days of Habsburg grandeur. The sauna was frequented by one of Emperor Franz Joseph's brothers who had a special entrance made for incognito access.

6:00 p.m. - Any visit to Vienna involves having a Wiener Schnitzel, a cutlet of breaded veal or pork, served with potato salad. Gaesthaus Ubl in the Wieden district with simple wood tables, white walls, and a traditional menu is a local favourite.

8:00 p.m. - Dress to impress and enjoy the grandeur of the Vienna State Opera House. Two gay architects, Eduard van der Nuell and August Sicard von Sicardsburg, designed the building, but Van der Nuell committed suicide in 1868 before its completion after criticism of the building. (http://www.wiener-staatsoper.at)

Sunday

9:00 a.m. - Start the morning with breakfast at any of the number of cafes in the trendy and artsy MuseumsQuartier (MQ). These former Habsburg stables have been transformed into a plaza of culture that features museums, galleries, restaurants and shops. (http://www.mqw.at/en/)

10:00 a.m. - A favourite in MQ is the Leopold Museum, which houses the largest collection of Expressionist artist Egon Schiele's works. It recently drew the crowds (including naturists in a special viewing) with the exhibit "Naked Men", a homage to male nudity. (http://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en)

11:00 a.m. - See the pomp and majesty of the Lipizzaner horses as they perform a classical dressage at the Spanish Riding School inside the Hofburg palace. The school has been practising the art for over 440 years. (http://www.srs.at/en/)

1:00 p.m. - A catholic country, most stores are closed on Sunday so do as the Viennese and head to Prater for an afternoon in the park. Grab a sausage from a food stand and head to Riesenrad, featured in the Orson Welles film "The Third Man".

3:00 p.m. - End your stay in Vienna at a traditional wine tavern, or Heuriger, in Grinzing or Doebling districts on the outer edges of the city. Vienna has 1,680 acres of vineyards located inside the city limits. Enjoy some hearty Austrian food like Schweinebraten (roast pork) and Kaiserschmarrn (strips of pancake served with fruit compote) and say "Prost!" with a glass of Gruener Veltliner, a popular local white wine. - Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Obama praises tourism industry

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- President Obama praised progress made in the American travel and tourism industry, noting increased visa processing capacity and border efficiency Wednesday.
In a White House statement, the president mentioned an executive order from earlier in the year, directing federal agencies to aggressively expand the United States' ability to welcome and attract visitors.
He said the results could be seen in Department of Commerce statistics noting an 8.1 percent increase in U.S. exports in 2011 from 2010, a 3 percent gain in spending by international tourists in July 2012 compared to July 2011, and travel and tourism-related exports increasing more than $1.1 billion per month during the first seven months of 2012.

He also pointed out that 88 percent of visa applicants are interviewed within three weeks of submitting an application to a consular office.

source: upi.com

Cops probe blast at wharf near Palawan Underground River

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—An explosion rocked the wharf near the Underground River on Monday while a flock of tourists were waiting for their turn to be transferred into motorized boats.

Inspector Freddie Taliman of the Puerto Princesa police told reporters the explosion occurred at 10:30 a.m. near the parking area of vans carrying tourists.

Nobody was reported injured in the blast but several vans were damaged by the explosion, he said.

Taliman said they were waiting for the arrival of investigators to conduct a deeper investigation into the incident.

He said they were still determining the type of explosive used in the blast.

Over a thousand tourists visit the Underground River on a daily basis, with applications for permits constantly increasing since the attraction was recently designated by a Swiss-based group as one of the world’s 7 new natural wonders.

The 8.2-kilometer navigable underground river, which is located around 50 kilometers north of this city features a limestone karst mountain landscape.

source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/163993/cops-probe-blast-at-wharf-near-palawan-underground-river