September, 2020

Maldives launches the world’s first Border Miles program

30SepOctober 1, 2020

The year 2019 was a remarkable one in the history of Maldives’ tourism, with a groundbreaking record of 1.7 million tourist arrivals to the country. 2020 started off with more diversified and aggressive marketing activities with a target of reaching 2 million tourist arrivals by the end of the year.

However, due to the ongoing global pandemic, Maldives had to close its borders on 27th March 2020. As the tourism industry accounts for the majority of foreign exchange earnings, it was majorly hit due to the stringent measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19.

After almost four months since the suspension of on-arrival tourist visas, the tourism industry reopened on 15th July 2020, with enhanced precautionary measures against COVID-19. A safe tourism guideline was issued by the Ministry of Tourism, along with a certification program to ensure the safety and hygiene standards of all tourism facilities. Resorts and liveaboards on uninhabited islands have resumed operations whereas guest houses on inhabited islands will resume operations on 10th October 2020.

In light of these events, during a special virtual ceremony held to mark World Tourism Day 2020, the Minister of Tourism Honorable Abdulla Mausoom has inaugurated the “Maldives Border Miles” program, aimed to boost tourism in Maldives. This is the first of its kind loyalty program developed in the entire world.

The Minister of Tourism Honorable Dr. Abdulla Mausoom stated, “The Maldives Border Miles” program which was launched today is a program which will increase the popularity of Maldives as a tourist destination and provide a path for more marketing and advertising opportunities. In addition, I think that this will further enhance the popularity gained in the key markets of Maldives tourism.”

Maldives Border Miles is a tourism promotion program initiated by Maldives Immigration, and developed with joint stakeholders, who also joined the ceremony; Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). This program will be officially implemented on 1st December 2020 and is believed to take the tourism sector of Maldives to peak in the foreseeable future.

This program is a three-tiered loyalty program for tourists. Tourists who enroll in this program
will earn points based on the number of visits and duration of stay. Additional points will be awarded for visits to celebrate special occasions. There are three categories in this program;

Aida (bronze tier), Antara (silver tier) and Abaarana (gold tier). Each tier will be defined by a set variety of rewards, services or benefits, which increase in value as members progress.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Controller General of Immigration, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Hussain, mentioned how the Maldives is ready to welcome tourists and provide them with an experience like never before. “The hotel reception is not where the tourists begin their holiday. Their awaited journey begins from the welcoming smile of the immigration officer at the border, which indeed narrates the initial chapter of a memorable vacation. And with the introduction of Maldives Border Miles, we are prepared to welcome them with privileges and facilitate an experience like never before.”

Following the launch of the program, The Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed, highlighted the importance of marketing this program to tourists all over the world. “Our sincere hope is that this program aids in increasing the destination presence and produces a beneficial impact on the tourism industry, as well as increase the tourist arrival rate in the future. We look forward to its successful implementation in the approaching days.”

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited, Mr. Gordon Andrew Stewart also touched upon the importance of the program and safe tourism. “Maldives Border Miles program is an innovative way to attract global travelers to the Maldives. To support this, we are focused on our passengers and staff’s health. We have taken a number of steps to assure that Velana International Airport is a safe airport, for all our travelers. We recently attained the Airport Industry Association; ACI International Health Accreditation certification. This certificate recognizes the steps we have implemented to ensure we have all the required health and safety measures in our airport to assure passengers of their safety, while travelling through the airport.”

With the introduction of the Maldives Border Miles program, it is expected that tourism will boost considerably as it is an added advantage in promoting Maldives. Furthermore, it is also a golden opportunity for returning visitors to rediscover the best of Maldives and get the most out of their visit to the sunny side of life. For the most recent updates of the program, visit imuga.immigration.gov.mv/mbm

Rail Europe – Let’s explore UK National Parks by train

28SepSeptember 28, 2020

South Downs
A priceless rural refuge for anyone living in the busy south-east of England, this is one of the best national parks near London and, in fact, the nearest. The grassy-topped wave of hills are what give the park its name but there are also ancient woodlands, rivers and the white cliffs of the Sussex coast. Winchester and Lewes are the main gateways, with more regional starting points at Amberley in the Arun Valley, Southease in the Ouse Valley or Liss in Hampshire.

Source: www.raileurope.com

“Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” will radiate splendor in September Mega mapping show will dazzle Tap Seac Square for the first time

24SepSeptember 24, 2020

Kuala Lumpur, 24 September 2020 – Organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” is slated to light up the cityscape from 26 September to 31 October. Residents and visitors can enjoy the city’s splendor sparked by a confluence of light installations, projection mapping shows and interactive games along four designated routes across different parishes on Macao Peninsula and Taipa. In this sixth edition,
the Macao Light Festival will stage a mega mapping show at Tap Seac Square for the first timeagainst a backdrop of four historic architectures, weaving mapping projections and music intoa unique enchanting experience for all.

MGTO has poured great efforts to keep optimizing the event program since the launch of the Festival, hoping to surprise residents and visitors with an awe-inspiring extravaganza of light each year. Owing to the pandemic, a string of mega events was canceled or postponed this year. As the situation gradually stabilizes, MGTO is gearing up for event rearrangements. The Macao Light Festival, originally held each December, is now scheduled earlier to unveil in late September as a warm-up highlight to welcome visitors once again. A series of community outreach programs will be co-launched, which include light events held by local community organizations to infuse the Festival with the vibrant color of local communities. Businesses in the communities involved are driven by the community organizations to participate, which will inject a new impetus to the revival of the communities’ economy.

Four routes across Macao Peninsula and Taipa MAK MAK appears anew at different landmarks The 6th Macao Light Festival will be staged from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from 26 September to 31 October. (the last projection mapping show will begin at 9:50 p.m. daily). Themed as “Light Carnival”, the Festival will present light installations and interactive games at 12 locations along four designated routes themed as “Circus”, “Time Tunnel”, “Candy Kingdom” and “Music Box of Lights” in different parishes.

1. “Circus”: A huge 27-meter-long canopy will be raised where AR interactive games and illuminations in animal patterns will be installed to recreate circus carnival experience.
2. “Time Tunnel”: A magical corridor for time travel.
3. “Candy Kingdom”: Colorful illuminations resembling sweet delights such as “Rainbow Rings” and “Refreshing Iced Drink” .
4. “Music Box of Lights”: Light installations, along with the mapping show “Musical Piano” will give audiences an unparalleled splendid feast for the eyes.

There will be a range of hotspots for selfies and check-ins on social media. Macao Tourism Mascot MAK MAK will appear across the routes in different costumes such as donut and chocolate, accompanying residents and visitors on the fun “Light Carnival” journey.

Mega mapping show will dazzle Tap Seac Square for the first time The upcoming Macao Light Festival will stage mapping shows at five iconic attractions. Among them, a spectacular mapping show will dazzle Tap Seac Square for the first time. Under the theme “Color is…”, the show will be projected upon the facades of four historic architectures including the buildings of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tap Seac Health Centre, Macao Central Library and the Archives of Macao. Painting strokes of light upon the magnificent canvas, the show will convey various expressions of color in different styles of artworks.

Mapping shows will be staged at Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome and the restaurant Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa at Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa Village as in the past. Two other new venues will be added, including China Products Company at Largo do Pagode do Bazar and Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library in Areia Preta Urban Park. The mapping show at China Products Company will be reminiscent of Macao’s culture from the old days.

Community light events add vibrant color to the Festival An array of light events will be held in local communities in tandem with the Macao Light Festival this year. The Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern
District, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao will concurrently stage “Macao Light Festival 2020 — Light and Color at Cathedral Parish”, “Macao Light Festival 2020 — Fun Journey of Light at Our Lady of Fatima Parish” and “Macao Light Festival 2020 — ‘Light extravaganza on Coloane’ at Parish of St. Francis Xavier” respectively. The events will encompass light installations, workshops, interactive games and performances, along with time-limited offers and giveaways from the Festival.

Opening ceremony on 26 September Macao Light Festival 2020 will be unveiled with an opening ceremony at Tap Seac Square in the evening of 26 September. For more information about Macao Light Festival 2020, please
visit MGTO’s website for “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” (mlf.macaotourism.gov.mo), and MGTO’s WeChat ID (“mgtoweixin”).

With the approach of the Macao Light Festival, MGTO will pay close attention to the latest situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, while making timely and proper arrangements for all the shows and activities in accord with the guidelines issued by Health Bureau. In case of adverse weather conditions, appropriate adjustments will be made to the event program.

Philippine Airlines: Five Best Places to Visit in the Philippines

24SepSeptember 24, 2020

Batanes
The island-province of Batanes was created by a series of volcanic activities and other geologic forces millions of years ago.

Batanes lies at the northernmost tip of the Philippines, where the Pacific Ocean merges with the South China Sea. It is composed of three major islands, namely: Batan which contains the capital town of Basco, Sabtang, and Itbayat. Close by are seven islets including Amianan, which is the closest to Formosa. Thus, Batanes has been identified as the country’s potential gateway to East China

Bohol
Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol, is famous for being the site where a blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was forged. Tagbilaran is also the annual host of the Sandugo Festival, a month-long event commemorating the first Filipino-Spanish treaty, highlighted by trade fairs, exhibits and a grand street party.

Bohol is home to the renowned Chocolate Hills, a cluster of hills formed through the centuries from corals and shell fragments and known to turn brown every summer. Bohol is also the natural habitat of the world's smallest primate, the Tarsier.

Cagoyan De Aro
Cagayan de Oro may very well be the happiest place in the country. The “City of Golden Friendship,” as it is sometimes called, is home to especially friendly and warm Filipinos. Their ready smiles are a fitting welcome. Cagayan de Oro’s accessible location makes it the “Gateway to Northern Mindanao.”

Cagayan de Oro’s much talked-about whitewater rafting and river trekking make it the premier whitewater destination in the country. The Cagayan de Oro River is famed for challenging rapids that quickly follow one after the other. It’s really an experience like no other and well worth the initial scare. They say the wild river helps you discover your inner strength and endurance.

Alitalia: Traveling to Italy, The Most Beautiful Country in The World

23SepSeptember 24, 2020

ROME
The city of the Dolce Vita has an unmistakable charm. Among ancient monuments, palaces, churches, works of art, and piazzas, there is an endless list of things to see in the Eternal City. While the most famous tourist attraction is undoubtedly the Colosseum, there are also the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, and the Trastevere, to name but a few. A trip to Rome makes for an unforgettable vacation.

FLORENCE
The perfect example of a city of art, Florence was the cradle of the Renaissance. The Piazza del Duomo is an open-air museum that contains masterpieces such as the Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, and The Baptistery of St. John. The Tuscan city also features one of the most famous bridges in the world, the Ponte Vecchio, and one of the most visited museums, the Uffizi Gallery, which contains works by Leonardo, Caravaggio, Giotto, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli, Cimabue, Mantegna, and Parmigianino, among others.

NAPLES
Above all, the Parthenopean city is famous for its culinary specialty, exported throughout the world: pizza. Here you can taste the original dish and reward your palate with other exceptional recipes from the traditional local cuisine, though Napoli offers much else besides. It is a city to be experienced and taken in as you stroll along the streets of the old town, admiring true works of art such as the Veiled Christ, the Cloister of Santa Chiara, and the San Domenico Maggiore. With a short excursion, you can also visit the nearby majestic Amalfi Coast and the ruins of Pompe

WHEN TO GO TO ITALY

Fall and spring are perhaps the best times to book a flight to Italy for, as the weather is not too hot – especially in the center and the south – and not too cold in the north. For lovers of fashion, Milan Fashion Week takes place in September/October and February/March, while Milan Furniture Fair, which features the best of global design, is held in April.

So what are you waiting for? Pick out the city you want to visit and book an Alitalia flight to Italy!

Source: www.alitalia.com

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