MUDGEE FEELS THE LOVE WITH NEW CAMPAIGN

Mudgee is calling on visitors to embark on a love story with the area, inviting couples, friends and families to Feel the Love in Mudgee region.

Tourism businesses in Mudgee, Gulgon, Rylstone, Kandos and surrounds have created 30+ experiences and packages to sweep visitors off their feet and showcase the diverse offerings of country NSW.

Among the experiences are a romantic hot air balloon ride with Balloon Aloft over the stunning Mudgee region plus two nights’ accommodation for two, an immersive wine masterclass, a secluded farm retreat with valley views and a personal shopping experience with local boutique Cherry Red.

This new campaign highlights the unique tourism attractions and experiences of Mudgee Region, from picturesque scenery, fine wine at 40+ family-owned cellar doors and tours of local produce farms to national sporting events, an adventure playground in Gulgong or bushwalking near Rylstone.

Mudgee is a 3.5-hour drive north-west of Sydney, or a 45-minute flight.

#FeeltheLove in Mudgee through these special deals - visitmudgeeregion.com.au – and don’t forget to share your #LoveNSW photos while you’re there.

Cherry Blossoms in Japan

“Sakura”, or cherry blossoms, are the flowers that signal the coming of spring for Japan.

Many celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossoms during this season by enjoying “Hanami”, a traditional practice in which people enjoy picnics and drinks below the brightly-coloured flowers bloom.

There are many famous Hanami spots.

Let's learn about the proper manners associated with and various ways to enjoy Hanami for your next trip to Japan in spring.
http://bit.ly/2Vc4qbw

https://www.jnto.org.au/

#tradition #CherryBlossoms #Japan

Husky love: 5 epic dog sledding adventures

Canada's snow-drenched landscapes and countless professional tour guides offer idyllic dogsledding trails, from British Columbia in the west to Quebec in the east. Read on for five of the best.

1. British Columbia
Let the puppies lead you! Many of British Columbia’s winter ski resorts offer unforgettable dogsledding experiences, including Whistler Blackcomb and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in the Kootenay Rockies. The Thompson Okanagan region also offers an abundance of dogsledding options that make the most of the perfect snow conditions. Take a canine excursion with Candle Creek Dog Sled Tours at Big White Ski Resort and explore the tranquil backcountry. The alpine village of Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops is home to Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures, where you have the option to take the reins and become a fully-fledged dog musher. Fancy a snowshoeing jaunt with five adorable Malamute sled dogs by your side? Big Bear Tours in the town of Lumby, near Vernon, offers 8-km cross-country ski or snowshoe expeditions through the snow-drenched mountainside of BC’s North Okanagan.

2. Yukon Territory
Slide along the happy trails of Yukon in Canada’s north-west, an exhilarated team of dogs howling with excitement in front of you. Get some tips on how to drive the sled yourself: “Gee! Haw!” (Go right! Go left!), or simply sit back and enjoy the speed and grace of the team as you fly along the trails, saturated in a deep blanket of snow. Select one of the many outfitters that offer half-day adventures in Whitehorse and Dawson City, or sign up for a multi-day experience that you’ll never forget. You’ll care for your own team of dogs, sleep in a remote wilderness camp and even score front row seats to the shimmering, dancing northern lights overhead. Sky High Wilderness Ranch, just outside Whitehorse, offers four, seven and fourteen-day husky wilderness adventures where you can live like an authentic Yukon musher!

3. Albert
There’s nothing quite like the pitter patter of paws on the snow and the jingle of dog collars as you glide through an enchanted forest, snow-white as though dipped in vanilla ice cream. Exploring by dog sled is one of the best ways to discover the frozen lakes and towering mountains of the Canadian Rockies. Help your musher prepare the dogs and learn how to harness your very own team of huskies. Your guides will share the history and techniques of Canadian dogsledding as they lead you through the most incredible winter landscape you’ve ever seen. Numerous dogsledding companies operate in Banff and Lake Louise offering everything from half-hour to full-day excursions. Whether you venture to the border of BC and Alberta across the Great Divide, or soar across the icy Spray Lakes, your dog-sledding adventure will stay in your heart forever.

4. Northwest Territories
Wrap yourself in blankets, hunker down and enjoy the chaos as your seasoned musher hitches up the noisy team of canines to your traditional oak taboggan. Here in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories, dog sledding is a classic Northern experience. Zip between the snow-scalloped spruce forests to places you could never reach by car, foot or ski, and marvel at the relationship between the musher and their tail-wagging best friends. Relive this ancient mode of Arctic travel and take the time to get to know the distinct canine personalities, from the pace-setting ‘lead dog’ and the collaborative ‘swing dogs’, to the hard-working ‘wheel dogs’. North of 60 Aurora Adventures outside the city of Yellowknife offers day and evening dog sledding tours, ending with wild tea and bannock in a traditional heated tee-pee.

5. Quebec

There’s something truly special about Quebec’s vast snow-cocooned wilderness. Deep in the heart of the Saguenay Fjord, 3.5 hours from Quebec City, a spectacular Nordic dream is waiting to come true. Discover the ultimate feeling of freedom as you traverse the landscape with Entre Chien et Loup, stay in the cosy inn, La Grangette, and get to know the unique malamutes crossed with wolves. Alternatively, head to the stunning Malbaie region and embark on a three or five-day dog mushing expedition with Descente Malbaie deep into the mountainous backcountry of the Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park, staying in rustic forest cabins along the way. Prefer to stay closer to the cosmopolitan urban centres? Head to the Laurentians, just an hour from Montreal, and become a musher for a day or a weekend with Laurel Adventure Nature.

Destination Canada

https://www.destinationcanada.com/en

The Second Annual Elephant Boat Race & River Festival Commences in Bangkok

The spirit and energy of boat racing returned to Bangkok today with the start of the Elephant Boat Race and River Festival, taking place by the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

On land, the evening festivities kicked off with a live graffiti display by celebrated street artist Alex Face, the main stage was headlined by top bands and DJs and a spectacular fireworks display illuminated the Bangkok skyline. On the water sixteen teams are competing for coveted trophies across the youth and main categories, which included teams from the Royal Thai Navy as well as provincial teams. Each team was paddling a specially commissioned boat decorated with artistic elephant heads rising elegantly above the water, and tails inspired by traditional Thai fish motifs.

Each race takes place across 200m with 4 teams per heat, the first to cross the finish line wins and progresses closer to winning the royal trophy graciously granted by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua.

While the teams battle it out on the river; entertainment at the riverside festival includes the Indoor Rowing Tournament with amateur rowers demonstrating their prowess by rowing their fastest time for the chance to win luxury Anantara prizes. Visitors to the three day event are also treated to luxury champagne tents, an interactive display from Thailand Kite Association, and musical concerts by top Thai artists including Paradox, Oat Pramote and a line-up of international DJs. The foodie village is well stocked with a host of pop up food stalls by a selection of Thailand’s top restaurants and Bangkok’s favourite chefs.

Tapping into its conservational expertise, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is aiming to raise significant charitable donations through ticket sales that will in turn all be donated to elephant related projects throughout Thailand.

List of Sponsored Teams
1. Raja Navy (Royal Thai Navy) – Citi
2. Singburi – JW Blue Label
3. Samut Prakarn – PWC Thailand
4. Nonthaburi Municipality – Moose
5. Thailand National Sports University Lampang Campus – Casillero Del Diablo
6. Phet Nava – Bangkok Bank
7. Suratthani – Chang
8. Pradu Thong Goddess – Keith and Kym

To join Anantara Hotels in celebrating Thailand’s national animal and to support fundraising for their conservation and welfare, please visit https://www.bangkokriverfestival.com

#Thailand #Bangkok #Festival #Anatara

Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan

Nagasaki prefecture is full of charm, from its international architecture and local delicacies to its theme park “Huis Ten Bosch” — a theme park replicating a traditional Dutch town.

The spots we will introduce you in this article will excite those new to Japan and Japan pros alike!
Let’s take a look at the prefecture’s popular world heritage site (registered in July 2018) and the beautiful landscapes, and traditional churches of the Goto Islands located in western Nagasaki.

#cities #Nagasakiprefecture #charm #HuisTenBosch #GotoIslands #traditionalchurches #beautiful #cuisine #VisitJapanNow #Japan #JapanNationalTouristOffice #Nagasaki

Visit Japan Now

SYDNEY CELEBRATES WHAT MATTERS AT 2020 MARDI GRAS PARADE

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade took place last night, bringing together an estimated 300,000 spectators who lined the streets, balconies and rooftops of Oxford Street to cheer on the 12,600 marchers taking part in the world’s biggest celebration of the LGBTQI community.

Mardi Gras’ 2020 theme was WHAT MATTERS, a motif that built on the legacy of Mardi Gras as a platform for activism and encouraged the public to examine what can be done to build an even more inclusive future. Many of the floats in the Parade used the theme as a call to action, choosing to showcase a diverse array of important issues facing the community.

Reflecting on the Parade, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Albert Kruger said, ‘Last night was a dazzling display of diversity that brought together people from across the globe to celebrate what truly matters.’

‘In total there were 191 floats, representing a spectacular cross section of the community and each bringing their own terrific twist to this year’s theme.’

‘This year we collectively reflected on a number of issues facing our community. From LGBTQI homelessness to the Australian bushfires and climate change, many of this year’s floats had a distinct point of view on the issues that matter most’.

‘And of course, having Sam Smith and Dua Lipa join us on the parade route was a fittingly glittering finale to a truly unforgettable night,’ said Albert Kruger.

As the sparkling spectacle came to a close, 12,000 revelers kept the celebration going at the iconic Mardi Gras After Party, which took over Hordern Pavilion and surrounding venues until 8am.

Artists who performed at the Party included international superstars Dua Lipa, Kesha and Sam Smith, as well as Brazilian drag phenomenon Pabllo Vittar.

The electrifying line-up of local and international DJs included: Ayebatonye, Cupids Cut, Charlie Villas, DJ Kilimi, Estée Louder, Kate Doherty, Magda Bytnerowicz, Trinity, Whiskey Houston, DJ Hamo, Kate Monroe, DJ Nate, Atomic Blonde & Dutch Kiss, Dameeeela, Barry Harris (CAN), Midland (UK) and DJ Joelby (UK)

The 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade was proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.

Extension of the Southern Expressway Completed in Sri Lanka

Photo Colombo Page

The stage 3 of the Southern expressway that extends from Matara to Hambantota has been completed allowing vehicles to travel from the Bandaranaike International Airport up to Hambantota. The section between Matara and Bawarakumbuka was declared open to the public, connecting Hambantota and Matara.

The completed Southern Expressway connects some of the major areas such as Kadawatha, Kottawa, Kalutara, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, Matara, Tangalle, Yala and Hambantota through well-located interchanges.

Following is a table that indicates the approximate changes in travel durations and approximate (reduced) time advantages on your tour programs featuring Yala, whether traveling from, or to, the respective coastal towns.

Sector	Before	After	Time advantage
Airport to Hambantota	5 hours, 30 minutes	2 hours, 45 minutes	2 hours, 45 minutes
Airport to Yala	6 hours, 15 minutes	3 hours, 30 minutes	2 hours, 45 minutes
Colombo to Yala	6 hours, 15 minutes	3 hours, 30 minutes	2 hours, 45 minutes
Bentota to Yala	4 hours	2 hours, 30 minutes	1 hour, 30 minutes
Galle to Yala	3 hours, 30 minutes	2 hours, 30 minutes	1 hour
Mirissa to Yala	2 hours, 30 minutes	1 hour, 30 minutes	1 hour
Weligama to Yala	2 hours, 30 minutes	1 hour, 15 minutes	1 hour, 15 minutes

There are more expressway expansion projects in the pipeline for the next few years. Once completed, we will keep you updated on the progress as we learn more.

Thank you,
Team Authenticities.

STRENGTHENING TRADE, TOURISM AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INDIA

New trade, tourism and investment opportunities were the focus of a trade mission to India this week by Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres.

Minister Ayres participated in the Australia India Business Exchange (AIBX) conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Austrade, which included representatives from over 130 Australian businesses. In addition to AIBX there was also a strong tourism focus with the full board of Tourism Australia also in India.

Minister Ayres attended the Aviation Connectivity roundtable in Delhi and the Tourism Australia reception in Mumbai along with inbound operators and airlines to promote Sydney and NSW as a top destination for holidaymakers.

“Latest International Visitor Survey results show that India is NSW’s fastest growing inbound market over the past five years,” Minister Ayres said.

“From the survey period year ending September 2014 to September 2019, the number of visitors from India almost doubled while visitor expenditure in NSW grew 123.5 per cent to $429 million.

“The current ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and the upcoming men’s tournament in Australia this year present an excellent opportunity not only to cement this growth rate but to accelerate it.”

In addition to the tourism outcomes, an MOU was signed with Social Alpha to support greater opportunities for NSW and Indian start-ups to improve access to each market. Social Alpha nurtures start-ups and the Foundation for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (FISE) forms the core of the Social Alpha architecture, which operates through a nationwide network of technology and business incubation infrastructure sponsored and enabled by Tata Trusts.

Also on the agenda was the promotion of the exciting economic development precincts in NSW. There was considerable interest in the Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct, Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Special Activation Precincts in Regional NSW.

With strong links already established in education, a renewed focus from the NSW Government on international engagement through the recently launched Global NSW this mission will take advantage of the immense trade, tourism, and investment opportunities being by India’s rapidly expanding economy.

“NSW has a clear opportunity to strengthen and diversify its international economic opportunities with India, which is why we intend to grab this with both hands.”

Pictured: Minister Ayres signing a MOU with Social Alpha India as part of the Australia India Business Exchange (AIBX).

Tottori Burger Festa's Local Burger Grand Prix

Japan has seen a recent surge in popularity of high-quality burgers using the best ingredients and cooking methods.

In particular, burgers from various regions of Japan have caused a buzz, thanks to their use of special regional ingredients and meats.

This time, we would like to introduce you to some of the most popular burgers from Tottori Burger Festa's Local Burger Grand Prix held in Tottori since 2010!

#TottoriBurgerFestasLocalBurgerGrandPrix #burger #cuisine #VisitJapanNow #Japan #JapanNationalTouristOffice

Visit Japan Now

#LOVENSW FELT FAR AND WIDE

Destination NSW’s tourism recovery marketing campaign Now’s The Time To Love NSW is about to sweep the state with full-page advertisements in regional NSW newspapers next week.

The campaign continues to grow in scale, with regional communities invited to #LoveNSW in their local newspapers from Monday.

This is an important step in engaging tourism operators and the broader community to show and share love for their favourite corner of NSW by taking a photo of their town, include a heart shape and share the photo on social media with the hashtag #LoveNSW.

The rally cry to regional communities draws on the pride and familiarity only locals can show, and is already generating real-time, authentic imagery of the amazing experiences and attractions NSW has to offer visitors.

Tourism businesses that want to use the Now’s The Time To Love NSW logo on marketing materials such as stickers, badges, posters and in email marketing communications can access an industry campaign toolkit here.

Meanwhile, the Sydney Swans joined the cause this week visiting Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Lake Conjola as part of the 2020 AFL Community Camp. Swans players held clinics with junior players in the town, met community members and hosted a breakfast for SES, RFS and local volunteers. They shared this incredible video from their #LoveNSW journey.

The #LoveNSW campaign also features on billboards across the country in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane inspiring locals and visitors to get out and explore the Harbour City and beyond. See a photo of one of Sydney's most prominent billboards - Joyce Drive near Sydney Airport - above.