7 of the best: luxury summer escapades

Selecting a luxury escape in western Canada comes with a delicious dilemma. Do you go with ocean-front opulence or a lavish mountain hideaway? Whether you’re seeking rugged coastlines and ancient forests or glittering lakes and tranquil wine country, British Columbia’s got you covered. With state-of-the-art spas, world-class golf courses and unforgettable wilderness adventures, BC’s extravagant escapes are as beautiful as the dramatic landscapes that frame them. Read on for 7 of the best.

1) Wickanninish Inn
While most of Canada lives winter under a blanket of white, the west coast of Vancouver Island grows green, green, green as it witnesses the fury of howling gales, 20-foot breakers, and enough rainfall to keep the pristine temperate rainforest alive and well. The ensuing natural furore is a spectacular sight and, since 1996, the enchanting Wickanninish Inn in Tofino has long been known as the original winter storm watching destination of British Columbia.

The Inn is designed so that every single room, suite and pubic space allows for a view of the ocean. Better yet, don your Wickanninish Inn raincoat and venture out for your own taste of the storm season.

2) Sonora Resort
Watch some grizzlies, try your hand at fly fishing, jump on a kayak, take a heli tour, and finish your day in Sonora Resort, a shining jewel of British Columbia’s stunning cluster of Discover Islands. Accessible by seaplane or helicopter, this exclusive wilderness spa is as peaceful as it is luxurious, with inviting hot tubs and tranquil meditation areas set amongst ancient forests. Select from the five-star spa service and emerge refreshed, relaxed and ready to savour the sunset over a chilled glass of chardonnay from an extensive wine cellar.

3) Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort takes glamping to the next level. We’re talking infinitely comfortable white canvas prospector tents perched on the edge of glorious wilderness in the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve. Working closely with the Ahousaht First Nation, Clayoquot offers guests guided whale and bear watching, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, yoga and heli-adventures. With so many unforgettable outdoor experiences, it could be easy to overlook the outstanding culinary offering. You’ll be savouring every morsel of locally caught crabs, scallops and halibut, combined with fresh organic produce sourced from Vancouver Island farms like the Tatlo Road Farm in nearby Crofton. Best of all? The dedicated, personalised service will have you feeling like royalty, from the moment you step off the floatplane until you wave goodbye from the horse-drawn wagon that takes you back to the dock.

4) Echo Valley Ranch and Spa
Deep in ‘cowboy country’ above the Fraser River in the Cariboo region of British Columbia Echo Valley Ranch & Spa combines restorative comfort with high-octane fun. Fly into the ranch’s private runway and begin a getaway filled with horse riding, hiking, gold panning, rafting, 4WD safaris and fly fishing. In cooler weather, stay indoors for yoga classes and swimming in the heated indoor pool, and make the most of the two full-service spas. Welcoming only 40 guests at a time, there’s a feeling of intimacy and exclusivity to your stay, and the lack of cellular service means you’re in for a much-needed digital detox.

5) Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria
The historic Empress smiles down upon the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island from her imposing throne on the harbour-front, where she has watched over her subjects since the early 20th century when the hotel was built as a tribute to Queen Victoria. High tea at the Empress is mandatory, a timeless experience taken up by more than 80,000 guests annually. Sip on ethically-sourced tea and nibble on freshly baked scones topped with honey from the bee-hives and lavender cultivated on the rooftop garden. A stay at the Fairmont Empress Hotel is everything you would expect from this regal establishment – stately rooms, magnificent cuisine and sparkling views of the picturesque harbour.

6) Sparkling Hill ResortNothing says luxury like the 3.5 million Swarovski crystals adorning the foyer of Sparkling Hill Resort. Perched atop a granite bluff overlooking the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia, this high-end spa spares no expense to create the ultimate in holistic wellness experiences. Choose from more than 100 different healing and pampering treatments, including its signature Cryo Cold Chamber. Brace yourself for three minutes in minus 110 degrees Celsius where your nervous and circulatory systems will undergo a boost like no other. Take in the sweeping landscapes that surround the resort and feast on locally-sourced farm-to-table creations at the PeakFine Restaurant.

7) Nimmo Bay Resort
Nimmo Bay Resort was built on the dream to live amongst and respect nature, and to create a space for visitors to experience the vast beauty and true magic that exists in this special corner of Canada. Located in the Southern Great Bear Rainforest, the resort can only be reached by helicopter, float plane or boat. Experience the Resort’s unique heli-adventures, where your private heli-guide will escort you to glaciers, mountain tops, old growth forests, white sand beaches, pristine lakes, hot springs and isolated rivers. At each location you may find yourself hiking, swimming, rafting, drifting, fishing, taking photos, or wildlife viewing. Your exclusive adventure is tailor-made to your specific desires – the possibilities are truly endless.

Destination Canada
https://www.destinationcanada.com/en

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL AND THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON TOURIST PERCEPTIONS

The 2020s could easily become ‘the decade of sustainability’. While more companies pledge to help combat climate change, travelers are becoming increasingly savvy on who and what is negatively affecting the planet. With this in mind, STR’s Tourism Consumer Insights department surveyed more than 1,000 active travelers in January 2020 and evaluated their thoughts and behavior towards sustainability in the tourism industry. With 67.4% of respondents living outside the U.K. and the rest within, the below analysis provides worldwide perceptions on sustainable travel.

Environmentally friendly holidays are important to travelers: fact or fiction?
Highlighting that travelers, by and large, take the issue of sustainable tourism seriously, almost 50% of those surveyed stated that choosing an environmentally friendly holiday option was important to them, while 40% chose a neutral position. As shown below, Generation Z (those born in the mid- to late-1990s) travelers placed higher importance on environmentally friendly holidays.

Despite the strong intent to undertake sustainable holidays, 37% of our traveler panel highlighted that they struggle to find the best way to be environmentally friendly. This points to the need for additional and clearer information, from the travel industry and other organizations, about the steps travelers can take to reduce their carbon footprint.

A staggering 92% of respondents stated that they were concerned about climate change, reinforcing the idea that sustainability is at the forefront of their destination selection and how they get there. However, despite broad concerns about climate change, there were split views on whether travelers would avoid destinations with poor environmental credentials. Just over a third of panelists wouldn’t visit a country they perceived to show insufficient efforts to fight climate change, while the remainder (65%) indicated that they would not be deterred or were undecided.

Sustainability starts at home
Transitioning into a sustainable lifestyle begins at home, and unsurprisingly, many travelers have already made efforts to minimize their environmental impact. 50% disagreed that “actions by individuals will never be enough to combat climate change”. This finding further highlights the eagerness to make a positive difference in combatting climate change.

Similarly, travelers demonstrated a high incidence of recycling, and nearly 90% stated that they currently recycle their waste—far higher than the U.K. average of 45%. Further highlighting the strong environmental conscience of active travelers, 85% stated that they were minimizing their use of single-use plastics, and 67% stated that they regularly buy locally grown food.

The travel industry still has plenty to do
As travelers change their lifestyle habits to minimize contributions to climate change, this affects how they view numerous industries, including tourism.

We asked panelists how ‘green’ they perceived key sectors of the tourism industry to be, such as accommodation providers and airlines. 60% believed there is little or no effort to be sustainable among hotels and other accommodation providers. As shown below, while this finding highlighted generally negative perceptions of the efforts made by accommodation operators, the industry was less poorly perceived in comparison to cruises, airlines, bus tours and train operators.

What steps can tourism operators take to be more sustainable? One important move for the accommodation industry would be to minimize food waste. Again supporting the view that travelers, although eco-conscious, might not always rule out potentially environmentally harmful activities, there were mixed views that breakfast buffets should be stopped to reduce food waste. That said, a slight majority favoured the idea.

Read the full article at Str: https://str.com/data-insights-blog/sustainable-travel
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853

#climatechange #sustainabletravel

Kurokawa Hot Springs

The Kurokawa Hot Springs are located on the 700-metre-tall highlands of Aso in Kumamoto prefecture. 

The area will hold its yearly winter Yuakari event until 5th April 2020. For the duration of the event, from dusk until 10:00 p.m., bamboo lanterns light up the area along the river and hot springs park. 

This lovely event also acts a means of preserving the natural surroundings of Kurokawa Hot Springs. Bamboo grows quickly and tends to impede the growth of other trees, making it necessary to thin the bamboo in the area. 

Kurokawa Hot Springs is a 3-hour bus ride from Kumamoto Station or Hakata Station.

Learn more about events in Japan here
http://go.phot.re/PAYB6

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

Visit Japan Now

#art #KurokawaHotSprings

ON RESPONSIBLE TOURISM MARKETING AND SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEKONG REGION

Jens Thraenhart

Jens ThraenhartHow to develop tourism in a way which creates livelihoods, fosters economic growth and alleviates poverty? Jens Thraenhart, CEO of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), tells us in this episode of our series of interviews with world’s leading sustainable tourism champions and changemakers.

Jens illustrates how he works with the tourism ministries of countries included in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) – Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and China. He shares how his team works towards developing a tourism model that supports small, responsible travel businesses, which challenges they’ve had to overcome and which global trends influence his work.

Jens, you founded the award-winning digital marketing firms Chameleon Strategies and Dragon Trail and created the much applauded Mekong Tourism initiative, among many other accolades. What motivated you to take up the Executive Director role to head the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)?

I was actually the Special Advisor to the previous Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office since 2010, while I was Co-Founder/President of Dragon Trail and Chair of PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) China, living in Beijing.

The countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the provinces of Guangxi and Yunnan in PR China) have always fascinated me. It is such a beautiful and stunning region, rich in culture, heritage, and environmental assets – to be able to assist in promoting and developing tourism in these countries was a tremendous honour, to get the trust from the six governments. On the other hand, it was an exciting challenge to create a platform for stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

I also saw this role as a unique opportunity to build a new model when it comes to sustainable destination management.

Being a dual citizen of Germany and Canada, what excites you about Asia that you moved to the other side of the world, to currently live and work in Bangkok?

When I was around 16 years old, growing up in Germany, my father told me that the future will be in Asia and that Chinese will become the most important language. This was in the mid to late ’80s, during a time when China was still closed, and the world viewed China very differently than today. My father’s words always stuck in my head.

When I was invited to a conference in Singapore in the early 2000s, right afterward I booked myself a ticket to Shanghai, not knowing anybody or anything. After that, I had occasional trips to Asia, especially China, while working for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (we developed a mini Chinese website back in 2004), and for the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Then in 2008 I moved to Beijing, originally as President of a small boutique hotel company, but stayed for over 5 years, co-founding and developing Dragon Trail and China Travel Trends.

As Chair of PATA China, we launched the China Sustainable Travel Forum & Awards in 2010. It was a fascinating time to be in China during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai; a time that truly was influenced by growth, change, and confidence.

In 2014, I decided it was time to leave Beijing for Bangkok, as I believed that Southeast Asia was to be the next frontier for economic growth. In 2014, the six-member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) appointed me to head the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO). Now China is the number one tourist source market for all of the GMS countries.

As the Executive Director of MTCO, your objective is to promote the Mekong region as a single tourism destination and to foster responsible tourism development. What challenges do you face with respect to the coordination and implementation of strategies while dealing with the various tourism ministries?

The member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion have been incredibly committed to driving regional tourism collaboration. This year, we will celebrate our 23rd Mekong Tourism Forum in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bagan in Myanmar.

Obviously a lot has changed in the region, as well as in global tourism, in the past 20 years. While some countries were closed to tourism, others were in early development phases. Today all countries focus on tourism as a key economic pillar.

The rising Asian middle class has shifted key source markets from the west to the east, resulting in more regional tourists, demanding different products and communication channels. But despite of all that, the key challenge that we have faced, and are trying to overcome, is to drive engagement.

In order to overcome this obstacle, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office has created various innovative initiatives to encourage public and private sector engagement, such as:

• the social commerce marketing and capacity building platform “Mekong Moments”,
• the regional social media campaign “Mekong Mini Movie Festival”,
• the responsible travel guide “Experience Mekong Collection”,
• the “Mekong Trends” – delivering tourism insights,
• the “Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism” (MIST) program, mentoring startups in the travel tech and social impact categories,
• the institutional website MekongTourism.org, housing an e-library,
• the Mekong Tourism Contributor Program,
• the annual industry conference “Mekong Tourism Forum”

Making regional tourism collaborations between multiple countries work can be a real challenge. How do you create value for the travel and tourism industry in the Mekong region?

The strategy of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) over the past five years has been built entirely around contribution, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. If engagement can be achieved, the collaborative nature of marketing the destination is immensely powerful – so long as it’s facilitated in a way that each stakeholder in the visitor economy contributes, benefiting their own business and ultimately collaboratively driving value to the overall exposure of the destination.

This collaborative model could, in theory, enable any low-budget destination to effectively compete with any cash-rich destination, building virtual consortia of travel businesses in the destination.

We have developed a collaborative marketing and capacity building ecosystem to drive sustainable tourism and inclusive growth in the region. This strategy has also transformed the traditional destination management model to an inclusive crowd-marketing model. The result: a sustainable brand powered by authentic experiences which are created and delivered by small, responsible travel businesses. Those are shared by real travellers, inspiring the world to visit the region as conscious and purposeful travellers.

The Experience Mekong Collection brings together small, medium and social enterprises committed to responsible tourism. What are the criteria a business has to fulfill to be a part of this group?

Consumer trends have fuelled the desire of travellers to engage in authentically local and sustainable experiences. This is positive for inclusive tourism, and the economic value that tourism brings spreads out to secondary destinations and into communities where micro, small, and medium businesses have the opportunity to benefit.

These small responsible travel businesses are curated to make up the Experience Mekong Collection, serving as a trusted consumer label for social enterprises in the travel sector. The collection is aligned to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and functions as a capacity-building platform for other businesses to learn and share best practices.

The Experience Mekong Collection now comprises close to 350 small, responsible travel businesses. Those offer sustainable travel experiences in the categories stay, taste, do, shop, cruise, and tour.

Anybody is able to nominate businesses to be added to the Experience Mekong Collection and the Mekong Tourism Advisory Group (MeTAG) makes sure these businesses, in fact, do create a social impact on their communities and provide an authentically local experience.

Place “consumers”, including travellers and residents, share their experiences with these businesses on social media, building a content cloud of responsible travel experiences in the Mekong Region.

This sustainable model has these “promoters” organically building a stakeholder-driven destination brand around authentic and sustainable experiences, preserving the heritage and culture of the destination, supported by the local community.

Have you seen any results that these programs have been successful?

It is always challenging to truly measure the impact of such initiatives. However, we do have some encouraging indicators which suggest that we are on the right track. Regarding the Experience Mekong Collection, we were able to measure that an increasing number of travellers are using it to plan their itineraries when traveling in the region. This motivates us to now build a trusted brand and to further promote these businesses.

We strongly believe that the more successful small, responsible travel businesses and social enterprises thrive in the destination, the more inclusive and sustainable travel and tourism in the region will become.

When it comes to our Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) program, quite a few of our startups have received investments and found partners through the program.

In addition to the Travel Technology category, we have now also launched a dedicated category for Travel Social Enterprises. Helping these innovative and passionate entrepreneurs to get exposure and mentorship is especially important for ventures in countries in the Mekong Region that normally don’t get as much attention.

Data collected and analysed by research firm Forward Keys shows that, between May 2016 to 2017 and May 2018 to 2019, multi-country trips in the Mekong Region from source markets USA, Germany, UK, and Singapore grew by 14%. For source markets located in the rest of the world, growth was slower, at 10%.

The same highlighted countries also make up for the highest visitor numbers to MekongMoments.com, suggesting that this campaign has a clear return on investment in attracting 4% more travelers, compared to organic growth.

In addition, we have seen a strong brand exposure through the Mekong Mini Movie Festival Campaign, which reached over 22 million people last year and where we can see a large number of return participants from all over the world. Here an example of a mini:

You believe in the power of visual storytelling to inspire people to visit new destinations and promote responsible travel. 

I believe that visual storytelling and film can play an important role in promoting destinations and responsible travel. Travelers now have access to low-cost local SIM cards and Wi-Fi and can share their experiences “in the moment.”

Visual content from photos and videos shared on social media about travel experiences is a powerful way to inspire and influence potential future travellers.

Our social commerce platform MekongMoments.com is powered by Enwoke, an award-winning innovative destination engagement system. The initial idea was to aggregate experiences in the form of visual content shared on social media and tagged with #MekongMoments and connect the content to the actual businesses, to increase exposure and sales. Once the businesses see the value created, they would encourage their guests to share their experiences by creating mini social media contests. The content cloud that is created is inspiring prospective travellers all over the world.

As the content shared has a focus on responsible travel businesses, including experiences from the Experience Mekong Collection, the perception of the Greater Mekong Subregion as an experiential and responsible travel destination is strengthened due to the influence of social media networks, such as Instagram, as travel decision-making channels.

Powered by the same technology and integrated into MekongMoments.com, we launched the successful Mekong Mini Movie Festival campaign (www.MekongMinis.com), where people share their experiences on social media in video format of 60 seconds or less, and tagging their posts with #MekongMinis.

In the first year alone, we aggregated over 500 tagged videos, which generated over 1.2 million video views and reached 22.6 million people worldwide. The second year was even more successful, with a significant increase in the quality of videos shared.

Via a partnership with WWF, the mascot of the Mekong Mini Movie Festival is the Mekong (or Irrawaddy) Dolphin, to raise awareness of endangered wildlife and the importance of sustainable tourism in the region.

The reason we called it “festival” is the opportunity for the tourism ministries, as well as other travel companies that are active in the region, to screen the mini videos at travel trade shows, events, and conferences.

They even embrace the initiative by developing their own branded Mekong Mini Movie Festival campaign as part of the bigger regional initiative. That way, we not only promote the Mekong Region via powerful, user-generated experiences, but also promote sustainable tourism via our mascot and in partnership with WWF.

Finally, we created our first Mekong Tourism destination film by curating the content from many of the shared #MekongMinis videos. You can view the video here and below.

Our second Mekong Minis Award winners were announced during the 2nd Asia Destination Film Forum in Bangkok, bringing together tourism boards and filmmakers.

How do local communities benefit from your work?

While all our programs are highly integrated, the Experience Mekong Collection is probably the most obvious initiative indirectly benefiting local populations.

Due to the fact that many of these small responsible businesses are in secondary destinations, and creating a social impact, however having limited marketing resources, the Experience Mekong Collection can not only disperse tourists to secondary destinations, but can also do good as these businesses give back to the local communities.

Another innovative practice for which we were recognized by the UNWTO, in the UNWTO Report on Inclusive Tourism, is how we engage the local tourism businesses when organizing our annual conference, the Mekong Tourism Forum, which rotates around secondary destinations among our six member countries.

While normally tourism conferences are hosted in a big hotel or conference center, we focus to make the Mekong Tourism Forum as inclusive as possible, to engage stakeholders in the destination.

t the 2017 Mekong Tourism Forum in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, we made the destination the venue and hosted 16 sessions at 16 relevant small businesses. For example, a session on river tourism was hosted on a river cruise, a session on food tourism at a local restaurant, on nature-based tourism in the botanical garden, and on community-based tourism on a rice field which was part of a local village.

Lunches were catered by various small local restaurants all over town, spreading the economic benefit of the event to almost 50 small businesses, taking delegates out of the normal conference into the destination to engage and connect with local residents.

This MICE concept could help smaller destinations to compete for events by developing a consortium of businesses to collaborate and host delegates.

Peter Richards, International Trade Centre responsible tourism specialist, summed up the challenges and results: “While complex from a logistics standpoint, the organisers’ efforts paid off to create one of the most inclusive and experiential tourism conferences yet, by making the destination the venue. This is a new benchmark for inclusive conferences.” Source

Which of your sustainability initiatives could be easily replicated in other destinations?

All our programs can easily be replicated and adapted to other destinations. We are always happy to share our programs and to help implement strategies.

We have been approached by quite a few destinations, from cities, countries, as well as regions. One good example is the Greater Tumen Region of the four-member countries of Mongolia, Russia, South Korea, and China.

We have started working with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia to develop their digital tourism platform, containing a Mongolia travel inspiration website, an integrated in-destination Mobile app (soon to be launched), and the #FeelMongolia campaign – all powered by the same Destination Engagement System technology Enwoke – as well as a curation of responsible travel experiences (similar to the Experience Mekong Collection). A well-integrated tourism app is a very strong tool for destinations to involve businesses, local communities, travellers, and other stakeholders.

While developing the Mekong Travel app, we have been working with other destinations to create a tool that benefits all parties involved, and which also helps to steer visitor flow and information distribution, based on visitor preferences.

What challenges should DMOs in Asia and elsewhere foresee and prepare for over the next few years, as the number of tourists continues to rise?

Tourism has done a lot of good for the planet. And still does. We need more tourism in the future to help address the challenges we face. Travel is a right and is also important, not only for economic reasons but also for mutual understanding and peace.

But tourism also creates challenges. Tourism numbers will continue to rise, and destinations will continue to struggle to manage the growth and leverage tourism for economic benefits.

Growth should not be the objective. If it is, it leads to imbalance. We have seen too many instances where a few benefit and many more are stuck with the burden of increased visitor numbers.

The benefit of tourism is typically defined as economic, with the assumption that more tourists create more benefits. But this is not always true, as tourism has a hidden cost.

More important than growth is to find the right visitor, at the right time, in the right numbers. Only this way can we protect the heritage, the people and the environment that give a destination its unique vibe and character.

Our theme for this year’s 23rd Mekong Tourism Forum in Bagan, Myanmar, hosted by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, is focused on “Achieving Balanced Tourism”.

In order to achieve sustainability, there needs to be a balance between the various stakeholder groups as well as the environment, and heritage of the destination.

While we are witnessing over-crowding in many destinations, I don’t believe in the underlining rhetoric of “over-tourism”. Imbalance in many instances is a result of greed, which can then create over-crowding, unhappy residents, pollution, danger to lose intangible heritage and endangered species, and many other issues that appear as a snowball effect.

A trip should leave a positive impact on visitors and residents, while contributing to a sustainable planet. Achieving balanced tourism requires the collaboration of all stakeholder groups, to ultimately heal the diseases deep inside of the destination or the place.

Just like a healthy person is a happy person, a healthy destination is a happy destination in the long-term if it generates economic benefits for all.

I hope that destinations in the future will shift their mindset from “over-tourism” to “balanced tourism”. Short-term fixes and gains will not drive sustainability in the long-term.
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853

#MTCO #MTCOinitiatives #sustainabilitystrategy

2 WEEKS TO GO: PARRAMASALA CELEBRATES A DECADE OF DIVERSITY

There are only two weeks left to go until Parramasala (13 – 15 March) returns to celebrate ten years of diversity!

The Festival will return to Prince Alfred Square and its surrounds with a jam-packed program of multicultural merriment. One of the largest celebrations of cultural diversity in NSW, the three-day extravaganza will transform Parramatta into a vibrant cultural wonderland, brimming with intoxicating sights and sounds.

Newly announced programming includes...
Masala Music Festival - Newly announced artists are UK singer-songwriter Laura Stephenson, who has performed at the 2017 Logies; Western Sydney artist Clarissa Mei, whose recently launched her Vulnerable EP to a sold-out crowd at Freda’s Down Under; Australian-born Korean producer Yoni Yen, skillfully blending RnB sounds with dark instrumental and hard-hitting trap; and Midnight Pool Party, whose Dalliance EP has racked up over 2 million streams on Spotify alone.

Food - This year, Parramasala also teams up with Singapore Airlines to present our emporium of international indulgences for those with a sweet tooth – the Singapore Airlines Sweet Shoppe. Our friends at Singapore Airlines have scoured international culinary destinations around the globe, bringing a selection of sweet treats and delectable desserts – from rich flaky baklava, to irresistibly smooth chocolates, and everything in between.

FULL PROGRAM
The full 2020 program features ten year highlight programming, a handpicked selection of the most vivid, awe-inspiring experiences from across the festival’s rich history: from exciting highlight events, to rousing live music performances, mouth-watering culinary offerings, and breathtaking dance, plus plenty for kids too.

“We are very proud to present this special anniversary edition of Parramasala, looking back on the cultural vibrancy it has brought the community over ten years,” said Festival Director Paul Osborne. “We’ve reflected on the festival’s incredible history, and curated a wonderful array of events showcasing the very best the festival has to offer: from the jaw-dropping and spectacular, to the humbling community events that invite people from all walks of life to come together, in celebration of life’s simple pleasures.”

“Parramasala has become an unmissable part of our multicultural calendar over the past decade. The festival is an extraordinary celebration of our cultural diversity and has promoted rich cultural expression and community participation. Parramasala’s ten-year anniversary is a huge milestone for Western Sydney and the diverse communities of our State. The 2020 program will be packed with something for everyone,” said Acting Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee.

“For the past 10 years, Parramasala has showcased what makes our City so special – our incredible cultural diversity, high energy, and inspiring creativity. But this year’s anniversary line-up will be bigger and better than ever, with performances and food offerings representing all corners of the globe. Come along to soak up the best of what Parramatta has to offer,” said City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer.

Every year, the massive three-day extravaganza sees over 35,000 Sydneysiders converging on Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square and its surrounds. The city will transform into a cornucopia of incredible experiences, including cutting-edge live music, vivid dance and theatre, a breathtaking parade of splendid colour, spectacular costumes, and beating rhythms.

KEY FESTIVAL EVENTS
The iconic Welcome Parade (13 March) returns bigger for than ever for Parramasala’s tenth anniversary, with an exhilarating procession of over 600 performers, drummers and musicians forming a cavalcade of colour, music and movement.

The 10th Birthday Party (13 March) will celebrate a decade of Parramasala: from its South Asian origins, across countless highlights and cross-cultural sharing. Come celebrate with a big birthday bash after the Welcome Parade, with a spectacular finale lighting up the twilight sky with the endless colours of Sydney’s many cultures.

At the Opening Night Party (13 March), kick-start the festivities with one of one of the world’s most legendary party bands – Los Amigos Invisibles. With twelve critically-acclaimed albums under their belts, a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album, plus an impressive five Grammy nominations, Los Amigos Invisibles (“the invisible friends”) have been trailblazers of hybrid Latin dance music for nearly twenty years. The trio have steadily built up an international legion of devoted fans, swept up by their energetic combination of groovy funk, driving Latin rhythms and big city beats.

Break bread, share your story, and reflect on a decade of multiculturalism at the Long Table Brunch – I Will Eat With You (15 March). Ease into Sunday by experiencing the simple beauty of people joining together with no agendas or co-opting of the gathering: politicians, religious leaders and community members enjoying a multicultural feast to delight the senses, and nothing more, in this all-inclusive communal feast, where everyone has a place.

LIVE MUSIC
At the Masala Music Festival (14 – 15 March), acclaimed musical storytellers feature alongside up-and-coming moving and shakers, blending bilingualism with head-bopping beats and soulful strumming. The electrifying Masala Music Festival showcases the extraordinary talent found in the cultural hotbed of Western Sydney and beyond.

Catch awesome free live performances from Sampa the Great, fluidly merging classic hip-hop, spiritually-minded gospel and chants, neo soul and ancient Southern African sounds; triple ARIA-nominated artist Mojo Juju, whose fresh take on blues and soul drives to tell stories that have been conventionally silenced; and Adrian Eagle, whose recent smash hit ‘A.O.K’ earnt an ARIA nomination for Best Soul/R&B Release.

Up-and-coming wavemakers include Miiesha, who has performed with Indigenous Australian hip-hop stars Baker Boy and Briggs; bilingual Persian rapper CHAII, who was rapping Eminem lyrics before she’d even learnt her first words of English; and Temgazi, who guest features on multi-platinum selling artist Timomatic’s 2019 single ‘Wait in Vain.’

FOOD
The International Food Village (13 – 15 March) is your culinary passport to a mouth-watering array of delectable delights. Soak up the intoxicating aromas of distinct food cultures from across South Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and the Pacific. Grab a plate, and immerse yourself in a world of flavor, with a handpicked selection offering the best food experience of the many “flavours of Sydney.”

Swing by the International Aromas Festival (15 March), the brand new pop-up cultural precinct at Market Street pairing coffee, sweet treats, chocolate and market stalls, in celebration of the humble coffee bean’s widespread embrace in global cultures. Sample delicious coffee and other brewed pleasures from around the world: from cardamom-infused Turkish coffee brewed in a traditional ibrik, to the famously sought-after Indonesian kope luwak, to the spicy, aromatic warmth of chai, and beyond.

DANCE / PERFORMANCES
The World Dance Congress will introduce audiences to the world’s wonderfully diverse range of dance styles. The Congress is a lively invitation to share cultures through costume, colour and movement – from the unmistakable rhythms of Indian Bharatanatyam to African street dance, to Middle Eastern bellydancing and traditional Indigenous dance.

As the sun begins to set, the festival comes alight with Masala Nights (14 March). Get swept away in a heady cocktail of rhythm and colour, as dance cultures from the Pacific, Asia, and the Middle East come together over for a dazzling demonstration of cross-cultural unity. Masala Nights will fill the twilight sky with the kaleidoscopic colours of Sydney’s many cultures.

This year’s Visual Arts (13 – 15 March) offering allows you to feast your mind as well as your senses. Parramasala teams up with Parramatta Artist Studios to present special installation Distant Corners, bringing the world to the feet of thousands of Parramasala attendees. Snap a selfie as you make your way across the four corners of the world in this interactive artwork.

FILM
Gather your nearest and dearest, and settle in for Masala World Movies (12 – 14 March), with free screenings of brilliant world cinema on the lush banks of the Parramatta River foreshore by twilight. The program offers a strong showcase of the burgeoning South Asian film industry and beyond, with a stellar selection of titles from all across the globe. There’s something for everyone, so take your pick from side-splitting comedies to tear-jerking dramas, plus family-friendly flicks for the little ones too.

Titles this year include Miracle in Cell No. 7, following a man wrongfully jailed and his daughter’s journey to prove his innocence; Ardaas Karaan, about three elderly men who realise each generation of their families has deeply conflicting opinions on life; Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan, a follow-up to 2017’s popular romantic comedy Shubh Mangal Saavdhan; and The Run, a documentary on Aussie ultramarathon runner Pat Farmer dodging cattle and nearly collapsing from dehydration as he completes the Spirit of India trek in 64 days.

KIDS
The Kids International Eco Village (15 March) is a world of surprise and wonder for the little ones. An opportunity for kids to explore, play and create. Get involved in interactive workshops on cultural arts, enjoy family-friendly music and entertainment, catch incredible magic shows, eco-friendly activities and free face-painting, all while learning about how to care for our natural environment.

Kids can also discover their Chinese Zodiac sign at the Zodiac station. Get your face painted and truly become your Zodiac animal, taking cues from the giant animal lanterns, then join in the Parade of Creatures at 1pm – a procession of little dragons, monkeys, tigers and more.

Parramasala
WHEN: Friday 13 March – Sunday 15 March, 2020
WHERE: Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta
WEBSITE: https://www.parramasala.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Parramasala/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Parramasala_
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/parramasala_/

ITB BERLIN 2020 CANCELLED

ITB Berlin 2020 is cancelled due to the rapid spread of Covid-19 Messe Berlin reported in a press statement late Friday evening.

The decision was made following strong recommendations from the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Economics during the course of the day that presured Messe Berlin to cancel the show the first-ever in 54 years.

In its statement, Messe Berlin confirmed the health authority of the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in Berlin imposed significantly tighter restrictions on holding the event, 4 to 8 March, that prompted the decision to cancel.

Among its requirements, the authority stipulated that each participant would need to prove to Messe Berlin that they were not from a designated risk area or had not been in contact with a person or persons from a risk area.

“IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR MESSE BERLIN TO SATISFY THESE REQUIREMENTS OVERALL,” MESSE BERLIN STATED IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED 1827 FRIDAY EVENING.

Messe Berlin had for weeks made it known that a decision on holding or cancelling large-scale events would only be taken based on the recommendations or instructions of the relevant specialist authorities. Only they possess the necessary information and specialist knowledge in order to draw the right conclusions.

Messe Berlin GmbH CEO Christian Göke said: ”With more than 10,000 exhibitors from over 180 countries ITB Berlin is extremely important for the world’s tourism industry. We take our responsibility for the health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and employees very seriously. It is with a heavy heart that we must now come to terms with the cancellation of ITB Berlin 2020.”

Earlier in the day, Health Senator Dilek Kalayci issued a statement that the responsible health office in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf had updated its risk assessment with regard to the ITB and has ordered appropriate measures.

“I welcome the fact that the fair, the ITB has cancelled subsequently,” he said.

Late Friday, the crisis department of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of the Interior had been meeting to take further measures against the coronavirus and discuss the travel event.

Organisers of the ITB Berlin – the world’s largest tourism trade fair – had faced a barrage of online criticism over what the German press called “dithering” about holding the event next week.

Confirmation finally arrived late Friday evening too late for many of the ITB exhibitors based in Asia who had already boarded planes to travel to Germany mainly through the Frankfurt gateway airport. Some exhibitors were already in Europe making sales calls ahead of ITB Berlin or attending smaller travel shows.

Now they wait for news of refunds, financial compensation or an announcement of new dates for the show, the later unlikely considering the speed of the Covid-19 spread in Europe.
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853

#ITBBerlin2020

LAUNCHING OF BRUNEI GASTRONOMY WEEK

1. The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism launched the Brunei Gastronomy Week on the 19th February 2020 at the Dewan Setia Pahlawan Hall of Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. This is an annual initiative by the the Brunei Tourism Board and Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. This is the 4th Brunei Gastronomy Week organized in conjunction with the 36th National Day celebration. 

2. Officiating the launching of the Brunei Gastronomy Week was the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong. Also present at the official launching ceremony were Foreign Dignitaries, Members of Brunei Tourism Board, Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretaries of Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Restaurants, Hoteliers and Travel Agencies.

 

3. The objective of the event is to celebrate Brunei and create an awareness on the Bruneian Cuisine; to encourage more hotels and restaurants to serve the Bruneian cuisines in a more sophisticated way; to further improve on the taste and elevate the presentation of Bruneian dishes to be served as part of a fine dining experience or at receptions held within or outside the country; to provide a unique Bruneian gastronomical experience to visitors within or outside Brunei. 

PARTICIPANTS OF BRUNEI GASTRONOMY WEEK 2020 

4. The theme for Brunei Gastronomy Week 2020 is “All about Coconuts”. Coconut is an ingredient widely used in Bruneian cuisines such as in our rice, chicken and vegetable dishes. 

5. There are 12 hotels and restaurant companies including the national carrier Royal Brunei Airlines participating in Brunei Gastronomy Week. Throughout the two week period, participating restaurants will be promoting their own signature dishes such as Slow Cooked Beef by Radisson Hotel, Grilled Prawn with Coconut Kerabu by Mulia Hotel and Coconut Salad by Eco Ponies. 

6. The participating agencies for the Brunei Gastronomy Week 2020 are Eco Ponies Garden; The Longhouse Training Restaurant, School of Hospitality and Tourism, Institute of Brunei Technical Education School; Mulia Hotel; Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam; Royal Brunei Airlines; Anjung Saujana Restaurant, Dynasty Restaurant, Seasons Restaurant and The Horizons Seafood Restaurant of Royal Brunei Catering; StarLodge; The Capital Residence Suites; and The Rizqun International Hotel. Certificate of participation were presented by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism to all participating agencies.

 AWARD CEREMONY OF BRUNEI GASTRONOMY WEEK 2019 

7. The event was also followed by an Award Ceremony for the Brunei Gastronomy Week 2019 participants. Awards were presented for Best Taste – The Rizqun International Hotel; Best Presentation – The Horizons Seafood Restaurant; Royal Brunei Catering; Most Creative – The Brunei Hotel; Most Innovative – Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam; and Most Wholesome – Eco Ponies Garden. 

8. Chef Rizal from The Rizqun International Hotel stated in interview that “Brunei Gastronomy Week is a great opportunity for the Chefs to produce new menus and use ingredients and methods which may not be known to diners. For a Young Chef, it is also a learning experience to understand traditional recipes and ways of cooking. It allows them to innovate and create new dishes from traditional cuisines and present them in a different manner”.

9. Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam expressed their appreciation for being awarded for the Most Innovative, “This achievement underlines that we believe anything is possible for our team. At Radisson Hotel, we are many minds with one mindset in consistently delivering hospitality that’s inspired, imaginative and focused on our guests’ well-being and expectations. Our culinary workforce is driven by voices of people from different backgrounds and aspirations, so we strive to create a place where everyone can express their authentic selves through our innovative dishes. We would like to congratulate all participants and wish everyone continued success on this journey”. 

10. Meanwhile Amirul Syafiq bin Hamdan, a student from School of Hospitality and Tourism, Institute of Brunei Technical Education School observed that their participation in Brunei Gastronomy Week is an opportunity to showcase their culinary skills, “It is an amazing opportunity to celebrate Brunei and its delicacies. As students, we are able to showcase our skills and talents based on the dishes that we have chosen to serve”. 

BRUNEI GASTRONOMIC CUISINE – BOOK SOFT LAUNCH

11. The soft launch ‘Brunei Gastronomic Cuisine – Unique Bruneian Flavours’ was also held during the event. The publication was produced by Astera Consultant and Syensai Design & Co supported the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. The book pays homage to the beautiful fare prepared and served over the years in the quest to define Bruneian flavours and refine the art of Bruneian cuisine. 

12. Books will be available in June from Syensai Design & Co at the Airport Mall at $25.00 per copy. For further details contact: 2341713 or visit their IG @bruneigastronomy 

BRUNEI GASTRONOMY WEEK 2020 

13. Members of the public are encouraged to experience the Brunei Gastronomy from the 23rd February until the 8th March 2020 in participating hotels and restaurants. 

14. The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism has collaborated with the Brunei Hotels Association of Hotels to invite several hotels and restaurants in Brunei Darussalam and Royal Brunei Airlines to participate in this yearly event. The actual event will commence starting from 23rd February to the 8th March 2020 at all the participating hoteliers and restaurants. The target audience predominantly consists of local as well as international visitors who are currently in the country. 

15. The event was supported by Brunei Tourism Board, Brunei Association of Hotels, Association of Travel Agents Brunei, Astera Consultant, Syensai Design & Co, Royal Brunei Airlines, Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and local media. 16. For further details on the event, please visit bruneitourism.com/bgw2020

*TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF PRIMARY RESOURCES AND TOURISM

NEW ADOBE HOTEL SET TO OPEN IN THE NSW SOUTH COAST

The NSW South Coast's tourism sector has received a boost with the announcement that Iconic Hotels first coastal offering will open at Malua Bay later this month.

Abode Malua Bay will be the seventh property in the Abode Hotels portfolio, and the ninth hotel overall for the independent hotel and hospitality provider. 

The new 52-room, four-star hotel, which is on track to open in March, is just metres from Malua Bay Beach. “Offering a complete guest experience, Abode Malua Bay is bike, surfboard and pet friendly…the hotel offers unrivalled ocean views, and will cater predominantly for leisure guests,” Iconic Hotels general manager Rien Donkin said.

#DestuinationNSW

The Rees Hotel Queenstown announces winter packages for 2020

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing family ski trip or a romantic weekend away with your partner, The Rees Hotel Queenstown is the ideal holiday destination, with excellent service, gourmet dining, and spectacular lake views. Crowned ‘New Zealand’s Best Ski Hotel 2019’ by World Ski Awards, The Rees Hotel is located near four outstanding ski areas and can arrange for a ski concierge to organise all your ski needs before you even arrive. Unwind after a day of skiing, with gourmet dining and top-notch wines at The Rees’ award-winning True South Dining Room. Retreat to your sophisticated Executive Lake View Hotel Room or Apartment for the night, which both provide panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountain Range.

THE REES SNOPRO
Trust The Rees’ 5-star ski concierge to book your next winter escape. It’s that easy!

They’ll book all your ski, rental and spa arrangements before you even touch down in Queenstown. Save time and savour the snow instead.

Come skiing, snowboarding and tubing at New Zealand’s ultimate winter playground Cardrona Alpine Resort which has a mix of terrain with beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert slopes. This exclusive package includes rental equipment that’s fitted in your room by local company Snopro who deliver to your door.

Relax at the end of the day in an Executive Lakeview Hotel Room in your private spa bath with incredible lake and alpine scenery that’ll be the envy of your friends back home!

Highlights and features

• 3-night stay in an Executive Lake View Hotel Room for 2 people
• Cardrona Ski Resort - Full Day mountain pass for 2 people
• Snopro ski/snowboard equipment hire for 2 people
• Breakfast for 2 persons daily
• Complimentary late check out up to 12 midday

This package starts at $NZ331.00 per person, per night.

THE WINTER FAMILY GETAWAY WITH THE REES
Travelling with kids is a breeze at The Rees with The Winter Family Getaway for two adults and two children (up to 12 years). Why not leave it with The Rees’ ski concierge to book the lot including all your ski equipment prior to arrival?

The fun starts at check-in when the kids receive an array of activities including board games, cards and colouring books. They’ll be will be kept busy with an array of movies, updated monthly, and popcorn. Snuggle up to the cosy fireplace and enjoy the breath-taking lake and mountain views of the Executive Lake View Two Bedroom Apartment (2 Bathrooms).

Complete with a fully equipped kitchen, while adults delight in the super king beds, Italian designed bathrooms, and modern kitchen and super King beds.

After a busy day on the slopes, the ‘Taste of the True South’ degustation menu paired perfectly with wine matches by The Rees’ in-house sommelier is the perfect treat for the big people while the kids have fun with the in-house babysitters.

Credit: Aleney de Winter

Highlights and features

• 2-night stay for 2 adults and 2 children (up to 12 years) in an Executive Lake View Two Bedroom Apartment (2 Bathrooms)
• In-Room Children’s Movies and popcorn
• Babysitter (3 hours, one evening only)
• One 'Taste of the True South' Degustation dinner for 2 adults (includes food and wine matches - one evening only)

Complimentary late check out up to 12 midday
This package starts at $NZ1917.50*** - with an option to upgrade to The Rees Residences for $1815.00 per night.

***Add additional nights at $NZ685.00 per night for room only in an Executive Lake View 2 Bedroom Apartment – subject to availability.

APRÈS SKI ESCAPE BY THE REES
Indulge in a luxury après ski experience at The Rees Hotel which ticks all the boxes in one of the most picturesque settings in the Southern Lakes.

Relax after an adventurous day on or off-piste by enjoying top-shelf local and international vintage wines and cuisine prepared by The Rees’ award-winning Executive Chef Corey Hume against the backdrop of the stunning Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountain Range.

Highlights and features

• 3-night stay in an Executive Lake View Hotel Room for 2 people
• Breakfast daily for 2 people
• Luxury return airport transfers in The Rees’ Land Rover Discovery
• A bottle of local vintage Surveyor Thomson Pinot Noir on arrival
• Après ski drinks every evening (1 per person) – any beer, wine by the glass or soft drink
• One 6 course degustation dinner for 2 people (food only) - one evening only
• Complimentary late check out up to 12 midday

$NZ369.00 per person, per night.

Learn more about The Rees’ winter packages here.

To book one of these bespoke packages, email reservations@therees.co.nz

Yukon hits the silver screen

The much anticipated screen adaptation of Jack London’s 1903 novel, The Call of the Wild, is set to hit Australian cinemas on 20 February 2020. Starring Harrison Ford and Dan Stevens, this live-action film vividly brings to life the story of Buck, a domesticated dog who is uprooted from his comfortable California home and sent to Canada’s Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s.

Call of the Wild is a gripping story of strength, survival and loyalty, as Buck becomes part of a mail delivery sled team, enduring harsh winter conditions in the wilderness, until he eventually finds his true place in the world and becomes his own master.

Copyright Notice: © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.
Read on to learn more about Yukon Territory.

About Yukon
Situated in the upper northwest corner of Canada, next to Alaska, Yukon Territory is Canada's most accessible northern destination. Home to Canada's highest mountain (Mount Logan) and one of the largest non-polar icefields located in Kluane National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage site – the breathtaking territory is a picturesque winter wonderland.

Yukon is one of North America's most undiscovered destinations; close to 80 percent remains pristine wilderness with 5,000-metre peaks, forested valleys, unspoiled waters and untamed wildlife. Roughly the size of Spain at just over 300,000 square miles, the Yukon is home to more than 160,000 caribou, 70,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 7,000 grizzly bears, 10,000 black bears and 250 species of birds, with a human population of only 40,000.

Destination Canada

https://www.destinationcanada.com/en