Monday, 2 November 2020

Visit Cairns & Great Barrier Reef from anywhere in the world

Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has launched virtual site inspections to showcase venues to event organisers on the other side of closed borders and the world.

Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef General Manager Rosie Douglas said a convenient tool to help restore an event organiser’s confidence in the destination was imperative to overcome COVID-19 travel restrictions,

“Face-to-face business events are facing challenges so as a convention bureau we have reimagined how we support our industry and bureau members,” she said.

“The virtual venue site inspections are immersive, informative and user-friendly videos that allow Professional Conference Organisers and event planners to explore key venues in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef on their own device at anytime from anywhere in the world.

“Like Google Street view, these 360-degree virtual videos allow planners to feel like they are on a real site inspection incorporating the information they need to inspire and help them plan an offsite dinner, conference or incentive itinerary into the future.”

The first three virtual site inspections showcase Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, Tanks Arts Centre and Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf; with more virtual tours of our business events offerings currently underway.

“The virtual site inspections highlight key venue specifications that we know event planners need – everything from coach parking, where the toilets are, F&B service areas and data projector locations,” Ms Douglas said

“Cairns & Great Barrier Reef looks forward to welcoming back our industry colleagues for face-to-face site inspections and educationals once travel restrictions ease, but for the moment, our destination is just a click away.”

The virtual site inspections allow planners to move around inside a venue, view floor plans, see previous event images and get a feel of the real-life layout of the venue.

Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

Level 2, 51 The Esplanade | PO Box 865, Cairns QLD 4870
T: 07 4051 1212 | E: businessevents@ttnq.org.au
Website: www.businesseventscairns.org.au

Explore Tasmania's Last Frontier from Your Own Private Floating Hotel

We are offering guests a private expedition into Tasmania's remote Southwest – a rare opportunity to experience our pristine wilderness in privacy, comfort, and style; and for our 2021 season only, we are offering guests the opportunity to receive a 5% discount when booking out the vessel. Groups of six or more are guaranteed a private experience, making it an escape built for social distancing. Visit Port Davey, Bathurst Harbour—Tasmania's last frontier, an region characterized by rugged, mountainous landscapes, white sandy beaches, mirrored waterways, and panoramic views.

Our floating hotel, Odalisque, gives us and our lucky guests access to untouched natural areas only dreamt of by others. The purpose-built vessel allows explorers the opportunity to experience and appreciate the Southwest while experiencing full comfort and safety. Through having our accommodation water-based, we have also minimised the environmental impact on the area, helping it to remain in its pristine state.

Our experiences are all personalised and tailored to suit Mother Nature's offerings. With our guides' encyclopedic knowledge of the area, you will experience the area in its fullest. Tasmania is renowned for its exceptional air and water quality, but in Port Davey, it is taken up a notch. With the absence of industrial pollutants, and the primary water source being a nearby waterfall, you will be left feeling refreshed and re-connected with nature.

Fresh Tasmanian produce and fine wines are a definite highlight of the escapade, lovingly prepared by the onboard guest chef. Your personal chef will cater to any and all of your needs, preparing meals to perfectly match your palate and dietary needs.

From January to May Tasmanian Boat Charters welcomes guests to embark on four-, five or seven-day guided expeditions into Port Davey, exploring the untouched World Heritage Area aboard their private 'floating home', accommodating up to ten guests. All tours include spectacular flights to and from Hobart's Cambridge Aerodrome to Melaleuca's white quartzite airstrip. The views over the city, dramatic coastal cliffs, towering mountain peaks and never-ending green of the World Heritage Area are awe-inspiring.

From May – January Odalisque offers overnight charters in other areas of Tasmania including the East Coast, Bruny Island and the Tasman Peninsula.

Odalisque is also available to entertain groups up to 40 people with a tailored day charter, ideal for functions or for any occasion that requires a unique experience or voyage.

Robert Pennicott, founder of Pennicott Wilderness Tours and 12-time winner of the Australian Tourism Awards states: “My favourite tour in Tasmania is at Port Davey, where Tasmanian Boat Charters runs four- to seven-day expeditions that immerse you in the pristine wilderness while enjoying Tasmanian food and beverages. To me, Port Davey is one of the most incredible places and on a still day the tannin-coloured waters reflect the amazing scenery. It's so wild, remote and full of beauty.”

About the Vessel Odalisque
Odalisque is a 20-metre, purpose-built aluminium cruise vessel, constructed for optimum comfort and stability at sea. The Odalisque provides luxury and functionality to ensure an outstanding quality experience. With three double cabins and single bunk alternatives, serviced by three bathrooms, Odalisque is able to sleep 10 in comfort. The galley consists of a contemporary spacious kitchen with an island bench, sofa seating, large open windows with more than enough space to relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery or watch the chef cook up a storm. The open plan saloon area allows panoramic views, has plenty of lounging capacity and a large dining area for a leisurely dining experience. Outside, Odalisque has three decks: a fly bridge with seating, an upper deck, and an incredibly spacious lower deck with BBQ facilities, sink and outside bathroom.

For further details and information please call the team on 0477 100 119 or go to
www.tasmanianboatcharters.com.au

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Tags: 

Bringing together the best of the travel industry and beyond, presented virtually - and FREE!

Travel DAZE 2020 will bring you our usual high-quality content, but with a twist - it's virtual and free. 
 
Travel DAZE 2020 will bring together the best minds from within the travel industry along with external experts to foster its recovery. These unprecedented times have brought the industry to its knees, decimating travel and tourism globally.

How do we rebuild and re-emerge stronger than ever? Travel DAZE will explore what tangible steps you can take toward rebuilding a sustainable and profitable future. The industry is in shock, but success can be forged through adversity. Let’s evolve to recover.

Travel DAZE 2020 is a free-to-attend forum, because we know what the industry has been through and we're supportive of inclusivity. We wouldn't want anyone to miss out, so register now to secure your place!

Travel DAZE 2-6 November 2020

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com

2020 ICC SYDNEY NSW WINE AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Briar Ridge Winemaker Alex Beckett and the Governor of
New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable
Margaret Beazley AC QC
The 2020 NSW Wine Awards were announced at a special event at ICC Sydney last week, which was attended by 100 winemakers, industry guests and Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales.

This year’s winners were selected by 16 expert judges, led by Chief Judge Dave Brookes and ICC Sydney’s Beverage Operations and Cellar Manager, William Wilson, from 904 varietals from 16 wine regions across the state.

The ICC is one of the NSW wine industry’s biggest supporters boasting a wine list that is 100 per cent NSW. It has also produced a second episode in a four-part documentary series, ‘100% Local’, which shines a light on the NSW wine industry.

ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy said: “It has been an incredibly difficult year for NSW’s winemakers and it’s important that we continue to show our support for the industry, even in the most challenging of times. We are delighted to host and sponsor the NSW Wine Awards today and also release ‘Resilience & Climate Change’, a short documentary which explores the impact of climate change on our local wine industry.”

To see the full list of the 2020 trophy winners, click here.

Image caption: Briar Ridge Winemaker Alex Beckett and the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Destination NSW
Website: https://www.destinationnsw.com.au/

Sunday, 1 November 2020

THAILAND SEEKS TRAVEL BUBBLE PACT WITH CHINA TO SPUR TOURISM

Thailand is in talks with China to establish a quarantine-free travel corridor by January to rescue its ailing tourism industry.

The agreement with Beijing will be subject to the success of a limited reopening of the Thai tourism industry to foreign travelers this month, according to Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. China, which accounted for more than a quarter of Thailand’s tourist arrivals before the pandemic, will be the first low-risk country the Southeast Asian nation will sign up for quarantine-free travel, he said.

The current mandatory quarantine will be replaced by coronavirus testing and a mobile tracking application for the Chinese visitors if the return of foreign tourists does not lead to fresh Covid-19 outbreaks, Phiphat said. About 11 million Chinese holidaymakers visited Thailand in 2019, netting the country about $17 billion, official data show.


Big Spenders - Top contributors to Thailand’s $62 billion tourism economy in 2019


Source: Thai tourism ministry
Thailand has struggled in its efforts to reopen its borders to tourists due to opposition from a section of the local industry and concern among the public that the government is ill-prepared to deal with a second wave of infections. But a pact with China may open the door for similar travel agreements with countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, Phiphat said.

“It can be a very happy new year as Thailand’s travel high season is the perfect time to allow people into the country,” Phiphat said in an interview in Bangkok on Thursday. “Most Chinese visitors come to Thailand for a week, so being quarantined would not be worth the trip for many.”

The minister expects tourist arrivals to total between 5 million to 10 million next year, compared with an estimated 7 million this year. While Thailand has weathered the virus outbreak better than most other Southeast Asian nations, the pandemic has devastated its tourism industry, which netted more than $60 billion in revenue from about 40 million visitors in 2019.

First Batch

“China has about 800 million people in 22 provinces that have been free from infections,” Phiphat said. “If we can attract even just 1% of those people to travel here, that would already be plenty.”

The first group of visitors from China under a previously announced long-term tourist visa program will arrive in Bangkok on Oct. 20, the minister said. The government expects to issue about 1,200 visas a month under the program to help the industry that’s reeling from no foreign tourists arrivals for five months in a row.

“Thais don’t have enough money to boost the industry, so either way we have to find a way to bring in foreign tourists,” Phiphat said. “If we don’t receive any foreign tourists, our economy will suffer a heavy contraction.”

Read the full article at Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-15/thailand-chases-travel-bubble-pact-with-china-to-boost-tourism
Tags: #China, #Thailand, #tourismrecovery, #travelcorridor
Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

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

Hanoi’s tourism sector moves to welcome visitors again

A man cycles on a street near Hoan Kiem Lake -
a popular tourist destination in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)
As the resurgence of COVID-19 in Vietnam has been basically brought under control, the tourism sector in the capital city of Hanoi has been swiftly making plans to attract visitors again and gradually return to previous levels of growth.

This time of year is Hanoi’s peak for tourism, with surging numbers of both domestic and foreign travellers.

This year, though, the situation is different.

The capital attracted just 6.29 million visitors in the first eight months of this year, tumbling 67.3 percent year-on-year, with international arrivals down 75.6 percent to just 1.02 million. Such figures have resulted in a large number of local travel companies suspending operations while many hotels have shut their doors.

With this latest outbreak being contained, industry insiders now look forward to improved business performance.

There are only two weeks left before Hanoi begins a wide range of large-scale activities to celebrate 1,010 years since it was established as Vietnam’s capital, called Thang Long at the time, such as a cultural week, a street festival, a craft village festival, a traditional boat race, a culinary festival, a calligraphy exhibition, and a dragon dance festival.

This represents an opportunity to promote local tourism after its long hiatus.

Many relic sites, places of interests, and entertainment venues have had their landscapes improved and new services opened to meet visitors’ demand.

At the Temple of Literature - a must-see destination for every visitor to Hanoi, its centre for cultural and scientific activities is creating new mementos and introducing new methods of heritage education to inspire young visitors, while also developing night tourism by installing lighting to introduce the institution’s history.

Le Xuan Kieu, director of the centre for cultural and scientific activities, said various activities will be held at the special national relic site to celebrate the 1,010th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi, adding that he hopes it will welcome many returning visitors.

Local entertainment venues are also revamping themselves to attract local visitors, who are believed to be the best target in plans to recover the tourism sector at this point in time.

Of these, Bao Son Paradise Park offers all-in tickets on Sundays, giving tourists entry to everywhere on site and allowing them to play 22 games an unlimited number of times. Its restaurants and accommodation services have also returned to normal, while most of its artistic performances are open and free.

Local travel companies are also moving to encourage customers to travel again, as all flight, train, and road routes to the central city of Da Nang, a major tourism centre and where the second COVID-19 outbreak started, have been resumed and many localities have reopened places of interest.

Nguyen Cong Hoan, General Director of the Flamingo Redtours JSC, said that, this time around, low prices are not the most attractive factor, as travellers are seeking unique products that offer many different experiences.

Instead of promoting all of its tours, the company has selected the most outstanding autumn destinations for itineraries, such as the northwestern region with its blooming buckwheat flowers, the Central Highlands with its wild sunflowers, and the Mekong Delta region and its flood season.

It has also developed customised tours to suit the needs of particular groups of travellers, he noted, adding that the company expects that by proactively introducing new products it can seize the opportunities a new tourism season presents.

Meanwhile, the Thuan An - Ascend Travel Services JSC has restarted tours to northwestern destinations like Sa Pa and Ha Giang along with coastal and maritime localities such as Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc Island, and Con Dao Island.

The company’s director Duong Mai Lan said tours are currently being offered at very good prices, as localities and airlines are both carrying out travel demand stimulus packages aimed at attracting visitors.

According to the Hanoi Tourism Department, the successful containment of the second outbreak of COVID-19 has provided an opportunity for the local tourism sector to revive and thrive.

It has worked with the Hanoi Tourism Association, travel clubs, airlines, hotels, and destinations to discuss tourism development solutions in the new context. It has asked tourism service providers and places of interest to diversify products, introduce travel demand stimulus policies, and reorganise their activities to improve efficiency./.
Source: VNA
Tags: #Hanoistourismsector, #visitors, #COVID19,
Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

Thought-provoking keynotes, interviews and panels, presented virtually

Travel DAZE is going virtual. In 2020, they are committed to bringing you their usual high-quality content, but with a twist. Speakers and timings are constantly evolving - keep checking to stay in the loop.

2-6 November - 11 sessions over 5 days

PROGRAM OF SPEAKERS

Bouncing back in our own backyard: The domestic-led rebuild of Australian tourism 
Monday 2 November - 10AM AEDST

This year, Australian tourism has faced its most challenging period ever – first with the devastating summer bushfires and then with the shutdown of travel globally due to COVID-19. But, as green shoots emerge with travel restrictions easing, a domestic-led recovery will mark the steps towards rebuilding a sustainable and profitable future for Australian tourism. Hear from Tourism Australia’s managing director, Phillipa Harrison about initiatives and strategies to ensure Australia is well positioned for when travel moves beyond current crises.
Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director, Tourism Australia

Striking the right balance between environmental and economic sustainability 
Monday 2 November - 12PM AEDST

Sustainability has been on Italy’s radar for years, but having enjoyed strong tourism growth prior to COVID-19, the country was challenged by overtourism in its arts cities. However, the pandemic has provided an opportunity for the popular European destination to reset its focus on sustainability and approach it in the right way. Maria Elena Rossi, Marketing and Promotion Director at the Italian National Tourist Board, explains how the organisation plans to strike the right balance between environmental and economic sustainability in the ‘new normal’.
Maria Elena Rossi, Marketing and Promotion Director, Italian National Tourist Board

The future of agents, agencies and AFTA
Monday 2 November - 2PM AEDST

It has been a trying year for travel agents, and no one has been hit harder by COVID-19 than the Australian travel sector. New AFTA chief executive Darren Rudd joined the organisation at its most challenging time, and brought with him passion, vision and a fresh perspective which as united member businesses in the fight for sector-specific support in a way that has never been done before. Join this session to hear an industry-specific update on the evolving work AFTA has been doing to save the sector.
Darren Rudd, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Federation of Travel Agents in conversation

Executing a multi-stage recovery plan
Tuesday 3 November - 10AM AEDST

With international borders closed to Fiji, the country’s tourism board is firmly focused on navigating its way through the COVID-19 pandemic as it implements its four-stage Market Re-entry Plan to get the local tourism industry back on its feet. And, as the tourism industry contributes close to 40 per cent of Fiji’s GDP, a lot is riding on it. Tourism Fiji CEO Matthew Stoeckel will provide an update on the progress of the organisation’s recovery plan, as well as some valuable tips for other destination marketers.
Matt Stoeckel, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Fiji in conversation

How to reorganise, pivot and grow in a pandemic
Wednesday 4 November - 10AM AEDST

Accor is one of the many hospitality companies that has felt the heavy impact of COVID-19. Find out how the hotel giant has modified its development and growth strategy to come out of the pandemic a stronger and more resilient company, and what this means for Accor’s future plans in the APAC region.
Sébastien Bazin, Chief Executive Officer, Accor in conversation

Hand in hand: How Intrepid Travel is helping Peru maintain its sustainable tourism focus
Wednesday 4 November - 12PM AEDST

This session will delve into Peru’s recovery plan from COVID-19 and why sustainable tourism is a key pillar of this. It will also explore how Intrepid is playing a crucial part in Peru’s recovery and evolution as a sustainable tourist destination.
Mario Vargas, Trade Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand, Promperu and Sarah Clark, Managing Director, APAC, Intrepid Group in conversation

‘Bubble’ talk: How Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand are preparing for two-way travel
Wednesday 4 November - 2PM AEDST

With certain parts of Australia welcoming Kiwi travellers again, it will only be a matter of time before Aussies are heading back across the ditch. This session will explore how Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand are readying themselves for the eventual tourism rebound, and what travel agents can be doing now to make the most of the upcoming trans-Tasman opportunities.
René de Monchy, Director of Commercial, Tourism New Zealand and Kathryn Robertson, Regional General Manager, Australia, Air New Zealand in conversation

Setting the course: How the cruise industry is laying new foundations for the future
Thursday 5 November - 10AM AEDST

Cruise lines have enlisted medical experts from around the world as they respond to COVID-19, developing extensive new measures to uphold the health of passengers, crew and the communities they visit. As the first cruises begin to resume in regions like Europe and Asia, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Global Chairman Adam Goldstein discusses the global effort to create new industry-wide health measures and what cruise lines are doing to support a carefully-phased resumption in our own part of the world.
Adam Goldstein, Global Chair, Cruise Lines International Association in conversation

Applying the ‘rear-view mirror rule’ in 2020
Thursday 5 November - 12PM AEDST

The hotel industry has been flipped on its head after a turbulent 2020 and, like so many organisations, hotel operators have had to re-think their businesses at every level. This has presented enormous challenges but, equally, some positive opportunities to focus more on the things that really matter, including people, sustainability and the communities in which the hotels operate. Karina O’Gorman, IHG’s Head of Corporate Responsibility for EMEAA, Global Community Impact and ESG Reporting & Engagement, shares some insights around what the short- and long-term legacy of 2020 will be, and how IHG has applied the ‘rear-view mirror rule’ to ensure that it can look back and be confident in how it managed through the industry’s most challenging year on record.
Karina O’Gorman, Head of Corporate Responsibility, InterContinental Hotels Group

Tourism, the natural world and a sustainable post-COVID future for both
Friday 6 November - 10AM AEDST

While the travel industry hopes to get back on its feet as quickly as possible, it must ensure the path to recovery is without detriment to the environment. This session will explore how tourism and the natural world can coexist respectfully and sustainably in a post-COVID world, and what the industry can do to protect wildlife and their habitats moving forward.
Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace, Ethologist and Conservationist and Bruce Poon Tip, Founder, G Adventures in conversation

Flight Centre’s five-year recovery roadmap
Friday 6 November - 12PM AEDST

Flight Centre Travel Group has been forced to make many tough business decisions as a result of COVID-19, including redundancies, retail store closures, the sale of the company’s Melbourne office, and the closing of multiple brands. Graham “Skroo” Turner will talk in depth about Flight Centre’s path to recovery, as well as tackle some of the big picture questions that many in the industry are seeking answers to.
Graham Turner, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Flight Centre Travel Group



TRAVEL DAZE 2020

Event enquiries:
Nicolle Lawson, Senior Producer
nicolle@travelweekly.com.au
Website: https://traveldaze.com.au/
Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Kenneth Grahame’s THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS WEDNESDAY 6 – SUNDAY 24 JANUARY

“there wasn’t a moment that didn’t engage or entertain…perfect family fare in a delightful setting” AU Review

It’s that time of year again. From Wednesday 6 to Sunday 24 January the amazing Mr Toad and his bonny, boisterous pals will be heading to Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden for the 18th consecutive year to entertain littlies and biggies in Glenn Elston’s outdoor production of The Wind in The Willows.

This is interactive theatre at its best and will have the children calling out, “He’s behind you!” and singing, “Waggle your ears, wiggle your nose,” or the inimitable “Quack quack quackady-quack”. So, pack a picnic, pack the kids and head on down to the riverbank for this rollicking promenade production.

Children will giggle and howl at the characters’ mad antics, they will go on an adventure with Head Chief Rabbit, Ratty and Mole, then join a dangerous mission with the Rat Pack and Badger Patrol to rescue little, lost Portly the Otter from the Wild Wood.

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS 

WHERE: Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Enter via any gate and make your way to the Harbour side of the Main Pond
SEASON: 6 to 24 January 2021
SHOWTIMES: Wednesday (6 Jan 6pm only), Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10.30am & 6pm; Sundays 11am; Wednesdays 10.30am
PRICES: Midweek $25 Single, Family $90; Friday/Saturday $30 Single, Family $110
BOOKINGS: www.willowslive.com.au or 02 9011 7704 or Ticketmaster. Tickets can be purchased on-site from one hour before showtime.

Reminder! Don’t forget to register for the 2020 Virtual Tourism Congress

Registration is open for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s (TIAC) first virtual Tourism Congress, taking place on November 17 and 18. While many industry members may have attended the annual in-person event in Ottawa, the virtual event will provide an important opportunity to hear and discuss thought-provoking content, insights and ideas to help rebuild the visitor economy and navigate the new tourism landscape, as well as, the usual networking opportunities, helping connecting colleagues from coast to coast to coast.

This year, TIAC will be offering free registration, thanks to the support of the Government of Canada and the Canadian Experience Fund.

As part of the programming, Destination Canada’s Regional Managing Director, North America, Sarah Finstad and Executive Director, Research & Analytics, Chantz Strong, will be leading a session on November 18 to discuss innovative research approaches that inform the strategies, tools and resources that help the Canadian tourism industry. Learn more here.

Register Now

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Destination Canada  https://www.destinationcanada.com/en

SYDNEY COUNTS DOWN TO THE PREMIERE OF PIPPIN

Pippin
Excitement is building for the Australian premiere of PIPPIN later this month, marking the return of large-scale musicals to Sydney theatres.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said PIPPIN’s opening at Sydney Lyric Theatre was a milestone event for COVID-safe live performance and the state’s economy.

“PIPPIN will be the first large-scale musical to return to the Australian stage since theatres closed down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Ayres said.

“The opening of PIPPIN signifies that we are turning a corner in the management of the pandemic and restoring employment in the creative industries, with more than 500 jobs for artists, musicians, crews, administration and venue staff working on the musical.

“Why not plan a staycation in conjunction with the show - book an overnight stay, enjoy a great meal, indulge in some retail therapy or explore parts of the city you haven’t discovered before.”

PIPPIN, the multiple Tony Award winning musical, opens at Sydney Lyric Theatre on 24 November. Tickets are available from pippinthemusical.com.au.

Destination NSW is supporting the Sydney season of PIPPIN.

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au