More Thrillifying WICKED News!

The Broadway sensation WICKED is flying into Australia’s Emerald City at the Sydney Lyric from 25 August!

Wicked - the untold true story of the Witches of Oz.  

Book yours seats now.

New seats are released for 25 October to 12 November. These go on sale at 9am on Friday 2 June.

A new matinee has been added on Saturday 26 August.

During the last week of October, they will be celebrating 20 years on Broadway with 2 very special anniversary performances on Sunday 29 October. Secure your tickets now!

Starring Courtney Monsma as Glinda, Sheridan Adams as Elphaba and the newly announced Robyn Nevin as Madame Morrible, Todd McKenney as the Wizard, Liam Head as Fiyero, Adam Murphy as Dr Dillamond, Shewit Belay as Nessarose and Kurtis Papadinis as Boq.

Winner of over 100 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED is "A COMPLETE TRIUMPH! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry and think" USA Today.

Foe more information and bookings go to WickedtheMusical.com.au

Preserve and promote natural and cultural values ​​to turn Moc Chau into a national tourist area

The delegation of Vietnam National Administration of
Tourism surveyed at Long Sap international border gate

In order to support Son La province to implement the Project "Development of Moc Chau national tourist area eligible for recognition by 2025", on May 19, the delegation of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism led by Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy General Director as the head of the delegation, came to survey and evaluate Moc Chau tourist area.

Receiving the delegation were Comrade Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Management Board of Moc Chau Tourist Area; representatives of some departments and branches of the province and leaders of the People's Committee of Moc Chau district.

The survey was conducted according to the conclusion of the Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh at the meeting with Son La province on 4/4/2023. Accordingly, the Director General agreed with the proposal of the province on supporting the preparation of dossiers of application for recognition of Moc Chau National Tourist Area.

To implement the program, the delegation visited Long Sap international border gate, assessed the scale, potential, and oriented towards investment in infrastructure development for inter-regional tourism and international tourism in the region. future. Surveying Moc Chau Island tourist area, Dai Yem waterfall tourist spot; surveyed a number of hotels, accommodation and restaurants serving cuisine in Moc Chau district.

The delegation of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
surveyed and evaluated accommodation spots in Moc Chau district

Evaluating the surveyed tourist spots, Deputy Director General Ha Van Sieu said that Moc Chau's tourist attractions still retain their natural and pristine beauty. That is very necessary and important to develop sustainable tourism in the future. Moc Chau district needs to develop tourism in association with nature conservation, preserving natural landscapes and indigenous traditional cultural values. It is necessary to strengthen the attraction of investment in infrastructure, attract businesses to develop quality tourism products, and improve the quality of local human resources for tourism work.

The survey was to evaluate and complete the conditions and criteria for the national tourist area, to prepare for the preparation of the application for recognition of the Moc Chau National Tourist Area, Son La province.

*Source: Tourist Information Center
*Key word:: Deputy Director,Ha Van Sieu,Son La,Moc Chau,National tourist area,

Explore the beauty of one of Japan’s best kept secrets - the vibrant and breathtaking Tokushima Prefecture!

Tokushima Prefecture

Appreciate unique, traditional dance at the 400-year-old Awa Odori Festival (Awa Dance Festival), which takes place over 4 lively days each August.

 
Thrill seekers will rejoice at the breathtaking gorges of Oboke and Koboke, a fantastic location for some whitewater rafting and water adventures on the Yoshino River. 

Marvel at the stunning greenery of the Iya Valley and enjoy the rugged side of Tokushima on the awe-inspiring vine bridges. 

They were traditionally hand-woven from locally gathered materials and were once essential to the residents of this mountainous region. 

Experience the centuries-old craft of aizome (traditional indigo dyeing) then see some of the fastest currents in Japan in the Seto Inland Sea, a unique natural phenomenon known as the Naruto Whirlpools.

 
After a busy day exploring the wonders of Tokushima, refresh your tastebuds with Handa Somen - a thin wheat noodle that is slightly thicker and firmer than regular somen. 

Try it chilled with some dipping sauce or in a warm broth (nyumen).

Japan National Tourism Organization

Instagram: visitjapansg

Website: japanbyjapan.com
Website: https://www.japan.travel/en/au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisitJapanAU

The Holiday and Travel Magazine

https://theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Saudi Arabia leads MENA region in international tourism

Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East are expected to see a 36 percent spike in international tourism between June and August compared to last year, a report by travel data firms ForwardKeys revealed.

“The MENA region’s tourism industry is set to continue its strong recovery during the summer months thanks to a combination of a substantial increase in travel intent,” Vice President of Insights at ForwardKeys Olivier Ponti said.

“Flight searches for international trips to MENA made in the first three months of the year [are] up by 39 percent on the same period last year and the enhanced flight connectivity, with available seats for travelling to MENA destinations internationally up by 19 percent on 2019 levels (plus 5 percent versus 2019),” he added.

Saudi Arabia is expected to lead this demand with a 475 percent increase in travelers compared to 2022 and a 56 percent surge from pre-pandemic levels, the report said.

The upcoming influx of travelers this summer will largely be the result of the government’s decision to lift the cap on the number of pilgrims who can perform Hajj this year – the first time since COVID-19.

The Kingdom has been investing heavily in tourism in a bid to attract regional and international markets; the report suggests that the investments are working.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) Fahd Hamidaddin told the Arabian Travel Market last month that tourism would be “the new oil” for the Kingdom.

“The world in the 1920s came to Saudi for oil, now the world will come in the 2020s for tourism. Tourism is the new oil,” he said at the time.

Meanwhile, neighboring UAE, which enjoys most of the MENA region’s tourism influx, will see a 43 percent increase compared to 2022 and an eight percent drop compared to pre-pandemic times, according to the same report.

Earlier this month, Saif Mohammed al-Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), announced that the number of passengers travelling through UAE’s airports during the first quarter of 2023 increased by 56.3 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

The number of passengers through the UAE’s airports reached approximately 31,862,635, an increase of more than 11.48 million passengers from the same period in 2022, where about 20,381,324 passengers were recorded, according to al-Suwaidi.

Flying out of the Middle East

According to the report, travelers flying out of the MENA region are expected to flock to destinations in the east during the summer months.

“Now that travel restrictions have eased and air connectivity is returning closer to pre-pandemic levels in the APAC (Asia Pacific) region, we are seeing a surge of travelers from the MENA flocking East this summer, in search of adventure, relaxation and a much-needed escape from the challenges of recent years,” Ponti said.

Another destination that is set to attract a large number of MENA travelers this summer is Austria, a refuge for people looking to escape the Middle East’s scorching temperatures.

*Source: PATA, Level 26, Gaysorn Tower, 127 Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Thailand communications@PATA.org

Anantara Chiang Mai Resort Named In Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Hotels in the World

Travel + Leisure’s The T+L 500 list has been announced with Anantara Chiang Mai Resort being named as one of the top hotels in the world. The list is drawn from readers’ favourite travel experiences across the globe, based on the results of the magazine’s annual World’s Best Awards, with the winners featuring in May’s iconic The Hotels Issue.

The T+L 500 list features the top hotels of eight geographic regions. This year, there were 40 winners from Asia and six from Thailand, including sister hotel Anantara Siam Bangkok, with Anantara named the best hotel in Chiang Mai. Hotels were chosen based on the superiority of their accommodations, facilities, location, service, food and value.

“To be named one of the top 500 hotels in the world is a great honour, and I would like to thank the readers who voted for us, as well as the editorial team of Travel + Leisure magazine. Although a historic property, we are constantly fine-tuning the guest experience with contemporary luxuries, as well as authentic encounters of the destination, and many of our guests return to visit us again and again”, says Chin Pitak Norathepkitti, General Manager of the hotel.

Anantara Chiang Mai maintains a boutique ambience, with only 84 rooms and suites. The distinctive tropical design by renowned architect Kerry Hill marries traditional Thai and the contemporary, with spaces that are open and airy, with natural light, but cool.

Rooms are incredibly spacious, beginning at 50 sqm, with soothing views of nature from private balconies or terraces. The setting is tranquil, right on the riverside, and only a short walk from the Old City.

The resort’s dining experience centres around the 100-year-old historic mansion that was formerly the British consulate. Here, afternoon tea, cocktails and bar bites, and steak and seafood from the grill are served daily. North-to-South Thai cuisine can be enjoyed under the bodhi tree, and champagne cocktails at the rooftop bar, with both settings overlooking the river.

Authentic experiences of the destination include indigenous Lanna wellness therapies at the award-winning Anantara Spa, Thai kickboxing, massage and cooking classes, and explorations of the city by tuk-tuk with the Streetwise Guru. Every moment is of course imbued with the attentive yet understated service for which the Anantara brand is known.

For more information or reservations, visit anantara.com, call +66 53 253 333 or email chiangmai@anantara.com

*Source: Supa-arpha Itthikaiwan (Mandy), Director of Marketing & Communications
supaarpha_it@anantara.com

Driftwood the Musical - a must see in Sydney!

The cast of Driftwood

I had the privilege of attending the opening night of Driftwood last week in Sydney. I was amazed at how good it was on all levels.

Firstly, it is a new Australian production in all aspects. The production, script, lyrics, music were all done in Australia. It is great to see a new Australian musical! Hopefully this will be the first of many new musicals the production company will produce.

The musical is about a true story in history, but it is more than just about history. It is about people, family, creativity, perseverance, love, survival. 

It is based on the memoirs of Eva de Jong -Duldig  "DRIFTWOOD - Escape and Survival Through Art" published in 2017. 

The talented producer and creator is Tania De Jong, who performs one of the characters in the musical. More about this later....  The musical's Director Gary Abrahams, Producer, Craig Donnell, Designer Jacob Battista, do a splendid job in presenting this production on stage. 

Driftwood covers three generations of the one family and their movement over three continents. It tells how a family moves from Europe and settles in Australia and the adventures and struggles they had on the way.

Driftwood is a story of a Jewish family from the viewpoint of Eva, the daughter of Slawa and Karl. She asks for more information about letters and photos she comes across and her families past comes to life.

Slawa was an artist, and something I did not know, invented the folding umbrella. Slawa is beautifully played by Tania de Jong. What is amazing about this production of Driftwood is that Tania is actually the grand daughter of Slawa, and daughter of Eva, who wrote the book.

Karl was an acclaimed sculptor, and is played by Anton Berezin. Both Karl and Tania are excellent actors and singers, and extol all the emotions of the different scenes perfectly.

The three other actors in Driftwood bring the story to life. The daughter, Eva, is played by Bridget Costello. Rella, the sister of Slawa, is played by Michaels Burger. Nelson Gardner plays the multiple roles including Ignaz, Marcel and Gauleiter. Their extensive background in musical theatre shows in the stunning performances they give.

The music is provided by just three people who play on stage. The keyboard, violin, and cello provide the wonderful mood setting background music.

The set is simple and is based what was important to the families life and journeys - art, sculpture, folding umbrella, letters. At appropriate times photos are projected o a screen above the stage.

Seeing this musical sent me on a roller coast of emotions as I sat through the 2 hour performance. So many thoughts went through my mind as I responded to each scene portrayed in this families amazing life. A good musical not only revokes a response while watching it, but should also prompt you to action after seeing it. Seeing Driftwood did this for me. I now want to get a copy of Driftwood and read it. I also want to visit the Duldig Studio - Museum and Sculpture Garden next time I go down to Melbourne.

Driftwood will be playing in Sydney at Riverside Parramatta from 31 May to 4 June, then at Eternity Playhouse from 7 June to 18 June. Don't miss it!

Driftwood the Musical

Website: www.driftwoodthemusical.com.au

Bookings: www.driftwoodthemusical.com.au/book-tickets/

Traditional Owners of The Whitsundays will host a special ‘welcome to the whales’ ceremony on Fri 16 June

Each year between June and October, thousands of whales – especially Humpbacks – migrate north from the cold waters of Antarctica to breed and give birth within the warm and calm tropical waters of The Whitsundays, situated in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

To mark the official start of the 2023 whale season, Traditional Owners of The Whitsundays will host a special ‘welcome to the whales’ ceremony from 5pm on Friday 16 June.

The sacred Indigenous event at Airlie Beach Foreshore will be held in partnership with local organisations including Tourism Whitsundays and Master Reef Guides of the region, and will be followed by a movie night presented by Whitsundays Reef Guardian Council.

Archaeological research suggests that Aboriginal people have inhabited The Whitsundays for at least the past 9000 years, and they hold a deep cultural connection to the whales. Master Reef Guides – who are champions of the Great Barrier Reef and work closely with high-standard tourism businesses and bodies that operate throughout the World Heritage-listed wonder – regularly consult with First Nations peoples to learn from their teachings regarding whales in The Whitsundays.

“There’s no doubting our First Nations peoples’ profound understanding of the habits of whales within the area. By working with the Traditional Owners of The Whitsundays, we’ve gained very valuable insights to ensure we’re adequately respecting and protecting marine life in the region, especially this time of year,” says Crystal Lacey, Director of Little Fish Tourism and member of the Master Reef Guides programme – an initiative of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators and Tourism and Events Queensland.

“We’re truly grateful to the Traditional Owners for allowing The Whitsundays community to participate in formally welcoming the whales this year, as well as the many other cetaceans – that is, dolphins and porpoises – which also live and visit the area,” adds Ms Lacey.

The event will see Traditional Owners in full traditional dress lead the ‘welcome to the whales’ ceremony. Open to locals and tourists, children are encouraged to wear blue to the ceremony. The Traditional Owners will invite children to be painted in traditional markings. As per Indigenous custom, boys will be marked by male Traditional Owners and girls will be marked by female Traditional Owners.

Children will then be guided to put their hand-prints on a traditional painting of a mother and calf Humpback to signify the community’s bond and connection with the whales. In keeping with long-established First Nations ritual, a smoking ceremony will then take place, before an ancient whale chant sung by the Traditional Owners.

Following the ceremonial proceedings, representatives of the Ngaro people will speak about their cultural connection with the whales, what the start of the whale season means to the Traditional Owners of the region, and the deep-seated cultural significance of the season’s first arrival of whales to The Whitsundays.

A film by Master Reef Guides about The Whitsundays and the cetaceans that live and visit the area will follow the ceremony, before the commencement of Whitsundays Reef Guardian Council’s alfresco screening of The Snail and the Whale movie at 6pm.

The Whitsundays is on track to become the world’s first Whale Heritage Area within a World Heritage-listed site. Currently, Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast is the sole Whale Heritage Area within Australia.

Those lucky enough to capture imagery of whales within The Whitsundays are encouraged to upload their imagery to GBRMPA’s Eye on the Reef app to assist with tracking and long-term monitoring of marine wildlife.

For more information about The Whitsundays, visit tourismwhitsundays.com.au

WELCOME TO THE WALES CEREMONY BY TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE WHITSUNDAYS
WHEN: Friday 16 June 2023, from 5pm-6pm AEST
WHERE: Airlie Beach Foreshore, The Whitsundays
WHY: Marking the official start of The Whitsundays’ 2023 whale season (June – October)

*Source:Susan Darwiche, Senior Publicist, susand@vervepr.com.au  vervepr.com.au

DESTINATION NSW JOINS SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT

Destination NSW has become an Associate Member of the City of Sydney Sustainable Destination Partnership (SDP), following the signing of a three-year MoU. 

Among the SDP’s objectives are improvements to the sustainability of Sydney’s accommodation and entertainment sector and help to facilitate the achievement of Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 targets. 

Destination NSW is also working with City of Sydney and BE Sydney to turbocharge Sydney’s ranking on the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDSI), the leading sustainability benchmarking and improvement program for destinations around the world. Sydney is currently ranked at number 27 on the GDSI.

LEARN MORE

FOLLOW DESTINATION NSW ON LINKEDIN: Stay up to date with all the latest Destination NSW initiatives by following us on LinkedIn. Click here

*Source: Destination NSW

Spain Registered 13.7 Million International Tourists in First Quarter of 2023

© Mario Cupkovic | Dreamstime.com

The National Institute of Statistics (INE) has revealed that in the first three months of this year, Spain received 13.7 million international tourists, which is an increase of 41.2 per cent compared to the same period last year.

From the beginning of January to the end of March, tourists spent a total of €17.201 million, marking an increase of 44.7 per cent compared to the quarter of 2022, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

According to INE data, 5.3 million visitors arrived in Spain in March alone, marking an increase of 30 per cent compared to March 2022, who spent a total of €6.657 million, which is 31.1 per cent more than a year ago.

“These data show that 2023 is being an extraordinary year for tourism, not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively, with higher spending and longer stays,” the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism notes in a press release regarding the statistics.

During the month of March, the average expenditure per tourist was €1.266, with an annual increase of 0.7 per cent. As a result, average daily expenses increased up to 6.6 per cent or €168.

Meanwhile, regarding the stay, the average duration of international tourists’ trips was 7.6 days, which is almost similar to that of the previous year.

US Tourists Marked Largest Increase in Arrivals in March

The figures provided by INE also show that the United Kingdom continues to lead the tourism outbound market, with 1.1 million tourist arrivals. At the same time, it has experienced a significant increase in March, with 29.4 compared to the same month of 2022.

In terms of the number of visits to Spain, the second and third places are occupied by France and Germany. Thus, Germany contributed with 673,584 tourists, which is 10.7 per cent more in the annual rate, and France with 613,323, which represents an increase of 34.1 per cent compared to the previous year.

In addition, the other countries that saw an annual increase in visitors in March 2023 were the United States, with 74.1 per cent more compared to the same month in 2022, followed by Portugal, with 51.1 per cent more and Italy with 35.0 per cent.

Canary Islands & Catalonia Among Main Destinations for Tourists

Among the first main destinations for tourists during the month of March was the Canary Islands with 24.7 per cent of the total or a number of 1.3 million tourists, with an increase of 15.5 per cent compared to a year ago.

INE also revealed that the UK and Germany are the main countries of residence for tourists expected by this community with a percentage of 35.2 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively.

The second community in terms of the number of international tourists is Catalonia – with 19.5 per cent. The same has also experienced strong growth compared to a year ago with 44.9 per cent more tourists arriving this March than last year. The female visitors who come to this community the most are French with 19.5 per cent and Italian with 9.8 per cent.

Andalucía took third place with a total of 803,139 visitors in March and an annual increase of 31.7 per cent. The main country of origin is the UK, with 26.6 per cent of the total, followed by the Nordic countries with 10.1 per cent.

Further INE data reveal that in the first three months of this year, the communities that receive the most tourists are the Canary Islands, with more than 3.7 million and an increase of 30.9 per cent compared to a year ago, Catalonia with almost 2.8 million and an increase of 53.4 per cent ​​and Andalusia with almost 2.0 million, 46.2 per cent more.

The annual increase in the number of tourists was also observed in other communities such as the Community of Madrid with 32.8 per cent and in the Balearic Islands with 17.5 per cent.

*Source: PATA, Level 26, Gaysorn Tower, 127 Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok 10330 Thailand communications@PATA.org

WESTERN A U S T R A L I A ’ S NORTH WEST

Kimberley Coastal Camp

A billion years in the making, the North West is one of the world’s last true wilderness areas. Here you’ll find ancient gorges, thundering waterfalls, remote stretches of coastal paradise and rich culture and history.

Check out: 

• Otherworldly wonders

Discover Australia’s only horizontal waterfalls, created when massive tidal movements squeeze through narrow cliff passages. Aerial tours from Broome (Rubibi) and Derby enable you to circle the phenomenon from above, alongside other scenic wonders of the Buccaneer Archipelago, where turquoise blue water contrasts with rugged red cliffs. Land nearby on a seaplane and experience the thrill of the falls up close by zipping through them on a speed boat, then stay overnight on a houseboat. Discover incredible natural wonders such as the world famous Cable Beach (Walmanyjun) sunsets, dinosaur footprints, some of the biggest tides in the world and the natural phenomenon of the Staircase to the Moon; all whilst slipping into ‘Broome time.’ 

• The pearling capital of Australia

A laidback tropical oasis, and where the outback meets the ocean, Broome’s unique pearling history dates back to the late 1800s. Today, Broome, the western gateway to the Kimberley, is the western gateway to the Kimberley, is one of the world’s finest producers of pearls, and its unique history coupled with the culture of the Yawuru people offers a truly unique melting pot of Aboriginal and Asian heritage. Pearl farm tours offer a fascinating insight into the history and process of modern pearl farming, or visit the pearl showrooms in historic Chinatown and take home your own piece of pearl jewellery. Celebrate Broome’s unique multicultural and pearling history at the annual Shinju Matsuri (festival of the pearl).

• Aboriginal experiences

The North West offers a range of profound Aboriginal experiences with the world’s oldest living culture and the traditional custodians of this land. Explore ancient rock art galleries in remote places. Join an Aboriginal guide to go mud crabbing and spear fishing and listen to ancient stories. North of Broome, the Dampier Peninsula on Yawuru country has the highest concentration of Aboriginal tourism offerings in Australia. On the Burrup Peninsula in Murujuga National Park, join an Aboriginal guide to witness the most prolific rock engraving (petroglyph) site in the world. The North West is also home to Australia’s first ‘Camping with Custodians’ sites, offering selfdrive visitors the chance to interact with local communities while staying at campsites run by Aboriginal people on Aboriginal lands.

• Unforgettable outback adventures

Get off the beaten track at two of WA’s most spectacular national parks. At Karijini National Park, in the Pilbara region, ancient rocks have been shaped into mountains and escarpments, awe-inspiring gorges and tree-lined watercourses. Stay in the heart of the park at Karijini Eco Retreat’s luxury tents. The World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park in the east of the Kimberley is home to one of the world’s most striking geological features, the Bungle Bungle Range. The striped, beehive-like mounds are breathtaking from the air, or camp nearby to explore hidden gorges and pools.

• Remote luxury resorts and Kimberley cruising

Escape the wellknown and well-trodden, and truly get away from it all at one of the North West’s remote luxury resorts. The Berkeley River Lodge can only be reached by sea or air, Kimberley Coastal Camp is accessible only by helicopter, El Questro Homestead is cantilevered atop Chamberlain Gorge, and — true to its name — Faraway Bay is so remote you won’t even find it on a map. For the ultimate wilderness adventure, experience the luxury of a Kimberley expedition cruise and discover the wild untamed beauty of the Kimberley coast. Cruise by sheer rugged cliffs, meander through secluded gorges, get up close to cascading waterfalls — then retreat back to the comfort of your own private suite. 

• The hub of the eastern Kimberley

Kununurra (Goonoonoorrang)

Kununurra (Goonoonoorrang) on Miriwoong country is the perfect backdrop for an outback adventure and the gateway town to exploring the eastern region of the Kimberley. Base yourself here and join one of the many tours to experience the region’s awe-inspiring attractions including the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Mitchell Falls (Punamiiunpuu), El Questro and the mighty Lake Argyle. Start your epic Gibb River Road journey here, or venture around the town to discover vast, stunning landscapes, remarkable waterways and waterfalls, lush farmland, Aboriginal art galleries and Western Australia’s oldest operating still.

*Source: Tourism Western Australia, info@westernaustralia.com
https://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/