Joint Effort with Uruguay Tour Operator Luxury Travel Ltd. promotes high-end Vietnam tourism ...

Joint Effort with Uruguay Tour Operator Luxury Travel Ltd. promotes high-end Vietnam tourism ...

HANOI – Hanoi–based Luxury Travel Ltd. [www.luxurytravelvietnam.com ] has announced joint efforts with a Uruguayan premium tour operator, Lameco Viajes, in order to promote luxury travel products at WTM Latin America [http://www.wtmlatinamerica.com/ ] in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from April 23 to 25, 2013. The Luxury Travel Ltd. and Lameco Viajes booth will be located at stand M13.

Vietnam is a new holiday destination for Latin America holidaymakers. Now, Asia’s most innovative luxury travel and tour company brings Vietnam high-end tourism products closer to travel agents in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

World Travel Market Latin America, the leading global event for the Latin American travel industry, is a 3-day, must-attend business-to-business (B2B) event which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world.

To be staged annually in the economic powerhouse of Sao Paulo, World Travel Market Latin America is the event where Latin American travel companies will negotiate and conclude major deals, highlighting the area’s importance in the global travel and tourism industry.

Vietnam has launched a new campaign to attract tourists from all over the world under the slogan of “Timeless charm.” Tourists wish to experience Vietnam's defining characteristics: thrills, nature, heritage, festivals, pristine beauty, enjoyment, scenery, and essence.

Vietnam now has world-class hotels and resorts, beaches, and cuisine, in addition to its natural beauty, rich history, and traditional culture. Travelers from Latin America traveling to Vietnam are looking for a more authentic experience and seek to have a deeper understanding of the country’s culture, food, history, and everyday life. The country receives 6.8 million international arrivals in 2012, and the number of travelers from Latin American has increased annually over the last 3 years.

While India and Thailand are geared more toward mass market tourism, Vietnam is a destination that is attractive to a more selective class of travelers. Vietnam is becoming more and more recognized as a safe and favored destination for high-end tourists from long-haul destinations.

Latin America is in a strong financial position at the moment and Pham Ha, founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd., stressed the importance of diversifying markets by participating in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking markets, which provide an ideal platform for the latest contemporary trends and the ability to communicate and establish business partnerships with experts and tourism companies.

“With our marketing efforts and commitments with our local representative and tour operator, Lameco, in Uruguay [http://www.lameco.com.uy/ ], we will attract more long-haul travelers who wish to experience Vietnam in style and luxury. We are amongst the pioneers in Latin America. We select our top ten once-in-a-life-time trips in Vietnam and Indochina, highlighting 4- and 5-star hotels to sell wholesale to travel agents across Latin America," said Pham Ha.

Hot deals: Japan, Vanuatu, Melbourne, Phuket | Bay of Plenty Times

Hot deals: Japan, Vanuatu, Melbourne, Phuket | Bay of Plenty Times

Japan

Experience the thrills of Tokyo with return flights from Auckland or Christchurch on Singapore Airlines from $1799 a person. Based on travel April 23 to November 30. Conditions apply. Availability limited. Sales until April 22. Contact United Travel on 0800 468 648 or go towww.unitedtravel.co.nz

Vanuatu

House of Travel has a four-night luxury Vanuatu package from $1759 a person share twin. Package includes return airfares to Port Vila from Auckland flying Air Vanuatu, four nights at the four-and-a-half-star Havannah Vanuatu in a garden villa, full English breakfast daily, a romantic picnic for two at a secluded island beach location and return Port Vila Airport transfers. Valid for travel until November 30, for sales to April 30 or until sold out. Conditions and close-outs apply. Phone 0800 838 747, call into a House of Travel store or see www.houseoftravel.co.nz

Melbourne cup

United Travel has Melbourne Cup packages on sale, featuring three nights' accommodation at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, hotel transfers to Flemington Racecourse, lawn stand seating on Cup Day, merchandise and on-site assistance, from $1275 a person, share twin. Airfares additional. Conditions apply. Sales and full non-refundable payment only until September 1. Contact United Travel on 0800 468 648 or see www.unitedtravel.co.nz

Phuket

House of Travel has a five-night Phuket package from $1799 a person share twin. Package includes return flights from Auckland to Phuket, five nights at the three-star Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort and breakfast daily. Double your stay and receive five nights free, or for just $99 a person share twin, upgrade to a four-star resort. Valid for travel May 5 to October 31, for sales to April 22. Conditions and close-outs apply. Phone 0800 838 747, call into a House of Travel store or visit www.houseoftravel.co.nz.

Malaya Business News Online - Philippine Business News | Online News Philippines - A hundred and one fun at Hundred Islands

Malaya Business News Online - Philippine Business News | Online News Philippines - A hundred and one fun at Hundred Islands

The Philippines is an archipelago of about 7,107 islands, depending on whether its high or low tide, and one locality takes pride in having 123 of them—Alaminos City, Pangasinan. So when it decided to throw a street party to mark its strides in tourism and economic progress, it can be no other than one that brings to the fore its famed natural geological wonder—the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP).

Scattered around the historic Lingayen Gulf, the HINP is an amazing cluster of islands and rock formations with their own characteristics. Some islands have short stretches of powdery white beaches, mangrove forests, caves, subterranean lagoons, bat caves, and a host of interesting sights.

Governor’s Island, one of the core islets, has a view deck which offers a sweeping view of the archipelago. At low tide, a sand bar connects it with the adjoining Virgin Island. It is also ideal for snorkeling in the giant clam farm.

Children’s Island, as it name suggests, is tops for kids because of its shallow and clear waters. Nearby is Quezon Island where beach bums converge to swim or snorkel in the nearby giant clam farm.

The islands of Cagao, Macapagal and Marcos have short but powdery white sand beaches and clear waters. The latter has an inland underground pool called Imelda Cave where intrepid souls can jump from about 20 feet above. 

Touring Hundred Islands has been revolutionized with the introduction of kayaking and adventure tours in recent years. With its calm waters, white sand beaches, proximity of islands and vibrant marine life, it appears to be cut out by Mother Nature to be the country’s “kayaking capital”.

This geological wonder takes center stage once more at Alaminos City’s 9th Gali’La Hundred Islands Festival to usher in summer and celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph and its 12th  Cityhood Day.

Literally meaning “come and join us”, Gali’La kicks off on March 19 with the Agri-Trade Fair  (Farmers & Fisherfolks Day)  which will underscore the city’s vital role as an agro-industrial center in Pangasinan.

The locus of the festivity is a patronal feast procession, civic military parade and a street dance exhibition which will portray the city’s prized delicacy—the sought-after local longanisa or pork sausage.

Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza said that the fete will also bring to the fore city’s achievements in terms of environmental protection, good governance, and tourism promotion.

The City has been awarded in the past as Most Outstanding LGU Coastal Resource Management Implementer, and runner-up honors as the Best Performing City in Region I and the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest City.

Meanwhile, Braganza has been named as among the 10 Tourism Awardees Rotary of the Club of Manila in 2011 and the Fr. Neri Satur Environmental Hero Award in 2012 by Earthsavers.

He said that since 2005, the city has been successfully managing the Hundred Islands when it was turned over to them by the Philippine Tourism Authority.

Alaminos has also been chosen to a partner local government in the prestigious Shore It Up project of the Metro Pacific Investment Corp. Foundation in 2011 in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup Day.

The mayor said that travel to Hundred Islands, one of the country’s top tourist draws, will be shortened with the construction of the Alaminos Airport which is currently under construction.

Gali’La draws to a close on March 22 with the Longanisa Eating Contest and Talaba Ihaw-Ihaw Festival where participants will feast on tasty native longanisa and luscious oysters.

Opodo travel news – Hollywood film inspired Philippines surfing

Opodo travel news – Hollywood film inspired Philippines surfing

Locals have been describing how the Hollywood blockbuster 'Apocalypse Now', starring Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen, was the catalyst for the Philippines to start surfing.

In a famous scene from the 1979 Vietnam war movie - which was actually filmed in the Filipino fishing village of Baler - the character Colonel Kilgore encourages his troops to take to the water despite bombs falling around them.

Residents of Baler who were watching the filming and had never seen surfing before instantly fell in love with the sport.

'When the filming finished, some of the crew left their surfboards behind, and my friend and I picked up the boards and taught ourselves how to surf,' local surfer Edwin Nomoro explained to the BBC.

At first it was just Filipinos riding the waves, but now people come from all over the world for surfing holidays in the Philippines.

'Baler is the birthplace of Philippines surfing,' added Mac Ritual, a local tour guide.