To add your posts to Featured Posts Slider you need to edit your post and set it as featured for slider in Post Settings box.
' ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show Featured Posts Slider on homepage", "id" => "blog_enable_homepage_slider", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "You can mark posts as featured in post edit screen at the bottom settings box to display it in slider in homepage header.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider width", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_fullwidth", "std" => "0", "options" => array( "1" => "Fullwidth", "0" => "Boxed", ), "desc" => "", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider height", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_height", "std" => "530", "field_options" => array( "min" => 250, "max" => 800, "step" => 5, "dimension" => 'px', "animation" => true ), "desc" => "Drag to change value. Default: 530px", "type" => "slider", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider items per row", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_items", "std" => "1", "options" => array( "4" => "4", "3" => "3", "2" => "2", "1" => "1", ), "desc" => "", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider post details layout", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_post_details_layout", "std" => "horizontal", "options" => array( "horizontal" => "Horizontal", "vertical" => "Vertical", ), "desc" => "Select where to show post details (title, description, category, etc) in blog posts inside slider. 'Vertical' value will work only if you set 1 items per row in option above.", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider posts titles style", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_posttitle_font_decoration", "std" => "italic", "options" => array( "none" => "Normal", "italic" => "Italic", "uppercase" => "UPPERCASE", ), "desc" => "", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Merge slider slides", "id" => "blog_enable_homepage_merge_slider", "std" => false, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "Check if you want to see different slides widths in one row.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Center active slide", "id" => "blog_enable_homepage_center_slide", "std" => false, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "Check if you want to see current slide centered and near slides cropped. Work best with slides per row set to 2 or 4.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider autoplay", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_autoplay", "std" => "3000", "options" => array( "10000" => "Enable - 10 seconds", "5000" => "Enable - 5 seconds", "3000" => "Enable - 3 seconds", "2000" => "Enable - 2 seconds", "1000" => "Enable - 1 second", "0" => "Disable", ), "desc" => "", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider navigation arrows", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_navigation", "std" => "1", "options" => array( "1" => "Enable", "0" => "Disable", ), "desc" => "", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Featured Posts Slider pagination buttons", "id" => "blog_homepage_slider_pagination", "std" => "false", "options" => array( "true" => "Enable", "false" => "Disable", ), "desc" => "", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "EndSection" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Welcome Block settings", "type" => "StartSection", "field_options" => array( "show" => true // Set true to show items by default. ) ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show Welcome Block on homepage", "id" => "blog_enable_homepage_welcome_block", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "You can display any HTML content in this block below your slider or header.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Homepage Welcome Block content", "id" => "blog_homepage_welcome_block_content", "std" => '
To add your posts to Editor's Picks Block you need to edit your post and set it as Editors Pick post in Post Settings box.
" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show Editor's Picks Block on homepage footer", "id" => "blog_enable_homepage_editorspick_posts", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Editor's Picks Block title", "id" => "blog_homepage_editorspick_posts_title", "std" => "Editor's Picks", "desc" => "Change default Editor's Picks Posts block title. Leave empty to hide title.", "type" => "text", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Editor's Picks Block subtitle", "id" => "blog_homepage_editorspick_posts_subtitle", "std" => "Featured posts from Camille", "desc" => "Change default Editor's Picks block subtitle. Leave empty to hide title.", "type" => "text", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Editorss Picks Block posts limit (rows)", "id" => "blog_homepage_editorspick_posts_limit", "std" => "1", "options" => array( "1" => "One row", "2" => "Two rows", ), "desc" => "", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Editor's Picks Block posts category slug", "id" => "blog_homepage_editorspick_posts_category", "std" => "", "desc" => "If you want to show popular posts only from some category specify it's SLUG here (You can create special category like 'Picks' and assing posts to it if you want to show only selected posts). You can see/set category SLUG when you edit category. Leave empty to show posts from all categories.", "type" => "text", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "EndSection" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Single Post page settings", "type" => "StartSection", "field_options" => array( "show" => true // Set true to show items by default. ) ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Use smaller content width on single posts and pages without sidebar", "id" => "blog_enable_small_page_width", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "This option add left/right margins on all pages and posts without sidebars to make your content width smaller.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show author info and avatar after single blog post", "id" => "blog_enable_author_info", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show comments and share links in Single Post header below post title", "id" => "blog_enable_singlepost_header_info", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Enable Drop Caps (first big letter) in single post pages", "id" => "blog_enable_dropcaps", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show Post Views counters in Single Post", "id" => "blog_enable_post_views_counter_sp", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "This option will enable post views counter display on single blog post page.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show related posts on single post page", "id" => "blog_post_show_related", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Hide post featured image on single post page", "id" => "blog_post_hide_featured_image", "std" => false, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "Enable this if you don't want to see featured post image on single post page.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Show prev/next posts navigation links on single post page", "id" => "blog_post_navigation", "std" => true, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "EndSection" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "EndTab" ); /** * FONTS TAB **/ $ipanel_camille_tabs[] = array( 'name' => 'Fonts', 'id' => 'font_settings' ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "StartTab", "id" => "font_settings" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Headers font", "id" => "header_font", "desc" => "Font used in headers. Default: Playfair Display", "options" => array( "font-sizes" => array( " " => "Font Size", '11' => '11px', '12' => '12px', '13' => '13px', '14' => '14px', '15' => '15px', '16' => '16px', '17' => '17px', '18' => '18px', '19' => '19px', '20' => '20px', '21' => '21px', '22' => '22px', '23' => '23px', '24' => '24px', '25' => '25px', '26' => '26px', '27' => '27px', '28' => '28px', '29' => '29px', '30' => '30px', '31' => '31px', '32' => '32px', '33' => '33px', '34' => '34px', '35' => '35px', '36' => '36px', '37' => '37px', '38' => '38px', '39' => '39px', '40' => '40px', '41' => '41px', '42' => '42px', '43' => '43px', '44' => '44px', '45' => '45px', '46' => '46px', '47' => '47px', '48' => '48px', '49' => '49px', '50' => '50px' ), "color" => false, "font-families" => iPanel::getGoogleFonts(), "font-styles" => false ), "std" => array( "font-size" => '26', "font-family" => 'Playfair Display' ), "type" => "typography" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Headers font parameters for Google Font", "id" => "header_font_options", "std" => "400,400italic,700,700italic", "desc" => "You can specify additional Google Fonts paramaters here, for example fonts styles to load. Default: 400,400italic,700,700italic", "type" => "text", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Body font", "id" => "body_font", "desc" => "Font used in text elements. Default: Merriweather", "options" => array( "font-sizes" => array( " " => "Font Size", '11' => '11px', '12' => '12px', '13' => '13px', '14' => '14px', '15' => '15px', '16' => '16px', '17' => '17px', '18' => '18px', '19' => '19px', '20' => '20px', '21' => '21px', '22' => '22px', '23' => '23px', '24' => '24px', '25' => '25px', '26' => '26px', '27' => '27px' ), "color" => false, "font-families" => iPanel::getGoogleFonts(), "font-styles" => false ), "std" => array( "font-size" => '14', "font-family" => 'Merriweather' ), "type" => "typography" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Body font parameters for Google Font", "id" => "body_font_options", "std" => "400,400italic,700,700italic", "desc" => "You can specify additional Google Fonts paramaters here, for example fonts styles to load. Default: 400,400italic,700,700italic", "type" => "text", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Additional font", "id" => "additional_font", "desc" => "You can select any additional Google font here and use it in Custom CSS in theme. Default: Merriweather", "options" => array( "font-sizes" => array( " " => "Font Size", '11' => '11px', '12' => '12px', '13' => '13px', '14' => '14px', '15' => '15px', '16' => '16px', '17' => '17px', '18' => '18px', '19' => '19px', '20' => '20px', '21' => '21px', '22' => '22px', '23' => '23px', '24' => '24px', '25' => '25px', '26' => '26px', '27' => '27px', '28' => '28px', '29' => '29px', '30' => '30px', '31' => '31px', '32' => '32px', '33' => '33px', '34' => '34px', '35' => '35px', '36' => '36px', '37' => '37px', '38' => '38px', '39' => '39px', '40' => '40px', '41' => '41px', '42' => '42px', '43' => '43px', '44' => '44px', '45' => '45px', '46' => '46px', '47' => '47px', '48' => '48px', '49' => '49px', '50' => '50px' ), "color" => false, "font-families" => iPanel::getGoogleFonts(), "font-styles" => false ), "std" => array( "font-size" => '12', "font-family" => 'Merriweather' ), "type" => "typography" ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Additional font parameters for Google Font", "id" => "additional_font_options", "std" => "400,400italic,700,700italic", "desc" => "You can specify additional Google Fonts paramaters here, for example fonts styles to load. Default: 400,400italic,700,700italic", "type" => "text", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Enable Additional font", "id" => "additional_font_enable", "std" => false, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "Uncheck if you don't want to use Additional font. This will speed up your site.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Disable ALL Google Fonts on site", "id" => "font_google_disable", "std" => false, "field_options" => array( "box_label" => "Check Me!" ), "desc" => "Use this if you want extra site speed or want to have regular fonts. Arial font will be used with this option.", "type" => "checkbox", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Regular font (apply if you disabled Google Fonts below)", "id" => "font_regular", "std" => "Arial", "options" => array( "Arial" => "Arial", "Tahoma" => "Tahoma", "Times New Roman" => "Times New Roman", "Verdana" => "Verdana", "Helvetica" => "Helvetica", "Georgia" => "Georgia", "Courier New" => "Courier New" ), "desc" => "Use this option if you disabled ALL Google Fonts.", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "EndTab" ); /** * COLORS TAB **/ $ipanel_camille_tabs[] = array( 'name' => 'Colors & Skins', 'id' => 'color_settings' ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "StartTab", "id" => "color_settings", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Predefined color skins", "id" => "color_skin_name", "std" => "none", "options" => array( "none" => "Use colors specified below", "default" => "Camille (Default)", "black" => "Black", "grey" => "Grey", "lightblue" => "Light blue", "blue" => "Blue", "red" => "Red", "green" => "Green", "orange" => "Orange", "redorange" => "RedOrange", "brown" => "Brown", ), "desc" => "Select one of predefined skins or use your own colors. If you selected any predefined styles your specified colors below will NOT be applied.", "type" => "select", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Body background color", "id" => "theme_body_color", "std" => "#FFFFFF", "desc" => "Used in many theme places, default: #FFFFFF", "field_options" => array( //'desc_in_tooltip' => true ), "type" => "color", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Body text color", "id" => "theme_text_color", "std" => "#000000", "desc" => "Body text color, default: #000000", "field_options" => array( //'desc_in_tooltip' => true ), "type" => "color", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Theme main color", "id" => "theme_main_color", "std" => "#F37879", "desc" => "Used in many theme places, buttons, links, etc. Default: #F37879", "field_options" => array( //'desc_in_tooltip' => true ), "type" => "color", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Header background color", "id" => "theme_header_bg_color", "std" => "#FFFFFF", "desc" => "Default: #FFFFFF", "field_options" => array( //'desc_in_tooltip' => true ), "type" => "color", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Category menu background color", "id" => "theme_cat_menu_bg_color", "std" => "#FFFFFF", "desc" => "This background will be used for main menu below header. Default: #FFFFFF", "field_options" => array( //'desc_in_tooltip' => true ), "type" => "color", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "name" => "Footer background color", "id" => "theme_footer_color", "std" => "#1E1C1C", "desc" => "Default: #1E1C1C", "field_options" => array( //'desc_in_tooltip' => true ), "type" => "color", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "EndTab" ); /** * BANNERS CODE TAB **/ $ipanel_camille_tabs[] = array( 'name' => 'Ads management', 'id' => 'banners_management' ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "StartTab", "id" => "banners_management", ); $ipanel_camille_option[] = array( "type" => "info", "name" => "Click ads position name to open settings box.
We recommend you to read Theme Documentation before you will start using our theme to building your website. It covers all steps for site configuration, demo content import, theme features usage and more.
If you have face any problems with our theme feel free to use our Support System to contact us and get help for free.
Theme Documentation Support SystemAfter being closed for almost eight months, Havana reopened its doors to international tourists, but travelers still need to be convinced to return. Cuba is confident that it will be successful in attracting tourists and revive this vital industry for the island.
“It is an important challenge,” says Francisco Camps, deputy general director in Cuba of Spanish hotel chain Meliá, which manages 34 establishments on the island, of which only 10 are currently operating.
Five international airports in the country reopened to charter flights in mid-October, but the island’s crown jewel was missing: Havana, whose old-fashioned charm and historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year; and the Havana square is one that many tourists, especially Europeans, do not want to miss.
“Havana is important because it is the airport with regular flights that already allows connections with Europe,” says Camps. Closed to commercial flights since March 24, Havana reopened its airport last Sunday, just in time for the peak season (November-April).
For Camps, “this also allows a flow of visitors who come not only to visit the city but to do tours and, let’s say, a type of tourism different from sun-and-beach tourism, [with] more spending.”
In terms of revenues, there is urgency: deprived of the economic engine that is tourism (which recorded revenues of US$2,645 million in 2019), Cuba had to drastically reduce imports, which usually cover 80% of its food needs. Meanwhile, given the shortage of coffee, milk and other basic products, lines for groceries in the country’s supermarkets get longer and longer.
“The shortage that we experience throughout the country, which is quite significant, I think it is the most serious since the 1990s,” highlights the economist Ricardo Torres from the University of Havana, referring to the famous economic crisis, known as the Special Period, that hit the island after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Torres recalls that at that time tourism was “the industry that really managed to get Cuba out of the depths of the economic crisis.”
But now reopening tourism poses risks. In flights with British and Russian travelers heading to the country’s beaches, cases of coronavirus were detected that forced dozens of travelers into quarantine.
“It is without a doubt a significant risk for the country and for further efforts of attracting tourists,” acknowledges Francisco Durán, head of Epidemiology of the Cuban Ministry of Health. “It is necessary for our population to know this so that they protect themselves and those who arrive,” he says.
To reassure travelers, the country launched the slogan: “Cuba, your safe destination”. The island’s number of cases (only 7,725 in a population of 11.2 million) is among the lowest on the continent.
However, the protocol requires tourists to undergo a C-reactive protein test (at a cost of $30) upon arrival and to limit traveling within the island until results are available 24 hours later. In addition, each hotel has medical staff thanks to a health network of 82 doctors per every 10,000 inhabitants (for comparison, there are 32 in France and 26 in the United States per every 10,000).
“This very successful strategy in controlling the epidemic is an asset for Cuba when it comes to reopening,” because “in the next month tourists are going to look for safe destinations,” warns Torres. “Yes, we must protect people’s lives, but we must also revive our economy which is on its knees,” he adds.
At the beginning of November, Cuba hosted a seminar for 150 German tourism agents. The Prime Minister himself, Manuel Marrero, welcomed them to the island. However, some European countries remain closed due to the pandemic, and even Canada, the main source market to the island, imposes mandatory self-isolation for its nationals upon return.
In general, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) does not foresee a rebound in the industry before the end of 2021, hence the need to be creative.
Some hotels offer long stays (two or three months) to Canadian tourists who want to escape the winter, but even more surprising is the teleworking offer on Cuba.
Other Caribbean destinations, such as Barbados and Bermuda, also started to promote this initiative. The Hyatt hotel chain now offers it in Costa Rica and the Bahamas.
Source: tourism-review.com
]]>Halsted’s Aviation Company (HAC) has opened a new lounge at Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare.
HAC spokesperson, Jeannie Stone, said the new lounge was in the domestic departures terminal and was available, for a fee, to passengers using the terminal. HAC clients do not pay for the service.
“Our lounge offers complimentary WiFi, hot beverages, snacks as well as cold drinks. It can seat 22 people and is air-conditioned,” Stone said.
Based in Harare, HAC offers air charter services for private safari excursions, corporate business trips, scenic flights and emergency medical evacuation services in Southern Africa. Its fleet includes Beechcraft King Airs, Cessna Caravans and Bell LongRanger helicopters
Source: tourismupdate.co.za
]]>Atlantis, the Palm and Addmind have joined forces to bring the second White venue to Dubai.
Located on the shores of the iconic entertainment resort, the new hotspot will open on Friday.
Boasting uninterrupted views of Dubai, White Beach will encompass a live event space, a restaurant with an open-air terrace and a shore-side infinity pool.
The venue will offer a day-to-night experience, creating an escape from the traditional and expected.
Tony Habre, founder of Addmind Hospitality, commented: “We are delighted by the local and international recognition that White has acquired in the past decade.
“To see this brand now join forces with one of the world’s most important business and leisure destinations, is nothing short of promising for the strategic development of White into a global lifestyle brand.”
By day, White Beach will be a dreamy slice of paradise with an in-tune-with-nature ambience.
Exuding rustic simplicity and luxury, guests can take in the Mediterranean design mixed with rural charm as they relax on day beds by the pool or underneath a beach-side pergola.
A stylish Mediterranean restaurant will overlook the beach via an open-air terrace, thoughtfully furnished with large, communal tables, offering a simple yet refined menu.
By night, White Beach will host a collective of international and local artists at weekly events and sunset sessions.
A resident DJ will also soundtrack the sunset every day with relaxed and vibrant sounds.
Timothy Kelly, managing director, Atlantis Resorts & Residences commented: “We are proud to add yet another unique and special venue to our ever-evolving resort.
“We are excited about our partnership with Addmind and leveraging their success as the leading nightlife operator in the region.”
Source: breakingtravelnews.com
]]>The demand for shopping tourism in Italy is growing. Double-digit growth has been registered from Japan (+20%), China (+15%), Korea (+10-20%) and the USA (10%). But even Spain showed some signs of growth, albeit not too high (+4%), while markets such as Germany and the Netherland are stable after years of growth. Shopping tourism is popular in Italian cities.
These are the data collected by Risposte Turismo, which show a healthy market, with a certain dynamism on the part of digital platforms. Italy comes out well, but there is still room for improvement.
Where should investments go? For example, there are events such as shopping festivals, which do not exist yet as a format, instead consolidated in destinations such as Istanbul, Dubai, Malaysia. It is a concept that has yet to take hold in Europe, but there are cases like Spain, where shopping tourism is among the first three pillars of the ministry development plan.
While waiting for public commitment, private individuals move. Outlets are still the main attraction, and if the festivals are missing, the shopping streets are moving, from the classic Montenapoleone and Condotti to associations such as Ponte Vecchio in Florence and Piazza San Marco in Venice, or even seaside resorts such as Viale Ceccarini in Riccione.
There are no big specialized tour operators and people still do not take shopping as a key segment. Many initiatives still revolve around hotel and carrier agreements with outlets, as well as on online platforms Musement or Italy Xp.
In addition to festivals, there are also other emerging trends to watch, such as temporary shops. Today in Italy there are 150 spaces dedicated to this type of initiatives, 70% of these in Milan and the surrounding area.
The value of experience could be, moreover, a response to the increasing diffusion of the ecommerce, even the one dedicated to Made in Italy. It is necessary to involve the territory, to let the artisans speak, those who produce, to tell the stories of Italian companies.
Source: tourism-review.com
]]>The countdown is on to the grand opening of Four Seasons Hotel São Paulo at Nações Unidas, as the Hotel opens its reservations books and confirms arrivals beginning October 15th.
“As the first Four Seasons in Brazil, our team is especially excited to introduce the customised experiences and personalised service for which the company is known around the world,” said general manager Michael Schmid.
“Although many Brazilians who travel internationally are very familiar with the Four Seasons experience, the opportunity to offer something uniquely tailored to this city and connect with its citizens is important for us.”
The all-new hotel is the vision of HKS Architects in partnership with Aflalo e Gasperini Arquitetos, with principle interiors including guest rooms, lobby lounge and public areas by San Francisco-based BAMO.
Describing their vision as “bold and evocative modern, an international luxury aesthetic rendered in Brazilian materials and infused with classic Paulistano flavour,” the result is an art-filled hotel with pieces from Burle Marx, Francisco Brennand, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, among others.
The interiors are characterised by locally-sourced finishes that create a luxurious yet welcoming environment for both international travellers and local guests.
Located amid the leafy green spaces along the Pinheiros river in southern Sao Paulo, the all-new 29-storey tower will include the 258-room Hotel as well as 84 Four Seasons Private Residences designed by Studio Arthur Casas, along with restaurants, spa, meeting rooms and other facilities.
Source: breakingtravelnews.com
]]>Strong gains in international tourism will help Australia continue to move towards attaining the lower bound of its Tourism 2020 growth target (USD 115 billion per year) for overnight visitor expenditure by the end of the decade, according to Tourism Research Australia’s (TRA) Tourism Forecasts 2016, released recently.
However, more work will need to be done if Australia is to reach the upper bound of its tourism industry potential (USD 140 billion per year) by 2020.
With international visitors set to increase their share of spend from 31% of total spend in 2014–15 to 41% in 2024–25, and domestic overnight visitor spend continuing to grow, but at a moderate pace, total overnight expenditure is forecast to reach USD 127 billion in nominal terms by 2019–20.
According to the forecasts, the largest inbound source market is set to change, with strong visitor growth seeing China overtake New Zealand in 2017–18 – two years earlier than previously forecast. China is expected to contribute 43% of the total growth in visitor numbers from 2014–15 to 2024–25 and 60% of growth in expenditure.
Other markets expected to experience solid growth over the next few years are Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, along with traditional markets of New Zealand and the USA. Sporting events scheduled in 2017–18 will also see an increase in arrivals from the UK, Australia’s third-largest inbound market.
Strong growth in holiday travel, largely due to the lower value of the Australian dollar is forecast to drive growth in domestic tourism in 2016–17 and 2017–18, with many Australians continuing to choose to holiday at home rather than travel abroad.
Source: travelnewsdigest.in
]]>The Acquaforte Spa at Forte Village has long been renowned as a pioneer of thalassotherapy and the health benefits surrounding it.
A circuit of six pools of varied salt densities – created with the help of the Thalasso Research Centre at Milan University – lies at the heart of the spa, set in lush gardens on the southern Sardinian coast.
This year, Forte Village will open a new and private area of the Acquaforte Spa, available for exclusive hire to guests in small groups of up to ten people.
With its own private entrance, the 300sqm spa area will comprise of three thalasso pools, a private treatment room for up to two people, a sauna, hammam, solarium and relaxation area.
The private spa will also have its own changing rooms and a lounge where healthy meals can be served throughout the day.
The very high concentration of magnesium salt allows the body to float.
The high temperature of the water has a vasodilatory effect, and when combined with the high saline density, it increases metabolic exchanges by osmosis, thereby aiding the draining and detox effect.
This high temperature, pure sea water pool features whirlpools that stimulate microcirculation from the soles of the feet to the abdominal muscles and the back.
The movement and the water pressure stimulate various body areas, complementing the muscle-relaxing effect of the previous pools.
This sodium-rich pool continues and increases the osmosis between sea water and the body, stimulating the elimination of toxins and aiding muscle relaxation.
This pool is ideal for a traditional Acquaforte water massage.
The Acquaforte Private Spa is available to book from €900 for a half day and from €1,200 for a full day for up to ten people.
Source: breakingtravelnews.com
]]>Further development of infrastructure, reducing the image of an unsafe destination, and attracting tourists for longer stays are the main challenges of the tourism sector in Guatemala.
The Guatemalan Tourism Institute (Inguat) recorded positive growth of 11 percent in tourism numbers in 2017. There were 2.1 million nonresident visitors – 1.6 million tourists and 453,673 one-day travelers. Last year there were 207,075 more visits than in 2016. Furthermore, US$1.2 million revenue of the tourism sector is estimated.
The upturn in tourism is also observed in the regions. El Salvador reported a 9.5 percent growth. The tourism authorities estimate an income of US$1.2 million in 2017 just in international tourism (2.2 million visitors).
The president of the Guatemalan Chamber of Tourism (Camtur), Luis Rey, indicated that this is positive growth which is the fruit of the master plan of sustainable development that the country has. But he added that improvements must be performed in the road system because the road network is deteriorated. Also, they must improve the security, from a comprehensive point of view, not just concerning tourists, but the general perception of insecurity in the country.
The State Department of the United States updated the recommendations to their citizens of reconsidering visiting the country due to the violence and crime they would be exposed to, which according to Rey does affect the whole tourism sector in Guatemala and the economy in general. After the alert, there were groups of tourists that cancelled their trip to the country.
Rey said one of the tourism barriers are the high airplane fees as well. The director of the Inguat, Jorge Mario Chajón, said that there are two airplane lines from Canada and one from Europe with which they are negotiating their possible arrival to the country.
Besides the number of tourists, the challenge is to increase the number of days they stay in the country, and that is a different marketing effort, but for that is required the development of more destinations, according to Alfonso Muralles , the director of the Sustainable Tourism Commission, of the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport).
He commented that, even though countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua or Panama, can reach 2 million tourists, the average stay is between two or three nights, whilst in Guatemala it is five, which is an advantage.
He highlighted that the country has attractions, that are not easily accessed, for example, Semuc Champey, which may be even declared a world heritage site, and with that be placed on the tourist map, much the same as Takalik Abaj.
To Muralles, Costa Rica, unlike Guatemala, has as an advantage that it is not qualified as a high risk country, and there are no road blocks.
Chajón admitted that countries such as Honduras have made very important efforts, since they have a strong country brand, they have made efforts to attract air flights and they have a cruise port.
“Guatemala was left behind in terms of infrastructure, we don’t have a cruise port, we have an airport with deficiencies, roads with deficiencies and tourist attractions that have deficiencies because they have been abandoned for years,” he stated.
He commented that last year they participated in a seminar about investments of the World Tourism Organization (OM) in Costa Rica, and they invited officials of the Ministry of Finance, the Superintendent of Tax Administration and Congress; now they evaluate a common initiative.
According to data from the OMT, in 2016 Guatemala was placed in the third place with more international tourism upon receiving 1.5 million tourists, surpassed by Costa Rica (2.9 millions) and Panama (2 millions). Regarding income generation it registered US$1.5 million, always surpassed by Panama with US$4.2 million and Costa Rica with US$3.8 million.
Source: tourism-review.com
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