Resorts And Lodges

World Tourism Day 2011 will be celebrated under the theme Tourism – Linking Cultures, an opportunity to highlight tourism’s role in bringing the cultures of the world together and promoting global understanding through travel (27 September 2011).

“The message on this World Tourism Day is that, thanks to tourism, millions of people from different cultures are being brought together around the world like never before,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “This i

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I hope to get married in Mauritius at the beginning of July. Which part of the island would you recommend? Which is the best airline to use? Should I take cash or travellers’ cheques, and should I change money here before I go? – David Devine

Congratulations on the forthcoming event. Mauritius in July is ideal – this luxurious island, with a friendly and diverse population, is
at its best.

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Photography lover?  Travel photography tours have been some of our best travel experiences and we’re excited to share new ones.

Coming up in Turkey, November 8-12, 2011, Gulf Photo Plus is launching a new 5-day, Faces & Places photo tour of Istanbul.

Participants will learn how to take travel portraits and photograph the natural and urban landscape to “produce a compelling story that captures the heart and soul of the places you visit.”

International photographers Bobbi Lane and David Nightingale will host the tour.

Lane is a commercial photographer and photo educator who specializes in creative portraits.  Nightingale is an author and creative director of Chromasia Limited, a fine arts and commercial photography company.

The photo tour will schedule portraits, street scenes, landscape and night photography with instruction on shooting, composition and observation techniques.

Participants can contribute a photo essay of their Istanbul trip which will be exhibited by Gulf Photo Plus.

Here are packing list guidelines from Gulf Photo Plus: Your DSLR, lens ( wide angle and zoom); a few SD/CF cards; laptop; card reader and tripod; comfortable informal and warm clothing and shoes; (When) visiting mosques, no shorts/sleeveless tops and wear socks to walk on the carpets.

This “Faces and Places” photo tour package includes: hotel accommodation; daily breakfast and lunch; transport within Istanbul to workshop locations; instruction by Lane, Nightingale and an assistant; admission fees to sites; whirling dervish performance and a Bosphorous boat tour.

The Istanbul itinerary includes:

• Aya Sofya/Hagia Sophia: “Photo opportunities include the Byzantine mosaics, fountains, marble structure, chandeliers and Islamic calligraphy inscribed on the Dome.”
• Blue Mosque:  “We will aim to capture its mesmerizing domes, semi-domes, courtyards and six minarets.”
• Grand Bazaar (The Covered Bazaar): “A great spot for street photography and candid portraits of the locals.”
• Spice Bazaar: “The Spice Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in the city and it is the second largest covered shopping complex .”
• Topkapi Palace: “We will photograph the interesting architecture of the palace that was the official residence for 400 years.”
• Byzantine Hippodrome: “This was the heart of the Constantinople’s political and sporting life.”
• Galata Bridge and Galata Tower: “This is said to be the heart of Istanbul and has been featured in Turkish literature, poetry and novels.”
• Bhosporus Boat Tour: “The tour will take place on the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia. It will allow you to capture the city from a

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ORLANDO, Fla. —If you’re not into roller coasters and you’re not all about the merchandise, then the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is going to be a bit of a rough ride. On the other hand, if you love thrills and having your stomach tied in knots and you crave a taste of Butterbeer, then you might pronounce it “brilliant.”

And if you just plain love the Harry Potter books and films, as millions do, then you just have to see for yourself, as millions already have.

Here’s a ride through my recent journey to Harry Potter land, with some of the costs figured in:

It was $82 for a day pass to Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, the home of the Harry Potter theme park that opened a year ago June. T

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The Department for Transport has announced proposals to modernise the regulation of aviation security, with airports rewarded for good practice by being granted greater autonomy in security procedures.

The proposals, which are subject to consultation, could spell the end for compulsory security checks such as shoes and belts being removed and laptops taken out of bags.

Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond said he wanted to move away from “the current, highly prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach where all operators run the same regime to one where industry takes a more proactive and more innovative and tailored approach to security”.

Under the proposals, those operators with the “most robust systems of aviation security” would be granted “greater trust in how they deliver the specified outcomes”.

Hammond said that the current system “can place significant financial burdens on the aviation industry along with inconvenience to passengers”, and added that government regulation should move from “prescribing security processes to setting security outcomes”, giving airports and airlines greater flexibility and allowing them to adopt new technology such as screening devices.

But he also looked to assure passengers by saying that “the level of scrutiny by the Regulator will increase proportionately where any concerns arise about the delivery of the required outcomes”.

Operators would be required to develop a Security Management System, with regular reports on performance. Earlier this week a re

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