Airbus is planning to phase out production of the world’s largest jetliner, the A380 superjumbo, if it fails to win a key order from Dubai’s Emirates. The moment of truth for the slow-selling airliner looms after just 10 years in service and leaves one of Europe’s most visible international symbols hanging by a thread, despite a major airline investment in new cabins unveiled this month. A close source to the manufacturer hinted that, “If there is no Emirates deal, Airbus will start the process of ending A380 production”. Airbus and Emirates declined to comment. Airbus also declined to say how…
Author: holidayweekly
New UNWTO Chief, Zurab Pololikashvili, issued the following New Year message, his first, after assuming the post of Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization for the period of 2018-2021: Dear all It is with a sense of pride and humility that I assume my post as Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the period 2018-2021. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my strong commitment to make of UNWTO an ever more relevant Organization for the benefit of the sector, our Member States and its people. Tourism is a people’s sector. 1 in 10…
MOSCOW: Russia will organize 14 refund offices at international airports in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi, which will offer VAT (value-added tax) refunds for purchases made by foreign citizens from January 1, a media report said. [huge_it_slider id=”159″] Under the new legislation, citizens of countries not belonging to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) can refund VAT paid on the territory of the Russian Federation, reported Tass. The law also sets a zero VAT rate for services provided to foreign citizens by Russian companies, and defines a package of documents to be provided to tax authorities to confirm the viability of…
LONDON: The much-discussed print & electronic media and on social media, wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is already giving big boost to the local tourism industry of UK. [huge_it_slider id=”158″] The 33-year-old royal and the former ‘Suits’ actress are poised to tie the knot on May 19 in St George’s Chapel, but news of their engagement and plans to marry at the historic site have already created a spike in visitor numbers. According to a spokesman for Windsor Council, visitor numbers to some attractions in the town were up 40 percent. The spokesperson added: ”Windsor is high on…
WRITTEN BY CH. FAISAL MEHMOOD The past week has been a period of celebrations, warming the hearts of stakeholders like us in our tourism industry.The coming weeks also look like the season is going to continue, heralding the more heart warming celebrations of Christmas, leading to the opening of the New Year of hopes and expectations. What is significant is that while it has become normal for Lahore to hold meet events like its recent Cultural Roots Festival, Pakistan National Council of Arts Islamabad launched the Ninth National Exhibition (PNCA). The two-month long exhibition is taking place after a series…
Faced with a looming pilot shortage, Australia is to again relax visa norms to attract more foreign pilots. Immigration minister Peter Dutton has tentatively given the green light for the resumption of two-year visas for qualified pilots, the Regional Aviation Association of Australia said. The association is also pushing for the visas to be expanded to four years. Pilots had been removed from the foreign worker visa list after the government revamped the system earlier this year. “In order to attract suitably senior pilots, who more than likely have a family growing up and so forth, we need to make…
KARACHI: Biryani is not only one of the favourite dishes of Pakistanis, but it is also a rich calorie food in terms of spices, oil and other ingredients. Realizing the demand of healthy and fat-free food, students of Professional Institute of Hotel & Tourism Management (POHTM) under the supervision of expert Chefs were given the task to prepare Biryani free from any kind of fat. Remarkably, students not only prepared the oil-free dish with zero fat, but successfully produced the same taste as any sumptuous and nutritious Biryani would have. This was done after rigorous check of all ingredients by…
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind, an expanse of farmland and rolling hills outside Johannesburg, has already unlocked some of the great mysteries of evolution. The unveiling of a near-complete fossil hominid skeleton dating back 3.67 million years will further popularize & solidify the importance of the region. “Little Foot” is the oldest fossil hominid skeleton ever found in Southern Africa, the lead scientist examining the discovery said last week. The fossil skeleton takes its name from the small foot bones discovered by scientist Ron Clarke in 1994 when he was sorting through bones in boxes from the Sterkfontein cave…
BEIJING: China’s Belt and Road Initiative has received wide response, support and participation from over a hundred countries and international organizations. China, as an important country along the Belt and Road with rich tourism resources and profound culture, has attracted a large number of international visitors. Pakistan can also take the advantage of this initiative and being the member country can market its tourism products to the world. In order to offer international visitors a service platform with more comprehensive and useful tourism information, China National Tourism Administration decided to upgrade “China – Beyond Your Imagination” China Overseas Tourism Promotion…
LONDON: The British Backpacker Society, an adventure travel project having very big following on social media, has declared Pakistan to be the world’s leading adventure travel destination. The British Backpacker Society announced the result after having counted down the top 20 adventure travel countries throughout the course of the year and implored travellers to visit. Samuel Joynson, member of the British Backpacker Society, who visited Pakistan with his colleague Adam Sloper, told media that the team has travelled to over 100 countries worldwide and described Pakistan as a “clear winner”. The British Backpacker Society announcing the 1 ranking described Pakistan…