The eighth edition of Shop Qatar Festival, the largest shopping festival in Qatar, has successfully concluded its activities under the theme “Your World of Shopping.” Running from January 1 to 27, Shop Qatar 2024 featured the active participation of 13 top shopping districts and malls in the country. The festival offered a diverse range of activities suitable for all ages, along with exciting raffle draws that resulted in valuable cash prizes and new car wins.

Shop Qatar 2024 garnered widespread popularity and momentum, benefiting from its alignment with the ‘Hayakum Qatar’ campaign launch and the activities surrounding the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. This alignment encouraged both regional and international tourists to visit Qatar.

Sheikha Hessa Al-Thani, Head of Marketing and Planning at Qatar Tourism, emphasized the integral role of Shop Qatar in the country’s annual calendar, attracting residents and visitors to enhance family tourism. The festival provided a rich array of activities, including raffle draws, cash prizes, competitions, discounts, promotions, and entertainment shows suitable for everyone, with special activities tailored for children.

Expressing congratulations to the winners of the weekly draws during the festival, Sheikha Hessa Al-Thani hoped that all visitors to the shopping districts and malls had an exceptional shopping experience.

The festival’s closing ceremony, held at Doha Festival City, marked the conclusion of Shop Qatar 2024. During this event, the names of the winners of the final draw were announced, with a total of 7 lucky shoppers receiving valuable prizes, including a Land Rover Defender.

The closing ceremony was filled with various activities and events, creating a joyful and fun atmosphere. Highlights included a surprise musical performance by artist Hammoud Al-Khader, who presented the original track for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. Additionally, the ceremony featured a performance by the band Adem Crew, winners of the Golden Buzzer from ‘America’s Got Talent,’ a musical performance by Asian musicians, and a stunning display by the Atai Omurzakov & Tumar KR group. Children had the opportunity to meet their favorite characters and enjoy the festivities.

At the festival’s finale, Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Director of Shared Services at Qatar Tourism, recognized shopping malls, their teams, and brands during the ‘Retail and Mall Awards’ ceremony. Place Vendôme secured the Highest Participation Award and Best Mall Award, while Doha Festival City earned the Best Branding Award. Additionally, commendations were extended to numerous mall employees nationwide for their dedicated involvement and contributions throughout the festival.

Shop Qatar 2024 featured special discounts, promotions, raffle draws, and cash prizes, with shoppers receiving vouchers for every 200 Qatari Riyals spent. The festival’s four weekly draws offered luxury cars, cash prizes of 50,000 Qatari Riyals, 20,000 Qatari Riyals, and 10,000 Qatari Riyals. The participating malls and shopping districts, including Place Vendôme, Doha Festival City, Mall of Qatar, Hyatt Plaza, City Center Mall, Landmark Mall, Tawar Mall, Al Hazm, Msheireb Galleria, Gulf Mall, Al Khor Mall, Lagoona Mall, and United Development Company – The Pearl Island, presented significant discounts of up to 75%.

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The eighth edition of Shop Qatar Festival, the largest shopping festival in Qatar, has successfully concluded its activities under the theme “Your World of Shopping.” Running from January 1 to 27, Shop Qatar 2024 featured the active participation of 13 top shopping districts and malls in the country. The festival offered a diverse range of activities suitable for all ages, along with exciting raffle draws that resulted in valuable cash prizes and new car wins.

Shop Qatar 2024 garnered widespread popularity and momentum, benefiting from its alignment with the ‘Hayakum Qatar’ campaign launch and the activities surrounding the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. This alignment encouraged both regional and international tourists to visit Qatar.

Sheikha Hessa Al-Thani, Head of Marketing and Planning at Qatar Tourism, emphasized the integral role of Shop Qatar in the country’s annual calendar, attracting residents and visitors to enhance family tourism. The festival provided a rich array of activities, including raffle draws, cash prizes, competitions, discounts, promotions, and entertainment shows suitable for everyone, with special activities tailored for children.

Expressing congratulations to the winners of the weekly draws during the festival, Sheikha Hessa Al-Thani hoped that all visitors to the shopping districts and malls had an exceptional shopping experience.

The festival’s closing ceremony, held at Doha Festival City, marked the conclusion of Shop Qatar 2024. During this event, the names of the winners of the final draw were announced, with a total of 7 lucky shoppers receiving valuable prizes, including a Land Rover Defender.

The closing ceremony was filled with various activities and events, creating a joyful and fun atmosphere. Highlights included a surprise musical performance by artist Hammoud Al-Khader, who presented the original track for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. Additionally, the ceremony featured a performance by the band Adem Crew, winners of the Golden Buzzer from ‘America’s Got Talent,’ a musical performance by Asian musicians, and a stunning display by the Atai Omurzakov & Tumar KR group. Children had the opportunity to meet their favorite characters and enjoy the festivities.

At the festival’s finale, Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Director of Shared Services at Qatar Tourism, recognized shopping malls, their teams, and brands during the ‘Retail and Mall Awards’ ceremony. Place Vendôme secured the Highest Participation Award and Best Mall Award, while Doha Festival City earned the Best Branding Award. Additionally, commendations were extended to numerous mall employees nationwide for their dedicated involvement and contributions throughout the festival.

Shop Qatar 2024 featured special discounts, promotions, raffle draws, and cash prizes, with shoppers receiving vouchers for every 200 Qatari Riyals spent. The festival’s four weekly draws offered luxury cars, cash prizes of 50,000 Qatari Riyals, 20,000 Qatari Riyals, and 10,000 Qatari Riyals. The participating malls and shopping districts, including Place Vendôme, Doha Festival City, Mall of Qatar, Hyatt Plaza, City Center Mall, Landmark Mall, Tawar Mall, Al Hazm, Msheireb Galleria, Gulf Mall, Al Khor Mall, Lagoona Mall, and United Development Company – The Pearl Island, presented significant discounts of up to 75%.

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The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is delighted to reveal that Nina Karnikowski, a distinguished Australian Author, Travel Writer, Environmentalist, and Creative Mentor, will serve as the keynote speaker at its eagerly awaited annual International Women’s Day (IWD) luncheon. This prestigious occasion is set to transpire in Brisbane on Thursday, 7th March, at the Calile Hotel, a perennial inclusion on lists of the world’s top 50 hotels, providing an exquisite backdrop for a day dedicated to empowerment and inspiration.

With a career spanning more than a decade in travel writing, Nina Karnikowski has transformed the narrative around travel, emphasizing not only exploration but also conservation and upliftment. Karnikowski’s extensive body of work showcases the transformative influence of travel in addressing urgent social and environmental challenges, presenting a viewpoint on the positive impact that conscientious travel can have on the world.

Nina Karnikowski, celebrated author of several highly acclaimed works, including the thought-provoking memoir “The Mindful Traveller,” as well as “Go Lightly,” “Make a Living Living,” and “The Writer Within,” frequently contributes insightful articles to esteemed publications like The Sydney Morning Herald’s Traveller, The AFR’s Life & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller, and more.

This year, CATO has selected the theme “Our Rising Stars” for its International Women’s Day luncheon. The event will showcase a vibrant panel discussion, bringing together a group of aspiring future female leaders from within the CATO membership. The focus will be on celebrating and empowering the emerging talent in the travel industry.

Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO, expressed his enthusiasm for the overwhelming response to the event, stating, “We sold out our initial allocation of tickets pre-Christmas, but have now been able to secure extra space to cater for demand. Additional tickets are now available, but we anticipate they will sell out quickly.”

The post CATO unveils acclaimed keynote speaker for annual IWD luncheon appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is delighted to reveal that Nina Karnikowski, a distinguished Australian Author, Travel Writer, Environmentalist, and Creative Mentor, will serve as the keynote speaker at its eagerly awaited annual International Women’s Day (IWD) luncheon. This prestigious occasion is set to transpire in Brisbane on Thursday, 7th March, at the Calile Hotel, a perennial inclusion on lists of the world’s top 50 hotels, providing an exquisite backdrop for a day dedicated to empowerment and inspiration.

With a career spanning more than a decade in travel writing, Nina Karnikowski has transformed the narrative around travel, emphasizing not only exploration but also conservation and upliftment. Karnikowski’s extensive body of work showcases the transformative influence of travel in addressing urgent social and environmental challenges, presenting a viewpoint on the positive impact that conscientious travel can have on the world.

Nina Karnikowski, celebrated author of several highly acclaimed works, including the thought-provoking memoir “The Mindful Traveller,” as well as “Go Lightly,” “Make a Living Living,” and “The Writer Within,” frequently contributes insightful articles to esteemed publications like The Sydney Morning Herald’s Traveller, The AFR’s Life & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller, and more.

This year, CATO has selected the theme “Our Rising Stars” for its International Women’s Day luncheon. The event will showcase a vibrant panel discussion, bringing together a group of aspiring future female leaders from within the CATO membership. The focus will be on celebrating and empowering the emerging talent in the travel industry.

Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO, expressed his enthusiasm for the overwhelming response to the event, stating, “We sold out our initial allocation of tickets pre-Christmas, but have now been able to secure extra space to cater for demand. Additional tickets are now available, but we anticipate they will sell out quickly.”

The post CATO unveils acclaimed keynote speaker for annual IWD luncheon appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

The US embassy released a security warning and travel advisory that the Bahamas is currently unsafe for tourists. Its capital city of Nassau has reported 18 murders since the beginning of 2024.

The US Embassy in Nassau advises US citizens to be aware that 18 murders have occurred in Nassau since the beginning of 2024.

The embassy wrote this in the release.

“Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets. Retaliatory gang violence has been the primary motive in 2024 murders.”

Following the security alert, the US State Department on Friday put the Bahamas on its “Exercise Increased Caution” list raising it to a Level 3.

It warned Americans to keep a low profile, be aware of the surroundings and to not resist if confronted by robbers.

“Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults,  occur in both tourist  and non-tourist  areas,” the warning read. “Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties  where private security companies do not have a presence. ”

The State Department also told travellers that they should not even try to “physically resist” when being robbed and use caution when traveling at night.

Many recreational watercraft rentals, tours and trips are inconsistently regulated, the State Department also warned.

“Watercraft may be poorly maintained, and some operators may not have safety certifications,” the release said. “Always review and heed local weather and marine alerts before engaging in water-based activities.”

The department also reminded Americans not to swim alone in the Bahamas, where there have been recent shark attacks.

In December, a female tourist from Boston was killed by a shark while paddleboarding less than a mile off the western end of New Providence island, where the capital, Nassau, is located, a press reported.

At least 33 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in the Bahamas since 1580, with the island ranking ninth worldwide, according to the International Shark Attack File.

Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis responded to the recent security alert in a national address last week, stating there will be an increase in police action and roadblocks, according to the Nassau Guardian.

“This may make you late for your appointments, or delay plans you have, but this is a small price to pay for the collective benefit of having our streets made safer, and our lives less blighted by murder and other violent crimes,” he said.

Last week, the State Department raised its advisory level for travel to Jamaica to Level 3 based on violent crime including home invasions, armed robberies, homicides, and sexual assaults – which “occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.”

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The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is excited to announce that all seated tickets for the “Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade” on the first day of Chinese New Year (10 February) have been completely sold out. The HKTB expresses gratitude for the enthusiastic support from the public. For those without tickets, there is an opportunity to enjoy the event for free at various spectator-friendly locations along the parade route or through the live broadcast on TVB Jade or HKTB’s official website DiscoverHongKong.com.

Scheduled to commence at 8:00 pm on the first day of Chinese New Year, this year’s parade will showcase nine floats and a total of 29 performing groups, featuring 13 local and 16 international groups. Many floats will depict dragons symbolizing good fortune and joy for Hong Kong in the New Year. The parade will also host the largest-ever number of international performing groups in Hong Kong, presenting globally famous and award-winning acts. This globally infused celebration promises to be an unforgettable experience for both locals and visitors, resonating with the vibrant energy and spirit of the Dragon.

The parade route will begin at the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, proceeding along Canton Road, Haiphong Road, and Nathan Road, concluding outside the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers. The first float is anticipated to reach key checkpoints at the following times:

Departure from the Piazza, Hong Kong Cultural Centre: 8:15 pm
Canton Road: 8:30 pm
Haiphong Road: 8:50 pm
Nathan Road: 9:00 pm
Conclusion outside the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers: 9:45 pm
Before the parade kicks off, 13 local teams will entertain the crowd along the route starting from 6:00 pm, offering dances, magic tricks, music, freestyle football, and various other performances to set the festive atmosphere. For additional information on the “Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade,” please visit the HKTB website: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/CNY-Night-Parade

The post Cathay Lunar Parade: seats sold out! watch live or join free along the route! appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is excited to announce that all seated tickets for the “Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade” on the first day of Chinese New Year (10 February) have been completely sold out. The HKTB expresses gratitude for the enthusiastic support from the public. For those without tickets, there is an opportunity to enjoy the event for free at various spectator-friendly locations along the parade route or through the live broadcast on TVB Jade or HKTB’s official website DiscoverHongKong.com.

Scheduled to commence at 8:00 pm on the first day of Chinese New Year, this year’s parade will showcase nine floats and a total of 29 performing groups, featuring 13 local and 16 international groups. Many floats will depict dragons symbolizing good fortune and joy for Hong Kong in the New Year. The parade will also host the largest-ever number of international performing groups in Hong Kong, presenting globally famous and award-winning acts. This globally infused celebration promises to be an unforgettable experience for both locals and visitors, resonating with the vibrant energy and spirit of the Dragon.

The parade route will begin at the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, proceeding along Canton Road, Haiphong Road, and Nathan Road, concluding outside the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers. The first float is anticipated to reach key checkpoints at the following times:

Departure from the Piazza, Hong Kong Cultural Centre: 8:15 pm
Canton Road: 8:30 pm
Haiphong Road: 8:50 pm
Nathan Road: 9:00 pm
Conclusion outside the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers: 9:45 pm
Before the parade kicks off, 13 local teams will entertain the crowd along the route starting from 6:00 pm, offering dances, magic tricks, music, freestyle football, and various other performances to set the festive atmosphere. For additional information on the “Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade,” please visit the HKTB website: https://www.discoverhongkong.com/CNY-Night-Parade

The post Cathay Lunar Parade: seats sold out! watch live or join free along the route! appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Agoda, the global digital travel platform, has announced an extended partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF). The collaboration involves an expansion of Agoda’s Eco Deals Program to support eight conservation projects across Southeast Asia. The announcement took place at a luncheon hosted by Agoda, attended by ASEAN Tourism Ministers and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, as part of the official ATF agenda.

Omri Morgenshtern, Agoda’s CEO, and Elizabeth Clarke, WWF-Singapore’s Director of Conservation, presented the vision and goals of the partnership to representatives from ASEAN National Tourism Organizations, the ASEAN Secretariat, and ASEAN Dialogue Partners. This initiative aligns with ATF’s theme of “Quality and responsible tourism – Sustaining ASEAN Future.”

As part of this year’s Eco Deals Program, Agoda will increase its donation to WWF-Singapore four-fold, reaching USD $1 million. The funds will support conservation efforts in eight markets, including Lao PDR, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Similar to previous editions, Agoda will donate USD $1 for each hotel booking made at participating hotels, contributing to WWF’s diverse conservation projects, such as marine, forest, and wildlife preservation.

The conservation projects for this year include the protection of Tigers in Malaysia, Whale Sharks in the Philippines, Elephants in Thailand, Saolas in Vietnam, ecosystem restoration in Indonesia, ranger support In Cambodia, there were successful outcomes, including ranger training and patrols. Additionally, strides were made in enhancing urban wetlands in Lao PDR. The Eco Deals Program, actively onboarding accommodation partners, is scheduled to go live to consumers on March 3, 2024, and will run until December 3, 2024.

At the ATF event on January 26, Omri Morgenshtern emphasized Agoda’s commitment to responsible travel, acknowledging the company’s responsibility to contribute to destination preservation. The Chair of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting, H.E. Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket of Laos, praised collaborations like Agoda’s partnership with WWF as exemplary in promoting responsible travel and sustainability.

Vivek Kumar, CEO of WWF-Singapore, expressed optimism about the partnership’s impact on marine, forest, and wildlife conservation, citing the significant achievements in the previous two years.

The second edition of the Eco Deals Program witnessed successful outcomes in various conservation projects, including volunteer training sessions in Singapore, ranger training and patrols in Cambodia, reforestation efforts in Indonesia, wildlife monitoring in Malaysia, and the adoption of technology for patrols in Vietnam.

The post Agoda introduces the third edition of Eco Deals during the ASEAN Tourism Forum appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

Agoda, the global digital travel platform, has announced an extended partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF). The collaboration involves an expansion of Agoda’s Eco Deals Program to support eight conservation projects across Southeast Asia. The announcement took place at a luncheon hosted by Agoda, attended by ASEAN Tourism Ministers and the Secretary-General of ASEAN, as part of the official ATF agenda.

Omri Morgenshtern, Agoda’s CEO, and Elizabeth Clarke, WWF-Singapore’s Director of Conservation, presented the vision and goals of the partnership to representatives from ASEAN National Tourism Organizations, the ASEAN Secretariat, and ASEAN Dialogue Partners. This initiative aligns with ATF’s theme of “Quality and responsible tourism – Sustaining ASEAN Future.”

As part of this year’s Eco Deals Program, Agoda will increase its donation to WWF-Singapore four-fold, reaching USD $1 million. The funds will support conservation efforts in eight markets, including Lao PDR, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Similar to previous editions, Agoda will donate USD $1 for each hotel booking made at participating hotels, contributing to WWF’s diverse conservation projects, such as marine, forest, and wildlife preservation.

The conservation projects for this year include the protection of Tigers in Malaysia, Whale Sharks in the Philippines, Elephants in Thailand, Saolas in Vietnam, ecosystem restoration in Indonesia, ranger support In Cambodia, there were successful outcomes, including ranger training and patrols. Additionally, strides were made in enhancing urban wetlands in Lao PDR. The Eco Deals Program, actively onboarding accommodation partners, is scheduled to go live to consumers on March 3, 2024, and will run until December 3, 2024.

At the ATF event on January 26, Omri Morgenshtern emphasized Agoda’s commitment to responsible travel, acknowledging the company’s responsibility to contribute to destination preservation. The Chair of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting, H.E. Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket of Laos, praised collaborations like Agoda’s partnership with WWF as exemplary in promoting responsible travel and sustainability.

Vivek Kumar, CEO of WWF-Singapore, expressed optimism about the partnership’s impact on marine, forest, and wildlife conservation, citing the significant achievements in the previous two years.

The second edition of the Eco Deals Program witnessed successful outcomes in various conservation projects, including volunteer training sessions in Singapore, ranger training and patrols in Cambodia, reforestation efforts in Indonesia, wildlife monitoring in Malaysia, and the adoption of technology for patrols in Vietnam.

The post Agoda introduces the third edition of Eco Deals during the ASEAN Tourism Forum appeared first on Travel And Tour World.

China Laos Railway is going to add 50 more seats for international passengers on the bullet train.

It is operating on the China-Laos Railway to meet the strong demand for travel between the two nations as the Spring Festival approaches next month.

China Railway Kunming Group’s line operator said on Saturday.

Since Friday, the first day of China’s Spring Festival travel rush, the train has added 50 seats for a total of 350 for cross-border travellers between Kunming.

It is the capital of Southwest China’s Yunnan province, and Vientiane, capital of Laos.

Round-trip service between Kunming and Vientiane is offered daily once a day.

The train takes about 9 hrs 30 minto travel between the two cities. It is departing Kunming at 8 am and arriving at Vientiane at about 4:30 pm.

China’s Spring Festival falls on Feb 10 this year. This year’s Spring Festival travel rush started on Friday and will end on March 5.

The national railway network expects to see 480 million passenger trips during the 40-day period.

According to the Kunming railway company, there is a strong demand for cross-border travel along the China-Laos Railway during the travel rush. Passengers are advised to make plans in advance.

Vannaphone Khamphilom, a Lao student who studies at Kunming University, took the ride from the Yunnan capital to Vientiane for winter vacation this month.

“The train is always busy,” she said, adding that her Chinese friends asked her to buy train tickets for them during Spring Festival.

“There is a surge in demand during the holiday, and the tickets are hard to get,” she said.

She said she prefers traveling by train to flying.

“Since (the international train service) opened, I stopped taking the plane. On the train, I can talk to different people, Lao and Chinese,” said Khamphilom, who owns a human resources company.

She said such trips are a great opportunity to gather travel information for her mother, who owns a travel company.

This year’s Spring Festival travel rush is the first since the China-Laos Railway began offering international passenger service in April last year.

Railway employees along the route are well prepared for the “big test” of the year.

Train conductor Yi Bofeng ensures that arrival cards are issued in Chinese, English and Lao to passengers on the train so they can fill them out before arriving at Mohan, Yunnan, or Boten, Laos, the border cities where passengers must clear immigration and customs.

She helps passengers complete the cards in advance to shorten clearance times and make their trip more efficient.

Although she can speak four languages — Mandarin, English, Lao and the Dai dialect — Yi said she was initially nervous when foreign travelers would ask her for help, but now she is more confident.

“To offer better service to international passengers, we have received tailored training in Lao and English. I also practice my language skills to show my professionalism as a conductor on the international route,” she said.

She said she and her colleagues are well prepared to offer high-quality service during the Spring Festival travel rush to more passengers.

The line’s international passenger service has experienced a gradual increase in demand since its operation began.

This month, the occupancy rate of the international passenger train has already reached 93.1 percent, according to China Railway Kunming Group.

Because of the winter, the warm and pleasant climates in places such as Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos, as well as Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture and Pu’er in Yunnan, has been favored by a large number of tourists from China and Southeast Asian countries.

Many tourists are opting to take the China-Laos Railway to visit these places.

Wang Lijuan, general manager of the Kunming Merry International Travel Service said: “Since the opening of the international service, travelers, particularly from northern Thailand, can take the railway to China. In the past, they had to travel to Bangkok to make a transfer before taking the plane to China.”

Wang’s company mainly works with foreign tourists who want to travel to China.

She also noted that since the adoption of the visa-free policy between China and Thailand, more inquiries are being made about traveling to China by train.

According to China Railway Kunming Group, the international service has so far handled more than 125,000 passenger trips from 75 countries and regions.

Most of the passengers hail from China, Laos, Thailand and Singapore.

The 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative, began operation in December 2021.

It has turned Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked hub in the Indo-China Peninsula.

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