South Africa’s tourist attractions
Posted July 15, 2009 , add a commentGrenada tourism, Caribbean
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Grenada Tourism Overview- Tourist Activities and Things to Do - Cultural Festivals
The three islands of Grenada are located in south east Caribbean Sea, 100 miles
north of Venezuela. The biggest of them is Grenada and smaller ones are
Carriacou and Petit Martinique. These are beautiful islands having volcanic
terrain with stunning beaches, unexplored mountainous terrain, picturesque
towns, coral reefs, breathtaking Flora and Fauna. As you explore inside this
island you will find green rainforests, spice trees, rare tropical flowers,
rivers, lakes and waterfalls.
There is a never ending range of scenic beauty which is offered on this island.
The capital, St. George’s is one of the most beautiful cities in the entire
Caribbean. Grenada tourism is the main source of revenue for the country, other
sources of revenue includes
agricultural production, other sources of revenue include education service and
exporting local goods. This small country is known for its cultivation of cocoa,
nutmeg, mace, cloves, ginger and cinnamon. Grenada covers a total land area of
about 433 square kilometers. The smaller island Carriacou, is hilly but not
mountainous.
Tourists to this island can buy a variety of authentic products including
jewelry, spices, locally-made jams, jellies, and syrups, leather crafts, straw
goods and printed fabrics. Many of Grenada’s duty-free shops have an excellent
selection of perfumes and cosmetics. Grenada tourism offers a rich history of
the nation and music plays
an important part of people’s life. Local festivals and markets are an intrinsic
part of the culture. People are friendly to the tourists and there are variety
of activities which the tourists can enjoy during their stay. Tourists can
experience crater lakes, and Mount St. Catherine reaching the height of 2,750
feet. Dwarf forests on the top of Mount St. Catherine descend to the rainforests
of relatively higher altitudes and further down to the dry forests of the
lowlands. Below you can find the stunning white sand beaches, crystal clear blue
water and coral reefs. There are about 320 hectares of wide expanse of forests
and innumerable sanctuaries of animals and birds like the Grand Etang Lake and
Forest Reserve, The Levera National Park is famous for Sea turtles, Lake Antoine
National Park for birds and La Sagesse estuary . This island also has very good
establishments which offer marriage/wedding and honeymoon packages. Many
hotels will make all of the necessary legal arrangements for you once you have
arrived. Please check all requirements on their official site, documents include
Passport, Birth Certificates, Proof of Single Status (or widowed proof) etc.
GRENADA TOURISM ACTIVITIES:
Golf:
A nine-hole course and tennis courts located near Grand Anse.
Hiking and Trekking:
Grenada has a large variety of ecosystems and terrains, giving some of the best
hiking, walking, and trekking opportunities in the Caribbean.
Beaches:
The most popular soft white sand beaches of Grenada are Calabash, Lance aux
Epines, Grand Anse, and Horseshoe which located in the south-west part of
Grenada. Area in the south of St. George has many island’s hotels and resorts.
Most of the beaches due to geography have irregular coastline and small inlets,
there are a plenty of private beaches too. Grenada imposes restrictions on the
height of these resorts to maintain the beauty.
Yachting:
Grenada’s surrounding waters offer some of the best sailing in the Caribbean,
including a yachting festival in February by the Grenada Yacht Club .
Water Sports
Parasailing, diving, cruising and much more.
Scuba-Diving:
There are a number of excellent snorkeling and dive locations including along
offshore reef on the west coast. The area south of Grand Anse beach is famous
for snorkeling.
Cultural Festivals:
The annual drum festival attracting tourists is celebrated in the village of
Tivoli. Three main celebrations held in July and August are The Grenada
Carnival, The Carriacou Regatta and The Rainbow City Festival, which exhibit
parades, competitions, trade fair, and many more. The festival of Play Mas also
allows you to interact with the local natives.
Weather:
Grenade is known for its excellent tropical weather with constantly flowing sea
breezes. Temperatures range averages from 75 to 87 degree Fahrenheit. June to
December is the rainy season with November being the rainiest, hurricanes can
also pass through Grenada during these seasons. January to May is the dry
season. Grenada tourism is designed to offer tourists the most value for the
money.
Tourist Visa
Canadian and American citizens do not require tourist visa to visit Grenada.
They need to carry a proof of citizenship and a return or onward journey ticket.
Visit grenadaconsulate.com for most up to date information.
Population: 110,000 (2005 estimates)
Languages: English
Ethnic groups: African descent (82%), some South Asians and Europeans,
trace Arawak/Caribbean Indian.
Religions: Roman Catholic, various Protestant denominations,
Rastafarianism, Islam.
Sir Paul McCartney live in Halifax, Headlines Nova Scotia’s 2009 Summer Events, Music Festivals and Concerts
Posted July 14, 2009 , add a comment) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (July 19, 2009). Sir Paul McCartney is coming to Halifax! The former Beatle will perform live in concert on July 11th, 2009 at the Halifax Common. Listed as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history by the Guinness World Records, McCartney’s performance is expected to be the largest concert in Halifax’s 260 year history.
Throughout the month of July, Halifax, Nova Scotia is hosting more Festivals and Events to continue the summer celebration of Nova Scotia Music, history and communities.
Some of the major attractions among the many summer festivals and events taking place in Nova Scotia in 2009 are:
- Virgin Music Festival, July 4th at 2pm. Canada’s hottest music festival is coming to Halifax for the first time. This day-long rockfest will take place on Citadel Hill during the first weekend in July. The 15-band lineup includes: The Tragically Hip, The Offspring, Metric, Dinosaur Jr., Handsome Furs, Hey Rosetta!, Plants and Animals, Arkells and In-Flight Safety.
- TD Canada Trust Jazz Festival, July 10-18th. Halifax Metro will be filled with music from over 450 outstanding local, national and international performers playing African rhythms to Celtic fusions, from classic jazz to big brass ensembles. Various kiosks and refreshment stands are located on site to provide information and delicious local cuisine.
- Tall Ships Nova Scotia 2009, July 16 ? August 1st. The Halifax waterfront comes alive with an international gathering of world-class Tall Ships®, a celebration of Nova Scotia’s rich culture and seafaring heritage. Many of Canada’s finest sailing vessels along with ships from around the world will gather in Halifax’s historic harbor. Take a tour of these majestic sailing vessels, enjoy local entertainment and discover fantastic Nova Scotia Cuisine . The highlight of this celebration is the traditional Parade of Sail taking place on Monday, July 20th.
- Kiss Concert, July 18th. The legendary rock band, Kiss is coming to Halifax. This will be their first performance in the Maritimes since 1977! The Halifax Common will come to life with their powerful stage show and hard rock style. The lineup for this show includes: Thornley, The Trews, Econoline Crush and The Novaks.
- Halifax Pride Week, July 19-26th. Atlantic Canada’s largest pride celebration includes sporting events, film festivals, dances and parties. The highlight will be the 22nd Annual Pride Parade taking place on July 25th. This year’s theme is ‘Breaking Down Wall; Building Bridges’, representing how Nova Scotia’s communities have come together to respect and celebrate diversity.
A complete list of Signature Festivals and Events including Paul McCartney’s concert can be found on Nova Scotia’s Official Tourism Website.
Rezidor to Enter Brazil with Hotel Missoni Ilha de Caja?ba
Posted , add a commentThe Rezidor Hotel Group has signed the fifth
Hotel Missoni in the world. The Hotel Missoni Ilha de Caja?ba,
Brazil, will feature 118 guest
rooms and suites and 32 villas. It is scheduled to open
in early 2012.
The first Hotel Missoni opened in
Edinburgh last month and further properties are scheduled to
open in Kuwait, Cape Town and Oman.
Hotel Missoni is developed in
co-operation with the iconic Italian fashion house
Missoni as a new and distinctively different kind of
lifestyle hotel.
“I’m delighted to add another unique Hotel Missoni to our
portfolio with the interior design once again being led by Rosita
Missoni herself,” said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor.
“At the same time I’m proud to enter a new country – Brazil is the
59th nation where Rezidor is present and the first country outside
our core region Europe, Middle East and Africa.”
Hotel Missoni Ilha de Caja?ba will be part of a
luxurious, eco-friendly resort development on the island of
Caja?ba, within the Bahia de Todos os Santos (All Saints’ Bay).
It
is located 40 km from the international airport and the city of
Salvador, which has been Brazil’s first capital city and is today
the capital city of Bahia – a beautiful tropical region also know
as “Heart of Brazil”.
Besides 118
rooms including 48 suites, Hotel Missoni will offer two
restaurants including the signature Missoni Cucina and a Bar
Missoni too.
Additionally, 32 luxurious Missoni villas with golf
and sea views will be operated by the hotel.
Leisure facilities
will include a private beach and swimming pool.
Guests will also
have access to the island’s other facilities which will comprise a
signature golf course, five other luxury hotels, a conference
centre, sports centre, a marina, spas, retail shops, water sports
and yacht club, and a heliport.
BCD Travel Selects Amadeus Agency Manager for EMEA
Posted , add a commentBCD Travel has selected Amadeus to deliver a
single mid-office platform for the Europe, Middle East and Africa
region.
BCD Travel, a travel management company, will
use the Amadeus Agency Manager platform to standardise processes
and technology, reduce costs and improve visibility of business
performance – actions aimed at simplifying and streamling its
clients’ travel programs.
Agency Manager is a global, multi-GDS
mid-office solution that allows TMCs to standardise services,
accounting and reporting functions across a diverse range of
markets.
“Amadeus Agency Manager offers the benefits of a
standard mid-office system across EMEA markets while retaining the
flexibility to handle the specific requirements of the many
countries we do business in,” said Heinz Jennewein, BCD Travel’s
senior vice president of Operations and ICT, EMEA. “Our clients
are increasingly looking for efficiencies and also adopting
multinational approaches to travel management. To support these
client goals, we’re making the investments required to drive
global consistency and business performance. We are positioning
ourselves to serve clients in today’s environment as well as in
the year to come as our industry continues to become more
complex.”
Under the agreement, Agency Manager will be
rolled out in Germany, Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden,
Norway and Finland, in addition to the seven EMEA markets where
BCD Travel already uses the solution.
“We have already seen a significant
improvement in agent productivity and customer service
levels in those markets that have already deployed
Agency Manager,” added Mr Jennewein.