The Sydney Opera House has released a special musical tribute to mark 50 years of bravery, creativity and wonder at the world’s most celebrated cultural landmark. Play It Safe was written and composed by Australian singer Tim Minchin as an ironic salute to the bold, visionary experiment that became the Opera House. The song is a musical homage to a building that tested the limits of engineering and design, forever changing the face of Sydney. Transformed into a stunning music video, with the support of Tourism Australia, it tells a story about the importance of defying conventions and embracing risk. And it’s the perfect curtain-raiser to this historic moment as Sydney Opera House marks five decades of wonder and possibility. View Play it Safe via this link

Sri Lanka’s leading destination management company, Aitken Spence Travels, counting a remarkable legacy spanning over four and a half decades, has made a strategic alliance with Red Tree Representation to augment its service offerings and broaden its footprint in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Aitken Spence Travels specializes in delivering exceptional travel experiences that are deeply rooted in culture and establish emotional connections with travellers. Leveraging its profound regional expertise and unwavering commitment to innovation, the company excels in curating the finest and most authentic journeys for its valued guests. Speaking about this significant partnership, Suranga Ratnayake, Chief Operating Officer, remarked, “Our enduring success has been built upon the solid foundations of the partnerships we have nurtured and valued throughout our extensive operational journey. We are confident that this collaboration will further enhance our service excellence and expand our network of partners in the UK and Ireland.” Red Tree Representation, founded by Rob Haynes, a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the long-haul travel industry, stands as a dynamic sales and marketing company devoted to achieving exceptional, long-term outcomes for its partners. Haynes added “I am delighted to have been appointed to support the excellent team at […]

The prefecture of Shizuoka has welcomed a set of new ecotourism experiences focused on supporting the local communities and small independent producers of green tea, wasabi and soya beans. Matcha calligraphy to reduce food waste The newly launched MatchaSho® experience is perfect for travellers keen to challenge their inner calligrapher. This is a unique activity seamlessly blending the serene art of zen Japanese calligraphy with the essence of beloved matcha green tea, while also contributing to the reduction of food waste by using tea leaves that would otherwise be unavoidably discarded during manufacturing processes. The session is taught by its creator calligrapher Ms. Shoran, who teaches participants how to write their name in Japanese Kanji characters using a powdered green tea solution instead of ink. While painting, the green tea ‘ink’ is of a vivid green colour and turns brown as time passes. Once the task is completed, participants are treated to a refreshing matcha ice-cream and gifted a calligraphy kit to take back home. Passing on the 270 plus year old wasabi cultivation process The four-hour Wasabi fields and Tofu-making workshop has recently launched and offers participants the opportunity to delve into the rich culinary heritage of two of […]

As Silavadee Pool Spa Resort, Thailand celebrates its significant 15-year milestone, this renowned luxury retreat on Samui Island proudly presents its innovative strategy, ‘The New Chapters of Luxury – S.E.A’. Boasting 15 years of unmatched success, the resort begins a visionary journey, seeking to redefine luxury’s essence and elevate its global stature. The ‘S.E.A.’ strategy is adeptly shaped to encompass three core pillars: ‘S’ for Sustainability, ‘E’ for Experience, and ‘A’ for Activity. This strategy is carefully tailored to meet the changing desires of modern travelers and serves as a rejuvenating response to Samui tourism’s renewed vigor. Honoring its 15-year legacy, the resort has amplified its offerings, introducing a host of exclusive experiences available until the end of 2023. A noteworthy addition to these offerings is Sustainable Cocktails. With a steadfast dedication to environmental stewardship, the resort unveils a cocktail menu that seamlessly merges sensory pleasure with sustainability. Situated with breathtaking views of the Gulf of Thailand and surrounded by lush tropical landscapes, Silavadee Pool Spa Resort remains a favored sanctuary for those chasing tranquil luxury. This commendable sustainable cocktail initiative further strengthens its reputation, especially following its triumph at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2023 as Thailand’s Best Luxury Beach […]

Cape St Albans is a collection of five new luxurious off-grid CABNs set in 400 acres of private land on Kangaroo Island overlooking a pristine coastline at Antechamber Bay. Cape St Albans lighthouse, which guided vessels safely through Backstairs Passage, now acts as sentinel over guests as they experience the island’s greatest hidden treasures. The five cabins are visible to each other but carefully positioned for privacy. Here, sustainability and luxury are in perfect balance with each meticulously crafted cabin entirely off-grid, providing a committed way to experience Kangaroo Island’s magic. Features include full-sized bathrooms with rain shower heads, locally sourced breakfast provisions, a private deck with covered BBQ area and skylights for bedtime star gazing. Favourite St Albans activities include clifftop hikes, exploring the Kona shipwreck, fishing off the private beach, wildlife watching, and bird watching including the nesting endangered white-bellied sea eagles. CABN has also curated a range of self-guided nature and wellness experiences for guests, along with suggested itineraries and a partnership with Kool Tours for an Aboriginal experience, which can be found here. Kangaroo Island is a 30-minute flight from Adelaide Airport. Alternatively, drive 1.5 hours from Adelaide to Cape Jervis and catch the 45-minute vehicle […]

Whether your client is wanting to dine with a conscience at Queensland’s best sustainable restaurants, or visit somewhere like Lady Elliot Island, a world leading, 100% sustainable ecotourism destination, Queensland the place to be. Our Sunshine State is one of the world’s most naturally diverse and incredible places on Earth, and sustainability is at the core of who we are. So, look no further! See why Queensland is leading the charge in Australia when it comes to eco-certified destinations. https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/eco-experiences/queensland-eco-certified-destinations

Traveling is a journey of both destinations and connections. At Diethelm, we know that sometimes, the most memorable part of our travels is brought about by the people we meet along the way. This month, we feature stories of the unique and vibrant communities we work with, and share ways in which guests can take part in their visions. Read on to discover the hidden gems and fascinating stories that make each destination so special. Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, Malaysia Sarawak’s indigenous communities have a long history of using natural resources for their daily needs, such as food, medicine, and wellness. The Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC)’s mission is to preserve this traditional knowledge, and use technology to enhance and develop their products to provide a more stable source of livelihood for the community. Our Litsara Traditional Wisdom Tour excursion allows guests to visit the Ethnobotanical Garden at the SBC to see the plants harvested by the indigenous communities, learn how they are used in locals’ daily lives, and ultimately witness a unique intersection between cultural preservation and sustainable agriculture. The tour ends with a traditional steam spa ‘native style’, infused with wild herbs and spices of Borneo, so guests can experience […]

An inspiring ceremony to honour Asia’s most innovative sustainability initiatives The first ever EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards Ceremony was held on 28 September 2023.The goal of the awards was to identify, support and promote exemplary projects that seek to innovate sustainability in Asia.More than 20 nominees, from the non-profit sector and private tourism companies, were on the ballot competing for prizes totaling over $40,000 USD in value. A panel of internationally recognised sustainable tourism professionals was enlisted to evaluate each nominee and vote according to its merits. The judges then announced the winners across five categories and a six ‘People’s Choice Award’ was granted based on a month-long public vote. The ceremony was hosted by Alexandra Michat, EXO’s Chief Purpose Officer. She explained, ‘Through the organisation of these awards, we are aiming to enhance collaboration among responsible tourism stakeholders in our destinations and to ensure that people and nature will continue to be preserved, protected and cared for.‘ EXO Foundation was joined by two co-sponsors in arranging and supporting this event: LightBlue Consulting and Considerate Group. LightBlue specialises in food waste prevention and sustainability, offering solutions for businesses seeking zero-waste strategies. Considerate Group provides consultancy solutions for hoteliers, using data […]

At Entrada Travel Group, we pride ourselves on being the ultimate scuba diving and snorkelling day tour specialists to the stunning Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. With over 35 years of experience, Tusa Reef Tours provides a truly unforgettable, educational, and 5-star experience for our guests, snorkellers and divers alike. Our vessel is licenced to carry 100 passengers but we limit the trip to just 40 guests looked after by 10 crew, which is the lowest staff/guest ratio of any reef operator. We are committed to achieving industry best practice through carbon offsetting, low impact dive practices, waste reduction, locally sourced and ethically produced food, and guest education. We are an Advanced Eco Certified business as well as Climate Action certified. Every trip on Tusa is carbon neutral – any carbon we produce is offset through one of Reforest’s local indigenous tree-planting projects. Agents will love this product. There is only one simple all-inclusive price for guests over 12 years of age meaning you earn commission on everything: hotel pickup, all food and beverage….even the Reforest carbon offset. https://tusareeftours.com.au/ info@tusareeftours.com.au tel: +610740479100

This week, Vivu Journeys conducted their first out of three Childsafe training as part of our commitment to have all Vivu Journeys’ staff trained on Childsafe by the end of 2023. Our teams across our global destinations engaged actively in the training to ensure our customers are re-assured that all children and youth will be protected when journeying with us. Childsafe is an organisation working to protect children and youth from all forms of abuse, to prevent children and youth from engaging in dangerous behaviours and to influence all tiers of society and the international community so they can create positive environments for children and youth. Working with Childsafe, Vivu Journeys commits to work towards implementing Good Practice Guidelines in three core areas: (1) Prevention and response to child abuse, (2) Products and services have a positive impact on children and (3) Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives reinforce and support child welfare.

Australia is a fantastic destination to visit with the whole family. Learn about destinations to visit, including urban and regional family experiences by joining Tourism Australia’s Aussie Specialist Program. You will gain access to the ‘Family Travel’ course as well as to a selection of itinerary suggestions aimed at families. You will be able to create itineraries full of contrasts and highlights, recommend experiences to your clients that will engage both children and adults and plan Australian travel that guarantees life-long memories for all. Register today and become an Aussie Specialist. Try the family training course here. Image credit: Tourism Australia

Tourism Shizuoka Japan has produced a new video collection focused on specific tours offering an immersive journey through the prefecture’s stunning landscape, culture and heritage. The videos are available on the YouTube channel Explore Shizuoka here. The collection consists of eleven one-minute videos highlighting various tours such as walking tours, cooking experiences, authentic Japanese countryside life experiences at farmers’ homes and much more. It is perfect for agents wanting to share a small preview with their clients of the breadth of experiences Shizuoka has to offer. Additionally, the video release also includes a longer three-minute clip for an overview of all the tour videos and the region. The tour videos have been designed not only to provide a visual of the experiences but, to make it easier for those interested in booking with detailed written descriptions and links to the tours’ dedicated microsites for additional details and contact information for enquiries and bookings. The range of tours have been selected to highlight different aspects of the region, conveniently located one hour by bullet train from Tokyo, including: • Scenic landscapes and outdoor adventures with tours including ‘A Wonderful View of the West Coast of Izu Peninsula’, ‘Hike Hakone Hachiri’, ‘Jogasaki […]