CNN: Irresistible cities - World's 25 top tourism destinations

Still one of the world's most vibrant cities despite astronomical living costs, it's no surprise London is the world's second most visited destination.

So what's the first?

The emphatic answer, says market researcher Euromonitor International, is Hong Kong.

Attracting an impressive 27.77 million international tourists in the space of a year, the Asian city outstripped London's popularity to the tune of 10 million people.

The influx, chiefly accounted for by mainland Chinese visitors, kept Hong Kong at the forefront of Euromonitor's annual Top 100 City Destinations survey for the fifth year in succession.

London, which last crowned the list in 2009, pulled in a mere 17.38 million, just ahead of Singapore at 17.09 million.

Euromonitor's list is compiled from data from 57 "core" countries, using national statistics and info from airports, hotels and other tourism industry sources.

The company says the latest figures, from 2014, show geopolitical tensions and successful marketing campaigns swaying tourist decisions.

Fluctuating fortunes

But despite fluctuating fortunes for some key destinations, it says tourism remains an upward trend with all but a few cities improving on visitor numbers.

That said, Euromonitor warns of interesting times ahead for some of the main players.

Hong Kong

Once again, Hong Kong outstrips the competition, attracting 10 million visitors more than its nearest rival. The city welcomed 27.77 million international visitors in 2014. 

It says Hong Kong's reliance on Chinese tourists is a weakness as their increasing affluence takes them further afield -- a situation likely to be exacerbated by recent protests there against mainland Chinese travelers.

London

London is Europe's biggest draw for international tourist arrivals, welcoming 17.38 million in 2014.

London's expensive reputation and the fact that its airports are nearing capacity could also see it losing out to European rivals, Euromonitor says.

Singapore

With 17.09 million international visitors, Singapore was the third most visited city on the list.

As for Singapore, "limited natural attractions" and a reputation as a business rather than leisure destination could see it struggle to "remain relevant" against low-cost alternatives like Thailand.

Thailand

Political troubles have dented Bangkok's popularity. It received 16.25 million visitors, down 7 percent in the previous year, causing it to drop from third to fourth ranking.

Paris, France 

The City of Light held on to the No. 5 ranking, despite a 1.9 percent decline in visitor numbers to 14.98 million.

Macau

The casinos and theme parks that give Macau its nickname of the Las Vegas of the East have doubtless helped push it into the number six slot. The city drew in 14.97 million visitors.

Shenzhen, China 

In the 1980s it was just a small town in southern China. Today Shenzhen is an economic powerhouse that in 2014 welcomed 13.1 million international visitors. 

New York

North America's top draw was New York, with 12.23 million international tourist arrivals.

Istanbul, currently ranked ninth, is identified by Euromonitor as "one to watch."

It says the city could build on a year-on-year increase of 13.2 percent although the emergent threat of ISIS could prove challenging.

Istanbul, Turkey 

Better known globally than Antalya, Istanbul welcomed 11.87 million international visitors in 2014. 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Tenth-ranked Kuala Lumpur saw 11.63 million visitors, making it the sixth-ranked Asian city.

Antalya, Turkey 

Antalya, a Mediterranean resort town in southwest Turkey, saw 11.5 million international arrivals in 2014. Antalya is a magnet for Russian visitors. The ancient amphitheater of Aspendos is about an hour east of the city in Antalya province.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Dubai is the Middle East's leader in arrivals, and its popularity seems to be increasing in step with the city's rapid expansion. It attracted 11.39 million in 2014, up 8.9 percent from 2013.

Seoul, Korea 

Seoul welcomed 9.39 million international visitors in 2014. Perhaps the leap of 8.9% on the previous year was helped by pop star Psy's blockbuster homage to the city's swankiest neighborhood, " Gangnam Style."

Rome, Italy

Perennial European crowd-pleaser Rome ranked 14th, with 8.78 million international arrivals.

Taipei, Taiwan 

Taipei's National Palace Museum is one of the world's largest. The city itself pulled in 8.6 million visitors.

Guangzhou, China

At 16, the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou had 8.2 million international visitors.

Phuket, Thailand

Unlike Pattaya, Thai coastal paradise Phuket managed to increase its visitor numbers -- up 1 percent to 8.1 million. That didn't stop it slipping two places on the previous year's ranking though.

Miami 

Miami Beach boasts the world's largest number of Art Deco buildings. It's one of the attractions that helped lure 7.26 million international tourists.

Pattaya, Thailand 

The Thai beach resort town of Pattaya holds steady at number 19 on the chart, despite an 8 percent drop in visitor numbers to 6.43 million.

Shanghai, China

China's pulsating eastern hub keeps growing in size. As do its visitor numbers -- 6.4 million international tourists made the trip in 2014.

Prague, Cezch Republic 

Home to the largest castle in the world, Prague welcomed 6.35 million international visitors. 

Las Vegas

A pilgrimage center of a very different kind, Sin City attracted 6.13 million visitors.

Mecca,Saudi Arabia

Islamic pilgrimage center Mecca pulled in 6.12 million international visitor arrivals, an increase of 6.2 percent on the previous year.

Milan, Italy

Italian fashion capital Milan welcomed 6.05 million international arrivals in the same period.

Tokyo, Japan

Want to know where everyone else is going for their vacation? Euromonitor has crunched the numbers for the world's most popular destinations. Tokyo comes in at 25, with 5.99 million visitors as measured in 2014. Click on to find out which city is number one.

Source: CNN: Irresistible cities - World's 25 top tourism destinations

Children among 33 migrants dead after boat sinks off Turkey

Another day, another group of migrants lost in the Mediterranean Sea -- forever.

This time, at least 33 migrants died after their boat capsized in the Aegean Sea, Turkey's semiofficial news agency reported Saturday, citing Turkish authorities. Like so many other refugee-packed vessels in recent months, this one was heading to Greece, a major destination for those trying to escape war and poverty and get into Europe.

Some of those boats make it, but not this one.

At least five of those whose bodies were recovered off Ayvacik, a town on the Turkish coast, were children, according to the Anadolu report.

Authorities managed to save 75 people on the same boat, which contained people from Myanmar, Afghanistan and Syria.

That wasn't the only such recent rescue of migrants in the Mediterranean: The Italian Coast Guard reported it had saved 216 people stuck in two dinghies.

Those migrants killed off Ayvacik, Turkey, are on top of the 244 reported dead or missing in January by the International Organization for Migration.

"Deaths on this route are increasing at an alarming rate," IOM spokesman Joel Millman told reporters then.

The same group said then that more than 55,500 migrants managed successfully to cross the Mediterranean into Europe in the year's first 28 days. The influx -- with more than 1 million migrants coming into Europe last year -- has put policymakers on the spot, with some countries opening their doors while others come down hard to keep them out.

While some migrants debark from North Africa, a vast majority set off from points east like Turkey, which borders war-ravaged Syria.

The distance from there to Turkey to Greece, across the Aegean, isn't incredibly long, but it can be incredibly dangerous -- especially when so many people cram onto small, rickety boats that have no business at sea.

That's what happened earlier this week when 10 children were among 26 killed when their boat capsized, a sinking that authorities learned about only after a survivor somehow made it to Kokkari, on the north coast of Greece's Samos island, the IOM reported. That vessel had been full of Kurds from Iraq.

Millman, from that advocacy group, blamed the human smugglers whom desperate people resort to in order to escape dire straits in their homelands.

He said, "[These deaths are] happening because of increased ruthlessness of gangs involved in shipping migrants."

Source: Children among 33 migrants dead after boat sinks off Turkey

Russia claims ISIS is planning to kidnap tourists in Turkey and publicly execute them or use them as human shields in areas being targeted by Putin air strikes

Russian tourism authority claims its citizens travelling to Turkey are at risk

It was reported tourists could be kidnapped to be used as 'human shields'

They will then be taken into ISIS territory to be executed, the report claimed

Others could be 'used as human shields in the conflict with Russia'

For more of the latest ISIS news updates visit www.dailymail.co.uk/isis

By Will Stewart for MailOnline

Published: 05:45 EST, 28 January 2016 | Updated: 07:59 EST, 28 January 2016

54

View comments

Moscow secret services is warning that Russian tourists in Turkey are in danger of abductions and 'public executions' by jihadist group ISIS.

Travellers could also be used as 'human shields' after being smuggled into rebel-held regions of Syria, according to official sources.

The claim citing 'competent agencies' in Moscow comes from Russia's Federal Agency for Tourism.

The agency issued a warning to Russians visiting Turkey that ISIS is planning to capture tourists in the country then move them back into its territory to be used as human shields in airstrikes (pictured)

The chilling warning follows the shooting down of a Russian Su-24 bomber by the Turkish air force, which has sent relations between the two countries plummeting to an all-time low

'The leaders of the international terrorist organisation ISIS - banned in the Russian Federation - plan to take Russian citizens hostage in the Republic of Turkey,' says a statement.

'According to the available information, these hostages may be moved to territories controlled by rebels in order to organise public executions and use the hostages as 'human shields' during combat actions with the Syrian governmental and coalition armies.

'With this regard, we appeal to all individual tourists heading to Turkey and remind them of the necessity to take all possible measures and make sure in personal security.'

The chilling warning follows the shooting down of a Russian Su-24 bomber by the Turkish air force on the Syria-Turkey border in November.

Turkey has been Russia's leading holiday destination for years but Moscow has already banned organised tours to the country over the incident.

The stark warning appears to be aimed at tourists on individual trips and those travelling via third countries to reach Turkey.

No additional information was given on the warning nor was there a direct statement from the 'competent agencies', seen as a euphemism for the security services.

There is currently a deep crisis in relations between Mosc ow and Ankara.

Russia reintroduced entry visas for Turks and slapped sanctions on several Turkish products.

Russia has been conducting air strikes in Syria, its ally in the region since Soviet times, since September. Turkey meanwhile is part of a parallel US-led coalition targeting jihadists in the country.

RUSSIAN SPIES IDENTIFY MAN WHO PLANTED BOMB ON TOURIST JET

Russian secret services have identified the man who placed a bomb on a tourist jet flying from Sharm-el-Sheikh to St Petersburg, killing all 224 on board.

The man - so far not publicly named - is one of six who plotted the terrorist attack over Sinai, according to a report today by LifeNews website in Moscow.

A joint investigation with Egypt's law enforcement agencies found that the man placed the bomb in the luggage hold of the A321 Airbus.

Days earlier he had got a job as a luggage handler at Sharm-el-Sheikh's busy tourist airport, it is claimed.

It was British intelligence that originally told Russia the jet had been downed in a terrorist attack on 31 October last year.

Earlier it was thought the bomb was in the plane's passenger cabin.

The latest version suggests the explosive was placed loose in the aircraft's luggage section, not in a suitcase.

'As soon as he had placed the bomb on board of the place, the terrorist left his job and disappeared from the airport,' stated the LifeNews report.

'Very soon he left the territory of Egypt. LifeNews established that his last residence was in Turkey.

'The secret services are looking for his five accomplices too.'

All six suspects have been placed on the wanted list, according to the report.

The terrorist strike was the worst aviation disaster in Russian history.

The terrorist strike on the Russian metrojet in Egypt (pictured) was the worst aviation disaster in Russian history

Source: Russia claims ISIS is planning to kidnap tourists in Turkey and publicly execute them or use them as human shields in areas being targeted by Putin air strikes

Moscow warns of IS plans to abduct Russians in Turkey

Moscow (AFP) - Russia's federal tourism agency on Wednesday issued a warning that Islamic State jihadists were planning to abduct Russian citizens in Turkey.

Turkish authorities have blamed IS for a suicide bombing in the heart of Istanbul's tourist district earlier this month that killed 10 Germans, one of a string of deadly attacks said to be the work of the jihadist group.

"According to the competent agencies, leaders of the IS terrorist group plan to take hostages from among Russian citizens in Turkey," the Russian agency said in a statement.

"Hostages can be transferred on to territories controlled by militants to hold public executions and to be used as human shields in combat with Syrian government and coalition forces," it added.

"Therefore we draw the attention of all independent tourists departing for Turkey to the necessity of taking all possible measures to ensure personal security."

Turkey had been Russia's number one foreign tour ism destination for years but this came to an abrupt end following the shooting down of a Russian military plane by Turkish jets on the Syria-Turkey border in November.

The warning essentially targets all remaining Russian tourists in Turkey, as organised tours by travel agencies were banned by Moscow as part of a raft of retaliatory measures in the wake of the jet downing.

The incident sparked a crisis in relations between Moscow and Ankara, with the Kremlin accusing the Turkish leadership of essentially funding Islamic State jihadists.

Russia reintroduced entry visas for Turks and slapped sanctions on several Turkish products.

Russia has been conducting air strikes in Syria, its ally in the region since Soviet times, since September. Turkey meanwhile is part of a parallel US-led coalition targeting IS in the country.

The two countries have lately also clashed over the guest list for Syria peace talks set for later this week, with Moscow saying they wo uld be pointless without Syrian Kurdish group the Democratic Union Party, which Ankara considers is linked to Kurdish rebels inside Turkey.

US International News

Politics & Government

Turkey

Moscow

Source: Moscow warns of IS plans to abduct Russians in Turkey

Destination Imagination Global Finals Returning to Knoxville

⌂Home

Mail

Search

News

Sports

Finance

Celebrity

Weather

Answers

Flickr

Mobile

More⋁

Politics

Movies

Music

TV

Groups

Health

Style

Beauty

Food

Parenting

Makers

Tech

Shopping

Travel

Autos

Real Estate

Try Yahoo Finance on Firefox »

Skip to Navigation

Skip to Main content

Skip to Right rail

👤 Sign In

✉ Mail

⚙ Help

Account Info

Help

Suggestions

Source: Destination Imagination Global Finals Returning to Knoxville

Top Turkish resort Gloria joins forces with Azalea

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Details Category: Agency & Association Created on Monday, 25 January 2016 09:15 Gloria Hotels & Resorts in Belek, Turkey, has turned to international marcomms specialist the Azalea Group to promote its five-star golf and sports facilities in the UK and Europe.Azalea will be responsible for increasing awareness and visibility for the top Turkish venue in key markets in the UK and the continent including golf, sports and travel.Mutlu Sağsözlü, head of sales and marketing for Gloria Hotels & Resorts, said: "We have been aware of Azalea for some time. The company has a proven track record in European golf and sports travel tourism, and a reputation for delivering results across a wide variety of different sectors.

"We have been very impressed with their professionalism and range of innovative, new ideas and are excited at the ways they can help establish Gloria Hotels & Resorts as one of Europe's premier sports and leisure destinations in Europe."Situated 30 minutes from Antalya International Airport, Gloria Hotels and Resorts offers a wide range of accommodation with three luxurious and stylish five-star resorts on the beach: Gloria Golf Resort, Gloria Verde Resort and Gloria Serenity Resort.Featuring 45 holes, the luxury hotel group is the biggest golf complex in Turkey with its comprehensive golf facilities including two 18-hole championship layouts, a nine-hole course and outstanding academy and driving range.In addition, the Gloria Sports Arena – built over an area of 105,000m2 – offers state-of-the-art facilities for more than 50 indoor, outdoor and aquatic sports including football, athletics, tennis, rugby, hockey, swimming, diving and triathlon, while an on-site hotel offers 110 modern-designed rooms suitable for all athletes and their needs.Azalea account director, Daniel Chidley, said: "Belek has established itself as a leading destination for golfers in the UK, Europe and beyond over the last decade and we're delighted to have formed this new partnership with Gloria Hotels & Resorts."As well as golf, the region has so much to offer to sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities and we're looking forward to elevating the resort's profile to a wider audience in the UK and abroad." Now in its 10th year of trading, Azalea has established itself as one of Europe's leading specialist agencies, working with some of the continent's major national and regional tourist boards, flagship golf and lifestyle resorts, and leading brands.

Source: Top Turkish resort Gloria joins forces with Azalea

Turkey becomes world leader in energy and infrastructure mega projects

According to the OECD, by 2030 the global infrastructure gap is expected to total a staggering $70 trillion. This is a gap more closely resembling a gape, which is why infrastructure and energy are pressing issues on the table at this G20 Summit

Over the past decade, Turkey has unleashed a number of large-scale projects and this trend shows no sign of slowing down. Using the public-private partnership (PPP) model the country is building tunnels, bridges, airports and canals, while its energy companies are contributing to massive pipeline projects spanning Eurasia that will deliver Caspian and Middle Eastern oil and gas to European markets.The $10.2 billion Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA) is perhaps the finest example of these mega projects. "Our project is the biggest PPP project in Turkey and it will have a huge impact," says Nihat Özdemir, Chairman of Limak Holding, a member of the airport consortium.

"We are planning to conduct an economic impact study within the coming months to show this project in detail. As you know, there is a huge debate in London on whether to build an additional runway at one of their airports. Both Heathrow and Gatwick were lobbying to be chosen but they were both advocating increasing the capacity in order to remain connected, attractive and competitive in the global market. We are building the world's biggest airport for the same reasons.

Speaking on how this enormous project is being financed, Mr. Özdemir says, "IGA is a PPP project with a 25-year concession period. We are going to close financing in the fourth quarter of 2015. It is a long-term financial solution, which is mutually beneficial both for creditors and our consortium. A total of EUR 4.5 billion out of EUR 6 billion will be provided by a group of private and state banks."

"Istanbul New Airport has many standout features," he continues. "To name a few of them: it is going to have the world's largest terminal complex, which is more than 1.3 million meters squared, under one roof serving 90 million people per year. In the initial phase we are going to have one terminal and three runways but when all phases are completed, it will be handling more than 150 million passengers with its three terminals and six runways. It will be serving more than 150 airlines and more than 350 destinations. It is expandable up to 200 million people per year. Currently more than 7,500 people are working for this project. It will generate 100,000 direct and 1.5 million indirect jobs."

But why does Turkey need to build the world's biggest airport? Mr. Özdemir replies, "The Turkish aviation industry has experienced double-digit growth rate since 2002. On the other hand, Istanbul is a popular destination for O&D (origin and destination) passengers as well. The recent MasterCard 2014 Global Destination Cities Index ranks Istanbul as the third most popular European destination for international travelers, behind London and Paris."

Turkish firms are not only helping to address the infrastructure gap in Turkey itself, but also across the globe. Builder of the Eurasia Tunnel project, Yapi Merkezi Construction has been active in the Middle East and North Africa, and is now looking towards sub-Saharan Africa. "Africa needs a lot of infrastructure and this provides an opportunity for us to grow. Some of the major African cities also now need metros and tramways. We see a lot of potential there," says Chairman Başar Arıoğlu.

"Regional countries need a politically and economically stable Turkey to enable their energy resources to reach the global market. Lots of countries should support Turkey in this goal"

Besim Şişman, CEO of Turkish Petroleum

Turkey also intends build a regional energy bridge and will take steps to guarantee stability in energy security.

Mithat Cansız, CEO of Turkish Petroleum International Company, says the country is geo-strategically situated in a very favorable position between the energy hungry west and the energy-surplus east, but he envisions a greater role for Turkey than mere transit.

"The Ukraine-Russia crisis and ISIS issue in Iraq have obviously increased the strategic importance of Turkey. In this context, as an alternative to Ukraine, Turkey can play a much more crucial role in transiting Russian oil and gas to Europe," he comments.

Agreements Turkey has with the Iraqi central government and regional authorities have also helped facilitate the flow of crude oil from northern Iraq to the international market. A further agreement is in place for the transportation of 3-6 trillion cubic meters of natural gas from its energy-rich neighbour.

"Consequently, I am not satisfied with the role which has been cast for Turkey as just a transit country; I want it to be cast as an important international energy hub," says Mr. Cansız. "Existing and planned oil and gas pipelines like BTC (Baku, Tbilisi, Ceyhan), BTE (Baku, Tbilisi, Erzincan), Blue Stream, TANAP (Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline), Kirkuk-Ceyhan, North Iraq-Ceyhan, and the Iran-Turkey gas pipeline reinforce this."

Besim Şişman, CEO of Turkish Petroleum, says Turkey adds the element of stability to the global energy picture. "Even in its most troubled times, Turkey's message to the world has been that peace is important. We can build not only an energy bridge, but also a cultural bridge. The G20 countries need to acknowledge that Turkey is the one economy that can connect the east and west, and to support us in this goal."

Source: Turkey becomes world leader in energy and infrastructure mega projects

Kearney's Turkey Creek on its way to becoming a rapid-riding destination

The Kearney Whitewater Association has received $25,000 to turn Turkey Creek into a rapid-riding destination.

Thanks to Central Platte natural Resource District funding the creek will turn into a summertime kayaking hotspot.

"Our goal is to develop white water features like they have in Colorado and other towns, their an attraction for the town and creates a lot of recreation for the community," Bruce Karnatz said.

Right now, people go to Yanney Park like Becky and her dog Stella.

"I've seen a lot of people out here doing it and I think it would be really, really fun," Becky Wallin said.

Bruce and Brad from the KWA have done a great deal of cleaning up the canal the funding will allow them to uproot trees.

"In a few years we'll have the canal cleaned up to the point where it will be real safe environment for families to come out and kayak and also be an attraction for people from outside the city of Kearney and outside of the state of Nebraska to come here recreate and spend some of their dollars in our town," Brad Eifert said.

The KWA will add new kayak launch sites by11th street and another by Central Avenue's.

Source: Kearney's Turkey Creek on its way to becoming a rapid-riding destination

Attacks dent tourism in popular holiday destinations

Dubai: Some of the world's most popular holiday destinations are facing falling tourist arrivals and tourism revenues after being hit by a wave of attacks in recent months.

"Popular tourist destinations are very likely to be deeply affected by recurrent attacks occurring on their soil. Terrorism inspire fear of new attacks, making changes in travel behaviour," said Kinda Chebib, senior research analyst at consultancy Euromonitor International, by email.

Paris suffered a fall in tourist numbers in November after gunmen carried out simultaneous attacks near a football stadium and on restaurants and a concert hall.

Restaurants and hotels saw business drop by 44 per cent and 57 per cent respectively in the week after the attacks, according to a survey by Synhorcat, the Paris hotel and restaurant operators' union.

"France is expected to see some decline in tourism following the attacks of 2015 at least for the short to medium term," Chebib said.

< p>"French hotels' frequency rates already dropped by 12 per cent in 2015 compared to the previous year's rates. Restaurants have also seen a drop in their revenues by 5-7 per cent in 2015 compared to previous years," she said.

The attacks followed the assault at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January last year that left 17 people dead.

Tourism accounts for 7 per cent of France's gross domestic product (GDP). Hotel arrivals in Paris reached 22.4 million in 2014, according to the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

Karan Anand, head of relationships at travel company Cox & Kings, said by email that travellers "rescheduled [flights to Paris] to a later date" following the attacks in the city in November.

Istanbul

Turkey's tourism industry has also taken a hit. Following a bomb attack in the capital Ankara in October, a suicide bomber on Tuesday killed 10 people and left 15 wounded in Istanbul's tourist district S ultanahmet, near major tourist attractions including the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Most of those killed were German tourists, who make up the largest share of holidaymakers in Turkey.

Further threatening the industry, a car-bomb attack on Thursday by Kurdish militants on a police station and housing for officers killed and wounded scores of people in southeastern Turkey. Turkey had already lost Russian tourists due to the weakening of the rouble and a spat with Russia, another big supplier of visitors.

Chebib said that the estimated loss in Turkey's tourism income for 2015 reaches $10 billion.

John Podaras, partner at consultancy Hotel Development Resources, said the attacks are "bound to have longer term implications for the Turkish tourism industry."

Turkey's tourism profits fell by 4.4 per cent to $12.29 billion in the third quarter of 2015, Chebib said. In 2014, Turkey attracted 42 million visitors and generated $35 billion in tourism revenues .

"The new attacks, coupled with the domestic political instability and proximity to Syria, have a detrimental impact on tourism flow towards the country," Chebib said.

Anand said that Cox and Kings " will take precautions and guide tourists to alternate destinations" following the attacks in Turkey and France.

For Etihad Airways, "it's too early to assess any impact on Etihad Airways' flights bookings following the recent attacks in Paris and Istanbul," a spokesperson for the Abu Dhabi airline told Gulf News by email.

Sharm Al Shaikh

Outside Europe, Egypt's tourism industry is suffering too.

A Russian plane was downed in Sinai last October killing all 224 people on board.

Britain and Russia, who have both said that the plane was brought down by a bomb, had suspended some flights to Sharm Al Shaikh, where the plane took off from.

Egypt's tourism minister Hisham Zaazou said last month that direct revenue losses from tourism since the plane crash range from $280 million to $300 million.

Meanwhile last Thursday, multiple blasts and gunfire rocked the Indonesian capital Jakarta. The blasts took place on Thamrin street, a major business and shopping area.

The attacks are expected to hurt Indonesia's tourism industry, which is performing strongly. Last year, the country attracted 9.5 million visitors. Indonesia, well known for idyllic island Bali, aims to double tourist arrivals to 20 million visitors by 2019.

A similar incident happened in Jakarta in 2009, when the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott hotels were bombed.

Source: Attacks dent tourism in popular holiday destinations

Greece demands that migrants declare final EU destination

Migrants and refugees arriving in Greece must state their final destination to travel further into the European Union, a Greek police source told Reuters on Thursday, following moves by neighbouring states to quell migrant flows.

Serbia on Wednesday said it would deny migrants access to its territory unless they planned to seek asylum in Austria or Germany.

"As of today, the final destination - as stated by the migrants - will be registered in the official documents," the official said without disclosing the reason for the decision.

It was not clear whether the refugees would be banned from travelling further depending on their final destination. But most migrants were expected to state Austria or Germany, refugee agency officials said.

Greece, a main gateway to Europe for migrants crossing the Aegean sea, has faced criticism from other EU governments who say it has done little to manage the flow of hundreds of thousands of people arriving from Turkey on its shores.

Austria wants to cap the number of people it allowed to claim asylum this year at less than half last year's figure, it said on Wendesday. It has said it would bar all migrants intending to pass through its northern neighbour Germany to other western European countries.

Share this story:

Share on Facebook

Google Plus

Linkedin

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Business Today 21st January 2016 Kenya Power plans to venture into data services Jubilee Coalition leaders urge the Pokot community to endorse the Jubilee Alliance Party EACC detectives raid Murang'a County Governor Mwangi wa Iria's home Governor Kidero's decision to appoint Dr. Robert Ayisi as County Secretary lauded by Luhya leaders Education CS Fred Matiang'i launches the Form One selection process CDF General Samson Mwathethe addresses the nation over El Adde Attack
Source: Greece demands that migrants declare final EU destination

EBRD supports Turkey’s largest steelmaker in best use of resources

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 20

Trend:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is promoting greater efficiency in Turkey's steel industry with 75 million euros loan to the steelmakers Erdemir and Isdemir, both part of Erdemir Group, the largest steel producer in the country.

The loan will finance a comprehensive investment program that will help the companies make the most effective use of resources in manufacturing processes at their two plants in Eregli on the Black Sea coast and İskenderun on the eastern Mediterranean coast. Steel production is known for its high energy intensity. However, sophisticated high-tech equipment can lead to significant reductions in energy use.

The companies will invest in blast-furnace top-pressure recovery turbines, a state-of-the-art technology which uses high-pressure gases collected at blast furnaces to generate electricity.

The steelmakers Erdemir and Isdemir strive to adopt best practices to fully reuse gases and waste heat from the steel-manufacturing processes. They also plan to upgrade energy management systems and extract valuable by-products from industrial waste.

Erdemir Group is already one of the most efficient steelmakers in the region and the EBRD-financed energy efficiency investment program will further decrease its energy purchase needs. Erdemir Group is one of the largest industrial groups in Turkey and accounts for more than 1.5 per cent of the country's electricity consumption.

Jean-Patrick Marquet, EBRD Director, Turkey, said: "Erdemir Group leads the Turkish steel market, generating a quarter of the market's volume. Leading by example, it has the ability to start an energy efficiency revolution and transform the steel industry in Turkey. The steel sector requires greater efficiency and low-carbon industrial processes to enhance its global competitiveness and become more environmentally friendly. The EBRD is currently working with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to devise a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Turkey, and we are particularly pleased to have Erdemir Group supporting our efforts to develop energy efficiency policies for the sector."

Bulent Beyduz, Erdemir Group CFO, added: "Our fundamental principle is to ensure high quality production in an efficient, safe, environmentally sensitive and resource-smart manner. With the EBRD financing we are advancing even further on our journey towards greater sustainability and a lower environmental footprint."

Founded in 1960, Erdemir Group has a liquid steel production capacity of 9.1 million tons per year. Its Eregli steelworks focus on flat steel production (hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, hot-dip galvanized coil, hot-rolled plate and tinplate) while the İskenderun plant produces both flat (hot-rolled coil) and long steel (billet, rebar and wire rod).

The group accounts for approximately a quarter of Turkey's crude steel production and is committed to reducing its environmental impact, supporting smart design and longer life for its products while also recycling manufacturing waste.

Supporting companies such as Erdemir to adopt the best resource-efficient technologies is part of the EBRD's Green Economy Transition approach, which aims to increase the level of EBRD financing for sustainable resources to some €18 billion over the next five years across some three dozen countries.

In Turkey, the Bank has been active since 2009 and currently operates from offices in Istanbul, Ankara and Gaziantep. To date, it has invested over 7 billion euros in the country through 180 projects in infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, industry and finance. About half of these projects promote sustainable use of energy and resources.

Turkey was the top destination for EBRD financing in 2015, with 1.9 billion euros invested that year alone.

Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency

Source: EBRD supports Turkey's largest steelmaker in best use of resources

Crystal Cruises Temporarily Cancels Stops in Turkey Over Security Concerns

Crystal has a responsibility to its passengers, but it and other companies also need to be leaders who know the right time to return.

— Jason Clampet

Crystal Cruises announced Friday that it was cancelling stops in Turkey for two upcoming voyages.

The company said in a statement that it was cancelling visits to Istanbul and Kusadasi, Turkey, which had been planned stops for one of its ships, Crystal Symphony.

The cruise line said it was rerouting the ship "in response to ongoing security concerns."

A suicide bombing in Istanbul killed 10 tourists Tuesday.

The itineraries for Crystal voyages that set sail April 24 and May 1 will include destinations in Greece instead of Turkey.

Turkish ports of call scheduled for April and November aboard Crystal's new luxury yacht, Crystal Esprit, will also be changed, the cruise line said.

In September, another cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, announced that it would replace all overnights to Istanbul in 2016 with additional ports of call.

Royal Caribbean International says it is "closely monitoring" the situation in Turkey but has not modified any upcoming sailings to Istanbul.

Holland America Line does not have ships in Turkey at this time, but the Prisendam ship is scheduled to stop in Turkey April 1. A spokesman said that a decision about whether itineraries would need to be adjusted would be made closer to the date.

Source: Crystal Cruises Temporarily Cancels Stops in Turkey Over Security Concerns

9 more Indiana turkey farms infected with bird flu

HUNTINGBURG, Ind. - Turkeys tested positive for bird flu at nine more Indiana farms near the location where authorities first confirmed a strain different from the one that ravaged the U.S. poultry industry last summer, Indiana authorities said on Saturday.

Farmers began euthanizing turkeys at the new farms even before final results of whether the birds were infected with the H7N8 strain, said Denise Derrer, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Final results are expected soon from a government laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

The nine farms are located in Dubois County, about 70 miles from Louisville, Kentucky. All of the new infections are within a quarantine area set up around the first farm and that area has been expanded to four neighbouring Indiana counties — Martin, Orange, Crawford and Daviess.

Confirmation of new bird flu cases alarmed industry officials after the rapid spread of the H5N2 virus last year led to the deaths of about 48 million turkeys and chickens, and drove egg prices higher.

"We are very concerned and trying to figure out strategies to contain it," Derrer said of the outbreak.

She said officials are trying to determine how many birds will have to be euthanized at the nine farms. The state animal health board website said one of the farms had 12,000 turkeys and another 23,500. It did not give figures for the other seven. All 60,000 turkeys at the first farm have been euthanized.

It isn't clear whether the mild winter weather played a role in the current outbreak of the virus, state and federal officials said. The H7N8 virus has not yet been found in wild birds, suggesting that the virus could have developed in wild birds that spent the winter in southern Indiana, USDA spokeswoman Andrea McNally said Friday.

Research has shown that wild birds' northern migration introduced the H5N2 virus, which began to accelerate from farm to farm last spring.

While the H7N8 strain is highly contagious for birds, the USDA said no human infections from the viral strain have been detected.

Indiana's poultry industry brings in $2.5 billion a year, Derrer said, adding that the state leads the country in duck production, is No. 3 in egg production and fourth in turkeys. Dubois County is Indiana's top poultry producer with 1.4 million turkeys, she said.

The Indiana farm where the strain was first found is associated with Farbest Farms, a company that produces about 15 million turkeys a year and has contract growers in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Derrer declined to say if the new infections also were on farms linked to the company.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence met Saturday with state and local officials at an incident command centre set up since the outbreak. Pence emphasized in a statement that the poultry industry is vital to Indiana and authorities are "bringing all necessary resources to deal with this situation."

___

Associated Press writers Rick Callahan in Indianapolis, David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, and Erica Hunzinger in Chicago contributed to this report.

Source: 9 more Indiana turkey farms infected with bird flu

Istanbul bombings: Suicide bomber Nabil Fadli registered as a refugee a week before attack

It has been revealed that the suicide bomber behind the Istanbul bombing had left his fingerprints at an immigration centre on 5 January. Nabil Fadli, 28, who had no previous criminal record had entered Turkey from Syria and registered as a refugee, according to Turkish media reports.

"This individual was not somebody under surveillance. He entered Turkey normally, as a refugee, as someone looking for shelter," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference on 13 January. "After the attack his connections were unveiled. Among these links, apart from Daesh, we have the suspicion that there could be certain powers using Daesh."

"This individual was not somebody under surveillance. He entered Turkey normally, as a refugee, as someone looking for shelter."

- Ahmet Davutoglu, Prime Minister, Turkey

So far only one person has been arrested in direct relation to the Istanbul bombings that resulted in the deaths of 10 German tourists and 15 others reported injured in the attack at the heart of Istanbul's historic district. Amongst the dead were mostly elderly people who were touring the city as part of a three-city tour run by Lebenslust (Lust for Life).

Turkey has welcomed nearly 2.2m refugees from Syria in its efforts to help Syrian people escaping the civil war. However, the country is often in the news due to its border being used by Islamic State (Isis) militants to cross over into Syria. The country is also a member of the US-led coalition in the war against (Dash). "It seems to make it less likely this was anything but a centrally commanded operation by the Islamic State," said Firas Abi-Ali, an analyst with the security consultancy IHS Country Risk, reported Yahoo News.

Meanwhile, the German interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere has said that there is "no reason" for Germans to change their travel plans to Turkey since, "it was an attack against humanity." However, German tour companies have offered their clients the choice to change their destination of travel with no added fee should they fear traveling to Turkey, reported The Telegraph.

Source: Istanbul bombings: Suicide bomber Nabil Fadli registered as a refugee a week before attack

Italy blocks $3 bln-worth EU-Turkey migrant deal

January 15, 2016 - 12:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Italy is blocking a European Union plan to provide Turkey with 3 billion euros in aid in exchange for a commitment to stem the flow of migrants into Europe, two European officials said on Thursday, January 14, Reuters reports.

The move marks a further escalation in Italy's combative position on EU issues. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi blasted German Chancellor Angela Merkel at an EU summit in December over EU policies on energy, banking and migration.

Since then, Italy has reiterated its opposition to the funding of the EU plan to stem migrants coming to Europe from the Middle East and Asia through Turkey, officials said. The plan is strongly backed by Germany, which is the final destination of most.

"There is only one member state that still has objections against the funding for Turkey. We do not understand why Italy is blocking it," a European diplomat said.

Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble is expected to raise the issue at Friday's meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels, a diplomat said.

The draft plan foresees that one third of the 3 billion euros should come from the EU budget and the remaining 2 billion from EU states.

Talks are continuing on how the national funding would be treated under EU deficit rules. Italy is currently in talks with the EU Commission on whether it can be granted more fiscal leeway in its 2016 budget.

Source: Italy blocks $3 bln-worth EU-Turkey migrant deal

Turkey detains 4 more in Istanbul blast probe

Joerg Manthei, a spokesman for Berlin-based travel agent Lebenslust Touristik, said all 10 of the Germans who were killed had booked their trip through its agency, as well as seven of the injured. Turkey was in 2014 the world's sixth most attractive destination, with a record of 42 million visitors.

"This individual was not somebody under surveillance".

Last year, Turkey agreed to take a more active role in the U.S.-led battle against the IS group.

Turkey has been accused of supporting IS and other rebel groups who are fighting against its main foe, Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"This person was not someone who was being monitored", Davutoglu said.

"All of the recent attacks took place when Turkey increased attempts to stop the flow of IS fighters", said assistant professor Kilic Bugra Kanat of Penn State University, Erie. Some IS fighters of Russian origin are believed to have left IS to settle in Turkey, families say. "Right now unfortunately there is such a barrier", Davutoglu said.

In the meantime, the Turkish police has arrested three Russians in connection with the attack. "Your pain is our pain" Vatan newspaper said.

Foreign tourists and Turks paid their respects at the site early on Wednesday.

There is no indication that Tuesday's suicide attack in Istanbul specifically targeted Germans, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Wednesday, adding there was no need for nationals to cancel travel plans. De Maiziere said those talks will also address "the determined fight against terrorism".

"If the terrorists aimed to disturb, destroy or jeopardize cooperation between partners, they achieved the opposite". Information released by regional authorities shows that the victims came from across Germany and included two couples.

Ala said nine other Germans were wounded in the blast, two of them still in a serious condition in hospital, along with one Norwegian and one Peruvian.

Backdropped by the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the Blue... Outbound figures started to decline after the European Union imposed sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine in 2015, impacting on the Russian flow towards Turkey - 4.5 million Russian tourists visited Turkey annually until 2015. "We know there are some mad people out there", he said.

Ten Germans were killed in the bombing, a spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said, raising the death toll among Germans from 9 previously. The police seized a number of digital documents during a search of the house where the three were staying, the agency reported.

One person was detained late on Tuesday as part of the investigation into the blast, Ala said, but gave no details.

In Ankara, the authorities detained 16 people who were suspected of planning a major attack in the capital, the report said. That could draw Ankara even more deeply into the regional conflict, and risk an all-out confrontation with IS, whose operatives have infiltrated Turkey in unknown numbers.

Source: Turkey detains 4 more in Istanbul blast probe

As Turkey reaches out to Israel, Jewish groups move to embrace rival Greece

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Less than a month after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled a readiness to mend ties with Israel after years of antipathy, a delegation of American Jewish leaders has embarked on a mission to embrace Turkey's longtime rival Greece.

Members of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations are in the midst of a weeklong trip that will take them to Israel, Greece and Cyprus, the disputed Mediterranean island that has been a source of Greek-Turkish contention for decades. The trip, which includes leaders of the Greek-American community, will meet with political and religious leaders in all three countries.

Malcolm Hoenlein, the Presidents Conference's executive vice chairman, said the trip was planned six months ago — well before Erdogan told a Turkish newspaper on December 13 that he hoped to reestablish ties with Israel, which have deteriorated badly over the past decade. Within days of the interview, reports said Israel and Turkey had already struck a preliminary agreement to normalize relations.

A news release announcing the trip indicated it would address the "strategic relationship" between Israel and the two Mediterranean nations and include visits to military facilities. But Hoenlein dismissed suggestions that the choice of destination for the conference's annual mission indicated a rebuff of Turkey.

"Having relations with one country does not diminish anyone else," Hoenlein told JTA. "We want Israel to have as many relationships as possible."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras in Jerusalem on November 25, 2015. (Haim Zach/GPO)

Israel and Turkey shared a close alliance in the 1990s, when trade, tourism and military cooperation increased. But relations began to cool with Erdogan's rise to power in 2002, and broke dramatically after Israel's deadly 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish-flagged ship aiming to break Israel's Gaza blockade, in which 10 Turks, including an American citizen, were killed. In 2011, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador.

At the same time, ties between Israel and Greece were warming. The two countries carried out joint military exercises and launched efforts to boost cooperation in various areas. But it was the discovery of natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean Sea that gave major impetus to the relationship.

In November, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of Greece and Prime Minister Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, and Netanyahu is scheduled to meet both leaders again in Cyprus later this month to advance agreement on a natural gas deal.

Meanwhile, shared concern over Erdogan's rise has led to more frequent official outings to Greece by American Jewish groups, which have begun to pivot away from decades of defending Turkey's interests in Washington. Last year, several Jewish groups backed off their longstanding reluctance to call the World War I-era massacre of Armenians a genocide, a position they had adopted largely to avoid offending Turkey.

In 2013, a congressional caucus was launched to further cooperation among Israel, Greece and Cypress.

"There already has been a lot of local work between organizations," said Daniel Mariaschin, the executive vice president of B'nai B'rith, referring to the new closeness with American Greeks.

The inclusion of Cyprus in the tour itinerary is sure to be noticed in Turkey, which has occupied the northern third of the island since 1974, an action condemned by multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. The Jewish delegation will not be visiting northern Cyprus, which declared itself independent of the Cypriot republic in 1983, a declaration recognized only by Turkey.

"The strategic relationship between Greece, Cyprus and Israel has evolved, helping to lend stability to the region with broader implications," the Presidents Conference said in a statement. "The delegation of American Hellenic and American Jewish community leaders plans to explore the major policy issues and concerns as well as ways to foster ties between the people of the three countries. They will also visit military installations to study the security challenges in the area."

Whether the embrace of Greece and Cyprus will complicate Turkey's overtures to Israel has yet to be seen. Developments in Syria, which have empowered enemies of both Turkey (the PYD Kurdish militia) and Israel (Hezbollah), have created a convergence of interests between the countries. The Obama administration has also pushed hard for a reconciliation, preferring that its two closest military allies in the Middle East get along. And Israel's security establishment misses its close cooperation with the region's other major military.

"Turkish-Greek ties have come a long way," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "But once ties between Israel and Turkey are normalized, eventually Greece's utility as an ally to Israel will be overshadowed by Turkey's economic and military might."

Hoenlein said it was too early to determine whether Turkey's pivot would be long lasting.

"It's a mercurial situation," he said.

Jason Isaacson, the American Jewish Committee's director of policy, said Erdogan should still be viewed with caution — not only because of his past hostility to Israel, but because of rhetoric blaming Turkey's woes on outside interests that has veered close to anti-Semitism.

"Given the proclivities of the president of Turkey, given actions and statements regarding Israel as well as regarding the connection he has alleged between the Jewish people and unrelated political issues in Turkey, [restoring ties with Turkey] cannot substitute for the relationship Israel enjoys with Cyprus and Greece," Isaacson said.

Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

Source: As Turkey reaches out to Israel, Jewish groups move to embrace rival Greece

Deadly Explosion In Turkey

By Heidi Alagha | halagha@krbc.tv

Published 01/12 2016 05:00AM

Updated 01/12 2016 05:00AM

Copyright 2016 Cable News Network/Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Germany's Foreign Office issued a travel advisory, following the blast. Turkey is a popular destination for German tourists. The blast comes at a time Turkey is dealing with multiple threats to its security.

ISIS and the Kurdish group the PKK have been mentioned in recent outbreaks of violence.

In October, two explosions hit a lunchtime peace rally in Ankara, which called for an end to the renewed conflict between the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and Turkish government. Ninety-nine people were killed and more than 240 were injured.

ISIS is active in neighboring Iraq.

The Turkish government allows the United States to launch strikes on ISIS positions from Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey. "The Islamic State has been unhappy with Turkey's cooperation with the United States," said Fadi Hakura, associate fellow at Chatham House. Kurdish forces have been battling ISIS across a swath of northern Iraq and Syria.

Copyright 2016 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: Deadly Explosion In Turkey

'A city spruces up' - Dublin hits New York Times top destination list for 2016

Published 10/01/2016 | 21:02

Dublin has made the New York Times' '52 Places To Go in 2016' list.

The Irish capital hits the list of top destinations alongside cultural hotspots Mexico City and Malta, paradise islands St Helena and Coral Bay, St John and foodie wonderlands including Thessaloniki, Greece and Cesme, Turkey.

"It's a big world out there, so we've narrowed it down for you," the article reads.

Dublin is given the tagline: "A city spruces up to celebrate a centenary".

Travel and culture journalist Ratha Tep writes that the capital is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising with a "series of ribbon cuttings this spring".

She lists a selection of events taking place including an exhibition at Richmond Barracks and the refurbishments of parts of Kilmainham Jail and the National Gallery of Ireland.

"Dublin commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule with a series of ribbon cuttings this spring," she writes. 

"Richmond Barracks, where the Rising leaders were court-martialed, will open an exhibition center.

"Nearby Kilmainham Gaol, the dramatic-looking prison where most of the leaders were executed, will unveil its restored Regency-style courthouse.

"The National Concert Hall will turn three rooms, site of the historic Treaty Debates, into a 130-seat performance space. And later in the year, the National Gallery of Ireland is expected to reveal the most extensive refurbishment in its 150-plus-year history, with the opening of a new atrium and upgrades to two wings," she added.

Bound to appeal to the history and culture enthusiast...

Online Editors

Source: 'A city spruces up' - Dublin hits New York Times top destination list for 2016

Best cruise destinations in 2016: The most desirable destinations by ship

Whether you've taken 20 cruises or planning your first, there is incredible variety of places you can visit by ship.

Best cruise destinations in 2016: The most desirable destinations by ship

A boat market visits a cruise ship in the Solomon Islands. Photo: Rodger Klein

Castle and river Dordogne, France. Photo: Laurie Noble

Scenic Diamond on the Danube River in Budapest.

exit

Whether you've taken 20 cruises or if you  are planning your first, you'll be amazed at the incredible variety of places you can visit by ship. Over the past few years, as our appetite for cruising has grown, ocean and river cruise lines have been busy exploring every corner of the globe to find ever more appealing ports of call to tempt us on board.

Expedition lines, by their very nature and the size of their vessels, are at the forefront of discovering new, remote and less-travelled destinations. And while mainstream cruise lines are nudging into some of these territories there will always be places unsuited to megaships carrying thousands of passengers.

By the same token, voyages to regions that were once the preserve of hardy pioneers are now accessible to many more of us – today we can cruise (in considerable comfort) to destinations such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Arctic and Alaska, to name just a few.

River cruising is another huge growth area. As millions of travellers have discovered, sailing Europe's historic waterways takes you to the heart of the continent's many and varied cities, towns and villages.

In the search for more rivers to cross, cruise lines are launching ships on Portugal's Douro, France's Garonne and Gironde in the Bordeaux region, south-east Asia's Mekong and Myanmar's Irrawaddy and Chindwin. America's Mississippi, Snake and Columbia rivers are also attracting the attention of keen cruisers – and then there's the Peruvian Amazon and India's Ganges and Brahmaputra to explore. As we sail into another big year on the world's oceans and rivers, here's our pick of 2016's most desirable destinations.

BORDEAUX, FRANCE 

WHY HERE Viking and Uniworld started cruising the Garonne, Gironde and Dordogne rivers in 2014; Scenic joined them in 2015 and this year APT's AmaDolce sets sail from Bordeaux for the first time.

PERFECT FOR Francophiles, wine-lovers and gourmet travellers.

SEE AND DO Enjoy visits to world-renowned wine regions such as St Emilion, Sauternes, Medoc and Cognac, drink in picturesque vineyard views (as well as plenty of wine), sample oysters at Arcachon and visit fairytale chateaux and castles.

WHO  APT's 148-passenger MS AmaDolce (aptouring.com.au); Scenic's 169-passenger Scenic Diamond (www.scenic.com.au); Uniworld's 130-passenger River Royale (www.uniworld.com); Viking's 190-passenger Viking Forseti (www.vikingrivercruises.com.au)

LOIRE RIVER, FRANCE 

WHY HERE Last year French line CroisiEurope launched the first ship to cruise the Loire, France's longest river. Loire Princesse's paddle-wheeler design allows it to navigate shallow waters.

PERFECT FOR Francophiles looking for another French river to cruise.

SEE AND DO Loire Princesse sails five- and seven-night itineraries round-trip from Nantes, a port city that's home to the 15th-century castle of the dukes of Brittany. Highlights include the Muscadet Wine Route and the famous Loire castles.

WHO CroisiEurope's 96-passenger Loire Princesse (www.cruiseabroad.com.au) 

RIVER PO, ITALY 

WHY HERE Big ships aren't popular in La Serenissima​; they've been banned, then the ban reversed, so a small-scale river ship is a good option for exploring the historic canal city in intimate detail.

PERFECT FOR Experienced travellers who love good food, wine, art and architecture.

SEE AND DO Uniworld's 10-day Milan to Venice land/cruise trip with the 130-passenger River Countess includes eight days in Venice, with excursions to nearby cities and villages; CroisiEurope runs five-day round-trip cruises on the 158-passenger Michelangelo. Both ships visit the islands of Burano and Mazzorbo and the atmospheric fishing village of Chioggia.

WHO Uniworld (www.uniworld.com); CroisiEurope (www.cruiseabroad.com.au)

DOURO RIVER, PORTUGAL 

WHY HERE In April, Scenic will be the latest line to set sail on the Douro, joining relatively recent arrivals APT, Viking and Uniworld.

PERFECT FOR Wine enthusiasts and travellers looking for a peaceful cruise on one river rather than visiting several countries in one trip.

SEE AND DO Sailing between Porto and Barca d'Alva on the Spanish border, cruises cover four UNESCO World Heritage sites, including medieval Porto and the spectacular Douro Valley. Highlights include wine-tastings at picturesque quintas.

WHO APT's 106-passenger AmaVida (www.aptouring.com.au); Scenic's 96-passenger Scenic Azure (www.scenic.com.au); Viking River Cruises' 106-passenger Viking Osfrid, Torgil and Hemming (www.vikingrivercruises.com.au); Uniworld's 118-passenger Queen Isabel (www.uniworld.com) 

ICELAND

WHY HERE Since 2000, the number of cruise passengers visiting Iceland has risen by 11.5 per cent a year and the Arctic countries of Iceland, Greenland and Norway's Svalbard archipelago continue to attract ever more eager travellers.

PERFECT FOR Seasoned cruisers and wildlife lovers with a sense of adventure.

SEE AND DO In summer, it's the Land of the Midnight Sun when the capital, Reykjavik, is the jumping-off point for tours to the wild volcanic interior, majestic waterfalls and bubbling geysers. In winter, you can see the aurora borealis, polar bears and go dog-sledding.

WHO Viking Cruises' 930-passenger Viking Star (www.vikingcruises.com.au); Holland America Line's Koningsdam, Zuiderdam, Prinsendam, Rotterdam (www.hollandamerica.com); Princess Cruises' Pacific Princess, Caribbean Princess (www.princess.com).

BRITISH ISLES 

WHY HERE Increasing numbers of cruises from Southampton, Dover or Tilbury transport passengers around the coasts and (often remote) islands of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

PERFECT FOR History buffs and fans of traditional British-style cruising.

SEE AND DO From cities such as London, Edinburgh and Dublin to Midsomer Murders-type villages and countryside that ranges from soft green fields to rugged mountains and moors, there's plenty to discover.

WHO APT's 118-passenger MS Hebridean Sky (aptouring.com.au); P&O Cruises' Oriana, Aurora and Britannia (www.pocruises.com); Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines' 800- to 1300-passenger Black Watch, Boudicca, Braemar and Balmoral (www.fredolsencruises.com)

SOUTH AMERICA 

WHY HERE This vast, colourful continent offers a myriad of cruising choices – from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso around Cape Horn is just one option. A full circumnavigation is another; Princess Cruises' Sea Princess departs Sydney in January 2017 for an epic 84-night voyage. Or you could take in Cuba, Ecuador and the Galapagos islands in one 24-night adventure with Cruiseco's Silversea charter.

PERFECT FOR Experienced ocean cruisers with a sense of adventure.

SEE AND DO As well as staying in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, the major drawcard of a round-the-horn cruise is the extraordinary Chilean fiords; penguin-spotting in Punta Arenas and calls to the world's southernmost port, Ushuaia, are also right up there.

WHO Princess Cruises (www.princess.com); Cruiseco (www.cruising.com.au)

AMAZON RIVER, PERU 

WHY HERE Aqua Expeditions started cruising the Amazon in 2007 with Aqua Amazon. To meet demand it has added a second ship, Aria Amazon. Lindblad Expeditions and APT charter the 28-passenger Delfin II.

PERFECT FOR Physically fit nature and wildlife enthusiasts.

SEE AND DO Spot three-toed sloths, monkeys and toucans in the rainforest; meet riberenos (river dwellers); paddle a canoe or board a skiff on remote waterways alongside pink river dolphins and piranhas.

WHO Aqua Expeditions' 24-passenger Aqua Amazon, 32-passenger Aria Amazon (www.aquaexpeditions.com); APT (www.aptouring.com.au); Lindblad Expeditions (www.au.expeditions.com)

CUBA

WHY HERE As Cuba slowly opens its doors to foreign visitors, now is the time to go – before mass tourism takes over. MSC Cruises' MSC Opera is the first global brand to home-port in Havana and MSC Armonia will join it in November.

PERFECT FOR Travellers who would like to experience Cuba more or less unchanged since the 1950s revolution.

SEE AND DO The Caribbean island republic has nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, a multicultural population and a strong musical culture. Ports of call can include Maria La Gorda, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and the Canarreos Archipelago.

WHO MSC Cruises (www.msccruises.com.au); Fathom's "voluntourist" 720-passenger Adonia (www.fathom.org); Star Clippers' 170-passenger tall ship Star Flyer (www.starclippers.com/au)

MISSISSIPPI RIVER, US

WHY HERE When Viking Cruises boss Torstein Hagen decides to build ships to cruise the Mississippi, you know it's a happening place. The American Queen Steamboat Company's American Queen and American Cruise Lines' Queen of the Mississippi and American Eagle currently sail there.

PERFECT FOR Older-gen cruisers who enjoy American history and riverboat nostalgia.

SEE AND DO Most itineraries run between St Louis and St Paul (Upper Mississippi) and between New Orleans and Memphis (Lower Mississippi). Read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn before you go.

WHO American Cruise Lines (www.americancruiselines.com); American Queen Steamboat Company (www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com); book through Cruiseco (www.cruising.com.au)

SNAKE AND COLUMBIA RIVERS, US

WHY HERE Increasing numbers of travellers are discovering the Snake and Columbia rivers in the Pacific Northwest – for the dramatic scenery and traditional paddle-wheeler river boats.

PERFECT FOR Avid river cruisers who are looking for alternatives to European waterways and want to follow the epic journey made by Lewis and Clark 200 years ago.

SEE AND DO Between Portland, Oregon and Clarkston, Washington you'll sail through the 128-kilometre Columbia River Gorge, past 25 waterfalls and visit Hells Canyon – the deepest canyon in North America.

WHO American Cruise Lines' 150-passenger American Pride and 120-passenger Queen of the West (americancruiselines.com); American Queen Steamboat Company's 223-passenger American Empress (www.americanqueensteamboatcompany.com); book through Cruiseco (www.cruising.com.au)

SINGAPORE

WHY HERE "Singapore is the hub for growth in south-east Asia," according to Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia and chairman of CLIA south-east Asia. More ships are home-porting in Singapore this year.

PERFECT FOR Anyone looking for a holiday that includes city life, beaches, shopping and a delicious range of south-east Asian cuisine.

SEE AND DO Short cruises out of Singapore visit Malayasia and Thailand; longer itineraries include China and Vietnam. Make time to stay in dynamic Singapore pre- or post-cruise – cool ethnic neighbourhoods jostle with high-rises, art galleries and fabulous parks.

WHO P&O Cruises (pocruises.com.au); Princess Cruises' 2670-passenger Sapphire Princess (www.princess.com); Royal Caribbean's 3114-passenger Mariner of the Seas (www.royalcaribbean.com.au)  

GANGES RIVER, INDIA 

WHY HERE Uniworld's Ganges Voyager II is the newest, most luxe vessel to set sail on India's sacred waterway, following in the wake of APT's Ganges Voyager (2015) and TravelMarvel's Rajmahal (2014).

PERFECT FOR Culturally curious travellers who won't be fazed by being the centre of attention in small villages.

SEE AND DO These companies mostly combine land tours and river cruises in India's "golden triangle". The former British colonial city of Kolkata is on all itineraries – intense, fascinating and sometimes confronting. Riverside attractions include Hindu temples, Muslim shrines, village bazaars – and thousands of years of history.

WHO APT (www.aptouring.com.au); Uniworld (www.uniworld.com); Travelmarvel (www.travelmarvel.com.au)

BANGLADESH

WHY HERE Silversea Expeditions will be the first line to call at Bangladesh. In February 2017, Silver Discoverer will visit three Bangladeshi ports over four days during a 16-day sailing from Sri Lanka to India.

PERFECT FOR Adventurous travellers looking for destinations unspoiled by mass tourism; bird-watchers, wildlife-lovers.

SEE AND DO Explore the lake country surrounding Chittagong, including the Rampahar-Sitapahar Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaptai Lake; visit Maheshkhali Island on Zodiacs; see the World Heritage-listed Sundarbans​, the world's largest mangrove forests that are home to Royal Bengal tigers.

WHO Silversea Expeditions' 120-passenger Silver Discoverer (www.silversea.com)

IRRAWADDY RIVER, MYANMAR 

WHY HERE Pandaw pioneered modern river cruising in Myanmar and as the country emerges from years of seclusion, more companies are starting to cruise the Irrawaddy.

PERFECT FOR Flexible-minded travellers (itineraries may change because of river conditions) who are sensitive to Myanmar being a developing, Buddhist country.

SEE AND DO Cruises between the former Burmese capitals of Mandalay and Bagan offer an insight into the country's spiritual, cultural and colonial heritage; longer itineraries include Yangon's impressive golden Shwedagon Pagoda and much more.

WHO APT's 60-passenger RV Samatha (aptouring.com.au); Avalon Waterways' 36-passenger Avalon Myanmar (www.avalonwaterways.com.au); Cruiseco's 56-passenger Cruiseco Explorer (www.cruising.com.au); Pandaw (www.pandaw.com)

CHOBE RIVER, BOTSWANA 

WHY HERE Botswana's Chobe National Park boasts one of the largest concentrations of game in the world and the 28-passenger Zambezi Queen provides the perfect viewing platform.

PERFECT FOR Wildlife enthusiasts who are looking for a short, leisurely river safari.

SEE AND DO The Zambezi Queen cruises around a 25-kilometre stretch of the river, where you're likely to spot antelopes, elephants, hippos and a wealth of birdlife at the water's edge.

WHO African Travel Gateway (www.africantravel.com); APT (www.aptouring.com.au)

JAPAN

WHY HERE Princess Cruises' 2016 Japan itineraries focus on cultural festivals and Diamond Princess will be home-porting in Tokyo (Yokohama) and Kobe from April to September, sailing four- to 20-night cruises. New this year are circumnavigations of Japan and two calls to the island of Kyushu.

PERFECT FOR Seasoned cruisers who want to discover more about east Asia, particularly Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

SEE AND DO The ports of super-sophisticated Tokyo and scenic Kobe are the starting points for cruises that explore Japan's exotic mix of ancient traditions, historic sites, modern cities and breathtaking seascapes and countryside. Japan's distinctive cuisine is another major attraction.

WHO Princess Cruises (www.princess.com).

OMAN

WHY HERE One of the key destinations on Arabian Peninsula cruises, Oman's low-key development and historic sites stand out beside the glittering cities of its UAE neighbours.

PERFECT FOR Cruisers looking for a taste of traditional Arabic life.

SEE AND DO Muscat, the capital, is one of the world's most picturesque ports. Wander through the old quarter, shop in the souk and visit the vast Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. From Khasab, local dhows take you to the wonderful Musandam fiords, the "Norway of the east".

WHO MSC Cruises' 2550-passenger MSC Musica (www.msccruises.com.au); Azamara's 686-passenger Quest and Journey (www.azamaraclubcruises.com); Royal Caribbean's 1830-passenger Splendour of the Seas (www.royalcaribbean.com.au) 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 

WHY HERE Expedition vessels have visited PNG for years; now P&O Cruises' and Princess Cruises' Australia-based ships are offering cruises to our culturally diverse neighbour.

PERFECT FOR Cruisers who have done the Pacific Islands and would like to venture further afield without having to fly halfway around the world.

SEE AND DO Alotau, capital of PNG's Milne Bay Province, is the gateway to some of the world's most remote communities. Tribal ceremonies are performed at the Alotau festival and there are tours to World War II sites. Kiriwina​, in the unspoiled Trobriand islands, is another regular port of call.

WHO P&O Cruises (www.pocruises.com.au); Princess Cruises (www.princess.com); Coral Expeditions' 72-passenger Coral Discoverer (www.coralexpeditions.com)

SOLOMON ISLANDS 

WHY HERE Included on some Papua New Guinea itineraries, the Solomons are renowned for pristine dive sites, dreamy lagoons and tribal culture.

PERFECT FOR Cruisers looking for off-the-beaten-track destinations not too far from home.

SEE AND DO Honiara is the island nation's capital and has some important World War II sites; a tour to Kakabona cultural village offers a valuable insight into traditional island life. Gizo is renowned for its coral reefs, snorkelling and diving; a few expedition cruises visit uninhabited islands for wreck dives.

WHO P&O Cruises' 1500-passenger Pacific Eden (pocruises.com.au); Princess Cruises' Sea, Sun and Dawn Princess (www.princess.com); Ponant's 264-passenger L'Austral (www.ponant.com)

FIVE CLASSIC CRUISE DESTINATIONS  PACIFIC ISLANDS

Since 2010 the number of Australians cruising the beautiful Pacific islands (Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji) has more than doubled. Ships now depart from every state and it's never been easier to jump on board a bargain-priced cruise.

MEDITERRANEAN

Whether it's Croatia, the Greek Islands and Turkey in the eastern Med, Spain, France and Italy to the west or North Africa to the south, the Mediterranean never goes out of travel fashion.

ANTARCTICA

Cruises to the icy southern wilderness are often booked out months in advance, whether they're on hard-core expedition ships or boutique luxury vessels (suitably ice-strengthened of course). Don't delay if this is on your bucket list. 

RHINE RIVER

The most popular European river cruise itinerary takes you from Amsterdam to Basel (or vice versa), through historic towns and villages in the Netherlands, Germany and France. The 65-kilometre Rhine Gorge itself is a not-to-be-missed UNESCO World Heritage site.

DANUBE RIVER

It's not blue but it's a well-travelled waterway for many reasons – the fabled cities of Vienna and Budapest being just two of them. The river flows through 10 countries and highlights of a Danube cruise include the historic Austrian towns of Melk and Durnstein and Bratislava, capital of Slovakia.

FIVE SHIPS THAT  ARE A DESTINATION  OVATION OF THE SEAS 

Royal Caribbean's newest Quantum-class ship is heading Down Under in December. Its 4180 passengers will be kept busy skydiving, riding bumper cars and cruising between 18 restaurants and taking in sky-high views from the North Star viewing capsule. See www.royalcaribbean.com.au

CARNIVAL VISTA  

Billed as "the future of fun", this 3954-passenger ship will boast several first at sea features when it launches in May, including the Sky Ride, an aerial cycling track suspended 30 metres above sea level. Beer lovers can enjoy a ship-brewed ale in the RedFrog Pub. See www.carnival.com.au

NORWEGIAN ESCAPE 

NCL's latest ship, Norwegian Escape, is packed with enough adventurous attractions and top-quality shows to entertain its 4200 passengers for days on end. And if you want an escape within the Escape, book into the Haven, which has its own suites, restaurant and pool. See www.norwegiancruiseline.com.au

HARMONY OF THE SEAS 

Launching in May, Royal Caribbean's Harmony will become the world's biggest cruise ship. It will take more than seven days at sea to explore its seven "neighbourhoods", race down the 10-storey Ultimate Abyss waterslide and check out dozens of family-friendly shows and activities. See www.royalcaribbean.com.au

CELEBRITY REFLECTION 

The fifth Celebrity Cruises ship to boast a real-grass lawn deck, the 3046-passenger Reflection offers more grown-up activities than high-tech playgrounds. Boules and picnics on the lawn, classes in the Art Studio and imaginative dining at Qsine are among the ship's many highlights. See www.celebritycruises.com.au

The story Best cruise destinations in 2016: The most desirable destinations by ship first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: Best cruise destinations in 2016: The most desirable destinations by ship

Friendsafari aims to include Turkey & Cyprus in its portfolio from March

Friendsafari (a unit of Friends' Project Pvt. Ltd.), a tour operating company based out of Noida, Delhi-NCR, is planning to promote the attractive tourist destinations of Turkey and Cyprus among the Indian travellers from March 2016 onwards, revealed Sanjiv Dixit, Managing Director, Friendsafari.

"I recently travelled to both the destinations and believe that they could be of great interest for the honeymoon couples in India. Post the Russia-Turkey crisis gets settled, we look forward to promote the two destinations from March 2016 onwards," he added.

Dixit has been promoting the Buddhist Tourist Circuit combining Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Sarnath, Sankisa, and Sravasti in Uttar Pradesh and Bodh Gaya in Bihar from April 2015 onwards. Dixit further said that he aims to attract more tourists from South East Asian nations such as China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.

From April to November this year, Friendsafari has recorded double digit grow th compared to 2014, and the inbound business has been scaling up, informed Dixit.

Source: Friendsafari aims to include Turkey & Cyprus in its portfolio from March

Turkey refuses reports about eliminating visa regime with Azerbaijan

8 January 2016, 17:00 (GMT+04:00)

By Nigar Orujova

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Ankara does not plan to introduce a visa regime with Azerbaijan.

Turkish media earlier reported about introduction of visa regime between Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as other 88 countries. Reportedly, the country will introduce a visa regime with 89 countries from June 2016 at the request of the European Union.

The Foreign Ministry told Trend that it does not expect any change in the entry mode of Azerbaijani citizens' to Turkey.

"Currently, no changes in the visa regime with Azerbaijan expected," the Turkish embassy in Baku told local media.

"Our countries do not consider changing the visa regime now. Azerbaijani citizens arriving in Turkey as tourists can stay in the country without a visa for 30 days," the embassy said.

Turkey is one of the most favorite destinations for Azerbaijanis, for both business issues and tourism. Today, Azerbaijanis prefer a tighter integration with Turkey, said a survey on Azerbaijan's foreign policy and security held by the Atlas Research Center.

Azerbaijan-Turkey relations have always been strong due to a common culture and history and the mutual intelligibility of Turkish and Azerbaijani languages.

Turkey was the first country in the world to recognize Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 and has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity, and realize its economic potential that arise from the rich natural resources of the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijani citizens can travel without visas to 61 countries, according to the passportindex website. Azerbaijan has also signed the visa facilitation agreement with the European Union and some countries that are not in the Schengen area.

__

Nigar Orujova is AzerNews' staff journalist. Follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

Follow us on Twitter: @AzerNewsAz

Source: Turkey refuses reports about eliminating visa regime with Azerbaijan

Turkey says ready to help calm Saudi Arabia-Iran tensions

(Mohammadreza Nadimi/ISNA via AP, File).

Iran's official state broadcaster IRIB said the diplomats have arrived in Tehran, showing pictures of their plane after it landed at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport.

Jahan Destinations, the general sales agent for Mahan Air said there were no direct flights anymore from Iran to Saudi Arabia but pilgrim or other passengers could take connecting flights with carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.

Christie and Rubio Go Head-to-Head in Legendary Battle of the BoneheadsIts wordy closing argument: "One high-tax, Common Core, liberal-energy-loving, Obamacare-Medicaid-expanding president is enough". While President Obama has earned the nickname "No Drama Obama " for his methodical and calculated style, New Jersey Gov.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jafari (not pictured) in Tehran, Iran, January 6, 2016.

"The plans and objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran with its great civilization and power in the region will not be affected by childish decisions of some novices in a certain government", he stressed.

Russian Federation also has offered itself as a potential mediator, though it's unclear whether Saudi or Iranian officials have responded to the proposal.

North Korea's nuclear claim could raise threat of warJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe slammed the test as "a serious threat to the safety of our nation". The new tests may be proof of DPRK's advancement in nuclear technology.

In Syria, Iran is supporting the government of President Bashar al-Assad against rebel groups, some backed by Saudi Arabia. "We are expecting a rise in crude oil inventories, which should put further downward pressure on prices", ANZ said. "The process of provoking tension must be stopped".

Following al-Nimr's execution, predominantly-Shia Iranian protesters have torched two diplomatic buildings belonging to Saudi Arabia in Tehran and Mashad, to protest the execution on Saturday.

While embassies are often a focus of protests worldwide, Iran still celebrates the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran every year and refers to it as the Second Revolution.

Saudi Arabia projects $87B deficit amid low oil pricesThe ministry said oil income made up just 73 per cent of total revenues in 2015, way below its contribution in previous years. The ministry expects to generate roughly $137 billion next year, a 15 percent decrease from the $162 billion earned in 2015.

Late Sunday, Saudi Arabia announced it was severing relations with Iran because of the assaults.

Several Saudi allies have rallied the kingdom's side, with a number of nations following its lead in either cutting or reducing diplomatic ties with Iran. "Whatever the reason, such attacks are unacceptable", he said.

Iran is on the threshold of getting back 100 billion dollars-frozen during the nuclear stand-off with world powers.

Before his arrest in July 2012, al-Nimr led mass protests against Saudi authorities in the country's eastern Qatif province. Davutoglu said Turkey strongly condemned attacks against embassies. "About my brother, we were hoping to end it in a political way rather than in blood".

Source: Turkey says ready to help calm Saudi Arabia-Iran tensions