BY Sarmind SafiNov 24, 2023

The Department of Tourism in the North launched its second travel expo on Saturday in a bid to ensure a spur in the tourism industry in the northern provinces. Cordillera Administrative Region and the DOT Regional Offices I, II, and III kickstarted the 2nd North Luzon Travel Expo (NLTE) at the Grand Sierra Pines Hotel, North Outlook Drive in Bagiuo City. It is scheduled to be held from the NOV 25 to 27, 2023. The first of the NLT fairs was launched at SMX Convention Center Clark, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. The DOT-CAR is lining up the activities with the Tourism and Travel Fair being the main feature. This event will take place at the CAP Convention Center at Camp John Hay, Baguio City. The other activities include a music show featuring local artists of the four regions. The art in the park at Reflection Pool of Wright Park, Baguio City, Business to business networking activity at La Fayette Hotel, Baguio City. There will be product presentations at the CAP Convention Center as well as a familiarization tour or the North Luzon Inter-regional Circuit which will be a post-tour. The key destinations in Baguio City and Benguet in the Cordillera and Naguillan, San Fernando City, Bauang, San Juan and Luna in La Union in Region 1 will be visited. On November 26, a "Hibla ng Lahing Pilipino Fashion Parade will be staged at the Manor Garden, Camp John Hay. This will showcase regal fabrics from North Luzon to recognize the weavers of indigenous Filipino textiles." The DOT Cordillera chief Jovy Ganongan says the activities are aimed "to create a synergy to develop a robust tourism value chain by converging existing and new domestic tourism products, destinations, and services of the North Luzon regions to the local and international markets. She also said this is also to further strengthen the relationship of the North Luzon regions with their tourism stakeholders." Read Also: The Italian Train Group FS Will Launch A New “Night Train Like Hotel”: Rome To Dolomites Traveling Christmas Tree For The Western Lawn Of U.S. Capitol Venice Reveals 2024 Dates For Tourist Entry Fees: Report

BY Sarmind SafiDec 27, 2023

The holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's are all about happiness, family, and celebration. This entails engaging in festive customs and spending time with loved ones for the majority of people. However, these holidays have a whole new significance for cosmonauts and astronauts in space. Vacations in space were uncommon in the early years of space exploration. The first Christmas spent in space by astronauts was during the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders read passages from the Bible's Book of Genesis while in orbit around the moon, broadcasting the scenes to an estimated billion viewers worldwide. Vacations in space increased in frequency and length as missions went on. Astronauts Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue observed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's in space during the 1973–1974 Skylab 4 mission. They watched a comet pass by, made a homemade Christmas tree out of food containers, and had a festive dinner that included fruitcake. For cosmonauts, the New Year's holiday was particularly important. Yuri V. Romanenko and Georgi M. Grechko were the first people to celebrate the new year while in orbit on the Salyut-6 space station in 1977 and 1978. In a broadcast on television, they raised a glass to the occasion. Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman observed Hanukkah in 1993 while on the STS-61 mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. To celebrate the Festival of Lights, he spun a dreidel and carried a traveling menorah. Holidays were not only observed in space, but astronauts went above and beyond to make the occasion joyful. The 1999 STS-103 crew, who were entrusted with fixing the Hubble Space Telescope, celebrated Christmas with a special meal that included French specialties. Twelve Mir expedition crews, including NASA astronauts, spent their vacations on board the Russian space station between 1987 and 1998. Messages were exchanged and customs, like lighting Hanukkah candles and sending Christmas greetings, were demonstrated during these festivities. On board the International Space Station, holiday celebrations are still customarily observed. Whether it's through live broadcasts, symbolic decorations, or special food items, astronauts and cosmonauts find inventive ways to bring the joy of these festivities to the cosmic realm. Though they may be different, people who celebrate the holidays far above Earth still find great meaning and significance in them. Read Also: 6 Things Locals Wish Tourists Wouldn’t Do When In Iceland Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes Bora Bora Is Shifting Its Tourism Policy, Aims To Double Tourists By 2033

BY Sarmind SafiDec 8, 2023

The most preferred destinations for tourists traveling within their country as well as abroad remain a matter of trend and fluctuations. But one country that has seen a huge surge in inbound tourists is Thailand. Especially Indians who want a small break. This growth comes from Thailand's latest visa policy that allows visa-free entry to its visitors, one of the nationals being Indians. Thailand's Bangkok has stolen this coveted spot from Dubai, according to Agoda, an online travel platform. They analyzed the trends based on hotel bookings on their application. Ever since the government of Thailand has permitted visa-free entry for many countries including India, the country has seen a 26% increase in searches on Agoda and Indian tourists have found their favorite escape. Other countries that have recently waived the visa requirements for tourists of various nationals include Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Both of these countries are seeing renewed interest from tourists. The report says, “When it comes to international travel choices, Indians consistently favour short haul destinations across the region. Chart topper Bangkok and fifth most popular destination Pattaya are poised to further strengthen their appeal, with the recent announcement of visa-free travel for Indians to Thailand.” The report also said that, “The rankings with the most booked destinations on Agoda underscore a distinct inclination among Indians for tried-and-tested destinations, showcasing a preference for all-time favourites that have lots to offer to any type of traveller and no matter how frequently they are visited." Krishna Rathi, Agoda's country director for India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka says, "2023 has been an incredible year for travel in India. Agoda search numbers reveal growth on all levels: domestic, inbound, and outbound. I am excited to see how this trend will shape the travel industry in 2024. "Bangkok has been followed by Dubai, then Bali in the third and Singapore in the fourth place. Read Also: Earthquake Of 6.9 Magnitude Leaves Philippines Jolted- 3rd Jolt In 2 Days Crime Rate In Florida Trending Down While California Skyrockets: Report World’s Most Famous Christmas Tree Has Reached Trafalgar Square