BY Sarmind SafiDec 5, 2023

The people of Norway have sent a Christmas tree to Trafalgar Square. Every year since 1947 it has been a tradition of Norway to send Britain a Christmas tree in order to commemorate their support during the Second World War. The Norwegian spruce is nearly 20 meters high and is around 70 years old. It has been chosen to be the "queen of the forest" from the woodlands of Oslo. It was felled in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Patricia McAllister, who described the spruce saying it was "spectacular". Every year, the selected tree is brought to the UK by a sea route which then ends up getting delivered by a lorry. The Christmas lights will be draped vertically in traditional Norwegian style. The energy efficient bulbs will be switched on during a ceremony on Thursday 7 December. Ms McAllister helped fell the Christmas tree in Oslo. "It was astonishing, spectacular, emotional: especially when the tree was hoisted [from where it's been for] the last 70 years," she said. "It really is a spectacular tree. It's stunning." She further added. Few of the previous Christmas trees that were sent From Norway, were not so warmly received. They would sometimes be of the opinion that they were either "sparse" or "anemic". However, the Norwegian foresters who take care of these trees described the chosen tree to be the "queen of the forest". Every year The Poetry Society commissions a poem based on the Oslo Christmas Tree. This year poem is set to be called "T for Tree" written by Isabel Galleymore. It is composed mainly for children and it will be read during the tree-lighting ceremony. The spruce will stay in Trafalgar Square until the 5th of January when it will be composted and chipped. Read Also: Traveling Christmas Tree For The Western Lawn Of U.S. Capitol Ghana Is Ready To Host The Rest Of The World: Ghana Tourism Authority On Christmas Concerts Excited For Christmas? Leicester Square’s Glittering Christmas Market Is Returning To London From Nov 8

BY Sarmind SafiNov 30, 2023

Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel signed a memorandum on Wednesday designating 2024 as a year to promoting tourism between the two countries. During this year the two parties will work together to boost tourism exchange using joint efforts from the public and private sectors in a bid to heighten the recovery of the demand for travel since the COVID-19 pandemic. Citing that 464 cities share sister relationships between the two countries, Saito called for taking advantage of the tourism year to resume and boost the exchanges at the local levels. After the two countries agreed to the plan to apply on Japanese tourists, which will help expedite immigration procedures in the U.S. held at the residence in Tokyo of the ambassador, it was also attended by Japanese Digital Transformation Minister Taro Kono and Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi. Under the supervision of the Tourism Year initiative, both the countries will hold travel campaigns for the general public and it will host events for travel agencies from the two countries. The number of visitors from the U.S. to Japan has been steadily going up with the help of the fall of the value of the yen against the dollar. The monthly number amounted to some 210,000 in October, with an increase of 40% from the same month in 2019, prior to the pandemic. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese visitors to the United States in October came up at about 140,000, less than half of the pre-pandemic numbers. Read Also: Ghana Is Ready To Host The Rest Of The World: Ghana Tourism Authority On Christmas Concerts Play Airlines Is Celebrating Black Friday And Cyber Monday Deals On Flights To Europe Travel Tuesday Is Here To Get You Cheap Flights And Hotel Deals: Upto 50% Off

BY Sarmind SafiNov 10, 2023

Dimple Melwani has been appointed to be the head of the tourism sector of Tenerife since mid-September. She is the chief executive of Tenerife Tourism Corporation. She told TTG that the destination has been investing a lot into making tourism more diversified. It will then offer international visitors a wide range of things to enjoy. While speaking to WTM London, Melwani said that diversifying the tourism strategy would ultimately strengthen the core market. The UK, ever since the pandemic wrapped up, has started to see the island as something more than just a beach destination. 75% of the British population of about 1.6 million that have traveled to Tenerife in the past nine months have opted for cultural and sporting activities such as trekking or cycling. This is what the Tenerife Tourism Corporation data has revealed. Melwani describes the objective of Tenerife to attract more high-end customers to the island. “This change is important because it aligns with our tourism strategy.” To attract more Brits, Tenerife has featured different roadshows at trade fairs across the UK. They have also held face-to-face travel agent training sessions all around the year. It is set to continue in 2024. Tenerife is simultaneously looking to expand its reach into long-haul markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It also seeks to improve connectivity for neighboring countries like Canada, France, and the US. Tenerife welcomed its first direct US flight last June straight from New York. Melwani added, “We have this connectivity with the US because we understand there’s demand for it.”To sum it up, Tenerife will continue to focus on reinforcing the core markets of its base while also expanding into new ones. It will be part of its 2024 tourism regeneration strategy. Dimple Melwani, the chief executive of Tenerife Tourism Corporation, has revealed. Read Also: November Trips In 2023: From London To The World The Best Hotels In Mexico City For A Frida Kahlo Pilgrimage Excited For Christmas? Leicester Square’s Glittering Christmas Market Is Returning To London From Nov 8