Eliana Willis

Afghanistan’s first ever female tour guide is launching a second virtual tour with Untamed Borders, after the success of her first online sessions, showcasing Herat.
Fatima Haidari used to offer in person guiding around the city with the adventure travel company, but had to flee for her safety when the Taliban retook control of the nation in 2021.
Ever since Fatima has offered online tours for tourists from around the world and will soon be launching a new route covering Central Afghanistan.
The new offering, which includes a Q&A session with Fatima, will cover an area spanning from the capital Kabul in the east, to the central Bamian Province, Ghor Province and finishing in Herat, in the west.
Virtual tourism is a fast-growing industry – a report by Fortune Business Insights found the virtual tour software market is expected to grow from $384million in 2023 to $941.3million by 2030.ADVERTISEMENTIn the past year alone the industry grew by around $44million.
The COVID pandemic played an important role in making tourism providers, tourist boards and museums think differently about how they deliver their services or showcase their venues, during the times of restrictions.
This opened many people’s eyes to the benefits of virtual tours, helping transport people to locations, attractions or museums for a fraction of the price of a holiday.
This trend has continued post pandemic, with more people now eco-conscious and the cost-of-living crisis, in places like the UK, having an impact on how much disposal income people have.
Virtual tours allow people to sample corners of the globe, which they may never otherwise have opportunity to travel to, and are an accessible form of tourism, which has little impact on the environment, especially in comparison to flying.
Untamed Borders Founder James Willcox says, “We never envisaged running virtual tours, but when Fatima had to leave Afghanistan, we wanted to find a way to support her.
Fatima has always been an excellent tour guide, and we really enjoyed working with her in Herat, so helping Fatima to continue her work in some way was important to us.
The tours offer a fascinating insight into life in Afghanistan and although virtual tourism will never replace the sensory overload of an actual trip to a country, they offer the next best thing for someone who can’t travel to the nation.”
New virtual tour includes one Afghanistan’s most beautiful regions
For Fatima the new virtual tour, which she will be offering through Untamed Borders, has a particularly special place in her heart.
It includes the stunning Bamian Province, an area of immense natural beauty, which includes the beautiful Band-e-Amir Lakes and National Park, which became Afghanistan’s first national park in 2009.
This region is symbolic – historically women in Bamian Province enjoyed relatively more freedom than elsewhere in the country, however, this has also recently changed under the Taliban – with women banned from Band-e-Amir.
Fatima says people deserve to be able to see this natural gem and she is looking forward to showing the positive side of her nation…
“Bamian has always been my favourite place, it’s a paradise and traditionally peaceful, with beauty and also freedom for men and women.
I was also born in Ghor Province, lived in Herat for many years, where I also guided, and I’ve spent time in Kabul.
So for me, this new virtual tour feels like a personal journey.”
For Fatima, the virtual tours are helping her to remain in close connection with her homeland and serve a greater purpose than just showcasing the nation’s beauty, as Fatima explains….
“I feel like I’m fighting back against the Taliban and defying their restrictions.
I’m not only personally disobeying their restrictions, but I am also helping to support 4 regular classes for women to study in Afghanistan and other people are helping too.”
New virtual tour helps fund women’s education in Afghanistan
Behind closed doors women in Afghanistan are taking a stand, with some brave women setting up secret schools.
The risks are high, but the uptake is increasing, with projects like Untamed Borders’ virtual tours, providing a vital source of funding to pay for the teachers’ time, along with books and other learning material at the classes, as Fatima explains…
“At the classes the aim is to offer the girls and women English skills, which can help create opportunities abroad.
The sessions also offer the women mental health support and advice, with many people suffering mental health difficulties due to the changes brought in by the Taliban.
The aim is to help empower women, offer support, some language skills and give them more information about women’s rights.”.
Along with Fatima’s own work to support these classes financially, some guests on the virtual tours also kindly donate personally to help further the work.
The Afghanistan Central Route virtual tour with Fatima launches in October, with the first session bookable now on the Untamed Borders website.
Fatima is also continuing with her Herat virtual tours, which are also bookable on the Untamed Borders website.

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What’s New This Winter, in La Plagne, France?

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More than 60 years ago, La Plagne was created. To do so, men shaped mountains to construct the resort we know, and love. Today, faced with our current challenges, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the mountains, in fact, shape us.
They provide mental benefits such as relaxation, boosting creativity, reducing stress and anxiety, stimulating humility and encouraging us to reflect. Taking all this on board, La Plagne continually strives to read the lines of the future and promote, and practice, sustainable methods, meaning future generations can gain value from the magnificent peaks too.
Nowadays, La Plagne comprises 11 sites, all with different personalities. Seven of these sit between 1,800-2,050 metres and were built from scratch between the 1960s and 1990s. Four of these are more traditional villages at an altitude of 1,250 metres, that existed before the ski area was created. Think wood-and-stone chalets, small residences, and farms surrounded by trees and clearings. Along with 225 km of pistes (60% of which are easy greens and cruisy blues) guests can also try the Olympic bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track, plus ice climbing tower. In addition, alight a horse-drawn sleigh, board a sled pulled by huskies, jump off the mountain in a tandem paraglide, sink into a hot tub at the spa, or give Nordic skiing a go.
On a bigger scale, La Plagne is part of the renowned Paradiski area, home to 425 km of skiing with Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry. This winter will mark 20 years since the launch of the Vanoise Express, the exceptional cable car that links the two mountains, and these three resorts, together. To celebrate this exciting milestone, a programme is being created for the many skiers and snowboarders, and a new Paradiski logo has been designed. 
But that’s not all that’s new – La Plagne has a few more surprises on offer; read on to find out more…ADVERTISEMENTDON’T MISS OUT ON THESE EXPERIENCES
Learn how to pilot a bobsleighFollow in the footsteps of the cast from ‘Cool Runnings’ and try piloting a bobsleigh for a day in this brand-new activity. This thrilling experience includes a track walk (just like the pros when they study the best line down) two descents in a two-person bobsleigh (one as a pilot, and the other as a passenger) and a technical (and emotional) debriefing. Throughout the day, guests will be supervised by a professional pilot, plus French bobsleigh federation-certified instructors. This unique opportunity will run on 12 January 2024 and 9 February 2024 (eight people maximum, minimum age 16).Price is €590 / £505 pp, helmet and crampons included.
Enjoy a slow immersion at Plan BoisVillage Plan Bois has created several slow immersion experiences on a small mountain in La Plagne. Leave the main resort, and head into the trees for a wealth of remarkable environmental activities. Try a sled ride pulled by dogs, relax during a sophrology session in the forest, and spend the night in an igloo, wood cabin or tent (weather dependent). The whole idea of this new area is to preserve nature and raise awareness of the need to respect the site and its inhabitants. This experimental venture is also part of La Plagne’s Flocon Vert certification process and is accessible to skiers and those on foot.
Head off on a snowshoe hike…Try two different snowshoe experiences this winter – one with local, Matthieu, and the other with Evvo Snowshoes. Matthieu takes guests on discreet two-and-a-half-hour adventures around Champagny-le-Haut, with the main aim of the hike being not to encounter any wild animals (as otherwise they will have been disturbed). During the walk, Matthieu will also raise awareness of the role of glaciers and the fragility of the mountain ecosystems, while staying away from the beaten path. Price from €25 / £21 pp for half a day. On the other hand, Evvo Snowshoes have created new snowshoes so guests don’t have to walk duck footed anymore. Made 100% in France, the ‘shoes have a 90% bio-sourced sole (developed with Michelin) that is compact, ergonomic and lighter. Rental from €8 / £7 pp for half a day, or from €30 / £26 pp for a guided two-hour-and-45-minute hike. Minimum age 10.
ON THE SLOPES AND IN RESORT
Ride Les Glaciers GondolaOnce the final skiers left the mountain last April, the famous Bellecôte Gondola was dismantled, and the 102 cabins went up for auction. These vintage bubbles, dating from 1973, had a starting price of €500 / £430 each and sold in just one-and-a-half-hours. On 16 December 2023, a brand-new lift, Les Glaciers Gondola, will whisk guests up the mountain. Although the departure point is still the same (Roche de Mio) the cables follow a different trajectory and arrive at a new sector that is anchored into the rock, at an altitude of 3,080 metres. This new gondola features 10 cabins, can carry 2,700 people per hour, and has an ascent time of 10 minutes. On reaching the top, pause at the brand-new Live 3000 ski area – admire the panoramic view or enjoy a snack at Le Sixième Ciel café, which feels like a cosy refuge with a sunny terrace – before setting off down the mountain.
Check out the grocery store and restaurant in LongefoyThis summer, couple Arnaud and Marie-Cécile Defayet, have injected a new life into the old fruitière in Longefoy. Working with many of the locals, they have refurbished the whole building – from using personalised wallpaper to finding an old copper cauldron – to create a grocery shop selling organic produce, a café with outdoor seating, a wine and spirits cellar with a tasting menu, and a bistro-restaurant with plenty of homemade dishes to choose from. The personalised wallpaper uses period images and handwritten notes by the villagers from the dairy register, creating a lovely, lively address where the past, present and future of the village are inextricably linked. L’Autrefoy is open year round for lunch and dinner, with products costs from €20 / £17.
THE EVER IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENT
In April 2023, La Plagne achieved the ‘Zero Carbon Mountain’ Award at the Alpipro trade show. This reward recognises the resort’s commitment to energy transition following the drafting of the Corporate Social Responsibility report, the preparation of working on the destination’s carbon footprint, and the launch of the process to obtain the Mountain Rider’s Association’s Flocon Vert label. In addition, La Plagne hosted its first zero waste on the mountain operation, when five simultaneous waste collections were organised across the resort on 2 June 2023. 350 people participated, and more than a tonne of litter was collected in 90 minutes.
La Plagne is continually highlighting ways to reach the resort by public transport. Picking these methods, instead of flying and/or driving, can use around 66-80 percent less carbon. The new Eurostar Snow train, departing every Saturday from London St Pancras (and returning every Sunday from France) makes the journey to Aime-la-Plagne incredibly easy (with just one change at Lille). From there, SNCF and Altibus are more than happy to take a pair of skis or snowboard in addition to main bags when transporting guests around the villages. And La Plagne’s very own online travel agency, La Plagne Resort, only proposes train or bus travel in its all-inclusive packages for long-distance journeys to the resort. And if that’s not enough incentive to travel by train, guests can now make the most of a Beaufort Cheese Vending Machine next to the platform at Aime.
En route up to La Plagne, why not make the most of the second hand ski gear shop, Antropia, which opened in Aime in spring 2023? Through its network, Antropia collects skiwear from the different socio-professional groups across local resorts, works with its partner – One Tree at a Time – to remove any branding and labels, and then lists it for sale in the shop. After purchasing an outfit for a fraction of the price of a brand-new one, guests can continue to Plagne Centre and rent a pair of second-hand skis from Ski Hut. Taking on top-quality (but used) skis, Ski Hut will completely recondition them before introducing them back into the rental circuit at unbeatable prices. Finally, instead of throwing away damaged clothing, drop it off at Belle Plagne Sports – one of five partner shops of Lyon brand, Goodloop, specialising in the repair and alteration of technical wear. Two weeks later, the clothing is ready for its next adventure on the slopes… All this promotes less waste and greater savings.
For more information on La Plagne, please visit https://en.la-plagne.com or call 04 79 09 02 01. Alternatively, please find their latest press pack here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/b5089c14-7394-4e86-b30f-5ab15a6fa5de
La Plagne’s ski season begins on 16 December 2023 and ends on 28 April 2024.
A six-day lift pass for Paradiski costs €369 / £316 per adult or €296 / £253 per child (age 5-12 inclusive)
Getting to La Plagne could not be easier: it is within a 90-minute drive from three main airports, Geneva, Grenoble, and Lyon. Either hire a car from the airport, book one of the transfer companies or take the bus. Alternatively, La Plagne is one of the ski resorts you can reach easily on the train. Eurostar Snow train offers rail service from London St Pancras International to the Aime-la-Plagne (with a change at Lille). Trains will depart London St Pancras International on Saturdays and return to London on Sundays. Otherwise, snow enthusiasts can always jump in their car and drive to La Plagne using LeShuttle or one of the ferry companies to cross the English Channel. There are plenty of car parks once in resort too. 
Book a ski holiday to La Plagne using La Plagne’s travel agency, La Plagne Resort: www.laplagneresort.com/?lang=en_US

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The Royal Thai Government led by Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin has announced the temporary tourist visa exemption scheme to passport holders of the People’s Republic of China and Republic of Kazakhstan effective from 25 September 2023 to 29 February 2024, to achieve this year’s tourism revenue target of 2.38 trillion Baht.Chinese and Kazakhstani nationals will be granted a temporary visa exemption for a 30-day stay on tourism purpose in Thailand during the five-month visa exemption period.
H.E. Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said “This stimulus visa scheme forms part of the government’s Quick-win measures announced on 11 September 2023 to achieve the long-term goal and boost the Thai economy through travel and tourism. It will help stimulate inbound travel from China which is one of Thailand’s key source tourist markets and Kazakhstan which is considered an emerging market, especially during this coming high tourist season. Ultimately, it will help revive Thai tourism and reach the revenue target set for this year.”
During the five-month visa exemption period, Thailand is expected to welcome 1,912,000 to 2,888,500 Chinese tourists – a year-on-year growth of about 41-62% – and generate a tourism income of around 92.58-140 billion Baht. From Kazakhstan, Thailand has forecasted 129,485 Kazakhstani tourists – a 49.73% increase over the same period last year – and 7.93 billion Baht in revenue.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said “The ‘ease of travelling’ policy will enable tourists to save time and spending on visa application and fee, making it easier for tourists to decide to travel to Thailand. With the visa exemption scheme, Thailand could expect to welcome around 4.04-4.4 million Chinese tourists in 2023 and achieve the forecasted revenue target of 257,500 million Baht.”
From 1 January to 10 September 2023, Thailand recorded 2,284,281 Chinese visitors, making China the second largest source of tourist markets after Malaysia. Without the visa exemption scheme, Thailand is expected to see 3,470,430 Chinese visitors in 2023 – about 31% of the recorded year in 2019 – and generate 174,358 million Baht.ADVERTISEMENTThe stimulus visa scheme takes effect just ahead of the Golden Week, one of the longest holidays in China, from 1-8 October 2023. During the weeklong holiday in China, airlines have announced their readiness to operate charter flights, increase flight frequencies, and introduce new routes between cities in China and Thailand including Chengdu – Samui, Beijing – Chiang Mai, Guangzhou – Chiang Mai, Shanghai – Chiang Mai, Shanghai – Phuket, Guangzhou – Phuket, and Kunming – Hat Yai.
“From Kazakhstan, Thailand expects the visa exemption scheme to help reach 180,000 tourists by the end of this year,” Ms. Thapanee added.
From 1 January to 10 September 2023, Thailand saw a record 108,636 tourists from Kazakhstan. Phuket is the favourite destination among Kazakhstani tourists.
The visa exemption scheme extended to Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists forms is expected to help revive Thai tourism and achieve this year’s target of 25-30 million tourists and 2.38 trillion Baht in revenue.
The policy is also expected to help fuel tourism growth through to 2024, reflecting the government’s policy that places tourism as a key mechanism for driving the Thai economy and making Thailand the preferred destination for travellers from around the world.

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Jet2.com is giving skiers and snowboarders the chance to hit the slopes for less this winter across eight ski destinations, as the award-winning airline has launched an unmissable ski carriage promotion.With snow sports enthusiasts clamouring to hit the slopes on the French, Swiss, Austrian and Italian Alps, as well as the Tyrolean Mountains and Pyrenees, Jet2.com is offering 50% off return ski carriage for a limited time only. There is ‘snow’ way that skiers and snowboarders will want to miss out on this fantastic promotion, as it means they can save a huge £30 on ski carriage (normally £60 return) and get out to the slopes for the very best value.
The offer applies to customers making a new ski flight booking between now and 25th September 2023 for travel between 1st November 2023 and 30th April 2024* to any of Jet2.com’s ski destinations.
The leading leisure airline has a huge programme of ski flights on sale for Winter 23/24, with skiers and snowboarders able to lock in great-price ski flights to the best slopes in Europe this winter from across ten of the company’s UK bases.
Jet2.com will operate ski flights to eight destinations this winter – Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Lyon, Barcelona (Andorra) and Turin.
Offering a choice of services to many of these popular ski destinations, the flights provide fantastic flexibility and are perfectly timed for skiers and snowboarders looking to slope off to the snow for a weekend, long weekend, or longer mid-week break.ADVERTISEMENTIn addition to this wide choice of destinations and flights, booking and travelling on ski flights with Jet2.com means that customers get to enjoy VIP customer service which has seen the UK’s third largest airline win numerous awards and accolades, as well as 10kg hand luggage and 22kg baggage* and 22kg ski carriage*.
Ski destinations by base for Winter 23/24:
Belfast International – SalzburgBirmingham – Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Barcelona (Andorra) and TurinBristol – Chambery, Innsbruck and GenevaEast Midlands – Geneva and SalzburgEdinburgh – Chambery, Geneva, Salzburg, Innsbruck and TurinGlasgow – GenevaLeeds Bradford – Chambery, Geneva, Barcelona (Andorra) and SalzburgLondon Stansted – Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Innsbruck and SalzburgManchester – Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Innsbruck, Lyon, Salzburg, Barcelona (Andorra) and TurinNewcastle International – Geneva, Grenoble, and Salzburg

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In a recent report published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), it has been unveiled that the count of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ventures within the tourism cluster surged by an impressive 23 percent. This remarkable increase is marked by a shift from 286 investments in 2021 to a substantial 352 investments in the year 2022.
The data presented in the report also highlights a significant surge in job creation within the tourism sector attributable to FDI. During this same timeframe, the estimated number of employment opportunities generated climbed by an equivalent 23 percent, reaching a remarkable figure of over 36,400 jobs, as per SchengenVisaInfo.com’s report.
Furthermore, the preceding year witnessed Western Europe emerging as the predominant destination region for tourism-related FDI projects, boasting a total of 143 declared investments, collectively valued at an impressive $2.2 billion.
The Asia-Pacific region also experienced a noteworthy uptick in announced FDI projects in 2022, showcasing a 2.4 percent growth rate, culminating in a total of 42 projects for the year.
Within the overarching tourism cluster, the hotel and tourism sector commanded a leading role, constituting nearly two-thirds of all projects spanning from 2018 to 2022. Furthermore, FDI endeavors in this sector underwent substantial expansion, manifesting a robust 25 percent increase from the preceding year.ADVERTISEMENTUNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized the imperative need for substantial investments in education and talent development. This includes upskilling the professional workforce and the implementation of vocational and technical programs. He stressed that, especially considering that only 50 percent of young individuals have completed secondary education, this approach is vital to ensure their success in the sector.
Jacopo Dettoni, the editor of FDI Intelligence, noted that FDI within the tourism sector is displaying signs of rejuvenation after facing near extinction during the pandemic years. He further emphasized that, with COVID-19 now behind us, the tourism industry must promptly address the most pressing challenge of our time: climate change and the vital call for sustainability.
UNWTO Executive Director Natalia Bayona added that UNWTO is placing heightened emphasis on innovation, education, and strategic investments as fundamental pillars to adapt to the ever-evolving market dynamics. She elaborated that UNWTO administers multiple initiatives aimed at providing the professional workforce with up-to-date skills through skills development and professional workforce programs. These initiatives, she stressed, foster high-quality job opportunities and lead to an increase in average wages across the entire tourism value chain.

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