Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

VGS Group is proud to announce that it is the only company selected to organize the Vietnam Italy Golf Tournament, an international friendly golf tournament that will be held on March 20th, 2023, at the Long Bien Golf Course. The Ryder Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious golf tournaments, held biennially in a team format between Europe and the United States. The event features some of the most renowned professional golfers and draws the attention of millions of golf enthusiasts worldwide. Vietnam, the rising golf tourism destination in Asia, has been selected as the only country in Southeast Asia to host a series of ancillary events to promote this significant golf tournament. The series of activities leading up to the Ryder Cup 2023 in Vietnam includes a formal announcement of the event, which was held by the Italian Embassy in Vietnam on March 17th. According to Mr. Bui Duc Long, Chairman of VGS Group, “The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, and we are proud that Vietnam has been selected as a destination to promote this important event in Southeast Asia. With the advantage of having the most comprehensive golf ecosystem and experience in organizing international tournaments, VGS Group is honored to be the only company selected to host this significant event, contributing to the promotion of tourism, especially golf tourism, in Vietnam to international friends.”
In the theme of Italy and Vietnam sharing a 50-year history of diplomatic relations, the Ryder Cup and Italian Tour Operators’ representatives present their goal of associating the capital Rome with not only an attractive tourist destination but also being capable of organizing large-scale events. The World Expo 2030 in Rome will actively discuss solutions, ideas, and strategies to tackle these issues.
Vietnam’s golf tourism has been gaining recognition globally, with titles such as World’s Best Golf Destination in 2019 and 2021, and five consecutive years as “Asia’s Best Golf Destination” from 2017 to 2021, awarded by the World Golf Awards.
“Besides golf development throughout Vietnam, we have a bold vision for my hometown, Da Nang – Hoi An, and we are committed to making it a reality. We believe that by leveraging the power of sport, culture, and technology, we can create an unforgettable destination that will capture the hearts and minds of visitors from around the world. Our action masterplan includes exciting sport events such as AquaX, Superboat P1 World Championship, GKA Kite World Tour, World Chase Tag and more, all designed to showcase the beauty and diversity of our region. We look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders to build a truly world-class destination that will inspire and delight travelers for years to come” The Chairman of VGS Group conveyed his dedication.
VGS Group is Vietnam’s leading golf organization, with a comprehensive ecosystem of golf-related businesses including golf course management, hospitality, events, and equipment sales. The company has a strong track record of organizing professional golf tournaments and promoting golf tourism in Vietnam and their ownership of the technology for live broadcasting of golf tournaments in Vietnam and internationally. They were also the first to produce live signals for golf events at the SEA Games 31, receiving high praise from other countries in the region.ADVERTISEMENTThe selection of Vietnam as the only country in Southeast Asia to host Ryder Cup’s media outreach events demonstrates the country’s growing reputation as an emerging golf destination.
For more images, please see here: https://bit.ly/RyderCupVN

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The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) has confirmed Tracy Berkeley as Chief Executive Officer, creating history as the organisation’s first female leader. Berkeley has been serving as the BTA’s Interim CEO since June 2022.  Tracy Berkeley joined the Bermuda Tourism Authority in January 2020 and took on the role of interim CEO in June 2022.  Within the last nine months, Berkeley has worked tirelessly to stabilize the organization for increased team productivity, raised the awareness and relevance of the destination by meeting with stakeholders in the travel trade, and media industries, and worked alongside partners to deliver the BTA’s award-winning Lost Yet Found campaign. With her steady hand, Berkeley has helped to build a new leadership team that is better fit to meet the organisation’s needs, reengaged with key industry leaders, and most importantly, restored the credibility of the BTA in the eyes of its stakeholders. Berkeley serves on several private and public Boards and is a 2024 Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) candidate.
When asked about her appointment as BTA CEO, Tracy Berkeley said: “It is with a deep sense of pride and humility that I officially take the helm as the CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. We are starting to see incremental growth along with a reinvigorated local community. Our success can be attributed in part to a focused, data-led strategic recovery plan and our commitment to seeing it through.  By championing Bermuda’s core strengths and engaging with media and trade partners around the world, we have been able to leverage the island’s key selling characteristics and reinforce the message that we are open business.  I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to further develop this vital sector of the island’s economy.”
“We are excited to announce Tracy Berkeley to the position of CEO and are confident that the organization — and Bermuda as a whole — will benefit greatly from her leadership and expertise,” said Wayne Caines, Chairman of the BTA Board. He continued, “as Interim CEO, she answered the call to take on the challenge and delivered against a clear set of mandates, determined by the board, impeccably. I am confident that she will continue to do so with our support and the support of the island’s valuable community.”
“I am pleased by the announcement of Tracy Berkeley in the role of CEO for the BTA. I support her confirmation in the role and that this appointment was done in consultation with me as the Minister of Tourism. I am looking forward to continued engagement with Ms. Berkeley, her team and all of our industry partners.” said Minister of Tourism and Cabinet Office, Vance Campbell JP, MP.
“There is renewed energy and focus within our organisation and the tourism industry as a whole. As we gear up for what looks to be a steadying year of growth, we are working hard to strengthen our local and international partnerships to lay out plans for the future of tourism. The team is progressing with an emphasis on enhanced product offerings and service levels. We look forward to putting our ideas into action and working together to ensure continued prosperity for Bermuda,” ended Tracy Berkeley. ADVERTISEMENT

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Warner. Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter today announced it will officially open its doors on Friday 16th June 2023, with tickets going on sale 22 March 2023 at 14:00 JST. Stepping into the new walking tour, visitors will be taken behind-the-scenes of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films into the incredible world of film production.
For over 25 years, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories have captivated and inspired hundreds of millions of people around the world. Today, the Wizarding World celebrates the global community of fans of all ages who cherish these tales and seek to dive even further into the magic of the characters, the values they represent and the adventures they embark upon.
Opening for the first time in Tokyo, this brand-new Studio Tour will invite fans to step onto breathtaking sets including the iconic Great Hall at Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest where they will see exquisite costumes and come face to face with magical creatures while learning filmmaking secrets. Fans will also enjoy lots of fun activities including riding a broomstick, drinking a refreshing Butterbeer, appearing in a moving portrait in the halls of Hogwarts, stepping into the crowd of a Quidditch game and shopping from a huge range of products, many of which are only available at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo.
To mark the occasion, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo revealed the first of many magical film sets – The Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 ¾. At an event featuring Mana Ashida and Harry Sugiyama, the media were invited to pose for the’ push a trolley through the wall to Platform 9 ¾’ photo opportunity and even step onboard the train. Visitors exploring the Studio Tour will be able to imagine how Hogwarts students would have felt and enjoy the same experiences as they journeyed to Hogwarts.
The Platform 9 ¾ set was created by the original Harry Potter filmmakers using authentic techniques. It’s home to the Hogwarts Express which is an original British steam locomotive that was built in 1929 called The Dumbleton Hall. Operated by the Great Western Railway, it continued to run for over 35 years until it was retired. The locomotive was refurbished in England, then shipped to Japan to take up its position at the Studio Tour.ADVERTISEMENTTorben Jensen, VP and GM, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter said: “The Studio Tour is a completely new experience for Harry Potter fans in Japan and I’m so excited to open the doors on 16th June. In addition to fantastic interactive features, multiple photo opportunities and the world’s largest Harry Potter shop, the Studio Tour will exclusively showcase a number of incredible film sets that are one of a kind.”
Ms. Mana Ashida commented: “I love the Harry Potter series, so I’m very happy to be standing on Platform 9 ¾. I’ve heard that some of the sets will be on show for the first time in Japan and I’m really looking forward to seeing those.”
Mr. Harry Sugiyama said: “I’m here today as a presenter, having narrated the English version of the film that introduces Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo in Japan and I’m really looking forward to exploring the sets for the first time. I am very excited to see the Hogwarts Express.”
Also featured in this section of the Studio Tour is The Great Wizarding Express, a set that is exclusive to Tokyo, which appeared in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The train carriage is art deco in styling, to match the era, and is decorated with ornate detailing throughout recreating the appearance of birdseye maple, ebony and brass inlay strips. Depicting the scene where Newt Scamander leads an intrepid team of wizards, witches, and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, the mannequins display the costumes of Newt Scamander, Jacob Kowalski, Theseus Scamander, Bunty Broadacre, Yusuf Kama and Eulalia “Lally” Hicks.
The Studio Tour will also be home to the largest Harry Potter shop in the world, featuring 14 themed sections that are decorated with over 7,000 bespoke and specially sourced props. The areas are beautifully designed and take inspiration from elements of the shops on Diagon Alley including Honeydukes, Ollivanders and Flourish and Blotts. A huge range of products will be available to buy, many of which have been exclusively developed for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo. In addition, visitors can enjoy a choice of restaurants and cafés which will serve a celebration of traditional British fare such as fish and chips, roast beef, English breakfast and Afternoon Tea.
This will be the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and visitors can expect to spend around four hours exploring the only Warner Bros. Studio Tour to open in Asia. Building on the phenomenal success of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter which opened in 2012 and has maintained exceptional visitor reviews, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo will feature exclusive sets only available in this location, providing visitors with an experience like no other.

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Nobody wants to think ‘is this it?’ when arriving at a tourist attraction. But every traveller has experienced the disappointment of reality not living up to expectations at some point.With this in mind, Stasher, the luggage storage network, has ranked 99 global tourist attractions to find out what’s worth visiting and what might be worth skipping.
The data analysts collected the latest city and country-level data available for key categories* including TripAdvisor and Google reviews, quality of local accommodation, distance from the nearest international airport, tourist safety and TikTok popularity to give each attraction an overall score out of ten.

The study crowns the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest the world’s number one tourist attraction, scoring an impressive 7.34/10. The large neo-Gothic building overlooks the River Danube and is home to both the National Assembly of Hungary and a must-visit attraction in the city.
Tourists agree too, with the experience boasting 93.4% ‘Very Good’ and ‘Excellent’ reviews on TripAdvisor and a high average Google Review score of 4.8/5. The quality of local accommodation for travellers is also positive, with an average rating of 8.6/10 on Booking.com and videos featuring the building have been viewed on TikTok 887.1m times and counting.ADVERTISEMENTIn second place is France’s iconic Disneyland Paris, scoring 7.17/10 in the study. The 5,510-acre resort recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and welcomed over 9.7 million visitors before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.
Disneyland Paris is the most popular attraction on TikTok, with tagged posts being viewed a staggering 7.9 billion times. The local accommodation is also high quality – an average rating of 8.6/10 – and visitor reviews are largely positive. While the resort gets a good 4.5/5-star average on Google Reviews, TripAdvisor reviews are less positive, with 58.2% of visitors rating their experience as ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’.
The geo-thermal Blue Lagoon in Iceland is ranked the third-best tourist attraction in the world, with an overall score of 7.15/10. Located in an awe-inspiring volcanic landscape, tourists flock to the site to see and swim in the silica-rich blue water which is thought to have healing and rejuvenating powers.
The Blue Lagoon is a favourite among TikTokers, with videos being viewed over 317.5 million times. Iceland is also considered to be one of the safest countries for tourists to visit, with a Global Peace Index score of 1.1/5 – the lower the score the safer a place is.
The quality of local accommodation is among the highest in the study (average rating of 9.2/10) and visitor reviews are complimentary, with 80% of TripAdvisor reviews either ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’ and an average score of 4.6/5 on Google Reviews.
Making up the rest of the top five is Plaza de España in Seville, Spain (7.13/10) and Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia (7.04/10).
Plaza de España, a previous winner of Stasher’s top tourist attraction prize, is an architectural marvel formed in a half-circle with tiled alcoves. It houses central government offices, as well as welcoming millions of visitors each year.
Angkor Wat, is the world’s largest religious monument, spanning 402 acres. The grand Buddhist temple features on the Cambodian national flag and was constructed using five million tons of sandstone – all carried by hand to the site.
At the bottom of the study’s rankings in 99th position is the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, scoring just 3.24/10. This is the second time the attraction has found itself in last place in Stasher’s global tourist attraction rankings.

The world-renowned attraction on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Steet honours the stars of the entertainment industry past and present. But despite being technically free to visit, the attraction has the lowest average Google Review score (4/5) and just 19.5% of TripAdvisor Reviews are ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’. Many tourist reviews describe the experience as “dirty”, “feeling like they’re in a tourist trap”, “unsafe” and “overcrowded”.
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey is thought to be one of the world’s oldest malls but fails to impress modern visitors, coming in second-to-last-place in the study (3.48/10). Tourists don’t rate their visits highly either – 4.1/5 is the average Google Review rating and just 41.2% of TripAdvisor reviews are ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’.
The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, India also finds itself in the bottom five, scoring 3.83/10. The marble palace that is also a UNESCO World Heritage site is let down by its local accommodation ratings (7.1/10), being over 200 km from the nearest international airport and tourist safety score (2.6/5).
Jacob Wedderburn-Day, Co-Founder of Stasher commented on the study’s findings:
“The diversity of attractions in the top ten shows historical sites, natural wonders, religious temples, and amusement parks all make for great tourist destinations.
“While reviews are a good indicator of whether an attraction is worth visiting or not, there are many other factors that can influence tourists’ experiences which our study has taken into account.
“We hope our research encourages individuals to combine visiting popular destinations with places that aren’t being so regularly showcased to create their own unique experiences.”
To see the full data for each tourist attraction please visit Stasher’s Best Tourist Attractions Around the World study page. https://blog.stasher.com/stasher-reveals-the-worlds-best-worst-tourist-attractions/

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Helsinki Airport and SSP to Launch Food Court with Six New Restaurants in Summer 2023

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Finavia will open a food court in the gate area of Helsinki Airport in collaboration with the leading restaurant service provider Select Service Partner Select Service Partner (SSP).
The food court, which consist of six different restaurants, will be completed at Helsinki Airport in early summer 2023.“In recent years, we have invested in the development of food and beverage services at Helsinki Airport. We are looking forward to the opening of new restaurants at our airport,” says Nora Immonen, Finavia’s VP and Director for the Commercial Services and Business at Helsinki Airport.
One of the new restaurants is the Swedish hamburger chain Bastard Burgers, which, in collaboration with SSP, is opening its second restaurant in Finland. The other new restaurants are Fafa’s, Robert’s Coffee, Pala Pizza Bar, Asian Corner and Tori Kitchen & Café.
“We believe that our passengers will be delighted with the food court’s wide range of restaurants. Our goal is to increase the supply of affordable hot food and easily portable products.”
The food court will be operated by SSP Finland, Finland’s leading restaurant company in the tourism environment.ADVERTISEMENT“SSP Finland specialises in developing and operating different types of food and beverage concepts and brands in a fast-paced tourism environment. We recognise the various needs of air passengers and the food court’s wide range of restaurants will surely have something for everyone,” says Elena Heiska, Managing Director of Select Service Partner Finland Oy.According to Heiska, special attention has been paid to the speed of service and to serving passengers round the clock. All meals can also be taken on board flights.
Favourite kitchens tailored for passengers
In addition to Fafa’s, Bastard Burgers and the Finnish family company Robert’s Coffee, SSP will open three restaurants and cafés tailored to the needs of passengers at Helsinki Airport: Asian Corner, Pala Pizza Bar and Tori Kitchen & Café.
“Our restaurant Asian Corner brings under one kitchen the experience of the best and most colourful food stalls in Asia without limiting itself to any particular Asian food genre. The secret of the pizza served by Pala Pizza Bar lies in its dough: the dough is made at the restaurant with Finnish flour and allowed to rest for at least 48 hours. The pizza experience is crowned by a perfect tomato sauce and high-quality toppings.”
“At Tori Kitchen & Café, we have carefully selected the best Finnish favourites in accordance with our principles of serving honest, sustainable and handmade food. Tori’s breakfast menu includes slow-cooked porridge made with organic Finnish oats. All pastries – including Tori’s signature product, a freshly baked doughnut – are baked at our own bakery at the airport.”
“We are very excited about our new restaurants and new partnerships. We can’t wait to open our new restaurants in the heart of the revamped Helsinki Airport,” Heiska adds.

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Quito is the ideal destination for mountain bikers due to its wonderful landscapes, uneven terrains and perfect places to ascend and descend on all surface types. It also offers a wide range of nature tourism, whereby taking some small trails you can cross the moorland and shaded forests, while admiring the biodiversity of the area.
Tourists can enjoy cycle routes through rivers, waterfalls and forests, with different levels of difficulty, from the easiest for novice cyclists to real challenges for the more experienced.
Also, Quito offers bike rental services and protection equipment for safety guarantee during the trip, as well as experienced tour guides to accompany visitors on their routes, offering information on the history, culture and biodiversity of the region.

El Chaquiñán RouteADVERTISEMENTEl Chaquiñán is a cycle route that passes through the parishes of Cumbayá, Tumbaco and Puembo and crosses a stretch of the old railway.
It is a simple path which does not present great difficulties. Due to its longitude, it is recommended for cyclists with previous experience in routes of at least two hours of cycling.
·      100% cyclable route·      Difficulty: Low·      Distance 20.5 Kilometres
Ruta Lloa – Palmira
The path from Lloa a Palmira has short elevations and gentle descents. It offers natural viewpoints with incredible views, such as those of the Guagua Pichincha and Atacazo volcanoes.
Over the course of the route, you will find various farms that offer dairy products, such as cheese, milk and yoghurt.
·      100% cyclable route·      Difficulty: Low·      Distance: 12.4 Kilometres

Ruta Pululahua
Descending from the Mirador del Pululahua to the heart of one of the few inhabited craters in the world, its dramatic descents have been the scene for multiple races.
In the area, you can take various routes with different levels of difficulty and modality such as the return from Moraspungo to Pondoña, the route between Tanlahua and Pululahua, among others.
·      100% cyclable route·      Difficulty: Medium·      Distance: 6.5 – 26 Kilometres

Ruta Pacto – Mashpi
In the parish of Pacto, 70 km from the capital, there are wide paths surrounded by mountains ideal for sport. This route crosses a large part of the Conservation and Sustainable Use Area of Mashpi-Guaycuyacu-Sahuangal, the first Protected Natural Area of the Metropolitan District.
·      100% cyclable route·      Difficulty: Medium·      Distance: 39 Kilometres
Ruta Nono – Alaspungo
Its 13 km stretch reveals less travelled paths, as well as beautiful and unique landscapes. It offers some prolonged ascents, that gift the cyclist with spectacular views of the Rucu and Guagua Pichincha volcanoes towards to east, and a cushion of clouds that covers the land below.
·      100% cyclable route·      Difficulty: Low·      Kilometres: 13.3 Kilometres

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“Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races” Returning in June Extending an Invitation for Teams

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The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races is making a return in June after a four-year hiatus! The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced that the HKTB and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association will co-organise the “Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races” on 24- 25 June (Saturday & Sunday) in Victoria Harbour.
Both the general public and visitors from around the world can enjoy the exciting races along the promenade from Tsim Sha Tsui East to the Avenue of Stars.This year, the event will invite local, Mainland, Taiwanese and overseas dragon boat teams to participate. For the first time, cash prizes will be awarded to the winning teams in the four major races.With the world’s top dragon boat athletes gathering in Hong Kong, both the general public and visitors to Hong Kong will once again be able to experience the glamour of a major sports event in town!Interested teams can register on the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association website https://hkcdba.org/en/2023hkidbr from 20 March.
Details of the event can be found at the following links:- HKTB event website: (https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/what-s-new/events/dragonboat-races.html )

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The announcement follows ongoing work by the three associations to raise the challenges faced by school travel with Government, including a joint letter sent to the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on Monday 6 March. 
The letter asked for action to ease the situation which has not only led to significant falls in visits, estimated at a drop of 84% compared to 2019, but also school children and youth groups’ welfare to suffer due to excessive waiting times at entry ports and having to travel at extremely unsociable hours.
ABTA, The School Travel Forum and UKinbound have called for the establishment of a new youth-group visa application process that is fully digitalised, works in collaboration with Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) and supports the 2025 UK Border Strategy. It would allow students under the age of 18 that have an ID Card, and therefore the right to live in the EU, and third country nationals that have settled in the EU to travel to the UK as part of an educational or cultural group if accompanied by a teacher or supervisor over 18 years old that is travelling on a passport.
The Governments are still to confirm the details of the new arrangements and the associations have already been in touch to follow-up on the commitments made.
Luke Petherbridge ABTA Director of Public Affairs said:  ADVERTISEMENT“The Prime Minister and the French President commitment to easing school group travel between France and UK will be welcomed by the school and youth travel sector. Our members have been reporting challenges related to recent border policy changes, and they will now be eager to hear more about the details of what is being proposed. Working with our industry partners, The School Travel Forum and UKinbound, ABTA will be in touch with the relevant government officials and will provide more information as soon as we have received it.”
Gill Harvey, CEO The School Travel Forum commented:
“The school/youth travel sector has been forgotten for far too long. We welcome these discussions within Government and look forward to young people being able to enjoy and benefit from the same opportunities and experiences as their older schoolmates.”
Joss Croft OBE, CEO of UKinbound commented:
“Many of our members’ businesses are heavily reliant on organising and bringing in school groups to the UK from France and other countries in the European Union but this sector has dropped off a cliff since the requirement for all EU visitors to travel with a passport rather than an ID card changed in October 2021.
“In 2019 this sector of the market was worth over £1 billion in export value to the UK economy, as well as providing a route to demonstrate Global Britain in practice. It is a relief therefore that the Government has announced it is committed to making this process easier going forward and implementing the changes needed to recover this valuable inbound business for the UK.” 
The joint announcement from the two countries stated “Cooperation and policy exchanges on school education, facilitation of school trips and exchanges, including in the field of vocational education, opportunities for language learning will be expanded. On school travel, the United Kingdom committed to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for schoolchildren on organised trips from France. France commits to ensuring appropriate mechanisms are in place for visa free travel for children travelling on organised school trips from the United Kingdom and to facilitating the passage of those groups through the border.”

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