From 1 January 2022, the UAE weekend will last from Friday afternoon to Sunday

From 1 January 2022, the UAE weekend will last from Friday afternoon to Sunday

Dubai Emirati Arabi

As reported by the Emirates News Agency, “the new working week will better align the UAE with global markets, reflecting the country’s strategic status on the global economic map. It will also increase the work-life balance and improve social well-being, while increasing performance to advance the UAE’s economic competitiveness ”.

For the moment this is a measure mainly dedicated to the public sector, but which will certainly have an impact on the private sector in the short term.

As per Islamic tradition, Friday prayers will be respected but in fact projecting the Emirates into a more globalized vision and actually facilitating trade on a global level.

It will certainly be one of the first nations to adopt the “short week” for the well-being of its citizens.

Certainly good and positive news for the world of tourism.

 

Dubai – The world’s deepest diving pool opens in July 2021

Dubai – The world’s deepest diving pool opens in July 2021

Dubai Emirati Arabi

Created for both professional and beginner divers, Deep Dive Dubai is unlike any other pool in the world.

Boasting a record-breaking depth of 60 meters, this underwater attraction allows novices to explore in the safety of a controlled diving environment. Filled with 14 million liters of warm water, it opens up new adventures for experienced divers and thrill-seekers who want to go deeper and explore further.

Inspired by the UAE’s rich pearl-diving heritage of the past, this venture sets new heights (and depths) in the nation’s ambitious vision for an incredible future.

Located in Nad Al Sheba – 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai and 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport – Deep Dive Dubai is now open and offering a variety of experiences including discovery dives for first timers, scuba dives, freedives as well as diving courses and workshops on all levels of diving from beginner to technical instructors.

More info at: www.deepdivedubai.com

Morocco reopens bordes as far June 15, 2021

Morocco reopens bordes as far June 15, 2021

Covid-19 Marocco

The Government of Morocco has announced the reopening of the borders after the closure due to Covid even if since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the health situation in Morocco has always been stable and at low levels of criticality.

From 15 June 2021, international flights to Morocco will be able to resume and travelers will be able, under certain conditions, to have access to Moroccan territory if they have a vaccination certificate and / or a negative PCR test at least 48 hours before the date of entry into the Moroccan territory.

According to the recommendations of the Moroccan Ministry of Health, a classification of countries into two lists (A and B) has been adopted which takes into account the epidemiological situation of each country.

List A includes all the countries that can access Morocco and to which it is possible to travel and Italy is included among these.

What are the sanitary measures to be respected?

As part of the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, Morocco ensures the application of the health measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the safety and health of all.

For your safety and that of others during your stay in Morocco, you must:

  • Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap or a hydro-alcoholic solution.
  • Cough or sneeze on your elbow or into a disposable tissue and throw it in a garbage can.
  • Maintain a distance of 1.5 m with your interlocutor.
  • Avoid hand gestures, hugs and kisses and be sure to wear the mask.
  • Take all precautions when you leave.

For more information and updates:
Tourist Board of Morocco 

https://www.visitmorocco.com/it/preparare-il-viaggio/covid-19-viaggiare-sicuri-in-marocco

https://www.diplomatie.ma/en/statement-flights-and-morocco-resume-june-15

(For more information on the health situation of Covid-19 in Morocco, click on the following link: http://www.covidmaroc.ma/).

The MICE Industry finally restarts safely in the States

The MICE Industry finally restarts safely in the States

Las Vegas United States

In the following link an interesting comparison video of John Williams, President of American Guest – our DMC partner for Events & Congresses in the USA – with various Event Planners and Hoteliers in Las Vegas on the resumption of events in attendance.
For more information: americanguestusa@tourismconnection.it
#USA #eventi_congressi #eventplanner #mice

https://vimeo.com/kpgcreative/review/555369443/650cd3a1a2

GEORGIA – The Tamada

GEORGIA – The Tamada

Georgia Tbilisi

Walking through the center of Tbilisi, you come across a curious statue: a man quietly seated in the center of the square holding the typical Georgian “Khanzi” chalice.

The “Tamada”, or the master of ceremonies, is represented here, the one who at each banquet (or “Supra“) proposes and guides the toasts, accompanied by a short and effective preface.

In Georgia, drinking wine with friends is practically a lifestyle, a very important tradition and the toast therefore becomes a convivial and sacred act, marked by a complex system of consolidated customs and traditions.

You can therefore understand how important the role of the Tamada is.

A good Tamada must be sensitive, intelligent, always in a good mood, of good culture, have innate oratory skills, almost a poet, know how to conduct the evening, know how to decide when to propose a toast, when to sing, when to call everyone to dance. Obviously, he must know the wines and their characteristics very well, be able to ingest large quantities without problems and know the traditions of service and the table.

Every time the Tamada proposes a toast, everyone gets up, listens to his words in absolute silence, then at the final cry, they drink the wine from their Khanzi in one gulp.

Usually it starts with a toast in honor of the event that is celebrated, then a toast is proposed to the guest, one to health, one to fertility, one to prosperity, one to longevity, one to the dead, one to loved ones, one to friendship, one to dreams and so on for the duration of the “supra”.

It is also traditional to propose a toast to each person at the Georgian table trying to distinguish the most interesting and positive traits.

If the guests are few, usually the figure of the Tamada is identified in the head of the family or the eldest, while on great occasions, such as at a wedding banquet, the Tamada must be named in advance.

In Georgia, the culture of wine is very ancient, and is an integral part of history and national identity, wine at the table is the absolute protagonist, but a good Tamada is always necessary to ensure the good result of the ceremony.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – EXPO 2020

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – EXPO 2020

Dubai Emirati Arabi

After this difficult pandemic year, Expo2020 DUBAI is preparing to host visitors from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. We all hope that it will be the starting point for autumn-winter travel, in fact the wait and the requests are stepping up.

It will be the record edition … on the other hand, one could not expect anything different from Dubai.

Here are just a few numbers just to give you an idea: 192 exhibiting countries with their own pavilion, + 60 live events per day, + 200 choices of restaurants and other culinary outlets.

Special themed weeks are planned, all major world holidays of all religions will be celebrated and each country will be able to celebrate its own national day.

The theme of the EXPO is “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” with three sub-themes such as “Opportunity“, “Mobility” and “Sustainability” each with a dedicated futuristic pavilion.

The beating heart of the exhibition space is the Al Wasl Plaza (Al Wasl means connection) and will host the main ceremonies of the event. This space is dominated by a huge dome that allows 360° projections, the largest of its kind ever made. The steel trusses that support it, with sand-colored screens, have been fitted with over 200 projectors and form a structure so large that it could hold two Airbus A380.

Magic Arabia, our partner on the destination and official dealer of EXPO, has developed a production dedicated to this extraordinary event with packages of 3-4-5 nights, one of which with a planned stay in Abu Dhabi, guaranteed departures with a minimum of 2 participants and in addition to EXPO, the possibility of various cultural and leisure visits with free time available. All with an Italian-speaking guide, on-site assistance and maximum attention to all Covid-19 regulations. Do not hesitate to ask us for information.

 

ARMENIA – The Symphony of Stones

ARMENIA – The Symphony of Stones

Armenia

The Symphony of the Stones is a natural monument located in the Azat river basin, in the area of the village of Garni. It is located in the Kotayk region and is about 28 km from the capital Yerevan (about 40 minutes of travel).

More precisely we are in the Garni gorge, carved by the Goght river, a short distance from the 1st century AD Garni Temple. the only pagan temple in the nation. With a short 4×4 ride it is possible to reach the gorge and enjoy this magnificent and unique spectacle.

The monument is made up of huge symmetrical hexagonal and pentagonal basalt columns (almost 50 meters high), which appear to be handcrafted due to their extraordinary symmetry. These wonderful rocks were formed under high pressure conditions due to the cooling and crystallization of volcanic lava.

These stones suspended against gravity resemble an organ, which explains why it is also called the “Basalt Organ”.

The soundtrack is provided by the river that flows through the gorge and fills the splendor of the stone with the sound of water.

In 2013, the “Symphony of Stones” poster, presented by Armenia, was chosen as the winner in the “Europe” category in the competition for the best tourist poster held every two years by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The poster was displayed on the official website of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, as well as on the UNWTO foyer wall in Madrid for two years.

The Symphony of Stones is registered in the list of natural monuments and, consequently, is protected by law. It is one of the many hidden jewels that Armenia offers to all its visitors.

GOOD NEWS FROM THE MALDIVES: MALDIVES HAS COMMENCED THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE

GOOD NEWS FROM THE MALDIVES: MALDIVES HAS COMMENCED THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE

Senza categoria

The vaccination campaign in the Maldives began on February 1, 2021. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih with the First Lady were the first to undergo the vaccination. In addition to them, other government officials including the President of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed and the Maldivian Chief Justice Uz Ahmed Muthasim Adnan received the vaccine which was administered during a special ceremony at the Male ‘Social Center where it was established. the vaccination center that testifies to the efforts underway in the archipelago to fight Covid-19.

The highest priority is given to frontline workers for the first shift.

In a national speech on January 20, 2021, President Ibrahim Solih said the government aims to provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all citizens and residents of the Maldives in the coming months.

President Ibrahim Solih also stressed the importance of individual responsibility even in this period of renewed hope and begged citizens to be cautious in following the example of health workers.

Read more: visitesmaldives.com

It is official, the 24th UNWTO General Assembly will be held in Morocco in 2021

It is official, the 24th UNWTO General Assembly will be held in Morocco in 2021

Marocco UNWTO

In anticipation of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization – the Madrid-based United Nations agency that deals with the coordination of tourism policies – to be held in October on the theme “Education and Youth, Rural Development and Digital Innovation” , a UNWTO Delegation led by the Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili was received in Morocco to prepare the program, calendar and location.

During these “three days” of visits, the Minister of Tourism, Nadia Fettah Aloui and her staff guaranteed the success of this important organization, the first at an international level in the post-pandemic period.

Together with the Prime Minister, Saadeddine Othmani, the Foreign Minister and the Governor of Marrakech – Safi Region welcomed the UNWTO Secretary General.

At the end, Mr. Pololikashvili thanked for the excellent success of this first visit and declared that “Tourism is adapting to the new reality and we face the future with optimism and with the support of our members“.

Read more: https://www.unwto.org/news/official-visit-to-morocco-initiates-preparations-for-unwto-general-assembly