Bellarine Peninsula Tourism | Info

Day 2 Kolkata - Dibrugarh (by air) - Mon:In the early morning, drive to the airport for the flight to Dibrugarh. Upon arrival, meet and assistance by Travelmasti representative and drive to Mon. It is interesting to see the tattoos covered faces of people wearing feathered headgears and traditional dress. Here you can find excellent wood carvings, daos (Machetes), guns, gunpowder, headgears etc. Overnight stay in tourist lodge.

One of the smallest states in India but one of the most beautiful, Nagaland is located in the far eastern part of the country. It is surrounded by Assam, Myanmar, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Kohima is the capital of the state. The picturesque beauty of this state has also earned it the tag of “Switzerland of the east”.

Music and culture are an integral part of the Nagaland people and their life. This place is also the fashion capital of the east. Along with the vibrant colourful sunrise and the mystical natural beauty of the place, there are other places like the Second World War cemetery, State Museum and Zoo that are located in the capital city of Kohima which arouse interest in tourists. Trekking, rock climbing, jungle camping can also be indulged in while you are in Nagaland.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales, Feb. 8 — Tourism Secretary Ace Durano has cited Subic Bay’s rise from the ashes of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption as an example of how stakeholders in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions/events (M.I.C.E.) industry could tap into the $ 300-billion global M.I.C.E. market.

“Assess the situation and formulate appropriate strategies,” Durano exhorted participants in the Philippine M.I.C.E. Conference 2010, an international forum being held at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) here.

“There is always an opportunity that comes with change,” Durano said as he recounted how Subic Bay transformed itself from a wasteland into a bustling free port, and how it is now making a name as host to local and international events.

More than 300 representatives from various sectors of the Philippine M.I.C.E. industry arrived here as early as Thursday evening for the four-day event that ends on Monday.

Durano said M.I.C.E. players can only respond two ways to the challenges faced by the industry: “to be like an immovable object, which eventually is toppled by the wind, or a kite that soars higher as the wind gets stronger.”

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza, who welcomed the conference delegates, meanwhile, said Subic has reaped much benefits after the Subic agency decided to invest in the M.I.C.E. industry.

He said this decision gave rise to the 12,000-square meter SBECC, which now boasts of having one of the best convention facilities in the country today.

The SBECC, which was formerly the shell of an abandoned computer parts factory and warehouse, and refurbished by the SBMA at the cost of P350 million, has poured from $ 10 million to $ 12 million in income to the local economy since it first opened for the 20th Philippine Advertising Congress in 2007, Arreza said.

“Subic Bay as a major M.I.C.E. destination has always been a dream of mine ever since I stepped in here as administrator four years ago,” said Arreza, a former undersecretary at the Department of Tourism.

He said aside from drawing participants to conventions, most of whom also visit various tourism facilities in the locality during the conventions, SBECC has “introduced” Subic to potential investors such as Nestle, Coca-Cola and Phillip Morris, companies that soon decided to open facilities in Subic after holding conferences at the local convention venue.

“There is a tremendous potential in M.I.C.E., and I urge everyone to get the most out of it,” Arreza also told conference delegates, who came from as far as as Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, Palawan, Bohol, Bacolod, Pampanga, Aklan, and Camarines Sur.

The four-day M.I.C.E. conference, which brought together national industry associations, international affiliates and business networks within the tourism industry, featured a series of presentations by international experts in the tourism industry and media.

The various topics shared a common theme: how local players can tap into the growing M.I.C.E. market.

Among the speakers in the conference are Pacific Asia Travel Association chief executive Gregory Duffel, World Tourism Organization consultant and former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor, Web in Travel producer and SHY Ventures editor-at-large Yeoh Siew Hoon, International Congress and Convention Association Chief executive Martin Shirk of The Netherlands, Malaysia-based Asian Overland Services group managing director Anthony Wong, UK-based Regent Exhibitions managing director Paul Flackett, and Travel Impact Newswire executive editor Imtiaz Muqbil.

M.I.C.E.Con 2010 is the result of a historic tie-up among the Philippine Asian M.I.C.E. Forum, which is spearheaded by the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, and the Philippine Incentive Marketing Conference of the Department of Tourism, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp., and the Movement of Incentive Travel Executives. (PNA)

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Similar Posts:

• Durano exhorts M.I.C.E. players: ‘Learn from Subic experience
• 21st Ad Congress to pour up to P100M into Subic economy
• Davao tourism players working hard to host MICE confab in 2010
• RP's largest tourism fair to feature Subic attractions
• MICECON 2010 to stir global interest in Subic

ANTALYA

Sea, sun, history and nature in magical harmony in the most beautiful coastal city of the Mediterranean

With its hot weather, boulevards shaded by palm trees smelling of honeysuckle and jasmine, charming traditional houses in the narrow alleys and with its old quarter Kaleiçi and international marina, Antalya is Turkey’s foremost travel destination. Along the length of the Gulf of Antalya’s Turquoise Coast there are: ancient cities, monuments, fine bays, sandy beaches, beautiful forests, cliffs and waterfalls. Antalya serves as an incredible feast of nature and archaeology for its visitors. Because of its excellent transport connections, including its international airport, the high standards and levels of services found in its accommodation, and its sound infrastructure, Antalya is also an important congress travel destination. Visitors from all over the world come to experience the region’s breadth of touristic and entertainment opportunities. Highlights include the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, international beach volleyball, triathlon competitions, golf tournaments, archery, tennis, skiing, music, theatre and exhibitions.

Transport

By road: Antalya has road connections to every part of Turkey. For big cities like Istanbul and Ankara, the best route is to travel via Afyonkarahisar and Burdur.
By air: Antalya International Airport is situated 10 km from the city centre.
By sea: The port of Antalya is one of Turkey’s most important sea access points.

Conference Halls

Antalya Expo Centre is built on a 65,000 m² site and has an indoor floor space of 40,000 m². The 2-storey building is suitable for sector fairs, sports activities, concerts and congress. It offers 6 main rooms, seating for up to 800 in 18 halls of various sizes, committee rooms and offices and a foyer, all in a contemporary setting. It has visual communication equipment, business centre, fax, telephone, computers, internet connection, ventilation, catering, 800 vehicle capacity car park, accommodation potential (5 star)

For more information: Cihadiye Köyü Pınarlı Beldesi
07110 Aksu / ANTALYA
Phone: +90 242 4622000
Fax: +90 242 4621990
Web-site: http://www.anfas.com.tr/

Sabancı Cam Piramit (Glass Pyramid) Convention and Exhibition Centre covers an area of 4500 m² in the Atatürk Culture Park and is a two-storey building topped by a colored insulated pyramid of glass. Inside it can be found halls for conferences and congresses, exhibitions, specialty fairs and open sessions. The halls can also be used as meeting rooms, picture galleries or press offices.

For more information: 100. Yıl Bulvarı, Kültür Parkı İçi
ANTALYA
Phone: + 90 242 238 5444
Fax: + 90 242 238 52 76
Web-site: http://www.antalya.bel.tr/

İSTANBUL

One foot in Asia and one in Europe

İstanbul is a bridge between Europe and Asia and an intersection between east and west in culture and trade. The city is an enchanting blend of the past and the present, the old and the new and of all that is traditional and all that is contemporary. Today’s Istanbul takes its place as one of the world’s great cities. Because of its excellent transport and communications, international congress centers, wide ranging, accommodation facilities with the latest technology, it is one of the busiest centers for congress travel offering professional support solutions for conferences of all sizes. At the same time, Istanbul offers shopping opportunities, restaurants, night clubs, entertainment spots, various music and cinema festivals, competitions, theatre, opera, ballet and concert events that make it a world class art and cultural centre.

Transport

By road: There are connections from Istanbul to everywhere in the country. The city’s international bus stations are at Harem on the Anatolian side and Esenler on the European side.
By air: The International Atatürk Airport is 20 km from the city centre. Sabiha Gökçen International Airport located on the Anatolian side is at a distance of 50 km to Taksim. There are flights to many countries.
By rail: There are connections to European capitals, Ankara, İzmir and Eastern Anatolia.
By sea: There are connections to European and Mediterranean ports.

Conference Halls

Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICEC) is Turkey’s largest convention and exhibition centre. It has all the equipment, professional administration and well-educated staff required for anything from a meeting of 10 people to a conference of 30,000 people to pass successfully and comfortably. Suitable for all meetings and production needs its boast an auditorium equipped with the most modern technology, smaller individual meeting rooms, and a foyer suitable for the exhibition of products and services.

For more information: Lütfi Kırdar Uluslararası Kongre ve Sergi Sarayı
Harbiye 34267
İSTANBUL
Tel : +90 212 373 1100
Faks :+90 212 224 0878
Web-sitesi : http://www.icec.org/

Cemal Reşit Rey Konser Salonu

Cemal Reşit Rey (CRR) Concert Hall, one of Turkey’s best concert halls is built to international standards and meets every technological requirement for congresses. As well as the fabulous acoustics, the main advantages of the concert hall are its portable structure system, electronic sound repercussion system, 16/35 mm projection system, computer controlled 180 channel light system, live television and radio broadcasts including recording infrastructure, simultaneous translation in more than 6 languages, recording in 4 languages, electronic voting system.

For more information: 34367 Harbiye / İstanbul
Phone: + 90 212 246 06 96 – 246 52 28
Fax: + 90 212 248 54 51
Web-site: http://www.crrks.org/

For more information on İstanbul’s congress facilities, please visit http://www.icvb.org/

İZMİR

İzmir ‘the pearl of the Aegean’ is Turkey’s largest and most important port city

İzmir, with its bay lined by seaside walkways shaded by palm trees, wide avenues and green parks, is truly ‘the pearl of Aegean’. It is mentioned in countless myths and has the remains of many past civilizations, along with vibrant fishing harbors and popular holiday villages. İzmir is a major trade and cultural centre and thus extraordinarily well suited for meetings, conferences and congress. It is also home to many luxury and first class hotels, a great variety of restaurants, sporting activities, entertainment, shops and a year-round temperate climate.

Transport

By road: There are direct bus services to the closest and most important cities.
By air: Izmir International Adnan Menderes Airport is 10 km from the city center.
By rail: There is a direct service to Ankara.
By sea: Izmir Alsancak port and the harbours at Çesme, Aliağa and Dikili are all important sea ports which receive cruise liners and ferries.

Conference Halls

Efes Convention Center is izmir’s principal congress centre boasting 12 meeting halls, a 5000 m² fair and exhibition area, 3320 person meeting capacity, 1410 person banquet capacity. It offers visual communication equipment, fax, telephone, computer, internet connection, ventilation, catering service, car park and car hire service.

For more information: Şehit Nevris Bey Bulvarı NO: 2
Alsancak / IZMIR
Phone: + 90 232 445 4856
Fax: + 90 232 445 4757

Kültürpark Fair Area includes a total of 55.000 m² of exhibition area with 14 indoor exhibition venues and meeting rooms. It offers visual communications equipment, fax, telephone, computer, internet connection, ventilation, catering service, car park, car hire service, open air pool and accommodation (5 stars).

For more information: Şair Eşref Bulvarı No: 50
Kültürpark / IZMIR
Phone: +90 232 445 3994
Fax: + 90 232 445 0040

Lots for travelers and travel writers. My first-ever "foreign" travel story was about Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, so it’s always a treat to return. Inside its distinctly quirky package is an alluring mix of old-fashioned elegance, shabby chic, the endearingly dilapidated, and the strikingly modern.

Built on seafaring, Lisbon smells of sardines, salty breezes, and strong black coffee. Its signature tune is a melody of break-your-heart fado songs, the chirruping of cage birds, and the call of seagulls.

Little has changed since my initial visit. Vintage trams continue to rattle through the perpendicular Alfama neighborhood. Then there’s the Alfama itself, its skinny medieval streets garlanded with laundry, hole-in-the-wall bars, repair workshops, greengrocers and late night fado clubs.

The grandstand view from the Portas do Sol (Gates of the Sun) mirador is how I remember, too.

Plunging down to the Tagus river estuary and the Atlantic is another sea: one of red-tiled roofs, church spires and palm trees. And here’s more Alfama nostalgia—the poems carved on wood in the grounds of Sao Jorge’s Castle. At night, the antique hilltop fortress gets floodlit like a topaz beacon.

Unwrapping the layers of this Cinderella city is always thrilling. Downtown’s Baixa district is the posh Lisbon of elegant squares and black-and-white mosaic boulevards. The Chiado is literary Lisbon. The atmospheric Bairro Alto and Alfama neighborhoods are the Lisbon of cobbles, dark passageways, and tiny sunlit squares.

If you’re here on Tuesday or Saturday, browse around Feira da Ladra beside Santa Clara’s Church in the lower Alfama. Some goods may have dubious origins, but this gigantic flea market isn’t the dodgy "Thieves Market" it once was. Among the tourist tat and cheap clothing imports, you can still unearth beautiful old azulejos (picture tiles) and curiosities from former Portuguese colonies.

Everywhere in Lisbon is festooned with azulejos—houses, churches, even railway stations. Depicting seabirds and sea creatures, my favorite art tiles decorate the entrance to the Ribeira—a covered produce market at Cais do Sodre. Fish is the star turn here: inky squids; hake, crabs and all sizes of shrimp; sheets of bacalhau, Portugal’s signature dish of dried codfish.

Every restaurant menu includes at least one bacalhau dish. There are at least 365 recipes—one for every day. Off the tourist trail, Portugalia Cervejaria (Avenida Almirante Reis, 117) is a great local place—a traditional beer-hall specializing in hearty 7 euro lunches. I loved its dining room with blue and white azulejos, giant fish tank, and seriously ancient waiters whose courtesy was as wonderfully old-fashioned as their aprons.

Funiculars and 19th-century elevator contraptions are the easy way into the hilly Chiado and Bairro Alto districts. The classic way to reach Belem is by tram. Come out here for the Monument to the Discoveries and the sugar-white Jeronimos Monastery where the navigator Vasco da Gama lies entombed.

Every Lisbon pasteleria (pastry shop) sells creamy egg custard tarts called natas. The originals come from Casa Pasteis de Belem, near Jeronimos monastery. The shop was created by monks in 1837 to raise funds. Locals and visitors munch through around 12,000 of these sweet treats each day.

If Lisbon’s nostalgia-fest gets overwhelming, take the Metro to Oriente and one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects. The new waterfront, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, a mega-mall and Parque das Nacoes futuristic architecture jolts you right back into the 21st century.

This article has been republished from International Living.

Lisbon is the largest city of Portugal and is also the capital of it. It dates back to nearly two centuries BC. This city has modern areas with long wide boulevards that are sheltered from large trees, gardens and generous residential areas. As the city is of olden generation you will get wonderful sites built on the terraced hillsides. Hence, this city is a mixture of ancient and modern locations. One can experience the natural beauty of this place which is extended across seven hills. This city meets the banks of the large River Tagus estuary. This river is crossed by the outstanding Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge.

Cruise shops normally dock close to this bride at Doca de Alcantara which is located to the east of Belem waterside quarter. To get the magnificent views of the nature and this city just travel by a cruise and enjoy your trip to the fullest. The city not only offers marvelous attractions but it also presents wonderful nightlife, shopping, eating and drinking scene. The port of Lisbon is a mind blowing architectural monument situated close to the downtown area at a distance of nearly 4 miles from the old section of the city. The Lisbon International Airport is also located close to the port.

Shopping will be perfect in the old section of Lisbon especially on the street like Arco Triunful de rua Augusta which is among the main pedestrian shopping streets in the city. Move ahead to the inland and you will stand at the centre of shopping streets from all directions. There are many small shops that sell local crafts and products. This city is a home to many kinds of wine shops that offers best Portuguese port wine and Italian wines as well. As compared to France, the cost of Portugal is very low for the same products. Lesbon is the best place to buy clothes.

The hillside attractions are the major part that should be explored. Hike to St. George’s Castle where you will get spectacular views of the city, visiting Sinta will worth a lot, to explore the religious history take a trip on ship to Fatima. While you will travel by cruise some breathtaking sites cannot be compared with others in the world. So just enjoy the sights from Tagus River to the Atlantic Ocean. At the northern direction of the river, after crossing the bridge you can see huge monument of Discoveries that is simply attractive. When you reach to the open ocean just take a glance at the same direction and get inspired from the Tower of Belem.

Before leaving the city do not miss the best cuisines here like some speciality of seafood and also the pastel de nata which is the custard tart with a galao, milky coffee at any of the famous cafes. To reach there you need to select a proper climate when you can explore the city better. From the months of June to September you will experience hot and largely dry summers. November to March is the season of little wet climate with temperatures exist nearly 15 degree Celsius. The months like April, May and October brings pleasant warm temperatures and sometimes remains wet as well.

The city is located in between Europe and Portugal and hence the language spoken here is Portuguese where 564,657 populations live in city and 2,000,000 in metropolitan area. Majority of religion here is of Roman Catholic and enjoys republic government. So just try to know the life of this place and explore this wonderful tourist destination entirely. There is no need of visa if you are staying for less than 90 days but current passport is all that you need to reach here. The magnificent sights from the open ocean to the surroundings will make your day amazing. So once you dock at the port just make your accommodation and have fun.