News

Jamaican Agents Visit Cuba on Exclusive Educational Tour

Jamaican travel agents recently set out on an exclusive educational trip put together by Caribbean and Latin Travel, the purpose of which was to study Cuba firsthand in some of its finest sites. Attractions and possibilities they discovered included Cuba’s best destinations along with world-class scenery that has gone largely uncovered till now. This trip was designed to let agents see carriages turned into homes, recognize paintings on sheer rock in the water–all as a basis for carrying the legend of Cuba to others. Traveling to the now classic sites of Havana, Viñales and Varadero has helped the agents better appreciate the diversity of Cuba. Whether visiting for cultural tours or an easy beach holiday–and everything in between–they set about gaining insights. With this kind of information at their fingertips, Jamaican travel agents can now recommend Cuba more confidently than ever before to their clients. That means they will be able ensure tourists headed for the island can enjoy its varied attractions in a way no other destination could touch. While Cuba has long been a favorite destination for many international visitors, it remains relatively underexplored by Jamaican tourists. To address this, Caribbean and Latin Travel Consultant Limited orchestrated the trip to give Jamaican travel agents an in-depth understanding of what Cuba has to offer, enabling them to share more detailed information with their clients. The itinerary for the fam trip included visits to key Cuban destinations such as Havana, Viñales, and Varadero. Havana, the capital city, offered a mix of modern energy and historical charm, with agents experiencing both the bustling New Havana and the historically preserved Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition, the agents were introduced to the breathtaking natural beauty of Viñales, with its lush landscapes and tobacco farms, as well as the pristine beaches of Varadero, a popular resort area known for its turquoise waters and luxury accommodations.

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Vietnam Imposes Sea Travel Ban as Storm No. 3 Nears

As Storm No. 3 approaches, Vietnam has enforced strict restrictions on sea travel and tourism to protect both residents and visitors in the affected coastal regions. The storm, expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains, has led local authorities to suspend all beach visits and halt maritime activities, ensuring public safety during the severe weather conditions. These proactive measures come in response to the escalating risk of widespread damage, as authorities in key coastal provinces such as Nghe An, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong take steps to safeguard lives and property. In response to the impending Storm No. 3 (Wipha), various coastal provinces in Vietnam have taken immediate action to ensure public safety by suspending tourism activities and enforcing strict sea travel bans. This decision follows the weather forecasts predicting significant disruptions from strong winds, heavy rains, and the potential for widespread damage, particularly along the central and northern coasts of Vietnam.

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Kuok Hui Kwong Named CEO of Shangri-La Asia

Shangri-La Asia will have a new CEO from Aug 1, 2025 Kuok Hui Kwong, daughter to Malaysian mogul Robert Kuok. The appointment also serves as a strategic direction to bring the company’s leadership and business operations into greater unison, leveraging Kuok’s deep knowledge in hospitality and media. Kuok has been closely connected to Shangri-La Asia since June 2016, first as executive director and assumed the post of chairman in January 2017. The combined roles of Chairman and CEO help ensure clear accountability, effective decision-making and the alignment of both management interests and the interest of shareholders in having management performing their role without the influence of separate bodies lobbying to influence decisions.

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Goa Welcomes 5M+ Visitors in 6 Months, 95% From India

In a first, Goa already sees 54.55 lakh visitors arriving in the first half of 2025. This phenomenal number reflects the state’s sustained appeal as India’s leading holiday destination, with domestic tourists playing a major role in this impressive growth for Tourism in India. Figures from the Goa Tourism Department have revealed that among the total 54.55 lakh tourists, the domestic tourists were a whopping 51.84 lakh. January was the strongest month with 10.56 lakh arrivals, including about 9.86 lakh domestic and 70,000 international tourists. Momentum continued in February as 9.05 lakh tourists arrived — 8.44 lakh domestic and more than 61,000 foreigners. It continued to grow robustly in March when over 8.89 lakh foreigners visited the country. The domestic footfall was approximately 8.32 lakh, while international footfall was close to 56,000. This is an ongoing trend that confirms Goa’s appeal to travelers regardless of seasons.

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Oman’s Tivoli La Vie Muscat Welcomes New GM Cristian Nannucci

Oman’s tourism industry is set for a major shot in the arm as Minor Hotels introduces Cristian Nannucci as General Manager of the soon-to-be-launched Tivoli La Vie Muscat Hotel in early 2026. A 30-year veteran of international hospitality operations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Nannucci will be responsible for the pre-opening and dynamic operation launch of the brand’s debut property in Oman. This decision ─ a strategic company leadership initiative, underscores Minor Hotels’ as a commitment to growing the brand’s footprint in the region to meet the vision of Oman’s tourism development strategy and to place the Tivoli La Vie Muscat as a landmark destination in the Sultanate’s luxury hospitality sector. International hospitality group, Minor Hotels, which has 560 hotels and resorts worldwide, is bringing its world-renowned Tivoli Hotels & Resorts brand to Oman with the upcoming opening of the Tivoli La Vie Muscat Hotel. Hotel guests will experience renowned Kempinski services and high-quality personalised luxury, all offered with an impressive sea view.Scheduled to open first quarter of 2026, The hotel development marks an important step for the company, as it enters into the Omani market, and continue to enhance their presence in the luxury segment in the Middle East. The Tivoli La Vie Muscat Hotel will be part of the much anticipated LA VIE development, a premier lifestyle destination in Muscat and only 15 minutes from the Muscat International Airport. The development aims to be a cornerstone of the capital city, around which a new era in luxury hospitality and lifestyle is set to unfold; one that introduces guests and residents to the finest combination of signature suites, branded residences, as well as world-class leisure and business facilities.

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Emirates Adds Third Daily Flight to Mauritius, Boosting Global Connectivity

Emirates – the world’s largest international airline, has introduced a third daily flight to the Maldives as the Indian Ocean’s idyllic paradise reopened to tourists. Under a codeshare with Air Mauritius, the new service, with return ticket prices starting at AED 6,355, increases options for travelers taking off from markets in the Middle East, Europe and the USA to fly to the island destination. New daily flight EK709 will leave Dubai at 06:55 and will reach Mauritius at 13:40 local time. Flight EK710 will leave Mauritius at 18:30 and land in Dubai at 01:10 the next day. The new service will run daily, solidifying the airline’s partnership with the tourism industry of Mauritius and increasing its presence in the region. The new daily flight adds to Emirates’ two existing daily services on the route, both of which are operated by its flagship A380 aircraft. Serving the country since 2002, airline was enjoying great success with its two daily operations, playing a major key role in the development of Mauritius’ tourism industry.

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