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Destination News - Asia / Pacific.

Article Excerpt
Oct 4, 2009

Abercrombie & Kent rolled out its Orient, India and Pacific programs for 2010 with prices in most cases equal to or lower than last yearOs published rates. The company is also responding to requests for shorter trips to accommodate limited vacation time. The Treasures of Northern India has been updated for 2010. A journey through 5,000 years of history and a kaleidoscope of cultures, religions and landscapes, including Khajuraho (with the largest group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples in the country) and the holy city of Varanasi. Compare the colors of sunrise and sunset at the Taj Mahal. Ride an elephant in Jaipur and witness life along the Ganges, where the devout still gather as they have for centuries. Fourteen days from USD 6,255 (USD 446 per day). Oct 1, 2009

Stakeholders in KenyaOs cruise tourism are looking forward to reaping from a spill over of visitors to South Africa. There are hopes that the region could benefit from South AfricaOs expected bumper crop that will attract both birds and tourists. Foreign visitors are expected to flock to the countryOs shores this coming summer as some of the worldOs leading cruise ships follow migratory birds heading south, away from EuropeOs winter. According to statistics from Ports and Ships, a newsletter printed in Southern Africa, Durban expects 53 calls including multiple calls of Mediterranean Shipping CompanyOs cruise ship MSC Sinfinia between November and April 2010. Other ships include the giant Queen Mary Two that is expected to call at Cape Town and Durban; P&OOs Aurora; Crystal CruisesO Crystal Serenity; Fred OlsenOs Balmoral; Seven SeaOs Voyager, and Holland AmericaOs Amsterdam. Later in the year, Noordam and Westerdam will visit and remain in South African waters until after the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. Sep 30, 2009

A huge emergency effort is under way in the Samoan islands after tsunami waves triggered by a huge earthquake left scores dead and flattened or submerged entire villages. iReporter Alden Tagarino captured this image of the damage caused by the tsunami in Pago Pago. At least 111 people are confirmed killed in Samoa, neighboring American Samoa and Tonga. Officials in the Polynesia region have expressed fears the toll will rise as rescue workers struggle to reach outlying villages. The 8.0-magnitude quake hit the small cluster of Samoan islands in the South Pacific early Tuesday. In Samoa, the death toll currently stands at 82, according to government minister Maulolo Tavita. But he said he feared the number of casualities would continue to rise. Around 220,000 people live on the two main islands which make up the nation of Samoa. The population of the U.S. island territory of American Samoa is about 66,000. See a map of the affected region At least 22 people were confirmed dead late Tuesday in American Samoa. Photos of the devastation taken by CNN iReporters showed boats washed up in trees and crumbled cars smashed up in the streets. Sep 30, 2009

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand 777-300ER was deployed to ferry supplies to Samoa to help with tsunami recovery efforts. GM-Airline Operations David Morgan said the aircraft left for Samoa yesterday stocked with several hundred blankets, more than 1,000 t-shirts and basic amenity packs with items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste. Oct 1, 2009

Australia

It's a miracle - culture has grown in popularity in Australia. Well at least that's what the numbers suggest. For the first time, more Australians are visiting Victoria for a holiday than Queensland. Data released by Tourism Research Australia shows NSW still heads the list with 7.2 million domestic visitors in 2008-09, followed by Victoria with 5.4 million and Queensland with 5.1 million. Victorian tourist chiefs believe that during tough economic times, Australians' tastes have shifted toward short breaks to experience Victoria's cultural activities and away from Queensland's physical attractions. Sep 30, 2009

Australia

A man-made trap designed to maim or kill has been found along a popular Northern Territory tourist bushwalk. The sinister booby-trap construction was discovered at the mouth of the Finniss River - about 100km southwest of Darwin - and is...