British Airways – Travel Industry News

India’s tropical south-western state Kerala has been chosen as the best holiday destination in Asia by readers of independent online travel magazine Smart Travel Asia. The destination beat other favourites such as Bali, Phuket and holidays in the Maldives in the 2010 poll.

The Hindu reports that the poll was based on readers’ personal travel experiences in each destination, and organised into 12 categories – including best business hotels, best business cities, luxury resorts, spa hotels and shopping spots. The poll also rated the world’s top airlines and airports.

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The Mediterranean island country of Cyprus has long caught the attention of European holidaymakers looking to catch some rays and hit the beach on holiday, but the small nation has more than meets the eye when it comes to historical artefacts and cultural experiences as well.

It’s on a holiday in Cyprus where visitors can find out where legends were born, as the mythical Aphrodite’s rock – supposed site of birth for the goddess – rests on the shores of the Mediterranean, just a short distance from Paphos.

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With the 2010 World Cup now a thing of the past and the celebrations in South Africa concluding almost two months ago, there’s still a rising interest in visiting the African nation, which is cause for celebration itself for tourism officials.

Holidays in Johannesburg and Cape Town, two main cities for World Cup events, have maintained popularity in worldwide tourism figures, and visitors have continued to visit other South African cities such as Durban on the east coast.

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While the economy has been recovering, British holidaymakers have resumed travels abroad to exotic foreign destinations, though still keeping a close eye on their wallets. This has made cities such as Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, best bets for spend-conscious holidays.

A survey conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research recently predicted a 2.4 per cent rise in travel spending by holiday-happy Britons, which marks an improvement over 2009, whose travel figures were pocked by a global recession.

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After a long hiatus, one of Frankfurt‘s most popular tourist attractions has reopened to the public. Visitors are now welcome to scale the 328 steps of Emperor’s Cathedral, a 700 year old cathedral that was once the coronation point for kings of the German Empire.

Visitors on city breaks in Frankfurt will once again be able to scale the cathedral to witness unparalleled views from its tower. The Old Town surrounding the cathedral includes St Paul’s Church and Frankfurt’s city hall, the Roemer, and from the tower visitors can view all points with the Frankfurt skyline as a picturesque backdrop.

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Visitors to France generally take their time exploring the country, and travels can last for several weeks. However, after experiencing a brief dip in interest over 2009, officials have reported that visitor levels in the country have increased dramatically for 2010, and holidaymakers should not put off plans to visit the tourist hotspot.

According to Herve Novelli, France’s secretary of state whose responsibilities include tourism, the duration of 2010 holds promise for the country’s tourism fortunes. “The year of 2010 should allow the industry to regain visitor levels equivalent to those of 2008, that is before the [economic] crisis.”

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A recent online poll of over 6,000 travellers conducted by research firm Nielsen has found that Australia and Japan take the top spots for holidaymakers looking to visit the Asia Pacific region, with China coming in third place, knocking out its special administrative region of Hong Kong.

Those polled were asked which destination would top their list for their next holiday. Australia was the answer returned by 17 per cent of respondents, while 16 per cent chose Japan, such as holidays in Tokyo. China took nine per cent, the same percentage amassed by holidays in Hong Kong just one year ago.

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The Middle Eastern city of Dubai offers tourists a unique blend of an authentic Arab trading town and a modern, cosmopolitan metropolis. Located on the shores of the Persian Gulf and near to the desert, Dubai has plenty of luxury to spare, according to one travel writer.

Commenting on activities while on holiday in Dubai, travel writer Tom Hall of the Irish Independent said: “You’ll find plenty to keep you occupied in Dubai. The city is a fascinating mix of old and new, and both parts are worth exploring.”

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