1
YOU GO FIRST, NO AFTER YOU
Brownie points if you know where the biggest cave in the world is located. Some brownie points, but less than before, if you couldn’t figure it out before but now you do with my hint: it’s in Asia. Less brownie points with the next hint: the country name begins with a V. Less brownie points with this one: the country ends in -nam. I’m all out of brownie points and if you haven’t gotten it yet, I seriously urge you to pick up an atlas and a diary to figure things out. What’s the cave scene in Vietnam theses days? From CNN: “Vietnam already has a worldwide reputation for its food, beaches, ancient history and diverse landscapes. And, over the past decade, it’s also emerged as one of the world’s leading destinations for caving. Quang Binh province in central Vietnam is particularly famous, thanks to the UNESCO-protected Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park — also known as the Kingdom of Caves. Last year alone, the region welcomed more than 3.9 million visitors, representing an 18.2% uptick compared with the year prior.”
2
OVER AND OUT
If you’ve been following my newsletter over this past summer, a lot of what I’ve been sharing has been around activities, things to explore, and places to visit. It’s true. But I’m starting to get a little burnout vibe from the summer holidaymakers. Almost like a lot of them can’t wait to return, have their kids in school, go to their old routines and go back to the lives they once had. This one is for those of you who are starting to feel that way. That’s why I, actually Travel and Leisure, presents The Top 5 International Destination Spas: “Four out of five of this year’s best international destination spas are located in warm-weather destinations. Since opening in 1940, Rancho La Puerta (No. 2) in Tecate, Mexico, has amassed a loyal client base, with its diverse range of programming, stunning desert setting, and spa treatments that draw on Native American and holistic healing traditions. “I was bowled over by the number of activity options,” one reader wrote, “from magical early-morning hikes to meditation, poetry, dance, and art classes.” Another traveler loved the property so much that she returned seven times!” If I wanted to focus on spas, I would have headlined this newsletter: Travel, siesta and culture – let’s get back to some adventure!
3
HANGIN’ IN THE PHILIPPINES
So this place is cool. I had not heard of it before coming across it. I hadn’t even heard of a similar concept in all my years of youthful exploration (I’m still youthful!). This place in the Philippines blows my mind! And, apparently a lot of other people, and that’s why this downer: the Philippines government has already had to put regulations in place to curb the number of visitors heading to Sagada where hanging coffins are displayed high on cliffs: “She is pleased that the local government unit is “very responsive” to promote Sagada as an ecotourism destination, protecting the environment and preserving its cultural and heritage sites. Already popular among European tourists and now gaining traction among tourists from Israel, India and South-east Asia, Sagada is known for its hanging coffins, caves, waterfalls, trails and bucolic scenery. The destination attracted even more domestic tourists when its Kiltepan Peak was featured in the Filipino rom-com That Thing Called Tadhana, according to Gigi Jamiro, inbound operations manager, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours. Sunrise viewers had flocked to Kiltepan Peak, which remains closed following a fire that engulfed two buildings in November last year.”
4
UN-TOURISTS
Enough of this clamor about super-touristy European destinations (I like what Amsterdam has been doing to address it – next blurb). So, have you ever considered visiting the most beautiful un-touristy cities in Europe, like Orange, The Hague or Sarajevo? From CNN: “As Amsterdam attempts to rein in tourists with plans to close its Red Light District and impose strict rules on short-term lets, the Hague serves as a fabulous, low-key alternative for those still keen on a Dutch break. The city boasts some of the Netherlands’ finest architecture, a pretty network of canals and, in the Mauritshuis, a museum to rival Amsterdam’s behemoth Rijksmuseum. It’s also just 15 minutes away from the gorgeous Scheveningen beach resort.” What do you say?
5
SO…WHAT DO YOU DO EXACTLY?
Many people have noticed, dare I say been to those information kiosks spread throughout a destination or seen the “Beautiful [insert country name here]” ads on television. Have you ever wondered who’s responsible for all of that work and promotion? Well, I got to the bottom of it (I guess I already sorta knew – it’s kinda my job). They are typically what we call Destination Marketing Organization, or DMOs for short. To be honest, many people around the world are more and more perceiving them to be Destination Management Offices because of the more critical role they are playing in not just promoting a destination, but managing it. For those of us from the industry, it’s always been about more than just numbers. My favorite quote from this article comes from the head of NYC & Company: “We realized over time that the true metric for tourism is the economic and social impact on the community.” Truth be told, we still have way too many tourists in NYC!
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!