Caretaker Tourism Minister Advances Brand Balkans Initiative at World Travel Market London

Travel

Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev participated in pivotal discussions with European counterparts to improve regional tourism cooperation during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, the Ministry of Tourism press service said here on Wednesday.Brand Balkans Initiative
A central theme was the development of a joint tourism product, Brand Balkans, aimed at facilitating multi-destination travel within the region. This initiative seeks to attract tourists from overseas markets by offering a cohesive Balkan experience. Miloshev’s counterparts, including Italy’s Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanche, expressed support for this concept. Minister Santanche proposed a collaborative meeting in Rome with representatives from Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, and Italy to establish the Destination Balkans product.
Innovative Training Models
Discussions also included innovative models for training tourism personnel. Italy’s successful collaboration with North African countries involves a tourism campus in Egypt, where Italian instructors train young specialists who subsequently pursue careers in Italy’s tourism sector. Miloshev expressed interest in adopting similar initiatives to improve training and professional development within Bulgaria.
Year-Round Resort Development
The ministers explored Italy’s experience in adapting winter resort infrastructure for summer use, thereby extending tourist activity throughout the year. Bulgaria aims to implement such best practices to develop its mountain resorts as year-round destinations.
Bulgaria-Greece Tourism Committee
Miloshev and Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, agreed to establish a bilateral Tourism Committee. This committee will focus on improving air connectivity, addressing labour market challenges, and promoting sustainable tourism products. Kefalogianni emphasized the importance of joint efforts to secure European funding for modernizing tourism infrastructure, advancing digitalization, and fostering sustainable tourism.
Bulgaria-Turkiye Tourism Collaboration
In discussions with Turkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Nadir Alpaslan, it was agreed that the 5th session of the Bulgaria-Turkiye Tourism Committee will convene in Bansko. Topics will include improving border control, developing the Brand Balkans destination, improving Black Sea cruise tourism, and strengthening bilateral tourism sector ties.
Strengthening Balkan Cooperation
Miloshev also met with Serbia’s Minister of Tourism, Husein Memic; Croatia’s State Secretary for Tourism and Sports, Tonci Glavina; and Montenegro’s Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Goran Durovic. These discussions focused on intensifying cooperation among Balkan countries through joint projects aimed at promoting the region as a unified tourist destination.
These engagements at WTM London underscore Bulgaria’s commitment to regional collaboration, aiming to position the Balkans as an attractive and diverse global tourist destination.

Caretaker Tourism Minister Advances Brand Balkans Initiative at World Travel Market London

Travel

Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev participated in pivotal discussions with European counterparts to improve regional tourism cooperation during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, the Ministry of Tourism press service said here on Wednesday.Brand Balkans Initiative
A central theme was the development of a joint tourism product, Brand Balkans, aimed at facilitating multi-destination travel within the region. This initiative seeks to attract tourists from overseas markets by offering a cohesive Balkan experience. Miloshev’s counterparts, including Italy’s Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanche, expressed support for this concept. Minister Santanche proposed a collaborative meeting in Rome with representatives from Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, and Italy to establish the Destination Balkans product.
Innovative Training Models
Discussions also included innovative models for training tourism personnel. Italy’s successful collaboration with North African countries involves a tourism campus in Egypt, where Italian instructors train young specialists who subsequently pursue careers in Italy’s tourism sector. Miloshev expressed interest in adopting similar initiatives to improve training and professional development within Bulgaria.
Year-Round Resort Development
The ministers explored Italy’s experience in adapting winter resort infrastructure for summer use, thereby extending tourist activity throughout the year. Bulgaria aims to implement such best practices to develop its mountain resorts as year-round destinations.
Bulgaria-Greece Tourism Committee
Miloshev and Greece’s Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, agreed to establish a bilateral Tourism Committee. This committee will focus on improving air connectivity, addressing labour market challenges, and promoting sustainable tourism products. Kefalogianni emphasized the importance of joint efforts to secure European funding for modernizing tourism infrastructure, advancing digitalization, and fostering sustainable tourism.
Bulgaria-Turkiye Tourism Collaboration
In discussions with Turkiye’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Nadir Alpaslan, it was agreed that the 5th session of the Bulgaria-Turkiye Tourism Committee will convene in Bansko. Topics will include improving border control, developing the Brand Balkans destination, improving Black Sea cruise tourism, and strengthening bilateral tourism sector ties.
Strengthening Balkan Cooperation
Miloshev also met with Serbia’s Minister of Tourism, Husein Memic; Croatia’s State Secretary for Tourism and Sports, Tonci Glavina; and Montenegro’s Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Goran Durovic. These discussions focused on intensifying cooperation among Balkan countries through joint projects aimed at promoting the region as a unified tourist destination.
These engagements at WTM London underscore Bulgaria’s commitment to regional collaboration, aiming to position the Balkans as an attractive and diverse global tourist destination.

Balearic Islands ‘need to go much further’ to ‘transform tourism model’

Travel

The Balearic Islands tourist board has said it will do more to protect the wellbeing of its citizens through “transforming its tourism model”.Speaking at a press conference at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, Jaume Bauzà Mayol, minister of tourism for the Balearic Islands, said: “In the last year, we have detected the need to go much further to make sure the success of our tourism can guarantee the wellbeing of our citizens.“We are a leading tourist destination in terms of quality of accommodation and services, security, and other factors, and we want to be a leader in sustainability for the environment and the wellbeing of our citizens. For this reason, we have launched a participatory process to transform our tourism model.”This process involves consultations with local residents, groups and companies, as well as partners, to make sure the Balearic Islands is a sustainable destination economically, socially and environmentally, Mayol added.“I want British visitors to our islands, who are always welcome, to be aware and acknowledge the transformation process,” he said. “I want to count on their cooperation and that they will participate in the changes.”Mayol also asked for the cooperation of the UK trade to be able to explain these changes in a “transparent way” to their clients, and stressed the UK was still a hugely important market for the territory.While speaking about transforming its tourism model, Mayol mentioned the region’s sustainable tourism tax, slated to be raised next summer, would raise €470 million for sustainable tourism projects, on top of the €260 million the islands Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, receive from Europe.He explained the tax paid by visitors to the islands would pay to protect the natural environment, manage water, safeguard historical and cultural heritage, invest in innovation and improve tourism infrastructure.Mayol added the Balearic Islands would “work hard” next season to make sure all visitors would see “simple and accessible information” about all the projects funded by the tax.In addition to the sustainable tourism tax, the Balearic Islands have introduced a “Responsible Tourism Decree Law” which will provide tools to “combat uncivic attitudes” and help “responsible and respectful tourism”, developed with the British Embassy and Consulate.The law will also allocate a total of €16 million per year from the sustainable tourism tax to four municipalities: Palma, Calvià, Llucmajor and Sant Antoni de Portmany.He also said that the Balearic Islands wanted to increase its “deseasonalisation” efforts to encourage visitors outside of peak summertime to help with its sustainable tourism efforts.There has been a 4.4% increase in the number of visitors to the Balearic Islands from January to September 2024 compared to the same period last year.This was mainly concentrated in the first quarter of the year which links to efforts to “flatten the summer peak” and distribute the economic benefits of tourism year-roundMayol said he wanted the archipelago’s tourism to “grow in value rather than volume”.Spending on the islands was currently twice as high as the increase in visitors and the average spend per person for a British traveller on the islands was €1,219.70, 5.7% higher than 2023.

Balearic Islands ‘need to go much further’ to ‘transform tourism model’

Travel

The Balearic Islands tourist board has said it will do more to protect the wellbeing of its citizens through “transforming its tourism model”.Speaking at a press conference at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, Jaume Bauzà Mayol, minister of tourism for the Balearic Islands, said: “In the last year, we have detected the need to go much further to make sure the success of our tourism can guarantee the wellbeing of our citizens.“We are a leading tourist destination in terms of quality of accommodation and services, security, and other factors, and we want to be a leader in sustainability for the environment and the wellbeing of our citizens. For this reason, we have launched a participatory process to transform our tourism model.”This process involves consultations with local residents, groups and companies, as well as partners, to make sure the Balearic Islands is a sustainable destination economically, socially and environmentally, Mayol added.“I want British visitors to our islands, who are always welcome, to be aware and acknowledge the transformation process,” he said. “I want to count on their cooperation and that they will participate in the changes.”Mayol also asked for the cooperation of the UK trade to be able to explain these changes in a “transparent way” to their clients, and stressed the UK was still a hugely important market for the territory.While speaking about transforming its tourism model, Mayol mentioned the region’s sustainable tourism tax, slated to be raised next summer, would raise €470 million for sustainable tourism projects, on top of the €260 million the islands Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, receive from Europe.He explained the tax paid by visitors to the islands would pay to protect the natural environment, manage water, safeguard historical and cultural heritage, invest in innovation and improve tourism infrastructure.Mayol added the Balearic Islands would “work hard” next season to make sure all visitors would see “simple and accessible information” about all the projects funded by the tax.In addition to the sustainable tourism tax, the Balearic Islands have introduced a “Responsible Tourism Decree Law” which will provide tools to “combat uncivic attitudes” and help “responsible and respectful tourism”, developed with the British Embassy and Consulate.The law will also allocate a total of €16 million per year from the sustainable tourism tax to four municipalities: Palma, Calvià, Llucmajor and Sant Antoni de Portmany.He also said that the Balearic Islands wanted to increase its “deseasonalisation” efforts to encourage visitors outside of peak summertime to help with its sustainable tourism efforts.There has been a 4.4% increase in the number of visitors to the Balearic Islands from January to September 2024 compared to the same period last year.This was mainly concentrated in the first quarter of the year which links to efforts to “flatten the summer peak” and distribute the economic benefits of tourism year-roundMayol said he wanted the archipelago’s tourism to “grow in value rather than volume”.Spending on the islands was currently twice as high as the increase in visitors and the average spend per person for a British traveller on the islands was €1,219.70, 5.7% higher than 2023.

Donate books with Joburg Theatre’s festive ‘Beauty and the Beast’ drive for CHOC

Arts & Culture, Books

This holiday season, Joburg Theatre invites audiences to embrace the magic of storytelling through a heartfelt book drive inspired by Janice Honeyman’s pantomime, Beauty and the Beast.
Celebrating themes of love, kindness, and Belle’s passion for reading, this production showcases how stories can uplift, teach, and transport us to new worlds – an experience Joburg Theatre aims to share with young patients battling cancer.
Read more: CHOC benefit dinner in Kyalami sees a night of dancing and happiness
In partnership with CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA, Joburg Theatre is launching a holiday book drive to fill CHOC’s library with pre-loved children’s and young adult books. CEO Xoliswa Nduneni-Ngema shared, “We believe in the transformative power of reading, especially for children and teenagers.” Through this initiative, Joburg Theatre hopes to offer young patients at CHOC a meaningful escape and a source of joy during their cancer journey.
Don;t miss Joburg Theatres, Beauty and the Beast.
Also read: Get your flip flops out for the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation
CHOC’s business development unit manager, Antonella Swanepoel, added, “As we celebrate CHOC’s 45th anniversary, this partnership is a wonderful way to bring hope and comfort to children and families by giving them the gift of stories.”
Donations of gently used books are welcomed at Joburg Theatre’s reading corner or box office throughout the pantomime season. To mark this effort, an official book handover will take place on November 19, with a second event planned for January 2025.
Let’s work together to fill CHOC’s library with stories that light up imaginations and bring joy to brave young readers this festive season. As Garrison Keillor once said, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.”
Join the team as they bring this classic tale to life with director Honeyman’s unique blend of humour, musical director Dale Ray’s uplifting repertoire of music, the dazzling costumes from Mariska Meyer, the spectacular lighting from Johan Ferreira, the impressive set and special effects LED screens from Andrew Timm, and feel good rhythms from choreographer Khaya Ndlovu. Together with a talented cast of performers, audiences will be transported to a world of wonder and love, and taken on a captivating journey from start to finish, that promises a feast for the senses.
Beauty and the Beast runs until December 22, 2024. Tickets are available online at Joburg Theatre [https://www.joburgtheatre.com/] or at the box office, with group and family discounts offered.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: Award-nominated UK show comes to Joburg theatre this December

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I swapped the Photos app for my first physical photo book — 7 things I learned

Arts & Culture, Books

I’ve always thought about making a physical photo book, but the idea of organizing my digital photos, of which I’ve got thousands tucked inside the Photos app, puts me off every time. That was until photo book service Bob Books invited me to try out its service. What made this particular offer appealing is the company has its own designer software that you can download on Mac, Windows, and Linux. No cloud-based crashes and a much easier way to bring my memories out of my phone. This software is the company’s most popular creation method, although they’ve also got a redesigned app coming out in December.Yes, the idea of making a photo book still felt incredibly overwhelming. But, once I followed the software and its outstretched helping hand, I found it a lot easier.Whether or not you’ve tried one of the best photo book services yet, there were seven clear things I learned along the way. If you’re considering making one for a gift or have a special occasion you want to display — here’s what you’ll need to know.1. Choose a theme, or work from scratch(Image credit: Bob Books)Before even opening the Bob Designer software on my desktop, I realized the book needed a purpose. Whether it was to show off great landscapes, capture pictures of my kids, or immortalize a special occasion. I chose to use photos of my wedding day, which I’d never printed off physical copies of and knew I probably never would.Once I knew what theme my book would have, it felt a lot easier to jump into the next step. Picking a theme, or knowing you want to make a collage of images, is the best place to start.2. Sort your photos firstAs I opened the software, I realized that themes were also something Bob Books had thought of. There’s numerous ready-made templates to choose from and I could pick a design and features that matched what I was after. These included; rustic, true love, our year, diary, our family, and even a maritime theme. You can also opt, if you want, to cover the full surface of the pages.What I knew I had to do before I went any further was sort all my photos into one folder on my computer ready to load in. A lot of my photos live on my phone, so I scrolled through and favourited the ones I wanted. If they’re on your computer, copy them straight into a separate folder. Then, Bob Designer allows you to load them all in, scroll through them, and drop them in as desired.3. Take your time(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)It can feel incredibly overwhelming when there’s a blank canvas and a lot of precious memories to display. Plus, you’re paying for it, so you want it to be something you’re proud of by the end of it.The thing about Bob Designer is that as long as you sign up and log in, you can save as you go. That meant if I was feeling overwhelmed, I could step away and come back at another point. I did this a few times before I was happy with my photo book, and I’d recommend it to anyone trying to build their own.4. Make decisions as you goThere’s plenty of decisions to make about the style and look of your photo book, but you don’t need to make them all at once. In my case, it started with the format — and there were eight to choose from. Luckily, there was a little bit of detail about each format and what they suited, so I opted for the Standard Portrait listed as “an elegant, traditional format, perfect for many memories.”Then, you can choose between classic, gloss-coated, or matte paper. Plus, a choice between traditional or flat-lay binding. Finally, a hardcover or a softcover. What I loved about Bob Books’ format was that it showed images demonstrating exactly what you’d be getting. I didn’t need to understand what a flat-lay binding was, I could see it for myself.Even if you change your mind, there’s a “change product details” button that means you can add pages and change various options after the fact. You’re not locked in until you buy it and it’s something I’d suggest everyone takes into account when deciding which service to use.5. Choose a mode that suits you(Image credit: Bob Books)Then, you choose the mode. There’s the Photo Book Assistant that automatically arranges everything on your pages, or Design it Yourself that gives you freedom to place and rearrange the photos from scratch.I opted for the Photo Book Assistant, considering I already felt overwhelmed. But, I quickly realized the Assistant wasn’t as intuitive as I would’ve liked with the placement of the photos — centring the wrong focus in family photos and cutting off what I felt to be important parts. So, I switched to designing it myself. Then, the options were endless. There was also a tutorial explaining what I should be doing, which I’m always thankful for when trying out something new.6. Take advantage of design elementsThere’s a host of frames, design elements, clipart, and backgrounds you can add to your photobook in Bob Designer. They’re incredibly diverse and by default, there’s a fair few to choose from. But, you can download more, and there’s literally thousands.For my first photo book, I wanted to keep the wedding theme simplistic, even though there’s a lot on offer for weddings. While I added some gold detailing, I didn’t realize it was going to add on anything to the price of the photo book, so I’d be aware of that in future. I’d also be bolder and braver next time around. Hence, why I learned to take advantage of decorations and detailing more.7. Order ahead of timeFinally, something I didn’t consider was how long delivery would take. Since they’re printing a whole photo book for you, I wasn’t entirely surprised to hear it would take 1-2 weeks to turn up. Even paying extra for a speedier delivery wasn’t going to take away from the fact printing would take the same amount of time. But, it turned up earlier than I thought.What I’d definitely do in future is make sure I order it ahead of time, especially if it’s for a gift or special occasion. There’s nothing worse than spending all this time building the perfect photo book to not get it in time for whatever you’re ordering it for.Final thoughtsImage

Troubles for Vicky Kaushal’s movie due to Allu Arjun’s film: Report

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Mumbai: The big box office clash between Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule and Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava has been avoided! Originally, both films were set for December—Pushpa 2 on December 5, and Chhaava the next day on December 6. But to avoid competition, the makers of Chhaava have decided to change their release date. Pushpa 2 is one of the most awaited sequels, especially after the success of Pushpa: The Rise. With huge fan anticipation and likely high ticket sales, the makers of Chhaava decided it was best to pick a different date to give both films room to succeed. Waiting for the Official Date While Chhaava’s new release date hasn’t been confirmed, an announcement is expected soon. This shift in dates is a smart move to ensure both movies get the spotlight they deserve. What to Know About Pushpa 2: The Rule Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 follows the journey of Pushpa Raj, a laborer who rises in a red sandalwood smuggling gang. Allu Arjun returns in his award-winning role as Pushpa, with Rashmika Mandanna as his love interest. The cast also includes Fahadh Faasil and Dhananjaya, making it a thrilling follow-up. What to Know About Chhaava Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar, is a historical film telling the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Vicky Kaushal stars as Sambhaji, with Rashmika Mandanna playing his wife, Yesubai. Akshaye Khanna portrays the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, bringing drama to this Maratha tale. Chhaava is based on a novel by Shivaji Sawant and is produced by Maddock Films. Rashmika Mandanna’s Dual Roles In an interesting twist, Rashmika Mandanna stars in both films, playing very different characters. In Pushpa 2, she’s Pushpa’s loyal partner, while in Chhaava, she plays Yesubai, Sambhaji Maharaj’s strong and devoted wife. Fans are excited to see her versatility in both movies. A Blockbuster December Awaits! With Pushpa 2 releasing solo on December 5, fans can enjoy the highly anticipated sequel without any clash. This change ensures a smooth run for both Pushpa 2 and Chhaava, giving each movie a chance to shine this December.

Mt. Pleasant educator pens children’s books on energy, motion and force

Arts & Culture, Books

Martha Wiley of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, loves teaching– with over 30 years of teaching advanced math, physics, calculus, statistics, trigonometry, engineering and programming at the high school, and teacher preparation at college level. She also served on the Mt. Pleasant Community School District Board of Education. When working with future teachers, she asked them to find children’s books to supplement science lessons. She looked everywhere. There was plenty of material for grades kindergarten through second, but for grades three-to-five, the library shelves were almost empty for physical science. She wanted to find engaging stories with subjects like energy, motion and force.There was only one thing for Martha to do. She sat down and wrote her own advanced elementary books that matched science standards. With her undergraduate degrees in math, education and English, and her master’s degree in effective teaching, she was well equipped to write these books.Then began the arduous task of trying to find an agent and publisher. She sent out hundreds of query letters, to no avail. But Martha is a hard worker and doesn’t give up. She knew that nothing like her books was out there for teachers, home educators or students. These books needed to get into the hands of children. She would become her own publisher. Voila! MowTomorrowBooks LLC was formed. The website is www.mowtomorrowbooks.com. Check it out. Books can be ordered through Amazon. (Mow Tomorrow means mow the grass tomorrow, read today.)