TURKEY

Bird flu cases should not frighten Azerbaijanian tourists visit Turkey. It is said that all registered cases of bird flu were observed in rural area. "New cases of this disease haven’t been registered in Turkey since January until now. This fact is confirmed by both WHO and UNO. No bird flu case has been registered in resort centers, officials say. According to Turkish officials, close international cooperation is needed in order to successfully fight this disease that was registered even in Europe and in other republics. Besides, as a number of experts state, the more bird flu cases are disclosed in native countries of tourists (and the virus at present is more and more frequently found in European countries), the less they fear to visit resorts situated in the risk zones. Due to this fact resorts in Turkey seem not more dangerous than travelling in any European country.

RATING OF EUROPEAN TRAVEL OPERATORS’ PREFERENCES

During the recent annual exhibition Hoteliers Marketplace the European Travel Operators Association (ÅÒÎÀ) conducted interrogation which identified the most popular resort countries in Europe according to different categories. The Association has existed since 1989 and it comprises 400 different companies and organizations among which over 100 are the largest European operators on entry tourism. Their total annual turnover constitutes about 6 billion euros. The list of respondents is also impressive - they are leading European operators Contiki, Cendant TDS, Gate 1, Travel, GTA, JTB, Kuoni, Lastminute.com, Late rooms. com, Octopus, Trafalgar tours and others. It was found out that the best in many aspects European resort is Croatia. It has gathered maximum voices (23%) in «the most charming resort» and «the most financially beneficial resort» categories (19%). In fact, the «victory» of Croatia can be easily explained. As said Executive Director of ÅÒÎÀ Tom Jenkins, Croatia is perceived by everybody as an European country, alongside with this it is not a part of European Union and therefore is free from many of its «traps», for instance, from mandatory 19% Value Added Tax, which gives her tangible financial advantage in comparison with the nearest neighbors, first of all, Italy and Greece. Resort in Spain (19%) and Czechoslovakia has also been acknowledged economically beneficial over half of operators called Great Britain the most expensive country in Europe (57%) and Germany – the country of best service ((32%). Italy has been almost unanimously recognized the best place for cultural travel - 94% of operators has called it ideal for studying art. London (34%) and Barcelona (23%) are most appropriate for crowd lovers. As the interrogation has shown, the attitudes of professionals to principal European capitals not differ much from that of ordinary tourists. For instance, they consider Paris, as it was to be expected, the best place for loving couples (71%), and London – for shopping (35%). However, if Paris does not rival, London have many of them. Paris (32%) and Milan (23%) also proved to have good chances in respect of shopping. It is the operators’ opinion that the cheapest meals can be found in Prague (37%), but the most delicious cuisine is in France (58%).

AUTHORITIES OF UMM EL-CAIVAIN INTEND TO TURN EMIRATES INTO THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF TOURISM AND AN ULTRA-MODERN CITY

Authorities of Umm el-Caivain, one of seven United Arab Emirates (territory - 777 square meters, population - about 50 000 people) intend to turn it into the international centre of tourism and an ultra-modern city. The project on construction of new harbor designed for 1,9 yachts, launches and small ships costing 12 billion dirhams will be commenced as early as this year. In five years an ultra-modern city Mira/”Medinat as-Salam” will grow on the shore of Khor al-Bayda, with all villas and buildings facing the sea. The five-year construction of the city will cost 30 billion dirhams. The first in the Near East huge shopping centre in the form of a complex of parks and gardens with waterfalls, channels and brooks will be constructed here. 5-star hotels with 2 000 rooms capacity will be constructed in Mira city. Diving and water sports centers will be created in order to attract tourists. A big water park “Dreamland” is functioning in Umm el-Caivain, and in 1 km distance from the shore there is the island-reserve Senaya, overgrown with brushwood inhabited by lots of wild birds.

THE FIRST BIO-HOTEL IN SWITZERLAND

The hotel Balance in Grange is the first hotel in Switzerland that has got the Bio-hotel status. This title was conferred on it due to the fact that all food here is 100% organic. The tradition to serve organic food has existed in Balance hotel for over 20 years. The building, constructed in 1899 was created in a “biologically proper” manner and later it had been carefully repaired and renovated in order to meet modern requirements. Now it is not just a calm and cozy place on the outskirts of the small village with a view of famous Alpine Vale four thousandths... Health care in Balance hotel starts from first-class spring water, bright vegetable garden with useful herbs, shiatsu procedures, which the hotel manager will personally offer to you… Bio-swimming pool with the solar energy-based heating is not only enjoyable - your body and skin will be washed by pure chlorine and ozone-free water. And the most important thing is that here you’ll find meals, macrobiotic/vegetarian/ longevity-promoting delicacies cooked by experienced cooks with love on the basis of first-rate organic products.