Burma to introduce e-visa system

The e-visa system will be available from March and would allow international visitors to apply for a visa from anywhere via the Internet before visiting Burma. The liberalisation of visa procedures is likely to facilitate another jump in tourist arrivals in 2012. Total arrivals to Burma last year were 816,369.

 

 

Singapore records a bonanza year

Singapore welcomed a record 13 million overseas visitors last year – the majority arriving from Asia, Singapore Tourism Board data showed lately. The 13.2 million arrivals translated into a 13 per cent rise on 2010 figures and beat government forecasts of 12 million. The Board said 76 per cent of the arrivals came from Asia. Visitors are drawn to Singapore’s shopping centres, restaurants and casinos, in addition to its low crime rate and reputation for cleanliness. – AFP

 

 

Life on an aircraft carrier

Visitors to China can now spend the night on a former Soviet aircraft carrier that has been converted into a luxury hotel. The vessel is anchored in the northern Chinese port city of Tanjin, about 120 kilometres from the capital Beijing. The Kiev, which is 273 metres long and 53 metres wide, was used as part of a military theme park in Tianjin Province. It now accommodates 148 hotel suites. – DPA

 

 

Christo gets busy with the Colorado

Artist Christo plans to suspend more than nine kilometres of silvery, luminous fabric panels along a 68-kilometre stretch above the Arkansas River. The local authorities have given permission for the temporary work of art titled “Over The River”, according to Colorado Tourism. Visit www.OverTheRiverinfo.com.

 

 

Flying with the fox

One of the longest and fastest steel cable slides has opened up in the Austrian province of Salzburg. The Flying Fox XXL is 1,600 metres long and can reach speeds of up to 130 km/h as it carries its passengers up to 140 metres above the ground into the valley below. Visit www.Flying-Fox-xxl.at/en