Destinations


31


The Vatican City is the world’s smallest state both by area (110 acres) and population (842). The city-state is surrounded by Rome and serves as the formal headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church


ITALY Italian State Tourist Board / EU7326, EU7330, EU7338


A global powerhouse in art, fashion, history and cuisine, it’s little surprise that Italy consist- ently ranks among the world’s favourite tourist destinations. The country also boasts incred- ible landscapes and the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites with 51 – comprising almost five percent of the total list. These include natural wonders such as


Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, located on the island of Sicily, and manmade treasures like the Piazza dei Miracoli, a nine-hectare area which houses a breathtaking cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. For visitors seeking a romantic getaway,


Italy is incomparable. In a recent survey by Travel + Leisure magazine to find the world’s most romantic cities, readers ranked three Ital- ian destinations in the top five – Rome in fifth place, Florence in fourth and Venice at number one. The latter is a major draw, famed for its charming waterways, leisurely gondola rides and stunning architecture.


History buffs, meanwhile, can learn all about


the glory of Ancient Rome. The capital has a rich, detailed past which survives today in monu- ments such as the Colosseum, a huge amphithe- atre which opened in AD80 and staged events including gladiator fights and dramatic plays. Art lovers can nourish their passion in Flor-


ence. The city offers both the Galleria degli Uffizi, which opened in 1581 and boasts works by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli, and the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s David, perhaps the world’s most famous sculpture. For fashion followers, Milan is one of the


planet’s most important centres and contains the headquarters of designer labels including Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Valentino, Ermenegildo Zegna and Versace. Italian airports experienced a rise across


the board in 2016, with total passenger traffic transiting through 36 facilities reaching 164.69 million – which amounts to almost 7.5 million more people than the previous year. Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in


The town of Marostica in Vicenza is famous for its ‘human chess’ game, which is held every two years in the central square, and is based on an old comedy play


Rome was by far the most popular choice, with 41.7 transiting passengers marking a 3.2 percent uptick year on year. Expansion is now underway, with new facilities planned for the airport in the first phase. The next phase will see the airport expanded to the north, through the acquisition of new land, with the aim to welcome more than 50 million passengers a year by 2021.


St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican


Venice Grand Canal


Japan is an archipelago of 6,800 islands, the four largest being Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Mount Fuji is the country’s highest mountain, measuring 12,388 feet


JAPAN Japan National Tourism Organization / AS2329


A country of contrasts, the Far Eastern destina- tion of Japan boasts ancient traditions, beauti- ful landscapes and an utterly unique way of life. Tokyo, the world’s most populous metro-


politan area with almost 38 million people, offers neon-drenched thrills and is the epicentre of Japanese pop culture. The capital can also stake a powerful claim to having the planet’s finest cuisine as the home to an incredible 226 Michelin-starred restaurants, beating Paris with 94 into second place. Away from the city, visitors can ride a bullet


train to the famous Mount Fuji – home to the Fuji Rock Festival, which this July will feature performances by the likes of Lorde, Bjork and Queens of the Stone Age. For a more serene escape, Koya-san Moun-


tain, located south of Osaka, is home to more than 100 monasteries and offers the chance to mingle with monks and discover ancient traditions. Kyoto, the former capital, boasts a stunning selection of temples, palaces and gardens to


explore. It is widely considered to be the home of samurai movies, with its many temples and shrines used as sets. Last year, overseas visitors reached record


highs with 24.04 million people visiting the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. This marked a massive 21.8 percent spike from the previous year, and boosted the economy by US$33 billion (JPY3.6 trillion) – also an all-time high. China was the country’s largest source


market for the year, with 4.99 million visi- tors, followed by Korea with four million and Taiwan with 3.67 million. Japan aims to entice 40 million tourists in 2020, when Tokyo will host the Summer Olympic Games. In its quest to ramp up tourist numbers,


Japan plans to spend US$61 billion (JPY6.6 trillion) on infrastructure – including the expan- sion of cruise ship ports and airports, as well as the development of a magnetic levitation transport system, which could reach speeds of 375 miles per hour. A number of hotels are slated to launch in


The characters that make up Japan’s name mean ‘sun origin’, which is why the Far Eastern nation is referred to as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’


2017, including five revamped Marriott hotels in some of Japan’s most scenic locations and capsule accommodation at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, which follows the opening of the second Hen-na Hotel in Tokyo in March. The first Hen-na Hotel, which opened in


2015 in Nagasaki, rose to global fame thanks to its employees – the property is staffed almost entirely by humanoid robots.


Tokyo City


Mount Fuji and the Chureito Pagoda peace memorial


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