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www.nitravelnews.com Dubai’s Aquaventure World Officially Breaks Guinness


World Records Title THE record was broken on the legendary “Leap of Faith” slide at Aquaventure World, where the


Guinness World Tour took place.


The record-breaking weekend highlighted Aquaventure World’s role as a destination for adventure and entertainment. Dubai’s most iconic


waterpark spans 22.5 Wendy Wu Tours Now Available


from Belfast City Airport FOR the first time, customers across Northern Ireland can book fully inclusive touring packages, complete with flights, from Belfast City Airport. Additionally, Irish passport holders can now travel to China without a visa. Contact your local travel agent for more information on package availability.


hectares and features over 105 slides, attractions, and experiences. Thrill-seekers can set their pulses racing with Odyssey of Terror, the world’s tallest waterslide with a Double TornadoWAVE; Shockwave, the longest family rafting water coaster in the world; Medusa’s Lair, the first dueling PIPElineBLAST Water Coaster slide in the region; and Immortal Falls, the region’s first cliff-jumping experience.


Taking Luxury to New Heights: British Airways Unveils its Brand-New First Class


BRITISH Airways has unveiled its brand-new First


seat,


combining elegant design with expert British craftsmanship, reflective of modern British luxury travel. The new cabin forms part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026. The airline’s new First has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel, alongside home


comforts and


thoughtful British touches


at 35,000ft.


British Holidaymakers Show Support for Local Communities with Generous Tipping Abroad


DESPITE the ongoing cost of living challenges at home, UK holidaymakers are proving to be generous tippers abroad, with the Scots the UK’s biggest tippers – far more generous that their English or Welsh counterparts. With 49% of Brits – particularly


the over 50s – favouring off-peak autumn and winter holiday breaks to avoid the crowds, the new survey reveals that whatever the post- Budget hardships at home, 28% of Brits like to tip generously when they’re abroad – at a bar, restaurant or on excursion. People in Scotland are most likely to be generous with tips (35%), followed by those in the North East (34%) and Wales (33%). Conversely, people in the South West and Yorkshire are least likely to tip well (22% each).


over-tourism in many European holiday hotspots,


After a year of protests against the survey


revealed that 89% of British tourists recognise the issue and want to positively contribute to the economic sustainability of the places they visit.


From the nationally representative poll of 2,000 adults, the top five positive steps that UK tourists would adopt to support the


communities they visit included: To consciously choose to visit local restaurants or artisan eateries in order to directly support local family businesses (44%). To be mindful


of their


environmental impact – by not creating litter, waste and needless pollution when abroad (42%). Choosing to stay in a hotel instead of using an Airbnb. This was based on many UK tourists wanting to do their bit to ensure local people were not priced out of buying their own homes as a result of tourism (34%). Making sure they tip the locals well in local bars, restaurants and on excursions (28%).


Booking accommodation direct, rather than going through a travel company (21%). The


assumptions that young people were


the


research most


also dashed sustainability-


conscious travellers. In contrast, the study revealed it was the over 55s – those that enjoy autumn and winter breaks the most – that emerged as the age group leading the move to respect and economically support the local communities they visit on holiday. The over 55 age group was most likely to:


Consciously opt to eat in local restaurants to support the local businesses (57% Vs. a national average of 44%).


Be careful not to create litter, waste and pollution at the resort or destination (54% Vs. a national average of 42%). Avoid big all-inclusive holidays, querying how well they directly supported the local communities in which they operate (21% Vs. national average of 15%). Garry Nelson of InsureandGo, who carried out the survey, commented: “In a year when Ibiza and Mallorca said no to tourists coming to party, when Venice started charging entry fees to visitors and when thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid to protest against over- tourism, it’s important the holiday hotspots that benefit from tourism are also supported as sustainable and thriving local communities. It’s positive to note from our new research that UK holidaymakers want to positively support the communities they visit. Using local restaurants, tipping the locals well and booking accommodation direct are little but important steps that can make a difference – and they demonstrate a respectful mindset.”


The seat has been curated by expert designers and world- class manufacturers from all corners of Great


Britain Ireland, and including


London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel and Dublin.


The new seat is ultra- wide (36.5inches), with a bed length of 79inches, and features a multi-purpose ottoman and elegant stowable table, a 32- inch 4K TV screen, adjustable mood lighting including scenes such as ‘relax’, ‘dine’ and ‘cinema’. The seat can be adjusted with the touch of a button to find the perfect level of comfort and is located within a cocooned 60-inch for


curved ultimate wall privacy,


whilst still providing a spacious environment. For customers travelling together in the centre of the cabin, the divider slides open to create a shared lounge space, and the stowable tables mean customers


can enjoy


‘buddy dining’ in the seat with their travel companion. The elegant curves throughout the cabin take inspiration from British Airways’ Concorde wings,


Records


January 2025


New, Affordable USA J1 Visa Programme for Irish


Students Launched THE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) has announced its entry into the Irish student travel market with a new, affordable J1 visa product, also known as BridgeUSA, set to launch through its new Dublin office. Introductory fees for the scheme are significantly currently lower than existing options. In 2025, CIEE plans to expand its offerings to include additional working visa and cultural exchange products for Irish students.


A Natural Step for CIEE in Ireland With a well-established presence in Ireland


as an inbound program provider for U.S. college students since 2006, CIEE’s expansion into direct-to-market programs for Irish students travelling to the U.S. represents a natural progression. “CIEE has been a proud supporter of international exchange for over 50 years, and we are excited to extend these opportunities directly to Irish students,” said Daly.


Making International Experiences More Accessible


CIEE recognises that the financial barrier to J1 and cultural exchange programs can prevent some students from participating. By offering J1 programs directly to students in Ireland, CIEE aims to make international experiences more accessible.


Introductory J1 visa prices will start at €499 for the J1 program, allowing more Irish students to gain valuable global experience without the financial strain typically associated with such programs. Over 50 Years of Experience in Cultural Exchange


Having indirectly hosted Irish J1 participants in the U.S. for over 50 years, CIEE is dedicated to offering quality cultural exchange programs. Its strong partnerships, including one with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs through the Douglass – O’Connell Global Internship Program, reinforce CIEE’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding. In alignment with its mission, CIEE is also strengthening its relationship with the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN) and exploring new opportunities through


initiatives like InternHub, its


internship portal, to expand access to professional placements.


giving a natural flow to the space and creating a welcoming environment. Customers can now simply wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space,


it even easier to settle


in


their flight. Elsewhere,


making before the


suite features an ambient light with an eye-catching design that subtly references the airline’s speedmarque and further nods to Concorde.


The suite features


window blinds, activated by buttons on the internal control panel for all three windows per seat. The soft panelling inside


the seat


also helps with acoustics and absorbing sound, which adds to the sense of being in a cocooned, space.


private Customers


can also use the seat’s brand-new ‘do


not


functionality on its wireless control tablet,


which


notifies crew if they wish to maximise their rest on board.


disturb’


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