Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 15 October 2025

AIRLINE OFFER

In our Europe 2025 Guide, which you can read here, I mention that it’s a good idea to look out for sales.

And then, last Tuesday, after I had filed the 5200 words for our guide (THAT was a big day), in comes news of an offer for economy return flights with Qatar to Europe in 2025 from $1719.

Just as we are predicting.

To be more specific, they have:

Berlin return, $1719 economy and $8559 business.

Barcelona return, $1739 economy, $9119 business.

Rome return, $1809 economy, $9119 business.

Athens return, $1839 economy, $9329 business.

Flights have to be booked by October 27, 2024, for travel between March 1 and September 30, 2025. And that’s a good deal.

To quote myself from the Guide: “There have already been some surprising bursts of airfare deals to Europe — and I think that will be the pattern for travel into next year. Just be on the lookout.”

VALUE & QUALITY

I like value. I like quality. And I really like it when they come together with a company that I trust. And all of that brings me to Albatross Tours’ Best of British itinerary. Over 17 days, it includes Stonehenge, Bath, Tintern Abbey, SS Great Britain in Bristol Harbour, Wells Cathedral, the Lake District, Edinburgh, a tour of Chatsworth Abbey and time in Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle, Oxford and the Cotswolds, then finishing in London. Accommodation is in some interesting places and travel is in a first-class air-conditioned touring coach. With departures on May 12, August 10 and September 7, 2025, the price is from $12,347 per person, twin share, and $15,147 for solo travellers. albatrosstours.com.au/best-of-british and 1300 135 015

EUROPE IN PERTH

We have just 20 seats left at our Round EUROPE Dinner on November 14. It’s our big Christmas get-together — food, wine, music, stories all in one (dare I say) dynamic evening. Before each course, composer-musician Steve Richter and I will perform a words-and-music story about a region in Europe, and then chef Costa Simatos’ food for that place will be served. And we’ll do that several times between 7pm and 10pm. It will be a spectacular evening at the University Club of WA in Matilda Bay, thanks mainly to Costa’s beautiful food and Steve’s inspiring music. You can book here.

And we can sit solo travellers together, so you might just meet someone to travel with — as often happens for the nice people at our events.

I’m very pleased that we are presenting the dinner in partnership with my trusted friends at Albatross Tours.

SUMMIT IN PERTH

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s 24th Global Summit was held in Perth last week. And the big news at the start of the meeting was the organisation’s latest environmental and social research. A spokesperson for the WTTC says that in 2023, global travel and tourism accounted for 6.7 per cent of all emissions globally — down from 7.8 per cent in 2019. And yet, the industry’s contribution to global GDP almost reached pre-pandemic levels. WTTC president and CEO Julia Simpson says: “Our sector is proving that we can grow responsibly. We’re decoupling growth from emissions — travel and tourism is expanding economically while lowering its environmental footprint.” She adds: “This is a defining moment, proving that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand in shaping the future of global tourism.”

SCORING A FOR BEES

Bawah Reserve in Indonesia continues to work towards “sustainable luxury”, and the team there has been telling me about the strides they have been making in protecting Trigona bees. “Our approach to sustainable luxury goes beyond providing a beautiful escape, it’s about nurturing the environment that makes it so special,” says Tim Hartnoll, owner of Bawah Reserve (some of the accommodation is pictured at the top of the page). “The Trigona bees are an essential part of our ecosystem, and we are so proud to protect them as part of our broader conservation efforts.” These small, stingless bees are important in maintaining Bawah Reserve’s biodiversity as their foraging behaviour ensures cross-pollination of plants (especially smaller flowers often overlooked by bigger insects). A team member explains: “This delicate process strengthens the resilience of the local flora, enhancing the beauty and health of the gardens, which in turn supports a diverse array of wildlife, including butterflies, birds and other local species.”

There are 46 stingless bee species in Indonesia (Kahono et al, 2018).

Accessible only by private seaplane, Bawah Reserve is on the Riau Archipelago, between Malaysia and Borneo. On a group of six tropical islands, Bawah Reserve has 36 suites and bungalows, giving a “private island experience”. bawahreserve.com

(Is it true that a bee that can’t make up its mind in the fifth month of the year?)

SHARK SHAPER

Rachaphol “Phone” SathienSujikanon is a park official at the Erawan National Park, in the Tenasserim Hills in west Thailand. And he’s become quite a celebrity. For Mr Rachaphol has styled his signature into the shape of a shark, and it’s become a sought-after item. On the park’s social media page, he says he’s a scuba diver, loves the sea and sharks are one of his favourite creatures. The Bangkok Post reports that while holders of Thailand’s national park “passports” can collect a stamp at parks, they are heading to Erawan to get Mr Rachaphol’s signature.

ECLIPSE IS COMING

Australian company Scenic is sending its luxury expedition ship Scenic Eclipse II to sail the WA coastline in August and September 2025. There are two departures to the Abrolhos Islands, Exmouth, along the Ningaloo coast and out to Dirk Hartog Island. The fabulous ship has two on-board Airbus H130-T2 helicopters and the custom-designed submersible Neptune, which takes 10 guests and an expert pilot up to 100m beneath the surface, and gives 360-degree panoramic views. There will be more on the ship and the voyages in these pages. scenic.com.au

PERU IN SYDNEY

The Australian Museum’s summer cultural blockbuster is Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. It shares the secrets of five ancient Peruvian empires, dating back more than 3000 years. Tickets went on sale this week and it is open from November 23, 2024.

The exhibition features 134 artefacts, including gold treasure from royal tombs, masks and objects of worship.

There will be a virtual reality experience, Machu Picchu And The Spirit Of The Condor, which includes a bird’s-eye tour of Machu Picchu.

Australian Museum director and CEO Kim McKay says it is the most opulent collection of Andean gold to ever travel outside of Peru.

AFRICA OPENINGS

Protea Hotels by Marriott has opened two new hotels in Africa.

Near Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, Protea Hotel by Marriott Lusaka International Airport has 72 guest rooms, an all-day restaurant and an outdoor pool and fitness centre. There are complimentary airport shuttles.

In Nigeria, Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta is a 15-minute drive from Osubi Airport and has 69 guest rooms.

LUSAKA SIGNS

In Lusaka, I jot down signs. My favourite is for St Mary’s Secondary School: “Academically excellent, drug free with sober mind.”