Dubai Int'l Boat Show

Dubai International Boat Show has recorded its biggest sale of the event so far with a 40 metre Sunseeker superyacht fetching AED100 million.

Exhibitors across the board have reported good sales with smaller boats, mid-range and superyachts all selling well in the first three days of the event, organisers said in a statement on Friday.

Sunseeker is one of the Dubai International Boat Show's most prestigious brands and one of the five largest exhibitors at this year's event.

The show has so far been an excellent sales channel for the company which, in the 2010 edition of the show, sold a 38 metre superyacht for AED72 million among other significant deals.

"The Dubai International Boat Show is recognised globally as the leading event for the entire marine industry in the Middle East, and the sale of the spectacular Sunseeker superyacht is a prime example of the growing confidence in the leisure marine market," said Trixee Loh, senior vice president, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of the event.

Arif Oomer, director, Sunseeker Middle East said: "The Dubai International Boat Show is without doubt the Middle East's flagship show for the boating community, and for exhibitors there is no better business platform. Next year, for the 20th anniversary of the show, Sunseeker will have an extremely strong line-up of superyachts and we know that this is the event to present them to our target audience."

More than 750 exhibitors, including 200 first timers, are participating at the Dubai International Boat Show 2011, being held at the Dubai International Marine Club - Mina Seyahi, from March 1-5.

Bargains abound in Dubai thanks to GFC

Cheap in Dubai

Bargains were rare in Dubai before the global financial crisis but that's changed, says the founder of lowcostdubai.com, Ainsley Duncombe.

''The emirate is still a hive of activity, events and business but the real difference now is that airlines, hotels and restaurants realise they need to work harder and smarter to attract the money of both visitors and residents of Dubai who are now looking for value in everything,'' she says.
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A former advertising executive, Duncombe set up her website a year ago and enlisted a small group of Dubai residents to help source deals on accommodation, tours, restaurants, car rentals and tourist attractions.

See lowcostdubai.com.
Plane sailing - from the West

It's never been safer to fly - as long as you are on planes built in the West, according to the International Air Transport Association, the body that represents 93 per cent of international airlines.

Only 17 Western-built planes were involved in accidents last year. When the number of planes built in the East is added, the figure rises to 94 - up four from 2009. Twenty-three of those accidents involved fatalities in which a total of 786 people died.

Accidents on runways were the most common, accounting for 21 per cent of all incidents. The most dangerous place to fly was Africa (19 accidents), while north Asia was the safest (three) and there were 12 in the Asia-Pacific region.

More than 2.4 billion people flew safely on 36.8 million flights last year. On the basis of those figures, the odds are you could fly for 4491 years without being involved in an accident.
Follow your iPhone

Lonely Planet has launched a series of audio walking tour apps for iPhone users. The first tours are for five walks in central London: Covent Garden, Southbank, Spitalfields, the city and the West End.

The apps, which cost $2.49 each, provide information about sites along the way, a map that allows the user to stop, start or skip ahead and the apps work offline, so there will be no bill shock when you get home.

See iTunes.
Eighty years of waddling

Phillip Island's penguin parade is celebrating its 80th anniversary this month with events and activities, including a tilt at building the world's biggest little penguin burrow.

The penguin parade is Victoria's leading tourist attraction, with more than a million visitors annually. Penguin numbers vary depending on ocean conditions and weather but between 200 and 3000 penguins tumble out of the waves and waddle up Summerland Beach to their burrows each night.

The Phillip Island Nature Park has six tour packages that allow visitors to get close to the world's smallest penguins. General admission costs $21.20, while the newest package, the Penguin Island Tour, which includes a behind-the-scenes tour with a ranger, is $90 a person.

Melbourne's Federation Square will be transformed on March 23 when a four-square-metre burrow, big enough for people to walk in, will be constructed as part of the celebrations.

See penguins.org.au.
Tour de galleries

ArtBikes is a new bike-sharing scheme in Hobart's arts and galleries precinct devised by Arts Tasmania. The bikes are available on a first-come, first-served basis at two locations: the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 40 Macquarie Street; and Arts Tasmania, 146 Elizabeth Street.

Riders will get a helmet, a map and a lock with the bike. The bikes are free and can be kept for the day but must be returned to the point they were borrowed. Artist Ken Betlehem has created a series of distinctive bike hubs shaped like people chatting where the bikes can be locked up.

The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania will provide free roadside assistance if a tyre punctures but any fines are the responsibility of the cyclist.

See www.artbikes.com.au.
New cruise terminal for London

London will get a new cruise terminal in time for the start of the Olympics in July 2012.

The new terminal at Enderby's Wharf on the south-west side of the Greenwich Peninsula will be able to accommodate ships up to 840 metres in length. Its location, nine kilometres from the city centre, means it is the closest terminal to London.
Damage forces Hayman to close

Hayman Island will close tomorrow for five months to repair damage caused by cyclones Anthony and Yasi. The company that owns the resort, Mulpha Australia, says leisure and accommodation facilities were badly damaged and it is not possible to carry out the repairs with guests on the island. Hayman bore the brunt of cyclone Anthony's force on January 30.

Prince Harry cancels Dubai plans

Britain's Prince Harry announced he will not participate in a United Arab Emirates charity polo game due to rising unrest in the region.

St. James Palace, Harry's official residence, released a statement saying the prince will not travel to Dubai March 19 for the Sentebale Polo Cup, which was to benefit his Sentebale charity, due to unrest in the area, Sky News reported Friday.

"Prince Harry was very much looking forward to the visit, but he feels it would be insensitive for him to participate in a sporting event at a time when there are matters of greater priority to focus on in the region," the statement said. "Prince Harry looks forward to other opportunities to visit Dubai in the future."

Organizers said the Sentebale Polo Cup is being canceled due to Harry's canceled plans.

Harry and older brother Prince William created the event to raise money for the Sentebale children's charity, which they founded in 2004.

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