By Luke Ford

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A bitterly cold Berlin welcomed the WHL Group to this year’s ITB Berlin, along with the representatives of 14 destinations from within the whl.travel network, including Antigua & Barbuda, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Colombia, Cook Islands, Ecuador, Greece, Malaysia, Malta, North Cyprus, Oman, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.

The WHL Group's Europe and the Middle East office team meet at ITB Berlin with Murat Boranalp (right) of Marjinal Travel, the whl.travel local partner for Ephesus, Turkey

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Posted under responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Luke Ford

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Chez Galip at his wheel in his pottery workshop in Avanos, Turkey

A traditional wood stove in the corner of the sitting room heats the cool stone walls of this large cave-house turned workshop and gallery quarried into the hills of the town of Avanos in central Turkey. Homemade wine adds to the warmth as the ever-steady hands of Chez Galip, a local artist, hover over a spinning traditional potter’s kick wheel and mold masterpieces of times past from wet clumps of terracotta-red and mineral-rich clay taken fresh from the nearby Kızılırmak, or ‘Red River’.

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Posted under General, Turkey, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter

By Luke Ford

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With 167 countries represented by over 5000 exhibitors, the first open-trade day of the World Travel Market in London was certainly no-holds-barred. Enticing the crowds meant dishing out the tastiest of local cuisines, turning up the volume on some truly local tunes, donning traditional garb and even, in some cases bringing out the celebrities to really raise the temperature (was that Kylie or her sister?). WTM, now in its 30th year, remains the principal event on the travel industry’s calendar and presents a valuable opportunity for all those involved.

whl.travel's Luke Ford (centre) takes a moment at the WTM with Mr Kim (left) and Ms Lee of Holiday Planners, the whl.travel local connection for South Korea

WHL Group, parent company of whl.travel, was also in attendance, sharing the messages of whl.travel, Urban Adventures and WHL Consulting, all of which were received positively. With a growing network around the world in more than 90 countries, whl.travel was there with 15-plus whl.travel local connections.

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Posted under General, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel newsletter

Albania Discovered – The Future Is Looking Bright

Setting Your Responsible Sights on the Southern Balkans

By Luke Ford
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Once a well-kept secret, Albania is on the verge of being ‘discovered’ by tourists. Until 1992 a communist country closed off to the rest of the world, Albania has only recently seen greater numbers of foreign travellers venture down to its southern Balkan corner of Europe, bringing with them suitcases of western brands and influences. Not to be discouraged though, and despite a growing number of Mercedes-Benzes, Coca-Colas and Mai Tai cocktails, the country remains very Albanian. Quaint mountain villages indifferent to modern development in the cities, which also retain their own unique charm, give rise to incredible travel experiences that you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere in Europe.

A look down Lake of Koman on the way to the Valbona Valley

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Posted under Albania, General, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter