Members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are embracing the future with plans to develop a “smart†passport. “Passports are among the most valuable documents in mass use today and it is essential that we use the latest technology to protect them from theft and fraud,†said Raymond Wong, Assistant Director, Hong Kong Immigration […]
A couple of Asian countries are updating their rail systems. In China, wireless Internet services are to be expanded: 200 express train lines will have wireless Internet access installed by the end of this year and 500 train lines will be so equipped by the end of 2008. The Chinese Ministry of Railways is planning […]
Action film hero Jackie Chan has been named the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) first “Asia-Pacific Tourism Ambassador”. In his new role, Jackie Chan will help promote tourism as a means of fighting poverty throughout the region. “I am really honored to receive this Asia-Pacific Tourism Ambassador award,” said Chan. “I will do my best to […]
If you’ve always wanted to see George Lucus’ famed Skywalker Ranch but just haven’t been able to make the trek, you can now have a piece of the ranch in your own home. Francis Coppola’s winery, Rubicon Estate, has released the 2004 Lucas Skywalker Ranch “Viandante del Cielo” chardonnay and it is available for a […]
After the success of the stage version of his 1968 movie The Producers, Mel Brooks hopes to strike gold again by adapting his 1974 film Young Frankenstein for the musical theatre. What the hey? It already had one musical number — the monster performing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” — why not more? “Whether it comes […]
Whew! This week has been a bear. I haven’t been getting enough sleep so I haven’t been able to write posts for this blog. Did you miss me? 😉 Horror Genre Gets Its Own Video on Demand Network Comcast and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced recently that they plan to launch a video-on-demand (VOD) network featuring […]
People Staff of Nagoya, Japan, wants Hello Kitty to greet visitors when they come into an office. Well, at least a robot receptionist modeled after the popular icon. In February of this year, they launched Robot Dispatch, where Japanese companies can rent an electronic receptionist in the shape of characters such as Hello Kitty for […]
Space Adventures Ltd, the company that took the world’s first three space tourists to the International Space Station, is working with a consortium in Singapore on a $115 million base to launch rockets for suborbital flights. “The commercial possibilities of space tourism are enormous,” Nick Marrett, founder of Octtane and member of the consortium said. […]
Expedition Everest Disney World’s “Expedition Everest” ride, mentioned on page 6 of the January issue of The Genre Traveler, was unveiled for 1,500 travel trade professionals and media last Friday, April 7. The 3.5 minute ride was a collaborative effort between Walt Disney Imagineering, The Discovery Channel and Conservation International. For more information, visit www.disneyeverest.com/?CMP=KNC-EverestGoogle&HBX_PK=Expedition+Everest&HBX_OU=50 […]
Space Adventures, the “space experiences company” I mentioned in my Oct. 2, 2005, post, announced Thursday that it plans to build a spaceport in the United Arab Emirates. The spaceport will be based in Ras Al-Khaimah near the southern end of the Persian Gulf, less than an hour drive from Dubai. Other potential locations include […]