Utah continues to lead the way when it comes to Dark Sky Places, with more dark sky state parks than any other state park system in the United States.

People from around the world travel to revel in the splendour of Utah’s naturally dark night skies and take part in activities such as full moon hikes, night sky snowshoeing, sunset to stars kayaking, scorpion safaris, owl prowls, star parties and more.

Packaging local attractions, activities and transport with clients’ sporting passion has allowed Golf Encounters to stay engaged with customers and add value to a domestic experience.

Director Peter Cox says tours coming up in March and April include a combination of the Tranz Alpine Express from Christchurch with golf in the West Coast. Last November, Golf Encounters hosted a group that combined the sport with the Otago Rail Trail. Bay of Islands, Taupo, Napier and Queenstown are among the other destinations being visited.

Tourism Tasmania has launched a marketing campaign in New Zealand, inviting Kiwi neighbours to Come Down for Air. New Zealand agents and brokers can expect to see a dedicated trade campaign in the next few weeks.

The impact on the Tasmanian tourism industry from Covid-19 has been significant and the campaign in New Zealand is part of a programme of activity to rebuild visitation to the state and support

Wild Earth Travel is running a five day distillery tour of the South Island via a privately chartered plane.

The Spirit of the South, from 26 to 30 November visits six distilleries and takes clients from Blenheim to the West Coast, across to Wanaka, and then to Nelson before returning to Auckland. Highlights include Elemental Distillers, Reefton Distilling Co, Cardrona Distillery and Dancing Sands.

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Due to popular demand, MoaTours is opening more departure dates for its all inclusive Molesworth Station, Abel Tasman & Golden Bay small group tour ($3490 pp twin share).

A Maher Escorted Tours 15-day itinerary covering the lower South Island with a number of special inclusions has resonated well with the domestic market.

Switzerland Tourism has released a number of ‘fun facts’ about the country to keep interest levels up amongst agents and their clients.

A four-night, five-day relaxed island holiday just a short flight from Auckland mixes local cruising, star gazing, bush walks and more.

World Journeys has put together a guide with tips for selling the right Machu Picchu experience for clients.

Clients might not be able to travel to the Emerald Isle at the moment, but Tourism Ireland is reminding people they can still connect with its landscapes and culture through literature.

Nevada’s road trips, state and national parks and small towns all provide opportunities for New Zealand clients to extend their trip (and agents to extend their revenue) beyond Las Vegas, according to the state’s tourism office.

Joanne Motta, from Travel Nevada, says Las Vegas is the third most visited US location from Australasia but she often hears of people who book 10 nights and wonder what to do after enjoying the shows and other nightlife of The Strip. ‘We are telling people to get out and do something different and suggesting the trade sell Nevada beyond Las Vegas.’ She says Valley of Fire and Red Rock Canyon are state parks that are 45 and 30 minutes’ drive from Las Vegas respectively. They cost less than US$10 for entry, and can be explored by electric bike, dune buggies or foot.

There is also Cathedral Gorge, which is between Las Vegas and Great Basin National Park, one of the least visited national parks and one that offers plenty of hiking opportunities (including the fairly strenuous walk up Wheeler Peak) plus cave systems that can be explored. ‘Nevada is the most mountainous state in the USA but nobody thinks that,’ says Motta. ‘Northern Nevada has heliskiing and glaciers.’ She also recommends a drive along Highway 50 – dubbed the ‘loneliest highway in America’ by USA Today in the 1980s. Towns along the route have a passport programme where people can collect stamps to prove they have been on this road less travelled.

Travelling the Dochula Pass is one of the major drawcards of a seven-day Highlights of Bhutan tour being offered by Exotic Holidays.

A vibrant capital, pristine islands, and wild jungle make Cambodia worth exploring further than its famous temple complex, Angkor Wat, agents heard at a Destination Asia event in Auckland last week.

Exotic Holidays has a 10-day Best of Malaysia Tour priced from $1668 per person twin share.

Exotic Holidays’ Classic London is a four-day programme ideal for clients who are short on time, giving them the highlights of the city.

Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has released a collection of 100 Experiences, compiled in response to the shift in interest by travellers to experienced-based travel.

Monaco daytrippers, most of whom book their excursion once they reach Nice in France, provide a clear opportunity for agents who could be converting these travellers into overnight visitors, according to Alison Roberts-Brown, the regional director of Visit Monaco.

Explore’s Discovery & Wildlife brochure for 2020 features new tours to El Salvador, Lebanon and the Silk Road.

A six-day wellness package in Thailand is available through Exotic Holidays.

New tourism and hospitality operations are popping up in Norfolk Island to cater for the younger demographic that is discovering the destination.

These include activity operators, eateries and shops, says Rose Evans, team leader tourism and economic development. ‘We’ve seen great growth in new businesses that have a younger vibe and are environmentally aware, like eco-store, Prenke.’

Explore Worldwide has new accommodation in Iceland, a private collection of bespoke yurts set in the heart of the Golden Circle.

Viva Expeditions’ operations manager, Tara Sutherland recently completed a 13-day circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, Norway.

What started off as a one room base for geologists searching for gold in a nearby island is now Imagination Island Resort.

Self-drive is a burgeoning market in Northern Ireland and some of the most spectacular scenery in the land is around the coastal town of Ballycastle.

Tourism is fast becoming one of the strongest sectors for Slovenia, with the destination lodging another record year last year of 18% growth in international tourism.