Travel Bug

Issue 50 - April 2009

Air Vanuatu will offer TV programs on flights

Air Vanuatu has announced a major upgrade of in-flight entertainment on board all international flights on the Boeing 737-800. The national carrier will be offering new heights of entertainment with the addition of television programs to entertain passengers. “We are unashamedly a full service airline,” Air Vanuatu Chief Executive Officer Hollingsworth Ala Ngwele said. “We pride ourselves on our unsurpassed service, complimentary meals and drinks and from April will be expanding our inflight video entertainment.”

Air Vanuatu, with the assistance of the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association and the VTO has produced a new high quality video showcasing Vanuatu. The infomercial will be followed by the television comedy show “Just for Laughs”. “Our passengers have been asking for more entertainment on board, however it is very expensive to purchase movies due to licensing restrictions,” General Manager of Flight Operations Andrew Dwyer said.

“We have found a way to be able to offer television programs with minimal cost to the airline by allowing businesses in Vila to sponsor the shows through advertising,” he said. Air Vanuatu does not charge passengers for video or audio entertainment, the only carrier flying to and from Australia to offer the services free of charge. “We recognise for most of our passengers, their holidays start the moment they board our plane. By making their journey as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, we’re ensuring their holiday is getting off to a good start.

”Captain Dwyer said Just for Laughs is an entertaining candid camera style program that everyone, regardless of age or language will find amusing. “It’s a great way to pass the time, particularly on long flights to Melbourne.” The new programming will begin in April. Mr. Ngwele said Air Vanuatu was also looking at sports shows and documentaries for later in the year. “This is just the start of our planned service upgrades. Our forward bookings are strong and we are confident of tackling the ‘credit crisis’ head-on, by ensuring when it comes to service, we have no competition.” (Source: VTO Island Nius)

Wendy Matthews 11th April concert at The Sebel

Jupiters Casino, The Sebel & Air Vanuatu have announced that Wendy Matthews will be having a concert in Crystal's Restaurant on Easter Saturday 11th April. Ticket includes a 3 course set menu, accompanied by the sublime Wendy Matthews and her band. The multi award-winning entertainer has been nominated for 13 ARIA awards and has won 7 including Best Female Artist, 3 times! She will be performing all her number one hits and album favourites including “The Day You Went Away”, in the intimate surrounds of Crystals Restaurant. This is a ground breaking achievement in the local music and tourism industry for the destination to be hosting an international act of a high calibre, which is bound to attract tourist fans from overseas into Port Vila on Easter. In addition to the concert, Sebel Hotel has recently added “Boardroom Meetings” onto their Weekly Activities Calendar. Boardroom Meetings offers a refreshing new ‘meeting place’ for business colleagues to get together, network and unwind in the relaxing ambience of The Lobby Bar, entertained by exotic cocktails, cool beers, wines, complimentary canapés and the soothing sounds of Sebel’s grand piano. Boardroom Meetings is scheduled for every Wednesday after work and extends into Happy Hour from 5pm-7pm. (Source: VTO Island Nius)

Victoria Café opens in Santo

Another new comer in Santo’s recent line of cafes is Victoria Café. Victoria café is located near Alan Power Dive Shop in Luganville’s town center. The café serves a delicious breakfast. Customers can choose poached, fried, or creamy scrambled eggs, mueslis, fruit salads and corn fritters to name a few. Hot and cold beverages on the side include short & long blacks, all coffees (cappuccino, latte, mochaccino), hot chocolate, herbal teas, smoothies & shakes, ice coffee, ice chocolate, and more to suit at any type of weather. For more information call on 37373 or 36373. Email victoriacafe@vanuatu.com.vu . (Source: VTO Island Nius)

Enkahi Discovery Tours on Tanna

Managing Director of Enkahi Tours, Sam Nasse, visited the VTO with his wife Jenny, on Thursday of last week 26th March, and updated the office on an exciting and unique eco adventure experience visitors can enjoy whilst on Tanna. Enkahi Tours offers other undiscovered beauties of the island and not just a volcano trip, which is most popular on demand. The tour evolves around hot springs, geysers, and thermal vents which are bi products of Mt. Yasur. The business is 100% locally owned and managed by Sam and his family, who have also tied in an airport transfer service to compliment Enkahi Discovery Tours. The tour begins with a hotel pick-up in Vila at 7am to Bauerfield domestic airport for an hour's flight to Tanna. On arrival in Tanna, a warm welcome awaits guests at the White Grass International airport by Enkahi’s friendly tour guide & driver. The tour guide then drives guests through thick jungle & bush, passing villages, local markets, and children waving their hands to the double cabin (air conditioned) transfer vehicle. The drive takes 2 hours and is compensated with breathtaking views of Port Resolution and hot springs at a distance, looking out from the first stop at "Loanialu", eastern side of Tanna.

The next stop is a series of the main highlights which are the hot springs where guests can watch how village women cook vegetables in the springs, and boys paint their faces using natural dyes from the earth's minerals nearby. Custom dances that are uniquely of the Enkahi area, are performed and a custom story is told of the “birth” of the geysers and hot springs followed by a guided trip to the haematites, steam sites, and geysers on either canoe, or a bamboo bridge. Before ending Enkahi’s lap top presentation, Sam briefly showed the team current progress on the construction of 3 star bungalows along Port Resolution beach. “The bungalows are built to cater for all groups travelling to Tanna, and we aim to open the first 5 by middle of the year.” Enkahi Discovery Tours operates in conjunction with Unity Airlines. Contact Sam or Jenny on 29949, email enkahitouristagent@vanuatu.com.vu. Website www.enkahitouristagent.com.vu. VTO wishes Sam and Jenny all the best and thank you for visiting. (Source: VTO Island Nius)

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