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UN Tourism opens Best Tourism Villages awards

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SINGAPORE, 7 February 2025: UN Tourism has opened applications for the 2025 edition of its Best Tourism Villages initiative. 

Since its inception in 2021, the initiative has gained global recognition. Across the previous four editions, UN Tourism received more than 800 applications from over 100 countries. 

Photo credit: UN Tourism. Best Tourism Villages 2025 video clip.

Today, the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Network includes 254 members worldwide. Over 180 villages have been recognised as Best Tourism Villages, and 70 have participated in the Upgrade Programme, representing almost 60 countries across five world regions.

The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism celebrates rural destinations where tourism catalyses opportunity, cultural preservation, and sustainable growth.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commented: “The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism celebrates rural destinations where tourism catalyses opportunity, cultural preservation, and sustainable growth. By harnessing their unique assets, these villages create opportunities for economic growth, safeguard local traditions, and promote a better quality of life for their communities. We are eager to welcome those villages that represent the role of rural tourism as a transformative force for good.”

Best Tourism Villages 2025 applications open

UN Tourism member states can submit up to eight candidate villages through their respective National Tourism Administrations (NTAs).

Applications will close on 19 May 2025. The villages recognised as Best Tourism Villages 2025 will be announced in the third quarter of the year, coincidentally with a UN Tourism event.

An external Advisory Board comprising global experts will evaluate applications based on nine key areas:

  • Cultural and Natural Resources;
  • Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources;
  • Economic Sustainability;
  • Social Sustainability;
  • Environmental Sustainability;
  • Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration;
  • Governance and Prioritisation of Tourism;
  • Infrastructure and Connectivity;
  • Health, Safety, and Security;
  • Advancing Rural Development through Tourism.

Best Tourism Villages standouts

Recognition as Best Tourism Villages: The recognition highlights rural tourism destinations that excel in preserving cultural and natural heritage, community-based values, and sustainability practices. The evaluation is based on their performance across nine areas spanning economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

The Upgrade Programme: Provides targeted support to villages that do not fully meet recognition criteria. These villages benefit from tailored guidance to bridge gaps and enhance their offerings.

The Best Tourism Villages Network: Serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among recognised villages and those in the Upgrade Programme. The Network organises capacity-building initiatives to foster connections across sectors.

The initiative is part of the Tourism for Rural Development Programme by UN Tourism.

Alipay taps Lunar New Year travel surge

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HANGZHOU, 7 February 2025: During the 2025 Chinese New Year holiday season, Alipay recorded a significant increase in China’s outbound and inbound travel spending.

Photo credit: Alipay. Shopping malls in Malaysia welcome Chinese tourists with special Alipay discounts.

Spending standouts

• Alipay transactions made by outbound Chinese travellers across the 90 million-strong Alipay+ global merchants network increased by 30% y-o-y. The top destinations for Chinese travellers were Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, and South Korea, showing the highest growth rate in total Alipay spending. 

• China inbound travel spending via Alipay surged by 150% y-o-y in the first five days of the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday. The number of inbound travellers using their 13 home e-wallets supported by the Alipay+ solution nearly doubled y-o-y during the first four days of the holiday.

Outbound travel: Visa-free and long-haul travel destinations saw a surge in Alipay spending while Chinese tourists sought local experiences 

Global Alipay+ merchants have joined Alipay in an exclusive CNY campaign to lure travellers during the country’s longest national holiday. Between 28 and 30 January, transactions made by Alipay users in overseas destinations increased by 30% compared to last year’s Lunar New Year holiday season.

Shopping malls in Malaysia welcome Chinese tourists with special Alipay discounts.

Friendlier visa policies in major destinations bring substantive impact. In Singapore, total spending via Alipay rose by 56% year-on-year, making it the most popular destination. Japan also emerged as a favoured spot, with a 40% increase in Alipay spending, driven by eased visa policies and a weakened yen. Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, and South Korea ranked among the top five destinations.

Long-haul travel rebounded: Alipay users made 30% more European transactions over CNY 2024. In addition to traditionally popular destinations like the UK, France, and Italy, emerging destinations such as Switzerland, Austria, and Turkey also saw a notable rise in number of transactions. 

Inbound travel: Visa-Free policies and new payment options drew international travellers to China to experience CNY traditions

With China’s recent visa-free policy updates, Alipay has launched new campaigns to double the number of Chinese merchants accepting payments with international card-enabled Alipay accounts and 13 overseas e-wallets. 

Between 28 January and 1 February, travellers spent 150% more using Alipay at merchants across the Chinese mainland in 2024. Spending from visa-free origins rose by 200% year-on-year. 

During the first four days of the CNY holiday, overseas e-wallet users making payments in China increased by 94% year-on-year. AlipayHK users topped the list, followed by Malaysia’s Touch ’n Go e-Wallet, Macao SAR’s MPay, Kazakhstan’s Kaspi.kz, and Thailand’s TrueMoney.

About Alipay
As the world becomes increasingly digital, Alipay has evolved from a trusted e-wallet into an all-in-one digital platform for daily services, connecting over one billion consumers to over 80 million merchants across China. 

Moscow Tourism ramps up promotions in India

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NEW DELHI, 7 February 2025: The Moscow City Tourism Committee is targeting India’s travel agency community to boost tourism to the Russian capital.

A high-powered travel delegation from Moscow Tourism attended the B2B travel show OTM Mumbai from 30 to 31 January and then it travelled to New Delhi to host a prestigious gala dinner for 170 key partners, including prominent trade associations like TIA, OTOAI, NIMA, business event agencies, government officials and media.

Moscow Gala Dinner in New Delhi.

In a press statement, Moscow Tourism described its mission as “strengthening the bonds between India and the Russian capital.”

“The gala dinner event highlighted the growing collaboration in tourism and business sectors, underscoring Moscow’s commitment to enhancing ties with India’s outbound tourism market. This initiative aligns with Moscow’s strategic focus on the MICE sector, aiming to position the city as a premier destination for Indian business and leisure travellers.”

Distinguished delegates included Ivan Fetisov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai; Dr Elena Remizova, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo in India and Director of the Russian House in New Delhi; and Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, and Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee.

Kozlov addressed the travel trade audience, emphasising India’s significance as a top focus market and highlighting the growing popularity of the hassle-free eVisa among Indian travellers, noting a 1.4-fold increase in 2024 compared to 2023 with over 61,000 visits in the first nine months. 

Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow and Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee welcomes India’s travel trade leaders to the gala dinner in New Delhi.

The First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow and Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee commented: “Moscow is a modern capital of business tourism, boasting world-class infrastructure, including cutting-edge congress and exhibition venues, over 22,000 dining establishments, and advanced technological services. The Moscow City Tourism Committee reaffirms its commitment to supporting the growth of India’s MICE industry and enhancing our bilateral relationship through continued engagements and partnerships.”

OTOAI president Himanshu Patil noted: “Moscow is a safe and culturally rich destination. With the simplified visa process, we expect a significant rise in travel interest from India to Moscow. We anticipate 2025 to be a successful year for India’s outbound travel market to this vibrant city, and at OTOAI, we look forward to fostering collaboration and supporting its growth.”

The Moscow City Tourism Committee is the executive body of the Russian capital that implements city policy on the development and regulation of tourism and hospitality. With a strategic focus on branding Moscow as a premier tourist destination both domestically and globally. 

In 2023, Moscow attracted 2.3 million foreign tourists, predominantly from key markets like India, China, CIS countries, and the Middle East. 

The Russian capital organises business missions to strengthen international ties and showcases its tourism potential at industry exhibitions. It has launched legislative initiatives, events and image projects aimed at foreign tourists, such as the Moscow MICE Ambassadors programme in India.

Thai Lion Air flies Taiwan charters

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BANGKOK, 7 February 2025: Thai Lion Air operates scheduled charter flights between Chiang Mai in northern Thailand and Kaohsiung in Taiwan for February and March.

The first flight, using a 167-seat Boeing 737-800, departed Chiang Mai for Kaohsiung on 6 February. Other flights are scheduled to leave on 11, 15, 20 and 25 February. (The airline flies on Tuesday and Saturday in one week, followed by a single flight on Thursday in the next week during February and March).

Photo credit Christopher Tan Aviation Photography.

During March, the airline will schedule seven departures from Chiang Mai on 1, 6, 11, 15, 20, 25 and 29 March.

SL7324 will depart Chiang Mai (CNX) at 1205 and arrive in Kaohsiung (KHH) at 1625. Tue and Sat. 
SL7325 will depart Kaohsiung (KHH) at 1725 and arrive in Chiang Mai at 2010. Tue and Sat.

On alternative weeks, just one flight will operate on Thursday.

About Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a special municipality located in southern Taiwan. It is the third most populous city in Taiwan and the largest city in south Taiwan. Kaohsiung is a major industrial centre and a transportation hub with a busy international airport and a large harbour.

The Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal can accommodate up to three cruise ships at a time and has a capacity of 10,000 passengers. The terminal is a popular port of call for cruise ships sailing between Asia and Europe. It is also a popular starting point for Southeast Asia and the South Pacific cruises.

Dusit stays deliver double perks

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 6 February 2025: Dusit Hotels and Resorts, part of Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, welcomes the Year of the Snake 2025 by launching a special promotion offering Double Perks and up to 30% savings on stays at selected properties.

The deal is available at properties across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Egypt, Greece, Guam, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Oman, Singapore, Thailand, the Maldives, and Malaysia.

The Double Perks offer includes value-added benefits and is available for bookings until 31 March 2025. Stay dates extend until 30 June 2025. Guests receive two complimentary perks from various options, including a complimentary drink, a spa credit up to USD50, a room upgrade, early check-in at 1200, late check-out at 1600, immersive experiences, or a complimentary pet stay (available at selected properties).

This enticing promotion notably includes stays at Dusit’s reimagined flagship, Dusit Thani Bangkok, which recently reopened after a stunning transformation. It also includes other recently added properties, such as Dusit Princess Chiang Mai (reopening after a three-year transformation) and Dusit Princess Melaka (Dusit’s first hotel in Malaysia, in the heart of the UNESCO-listed city).

For members of Dusit’s loyalty programme, Dusit Gold, the special offer is even more rewarding, with an extra 15% savings. Joining the Dusit Gold program is free and can be completed online at https://www.dusit.com/enrollment/

For more information, visit Double Perks.

Singha Park hosts hot air balloon fiesta

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TTR WEEKLY
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CHIANG RAI, Thailand, 6 February 2025: Singha Park Chiang Rai is gearing up to create a colourful skyline with the Singha Park Chiang Rai International Balloon Fiesta 2025 scheduled from 13 to 17 February.

Now in its seventh consecutive edition, the festival will attract over 30 hot air balloon teams from 13 countries to compete for a cash prize of THB100,000 (US$2,900). Visitors can also enjoy the balloon show, featuring light and sound effects and spectacular Thai cultural performances. 

Photo credit: Singha Park.

A full-scale outdoor Khon (Thai masked dance) performance will unfold at the main stage of the lakeside area of Singha Park. The special Khon episode of Ramayana will be performed by 160 people of Wang Na artists and Chiang Rai youths. Evening music concerts entertain from 13 to 17 at Singha Park Chiang Rai. 

Singha Park managing director Pongrat Luangthamrongcharoen said: “The International Balloon Festival is among the annual activities that Singha Park Chiang Rai has been organising since 2016. 

“This year, more than 30 hot air balloons from various countries will participate in the event. It is considered the largest balloon festival in ASEAN, placing Chiang Rai on the map for balloon aeronauts and enthusiasts looking to enjoy the beautiful landscape and culture. 

“We have held this event every year on Valentine’s Day, and we have helped make Chiang Rai a destination for couples worldwide to celebrate the day of love.”

For more information, visit Facebook Singha Park, Chiang Rai.

Macau hosts HXB Group sales event

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 February 2025: HBX Group, a B2B travel technology marketplace, will host its signature annual convention, MarketHub Asia 2025, from 11 to 14 February at Studio City in Macau.

HBX Group, Vice President of Sales Pippa Williamson will deliver a business update highlighting the challenges and opportunities shaping travel today, revealing HBX Group’s sales vision for the future.

Photo credit: HBX Group.

Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid will deliver a keynote address on sustainable tourism. The presentation will focus on the trends reshaping the industry and the role of collaboration between the public and private sectors in fostering a more resilient future. 

Social media, cloud computing and booking platforms such as Amazon Web Services, TikTok and Klook will discuss topics ranging from the latest AI applications and sustainable tourism to evolving traveller behaviours.

Studio City, Accor, Minor Hotels, Dusit Hotels and Resorts, and Center Hotels are MarketHub Asia’s platinum sponsors.

“We look forward to welcoming our clients and partners to Macau for this year’s MarketHub Asia,” said HBX Group Chief Commercial Officer

Carlos Muñoz. “This year’s event brings together some of the brightest minds and most innovative organisations in the sector, offering powerful insights and diverse perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping our industry.”

Mountain trek in Laos targets female hikers

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TTR WEEKLY
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LUANG PRABANG Laos, 6 February 2025: Khiri Travel (Laos) and Camino Women Australia are establishing a new community-based hill trekking route in remote northern Laos targeting female hikers.  

The inaugural four-day trek will commence on 16 February, with six women from Australia joining the trip. Organised by Camino Women (Australia) and Khiri Travel (Laos), the mountain hike is part of a 12-day northern Laos journey that includes a slow boat trip on the Mekong River, a train ride, visits to Buddhist caves and an elephant park, walks in paddy fields, meetings with various ethnic group villagers, and experiencing the UNESCO world heritage township of Luang Prabang.

However, the trip organisers believe the inclusion, support and training for villagers in three remote mountain hamlets on the new Soum-son (community) Trail are a positive example of responsible travel.

Preparing to receive the women hikers in mid-February, 26 women and men from the three remote villages embarked on three days of training in Luang Prabang in Laos last December. The villagers learned about community-based tourism, safety standards, housekeeping service, waste management, food preparation, and customer service. There were hands-on practical sessions. Four community tourism experts from the Lao government carried out the training.

Two-way learning process 

“Our approach is to treat tourism as a supplementary source of income for the villagers who are rice farmers,” said  Khiri Travel Laos country manager Julie Beaufrère. “We don’t want over-dependency on tourism. And the cultural learning process is also very much between villagers and the women hikers.”

After the inaugural trip in February, Camino Women and Khiri Travel aim to bring five hiking groups to the Soum-son Trail in 2025, followed by two per month in the next high season, November 2025 to February 2026.

Each trip will have the same local guide from the villages and Khiri Travel’s highly experienced Laotian community guide.

Camino Women and Khiri Travel’s charitable arm, Khiri Reach, paid for the training in December. After consulting with the villagers about what else they may need, Khiri Reach and Camino donated two laptop computers, school books and preserved food to the villages on the remote hiking trail.

Camino Women’s lead trip designer, Lisa O’Donnell, surveyed the trail with Beaufrère last year and is glad to see the preparation, training, and hard work paying off.

“We’re very positive about our partnership with the wonderful villagers and the proactive support from the Lao authorities and Khiri Travel. I believe our Camino women hikers will enjoy their immersion in Laotian village life for four days.”

Australian tour operator Leatherback Travel operates specialist travel units such as Camino Women, Patch Adventures, Magnificent Rail and Fencox Travel. Khiri Travel has handled various tours for these brands in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia since 2023.

“The Soum-son Trail and the full 10-day greater Laos experience is a terrific example of close cooperation between Leatherback Travel and Khiri,” said Khiri Travel founder Willem Niemeijer. “We aim to develop more responsible and regenerative travel experiences with Leatherback Travel across Southeast Asia in the months ahead.”

Fliggy tracks Spring Festival trends

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 February 2025: As China wrapped up its eight-day Spring Festival holiday, 28 January to 4  February, celebrating the start of the Year of the Snake, Fliggy, an online travel platform wholly owned by Alibaba Group, released its 2025 Spring Festival Travel Insights.

Photo credit: Fliggy International. Founded in 2016, Fliggy has emerged as China’s leading online travel platform.

China’s inbound travel

Cultural heritage tourism on the rise: With UNESCO’s inaugural recognition of the 2025 Spring Festival as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, interest in cultural tourism surged during the holiday season.

Search volume for experiences featuring intangible heritage, such as visits to heritage sites and culture immersion activities, increased by 40% compared to last year. 

Additionally, purchases for folk performances have increased 36% year over year, and over half of all reservations are made for trips with family and friends.

Family-oriented experiences: Families opted for outings that celebrate cultural heritage. Popular activities include lantern festivals, temple fairs, traditional attire (Hanfu), rice cake making, and fireworks. Notably, trips to lantern festivals and folk performances were among the top choices.

Extended travel due to favourable policies: Encouraged by generous leave policies (Two days off for an 11-day holiday), travellers opted for longer trips. As a result, per capita spending rose by nearly 10% compared to last year, and the average length of stay increased by 5%.

Popular destinations: Top travel spots include Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Xi’an, Nanjing, and Wuhan. Cities like Jingdezhen, Zhaoqing, Ili, Altay, Kaifeng, Huangshan, Ulanqab, Meizhou, Ganzhou, and Zunyi.

Diverse travel format: The exemption of highway tolls for small passenger vehicles during the holiday has boosted self-driving trips, chartered tours, and customised tours. Rental car services and bespoke travel bookings both saw double-digit growth compared to last year, with popular self-driving destinations including Sanya, Haikou, Chengdu, Kunming, and Dali. Meanwhile, Xishuangbanna, Lijiang, Beijing, Harbin, and Pu’er are increasingly favoured for customised tours.

Outbound travel

Strong growth in international travel: This year, international cruises, car rentals, and one-day tours abroad have seen significant growth, with a remarkable 229% increase in cruise bookings compared to last year.
Top outbound destinations: Hong Kong (SAR), Macau (SAR), East Asia, and Southeast Asia remained favourites. Other top 10 destinations include the United States, Australia, and France. Countries like Hungary, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Iceland, and Austria experienced rapid growth, with order volumes doubling compared to last year.

Booking.com releases Travel Review Awards 2025

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 February 2025: Booking.com announced Wednesday recipients of its 13th annual Traveller Review Awards, based on over 360 million customer reviews.

In 2025, a record-breaking 1.71 million partners are being recognised, an 16% increase compared to 2024. This includes 1,711,539 accommodations, 1,329 rental car companies and 124 taxi providers. 

Photo credit: Booking.com. Fullerton Bay Hotel, Singapore.

Awarded properties in Singapore

In Singapore, 190 accommodation partners are being recognised with a Traveller Review Award 2025. They received over 254,782 reviews and an average review score of 8.5.

Some of the Singapore properties receiving a Traveller Review Award 2025:
The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore (Score: 9.3)
Marina Bay Sands (Score: 9.2)
Ann Siang House, The Unlimited Collection managed by The Ascott Limited (Score: 9)
Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong, an IHG Hotel (Score: 9)
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore (Score: 9)
Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore (Score: 9)
The Clan Hotel Singapore by Far East Hospitality (Score: 9)
Mondrian Singapore Duxton (Score: 8.8)
Shangri-La Singapore (Score: 8.8)
Jyu Capsule Hotel (Score: 8.8)

Apartments and holiday homes 

Apartments continue leading as the most-awarded accommodation type for the eighth consecutive year (847,627 awards). Holiday homes  (259,105) maintain second place, outperforming hotels (190,670) in the third year. Notably, capsule hotels saw a 35% increase in awards year over year, the highest growth among accommodation types, followed by villas (25%) and cabins (21%). Overall, awards for vacation rentals and other unique properties increased by 17%, reflecting travellers’ continued enthusiasm for a variety of stays that offer distinctive hospitality and memorable experiences.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s most-awarded accommodation types differed from those of its global counterparts, with hotels (114) taking the top spot for the fourth time, followed by aparthotels (47), hostels (8), capsule hotels (7), and resorts (5).

In-trip transport providers 

Booking.com’s rental car and taxi offering is integral to providing travellers with a seamless and frictionless travel experience, supporting its mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. This year, 1,329 car rental partners from 100 countries are receiving a Traveller Review Award, a 196% increase compared to the 2024 awards. The US takes the top spot for the first time, with most car rental companies being recognised (181), followed by Spain (113), the UK (106), Germany (92), and France (88). In addition, a total of 124 taxi suppliers around the world are being recognised for their seamless pick-ups. This year, Singapore clinched two awards, one going to a car rental partner and the other to a taxi provider.

Booking.com Managing Director, Asia-Pacific Laura Houldsworth commented: “Our annual Traveller Review Awards are one way we shine a spotlight on these hospitality heroes and say thank you to them not only from all of us at Booking.com, but on behalf of hundreds of millions of travellers from all over the world.”

Most Welcoming Places on Earth

Determined by the share of accommodation partners receiving a Traveller Review Award in a certain city, this year’s Most Welcoming Places on Earth list highlights various destinations. Whether it’s coffee farms and pristine beaches or medieval hideaways and jungle towns, these destinations showcase the world’s diverse charm and hospitality, inspiring unforgettable adventures in the year ahead.

2025: Most Welcoming Cities on Earth

  • Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
  • Cazorla, Spain
  • Urubici, Brazil 
  • Taupo, New Zealand 
  • St. Augustine, United States 
  • Orvieto, Italy 
  • Manizales, Colombia 
  • Quedlinburg, Germany 
  • Ko Lanta, Thailand 
  • Chester, United Kingdom 

2025: Most Welcoming Regions on Earth

  • Osijek-Baranja, Croatia 
  • Kakheti, Georgia 
  • Madeira, Portugal 
  • Misiones, Argentina 
  • Graubünden, Switzerland 
  • South Australia, Australia 
  • Bretagne, France 
  • Baja California Sur, Mexico
  • Kien Giang, Vietnam 
  • Drenthe, Netherlands 
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