Israel is to mark its 60th anniversary with a series of tourist-friendly festivals.

The middle eastern nation, which boasts an excellent climate along with a near-unparalleled cultural richness, marked its birthday earlier this week.

However, celebrations are to continue throughout the year, climaxing in the Violins of Hope concert in Jerusalem this September.

At the event, the orchestras of Istanbul in Turkey and Raanana in Israel will unite in the Old City as a mark of cultural integration.

Elsewhere, the tourist town of Eilat is hosting the Red Sea Jazz festival in August, with acts from around the world scheduled to perform.

Jazz fans might also like to consider the Festival at Caesarea Harbour next month - with three “world-renowned” bands from New Orleans set to perform in the pretty seaside town.

Jerusalem will also host an international film festival in July - and the city hosts a well-respected wine event in the same month.

Cheap sea crossings to Europe and Scandinavia have been announced by ferry firm DFDS Seaways.

The boat firm is providing special offers on sea crossings to the Danish port of Esjerg, Amsterdam, Bergen and Stavanger in Norway.

For example, Newcastle to Amsterdam now costs £132 for two people and a car, while Newcastle to Norway costs only £176 - although customers are advised that these tickets are one-way only.

Ferries offer considerable advantages to holiday makers over air travel, DFDS Seaways also said.

“No hassle with airport queues, delays, baggage restrictions and stress. Just pack up the car and head off on your holiday with everything you need.”

Customers were advised by the firm that ferry journeys can also be used as a “gateway” to explore further afield - for example, the sea passage to Amsterdam can form a starting point for trips to France and even the Mediterranean.

A rise in British tourists visiting Spain is expected despite the pound flagging againstthe euro, a Spanish tourism chief has claimed.

Ignacia Vasallo of the Turespana Spanish Tourist Board said he believes the country will remain a popular tourist destination during 2008, reports the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Predicting a two per cent rise in visitors this summer, he said Spain was still one of the cheapest eurozone destinations and claimed certain slight price increases were not going to turn people away.

He stated: “While the credit crunch may persuade British consumers to put off selling the house or buying a new car, it will not deter them from going on holiday this year.”

With 10.7 million tourists having visited Spain already during the first quarter of 2008, it appears the country may indeed be in for a bumper year.

Visitors to Spain can choose between laid back breaks at one of the many beach resorts along the country’s Mediterranean coastline, or cultural trips to historic cities such as Barcelona and the capital city Madrid.

As many as 50,000 English football fans are expected to descend upon Moscow today in preparation for the Champions League Final.

Ticket-holders for the showpiece fixture have been waived visa requirements in a one-off gesture by the Russian government, providing many with a rare opportunity to enjoy the sights of the capital city.

Moscow authorities have laid-on 700 buses to transfer fans between the city airport and the stadium and many have chosen to book hotel accommodation in the city for the duration of their stay.

Specially erected pavilions in the famous Red Square are expected to be filled with supporters, although the drinking of alcohol openly on the streets will be prohibited.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko urged the English fans to respect Russian customs and avoid a repeat of the violence which marred last week’s UEFA cup final between Glasgow Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.

He added: “We will make sure that our guests will be taken care of, that they feel safe and feel our hospitality and have a great time.”

Russian visas, permitting a visitor to remain in the country for a specified period of time, can be obtained upon application to the Russian National Tourism Office.

Thailand will hold its annual tourism festival and travel mart between June 5th and June 8th 2008, with tourists and traders from around the world expected to attend.

Bangkok’s Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition centre will host the event, which is expected to bring together almost 500 buyers from more than 60 countries, plus many independent travellers looking to pick up tips on how to make the most of their time in the country.

This year’s festival will for the first time include exhibitors promoting the Indonesia and Malaysian markets, adding to the potential value for traders and consumers.

Festival director Phornsiri Manoharn said the event would help visitors find the “perfect combination of products and services for their next travel plan”, whether for leisure, domestic meetings or adventure travel.

“Travelling around the country is a service to the Thai economy because it helps create jobs and distributes income nationwide,” she added.

More than 150,000 visitors are expected at the four-day event, while more than 80 media outlets from around the world have also been invited.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is responsible for promoting the country to visitors from around the world who make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.

Dubai is rapidly emerging as a leading tourist destination, it has been reported.

Long-inhabited by western workers, the United Arab Emirates’ largest city is now benefiting from money invested in the tourist industry, says the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

ABTA spokesperson Francis Duke explained that Dubai had as a result been transformed from a desert state into one of the world’s fastest growing cities.

He said: “Dubai is really four and five star upwards when it comes to its tourism offering.

“It is totally an example of where a lot of money and a lot of resources have been ploughed into the tourism products.”

Developments in Dubai reflect general rises in the number of visitors to destinations in emerging economies, the World Tourism Association has announced.

The association claims the market share of developing countries had grown to 40 per cent of worldwide international arrivals in 2007, up from 34 per cent in 2000.

ABTA represents more than 6,000 travel agencies and 850 tour operations throughout the British Isles.

Bulgaria expects to welcome seven per cent more foreign tourists during 2008, the president of the state agency for tourism authority has announced.

Anelia Krushkova of the Bulgarian State Agency for Tourism (STA) made the announcement yesterday at the opening ceremony of the summer season held at the St Constantine and Elena resort, reports Xinhua.

The Eastern European state, an EU member since January 2007, has signed agreements with Iran and the Czech Republic to help attract more tourists, while a similar deal is close to being reached with South Korea.

Bulgaria’s tourist industry has taken off since the fall of communism 18 years ago.

Popular tourist attractions include the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, Golden Sands beach on the Black Sea coast and the Pirin National Park which is a world heritage site.

Recent STA predictions states tourism revenues in Bulgaria would almost triple by 2013, representing a 25 per cent annual average growth rate.

A new guide has revealed Europe’s hottest clubbing destinations– with few surprises at the top of the charts.

Ibiza has been named Cheapflights.co.uk’s number one resort for 2008, with many of the world’s top DJs again making a pilgrimage to the Balearic island.

Judge Jules, Pete Tong and Dave Pearce will be among the big names to excite revellers this summer with residencies on the island.

Magaluf, Mallorca is in at number two in the Clubbers’ Guide 2008, with Paul van Dyk, Tiesto and Eddie Halliwell all set to feature at the Palma Bay resort this year.

Agia Napa in south-eastern Cyprus takes  a respectable third place, with the Greek island of Crete following in fourth.

Guide promoters urge party-goers to “grab a glow stick, hit the dance floor and get into the groove”, describing the destinations as “some of the hottest clubbing resorts on the planet”

Passengers travelling to Singapore from London are to benefit from the introduction of a new A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

The plans, announced by Singapore Airlines last week, will increase the number of services travelling on the route from seven per week to 11, with extra services being added on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The carrier will receive its fifth A380 aircraft from manufacturers, Airbus, in late June, with services scheduled to commence on July 16th.

Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines executive vice-president for marketing and regions, said the carrier’s products and passenger experience had been very well received by customers, with passenger numbers on the route having been “exceptionally encouraging”.

“The deployment of another A380 on this route will cater to continual strong demand from customers travelling between Singapore and London,” he added.

Singapore is described as “a dynamic city rich in contrast and colour” with a “harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture” by the nation’s tourist board.

A new vinotherapy spa centre has opened in the world heritage-listed Tokaj wine region in Hungary.

The spa, based at the four-star Andrássy Kúria Hotel, is designed to cash in on a new tourism trend of combining spa treatment and wine.

So-called vinotherapy is believed to have emerged in 1999 when the first centre opened in Bordeaux, France.

Located in Tarcal in the Tokaj foothills, around a two-and-a-half hour drive from Budapest, the hotel features 38 elegant rooms, two junior suites and a presidential suite.

The fully-operational winery provides tasting and cellar visits, with opportunities for guests to take part in grape harvests and learn all about wine-making, set against a backdrop of 35 hectares of vineyards.

Promoters describe the winery as “a great place to visit for both novice and professional wine connoisseurs”.

According to www.wines.com, Tokaj is blessed with an “ideal climate for winemaking”, and is unique because of the underlying soil conditions, stone-carved cellars and hundreds of years of wine growing tradition in the area.