New York offers big discounts to visitorsNew York - Visitors to the Big Apple this summer can avail of savings of up to 50 per cent in hotels, restaurants and other establishments.
More than 200 businesses are taking part in the "Summer in the City" programme including museums, Broadway theatres, shops and city-tour operators, according to New York's tourist representation.
The programme runs until September 1 and participants must have a "Savings Pass" which can be applied for online at www.nycvisit.com/SummerInTheCity. ---
Switzerland holds sand sculpture festival =
St Gallen - The Swiss town of Rorschach on Lake Constance is hosting a sand sculpture festival from August 9 to 16.
This is the tenth anniversary of the event's founding and to mark the occasion 10 artists' groups will spend the week creating sculptures with spades, trowels and brushes.
At the festival's conclusion on August 16, a jury will award a prize to the most creative sculpture. The figures will remain on display until September 15.
Internet: www.sandskulpturen.ch ---
St Paul's cathedral in London issues "E-Tickets" =
Berlin - St Paul's Cathedral in London can now be visited using online tickets, thus avoiding long queues.
Tickets cost 10.75 British pounds (21.21 dollars) for adults. Children up to the age of seven are allowed in free of charge.
Internet: www.stpauls.co.uk ---
New Ferris wheel to open in Florida=
Orlando - The city of Orlando in Florida is to get a new tourist attraction in the shape of a 123-metre wide Ferris wheel.
The wheel is due to come into operation in 2010, offering passengers a 40-kilometre panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, according to the city's tourist office.
NASA's nearby space center and the Walt Disney theme park will be in view of the wheel that will have 24 cabins with space for 960 guests. A trip on the wheel will last around 30 minutes.
Internet: www.greatwheel.com/orlando
