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Gaddafi's tourism goal Libya is putting terrorism behind it, getting involved with another big 'T' - travel. The North African nation whose leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, has been condemned in the past by the West, will be one of 44 countries and regions represented at this year's International Travel Expo Hong Kong, which will be held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre from June 8-11. A travel agent in the SAR who arranges adventure holidays, tells me Libya has lots to offer. It has outstanding Roman and Greek ruins, prehistoric cave paintings, Rommel's World War II headquarters in the desert, Mediterranean beaches, green mountains, and camel and 4WD excursions into the Sahara.

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Among the other more offbeat exhibitors at iTE will be Bhutan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Zimbabwe (though the recent attacks on farmers would hardly encourage tourism there).

Virtual splendour There's a mouse in the bedroom at Hong Kong's Great Eagle Hotel, and it has won them a PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Gold Award. The hotel's Web site uses IPEX 360, a digital photo technique that allows virtual tours of its guestrooms, suites, lobby, swimming pool and other facilities. Would-be guests can click and drag the mouse for a 360-degrees 'walkabout'. Check it out at www.gehotel.com. The award is for innovative use of the Internet.

Soft landing Swissair has a team of 14 'airport concierges' at Zurich airport to handle any queries or problems its passengers might face. They have been trained by the head concierge of the city's Grand Hotel Dolder, Gaudenz Soliva, and are on duty at Terminal A from five in the morning until 11pm.

Getting on to the case Visitors to Cuba are being advised to remove valuables from their cases because of a series of thefts by staff at Havana airport. Items have been stolen from luggage after passengers have checked in for their return flights. The British Foreign Office has warned travellers from the UK to put their suitcases through shrink-wrapping machines at the airport as a deterrent. It costs the equivalent of HK$50 per item.

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Going Shell . . .

If you are planning to drive in Europe, the Shell Web site, www.shellgeostar.com gives lots of information on motoring through 16 countries. Information is given in six languages, and a journey planner gives the estimated distance between points and expected time of arrival. There is also on-line help to book stopover accommodation, and information on places of interest to visit en route.
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