Gaul-wise Triumphantly defending its title as the world's most popular destination, France welcomed 75 million visitors last year, according to World Tourism Organisation (WTO) figures. Predictably, Paris, touted as the city of romance and culture, was the biggest attraction. Spain (52 million), the US (40 million) and Italy (39 million) finished second, third and fourth respectively in the global league. Meanwhile, the WTO maintains China will be the world's top tourist destination by 2020 - despite a Sars-inspired decline in visitors last year. The mainland lured 33 million guests in 2003, and although that represented a 10 per cent reduction on figures for 2002, China retained its place as the world's fifth-most visited location. And Sars or no Sars, international tourism receipts rose from US$474 billion in 2002 to an estimated US$514 billion last year, the WTO added. Jet-set seat Concorde may now be grounded forever, but there's a final chance to own a part of history while drawing attention to yourself in the office. Five hundred seats from British Airways Concordes are for sale, complete with casters, as chairs for use in the boardroom or study. Those with a burning desire to be the fastest thing on five wheels and a hankering for exclusivity will find a discreet plaque attached to their supersonic souvenir. The leather seats are being restored by manufacturers MGR Foamtex of Thame, Oxfordshire, England, who are adding height-adjustment levers. Prices for 'ordinary' examples start at #5,000 (HK$71,000), but if parking yourself on just any old seat of privilege isn't enough, seat 1A could be for you. Of the 100 seats on each Concorde, 1A was considered the most exclusive. It cushioned the royal rears of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, among others. The five 1A seats cost #10,000. There will be no auction and all orders will be processed as they're received; go to www.concordeseats.com to stake your claim, or call (44) 1844 260444. A little R 'n'R Hong Kong's third airline, CR Airways, recently made its inaugural direct flight from Hong Kong to Danang, Vietnam. Its regular 75-minute service, scheduled to begin in the next few weeks, will replace that undertaken until recently by Vietnam's Pacific Airlines. CR Airways will operate Bombardier 50-seat regional jets on the new route, initially offering four-day charters. Danang is surrounded by four Unesco World Heritage Sites: the old silk-trading port of Hoi An; My Son, the spiritual centre of the Champa civilisation; former imperial capital Hue; and the mystical Phong Nha caves in Quang Binh province. All are within easy driving distance of the city. CR Airways flights will be operated in conjunction with the five-star Furama Resort Danang, located on China Beach. Through prior arrangement with the resort, Vietnam visas (costing US$30) can be issued on arrival. For details, call Farrington American Express Travel on 3121 3121 or go to www.amextravel.com.hk . Statue of curtailed liberties When New York's Statue of Liberty reopened last week, visitors found the icon less of an expression of freedom than it was before September 11, 2001. Closed in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, Liberty rejoined the tourist trail armed with 'biometric' lockers in which backpacks, money belts and other small items must be stored before visitors are permitted access. New touch-screen technology allows two fingerprint scans to be made when a visitor rents a locker; on his return another scan is made and compared with the first two. If they match, the locker opens. Doors are also equipped with silent alarms, which are triggered if a forced entry is attempted. Hot text Singapore Airlines is offering passengers the chance to check in by sending text messages on their mobile phones. 'Customers can now check in remotely using SMS, the internet, phone or fax ... whatever is most convenient,' said a spokesman. As an enticement to use the new service, passengers may collect their boarding passes from and deposit their luggage at dedicated airport counters, cutting queuing time. Text check-in applies only to flights from Singapore, Taipei, Bangkok, Auckland, Bandar Seri Begawan, Chennai, Christchurch, Dhaka, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Penang. Registration on the airline's website ( www.singaporeair.com ) is required. Send items to stephen.mccarty@scmp.com