The port of Civitavecchia was founded in 108 AD by Emperor Trajan, on the site of earlier Etruscan settlements, to provide the Empire's capital with a safe sea haven. Since then, through the centuries of papal Rome up to the present day, it has continued to perform the function for which it was created - providing the safest door to the city of Rome. Civitavecchia is situated only a few kilometres by motorway from the Eternal City and its international airport at Fiumicino. Disembarking at Civitavecchia means entering the heart of the mysterious Etruscan civilisation with its fascinating and enchanting tourist venues. The dreamlike Tuscania, Tarquinia, Vulci, Viterbo, Cerveteri and many others await discovery. Well aware of the natural artistic and historical treasures to which Civitavecchia holds the key, the Port Authority has decided to invest a considerable sum in redesigning the port. On the brink of the third millenium, Holy Year takes on a historic meaning for the port of Civitavecchia - its strategic vicinity to Rome makes it one of the capital's natural points of access. Through its chairman Francesco Nerli and its secretary general Giovanni Moscherini, the Port Authority has drawn up a three year operations plan (already well underway) in order to achieve the objective it has set itself. In short, this is a marketing mix concentrating human resources, technology and investment. There will be the construction of a further 537 metres of cruise liner wharves and the lengthening of the harbour arm. On the threshold of the Jubilee, Civitavecchia has been earmarked as the third point of arrival, together with Termini station and Fiumicino airport, for the tourists and pilgrims that will be visiting the Holy City. Fully aware of the importance of this event, there are plans for the renovation of the ancient walls, the Vanvitelli fountain, the Roman dock and the Lazaretto. The ancient harbour will be the mooring for both cruise liners and the vessels serving the islands (Sicily and Sardinia). Furthermore, there will be a new 500,000 square metre trading wharf of which 25,000 square metres will be destined for new services and offices. The operations plan foresees the investment of over 500,000 million lire with 300,000 million earmarked for the construction and development of the commercial and tourist port, while the remaining 200,000 million will go toward the reconstruction of Darsena Petroli. At present, Civitavecchia is Italy's second busiest passenger port, boasting two million two hundred thousand passengers a year. It is also the largest port for national coastal trade. Its railway system includes the State Railway's ferries to nearby Sardinia. Civitavecchia is prepared for the challenge of the third millenium by not only becoming one of the Mediterranean's most important cruise ports, but also one of the best equipped commercial docks in Italy.

Welcome to Dubai, city of merchants, cultural crossroads, second largest of the seven United Arab Emirates. A country where the dust of the desert is clearing to reveal the potential for one of the most significant international cities of the 21st century. Wedged between Europe and Asia, buttressed by Africa, Dubai's encouraging tax regimes, state-of-the-art telecommunications and sympathetic business environment have produced a country that is building energetically on the advantages which location, centuries-old trading savvy and oil wealth have given it. Dubai is not just a city of excitement. It's also a city of surprises. Try the ice skating rink in the Galleria shopping mall at the Hyatt Regency, where young men wearing traditional dish dash dress pirouette around the ice while their friends consume French pastries and coffee at Frosty's cafe. And other surprises. The magnificently-manicured, lush and green golf courses. The Irish Village at the Dubai Tennis Centre. Red telephone boxes which once brightened the British streetscape have found a home in Dubai. So, too, has the world's richest horse race, Dubai World Cup, a dream realised by HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence UAE. The race draws the best thoroughbred horses from America, Europe, Australia and Asia and races them at the Nad Al Sheba course alongside the UAE's best. But it's not just horses which move quickly in Dubai. The cars hurtling past the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, on the road to the exclusive Jumeira residential area, and beyond to Abu Dhabi, include a high proportion of current model Mercedes Benz and Toyota Land Cruisers. These rich men's cars should not be taken as evidence that Dubai is frittering away its oil wealth on expensive toys. The oil is due to run out soon but Dubai long ago began the task of diversifying its economy to soften the impact of diminishing oil revenues on future generations. Tourism is now an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign dollars into the emirate. "Dubai's attraction," says Patrick Macdonald, deputy chief executive of the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board, is that it provides an Arabian experience in a very comfortable, safe and tolerant society. "Visitors can enjoy all the international pursuits - golf, watersports, horse racing, polo and nightlife. Plus there's the attraction of the desert itself, with the opportunity to be part of an Arabian adventure." Originally a small fishing settlement, Dubai was taken over in the 1830s by a tribe led by the Maktoum family, which still rules the emirate today. So began a trading empire based on gold, silver, pearls and spices. A fusion of Arab, Persian and Indian flair established Dubai's business acumen. There is perhaps no better place to delve into Dubai's history than in the museum housed beneath the 180-year-old Al Fahidi Fort in Bur Dubai. Here the old is replicated using new technology. Tableaux show life as it used to be on a working dhow in Dubai Creek; in the souks and the mosques; and in the desert camps of the Bedouin tribes. And while much of the traditional way of life in Dubai has disappeared in the shiny reflection of the glass and glitz of five star hotels and commercial offices, and has been devoured by modern highways, bridges and underpasses, the essence of Arabia remains in busy side streets, along the creek, and in the desert which blows at Dubai's backdoor. The city is divided by Dubai Creek. Consequently the most interesting and direct way to travel from Bur Dubai to Deira on the north bank is by abra water taxi, a traditional form of transport used by locals to go about their business; and by tourists to access the spice and gold souks, and the myriad shops selling textiles and electrical goods in the Shindagha quarter. Visitors stepping off a boat on the waterfront at Deira should make a point of looking at the dhows waiting to be loaded with goods bound for neighboring countries. The piles of unattended cargo on the dockside illustrate the underlying honesty of Dubai society. The dhow owners do not begin loading the boat until every item to be carried has arrived on the wharf. This can often take several weeks. In the meantime, the unpacked cargo stays where it is. But no one touches it. Crime here is the lowest in the world. Dubai is a clean, safe country with great shopping, a good climate for most of the year and lots to do for those who want to be active." Five star hotels in the city are recording high occupancy rates but the competition is hotting up with several new luxury hotels planned. Hoteliers are keen that perceptions about Dubai do not suffer from negativity associated with some other Islamic countries in the Middle East. Siggi von Brandt, director of sales and marketing for Meridien, says that more awareness of Dubai is needed in Asia. "This place has great potential, both as a holiday destination in its own right, and as a stopover on the way to Europe. It's a totally different experience to Asia. Different culture, different dress, different cuisine plus the mystique of the desert," he says.

Hong Kong is a place of contrasts. Sleek, glassy skyscrapers shine above Old World markets where chicken feet and dried squid are displayed for sale. Archaic wooden boats bob past sleek cruise liners. Subway stations and expressway interchanges dot a landscape cluttered with Rolls Royces and rickshaws. Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in 1842 when those serving the British crown attacked the island. Though it was deeded back to China in 1997, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy, especially in its economy and municipal government. Hong Kong is one of the most unique Chinese cities in the world. The 417-square mile island off the coast of China offers visitors a slice of authentic Chinese culture with all the amenities of home. A modern metropolis teeming with eastern and western influences, Hong Kong is the world's third-largest financial center, the so-called “Wall Street of Asia,” and a shopping gold mine. Shopping? Yes indeed. Hong Kong is a duty-free port and the world's leading exporter of toys, garments, watches, and electronics. As a result, the vast majority of the 10 million annual visitors come with an empty suitcase that they fill up after visiting the malls, street bazaars (Stanley Market is world famous), textile and tailor shops, and jade and electronic stores. Those willing to look beyond the bargain-basement prices will find that Hong Kong is more than the world’s largest department store – it’s a cultural Mecca with wining and dining, museums, and historic attractions. Be sure to ride the world famous Star Ferry across the harbor to Hong Kong Island, admire the mansions on Repulse Bay, drop in to see the temples on Cat Street, visit the fishing boats and villages in Aberdeen, and take a tram ride up to Victoria Peak (the island’s highest peak sitting 1,308-feet above the city) for a stunning panoramic view. If you have time to go further, travel to Macau, a former Portuguese colony with a casino, and the New Territories of China, a Hong Kong bedroom community that “sleeps” near China’s border.

Anyone lucky enough to be going to Honolulu doesn't have to give a reason for going. They can just say, "We're going to Honolulu," and imagination will take care of the rest. Moreover, Honolulu can probably live up to and even surpass whatever we imagine. World-famous beaches and tropical weather set the scene for an amazing mix of Pacific cultures in this Hawaiian capital. There is a reason why Hawaii is consistently rated as one of the nation's top travel destinations; in fact, there are several of them. Waikiki Beach is the center of activity for Hawaii's biggest industry: tourism. This is one of the world's greatest resort playgrounds, featuring some of the most beautiful beaches and hotels in the world. Visitors from all over the world flock here to enjoy the sun, the sand and the incredible nightlife. Besides the beaches, visitors to Honolulu can take tours of the countryside surrounding the downtown area. These tours are amazing, bringing visitors to some of the most beautiful rainforests and volcanoes in the world. Animal and plant life are abundant, and the scenery is unsurpassed. A five-minute car ride from Honolulu brings visitors into some of Nature's most beautiful and awe-inspiring sights. Several museums, including the Bishop Museum, combine exhibits on Hawaiian natural history with lessons about history and culture of its many diverse peoples. The Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States, and it features many of Hawaii's most interesting sea animals. The Honolulu Zoo also features some of the unique mammals, birds, and reptiles that inhabit the forests just outside of the city. The history of Hawaii is very rich, as the islands have always attracted many different people. Visitors can tour the Iolani Palace, the residence of the last of the Hawaiian monarchs. They can also visit Honolulu's Chinatown, which is more authentic than many of its mainland counterparts. They can also visit the Arizona Memorial, commemorating the destruction of the battleship Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that brought America into World War II. Honolulu exhibits the best of Hawaii in every way. From its famous beaches to its incredible natural preserves, this town has attracted millions of people from around the world. Many of those visitors stayed, helping to make Hawaii one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse places to visit in the United States. Anyone lucky enough to be going to Hawaii knows that he won't be disappointed.

Sydney is Australia's largest and most cosmopolitan city and is the capital of New South Wales, the most heavily populated state of Australia. Sydney is situated on one of the world's most beautiful and famous harbours. Sydney also boasts beautiful beaches, fantastic shops, restaurants, history and culture. Sydney's many highlights include the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Centrepoint Tower, The Rocks, the stunning harbour and the white sands of Bondi, Manly and beyond. Sydney is also home to beautiful National Parks, the Royal Botanic Gardens, many harbour front picnic locations and heritage areas.