This year’s NATAS fair comes with a beguiling theme: “The World’s Your Playground!” About 158 exhibitors are participating comprising of airlines, hotels, resorts, embassies, national tourist offices and travel agents.

In addition to planning for your holidays, you can also feast your senses on performances and free eats.

Highlights include traditional Japanese drum performances by “TENKO” brought to you by the Japan National Tourism Organisation and BIBAP a non-verbal culinary comedy by the Korean Tourism Organisation inspired by the popular Korean dish bibimbap.

Visitors can also sample various countries’ cuisine and specialties. For example at the Korea Tourism Organisation booth, visitors can try delicious Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), Kimchi, and Dumpling alongside Korean wine. The Japan Next booth has Japanese offerings such as udon, tuna, hida beef and sake. The Taiwan Visitors’ Association booth offers ice-cream while the Tourism Authority of Thailand booth serves authentic desserts and the Australian booth coffee to perk you up while you hunt down bargains.

You can also win attractive prizes with a minimum charge of S$2,800 on your Mastercard cards.

NATAS Travel 2012
Singapore Expo Halls 3B, 4 & 5
24-26 February 2012 (Friday-Sunday)
10 am till 9.30 pm daily
S$4 per person, free entry for children below 12 years old

Recommended Holiday Destination: Melbourne

More reasons to visit Melbourne

World's longest lunch

1. The Melborne Food and Wine Festival 2012 marks its 20^th anniversary this year. Starting on 2 March 2012 it will last till 21 March, kickstarting with a Riverside Opening Weekend with notable activities such as city street feasts, 80 events under $50 and the world’s longest lunch. Its famous Langham Masterclass sees 100 of the world’s top chefs and winemakers from 14 different countries converging in Melbourne. Drink to your heart’s content at the Great Melbourne Beer Breakfast.

2. Shop at Melbourne’s $330 million revamped airport which has spanking new retail offerings including Little Ludlow, Dreamtime Journey, Think Sport, WH Smith, Discover Victoria and Hudsons.

3. Gawk at ancient world civilisations at the Melbourne Museum if you are visiting the city in May. Opening on 4 May, the exhibition shines the spotlight on three centuries of civilisations namely Sumer, Assyria and Bablyon, soak in the mystics of royal power, religious beliefs and rituals, myths and more.

4. If you like music, you will rejoice at the release of Melbourne Music City, which links visitors to venues, music stores and other music resources. The guide map helps to navigate you to metropolitan entertainment hubs as well as venues in regional Victoria.

5. For visitors looking for a refreshing hike, Victoria’s Great Ocean Walk allows visitors to finish all the way to the iconic limestone stacks known as the 12 Apostles. Works are underway to allow visitors to walk all the way into the waters to touch the apostles.

   

   Hike at Port Campbell

6. Tough Mudder at Philip island invites amused spectators to watch a rough it out obstacle course from 31 March to 1 April.

7. The Yarra Valley sees wine makers coming together to launch the Yarra Valley Cider and Ale Trail. Explore breweries to see how wine makers come up with unique yet money spinning recipes.

    

   

   Hot air ballooning over wineries

8. Want to see wild kangaroos, wallabies, emus and wombats? Be sure to visit Promontory National Park that has a new walk for you to spot native wildlife. Or go on walks or cycling trips in this Gippsland region to see magnificent alpine waterfalls and coastal views.

9. At the Australian Shark and Ray Centre located just 20 minutes from Melbourne, visitors can opt to want to stay dry in waterproof pants or get waist deep in the water to play with nearly 20 species of sharks and stingray.

   Chan Brothers has a 8-days Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula with Philip Island trip, priced from $1708, the NATAS offer is $88 off per couple

   At Ballarat, you can choose from recreating the Goldrush days at Sovereign Hill, visit Gold Museum or Eureka Stockade Centre to explore the story of the Eureka Rebellion of how miners fought for their rights. The Ballarat Wildlife Park lets you see a range of native Australian animals including wombats, koalas and kangaroos. Then take a leisure drive towards Warrnambool to take in the ocean breeze.

   

    The Great Ocean Road

   The trip allows you to see magnificent ocean views along the Great Ocean Road, including Bay of Islands and Bay of Martyrs. Also catch the 12 Apostles, and Apollo Bay, a busy coastal township nestled between Otway Hills and the ocean.

   Stop by the Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm to pick strawberries. Finally, the trip takes you to Philip Island where you can visit nature parks including Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island Heritage Farm.