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Unveiling the world’s first underwater art sculpture park

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The world’s first underwater sculpture park has been unveiled off the coast of Cyprus. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sunken forest by the Museum of Underwater Sculpture in Cyprus (MUSAN) was created by Jason deCaires Taylor, and cost roughly $1.6million to bring to life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The incredible park is made up of 93 sculptures: some of which weigh up to 13 tonnes. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With his newest installation, Jason aims to put the spotlight on "rewilding our natural spaces" and "reforesting areas of barren habitat" through the complicated relationship between people and nature. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason spoke with CNN Travel, and said the installation was inspired by issues the world is currently facing. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I tried to incorporate as many references to climate change and habitat loss and pollution as I could, because those are really the defining issues of our era."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, "I'm kind of hoping that it leaves the visitor with a sense of hope along with a sense that the human impact isn't always negative. That we can reverse some of the things we've done.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each of the sculptures was lowered below the surface by cranes, and were placed at such a depth so that the areas may be “enriched” over time by their presence. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MUSAN is accessible to divers and snorkellers, and Jason hopes that it will bring more visitors to the marine protected area of Cyprus, which he describes as having "some of the best visibility I've ever been in."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason is currently working on new installations for Australia's Museum of Underwater Art in Townsville, and northern Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef, which has lost half of its corals over the past two decades.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram @jasondecairestaylor</span></em></p>

Art

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Four countries offering incredible coronavirus travel deals

<p>With many industries being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, it appears that the tourism industry is no exception. Although non-essential travel is currently prohibited, countries around the world are getting ready for visitors to appear on their shores this summer.</p> <p>In an impressive effort to entice tourists, some countries are offering discount vouchers for spas, museums and theme parks. Others are offering free hotel stays. Here are four countries that are offering incentives to travel there.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4YKXAnewW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4YKXAnewW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Discover our Sicily (@_discoveringsicily_)</a> on May 31, 2020 at 10:34pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>1.</strong><span> </span><strong>Sicily, Italy</strong></p> <p>The small southern Italian island has announced that the country is offering to pay half of visitors’ flight costs and a third of hotel expenses to entice tourists to return after the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>There are also free tickets being offered to many of the museums on the island as well as free tickets to archaeological sites.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rZVtnJpFK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rZVtnJpFK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Iceland Naturally (@icelandnatural)</a> on Jan 23, 2020 at 1:57pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>2.</strong><span> </span><strong>Iceland</strong></p> <p>Iceland has a plan to entice tourists by offering travellers free COVID-19 tests upon arrival at the airport. If you test negative, you’re free to enjoy your time in the country. If not, you’re required to self-isolate for 14 days.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.insider.com/all-places-offering-discounts-freebies-incentives-entice-tourists-post-coronavirus-2020-6#iceland-free-coronavirus-tests-5" target="_blank"><em>Insider</em></a><span> </span>is aware that the new border process is still being finalised, so it’s not known whether the tests will remain free for an initial two week trial period or beyond that.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qKxMqJu6p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qKxMqJu6p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Cancun (@cancun)</a> on May 1, 2020 at 1:36pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>3.</strong><span> </span><strong>Cancun, Mexico</strong></p> <p>Mexico is very keen to welcome back tourists from mid-June, as a new tourism campaign called #Come2MexicanCaribbean or #VenAlCaribeMexicanoX2 has been launched. The campaign boasts a lot of perks for tourists.</p> <p>Some of these perks include two free nights for every two nights paid by guests, two free days of car rentals for every two days paid for, free stays for up to two children when two adults book as well as 20 per cent off at participating theme parks, golf courses and spas.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_6oFguD4Rk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_6oFguD4Rk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Visit Cyprus (@visitcypruscom)</a> on May 7, 2020 at 11:00pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>4.</strong><span> </span><strong>Cyprus</strong></p> <p>Cyprus is also being generous with their highly anticipated tourists, as the country has promised to cover the costs of tourists who fall ill with COVID-19 while visiting.</p> <p>Authorities of the island have said that they will pay for any accommodation, food and medicine used by patients and their families if any tourists test positive for the virus.</p>

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