Perk Integrates Visa Management Directly into the Booking Process


Perk intègre la gestion des visas directement au processus de réservation - Depositphotos.com, MoleQL

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Visa management is now integrated into the business travel booking journey on Perk. The platform, formerly known as TravelPerk, announces the launch of Entry Ready, described as the first integrated workflow that enables managing and paying for eVisas and electronic travel authorizations without leaving the reservation tool.

The feature automatically analyzes entry requirements from the traveler’s passport details. It then enables initiating a request and settling the associated fees directly within Perk.

Entry Ready is now available to all Perk customers.

The service offers more than 60 eVisas and AVEs thanks to a partnership with Sherpa, a platform specializing in visa solutions.

Sherpa relies on artificial intelligence and more than 350 government relationships to monitor entry conditions. According to Perk, conditions are updated 92% of the time ahead of those of other providers.

The requests processed through Sherpa are also 20% faster than those submitted directly on government portals.


More than 60 eVisas and AVEs available

The deployment of Entry Ready unfolded in two steps.

Since January 2026, Perk automatically displayed the applicable entry conditions for a trip based on the traveler’s passport profile, even before the booking was finalized. This first phase allowed analyzing more than half a million trips and flagging potential visa obligations.

The launch announced on July 23, 2026 adds integrated payment. Travelers can now request and pay for their eVisa or AVE directly at the time of paying for their booking on Perk.

For companies, travel document costs can thus be consolidated on a single line with other travel-related expenses.


A second project born from the Real Work Incubator

Entry Ready is the second project launched by Perk as part of its Real Work Incubator.

The program had already produced Perk Events, an AI-powered module for planning team events, launched in January 2026.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Meliá, Kenya, World Cup: This Week’s Must-Read Tourism News [ABO]


La revue de presse internationale de la semaine - Depositphotos.com, serezniy

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In the weekly press review for the week of July 20, 2026:

River cruises: low waters in Europe force companies to adapt

Cuba: Meliá withdraws permanently from the island

World Cup 2026: a mixed tourism outlook for North America

The United States reopen the way for commercial flights to Lebanon

The EU seeks to tighten the ownership rules for airlines

Kenya aims for 5 million international tourists per year

Tourism: Saudi Arabia and Morocco at the forefront of the global rebound

The “Wolf Trail” connects six European countries over nearly 3,500 km

Odd: an airplane for sale… for the price of two coffees!



Croisières fluviales : les basses eaux en Europe obligent les compagnies à s’adapter


La baisse du niveau du Danube et du Rhin, conséquence de la sécheresse et des fortes chaleurs qui touchent l’Europe, perturbent les croisières fluviales - Depositphotos.com, sasimoto

The drought and heatwaves affecting Europe are driving down the water levels of the Danube and Rhine, disrupting certain river cruises.

Rather than canceling their trips, several operators (AmaWaterways, Scenic, Tauck, Viking, Riviera Travel) are prioritizing alternative solutions: ship exchanges, changes to embarkation ports, coach transfers or itinerary adjustments.

Thanks to these measures and daily monitoring of navigational conditions, disruptions remain limited and operators strive to maintain the travelers’ experience.

More to read on travelweekly.com


Cuba : Meliá se retire définitivement de l’île


Le groupe hôtelier espagnol Meliá a annoncé mettre fin à l’ensemble de ses activités à Cuba à partir du vendredi 24 juillet 2026 - Depositphotos.com, kmiragaya

Meliá Hotels International mettra fin, le 24 juillet, à l’ensemble de ses activités de gestion hôtelière à Cuba.

Le groupe espagnol invoque un environnement devenu intenable sur les plans opérationnel, juridique, économique et financier.

Cette décision intervient dans un contexte de durcissement des sanctions américaines visant le secteur touristique cubain et alors que la destination traverse une crise profonde, marquée par une chute de près de 56% des arrivées internationales sur les quatre premiers mois de 2026.

Meliá promet d’assurer une transition progressive afin de limiter les conséquences pour ses salariés, ses clients et ses partenaires.

Une info hosteltur.com


Mondial 2026 : un bilan touristique contrasté pour l’Amérique du Nord


Bilan touristique contrasté pour la Coupe du Monde de football 2026 en Amérique du Nord - Depositphotos.com, kashesn

If the 2026 World Cup allowed hotels and short-term rentals in host cities to raise their rates, the tourism fallout is more limited than expected.

American airlines did not see a significant uptick in activity and the number of international visitors remained below expectations.

After eight years of preparation and substantial investments, the tournament therefore yields a mixed result: local benefits for lodging, but a more modest impact on the broader travel industry.

An article to read on skift.com


L’UE veut renforcer les règles de propriété des compagnies aériennes


Le Kenya vise 5 millions de touristes internationaux par an


Le Kenya ambitionne d’accueillir quasiment le double de visiteurs internationaux par an, en passant de 2,7 à 5 millions de visiteurs internationaux - Depositphotos.com, dmussman

The Kenya aims to almost double its tourist traffic, rising from 2.7 to 5 million international visitors per year.

The government is counting on tourism to increase foreign exchange earnings, create jobs and support local SMEs.

According to authorities, each visitor spends on average $3,000 and generates about ten jobs, making tourism one of the main drivers of the country’s economic development strategy.

Read on traveldailynews.com


Tourisme : l’Arabie saoudite et le Maroc en tête du rebond mondial


L’Arabie saoudite affiche la plus forte progression des arrivées internationales entre 2019 et 2025 (+67%), devant le Maroc (+53%) et l'Égypte (+47%) - Depositphotos.com, happyalex

According to an analysis by Visual Capitalist based on OECD data, Saudi Arabia shows the strongest growth in international arrivals between 2019 and 2025 (+67%), ahead of Morocco (+53%) and Egypt (+47%).

In Europe, Norway signs the best rebound (+28%), while the Portugal, the Spain and the France also exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Conversely, several destinations remain lagging, notably Israel (-71%), Ireland (-32%), the United States (-14%) and Italy (-5%).

Source : euronews.com


Le « Wolf Trail » relie six pays européens sur près de 3 500 km


Le Wolf Trail, un parcours de 3 493 km reliant la Pologne à l'Italie via l'Allemagne, l'Autriche, la Suisse et la Slovénie - Depositphotos.com, Artish

Long-distance hikers have a new route: the Wolf Trail, a 3,493 km journey linking Poland to Italy via Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia.

Imagined by Jack Wolfskin from existing trails, this route requires between four and six months of walking and is aimed at experienced hikers.

Accessible free of charge, it is recommended between April and September and represents an estimated budget of 8,000 to 12,000 euros for a full crossing.

A lire sur lefigaro.fr


Insolite : un avion à vendre… pour le prix de deux cafés !

Avis aux collectionneurs : l’aéroport de Séville met aux enchères un ancien Piper PA-23 Apache abandonné depuis au moins 2018, avec une mise à prix de… 10 euros.

Avant de rêver à un vol à petit prix, mieux vaut savoir que l’appareil, officiellement déclaré abandonné après plusieurs années sans nouvelles de son propriétaire, est en trop mauvais état pour reprendre les airs.

Une occasion originale d’acquérir un morceau d’histoire aéronautique… à défaut d’un moyen de transport.

A retrouver sur euronews.com

Côte d’Azur Tourism Pays Tribute to Denis Zanon


Denis Zanon a dirigé l’office de tourisme niçois pendant 14 ans - Photo : Office de Tourisme Explore Nice Côte d'Azur

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It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Denis Zanon, former chief executive of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Tourism Office, following an announcement from the Explore Nice Côte d’Azur Tourism Office.

Denis Zanon led successively the Nice Tourism and Convention Office, then the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Tourism Office.

Arrived in 2008, he held leadership roles within the institution for 14 years.

During this period, he notably contributed to the development and promotion of the Nice Côte d’Azur destination, as well as to the strengthening of cooperation with public and private actors of the territory.


He Had Been President of the Pays de Grasse Tourism Office for Three Years

After leaving the Nice Côte d’Azur Tourism Office, Denis Zanon continued his activity in the tourism sector.

He had been president of the Pays de Grasse Tourism Office for three years.

In this role, he applied his experience to the development and prominence of the grassois territory.

His passing has triggered numerous reactions in the Alpes-Maritimes, notably among elected officials and tourism professionals.


The Nice Carnival in Ningbo as a Highlight

Among the standout events of his tenure in Nice was notably the organization of the Nice Carnival in Ningbo, China, in 2018. This initiative was part of actions undertaken to develop the international visibility of the destination.

In its tribute, the Explore Nice Côte d’Azur Tourism Office emphasizes Denis Zanon’s commitment to the tourism sector as well as his ability to unite the teams and the destination’s stakeholders.

Denis Del Rio, president, Jean-Sébastien Martinez, general manager, and all the teams of the Explore Nice Côte d’Azur Tourism Office extend their condolences to his wife Brigitte, to his son Marius, and to his relatives and to the professionals who worked alongside him.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Ryanair Wins Court Battle Against eDreams in Ireland


Ryanair remporte une bataille judiciaire contre eDreams en Irlande - Depositphotos.com, InkDropCreative

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Ryanair announced, on July 22, 2026, that it had obtained a ruling in its favor from the Irish High Court against eDreams.

The court rejected the challenge of the online booking platform, which sought to call into question the jurisdiction of the Irish courts in the dispute with the airline.

This decision now allows the proceedings initiated by Ryanair to continue.

The airline accuses eDreams of carrying out the “screenscraping” of its Ryanair.com site, that is, automatically collecting information available online, and reselling its tickets at prices higher than those displayed directly by the airline.


A case that can now proceed

For Ryanair, the High Court’s decision marks a new step in its dispute with eDreams. The airline is notably seeking to put an end to practices that it regards as a source of overcharging for consumers.

We welcome this victory by the High Court for Ryanair and our customers in the face of eDreams. eDreams’ attempt to avoid the Irish courts has failed and our action aimed at preventing eDreams from performing screen-scraping of Ryanair.com and overcharging consumers can now proceed“, said a spokesperson for the low-cost carrier in a statement.

The company also notes that it has already obtained a separate High Court decision imposing on eDreams a permanent commitment not to access its Travel Agent Direct (TAD) platform.


Direct access to fares under conditions

Indeed, Ryanair claims to have found that eDreams used this platform without authorization to resell the airline’s tickets. Following this proceeding, eDreams permanently agreed to no longer access Travel Agent Direct.

The dispute is more broadly about the terms of access to Ryanair’s fares by online travel agencies.

The company asserts that several authorized partners, including Booking.com, Lastminute and Kiwi, have direct access to its fares under distribution agreements based on price transparency rules.

According to Ryanair, these agreements allow customers to know the real price of the tickets and services offered at the time of booking. The airline reproaches eDreams for not having accepted the same transparency standards.

If eDreams wishes direct access to Ryanair’s fares, it simply needs to accept the same transparency standards as those already adopted by Booking.com, Lastminute, Kiwi and many other partners“, added the airline’s spokesperson.

Ryanair says it intends to continue its actions to curb practices it regards as likely to lead to traveler overcharging and to prioritize access to its fares through approved distribution partners.


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How Destination Canada’s AI Boosts Tourism Attractiveness


Kananaskis, Alberta © Destination Canada

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With Aurora AI and its Traveller Twin, Destination Canada makes access to tourism data easier and helps professionals better understand their audiences, test their projects, and steer their business decisions more quickly. Canada is simplifying access to its data through Aurora AI.

In tourism, data is a powerful driver of performance. Yet for tour operators, online agencies, destinations, or activity providers, extracting value from it can still demand significant time and resources.

With Aurora AI, Destination Canada aims to make this knowledge more easily accessible and directly usable. This AI ecosystem enables tourism professionals to query reliable data in natural language and rapidly obtain insights that inform their decisions.

The objective is concrete: reduce the time spent on research and analysis, better target travelers, and mitigate risks before investing in a new product or a marketing campaign.

Tourism data accessible in seconds

Fruit of Canada’s tourism know-how, Aurora AI rests on an unmatched understanding of travel information at global and national scales. Built by Destination Canada, Aurora AI is a knowledge network that uses Gemini Enterprise and is fueled by the Canadian Tourism Data Consortium. This consortium provides validated research, reliable data sets, and insights from Destination Canada’s partners, ensuring credibility and relevance. It was launched in 2024 and won the Best Use of Artificial Intelligence for Nonprofit or Non-commercial Purposes at the 2024 DataIQ AI Awards.

Launched in November 2025, Aurora AI combines natural language querying, predictive models, traveler simulation tools, and AI agents in an integrated system that learns, adapts, and responds.



Le Jumeau Voyageur © Destination Canada

The Traveller Twin to test a project before launch

Among the features offered, the Traveller Twin lets you simulate how different traveler profiles would react. It builds on the segmentation program of the Canadian Tourism Data Consortium, created from research conducted with real travelers in Destination Canada’s ten major markets, including France.

“Its French version, launched in May 2026 at Rendez-vous Canada, can notably assist tour operators and reservation platforms marketing the destination.” explains Cyrielle Bon, CEO of Destination Canada in France

A professional can, for example, propose a stay idea, a new product, an advertising message, or a campaign concept. The Traveller Twin then helps identify the most receptive audiences, better understand their expectations, and anticipate their reactions.

The tool can also be used to refine a sales pitch or support a recommendation with structured traveler insights. The aim is to adjust a project upstream, before mobilizing production budgets or media buying.

A tool in service of return on investment

By easing the research, targeting, and testing stages, Aurora AI can help improve the effectiveness of marketing investments. It isn’t about predicting consumer behavior with certainty, but about providing extra data to make more informed decisions.

For tourism companies, the potential benefits show up in several ways: shorter analysis time, more precisely targeted campaigns, products more aligned with travelers’ expectations, and resources focused on the most promising opportunities.

This deeper understanding of audiences also serves as a differentiator. In a sector where travelers increasingly seek highly personalized offerings, the ability to quickly tailor products and messages can become a real competitive edge.

Commercial results already observed

Several Canadian tourism companies have already used the Traveller Twin to evolve their offerings.

Brett Soberg, co-founder and captain of Eagle Wing Whale Watching explains: “We leaned on the tool to identify new interests among our visitors and to explore experiences that complement our usual excursions.” By expanding their portfolio, they doubled the number of their specialized tours.

At Bay of Fundy Adventures, founder Jordan Jamison also used Aurora AI: it helped them identify refined globetrotters as the segment with the strongest potential to book guided experiences and stay in the region. They shifted their strategy from promoting individual activities to promoting a destination conducive to immersive experiences. This new approach was accompanied by a 200% rise in bookings compared with the previous year.

These results illustrate how a better understanding of traveler expectations can translate into product evolution and improved business performance.



Consortium de Données Touristiques canadiennes © Destination Canada


A technological expertise serving the industry

Participate in the development of Aurora AI

Aurora AI is developing new agents and continuously innovating to meet the evolving needs of the tourism sector. We want to hear your feedback on your experiences with Aurora AI.

Please send your questions, comments, and ideas to the Data Consortium team by writing your feedback here.



2027-2028 School Holidays Calendar


Vacances scolaires 2027-2028 : le calendrier officiel - Depositphotos.com @monkeybusiness

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Tourism professionals now have visibility into the main school holiday periods for the 2027-2028 year.

The official calendar was fixed by an order published in the Official Journal on July 23, 2026.

As every year, Metropolitan France is split into three academic zones: A, B and C.

The rentrée dates, Toussaint, Noël and summer holidays are common to all three zones. The winter and spring holidays, however, are staggered to spread the departures on vacation.

For students in zones A, B and C, the school start will take place on Thursday, September 2, 2027.

The first holidays of the school year, those of Toussaint, will start on Saturday, October 23, 2027 and end on Monday, November 8, 2027 for all metropolitan academies.

The Christmas holidays will also be common to all zones. They will run from Saturday, December 18, 2027 to Monday, January 3, 2028.


School Holidays: Winter and Spring Breaks Spread Out

As dictated by the current school calendar, the winter break will be distributed across three periods.

Zone B will lead with holidays from Saturday, February 5 to Monday, February 21, 2028. Zone C will follow from Saturday, February 12 to Monday, February 28, 2028. Finally, students in Zone A will be on break from Saturday, February 19 to Monday, March 6, 2028.

The spring holiday schedule will follow the same pattern.

Zone B students will be on break from Saturday, April 8 to Monday, April 24, 2028. Those in Zone C will depart from Saturday, April 15 to Tuesday, May 2, 2028.

To read: School calendars: tourism professionals alert the government!

Zone A will close the sequence, with holidays from Saturday, April 22, 2028 to Tuesday, May 9, 2028. The end of the school year is set for Tuesday, July 4, 2028 for all three zones.

The calendar also includes two non-instruction days in spring 2028: classes will be off on Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27, 2028.

The dates of school holidays may be subject to adjustments, notably due to the organization of end-of-year exams in middle schools and high schools.


School Holidays: Overseas Territories Subject to Specific Calendars

The published calendar concerns the academies in metropolitan France.

For Corsica, Guadeloupe, Guyane, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion, the dates are fixed by the academy rectors.

The same applies to Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The corresponding calendars will be published later.

Holidays begin after the classes, while school resumes on the morning of the indicated day. When holidays begin on a Saturday, students who do not have classes that day may leave on Friday afternoon.

Families can finally consult a calculator to obtain dates that directly correspond to their department or territory.


Amelia Brille Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor

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Amangati: Aman at Sea’s First Yacht


Aman at Sea dévoile son premier yacht : Amangati, Depositphotos.com

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The Amangati hull is now sealed, painted, and watertight, and the vessel enters a new phase of its construction.

Measuring 180 meters in length and spanning nine decks, Amangati will now undergo its interior outfitting ahead of seaworthiness tests and its official launch scheduled for May 2027.

Designed by the SINOT Yacht Architecture & Design studio, Amangati will offer 47 exceptional sea-view suites with private terraces and full-height windows.

To read: Cruise: Aman’s first luxury yacht sets course for the Caribbean

The vessel will accommodate up to 94 guests, flanked by 207 crew members. A high service ratio, with 2.2 crew per guest, and a dedicated host service for each suite.


Amangati: inaugural voyage scheduled for May 7, 2027

The dining offering will revolve around four signature tables, Alira, Akari, Hiori, and Aman Grill, complemented by several lounges, a jazz club, a cinema, and two helipads.

On the wellness side, the yacht will feature an Aman Spa spanning 740 m², touted as the largest in the sector, including eight treatment rooms facing the sea, a hammam, a banya, as well as an integrated marina on deck 3 giving access to a fleet of tenders and nautical equipment.

The inaugural voyage is planned for May 7, 2027, departing Palma de Mallorca to Nice.

Disney Adventure World: The Disney Princess Cavalcade Arrives


Disney Adventure World annonce l'arrivée de La Cavalcade des Princesses Disney, Depositphotos.com Photo by ivan_varyukhin

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The Disney Princesses are taking up residence along the shores of Adventure Bay.

Proposed several times daily throughout the year, starting this Friday, July 24, 2026, this show brings together Moana, Raya, Tiana, and Rapunzel on bespoke floats, for an immersive interactive moment with guests.

The parade route stretches along the lake, winding from the future space dedicated to The Lion King to The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge.

Halfway along, the procession makes a stop to invite the audience to an interactive sequence.

The heroines and their companions step down to meet spectators and teach them choreographed moves, ranging from the traditional Pacific Island dance for Moana to martial arts gestures for Raya.


Disney Princess Cavalcade: A Year of Development

To design this show, which required a year and a half of development and 287 hours of rehearsals, the creative teams turned to French craftsmanship.

The costumes were crafted by the workshops of Disneyland Paris, while the floats representing the original worlds—the Motunui village, the Heart Palace, New Orleans, or the Drunken Duck Tavern—were produced by a Nice-based specialized company.

Read: Disneyland Paris enters a new era with Disney Adventure World (video)

The animation is accompanied by two original musical compositions, recorded between Nashville and Paris by an orchestra of about fifty musicians.

Moreover, the launch of this cavalcade marks the end of The Disney Fanfare led by Minnie, who now wears a Victorian outfit to greet visitors at the West Pavilion.

Marquenterre Park Plans to Forecast Tourist Flows


Le Parc du Marquenterre expérimente l’intelligence artificielle pour anticiper les flux touristiques - Photo : Parc du Marquenterre

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The Marquenterre Park, in the Somme Bay, is testing an artificial intelligence tool capable of forecasting its attendance up to six months in advance.

The objective is to better anticipate peak crowds and optimize the site’s organization, while preserving this protected natural space.



With nearly 160,000 visitors welcomed each year, the Marquenterre Park is among the most visited natural sites in Hauts-de-France.

This appeal is nonetheless accompanied by peaks in attendance concentrated on certain days and time slots.

In this protected natural area, where the welcome is limited to 300 visitors per hour, these periods of high traffic can strain the conditions of reception, the teams and the various visitor services offered.

Until now, managing these peaks relied mainly on the observation and experience of the on-site teams.


Parc du Marquenterre: AI provides forecasts up to six months in advance

Developed as part of an experiment supported by the Destination France plan, the model is able to forecast attendance levels up to six months ahead, with forecasts broken down by hourly intervals.

To establish these projections, the tool crosses several types of data likely to influence tourist behavior: French and Belgian school holidays, public holidays, weather conditions, events held in the area or even snowfall in the mountain ranges, which can influence destination choices.



These data are then gathered into a dashboard for the park teams. This “pilot cockpit” allows visualizing expected crowd levels and their evolution over time.

The artificial intelligence does not directly make operational decisions. It provides teams with a forward-looking view of attendance to help them adjust their organization.

To read : Weekend of disconnect in the Bay of Somme

This can help better organize human resources, prepare the dining services and mobilize more resources during peaks of attendance.

For as long as the Marquenterre Park has sought to find the right balance between tourist attractiveness and the preservation of its natural heritage, with this experiment we are taking a new step.

AI becomes a tool for the territory, able to help managers better understand visitor flows and anticipate their needs
“, explains Emmanuel Maquet, president of the Destination Baie de Somme management.

The Marquenterre Park currently serves as the testing ground for this system. But the stated ambition goes beyond the site’s boundaries.

The project is among the 13 initiatives selected from 75 applications under the Destination France plan.

In the long term, the model could be enriched with new data to better understand visitors’ movements at the scale of the Bay of Somme.


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Silverton, the Village That the Painters Saved [ABO]


À Silverton, rien ne rouille en paix : tout finit peint. © Sébastien Cros / WeTravelAustralia™

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Silverton, end of day. The golden light brushes the corrugated sheets of a hangar painted in every color. An old bicycle rests against the wall. On the sign, two round-eyed emus stand guard: John Dynon Gallery. Open.

Inside, everything is painting. The walls, the beams, the objects, down to the smallest handle. In the middle of this universe, John Dynon, 72, wears a plaid shirt from the Mundi Mundi Bash and the calm smile of someone who has nothing left to prove.

« I am the mayor, the sheriff and the town », he says with a laugh.

He is not exaggerating by half. Born in Broken Hill and settled in Silverton for about forty years, John has become one of the faces of this village that history almost erased. For it is here, even before the rise of Broken Hill, that the first veins of silver, lead and zinc drew miners and fortune-seekers. It is also in this region that BHP was born, which later became one of the world’s mining giants.

Then the great vein was discovered further east. Men left, businesses closed, houses were sometimes dismantled to be rebuilt elsewhere. Silverton slowly emptied until it became almost a ghost town.

« And then the artists took it back », sums up John.

He is among them, but his path to painting is not a salon vocation. John worked underground, in the mines. He also lost many friends there.

« I wanted to get out. I knew how to draw. So I started painting, and I got out. »

The sentence is simple, without pathos. For him, art was not a hobby. It was an exit door, a way to leave the mine’s night without leaving the region that had shaped him.

I ask him if he still flees something when he paints. He smiles.

« Probably. We all run from something, right? I’m 72 and I’m still inspired. »

In a corner of the gallery, a few motorcycles recall another Silverton story. When Mad Max 2 was shot in the surrounding plains, in the early 1980s, the production sought riders. All his friends obtained roles. Not him. John was working a three-shift regime at the mine and could not free himself. The motorcycles remained in the gallery, as a wink to that missed opportunity and to this other life of the village, which over the years became a cinema-ready backdrop.

Before leaving, I ask him what he would tell a French traveler to tempt them to come here.

He does not hesitate.

« The story. And the most beautiful of landscapes. The colors, the sunrises and sunsets. »



John Dynon



A few steps from there, another workshop tells a different way of living Silverton. Michael Jones, cap firmly set on his head in the chilly morning air, works standing before his easel, brush in hand.

On the canvas, a shearing scene takes shape: a blue shed, shearers bent over the sheep, the light descending between the corrugated sheets. Around him, the walls speak of the bush. A monumental stormy sky above the plain, red gum trees, cattle seeking shade, and landscapes where the human presence always seems tiny in the face of the vast space.

Why paint?

Michael does not search for words.

« It’s my religion. It’s like breathing. I have to do it. »

What he paints, he says, is the life of the bush. He chronicles its gestures, its animals, its trades, its trees and the changes of light. His paintings do not seek to beautify the land. They aim to preserve its memory, to capture what sometimes disappears before we have understood its importance.

And Silverton, what makes it so special?

« The landscape and the light. The light that hits the land, the trees, the animals. »

John Dynon began painting to escape the mine. Michael Jones paints because he could not live otherwise. Two men, two stories, two ways of explaining why artists found here far more than a backdrop.

In this village of a few dozen inhabitants, art is not a Sunday pastime. It has become the language of the place, its trade, its second life after money, lead and zinc… and the Mad Max filming…

The mine had built Silverton, then almost emptied it. The painters gave back its colors.

Photos : © Sébastien Cros / WeTravelAustralia™



Michael Jones © Sébastien Cros / WeTravelAustralia™