Sri&nbsp;Lanka's tourism industry, badly hurt by Easter day bombings, is showing signs of gradual recovery, industry executives say, although a national election later this year is likely to weigh on holiday season arrivals.

The island nation's tourism sector, one of the country's top revenue streams, suffered a massive blow following April 21 Islamist militant bombings of churches and luxury hotels, which killed more than 250 people, including 42 foreign nationals.

Tourist arrivals from Europe and Asia-Pacific, which together account for 90 per cent&nbsp;of the total visitors to&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka, nearly halved in July from a year ago, according to the latest data from the country's Tourism Development Authority.

SriLankan Airlines, the country's lone carrier, will likely post a loss of as much as $160 million in the financial year to end-March 2020 as it lost business after the attacks, its chief executive officer told Reuters.

To be sure,&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;is trying to woo tourists back: it has offered a raft of discount deals, scrapped the fee on tourist visas for 48 nations, including China, India and the United Kingdom, and simplified the visa process for visitors from those countries.

Those moves have started to pay off, hospitality executives said.

"(We are) almost 50 per cent&nbsp;booked for the winter and see a pickup in bookings," said Sanjeewani Yogarajah, an executive at Hikkaduwa Beach Hotels in the southern coastal belt of Hikkaduwa, 112 km (69 miles) from the capital Colombo and popular for water sports.

"This time also we hope we will get around 90 per cent&nbsp;(bookings) by winter," she added.

Tourist footfall is gradually reviving, said the high-end Taj Samudra and Shangri-La hotels in Colombo.

While the Taj, operated by the Indian Hotels Company, said it was hoping for a recovery as the winter holiday season draws nearer, the Shangri-La hotel, which is part of Shangri-La Asia, said the pace of winter bookings was slower than previous years.

The holiday season, from November through January, is the busiest time of the year for&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's tourism industry, which accounts for nearly 5 per cent&nbsp;of the country's GDP and was its third-biggest source of foreign exchange in 2018.

Even though arrivals to&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;have improved in the months since the attack, tourist inflow in July was almost half of what it was a year ago, hurting revenues and profits for hotel chains and tour operators.

Revenue from the sector in the first half of 2019 has fallen 13.4 per cent&nbsp;to $1.89 billion, according to official data.

Boosting it will likely be a challenge as an impending presidential election, preceded by political campaigning, could persuade tourists to steer clear of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka.

Given&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's volatile ethnic and religious mix there will become concerns about communal violence.

The politically powerful Sinhala Buddhists make up about 70 per cent&nbsp;of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's 21 million population, Hindu's constitute almost 13 per cent, Muslims 10 per cent, while about 7 per cent&nbsp;are Christians.

The country was plagued by 26 years of civil war which ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009, allowing peace to return to the island.

"Of course, the election will have an impact on tourism," said Sanath Ukwatta, chairman of the&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;Hoteliers Association.

"We have to convince people to come here. There is still fear psychosis among consumers that&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;is not safe."

Sri Lanka's tourism industry, badly hurt by Easter day bombings, is showing signs of gradual recovery, industry executives say, although a national election later this year is likely to weigh on holiday season arrivals.

Sri Lanka's tourism industry, badly hurt by Easter day bombings, is showing signs of gradual recovery, industry executives say, although a national election later this year is likely to weigh on holiday season arrivals. The island nation's tourism sector, one of the country's top revenue streams, suffered a massive blow following April 21 Islamist militant bombings of churches and luxury hotels, which killed more than 250 people, including 42 foreign nationals. Tourist arrivals from Europe and Asia-Pacific, which together account for 90 per cent of the total visitors to Sri Lanka, nearly halved in July from a year ago, according to the latest data from the country's Tourism Development Authority. SriLankan Airlines, the country's lone carrier, will likely post a loss of as much as $160 million in the financial year to end-March 2020 as it lost business after the attacks, its chief executive officer told Reuters. To be sure, Sri Lanka is trying to woo tourists back: it has offered a raft of discount deals, scrapped the fee on tourist visas for 48 nations, including China, India and the United Kingdom, and simplified the visa process for visitors from those countries. Those moves have started to pay off, hospitality executives said. "(We are) almost 50 per cent booked for the winter and see a pickup in bookings," said Sanjeewani Yogarajah, an executive at Hikkaduwa Beach Hotels in the southern coastal belt of Hikkaduwa, 112 km (69 miles) from the capital Colombo and popular for water sports. "This time also we hope we will get around 90 per cent (bookings) by winter," she added. Tourist footfall is gradually reviving, said the high-end Taj Samudra and Shangri-La hotels in Colombo. While the Taj, operated by the Indian Hotels Company, said it was hoping for a recovery as the winter holiday season draws nearer, the Shangri-La hotel, which is part of Shangri-La Asia, said the pace of winter bookings was slower than previous years. The holiday season, from November through January, is the busiest time of the year for Sri Lanka's tourism industry, which accounts for nearly 5 per cent of the country's GDP and was its third-biggest source of foreign exchange in 2018. Even though arrivals to Sri Lanka have improved in the months since the attack, tourist inflow in July was almost half of what it was a year ago, hurting revenues and profits for hotel chains and tour operators. Revenue from the sector in the first half of 2019 has fallen 13.4 per cent to $1.89 billion, according to official data. Boosting it will likely be a challenge as an impending presidential election, preceded by political campaigning, could persuade tourists to steer clear of Sri Lanka. Given Sri Lanka's volatile ethnic and religious mix there will become concerns about communal violence. The politically powerful Sinhala Buddhists make up about 70 per cent of Sri Lanka's 21 million population, Hindu's constitute almost 13 per cent, Muslims 10 per cent, while about 7 per cent are Christians. The country was plagued by 26 years of civil war which ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009, allowing peace to return to the island. "Of course, the election will have an impact on tourism," said Sanath Ukwatta, chairman of the Sri Lanka Hoteliers Association. "We have to convince people to come here. There is still fear psychosis among consumers that Sri Lanka is not safe."

Sri Lanka tourism industry begins to recover after attacks

Taiwan's president rebuked China over its decision to ban individual travel permits for Chinese visitors to the self-ruled island, saying the move aimed to manipulate presidential elections in January. Watch this video to know more.

China bans solo tourists to Taiwan

Apiculture or beekeeping is an age-old-tradition in Jammu and Kashmir. With scientific interventions, it is emerging as a lucrative business in the state, generating more income and employment opportunities for locals.&nbsp;

The tourism sector is witnessing a surge in the state with beekeeping. Areas in and around Bhaderwah town of Doda district, such as Bhalla and Sarthal, have emerged as hotspots for honeybee tourism as they have an abundance of flowering plants - one of the major requirements for successful beekeeping. Tourists are visiting these areas both to relax in the lap of nature and to learn the nuances of apiculture. One of the tourists, Amir Sohrawardi said, "Though we came to Sarthal because of its captivating landscapes, the apiculture that is practised here gave us another reason to stay.&nbsp;

I believe apiculture has a lot of potential and if it is harnessed adequately, then honey from Jammu and Kashmir can even be exported to other countries."Beekeeping is the only industry which not only produces honey and beeswax but also assists in enhancing crop-production through the pollination process.&nbsp;

This particular industry does not require much investment except the material in the form of nectar and pollen from flowers, which is easily available in the natural surroundings of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, the presence of large swathes of forests and negligible use of pesticides in cropped lands provide a conducive atmosphere for the production of organic honey. Beekeepers in Sarthal are trying their level best to tap this potential of natural resources.&nbsp;

They are using indigenous honeybees, 'Apis cerena indica', which are even instrumental in enhancing agricultural productivity as they are natural pollinators for a range of fruits and crops. Along with this, beekeepers in this area practice migratory beekeeping that increases honey production manifold as compared to stationary ones.&nbsp;

An official from the Apiculture Department, Mohammad Shabir, said, "We have been placing these honeybee boxes in Sarthal for the last 25-30 years. The season starts from April and continues till August and then the honeybees are migrated. A lot of tourists come in this season to see these honeybees, their honey is also in much demand. "Presently, Jammu and Kashmir import honey worth Rs. 8.5 million from other states, but if its honeybee keeping potential is effectively utilised, it will not only help in attracting tourists but also provide a livelihood to many people in the state.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Apiculture or beekeeping is an age-old-tradition in Jammu and Kashmir. With scientific interventions, it is emerging as a lucrative business in the state, generating more income and employment opportunities for locals.

Apiculture or beekeeping is an age-old-tradition in Jammu and Kashmir. With scientific interventions, it is emerging as a lucrative business in the state, generating more income and employment opportunities for locals. The tourism sector is witnessing a surge in the state with beekeeping. Areas in and around Bhaderwah town of Doda district, such as Bhalla and Sarthal, have emerged as hotspots for honeybee tourism as they have an abundance of flowering plants - one of the major requirements for successful beekeeping. Tourists are visiting these areas both to relax in the lap of nature and to learn the nuances of apiculture. One of the tourists, Amir Sohrawardi said, "Though we came to Sarthal because of its captivating landscapes, the apiculture that is practised here gave us another reason to stay. I believe apiculture has a lot of potential and if it is harnessed adequately, then honey from Jammu and Kashmir can even be exported to other countries."Beekeeping is the only industry which not only produces honey and beeswax but also assists in enhancing crop-production through the pollination process. This particular industry does not require much investment except the material in the form of nectar and pollen from flowers, which is easily available in the natural surroundings of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, the presence of large swathes of forests and negligible use of pesticides in cropped lands provide a conducive atmosphere for the production of organic honey. Beekeepers in Sarthal are trying their level best to tap this potential of natural resources. They are using indigenous honeybees, 'Apis cerena indica', which are even instrumental in enhancing agricultural productivity as they are natural pollinators for a range of fruits and crops. Along with this, beekeepers in this area practice migratory beekeeping that increases honey production manifold as compared to stationary ones. An official from the Apiculture Department, Mohammad Shabir, said, "We have been placing these honeybee boxes in Sarthal for the last 25-30 years. The season starts from April and continues till August and then the honeybees are migrated. A lot of tourists come in this season to see these honeybees, their honey is also in much demand. "Presently, Jammu and Kashmir import honey worth Rs. 8.5 million from other states, but if its honeybee keeping potential is effectively utilised, it will not only help in attracting tourists but also provide a livelihood to many people in the state.

Jammu and Kashmir all set to become 'honeybee tourism' destination

In a first of its kind,&nbsp;UAE will now provide free mobile phone SIM cards to the tourists arriving in the country.

The cards will contain free data, international calling minutes and text message facility. Valid for a month, the SIM cards will get renewed if tourists extend their stay.

The scheme was announced after an agreement was signed between the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship and TeleKomNow in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

No documentation is required by the tourists to avail the service. They will be handed over&nbsp;the SIM cards as a gift at the immigration. Once the tourist inserts the card and enter&nbsp;their identification and arrival date&nbsp;their service will be immediately activated and within two minutes the tourist can use the facility.

UAE has also waived off visa fee for dependents, aged 18 years or below, between July 15 and September 15. 
 
The scheme will be applicable every year and is expected to boost the tourist footfall. The decision was taken by the UAE cabinet last year in July. 
 
Earlier in May,&nbsp;UAE had launched a permanent residency scheme to attract individuals and highly skilled workers, such as doctors, engineers, scientists and artists, to the oil-rich Gulf country.

Foreigners account for 90 per cent of the population of around nine million in the UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy which has seen rapid development in recent years.

 
(With inputs from agencies)

In a first of its kind, UAE will now provide free mobile phone SIM cards to the tourists arriving in the country. The cards will contain free data, international calling minutes and text message facility.

In a first of its kind, UAE will now provide free mobile phone SIM cards to the tourists arriving in the country. The cards will contain free data, international calling minutes and text message facility. Valid for a month, the SIM cards will get renewed if tourists extend their stay. The scheme was announced after an agreement was signed between the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship and TeleKomNow in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. No documentation is required by the tourists to avail the service. They will be handed over the SIM cards as a gift at the immigration. Once the tourist inserts the card and enter their identification and arrival date their service will be immediately activated and within two minutes the tourist can use the facility. UAE has also waived off visa fee for dependents, aged 18 years or below, between July 15 and September 15. The scheme will be applicable every year and is expected to boost the tourist footfall. The decision was taken by the UAE cabinet last year in July. Earlier in May, UAE had launched a permanent residency scheme to attract individuals and highly skilled workers, such as doctors, engineers, scientists and artists, to the oil-rich Gulf country. Foreigners account for 90 per cent of the population of around nine million in the UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy which has seen rapid development in recent years. (With inputs from agencies)

UAE to provide free SIM cards to tourists

Imran Khan Blames Islamophobia For Pakistan's Isolation. Imran Khan Blames Islamophobia For Pakistan's Isolation And Promotes Tourism At The SCO Summit? Did Imran Khan 'Deliberately' Forget Pakistan's Dodgy Record On Terrorism? And Why Is Diverting The Attention From Terrorism? Is Naya Pakistan Full Of Same Old Lies?

Gravitas: Naya Pakistan, Same Old Lies

In remote valleys in northern Pakistan, the Kalash minority celebrates spring's arrival with a colourful dance but an influx of camera-wielding visitors is threatening their unique traditions.

Pakistan's Kalash minority battles tourism deluge

Tourism in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a hit post-Pulwama terror attack and the rising tension between India and Pakistan.

The tourism players are seeing no hope of revival amid the&nbsp;several cancellations by tour groups.&nbsp;

While the rest of India is reeling under a severe heat wave, the weather in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir is pleasant, but there are no usual tourists on the ground. The famous tourist spots are witnessing thin tourist presence with many blaming tension between India and Pakistan as main the reason.&nbsp;

The tourist flow has come down drastically, threatening the livelihood of many associated with the industry. According to one estimate, five lakh people are directly associated with the tourism industry in the state.&nbsp;

The state tourism department says that the industry contributes 16 per cent of the state's total GDP. &nbsp;The United States, the UK, and Australia have already updated their travel advisories for the Kashmir valley, keeping the foreign tourist away too.&nbsp;

"We are fighting the perception that is being created about Kashmir which is that this place isn't safe. We have to fight this and this is our big challenge right now. I want to tell every tourist, come and see our hospitality," says Asif Burza, a reputed hotelier of Kashmir valley.

The hotels are empty which has led to a crisis of sorts, as some staff has been laid off and some tourism players looking for alternative opportunities. The all-important sector of the state is now struggling and fighting to revive itself.&nbsp;

"People who come here are our best ambassadors, they should tell others about their experience in the valley," says Asif, adding that GST has also kept tourists away as prices have also gone up.&nbsp;

The state's tourism department is trying to reach out to people in different states of India by organising road shows and pumping money into advertising -- all in the hope that people from these states would head to Kashmir.

"After the Pulwama incident, the inflow of tourists has been affected. Then, airfields were closed, which gave a wrong signal to the tourists, otherwise we had houseboats booked till June this year," says Nasir Wani, the director tourism Kashmir.&nbsp;

Now, people associated with the industry have pinned their hope in the coming month for their better future.&nbsp;

Tourism in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a hit post-Pulwama terror attack and the rising tension between India and Pakistan. The tourism players are seeing no hope of revival amid the several cancellations by tour groups.

Tourism in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a hit post-Pulwama terror attack and the rising tension between India and Pakistan. The tourism players are seeing no hope of revival amid the several cancellations by tour groups. While the rest of India is reeling under a severe heat wave, the weather in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir is pleasant, but there are no usual tourists on the ground. The famous tourist spots are witnessing thin tourist presence with many blaming tension between India and Pakistan as main the reason. The tourist flow has come down drastically, threatening the livelihood of many associated with the industry. According to one estimate, five lakh people are directly associated with the tourism industry in the state. The state tourism department says that the industry contributes 16 per cent of the state's total GDP. The United States, the UK, and Australia have already updated their travel advisories for the Kashmir valley, keeping the foreign tourist away too. "We are fighting the perception that is being created about Kashmir which is that this place isn't safe. We have to fight this and this is our big challenge right now. I want to tell every tourist, come and see our hospitality," says Asif Burza, a reputed hotelier of Kashmir valley. The hotels are empty which has led to a crisis of sorts, as some staff has been laid off and some tourism players looking for alternative opportunities. The all-important sector of the state is now struggling and fighting to revive itself. "People who come here are our best ambassadors, they should tell others about their experience in the valley," says Asif, adding that GST has also kept tourists away as prices have also gone up. The state's tourism department is trying to reach out to people in different states of India by organising road shows and pumping money into advertising -- all in the hope that people from these states would head to Kashmir. "After the Pulwama incident, the inflow of tourists has been affected. Then, airfields were closed, which gave a wrong signal to the tourists, otherwise we had houseboats booked till June this year," says Nasir Wani, the director tourism Kashmir. Now, people associated with the industry have pinned their hope in the coming month for their better future.

Tourism in Kashmir faces tough time, players hopeful of revival

Tourism has taken a hit post Pulwama attack. Seems there is no hope of rival of tourism players this year. Watch our report.

Kashmir tourism players find it hard to survive

Tourists looking for sun and sand in Mexican resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum have been disgusted by foul-smelling mounds of sargassum, a seaweed-like algae, piling up on beaches and turning turquoise waters brown, and experts are warning that it may be the new normal.

Mexican beaches threatened by algae invasion

Detecting and disrupting terrorists and other high-risk criminals prior to them carrying out an attack is a high priority for the international community, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday at the launch of the UN Countering Terrorism Travel Programme.

UN launches Countering Terrorism Travel Programme

Sri Lanka is now facing collapse in tourism. It can potentially force it to seek more IMF help

WION Wallet: Sri Lanka may need more IMF help

By Freya Higgins-Desbiolles

Japan’s Nanzoin Temple is famous for its huge statue of a reclining Buddha. Its custodians are less laidback about the hordes of tourists the temple attracts. Signs in 12 languages now warn foreign visitors they may not enter in large groups.

It’s part of anti-tourist sentiment, driven by “the bad manners and abhorrent actions” of some visitors from abroad, reportedly growing all over Japan – and elsewhere in the world.

In Amsterdam, for example, city authorities have put a halt on new hotels and souvenir shops, and are cracking down on private rental platforms.

Tourism brings many benefits to communities around the world. But tourism hotspots are feeling the strain as tourist numbers increase. Locals resent being crowded out of restaurants and parks. They resent paying inflated prices. Most of all they resent tourists behaving badly.

The increasing prevalence of the badly behaved tourist, either in reality or simply as a cultural meme, presents a serious issue for the tourism industry. In cities at tourism’s bleeding edge, such as Venice, resentment has boiled over into anti-tourism protests. In Barcelona, the cause against foreign visitors has been embraced by left-wing nationalist activists. Their view is expressed in graffiti around Barcelona: “Refugees welcome; tourists go home.” 
 
Unless the tourism industry does something to address underlying aggravations, such sentiments are likely to spread. There’s danger tourism, instead of building bridges for cross-cultural understanding and friendship, will add to the stereotypical walls that separate people.

When in Rome

Sometimes bad behaviour is a matter of perception and comes down to cultural differences. There are places in China, for example, where it’s perfectly acceptable to leave your restaurant table, and the floor around it, an absolute mess. Two Chinese women visiting Japan, however, became the focus of international criticism due to a video that appeared to show them being asked to leave an Osaka restaurant because of their “disgusting eating habits”.

The question arises as to why tourists don’t make more effort to understand and follow local customs.

Then there’s the question of why tourists behave in ways they wouldn’t dream of at home. Maybe it’s wearing a lime-green mankini while wandering through Krakow. Or nothing at all at Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s most holy shrine.

The evidence suggests there’s something about being on holiday that simply seems to lower people’s inhibitions.

Otherwise ordinary people commit stupid acts like attempting to steal a propaganda poster in the world’s most totalitarian state. Or spray-painting grafitti on a wall of a site where millions were murdered. Or brawling for a prime selfie spot at Rome’s Trevi Fountain.

Sustainable tourism rests on a number of pillars. One of those is the need for the tourist to respect local people, cultures and environments.

The problem now, as other tourism scholars have pointed out, is that tourism is promoted as an activity of pure hedonism. Rather than being encouraged to see themselves as global citizens with both rights and responsibilities, tourists are sold an illusion of unlimited indulgence. They are positioned as consumers, with special privileges.

Is it any wonder that encourages indulgent behaviour and an attitude of entitlement?

The Tiaki promise

We know about some of the incidents mentioned because the perpetrators themselves recorded their crimes for posterity. On other occasions, an offended local has done the filming.

Such is the case of the “pig” British tourists who created a media storm on their holiday to New Zealand in January. A video showing the rubbish they left behind at a beachside park turned them into a media sensation. More than 10,000 people signed a petition for them to be deported.

It’s a classic case study in how a local event can now so easily become a national or international incident.

But I believe New Zealand also provides a case study in how the global tourism industry can deal with antitourist sentiment by encouraging tourists to show greater respect.

To deal with multiple problems associated with tourists – including bad driving, damaging camping practices and to ignorance of safety in the outdoors, New Zealand’s tourism authority and operators are promoting “The Tiaki Promise”. 
 
Tiaki is a Maori word meaning to guard, preserve, protect or shelter. An associated principle is Kaitiakitanga, an ethic of guardianship based on traditional Maori understandings of kinship between humans and the natural world.

The Tiaki campaign thus asks tourists to look after New Zealand, “to act as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home”. In exchange, it promises a warm welcome to those who care to care.

Such a principle of reciprocity is an inviting code for responsible tourism. The tourism industry’s challenge is to develop effective strategies to bring tourists and locals into better alignment.

The key is in communicating the priceless experiences that emerge from being with the locals rather than imposing on them.

 
(Freya Higgins-Desbiolles is Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, University of South Australia)

 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tourists-behaving-badly-are-a-threat-to-global-tourism-and-the-industry-is-partly-to-blame-112398">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

By Freya Higgins-Desbiolles Japan’s Nanzoin Temple is famous for its huge statue of a reclining Buddha. Its custodians are less laidback about the hordes of tourists the temple attracts.

By Freya Higgins-Desbiolles Japan’s Nanzoin Temple is famous for its huge statue of a reclining Buddha. Its custodians are less laidback about the hordes of tourists the temple attracts. Signs in 12 languages now warn foreign visitors they may not enter in large groups. It’s part of anti-tourist sentiment, driven by “the bad manners and abhorrent actions” of some visitors from abroad, reportedly growing all over Japan – and elsewhere in the world. In Amsterdam, for example, city authorities have put a halt on new hotels and souvenir shops, and are cracking down on private rental platforms. Tourism brings many benefits to communities around the world. But tourism hotspots are feeling the strain as tourist numbers increase. Locals resent being crowded out of restaurants and parks. They resent paying inflated prices. Most of all they resent tourists behaving badly. The increasing prevalence of the badly behaved tourist, either in reality or simply as a cultural meme, presents a serious issue for the tourism industry. In cities at tourism’s bleeding edge, such as Venice, resentment has boiled over into anti-tourism protests. In Barcelona, the cause against foreign visitors has been embraced by left-wing nationalist activists. Their view is expressed in graffiti around Barcelona: “Refugees welcome; tourists go home.” Unless the tourism industry does something to address underlying aggravations, such sentiments are likely to spread. There’s danger tourism, instead of building bridges for cross-cultural understanding and friendship, will add to the stereotypical walls that separate people. When in Rome Sometimes bad behaviour is a matter of perception and comes down to cultural differences. There are places in China, for example, where it’s perfectly acceptable to leave your restaurant table, and the floor around it, an absolute mess. Two Chinese women visiting Japan, however, became the focus of international criticism due to a video that appeared to show them being asked to leave an Osaka restaurant because of their “disgusting eating habits”. The question arises as to why tourists don’t make more effort to understand and follow local customs. Then there’s the question of why tourists behave in ways they wouldn’t dream of at home. Maybe it’s wearing a lime-green mankini while wandering through Krakow. Or nothing at all at Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s most holy shrine. The evidence suggests there’s something about being on holiday that simply seems to lower people’s inhibitions. Otherwise ordinary people commit stupid acts like attempting to steal a propaganda poster in the world’s most totalitarian state. Or spray-painting grafitti on a wall of a site where millions were murdered. Or brawling for a prime selfie spot at Rome’s Trevi Fountain. Sustainable tourism rests on a number of pillars. One of those is the need for the tourist to respect local people, cultures and environments. The problem now, as other tourism scholars have pointed out, is that tourism is promoted as an activity of pure hedonism. Rather than being encouraged to see themselves as global citizens with both rights and responsibilities, tourists are sold an illusion of unlimited indulgence. They are positioned as consumers, with special privileges. Is it any wonder that encourages indulgent behaviour and an attitude of entitlement? The Tiaki promise We know about some of the incidents mentioned because the perpetrators themselves recorded their crimes for posterity. On other occasions, an offended local has done the filming. Such is the case of the “pig” British tourists who created a media storm on their holiday to New Zealand in January. A video showing the rubbish they left behind at a beachside park turned them into a media sensation. More than 10,000 people signed a petition for them to be deported. It’s a classic case study in how a local event can now so easily become a national or international incident. But I believe New Zealand also provides a case study in how the global tourism industry can deal with antitourist sentiment by encouraging tourists to show greater respect. To deal with multiple problems associated with tourists – including bad driving, damaging camping practices and to ignorance of safety in the outdoors, New Zealand’s tourism authority and operators are promoting “The Tiaki Promise”. Tiaki is a Maori word meaning to guard, preserve, protect or shelter. An associated principle is Kaitiakitanga, an ethic of guardianship based on traditional Maori understandings of kinship between humans and the natural world. The Tiaki campaign thus asks tourists to look after New Zealand, “to act as a guardian, protecting and preserving our home”. In exchange, it promises a warm welcome to those who care to care. Such a principle of reciprocity is an inviting code for responsible tourism. The tourism industry’s challenge is to develop effective strategies to bring tourists and locals into better alignment. The key is in communicating the priceless experiences that emerge from being with the locals rather than imposing on them. (Freya Higgins-Desbiolles is Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, University of South Australia) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Tourists behaving badly are a threat to global tourism

My host organisation, Udyogini, hopes to develop such a programme in rural Khandar. But to do so, it is important to understand the negative impacts that unplanned mass tourism can have. India’s Golden Triangle, connecting Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, is the most touristed route in the country.&nbsp;

The area’s amazing cultural heritage and the ease of travel between its three corners make it easy to understand why. But while it has benefited economically from the tourism industry, the Golden Triangle also illustrates some of these negative impacts.&nbsp;

The increasingly large tourism industry in the area has a blind spot for ethical concerns, and sometimes bypasses authenticity for marketability.&nbsp;

For example, slum tourism, increasingly popular in Delhi, raises questions of who benefits from the transformation of impoverished communities into spectacles for wealthy international tourists to view. While certain tour operators make an effort to  give back to the slums they walk through, not all of them do, and almost none are owned and operated by slum residents themselves.&nbsp;

Chokhi Dhani, a popular village themed resort in Jaipur, packages rural India for tourist’s consumption, but in a fully artificial environment that does not actually interact with real rural communities.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the ubiquity of tourism in these cities has arguably cheapened visitors’ experience of the places as well. Instead of the massive, diverse, and living capital of the world’s largest democracy, New Delhi is marketed for a few key sites – Humayun’s Tomb, the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate – often completely stripped of their contextual importance and experienced purely aesthetically as a stop on a bus tour. The same can be said of Agra and Jaipur. Clearly, the Golden Triangle tourism industry has not been a purely positive phenomenon for the people who live there, or the tourists themselves.&nbsp;

Learning from the Golden Triangle is especially important for my project because increasingly, tourists are adding a fourth stop to their Golden Triangle itinerary, my placement site, Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, which is home to Ranthambore National Park.

Aided by its excellent rail connectivity to all three cities in the Golden Triangle – it sits two hours from Jaipur, four from Agra, and six from Delhi – hundreds of hotels have opened up on the main road from the city to the park entrance. Sawai Madhopur is routinely included on guided tour operators’ Golden Triangle tours and features prominently in the various routes of the super-luxury Maharaja Express tourist train.&nbsp;

Golden Triangle style mass-market tourism has firmly established itself as the main pillar of Sawai Madhopur’s economy. But the area’s small population, poor economy, and ecological sensitivity only magnify the tourism industry’s effects on the district. Exclusive hotels charge Rs 60,000 per night for rooms in the peak season despite sitting in a district that has been ranked one of the 126 most “backward” in India.

While certain lucky residents win low-level jobs in the hotels, the industry’s profits flow to outsiders who by-and-large own the properties.

Ranthambore National Park is home to the highest density of tigers in its history, making it one of the best places to see the animals in the wild. This has brought tourists who are single-minded in their reason for visiting the area. The majority of visitors spend only one or two nights in Sawai Madhopur, shuttling between their hotel and the National Park in pre-booked safaris. During popular times of the year, guests&nbsp;who have not pre-booked sometimes arrive in the area only to find that safaris during their stay are already full, and have to spend their time idly, with a few other sites to see in the area.&nbsp;

Furthermore, tourism is endangering the very natural environment that supports the industry. Hotels have taken up more and more land directly outside of the buffer zone of the park, threatening to cut it off from other natural lands. Water tables have fallen dramatically in recent years, and while this is partially attributable to agriculture, the tourism industry uses an outsized share of the area’s groundwater. 
 
Far from being a natural respite from the problems of tourism in the Golden Triangle, my placement site sees, in many ways, an intensification of the same issues.&nbsp;

While addressing the negative aspects of tourism can seem daunting, there are multiple examples, both throughout the world and within India, of tourist facilities conducting themselves in a respectful and sustainable manner that elevates local communities and enriches tourists’ experiences. 
 
(A previous version of this article was originally published by the American India Foundation)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

My host organisation, Udyogini, hopes to develop such a programme in rural Khandar. But to do so, it is important to understand the negative impacts that unplanned mass tourism can have.

My host organisation, Udyogini, hopes to develop such a programme in rural Khandar. But to do so, it is important to understand the negative impacts that unplanned mass tourism can have. India’s Golden Triangle, connecting Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, is the most touristed route in the country. The area’s amazing cultural heritage and the ease of travel between its three corners make it easy to understand why. But while it has benefited economically from the tourism industry, the Golden Triangle also illustrates some of these negative impacts. The increasingly large tourism industry in the area has a blind spot for ethical concerns, and sometimes bypasses authenticity for marketability. For example, slum tourism, increasingly popular in Delhi, raises questions of who benefits from the transformation of impoverished communities into spectacles for wealthy international tourists to view. While certain tour operators make an effort to  give back to the slums they walk through, not all of them do, and almost none are owned and operated by slum residents themselves. Chokhi Dhani, a popular village themed resort in Jaipur, packages rural India for tourist’s consumption, but in a fully artificial environment that does not actually interact with real rural communities. Furthermore, the ubiquity of tourism in these cities has arguably cheapened visitors’ experience of the places as well. Instead of the massive, diverse, and living capital of the world’s largest democracy, New Delhi is marketed for a few key sites – Humayun’s Tomb, the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate – often completely stripped of their contextual importance and experienced purely aesthetically as a stop on a bus tour. The same can be said of Agra and Jaipur. Clearly, the Golden Triangle tourism industry has not been a purely positive phenomenon for the people who live there, or the tourists themselves. Learning from the Golden Triangle is especially important for my project because increasingly, tourists are adding a fourth stop to their Golden Triangle itinerary, my placement site, Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, which is home to Ranthambore National Park. Aided by its excellent rail connectivity to all three cities in the Golden Triangle – it sits two hours from Jaipur, four from Agra, and six from Delhi – hundreds of hotels have opened up on the main road from the city to the park entrance. Sawai Madhopur is routinely included on guided tour operators’ Golden Triangle tours and features prominently in the various routes of the super-luxury Maharaja Express tourist train. Golden Triangle style mass-market tourism has firmly established itself as the main pillar of Sawai Madhopur’s economy. But the area’s small population, poor economy, and ecological sensitivity only magnify the tourism industry’s effects on the district. Exclusive hotels charge Rs 60,000 per night for rooms in the peak season despite sitting in a district that has been ranked one of the 126 most “backward” in India. While certain lucky residents win low-level jobs in the hotels, the industry’s profits flow to outsiders who by-and-large own the properties. Ranthambore National Park is home to the highest density of tigers in its history, making it one of the best places to see the animals in the wild. This has brought tourists who are single-minded in their reason for visiting the area. The majority of visitors spend only one or two nights in Sawai Madhopur, shuttling between their hotel and the National Park in pre-booked safaris. During popular times of the year, guests who have not pre-booked sometimes arrive in the area only to find that safaris during their stay are already full, and have to spend their time idly, with a few other sites to see in the area. Furthermore, tourism is endangering the very natural environment that supports the industry. Hotels have taken up more and more land directly outside of the buffer zone of the park, threatening to cut it off from other natural lands. Water tables have fallen dramatically in recent years, and while this is partially attributable to agriculture, the tourism industry uses an outsized share of the area’s groundwater. Far from being a natural respite from the problems of tourism in the Golden Triangle, my placement site sees, in many ways, an intensification of the same issues. While addressing the negative aspects of tourism can seem daunting, there are multiple examples, both throughout the world and within India, of tourist facilities conducting themselves in a respectful and sustainable manner that elevates local communities and enriches tourists’ experiences. (A previous version of this article was originally published by the American India Foundation) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: Rethinking tourism

Various initiatives in the interim budget such as tax rebates for the middle class will benefit the travel and tourism sector, industry players said.&nbsp;

"On the whole, the interim budget is promising for the travel industry, complemented by further tax rebate for the middle-income group more savings, more travel," said FCM Travel Solutions MD Rakshit Desai.

Expressing similar views, EaseMyTrip Co-Founder &amp; CEO Nishant Pittie said the budget announced promising initiatives that will definitely augur well for the Indian travel and tourism industry.&nbsp;

The focus on tax rebates for the middle class has brought a sigh of relief for them and now they will be able to spend more on vacations.

The government has increased the funds for the tourism ministry to Rs 2,189.22 crore for 2019-20.

"The exemption of income tax for middle and lower class segment of the society will increase the disposable income, which in line will trigger demand across consumer focused industries," Royal Orchid Hotels MD Chander Baljee said.

Highlighting that tax exemptions will provide a boost to the sector, Cox &amp; Kings Group CEO Peter Kerkar said the move will lead to additional savings thereby leading to more discretionary spends and travel and tourism can be one of the beneficiaries.

Thomas Cook India ED and CEO Mahesh Iyer said: "While the interim budget 2019 has seen no direct mention of the travel and tourism sector, focus on tax breaks for the middle class will result in increased disposable income and a cascading boost to consumption- offering the sector an opportunity for increased travel and tourism spends."&nbsp;

Sambhav Rakyan, Head of Talent and Rewards Consulting, India at Willis Towers Watson said measures on taxation front will have a positive impact on disposable income and savings, which in turn can increase domestic expenditure and enhance the sense of security amongst salaried class.

L Badri Narayanan, Partner, Lakshmikumaran &amp; Sridharan attorneys said the tax exemptions will go a long way in providing relief. At the same time, the tax mop-up may not be affected too severely as the total contribution as percentage of overall tax may be low.

Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Drip Capital, Pushkar Mukewar said the finance minister has announced a few steps that could prove beneficial to MSMEs, including lower interest rates and tax changes.

Various initiatives in the interim budget such as tax rebates for the middle class will benefit the travel and tourism sector, industry players said. "On the whole, the interim budget is promising for the travel industry, complemented by further tax rebate for the middle-income group more savings, more travel," said FCM Travel Solutions MD Rakshit Desai.

Various initiatives in the interim budget such as tax rebates for the middle class will benefit the travel and tourism sector, industry players said. "On the whole, the interim budget is promising for the travel industry, complemented by further tax rebate for the middle-income group more savings, more travel," said FCM Travel Solutions MD Rakshit Desai. Expressing similar views, EaseMyTrip Co-Founder & CEO Nishant Pittie said the budget announced promising initiatives that will definitely augur well for the Indian travel and tourism industry. The focus on tax rebates for the middle class has brought a sigh of relief for them and now they will be able to spend more on vacations. The government has increased the funds for the tourism ministry to Rs 2,189.22 crore for 2019-20. "The exemption of income tax for middle and lower class segment of the society will increase the disposable income, which in line will trigger demand across consumer focused industries," Royal Orchid Hotels MD Chander Baljee said. Highlighting that tax exemptions will provide a boost to the sector, Cox & Kings Group CEO Peter Kerkar said the move will lead to additional savings thereby leading to more discretionary spends and travel and tourism can be one of the beneficiaries. Thomas Cook India ED and CEO Mahesh Iyer said: "While the interim budget 2019 has seen no direct mention of the travel and tourism sector, focus on tax breaks for the middle class will result in increased disposable income and a cascading boost to consumption- offering the sector an opportunity for increased travel and tourism spends." Sambhav Rakyan, Head of Talent and Rewards Consulting, India at Willis Towers Watson said measures on taxation front will have a positive impact on disposable income and savings, which in turn can increase domestic expenditure and enhance the sense of security amongst salaried class. L Badri Narayanan, Partner, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan attorneys said the tax exemptions will go a long way in providing relief. At the same time, the tax mop-up may not be affected too severely as the total contribution as percentage of overall tax may be low. Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Drip Capital, Pushkar Mukewar said the finance minister has announced a few steps that could prove beneficial to MSMEs, including lower interest rates and tax changes.

Tax rebates for middle class to benefit travel, tourism sector: Industry

Pakistan on Friday announced introduction of a new visa policy in a bid to revive the tourism sector which was decimated by years of neglect and terrorism.

Under the new policy, the citizens of 175 countries will be able to get visa electronically, over the internet, while visa-on-arrival facility would be provided to the nationals of 60 countries, including the Indian-origin US and UK nationals on their American and British passports.

Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary told reporters here that Pakistan had open visa policy until 1965 and was one of the leading tourism destinations.

"The new policy will attract more tourists. We have mountain tourism, religious tourism, beach tourism, cities and huge food tourism," he said.

Chaudhary said that after consulting with different departments, the government decided to provide the e-visa facility to the nationals of 175 countries.

The government has also decided to ease the process for granting work visa to the nationals of 96 countries.

To promote business, a businessman would get a visa in 7-10 days, but they would need a letter from the Board of Investment.

Changing the visa rules for diplomats, Chaudhary said now diplomats would be issued a visa for three years, instead of one year earlier while student will get a visa for two years, instead of one year.

Visas issued for religious purposes would remain valid for 45 days, the Minister added.

In another major development, the Pakistan government has decided to lift the restriction on the movement of journalists in the country.

Earlier, journalists were restricted to move in three cities only but under the new regime, journalist visas would be issued for visiting other cities on the recommendation of the information ministry.

Chaudhary said that foreign tourists will get visa to visit the whole country but they will have to take special permission to travel to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said the Cabinet on Thursday also decided to relax visa policy for the nationals of 60 countries and given them Pakistani visas on arrival.

"This is massive change in the country's visa regime to facilitate people to come to Pakistan," the Minister said. "We are going to open Pakistan to foreign journalists, businessmen, tourists and investors."

The decision to ease visa regime was taken following a meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who approved the decision to relax the visa rules.

Chaudhry said the Cabinet also decided to reform media regulatory regime by merging different bodies created to oversee print and electronic media.

Cabinet approved formation of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) after merging the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) that will regulate all kinds of media. P

Pakistan on Friday announced introduction of a new visa policy in a bid to revive the tourism sector which was decimated by years of neglect and terrorism. Under the new policy, the citizens of 175 countries will be able to get visa electronically, over the internet, while visa-on-arrival facility would be provided to the nationals of 60 countries, including the Indian-origin US and UK nationals on their American and British passports.

Pakistan on Friday announced introduction of a new visa policy in a bid to revive the tourism sector which was decimated by years of neglect and terrorism. Under the new policy, the citizens of 175 countries will be able to get visa electronically, over the internet, while visa-on-arrival facility would be provided to the nationals of 60 countries, including the Indian-origin US and UK nationals on their American and British passports. Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary told reporters here that Pakistan had open visa policy until 1965 and was one of the leading tourism destinations. "The new policy will attract more tourists. We have mountain tourism, religious tourism, beach tourism, cities and huge food tourism," he said. Chaudhary said that after consulting with different departments, the government decided to provide the e-visa facility to the nationals of 175 countries. The government has also decided to ease the process for granting work visa to the nationals of 96 countries. To promote business, a businessman would get a visa in 7-10 days, but they would need a letter from the Board of Investment. Changing the visa rules for diplomats, Chaudhary said now diplomats would be issued a visa for three years, instead of one year earlier while student will get a visa for two years, instead of one year. Visas issued for religious purposes would remain valid for 45 days, the Minister added. In another major development, the Pakistan government has decided to lift the restriction on the movement of journalists in the country. Earlier, journalists were restricted to move in three cities only but under the new regime, journalist visas would be issued for visiting other cities on the recommendation of the information ministry. Chaudhary said that foreign tourists will get visa to visit the whole country but they will have to take special permission to travel to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the Cabinet on Thursday also decided to relax visa policy for the nationals of 60 countries and given them Pakistani visas on arrival. "This is massive change in the country's visa regime to facilitate people to come to Pakistan," the Minister said. "We are going to open Pakistan to foreign journalists, businessmen, tourists and investors." The decision to ease visa regime was taken following a meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who approved the decision to relax the visa rules. Chaudhry said the Cabinet also decided to reform media regulatory regime by merging different bodies created to oversee print and electronic media. Cabinet approved formation of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) after merging the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) that will regulate all kinds of media. P

Pakistan announces introduction of new visa policy to promote tourism, investment

One of the world's favourite holiday destinations Bali makes a clean-up move.&nbsp;

Bali proposed a tax of up to 10 dollars on visitors to remove tourism-generated trash.

The Bali authorities are working on a bylaw which will make tourists accountable for environmental and cultural preservation.

The revenue collected from the 10 dollar tax will be used to fund programmes for preservation. The levy is still under discussion.

The authorities are deliberating on how the tax should be collected, whether it should be included in the airfare, or if it should be collected at separate airport counters.

But, the policy is expected to be imposed only on foreign tourists.

This plan comes at a time when the province is fighting against the growing volume of plastic waste on its beaches.

Bali is particularly popular among Chinese and Australian holidaymakers -- it welcomed up to six million visitors in 2018.

An environment agency recorded that the island produced 38-hundred tonnes of waste every day -- out of this, only 60 per cent ends up in the landfill.

This is not Bali's first step towards environmental conservation. Free plastic bags in supermarkets and grocery stores have been banned in Bali's capital since the beginning of this year.

Other parts of Indonesia are also struggling with the problem of excessive plastic waste. The Pisang Batu river in west java is one of the country's most polluted rivers. Hundreds of tonnes of rubbish collect there every monsoon.

One of the world's favourite holiday destinations Bali makes a clean-up move. Bali proposed a tax of up to 10 dollars on visitors to remove tourism-generated trash.

One of the world's favourite holiday destinations Bali makes a clean-up move. Bali proposed a tax of up to 10 dollars on visitors to remove tourism-generated trash. The Bali authorities are working on a bylaw which will make tourists accountable for environmental and cultural preservation. The revenue collected from the 10 dollar tax will be used to fund programmes for preservation. The levy is still under discussion. The authorities are deliberating on how the tax should be collected, whether it should be included in the airfare, or if it should be collected at separate airport counters. But, the policy is expected to be imposed only on foreign tourists. This plan comes at a time when the province is fighting against the growing volume of plastic waste on its beaches. Bali is particularly popular among Chinese and Australian holidaymakers -- it welcomed up to six million visitors in 2018. An environment agency recorded that the island produced 38-hundred tonnes of waste every day -- out of this, only 60 per cent ends up in the landfill. This is not Bali's first step towards environmental conservation. Free plastic bags in supermarkets and grocery stores have been banned in Bali's capital since the beginning of this year. Other parts of Indonesia are also struggling with the problem of excessive plastic waste. The Pisang Batu river in west java is one of the country's most polluted rivers. Hundreds of tonnes of rubbish collect there every monsoon.

Bali thinking of taxing all foreign tourists

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-court-to-announce-verdict-on-former-pm-nawaz-sharif-in-corruption-cases-185667">Pakistan</a> is planning to ease visa restrictions for visitors from 55 countries, including most European nations, in a bid to revive tourism that was devastated by Islamist violence in the fallout from the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

"We are reviewing our visa policies. We are trying to bring 55 countries into a visa-free region, which includes most of the European countries," Pakistan's information minister, Fawad Chaudhry, told Reuters.

That comes after Portugal this month declared <a href="http://13.232.42.114/india-news/jammu-kashmir-two-army-officers-killed-in-pakistan-ceasefire-violation-in-kupwara-185745">Pakistan</a> safe for travel, while France has also relaxed its advisory on travel to the South Asian nation

"I'm happy our (travel) advisories are changing," said Chaudhry.

Potentially restarting tourism has been one of the most talked about parts of new Prime Minister Imran Khan's push to create an Islamic welfare state in Pakistan, but visitors to the country often complain of an arduous visa process.

Former Real Madrid soccer stars Kaka of Brazil and Portuguese playmaker Luis Figo were recently denied visas to the country for a promotional visit, Chaudhry said, highlighting the nation's laborious visa process.

"We refused a visa to Kaka and Figo. Can you believe that? I called the section officer and he never heard of ... Kaka," Chaudhry said, laughing.

"I spoke to the interior secretary yesterday and gave him a piece of my mind."

Pakistan was last a prominent tourist destination in the 1970s when the "hippie trail" brought Western travellers through the apricot and walnut orchards of the Swat Valley and Kashmir on their way to India and Nepal.

Since then, a deteriorating security situation and the imposition of a harsh interpretation of Islamic laws have chipped away at the number of visitors.

Following Pakistan's participation in the US-led war in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington, the country was rocked by a decade of regular large-scale militant attacks.

Security has since improved dramatically, with militant attacks down sharply in the mainly Muslim country of 208 million people.

British Airways on Tuesday announced it would resume flights to Pakistan next year after a 10-year absence that followed a major hotel bombing, becoming the first Western airline to restart such flights.

Pakistan is planning to ease visa restrictions for visitors from 55 countries, including most European nations, in a bid to revive tourism that was devastated by Islamist violence in the fallout from the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

Pakistan is planning to ease visa restrictions for visitors from 55 countries, including most European nations, in a bid to revive tourism that was devastated by Islamist violence in the fallout from the 9/11 attacks in the United States. "We are reviewing our visa policies. We are trying to bring 55 countries into a visa-free region, which includes most of the European countries," Pakistan's information minister, Fawad Chaudhry, told Reuters. That comes after Portugal this month declared Pakistan safe for travel, while France has also relaxed its advisory on travel to the South Asian nation "I'm happy our (travel) advisories are changing," said Chaudhry. Potentially restarting tourism has been one of the most talked about parts of new Prime Minister Imran Khan's push to create an Islamic welfare state in Pakistan, but visitors to the country often complain of an arduous visa process. Former Real Madrid soccer stars Kaka of Brazil and Portuguese playmaker Luis Figo were recently denied visas to the country for a promotional visit, Chaudhry said, highlighting the nation's laborious visa process. "We refused a visa to Kaka and Figo. Can you believe that? I called the section officer and he never heard of ... Kaka," Chaudhry said, laughing. "I spoke to the interior secretary yesterday and gave him a piece of my mind." Pakistan was last a prominent tourist destination in the 1970s when the "hippie trail" brought Western travellers through the apricot and walnut orchards of the Swat Valley and Kashmir on their way to India and Nepal. Since then, a deteriorating security situation and the imposition of a harsh interpretation of Islamic laws have chipped away at the number of visitors. Following Pakistan's participation in the US-led war in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington, the country was rocked by a decade of regular large-scale militant attacks. Security has since improved dramatically, with militant attacks down sharply in the mainly Muslim country of 208 million people. British Airways on Tuesday announced it would resume flights to Pakistan next year after a 10-year absence that followed a major hotel bombing, becoming the first Western airline to restart such flights.

Pakistan plans to relax visa policy in bid to revive tourism

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved agreements between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, pharmaceuticals and trade.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved for cooperation in the sphere of law and justice between the two countries.

The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, government functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution.

The agreement is expected to facilitate greater cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in providing legal services in both countries in the field of exchange of experience through information sharing visits, and training between both countries on enhancing legal capacities of government functionaries.

Another MoU was approved by the Cabinet for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism, which is expected to be signed during the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev`s visit to India on October 1.

The signing of the MoU in the field of tourism will help the two countries in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector.

It will also help in increasing foreign tourist arrivals from Uzbekistan to the country.

This, in turn, will result in economic development and employment generation.

The agreement shall create favourable conditions for long-term tourism cooperation for the mutual benefits of all stakeholders within the broader framework and areas of cooperation.

In addition, the MoU shall explore to incorporate the best practices to implement the measures that will realise the objectives set out in it.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a MoU between the two countries for the establishment of an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceutical Zone in the Andijan Region of Uzbekistan, which will also be signed during Mirziyoyev`s visit to India.

The MoU will create an enabling framework of cooperation for setting up an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceuticals Zone in Andijan region of Uzbekistan.

It will also facilitate Indian pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to invest and establish production facilities in the Uzbek-Indian Free Pharma Zone of Andijan for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

The Cabinet also approved the signing of a MoU between India and Uzbekistan for increased cooperation in the areas of trade, industry and research and development of pharmaceutical products.

In view of the importance of the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in both countries and importance of mutual cooperation in trade, production, research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, both the governments have been trying to establish a formal mechanism of bilateral cooperation.

The MoU will explore the possibilities of production of medicines, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in different therapeutic segments in both countries.

It will facilitate the exchange of information on trade and registration procedures, legal and regulatory requirements for export and import of pharmaceuticals products, including APIs.

Another MoU was approved for mutual cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotics, drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, and is expected to help in mutual cooperation in the regulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and in combating drug trafficking.

It is an effective framework to deal with all issues requiring mutual assistance and cooperation in the areas identified.

The Cabinet also approved the signing of an agreement between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in health and medical science.

It covers the following areas of cooperation - expanding opportunities for the development of business cooperation in the field of medical equipment, including equipment for teaching and research laboratories of institutions of medical education, and pharmaceutical products, strengthening of primary health care and setting up of healthcare facilities, medical and health research development, as well as exchange of experience in these areas, among others.

A working group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of the agreement.

In the field of agriculture and allied sectors, a MoU was approved for cooperation in the exchange of information regarding laws, standards and product samples of mutual interest, establishment of joint agriculture clusters in Uzbekistan, exchange of experience in the field of crop production and their diversification, exchange of experience in the field of seed production based on modern technology, and application of technology for enhanced water use efficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, including irrigation, conduct of joint scientific research on genetics, breeding, biotechnology, plant protection and soil productivity conservation, among others.

The agreement provides for the constitution of a joint working group comprising representatives from both countries, the task of which would be to prepare plans of cooperation, provide solutions to the problems arising during the implementation of the agreement and to monitor the implementation of tasks determined by the parties.

The meetings of the working group shall take place at least every two years, alternately in India and in Uzbekistan.

The agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing and shall remain in force for a period of five years, is automatically extended for a subsequent period of five years.

The agreement shall be terminated after six months from the date of receipt of notification of either party of its intention to terminate.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved agreements between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, pharmaceuticals and trade.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved agreements between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, pharmaceuticals and trade. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved for cooperation in the sphere of law and justice between the two countries. The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, government functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution. The agreement is expected to facilitate greater cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in providing legal services in both countries in the field of exchange of experience through information sharing visits, and training between both countries on enhancing legal capacities of government functionaries. Another MoU was approved by the Cabinet for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism, which is expected to be signed during the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev`s visit to India on October 1. The signing of the MoU in the field of tourism will help the two countries in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. It will also help in increasing foreign tourist arrivals from Uzbekistan to the country. This, in turn, will result in economic development and employment generation. The agreement shall create favourable conditions for long-term tourism cooperation for the mutual benefits of all stakeholders within the broader framework and areas of cooperation. In addition, the MoU shall explore to incorporate the best practices to implement the measures that will realise the objectives set out in it. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a MoU between the two countries for the establishment of an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceutical Zone in the Andijan Region of Uzbekistan, which will also be signed during Mirziyoyev`s visit to India. The MoU will create an enabling framework of cooperation for setting up an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceuticals Zone in Andijan region of Uzbekistan. It will also facilitate Indian pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to invest and establish production facilities in the Uzbek-Indian Free Pharma Zone of Andijan for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. The Cabinet also approved the signing of a MoU between India and Uzbekistan for increased cooperation in the areas of trade, industry and research and development of pharmaceutical products. In view of the importance of the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in both countries and importance of mutual cooperation in trade, production, research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, both the governments have been trying to establish a formal mechanism of bilateral cooperation. The MoU will explore the possibilities of production of medicines, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in different therapeutic segments in both countries. It will facilitate the exchange of information on trade and registration procedures, legal and regulatory requirements for export and import of pharmaceuticals products, including APIs. Another MoU was approved for mutual cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotics, drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, and is expected to help in mutual cooperation in the regulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and in combating drug trafficking. It is an effective framework to deal with all issues requiring mutual assistance and cooperation in the areas identified. The Cabinet also approved the signing of an agreement between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in health and medical science. It covers the following areas of cooperation - expanding opportunities for the development of business cooperation in the field of medical equipment, including equipment for teaching and research laboratories of institutions of medical education, and pharmaceutical products, strengthening of primary health care and setting up of healthcare facilities, medical and health research development, as well as exchange of experience in these areas, among others. A working group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of the agreement. In the field of agriculture and allied sectors, a MoU was approved for cooperation in the exchange of information regarding laws, standards and product samples of mutual interest, establishment of joint agriculture clusters in Uzbekistan, exchange of experience in the field of crop production and their diversification, exchange of experience in the field of seed production based on modern technology, and application of technology for enhanced water use efficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, including irrigation, conduct of joint scientific research on genetics, breeding, biotechnology, plant protection and soil productivity conservation, among others. The agreement provides for the constitution of a joint working group comprising representatives from both countries, the task of which would be to prepare plans of cooperation, provide solutions to the problems arising during the implementation of the agreement and to monitor the implementation of tasks determined by the parties. The meetings of the working group shall take place at least every two years, alternately in India and in Uzbekistan. The agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing and shall remain in force for a period of five years, is automatically extended for a subsequent period of five years. The agreement shall be terminated after six months from the date of receipt of notification of either party of its intention to terminate.

Cabinet approves India-Uzbekistan MoUs in tourism, trade

Tourism in Kerala is bearing the brunt of the sudden occurrence of&nbsp;Nipah virus&nbsp;in a section of the state. However, locals and tourists believe that the situation has been falsely portrayed by the media.

News of the presence of the virus was first reported from Kozhikode earlier this week, and now, at least 12 deaths have been confirmed to have taken place due to the "rare and deadly" virus. As the death toll is rising each day, a wave of panic has gripped the state, since the infection spreads through human contact.

However, locals in Kochi believe that unnecessary panic has been spread through various sections of the media, which in turn, is disrupting tourism to the region.

"In Northern India, it is the holiday season now, due to which we get many tourists from there. However, the news of the Nipah virus has led to almost 50 to 60 per cent cancellation of bookings. We are also getting inquiries from Gulf countries, as the Arab holiday season is approaching. It has created unnecessary panic," Tourism Profession Club Secretary Paul said.

Echoing a similar thought, Ajay Kumar, a local tourist guide said the false portrayal of the situation is hampering his business.

"In Kochi, there is no need to panic as the area is safe from the virus. It (Nipah) is only in a small section of Kozhikode. However, media is portraying it in such a way that tourists believe the whole of Kerala is affected by the disease. I have lost business due to this, as travellers are cancelling trips booked even for the next month," he added.

However, tourists in the area, although unfazed by the virus, are taking a number of precautionary measures in the wake of the disease.

"We are trying to eat home cooked food for our own safety. We are avoiding excessive amounts of hotel food and fruits for now. We are also planning to avoid visiting Kozhikode at this time," a tourist said.

So far, the virus has claimed 12 lives in Kerala, following which the state's health department issued an advisory for people travelling to the state, and urged travellers to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts.

A similar note of caution has also been issued by the Himachal Pradesh health ministry on Thursday after more than 18 dead bats were discovered on Wednesday in the premises of a government school in Nahan, triggering a panic among locals.

For those unversed,&nbsp;Nipah virus, spread by fruit bats, causes communicable disease and is fatal for both animals and humans.

The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory illness, disorientation and mental confusion.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours.&nbsp;

Locals in Kochi believe that unnecessary panic has been spread through various sections of the media, which in turn, is disrupting tourism in the region

Tourism in Kerala is bearing the brunt of the sudden occurrence of Nipah virus in a section of the state. However, locals and tourists believe that the situation has been falsely portrayed by the media. News of the presence of the virus was first reported from Kozhikode earlier this week, and now, at least 12 deaths have been confirmed to have taken place due to the "rare and deadly" virus. As the death toll is rising each day, a wave of panic has gripped the state, since the infection spreads through human contact. However, locals in Kochi believe that unnecessary panic has been spread through various sections of the media, which in turn, is disrupting tourism to the region. "In Northern India, it is the holiday season now, due to which we get many tourists from there. However, the news of the Nipah virus has led to almost 50 to 60 per cent cancellation of bookings. We are also getting inquiries from Gulf countries, as the Arab holiday season is approaching. It has created unnecessary panic," Tourism Profession Club Secretary Paul said. Echoing a similar thought, Ajay Kumar, a local tourist guide said the false portrayal of the situation is hampering his business. "In Kochi, there is no need to panic as the area is safe from the virus. It (Nipah) is only in a small section of Kozhikode. However, media is portraying it in such a way that tourists believe the whole of Kerala is affected by the disease. I have lost business due to this, as travellers are cancelling trips booked even for the next month," he added. However, tourists in the area, although unfazed by the virus, are taking a number of precautionary measures in the wake of the disease. "We are trying to eat home cooked food for our own safety. We are avoiding excessive amounts of hotel food and fruits for now. We are also planning to avoid visiting Kozhikode at this time," a tourist said. So far, the virus has claimed 12 lives in Kerala, following which the state's health department issued an advisory for people travelling to the state, and urged travellers to be extra cautious while visiting Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur districts. A similar note of caution has also been issued by the Himachal Pradesh health ministry on Thursday after more than 18 dead bats were discovered on Wednesday in the premises of a government school in Nahan, triggering a panic among locals. For those unversed, Nipah virus, spread by fruit bats, causes communicable disease and is fatal for both animals and humans. The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, drowsiness, respiratory illness, disorientation and mental confusion. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these signs and symptoms can progress to coma within 24-48 hours.

Kerala: Nipah virus hampers tourism, locals blame media

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said that there is an immense investment potential in the northeastern region and stressed on improving connectivity to it.

Addressing the second convocation of National Institute of Technology here, Naidu said though the north-eastern region is endowed with abundant natural resources it has a difficult terrain, dispersed habitations, poor connectivity and inadequate infrastructure which are obstacles in realising its true potential.

Improving connectivity is most important to bring the northeast region into the mainstream, he said adding air connectivity is vital for promoting tourism, business and people-to-people contact.

"We strongly believe that the corridors of connectivity should be converted into corridors of economic growth with a symbiotic market model of development," the Vice-President said.

Naidu said that Nagaland is growing fast and setting up of the NIT is an indication of the growing importance of this region and the knowledge and technical skills acquired by the students will form the main pillars of their professional career.

NIT, Nagaland, is the first centrally funded technical institution in the state.

The Vice-President said the real strength of any academic institute lies in maintaining high standards of excellence through its teaching and top quality research.

The life skills acquired by the students from them and the values of ethics, morality, integrity and compassion are equally important in navigating through the challenges and contribute to building an inclusive New India.

Naidu advised the students to remember that their education does not end with the acquisition of a degree or by securing employment. "Learning is a life-long process and education is meant to enlighten them."

The NIT Nagaland being a technical institute of national importance will play a significant role in filling the industrial gap in Nagaland by bringing in industries, the corporate sector and technocrats from other parts of the country to Nagaland for its societal growth and uplift, he said.&nbsp

Naidu expressed happiness that the state is running the Institute of Communication and Information Technology (ICIT), Mokokchung and School Of Engineering & Technology, Dimapur.&nbsp

"Our mother tongue, the language of home, is the root of life. We must ensure that this foundation is strengthened. If we lose a language we lose an important part of our cultural identity," Naidu added.

Nagaland governor, P B Acharya said getting a degree is not the ultimate goal in life but it should serve as a catalyst for pursuing further knowledge.

Acquiring a degree is not the end goal of education, but it is beginning of empowerment, he added.&nbsp

Improving connectivity is most important to bring the northeast region into the mainstream, he said adding air connectivity is vital for promoting tourism, business and people-to-people contact.

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said that there is an immense investment potential in the northeastern region and stressed on improving connectivity to it. Addressing the second convocation of National Institute of Technology here, Naidu said though the north-eastern region is endowed with abundant natural resources it has a difficult terrain, dispersed habitations, poor connectivity and inadequate infrastructure which are obstacles in realising its true potential. Improving connectivity is most important to bring the northeast region into the mainstream, he said adding air connectivity is vital for promoting tourism, business and people-to-people contact. "We strongly believe that the corridors of connectivity should be converted into corridors of economic growth with a symbiotic market model of development," the Vice-President said. Naidu said that Nagaland is growing fast and setting up of the NIT is an indication of the growing importance of this region and the knowledge and technical skills acquired by the students will form the main pillars of their professional career. NIT, Nagaland, is the first centrally funded technical institution in the state. The Vice-President said the real strength of any academic institute lies in maintaining high standards of excellence through its teaching and top quality research. The life skills acquired by the students from them and the values of ethics, morality, integrity and compassion are equally important in navigating through the challenges and contribute to building an inclusive New India. Naidu advised the students to remember that their education does not end with the acquisition of a degree or by securing employment. "Learning is a life-long process and education is meant to enlighten them." The NIT Nagaland being a technical institute of national importance will play a significant role in filling the industrial gap in Nagaland by bringing in industries, the corporate sector and technocrats from other parts of the country to Nagaland for its societal growth and uplift, he said. Naidu expressed happiness that the state is running the Institute of Communication and Information Technology (ICIT), Mokokchung and School Of Engineering & Technology, Dimapur. "Our mother tongue, the language of home, is the root of life. We must ensure that this foundation is strengthened. If we lose a language we lose an important part of our cultural identity," Naidu added. Nagaland governor, P B Acharya said getting a degree is not the ultimate goal in life but it should serve as a catalyst for pursuing further knowledge. Acquiring a degree is not the end goal of education, but it is beginning of empowerment, he added.

Northeast has immense investment potential: Venkaiah Naidu

A decision by the Philippines to close the holiday hotspot of Boracay, which President Rodrigo Duterte has called a "cesspool", prompted airlines Thursday to cut back flights to the island, while business groups called for the decision to be reconsidered.

The abrupt presidential order to close Boracay to tourism for six months from April 26, aimed at rescuing the once idyllic island from ruin, was issued Wednesday.

Cebu Pacific, the dominant domestic carrier, said it cancelled 14 daily round-trip flights to Caticlan and Kalibo, Boracay's two main gateways, from April 26 to October 25, while Philippine Airlines said it would scale down services to the airports and add flights to other destinations.

Discovery World Corp, which operates an 88-room resort in Boracay, said Thursday that the closure would have a significant impact on its financial health, citing the resort's large contribution to revenue. The company`s shares dropped 7.5 per cent on Thursday.

The Philippine tourism minister, Wanda Teo, said Thursday that businesses and visitors to the crowded 10-square-kilometre (4-sq-mile) island would have to make a sacrifice.

"If you close one establishment but open another, tourists will still come. All establishments, whether compliant or not, will be closed," Teo told ANC news channel. "Everyone must sacrifice here."

The tourism industry urged a less drastic approach to rehabilitating the island and to delay the planned closure.

Jose Clemente, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said businesses were aware of Duterte's planned cleanup, but hoped for a partial or phased closure, and more time to adjust.

"We are a bit depressed right now in the industry," he said. "I really feel for the people in Boracay," he added. "They really need to find ways to be employed, or at least keep their head above water for the next six months."

Located off the northern tip of the central island of Panay, Boracay's white sand, lively night scene and abundant water sports attracted nearly 2 million visitors last year, with the largest contingents coming from China and South Korea.

In closing the island to visitors, Duterte, known for his no-nonsense style, was responding to numerous government inspections following his criticism in February of sanitary conditions on the island.

Duterte was furious about sewage problems stemming from inadequate treatment systems and unrestrained development of businesses, which in many cases were operating without permits.&nbsp

It is not immediately clear what the government plans to do during the closure and what the rehabilitation of the island might entail. A six-month closure could shave 0.1 per cent off the country's gross domestic product, according to a government estimate on Tuesday.

Wastewater management is expected to be the priority after inspections discovered businesses releasing untreated sewage into the sea.

Boracay is one of 7,300 islands in the archipelago nation and hosts 1,800 businesses, including global hotel chains like Shangri-La and Movenpick, and locally listed companies Megaworld Corp and Manila Water.

Philippine Airlines said it supported the government's decision.&nbsp

"We fully support the government's intention to make Boracay fully safe and environmentally friendly," said Jaime Bautista, the airline's president.

Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offered customers full refunds or flights elsewhere and said they would still operate a limited number of flights to Caticlan and Kalibo airports to serve residents, which number about 50,000.&nbsp

Airlines offer around 1.2 million seats from Boracay's Caticlan airport annually, nearly three-quarters from the capital Manila, data from Aviation Consultants show.

"Cebu Pacific with some 323,000 odd seats a year from the Island would be the largest carrier disrupted," said John Grant, director of JG Aviation Consultants.

Discovery World said it has started to refund customer deposits, rebooking them to future dates or to its resort on the island of Palawan.

"Our plan is to downsize to a skeletal team for the upkeep and maintenance of the resort during the period," it said in a statement, referring to the Boracay facility.

The abrupt presidential order to close Boracay to tourism for six months from April 26 aimed at rescuing the once idyllic island from ruin

A decision by the Philippines to close the holiday hotspot of Boracay, which President Rodrigo Duterte has called a "cesspool", prompted airlines Thursday to cut back flights to the island, while business groups called for the decision to be reconsidered. The abrupt presidential order to close Boracay to tourism for six months from April 26, aimed at rescuing the once idyllic island from ruin, was issued Wednesday. Cebu Pacific, the dominant domestic carrier, said it cancelled 14 daily round-trip flights to Caticlan and Kalibo, Boracay's two main gateways, from April 26 to October 25, while Philippine Airlines said it would scale down services to the airports and add flights to other destinations. Discovery World Corp, which operates an 88-room resort in Boracay, said Thursday that the closure would have a significant impact on its financial health, citing the resort's large contribution to revenue. The company`s shares dropped 7.5 per cent on Thursday. The Philippine tourism minister, Wanda Teo, said Thursday that businesses and visitors to the crowded 10-square-kilometre (4-sq-mile) island would have to make a sacrifice. "If you close one establishment but open another, tourists will still come. All establishments, whether compliant or not, will be closed," Teo told ANC news channel. "Everyone must sacrifice here." The tourism industry urged a less drastic approach to rehabilitating the island and to delay the planned closure. Jose Clemente, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, said businesses were aware of Duterte's planned cleanup, but hoped for a partial or phased closure, and more time to adjust. "We are a bit depressed right now in the industry," he said. "I really feel for the people in Boracay," he added. "They really need to find ways to be employed, or at least keep their head above water for the next six months." Located off the northern tip of the central island of Panay, Boracay's white sand, lively night scene and abundant water sports attracted nearly 2 million visitors last year, with the largest contingents coming from China and South Korea. In closing the island to visitors, Duterte, known for his no-nonsense style, was responding to numerous government inspections following his criticism in February of sanitary conditions on the island. Duterte was furious about sewage problems stemming from inadequate treatment systems and unrestrained development of businesses, which in many cases were operating without permits. It is not immediately clear what the government plans to do during the closure and what the rehabilitation of the island might entail. A six-month closure could shave 0.1 per cent off the country's gross domestic product, according to a government estimate on Tuesday. Wastewater management is expected to be the priority after inspections discovered businesses releasing untreated sewage into the sea. Boracay is one of 7,300 islands in the archipelago nation and hosts 1,800 businesses, including global hotel chains like Shangri-La and Movenpick, and locally listed companies Megaworld Corp and Manila Water. Philippine Airlines said it supported the government's decision. "We fully support the government's intention to make Boracay fully safe and environmentally friendly," said Jaime Bautista, the airline's president. Both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offered customers full refunds or flights elsewhere and said they would still operate a limited number of flights to Caticlan and Kalibo airports to serve residents, which number about 50,000. Airlines offer around 1.2 million seats from Boracay's Caticlan airport annually, nearly three-quarters from the capital Manila, data from Aviation Consultants show. "Cebu Pacific with some 323,000 odd seats a year from the Island would be the largest carrier disrupted," said John Grant, director of JG Aviation Consultants. Discovery World said it has started to refund customer deposits, rebooking them to future dates or to its resort on the island of Palawan. "Our plan is to downsize to a skeletal team for the upkeep and maintenance of the resort during the period," it said in a statement, referring to the Boracay facility.

Airlines cut back flights as Philippine holiday hotspot prepares for closure

Saudi Arabia is planning to issue its first official tourist visas from April 1, according to tour operators.

The plan is a bid to allow non-Muslim tourists visit historic sites such as Jeddah, Riyadh and the ancient city of Mada&#39;in Saleh in the Arabian Desert.

If the plan goes ahead, then this will be the first time that the kingdom country will issue visas specifically for tourism, although tourists have been allowed to enter Saudi Arabia for religious business and so-called personal visits in the past.

&quot;We&#39;ve heard so much about Saudi Arabia in regards to business, religion, and politics. But as a traveller, getting to see beneath the news story and understand more about day-to-day life, the people of Saudi, and the amazing historical sites, is a huge driver of interest in visiting the country&quot;, said Andrea Ross, United States&#39; Director at Wild Frontiers.

Wild Frontiers, which specialises in travel to out-there destinations like Pakistan and the Caucasus (a region in Europe comprising Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia), is planning its first visit to Saudi Arabia in November this year.

Ross delved into the details about the ancient city of Mada&#39;in Saleh.

&quot;The Nabatean site of Mada&#39;in Saleh, featuring a number of spectacular rock-cut tombs similar in style to the Nabatean sites at Petra. And a visit to visit the Red Sea town of Jidda (Jeddah), where the only tourists will be Saudi families enjoying the sun and sea, the capital Riyadh and the Sarawat Mountains, close to the border with Yemen. Here you see villages that feature brick stone towers used as residences. This unique form of architecture used to be a highlight of any trip to Yemen. And with Yemen now closed off, seeing these here is an incredible opportunity,&quot; she was quoted by Conde Nast Traveler as saying.

In order to qualify for a tourist visa, there needs to be at least four guests travelling to Saudi Arabia. The visas will need to be attested by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, which means, you will still need to book through a registered tour operator in the country to obtain the visa, according to the tour company Abercrombie &amp; Kent, which already takes visitors to Saudi Arabia under existing visa rules.

Women below 25 years, would be able to apply for tourist visas, but will need a &quot;companion&quot; in order to enter Saudi Arabia.

Andrea Ross stressed that women need to wear headscarves in accordance with the country&#39;s conservative laws and stay with the group during the visit.

Non-Muslim travellers will not be able to visit the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, according to Abercrombie &amp; Kent.

While the US Department of State has warned that &quot;terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Saudi Arabia,&quot; the country&#39;s Level 2 travel advisory puts it at par with France and the United Kingdom, in terms of risk.

Saudi Arabian officials have been talking about opening the country to tourism since 2016.

&quot;We are cautiously optimistic. We are accepting bookings onto our November and December departures and will have an update on April 1. So maybe spring break will have to wait until next year,&quot; Ross clarified.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman have initiated the lifting of a number of restrictions, particularly on women since last year, in a bid to open up the conservative kingdom country.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia organised its first-ever women&#39;s run, marking a historical moment for its women in the local sports sector. More than 1,500 women had participated in the event.

Also, Saudi officials have announced last month that women would be able to participate in the Riyadh International Marathon next year. Prior to this, women were not allowed to participate in any marathon or other running events.

Saudi Arabia also held its first-ever women&#39;s basketball tournament recently and will soon be hosting a women&#39;s football tournament.

The kingdom country, which was the only one to not send female athletes to the Olympics, made international headlines recently when it saw the participation of two women in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Saudi Arabia, which was the only country to not allow women to drive, lifted its ban in September last year, ending the long-standing policy that has been heavily criticised by many across the world since 1990.

In July 2017, Saudi Arabia introduced physical education for girls enrolled in schools and began granting licenses for running women&#39;s gyms in the country, thereby giving the women an opportunity to exercise in public.&nbsp;

If the plan goes ahead, then this will be the first time that the kingdom country will issue visas specifically for tourism

Saudi Arabia is planning to issue its first official tourist visas from April 1, according to tour operators. The plan is a bid to allow non-Muslim tourists visit historic sites such as Jeddah, Riyadh and the ancient city of Mada'in Saleh in the Arabian Desert. If the plan goes ahead, then this will be the first time that the kingdom country will issue visas specifically for tourism, although tourists have been allowed to enter Saudi Arabia for religious business and so-called personal visits in the past. "We've heard so much about Saudi Arabia in regards to business, religion, and politics. But as a traveller, getting to see beneath the news story and understand more about day-to-day life, the people of Saudi, and the amazing historical sites, is a huge driver of interest in visiting the country", said Andrea Ross, United States' Director at Wild Frontiers. Wild Frontiers, which specialises in travel to out-there destinations like Pakistan and the Caucasus (a region in Europe comprising Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia), is planning its first visit to Saudi Arabia in November this year. Ross delved into the details about the ancient city of Mada'in Saleh. "The Nabatean site of Mada'in Saleh, featuring a number of spectacular rock-cut tombs similar in style to the Nabatean sites at Petra. And a visit to visit the Red Sea town of Jidda (Jeddah), where the only tourists will be Saudi families enjoying the sun and sea, the capital Riyadh and the Sarawat Mountains, close to the border with Yemen. Here you see villages that feature brick stone towers used as residences. This unique form of architecture used to be a highlight of any trip to Yemen. And with Yemen now closed off, seeing these here is an incredible opportunity," she was quoted by Conde Nast Traveler as saying. In order to qualify for a tourist visa, there needs to be at least four guests travelling to Saudi Arabia. The visas will need to be attested by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, which means, you will still need to book through a registered tour operator in the country to obtain the visa, according to the tour company Abercrombie & Kent, which already takes visitors to Saudi Arabia under existing visa rules. Women below 25 years, would be able to apply for tourist visas, but will need a "companion" in order to enter Saudi Arabia. Andrea Ross stressed that women need to wear headscarves in accordance with the country's conservative laws and stay with the group during the visit. Non-Muslim travellers will not be able to visit the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, according to Abercrombie & Kent. While the US Department of State has warned that "terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Saudi Arabia," the country's Level 2 travel advisory puts it at par with France and the United Kingdom, in terms of risk. Saudi Arabian officials have been talking about opening the country to tourism since 2016. "We are cautiously optimistic. We are accepting bookings onto our November and December departures and will have an update on April 1. So maybe spring break will have to wait until next year," Ross clarified. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman have initiated the lifting of a number of restrictions, particularly on women since last year, in a bid to open up the conservative kingdom country. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia organised its first-ever women's run, marking a historical moment for its women in the local sports sector. More than 1,500 women had participated in the event. Also, Saudi officials have announced last month that women would be able to participate in the Riyadh International Marathon next year. Prior to this, women were not allowed to participate in any marathon or other running events. Saudi Arabia also held its first-ever women's basketball tournament recently and will soon be hosting a women's football tournament. The kingdom country, which was the only one to not send female athletes to the Olympics, made international headlines recently when it saw the participation of two women in the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics. Saudi Arabia, which was the only country to not allow women to drive, lifted its ban in September last year, ending the long-standing policy that has been heavily criticised by many across the world since 1990. In July 2017, Saudi Arabia introduced physical education for girls enrolled in schools and began granting licenses for running women's gyms in the country, thereby giving the women an opportunity to exercise in public.

Saudi Arabia plans to issue tourist visas in April

Travel advisories issued by the US Department of State carry huge significance. Issued, primarily, to advise and warn American citizens who intend to visit other countries, such advisories end up making global news. Such as it did today.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

National news media took it very seriously as the USDS placed India in Level 2, urging American tourists to &#39;exercise caution&#39; if they do decide to travel to India.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The only consolation is the US has placed Pakistan in the Level 3. Beyond this level, there are only countries, such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq and little-known places in the names of Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Guerrero.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

So, the national pride, though slightly bruised, is not completely compromised. We are better than them. At the end of the day, that is what matters.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Though primarily designed to ensure the safety of American citizens, the travel advisories of the State Department have come to carry political significance over the years. The advisory is designed in such a way as to make it easily comprehensible, direct and impactful.

&nbsp;

But the potency of the list comes from its very simplicity. The colour coded map of the world facilitates an &quot;at a glance&quot; approach. Without knowing so much about any region of the world, one can immediately know which parts will be safe or dangerous for us. The red, yellow, light brown and the creamish white colour codes come as the signifier of safety and danger.&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Unwittingly, in your mind, looking at the picture, you would conjure up a hierarchical structure of dangerous to safest nations. Your vacation plan would decisively and unquestioningly block out those regions of the world which comes in Red, Brown and Yellow. What was meant to be unsafe countries for an American citizen has now become unsafe for you too. But what if the standards of safety are not as universalised as we think it to be.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

What if the brush strokes are too wide, putting entire countries under blanket assumptions based on statistical figures.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If we trust too much in numbers, the danger is that we may lose trust in humans.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

After all an American citizen, for whatever political reasons, are mostly unsafe outside few countries of western and continental Europe. But an Indian can be much safer. At least, we used to be until we decided to align ourselves too close to Uncle Sam. So, just like one can bask in reflected glory, one can suffer from reflected malice too.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The travel advisory has warned US citizens of prevalent crime and terrorism in India. Fair enough. Recently, a Swiss couple was beaten up. A heinous act. Both the government and media condemned it in no uncertain terms. African nationals have been treated with much meanness in this country. Robbing and duping of tourists are not uncommon, though we trust in India being incredible and working towards promoting responsible tourism.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

One of the crimes specifically mentioned in the advisory was rape. Yes, that is a problem too.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Having said that, none of these problems are unique to India. It will be such a loss if stop visiting countries based on what the travel advisories have to say.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

I still remember how my husband and I, as PhD students in the US, consulted the advisory but did not let it influence our decision to visit either Mexico or Colombia. Or, more recently, Jordan.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

These are all level 2 countries like India.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Colombia was our honeymoon trip. Everybody said no to us visiting Colombia. Infested with drug dealers, H1N1 disease, abduction. The list of negatives was just endless.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

We had the most magnificent tour of our life, ensconced in the beautiful Walled City of Cartagena by the Caribbean Sea.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Warmth, beauty and hospitality of the people were just exemplary.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

We had a similar experience with Mexico. Known as a country of thugs and criminals, I had an exceptional experience in the city of Cancun. This was 6 months after Colombia. Newly married, I carried most of the jewelry I received as gifts in my wedding in this trip. Soon after landing, I lost the bag on the way to the hotel.

&nbsp;

I had no hope of ever getting it back. But I did. In the evening, the driver came to drop off the back at my hotel reception. My faith in humanity was restored.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the US instead, in Philadelphia where I lived, I had terrible experiences of men stalking me. At the heart of Washington DC, I was scared to death by a bunch of rowdies. But NYC was always most charming-as safe as home.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Let the State Department come out with travel advisories, but let it not clip your wings. The world is a beautiful place. Kabul is my friend&#39;s favourite city followed by London.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Does it make sense? No.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

&nbsp;

Let the State Department come out with travel advisories, but let it not clip your wings. The world is a beautiful place.

Travel advisories issued by the US Department of State carry huge significance. Issued, primarily, to advise and warn American citizens who intend to visit other countries, such advisories end up making global news. Such as it did today. National news media took it very seriously as the USDS placed India in Level 2, urging American tourists to 'exercise caution' if they do decide to travel to India. The only consolation is the US has placed Pakistan in the Level 3. Beyond this level, there are only countries, such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq and little-known places in the names of Colima, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Guerrero. So, the national pride, though slightly bruised, is not completely compromised. We are better than them. At the end of the day, that is what matters. Though primarily designed to ensure the safety of American citizens, the travel advisories of the State Department have come to carry political significance over the years. The advisory is designed in such a way as to make it easily comprehensible, direct and impactful. But the potency of the list comes from its very simplicity. The colour coded map of the world facilitates an "at a glance" approach. Without knowing so much about any region of the world, one can immediately know which parts will be safe or dangerous for us. The red, yellow, light brown and the creamish white colour codes come as the signifier of safety and danger. Unwittingly, in your mind, looking at the picture, you would conjure up a hierarchical structure of dangerous to safest nations. Your vacation plan would decisively and unquestioningly block out those regions of the world which comes in Red, Brown and Yellow. What was meant to be unsafe countries for an American citizen has now become unsafe for you too. But what if the standards of safety are not as universalised as we think it to be. What if the brush strokes are too wide, putting entire countries under blanket assumptions based on statistical figures. If we trust too much in numbers, the danger is that we may lose trust in humans. After all an American citizen, for whatever political reasons, are mostly unsafe outside few countries of western and continental Europe. But an Indian can be much safer. At least, we used to be until we decided to align ourselves too close to Uncle Sam. So, just like one can bask in reflected glory, one can suffer from reflected malice too. The travel advisory has warned US citizens of prevalent crime and terrorism in India. Fair enough. Recently, a Swiss couple was beaten up. A heinous act. Both the government and media condemned it in no uncertain terms. African nationals have been treated with much meanness in this country. Robbing and duping of tourists are not uncommon, though we trust in India being incredible and working towards promoting responsible tourism. One of the crimes specifically mentioned in the advisory was rape. Yes, that is a problem too. Having said that, none of these problems are unique to India. It will be such a loss if stop visiting countries based on what the travel advisories have to say. I still remember how my husband and I, as PhD students in the US, consulted the advisory but did not let it influence our decision to visit either Mexico or Colombia. Or, more recently, Jordan. These are all level 2 countries like India. Colombia was our honeymoon trip. Everybody said no to us visiting Colombia. Infested with drug dealers, H1N1 disease, abduction. The list of negatives was just endless. We had the most magnificent tour of our life, ensconced in the beautiful Walled City of Cartagena by the Caribbean Sea. Warmth, beauty and hospitality of the people were just exemplary. We had a similar experience with Mexico. Known as a country of thugs and criminals, I had an exceptional experience in the city of Cancun. This was 6 months after Colombia. Newly married, I carried most of the jewelry I received as gifts in my wedding in this trip. Soon after landing, I lost the bag on the way to the hotel. I had no hope of ever getting it back. But I did. In the evening, the driver came to drop off the back at my hotel reception. My faith in humanity was restored. In the US instead, in Philadelphia where I lived, I had terrible experiences of men stalking me. At the heart of Washington DC, I was scared to death by a bunch of rowdies. But NYC was always most charming-as safe as home. Let the State Department come out with travel advisories, but let it not clip your wings. The world is a beautiful place. Kabul is my friend's favourite city followed by London. Does it make sense? No. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Why US travel advisory should not affect your travel plans

The tourism industry has appealed t<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/budget-likely-to-announce-several-features-to-strengthen-womens-safety-in-railways-28627">o the Indian government to ensure</a> safety and corruption-free environment including improvement in facilities.

Sources say that at a recent meet with the tourism minister Alphons and other government officials, the tourism industry has demanded improvement and addition of basic amenities like proper washroom at popular tourist destinations.

The tourism industry has also demanded&nbsp;better guidance in help desk and information counters including multiple language guides.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council(WTTC), India&#39;s travel and tourism sector ranks seventh in the world in terms of contribution to the country&#39;s GDP.

Government sources said the tourism ministry has demanded the budgetary allocation be doubled. The ministry expects finance minister Jaitley to increase budgetary allocation to Rs 3,000 crore.

Interestingly, this time tourism Industry is keen for domestic tourism and specifically railway-connected tourism.

Tour operators have presented few ideas like opening gates for domestic tourists by providing reasonable fares for popular luxury tourist trains like Maharaja and Palace on Wheels.

In 2016, the tourism industry created over 40 million jobs in India accounting for 9.3 per cent of country&#39;s total jobs.

In its report, the WTTC said India&#39;s figures were predominantly generated by domestic travel, which accounts for 88% of the sector&#39;s contribution to GDP in 2016.

The tourism industry has also demanded?better guidance in help desk and information counters including multiple language guides.

The tourism industry has appealed to the Indian government to ensure safety and corruption-free environment including improvement in facilities. Sources say that at a recent meet with the tourism minister Alphons and other government officials, the tourism industry has demanded improvement and addition of basic amenities like proper washroom at popular tourist destinations. The tourism industry has also demanded better guidance in help desk and information counters including multiple language guides. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council(WTTC), India's travel and tourism sector ranks seventh in the world in terms of contribution to the country's GDP. Government sources said the tourism ministry has demanded the budgetary allocation be doubled. The ministry expects finance minister Jaitley to increase budgetary allocation to Rs 3,000 crore. Interestingly, this time tourism Industry is keen for domestic tourism and specifically railway-connected tourism. Tour operators have presented few ideas like opening gates for domestic tourists by providing reasonable fares for popular luxury tourist trains like Maharaja and Palace on Wheels. In 2016, the tourism industry created over 40 million jobs in India accounting for 9.3 per cent of country's total jobs. In its report, the WTTC said India's figures were predominantly generated by domestic travel, which accounts for 88% of the sector's contribution to GDP in 2016.

Budget exclusive: Tourism ministry expects Rs 3,000 crore allocation

I lived in Bastar, Chhattisgarh for six months between August 2014 and February 2015. While I was there, I met a girl whom I soon grew fond of. She left before me, returning home to Bengaluru. Sometime later she travelled to Delhi to visit her grandparents and I wrote her a letter, wanting to introduce her to my city. It was only the next morning, by when the letter had been finished and sent, that I realised I had written not one but two love letters. One of course to her and the other to Delhi. I reproduce the letter here.

Ms X,

If you have managed to get into my town, I hope you are not staring into your computer but getting &ldquo;out there&rdquo;. Should you be having trouble comprehending how to get out there in what might be a strange and unfamiliar city, may I please offer a few suggestions? Needless to say, they will be better than anything that you might find in a travel guidebook.

1. Have dinner at Karim&rsquo;s in Old Delhi. Karim&#39;s is right next to the Jama Masjid, which gives it atmosphere. Plus the food at this Karim&rsquo;s &ndash; it&#39;s the original &ndash; is better than at any of the branches that came after it. I don&rsquo;t really know why but I have been meaning to find out. Please note: Their tomato shorba is to die for, especially on a cold winter evening.

2. Visit the Nehru Memorial, Museum and Library. Peacocks roam the lawns and you get to see photographs of a young Jawaharlal with his severe-looking father. I am an admirer of Nehru&#39;s and I wish people would not be so quick to censure him but I guess that in this country you can be authoritarian (like his daughter Indira) and people will still love you so long as you win a war (she won &rsquo;71). Nehru, of course, lost &rsquo;62, which is about the only thing people remember about him.

Have lunch here. Lunch is simple, vegetarian, and you sometimes have to queue for up to 30 minutes to get it but this is one of the few places in Delhi where time has stood still. And just for a minute, you get the feeling that you&rsquo;re still in socialist India when our democracy actually stood for something.

3. Have lunch at Andhra Bhawan. They serve a staple vegetarian thali and you can order meat (fish, chicken, or goat) with it. Please note: Their (vegetarian) refills are endless, so you cannot expect to do much work after having eaten here.

4. Have tea at the cafe at Triveni Kala Sangam. Their carrot cake and brownies with cream are nice. So are their gulab jamuns. Their omelettes are wonderful.

Please note: They shut early, by about six.

They pushed up their prices recently; till some time ago you couldn&#39;t run up a cheque for more than Rs 250 but at least they haven&rsquo;t tried to modernise in other ways. The curio shop within the compound sells interesting knick-knacks. And since they&rsquo;re an art and sculpture gallery, should you look around, you also get to feel cultured.

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<h5>Hauz Khas village saved Delhi&rsquo;s soul. If it hadn&rsquo;t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald&rsquo;s and TGI Fridays.</h5>
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5. Have a drink and dinner at The Living Room (TLR) or Yeti, the Himalayan kitchen, at Hauz Khas village.

Hauz Khas village saved Delhi&rsquo;s soul. If it hadn&rsquo;t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald&rsquo;s and TGI Fridays.

If that had happened, I would never leave Jagdalpur.

Unfortunately, HKV too has been corrupted &ndash; yes it has, it took me a while to realise it but it has &ndash; by rising rents and the commercialisation that comes with it. (We need rent control laws. The character is as important as commerce.)&nbsp;

The place to actually have a meal here was Gunpowder, the coastal kitchen, but the proprietor Mr Warrier (a former, very unhappy-looking journalist) unfortunately decided to move to Goa. We hope and pray that he will return, but I do not think he will.)

6. Go to Chapter 25 in Shahpur Jat for an evening drink. The bar is so called because it was opened by three 25-year-olds. Women like it because the bartender is very good-looking, plus the bar is nice and they have some interesting EDM nights. I like the bartender because he pours large drinks. Or you could go to the nearby Potbelly, the Bihari kitchen, but they&rsquo;re better for lunch.

7. On a Wednesday or&nbsp;Saturday&nbsp;evening, go for dinner to Le Bistro du Parc in Defence Colony. This is not in Defence Colony market but right under the Moolchand flyover, just opposite Flavor&rsquo;s, the Italian kitchen.&nbsp;

Le Bistro is run by the very pretty Naina (she&rsquo;s half French, half Punjabi, and now that I think of it, has a nose that&rsquo;s a bit like yours. It is a very nice nose).&nbsp;

Le Bistro is obviously French and has a very good wine list. The French nationals who come here are all as slim as you, the Indians are all as fat as me, which says something about our cuisines.

Or of course, you could just try good old Flavor&rsquo;s opposite. It&rsquo;s run by an Italian who&rsquo;s been around forever. His tiramisu and coffee are delectable and we like him because he was really the first man to teach us that Italian food did not mean Amul cheese dribbled over everything.

Should you decide that the food at Le Bistro does not contain enough oil and masala for your Indian palate, you could always try the mutton keema kathi roll (I think I might faint) at the Nizam&rsquo;s right behind Flavor&rsquo;s.

Please note: I hear that Le Bistro has the writer Rana Dasgupta &ndash; he wears his pants up to his chest &ndash; play the piano on Wednesday evenings.

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<h5>In the winter, do a&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. Get there once the sun is out properly.</h5>
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8. My little favourites. Drive to India Gate late in the evening. Park on the central radial, the road leading up to North and South Blocks. From vendors here, you can buy coffee, kulfi and chuski. Nearby there is cona coffee served in beakers at United Coffee Home in Connaught Place (I really haven&#39;t heard anybody call it Rajiv Chowk as yet). Their tajines are exotic enough too but I don&rsquo;t recommend the food here. CP is a little decrepit nowadays, and UCH&rsquo;s hygiene seems a bit off.

9. In the winter, do a&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. (You&rsquo;re not allowed to carry alcohol in so the bottle of wine will have to be hidden in a knapsack.) Get there once the sun is out properly. Don&rsquo;t worry about when to leave, you won&rsquo;t want to.

10. Finally, go watch a play at the National School of Drama, or Kamani auditorium, or the Little Theatre Group; they&rsquo;re all next to each other near CP, close to Triveni. The NSD festival is held sometime in January, so you&rsquo;ll miss that but if you&rsquo;re lucky there might be an opera playing in town. The coffee at NSD during the interval is especially good. Plus it gives you the time to ponder why sometimes even going to a mediocre play can be enjoyable.&nbsp;

And remember of course, as we say in Delhi, to &ldquo;enjoy!&rdquo; (I still haven&rsquo;t figured out exactly what that means.)

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Hauz Khas village saved Delhi?s soul. If it hadn?t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald?s and TGI Fridays.

I lived in Bastar, Chhattisgarh for six months between August 2014 and February 2015. While I was there, I met a girl whom I soon grew fond of. She left before me, returning home to Bengaluru. Sometime later she travelled to Delhi to visit her grandparents and I wrote her a letter, wanting to introduce her to my city. It was only the next morning, by when the letter had been finished and sent, that I realised I had written not one but two love letters. One of course to her and the other to Delhi. I reproduce the letter here. Ms X, If you have managed to get into my town, I hope you are not staring into your computer but getting “out there”. Should you be having trouble comprehending how to get out there in what might be a strange and unfamiliar city, may I please offer a few suggestions? Needless to say, they will be better than anything that you might find in a travel guidebook. 1. Have dinner at Karim’s in Old Delhi. Karim's is right next to the Jama Masjid, which gives it atmosphere. Plus the food at this Karim’s – it's the original – is better than at any of the branches that came after it. I don’t really know why but I have been meaning to find out. Please note: Their tomato shorba is to die for, especially on a cold winter evening. 2. Visit the Nehru Memorial, Museum and Library. Peacocks roam the lawns and you get to see photographs of a young Jawaharlal with his severe-looking father. I am an admirer of Nehru's and I wish people would not be so quick to censure him but I guess that in this country you can be authoritarian (like his daughter Indira) and people will still love you so long as you win a war (she won ’71). Nehru, of course, lost ’62, which is about the only thing people remember about him. Have lunch here. Lunch is simple, vegetarian, and you sometimes have to queue for up to 30 minutes to get it but this is one of the few places in Delhi where time has stood still. And just for a minute, you get the feeling that you’re still in socialist India when our democracy actually stood for something. 3. Have lunch at Andhra Bhawan. They serve a staple vegetarian thali and you can order meat (fish, chicken, or goat) with it. Please note: Their (vegetarian) refills are endless, so you cannot expect to do much work after having eaten here. 4. Have tea at the cafe at Triveni Kala Sangam. Their carrot cake and brownies with cream are nice. So are their gulab jamuns. Their omelettes are wonderful. Please note: They shut early, by about six. They pushed up their prices recently; till some time ago you couldn't run up a cheque for more than Rs 250 but at least they haven’t tried to modernise in other ways. The curio shop within the compound sells interesting knick-knacks. And since they’re an art and sculpture gallery, should you look around, you also get to feel cultured. Hauz Khas village saved Delhi’s soul. If it hadn’t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald’s and TGI Fridays. × 5. Have a drink and dinner at The Living Room (TLR) or Yeti, the Himalayan kitchen, at Hauz Khas village. Hauz Khas village saved Delhi’s soul. If it hadn’t been for it, we would have been reduced to a city of McDonald’s and TGI Fridays. If that had happened, I would never leave Jagdalpur. Unfortunately, HKV too has been corrupted – yes it has, it took me a while to realise it but it has – by rising rents and the commercialisation that comes with it. (We need rent control laws. The character is as important as commerce.) The place to actually have a meal here was Gunpowder, the coastal kitchen, but the proprietor Mr Warrier (a former, very unhappy-looking journalist) unfortunately decided to move to Goa. We hope and pray that he will return, but I do not think he will.) 6. Go to Chapter 25 in Shahpur Jat for an evening drink. The bar is so called because it was opened by three 25-year-olds. Women like it because the bartender is very good-looking, plus the bar is nice and they have some interesting EDM nights. I like the bartender because he pours large drinks. Or you could go to the nearby Potbelly, the Bihari kitchen, but they’re better for lunch. 7. On a Wednesday or Saturday evening, go for dinner to Le Bistro du Parc in Defence Colony. This is not in Defence Colony market but right under the Moolchand flyover, just opposite Flavor’s, the Italian kitchen. Le Bistro is run by the very pretty Naina (she’s half French, half Punjabi, and now that I think of it, has a nose that’s a bit like yours. It is a very nice nose). Le Bistro is obviously French and has a very good wine list. The French nationals who come here are all as slim as you, the Indians are all as fat as me, which says something about our cuisines. Or of course, you could just try good old Flavor’s opposite. It’s run by an Italian who’s been around forever. His tiramisu and coffee are delectable and we like him because he was really the first man to teach us that Italian food did not mean Amul cheese dribbled over everything. Should you decide that the food at Le Bistro does not contain enough oil and masala for your Indian palate, you could always try the mutton keema kathi roll (I think I might faint) at the Nizam’s right behind Flavor’s. Please note: I hear that Le Bistro has the writer Rana Dasgupta – he wears his pants up to his chest – play the piano on Wednesday evenings. In the winter, do a Sunday picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. Get there once the sun is out properly. × 8. My little favourites. Drive to India Gate late in the evening. Park on the central radial, the road leading up to North and South Blocks. From vendors here, you can buy coffee, kulfi and chuski. Nearby there is cona coffee served in beakers at United Coffee Home in Connaught Place (I really haven't heard anybody call it Rajiv Chowk as yet). Their tajines are exotic enough too but I don’t recommend the food here. CP is a little decrepit nowadays, and UCH’s hygiene seems a bit off. 9. In the winter, do a Sunday picnic lunch at Lodhi Gardens. Pack lunch and a bottle of wine. (You’re not allowed to carry alcohol in so the bottle of wine will have to be hidden in a knapsack.) Get there once the sun is out properly. Don’t worry about when to leave, you won’t want to. 10. Finally, go watch a play at the National School of Drama, or Kamani auditorium, or the Little Theatre Group; they’re all next to each other near CP, close to Triveni. The NSD festival is held sometime in January, so you’ll miss that but if you’re lucky there might be an opera playing in town. The coffee at NSD during the interval is especially good. Plus it gives you the time to ponder why sometimes even going to a mediocre play can be enjoyable. And remember of course, as we say in Delhi, to “enjoy!” (I still haven’t figured out exactly what that means.) (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: A love letter, to a girl and to a city

Luis Fonsi who is riding high on the worldwide success of his song Despacito has more happy news in store. He has been named as an ambassador&nbsp;for tourism in Puerto Rico.&nbsp;

The 39-year-old singer was born in Puerto Rico&#39;s capital city of San Juan where he wrote the song featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee for his upcoming studio album.&nbsp;

The track has topped the charts in 45 countries, and a remix featuring Justin Bieber became the first song sung mostly in Spanish to top the Billboard Hot 100 since the Bayside Boys Mix song &quot;Macarena&quot; in 1996.

<h2>Also Read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-despacito-star-luis-fonsi-370">Meet Luis Fonsi, the man behind &quot;Despacito&quot;</a></h2>

The song is also the most-streamed song in the world, reaching global streams of more than 4.5 billion in July.

Its original video recently became the most watched on YouTube in history after just seven months, and currently, has 3.2 billion views.&nbsp;

With a growing follower base for the song, Puerto Rico&#39;s governor Ricardo Rossello has announced that Fonsi will be working with a tourism company to promote travel to the country.&nbsp;Puerto Rico has already experienced a tourism boost thanks to the song, the title of which means &quot;slowly&quot;. The campaign is encouraging visitors to take their time experiencing the country.

Fonsi said: &quot;In the next year I will be working on efforts to make known the wonders of our beautiful island.&nbsp;Being an ambassador of the land where I was born fills me with pride.&quot;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWNTOFBB4b0/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">&iexcl;Qu&eacute; bueno ver noticias positivas en mi pa&iacute;s! Felicito a los residentes de la comunidad de La Perla por unirse en este esfuerzo. #LaPerlaPintaSuFuturo Gracias a #Despacito, yo soy parte de ustedes. &iexcl;Nos vemos pronto! #LaPerla ??????</a>

<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 post shared by Luis Fonsi (@luisfonsi) on <time datetime="2017-07-06T14:04:59+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jul 6, 2017 at 7:04am PDT</time>
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(WION)

&nbsp;

Ever since the song became a chartbuster worldwide, the country has experienced a massive tourism boost

Luis Fonsi who is riding high on the worldwide success of his song Despacito has more happy news in store. He has been named as an ambassador for tourism in Puerto Rico. The 39-year-old singer was born in Puerto Rico's capital city of San Juan where he wrote the song featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee for his upcoming studio album. The track has topped the charts in 45 countries, and a remix featuring Justin Bieber became the first song sung mostly in Spanish to top the Billboard Hot 100 since the Bayside Boys Mix song "Macarena" in 1996. Also Read: Meet Luis Fonsi, the man behind "Despacito" The song is also the most-streamed song in the world, reaching global streams of more than 4.5 billion in July. Its original video recently became the most watched on YouTube in history after just seven months, and currently, has 3.2 billion views. With a growing follower base for the song, Puerto Rico's governor Ricardo Rossello has announced that Fonsi will be working with a tourism company to promote travel to the country. Puerto Rico has already experienced a tourism boost thanks to the song, the title of which means "slowly". The campaign is encouraging visitors to take their time experiencing the country. Fonsi said: "In the next year I will be working on efforts to make known the wonders of our beautiful island. Being an ambassador of the land where I was born fills me with pride." ¡Qué bueno ver noticias positivas en mi país! Felicito a los residentes de la comunidad de La Perla por unirse en este esfuerzo. #LaPerlaPintaSuFuturo Gracias a #Despacito, yo soy parte de ustedes. ¡Nos vemos pronto! #LaPerla ?????? A post shared by Luis Fonsi (@luisfonsi) on Jul 6, 2017 at 7:04am PDT × (WION)

Popular song 'Despacito' singer Luis Fonsi named as Puerto Rico's new tourism ambassador

Holidays are a privilege that many who are fortunate to take them look forward to. They are an opportunity to indulge, relax and recharge &ndash; and what could be better than being able to do so while doing good?

But the costs of production of the tourist experience are often glossed over. And modern slavery practices are especially evident in the tourism supply chain in developing countries.

Desperate people

Modern slavery is described as the conduct of practices similar to slavery, including debt bondage and forced labour. The use of force, deception and the deprivation of freedom are common.

The links between modern slavery and the fashion and textiles industry, mining, agriculture and domestic work are well known. It&rsquo;s common in developing countries where people are desperate and vulnerable to exploitation.

This is not to say that developed countries are immune. In Australia, a federal parliamentary committee is inquiring* into establishing a Modern Slavery Act. This follows the passing of the United Kingdom&rsquo;s Modern Slavery Act in 2015. Such moves are linked to growing calls for action against modern slavery in domestic and global supply chains.

In most developed countries, much less attention is given to modern slavery than elsewhere. This is particularly so in the case of developing countries where labour is cheap and exploitation underlies the production of goods and services consumed in developed countries.

According to the Global Slavery Index, in 2016 about 45.8 million people were subject to some form of modern slavery. Most of them are in developing countries where worker rights are poorly protected.

When it comes to international tourism, concerns over links with modern slavery have been mostly subdued. This occurs despite the push for more <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Tourism-Resilience-and-Sustainability-Adapting-to-Social-Political-and/Cheer-Lew/p/book/9781138206786">sustainable, resilient</a> and responsible modes of tourism.

Tourism is often linked to sustainable economic development that can make communities better off. This is encouraged by governments keen to maximise tourist spending.

International tourism in developing countries is neither all good nor all bad. Beyond its potential to do good, however, tourism and its association with modern slavery are rarely highlighted.

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In particular, little is made of the harsh conditions that many who service the industry tend to face. This is more apparent in some forms of tourism than others, and especially where worker rights and social justice concerns are systematically compromised.

Some of the strongest links between slavery and tourism are found in <a href="http://globalstudysectt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Global-Report-Offenders-on-the-Move-Final.pdf">sex tourism</a>, orphanage tourism and in the services supply chain.

Orphanage tourism

While the development of responsible tourism has improved traveller awareness of the need to &ldquo;give back&rdquo; to their hosts, it has also encouraged opportunists. The enormous growth of orphanage tourism in Southeast Asia is proof of this.

Globally, up to 8 million children live in institutions, but over 80 per cent of these children have parents or family.

Orphanage tourism takes place when tourists visit orphanages and donate money and goods. The demand for &ldquo;orphan experiences&rdquo; often includes volunteering at residential care facilities and interacting with children. Children become tourist attractions and tourists become the agents for orphanages as business enterprises rather than as sites of care.

In academic terms, orphanage tourism sits under what is known as geographies of compassion. That is, tourist behaviour is guided by moral and ethical concerns that are largely focused on social justice motives.

The relationship between international tourists and orphans in developing countries is driven by a mix of clever marketing and appeals to the traveller&rsquo;s good conscience. Marketing efforts offer to place tourists in orphanages for a few hours, a day or longer. Emotive images and persuasive language are used to promote orphanage visits, alongside enthusiastic testimonials from past visitors.

Good intentions, money and the desire to help are essential ingredients for the orphanage tourism industry. Usually, the traveller constructs a view of &ldquo;the problem&rdquo; where they are an important part of &ldquo;the solution&rdquo;. Tourists then inadvertently become agents in an exploitative business model that profits the orphanage owner while compromising the well-being of children.

Many argue that the &ldquo;bad&rdquo; orphanages, those run by unscrupulous operators who knowingly and systematically exploit children for profit, shouldn&rsquo;t negate the work of the &ldquo;good&rdquo; orphanages. However, there is no such thing as a good orphanage &ndash; only best-practice child-care facilities. These are the ones that provide high-quality residential care.

Children below the age of 12 are still best off in family-based care and not in institutions. When orphanages are financially supported through donations and volunteer programs, the best interests of children are compromised.

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In the worst cases, children are exploited through forced labour, enforced begging, human trafficking, or sex tourism. In other cases, exploitation occurs by way of forced interaction with volunteers, loss of rights to privacy and increased risk of physical and sexual abuse.

In coming to terms with the growth of orphanage tourism in developing countries, the usual absence of families and communities requires an urgent rethink. Instead of promoting the tourist as part of the solution, it should be emphasised that visits to orphanages very often lead to modern slavery conditions.

Shared responsibility for a solution

Stemming the tide of orphanage tourism requires collaboration and cooperation between national governments, non-government organisations and the tourism industry. Cross-border cooperation and a commitment at the supply and demand sides of the international tourism industry are required.

The solution lies in reducing tourist demand for orphanage experiences; children are not tourist attractions.

Along with government and industry, travellers have a huge responsibility. This includes ensuring that holidays are produced ethically and that the rights of producers are upheld.

2017 is the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The festering sore that is orphanage tourism requires urgent surgery. Children are some of the most vulnerable in society, and development that compromises their futures is futile.

Travellers, governments and the international tourism industry all bear responsibility. While there remains a demand for orphanage visits in developing countries and little is done to stop it, suppliers will emerge.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/78541/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />*The Inquiry into Establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia is holding public hearings in Melbourne on August 1-2 and in Canberra on August 11.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/modern-slavery-and-tourism-when-holidays-and-human-exploitation-collide-78541">original article</a>.

The relationship between tourists and orphans is driven by clever marketing and appeals to the traveller?s good conscience

Holidays are a privilege that many who are fortunate to take them look forward to. They are an opportunity to indulge, relax and recharge – and what could be better than being able to do so while doing good? But the costs of production of the tourist experience are often glossed over. And modern slavery practices are especially evident in the tourism supply chain in developing countries. Desperate people Modern slavery is described as the conduct of practices similar to slavery, including debt bondage and forced labour. The use of force, deception and the deprivation of freedom are common. The links between modern slavery and the fashion and textiles industry, mining, agriculture and domestic work are well known. It’s common in developing countries where people are desperate and vulnerable to exploitation. This is not to say that developed countries are immune. In Australia, a federal parliamentary committee is inquiring* into establishing a Modern Slavery Act. This follows the passing of the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act in 2015. Such moves are linked to growing calls for action against modern slavery in domestic and global supply chains. In most developed countries, much less attention is given to modern slavery than elsewhere. This is particularly so in the case of developing countries where labour is cheap and exploitation underlies the production of goods and services consumed in developed countries. According to the Global Slavery Index, in 2016 about 45.8 million people were subject to some form of modern slavery. Most of them are in developing countries where worker rights are poorly protected. When it comes to international tourism, concerns over links with modern slavery have been mostly subdued. This occurs despite the push for more sustainable, resilient and responsible modes of tourism. Tourism is often linked to sustainable economic development that can make communities better off. This is encouraged by governments keen to maximise tourist spending. International tourism in developing countries is neither all good nor all bad. Beyond its potential to do good, however, tourism and its association with modern slavery are rarely highlighted. In particular, little is made of the harsh conditions that many who service the industry tend to face. This is more apparent in some forms of tourism than others, and especially where worker rights and social justice concerns are systematically compromised. Some of the strongest links between slavery and tourism are found in sex tourism, orphanage tourism and in the services supply chain. Orphanage tourism While the development of responsible tourism has improved traveller awareness of the need to “give back” to their hosts, it has also encouraged opportunists. The enormous growth of orphanage tourism in Southeast Asia is proof of this. Globally, up to 8 million children live in institutions, but over 80 per cent of these children have parents or family. Orphanage tourism takes place when tourists visit orphanages and donate money and goods. The demand for “orphan experiences” often includes volunteering at residential care facilities and interacting with children. Children become tourist attractions and tourists become the agents for orphanages as business enterprises rather than as sites of care. In academic terms, orphanage tourism sits under what is known as geographies of compassion. That is, tourist behaviour is guided by moral and ethical concerns that are largely focused on social justice motives. The relationship between international tourists and orphans in developing countries is driven by a mix of clever marketing and appeals to the traveller’s good conscience. Marketing efforts offer to place tourists in orphanages for a few hours, a day or longer. Emotive images and persuasive language are used to promote orphanage visits, alongside enthusiastic testimonials from past visitors. Good intentions, money and the desire to help are essential ingredients for the orphanage tourism industry. Usually, the traveller constructs a view of “the problem” where they are an important part of “the solution”. Tourists then inadvertently become agents in an exploitative business model that profits the orphanage owner while compromising the well-being of children. Many argue that the “bad” orphanages, those run by unscrupulous operators who knowingly and systematically exploit children for profit, shouldn’t negate the work of the “good” orphanages. However, there is no such thing as a good orphanage – only best-practice child-care facilities. These are the ones that provide high-quality residential care. Children below the age of 12 are still best off in family-based care and not in institutions. When orphanages are financially supported through donations and volunteer programs, the best interests of children are compromised. In the worst cases, children are exploited through forced labour, enforced begging, human trafficking, or sex tourism. In other cases, exploitation occurs by way of forced interaction with volunteers, loss of rights to privacy and increased risk of physical and sexual abuse. In coming to terms with the growth of orphanage tourism in developing countries, the usual absence of families and communities requires an urgent rethink. Instead of promoting the tourist as part of the solution, it should be emphasised that visits to orphanages very often lead to modern slavery conditions. Shared responsibility for a solution Stemming the tide of orphanage tourism requires collaboration and cooperation between national governments, non-government organisations and the tourism industry. Cross-border cooperation and a commitment at the supply and demand sides of the international tourism industry are required. The solution lies in reducing tourist demand for orphanage experiences; children are not tourist attractions. Along with government and industry, travellers have a huge responsibility. This includes ensuring that holidays are produced ethically and that the rights of producers are upheld. 2017 is the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The festering sore that is orphanage tourism requires urgent surgery. Children are some of the most vulnerable in society, and development that compromises their futures is futile. Travellers, governments and the international tourism industry all bear responsibility. While there remains a demand for orphanage visits in developing countries and little is done to stop it, suppliers will emerge. *The Inquiry into Establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia is holding public hearings in Melbourne on August 1-2 and in Canberra on August 11. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Orphans are drawing increasing number of tourists in the developed world

A rash of gun-toting Americans visiting Canada prompted its border agency to launch a public awareness campaign, reminding Americans about their northern neighbours&#39; relatively strict firearms laws. 
 
&quot;Canadian laws are different than US ones,&quot; the Canada Border Services Agency said in a statement yesterday. 
 
&quot;Non-restricted firearms can be used for hunting purposes and protection against wildlife in remote areas.&quot; 
 
But, it added, the &quot;use of firearms for personal protection, or protection of property is not deemed a valid purpose to import firearms into Canada.&quot; 
 
Switchblades, nunchucks, crossbows, blowguns and brass knuckles are also banned in Canada, it noted. 
 
The announcement comes on the heels of two separate incidents in which Texas retirees were stopped from carrying weapons into the country at a border checkpoint in Saint Stephen, New Brunswick. 
 
A search of their vehicles uncovered several handguns, a shotgun and loose ammunition, which were seized. 
 
The two tourists were also fined more than 1,000 Canadian dollar (USD 775) and kicked out of Canada, along with their wives. 
In the first six months of this year, 413 guns were seized at the border - both from smugglers and gun lovers. The figure is up from 386 guns seized during the same period in 2015, according to government figures. 
 
Authorities have linked recent spikes in violent crimes to the smuggling of handguns and other prohibited weapons from the United States. 
 
US gun culture is also a source of derision in Canada. 
 
Canada only began arming its border guards in 2006. 
 
South of the border, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump provoked fresh debate this month over gun rights when he appeared to suggest that &quot;Second Amendment people,&quot; who view gun ownership as a constitutional right, could take dislike for his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton into their own hands. 
 
(AFP)

The announcement came after Texas retirees were stopped from carrying weapons into the country at a border checkpoint

A rash of gun-toting Americans visiting Canada prompted its border agency to launch a public awareness campaign, reminding Americans about their northern neighbours' relatively strict firearms laws. "Canadian laws are different than US ones," the Canada Border Services Agency said in a statement yesterday. "Non-restricted firearms can be used for hunting purposes and protection against wildlife in remote areas." But, it added, the "use of firearms for personal protection, or protection of property is not deemed a valid purpose to import firearms into Canada." Switchblades, nunchucks, crossbows, blowguns and brass knuckles are also banned in Canada, it noted. The announcement comes on the heels of two separate incidents in which Texas retirees were stopped from carrying weapons into the country at a border checkpoint in Saint Stephen, New Brunswick. A search of their vehicles uncovered several handguns, a shotgun and loose ammunition, which were seized. The two tourists were also fined more than 1,000 Canadian dollar (USD 775) and kicked out of Canada, along with their wives. In the first six months of this year, 413 guns were seized at the border - both from smugglers and gun lovers. The figure is up from 386 guns seized during the same period in 2015, according to government figures. Authorities have linked recent spikes in violent crimes to the smuggling of handguns and other prohibited weapons from the United States. US gun culture is also a source of derision in Canada. Canada only began arming its border guards in 2006. South of the border, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump provoked fresh debate this month over gun rights when he appeared to suggest that "Second Amendment people," who view gun ownership as a constitutional right, could take dislike for his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton into their own hands. (AFP)

Canada to US tourists: Leave your guns at home

Fancy spending the night in a former military prison that is now a youth hostel with an artistic twist? In Slovenia you can, and with a clear conscience about your ecological footprint. 
 
The technicolour building in Ljubljana was originally a jail built by the occupying Austro-Hungarian army in 1882 and remained in use until Yugoslavia fell apart in the early 1990s.&nbsp; 
 
When Slovenia became independent in 1991, a group of artists and squatters prevented the building&#39;s demolition, opening the way to a metamorphosis into Hostel Celica, which means &quot;cell&quot; in Slovene, in 2003. 
 
&quot;The main concept of Celica is: through art and architecture heal a place so to give in a new energy, turning something negative into its complete opposite, into something positive and open,&quot; project manager Tanja Lipovec told AFP. 
 
And not only that. Each of its 20 cells, complete with bars on the door and windows, has been turned by more than 80 local and international artists into spaces that are all unique. 
 
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<h5>Just knowing that it was a prison before and how they turned it into a hostel, the history itself is amazing. Just spending the night here, that`s great,&quot; said visitor Russel Pineda, 28, from California.</h5>
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To add to the prison feeling, guests are assigned their cells by the management in the same way that prisoners could not choose their cells back in the day. And all free of charge, its website jokes.That though doesn&#39;t stop what is a common sight at the hostel: guests peering through the bars into other cells to see which one they would like next time. 
 
While the cells are doubles and triples, there are also two 12-bed and six five-bed dormitories.&nbsp; 
 
And with the hostel not being &quot;average&quot;, as Lipovec puts it, the clientele are not just the 18-25 crowd that typically stay in hostels. 
They include older people, including families or elderly travellers staying in Ljubljana, this year&#39;s European Union &quot;Green&quot; capital. 
 
&quot;People that come to Celica are not always budget travellers. They are people willing to pay more because they are aware of the added value they are getting back,&quot; Lipovec said. 
 
With prices ranging between $20 and $37 per bed per night, Hostel Celica is reasonably priced - although guests have to share bathrooms. But it also provides the satisfaction of staying in the world&#39;s first eco-friendly hostel to be awarded with the Gold Travelife certificate for sustainability in tourism. 
 
Along with recycling, re-using materials, monitoring the cost of energy and using green energy, the Travelife criteria also cover issues like human rights, child protection and employee welfare.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s the awareness of how you can benefit back to the local community where you are located and that you are aware of the preciousness, the importance of the local environment,&quot; Lipovec said. 
 
Those wanting an extra-special experience can venture down to the basement, home to a former solitary confinement cell in the basement. 
 
Left as it was in the past, cold and without windows and with original graffiti and scratches on the walls, it&#39;s far from five-star. 
 
(AFP)

Guests are assigned their cells by the management in the same way that prisoners could not choose their cells back in the day

Fancy spending the night in a former military prison that is now a youth hostel with an artistic twist? In Slovenia you can, and with a clear conscience about your ecological footprint. The technicolour building in Ljubljana was originally a jail built by the occupying Austro-Hungarian army in 1882 and remained in use until Yugoslavia fell apart in the early 1990s. When Slovenia became independent in 1991, a group of artists and squatters prevented the building's demolition, opening the way to a metamorphosis into Hostel Celica, which means "cell" in Slovene, in 2003. "The main concept of Celica is: through art and architecture heal a place so to give in a new energy, turning something negative into its complete opposite, into something positive and open," project manager Tanja Lipovec told AFP. And not only that. Each of its 20 cells, complete with bars on the door and windows, has been turned by more than 80 local and international artists into spaces that are all unique. Just knowing that it was a prison before and how they turned it into a hostel, the history itself is amazing. Just spending the night here, that`s great," said visitor Russel Pineda, 28, from California. To add to the prison feeling, guests are assigned their cells by the management in the same way that prisoners could not choose their cells back in the day. And all free of charge, its website jokes.That though doesn't stop what is a common sight at the hostel: guests peering through the bars into other cells to see which one they would like next time. While the cells are doubles and triples, there are also two 12-bed and six five-bed dormitories. And with the hostel not being "average", as Lipovec puts it, the clientele are not just the 18-25 crowd that typically stay in hostels. They include older people, including families or elderly travellers staying in Ljubljana, this year's European Union "Green" capital. "People that come to Celica are not always budget travellers. They are people willing to pay more because they are aware of the added value they are getting back," Lipovec said. With prices ranging between $20 and $37 per bed per night, Hostel Celica is reasonably priced - although guests have to share bathrooms. But it also provides the satisfaction of staying in the world's first eco-friendly hostel to be awarded with the Gold Travelife certificate for sustainability in tourism. Along with recycling, re-using materials, monitoring the cost of energy and using green energy, the Travelife criteria also cover issues like human rights, child protection and employee welfare. "It's the awareness of how you can benefit back to the local community where you are located and that you are aware of the preciousness, the importance of the local environment," Lipovec said. Those wanting an extra-special experience can venture down to the basement, home to a former solitary confinement cell in the basement. Left as it was in the past, cold and without windows and with original graffiti and scratches on the walls, it's far from five-star. (AFP)

Spend a night behind bars in Slovenian military prison-turned-hostel

An Indonesian city has hit on an original idea to rid its popular beaches of crocodiles: it will offer cash prizes to people who catch the man-eating reptiles, an official said today. 
 
The population of dangerous saltwater crocodiles around two beaches near Kupang in eastern Indonesia has been increasing in recent years and there have been reports of tourists being attacked. 
 
Authorities now plan to launch a competition offering cash prizes of five million rupiah ($380) to animal experts for each of the reptiles caught alive, said local tourism chief Marius Ardu Jelamu. 
 
&quot;We have warned visitors to be careful when visiting the beaches but it&#39;s not enough, we must do something,&quot; Jelamu told AFP. 
 
&quot;Some of these animals are three to four metres (10 to 13 feet) long, this is very scary.&quot; 
 
Jelamu said the scheme was aimed at only people experienced in dealing with crocodiles, not the general public, and the animals would likely be caught using tranquilliser guns and ropes. 
 
After being captured, the crocodiles, which are a protected species under Indonesian law so cannot be killed, would be released back into the wild far from the beaches.&nbsp;Participants will compete in teams and the scheme is set to begin in the near future, said Jelamu. 
 
However the local wildlife agency expressed concerns that the contest could be dangerous for participants, with agency chief Maman Surahman saying that crocodiles were &quot;scary creatures&quot; for humans. 
 
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodile species reaching up to seven metres in length, and are known as formidable predators. 
 
The huge Indonesian archipelago is home to a vast array of exotic wildlife, including several species of crocodile. 
 
Crocodiles in Indonesia regularly attack and kill humans. In April a Russian tourist was mauled to death by a crocodile in the Raja Ampat islands, a popular diving site in the east of the archipelago. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Authorities plan to launch competition for crocodile catchers, but local wildlife agency is concerned the contest could be dangerous

An Indonesian city has hit on an original idea to rid its popular beaches of crocodiles: it will offer cash prizes to people who catch the man-eating reptiles, an official said today. The population of dangerous saltwater crocodiles around two beaches near Kupang in eastern Indonesia has been increasing in recent years and there have been reports of tourists being attacked. Authorities now plan to launch a competition offering cash prizes of five million rupiah ($380) to animal experts for each of the reptiles caught alive, said local tourism chief Marius Ardu Jelamu. "We have warned visitors to be careful when visiting the beaches but it's not enough, we must do something," Jelamu told AFP. "Some of these animals are three to four metres (10 to 13 feet) long, this is very scary." Jelamu said the scheme was aimed at only people experienced in dealing with crocodiles, not the general public, and the animals would likely be caught using tranquilliser guns and ropes. After being captured, the crocodiles, which are a protected species under Indonesian law so cannot be killed, would be released back into the wild far from the beaches. Participants will compete in teams and the scheme is set to begin in the near future, said Jelamu. However the local wildlife agency expressed concerns that the contest could be dangerous for participants, with agency chief Maman Surahman saying that crocodiles were "scary creatures" for humans. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodile species reaching up to seven metres in length, and are known as formidable predators. The huge Indonesian archipelago is home to a vast array of exotic wildlife, including several species of crocodile. Crocodiles in Indonesia regularly attack and kill humans. In April a Russian tourist was mauled to death by a crocodile in the Raja Ampat islands, a popular diving site in the east of the archipelago. (AFP)

'Crocodile catchers' at Indonesian beach to soon snap up cash

Around six assailants sprayed teargas on Chinese tourists outside a hotel near Paris&#39;s Charles de Gaulle airport today and made off with their luggage, police and rescue services said. 
 
Two tourists and an interpreter were slightly injured and taken to the&nbsp;hospital, rescue workers said. The attack occurred around 8:00 am (0600 GMT) as the tourists were loading their luggage onto a tour bus, police told AFP. 
 
&quot;Several bags and personal effects were taken,&quot; a police official said, adding that the thieves fled the scene and &quot;several passengers were in shock&quot;. 
 
Rescue workers said there were 27 Chinese tourists on a tour run by an Italian company and that the coach driver was Italian. 
 
China has the world&#39;s second-largest economy, and its burgeoning and increasingly solvent middle class is travelling abroad in numbers greater than ever before. 
 
But in many countries, particularly France, their reputation for carrying large amounts of cash has made them a target for thieves. 
 
French authorities tightened security around Chinese tourist groups in 2013 after Beijing expressed concern about the increasing number of incidents. 
 
In September last year, a Chinese tourist guide was robbed of 25,000 Euros ($28,300) in cash and his new Rolex watch after he had prevented two of his group from being robbed themselves outside a hotel in a Paris suburb. 
 
(AFP)

Rescue workers said there were 27 Chinese tourists on a tour run by an Italian company and that the coach driver was Italian

Around six assailants sprayed teargas on Chinese tourists outside a hotel near Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport today and made off with their luggage, police and rescue services said. Two tourists and an interpreter were slightly injured and taken to the hospital, rescue workers said. The attack occurred around 8:00 am (0600 GMT) as the tourists were loading their luggage onto a tour bus, police told AFP. "Several bags and personal effects were taken," a police official said, adding that the thieves fled the scene and "several passengers were in shock". Rescue workers said there were 27 Chinese tourists on a tour run by an Italian company and that the coach driver was Italian. China has the world's second-largest economy, and its burgeoning and increasingly solvent middle class is travelling abroad in numbers greater than ever before. But in many countries, particularly France, their reputation for carrying large amounts of cash has made them a target for thieves. French authorities tightened security around Chinese tourist groups in 2013 after Beijing expressed concern about the increasing number of incidents. In September last year, a Chinese tourist guide was robbed of 25,000 Euros ($28,300) in cash and his new Rolex watch after he had prevented two of his group from being robbed themselves outside a hotel in a Paris suburb. (AFP)

Assailants spray teargas to rob Chinese tourists in Paris

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