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Helpful neighbours are a blessing in disguise, and sometimes also the ones who make you laugh the most. One such neighbour is an Australian man Carl Stanojevic who went out of his way to 'take the bins out' for his neighbour.<o:p></o:p>

When the 54-year-old photographer’s neighbour, Nick Doherty, messaged Stanojevic for a little help with his dustbins, Doherty was not disappointed.

<img alt="May be an image of text that says '6:43 4G Nick Doherty Would you be able to take my bins out please yeah sure no problem any particular place movitos, Bavarian, rabbit hole? All of them Noice I'll send you some pics and caption it as bin out on the town straight on the Mackay seen page Aa Yup W Yeah E R T Y U I S D F G H J K L 123 ZXCVBNM space return'" src="https://scontent.fdel1-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/269747293_282484963942404_8155894443688697016_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&amp;ccb=1-5&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=Md6ogTjP83QAX8vN_Ns&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fdel1-5.fna&amp;oh=00_AT_tvAJ_W1Mu36qycrbL1buhDU191aam-sHllIVpl_ABMA&amp;oe=61CB1D5C" />

<o:p></o:p>

Nick Doherty from Mackay, Queensland, sent a late night text message to Stanojevic requesting him, "Would you be able to take my bins out please". Stanojevic replied with a joke asking him which all touristy places would he like his dustbin to be taken to, to which Doherty laughed.<o:p></o:p>

However, Stanojevic decided to carry on with his joke the next morning. After the bin was emptied out and cleaned, Stanojevic out the bin in his car and took it for an Australian day out. <o:p></o:p>

"I've known Nick for two years," Stanojevic said. "We catch up for a beer when we can and have a chat and a few laughs. He’s a beautiful person. You’d do anything for him. He said&nbsp;take&nbsp;my bin out. If he had said&nbsp;put&nbsp;my bin out it would have been just a normal day in Mackay."<o:p></o:p>

Stanojevic took his photography gear, selected the bin number six and first visited the duck pond where the bin took a 'walk'. After that, the bin visited a hardware store where the staff posed with it, and then to a local supermarket.

<o:p></o:p>

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This was followed by a massage parlour, tattoo place and then to get a cold beer. "We went for a massage and then to the tattoo parlour to get a couple of extra 6s on the bin. A bit of a tattoo, then stopped at the pub for a coldie," Stanojevic said.<o:p></o:p>

The bin also visited a band of local cleaners, surf lifeguard, a garbage truck driver and then proceeded for a quick drive-though at three different restaurants, which ended with a phone call at a public phone booth. "It wasn't really talking to anyone," Stanojevic laughed. "It was just talking trash."<o:p></o:p>

After a five-hour trip around the city, the photographer sent a bunch of pictures as evidence of a fun-filled outdoor day of the bin to its owner. <o:p></o:p>

He also expressed relief and happiness that his little joke was able to pit a smile on faces of so many people around the world in these tough times of coronavirus pandemic. "It's good that it's taken the focus off all this heartache with these lockdowns and Covid and that’s the idea of it," he said. "We've definitely put a hell of a lot of smiles on people’s faces."<o:p></o:p>

Helpful neighbours are a blessing in disguise, and sometimes also the ones who make you laugh the most. One such neighbour is an Australian man Carl Stanojevic who went out of his way to 'take the bins out' for his neighbour.

Helpful neighbours are a blessing in disguise, and sometimes also the ones who make you laugh the most. One such neighbour is an Australian man Carl Stanojevic who went out of his way to 'take the bins out' for his neighbour. When the 54-year-old photographer’s neighbour, Nick Doherty, messaged Stanojevic for a little help with his dustbins, Doherty was not disappointed. Nick Doherty from Mackay, Queensland, sent a late night text message to Stanojevic requesting him, "Would you be able to take my bins out please". Stanojevic replied with a joke asking him which all touristy places would he like his dustbin to be taken to, to which Doherty laughed. However, Stanojevic decided to carry on with his joke the next morning. After the bin was emptied out and cleaned, Stanojevic out the bin in his car and took it for an Australian day out. "I've known Nick for two years," Stanojevic said. "We catch up for a beer when we can and have a chat and a few laughs. He’s a beautiful person. You’d do anything for him. He said take my bin out. If he had said put my bin out it would have been just a normal day in Mackay." Stanojevic took his photography gear, selected the bin number six and first visited the duck pond where the bin took a 'walk'. After that, the bin visited a hardware store where the staff posed with it, and then to a local supermarket. × This was followed by a massage parlour, tattoo place and then to get a cold beer. "We went for a massage and then to the tattoo parlour to get a couple of extra 6s on the bin. A bit of a tattoo, then stopped at the pub for a coldie," Stanojevic said. The bin also visited a band of local cleaners, surf lifeguard, a garbage truck driver and then proceeded for a quick drive-though at three different restaurants, which ended with a phone call at a public phone booth. "It wasn't really talking to anyone," Stanojevic laughed. "It was just talking trash." After a five-hour trip around the city, the photographer sent a bunch of pictures as evidence of a fun-filled outdoor day of the bin to its owner. He also expressed relief and happiness that his little joke was able to pit a smile on faces of so many people around the world in these tough times of coronavirus pandemic. "It's good that it's taken the focus off all this heartache with these lockdowns and Covid and that’s the idea of it," he said. "We've definitely put a hell of a lot of smiles on people’s faces."

Helping the neighbour: Australian man 'takes the bin out' on friend's request, literally

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has returned to Earth after spending&nbsp;12 days on the International Space Station. The 46-year-old fashion magnate and his assistant Yozo Hirano came down on Kazakhstan's steppe at the expected time.&nbsp;

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The three members aboard the Soyuz MS-20 crew ship landed back on Earth today around 10:13 pm ET completing an 11-day station mission. <a href="https://t.co/cHxruGmEfx">https://t.co/cHxruGmEfx</a>
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1472777403168604160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Before Maezawa's spacecraft blasted, he said “I would like to look at the Earth from space. I would like to experience the opportunity to feel weightlessness.”&nbsp;

“And I also have a personal expectation: I’m curious how the space will change me, how I will change after this space flight.”

He blasted off in a Soyuz spacecraft from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.&nbsp;

During his time in space, he made many videos including performing daily tasks like brushing teeth and going to the bathroom.&nbsp; 
After landing back on earth, he explained how to brush teeth and go to the bathroom in space. "Peeing is very easy," he said.

He also showed his followers how to properly drink tea and sleep in zero gravity.

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【MZ METHOD】How Do You Sleep in Zero Gravity?<a href="https://t.co/I3JwLtF8Ke">https://t.co/I3JwLtF8Ke</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> <a href="https://t.co/HrcEQOKdad">pic.twitter.com/HrcEQOKdad</a>
— Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/yousuckMZ/status/1472548104180170754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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【GREAT VIEW】MZ Directed Work ’Time Lapse of the Earth's Orbit’<a href="https://t.co/YwwFmqIKtp">https://t.co/YwwFmqIKtp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> <a href="https://t.co/zE7DPL1oeg">pic.twitter.com/zE7DPL1oeg</a>
— Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/yousuckMZ/status/1472410588584325121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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【MUSICAL EXPERIMENT】Playing Drums in Space<a href="https://t.co/s46qXUS1bO">https://t.co/s46qXUS1bO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTube</a> <a href="https://t.co/fPrJdEZHqW">pic.twitter.com/fPrJdEZHqW</a>
— Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/yousuckMZ/status/1472070949629755395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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With this, he has become the first private passenger on the SpaceX moon trip.

US-based company Space Adventures had earlier said that the cost of tickets to space for tourists ranges from $50-60 million. 
Moscow had stopped sending tourists to space after NASA retired the Space Shuttle in 2011. However, NASA bought up all Soyuz launch seats for a reported $90 million per spot.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station. The 46-year-old fashion magnate and his assistant Yozo Hirano came down on Kazakhstan's steppe at the expected time.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station. The 46-year-old fashion magnate and his assistant Yozo Hirano came down on Kazakhstan's steppe at the expected time. The three members aboard the Soyuz MS-20 crew ship landed back on Earth today around 10:13 pm ET completing an 11-day station mission. https://t.co/cHxruGmEfx — International Space Station (@Space_Station) December 20, 2021 × Before Maezawa's spacecraft blasted, he said “I would like to look at the Earth from space. I would like to experience the opportunity to feel weightlessness.” “And I also have a personal expectation: I’m curious how the space will change me, how I will change after this space flight.” He blasted off in a Soyuz spacecraft from the Russia-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. During his time in space, he made many videos including performing daily tasks like brushing teeth and going to the bathroom. After landing back on earth, he explained how to brush teeth and go to the bathroom in space. "Peeing is very easy," he said. He also showed his followers how to properly drink tea and sleep in zero gravity. 【MZ METHOD】How Do You Sleep in Zero Gravity?https://t.co/I3JwLtF8Ke @YouTube pic.twitter.com/HrcEQOKdad — Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) December 19, 2021 × 【GREAT VIEW】MZ Directed Work ’Time Lapse of the Earth's Orbit’https://t.co/YwwFmqIKtp @YouTube pic.twitter.com/zE7DPL1oeg — Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) December 19, 2021 × 【MUSICAL EXPERIMENT】Playing Drums in Spacehttps://t.co/s46qXUS1bO @YouTube pic.twitter.com/fPrJdEZHqW — Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yousuckMZ) December 18, 2021 × With this, he has become the first private passenger on the SpaceX moon trip. US-based company Space Adventures had earlier said that the cost of tickets to space for tourists ranges from $50-60 million. Moscow had stopped sending tourists to space after NASA retired the Space Shuttle in 2011. However, NASA bought up all Soyuz launch seats for a reported $90 million per spot. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese space tourists return to earth after recording life on ISS

Omicron, the new variant of Covid was first detected in South Africa on November 24. Ever since then, the variant has been rapidly spreading all across the world. It has created panic all across the globe as countries have banned flights from South Africa and introduced new travel restrictions.&nbsp;

While countries continue to impose travel bans, each week, certain top tourist destinations move up on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's travel risk list.&nbsp;

France, which was the world's top tourist destination before Covid, has now moved into the 'highest-risk' category. Also, it happens to be among the seven destinations that are at "very high" risk. France is in the midst of a fifth wave of the virus.

Not just France but six other countries belong to this list - Andorra, Cyprus, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Portugal and Tanzania.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-hiv-behind-the-emergence-of-omicron-here-is-what-we-know-so-far-436192">Also read |&nbsp;Is HIV behind the emergence of Omicron? Here is what we know so far</a>

The countries which fall under this category have had over 500 cases per 100,000 residents in&nbsp;28 days. As per CDC, people should avoid travelling to these countries.&nbsp;

A statement by the agency says, "Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread Covid-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some Covid-19 variants."

Meanwhile, in late November, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said that the government was taking measures to contain the spread of the newly discovered Covid variant.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Omicron, the new variant of Covid was first detected in South Africa on November 24. Ever since then, the variant has been rapidly spreading all across the world.

Omicron, the new variant of Covid was first detected in South Africa on November 24. Ever since then, the variant has been rapidly spreading all across the world. It has created panic all across the globe as countries have banned flights from South Africa and introduced new travel restrictions. While countries continue to impose travel bans, each week, certain top tourist destinations move up on US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's travel risk list. France, which was the world's top tourist destination before Covid, has now moved into the 'highest-risk' category. Also, it happens to be among the seven destinations that are at "very high" risk. France is in the midst of a fifth wave of the virus. Not just France but six other countries belong to this list - Andorra, Cyprus, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Portugal and Tanzania. Also read | Is HIV behind the emergence of Omicron? Here is what we know so far The countries which fall under this category have had over 500 cases per 100,000 residents in 28 days. As per CDC, people should avoid travelling to these countries. A statement by the agency says, "Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread Covid-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some Covid-19 variants." Meanwhile, in late November, French Health Minister Olivier Veran said that the government was taking measures to contain the spread of the newly discovered Covid variant. (With inputs from agencies)

This top tourist destination is now on CDC's 'very high' travel risk list

Thailand is planning to fully re-open to vaccinated tourists travelling by air from countries deemed low risk from November 1, Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha said.

Before the pandemic, the kingdom attracted nearly 40 million visitors a year as tourism made up almost 20 per cent of its national income.

However, Covid-related travel restrictions have left the economy battered, contributing to its worst performance in more than 20 years.

In a televised address on Monday, Prayut announced that the country will be reopening its borders to vaccinated tourists travelling by air from "low risk countries". The 10 nations considered low risk include Britain, the United States, China, Germany and Singapore.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-tourism-in-doldrums-thailand-seeks-to-slash-covid-quarantine-for-visitors-from-two-to-one-week-415307">Also read |&nbsp;With tourism in doldrums, Thailand seeks to slash Covid quarantine for visitors from two to one week</a>

"When they arrive, they should present a (negative) Covid test... and test once again upon arrival," the prime minister said. After getting a negative test, "they can travel freely like Thais," he said.

Visitors outside of Thailand's designated 10 low-risk countries are also welcome, however, they will have to be in quarantine.

He acknowledged the decision came with the risk of more coronavirus cases.

In 2020, Thailand lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue as foreign arrivals plunged 83 per cent to 6.7 million, from a record 39.9 million two years ago. Currently, the kingdom has more than 1.7 million cases.

Thailand is planning to fully re-open to vaccinated tourists travelling by air from countries deemed low risk from November 1, Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha said. Before the pandemic, the kingdom attracted nearly 40 million visitors a year as tourism made up almost 20 per cent of its national income.

Thailand is planning to fully re-open to vaccinated tourists travelling by air from countries deemed low risk from November 1, Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha said. Before the pandemic, the kingdom attracted nearly 40 million visitors a year as tourism made up almost 20 per cent of its national income. However, Covid-related travel restrictions have left the economy battered, contributing to its worst performance in more than 20 years. In a televised address on Monday, Prayut announced that the country will be reopening its borders to vaccinated tourists travelling by air from "low risk countries". The 10 nations considered low risk include Britain, the United States, China, Germany and Singapore. Also read | With tourism in doldrums, Thailand seeks to slash Covid quarantine for visitors from two to one week "When they arrive, they should present a (negative) Covid test... and test once again upon arrival," the prime minister said. After getting a negative test, "they can travel freely like Thais," he said. Visitors outside of Thailand's designated 10 low-risk countries are also welcome, however, they will have to be in quarantine. He acknowledged the decision came with the risk of more coronavirus cases. In 2020, Thailand lost about $50 billion in tourism revenue as foreign arrivals plunged 83 per cent to 6.7 million, from a record 39.9 million two years ago. Currently, the kingdom has more than 1.7 million cases.

Thailand set to re-open for vaccinated tourists from 'low risk' countries

World tourism surged in July, thanks to vaccination rollouts and fewer travel restrictions, but traveller numbers still fell far short of pre-pandemic levels, the UN's tourism body said on Monday.&nbsp;

Some 54 million tourists crossed international borders in July, the highest figure since April 2020, in the early months of the coronavirus crisis, the World Tourism Organization said in a statement.

That represented an increase of 58 percent compared with the level recorded in July 2020, but was still a drop of 67 per cent from the 164 million recorded in July 2019.&nbsp;

"This improvement was underpinned by the reopening of many destinations to international travel, mostly in Europe and the Americas&nbsp;coupled with progress made in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines" which contributed to "gradually restoring safe mobility in Europe and other parts of the world," it said.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-set-to-discontinue-compulsory-10-day-quarantine-rule-417795" hreflang="en">UK set to discontinue compulsory 10-day quarantine rule</a>

"Nevertheless, 2021 continues to be a challenging year for global tourism, with international arrivals down 80 per cent in January-July compared to 2019," said the Madrid-based organisation.&nbsp;

In the first seven months of the year, Asia and the Pacific continued to see the steepest declines, with a drop of 95 percent in international arrivals, followed by the Middle East where numbers were down 82 per cent, Europe and Africa, which registered a fall of 77 per cent, and the Americas which sustained a drop 68 per cent.

Only a few small islands in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, alongside several small European destinations recovered and counted arrivals close to, or even higher, than pre-pandemic levels.&nbsp;

Spain, which before the pandemic was the world's second most popular tourist destination, on Monday said it welcomed 15 million tourists in the first eight months of the year, a decline of 4.2 percent from the same period last year, the National Statistics Institute said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-tightens-travel-rules-as-covid-spreads-417811" hreflang="en">New Zealand tightens travel rules as Covid spreads</a>

The data cast doubt on the objective set by the Spanish government of attracting some 45 million foreign visitors this year, around half the number of 2019.

"The true restart of tourism and the benefits it brings, remains on hold as inconsistent rules and regulations and uneven vaccination rates continue to affect confidence in travel," UNWTO head Zurab Pololikashvili in the statement.

The UN body said it was expecting to see a "rebound" in 2022 although global tourism is not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2023 or 2024.&nbsp;

World tourism surged in July, thanks to vaccination rollouts and fewer travel restrictions, but traveller numbers still fell far short of pre-pandemic levels, the UN's tourism body said on Monday.

World tourism surged in July, thanks to vaccination rollouts and fewer travel restrictions, but traveller numbers still fell far short of pre-pandemic levels, the UN's tourism body said on Monday. Some 54 million tourists crossed international borders in July, the highest figure since April 2020, in the early months of the coronavirus crisis, the World Tourism Organization said in a statement. That represented an increase of 58 percent compared with the level recorded in July 2020, but was still a drop of 67 per cent from the 164 million recorded in July 2019. "This improvement was underpinned by the reopening of many destinations to international travel, mostly in Europe and the Americas coupled with progress made in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines" which contributed to "gradually restoring safe mobility in Europe and other parts of the world," it said. Also Read: UK set to discontinue compulsory 10-day quarantine rule "Nevertheless, 2021 continues to be a challenging year for global tourism, with international arrivals down 80 per cent in January-July compared to 2019," said the Madrid-based organisation. In the first seven months of the year, Asia and the Pacific continued to see the steepest declines, with a drop of 95 percent in international arrivals, followed by the Middle East where numbers were down 82 per cent, Europe and Africa, which registered a fall of 77 per cent, and the Americas which sustained a drop 68 per cent. Only a few small islands in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, alongside several small European destinations recovered and counted arrivals close to, or even higher, than pre-pandemic levels. Spain, which before the pandemic was the world's second most popular tourist destination, on Monday said it welcomed 15 million tourists in the first eight months of the year, a decline of 4.2 percent from the same period last year, the National Statistics Institute said. Also Read: New Zealand tightens travel rules as Covid spreads The data cast doubt on the objective set by the Spanish government of attracting some 45 million foreign visitors this year, around half the number of 2019. "The true restart of tourism and the benefits it brings, remains on hold as inconsistent rules and regulations and uneven vaccination rates continue to affect confidence in travel," UNWTO head Zurab Pololikashvili in the statement. The UN body said it was expecting to see a "rebound" in 2022 although global tourism is not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2023 or 2024.

World tourism surges in July, but falls short of pre-Covid levels

When someone goes for a vacation, the usual expectation is to spend a few days in luxury and comfort, without having to worry about waking up early in the mornings or feeding the roosters.

However, some tourists have complained about rooster waking them up at 5 am, cowbells making noise and church bells tolling early in the morning in a Spanish village.

The village authorities, however, told these tourists to leave the village if they cannot handle the rural life.

Also read :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-an-object-south-korea-to-grant-legal-status-to-animals-to-tackle-abuse-abandonment-406760" hreflang="en">'Not an object': South Korea to grant legal status to animals to tackle abuse, abandonment</a>

This case has been reported from a Spanish village called Ribadesella, which has nearly 5,7000 people there and is quite famous among tourists for its picturesque location.

"Last week we had a lady who called us three or four times over a rooster that was waking her up at 5am," said Ramón Canal, Ribadesella’s mayor. "She told us that we had to do something."

After these repeated calls, the officials decided to do something about this issue, but contrary to what the tourists expected, the officials asked the tourists to leave if they cannot handle the rural life.

Also read :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rare-customer-3-metre-long-python-shows-up-sends-jitters-in-sydney-supermarket-406557">Rare customer: 3-metre-long python shows up, sends jitters in Sydney supermarket&nbsp;</a>

"Here we have church bells that ring out regularly, roosters that crow early in the morning and herds of livestock that live nearby and at times carry cowbells that also make noise," an official poster read. "If you can’t handle all this, you may not be in the right place."

The Mayor addressed the issue on local radio programme and said, "One needs to realise that milk doesn’t come in cartons, it comes from cows, and that you have to feed and maintain them."

When someone goes for a vacation, the usual expectation is to spend a few days in luxury and comfort, without having to worry about waking up early in the mornings or feeding the roosters.

When someone goes for a vacation, the usual expectation is to spend a few days in luxury and comfort, without having to worry about waking up early in the mornings or feeding the roosters. However, some tourists have complained about rooster waking them up at 5 am, cowbells making noise and church bells tolling early in the morning in a Spanish village. The village authorities, however, told these tourists to leave the village if they cannot handle the rural life. Also read : 'Not an object': South Korea to grant legal status to animals to tackle abuse, abandonment This case has been reported from a Spanish village called Ribadesella, which has nearly 5,7000 people there and is quite famous among tourists for its picturesque location. "Last week we had a lady who called us three or four times over a rooster that was waking her up at 5am," said Ramón Canal, Ribadesella’s mayor. "She told us that we had to do something." After these repeated calls, the officials decided to do something about this issue, but contrary to what the tourists expected, the officials asked the tourists to leave if they cannot handle the rural life. Also read : Rare customer: 3-metre-long python shows up, sends jitters in Sydney supermarket "Here we have church bells that ring out regularly, roosters that crow early in the morning and herds of livestock that live nearby and at times carry cowbells that also make noise," an official poster read. "If you can’t handle all this, you may not be in the right place." The Mayor addressed the issue on local radio programme and said, "One needs to realise that milk doesn’t come in cartons, it comes from cows, and that you have to feed and maintain them."

'If you can't handle it, leave': Spanish village tells tourists to not visit if they don't like roosters and cows

"Do you have your&nbsp;green&nbsp;pass?"&nbsp;

Visitors across&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;were being asked the question on Friday as new coronavirus rules for museums and indoor dining came into force -- with those answering 'no' left frustrated.

At the Vatican Museums, a number of&nbsp;tourists&nbsp;were turned away despite having pre-booked tickets, after failing to provide proof of a&nbsp;Covid-19 vaccine, previous infection or a negative coronavirus test.

"We were looking forward to it, so we are kind of disappointed. But it is what it is," said Tereza Poganyova, 20, on holiday with a friend from the Czech Republic.&nbsp;

However, she admitted having received an email reminding her of the requirement, and most of the visitors lining up to see the Sistine Chapel on Friday morning were prepared.

Hugo Munoz, 48, from Texas, used his US vaccination card to gain entry and welcomed the new checks, even though they caused some longer queues.

"I know there are mixed feelings... but we did it back at home and to us at least it gives us a little bit of a peace of mind that we probably are more protected," he told AFP.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-says-recruiting-women-for-cardiovascular-research-is-harder-403498">Also read |&nbsp;Study says recruiting women for cardiovascular research is harder</a>

But&nbsp;tourists&nbsp;are not the only ones&nbsp;caught&nbsp;short. Millions of Italians are still not vaccinated and therefore those who have not recently recovered from coronavirus can only get a&nbsp;green&nbsp;pass&nbsp;by taking a test.

There have been pockets of protests, most recently on Thursday night, when thousands of people gathered in Turin's main plaza, Piazza Castello, in an event dubbed 'No Fear Day'.&nbsp;

Most were without masks and some held signs saying "Freedom" and "State Discrimination".

'Respect the rules'

In restaurants in central Rome Friday, not everyone was asking for a&nbsp;green&nbsp;pass&nbsp;for diners wanting to sit inside, despite the risk of stiff fines.

Many establishments have concerns about how the&nbsp;pass&nbsp;will&nbsp;work in practice, particularly with&nbsp;tourists&nbsp;with tests or vaccination certificates in a different format than that recognised within the EU.&nbsp;

And would it lead to discrimination?&nbsp;

"Will I end up having to put everyone who is vaccinated inside, with all the non-vaccinated outside?" asked one waiter who asked not to be named.

On Thursday night, the government also agreed to make the&nbsp;green&nbsp;pass&nbsp;obligatory for teachers as well as passengers on domestic flights, ferries and long-distance trains and buses from September 1.

Ministers insist the measures are crucial to curbing rising coronavirus cases, while allowing businesses to stay open.

"I say to all Italians: vaccinate yourselves and respect the rules," Prime Minister Mario Draghi told reporters Friday ahead of parliament's summer break.

Italy&nbsp;has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, recording more than 128,000 deaths, the highest in the European Union.

A successful vaccination campaign has helped turn the tide in recent months, with more than 62 percent of the population over the age of 12 now fully jabbed.

However, the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant is causing concern, with another 7,200 cases reported on Thursday.

"Do you have your green pass?" Visitors across Italy were being asked the question on Friday as new coronavirus rules for museums and indoor dining came into force -- with those answering 'no' left frustrated.

"Do you have your green pass?" Visitors across Italy were being asked the question on Friday as new coronavirus rules for museums and indoor dining came into force -- with those answering 'no' left frustrated. At the Vatican Museums, a number of tourists were turned away despite having pre-booked tickets, after failing to provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccine, previous infection or a negative coronavirus test. "We were looking forward to it, so we are kind of disappointed. But it is what it is," said Tereza Poganyova, 20, on holiday with a friend from the Czech Republic. However, she admitted having received an email reminding her of the requirement, and most of the visitors lining up to see the Sistine Chapel on Friday morning were prepared. Hugo Munoz, 48, from Texas, used his US vaccination card to gain entry and welcomed the new checks, even though they caused some longer queues. "I know there are mixed feelings... but we did it back at home and to us at least it gives us a little bit of a peace of mind that we probably are more protected," he told AFP. Also read | Study says recruiting women for cardiovascular research is harder But tourists are not the only ones caught short. Millions of Italians are still not vaccinated and therefore those who have not recently recovered from coronavirus can only get a green pass by taking a test. There have been pockets of protests, most recently on Thursday night, when thousands of people gathered in Turin's main plaza, Piazza Castello, in an event dubbed 'No Fear Day'. Most were without masks and some held signs saying "Freedom" and "State Discrimination". 'Respect the rules' In restaurants in central Rome Friday, not everyone was asking for a green pass for diners wanting to sit inside, despite the risk of stiff fines. Many establishments have concerns about how the pass will work in practice, particularly with tourists with tests or vaccination certificates in a different format than that recognised within the EU. And would it lead to discrimination? "Will I end up having to put everyone who is vaccinated inside, with all the non-vaccinated outside?" asked one waiter who asked not to be named. On Thursday night, the government also agreed to make the green pass obligatory for teachers as well as passengers on domestic flights, ferries and long-distance trains and buses from September 1. Ministers insist the measures are crucial to curbing rising coronavirus cases, while allowing businesses to stay open. "I say to all Italians: vaccinate yourselves and respect the rules," Prime Minister Mario Draghi told reporters Friday ahead of parliament's summer break. Italy has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic, recording more than 128,000 deaths, the highest in the European Union. A successful vaccination campaign has helped turn the tide in recent months, with more than 62 percent of the population over the age of 12 now fully jabbed. However, the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant is causing concern, with another 7,200 cases reported on Thursday.

Tourists caught short as Italy ushers in COVID-19 'green pass'

Parked in rows with many gathering dust and cobwebs, hundreds of "tuk tuk" motorised rickshaws, tour buses and boats lie silent across the Thai capital Bangkok after suffering a twin blow from the pandemic and a lack of foreign tourists.

Graveyard of tuk tuks, buses and boats show dearth of tourists during once peak holiday season

Dwarfed by a 21-storey-tall statue of the Hindu god Vishnu riding the mythical eagle Garuda, a tour guide on the Indonesian resort island of Bali said he was staring at a bleak Lunar New Year season as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on tourism.

Bali tour guide hopes for coronavirus defeat in Lunar New Year

Hidden in the urban jungle of Singapore against a backdrop of high-rise apartments, resides the city's last remaining traditional village - a once-sleepy dwelling that is seeing a recent flurry of activity.

Singapore's last village becomes local tourism hotspot

A Hong Kong walking tour company that introduced online tours to survive the coronavirus pandemic says it is now planning to expand its customer base overseas and adopt virtual tours as part of its permanent business.

Walk from home: HK tour company moves online to survive pandemic

A Spanish campsite owner is banking on tourists abandoning crowded beaches in favour of rural peace and quiet as the country's holiday industry struggles to recover from the coronavirus lockdown.

Tourists opting for inland holidays to avoid crowded Spanish beaches and cities

Greece will be opening its borders for international tourists from June 15, as the country ended its lockdown in May to regain stability in the crippling economy.

However, the government has decided to conduct coronavirus tests for visitors arriving from high-risk areas of the European Union (EU). The tests will be specifically for the airports which have been categorized as 'high-risk' by the European Union's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/border-closures-pre-travel-tests-largely-ineffective-against-covid-19-spread-eu-health-agency-301331">Also read:&nbsp;Border closures, pre-travel tests largely ineffective against COVID-19 spread: EU health agency</a>

"If you originate from an airport on the EASA affected area list, then you will be tested upon arrival," the ministry of foreign affairs said in an announcement.

"If the test is negative, then the passenger self-quarantines for 7 days. If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days,"&nbsp; ministry added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-to-resume-international-travel-from-july-01-no-screening-to-be-done-300051">Also read:&nbsp;Greece to resume international travel from July 01; no screening to be done</a>

EASA has issued a list of high-risk airports, including&nbsp;13 in the United Kingdom, all 22 in the US and in the Ile de France region surrounding Paris; the list is regularly updated.

Greece issued a list of 29 'safe' countries, whose visitors will not be compulsorily tested on arrival. However, the government has mentioned that the visitors can be randomly tested for coronavirus during their stay in the country.

The country relied heavily on tourism, and has faced a steep decline in the economy as the tourism halted due to the pandemic.&nbsp;Greece's economy is seen contracting by up to 10% this year.

Greece will be opening its borders for international tourists from June 15, as the country ended its lockdown in May to regain stability in the crippling economy.

Greece will be opening its borders for international tourists from June 15, as the country ended its lockdown in May to regain stability in the crippling economy. However, the government has decided to conduct coronavirus tests for visitors arriving from high-risk areas of the European Union (EU). The tests will be specifically for the airports which have been categorized as 'high-risk' by the European Union's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Also read: Border closures, pre-travel tests largely ineffective against COVID-19 spread: EU health agency "If you originate from an airport on the EASA affected area list, then you will be tested upon arrival," the ministry of foreign affairs said in an announcement. "If the test is negative, then the passenger self-quarantines for 7 days. If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days," ministry added. Also read: Greece to resume international travel from July 01; no screening to be done EASA has issued a list of high-risk airports, including 13 in the United Kingdom, all 22 in the US and in the Ile de France region surrounding Paris; the list is regularly updated. Greece issued a list of 29 'safe' countries, whose visitors will not be compulsorily tested on arrival. However, the government has mentioned that the visitors can be randomly tested for coronavirus during their stay in the country. The country relied heavily on tourism, and has faced a steep decline in the economy as the tourism halted due to the pandemic. Greece's economy is seen contracting by up to 10% this year.

Greece will test visitors from high-risk EU airports for COVID-19

As the world observes the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day on 18 April, we bring you top 5 breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are worth visiting.

Top 5 World Heritage Sites to Visit

Watch ITBP Spokesperson Vivek Pandey speaking exclusively to WION on coronavirus quarantine. ITBP is managing the quarantine camp at the Chhawla in Delhi which hosted the Italian tourist infected with virus. Earlier, the same camp had quarantined the evacuated Indians from Wuhan on January 31 and February 01.

ITBP Spokesperson Vivek Pandey speaks exclusively to WION on coronavirus quarantine

In Sweden, these days visitors are enjoying winters like never before. Around 50,000 tourists gathered at the ice hotel in Kiruna, which is made completely from ice & snow.

Sweden: Tourist flood Jukkasjarvi ice hotel

Chinese Restaurants in Mainland China and its near areas have been suffering a huge loss in business due to public fears over the novel coronavirus outbreak. Tourists are disappearing from Chinatown.

Coronavirus: Tourists Disappear from Chinatown, business down

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/easter-bombing-caused-a-huge-loss-to-the-tourism-industry-sri-lankan-minister-243132">Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals</a> in September were down 27.2% from a year earlier as foreign visitors shunned the Indian Ocean island after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-orders-fresh-probe-into-easter-suicide-bombings-251180">attacks on Easter Sunday in April,</a> tourism bureau data showed on Monday.

Arrivals fell to 108,575 from 149,087 a year earlier and marked a sixth consecutive monthly fall.

Since the Easter Sunday attacks, the number of foreign visitors has fallen to the lowest level since the end of the country's civil war a decade ago.

Arrivals in the five months from May to September were down 44.4% to 468,737 from 843,569 a year earlier.

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals in September were down 27.2% from a year earlier as foreign visitors shunned the Indian Ocean island after attacks on Easter Sunday in April, tourism bureau data showed on Monday.

Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals in September were down 27.2% from a year earlier as foreign visitors shunned the Indian Ocean island after attacks on Easter Sunday in April, tourism bureau data showed on Monday. Arrivals fell to 108,575 from 149,087 a year earlier and marked a sixth consecutive monthly fall. Since the Easter Sunday attacks, the number of foreign visitors has fallen to the lowest level since the end of the country's civil war a decade ago. Arrivals in the five months from May to September were down 44.4% to 468,737 from 843,569 a year earlier.

Sri Lanka tourist arrivals in September fall for 6th month

As Saudi Arabia opens to the world, a look at its key tourist spots

Moroccan authorities believe four suspects in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/man-held-in-morocco-stabbed-norwegian-and-danish-women-185058">the killing of two Scandinavian women</a> in the Atlas Mountains were acting on their own initiative, even though they had just pledged allegiance to Islamic State, an official said on Sunday.

Boubker Sabik, the spokesman for the Moroccan security and domestic intelligence services, also said the arrest of nine more people in the case had foiled a terror plot.

Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway were found dead early on Monday near the village of Imlil on a route to Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak and a popular hiking and trekking destination.

News reports have said since said one of the women had been beheaded. The other had been found with stab wounds to her neck.&nbsp;

Sabik said on the state 2M TV channel that the four suspects, aged between 25 and 33 years, had headed to the Imlil area intent on committing a crime but without selecting their target in advance.

They had pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a video made on Friday before the bodies were found, but without agreeing on this in advance with any foreign entity.

Sabik described the four as "lone wolves". "The crime was not coordinated with Islamic State," he said. "Lone wolves do not need permission from their leader," he added, without explaining how the authorities had come to their conclusions.

One of them was arrested in 2013 as part of a crackdown on individuals who wanted to join extremists abroad, he said, adding that this suspect had radicalised the other three.

However, he dismissed reports that one was a returning foreign fighter from the Middle East. All four, who originated from the outskirts of Marrakech, had only informal jobs and had a low level of education, he added.

Referring to the nine other suspects detained on Friday in various Moroccan cities, he said their arrests "spared Morocco a terrorist plot".

Electronic devices, unauthorised hunting rifles, knives and materials that could be used for bomb-making were found in the course of those raids.

Sabik gave no details of this suspected plot but said Morocco is stepping up efforts to counter security threats posed by the return of Islamic State fighters from Syria and Iraq.

So far 242 out of 1,669 Moroccans who joined the militant group had been arrested, he said. Some fighters were using false passports and trying to hide among refugees heading for Europe as the jihadists suffer setbacks in the Middle East.

Authorities were still trying to authenticate a video that has been shared on social media purporting to show the beheading of one of the victims. "The video has no background and the clothes of the victim are not identical to those in reality," he said.

Compared with other countries in North Africa, Morocco has been largely insulated from militant attacks. The most recent took place in April 2011, when 17 people were killed in the bombing of a restaurant in Marrakech. In 2017 and 2018, Morocco dismantled 20 militant cells planning attacks in the country.

Moroccan authorities believe four suspects in the killing of two Scandinavian women in the Atlas Mountains were acting on their own initiative, even though they had just pledged allegiance to Islamic State, an official said on Sunday.

Moroccan authorities believe four suspects in the killing of two Scandinavian women in the Atlas Mountains were acting on their own initiative, even though they had just pledged allegiance to Islamic State, an official said on Sunday. Boubker Sabik, the spokesman for the Moroccan security and domestic intelligence services, also said the arrest of nine more people in the case had foiled a terror plot. Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway were found dead early on Monday near the village of Imlil on a route to Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak and a popular hiking and trekking destination. News reports have said since said one of the women had been beheaded. The other had been found with stab wounds to her neck. Sabik said on the state 2M TV channel that the four suspects, aged between 25 and 33 years, had headed to the Imlil area intent on committing a crime but without selecting their target in advance. They had pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a video made on Friday before the bodies were found, but without agreeing on this in advance with any foreign entity. Sabik described the four as "lone wolves". "The crime was not coordinated with Islamic State," he said. "Lone wolves do not need permission from their leader," he added, without explaining how the authorities had come to their conclusions. One of them was arrested in 2013 as part of a crackdown on individuals who wanted to join extremists abroad, he said, adding that this suspect had radicalised the other three. However, he dismissed reports that one was a returning foreign fighter from the Middle East. All four, who originated from the outskirts of Marrakech, had only informal jobs and had a low level of education, he added. Referring to the nine other suspects detained on Friday in various Moroccan cities, he said their arrests "spared Morocco a terrorist plot". Electronic devices, unauthorised hunting rifles, knives and materials that could be used for bomb-making were found in the course of those raids. Sabik gave no details of this suspected plot but said Morocco is stepping up efforts to counter security threats posed by the return of Islamic State fighters from Syria and Iraq. So far 242 out of 1,669 Moroccans who joined the militant group had been arrested, he said. Some fighters were using false passports and trying to hide among refugees heading for Europe as the jihadists suffer setbacks in the Middle East. Authorities were still trying to authenticate a video that has been shared on social media purporting to show the beheading of one of the victims. "The video has no background and the clothes of the victim are not identical to those in reality," he said. Compared with other countries in North Africa, Morocco has been largely insulated from militant attacks. The most recent took place in April 2011, when 17 people were killed in the bombing of a restaurant in Marrakech. In 2017 and 2018, Morocco dismantled 20 militant cells planning attacks in the country.

Morocco tourist beheadings: Authorities say suspects were working alone, not with Islamic State

A Japanese woman was allegedly raped by a taxi driver in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu on Friday.

The police has registered a case and arrested a person based on clues given by the woman.

"Case has been registered and one person also arrested. Victim has been sent for the medical test," said Superintendent of Police, Kullu, Shalini Agnihotri.

"According to the victim the accused is a taxi driver. Further investigation underway," she added.

Her medical test reports are awaited.

The police has registered a case and arrested a person based on clues given by the woman

A Japanese woman was allegedly raped by a taxi driver in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu on Friday. The police has registered a case and arrested a person based on clues given by the woman. "Case has been registered and one person also arrested. Victim has been sent for the medical test," said Superintendent of Police, Kullu, Shalini Agnihotri. "According to the victim the accused is a taxi driver. Further investigation underway," she added. Her medical test reports are awaited.

Japanese woman allegedly raped in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu

Gazing at a shimmering salt pan below, a group of first-time Saudi hikers descended craggy slopes into a volcanic crater, part of a hidden trove of natural wonders being promoted to kickstart tourism.

Saudi Arabia will soon begin issuing tourist visas, opening up one of the last frontiers of global tourism -- a sector touted as the desert kingdom&#39;s &quot;white oil&quot; -- as it steps up diversification efforts to wean itself off its crude oil dependence.

But the conservative country, notorious for sex segregation and its austere dress code, is seen as an unlikely destination for global tourists aside from Muslim pilgrims visiting holy sites in Mecca and Medina.

Now in the midst of historic social change, the kingdom is seeking a place on the global tourism map by promoting sites such as the Al Wahbah crater, widely unheard of even within Saudi Arabia with the near absence of local tourism.

On a warm winter weekend, Amr Khalifa, a private tour operator, brought a group of first-time Saudi campers to hike to the bottom of the crater.

Clutching hiking poles, the hikers picked their way through the slippery, boulder-strewn path to the salt pan.

&quot;I told my friends about Al Wahbah,&quot; said Jeddah-based corporate banker Mohamed Bahroon. &quot;They had no clue.&quot;

The little-known crater, barely a four-hour drive from the western city of Jeddah, is a remnant of volcanic activity -- local folklore, however, has it as having been formed when two mountains were so passionately in love that one uprooted itself to unite with the other, leaving a bowl-shaped depression in its place.

In recent months, authorities have built roads and markers to the site and erected picnic shelters around the rim of the crater.

&quot;The key challenge is to make such tourism sites accessible,&quot; said Khalifa, adding that he only had one camping group at the site that weekend.

Tourism is one of the centrepieces of Vision 2030, the blueprint to prepare the biggest Arab economy for the post-oil era, which was conceived by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In August the kingdom announced a multi-million dollar project to turn 50 islands and other pristine sites on the Red Sea into luxury resorts.

It also plans to develop historic sites such as the centuries-old Mada&#39;in Saleh, home to sandstone tombs of the same civilisation which built the Jordanian city of Petra.

The kingdom aims to nearly double the annual number of tourists it attracts to 30 million by 2030, with the sector projected to become one of its top revenue earners.

Tourism chief Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz told AFP last month that preparations were afoot to launch electronic visas in the first quarter of 2018 to &quot;all nationals whose countries allow their citizens to visit&quot; the Gulf state.

&quot;The kingdom is a very big treasure,&quot; Prince Sultan said, describing its stunning landscapes. &quot;We&#39;re not just oil traders.&quot;

In an effort to change perceptions, Saudi Arabia has relaxed some of its most rigid rules -- lifting a cinema ban, allowing gender-mixed sporting events and announcing that women will be allowed to drive from next June.

But its absolute ban on alcohol still makes it a hard sell for many global tourists, experts say.

Rumours have swirled about plans to create exclusive resorts for foreign tourists, which, similar to many expat compounds in Riyadh, would have more relaxed norms.

But Prince Sultan said the kingdom, home to Islam&#39;s holiest sites, would not permit alcohol as &quot;we do not want to give up our culture and our local values&quot;.

&quot;Given the sensitivities of opening up to large numbers of non-Muslim tourists, I&#39;d expect the authorities to focus more on encouraging local and regional visitors in the first instance, while the tourist infrastructure is developed,&quot; said Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in the United States.

&quot;And then cautiously start to market the kingdom to the wider world.&quot;

But global travel agencies such as Britain-based Steppes Travel are already planning to offer packaged tours.

&quot;There is a lot of potential for Saudi tourism -- we know this not least from the pent-up demand we have within our own database,&quot; Justin Wateridge, managing director of Steppes Travel, told AFP.

&quot;There is interest in those that know and understand Saudi Arabia and not much needs to change other than the issuing of tourist visas. Travel breaks down barriers and prejudice.&quot;

Tourism is still a &quot;new concept&quot; for Saudi Arabia, said Khaled Batarfi, a Jeddah-based writer.

&quot;Serving others in our tribal heritage is unacceptable, except your own guest,&quot; he wrote in the Saudi Gazette newspaper, calling for the need for professional training.

Back at Al Wahbah, that seems to be changing.

When the hiking group emerged from the crater, guide Khalifa swung open the boot of his SUV to remove tents, folding chairs, firewood and platters of meat to set up camp near the rim.

&quot;When Saudis go camping they take their full house with them,&quot; he said as the group settled in for the chilly night.

&quot;That needs to change.&quot;

&nbsp;

Saudi Arabia will soon begin issuing tourist visas, opening up one of the last frontiers of global tourism -- a sector touted as the desert kingdom's "white oil" -- as it steps up diversification efforts to wean itself off its crude oil dependence

Gazing at a shimmering salt pan below, a group of first-time Saudi hikers descended craggy slopes into a volcanic crater, part of a hidden trove of natural wonders being promoted to kickstart tourism. Saudi Arabia will soon begin issuing tourist visas, opening up one of the last frontiers of global tourism -- a sector touted as the desert kingdom's "white oil" -- as it steps up diversification efforts to wean itself off its crude oil dependence. But the conservative country, notorious for sex segregation and its austere dress code, is seen as an unlikely destination for global tourists aside from Muslim pilgrims visiting holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Now in the midst of historic social change, the kingdom is seeking a place on the global tourism map by promoting sites such as the Al Wahbah crater, widely unheard of even within Saudi Arabia with the near absence of local tourism. On a warm winter weekend, Amr Khalifa, a private tour operator, brought a group of first-time Saudi campers to hike to the bottom of the crater. Clutching hiking poles, the hikers picked their way through the slippery, boulder-strewn path to the salt pan. "I told my friends about Al Wahbah," said Jeddah-based corporate banker Mohamed Bahroon. "They had no clue." The little-known crater, barely a four-hour drive from the western city of Jeddah, is a remnant of volcanic activity -- local folklore, however, has it as having been formed when two mountains were so passionately in love that one uprooted itself to unite with the other, leaving a bowl-shaped depression in its place. In recent months, authorities have built roads and markers to the site and erected picnic shelters around the rim of the crater. "The key challenge is to make such tourism sites accessible," said Khalifa, adding that he only had one camping group at the site that weekend. Tourism is one of the centrepieces of Vision 2030, the blueprint to prepare the biggest Arab economy for the post-oil era, which was conceived by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In August the kingdom announced a multi-million dollar project to turn 50 islands and other pristine sites on the Red Sea into luxury resorts. It also plans to develop historic sites such as the centuries-old Mada'in Saleh, home to sandstone tombs of the same civilisation which built the Jordanian city of Petra. The kingdom aims to nearly double the annual number of tourists it attracts to 30 million by 2030, with the sector projected to become one of its top revenue earners. Tourism chief Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz told AFP last month that preparations were afoot to launch electronic visas in the first quarter of 2018 to "all nationals whose countries allow their citizens to visit" the Gulf state. "The kingdom is a very big treasure," Prince Sultan said, describing its stunning landscapes. "We're not just oil traders." In an effort to change perceptions, Saudi Arabia has relaxed some of its most rigid rules -- lifting a cinema ban, allowing gender-mixed sporting events and announcing that women will be allowed to drive from next June. But its absolute ban on alcohol still makes it a hard sell for many global tourists, experts say. Rumours have swirled about plans to create exclusive resorts for foreign tourists, which, similar to many expat compounds in Riyadh, would have more relaxed norms. But Prince Sultan said the kingdom, home to Islam's holiest sites, would not permit alcohol as "we do not want to give up our culture and our local values". "Given the sensitivities of opening up to large numbers of non-Muslim tourists, I'd expect the authorities to focus more on encouraging local and regional visitors in the first instance, while the tourist infrastructure is developed," said Kristian Ulrichsen, a fellow at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in the United States. "And then cautiously start to market the kingdom to the wider world." But global travel agencies such as Britain-based Steppes Travel are already planning to offer packaged tours. "There is a lot of potential for Saudi tourism -- we know this not least from the pent-up demand we have within our own database," Justin Wateridge, managing director of Steppes Travel, told AFP. "There is interest in those that know and understand Saudi Arabia and not much needs to change other than the issuing of tourist visas. Travel breaks down barriers and prejudice." Tourism is still a "new concept" for Saudi Arabia, said Khaled Batarfi, a Jeddah-based writer. "Serving others in our tribal heritage is unacceptable, except your own guest," he wrote in the Saudi Gazette newspaper, calling for the need for professional training. Back at Al Wahbah, that seems to be changing. When the hiking group emerged from the crater, guide Khalifa swung open the boot of his SUV to remove tents, folding chairs, firewood and platters of meat to set up camp near the rim. "When Saudis go camping they take their full house with them," he said as the group settled in for the chilly night. "That needs to change."

'White oil': Saudi Arabia seeks place on tourism map

India continued to be Sri Lanka&#39;s top source of tourists in 2017 with a near eight per cent growth in arrivals, the government said on Friday.

&quot;India continued to be the top source market with 384,628 arrivals (up 7.8 per cent) followed by China with 268,952 (down 1 per cent) and UK 201,879 (up 7.3 per cent),&quot; a release by the Tourism Development Authority said.

In 2017, tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka reached an all-time high of 2,116,407.

This represents a 3.2 per cent growth or 65,595 more arrivals over the preceding year when the figure crossed the two million mark for the first time.

The higher number of arrivals has been achieved despite serious setbacks to the tourism industry right throughout 2017.

The first setback was the partial closure of the country&#39;s main airport from January to April as many airlines either scaled down operations or completely halted flights to Colombo.

The island was also hit by devastating floods that cut off access to many resort areas resulting in adverse international media publicity that had an impact on forward bookings.

Further flooding and a severe drought in the central and northern parts of the country in the latter part of the year added to the climatic woes suffered by the tourism industry during the year.

The arrivals in December grew over 8 per cent year-on-year from 224,791 in 2016 to 244,536 in 2017.

The higher number of arrivals has been achieved despite serious setbacks to the tourism industry right throughout 2017.

India continued to be Sri Lanka's top source of tourists in 2017 with a near eight per cent growth in arrivals, the government said on Friday. "India continued to be the top source market with 384,628 arrivals (up 7.8 per cent) followed by China with 268,952 (down 1 per cent) and UK 201,879 (up 7.3 per cent)," a release by the Tourism Development Authority said. In 2017, tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka reached an all-time high of 2,116,407. This represents a 3.2 per cent growth or 65,595 more arrivals over the preceding year when the figure crossed the two million mark for the first time. The higher number of arrivals has been achieved despite serious setbacks to the tourism industry right throughout 2017. The first setback was the partial closure of the country's main airport from January to April as many airlines either scaled down operations or completely halted flights to Colombo. The island was also hit by devastating floods that cut off access to many resort areas resulting in adverse international media publicity that had an impact on forward bookings. Further flooding and a severe drought in the central and northern parts of the country in the latter part of the year added to the climatic woes suffered by the tourism industry during the year. The arrivals in December grew over 8 per cent year-on-year from 224,791 in 2016 to 244,536 in 2017.

India remains Sri Lanka's top source of tourists in 2017

A Swiss couple got beaten up by a group of people at Fatehpur Sikri, Agra. This beaten, swollen, bloody bodies of two human beings do not go down well with our national image. The group of people who committed this heinous crime behaved like barbarians but India is a civilised nation. We have in the past, in moments of frenzy or because of deep-seated religious values, killed few people here and there. But these victims have mostly come from minority marginalised communities.

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What prompted a group of people to bludgeon a foreign couple can be a matter of introspection. We can trivialise it as a single episode of violence without context and feel simply sad as to how these uneducated poor Indians do not even understand the shastraic injections that ask Hindus to treat all &quot;Atithis&quot;&nbsp;i.e. guests as &lsquo;deva&rsquo; or god. Nodding in despair, we can mutter to ourselves, this is indeed &lsquo;incredible India&rsquo; - we want foreign investment and at the same time beat up foreigners.

Taking refuge in despair or in tradition, however, is not the answer to the situation. Actions are needed and, more importantly, introspection as to what acts as sources of these kinds of violence.

Beating up foreigners is not new to Indians. We beat up African nationals with impunity. But there a clear difference between treatment meted out to black folks and the white people visiting the Aryavarta.

Indians don&rsquo;t consider themselves black. Far from it, our extensive interactions as journalists confirmed this that many Indians see Africans as monsters and cannibals. But we don&rsquo;t share similar racial animosity towards the white people. With our pride in the Aryan heritage and deep fascination about white skin, we receive westerners with a bunch of contradictory feelings. They are &lsquo;mlecchas&rsquo; or irreligious, unclean, promiscuous, are divorcing all the time, and the girls grow up with no or little values. Their mothers are not like our mothers. Their mothers smoke, drink and don&rsquo;t spend their lives in the kitchen as ours do. In all these areas we feel superior. We have something to teach them.

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<h5>Millions of foreigners visit Agra every year. Both Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal are global destinations for tourists.</h5>
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But our fascination with the West or, more precisely, with the Whites don&rsquo;t end either. They have ruled us and, hence, they had to be superior in some intrinsic way. They are rich. They speak English-the ultimate mark of education. They are confident, even their women are.

So, we can&rsquo;t claim that it is jingoism that prompted this act of violence. People living in and around Agra meet and mix with foreigners on a daily basis. Millions of foreigners visit Agra every year. Both Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal are global destinations for tourists.

The white couple was subjected to violence is the news but, in reality, the aggression was in the first placed directed towards the white woman. Maybe the couples were holding hands or maybe not. Maybe they were kissing or maybe not. We may indulge ourselves, just like the cop did, in all kinds of speculations to fathom what provoked the violence. But emphasising on the gesture will miss the bigger point as to the mindset that causes the action.

Even if the couple did not publicly express their affection, this violence could have taken place. My friend, another white woman from the US, during her brief research trip to Delhi, was every day subjected to sexually explicit comments, people stalked her, threw stuff in her living room etc. She almost escaped Delhi. An expert in South Asian Studies, it is sad that she is too emotionally overwhelmed to visit Delhi again.

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<h5>A great nation cannot be created with petty people who continue to treat women, Indian or otherwise, as objects of lust and violence.</h5>
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The white people continue to be seen as the superior race; its women folks very desirable but unattainable. One doesn&#39;t need to be very smart to realise that the long history of colonial subjugation has shaped our views of the master race. But deeply entrenched within this feeling of inferiority is a perception that white women are sexually promiscuous. While Indian women are shaped by tradition to be monogamous and be under purdah, the white women, on the other hand, because of the natural ease they display in mingling with members of the opposite sex are seen as more open to sexual advances. The&nbsp;Swiss guy got beaten up not because he is a white or for being a foreigner but because he stood in the way of the expression of this lewd behaviour.

The stereotypes that we nurture in our heads have taken a life of their own. We don&rsquo;t exercise agencies over them. Instead, they have come to control our thoughts and actions. Historically speaking, the Western world for centuries have propagated such stereotypical views about the oriental men and women. They have portrayed us as virile, lazy, dishonest, passive, scheming, and our womenfolk, particularly, as baby churning machine with no sense of independence. An entire genre of postcolonial studies has cropped up critiquing the western approach. But the reverse stereotyping that we have given in to is making us an intolerant regressive society.

A great nation cannot be created with petty people who continue to treat women, Indian or otherwise, as objects of lust and violence.

India can not pave the road to growth and development with hackneyed ideas prevailing in regressive minds

A Swiss couple got beaten up by a group of people at Fatehpur Sikri, Agra. This beaten, swollen, bloody bodies of two human beings do not go down well with our national image. The group of people who committed this heinous crime behaved like barbarians but India is a civilised nation. We have in the past, in moments of frenzy or because of deep-seated religious values, killed few people here and there. But these victims have mostly come from minority marginalised communities. We want foreign investment and at the same time beat up foreigners. × What prompted a group of people to bludgeon a foreign couple can be a matter of introspection. We can trivialise it as a single episode of violence without context and feel simply sad as to how these uneducated poor Indians do not even understand the shastraic injections that ask Hindus to treat all "Atithis" i.e. guests as ‘deva’ or god. Nodding in despair, we can mutter to ourselves, this is indeed ‘incredible India’ - we want foreign investment and at the same time beat up foreigners. Taking refuge in despair or in tradition, however, is not the answer to the situation. Actions are needed and, more importantly, introspection as to what acts as sources of these kinds of violence. Beating up foreigners is not new to Indians. We beat up African nationals with impunity. But there a clear difference between treatment meted out to black folks and the white people visiting the Aryavarta. Indians don’t consider themselves black. Far from it, our extensive interactions as journalists confirmed this that many Indians see Africans as monsters and cannibals. But we don’t share similar racial animosity towards the white people. With our pride in the Aryan heritage and deep fascination about white skin, we receive westerners with a bunch of contradictory feelings. They are ‘mlecchas’ or irreligious, unclean, promiscuous, are divorcing all the time, and the girls grow up with no or little values. Their mothers are not like our mothers. Their mothers smoke, drink and don’t spend their lives in the kitchen as ours do. In all these areas we feel superior. We have something to teach them. Millions of foreigners visit Agra every year. Both Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal are global destinations for tourists. × But our fascination with the West or, more precisely, with the Whites don’t end either. They have ruled us and, hence, they had to be superior in some intrinsic way. They are rich. They speak English-the ultimate mark of education. They are confident, even their women are. So, we can’t claim that it is jingoism that prompted this act of violence. People living in and around Agra meet and mix with foreigners on a daily basis. Millions of foreigners visit Agra every year. Both Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal are global destinations for tourists. The white couple was subjected to violence is the news but, in reality, the aggression was in the first placed directed towards the white woman. Maybe the couples were holding hands or maybe not. Maybe they were kissing or maybe not. We may indulge ourselves, just like the cop did, in all kinds of speculations to fathom what provoked the violence. But emphasising on the gesture will miss the bigger point as to the mindset that causes the action. Even if the couple did not publicly express their affection, this violence could have taken place. My friend, another white woman from the US, during her brief research trip to Delhi, was every day subjected to sexually explicit comments, people stalked her, threw stuff in her living room etc. She almost escaped Delhi. An expert in South Asian Studies, it is sad that she is too emotionally overwhelmed to visit Delhi again. A great nation cannot be created with petty people who continue to treat women, Indian or otherwise, as objects of lust and violence. × The white people continue to be seen as the superior race; its women folks very desirable but unattainable. One doesn't need to be very smart to realise that the long history of colonial subjugation has shaped our views of the master race. But deeply entrenched within this feeling of inferiority is a perception that white women are sexually promiscuous. While Indian women are shaped by tradition to be monogamous and be under purdah, the white women, on the other hand, because of the natural ease they display in mingling with members of the opposite sex are seen as more open to sexual advances. The Swiss guy got beaten up not because he is a white or for being a foreigner but because he stood in the way of the expression of this lewd behaviour. The stereotypes that we nurture in our heads have taken a life of their own. We don’t exercise agencies over them. Instead, they have come to control our thoughts and actions. Historically speaking, the Western world for centuries have propagated such stereotypical views about the oriental men and women. They have portrayed us as virile, lazy, dishonest, passive, scheming, and our womenfolk, particularly, as baby churning machine with no sense of independence. An entire genre of postcolonial studies has cropped up critiquing the western approach. But the reverse stereotyping that we have given in to is making us an intolerant regressive society. A great nation cannot be created with petty people who continue to treat women, Indian or otherwise, as objects of lust and violence.

Attacks on Swiss couple raise questions on Indian ethics

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