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

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

Tourists who come to Cahuil, a coastal town in central Chile, can experience a place of a very different nature and in a few hours learn a 500-year-old trade - salt-making.

This unique experience, rough, tough and something like mining, is offered in the southern O'Higgins region, thanks to a Central University project financed by the regional government that gets tourists working for several hours extracting salt.

The visitor can dig into the savoury substance deposited by the sea in rectangular pools, where after several months the sun evaporates the water, leaving a crust of salt on the bottom.

Extracting it is the work of salt-makers using techniques inherited from their grandfathers.

The remaining water is removed beforehand with motor pumps, which is the "only modern technology" used in the process. Then, after the mud is cleared away, the salt is tamped down and left until it is dried by the sun.

"We soak it with water once more, sweep it over with tree branches from one pool to the next, smoothly, until what is left is a 10-centimetre thick crust of salt, which we shovel into wheelbarrows and put in bags," Agustin Moraga, one of the local salt-makers, told EFE.

That unusual experience is available to tourists, guided by salt-makers of the region, located some 200 kilometres&nbsp;southwest of Santiago. 
"Visitors do exactly the same work of salt production as the locals.&nbsp;

Afterwards, they can take away the salt they collected as souvenirs," Eduardo Gonzalez, owner of the Pichilemu Tourism company, which operates the so-called Route of Salt, told EFE.

The history of the salt pools began 500 years ago in the pre-Columbian era when aborigines of the area extracted the product with ancestral techniques, but it wasn't until the year 1700 that the activity acquired a proto-industrial character based on the salt-making practices still in use today.

Elena Parraguez, who has lived her whole life here, told EFE that the work is done the same way as it was 300 years ago, "with a shovel, the pools, the cleaning, it's all the same," she said.

Some 20 people work in the salt pools, having inherited the trade from their fathers and grandfathers.

All these men are over age 50, some 62 per cent of them have only primary education, and this is a way for them to earn a living.

They were the ones who in 2013 were declared Living Human Treasures by UNESCO, for their contribution to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Chile and the unique character of their trade, which preserves the identity of the area.

That same year, the Chilean National Industrial Property Institute (INAPI) gave the salt of Cahuil the denomination of origin, since it is a product that can only be produced in this area, due to it geographic conditions and unique production processes.

In fact, the salt of Cahuil is unique in Chile since it comes from the sea, unlike that in the north, which is mined from the salt flats of the Altiplano. 
Therefore, the only salt extracted from this area can use commercially the denomination "Salt of Cahuil."

Whoever gets to Cahuil can also visit the lush wetlands of the Nilahue Estuary and the Salt Pools of Cahuil, Barrancas, Pichilemu and Valdivia, a place with an infinity of birdlife that makes it an interesting landscape for taking photos.

There one can swiftly observe some 46 bird species, from black-necked swans to mallards, from herons to ravens to so many more, all living in a magical natural environment with a hybrid ecosystem (a blend of fresh water and salt water).

When it comes time to dine, tourists can taste the gastronomy of the area made with sea salt, unique seasonings, quinoa (a seed from the Andes), local-habitat birds and other regional specialities.

They can also visit the watermills of Pañul and Rodeillo, which, with their rustic but very efficient engineering, have ground for more than 50 years the different grains like wheat, barley and quinoa produced in the area to make handcrafted flour, even as the 21st century progresses.

Tourists who come to Cahuil, a coastal town in central Chile, can experience a place of a very different nature and in a few hours learn a 500-year-old trade - salt-making.

Tourists who come to Cahuil, a coastal town in central Chile, can experience a place of a very different nature and in a few hours learn a 500-year-old trade - salt-making. This unique experience, rough, tough and something like mining, is offered in the southern O'Higgins region, thanks to a Central University project financed by the regional government that gets tourists working for several hours extracting salt. The visitor can dig into the savoury substance deposited by the sea in rectangular pools, where after several months the sun evaporates the water, leaving a crust of salt on the bottom. Extracting it is the work of salt-makers using techniques inherited from their grandfathers. The remaining water is removed beforehand with motor pumps, which is the "only modern technology" used in the process. Then, after the mud is cleared away, the salt is tamped down and left until it is dried by the sun. "We soak it with water once more, sweep it over with tree branches from one pool to the next, smoothly, until what is left is a 10-centimetre thick crust of salt, which we shovel into wheelbarrows and put in bags," Agustin Moraga, one of the local salt-makers, told EFE. That unusual experience is available to tourists, guided by salt-makers of the region, located some 200 kilometres southwest of Santiago. "Visitors do exactly the same work of salt production as the locals. Afterwards, they can take away the salt they collected as souvenirs," Eduardo Gonzalez, owner of the Pichilemu Tourism company, which operates the so-called Route of Salt, told EFE. The history of the salt pools began 500 years ago in the pre-Columbian era when aborigines of the area extracted the product with ancestral techniques, but it wasn't until the year 1700 that the activity acquired a proto-industrial character based on the salt-making practices still in use today. Elena Parraguez, who has lived her whole life here, told EFE that the work is done the same way as it was 300 years ago, "with a shovel, the pools, the cleaning, it's all the same," she said. Some 20 people work in the salt pools, having inherited the trade from their fathers and grandfathers. All these men are over age 50, some 62 per cent of them have only primary education, and this is a way for them to earn a living. They were the ones who in 2013 were declared Living Human Treasures by UNESCO, for their contribution to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Chile and the unique character of their trade, which preserves the identity of the area. That same year, the Chilean National Industrial Property Institute (INAPI) gave the salt of Cahuil the denomination of origin, since it is a product that can only be produced in this area, due to it geographic conditions and unique production processes. In fact, the salt of Cahuil is unique in Chile since it comes from the sea, unlike that in the north, which is mined from the salt flats of the Altiplano. Therefore, the only salt extracted from this area can use commercially the denomination "Salt of Cahuil." Whoever gets to Cahuil can also visit the lush wetlands of the Nilahue Estuary and the Salt Pools of Cahuil, Barrancas, Pichilemu and Valdivia, a place with an infinity of birdlife that makes it an interesting landscape for taking photos. There one can swiftly observe some 46 bird species, from black-necked swans to mallards, from herons to ravens to so many more, all living in a magical natural environment with a hybrid ecosystem (a blend of fresh water and salt water). When it comes time to dine, tourists can taste the gastronomy of the area made with sea salt, unique seasonings, quinoa (a seed from the Andes), local-habitat birds and other regional specialities. They can also visit the watermills of Pañul and Rodeillo, which, with their rustic but very efficient engineering, have ground for more than 50 years the different grains like wheat, barley and quinoa produced in the area to make handcrafted flour, even as the 21st century progresses.

Tourists can learn 500-year-old trade of salt-making in Chile

Three Vietnamese holidaymakers and an Egyptian tour guide were killed Friday when a roadside bomb blast hit their bus as it travelled close to the Giza pyramids outside Cairo, officials said.

A statement by the public prosecutor's office said 11 other tourists from Vietnam and an Egyptian bus driver were wounded when the homemade device exploded. &nbsp;

The improvised explosive device was placed near a wall along the Mariyutiya Street in Al-Haram district near the Giza Pyramids, it said.&nbsp;

The bus was carrying a total of 16 people including 14 Vietnamese tourists, an Egyptian driver and a tour guide, according to the statement.&nbsp;

Armed security personnel quickly deployed to the site and cordoned off the area for inspection.&nbsp;

The white tourist bus could be seen with its windows shattered and surrounded by soot-covered debris. &nbsp;

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli visited the injured tourists in hospital, where he announced that the tour guide had died from his wounds. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Madbouli urged against "amplifying" the incident as he insisted that "no country in the world can guarantee that its 100 percent safe".

"It's possible at times that an individual incident takes place here or there," he told journalists.

"We have to know that it's possible that it would be repeated in the future."&nbsp;

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.&nbsp;

Later, a statement issued by the United States condemning the attack.&nbsp;

"We stand with all Egyptians in the fight against terrorism and support the Egyptian government in bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said.

Tourism struggling

Egypt's tourism industry has been struggling to recover from terror attacks and domestic instability that has hit the country in recent years.

In July 2017, two German tourists were stabbed to death by a suspected jihadist assailant at the Egyptian Red Sea beach resort of Hurgada.&nbsp;

In October 2015, a bomb claimed by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group killed 224 people on board a passenger jet carrying Russian tourists over the Sinai peninsula.&nbsp;

That incident dealt a severe blow to Egypt's tourism industry still reeling from the turmoil set off by the 2011 uprising that forced veteran leader Hosni Mubarak from power.&nbsp;

Egypt has since been seeking to lure tourists back and spur the lucrative sector by touting new archaeological discoveries and bolstering security around archaeological sites and in airports.

Tourism has slowly started picking up. The official statistics agency says tourists arrivals in Egypt in 2017 reached 8.2 million, up from 5.3 million the year before.&nbsp;

But that figure was still far short of the record influx in 2010 when over 14 million visitors flocked see the country's sites.&nbsp;

Egypt has for years been battling an Islamist insurgency in North Sinai, which surged following the 2013 military ouster of president Mohamed Morsi.

Security forces have since February been conducting a major operation focused on the Sinai Peninsula, aimed at wiping out a local IS branch.

More than 450 suspected jihadists and around 30 Egyptian soldiers have been killed since the offensive began, the army said in October.

The pyramids of Giza are the only surviving structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world and a major tourist draw attracting visitors from across the globe.

Three Vietnamese holidaymakers and an Egyptian tour guide were killed Friday when a roadside bomb blast hit their bus as it travelled close to the Giza pyramids outside Cairo, officials said.

Three Vietnamese holidaymakers and an Egyptian tour guide were killed Friday when a roadside bomb blast hit their bus as it travelled close to the Giza pyramids outside Cairo, officials said. A statement by the public prosecutor's office said 11 other tourists from Vietnam and an Egyptian bus driver were wounded when the homemade device exploded. The improvised explosive device was placed near a wall along the Mariyutiya Street in Al-Haram district near the Giza Pyramids, it said. The bus was carrying a total of 16 people including 14 Vietnamese tourists, an Egyptian driver and a tour guide, according to the statement. Armed security personnel quickly deployed to the site and cordoned off the area for inspection. The white tourist bus could be seen with its windows shattered and surrounded by soot-covered debris. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli visited the injured tourists in hospital, where he announced that the tour guide had died from his wounds. Madbouli urged against "amplifying" the incident as he insisted that "no country in the world can guarantee that its 100 percent safe". "It's possible at times that an individual incident takes place here or there," he told journalists. "We have to know that it's possible that it would be repeated in the future." There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. Later, a statement issued by the United States condemning the attack. "We stand with all Egyptians in the fight against terrorism and support the Egyptian government in bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said. Tourism struggling Egypt's tourism industry has been struggling to recover from terror attacks and domestic instability that has hit the country in recent years. In July 2017, two German tourists were stabbed to death by a suspected jihadist assailant at the Egyptian Red Sea beach resort of Hurgada. In October 2015, a bomb claimed by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group killed 224 people on board a passenger jet carrying Russian tourists over the Sinai peninsula. That incident dealt a severe blow to Egypt's tourism industry still reeling from the turmoil set off by the 2011 uprising that forced veteran leader Hosni Mubarak from power. Egypt has since been seeking to lure tourists back and spur the lucrative sector by touting new archaeological discoveries and bolstering security around archaeological sites and in airports. Tourism has slowly started picking up. The official statistics agency says tourists arrivals in Egypt in 2017 reached 8.2 million, up from 5.3 million the year before. But that figure was still far short of the record influx in 2010 when over 14 million visitors flocked see the country's sites. Egypt has for years been battling an Islamist insurgency in North Sinai, which surged following the 2013 military ouster of president Mohamed Morsi. Security forces have since February been conducting a major operation focused on the Sinai Peninsula, aimed at wiping out a local IS branch. More than 450 suspected jihadists and around 30 Egyptian soldiers have been killed since the offensive began, the army said in October. The pyramids of Giza are the only surviving structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world and a major tourist draw attracting visitors from across the globe.

Egypt: Bomb blast kills 3 Vietnamese tourists, guide near Giza pyramids

In Jammu and Kashmir(J&amp;K), night markets are bringing life back which was once scarred due to violence. Now, these markets open after the sunset and close mid-night bringing cheer on the faces of tourists and locals in the Valley.

At the world famous Dal lake, houseboats present a mesmerising look with the sunset, tourists come out to enjoy the scenic beauty and buy souvenirs and other traditional items in the bone-chilling cold. These shops are set up on the footpaths and often till midnight they find customers.&nbsp;

"We open our shops at 4:30 pm&nbsp;and when we have good customer flow, we shut them at 12 to 1 mid-night," says Sheraz Ahmad, a local shopkeeper.&nbsp;

Popular food stalls of barbeques and other mouth-watering food also open at night despite the freezing temperatures.

People come out to taste the food along with their families which now seems unimaginable after the terrorism broke out in the Valley in the 1990s. These markets help tourists in recreation as there are no other activities in the Valley after&nbsp;dark. &nbsp;

"We feel good to come out here at night. In Kolkata, we don't have these kinds of markets. Despite cold, these markets are open. They give us the opportunity to go out at night because night activities are very few here," said Subra Nastar, a tourist from West Bengal.&nbsp;

But people here blame the government for failing to provide electricity which could help in boosting night activities. Unscheduled and scheduled electricity cuts hamper not only these night shopkeepers but also tourism which plays an important role in the Valley.

"We have been asking that there should be night activities in Srinagar. We have very few cafes here at night. We used to have sound and light show at Mughal garden but it has been shut. We have been seeking all this from the government from a very long time," says a tourist Hamid Wangnoo.&nbsp;

With the improvement in the security situation in the Valley, the hope is that there would be more to do in the state after sunset.

In Jammu and Kashmir(J&K), night markets are bringing life back which was once scarred due to violence. Now, these markets open after the sunset and close mid-night bringing cheer on the faces of tourists and locals in the Valley.

In Jammu and Kashmir(J&K), night markets are bringing life back which was once scarred due to violence. Now, these markets open after the sunset and close mid-night bringing cheer on the faces of tourists and locals in the Valley. At the world famous Dal lake, houseboats present a mesmerising look with the sunset, tourists come out to enjoy the scenic beauty and buy souvenirs and other traditional items in the bone-chilling cold. These shops are set up on the footpaths and often till midnight they find customers. "We open our shops at 4:30 pm and when we have good customer flow, we shut them at 12 to 1 mid-night," says Sheraz Ahmad, a local shopkeeper. Popular food stalls of barbeques and other mouth-watering food also open at night despite the freezing temperatures. People come out to taste the food along with their families which now seems unimaginable after the terrorism broke out in the Valley in the 1990s. These markets help tourists in recreation as there are no other activities in the Valley after dark. "We feel good to come out here at night. In Kolkata, we don't have these kinds of markets. Despite cold, these markets are open. They give us the opportunity to go out at night because night activities are very few here," said Subra Nastar, a tourist from West Bengal. But people here blame the government for failing to provide electricity which could help in boosting night activities. Unscheduled and scheduled electricity cuts hamper not only these night shopkeepers but also tourism which plays an important role in the Valley. "We have been asking that there should be night activities in Srinagar. We have very few cafes here at night. We used to have sound and light show at Mughal garden but it has been shut. We have been seeking all this from the government from a very long time," says a tourist Hamid Wangnoo. With the improvement in the security situation in the Valley, the hope is that there would be more to do in the state after sunset.

Night markets bring cheer to locals in J&K

Sri Lanka's travel industry is starting to suffer the fallout of a political crisis in the middle of its peak tourist season, as uncertainty prompts cancellations by both business and leisure visitors.

Tourism makes up about 5 per cent of the Indian Ocean island's $87-billion economy, but the president's sacking of the prime minister late in October triggered a crisis that credit rating agencies say has already hit economic prospects.

"We have cancellations in the region of about 20 per cent," said Chandra Mohotti, a manager at the luxury Galle Face Hotel in the capital, Colombo, which has about 200 rooms.

"Normally our hotel would be full. We are offering discounts because of the fear that allocations will not be utilised."

Peak season for holidaymakers from Europe, a major source of tourists, along with India and China, typically runs from December to March.

But numerous flight bookings have been cancelled, especially from Europe, a source at national carrier SriLankan Airlines told Reuters.

"The crisis started just when tourists take a decision where to go," said the source, who declined to be named. "(It) has discouraged many of them."

Mahinda Rajapaksa, who replaced Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, lacks a parliamentary majority and has been prevented by a court from holding office, delaying the 2019 budget and leading to violent scenes in parliament.

It may be a while before the cancellations show up in arrivals figures, however. Tourist numbers were up 16.8 per cent in November on the year, official data showed on Thursday, with visitors from Europe up 37 per cent, although numbers from China, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia all fell.

Last year, more than 2.1 million people visited Sri Lanka, tourism authorities say.

Business travel has also been hit by the crisis, with firms moving meetings to elsewhere in Southeast Asia. &nbsp;

"There have been some cancellations and some have shifted to Singapore and Indonesia," said Sanath Ukwatte, president of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, adding that conference and exhibition bookings were the worst hit.

Harith Perera, president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, said he had also seen cancellations in the corporate sector.

"At the moment bookings have slowed down and that is a concern," he said. "If the current crisis drags on, then the impact will be significant. Cancellations are not only from European tourists but from everywhere."

Sri Lanka's travel industry is starting to suffer the fallout of a political crisis in the middle of its peak tourist season, as uncertainty prompts cancellations by both business and leisure visitors.

Sri Lanka's travel industry is starting to suffer the fallout of a political crisis in the middle of its peak tourist season, as uncertainty prompts cancellations by both business and leisure visitors. Tourism makes up about 5 per cent of the Indian Ocean island's $87-billion economy, but the president's sacking of the prime minister late in October triggered a crisis that credit rating agencies say has already hit economic prospects. "We have cancellations in the region of about 20 per cent," said Chandra Mohotti, a manager at the luxury Galle Face Hotel in the capital, Colombo, which has about 200 rooms. "Normally our hotel would be full. We are offering discounts because of the fear that allocations will not be utilised." Peak season for holidaymakers from Europe, a major source of tourists, along with India and China, typically runs from December to March. But numerous flight bookings have been cancelled, especially from Europe, a source at national carrier SriLankan Airlines told Reuters. "The crisis started just when tourists take a decision where to go," said the source, who declined to be named. "(It) has discouraged many of them." Mahinda Rajapaksa, who replaced Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, lacks a parliamentary majority and has been prevented by a court from holding office, delaying the 2019 budget and leading to violent scenes in parliament. It may be a while before the cancellations show up in arrivals figures, however. Tourist numbers were up 16.8 per cent in November on the year, official data showed on Thursday, with visitors from Europe up 37 per cent, although numbers from China, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia all fell. Last year, more than 2.1 million people visited Sri Lanka, tourism authorities say. Business travel has also been hit by the crisis, with firms moving meetings to elsewhere in Southeast Asia. "There have been some cancellations and some have shifted to Singapore and Indonesia," said Sanath Ukwatte, president of the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, adding that conference and exhibition bookings were the worst hit. Harith Perera, president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators, said he had also seen cancellations in the corporate sector. "At the moment bookings have slowed down and that is a concern," he said. "If the current crisis drags on, then the impact will be significant. Cancellations are not only from European tourists but from everywhere."

Sri Lanka's political crisis spurs tourists to cancel in peak season

A political crisis in Sri Lanka, where two prime ministers are fighting for power, is scaring away tourists and raising questions over foreign aid, ringing alarm bells for the economy as the currency slumps to record lows.

The turmoil in the Indian Ocean nation that has seen one premier refuse to be sacked, and another battle to prove a majority in a parliament that is banned from meeting, has caused major upheaval that Sri Lanka cannot afford.

Amidst warnings from politicians of a "bloodbath" if the dispute escalates, tourists are cancelling hotel bookings just as Sri Lankan beaches and major sites like the Temple of the Tooth prepare for peak season.

While no official figures have been given, deluxe hotels have reported cancellations and a critical decline in new bookings in the past 10 days.

"This comes at the worst possible time when people in Europe are making their holiday plans abroad," a Colombo city hotel executive told AFP. "We have had a lot of cancellations from the United States."

"With the political crisis our winter season is gone," the director of a luxury beach resort in&nbsp;the south of the island said.

Tourist dollars needed&nbsp;

Western nations have warned their citizens to be on their guard in Sri Lanka.

"You should exercise vigilance and avoid all demonstrations or large political gatherings," a British government advisory said.&nbsp;

Tourism is a cornerstone of the economy. More than 2.4 million foreign holidaymakers visited last year, spending $3.2 billion. Authorities had been counting on a rise of more than 10 per cent this year.

And whether Ranil Wickremesinghe stays in office or former president Mahinda Rajapakse takes his place, foreign earnings will be badly needed.&nbsp;

The Asian Development Bank had predicted the economy would grow by 3.8 per cent this year and 4.5 per cent in 2019, but all bets are now off.

The power vacuum has raised doubts over a US $1.5 billion Japanese-funded light rail project and another US $480 million of US finance for transport and health, a Wickremesinghe minister, Patali Ranawaka, said last week.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was about to announce an agreement on releasing a new tranche of a US $1.5 billion loan when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on October 26.

"We are monitoring the situation closely and we remain in contact with our counterparts at the technical level," an IMF spokesman said of the deepening power struggle.

Populist cuts&nbsp;

Wickremesinghe, a market liberal, has insisted he is still in charge while strongman former leader Rajapakse -- already blamed for piling up the island's debt when he was president from 2005 to 2015 -- launched his rival administration last week with measures that caused new jitters.

Rajapakse, finance minister as well as head of government, reduced the price of fuel and other essential goods and cut taxes in a move to win over the public.

Treasury officials, who asked not to be named, said the revenue loss from the cuts could blow&nbsp;a new hole in the country's balance sheet.

Official figures show that Sri Lanka will have to start repaying a record US $4.2 billion of debt in 2019, up from US $2.8 billion this year.

The crisis broke just days after Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera called for a "coalition of the willing" to stabilise the free-falling Sri Lankan rupee along with other emerging market currencies.

The rupee hit a record-low 177.32 to the dollar last week, despite official measures to arrest its decline.

The currency has shed more than 14 per cent this year and Sri Lanka fears it could slide further as US sanctions squeeze Iran, the island's chief source of oil.

Samaraweera, whose position is now disputed by Rajapakse, said the flight of foreign capital accelerated in the first four days after the political crisis.

He cited Colombo stock exchange figures showing foreign investors took out nearly US $23 million from the market, compared to $35 million over the first nine months of this year.

Rajapakse has said he will cut down on non-essential imports and reduce personal and corporate taxes to encourage local industrialists and companies.

Fitch said however that a protracted political crisis could undermine foreign investor confidence and "make it more challenging" for Colombo to pay its debts.

A political crisis in Sri Lanka, where two prime ministers are fighting for power, is scaring away tourists and raising questions over foreign aid, ringing alarm bells for the economy as the currency slumps to record lows.

A political crisis in Sri Lanka, where two prime ministers are fighting for power, is scaring away tourists and raising questions over foreign aid, ringing alarm bells for the economy as the currency slumps to record lows. The turmoil in the Indian Ocean nation that has seen one premier refuse to be sacked, and another battle to prove a majority in a parliament that is banned from meeting, has caused major upheaval that Sri Lanka cannot afford. Amidst warnings from politicians of a "bloodbath" if the dispute escalates, tourists are cancelling hotel bookings just as Sri Lankan beaches and major sites like the Temple of the Tooth prepare for peak season. While no official figures have been given, deluxe hotels have reported cancellations and a critical decline in new bookings in the past 10 days. "This comes at the worst possible time when people in Europe are making their holiday plans abroad," a Colombo city hotel executive told AFP. "We have had a lot of cancellations from the United States." "With the political crisis our winter season is gone," the director of a luxury beach resort in the south of the island said. Tourist dollars needed Western nations have warned their citizens to be on their guard in Sri Lanka. "You should exercise vigilance and avoid all demonstrations or large political gatherings," a British government advisory said. Tourism is a cornerstone of the economy. More than 2.4 million foreign holidaymakers visited last year, spending $3.2 billion. Authorities had been counting on a rise of more than 10 per cent this year. And whether Ranil Wickremesinghe stays in office or former president Mahinda Rajapakse takes his place, foreign earnings will be badly needed. The Asian Development Bank had predicted the economy would grow by 3.8 per cent this year and 4.5 per cent in 2019, but all bets are now off. The power vacuum has raised doubts over a US $1.5 billion Japanese-funded light rail project and another US $480 million of US finance for transport and health, a Wickremesinghe minister, Patali Ranawaka, said last week. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was about to announce an agreement on releasing a new tranche of a US $1.5 billion loan when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on October 26. "We are monitoring the situation closely and we remain in contact with our counterparts at the technical level," an IMF spokesman said of the deepening power struggle. Populist cuts Wickremesinghe, a market liberal, has insisted he is still in charge while strongman former leader Rajapakse -- already blamed for piling up the island's debt when he was president from 2005 to 2015 -- launched his rival administration last week with measures that caused new jitters. Rajapakse, finance minister as well as head of government, reduced the price of fuel and other essential goods and cut taxes in a move to win over the public. Treasury officials, who asked not to be named, said the revenue loss from the cuts could blow a new hole in the country's balance sheet. Official figures show that Sri Lanka will have to start repaying a record US $4.2 billion of debt in 2019, up from US $2.8 billion this year. The crisis broke just days after Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera called for a "coalition of the willing" to stabilise the free-falling Sri Lankan rupee along with other emerging market currencies. The rupee hit a record-low 177.32 to the dollar last week, despite official measures to arrest its decline. The currency has shed more than 14 per cent this year and Sri Lanka fears it could slide further as US sanctions squeeze Iran, the island's chief source of oil. Samaraweera, whose position is now disputed by Rajapakse, said the flight of foreign capital accelerated in the first four days after the political crisis. He cited Colombo stock exchange figures showing foreign investors took out nearly US $23 million from the market, compared to $35 million over the first nine months of this year. Rajapakse has said he will cut down on non-essential imports and reduce personal and corporate taxes to encourage local industrialists and companies. Fitch said however that a protracted political crisis could undermine foreign investor confidence and "make it more challenging" for Colombo to pay its debts.

Sri Lanka crisis scares tourists in fresh hit to economy

Following the recent attacks on foreign tourists in Sri Lanka, the police have announced to increase security at tourist spots.

On Friday it announced to establish new police posts and continuous police patrolling. 
&nbsp; 
According to reports, 20 new police station would be established to provide better security for tourists.

Security measures are being taken in Sri Lanka after a Dutch tourist was sexually assaulted last week.

Several other tourists were assaulted by the unidentified local gang at a hotel in the southern resort town of Mirissa.

This week also there were reports of Israeli tourists being beaten up in the same area.

The police have begun its investigation and 14 men have also been arrested.

According to media reports, there are many other incidents of foreign tourists being sexually harassed by miscreants but the matter usually goes unreported.

The country's tourism minister John Amaratunga has also urged such tourists to make a formal complaint. He also promised to provide compensation for those who can return and help in the investigation.

Following the recent attacks on foreign tourists in Sri Lanka, the police have announced to increase security at tourists spots

Following the recent attacks on foreign tourists in Sri Lanka, the police have announced to increase security at tourist spots. On Friday it announced to establish new police posts and continuous police patrolling. According to reports, 20 new police station would be established to provide better security for tourists. Security measures are being taken in Sri Lanka after a Dutch tourist was sexually assaulted last week. Several other tourists were assaulted by the unidentified local gang at a hotel in the southern resort town of Mirissa. This week also there were reports of Israeli tourists being beaten up in the same area. The police have begun its investigation and 14 men have also been arrested. According to media reports, there are many other incidents of foreign tourists being sexually harassed by miscreants but the matter usually goes unreported. The country's tourism minister John Amaratunga has also urged such tourists to make a formal complaint. He also promised to provide compensation for those who can return and help in the investigation.

Israeli tourists assaulted in Sri Lanka; police beefs up security

Nearly 680 people including locals and tourists in 320 vehicles stuck in unexpected heavy snowfall near Sela Pass near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh since yesterday afternoon were rescued by Army teams last evening, the operations continuing late into the night.

More than two feet of snow fell since yesterday noon and a large number of vehicles got stuck in sub-zero temperatures between Ahirgarh and Sela Pass.&nbsp;

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The road had about two-three feet of snow and was opened for traffic today by the Border Roads Organisation. (Zee News Network)
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Three rescue teams from the nearest base at Baisakhi worked relentlessly till midnight and all people and vehicles were brought to safety.

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With darkness setting in early, the entire operation was almost conducted in the dark and continued till all tourists were rescued. (Zee News Network)
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One team led by Havildar Prasan Rai working North of Sela extricated 188 stranded vehicles and approximately 400 civilians stuck in them to the Rescue Camp established at Jaswantgarh by 7.30 PM from where they moved on their own.

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Additionally, two teams led by Captain Tarun Singh Guleria and Capt Lavanya Sharma were launched to rescue and evacuate civilians stranded South of Sela Pass and they evacuated 280 persons and 132 vehicles till late in the evening.

Conduct of rescue work in sub-zero temperatures at an altitude of more than 13,000 feet in a hazardous terrain under failing ambient lighting conditions posed a formidable challenge for the teams. The troops of the Baisakhi Brigade of the Blazing Sword Division toiled for more than seven hours to get all to safety.

The rescued included a one and a half-year-old child who was having difficulty in breathing and a seventy-year-old tourist whose blood pressure had spiked to more than 200. The critically ill patients were stabilized at the medical post at Ahirgarh and later evacuated.

Last year, sudden heavy snowfall at this location had killed a Bulgarian woman, while 127 other tourists, including five foreigners, were rescued by the army after they were stuck in a raging blizzard.

Three rescue teams from the nearest base at Baisakhi worked relentlessly till midnight and all people and vehicles were brought to safety

Nearly 680 people including locals and tourists in 320 vehicles stuck in unexpected heavy snowfall near Sela Pass near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh since yesterday afternoon were rescued by Army teams last evening, the operations continuing late into the night. More than two feet of snow fell since yesterday noon and a large number of vehicles got stuck in sub-zero temperatures between Ahirgarh and Sela Pass. The road had about two-three feet of snow and was opened for traffic today by the Border Roads Organisation. (Zee News Network) × Three rescue teams from the nearest base at Baisakhi worked relentlessly till midnight and all people and vehicles were brought to safety. With darkness setting in early, the entire operation was almost conducted in the dark and continued till all tourists were rescued. (Zee News Network) × One team led by Havildar Prasan Rai working North of Sela extricated 188 stranded vehicles and approximately 400 civilians stuck in them to the Rescue Camp established at Jaswantgarh by 7.30 PM from where they moved on their own. × Additionally, two teams led by Captain Tarun Singh Guleria and Capt Lavanya Sharma were launched to rescue and evacuate civilians stranded South of Sela Pass and they evacuated 280 persons and 132 vehicles till late in the evening. Conduct of rescue work in sub-zero temperatures at an altitude of more than 13,000 feet in a hazardous terrain under failing ambient lighting conditions posed a formidable challenge for the teams. The troops of the Baisakhi Brigade of the Blazing Sword Division toiled for more than seven hours to get all to safety. The rescued included a one and a half-year-old child who was having difficulty in breathing and a seventy-year-old tourist whose blood pressure had spiked to more than 200. The critically ill patients were stabilized at the medical post at Ahirgarh and later evacuated. Last year, sudden heavy snowfall at this location had killed a Bulgarian woman, while 127 other tourists, including five foreigners, were rescued by the army after they were stuck in a raging blizzard.

Heavy snowfall lashes Tawang, Army rescues 680 tourists

After government warning did not deter people from using machines around Taj Mahal, the Agra Police have now decided to arrest the person using drones near the historic monument.

The decision to crack down on drone users was taken on Sunday.

As per the new rule, Police have decided to invoke criminal charges that carry jail time against tourists using drones around the Taj Mahal.&nbsp;

According to officials, drones were seen in and around the world heritage monument nearly 20 times in 2017, but despite the provision of initiating criminal action against the users, no action has been taken by police to date.

The police said the use of drones was strictly prohibited in and around the Taj due to security reasons and will also start an awareness campaign to ensure people are aware of the new rule.

A person caught using a drone around the Taj would be booked under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 
&nbsp;

The decision to crack down on drone users was taken on Sunday

After government warning did not deter people from using machines around Taj Mahal, the Agra Police have now decided to arrest the person using drones near the historic monument. The decision to crack down on drone users was taken on Sunday. As per the new rule, Police have decided to invoke criminal charges that carry jail time against tourists using drones around the Taj Mahal. According to officials, drones were seen in and around the world heritage monument nearly 20 times in 2017, but despite the provision of initiating criminal action against the users, no action has been taken by police to date. The police said the use of drones was strictly prohibited in and around the Taj due to security reasons and will also start an awareness campaign to ensure people are aware of the new rule. A person caught using a drone around the Taj would be booked under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Flying drones near Taj Mahal will now land you in jail

China&#39;s president has ordered the country to march on in its &quot;revolution&quot; to clean up notoriously dirty and foul-smelling public bathrooms in a bid to improve quality of life and boost tourism.

The so-dubbed &quot;toilet revolution&quot; was launched in 2015 as part of efforts to make restrooms - often squat toilets with no paper - more tourist-friendly.

President Xi Jinping said the toilet problem &quot;is not a small thing&quot; and cleaning up is necessary to create a &quot;civilised&quot; urban and rural environment, China&#39;s state news agency Xinhua reported Monday.

The country expects to have added or upgraded more than 70,000 toilets by the end of this year.

Another 64,000 will be built or enhanced between 2018 and 2020, the National Tourism Administration has said in an action plan.

According to Xinhua, since taking office in 2012, Xi has made a point on rural tours to ask villagers whether they did their business in flushable toilets or pits dug into the ground.

&quot;In rural areas, some toilets were little more than makeshift shelters surrounded by bunches of corn stalks, and some were open pits next to pigsties,&quot; the agency said.

&quot;Local authorities are now more aware of the important role toilets play, believing better toilets are not only beneficial for tourism, but can also... enhance the overall level of civilisation of society.&quot;

China&#39;s infamous &quot;squatty potties&quot; arouse fear in some would-be tourists, with several tourism blog posts dedicated to the subject.&nbsp;

While studies have indicated that squatting may have health benefits over sitting, the position is still hard to accept for those accustomed to porcelain thrones.

Public bathrooms in China have also been known to be bereft of toilet paper thanks to enterprising crooks sneaking out entire rolls for their personal use. Facial recognition is now employed in some places to limit individual toilet paper portions.

Internet commenters applauded the restroom remodelling movement on Chinese microblogging site Weibo on Monday.

&quot;Support the toilet revolution,&quot; one user wrote. &quot;Seriously, whether it&#39;s in a city or the countryside when nature calls, it&#39;s always a hassle to find a decent bathroom.&quot;

China's president has ordered the country to march on in its "revolution" to clean up notoriously dirty and foul-smelling public bathrooms in a bid to improve quality of life and boost tourism

China's president has ordered the country to march on in its "revolution" to clean up notoriously dirty and foul-smelling public bathrooms in a bid to improve quality of life and boost tourism. The so-dubbed "toilet revolution" was launched in 2015 as part of efforts to make restrooms - often squat toilets with no paper - more tourist-friendly. President Xi Jinping said the toilet problem "is not a small thing" and cleaning up is necessary to create a "civilised" urban and rural environment, China's state news agency Xinhua reported Monday. The country expects to have added or upgraded more than 70,000 toilets by the end of this year. Another 64,000 will be built or enhanced between 2018 and 2020, the National Tourism Administration has said in an action plan. According to Xinhua, since taking office in 2012, Xi has made a point on rural tours to ask villagers whether they did their business in flushable toilets or pits dug into the ground. "In rural areas, some toilets were little more than makeshift shelters surrounded by bunches of corn stalks, and some were open pits next to pigsties," the agency said. "Local authorities are now more aware of the important role toilets play, believing better toilets are not only beneficial for tourism, but can also... enhance the overall level of civilisation of society." China's infamous "squatty potties" arouse fear in some would-be tourists, with several tourism blog posts dedicated to the subject. While studies have indicated that squatting may have health benefits over sitting, the position is still hard to accept for those accustomed to porcelain thrones. Public bathrooms in China have also been known to be bereft of toilet paper thanks to enterprising crooks sneaking out entire rolls for their personal use. Facial recognition is now employed in some places to limit individual toilet paper portions. Internet commenters applauded the restroom remodelling movement on Chinese microblogging site Weibo on Monday. "Support the toilet revolution," one user wrote. "Seriously, whether it's in a city or the countryside when nature calls, it's always a hassle to find a decent bathroom."

President Xi orders China's 'toilet revolution' to march on

Indonesia closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali on Monday and ordered 100,000 residents living near a grumbling volcano spewing columns of ash to evacuate immediately, warning that the first major eruption in 54 years could be &quot;imminent&quot;.

The airport was closed for 24 hours from Monday morning, disrupting 445 flights and some 59,000 passengers, after Mount Agung, which killed hundreds of people in 1963, sent volcanic ash high into the sky, and officials said cancellations could be extended.

&quot;Plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (7 miles) from the peak,&quot; the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement after raising the alert from three to its highest level of four.&nbsp;

&#39;&#39;The potential for a larger eruption is imminent,&quot; it said, referring to a visible glow of magma at Mount Agung&#39;s peak overnight, and warning residents to evacuate a danger zone at a radius of 8-10 km (5-6 miles).

Sutopo, a BNPB spokesman, said there had been no casualties so far and 40,000 people had left the area, but tens of thousands still needed to move.

Video footage shared by the agency showed volcanic mud flows (lahar) on the mountainside. Lahar carrying mud and large boulders can destroy houses, bridges, and roads in its path.

Bali, famous for its surf, beaches, and temples, attracted nearly 5 million visitors last year, and its airport serves as a transport hub for the chain of islands in Indonesia&#39;s eastern archipelago.

But tourism has slumped in parts of Bali since September when Agung&#39;s volcanic tremors began to increase and the alert level was raised to maximum before being lowered in October when seismic activity calmed.&quot;I&#39;m really worried. Maybe I&#39;ll go somewhere south that I think will be safe to avoid being trapped by the ashfall,&quot; said Maria Becker, a German tourist staying in Amed, around 15 km (9 miles) from the volcano.

Agung rises majestically over eastern Bali to a height of just over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). Northeastern Bali is relatively undeveloped compared to the more heavily populated southern tourist hub of Kuta-Seminyak-Nusa Dua.&nbsp;

Indonesia&#39;s Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG), which is using drones, satellite imagery and other equipment, said predictions were difficult in the absence of instrumental recordings from the last eruption 54 years ago.

In 1963, an eruption of Agung killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages by hurling out pyroclastic material, hot ash, lava and lahar.

Recordings now show the northeast area of Agung&#39;s peak has swollen in recent weeks &quot;indicating there is fairly strong pressure toward the surface&quot;, PVMBG said.

It warned that if a similar eruption occurred, it could send rocks bigger than fist-size up to 8 km (5 miles) from the summit and volcanic gas to a distance of 10 km (6 miles) within three minutes.

Some analysts, however, suggests the threat should not be as great this time because &quot;energy at Mount Agung&#39;s magma chamber is not as big&quot; and the ash column only around a quarter as high so far as the 20 km (12 miles) reached in 1963, Sutopo said.

Check-Ins Closed

Bali airport, about 60 km (37 miles) from the volcano, will be closed for 24 hours, its operator said.

Ten alternative airports have been prepared for airlines to divert inbound flights, including in neighbouring provinces. Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said it was cancelling flights on Tuesday, while Jetstar was offering to exchange Bali bound tickets for other destinations.

Television footage showed hundreds of holidaymakers camped inside the airport terminal, some sleeping on their bags, others using mobile telephones.

&quot;We have been here (in Bali) for three days we are about to leave today, but just found out our flights have been cancelled. We have got no information because the gates, the check-ins, have been closed indefinitely,&quot; said Carlo Oben from Los Angeles.

Cover-More, Australia&#39;s biggest travel insurer, said on its website customers would only be covered if they had bought policies before the volcano alert was first issued on September 18.&nbsp;

Indonesia&#39;s hotel and restaurant association said stranded tourists at member hotels would get one night&#39;s free stay.&nbsp;

The main airport on Lombok, next to Bali, was closed after being open for much of the day, a spokesman said.

Airlines avoid flying when volcanic ash is present because it can damage engines and can clog fuel and cooling systems and hamper visibility.

Indonesia closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali on Monday and ordered 100,000 residents living near a grumbling volcano spewing columns of ash to evacuate immediately

Indonesia closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali on Monday and ordered 100,000 residents living near a grumbling volcano spewing columns of ash to evacuate immediately, warning that the first major eruption in 54 years could be "imminent". The airport was closed for 24 hours from Monday morning, disrupting 445 flights and some 59,000 passengers, after Mount Agung, which killed hundreds of people in 1963, sent volcanic ash high into the sky, and officials said cancellations could be extended. "Plumes of smoke are occasionally accompanied by explosive eruptions and the sound of weak blasts that can be heard up to 12 km (7 miles) from the peak," the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement after raising the alert from three to its highest level of four. ''The potential for a larger eruption is imminent," it said, referring to a visible glow of magma at Mount Agung's peak overnight, and warning residents to evacuate a danger zone at a radius of 8-10 km (5-6 miles). Sutopo, a BNPB spokesman, said there had been no casualties so far and 40,000 people had left the area, but tens of thousands still needed to move. Video footage shared by the agency showed volcanic mud flows (lahar) on the mountainside. Lahar carrying mud and large boulders can destroy houses, bridges, and roads in its path. Bali, famous for its surf, beaches, and temples, attracted nearly 5 million visitors last year, and its airport serves as a transport hub for the chain of islands in Indonesia's eastern archipelago. But tourism has slumped in parts of Bali since September when Agung's volcanic tremors began to increase and the alert level was raised to maximum before being lowered in October when seismic activity calmed."I'm really worried. Maybe I'll go somewhere south that I think will be safe to avoid being trapped by the ashfall," said Maria Becker, a German tourist staying in Amed, around 15 km (9 miles) from the volcano. Agung rises majestically over eastern Bali to a height of just over 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). Northeastern Bali is relatively undeveloped compared to the more heavily populated southern tourist hub of Kuta-Seminyak-Nusa Dua. Indonesia's Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG), which is using drones, satellite imagery and other equipment, said predictions were difficult in the absence of instrumental recordings from the last eruption 54 years ago. In 1963, an eruption of Agung killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages by hurling out pyroclastic material, hot ash, lava and lahar. Recordings now show the northeast area of Agung's peak has swollen in recent weeks "indicating there is fairly strong pressure toward the surface", PVMBG said. It warned that if a similar eruption occurred, it could send rocks bigger than fist-size up to 8 km (5 miles) from the summit and volcanic gas to a distance of 10 km (6 miles) within three minutes. Some analysts, however, suggests the threat should not be as great this time because "energy at Mount Agung's magma chamber is not as big" and the ash column only around a quarter as high so far as the 20 km (12 miles) reached in 1963, Sutopo said. Check-Ins Closed Bali airport, about 60 km (37 miles) from the volcano, will be closed for 24 hours, its operator said. Ten alternative airports have been prepared for airlines to divert inbound flights, including in neighbouring provinces. Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd said it was cancelling flights on Tuesday, while Jetstar was offering to exchange Bali bound tickets for other destinations. Television footage showed hundreds of holidaymakers camped inside the airport terminal, some sleeping on their bags, others using mobile telephones. "We have been here (in Bali) for three days we are about to leave today, but just found out our flights have been cancelled. We have got no information because the gates, the check-ins, have been closed indefinitely," said Carlo Oben from Los Angeles. Cover-More, Australia's biggest travel insurer, said on its website customers would only be covered if they had bought policies before the volcano alert was first issued on September 18. Indonesia's hotel and restaurant association said stranded tourists at member hotels would get one night's free stay. The main airport on Lombok, next to Bali, was closed after being open for much of the day, a spokesman said. Airlines avoid flying when volcanic ash is present because it can damage engines and can clog fuel and cooling systems and hamper visibility.

Indonesia orders immediate evacuation as highest alert issued for Bali volcano

People took to Twitter to slam Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after the attack on a Swiss couple in Fatehpur Sikri came to light.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought information from the UP government on the attack on the couple&nbsp;who are currently admitted at Delhi&#39;s Apollo Hospital.&nbsp;

Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, and his girlfriend Marie Droz, 24, who had come to India on September 30, were <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sushma-swaraj-steps-in-after-swiss-couple-brutally-attacked-in-fatehpur-sikri-22931" target="_blank">chased and beaten with sticks and stones on Sunday by a group of youths in Fatehpur Sikri.</a>

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A group of youth attacked the Swiss couple with sticks and stones at the Fatehpur Sikri near Agra on October 22. (ANI)
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The couple was strolling near the railway station in Fatehpur Sikri after a day in Agra when the group started following them and harassing Marie.

Bystanders began taking videos of them on their mobile phones, the couple said as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/fatehpur-sikri-attack-three-of-4-suspects-arrested-all-3-are-minors-say-police-22989" target="_blank">Also read -- Fatehpur Sikri attack: Three of 4 suspects arrested; all 3 are minors, say police</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/attacks-on-foreign-tourists-raise-questions-on-indian-ethos-22979" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Attacks on Swiss couple raise questions on Indian ethics</a>

After external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj asked the state government for a report on the attack, union minister of state for tourism J K Alphons wrote to Yogi Adityanath.&nbsp;

In his letter, Alphons said he is &quot;deeply concerned&quot; by the attacks.

Alphons also asked Adityanath for a speedy response, including the conviction of the guilty, PTI reported.

Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma also condemned the attack, saying it was a matter of shame.

Sharma told PTI it was unfortunate that such an attack had taken place in the country.

Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav also slammed the Uttar Pradesh state government.

He asked the government &quot;what happened to the anti-Romeo squads&quot;, referring to the deployment of police officials set up by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister to curb incidents of sexual harassment soon after he took charge earlier this year.

On Twitter, people vented their&nbsp;anger over the attack.&nbsp;

They included Opposition leaders Milind Deora, Pankhuri Pathak, and Abhishek Singhvi, and author Taslima Nareem.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Such a shameful story on the breakdown of law &amp; order in India&rsquo;s largest state. Is <a href="https://twitter.com/myogiadityanath?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@myogiadityanath</a> listening?<a href="https://t.co/kywJhOB9Ns">https://t.co/kywJhOB9Ns</a>
&mdash; Milind Deora (@milinddeora) <a href="https://twitter.com/milinddeora/status/923382899021266945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Swiss tourist couple stalked, harassed &amp; attacked by 4 people in Fatehpur Sikri, Agra while Yogi ji&#39;s police is busy lathicharging women.
&mdash; Pankhuri Pathak (@pankhuripathak) <a href="https://twitter.com/pankhuripathak/status/923408829253001217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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OMG! Tajmahal tourists are attacked in Agra. Tourists should be increased, should not be decreased. <a href="https://t.co/FdvMAiD3Rr">https://t.co/FdvMAiD3Rr</a>
&mdash; taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/taslimanasreen/status/923447193511518209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Swiss couple was chased &amp; attacked with stones, sticks by a youths in Fatehpur Sikri, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Agra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Agra</a>. Shameful. These goons are the enemies of India.
&mdash; Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) <a href="https://twitter.com/AskAnshul/status/923427432111120384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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?hongi Adityanath visits Taj Mahal but who is responsible for this?Is this Athiti Devo Bhava? UP Law &amp; Order RIP<a href="https://t.co/zGWpgTaoRi">https://t.co/zGWpgTaoRi</a>
&mdash; Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shehzad_Ind/status/923393883119132672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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terrible distortion of India&#39;s athithi Devo Bhav by goondas brutally attacking tourist Swiss couple at fatehsikri! Wht wl world think of us
&mdash; Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrAMSinghvi/status/923392395260997637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Seriously what is going on in our India ? We now need MaSuKa asap. This is unacceptable <a href="https://t.co/YyzPacL2SX">https://t.co/YyzPacL2SX</a>
&mdash; Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) <a href="https://twitter.com/tehseenp/status/923399556951195649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Earlier in the day, Yogi Adityanath had said as many as 50,000 tourists come to Agra every day. &quot;If we can provide them adequate security, the number will rise to 2.5 to 3 lakh.&quot;&nbsp;

He was in Agra to conduct a cleanliness drive at the Taj Mahal.&nbsp;

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Everyday 40,000-50,000 tourists come to Agra, if we can provide them adequate security, the number will rise to 2.5 Lakh - 3 Lakh: UP CM <a href="https://t.co/QyvcG5YtNS">pic.twitter.com/QyvcG5YtNS</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/923489191807164421?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav asked the Yogi Adityanath government what had happened to the anti-Rome squads?

People took to Twitter to slam Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after the attack on a Swiss couple in Fatehpur Sikri came to light. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has sought information from the UP government on the attack on the couple who are currently admitted at Delhi's Apollo Hospital. Quentin Jeremy Clerc, 24, and his girlfriend Marie Droz, 24, who had come to India on September 30, were chased and beaten with sticks and stones on Sunday by a group of youths in Fatehpur Sikri. A group of youth attacked the Swiss couple with sticks and stones at the Fatehpur Sikri near Agra on October 22. (ANI) × The couple was strolling near the railway station in Fatehpur Sikri after a day in Agra when the group started following them and harassing Marie. Bystanders began taking videos of them on their mobile phones, the couple said as they lay on the ground bloodied and bruised. Also read -- Fatehpur Sikri attack: Three of 4 suspects arrested; all 3 are minors, say police Also read: Attacks on Swiss couple raise questions on Indian ethics After external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj asked the state government for a report on the attack, union minister of state for tourism J K Alphons wrote to Yogi Adityanath. In his letter, Alphons said he is "deeply concerned" by the attacks. Alphons also asked Adityanath for a speedy response, including the conviction of the guilty, PTI reported. Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma also condemned the attack, saying it was a matter of shame. Sharma told PTI it was unfortunate that such an attack had taken place in the country. Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav also slammed the Uttar Pradesh state government. He asked the government "what happened to the anti-Romeo squads", referring to the deployment of police officials set up by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister to curb incidents of sexual harassment soon after he took charge earlier this year. On Twitter, people vented their anger over the attack. They included Opposition leaders Milind Deora, Pankhuri Pathak, and Abhishek Singhvi, and author Taslima Nareem. Such a shameful story on the breakdown of law & order in India’s largest state. Is @myogiadityanath listening?https://t.co/kywJhOB9Ns — Milind Deora (@milinddeora) October 26, 2017 × Swiss tourist couple stalked, harassed & attacked by 4 people in Fatehpur Sikri, Agra while Yogi ji's police is busy lathicharging women. — Pankhuri Pathak (@pankhuripathak) October 26, 2017 × OMG! Tajmahal tourists are attacked in Agra. Tourists should be increased, should not be decreased. https://t.co/FdvMAiD3Rr — taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) October 26, 2017 × Swiss couple was chased & attacked with stones, sticks by a youths in Fatehpur Sikri, #Agra. Shameful. These goons are the enemies of India. — Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) October 26, 2017 × ?hongi Adityanath visits Taj Mahal but who is responsible for this?Is this Athiti Devo Bhava? UP Law & Order RIPhttps://t.co/zGWpgTaoRi — Shehzad Poonawalla (@Shehzad_Ind) October 26, 2017 × terrible distortion of India's athithi Devo Bhav by goondas brutally attacking tourist Swiss couple at fatehsikri! Wht wl world think of us — Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) October 26, 2017 × Seriously what is going on in our India ? We now need MaSuKa asap. This is unacceptable https://t.co/YyzPacL2SX — Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) October 26, 2017 × Earlier in the day, Yogi Adityanath had said as many as 50,000 tourists come to Agra every day. "If we can provide them adequate security, the number will rise to 2.5 to 3 lakh." He was in Agra to conduct a cleanliness drive at the Taj Mahal. Everyday 40,000-50,000 tourists come to Agra, if we can provide them adequate security, the number will rise to 2.5 Lakh - 3 Lakh: UP CM pic.twitter.com/QyvcG5YtNS — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 26, 2017 ×

Storm on social media after Swiss couple attacked in Fatehpur Sikri

Carrot juice and gunfire

Israel is a country that stuns you with its beauty and incongruity. And that&rsquo;s an understatement. Our chopper (called BDS, not weird at all!) landed on Mount Bental in the Golan Heights. It&rsquo;s a dormant volcano where lava seeps from the base and not the top of the mountain, leaving the soil around it rich with minerals. There are lush vineyards as far as the eye can see. The Instagram happy lot had just turned on their selfie cameras when we were beckoned to the other side.

There was a UN convoy practicing a drill. The young Irish officers refused to talk. But a few minutes down the road we met more soldiers, men, and women, resting with their backpacks and machine guns, lying under olive trees, posing for cameras. War, perhaps, is just a state of mind for some.&nbsp;

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A female soldier smiling for the photograph shows for some war is just a state of mind. Photo credit: Palki Sharma (Others)
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We were headed to cafe Kofi Annan, packed with tourists and students. Kofi Annan in Hebrew sounds like &lsquo;coffee on the clouds&rsquo;. Apt. around tables laden with salads, coffee, carrot juice, pizzas and oranges, animated conversation ebbed and flowed. It was like any other cafe, except that you heard booming sounds intermittently.

It&rsquo;s the ISIS fighting, said our guide. He passed on a pair of binoculars. In the distance, you could see the Syrian border. This is the only place in the world or one of the only since I don&rsquo;t know better, where you can see the full theatre of war, live and unedited, perched on barstools.

After a while, the sounds ceased. It&rsquo;s lunch break for the fighters, we were told. Of course. Ideology gives only so much sustenance.&nbsp;

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Tourists on the Golan Heights looking able to see the Syrian border. Photo credit: Palki Sharma (Others)
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The scene reminded me of Tom Friedman&rsquo;s description of the Lebanese war in the 80s. An American friend of his was invited for dinner on Christmas Eve. Amid artillery salvos and machine gun fire that shook the neighborhood, the hostess put off serving dinner hoping that things would calm down. After a while, she asked, &ldquo;Would you like to eat now or wait for the cease-fire?&rdquo; I thought it was a bit exaggerated. Not anymore. It&rsquo;s a coping mechanism.

For a country that has lived under the constant shadow of war when it&rsquo;s not fighting one, this perhaps is the only way to survive and thrive. The Israelis have turned it into a fine art, complete with blooming hydrangeas in the kitchen garden and lace doilies on the window sill.&nbsp;

More power to Merav!

We were led into a fine dining restaurant with sparkling wine goblets and oversized lampshades. We were to meet a member of Knesset from the ruling coalition. Merav Ben Ari was to brief us on policy and politics. She walked in pushing a pram. Her three-month-old daughter gurgled greetings as the mother shook hands with us. She&rsquo;s the first lawmaker in Israel to have conceived a baby with a gay friend and opted for shared parenting out of wedlock. At the risk of soundly too credulous and callow, I have to say I cannot imagine a politician in India, much less a woman, doing this and being cheered for it.&nbsp;

She discussed the corruption allegations against Prime Minister Netanyahu while burping her baby and forking her ravioli. The picture was almost inspirational - a working mother, unapologetic about tending to her baby while meeting a delegation, not expected to prove her dedication to her profession while balancing it with &#39;life&#39;. &nbsp;Envy.&nbsp;

All the exhortations about leaning in and claiming your space seemed fraudulent. It&rsquo;s not really a choice for most women where I come from. It&rsquo;s an offer with pre-conditions foisted on them. Most struggle to convince their bosses that they are committed professionals and to their children that they are committed mothers while living in the constant guilt that they might end up being neither.

Ben Ari gave me hope. But unfortunately, I did not follow much of what she said. My contemplative mood coupled with an overdose of cheesecakes that had me looking forward to a nap on the bus to our next destination.

Palki Sharma&nbsp;traveled to Israel for the AJC&#39;s Project Interchange 2017.&nbsp;

The Israelis have turned war into a fine art, complete with blooming hydrangeas in the kitchen garden and lace doilies on the window sill.

Carrot juice and gunfire Israel is a country that stuns you with its beauty and incongruity. And that’s an understatement. Our chopper (called BDS, not weird at all!) landed on Mount Bental in the Golan Heights. It’s a dormant volcano where lava seeps from the base and not the top of the mountain, leaving the soil around it rich with minerals. There are lush vineyards as far as the eye can see. The Instagram happy lot had just turned on their selfie cameras when we were beckoned to the other side. There was a UN convoy practicing a drill. The young Irish officers refused to talk. But a few minutes down the road we met more soldiers, men, and women, resting with their backpacks and machine guns, lying under olive trees, posing for cameras. War, perhaps, is just a state of mind for some. A female soldier smiling for the photograph shows for some war is just a state of mind. Photo credit: Palki Sharma (Others) × We were headed to cafe Kofi Annan, packed with tourists and students. Kofi Annan in Hebrew sounds like ‘coffee on the clouds’. Apt. around tables laden with salads, coffee, carrot juice, pizzas and oranges, animated conversation ebbed and flowed. It was like any other cafe, except that you heard booming sounds intermittently. It’s the ISIS fighting, said our guide. He passed on a pair of binoculars. In the distance, you could see the Syrian border. This is the only place in the world or one of the only since I don’t know better, where you can see the full theatre of war, live and unedited, perched on barstools. After a while, the sounds ceased. It’s lunch break for the fighters, we were told. Of course. Ideology gives only so much sustenance. Tourists on the Golan Heights looking able to see the Syrian border. Photo credit: Palki Sharma (Others) × The scene reminded me of Tom Friedman’s description of the Lebanese war in the 80s. An American friend of his was invited for dinner on Christmas Eve. Amid artillery salvos and machine gun fire that shook the neighborhood, the hostess put off serving dinner hoping that things would calm down. After a while, she asked, “Would you like to eat now or wait for the cease-fire?” I thought it was a bit exaggerated. Not anymore. It’s a coping mechanism. For a country that has lived under the constant shadow of war when it’s not fighting one, this perhaps is the only way to survive and thrive. The Israelis have turned it into a fine art, complete with blooming hydrangeas in the kitchen garden and lace doilies on the window sill. More power to Merav! We were led into a fine dining restaurant with sparkling wine goblets and oversized lampshades. We were to meet a member of Knesset from the ruling coalition. Merav Ben Ari was to brief us on policy and politics. She walked in pushing a pram. Her three-month-old daughter gurgled greetings as the mother shook hands with us. She’s the first lawmaker in Israel to have conceived a baby with a gay friend and opted for shared parenting out of wedlock. At the risk of soundly too credulous and callow, I have to say I cannot imagine a politician in India, much less a woman, doing this and being cheered for it. She discussed the corruption allegations against Prime Minister Netanyahu while burping her baby and forking her ravioli. The picture was almost inspirational - a working mother, unapologetic about tending to her baby while meeting a delegation, not expected to prove her dedication to her profession while balancing it with 'life'. Envy. All the exhortations about leaning in and claiming your space seemed fraudulent. It’s not really a choice for most women where I come from. It’s an offer with pre-conditions foisted on them. Most struggle to convince their bosses that they are committed professionals and to their children that they are committed mothers while living in the constant guilt that they might end up being neither. Ben Ari gave me hope. But unfortunately, I did not follow much of what she said. My contemplative mood coupled with an overdose of cheesecakes that had me looking forward to a nap on the bus to our next destination. Palki Sharma traveled to Israel for the AJC's Project Interchange 2017.

There is an Israel beyond the gunfire

On a highway in Banff National Park in western Canada, tourists hastily park their cars to catch a glimpse of a bear at the edge of the forest.

&quot;We&#39;ve seen some amazing animal life up here, much more than a lot of other places that we&#39;ve gone camping,&quot; Tony Garland, a 60-something American who drove up from Seattle, told AFP.

Garland is part of a wave of American and Asian tourists flowing into Canada&#39;s national parks, known for their awe-inspiring beauty, in part thanks to a favorable exchange rate.

Record attendance is expected this year -- admission is free for both locals and foreign tourists as part of celebrations marking the country&#39;s founding 150 years ago.

But while the expected influx will be a boon to the tourism industry, the increased traffic also means more reckless behavior by visitors -- approaching or feeding wild animals, stomping on flora, and littering along park roadways.

That behavior has raised concerns about how best to ensure the natural wonders of the country&#39;s more than 40 treasured national parks are protected.

&quot;Since January, we&#39;ve doubled the number of reservations for campsites from what it was at the same time last year,&quot; said Parks Canada&#39;s Banff tourism manager Greg Danchuk.

&quot;We have a responsibility to do both, to preserve nature and provide opportunities for people to visit,&quot; said Danchuk.

&nbsp;

More money, more problems

Canada&#39;s national parks contribute Can$1.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) annually to the economy, and employ 22,700 people, according to government figures. In its March budget, the federal government increased funding for Parks Canada by more than Can$300 million over the next two years.

But critics say that money is not going towards conservation efforts, and accuse the government agency of putting commercial interests first in recent years.

&quot;By law, Parks Canada... actually have to put nature first and they haven&#39;t been,&quot; said Anne-Marie Syslak, executive director of the Alberta chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). &quot;Too many people too fast without conservation as the priority -- it&#39;s a real risk for these parks.&quot;

Garland acknowledged that he&#39;d seen some dodgy behavior during his visit to Banff, located in the Rocky Mountains and the most popular of Canada&#39;s parks, with four millions visitors last year.

&quot;Some of the people don&#39;t seem to be that educated (about wildlife),&quot; he said. &quot;They get out of their cars and go near the bears, which is kind of crazy.&quot;

&nbsp;

Development pressures

Edward Johnson, an ecology professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta, said many communities on the edges of the towering Rocky Mountains, once full of miners and oil workers, have repurposed themselves as tourist havens.

In Johnson&#39;s view, tourism and conservation are not mutually exclusive -- monies spent locally by tourists can be used to support conservation efforts, for example.

&quot;The more people who want to come out and see natural areas, the more likely you&#39;re able to preserve more natural areas,&quot; he explained, while adding: &quot;It&#39;s a double-edged sword.&quot;

Johnson said studies on the impact of development over the long term are insufficient. &quot;You have to think carefully about your development and make everyone aware of what the consequences are, one way or the other,&quot; he said.

Also, Parks Canada is still spending more on tourism promotion than on conservation. &quot;Tourism and conservation should lie hand in hand,&quot; echoed Syslak, &quot;because people are coming to these areas for their natural beauty and wildlife.&quot;

&quot;We also have a responsibility to be stewards of these lands so that we have these animals and we keep these places in a good state for the future,&quot; she said.

(AFP)

Record attendance is expected this year, but the increased traffic means more reckless behaviour from visitors

On a highway in Banff National Park in western Canada, tourists hastily park their cars to catch a glimpse of a bear at the edge of the forest. "We've seen some amazing animal life up here, much more than a lot of other places that we've gone camping," Tony Garland, a 60-something American who drove up from Seattle, told AFP. Garland is part of a wave of American and Asian tourists flowing into Canada's national parks, known for their awe-inspiring beauty, in part thanks to a favorable exchange rate. Record attendance is expected this year -- admission is free for both locals and foreign tourists as part of celebrations marking the country's founding 150 years ago. But while the expected influx will be a boon to the tourism industry, the increased traffic also means more reckless behavior by visitors -- approaching or feeding wild animals, stomping on flora, and littering along park roadways. That behavior has raised concerns about how best to ensure the natural wonders of the country's more than 40 treasured national parks are protected. "Since January, we've doubled the number of reservations for campsites from what it was at the same time last year," said Parks Canada's Banff tourism manager Greg Danchuk. "We have a responsibility to do both, to preserve nature and provide opportunities for people to visit," said Danchuk. More money, more problems Canada's national parks contribute Can$1.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) annually to the economy, and employ 22,700 people, according to government figures. In its March budget, the federal government increased funding for Parks Canada by more than Can$300 million over the next two years. But critics say that money is not going towards conservation efforts, and accuse the government agency of putting commercial interests first in recent years. "By law, Parks Canada... actually have to put nature first and they haven't been," said Anne-Marie Syslak, executive director of the Alberta chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS). "Too many people too fast without conservation as the priority -- it's a real risk for these parks." Garland acknowledged that he'd seen some dodgy behavior during his visit to Banff, located in the Rocky Mountains and the most popular of Canada's parks, with four millions visitors last year. "Some of the people don't seem to be that educated (about wildlife)," he said. "They get out of their cars and go near the bears, which is kind of crazy." Development pressures Edward Johnson, an ecology professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta, said many communities on the edges of the towering Rocky Mountains, once full of miners and oil workers, have repurposed themselves as tourist havens. In Johnson's view, tourism and conservation are not mutually exclusive -- monies spent locally by tourists can be used to support conservation efforts, for example. "The more people who want to come out and see natural areas, the more likely you're able to preserve more natural areas," he explained, while adding: "It's a double-edged sword." Johnson said studies on the impact of development over the long term are insufficient. "You have to think carefully about your development and make everyone aware of what the consequences are, one way or the other," he said. Also, Parks Canada is still spending more on tourism promotion than on conservation. "Tourism and conservation should lie hand in hand," echoed Syslak, "because people are coming to these areas for their natural beauty and wildlife." "We also have a responsibility to be stewards of these lands so that we have these animals and we keep these places in a good state for the future," she said. (AFP)

In Canada, parks thrive but conservationists cry foul

Two Australian tourists accused of stealing a bicycle have been forced to take a &quot;walk of shame&quot; through an Indonesian island with signs round their necks, an official said Tuesday.

&quot;I am thieve (sic). Don&#39;t do what I did,&quot; the signs read.

The tourists, whose identities were not revealed, allegedly stole the bicycle about 10 days ago on Gili Trawangan, a popular tourist destination in central Indonesia. &nbsp;

CCTV recordings showed the two Australians taking a bike from the hotel, said village chief Muhamad Taufik.

The hotel manager reported the case to the authorities who caught the pair the following day, Taufik added.

&quot;We interrogated them, made an agreement, paraded them around the island and forced them to leave Gili,&quot; Taufik told AFP.

The two were the first foreigners this year to undergo a &quot;walk of shame&quot; on the island. A few Indonesians have been forced to take part this year in similar parades for theft.

National laws are in force on the island but it is unclear whether the Australians underwent a formal police investigation.

&quot;The walk of shame parade is a regulation in our village. I don&#39;t know whether the police are charging them now, what matters to me is that they&#39;re now gone,&quot; Taufik said.

Such parades have taken place for years on Gili Trawangan, a tiny island off the coast of Lombok and just east of the major resort island of Bali.

(AFP)

CCTV footage showed two Australian tourists allegedly stealing the bicycle from a hotel in Indonesia.

Two Australian tourists accused of stealing a bicycle have been forced to take a "walk of shame" through an Indonesian island with signs round their necks, an official said Tuesday. "I am thieve (sic). Don't do what I did," the signs read. The tourists, whose identities were not revealed, allegedly stole the bicycle about 10 days ago on Gili Trawangan, a popular tourist destination in central Indonesia. CCTV recordings showed the two Australians taking a bike from the hotel, said village chief Muhamad Taufik. The hotel manager reported the case to the authorities who caught the pair the following day, Taufik added. "We interrogated them, made an agreement, paraded them around the island and forced them to leave Gili," Taufik told AFP. The two were the first foreigners this year to undergo a "walk of shame" on the island. A few Indonesians have been forced to take part this year in similar parades for theft. National laws are in force on the island but it is unclear whether the Australians underwent a formal police investigation. "The walk of shame parade is a regulation in our village. I don't know whether the police are charging them now, what matters to me is that they're now gone," Taufik said. Such parades have taken place for years on Gili Trawangan, a tiny island off the coast of Lombok and just east of the major resort island of Bali. (AFP)

Tourists Paraded In 'Walk Of Shame' Over Bicycle Theft In Indonesia

Want an Olympic license plate, or a hand-embroidered Olympic handkerchief? 
 
How about Olympic cocaine? 
 
These and other products are among those being seized by Brazilian police in a crackdown on less-than-approved use of the five rings, mascots and other Olympic symbols ahead of the Games, which start in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. 
 
In a country where pirate versions of just about any product are as common as tropical fruit, Olympic organisers are battling a tide of bootleg goods sold and produced by those seeking to profit from the hype around the first-ever Games held in South America. 
 
&quot;These are opportunists,&quot; says Valeria Arag?o, a police inspector in charge of a 20-member counterfeit squad that in recent weeks has conducted raids across the city, confiscating all manner of ersatz Olympic goods.&nbsp;During one recent sting, she caught an elderly merchant, who had just embroidered &quot;Olympics 2016&quot; on a series of handkerchiefs, hanging one in her shop window. 
 
Narcotics police, meanwhile, in recent busts have even seized bricks of pressed marijuana and packets of cocaine that traffickers adorned with the Olympic rings. 
 
&quot;There are all sorts of people out there trading on something that has little to do with the spirit of sport or Olympic values,&quot; says Sylmara Multini, the director of licensing and retail for Rio 2016, as the organising committee is known. 
 
Money and sports 
 
The Olympics, of course, are as much about money as they are about sports. 
 
Officially, those who are supposed to get in on the action are sponsors and local partners that at present include major multinationals like Coca-Cola Co, McDonald&#39;s Corp and Banco Bradesco SA, a big Brazilian bank. 
 
Then there are licensees, who manufacture and sell the roughly 5,000 official trinkets, garments and souvenirs hawked by Rio 2016.&nbsp;Combined, revenues from those sources for Rio 2016 are expected to total almost $1 billion. 
 
But in Brazil, the black market is big business. Sales of pirate and counterfeit goods each year exceed well over $30 billion, according to estimates by various industries. 
 
It is not the first time Olympic authorities have wrestled with the problem. Officials in China, home to many black-market manufacturers, also fought counterfeiters before the 2008 Games in Beijing. 
 
Over the past week, the squad led by Arag?o raided souvenir stands at well-known tourist markets in the popular beachfront neighbourhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema. They seized over 2,300 items, ranging from pens and key chains to T-shirts and beach towels. 
 
&quot;People want to take advantage of an event like this, whether they know it&#39;s illegal or not,&quot; Arag?o says.&nbsp;Some of those caught in the dragnet are left scratching their heads. 
 
&quot;Rio 2016? How is that protected? It&#39;s just a word and a year,&quot; says Washington Valderrama, a vendor of souvenir license plates in Copacabana, who lost about $600 in revenue when the cops took 75 of them during a sting last week. 
 
&#39;Come back later&#39; 
 
A law passed in May of this year, complementing existing copyright legislation, specifically spells out protection for terms, in any language, including &quot;Rio 2016,&quot; &quot;Olympic Games,&quot; &quot;Rio Olympiad,&quot; and &quot;any other abbreviation or variation that could be created&quot;. 
 
In a giant white tent on the sands of Copacabana beach, the main drag for Rio tourism, Rio 2016 recently set up what they are calling a &quot;megastore&quot;. 
 
There, they peddle official merchandise including Olympic bikinis ($85), miniature metal replicas of the official torch ($170) and polyester ties peppered with green and yellow Olympic golf logos ($66). 
 
&quot;It&#39;s kind of pricey,&quot; says Cristian Krummenauer, a 38-year old visitor, eyeing a $40 red wine with an Olympic sailing logo bottled by a vintner near his hometown in southern Brazil. &quot;It&#39;s cheaper where I live, but it wouldn&#39;t have this nice label.&quot; 
 
A two minute walk up the shoreline, past a phony Spiderman posing for pictures and an Olympic-themed castle crafted by one of Copacabana&#39;s well-known sand sculptors, a street vendor touts garments folded across a large blanket. 
 
He offers one, a white polyester T-shirt emblazoned with Olympic rings, for about $9; one-third of the price of the official cotton version sold back at the &quot;megastore&quot;. 
 
As he launched into a pitch offering two for just $15, another peddler runs over and points: municipal guards, well-known to them as part of the crackdown, are headed their way. 
 
&quot;I gotta go,&quot; the vendor yelled, grabbing his blanket by the corners, snatching it into a bundle, and running off into the crowded beachfront. &quot;But come back later.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Olympic organisers battle a tide of bootleg goods sold and produced by those seeking to profit from the first-ever Games in South America

Want an Olympic license plate, or a hand-embroidered Olympic handkerchief? How about Olympic cocaine? These and other products are among those being seized by Brazilian police in a crackdown on less-than-approved use of the five rings, mascots and other Olympic symbols ahead of the Games, which start in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. In a country where pirate versions of just about any product are as common as tropical fruit, Olympic organisers are battling a tide of bootleg goods sold and produced by those seeking to profit from the hype around the first-ever Games held in South America. "These are opportunists," says Valeria Arag?o, a police inspector in charge of a 20-member counterfeit squad that in recent weeks has conducted raids across the city, confiscating all manner of ersatz Olympic goods. During one recent sting, she caught an elderly merchant, who had just embroidered "Olympics 2016" on a series of handkerchiefs, hanging one in her shop window. Narcotics police, meanwhile, in recent busts have even seized bricks of pressed marijuana and packets of cocaine that traffickers adorned with the Olympic rings. "There are all sorts of people out there trading on something that has little to do with the spirit of sport or Olympic values," says Sylmara Multini, the director of licensing and retail for Rio 2016, as the organising committee is known. Money and sports The Olympics, of course, are as much about money as they are about sports. Officially, those who are supposed to get in on the action are sponsors and local partners that at present include major multinationals like Coca-Cola Co, McDonald's Corp and Banco Bradesco SA, a big Brazilian bank. Then there are licensees, who manufacture and sell the roughly 5,000 official trinkets, garments and souvenirs hawked by Rio 2016. Combined, revenues from those sources for Rio 2016 are expected to total almost $1 billion. But in Brazil, the black market is big business. Sales of pirate and counterfeit goods each year exceed well over $30 billion, according to estimates by various industries. It is not the first time Olympic authorities have wrestled with the problem. Officials in China, home to many black-market manufacturers, also fought counterfeiters before the 2008 Games in Beijing. Over the past week, the squad led by Arag?o raided souvenir stands at well-known tourist markets in the popular beachfront neighbourhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema. They seized over 2,300 items, ranging from pens and key chains to T-shirts and beach towels. "People want to take advantage of an event like this, whether they know it's illegal or not," Arag?o says. Some of those caught in the dragnet are left scratching their heads. "Rio 2016? How is that protected? It's just a word and a year," says Washington Valderrama, a vendor of souvenir license plates in Copacabana, who lost about $600 in revenue when the cops took 75 of them during a sting last week. 'Come back later' A law passed in May of this year, complementing existing copyright legislation, specifically spells out protection for terms, in any language, including "Rio 2016," "Olympic Games," "Rio Olympiad," and "any other abbreviation or variation that could be created". In a giant white tent on the sands of Copacabana beach, the main drag for Rio tourism, Rio 2016 recently set up what they are calling a "megastore". There, they peddle official merchandise including Olympic bikinis ($85), miniature metal replicas of the official torch ($170) and polyester ties peppered with green and yellow Olympic golf logos ($66). "It's kind of pricey," says Cristian Krummenauer, a 38-year old visitor, eyeing a $40 red wine with an Olympic sailing logo bottled by a vintner near his hometown in southern Brazil. "It's cheaper where I live, but it wouldn't have this nice label." A two minute walk up the shoreline, past a phony Spiderman posing for pictures and an Olympic-themed castle crafted by one of Copacabana's well-known sand sculptors, a street vendor touts garments folded across a large blanket. He offers one, a white polyester T-shirt emblazoned with Olympic rings, for about $9; one-third of the price of the official cotton version sold back at the "megastore". As he launched into a pitch offering two for just $15, another peddler runs over and points: municipal guards, well-known to them as part of the crackdown, are headed their way. "I gotta go," the vendor yelled, grabbing his blanket by the corners, snatching it into a bundle, and running off into the crowded beachfront. "But come back later." (Reuters)

Brazil police crackdown on unlicensed Rio merchandise

Rio&#39;s top security official vowed yesterday to review security for the Olympic torch after rioting protesters blocked the relay ceremony and apparently extinguished the flame. 
 
The violent clashes on late Wednesday in Angra dos Reis, a coastal resort south of Rio, cast a shadow over final preparations for South America`s first Olympics, which start August 5. 
 
In another worry for organisers, Rio metro employees threatened yesterday to go on strike on the eve of the Games if they do not get a 9.83 per cent salary raise, raising the possibility of transport chaos for some 500,000 tourists expected to attend.&nbsp;Rio de Janeiro state security secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame said that policing during the torch relay - which will have visited more than 300 Brazilian cities by the time of the opening ceremony in Rio`s Maracana stadium - needs improving. 
 
&quot;There has never been a problem,&quot; he was quoted as saying by G1 news site. &quot;Yesterday there was one. This needs to be reevaluated and we will be paying more attention to this question.&quot; 
 
&quot;Extinguishing the torch is a crime,&quot; he warned.The crowd, protesting a lack of public transport and the late payment of salaries by the nearly bankrupt Rio state, attacked the procession in Angra dos Reis before being driven off by police using tear gas and rubber bullets. 
 
In footage of the clashes shared online and on Globo television, someone can be heard shouting triumphantly: &quot;The torch has been put out!&quot; as the torch bearer, carrying an unlit torch, is hustled into the safety of a bus. 
 
The Rio organising committee said in a statement that the torch relay &quot;had to be temporarily interrupted&quot;.&nbsp;However, &quot;out of consideration to the inhabitants of the city who wanted to attend the relay,&quot; it was restarted at the next stage &quot;after an evaluation by the security team.&quot; 
 
Organisers portray the torch`s nationwide journey as a chance to ignite public enthusiasm for the Olympics.&nbsp;But repeated security incidents have turned the torch into a symbol of organisational glitches and social discontent. 
 
Highlight reels of torch mishaps have gone viral online, including several attempts to extinguish the flame, runners falling over, a police motorbike crashing into the parade, a man attempting to seize the torch, and political protests. 
 
In June, a rare, captive jaguar - the same animal chosen as Brazil`s Olympic mascot - was shot dead after escaping handlers at a torch ceremony.There was better news for Rio organizers in the arrival overnight of Jamaican sprinting superstar Usain Bolt, who hopes to defend his multiple gold medals. 
 
Wearing a black tracksuit with white stripes, sunglasses and headphones, Bolt was in a hurry to leave the airport. &quot;I didn`t sleep on the flight,&quot; he told a welcoming committee of journalists and officials. 
 
A more controversial set of arrivals were expected later in the day, with some 70 Russian athletes due to arrive in the early evening, their team slashed by bans in a scandal over state-sponsored doping. 
 
Rio organizers were also still racing to complete emergency repairs to the athletes` Village, where some 19,000 team members will live. 
 
Half of the buildings had problems ranging from blocked toilets to faulty wiring when teams began moving in over the weekend. 
 
Although these glitches were expected to be ironed out by the end of yesterday, new controversy was brewing over allegations by government labor inspectors that the approximately 600 workers are being made to work nearly around the clock without legal contracts. Meanwhile, officials said that a Brazilian man was arrested at his home in Nova Iguacu, in Rio de Janeiro state, on terrorism charges. However, no details of the allegations were given. 
 
The justice department said the indictment against Chaer Kalaun, 28, a Brazilian of Lebanese descent, was sealed, but had been filed under anti-terrorism laws. 
 
His lawyer, Edson Ferreira, said the allegations lacked substance.&nbsp;&quot;There`s nothing more than suspicions that he put posts on Facebook,&quot; the lawyer said.&nbsp;&quot;He did not pledge allegiance, he was not recruiting, or bringing people or collaborating or encouraging any projects of the Islamic State.&quot; 
 
Ferreira said his client is a Muslim and lived in Lebanon when he was an adolescent. 
 
Unconfirmed Brazilian media reports said police suspect Kalaun of recruiting for extremist organisations in Brazil. He was also arrested during the 2014 World Cup on charges of illegal firearms possession. 
 
The arrest came a week after 12 other Brazilian men were arrested for allegedly trying to form a terrorism cell. Officials downplayed the seriousness of the group, calling them &quot;amateur&quot; and &quot;disorganised.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The crowd protested late payment of salaries by the Rio state. Employees also threatened metro strike for a 9.83% salary raise yesterday

Rio's top security official vowed yesterday to review security for the Olympic torch after rioting protesters blocked the relay ceremony and apparently extinguished the flame. The violent clashes on late Wednesday in Angra dos Reis, a coastal resort south of Rio, cast a shadow over final preparations for South America`s first Olympics, which start August 5. In another worry for organisers, Rio metro employees threatened yesterday to go on strike on the eve of the Games if they do not get a 9.83 per cent salary raise, raising the possibility of transport chaos for some 500,000 tourists expected to attend. Rio de Janeiro state security secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame said that policing during the torch relay - which will have visited more than 300 Brazilian cities by the time of the opening ceremony in Rio`s Maracana stadium - needs improving. "There has never been a problem," he was quoted as saying by G1 news site. "Yesterday there was one. This needs to be reevaluated and we will be paying more attention to this question." "Extinguishing the torch is a crime," he warned.The crowd, protesting a lack of public transport and the late payment of salaries by the nearly bankrupt Rio state, attacked the procession in Angra dos Reis before being driven off by police using tear gas and rubber bullets. In footage of the clashes shared online and on Globo television, someone can be heard shouting triumphantly: "The torch has been put out!" as the torch bearer, carrying an unlit torch, is hustled into the safety of a bus. The Rio organising committee said in a statement that the torch relay "had to be temporarily interrupted". However, "out of consideration to the inhabitants of the city who wanted to attend the relay," it was restarted at the next stage "after an evaluation by the security team." Organisers portray the torch`s nationwide journey as a chance to ignite public enthusiasm for the Olympics. But repeated security incidents have turned the torch into a symbol of organisational glitches and social discontent. Highlight reels of torch mishaps have gone viral online, including several attempts to extinguish the flame, runners falling over, a police motorbike crashing into the parade, a man attempting to seize the torch, and political protests. In June, a rare, captive jaguar - the same animal chosen as Brazil`s Olympic mascot - was shot dead after escaping handlers at a torch ceremony.There was better news for Rio organizers in the arrival overnight of Jamaican sprinting superstar Usain Bolt, who hopes to defend his multiple gold medals. Wearing a black tracksuit with white stripes, sunglasses and headphones, Bolt was in a hurry to leave the airport. "I didn`t sleep on the flight," he told a welcoming committee of journalists and officials. A more controversial set of arrivals were expected later in the day, with some 70 Russian athletes due to arrive in the early evening, their team slashed by bans in a scandal over state-sponsored doping. Rio organizers were also still racing to complete emergency repairs to the athletes` Village, where some 19,000 team members will live. Half of the buildings had problems ranging from blocked toilets to faulty wiring when teams began moving in over the weekend. Although these glitches were expected to be ironed out by the end of yesterday, new controversy was brewing over allegations by government labor inspectors that the approximately 600 workers are being made to work nearly around the clock without legal contracts. Meanwhile, officials said that a Brazilian man was arrested at his home in Nova Iguacu, in Rio de Janeiro state, on terrorism charges. However, no details of the allegations were given. The justice department said the indictment against Chaer Kalaun, 28, a Brazilian of Lebanese descent, was sealed, but had been filed under anti-terrorism laws. His lawyer, Edson Ferreira, said the allegations lacked substance. "There`s nothing more than suspicions that he put posts on Facebook," the lawyer said. "He did not pledge allegiance, he was not recruiting, or bringing people or collaborating or encouraging any projects of the Islamic State." Ferreira said his client is a Muslim and lived in Lebanon when he was an adolescent. Unconfirmed Brazilian media reports said police suspect Kalaun of recruiting for extremist organisations in Brazil. He was also arrested during the 2014 World Cup on charges of illegal firearms possession. The arrest came a week after 12 other Brazilian men were arrested for allegedly trying to form a terrorism cell. Officials downplayed the seriousness of the group, calling them "amateur" and "disorganised." (AFP)

Brazil reviews Olympic torch security after protesters extinguish flame

More than 3,000 vacationers were evacuated after a blaze threatened to spread across four campsites in the south of France, as a fireman died on his way to the scene, officials said. 
 
Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed. 
 
&quot;We saw smoke...the people from the campsite asked us to leave straight away and leave our cars behind us,&quot; said one retired holidaymaker. 
 
The fireman travelling to the site lost control of his vehicle due to an unexplained engine fault and died at the scene. 
&nbsp; 
Three volunteer firefighters in the fire-engine with him were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, local official Helene Girardot told AFP. 
 
A further 17 firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation and two others were injured when one of the campers gas canisters exploded as they battled the flames. 
 
All but a handful of families were able to return to their camps by nightfall. 
 
(AFP)

Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed

More than 3,000 vacationers were evacuated after a blaze threatened to spread across four campsites in the south of France, as a fireman died on his way to the scene, officials said. Strong winds whipped up the flames in Torreilles, Pyrenees-Orientales, where thousands of French and other European tourists were staying, with 22 bungalows completely destroyed. "We saw smoke...the people from the campsite asked us to leave straight away and leave our cars behind us," said one retired holidaymaker. The fireman travelling to the site lost control of his vehicle due to an unexplained engine fault and died at the scene. Three volunteer firefighters in the fire-engine with him were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, local official Helene Girardot told AFP. A further 17 firefighters suffered from smoke inhalation and two others were injured when one of the campers gas canisters exploded as they battled the flames. All but a handful of families were able to return to their camps by nightfall. (AFP)

3,000 campers evacuated in French blaze, fireman dead

&quot;Tourist go home&quot;. The slogan daubed on a wall in the centre of Palma, the capital of Spain&#39;s holiday island of Mallorca, points to growing frustration with a rising tide of tourists. 
 
The largest island in the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean, which is home to one million people, expects to receive over ten million visitors this year, a new record. 
 
The crowds have been so large that French tourist Mathilde Boudet, who visited Mallorca and its neighbouring island Menorca with her partner last month, found access to a popular cove closed off by police. 
 
&quot;We weren`t expecting that,&quot; the 32-year-old said. 
 
Spain is enjoying a surge in tourism, in part as fears over terrorism drive wary travellers away from rival sunshine destinations in North Africa and Turkey and back to former favourites in southern Europe. 
 
But the rise in visitors has led to grumbling from locals in tourist hotspots like Palma, who complain of soaring property prices and rents even as they welcome the jobs they help create.&nbsp;The discomfort was reflected in graffiti messages which appeared in April in the historical heart of Palma which were quickly cleaned up by municipal workers. 
 
&quot;Tourism is destroying our city&quot; was among the slogans spray painted on city walls along with &quot;Tourist go home, refugees welcome&quot;. 
 
Roughly 80 per cent of Mallorca&#39;s economy depends on tourism.&nbsp;The island has long been a popular beach destination, especially with visitors from Britain and Germany who favour all-inclusive package holidays and arrive on low-cost flights.&nbsp;Many foreigners move to Mallorca, drawn by its cove beaches and mild weather. 
 
Foreigners account for 40 per cent of property sales in Mallorca, according to German premium real estate agency Engel &amp; Voelkers. In the trendy Santa Catalina neighbourhood, a former fisherman&#39;s quarter west of the city centre, with traditional homes with forest-green shutters, 14 real estate agencies market properties, often in English. 
 
The neighbourhood is gradually changing as boutiques selling vintage clothing and stores offering Vespa scooters for rent replace traditional shops.&nbsp;A small apartment can fetch hundreds of thousands of Euros. An old fisherman&#39;s house that was converted to a luxury triplex is listed for 577,500 Euros ($642,665).&nbsp;&quot;Islanders can&#39;t afford it,&quot; said Jacinta Galindo, the president of the Santa Catalina neighbours association. 
 
Rents too are on the rise. A two bedroom apartment in Santa Catalina rents for 700 Euros a month, while the average salary for a waiter is 1,100-1,200 Euros.&nbsp;But despite the complaints from locals over rising real estate prices, Galindo said the graffiti was &quot;an isolated case&quot;. 
 
In the central La Seu neighbourhood, home to Palma&#39;s main monument such as its imposing cathedral that dominates the city&#39;s palm-lined waterfront, residents want the arrival of cruise ships to be more evenly spread out. 
 
The ships, which are avoiding Tunisia and Turkey due to terrorist attacks, can pump thousands of tourists into the city for just a few hours, said Luis Clar, who heads the La Seu neighbours association. &quot;There is a percentage, which is not yet very high but which exists, of people who question the effects of tourism,&quot; said Biel Barcelo, the tourism minister in the regional government of the Balearic islands. 
 
The left-wing government in charge of the archipelago since 2015 began charging in July a tourism tax of up to two Euros for overnight stays, which is expected to bring in 60 million Euros per year. 
 
The money will be used for environmental projects and to restore historical sights. 
 
Local green group GOB feels the tax is not enough. They fear rising tourism is putting too much pressure on natural resources like water and demand a limit on the number of tourist lodgings. 
 
There are 230,000 hotel beds available in Mallorca, according to industry figures.&nbsp;But this does not count beds available through home rental sites such as Airbnb &quot;contributing to a sense of saturation, which has grown in the past two years,&quot; said GOB spokeswoman Margalida Ramis. 
 
Mallorca has become &quot;Barcelona&#39;s granddaughter&quot;, she added in a reference to Spain&#39;s second-largest city which has struggled to deal with the effects of a visitor boom. 
 
Barcelona mayor Ada Colau in July 2015 halted the issue of new hotel licences for one year and has introduced hefty fines for illegal rental of apartments to tourists. 
 
(AFP)

'Tourism is destroying our city' was among the slogans spray painted on city walls, along with 'Tourist go home, refugees welcome'

"Tourist go home". The slogan daubed on a wall in the centre of Palma, the capital of Spain's holiday island of Mallorca, points to growing frustration with a rising tide of tourists. The largest island in the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean, which is home to one million people, expects to receive over ten million visitors this year, a new record. The crowds have been so large that French tourist Mathilde Boudet, who visited Mallorca and its neighbouring island Menorca with her partner last month, found access to a popular cove closed off by police. "We weren`t expecting that," the 32-year-old said. Spain is enjoying a surge in tourism, in part as fears over terrorism drive wary travellers away from rival sunshine destinations in North Africa and Turkey and back to former favourites in southern Europe. But the rise in visitors has led to grumbling from locals in tourist hotspots like Palma, who complain of soaring property prices and rents even as they welcome the jobs they help create. The discomfort was reflected in graffiti messages which appeared in April in the historical heart of Palma which were quickly cleaned up by municipal workers. "Tourism is destroying our city" was among the slogans spray painted on city walls along with "Tourist go home, refugees welcome". Roughly 80 per cent of Mallorca's economy depends on tourism. The island has long been a popular beach destination, especially with visitors from Britain and Germany who favour all-inclusive package holidays and arrive on low-cost flights. Many foreigners move to Mallorca, drawn by its cove beaches and mild weather. Foreigners account for 40 per cent of property sales in Mallorca, according to German premium real estate agency Engel & Voelkers. In the trendy Santa Catalina neighbourhood, a former fisherman's quarter west of the city centre, with traditional homes with forest-green shutters, 14 real estate agencies market properties, often in English. The neighbourhood is gradually changing as boutiques selling vintage clothing and stores offering Vespa scooters for rent replace traditional shops. A small apartment can fetch hundreds of thousands of Euros. An old fisherman's house that was converted to a luxury triplex is listed for 577,500 Euros ($642,665). "Islanders can't afford it," said Jacinta Galindo, the president of the Santa Catalina neighbours association. Rents too are on the rise. A two bedroom apartment in Santa Catalina rents for 700 Euros a month, while the average salary for a waiter is 1,100-1,200 Euros. But despite the complaints from locals over rising real estate prices, Galindo said the graffiti was "an isolated case". In the central La Seu neighbourhood, home to Palma's main monument such as its imposing cathedral that dominates the city's palm-lined waterfront, residents want the arrival of cruise ships to be more evenly spread out. The ships, which are avoiding Tunisia and Turkey due to terrorist attacks, can pump thousands of tourists into the city for just a few hours, said Luis Clar, who heads the La Seu neighbours association. "There is a percentage, which is not yet very high but which exists, of people who question the effects of tourism," said Biel Barcelo, the tourism minister in the regional government of the Balearic islands. The left-wing government in charge of the archipelago since 2015 began charging in July a tourism tax of up to two Euros for overnight stays, which is expected to bring in 60 million Euros per year. The money will be used for environmental projects and to restore historical sights. Local green group GOB feels the tax is not enough. They fear rising tourism is putting too much pressure on natural resources like water and demand a limit on the number of tourist lodgings. There are 230,000 hotel beds available in Mallorca, according to industry figures. But this does not count beds available through home rental sites such as Airbnb "contributing to a sense of saturation, which has grown in the past two years," said GOB spokeswoman Margalida Ramis. Mallorca has become "Barcelona's granddaughter", she added in a reference to Spain's second-largest city which has struggled to deal with the effects of a visitor boom. Barcelona mayor Ada Colau in July 2015 halted the issue of new hotel licences for one year and has introduced hefty fines for illegal rental of apartments to tourists. (AFP)

Spain's Mallorca struggles with rising tourism tide

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck off the Indonesian island of Lombok today, the United States Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. 
 
The earthquake, which hit 234 km (145 miles) south of Lombok, at a depth of 29 km (18 miles), also briefly startled tourists on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. 
 
The quake was strong, with tremors lasting for three to four seconds, but did not trigger a tsunami alert, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of Indonesia&#39;s Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). 
 
&quot;The quake went on for quite a while,&quot; said a witness in Lombok. &quot;People ran out from houses in panic.&quot; 
 
In December 2004, a strong earthquake off the Indonesian Island&nbsp;Sumatra&nbsp;had triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in 14 countries.Indonesia was the worst hit, followed by Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.&nbsp;

The quake hit 234 km south of Lombok and briefly startled tourists on Bali but did not trigger a tsunami alert

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck off the Indonesian island of Lombok today, the United States Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The earthquake, which hit 234 km (145 miles) south of Lombok, at a depth of 29 km (18 miles), also briefly startled tourists on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. The quake was strong, with tremors lasting for three to four seconds, but did not trigger a tsunami alert, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). "The quake went on for quite a while," said a witness in Lombok. "People ran out from houses in panic." In December 2004, a strong earthquake off the Indonesian Island Sumatra had triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in 14 countries.Indonesia was the worst hit, followed by Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

6.2 earthquake hits Indonesia, no casualties reported

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