Top Stories
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Spain bullfighting ban pushed by Nobel prize winner
DestinationsNobel Literature laureate J.M. Coetzee has called on Spain to abandon plans to protect bullfighting, making a rare public appeal against what he called “an archaic form of entertainment.” In an open letter to Spain’s legislature released Thursday, Coetzee called bullfights “a throwback to a time when people took no heed of the feelings of [...]
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The world’s most popular international meeting destinations
DestinationsThe number and frequency of meetings held by international associations, and the business travel they generate, is on the rise. The International Congress and Convention Association estimates that the number of conventions increased by more than a thousand to 11,150 meetings in 2012. Europe is the most popular destination for international meetings with 12 out [...]
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Wind turbines are spoiling Scotland natural beauty, worry conservationists
DestinationsMan-made structures can now be seen from at least 70 per cent of Scotland, with a recent five per cent increase in the area affected by development being blamed on the spread of wind turbines. An official report from Scottish Natural Heritage, the environment agency, found that the figure had risen from 65 per cent [...]
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Europe’s days as the leader of global tourism are numbered
DestinationsDespite rising competition from tourism destinations in Asia and emerging economies, Europe welcomed more than half of all international tourist arrivals in 2012, or 535 million foreign visitors, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Europe also earned the largest regional share of international tourism receipts, which reached an estimated total of $1075 billion [...]
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TUI’s new CEO plans operations overhaul with $1.3 billion profit goal
DigitalTUI AG said it plans to generate 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in operating profit by 2015 and resume its dividend as new Chief Executive Officer Friedrich Joussen overhauls Europe’s largest tour operator. Joussen, who took over from Michael Frenzel in February, will cut administrative costs and jobs at the corporate headquarter in Hanover, Germany, [...]
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London locals create personal tourism campaign that bests official videos
DestinationsA pair of Londoners enlisted the help of dozens of locals – including Dermot O’Leary – in an attempt to persuade a friend to visit the city. Tim Benzie and Paul Joseph made this quirky film featuring dozen the city’s top attractions in the hope of convincing Tim’s niece, who lives in Australia, to visit [...]
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Royal Caribbean and TUI drum up cruise interest with heavy metal voyage
TransportMiland Petrozza, the front man of German thrash metal veterans Kreator, is more used to his fans wading through mud and sleeping in tents than coming to his concerts from an afternoon of shuffle board. Yet when he shrieked the lyrics “let there be darkness, let there be blood tonight” across the decks of luxury [...]
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U.S. has the highest disposable income, as UK slips down the list
DestinationsThe UK has plunged down an economic wellbeing league, falling from fifth place to 12th over six years, according to a new report that underlines the pressure on Britons’ finances amid rising unemployment. The Office for National Statistics ranked OECD countries in terms of disposable household income from 2005 to 2011, but on a separate [...]
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British tourism gets big spotlight with Prince Harry and Cameron’s NYC visit
DestinationsBritish Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince Harry visited a design studio in New York City on Tuesday as part of a campaign to promote his country as a tourist destination and U.S. business partner. The two arrived at Milk Studios on a red double-decker bus. With a view of the Hudson River from a [...]
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Greek prime minister tells Greeks to put on a happy face for summer tourists
DestinationsThe Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaras, issued an unusual appeal on Tuesday, asking his compatriots to put on their best face as the debt-choked country prepares to accept 17 million tourists – an all-time record. Although mired in its worst economic crisis in modern times, Greece is braced for a surge in arrivals with visitors [...]
