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Native Alaskan tribes use tourism to turn a profit and keep traditions alive
TransportAn Alaska Native village corporation that operates a popular cruise ship destination has launched a commercial consulting service for others seeking help developing their own cultural tourism ventures. Huna Totem Corp. opened Alaska Native Voices on Wednesday. Huna Totem is the village Native corporation for Hoonah — a largely Tlingit community of 775 in southeast [...]
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All the happy people live in Scandinavia: A study of the happiest and saddest countries
DestinationsThe United States is a nation in decline. Last year the land of the free and the home of the brave came in 10th place in the annual rankings of World’s Happiest Countries. This year the U.S.A. has slipped to 12th. This marks the first time in the six-year history of the Legatum Institute‘s Prosperity [...]
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Mexico markets Maya prophecy to boost tourism through the end of 2012
DestinationsTo some doomsday interpreters, completion of the Maya calendar cycle today is a sign of an impending apocalypse. For Mexico’s tourism industry, it’s hardly the end of the world. Curiosity about the ancient Maya culture sparked by predictions for the end of days helped draw a record of at least 23 million visitors to Mexico [...]
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Wealth doesn’t equal happiness, finds global study on daily joy
DestinationsLatin American countries are among the most upbeat in the world, while Singapore, Armenia, and Iraq fall at the bottom in “positive emotions,” according to a Gallup poll released this week. Researchers who surveyed people in 148 countries found that Panama, Paraguay, El Salvador and Venezuela landed at the top when people were asked whether [...]
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World’s largest sculpture: Christo plans colossal oil-barrel structure in Abu Dhabi
DestinationsHe is an artist best known for wrapping the Reichstag in Berlin and for siting thousands of coloured umbrellas across valleys in Japan and America. Now Christo is creating for Abu Dhabi a colossal structure that he claims will be the world’s biggest permanent sculpture. Estimated construction costs of $340m (£212m) would also make it [...]
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New Copenhagen park curates cultural artifacts to represent 50 nationalities
DestinationsSuperkilen is a new urban park that cuts through the heart of Copenhagen’s diverse Nørrebro neighborhood, home to more than 60 nationalities. The kilometer-long “Super Park”, which consists of three themed parts–”Red Square”, “Black Market”, and “Green Park”–is dotted with various pop artifacts and cultural mementos “sourced” from the home countries of the area’s inhabitants. Here, [...]
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Singapore turns to art to argue that it’s no longer just about business
DestinationsFor decades Singapore has concentrated on developing its reputation as a global financial center, a focus that only recently expanded to include its cultural growth as well. “The Economic Development Board realized that in order to make Singapore a world-class city, they needed to establish more of an artistic infrastructure,” said Sundaram Tagore, president and [...]
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Tourism highlighting ancient Rwandan traditions benefits locals and foreigners
DestinationsOn the top of a fairly elevated hill, just a few metres from the entrance of Nyungwe Park, there is a collection of small structures.
On the site, traditional huts built in the royal style, camping tents, a small wooden canteen and a bungalow serve as … -
Tracing the shadow of travel writing legend Patrick Leigh Fermor in Greece
DestinationsOld Mr Fotis turned my question over in his mind while sipping his morning coffee. Below the veranda some youths had been playing noisily on the harbour wall, but now they all dived into the turquoise sea and set off on the long swim to the rocky islan…
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Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia gets a digital makeover, just because
DestinationsMirroring the vigor and passion that has fueled the continued building process and ongoing restoration, funded by donations, the cities of Barcelona and Montreal invited Moment Factory to create a 15-minute tribute to the church. Sagrada Familia (Ode à la vie) – Démo officiel from Moment Factory on Vimeo.
