Tourism

Japan Airlines to offer 50,000 free round-trip domestic flights to foreign tourists

Japan Airlines Co. has said it will launch a campaign to offer free round-trip domestic flight tickets to up to 50,000 foreign nationals who visit Japan next summer. The initiative,…

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Tourists stay away from Taj Mahal, other Indian attractions as protests flare

India’s tourism industry has been hit by a wave of violent anti-government protests against a new citizenship law that have rocked several cities this month, with at least seven countries…

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Tourist bookings to Venice down 40 %

Hotel bookings in Venice are down by 40 per cent as images of the city under water during last month’s record flooding dissuade tourists around the world from visiting. Tens of…

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EU court rules Airbnb is not an estate agent

The accommodation-booking service Airbnb does not need an estate agent's licence to operate in France, Europe's top court has ruled. The French tourism association had complained that Airbnb did not…

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02

Nov

Thomas Cook brand sold to Club Med owner Fosun for £11m

The Thomas Cook brand has been saved from obscurity after the Chinese owner of Club Med said it would buy the name for £11m. Fosun Tourism, which was seen as…

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Kraków chosen as best city break destination in Europe for third year running

Members of leading British consumer association Which? have chosen Kraków as Europe’s best city break destination for the third year in a row. The Polish city finished ahead of Spanish…

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Strike by Lufthansa subsidiaries staff in Germany

View of empty check-in desks in Tegel airport in Berlin, Germany, 20 October 2019. According to the Independent Flight Attendants Union (UFO), some staff of the German Lufthansa subsidiaries Eurowings,…

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Saudi Arabia opens tourist visas to U.S., European visa holders

Tourist visas for Saudi Arabia are now available online and on arrival to holidaymakers who already hold a visa from the United States, Britain or the EU’s Schengen zone, expanding…

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Ship passengers protest after missing stops on ‘Norwegian Spirit’ cruise

Cruise passengers upset about being forced to miss several scheduled stops in Europe erupted in protest aboard the Norwegian Spirit cruise ship. Protests broke out earlier this week in the…

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Thailand to demand proof of health insurance for ‘risky’ long-term visitors

Reuters reports that foreigners in the “risky” over-50 age group will have to present proof of health insurance when applying for Thai long-term non-immigrant visas, a minister said on Wednesday,…

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Over 200 Alitalia flights cancelled because of pilot, cabin crew strike

Alitalia pilots and cabin crew staged a 24-hour strike called by the Anpac, Anpav and Anp unions on Wednesday. See full list of cancelled flights here The action forced…

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Thomas Cook UK store estate sold to Hays Travel

Hays Travel has agreed a deal to buy all 555 Thomas Cook stores in the UK, offering hope of work to former staff. The agreement will see the Sunderland-based independent…

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Hackers targeting Thomas Cook customers

Cybersecurity experts have warned that criminals are targeting Thomas Cook customers and former employees with websites which impersonate legitimate organisations. The Telegraph reports that website records compiled by cybersecurity firm…

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Final Thomas Cook holidaymakers to return home to Britain

The final contingent of holidaymakers stranded overseas after the collapse of tour company Thomas Cook last month will return to Britain on flights that departed on Sunday, bringing to an…

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Egyptian operator owed £7.7 million by Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook has dues of 7 £7.7 million to local operator Blue Sky Group, Blue Sky’s chairman Hossam El-Shaer said. Shaer did not give further details. Thomas Cook, the world’s…

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Thomas Cook customers may have to wait up to two months for refund

Thomas Cook customers who have seen future holiday bookings cancelled after the travel firm collapsed face a wait of up to two months for a refund, Britain's air regulator has…

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Repatriation of Thomas Cook customers to UK continues

A further 16,700 customers of collapsed British travel firm Thomas Cook are scheduled to be repatriated on Saturday on 76 flights, the country’s aviation regulator said. The Civil Aviation Authority…

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Saudi Arabia to open up to foreign tourists

Saudi Arabia will open its doors to international tourists for the first time as part of a broader push to cut its economic dependence on oil. On Friday, the kingdom…

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Brussels Airlines cancels 105 flight due to Thomas Cook bankruptcy

Brussels Airlines have announced they will cancel 105 flights in October due to bankruptcy of tour operators Thomas Cook. A decision that is affecting 3,500 passengers. All the holidays that…

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UK to repatriate 16,000 people on fourth day of Thomas Cook collapse

Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said over 70 flights are scheduled for Thursday to bring back 16,000 people to the country following the collapse of Thomas Cook. The authority also…

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Thomas Cook’s Polish arm Neckermann ‘insolvent’ after group collapse

Thomas Cook's Polish division, Neckermann Polska, has been declared insolvent, intensifying the crisis over the group's collapse. The news was announced by officials in Poland, little more than 48 hours…

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Thomas Cook collapse leaves huge negative impact on hotels across the Mediterranean

Hotel owners across the world are millions worth of losses after the collapse of Thomas Cook, which went into liquidation in the early hours of Monday. The firm offered trips…

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British Government and UK CAA launches largest repatriation in peacetime history after collapse of Thomas Cook

Following the collapse of Thomas Cook and the cancellation of all its flights, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that the government and UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has…

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British Foreign Office Advisory for British tourists in Malta following the collapse of Thomas Cook

The British Foreign Office has issued the following advisory for British citizens in Malta following the announcement that Thomas Cook has ceased trading. If you’re travelling and have been…

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Planes put on standby to rescue travellers as talks continue for last-minute bailout of Thomas Cook

An emergency fleet of airlines is on standby to rescue 150,000 UK holidaymakers as talks continue between Thomas Cook and the government over a last-minute bailout. Sources described the negotiations…

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Thomas Cook on the brink of collapse

Shares in Thomas Cook plummeted 20% on Friday after it issued a statement confirming it needed to find an extra £200m to plug a financial hole. Thomas Cook could fall…

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Haarlem in the Netherlands to tackle over-tourism

Haarlem is taking action to stop the city becoming a victim of its own success as a tourist destination, by focusing on ‘quality visitors’ and making sure the wishes of…

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French air traffic control computer failure delays flights around Europe

Flights around Europe are facing delays because of problems affecting French air traffic control. Flights have been grounded and delayed due to a computer failure of air traffic control systems…

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Ryanair cancels few Spanish flights on first two days of September strikes

A series of planned strikes in the Spanish transportation system has prompted hundreds of cancellations by airlines Vueling and Ryanair, as well as the Renfe train network. The country’s Public…

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Holiday firm Thomas Cook agrees key terms of rescue deal

Thomas Cook Group said on Wednesday it had agreed the key commercial terms of a rescue package with investor Fosun Tourism, its banks and a majority of its bondholders. The…

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Photo Story: Plane to be used as artificial diving site in Jordan

A Lockheed L-1011 Tristar is submerged into the waters of the Red Sea to create an artificial diving site, in Aqaba, Jordan, 26 August 2019. The sunken plane belonged to…

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Iberia ground handling staff on strike at Barcelona-El Prat Airport

A view of several Spanish airline Vueling's planes are seen parked during the second day of the strike called by Spanish Iberia ground handling staff at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, El…

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Shots fired at tourist bus in Petra, Jordan

The Jordanian authorities insisted that no tourists were wounded when tourist bus came under fire in Petra. Petra Chief Commissioner Sulaiman Farajat told The Jordan Times that the vehicle was…

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All major UK airports to introduce 3D baggage screening

All major UK airports must introduce 3D baggage screening equipment before the end of 2022, the government says. Announcing the new plans, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the scanners would…

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Ryanair passengers face disruption as UK strike starts, Irish strike averted

Thousands of Ryanair passengers could face disruption as a two-day strike by UK pilots gets under way. On Wednesday, the airline lost a legal challenge in the High Court to…

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French tourists risking jail for sand theft from beach in Sardinia

A French couple who were caught with 40kg of Sardinian sand in their car could face up to six years in jail. They say they wanted to take the sand…

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Ten European cities seek EU help in battle between tourists’ impact on short-stay lettings and residents needs

Ten European cities have demanded more help from the EU in their battle against Airbnb and other holiday rental websites, which they argue are locking locals out of housing and…

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Computer outage causes delays at several US airports

Travellers have been delayed at several major US airports due to a technical issue affecting customs checks. US authorities said computers are coming slowly back online after a nationwide outage…

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Ryanair’s Irish pilots to proceed with strike

Directly employed Ryanair pilots based in Ireland, who are members of the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA), are to strike for 48 hours from midnight on 22 August. The move comes after…

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Lisbon Airport operations restricted due to fuel strike

Portugal’s Airport Authority (ANA)has complained that the pace of resupplying Lisbon Airport with fuel is "insufficient and is at levels well below those stipulated for minimum services," causing "operating restrictions.…

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2019 a difficult year for tourism in Cyprus

Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios said that 2019 is a difficult year for tourism, but stressed that there is no need for panic, pointing out that positive developments…

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Photo Story: Security control strike at Barcelona’s airport

Passengers in transit at El Prat airport in Barcelona, Spain, 11 August 2019, on the third day of an indefinite strike of workers of Trablisa, the control security check…

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Hundreds evacuated as fire rages on holiday island of Gran Canaria

Hundreds of people have been forced to flee a huge mountain fire on the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria. The Spanish military has now been sent to help firefighters…

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Portugal’s fuel-tanker drivers to strike

Portugal's fuel-tanker drivers voted to strike from Monday for an indefinite period, raising fears about the impact on the country's tourism-dependent economy during the busy summer season. The vote means…

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Sand stolen by tourists visiting Sardinia returned to beaches, fines of between €500 to €3,000 for culprits

Italian authorities and environmental experts have teamed up with Olbia Airport in Sardinia to return sand, pebbles and shells confiscated from tourists’ luggage to beaches on Sardinia's famed 'Emerald Coast'.…

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Barcelona to act against catering establishments that put tables in public spaces

Barcelona city council is to start taking decisive action against catering establishments that put tables on public spaces. The city council claims many are illegal and take up too much…

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Ryanair pilots’ strike on 22 – 23 August and a 72-hour strike on 2 September

Ryanair passengers are facing the prospect of five days of disruption in late August and early September after talks to avert strike action by UK-based pilots broke down. Ryanair pilots…

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Large cruise ships banned from the historic centre of Venice

The Italian government has announced that large cruise ships will be banned from entering Venice's historic centre. Ships weighing more than 1,000 tonnes will be rerouted away from certain waterways…

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Further problems expected for BA flights due to IT glitch

British Airways travellers have been warned of possible further delays to flights, despite fixing an earlier IT glitch that crashed online check-ins. The airline cancelled 117 flights at Heathrow and…

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Cathay Pacific registers severe drop in bookings amid Hong Kong protests

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd is facing a decline in forward bookings for travel to Hong Kong “in the region of double digits” due to widespread protests in the Asian financial…

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Sitting on Rome’s Spanish Steps banned, fines can go up to €400 if the steps are dirtied or damaged

Sitting on Rome's famous Spanish Steps is no longer allowed as the local police have decided to apply the rules in a more stringent way. The famous steps are also…

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Venice asks other ports to help find solution to cruise ship problems

Venice has appealed to the main European cruise ship destinations, from Amsterdam to Barcelona, Dubrovnik and Marseille, to unite in tackling the dangers and environmental impact of big cruise liners.…

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Heathrow Airport cancels 172 flights

Heathrow Airport will cancel 172 flights on Monday and Tuesday after thousands of workers overwhelmingly rejected a revised pay offer. Unite said 88% of its 4,000 union members - who…

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British holiday firms LateRooms and Superbreak close down

Booking website LateRooms.com and York-based holiday agent Superbreak - both owned by the Malvern Group - folded on Thursday. Between them, they had some 53,000 customers. In a statement, Malvern…

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Photo Story: Dinosaurs on the loose in Bochum, Germany

Life size replicas of dinosaurs stand in the city centre of Bochum, Germany. Bochum's city centre is transformed into a 'dinosaur city' during the summer months. Thirty-three life-size dinosaurs were…

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Alitalia strike set for Friday moved to September 6

A 24-hour strike by Alitalia pilots and flight attendants has been put off from Friday until September 6, unions announced. The unions took the decision after appeals from the strike…

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30 Poles injured after bus crash in southern Turkey

At least 30 Polish citizens were injured, including three seriously, after a bus crashed down a wooded slope near the southern Turkish resort of Kemer, according to a Polish ministry…

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