Revellers enjoy last carnival before fee for day-trippers Hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Venice carnival are enjoying what could be the last year of free access for day-trippers to the historic lagoon city, before a much-debated fee comes into effect to try to curb numbers. Venice is marking the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo with a year of commemorations, starting with the opening of Carnival season honoring one of the lagoon city’s most illustrious native sons. A woman wearing a mask poses in front of the St. Marks church during the Venice Carnival in Venice, Italy, Sunday Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Kicking off Carnival last weekend, some 600 rowers in period dress raised their oars in salute and shouted “We are all Marco Polo” as they rowed...
Read MoreMonth: January 2024
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that the recovery in air travel continued in December 2023 and total 2023 traffic edged even closer to matching pre-pandemic demand. • Total traffic in 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 36.9% compared to 2022. Globally, full year 2023 traffic was at 94.1% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels. December 2023 total traffic rose 25.3% compared to December 2022 and reached 97.5% of the December 2019 level. Fourth quarter traffic was at 98.2% of 2019, reflecting the strong recovery towards the end of the year. • International traffic in 2023 climbed 41.6% versus 2022 and reached 88.6% of 2019 levels. December 2023 international traffic climbed 24.2% over December 2022, reaching 94.7% of the level in Decem...
Read MoreTivoli La Caleta Resort is now open at Costa Adeje in Tenerife Making its debut in Spain, Tivoli Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the opening of Tivoli La Caleta Tenerife Resort, bringing the brand’s timeless glamour to the Canary Islands. Following extensive renovations, Tivoli La Caleta opens its doors, welcoming guests with elegantly renovated guest rooms and suites, exciting dining concepts and a world-class spa, all with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the hotel’s beautiful, landscaped gardens. Located on southern Tenerife’s picturesque coast, nestled between the mountains and the Atlantic’s deep blue, Tivoli La Caleta offers an idyllic hideaway, just 15 minutes’ drive from Tenerife South International Airport, with direct access to the 12...
Read MoreArchaeological discoveries at Sas Al Nakhl Island in Abu Dhabi Almost 65 years since the first archaeological excavations in Abu Dhabi, new findings highlight the emirate's role in regional and global trade, and the resilience and innovation of regional Bronze Age societies. Recent excavations made on Sas Al Nakhl Island, known locally as Umm an-Nar, include bitumen matched to sources in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) used to waterproof pottery as well as a clay-lined storage pit. One fragment has the impression of wood and two pieces of rope and was likely part of a Bronze Age boat. Tombs on Umm an-Nar Island courtesy of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi Umm an-Nar is known for its monumental Bronze Age cemeteries. These new findings suggest that...
Read MoreA gift for loved ones & the planet: Tourism Fiji and the Coral Gardeners introduce the Coral Bouquet It is the season of love, and how better to express your feelings to your loved one than by giving a bouquet of red roses, a box of assorted chocolates, a romantic dinner date, or a long drive. At Tourism Fiji it’s time to twist this age-old tradition and talk sustainable. This year, Fiji, the South Pacific archipelago and top honeymoon destination is offering lovebirds a sustainable alternative in the form of a Coral Bouquet planting for Valentine’s Day. Home to the third-largest barrier reef in the world (The Great Sea Reef, known as Cakaulevu), Fiji is surrounded by beautiful but also fragile corals at threat from warming oceans. 100% of the proceeds from this alternative ...
Read MoreNASA’s Webb Telescope depicts a new treasure trove of images with clearly defined arms It’s oh-so-easy to be absolutely mesmerized by these spiral galaxies. Follow their clearly defined arms, which are brimming with stars, to their centers, where there may be old star clusters and – sometimes – active supermassive black holes. Only NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope can deliver highly detailed scenes of nearby galaxies in a combination of near- and mid-infrared light – and a set of these images was publicly released today. These Webb images are part of a large, long-standing project, the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) program, which is supported by more than 150 astronomers worldwide. Before Webb took these images, PHANGS was already brimming with data...
Read MoreMajor new reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Microsoft highlight the transformative power of AI (Artificial Intelligence) for Travel & Tourism, marking a commitment to a digital future with unparalleled customer experiences. The first in a series of AI reports, announced during the global tourism body’s event at FITUR and in collaboration with WTTC’s Industry Partner, Microsoft, is poised to redefine Travel & Tourism standards and call on the sector for greater integration of such technologies. As the global leader in Travel & Tourism, WTTC is committed to driving innovation and supporting the sector to embrace AI and other cutting-edge technologies. To promote sustainability and excellent customer experiences, WTTC acknowledges the crucial im...
Read More“Go Beyond What You Think” invites a global audience spanning two continents and multiple channels, to discover the delightfully unexpected in Saudi International football icon and Saudi Tourism Ambassador, Lionel Messi challenges misconceptions in latest global campaign Visitors and locals encouraged to #ShareYourSaudi on social channels From diverse destinations, events, entertainment and trailblazing Saudi females, the warm Saudi welcome and unmatched hospitality are visible throughout Campaign builds on UN Tourism “Tourism Opens Minds” Initiative aimed at inspiring tourists to expand their horizons when selecting travel destinations Saudi’s national tourism brand ‘Saudi Welcome To Arabia’ has kicked off another global marketing campaign featuring football legend and S...
Read MoreBahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) launches the much-anticipated 8th Edition of the Bahrain Food Festival, a culinary extravaganza set to captivate palates from February 8th to 24th, 2024. This gastronomic celebration promises an unmatched fusion of flavors, creating an irresistible charm for both locals and tourists. In its 8th edition, the Bahrain Food Festival aims to elevate the culinary experience, offering a diverse range of delectable dishes that celebrate global flavors. Attendees can indulge in a gastronomic journey navigating continents, providing a unique opportunity to discover authentic dishes prepared by renowned chefs and culinary experts. From savory to sweet, traditional to contemporary, the festival boasts an impressive lineup of food vendors, ens...
Read MoreAs part of the Ice Memory initiative, PSI researchers, with colleagues from the University of Fribourg and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice as well as the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), analysed ice cores drilled in 2018 and 2020 from the Corbassière glacier at Grand Combin in the canton of Valais. A comparison of the two sets of ice cores published in Nature Geoscience shows: Global warming has made at least this glacier unusable as a climate archive. Reliable information about the past climate and air pollution can no longer be obtained from the Corbassière glacier in the Grand Combin massif, because alpine glacier melting is progressing more rapidly than previously assumed. This sobering conclusion was reached by researchers led by Margit...
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