Tourists visiting the southern Spanish city of Seville may soon have to pay a fee to explore the wide, ornate Plaza de Espana square, the city hall said, as part of plans to control tourist overload in a public open space. "We are planning to close the Plaza de Espana and charge tourists to finance its conservation and ensure its safety," Mayor Jose Luis Sanz wrote in a post on social media platform X, accompanied with a video showing missing tiles, damaged facades and street vendors occupying alcoves and stairs. Complete with a semicircular Neo-Moorish palatial structure framed with tall towers on both ends and four bridges over a moat, the Plaza is part of a complex built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition that was designed to reflect Spanishness in its architecture and tiled ...
Read MoreMonth: February 2024
Japan’s eagerly awaited Cherry Blossom Forecast 2024 is now out. While March to April marks the peak of cherry blossom (Sakura in Japanese) season in most parts of Japan, Sakura can also be enjoyed as early as February in southern Japan, particularly in Okinawa Prefecture, and lasts up to May in the northern part of Hokkaido Prefecture. When one thinks of Japan, the image of cherry blossoms, or sakura, often comes to mind. Indeed, the springtime bloom of these delicate pink flowers is a celebrated event across the country. In Okinawa, cherry blossoms typically begin to bloom as early as February, heralding the arrival of spring in this subtropical paradise. While Okinawa's sakura possess a unique charm against the backdrop of turquoise seas and lush greenery. Visitors to Okin...
Read MoreAnantara Santorini Abu Dhabi retreat is open and welcoming guests Bringing Aegean luxury to the shores of the United Arab Emirates, Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat has opened its doors to guests. Located on the coast, approximately halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the intimate adult-only property offers 22 luxurious guest rooms and suites in coastal tranquillity, with an effortless grace inspired by the eponymous Greek island. Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat is poised to redefine the concept of a UAE escape, a haven where every detail has been thoughtfully crafted to elevate the senses. Captivating views of the Gulf stretch from each spacious room, suite, and sun-soaked terrace, inviting guests to become immersed in the splendid azure waters of the infinity p...
Read MoreEvery spring, the streets of Mexico's capital are painted purple with the flowering of thousands of jacaranda trees. Their spectacular colors not only attract the eyes of residents and tourists, but also birds, bees and butterflies that find food and shelter in them. But this year something changed. Some jacarandas began blooming in early January, when they normally awaken in spring. The early onset bloom has set off alarm bells among residents and scientists in Mexico City, where the trees have become an iconic, photogenic mainstay of city streets. Local scientists have begun investigating how widespread the early-bloom phenomenon is, but they point to climate change as the first culprit. People walk near a jacaranda tree at Plaza Cibeles in Mexico City, Mexico. February 22, ...
Read MoreKayakers paddle in Death Valley after record rainstorms Kayakers have been paddling in one of the driest places on Earth after a series of record rainstorms battered California’s Death Valley and replenished Lake Manly. Park Ranger Nichole Andler said Badwater Basin at Death Valley National Park, which runs along part of central California’s border with Nevada, “is normally a very beautiful, bright white salt flat.” This year it is a lake. Vinaya Vijay, right, and Vijay Parthasarathy wade through water at Badwater Basin, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. The basin, normally a salt flat, has filled from rain over the past few months. (AP Photo/John Locher) In the past six months, Death Valley has received more than double its annual rainfall amou...
Read MorePietro Casartelli always dreamed of becoming a professional athlete, but the alpine skier, 18, says climate change is making his goals harder and much more expensive to achieve. Last year, as his usual high altitude summer ski slopes were melted by record-high temperatures, he had planned to join a training camp in Chile. But the trip was cancelled as too few would-be participants could afford the fees. Warming weather systems and a shorter season are threatening winter sports and testing the resolve of professionals and amateurs alike, across Europe. A view shows a closed ski lift amid a lack of snow on a mild winter day at the Hautacam ski resort in Beaucens, Hautes-Pyrenees, southwestern France, February 20, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe Hautacam, a ski resort in the French P...
Read MoreMoscow Tourism is taking part in the largest international travel and tourism trade fair SATTE (South Asia's Travel & Tourism Exchange) that is taking place in Greater Noida, NCR, India from February 22-24. The delegation is one of the largest at the event: it includes representatives of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, the Made in Moscow project team, and other representatives of the city's tourism industry. Representatives of the Moscow City Tourism Committee took part in several business sessions and presented the capital's flagship projects during the first day of the event on February 22. For example, during the discussion on cultural heritage, the tourism committee highlighted about the Moscow Estates festival, which has already gained popularity among foreign tourists last...
Read MoreJaan Roose creates history in Estonia wearing just the socks In a display of skill and balance, Estonian athlete Jaan Roose, who nabbed a world record by crossing the world's longest single building highline in Qatar last year, achieved another remarkable unique feat. Roose and team rigged a highline across the Valaste waterfall, Estonia's tallest cascade, before sliding, in his socks, across the frozen falls. This undertaking marked a first-of-its-kind endeavor, accomplished amid the stark and freezing conditions of Estonia's winter landscape. Jaan Roose, an Estonian slackliner, successfully concured a highline across the Valaste waterfall, Estonia’s highest, in extreme winter conditions. The highline was set at 50 meters above the ground, where Roose reached speeds of up to 22 km/...
Read MoreIn an extraordinary display of the strength of country's tourism sector, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation has announced record-breaking visitor arrivals for 2023, which exceeded the forecasted projections. Surpassing all previous records, the Caribbean nation welcomed a total of 9,654,838 visitors in 2023, marking a historic milestone in its journey as a leading global tourism destination. This figure represents a 38% increase over 2022 and a 33% increase compared to the previous 2019 record. The 2023 result reveals a remarkable 17% percent increase in foreign air arrivals, totaling 1,719,980 visitors, compared to 1,470,244 in 2022. This significant growth underscores the increasing appeal of The Bahamas as a premier air travel destination. ...
Read MorePortugal ranks no. 1 beach in world in Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award India’s Radhanagar among new Top 10 Sustainable Beaches List Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform, has released its latest wave of inspiration with the second Travelers' Choice Award for 2024: the Best of the Best Beaches. Based on an analysis of all the reviews left on Tripadvisor for beaches globally over one year, the award reveals the highest-rated beaches by real people who recently visited. From rave reviews of breathtaking views to unrivaled cleanliness to watersport-friendly seas, award-winners provided the best overall experiences during this time period. "It's hard for me to play it cool when it comes to beaches, where my all-time-favorite memories have been made. And I...
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