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☆ Egypt to revoke licenses from Hajj tourism companies over illegal pilgrimages amid reports of hundreds of deaths
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Zahid Mahmood | Housam Ahmed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Egyptian government will revoke the licenses of 16 Hajj tourism companies involved in making illegal pilgrimages to Mecca and refer the company’s managers to the public prosecutor amid fears hundreds of Egyptians could have died in this year’s Hajj. The decision was made in a cabinet meeting on Saturday after a report highlighted the dubious nature of how some tourism companies operate. The official toll among Egyptians stands at 31, but it is being reported by Reuters news agency and other outlets that as many as 500 to 600 Egyptians died during the pilgrimage. A CNN tally puts the total dead from Hajj at nearly 500 but the figure is likely to rise. Muslim pilgrims perform the farewell circumambulation or "tawaf", circling seven times around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

Persons: Mostafa Madbouly, ”, Ahmed Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Getty, Egyptian Locations: Mecca, Hajj, AFP, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, ”

☆ Wombat walker: Australia needs help looking after its cutest residents
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

East Coast Natureworld in Tasmania, Australia, is hiring a “wombat walker” who will help keep these fuzzy marsupials in peak physical condition. Tasmania is also looking for a volunteer paranormal investigator to spend a day (or night …) checking out a spooky abandoned asylum. Now, travelers are looking at Norway and Sweden in the summer while checking out flights for Greece in the cooler fall and spring. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon alights from a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft. But New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon isn’t just any ordinary traveler.

Persons: ”, Petros Giannakouris, Sarah Hamouda, Christopher Luxon alights, Andrew Kutan, grumbling, Christopher Luxon isn’t, Luxon, Michelle Wibowo, Simon Jacobs, Edamame Sheeran, Benedict Cucumberbatch, it’s Organizations: CNN, Zealand, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Getty, Air New Zealand –, Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia Locations: Dubai, East Coast, Tasmania, Australia, Athens, Greece, Italy, Hong Kong, Norway, Sweden, AFP, Japan, Air, Doha, South Korea, Matera

☆ Extreme heat takes toll on outdoor workers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

There’s little to no escape from sweltering temperatures for construction workers like Eva Marroquin, who cleans work sites in Austin, Texas, and has worked in the industry for 17 years. Since 2010, she’s worked closely with the Workers Defense Project, an organization that advocates for protections for low-wage, immigrant workers in the Texas construction industry. Slowing down small businessesIt’s barely just now summer, and heatwaves are already slowing down small businesses, according to Homebase, which provides payroll software to more than 100,000 small businesses, covering 2 million hourly workers. “I think anything that impacts small businesses is affecting the economy as a whole,” he said, noting how small businesses account for half the jobs in the country. For herself, the high heat is more of an inconvenience; the car’s hotter and she just needs to pack some extra water.

Persons: Eva Marroquin, ” Marroquin, Christine Bolaños, she’s, Chris Lafakis, ”, Joshua, Gina Ferazzi, Gregory P, Casey, Jenny Schuetz, Brian Snyder, aren’t, “, John Waldmann, They’re, Katie Parent, Joseph Prezioso, Greer, Denise Greer Jamerson, Norman, Greer Jamerson, you’ve, ‘, “ It’s, it’s, Tamara Lovewell, café, panini, Tamara Lovewell “, Lovewell Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Workers Defense Project, Moody’s, Federal Reserve Bank of San, Williams College, Triple, Los Angeles Times, Environmental Protection Agency, Brookings Metro, Reuters, University of California, Stanford University, Getty, National Weather Service, Ruska Coffee Company Locations: Austin , Texas, Washington ,, Texas, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Massachusetts, Joshua Tree , California, Boston, Greater Boston, AFP, Princeton , Indiana, , Maine, United States, Caribou .

☆ Does off-season travel exist anymore?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Then, you can plot a graph to see which months are higher and lower than that total to determine when the peak season is. “In Thailand, low season typically spans from April to September with April and May being really hot,” says Ponti. “During this low season the tourist volumes each month constitute more than 7% of the annual total. Angelos Tzortzinis/dpa/picture alliance/Getty ImagesArguably the biggest single factor affecting what we know as “peak season” travel is weather. “For me, the challenge is about finding the joy in those low seasons, finding those nuggets of gold.”

Persons: ”, Olivier Ponti, Ponti, Angelos Tzortzinis, Ged Brown, Mikey Sadowski, there’s, we’re, Sadowski, David Silverman, it’s, ForwardKeys ’ Ponti, Ann Woodward, “, Woodward, –, I’ve, ’, Brown, haven’t, ” Brown Organizations: CNN, United Nations, European Travel Commission, Intrepid, Travelers Locations: Italy, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Japan, Canary, Spain, Thailand, Hawaii, Maldives, “, ”, Athens, Greece, Europe, Denmark, Sweden, Nepal, Mexico, New York

☆ The global spike in luxury handbags, shoes, and clothing sales could be coming to an end due in part to China's 'luxury shaming,' study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Global luxury goods sales growth will slow in 2024, per a new Bain & Company report. "Luxury shaming" and price hikes without innovation could also contribute to sluggish sales growth. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe spike in the global sales of luxury goods could be coming to an end in 2024, and "luxury shaming" could be in part to blame. A report published on June 18 by Bain & Company forecast that worldwide sales of personal luxury goods — which include high-end clothing, shoes, handbags, and beauty products — would grow at the slowest rate since 2020, when sales plummeted due to pandemic-related factors.

Persons: — Organizations: Bain & Company, Service, Business

☆ Tourists banned for life from China’s panda breeding center
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A dozen tourists have been banned for life from China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for reportedly displaying bad behavior around the animals. A total of 12 people between the ages of 26 and 61 have been issued lifetime bans from the center, according to a post on the Research Base’s official WeChat account. The Research Base has not publicly identified any of the banned guests or their nationalities. The WeChat post explained that the tourists were not all together – the offenses took place between April and June of this year. The base, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chengdu, has detailed visitor instructions on its website.

Persons: “, ” Organizations: CNN, Chengdu Research Base, Research, Research Base, World Wildlife Fund Locations: Chengdu, ”, Sichuan, China

☆ I was shocked to be laid off from my tech job — but I quickly realized it was a dream come true
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. I completed a 3.5-year apprenticeship as a media designer and engineer, and I've been in the tech industry since I was 15. Leaving so quickly wouldn't have been possible without the support of our LA friends, who helped us in many ways. Courtesy of Lucas FrischmannI came up with this idea as I struggled to keep up with all my connections. AdvertisementIf you were laid off from a tech company and want to share your story, please email Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com.

Persons: —, Lucas Frischmann, It's, I've, Frischmann, it's, I'd, Manseen Logan Organizations: Service, Twitter, Meta, Business Locations: Los Angeles, Asia, Vietnam, Italy, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Europe, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Bangkok, Amalfi Coast, Bali , Indonesia, mlogan@businessinsider.com

☆ Want to train like a K-pop star in South Korea? A new visa will make it easier
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —South Korea will soon launch a new visa for foreign nationals who dream of training like a K-pop idol, in a bid to boost its tourism industry back to pre-pandemic levels. The “K-Culture Training Visa” will be open to foreigners who want to train in K-pop dancing, choreography and modeling, the finance ministry announced on Monday. K-pop is already the most-cited reason for visiting the country, according to the MCST, with particularly strong interest from overseas fans from Southeast Asia, Europe and the US. Tourists visit the statue of Sejong the Great of the Joseon Dynasty at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea on February 21, 2024. South Korea has also made it easier for digital nomads to stay and work in the country, implementing its “workation” visa at the start of this year.

Persons: –, Lee Jung, jae, Sejong the, Kim Jae Organizations: CNN, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Korean, Tourists, Getty Locations: South Korea, Seoul, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Philippines, Korean, Europe, Korea

☆ 5 Times Tourists Misbehaved in National Parks in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Tourists have been flocking to US national parks in droves in recent years. But as more visitors crowd into national parks, some behave badly and disrespect the environment. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In 2023, the National Park Service (NPS) recorded over 325.5 million recreational visits to the 63 parks in the United States, 13 million more than the previous year. The surge in national park tourism is partially a return to prepandemic levels of domestic travel — the number of visits in 2023 was about 2 million shy of 2019's.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, National Park Service, Business Locations: United States

☆ The Kansas City Chiefs want millions in tax incentives so the team can switch states
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe Kansas City Chiefs may be on the move. All eyes are on now the bill which, if passed, could help the reigning Super Bowl champions (as well as MLB team the Kansas City Royals) move from the Missouri side of the city to the Kansas side of the city. Officials in Jackson County, Missouri on Monday proposed a resolution for a countywide sales tax, local Kansas City outlet KSHB reported. AdvertisementAnd back in 2022, Donovan even floated the idea of moving from Missouri to Kansas, according to the outlet. Representatives for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, we've, Korb Maxwell, Bond, Mark Donovan, Donovan, Taylor Swift Organizations: Service, Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl, MLB, Kansas City Royals, Business, Royals, Chiefs, Revenue, Kansas City Star, Missouri Independent, Kansas City, Sports, Kansas - Locations: Kansas, Missouri, Jackson County , Missouri, Kansas - Missouri

☆ A team of climbers just summited 3 of the most challenging peaks in the world. They made it even harder by collecting roughly 2,000 pounds of trash along the way.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

These three peaks — Mt. Everest, Mt. Professional mountaineer Garrett Madison has achieved the Everest triple crown not once, but twice — first in 2023, the deadliest Everest climbing season on record, and again this year. Plus, the climbers have to carry extra protective equipment like gloves and packages for transporting the trash down the mountain. Madison's cleanup project partners with both of these organizations in a united front against trash pollution on the world's tallest peaks.

Persons: —, Garrett Madison, he's, we've, Madison, PRAKASH MATHEMA, Everest haven't, Troy Aupperle, summitted, Aupperle, PIERRE BESSARD, it's, Alton Byers, Byers, It's Organizations: Service, Business, Madison, DOMA, Everest, Pollution Control Locations: Everest, Mt, Lhotse, Nuptse, microplastics

☆ I was born and raised in Honolulu. Here are 7 things I wish tourists knew before they visited Hawaii.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Jennifer Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Here are seven things I wish people knew before they visited Hawaii so they can be educated, more responsible tourists. In fact, according to census data obtained in September 2023, more Native Hawaiians live on the mainland than in the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii used to be its own kingdom until the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrownBefore becoming the 50th state, Hawaii was a thriving sovereign nation. In Hawaii, 'aloha' has a much deeper meaning than 'hello'You may know that "aloha" is used as a greeting to mean "hello" or "goodbye." So, if you do plan on visiting Hawaii, it's important to also have aloha for the land and its people.

Persons: —, Jennifer Adams, Queen Liliuoukalani, Linka A Odom Organizations: Service, Business, Tourism, CBS Locations: Honolulu, Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, Hawaiian

☆ A year after the Titan tragedy, a sub is planning to go back to the Titanic to make a point
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

With OceanGate closed for business, the market for Titanic sub tourism appeared to slam shut. One leading sub operator, eager to demonstrate that the Titan sub failed to live up to the industry standards that can make trips to the ocean floor relatively safe, is already planning its own journey to the wreckage of the Titanic, where Titan was headed before it collapsed. But in its pursuit of “increasing access to the deep ocean through innovation,” OceanGate frequently skirted regulations and pushed back against industry standards. 2) OceanGate’s sub designs were so experimental, no other commercial sub operation would ever replicate them. “The deep ocean is no place for compromise,” Triton said in its statement.

Persons: ”, Larry Connor, ” Connor, Stockton Rush, ” Rush, David Pogue, “, don’t, Don’t, OceanGate, Ray Dalio, James Cameron, —, ” Triton, Lukas Furtenbach, Philippe Brown, Brown, ” Brown Organizations: New, New York CNN, Titanic, Triton, Wall Street, WSJ, CNN, Stockton, “, Triton Submarines, American Bureau of Shipping, Furtenbach Locations: New York, Austria, Hudson

☆ Their trip to Bali was going to be a month long. But they fell in love with the island and built a house near the sea, giving up city life for good.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Amanda Goh/Business InsiderInitially, they planned to use Bali as a base to travel around Asia. Amanda Goh/Business Insider"It was very busy, very loud, and a lot of traffic," Lucie said. Amanda Goh/Business InsiderBuilding the home took about four months, and they estimate they spent about $70,000 on the build. Amanda Goh/Business InsiderFor instance, the couple's house is supported by six steel pillars and made from local brick. Amanda Goh/Business Insider"How much material was extracted from the ground, transported, and transformed?

Persons: —, Lucie Yu, Lucie, Tanguy, Amanda Goh, Tony Gwilliam, Gwilliam, R, Buckminster Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Bali, Lombok, Paris, Asia, Kerobokan, Canggu, Kediri

☆ Iceland wants to switch up its tourism tax to protect nature — and fight overtourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa near the fishing town of Grindavik, Iceland, on May 23, 2024. Iceland wants tourists to flock to its bubbling hot springs, picturesque ice caps and lunar-like lava landscapes — but not at the expense of its residents or natural environment. "We are trying still to mold the taxation system for the tourism sector for the future," Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson told CNBC via videoconference. As I see it, we would want to go more toward accession fees to the magnets, as we call them, around the country," Benediktsson said. Iceland's government reinstated its so-called tourism tax at the start of the year, seeking to raise funds for sustainability programs and mitigate the environmental impact of mass tourism.

Persons: Bjarni Benediktsson, Benediktsson Organizations: CNBC Locations: Grindavik, Iceland, Amsterdam, Venice

☆ American tourist found dead on small Greek island. Three other tourists are missing
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

ATHENS, Greece AP —A missing American tourist has been found dead on a beach on a small Greek island west of Corfu, local media reported. He had been reported missing Thursday by his host, a Greek-American friend. Mathraki, which has a population of 100, is a 3.9-square-kilometer (1.2-square-mile) heavily wooded island, west of the better-known island of Corfu. On Friday, two French tourists were reported missing on Sikinos, a relatively secluded Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea, with less than 400 permanent residents. US media identified the missing tourist as retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Albert Calibet of Hermosa Beach, California.

Persons: Michael Mosley, Sheriff Albert Calibet, Tourism Popi Despotidi, Calibet, Amorgos “ Organizations: Greece AP, Los Angeles, Sheriff, Tourism, CNN Locations: ATHENS, Greece, Corfu, Mathraki, British, Symi, Amorgos, Los Angeles County, Hermosa Beach , California

☆ How the Christ Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro became the symbol of Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Perched on the Corcovado – a 2,300-foot-high granite outcrop looming above the city – the Cristo Redentor (Christ Redeemer) statue sweeps its arms out in a warm embrace, welcoming visitors to the city of samba. “It is he who finds me when I arrive in Rio.”For over a century, the statue has been a symbol of Rio de Janeiro. Christ Redeemer bags are his top sellers, tied with those sporting the Sugarloaf Mountain. Deemed one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Christ Redeemer is Rio’s most visited attraction, says tour guide Cristina Arroio. Maybe that’s the ultimate miracle of the Christ Redeemer.

Persons: ”, Gilson Martins, Michelle Obama, Heitor da Silva Costa, Jesus teetering, Paulo Vidal, it’s, Vidal, Instituto Moreira Salles, Jesus Christ, Da Silva Costa –, –, Carlos Oswald, Paul Landowski, Da Silva Costa, Soapstone, Márcia Braga, Work, IPHAN, It’s, Matthew Stockman, Gilson Martins Braga –, “, Braga, ” Gilson Martins, ’, Emmanuele, Tom Jobin, “ Da, O, que lindo, ” Martins, ’ ”, Francesco Perrotta, Lina Bo Bardi, Corcovado, Mauro Pimentel, Cristina Arroio Organizations: CNN, Instituto, Nacional, Historical, Heritage, UNESCO, “, Guanabara ”, cariocas, Bosch, Getty Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Rio, Brazil, Calvary, Polish, Latin America, steatite, Minas Gerais, Braga, Ipanema, Guanabara, ” Rio de Janeiro, AFP

☆ Israeli tour guides say leading groups to October 7 terror sites is the only way for them to make money now
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Now, months later, he's leading tours to the site where he narrowly escaped death, and where he lost three of his closest friends. "I'm in a situation where I need to make a living," he told Business Insider. Courtesy of Danny "The Digger" Herman ToursAri Melnik, another tour guide, said that for some tourists, that's a draw. Slava Bazarsky, a tour guide, holds a bullet while giving a tour of a kibbutz targeted on October 7. Courtesty of Slava BazarskyAnother tour guide, Slava Bazarsky, solicits donations to the local kibbutzim while charging a participation fee.

Persons: —, Amit Musaei, he's, Musaei, Danny Herman, Danny, Herman, Yad Vashem, it's, Herman Tours Ari Melnik, Melnik, Courtesty, Slava Bazarsky, Bazarsky Organizations: Service, Business, Gaza, UN Locations: Nova, Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza, Auschwitz, Yad, Melnik

☆ Rich tourists rejoice! Greece is finally doing something about the cruise ship problem.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewTourists headed to the expensive hotels of Mykonos and Santorini: rejoice! About 36 million people visited Greece last year, up 20.8% from 2022, according to data from the Bank of Greece. Advertisement"In Santorini, even tourists complain about the great number of tourists," Greece's ombudsman said in a report released on Thursday. In fact, Koru, the superyacht owned by Jeff Bezos, has already made its way to Greece for the summer.

Persons: —, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Louis Vuitton, Mykonos, Georgios Hatzimanolis, Jeff Bezos Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Business, Bank of Greece, Bank of, Greek Tourism, Louis Locations: Mykonos, Santorini, Greece, Bank of Greece, Soho

☆ Travelers are going to extreme lengths to avoid scrolling and notification anxiety on vacation
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Sarah Wood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Related storiesAccording to Cappel, their first two trips were filled, and all guests expressed interest in another "phone-free" trip. AdvertisementShe acknowledged that tech-free travel hasn't become completely mainstream, "People are still a little intimidated by the idea." The reasons for going phone-free when traveling varyOne popular motivation is for couples to spend quality time with their partners. Phone-free travel can also help with burnoutLast summer, nonprofit strategist Izzy Doonan did a tech-free week-long trip in the Cascades with her partner and another couple. FTLO provides the trip leaders' phone numbers and full itineraries with contact information to travelers to share with whoever might need it.

Persons: —, they're, Hector Hughes, Hughes, Tara Cappel, We're, Cappel, haven't, it's, Elena Mnayarji, Elena, Izzy Doonan, Doonan, wasn't, Mnayarji Organizations: Service, Business, Pew Research Center, Group, Berkeley, Logistics Locations: Thailand, Scottish, Mallorca, FTLO

☆ Toyota has been rocked by a string of scandals — but analysts are unfazed
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A sign is displayed outside a Toyota Motor Corp. dealership on Jan. 30, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda apologized Monday for massive cheating on certification tests for seven vehicle models as the automaker suspended production of three of them. Toyota took the crown with 10.7% market share, while Germany's Volkswagen came in second with a 6% market share. But for Toyota, the top automaker by market share in the world, the latest safety scandal is not the first time it's being investigated for false test data. In April last year, Daihatsu said it had rigged side-collision safety tests carried out for 88,000 small cars, most of those sold as Toyotas.

Persons: Akio Toyoda, Tomohiro Ohsumi, Germany's Volkswagen, that's, Toyota —, Suzuki, Toyoda, Hino Organizations: Toyota Motor Corp, Toyota, Getty, Germany's, Honda, country's Ministry of Land, Transport, Mazda, Suzuki Motor, Yamaha Motor, Corolla Fielder, Corolla, Daihatsu, Citi Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Infrastructure, Tourism

☆ Taylor Swift says ‘most wonderful’ Eras Tour will end in December
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Taylor Swift knows that all good things must come to an end – and that includes her Eras Tour. In an emotional speech during the 100th show of her record-breaking tour on Thursday night, the megastar confirmed that her current musical voyage would come to an end this year. The Eras Tour, which began in Glendale, Arizona on March 18, has been extended several times since it was first announced. Just – so like, when I’m not on the stage, I’m dreaming about being back on the stage with you guys,” she continued. The Eras Tour has had a staggering impact on tourism, recently causing a spike in air travel across Europe.

Persons: CNN — Taylor Swift, “, ”, Swift, I’ve, ” Swift, I’m Organizations: CNN, United Airlines, British Geological Society, British, Barclays Locations: Liverpool, England, Glendale , Arizona, United States, South America, Asia, Australia, North America, Vancouver, Canada, Europe, United, Milan, Munich, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

☆ Hong Kong wants residents to smile more but experts warn prices and competition are bigger issues for tourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Guests posing for a group photo at the "Let's Go the Extra Mile" hospitality campaign launch ceremony at the Central Government Office in Hong Kong on June 3, 2024. In response, the Hong Kong government launched a campaign – titled "Let's Go the Extra Mile" – encouraging frontline staff and members of the public to demonstrate good hospitality and "reinforce Hong Kong's brand as the best tourism destination." Hong Kong's currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar, which has helped the city's status as an international financial center. "Both have become equal problems for Hong Kong," he said. While the city's borders were closed during the pandemic, nearby Shenzhen continued to develop into a top-tier Chinese city, Lee said.

Persons: Long, John Lee, Hong Kongers, Allan Zeman, Lan, Kwai, Zeman, mainlanders, Simon Lee Siu, Lee Organizations: Central Government Office, Nurphoto, Getty, Hong, Lan Kwai Fong Group, U.S ., U.S, Sports, Tourism Bureau, HK, Pacific Institute of Business, Chinese University of Hong, Shenzhen Locations: Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hong, Japan, Asia, Chinese University of Hong Kong

CNN —Two tourists, one from the United States and one from the Netherlands, have disappeared while hiking separately in Greece, authorities in the Mediterranean country have revealed. Popi Despotidi, Amorgos’ deputy mayor of tourism, told CNN on Thursday that Calibet has been coming “to Amorgos almost every year” for about a decade. US tourist Albert Calibet has been missing since Tuesday. Municipality of AmorgosAnd on the island of Samos, a 74-year-old Dutch tourist has been missing since Sunday, with a large search and rescue operation underway, authorities said. Konstantia Dimoglidou, a spokesperson for the Greek police, told CNN on Thursday that “police, fire brigade and volunteers are involved in the search, including by air,” for both men.

Persons: Michael Mosley, Albert Calibet, Popi, Amorgos, Calibet, Samos, Konstantia, Marco Simoni, Shutterstock Mosley Organizations: CNN, Hellenic Rescue Team, Facebook, Hellenic National Meteorological Service Locations: United States, Netherlands, Greece, Symi, Amorgos, Katapola, Samos, Marathokampou

☆ Taylor Swift fans say you can't put a price on the memories as The Eras Tour hits the UK, injecting a potential $1.2 billion into the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

After the multi-Grammy-winning superstar announced the European leg of The Eras Tour in mid-2023, they started saving, knowing that they had to "travel for Taylor." Corrie (left), KJ (center), and Callie (right) traveled from Gibraltar to Edinburgh to see The Eras Tour. AdvertisementThey estimated that the total cost for their weeklong trip, accommodation, and Eras Tour tickets was just over $2,500 each. Taylor Swift kicked off her 15-stop UK tour at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 7, 2024. AdvertisementAs KJ had said at the start of the day, seeing The Eras Tour isn't "just about the show and the music.

Persons: —, Callie, Corrie, Taylor Swift, Swift, Taylor, Eve Crosbie, I'm, marveling, concertgoer, Amira, she's, Leah, Simone, Gareth Cattermole, Expedia, Daniel Finch, haven't, It's, Wilde Aparthotel, Ava, Wilde, Marc Crothall, Mimi's, Mariola, We've, Pie, Erin, KJ Organizations: Service, Business, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Barclays, QuestionPro, Edinburgh's, Management, Associated Press, Blockbuster, Expedia Brands, Scottish Tourism Alliance, NFL, Swift's Murrayfield, Sky Locations: Edinburgh, Gibraltar, Europe, Liverpool, Cardiff, London, Italy, Minneapolis, Scotland, Paris, England, North America, South America, Australia, Southeast Asia, Leith

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