Author: Shawon Hannan

The UK-based travel company, Thomas Cook, is reporting that British travellers are more likely to gain weight on a holiday to Greece than in US. This is one finding as part of a research report the travel giant has conducted on places where British travellers are likely to gain weight on vacation. Meanwhile, while holidays to Turkey are inexpensive, the average holidaymaker tends to puts on around three pounds in a 10-day vacation to the country. However, as a British traveller, you would be likely to gain most weight on a vacation to Greece, with a typical 10 day holiday…

A coastal pumpkin farm in San Mateo County that is known for offering seasonal tourist activities has been allowed by authorities to continue offering tourist attractions. The farm, known for attractions such as pony rides and hay mazes, was considered for higher taxes as it was seen to be veering away from agriculture. However, County officials said that they would amend a contract with owners to ensure that agriculture on the land is maintained as it is. Arata Pumpkin Farm had been attracting many visitors with offerings such as a haunted barn, coliseum-type sword fighting and a large metal gorilla.…

The tourism department of Indonesia has named Sanur as a strategic tourism area. Sanur is already renowned as one of the centres of tourism in Bali, and with the recent announcement by the Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy ministry, the status of the region has been enhanced as one of five strategic tourism destinations in Indonesia. The other four areas that share a similar status are Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi; Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara; Toraja in South Sulawesi and Bromo in East Java. The five locations would serve to host pilot projects for the development of other destinations…

The governments of Gambia and Turkey have agreed to expand cooperation to develop tourism in both states. The agreement – signed by tourism officials from both nations – seeks to recognise the importance of tourism to develop economic development in the countries. The two nations also agreed to use tourism as a means to develop stronger ties. After attending the signing ceremony, Gambia’s minister of Tourism and Culture, Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, said that the agreement with Turkey would improve product and human resource developments as well as tourism investment in Gambia. She also noted that the collaboration would help the…

British Airways has announced a new plan to automatically check in selected passengers. Travellers who dread the hours of preparation during and before check in would get a reprieve if plans by British Airways are successfully implemented. The company has said that it has started trial runs of automatic check-ins. The initiative, which is in its ‘beta’ stage, follows a £5bn investment, which the company believes would ‘change the future of airline check-in as we know it today.’ So what is the great deal all about? Starting this month, selected flights from France would see invited passengers being given the…

Batam in Indonesia is luring tourists with its gambling stations that often operate secretively. The re-opening of some gambling dens in region, which were closed following protests by Islamic clerics, is a big draw with tourists from Singapore and Malaysia. Figures show that increasing numbers of Singaporeans and Malaysians have been spending time during weekends in Batam, Riau Islands, over the last few months. Operators in the region have reopened gambling and gaming sites on the island after they were closed down some time back. Even though local authorities have denied that they have provided licenses for the gambling dens,…

China-based Sichuan Airlines is expected to launch a service soon connecting Chengdu in China to Melbourne, Australia. It is expected that an official communication in this regard from the Chinese airline would come soon. The plan to connect Chengdu with the Australian city assumes significance because of the fact that Chengdu is one of three new cities in China that Tourism Australia is planning to target next year. The funding for the initiative is to be derived from the Australian government’s new Asia Marketing Fund. The move is also part of the government’s broader China geographic strategy of deepening its…

The tourism department in Kashmir has announced the opening of an eco tourism campsite. The state, blessed with some of the best climate and scenery in the world, has now launched the initiative to protect wild animals and attract high-end, environment-friendly tourists. Tourism in the state in India had been hit because of insurgent activities and the economy, as well as difficulties putting the natural resources of the state to good use. Now, in a move to make tourism popular nationally and globally, the Jammu and Kashmir government has commissioned what is believed to be the first-of-its-kind eco-tourism campsite. It…

Touring on a bicycle, is catching up fast globally, and is to be promoted by authorities in Europe in a big way. According to a new study, cycling tourism is one of the sectors in tourism that holds great potential with respect to growth and development. With more people becoming environmentally conscious and with air and sea travel becoming costly, cycling tourism is taking its much deserved place in the tourism industry as an affordable, sustainable and cheap means of tourism. Countries that are promoting cycling tourism are already offering new attractions and activities with a view to lure more…

The tourism department in Vietnam is busy developing holidays for Australians. The tourism department said that it is developing programmes and packages to attract more tourists into the nation. However, there would be a special emphasis on attracting Australian tourists because Vietnam has been a favourite destination for travellers from Australia. The nation now has high class hotels and resorts, beaches and ethnic cuisine, which has been a hit with tourists worldwide. Tourism statistics show that the nation receives 300,000 Australian tourists yearly. Further, it is also seen that the number of tourists is increasing at an average of 10…