tourism

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The World's Least-Visited Country Is...

Nauru ... yes, there is a country called Nauru

(Newser) - Haven't gotten around to visiting Nauru? Turns out you're not alone. The tiny island nation—and the world's smallest, at eight square miles—is the least-visited country on Earth, the Christian Science Monitor reports. A list of the world's least-popular vacation spots picked up by the...

Kiwis Hot, Bothered Over &#39;Porno&#39; Tourism Logo

 Kiwis Hot, Bothered 
 Over 'Porno' 
 Tourism Logo 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Kiwis Hot, Bothered Over 'Porno' Tourism Logo

In New Zealand, the letter 'k' has never looked so salacious

(Newser) - It doesn't take much to get New Zealanders salivating, apparently: A new logo for a regional tourist campaign has caused a stir over its "pornographic" imagery, reports the Telegraph . The sexy symbol in question? A bisected letter "k" with the top arm curved to look like a...

Tourists Won't Be Able to Touch Colosseum Anymore

Iron columns will protect visitors from falling debris

(Newser) - The days of getting up close and personal with Rome's iconic Colosseum are coming to an end. The monument will soon be ringed by a protective barrier to keep tourists out of the reach of falling debris. Cast iron columns will be erected anywhere from 15 to 50 feet...

Tourists Can Smoke Pot in Amsterdam After All

Mayor rejects law to ban use in coffee shops

(Newser) - Vice-seeking tourists won't have to give up on pilgrimages to Amsterdam for weed: The city is ditching plans to bar tourists from smoking the stuff in the city's coffee shops. The Netherlands' incoming government left the decision to local authorities, and Amsterdam's mayor opposes it. Such a...

Hardest-Hit Katrina Victims to Bus Tours: Get Out

2006 law newly enforced, say angry tour companies

(Newser) - Since Hurricane Katrina, visitors to New Orleans don't just want to see Bourbon Street: Many have been taking bus tours to view the devastation wreaked in the Lower Ninth Ward. But residents have had it with tourists gawking at them while the vehicles cause roadblocks, the AP reports. "...

Belgian Mayor May Sue Over ... Weather Report

Says dreary report has hurt tourism

(Newser) - The mayor of a seaside town in Belgium is fuming over ... a weather report. He says a seasonal weather report for this summer was downright unfair, and he might sue. A private weather forecasting firm said the country would only have two weeks of sunshine this month. "We all...

NY Unhearts Iconic Logo
 NY Unhearts Iconic Logo 

NY Unhearts Iconic Logo

Heart getting axed as part of $5M tourism campaign

(Newser) - The heart on the "I Love NY" logo is about to get an overhaul: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ditching the iconic image, which dates from the 1970s, and asking New Yorkers and visitors alike for something to replace it as part of a $5 million tourism campaign, reports the...

Newest UN Tourism Ambassador Is ... Robert Mugabe?

Choice of Zimbabwean strongman doesn't go over well

(Newser) - The UN has anointed Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe one of its worldwide "leaders of tourism," reports the Guardian , and here's just one hint why it's a little weird: Mugabe himself can't travel the world freely, thanks to US and EU sanctions put in place over...

Maybe It's Time to See Scenic, Broke Greece

If it leaves the eurozone, it'll be a real bargain, experts say

(Newser) - These days you probably think of Greece as the place threatening to set the euro on fire. It's easy to forget that it's also a pretty beautiful tourist destination, loaded with ancient ruins and sunny beaches—and soon, NPR points out, it could be a pretty cheap destination,...

Lawmakers Push Ban on Ban on Las Vegas Travel

Dean Heller, Shelley Berkley fight for the government's right to party

(Newser) - No one is actually talking about outlawing government travel to Las Vegas or Reno in the wake of the GSA scandal, but a pair of Nevada lawmakers want to ban such a banning, just in case. Sen. Dean Heller and Rep. Shelley Berkley are putting forward bills in their respective...

Town Considers &#39;WTF&#39; Slogan
 Town Considers 'WTF' Slogan 

Town Considers 'WTF' Slogan

Fruita, Colorado residents would translate that as 'Welcome to Fruita'

(Newser) - A Colorado town with the motto "Honor the Past, Envision the Future" is considering three more letters to advertise itself: "WTF"—as in, "Welcome to Fruita." A couple printed out 500 stickers with the term and handed them out to businesses in downtown Fruita, sparking...

Homeless Tour Guides Offer New Peek at London

Volunteer group teams up with them to spread awareness

(Newser) - Visitors to London can get an earthier view of the city courtesy of homeless tour guides. Der Spiegel tags along as one woman ticks off facts on familiar sites such as the London Bridge, along with tidbits not to be found on more official tours: "This is where I...

Tourism Spikes Worldwide
 Tourism Spikes Worldwide 

Tourism Spikes Worldwide

Europe sees boost as Middle East, North Africa lose travelers

(Newser) - The economic crisis, Japanese disasters, and the Arab Spring couldn't stop tourists from globetrotting last year, AFP reports. European tourism surged the most—6% higher than in 2010—helping to fuel an international rise of 4.4% that clocked 980 million travelers, according to a UN report. But tourists...

Unlikely Tourist Hotspots for 2012

Panama, Finland, and Myanmar top the list

(Newser) - If you like cool design, upscale safaris, or a forbidden communist island, the New York Times can recommend 45 locales to visit in 2012. Among them:
  • Panama. See the world-famous canal before its expansion, then stay for Panama City's economic boom and Frank Gehry's first design in Latin
...

New Destination for Rich Chinese Tourists: Wales?

Planned resort to feature signs in Mandarin, staff familiar with Chinese culture

(Newser) - With Chinese tourism to the UK booming, a developer is planning a resort village aimed at their specific needs. But it's not exactly a stone's throw from London's attractions: Instead, it's calling itself "just three hours away" in Wales. Pantglas Estate would house a 92-bedroom...

North Korea Now Open for Tourism!
North Korea Now Open for Tourism!

North Korea Now Open for Tourism!

...as long as you don't try to talk to anyone or walk down the street

(Newser) - Looking for an exciting new vacation destination? Well, scenic North Korea would love to have you—provided you don’t try anything foolish like talking to a local, walking down the street, or (gasp) using a cellphone. The repressive country is looking to tourism to raise money, but doing its...

Glasgow All the Rage After Brad Pitt Stay

Zombie flick helps Glasgow edge out Edinburgh for top Scottish destination

(Newser) - What happens in Glasgow stays in Glasgow—except when Brad Pitt comes to town to film a potential zombie blockbuster, and the city transforms into Scotland's top destination spot so far this year. Calling it the "Brad Pitt effect," the Daily Mail notes that Scotland's No....

Siberian Officials Find 'Proof' of Yeti Artifacts in Mountains

 Siberia Turns Up 'Proof' of Yeti 
in case you missed it

Siberia Turns Up 'Proof' of Yeti

Officials find 'footprints' and 'supposed bed'

(Newser) - Siberian officials say they've uncovered concrete proof of an Abominable Snowman living nearby. Have they actually spotted him? Well, not Yeti—but during an expedition to the Shoria mountains, participants found the creature's "footprints, his supposed bed, and various markers with which the yeti marks his territory,...

Want to Go to Japan? It's Doling Out 10K Flights

Officials reassure foreign travelers that country is safe to visit

(Newser) - How to cope with the unpleasant reality of a major drop in tourism following March's earthquake and tsunami? Free stuff for tourists! Japan will attempt to woo back wary travelers by doling out 10,000 free airline tickets next year, the Japan Tourism Agency announced this week. Officials are...

Pablo Escobar's Life: Now a $40 Tourist Draw

Medellin travel agency offers controversial tours on late drug lord

(Newser) - Pablo Escobar has made the transition in death from feared drug lord to Disney-esque tourist attraction. Visitors to Medellin, Colombia, can now shell out $40 for a three-hour tour of Escobar's favorite haunts when he ruled the city in the 1980s, reports the Guardian . The tour includes a stop...

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