Celina Ali Islamabad: Italy embassy in Pakistan this week confirmed increase in the Schengen visa fees. “Please be informed that, following the publication of the Delegated Regulation of the European Commission n. 2024/1415 of 14/03/2024, Schengen visa fee amounts have changed,” said a statement by the embassy. It added: “The new wording of the art. […]
Read MoreLisbon: A new circular hiking trail is being opened in Portugal to combat over-tourism. Portugal’s renowned tourist hotspots, such as Lisbon and the Algarve, are often overwhelmed with visitors. In response, a new hiking trail, Palmilhar Portugal (Walking Portugal), aims to restore balance by drawing tourists to lesser-known regions. This project will become the world’s […]
Read MoreNewswire Rome: A water emergency prompted the mayor of Capri — one of Italy’s most popular islands — to order a halt to the arrival of tourists on Saturday, in a crisis that has deprived some areas of any water supply. Without a water supply, it is impossible to guarantee essential services to “thousands of […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: The Portuguese government presented this week its action plan for international migration, built around regulated immigration, foreign talent attraction, humanistic integration, and institutional reorganisation. The plan comprises 41 measures. These include: the prioritisation of entry channels for family reunification, young students and skilled professionals; the development and execution of the national plan for […]
Read MoreLarry Olmsted Milan: “Move over Milan, A Guide To Turin, Italy’s Most Elegant City,” was a Vogue headline less than two years ago, with the fashion magazine explaining that “Turin—Italy’s fourth largest city, located just 45-minutes from Milan by train—has somehow remained blithely under wraps.” Less than a year ago, London’s Telegraph explained “Why Turin […]
Read MoreStacey Leasca Athens: Greece has long beckoned travelers with its beauty. From the crystalline waters in the surrounding Mediterranean Sea and the rich historical sites that dot the nation’s map to the divine cuisine and stellar hotels, the European country deserves a spot high on travelers’ wish lists. Travelers flock to Greece year-round, but some […]
Read MoreShkurta Januzi Brussels: The easiest Schengen visas to obtain for summer 2024 are those issued by Iceland, Switzerland, Latvia and Italy. These countries have a lower rejection rate, thus lowering the chances for an applicant to receive a negative response in their application. Malta, Estonia, and Belgium are the world’s worst countries to apply for […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: The number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal surpassed 2.8 million from January through March, making it the best first quarter on record despite high global inflation and interest rates, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed this week. Measuring only foreigners staying in Portuguese hotels, the number by far topped 1.8 million […]
Read MoreHelen Iatrou Athens: A dreamy vacation in Greece is, without a doubt, more sought-after than ever. The Mediterranean destination has already surpassed prepandemic visitor numbers. In 2023, the country of 11 million received over 32.7 million international arrivals compared to 31.3 million in 2019. Credit ratings agency Fitch expects this figure to reach 34.5 million […]
Read MoreLisbon: Portugal’s extensive coastline is dotted with a plethora of delightful towns and villages. If you travel from the north to the south, you will first pass through villages similar to those found in Galicia in Spain, with stone houses. As you head south, the villages become lighter, whiter and even more colourful, and you’ll […]
Read MoreAthens: The Ellinikon is making headlines as one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects currently underway in Athens, Greece. Rooted in the principles of a ’15-minute city,’ the €8 billion masterplan is spearheaded by LAMDA Development and offers a comprehensive 360-degree experience to its residents, tenants, guests, and employees. This transformation will revive the obsolete […]
Read MoreJennifer Barclay Athens: Elias, quiet and unassuming, meets us at the tiny harbour and says he could drive us to the house but it would be quicker on foot. He directs us up a narrow alley past a bustling kafeneio, where people are debating the news of the day over coffee. One of a little […]
Read MorePortugal: Travel and tourism sector set for record-busting 2024 Newswire Lisbon: Portugal’s travel and tourism sector is set for a record-busting 2024, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which has called the outlook for the southwestern European nation “exceptionally promising.” The global forum’s most recent Economic Impact Report, compiled in conjunction with […]
Read MoreLahore: European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Riina Koinka this week visited an art gallery inaugurated at the Nasser Bagh by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), where she viewed an ongoing exhibition. Dr Riina Koinka, who was in Lahore, received an invitation to visit The Barracks, situated within a historically significant but deteriorated bunker previously […]
Read MoreNewswire Paris: For the fifth straight year, France has trumped Germany and the UK to become Europe’s foreign investment hub. Overseas funding was used to finance 1,194 projects in France last year, according to a new attractiveness survey published by Ernst & Young (EY). This represents an annual decline of 5%, but still allows France […]
Read MoreNicky Swallow Florence: March 30 2024 was a sunny Easter Saturday in Florence. In historic Piazza del Duomo, preparations were being made for the Scoppio del Carro (the Explosion of the Cart), the centuries-old ritual that features a parade of costumed flag-throwers and musicians, a towering cart laden with fireworks, a mechanical dove and lots […]
Read MoreAthens: A charming hidden gem in Greece has come into the limelight after popular Netflix series release, One Day, displayed beautiful locations of the island. Paros has all the charm and atmosphere but without the crowds and the steep prices, particularly in summer, but its thought this could be about to change. That’s thanks to […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: One of Japan’s most iconic photo spots is to be blocked by authorities exasperated by badly behaved tourists. A big black barrier is to be erected to obscure views of Mount Fuji. Residents of Fujikawaguchiko accuse mainly foreign tourists of dropping rubbish and parking illegally as they search for the perfect photo. The […]
Read MoreNewswire Tunis: The head of Italy’s right-wing government acknowledged Wednesday that Tunisia cannot serve as a dumping ground for migrants, days after Tunisia’s president reaffirmed his unwillingness to let Europe outsource migration problems by sending those not welcome there to his country. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said during a visit to Tunisia — her fourth […]
Read MoreBrussels: With the EU warning against citizenship by investment schemes, Spain’s government is looking to pull the plug on golden visas. Getting the right to live and work in another country can be a long and difficult process. But that’s not always the case for those with money to spend. Golden visas offer the opportunity […]
Read MoreAthens: It has required new legislation and navigation of copious red tape but nine months after wildfires devastated Rhodes, Greece has launched the first “free” holidays for thousands of tourists forced to flee the island. In a decision tourism officials call a world first, up to 25,000 affected holidaymakers will, as of this week, be […]
Read MoreNewswire Rome: Italy has received 157,551 irregular migrants through several migration routes crossing the Mediterranean during the past year, including 51,986 migrants coming from Libya, according to an Italian security report. The number of migrants to Italy increased by about 50% compared to 2022, and the maximum peak in the number of arrivals in 2023 […]
Read MoreGwadar Pro Lahore: Pakistani and Chinese authorities this week discussed proposals to build a five-star hotel here. China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) held high-level discussions with key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) and the Punjab Central Business District Authority. “The proposals for prestigious 5-star hotels, with a proposed land requirement […]
Read MoreSaskia O’Donoghue Turkish travellers will now be able to visit ten Greek islands under a new scheme announced this week. Officials on the popular island of Rhodes have opened a new visa terminal for Turkish visitors as part of a diplomatic effort to ease long-standing tensions between the two countries. The limited-access visa will allow […]
Read MoreNoo Saro-Wiwa Florence: Marina Serena Cacciapuoti is the co-founder and creative director of Italy Segreta, an online magazine that explores the hidden corners of the country and provides an insider’s perspective on Italian culture, travel, food, and lifestyle. Marina grew up between Rome and Florence before moving to New York in 2014, where she worked […]
Read MoreFani Mari Athens: There’s an Ancient Greek saying that derives from Latin and roughly translates to “healthy mind in a healthy body”. I think that truly embodies the country’s connection to wellness. Asclepius, the god of medicine, believed in seeing each patient as a person, not as their condition, which is the ultimate holistic medical […]
Read MoreBrussels: Bulgaria and Romania became Schengen members on March 31: the Schengen rules will now apply in both Member States including on issuing Schengen visas and controls at the internal air and sea borders will be lifted. The European Commission strongly welcomed this achievement, which follows the historic Council decision of December 2023. The Schengen […]
Read MoreAssem Assaniyaz Astana: Almaty hosted the 69th meeting of the Ski Club of International Journalists (SCIJ) in early March. This was the first edition of the annual week-long meeting of the club in Central Asia. Swiss journalist and filmmaker Fritz Muri, one of the participants, shared impressions from his winter trip to Kazakhstan in an […]
Read MoreMiranda Bryant Stockholm: Denmark has pledged to put up more statues of women, with the country’s culture minister saying the capital has “more statues of mythical beasts and horses”. According to the Danish government, only 31 of 321 statues and busts in Danish cities are of women. Of the 101 named statues in Copenhagen, only […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: While the increase in Irish holidaymakers in Portugal has shown impressive growth, the number of those choosing to live there permanently has soared further. The Portuguese border and immigration authority (formerly known as SEF, now renamed AIMA) reports that there were just 805 Irish citizens living in Portugal in 2013. By 2022, that […]
Read MoreAthens: Greece Golden Visa is one of the most preferred options for European residency by investment programs. As the time for international mobility and investment opportunities abroad are plan B options for many investors, Greece Golden Visa stands as one of the favorite ones with high demand. As of early 2024, some revisions were made […]
Read MoreBrussels: In 2023, EU+ countries received 1.14 million applications for international protection, reaching a 7-year high. Syrians continued to lodge the most applications, with Afghans remaining the second largest applicant group, albeit with significantly fewer applications than the previous year. An increase in Palestinian applications was also noted towards the end of the year. Analysis […]
Read MoreBrussels: In 2022, 989 000 people acquired the citizenship of the EU country where they lived, an increase of around 20% (+163 100 people) compared with 2021. Most of the new citizenships (in absolute numbers) were granted by Italy (213 700; 22% of the EU total). Spain (181 800; 18% of the EU total) and […]
Read MoreBrussels: The European Commission has proposed fee hike for the Schengen visa application – when implemented the new fee rate will go up from €80 to €90 for adults and from €40 to €45 for children. The European Union (EU) is also planning to raise the fee even more for countries showing “insufficient cooperation on […]
Read MoreNewswire The Epirus Trail which boasts an initial length of 370 km (230 miles), is a mountain adventure that crosses Epirus, from Mount Grammos to the Tzoumerka mountain range. The longest hiking trail in Greece started taking shape in 2015, thanks to the Epirus Region and the “EPIRUS SA” Development Company. Epirus Trail promotes the […]
Read MoreLisbon: According to Portuguese legislation, it is permitted to drive a vehicle with foreign registration within the country as long as certain conditions are met. According to Ekonomista these conditions include: Not residing in Portugal: The first condition is that the driver of the vehicle is not a resident of Portugal. This means that people […]
Read MoreNewswire Astana: More than 25 events will be held to mark the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China. The opening ceremony is scheduled for the end of March, reported Kazinform. Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev and Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli discussed cooperation and a preliminary plan during the […]
Read MoreTeresa Levonian Cole I woke on the first morning to the smell of woodsmoke from my fireplace, and to the view of brittle sunlight hitting the rocky mass of the Astraka Towers. Outside, the air was crisp. Birds twittered, darting among the pines, and lights from the tiny villages dotting Mount Tymphi twinkled across the […]
Read MoreGrace Piercy Rome: A beautiful coastal town in Italy is one of Europe’s most underrated – but its enviable location to beaches and other more famous cities makes it a perfect place to visit. Dubbed a “hidden gem”, Ravenna, on the northwest coast of Italy, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its colourful […]
Read MoreNewswire Tipping in Italy represents a fascinating aspect of the cultural differences between Italy and the United States, reflecting deeper societal norms and expectations around service and hospitality. Unlike the U.S., where tipping is almost a mandatory practice tied closely to the service industry’s wage structure, Italy presents a more nuanced approach to gratuities. In […]
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