Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

Tokyo: As record numbers of tourists flock to Japan to take advantage of the weakness of the Japanese yen, some are running into trouble with authorities thanks to the growing popularity of motorised, rideable suitcases. Two major Japanese airports have already asked travellers not to ride motorised suitcases within their facilities, according to Kyodo news […]

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Greece’s first helicopter airline takes off, with flights to the islands for less than $300

Newswire Athens: Island-hopping in Greece this summer just got a little easier. Hoper, the first helicopter airline in Greece offering scheduled flights, is now selling tickets to 11 destinations, including harder-to-reach spots such as Antiparos, Folegandros, Ios, Kea, Patmos, Sifnos and Spetses. All connect to either Athens, Santorini or Mykonos, which serve as the carrier’s […]

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Bulgaria resort tops list of Europe’s best value family summer holiday

Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach has narrowly beaten Turkey’s Marmaris in a study assessing Europe’s best value family summer holiday resort. Post Office Travel Money, which conducted the research, urged people booking family breaks to do “holiday homework” to avoid “busting the budget while abroad”. The report took into account the cost of common tourist expenses in […]

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Greece announces jobs for foreign labourers

Newswire Athens: Greece is grappling with a severe shortage of agricultural workers, prompting urgent calls from exporters to relax entry requirements for hiring foreign labourers. The deficit, estimated at 180,000 workers, has left swathes of land uncultivated and crops unharvested, dealing a significant blow to farmers and the economy, reported Schengen.News. The National Interprofessional Organization […]

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Italy’s embassy in Pakistan confirms increase in Schengen visa fees

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. […]

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Portugal comes up with huge £2.9m plan to force tourists to spread out

Lisbon: 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 […]

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Portugal: Government presents new plan for migration

Newswire 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 […]

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Why you should visit Italy’s secret city

Larry 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 […]

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The best time to visit Greece for good weather, fewer crowds, and affordable prices

Stacey 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 […]

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The best seaside towns in Portugal

Lisbon: 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 […]

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What we know so far about Greece’s 15-minute smart city

Athens: 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 […]

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PORTUGAL – The land of poets

Portugal: 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 […]

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The ‘beautiful’ Greek island that was complete secret until hit Netflix show exposed it

Athens: 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 […]

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Italy’s leader keeps the focus on migration on her fourth visit to Tunisia in a year

Newswire 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 […]

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Greece launches ‘free’ holidays for tourists who fled 2023 Rhodes wildfires

Athens: 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 […]

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Pakistani, Chinese authorities plan to build a five-star hotel in Lahore

Gwadar 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 […]

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Greek islands set to welcome Turkish visitors for the first time under new visa scheme

Saskia 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 […]

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Swiss journalist discovers Kazakhstan’s natural wonders during visit to Almaty

Assem 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 […]

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Copenhagen has fewer statues of women than ‘mythical animals’ – but Denmark seeks change

Miranda 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 […]

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