Travelers spent 5.86 trillion yen ($39.27 billion) through September, preliminary figures from the Japan National Tourism Organization showed. That eclipsed the 5.3 trillion yen spent in all of 2023, a record for any 12-month period. Tourism spending, classified as an export in national accounts, is poised to become Japan’s second-biggest export sector after autos and […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: The Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) has officially received approval from Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Communications to restart its cross-border bus service between Gilgit and Kashgar, China, after a 14-year suspension, officials said this week. This service, which had been discontinued in 2010 due to a natural disaster, was halted when a massive […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal’s Institute of Registries and Notaries will launch a new platform to accelerate the process of granting citizenship. The platform aims to increase the capacity of the services to process citizenship applications by 50 per cent. The platform consists of new functionalities, automation and artificial intelligence. In a bid to accelerate the process […]
Read MoreSaskia O’Donoghue I have never been a party girl. When I was at university, you’d never find me out at student bars; instead, I’d be holed up in my accommodation, watching news analysis shows. I like to think I’ve become rather more fun in the intervening decade but, still, I was a little nervous ahead […]
Read MoreTokyo: Japan is a fascinating destination, offering tourists a perfect mix of ancient traditions and futuristic advancements. Travelers to Japan can experience the tranquil beauty of temples in Kyoto alongside the vibrant energy of Tokyo’s streets. The natural allure of Mount Fuji and the breathtaking cherry blossom season captivate visitors, while Japan’s diverse cuisine, including […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Evora, a popular tourist destination in Portugal known for its ancient ruins, plans to introduce a tourist tax in 2025. Visitors will have to pay a fee to stay overnight at the UNESCO World Heritage site, according to the mayor of Alentejo’s capital. Draft regulation approvals from the municipal assembly are expected by […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: In the second quarter of 2024, there were 780.1 million overnight stays in tourist accommodations across the EU, a slight increase of 0.2% compared with the same quarter of 2023. April recorded 193.6 million nights (-8.7% compared with April 2023), May 272.1 million (+7.9%) and June 314.5 million (-0.1%). Note that Easter fell […]
Read MoreRome: A restaurant dedicated to Giorgia Meloni has opened in the vicinity of a camp in Albania where the asylum claims of people who seek to enter the EU by sea will be processed as part of a controversial pact promoted by the Italian far-right prime minister. Trattoria Meloni, a seafood restaurant in the northern […]
Read MoreJames Stewart Destinations like Cinque Terre, in the northwestern Riviera, and the southern Amalfi Coast tend to hog all the attention, and for good reason: their colourful houses, precipitous cliffs and turquoise waters are what many associate with the Mediterranean. But travellers who venture further afield are justly rewarded. From north to south, we pick […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: Total revenue from tourist overnights in Bulgaria grew by an annual 15.4% to 524.6 million levs in July ($296.2 million/268.2 million euro), the statistical office said. Revenue from domestic tourists stood at 158 million levs, while foreign visitors generated revenue of 366.6 million levs, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said in a regular […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal’s Golden Visa, launched in 2012, is a residency-by-investment program aimed at attracting foreign investments. It is popular among non-EU citizens as it offers them a path to Portuguese residency, which if they stick to the law of the land can lead to permanent residency and in the end to citizenship. It also […]
Read MoreAstana: The rich, undiscovered sites of Kazakhstan continue to reveal their secrets, with excavations shedding light on the ancient city of Kumiyan, also known as Meiramtobe. Located in the Zhanakorgan district of the Kyzylorda Region, this mysterious site remains only partially explored, offering just glimpses into its storied past. The remains of ancient city of […]
Read MoreNewswire Copenhagen: While the south swelters, Denmark’s mild temperatures and extended daylight hours are providing the perfect summer escape for many. With rising temperatures in southern Europe, more and more tourists are flocking to cooler destinations in the north. Denmark, in particular, has become an increasingly popular choice for those looking to escape the scorching […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: More than 63,000 requests for Portuguese citizenship have been received in the first four months of 2024. The figures provided by the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) reveal that there has been a significant increase in the number of citizenship applications. The surge in the number of citizenship applications has brought difficulties […]
Read MoreNewswire Rome: Italy stands out when it comes to best tourist destinations in the European region owing to its fascinating culture, natural landscapes, artistic sites, and renowned cuisine. Pakistanis. who intend to explore Italy as a tourist, are required to obtain a short-term Schengen visa to enter Italy. They can lodge the application for the […]
Read MoreCopenhagen: As of August 2024, Denmark, nestled on the Jutland Peninsula and surrounded by an archipelago of over 400 islands, remains a country of diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The peninsula, Jutland, constitutes more than two-thirds of the country’s total land area. At its northern tip lies the island of Vendsyssel-Thy, separated from the […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Foreigners’ interest in obtaining a Portugal Schengen visa continues to remain high despite the summer season coming to an end soon. According to data from Google Trends, searches worldwide for a Portugal Schengen visa are currently up 90 per cent. Even though not everyone who searches for a Portugal visa applies for the […]
Read MoreTokyo: Department stores and shopping malls in Japan are increasingly setting up prayer rooms to meet the need for Muslims amid a growing number of visitors from Islamic countries on the back of a weak yen. At the Matsuya Ginza department store in Tokyo’s upscale shopping district, a number of people lined up in front […]
Read MoreRosie Frost There is still not much information out there to help digital nomads apply for the new Italian visa. After years of speculation Italy finally launched a brand new digital nomad visa in April this year. It allows remote workers to stay in the country for up to a year. It has only been […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Portugal offers a stunning blend of rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, making it one of the popular tourist destinations. A huge number of visitors travel to the European country to explore historic sites like the Tower of Belém and Sintra’s fairytale palaces in Portugal. Whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Greece became visa-free for 188 countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and the US; encouraging tourism at a time when the rest of Europe takes new measures to reduce the flood of foreign visitors. From August 2024, Greek authorities dropped the Schengen visa requirements, allowing visitors from the 188 countries to […]
Read MoreCopenhagen: Tourists visiting Copenhagen this summer are encouraged to participate in unusual kinds of vacation fun, including plucking floating trash from the Danish capital’s waterways, cycling to museums instead of going by car, or volunteering at an urban garden. All these activities are part of a new, four-week pilot project called CopenPay that rewards tourists […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: In 2023 the asylum process in Greece was marked by significant activity, with a high number of asylum applications and an even higher recognition rate, highlighting the clear need for international protection for asylum seekers. This report looks at the monthly statistics published by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, alongside figures provided […]
Read MoreRome: It’s about to get just a little bit quieter in Venice, at least that’s the hope of the city council, which has banned tour guides from using megaphones and limited the groups to 25 people. Exceptions to the changes, which came into force this week, include children under 2 years of age, and visiting […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal may offer residency through a decentralised cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, as part of its Golden Visa Program. In this way, Portugal could become the first European country to offer residency through its Golden Visa Program, in exchange of investments made through Bitcoin. According to co-founder and CEO of Unbound Fund, Alessandro Palombo […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Armed with selfie sticks and phones, the tourists flood into Santorini from everywhere — on dinghies from giant ocean liners, on coaches that zigzag up the steep hillsides, atop donkeys that clip-clop along the narrow cobbled streets. Some brave the afternoon heat to find a good spot among the white-washed houses and blue-domed […]
Read MoreTokyo: 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 […]
Read MoreNewswire 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 […]
Read MoreBulgaria’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 […]
Read MoreMax Parry Padua: Northern Italy boasts fabulous cities that see Brits flock to them every year. Milan, Bologna, Bergamo, Turin, Verona and, of course, Venice. The region, Italy’s wealthiest, is home to rustic architecture and a culinary culture to make the mouth water. However, the north of Italy is home to plenty of other spots […]
Read MoreMoira Mccarthy Lisbon: It was just past sunrise and there I was, frolicking on a beach, jumping in tidal pools, running in circles with arms spread wide as starlings flew around me, taking in the beauty as the morning light slowly filtered up and over the cliffs and rock formations along the beach known as […]
Read MoreNewswire 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 […]
Read MoreKarachi: The German Consulate in Karachi this week halted its services for non-EU citizens due to security issues. In 2023, Pakistan emerged among the top nationalities with the highest visa rejections in Germany and Schengen states overall. Pakistanis spent €3.3 million on visa applications in 2023, while their expenses might increase further in 2024. The […]
Read MoreAlza Kryeziu Copenhagen: All foreign students holding work permits in Denmark can now work part-time in the country for 90 hours per month. The new rules that came into effect today, July 1, also apply to those who want to work full-time for three months this year (June, July, and August ). Denmark recently eased […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: There has been a spate of tourist deaths in Greece as temperatures hit 43 degrees. Tourists and visitors to Greece have been warned not to “take unnecessary risks” in the wake of the deaths of Europeans during the recent heatwave. Three tourists were found dead in just one week, more went missing and […]
Read MoreCelina 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 More