Building will accommodate tourists visiting Capitol
The Hill Dec 2, 08 2:43 PM CST
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Congressional leaders spoke today at the opening of the Capitol Visitor Center, the Hill reports. The center, which was heavily delayed throughout its 6 years construction and cost a well-over-budget $621 million, will be the first stop for visitors to the Capitol, who previously had to wait in long lines outside in often-oppressive Washington heat.
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Water up 5 ft. from normal in city of canals; tourists waved away
BBC Dec 1, 08 8:45 AM CST
(Newser)
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The Queen of the Seas is wetter than usual these days, as seasonal flooding has hit a 20-year high, submerging Venice's streets in up to 5 feet of water, BBC reports. The city of canals is now a veritable lake, and the mayor has warned citizens not to go out unless absolutely necessary, and waved away any tourists thinking about visiting.
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But vow to remain as 100,000 stranded tourists scramble to get home
New York Times Dec 1, 08 2:43 AM CST
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Thai protesters allowed 37 empty planes to be flown today from Bangkok's main airport after European nations announced they would charter flights to evacuate nationals trapped there. The planes flew to a naval base, where travelers can try to arrange to catch flights home, CNN reports. Protesters will allow another 50 flights out later today, according to the BBC.
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Tourist arrested after climbing royal wall during hour-long chase
Reuters Oct 7, 08 1:16 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A naked Westerner jumped into the moat surrounding Japan’s fortified imperial palace today, Reuters reports, climbing its walls during a chase that lasted more than an hour. Onlookers giggled and snapped photos of the 40-year-old bald man, who claimed to be a British tourist from Spain. He was captured and released; “We are checking on his mental condition now,” a spokesman said.
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European safari-goers released after gun battle, no ransom paid
Reuters Sep 29, 08 8:38 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The European tour group kidnapped in Egypt more than a week ago has been freed, according to official reports, after a gun battle between Sudanese troops and the kidnappers. Sudanese officials said yesterday that they’d killed the leader of the kidnappers and five other bandits in a shootout. Though the hostages were being held elsewhere, the kidnappers suddenly agreed to release them.
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German officials negotiate with bandits
Reuters Sep 23, 08 8:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The kidnappers of 19 people, including 11 foreign tourists, in the Egyptian desert have threatened to kill their hostages if officials launch a plane search, Reuters reports. A tour operator being held conveyed the threat by phone to his German wife, and she relayed the information to Egyptian officials, one said. By tracing calls to the wife's phone, they've located the group in Sudan.
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Group including Europeans, Egyptians taken into neighboring Sudan
Associated Press Sep 22, 08 11:31 AM CDT
(Newser)
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A group including 11 European tourists kidnapped Friday in Egypt has been taken across the southern border into neighboring Sudan, officials told the Associated Press today. The kidnappers have demanded as much as $15 million for the release of the German, Italian, and Romanian tourists and their Egyptian guides; Egypt's army is searching for the group.
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In places like Greece, pasty, drunken tourists are wreaking havoc
New York Times Aug 24, 08 12:30 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Lured by all-you-can-drink vacations and very un-British weather, more Britons are heading south for their getaways—but many resorts are no longer thrilled to welcome them. In places like the Greek city of Malia, inebriated Englishmen are wreaking havoc, writes the New York Times . “It is only the British—not the Germans or the French,” says the town's mayor, imploring London to "do something."
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Tourism is up 21% in April alone
MSNBC Jul 26, 08 9:04 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The weak dollar is forcing Americans to shelve travel plans, but Europeans are flying over to score on stellar exchange rates. With the British pound worth $1.99 and the euro $1.58, tourists are coming to the US to shop: More than 15 million visited in the first 4 months of 2008, spending $11.6 billion in April alone—21% more than the same month last year.
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Death jeopardizes thawing relations
Reuters Jul 11, 08 11:24 AM CDT
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A North Korean soldier shot and killed a South Korean tourist when she wandered into a restricted area today, Reuters reports. The 53-year-old had been visiting the Mount Kumgang resort, just north of the border. The shooting could jeopardize thawing North/South relations, which had taken a huge step this morning, when South Korea offered a new food aid package to the North.
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French, Chinese, Indians now world's most ill-bred travelers
Time Jul 7, 08 5:24 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The pushy American traveler has met his match in the snooty, uncompromising Frenchman. The voyageur français ranks as one of the world’s most tactless tourists, bested only by Chinese and Indian travelers. Judging by their politeness, openness to foreign languages, and adversity to complaining, Japanese tourists were rated the most cosmopolitan in a recent international study reported in Time. Americans finished in 11th place.
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Test requirement violates First Amendment, guides argue
Philadelphia Inquirer Jul 3, 08 10:40 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Three tour guides in the cradle of democracy are taking the city to court over a law they say tramples on their constitutional rights, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer . The law compels Philadelphia guides to pay a fee and take a test to get a tour license—and the plaintiffs argue the requirements violate their First Amendment right to free speech.
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It takes 6,000 workers to keep park visitors safe
NPR Jul 1, 08 6:15 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Every day from before dawn until around midnight, a staff of thousands unites to keep the Grand Canyon in good condition and its 4.4 million annual visitors safe. NPR travels to the iconic destination to see how it works. "I hope that you are not imagining a pony ride at Disneyland," warns a mule manager about the steep trip down the canyon.
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Residents wary as visitors trek to bus where
Associated Press Jun 30, 08 7:18 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Just as residents of Healy, Alaska feared, more men have come looking for the bus—the old jalopy where Christopher McCandless died on his famous quest, the AP reports. Portrayed in the book and film, Into the Wild , his trip to Alaska has inspired dozens to trek through dicey weather and mosquito clouds to the bus. "I don't want people to go out there and die," a former official said. "It's that simple."
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TRAVEL
Touching is too intimate in some Asian nations
Travel Leisure Jun 21, 08 1:39 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A great pleasure of this wide world of ours is the multiplicity of cultures and customs. That diversity can also get you into a heap of trouble. So, when traveling, here’s what not to do, and where not to do it, from Travel and Leisure . Touching: Too intimate in Asia. And steer clear of that baby’s head in Thailand! Eating with the left hand: a no-no in Africa. That hand’s for wiping.
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