BY Sarmind SafiNov 23, 2023

Like any popular rock band, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree went on a two-week tour, stopping in towns all over West Virginia, and had managers, security, roadies, and even a few groupies. After being cut down from the Monongahela National Forest on November 1st, the 63-foot Norway spruce was placed on a specially constructed tractor-trailer and driven 19 times in a fortnight. On November 17, the tree will be formally delivered to the US Capitol. On November 28, there will be a tree lighting ceremony on the US Capitol's West Lawn. “We’re so proud here in Randolph County to have the forest headquarters in Elkins,” Robbie Morris, the executive director for the Randolph County Development Authority said. “I think it’s appropriate that the kickoff of the tour happened here.” The obvious starting point for the tree's statewide tour is Elkins, West Virginia, home of the Monongahela National Forest headquarters. The tree was escorted through the middle of town by several high school bands before stopping at the Elkins Train Depot, drawing a throng of well-wishers from the picturesque mountain community. Visitors are urged to sign a large banner that is hung over the tree and fastened to the tractor trailer at each location. Hundreds of people, including West Virginia celebrity Mark Bowe, host of the Discovery Plus series Barnwood Builders, enjoyed the various informational booths and festivities surrounding the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. “I wanted to be here with the national tree so it can go from the people’s land to the people’s house and I want everybody to know that this tree came from West Virginia and that’s nowhere near Richmond," Bowe said sarcastically. Without a stop at the West Virginia Capitol Building in Charleston, the tour wouldn't have been complete. With marching bands, live music, amazing decorations, and even a makeshift skating rink set up on the Capitol steps, the city and state went all out. “I came around the corner and told my mom I’m so excited since I’m a Hallmark fanatic,” Charleston Sternwheel Regatta Queen Sophia Wigal recalled. “It looked like a Hallmark movie so I was really excited.” The people of the Mountain State showed evident pride in their state and gathered in sizable crowds at each stop along the tour.“West Virginians are very proud people,” remarked Robbie Morris. “The fact that the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will sit on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for countless amounts of people to see throughout the holiday season makes me overwhelmed with pride.” Read Also: Record-Breaking Holiday Travel Anticipated As TSA Prepares For Busy Season! The Italian Train Group FS Will Launch A New “Night Train Like Hotel”: Rome To Dolomites Chinese And US Presidents Have Come To A Common Ground Regarding Tourism Facilitation!

BY Sarmind SafiOct 31, 2023

When you are looking for places to visit, there are uncountable places that can be considered. But when you narrow your scope down to a slow-paced locality that has all the natural charms to get you feeling rejuvenated, the places become a lot less blingy and more earthy. The United Nations World Tourism Organization enlists all the names in world tourism. The organization has, in the past three years, recognized villages around the globe that "are leading the way in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions." Here are some of them: Hakuba, Japan Hakuba may be famous for its winters, but it's worth a visit year-round. In the summer, he loves hiking up the mountains to lodges. In the autumn, it is popular with visitors who want to see the autumn foliage. And Hakuba's onsens – hot springs – are popular no matter the season. Lerici, Italy Unlike many other coastal Italian enclaves, Lerici has also kept up its traditional fishing industry. Among various sustainability initiatives, the town runs a pilot project called Smart Bay, which includes scientific research and monitoring of the bay and its ecosystems. It also introduced solar panels, banned single-use plastics, and prohibited cigarette smoking in coastal areas. Lephis, Ethiopia For natural beauty and wildlife, it's hard to beat the village of Lephis, located in Lephis Forest, around 160km south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Travelers can trek or horseback ride past the striking Lephis Waterfall and through hills and valleys, catching glimpses of animals, including colobus monkeys, leopards, and mountain nyala. Birdwatchers are in for a particular treat, with species including the Abyssian oriole and white-cheeked turaco. Some of the other villages are Douma, Lebanon, and Zapatoca, Colombia. Read Also: 10 Best Restaurants In The US Glasgow City Council Moved To Offer More Bus Stops For Tourists Sri Lanka Has Approved Visa-Free Entry For Visitors From Six Countries Including India

BY Sarmind SafiNov 30, 2023

Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel signed a memorandum on Wednesday designating 2024 as a year to promoting tourism between the two countries. During this year the two parties will work together to boost tourism exchange using joint efforts from the public and private sectors in a bid to heighten the recovery of the demand for travel since the COVID-19 pandemic. Citing that 464 cities share sister relationships between the two countries, Saito called for taking advantage of the tourism year to resume and boost the exchanges at the local levels. After the two countries agreed to the plan to apply on Japanese tourists, which will help expedite immigration procedures in the U.S. held at the residence in Tokyo of the ambassador, it was also attended by Japanese Digital Transformation Minister Taro Kono and Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi. Under the supervision of the Tourism Year initiative, both the countries will hold travel campaigns for the general public and it will host events for travel agencies from the two countries. The number of visitors from the U.S. to Japan has been steadily going up with the help of the fall of the value of the yen against the dollar. The monthly number amounted to some 210,000 in October, with an increase of 40% from the same month in 2019, prior to the pandemic. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese visitors to the United States in October came up at about 140,000, less than half of the pre-pandemic numbers. Read Also: Ghana Is Ready To Host The Rest Of The World: Ghana Tourism Authority On Christmas Concerts Play Airlines Is Celebrating Black Friday And Cyber Monday Deals On Flights To Europe Travel Tuesday Is Here To Get You Cheap Flights And Hotel Deals: Upto 50% Off