BY Sarmind SafiOct 27, 2023

Conservative councilor Thomas Kerr has asked the chief executive to explore the options for the replacement of “set-down/pick-up areas”. The motion has been presented to elected members. In a bid to encourage more people to visit the city center, they want to change the policies for coach visitors. The local authorities have been working to bring visitors into the city center to check out spots like museums, art galleries, and music videos. It also includes Glasgow’s leisure and hospitality offerings. The motion reads, “Council recognizes that those who visit our city do so using a variety of transport methods including train, plane and coach. Council notes that due to its decision to close parts of George Square to traffic, many coach operators are no longer able to utilize the large parking spaces in front of the City Chambers as a set down and pick up area and, as a consequence of closing this area to traffic, there is no longer a similar area within the City Centre. Council notes its concern that the removal of this area, without a replacement, may be discouraging those using coaches and impact adversely on vital city center footfall.” The motion has also asked the council to take into account that many city center retail, leisure, and hospitality businesses are facing business challenges. It is now incumbent on the city center economy to take all necessary measures to encourage visitors to visit Glasgow. Councilor Kerr spoke ahead of the Thursday meeting, saying, “Glasgow’s SNP-led council must pull out all the stops to attract tourists to come to our city. My motion seeks to change this and ensure those coach operators bringing people to explore all that we have to offer have a suitable place to pick-up passengers and set-down after travelling a long way. Our city center businesses are struggling badly due to the global cost-of-living crisis and the after effects of the pandemic. They need a SNP council that is on their side and agreeing to seek a replacement area for operators would be a positive step in the right direction in supporting our economy.” The SNP administration was approached for comment ahead of the Thursday meeting. Read Also: Montana: The Unique Treasure Trove Of The United States Maldives And Bora Bora Among Top 10 Tourists Spots In The World A Newly Launched Tool ‘Skyscanner’ Inspires Travelers To Book Travel Destinations With Ease And Confidence

BY Sarmind SafiNov 3, 2023

Vietnam is “the best tourism position” in Southeast Asia because of its political stability. However, the country should do better in the field of destination management. A Singaporean expert has remarked. Honorary President of the Singapore Institute of Tourism Management Wong Soon-hwa said at a conference held on Monday, "Vietnam is best positioned in Southeast Asia for tourism industry development. Vietnam is a safe destination thanks to its stable political situation, which is always a top priority for foreign investors.” Wong pointed out that Vietnam has a huge land area of about 331,000 square kilometers and an equally large population of nearly 100 million people. It is perfect for creating a pool of human resources for the tourism service industry. Vietnam is rich in natural resources, cultural heritage, and incredible cuisine. Tourists love it, according to Wong. The Vietnamese government has recently relaxed visa policies. They are offering a 3-month tourist visa for all nationals around the globe. They are also extending visa-free stays to 45 days for some of its biggest tourism markets like Japan, South Korea, and Western European economies. Vietnam, however, is lagging behind with the tough competition that Thailand and Malaysia are providing. Until October, Vietnam managed to welcome 10 million international tourists. In contrast, Thailand received more than 21.5 million. Wong has pointed this out and advised that Vietnam needs to manage its destinations more effectively. Singapore’s Sentosa Island, which is much smaller than Phu Quoc, attracts more than 20 million tourists every year. It also includes a good number of domestic visitors. Vietnam can learn from Sentosa’s development model to develop the quality of domestic destinations. The government needs to provide infrastructure, human resources, and a quick approval process so investors can get started. When working on tourism, Vietnam will have to think about the needs of domestic visitors, according to Wong. Every destination must attract not only domestic but also international tourists. Wong cited examples of Disneyland and Paris that can thrive on international visitors alone. Read Also: Muslim Miss Universe Queens Are The New Faces Of The Philippines’ Halal And Wellness Tourism Campaign Sri Lanka Has Approved Visa-Free Entry For Visitors From Six Countries Including India Best Tourism Villages In The World 2023

BY Sarmind SafiDec 27, 2023

The holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's are all about happiness, family, and celebration. This entails engaging in festive customs and spending time with loved ones for the majority of people. However, these holidays have a whole new significance for cosmonauts and astronauts in space. Vacations in space were uncommon in the early years of space exploration. The first Christmas spent in space by astronauts was during the Apollo 8 mission in December 1968. Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, and William A. Anders read passages from the Bible's Book of Genesis while in orbit around the moon, broadcasting the scenes to an estimated billion viewers worldwide. Vacations in space increased in frequency and length as missions went on. Astronauts Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue observed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's in space during the 1973–1974 Skylab 4 mission. They watched a comet pass by, made a homemade Christmas tree out of food containers, and had a festive dinner that included fruitcake. For cosmonauts, the New Year's holiday was particularly important. Yuri V. Romanenko and Georgi M. Grechko were the first people to celebrate the new year while in orbit on the Salyut-6 space station in 1977 and 1978. In a broadcast on television, they raised a glass to the occasion. Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman observed Hanukkah in 1993 while on the STS-61 mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. To celebrate the Festival of Lights, he spun a dreidel and carried a traveling menorah. Holidays were not only observed in space, but astronauts went above and beyond to make the occasion joyful. The 1999 STS-103 crew, who were entrusted with fixing the Hubble Space Telescope, celebrated Christmas with a special meal that included French specialties. Twelve Mir expedition crews, including NASA astronauts, spent their vacations on board the Russian space station between 1987 and 1998. Messages were exchanged and customs, like lighting Hanukkah candles and sending Christmas greetings, were demonstrated during these festivities. On board the International Space Station, holiday celebrations are still customarily observed. Whether it's through live broadcasts, symbolic decorations, or special food items, astronauts and cosmonauts find inventive ways to bring the joy of these festivities to the cosmic realm. Though they may be different, people who celebrate the holidays far above Earth still find great meaning and significance in them. Read Also: 6 Things Locals Wish Tourists Wouldn’t Do When In Iceland Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes Bora Bora Is Shifting Its Tourism Policy, Aims To Double Tourists By 2033