A Newly Launched Tool ‘Skyscanner’ Inspires Travelers To Book Travel Destinations With Ease And Confidence  

BY  Abdul Aziz Dec 23, 2023

Icelandic Tourist Board reported over 1.7 million visitors in 2022. The ethereal beauty of Iceland has persistently drawn hoards of tourists to its shores. Unavoidably, these tourists make mistakes and encounter culture crushes. There are now about six things that collectively irks the people of Iceland. First, there is the joke about Iceland and Greenland. Actually we have all heard the joke. It stems from the fact that Greenland is covered in ice and Iceland is lush green. Then there is the northern lights that tourists look for during the summers. Icelanders are tired of tourists not doing their research before planning their trip. The midnight sun that occurs between May and August is also a matter of confusion among tourists. European culture, especially Iceland does not appreciate tipping in restaurants, finding it borderline offensive in certain parts. Saying no to tipping on the part of the service-providers also results in arguments. Anna Ragna, born and raised in Iceland moved to the US in 2015. She tells Business Insider, "A lot of times there would be tips on the table for the waitress and they say, 'We can't take it,' and then it'll end up turning into an argument, and that's something that happened quite often." Iceland is renowned for its pristine beauty and the natives hate when tourists littter. Ragna says, it "enrages us as a people." There is also the issue of tampering with the delicate Icelandic moss. This slow-growing green layer is able to adapt to the harshest climates but it can be very fragile when tread  upon. It grows incredibly slowly and it can take up a hundred years just to grow a simple patch." Tourists also ignore signs in different hazardous areas. For example, an Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter rescued an  "exhausted, cold and shocked" hiker who got too close to a volcanic eruption near Grindavík on December 19. Authorities warned tourists to "think four times." Davíð Geir Jónasson who is the owner of Icelandic tour company called Vik Expeditions says he has seen this happen too many times throughout his 15-year long service. He says, "In Iceland, a warning sign is put up because someone has died or multiple people have died. It's not just because something might happen." Read Also: Kenya Is Targeting 5.5M Tourist Arrivals By 2028 Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes Christmas In Nottingham: 2023 Bin Collection Dates, Tram Timetable And More

BY  Abdul Aziz Nov 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  Abdul Aziz Nov 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