Wheeling’s Holiday Celebrations Bring In Millions Of Dollars For The Local Economy From Tourists 

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 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  Abdul Aziz Dec 14, 2023

Also known as the Oscars of the travel industry, the World Travel Awards Ceremony was hosted in Dubai, UAE on December 1st. At the event, the Philippines secured four major global recognitions. It also managed to retain its 2022 titles as the World's Leading Dive Destination and Beach Destination. For the first time, Manila has won the Leading City Destination and also received the Global Tourism Resilience Award. They aim to recognize Manila's “global leadership, pioneering vision and innovation to overcome critical challenges and adversity,” reported The Manila Times. The Philippines is reportedly one of only five countries and destinations in the world suggested for the inaugural award. According to World Travel Awards, the winners will be serving as benchmarks for implementing the best practices in tourism resilience. The additional global winners from the Phillipines for this year include Amanpulo, which has been honored as the World's Leading Dive Resort, and City of Dreams Manila which has been recognized as the Worlds Leading Fully Integrated Resort. In September the Philippines along with various resorts and hotels received top honors in the Asia Category of the 2023 World Travel Awards. The achievements were celebrated by the Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco who has highlighted the contributions of tourism to the country's economy. She said, “These accolades are as much a source of Filipino pride as they are a testament to the enormous contribution of tourism to the Philippine economy and global standing." Learn More About: 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!