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

BY  Abdul Aziz Dec 27, 2023

Bora Bora is a heavenly part of French Polynesia, sitting in the expanse of the south Pacific Ocean. They are set to make a shift in their tourism policy in the upcoming year. Given its natural splendor, the island has become a hot spot for tourists from all over the world. Tourists in large cruise ships have overwhelmed the island for the longest time. The island became so overrun with in 2019 that Bora Bora vowed to tackle the problem by limiting the number of visitors aboard cruise ships. However, this year, a new government having formed abandoned the promises made. They instead have pledged to double the number of visitors by 2033. It has actually gone to the extent of welcoming large cruise ships to many of its ports. This dramatic shift in policy has divided the opinion in Polynesia. Many support the growth of the tourism sector whereas there are others who want a more sustainable model of the island. The ships that port at the island is now posing a risk to the environmental stability of the ecosystem. The French Polynesia is made up of more than 100 islands that includes Bora Bora and Tahiti. Tourism is vital for French Polynesia. According to Tahiti tourism, it is responsible for contributing about 12% of GDP and 80% of the export revenue. Rainui Besinau is the chair of Bora Bora's tourism association. Besinau says, “The hotels wanted to protect the quality of their service. So when the ships arrived, the hotels closed the doors to the people outside. They [didn’t] want to be invaded. ”There are two models that have been proposed. One being the luxury model with a peaceful island and not too many people in the water. Or, a mass tourism spot involving cruise ships. Environmentalists have welcomed the move. Marie-Laure Vanizette, the spokeperson for an environmental group has said, “Capping tourist numbers is logical. It will also help, “preserve our assets and our way of life”. Additional Reading: 6 Things Locals Wish Tourists Wouldn’t Do When In Iceland Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes

BY  Abdul Aziz Nov 24, 2023

The Department of Tourism in the North launched its second travel expo on Saturday in a bid to ensure a spur in the tourism industry in the northern provinces. Cordillera Administrative Region and the DOT Regional Offices I, II, and III kickstarted the 2nd North Luzon Travel Expo (NLTE) at the Grand Sierra Pines Hotel, North Outlook Drive in Bagiuo City. It is scheduled to be held from the NOV 25 to 27, 2023. The first of the NLT fairs was launched at SMX Convention Center Clark, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. The DOT-CAR is lining up the activities with the Tourism and Travel Fair being the main feature. This event will take place at the CAP Convention Center at Camp John Hay, Baguio City. The other activities include a music show featuring local artists of the four regions. The art in the park at Reflection Pool of Wright Park, Baguio City, Business to business networking activity at La Fayette Hotel, Baguio City. There will be product presentations at the CAP Convention Center as well as a familiarization tour or the North Luzon Inter-regional Circuit which will be a post-tour. The key destinations in Baguio City and Benguet in the Cordillera and Naguillan, San Fernando City, Bauang, San Juan and Luna in La Union in Region 1 will be visited. On November 26, a "Hibla ng Lahing Pilipino Fashion Parade will be staged at the Manor Garden, Camp John Hay. This will showcase regal fabrics from North Luzon to recognize the weavers of indigenous Filipino textiles." The DOT Cordillera chief Jovy Ganongan says the activities are aimed "to create a synergy to develop a robust tourism value chain by converging existing and new domestic tourism products, destinations, and services of the North Luzon regions to the local and international markets. She also said this is also to further strengthen the relationship of the North Luzon regions with their tourism stakeholders." Read Also: The Italian Train Group FS Will Launch A New “Night Train Like Hotel”: Rome To Dolomites Traveling Christmas Tree For The Western Lawn Of U.S. Capitol Venice Reveals 2024 Dates For Tourist Entry Fees: Report

BY  Abdul Aziz Oct 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