Europe was close to reaching its pre-pandemic tourism levels last year, but some countries started to go above and beyond in early 2024, according to a recent report from the European Travel Commission.
27.04.2024 - 08:57 / breakingtravelnews.com
ATIRA. When the inhabitants of this valley talk about sustainability, they use terms such as ‘Amur’ (love), ‘Teritore’ (territory), ‘Insegnamënt’ (education), ‘Respet’ (respect) and ‘Ambiënt’ (environment). ATIRA, which means ‘immediately’ in Ladin, was born out of this deep sense of responsibility. These words do not need translation, but rather actions, even small ones, concrete and immediate. ATIRA is a series of meetings and excursions that take place every Monday during the summer season, with the aim of making residents and visitors aware of issues that are crucial for the sustainable development of the territory and important for the community. Accompanied by local experts, the excursion participants will not only learn fascinating facts about the mountains, but also how to actively contribute to the protection of the territory. With ATIRA you become a guardian of the Dolomites.
ALL EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED WITHIN ATIRA
THE BARK BEETLE: A TREE-EATING INSECT
At the end of October 2018, the storm Vaia caused the destruction of millions of trees. One of the consequences of this event is the bark beetle, an insect that proliferates in forests and has found its ideal habitat among the felled trees, destroying entire areas of forest. The excursion with Roland, an experienced forest guide, will take place in the woods near the Campolongo Pass and will provide clear, practical and interesting information about this insect that has been plaguing the forests for some years. Participants will have the opportunity to observe first hand the effects of the storm on the forest and learn how the bark beetle’s proliferation affects the forest ecosystem, finding ideal conditions to develop in the habitat of the felled trees. Being aware of what is happening is the first step towards finding effective solutions.
MYCOLOGY: THE FOREST THROUGH THE EYES OF A MUSHROOM
Andrea, a passionate mycologist, will take the participants on an adventure of discovery in the world of mushrooms, discovering their ecological role and their medicinal properties. With Andrea it will be possible to observe the forest from the point of view of the mushroom, which is not simply a fruit of the earth, but the mediator between all forms of life in the forest ecosystem. The walk takes place in the woods of La Val, which are home to a variety of mushrooms that go beyond the well-known porcini and chanterelles. Andrea turns the walk into a real sensory and cognitive journey, where each mushroom encountered is the pretext for a tale of ecology, biology and chemistry. You will discover the kingdom of mushrooms and their extraordinary medicinal properties, which have often anticipated the new frontiers of pharmacological research.
ADVE
Europe was close to reaching its pre-pandemic tourism levels last year, but some countries started to go above and beyond in early 2024, according to a recent report from the European Travel Commission.
Imagine being able to board a train from Spain to Morocco, and travel efficiently—and sustainably—between Europe and Africa in under six hours. Thanks to a historic rail tunnel project currently being considered by the two countries’ transportation ministries, the first-ever rail link between the two continents could become a reality in just a few years.
Investment in Jamaica’s tourism industry has soared to new heights with existing hotel companies expanding their stake while new investors are in line to build new properties.
On Friday, Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed into law landmark legislation (SB 2919) that grants local governments the power to regulate short-term rentals to meet the needs of their communities.
Destination weddings are a great way to see the world. That's why I was ecstatic when my best friend asked me to be her plus-one to a ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, one of the top unique wedding destinations for 2024 and 2025.
Forty-five years after it was first floated as an idea, a tunnel linking Spain and Morocco could finally be on the horizon.
Peering up at the snow-laced peaks hemming in the mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado, it's hard to believe more than 1,400 people once crowded into this long narrow valley 8,885 feet up in the Colorado Rockies in the mid-1800s, weathering the winter in tents and shanties.
Golden sand beaches in the Algarve and the Canary Islands, wild secret counterparts in Greece, others with therapeutic power in Italy and lush, green beaches in Albania: They all grace this year’s rankings of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Europe assembled by the European Best Destinations (EBD) organization, offering something for everyone.
Travel advisor Betty Villani was at a trade show in 2022 when she discovered Go-Be Sleeves, covers for airplane tray tables, being displayed by Barbara Booth, the product's developer.
The airline industry is betting big on sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF—a fuel alternative made from renewable biomass and waste products. Dozens of airlines around the globe are experimenting with it; in November, headlines buzzed following the first fully SAF-powered transatlantic flight on a commercial airline (British carrier Virgin Atlantic). But while the emissions-heavy airline sector is heralding SAF as a silver bullet to its decarbonization goals, experts say environmental pitfalls and other obstacles abound.
With the spotlight on sustainability like never before, the hospitality industry the world over can – and is – playing a key role in supporting government ESG initiatives and green goals.
Next month, Nick Ozemba and Felicia Hung, the co-founders of the Brooklyn-based design studio In Common With, plan to open Quarters, a shop housed in a 19th-century TriBeCa loft. The 8,000-square-foot space is laid out like a well-appointed home: Guests enter through the library and can wander the great room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, bar and lounge at their leisure. Everything within — furniture, lighting, art and even the pantry provisions — is available for purchase. Ozemba and Hung collaborated with several of their creative friends on the objects and décor that fill the space. They designed the tiling throughout with the New York City-based artist Shane Gabler, while a fresco depicting eels with earrings by the painter Claudio Bonuglia adorns a portion of the bar and lounge, which will open for evening service beginning this summer. The furniture on display is a mix of restored vintage pieces and new designs by Ozemba and Hung, some of which can be customized with imagery drawn up by various tattoo artists. “We’ll be able to sit down with people and play,” Ozemba says of the space’s potential to spur conversation and inspire new projects. “Retail shouldn’t be so serious. Take off your shoes and have a glass of wine.”