Tourism tips

Sharjah, one of the seven emirates in the UAE, is less than an hour from the super-modern Downtown district of Dubai. But unlike Dubai and other emirates, Sharjah is focused on becoming the national center of cultural tourism – it favors tents, camps and eco-resorts over mega-structures.

There’s a romanticized idea in movies that travel editors only luxuriate in fancy resorts in faraway archipelagos. But I prefer exploring salt marshes.

Maldives is now supporting payments through cards running on RuPay, India’s card payment network. The decision was announced this week after talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

Japan Airlines is giving free domestic flights to international tourists, making travel to smaller cities and hidden gems far easier.

Oct 9, 2024 • 6 min read

In a year marked by regional instability and war, Saudi Arabia’s inbound arrivals have continued to grow.

The new Barbuda International Airport was officially opened on October 3, 2024 signaling the start of a new chapter for the country’s connectivity, tourism and economic growth, solidifying the twin-island paradise of Antigua and Barbuda as a premier luxury destination.

On October 7, it will have been one year since Hamas attacked Israel. Egypt and Jordan, two of the countries neighboring the conflict, are still far from a full tourism recovery from American and European source markets.

Americans can now expect their passport applications to be processed within four to six weeks, down from the previous six to eight weeks, the State Department announced on Thursday. Expedited passport processing times remain between two and three weeks.

If you haven’t been to Machu Picchu lately—or are a first-timer to Peru’s famed Incan archaeological wonder—get ready for a somewhat complicated ticketing process. In a bid to help ease congestion and manage conservation at the overtourism-plagued UNESCO World Heritage Site, the destination has once again switched up its entrance ticket system.

Over the past decade, tourism has boomed in and around Asheville, N.C., with visitors drawn to the temperate climate, green mountains and beautiful waterfalls of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The number of second homes in the area has multiplied, as have the number of short-term home rentals.

Morocco will co-host the 2030 edition of the FIFA World Cup, an immense opportunity for any nation, but one that has tourism chiefs worrying about where hordes of football fans will go. Overtourism is among Morocco’s biggest concerns as it heads towards the sporting event, trying to make sure travelers don’t swarm only the host cities.

Domestic tourism is relatively new amongst Gulf countries whereby they look to increase the spending of residents in a country by prompting them to visit facilities designed for tourism.

The medieval walled city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, is turning to technology to manage its burgeoning tourism industry. Traffic has become unmanageable since the city starred as a backdrop in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

Rome is one of the most established tourist destinations in the world and 2025 is set to be a bumper year for visitor numbers. 

Japan is a popular spot for tourists, and a new initiative will make it easier – and more affordable – to visit than ever before.

The Indian government is offering visa-fee waivers for the first 100,000 tourists entering the country under the “Chalo India” program. The operational guidelines will be finalized soon, after which the scheme will officially launch, the ministry has said.

In Georgia, where history is a roll call of conflicts, hello (‘Gamarjoba’) translates as ‘be victorious’. 

Hong Kong welcomed a new pair of giant pandas gifted by Beijing on Thursday with a lavish ceremony, raising hopes for a boost to the city's tourism.

Coldplay is the latest music juggernaut to cause a tourism frenzy. Mumbai felt the effect this week when tickets went on sale for their January shows, and Abu Dhabi in the UAE was next.

Tourism accounts for nearly a quarter of Thailand’s economy and a tenth of Turkey’s. For India, the contribution is just 5%. But the plan is now to double that contribution.