Venice Combats Overtourism: Caps Tour Group Sizes

Leading global travel service provider Trip.com Group is embracing new trends and opportunities in the post-pandemic travel landscape, with its CEO Jane Sun sharing insights at the prominent World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland, this week. Ms Sun also expressed optimism about Asia’s continued growth and shared her perspective on its investment potential at the panel discussion titled “Asia – the world’s next growth anchor?”

International tourism will rise by 15% in 2024 from last year, according to data shared by United Nations World Tourism Organization Friday. In fact, it will also exceed 2019 levels by 2%.

A traveler advised passengers in a viral post to always board first, even if their flight ticket states otherwise — and some people say he's behaving like "gate lice."

Following the announcement of new tourist rules for Venice launching this year, the platform for visitors to purchase the €5 fee to enter the city for day-trippers launched today, allowing visitors to make their payment before visiting the city. The fee does not apply for visitors that stay overnight in the city. The authorities in Venice have officially enforced the entry fee, also known as the Venice Access Fee, for day visitors sightseeing in the ancient City of Canals during 29 designated dates in the year. The initiative aims to strike a balance between preserving the daily life of Venice residents and providing an exceptional experience for visitors.

Venice has started selling tickets for day visitors to access the canal city in a long-planned effort to charge day travelers and limit tourism.

Cyprus, Malta, Albania, and other underrated destinations had some of the highest tourism growth rates in Europe last year, according to Eurostat’s latest data. 

The selfie craze is now more lethal than shark attacks. A study published in the Journal of Travel Medicine in 2022 uncovered 379 selfie-related deaths over the previous 13 years. 

Last November, Venice authorities unveiled a pilot program for their long-mooted plan to charge day-trippers to visit the city. 

TTC Tour Brands’ various tour operators are offering up to 25 percent savings on a variety of trips around the world with its annual 2024 Big Tour Sale, going on now through February 15, 2024, and available on each tour operator's website.

At the end of last year, Venice authorities finally confirmed the introduction of a long-mooted entrance fee for visitors to the canal city.

ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominent management company in Southeast Asia, is expanding its renowned serviced apartment brand, Shama, with five new properties across Asia. The company recognises the increasing demand for serviced apartments, particularly in the post-pandemic era, and is confident that these new additions will meet the needs of business, leisure, and the growing segment of ‘Bleisure’ travellers. The Shama brand is renowned for its commitment to providing contemporary, stylish, and spacious serviced apartments. Acknowledging and responding to the popularity of serviced apartments for both long and shorter stays, across the domestic and international markets, ONYX confidently introduces five new Shama properties: two in China including Hong Kong, two in Malaysia, and one in Thailand, with opening dates set for 2024.

Survey respondents shared positive attitudes towards AI and its professional value.