Daily Archives: October 26, 2024

The European city about to charge tourists to go inside one of its most famous buildings

A popular European destination is planning to charge an entrance fee to the tourists desperate to have a look around inside.The French government may soon levy an entrance fee for Notre Dame Cathedral when it reopens, five years after being ravaged by a fire.Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in France. However, on April 15, 2019, a devastating fire severely damaged Notre-Dame.The roof and the iconic spire collapsed, but many of its important features, such as the two front towers and much of the interior, were saved. Since then, a massive restoration project has been underway to repair and restore the cathedral to its former glory.Now, the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati has proposed an entrance fee in order to fund maintenance costs for other religious buildings, reports Euro News.In an interview with Le Figaro, published online on Wednesday, Rachida Dati claims that “charging admission to Notre-Dame would save all the churches in France”.Mr Dati has reportedly suggested to the Archbishop of Paris that tourists should be charged five euros to enter the cathedral.All of the money would be devoted to “a major plan to safeguard France’s religious heritage”, according to Dati. The minister hopes to raise €75 million a year.The proposal has also been backed by the French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.Rachida Dati also wants to modulate the pricing of national monuments and museums from 2026, saying that “visitors from outside the EU” could pay “more” than French visitors to “finance the renovation of our national heritage”.Notre-Dame de Paris is due to reopen on December 7, after nearly five years of reconstruction following the fire that ravaged it in 2019.France is confronting an escalating crisis with its aging religious buildings, many of which have been neglected due to inadequate funding.Hundreds of churches across the country are in urgent need of restoration and face the risk of partial collapse or demolition.Notable examples include Saint-Sulpice in Paris, Notre-Dame de l’Épine in Marne, and the Saint-Denis Basilica in Saint-Denis.

Foreign Office issues travel warnings for 18 countries including Dubai, Morocco and Egypt

Travel advice has been updated for Brits heading to 18 countries, including winter sun hotspots Egypt, Tunisia, Dubai and Morocco, in the wake of Israel’s airstrikes on Iran.Britain’s Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for 18 countries after Israel struck Iran in the early hours of Saturday (October 26).The current advice says: “Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region.”On October 1, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. On October 26, Israel carried out military action against Iran.”Countries subject to the advice are Cyprus, Turkey, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel and Libya.Some of the countries listed are popular destinations for Brits looking for winter sun, such as Dubai, Tunisia and Egypt.Anyone planning to visit the countries listed should check the full details of the Foreign Office’s travel advice.The Foreign Office advises against travel to Iran and has also warned against visiting certain parts of Egypt, including North Sinai and the country’s border with Libya.Brits have already been advised against all but essential travel near Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen as well as Algeria’s borders with Libya, Niger, Mali and Mauritania.The Foreign Office also advises against travel to Tunisia’s border with Algeria and Libya.Iran closed its airspace early on Saturday. The Associated Press analysed flight-tracking data showing that commercial airlines had broadly left the skies over Iran and across Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.Israel’s attack ended just before sunrise in Tehran, with Tel Aviv saying it targeted manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the state of Israel over the last year. It also said it hit surface-to-air missile sites and “additional Iranian aerial capabilities”.The attack came after Iran fired a wave of missiles and drones at Israel in April after two Iranian generals were killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike in Syria on an Iranian diplomatic post.Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on October 1, sending Israelis scrambling for bomb shelters but causing only minimal damage and a few injuries.Tehran said the barrage was in retaliation for attacks in recent months which killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iranian military. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately said Iran had “made a big mistake”.

Travel review: Robot concierges, skyscrapers and ‘instant Asia’, Singapore is modern living at its best

Standing tall, and with beautiful eyes, was our room service lady, and robot concierge, Yolanda. She was a little impatient to deliver the bath towel ordered, but then she is very much in demand. Yolanda and her side-kick Yoshi are the star attractions at the 30 floor skyscraper in the heart of the city’s Orchard Road shopping district.They are just one of the great pulls of this funky hotel. Rooms are compact, with remote control beds and bathrooms with fabulous views across the city, as you bathe in the glass shower, plus Smart televisions and tea and coffee making facilities. The Komynuiti restaurant is wonderful in the morning for buffet style breakfasts and during the day serves up tasty Asian fusion style food. There’s a small gym and neat swimming pool to relax in too.And you’ll need to put your feet up after a day’s sight-seeing in this incredible city, where the environment is the number one priority.Robot lobby at The Yotel. Photo: The YotelSingapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but if you are a savvy traveller, you can save by using the online booking and discount service, Klook, where you can organise your trip before you arrive and confirm everything from food tours to tickets to all the major attractions.One of the best is a visit to the exotic Gardens by the Bay. As you stand on the 128 metre OCBC aerial Skyway, suspended between two supertrees 22 metres above ground, all you can see is green, with the Singapore Strait in front full of passing container ships.Created by the National Parks Board as a showcase of horticulture and garden artistry, it is a wonderful place to spend a few hours. You can stroll round three waterfront gardens and at night watch a brilliant light show for free.Tickets are needed to look round the flower dome, the biggest glass greenhouse in the world, which maintains a temperature of between 23 to 25 degrees Celsius to keep flowers and plants from across the globe healthy.Cloud forest at The Gardens of The Bay. Photo: Visit SingaporeFans of the film Avatar can enjoy the misty cloud forest, full of aliens and blooms inspired by the hit movie. Close by is floral fantasy which is a nod to eccentric pieces of art made from flowers.The gardens are shadowed by the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel, cleverly made up of three towers topped by a skypark observation deck which affords magnificent views of the city and the Formula One Grand Prix’s race circuit.Dubbed the “Lion City” after a visiting Indonesian prince named the island after the animal he said to have seen, Singapore is also known as “instant Asia” because it shows visitors glimpses of cultures brought by immigrants.It’s bright and it’s brash and it’s definitely controlled, with locals needing permission — and charged eye watering amounts — to buy and drive a car . There are strict rules and big fines for misuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as dropping chewing gum and litter.But the rules bring an inner peace and tranquillity, which is certainly on offer at the newly opened Pan Pacific Hotel, just off the main strip in Claymore Road.Swish rooms at The Pullman. Photo: The Accor GroupWith solar panel technology, an in room filtered water system and a bio digester which transforms food waste into cleaning water, it is a green oasis. The 23 storeys house 346 bedrooms and the hotel is divided into four terraces, forest, beach, garden and cloud, best seen upwards from the lagoon swimming pool, where a huge mirror ceiling makes you think you are on a palm island.Bedrooms by the pool have access to the water and are close to the hotel spa, where experienced staff are on hand to massage away any tension.There’s green shrubbery everywhere you look, complemented by wooden finishes. Club bedrooms have cool sitting areas with views of the city and access to a special lounge for VIP breakfasts and cocktail hours. Food with a Peruvian twist is served in the Mosella restaurant with the sweetest oysters and champagne in the Florette bar.A great way of getting your bearings is via The Big Bus Tour, which offers 24 or 48 hours of sight-seeing and takes in all the landmarks and districts including the lively Little Italy and China Town, with ongoing commentary. You can use it to get to all the attractions including the Museum of Ice Cream, a pink filled building dedicated to the cool food and a great place to take selfies.As well as designer shops, Orchard Road is also home to The Hilton’s largest hotel in Asia Pacific. With large, airy modern rooms, the hotel is a haven for families with interconnecting rooms, special deals for attractions and plenty of activities to keep everyone happy. Sunday is the day to try out the magnificent Estate Brunch, where you can enjoy free flowing champagne as you try out the finest foods from around the world in an astonishing array of rooms packed with different cuisines.Across the road is the trendy Pullman Hotel, oozing with five star luxury and big bedrooms and the slogan “our world is your playground’’. With a colourful interior in its 326 rooms and a swimming pool complete with animal inflatables, it’s a great central spot and its Eden Restaurant serves up great cocktails and modern cuisine.A day out at Sentosa Island, a former British military fortress, which is now home to hotels, beaches and fabulous attractions, is a must.There’s everything from the S.E.A Aquarium, with more than 100,000 marine animals, the Mega Adventure Park, which allows you to fly along a zip wire above the forests and across the beach, the 4D Adventureland ready to engulf you in animated technology, Universal for rides and shops and the Sky Helix and Cable Car, which give fabulous views of the island and Mount Faber.So much to do in a city which really is modern living at its best!Factfile: Singapore is a 13 hour flight from the UK via all the major airlines.For airport parking, lounges and transfers, holidayextras.com can help.Accommodation: yotel.com hilton.com pullmansingaporeorchard.comAttractions include: gardensbythebay.com.sg sentosa.com.sg bigbustours.com/en/singapore/singapore-bus-tours marinabaysands.com museumoficecream.com/singaporeTourist information is available via visitsingapore.com and for booking before you visit, try out klook.com

Afalula, the French agency developing Saudi tourism, is subtly evolving

Jean-Yves Le Drian, then-French foreign affairs minister, and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, in Riyadh, October 3, 2021. AGENCE DE PRESSE SAOUDIENNE/REUTERS Appointed in July 2023 to head Afalula, the French agency co-managing the development of Saudi Arabia’s al-Ula site, 77-year-old former French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian sometimes stumbles over the names of the villages that make up the site, a vast Nabataean necropolis. Yet this heavyweight of French politics, who spent 10 years shaping France’s influence in the world, first as defense minister under former president François Hollande, then as foreign minister under President Emmanuel Macron, is well aware of the issues at stake in this picture-perfect setting. (Le Drian, who was also appointed by Macron as a “special emissary” to Lebanon in 2023, did not want to discuss the war and the political situation there during our meeting.) The former foreign minister had a front-row seat for the 2018 signing of the bilateral agreement between Saudi Arabia and France regarding the development of al-Ula. The project was part of the Vision 2030 reform program spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aka “MBS,” who, by reclaiming the kingdom’s pre-Islamic history, hitherto erased from textbooks, aims to promote another national narrative. By transforming the al-Ula archaeological complex into a beacon of culture and tourism – complete with museums, festivals, artists’ residences, hotels, a tram network, etc. – the Saudi crown has, above all, hoped to redeem its image, as it has been damaged by the country’s disastrous human rights record and widespread repression, which culminated in the atrocious 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Six months before the agreement was signed, the Wahhabi kingdom had set up the Royal Commission for al-Ula (RCU), to steer the development project. When Afalula, a 100% Saudi-funded French agency, was created – at the time led by the former CEO of French power company Engie, Gérard Mestralle – the two organizations were instructed to work together, hand in hand. On paper, the union appeared to go off without a hitch. In February 2023, Afalula, whose luxurious Paris headquarters stands just a few meters from the Saudi Arabian embassy in France, even saw its annual endowment double to €60 million. Political and diplomatic shift Behind the scenes, however, relations with the large number of anglophone consultants who operate within the RCU had become strained. Things had also become tense with the RCU’s former president, Amr al-Madani, who was arrested for embezzlement in January. Many voices in both France and Saudi Arabia have questioned the organization’s usefulness, or worse, its credibility, and it now fears for its survival. “Afalula ended up humming. It has become a travel agency for French players looking for contracts, without having any impact on French-Saudi relations,” said a source who is familiar with Saudi affairs. You have 71.82% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.

International travelers visit Shusha as part of their visit to Azerbaijan’s Karabakh and East Zangazur-

A 33-member travel group from the UK’s Piki Reels, led by Belgian national Yves Bouvier, has visited Shusha after traveling to Fuzuli, APA’s Karabakh bureau reports.

The travelers viewed the bullet-riddled statues of Azerbaijan’s prominent figures, Natavan, Bulbul, and Uzeyir Hajibeyov, in the central square of Shusha. They were informed about the city and its situation during the occupation. It was noted that historical buildings, mosques, and monuments in Shusha suffered from Armenian vandalism during the thirty-year occupation. Following the liberation of Shusha, large-scale reconstruction and restoration efforts have begun. Along with infrastructure development, work has been carried out to restore the city’s true historical identity and cultural monuments. The travelers also visited the home of Khurshidbanu Natavan, the area with the Khan Gizi spring, and the castle walls. Additionally, they toured the Shusha prison and enjoyed the breathtaking view from the Jidir plain.

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11:23

A group of international travelers consisting of 33 members from the British club Piki Reels visited Saturday the city of Shusha as part of their trip to Azerbaijan’s Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions, APA’s Karabakh bureau reports.

During the trip, the foreign travelers led by Head of Piki Reels club, Belgian citizen Yves Bouvier are familiarizing themselves with the traces of Armenian vandalism, as well as the restoration and reconstruction works carried out by Azerbaijan in the city after its liberation from occupation. The will also visit several historical sites of Shusha.

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10:17

A group of international travelers consisting of 33 members from the British club Piki Reels kicked off on Saturday their visit to Azerbaijan’s Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur regions, APA reports.

The delegation led by the Head of the Piki Reels club, Belgian citizen Yves Bouvier first arrived at the Fuzuli International Airport, known as the air gateway to Karabakh.

During the three-day trip, the delegation will visit Fuzuli, Khojavand, Shusha, Khojali, Aghdam, Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli, Zangilan and Jabrayil districts of Azerbaijan.

Over the past four years, the large delegations of the major international travel networks have visited Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur eleven times. In total, over 400 international travelers from more than 50 countries participated in these trips.

The trip is of great importance in terms of promoting Azerbaijani liberated territories within the framework of “black tourism.”