Turkey unveils drastic new plan to stop tourists abandoning country for Greece

Travel

Turkey has announced huge plans to revolutionise its tourism industry and fend off competition from holiday hotspot Greece.For years the country has been a thriving, burgeoning holiday location but is now experiencing a huge drop in tourism due to rising costs with hotels left empty as tourists head to Greece instead.One travel expert has revealed to the Express that as a result of Turkey’s struggling tourism sector, it is “unsurprising” that money-conscious foreigners are struggling to justify increased costs and are “seeking a better deal”.Part of Turkey’s response has been to ratify an agreement to increase training for all aspects of the tourism industry, particularly gastronomy, to meet current demand and surpass expectations.As the agreement with higher education providers was announced, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said: “I believe we will soon become a nation renowned for exporting touristic general managers to the world.“Through the protocol we are inaugurating today, we will have the opportunity to nurture the future architects of tourism, officials and visionaries alongside you.”The new agreement will incentivise the establishment of more tourism and gastronomy departments at universities, with courses being provided in multiple languages.Students studying tourism-related degrees will be taught in English but will be required to gain proficiency in another language such as Russian or Chinese.The training will at first be established in the country’s premier tourism destinations such as Izmir and Antalya but will eventually be expanded nationwide.The announcement comes as many foreign tourists look set to be put off visiting the country due to rising prices, with domestic travellers seemingly turning their backs on staycations.On April 1, Greece started issuing visas on arrival for Turkish visitors allowing them to visit 10 Greek islands with an express visa for up to seven days.During the first 10 days of April, the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Rhodes combined welcomed 20,690 Turkish tourists, many of whom in previous years would likely have holidayed in their home country.Hamit Kuk, a leading advisor for the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, previously told the Express that some of the cheaper hotels in holiday hotspots were only half-full despite it being peak season.“The average room occupancy rate in hotels in Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and Antalya is currently around 80 percent,” Kuk revealed. “There are no empty hotels or resorts as [some reports have suggested but] room occupancy rates were 100 percent in previous years.”He added: “[I expect] two and three-star hotels to close in October, four-star hotels to close in mid-October and five-star hotels to remain open until the end of October.”

Turkey unveils drastic new plan to stop tourists abandoning country for Greece

Travel

Turkey has announced huge plans to revolutionise its tourism industry and fend off competition from holiday hotspot Greece.For years the country has been a thriving, burgeoning holiday location but is now experiencing a huge drop in tourism due to rising costs with hotels left empty as tourists head to Greece instead.One travel expert has revealed to the Express that as a result of Turkey’s struggling tourism sector, it is “unsurprising” that money-conscious foreigners are struggling to justify increased costs and are “seeking a better deal”.Part of Turkey’s response has been to ratify an agreement to increase training for all aspects of the tourism industry, particularly gastronomy, to meet current demand and surpass expectations.As the agreement with higher education providers was announced, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said: “I believe we will soon become a nation renowned for exporting touristic general managers to the world.“Through the protocol we are inaugurating today, we will have the opportunity to nurture the future architects of tourism, officials and visionaries alongside you.”The new agreement will incentivise the establishment of more tourism and gastronomy departments at universities, with courses being provided in multiple languages.Students studying tourism-related degrees will be taught in English but will be required to gain proficiency in another language such as Russian or Chinese.The training will at first be established in the country’s premier tourism destinations such as Izmir and Antalya but will eventually be expanded nationwide.The announcement comes as many foreign tourists look set to be put off visiting the country due to rising prices, with domestic travellers seemingly turning their backs on staycations.On April 1, Greece started issuing visas on arrival for Turkish visitors allowing them to visit 10 Greek islands with an express visa for up to seven days.During the first 10 days of April, the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Rhodes combined welcomed 20,690 Turkish tourists, many of whom in previous years would likely have holidayed in their home country.Hamit Kuk, a leading advisor for the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, previously told the Express that some of the cheaper hotels in holiday hotspots were only half-full despite it being peak season.“The average room occupancy rate in hotels in Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and Antalya is currently around 80 percent,” Kuk revealed. “There are no empty hotels or resorts as [some reports have suggested but] room occupancy rates were 100 percent in previous years.”He added: “[I expect] two and three-star hotels to close in October, four-star hotels to close in mid-October and five-star hotels to remain open until the end of October.”

Foreign Office’s major change to Israel advice 15 months after ‘no travel’ warning

Travel

New travel advice has been put in place for Israel amid ongoing regional tensions.A travel ban was enforced for many areas of the country 15 months ago, in October 2023, with the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) warning during this period against “all travel” or “all but essential travel” to most of Israel.But this widespread warning has now been lifted by the FCDO to many holiday hotspots in the Middle Eastern country.This is because the frequency of rocket attacks into Israel has significantly decreased since October 2023. However, the FCDO still warns of an “increased risk of political tension”, which could see clashes and uprisings during the anniversaries of significant events in Israel.The destinations affected by the new travel advice include Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Eilat, Haifa and Galilee and Haifa.The FCDO still advises against all but essential travel to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which include Gaza and the West Bank.Tourists are also advised against travelling within 500 metres of the border with Gaza and Syria.FCDO also advises against travel to the area between the Lebanon border and (but not including) Route 89, excluding Nahriyyah.Those looking to visit Israel are now being advised to check advice before they travel.The FCDO said: “The Israeli government declared a state of emergency across the whole country on 7 October [2023] and this remains in place.”The UK government department that supports diplomacy, development, and defence added that visitors to Israel must check the latest information regarding the country before visiting, warning that international air and land borders could close at short notice.Gov.UK states: “FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza, Tulkuram Governorate, Jenin Governorate, and Tubas Governorate except Route 90.“Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast.”Israel’s tourism industry has seen a stark decline among tourist numbers due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.According to Statista, the fourth quarter of 2023 saw international tourist arrivals in Israel drop by a whopping 80% compared to the previous year.In March 2024, there were 79,500 international tourists in Israel, a significant drop compared to 375,600 tourists in March the previous year.The Israeli Ministry of Tourism is doing all they can to help the country boost their tourism industry again but experts predict this could take at least six months for the sector to recover.

Foreign Office’s major change to Israel advice 15 months after ‘no travel’ warning

Travel

New travel advice has been put in place for Israel amid ongoing regional tensions.A travel ban was enforced for many areas of the country 15 months ago, in October 2023, with the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) warning during this period against “all travel” or “all but essential travel” to most of Israel.But this widespread warning has now been lifted by the FCDO to many holiday hotspots in the Middle Eastern country.This is because the frequency of rocket attacks into Israel has significantly decreased since October 2023. However, the FCDO still warns of an “increased risk of political tension”, which could see clashes and uprisings during the anniversaries of significant events in Israel.The destinations affected by the new travel advice include Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Eilat, Haifa and Galilee and Haifa.The FCDO still advises against all but essential travel to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which include Gaza and the West Bank.Tourists are also advised against travelling within 500 metres of the border with Gaza and Syria.FCDO also advises against travel to the area between the Lebanon border and (but not including) Route 89, excluding Nahriyyah.Those looking to visit Israel are now being advised to check advice before they travel.The FCDO said: “The Israeli government declared a state of emergency across the whole country on 7 October [2023] and this remains in place.”The UK government department that supports diplomacy, development, and defence added that visitors to Israel must check the latest information regarding the country before visiting, warning that international air and land borders could close at short notice.Gov.UK states: “FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza, Tulkuram Governorate, Jenin Governorate, and Tubas Governorate except Route 90.“Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast.”Israel’s tourism industry has seen a stark decline among tourist numbers due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.According to Statista, the fourth quarter of 2023 saw international tourist arrivals in Israel drop by a whopping 80% compared to the previous year.In March 2024, there were 79,500 international tourists in Israel, a significant drop compared to 375,600 tourists in March the previous year.The Israeli Ministry of Tourism is doing all they can to help the country boost their tourism industry again but experts predict this could take at least six months for the sector to recover.

The best Netflix Christmas movies and shows

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

In the run up to Christmas, there are three sure-fire ways to get into the spirit: Christmas movies and TV shows, and the best Christmas songs.
Once you’ve heard Wham!’s Last Christmas a few dozen times, it’s time to change the tempo and stick on a Christmas movie.
Netflix has a load of them. But the best Netflix Christmas movies are accompanied by a bunch of stinkers.
UPDATE: We’ve given our Netflix festive round-up a proper seasonal spruce-up for 2024. Among the additions are two brand new picks. These are the thriller Carry-on, which is a Christmas movie in the way Die Hard is a Christmas movie. And a thrilling watch to boot. Or, right at the other end of the spectrum, Netflix has released a festive 4-parter of Is This Cake?, one of our favourite reality TV gameshows of recent years. Digging a little further back, Netflix also offers Violent Night, a violent action comedy. It’s one to watch once the kids have gone to bed, and comes highly recommended. A Wedding for Christmas is not going to go down as one of the classic Christmas movies, is it? We’ve dug through more Netflix Originals Christmas movies than we care to count to dig out the very best Christmas movies on the service.
We have some classics to hand here, but our best Netflix Christmas movies and shows list is home to a surprising number of fairly new flicks and shows. And a bunch we think you may have never even seen.
Oh, and as a bonus we recommend the 4K Fireplace for Your Home: Birchwood Edition. This is literally just watching a roaring fire for an hour and nothing else. We kid you not. It’s absolutely brilliant, we swear you can feel genuine warmth coming from it. It even makes the sound of crackles as the logs slowly burn. This is the kind of Netflix content you want. This is what your hard earned money goes towards.
For those who aren’t a fan of watching burning logs, the following Netflix Christmas films and shows are for you.
Please note: All of the following are available on Netflix UK – please check in your region for availability. Best Netflix Christmas movies and showsWell, these are a lot more fun than we were expecting. Kurt Russell is Santa Claus – who doesn’t ‘ho ho ho’ – is brilliant casting and bringing in Goldie Hawn and Mrs Claus for the sequel is equally inspired. In both movies, In the first movie for the most part it takes place in modern-day America. For the second, the action shifts to the North Pole
299Thanks for voting
This is a beautiful animation about a postman who finds himself in a frosty part of the world where someone who looks remarkably like Santa Claus is hiding out. Directed by Disney vetern Sergio Pablos, and with the voice talent of JK Simmons, this is Netflix getting into the animated business and it’s a lot of Festive fun.
246Thanks for voting
Office Christmas Party is a lot of fun. Jennifer Aniston plays a nasty boss who decides to shut down the office that her brother (TJ Miller) runs. The only way to save the branch is to throw the mother of all Christmas parties and invite a potential investor to woo them. What ensues is everything you expect from the makers of Blades Of Glory and some of the funniest comedians around. It’s not perfect, but it’s a refreshing, easy festive watch.
135Thanks for voting
It’s a rare thing when the Christmas special of a beloved TV show turns out to be one of the better episodes in the entire series, but that’s precisely what White Christmas is to Black Mirror. Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall play an odd pair holed up in a remote cabin on Christmas Day. To say any more would be akin to us opening all your presents.62Thanks for voting
The best thing on Netflix about Christmas, bar none. Seriously, this Norwegian show is fantastic, focusing on Johanne who lies to her family about having a boyfriend and decides to go on the dating scene to actually find a suitor. It’s a heartwarming show set in the snowy confines of Norway and there are two great seasons of the thing to watch
106Thanks for voting
If you’re a Jim Carrey hater, then nothing we say can make you want to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Ron Howard’s live action take on the beloved Dr Seuss kids’ book sees the rubber faced comic in full gurning, prancing mode. To be fair, it’s the perfect casting for this misanthropic ball of energy, who sets out on a mission to prevent Christmas.85Thanks for voting
Watching a deranged Charlie Kelly bite off Santa’s ear in an act of revenge for having sex with his mother every December 25 might not give you the warm, fuzzy feeling that It’s a Wonderful Life does, but it will give you a belly full of laughs with its look back at childhood Christmases that weren’t as special as they once thought.96Thanks for voting
Oh Bill. Are you OK mate? You’ve had a weird life, and this musical Netflix original just makes it even weirder. Miley Cyrus, George Clooney and niche French band Phoenix all guest star in this festive special directed by Sofia Coppola about Bill Murray just being Bill Murray, but at Christmas. Sure it might border on the downright wacky and indulgent, but the Ghostbuster’s Christmas cheer is properly authentic, and you don’t often get to see that these days.
1816Thanks for voting
We weren’t expecting much from Falling For Christmas, but the movie which marks a return of Lindsey Lohan to family-based movie fun is more-than watchable. The plot has all the hallmarks of a Hallmark movie: Lohan Sierra Belmont (Lohan) is a self-obsessed heiress who, after a bump to the head, forgets her old life and is ‘saved’ by single dad Jake Russell, played by the amazingly named Chord Overstreet. Much of the action takes place in a ski lodge, which adds to the Christmas appeal and while it gets a little too soppy in places, it mostly works.54Thanks for voting
If you’re like us, the news that Robin Robin is Aardman Entertainment’s first musical production will come as a surprise. Aren’t they all this bursting with joyful musicality? Robin Robin is a delightfully delicate stop-motion yarn about a small bird raised as a mouse. What’s more, at only 30 minutes long, it doesn’t make a song and dance about its song and dance numbers.
32Thanks for voting
David Harbour stars as Santa Claus. The real deal, albeit a particularly grumpy iteration of Saint Nick. However, the house he ends up at is under siege by mercenaries who want to pillage the place. This is not one to watch with the family. It’s violent, its Santa is as jaded as they come. But it sure is good fun for the grown-ups in the room. 00Thanks for voting
Looking for a Christmas film that doesn’t feel too much like a Christmas film? Carry-On comes highly recommended. This thriller stars Taron Egerton as a TSA agent who is blackmailed by a terrorist into letting a dangerous package onto a plane, on a Christmas Day flight. There’s more than a whiff of Die Hard to this particular Christmas film, and shades of those Liam Neeson thrillers so many folks enjoy. There’s no guilt in this pleasure either, it’s a solid movie. 00Thanks for voting
Is it Cake? became a bit of a viral hit in 2022. In case you missed the craze, contestants are tasked with replicating real-world items or scenes, but in cake form. And they have to try to fool the judges (at a distance) into thinking the cake version is real. This 4-part holiday special sees the teams make turkey dinners, festive wreaths and more. An engaging watch for when you want to just let your brain simmer.
00Thanks for voting
One of the newer Christmas movies and, if you are in the UK the movie title has rather dark connotations, this is a great, strange movie about a toy maker who makes the ultimate toy – a sentient matador doll. This one is a huge amount of fun and packed with heart. 1212Thanks for voting
As you have probably guessed, the best Christmas movies aren’t on Netflix. BUT, The Holiday Movies that Made Us is a brilliant look at Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas, through behind-the-scenes footage and talking head. This is a really great series and there’s a standard Movies That Made Us series as well which is equally great.
69Thanks for voting
With a title so good we can’t believe it hasn’t been used before, Single All The Way is everything you want in a Christmas movie. It a feel-good film about Peter (Michael Urie) who takes his roommate back to his family for Christmas, asking him to pretend to be his boyfriend so he doesn’t look like he’s terrible at relationships. What ensues is heat-warming festive fun and it also stars Jennifer Coolidge which automatically gives it an extra star from us. 513Thanks for voting
View More

The best Netflix Christmas movies and shows

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

In the run up to Christmas, there are three sure-fire ways to get into the spirit: Christmas movies and TV shows, and the best Christmas songs.
Once you’ve heard Wham!’s Last Christmas a few dozen times, it’s time to change the tempo and stick on a Christmas movie.
Netflix has a load of them. But the best Netflix Christmas movies are accompanied by a bunch of stinkers.
UPDATE: We’ve given our Netflix festive round-up a proper seasonal spruce-up for 2024. Among the additions are two brand new picks. These are the thriller Carry-on, which is a Christmas movie in the way Die Hard is a Christmas movie. And a thrilling watch to boot. Or, right at the other end of the spectrum, Netflix has released a festive 4-parter of Is This Cake?, one of our favourite reality TV gameshows of recent years. Digging a little further back, Netflix also offers Violent Night, a violent action comedy. It’s one to watch once the kids have gone to bed, and comes highly recommended. A Wedding for Christmas is not going to go down as one of the classic Christmas movies, is it? We’ve dug through more Netflix Originals Christmas movies than we care to count to dig out the very best Christmas movies on the service.
We have some classics to hand here, but our best Netflix Christmas movies and shows list is home to a surprising number of fairly new flicks and shows. And a bunch we think you may have never even seen.
Oh, and as a bonus we recommend the 4K Fireplace for Your Home: Birchwood Edition. This is literally just watching a roaring fire for an hour and nothing else. We kid you not. It’s absolutely brilliant, we swear you can feel genuine warmth coming from it. It even makes the sound of crackles as the logs slowly burn. This is the kind of Netflix content you want. This is what your hard earned money goes towards.
For those who aren’t a fan of watching burning logs, the following Netflix Christmas films and shows are for you.
Please note: All of the following are available on Netflix UK – please check in your region for availability. Best Netflix Christmas movies and showsWell, these are a lot more fun than we were expecting. Kurt Russell is Santa Claus – who doesn’t ‘ho ho ho’ – is brilliant casting and bringing in Goldie Hawn and Mrs Claus for the sequel is equally inspired. In both movies, In the first movie for the most part it takes place in modern-day America. For the second, the action shifts to the North Pole
299Thanks for voting
This is a beautiful animation about a postman who finds himself in a frosty part of the world where someone who looks remarkably like Santa Claus is hiding out. Directed by Disney vetern Sergio Pablos, and with the voice talent of JK Simmons, this is Netflix getting into the animated business and it’s a lot of Festive fun.
246Thanks for voting
Office Christmas Party is a lot of fun. Jennifer Aniston plays a nasty boss who decides to shut down the office that her brother (TJ Miller) runs. The only way to save the branch is to throw the mother of all Christmas parties and invite a potential investor to woo them. What ensues is everything you expect from the makers of Blades Of Glory and some of the funniest comedians around. It’s not perfect, but it’s a refreshing, easy festive watch.
135Thanks for voting
It’s a rare thing when the Christmas special of a beloved TV show turns out to be one of the better episodes in the entire series, but that’s precisely what White Christmas is to Black Mirror. Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall play an odd pair holed up in a remote cabin on Christmas Day. To say any more would be akin to us opening all your presents.62Thanks for voting
The best thing on Netflix about Christmas, bar none. Seriously, this Norwegian show is fantastic, focusing on Johanne who lies to her family about having a boyfriend and decides to go on the dating scene to actually find a suitor. It’s a heartwarming show set in the snowy confines of Norway and there are two great seasons of the thing to watch
106Thanks for voting
If you’re a Jim Carrey hater, then nothing we say can make you want to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Ron Howard’s live action take on the beloved Dr Seuss kids’ book sees the rubber faced comic in full gurning, prancing mode. To be fair, it’s the perfect casting for this misanthropic ball of energy, who sets out on a mission to prevent Christmas.85Thanks for voting
Watching a deranged Charlie Kelly bite off Santa’s ear in an act of revenge for having sex with his mother every December 25 might not give you the warm, fuzzy feeling that It’s a Wonderful Life does, but it will give you a belly full of laughs with its look back at childhood Christmases that weren’t as special as they once thought.96Thanks for voting
Oh Bill. Are you OK mate? You’ve had a weird life, and this musical Netflix original just makes it even weirder. Miley Cyrus, George Clooney and niche French band Phoenix all guest star in this festive special directed by Sofia Coppola about Bill Murray just being Bill Murray, but at Christmas. Sure it might border on the downright wacky and indulgent, but the Ghostbuster’s Christmas cheer is properly authentic, and you don’t often get to see that these days.
1816Thanks for voting
We weren’t expecting much from Falling For Christmas, but the movie which marks a return of Lindsey Lohan to family-based movie fun is more-than watchable. The plot has all the hallmarks of a Hallmark movie: Lohan Sierra Belmont (Lohan) is a self-obsessed heiress who, after a bump to the head, forgets her old life and is ‘saved’ by single dad Jake Russell, played by the amazingly named Chord Overstreet. Much of the action takes place in a ski lodge, which adds to the Christmas appeal and while it gets a little too soppy in places, it mostly works.54Thanks for voting
If you’re like us, the news that Robin Robin is Aardman Entertainment’s first musical production will come as a surprise. Aren’t they all this bursting with joyful musicality? Robin Robin is a delightfully delicate stop-motion yarn about a small bird raised as a mouse. What’s more, at only 30 minutes long, it doesn’t make a song and dance about its song and dance numbers.
32Thanks for voting
David Harbour stars as Santa Claus. The real deal, albeit a particularly grumpy iteration of Saint Nick. However, the house he ends up at is under siege by mercenaries who want to pillage the place. This is not one to watch with the family. It’s violent, its Santa is as jaded as they come. But it sure is good fun for the grown-ups in the room. 00Thanks for voting
Looking for a Christmas film that doesn’t feel too much like a Christmas film? Carry-On comes highly recommended. This thriller stars Taron Egerton as a TSA agent who is blackmailed by a terrorist into letting a dangerous package onto a plane, on a Christmas Day flight. There’s more than a whiff of Die Hard to this particular Christmas film, and shades of those Liam Neeson thrillers so many folks enjoy. There’s no guilt in this pleasure either, it’s a solid movie. 00Thanks for voting
Is it Cake? became a bit of a viral hit in 2022. In case you missed the craze, contestants are tasked with replicating real-world items or scenes, but in cake form. And they have to try to fool the judges (at a distance) into thinking the cake version is real. This 4-part holiday special sees the teams make turkey dinners, festive wreaths and more. An engaging watch for when you want to just let your brain simmer.
00Thanks for voting
One of the newer Christmas movies and, if you are in the UK the movie title has rather dark connotations, this is a great, strange movie about a toy maker who makes the ultimate toy – a sentient matador doll. This one is a huge amount of fun and packed with heart. 1212Thanks for voting
As you have probably guessed, the best Christmas movies aren’t on Netflix. BUT, The Holiday Movies that Made Us is a brilliant look at Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas, through behind-the-scenes footage and talking head. This is a really great series and there’s a standard Movies That Made Us series as well which is equally great.
69Thanks for voting
With a title so good we can’t believe it hasn’t been used before, Single All The Way is everything you want in a Christmas movie. It a feel-good film about Peter (Michael Urie) who takes his roommate back to his family for Christmas, asking him to pretend to be his boyfriend so he doesn’t look like he’s terrible at relationships. What ensues is heat-warming festive fun and it also stars Jennifer Coolidge which automatically gives it an extra star from us. 513Thanks for voting
View More

The best Netflix Christmas movies and shows

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

In the run up to Christmas, there are three sure-fire ways to get into the spirit: Christmas movies and TV shows, and the best Christmas songs.
Once you’ve heard Wham!’s Last Christmas a few dozen times, it’s time to change the tempo and stick on a Christmas movie.
Netflix has a load of them. But the best Netflix Christmas movies are accompanied by a bunch of stinkers.
UPDATE: We’ve given our Netflix festive round-up a proper seasonal spruce-up for 2024. Among the additions are two brand new picks. These are the thriller Carry-on, which is a Christmas movie in the way Die Hard is a Christmas movie. And a thrilling watch to boot. Or, right at the other end of the spectrum, Netflix has released a festive 4-parter of Is This Cake?, one of our favourite reality TV gameshows of recent years. Digging a little further back, Netflix also offers Violent Night, a violent action comedy. It’s one to watch once the kids have gone to bed, and comes highly recommended. A Wedding for Christmas is not going to go down as one of the classic Christmas movies, is it? We’ve dug through more Netflix Originals Christmas movies than we care to count to dig out the very best Christmas movies on the service.
We have some classics to hand here, but our best Netflix Christmas movies and shows list is home to a surprising number of fairly new flicks and shows. And a bunch we think you may have never even seen.
Oh, and as a bonus we recommend the 4K Fireplace for Your Home: Birchwood Edition. This is literally just watching a roaring fire for an hour and nothing else. We kid you not. It’s absolutely brilliant, we swear you can feel genuine warmth coming from it. It even makes the sound of crackles as the logs slowly burn. This is the kind of Netflix content you want. This is what your hard earned money goes towards.
For those who aren’t a fan of watching burning logs, the following Netflix Christmas films and shows are for you.
Please note: All of the following are available on Netflix UK – please check in your region for availability. Best Netflix Christmas movies and showsWell, these are a lot more fun than we were expecting. Kurt Russell is Santa Claus – who doesn’t ‘ho ho ho’ – is brilliant casting and bringing in Goldie Hawn and Mrs Claus for the sequel is equally inspired. In both movies, In the first movie for the most part it takes place in modern-day America. For the second, the action shifts to the North Pole
299Thanks for voting
This is a beautiful animation about a postman who finds himself in a frosty part of the world where someone who looks remarkably like Santa Claus is hiding out. Directed by Disney vetern Sergio Pablos, and with the voice talent of JK Simmons, this is Netflix getting into the animated business and it’s a lot of Festive fun.
246Thanks for voting
Office Christmas Party is a lot of fun. Jennifer Aniston plays a nasty boss who decides to shut down the office that her brother (TJ Miller) runs. The only way to save the branch is to throw the mother of all Christmas parties and invite a potential investor to woo them. What ensues is everything you expect from the makers of Blades Of Glory and some of the funniest comedians around. It’s not perfect, but it’s a refreshing, easy festive watch.
135Thanks for voting
It’s a rare thing when the Christmas special of a beloved TV show turns out to be one of the better episodes in the entire series, but that’s precisely what White Christmas is to Black Mirror. Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall play an odd pair holed up in a remote cabin on Christmas Day. To say any more would be akin to us opening all your presents.62Thanks for voting
The best thing on Netflix about Christmas, bar none. Seriously, this Norwegian show is fantastic, focusing on Johanne who lies to her family about having a boyfriend and decides to go on the dating scene to actually find a suitor. It’s a heartwarming show set in the snowy confines of Norway and there are two great seasons of the thing to watch
106Thanks for voting
If you’re a Jim Carrey hater, then nothing we say can make you want to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Ron Howard’s live action take on the beloved Dr Seuss kids’ book sees the rubber faced comic in full gurning, prancing mode. To be fair, it’s the perfect casting for this misanthropic ball of energy, who sets out on a mission to prevent Christmas.85Thanks for voting
Watching a deranged Charlie Kelly bite off Santa’s ear in an act of revenge for having sex with his mother every December 25 might not give you the warm, fuzzy feeling that It’s a Wonderful Life does, but it will give you a belly full of laughs with its look back at childhood Christmases that weren’t as special as they once thought.96Thanks for voting
Oh Bill. Are you OK mate? You’ve had a weird life, and this musical Netflix original just makes it even weirder. Miley Cyrus, George Clooney and niche French band Phoenix all guest star in this festive special directed by Sofia Coppola about Bill Murray just being Bill Murray, but at Christmas. Sure it might border on the downright wacky and indulgent, but the Ghostbuster’s Christmas cheer is properly authentic, and you don’t often get to see that these days.
1816Thanks for voting
We weren’t expecting much from Falling For Christmas, but the movie which marks a return of Lindsey Lohan to family-based movie fun is more-than watchable. The plot has all the hallmarks of a Hallmark movie: Lohan Sierra Belmont (Lohan) is a self-obsessed heiress who, after a bump to the head, forgets her old life and is ‘saved’ by single dad Jake Russell, played by the amazingly named Chord Overstreet. Much of the action takes place in a ski lodge, which adds to the Christmas appeal and while it gets a little too soppy in places, it mostly works.54Thanks for voting
If you’re like us, the news that Robin Robin is Aardman Entertainment’s first musical production will come as a surprise. Aren’t they all this bursting with joyful musicality? Robin Robin is a delightfully delicate stop-motion yarn about a small bird raised as a mouse. What’s more, at only 30 minutes long, it doesn’t make a song and dance about its song and dance numbers.
32Thanks for voting
David Harbour stars as Santa Claus. The real deal, albeit a particularly grumpy iteration of Saint Nick. However, the house he ends up at is under siege by mercenaries who want to pillage the place. This is not one to watch with the family. It’s violent, its Santa is as jaded as they come. But it sure is good fun for the grown-ups in the room. 00Thanks for voting
Looking for a Christmas film that doesn’t feel too much like a Christmas film? Carry-On comes highly recommended. This thriller stars Taron Egerton as a TSA agent who is blackmailed by a terrorist into letting a dangerous package onto a plane, on a Christmas Day flight. There’s more than a whiff of Die Hard to this particular Christmas film, and shades of those Liam Neeson thrillers so many folks enjoy. There’s no guilt in this pleasure either, it’s a solid movie. 00Thanks for voting
Is it Cake? became a bit of a viral hit in 2022. In case you missed the craze, contestants are tasked with replicating real-world items or scenes, but in cake form. And they have to try to fool the judges (at a distance) into thinking the cake version is real. This 4-part holiday special sees the teams make turkey dinners, festive wreaths and more. An engaging watch for when you want to just let your brain simmer.
00Thanks for voting
One of the newer Christmas movies and, if you are in the UK the movie title has rather dark connotations, this is a great, strange movie about a toy maker who makes the ultimate toy – a sentient matador doll. This one is a huge amount of fun and packed with heart. 1212Thanks for voting
As you have probably guessed, the best Christmas movies aren’t on Netflix. BUT, The Holiday Movies that Made Us is a brilliant look at Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas, through behind-the-scenes footage and talking head. This is a really great series and there’s a standard Movies That Made Us series as well which is equally great.
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With a title so good we can’t believe it hasn’t been used before, Single All The Way is everything you want in a Christmas movie. It a feel-good film about Peter (Michael Urie) who takes his roommate back to his family for Christmas, asking him to pretend to be his boyfriend so he doesn’t look like he’s terrible at relationships. What ensues is heat-warming festive fun and it also stars Jennifer Coolidge which automatically gives it an extra star from us. 513Thanks for voting
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Mufasa first reviews: Barry Jenkins film is ‘minor cousin to first film’, say critics

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The first reviews for Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa The Lion King are in, and the film has sparked a range of reactions from critics. While some applaud its emotional depth and ambition, others question its necessity and creative execution.The BBC called the prequel “as pointless as that description makes it sound,” describing it as “a contrived cash-in” that might appeal to Lion King superfans but adds little to the iconic franchise. They criticised the focus on answering “questions that nobody was asking in the first place” and pondered why such talented artists, including Jenkins and Lin-Manuel Miranda, were drawn to the project.advertisementThe Guardian noted that Scar, rather than Mufasa, seemed to have the more compelling narrative arc, suggesting the film “should perhaps be his name in the title.” While it appreciated the origin story’s ambition, it dismissed the musical score as “forgettable” and described the film as “a minor cousin to the first film’s movie royalty.”On a more positive note, Variety praised Jenkins for deepening “our understanding of and appreciation for the noble father figure” while providing “rich emotional context for the original story” and laying groundwork for future sequels.Empire, however, criticised the photorealistic aesthetic, saying it clashed with the film’s emotional tone and made the visuals feel overly artificial. “We could have lived without all the snout-focused, 3D-calibrated framing,” the review lamented, adding that while the film is an “inoffensive and well-meaning adventure,” it lacked Jenkins’ personal touch.Meanwhile, USA Today offered a balanced perspective, calling the film “a definite improvement on the 2019 retread” and commending its exploration of identity, friendship, and empathy. However, they found the shifts between Rafiki’s story and present-day scenes disruptive, appealing more to children than their parents.Overall, Mufasa The Lion King seems to be a polarising addition to Disney’s portfolio, with its technical achievements and emotional themes drawing both praise and scepticism.Directed by Barry Jenkins, the film delves into the early life of Mufasa, the noble Lion King who captivated audiences. Set against a backdrop of breathtaking African landscapes, the trailer hints at the events that shaped Mufasa and his complex relationship with his younger brother, Scar.Mufasa The Lion King will hit theatres on December 20.Published By: Trisha BhattacharyaPublished On: Dec 18, 2024

Zanzibar’s tourist arrivals drop in November 2024

Travel

Unguja. Zanzibar experienced a slight decline in international tourism in November 2024, with a 4 percent drop in the number of visitors compared to October 2024 as the Island continues to target 800,000 arrivals this year.

According to the latest tourism statistics released on December 17, 2024, by the Office of the Chief Government Statistician in collaboration with the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, the island recorded 67,049 international visitors in November, down from 69,860 in the previous month.

The report, however, does not give the possible reason for the slight slowdown in the number of arrivals in November.

Despite the drop from October, November’s visitor numbers showed a significant increase of 17 percent compared to the same period in 2023, when only 57,296 tourists visited Zanzibar.

European tourists continued to dominate Zanzibar’s tourism market, accounting for 73 percent of the total arrivals in November 2024.

Italy maintained its position as the top source country, contributing 11.2 percent of all visitors, followed by France at 9.4 percent.

The number of tourists from some European countries, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, saw notable declines of 25 percent and 35.6 percent, respectively, compared to the previous month.

South Africa leads in the number of tourists from Africa with 3,059 visitors followed by Kenya and Egypt in that descending order.

Most visitors (88.4 percent) entered Zanzibar via the airport, with the majority arriving on international flights.

Only 7,756 tourists used the seaport to enter, predominantly by ferry from the mainland. The data also showed that 99.3 percent of visitors came for leisure purposes, reflecting the island’s appeal as a top holiday destination.

The gender distribution of visitors was almost evenly split, with 49.5 percent male and 50.5 percent female. However, the data highlighted a decline in both male and female visitor numbers from October, with female arrivals seeing a larger drop of 6.3 percent.

In terms of age, the vast majority of visitors were within the working-age group of 15 to 64 years, comprising 88.3 percent of arrivals. Children (under 15 years) represented 3.7 percent of the total, and retirees (65 years and older) accounted for 8 percent of visitors.

The statistics also highlighted a strong performance from emerging markets such as Poland, India, and Russia, with visitor numbers from these regions increasing by 5.2 percent compared to November 2023.

Meanwhile, the number of American visitors dropped by 27.4 percent, and Oceania’s contribution also saw a decline, particularly from Australia and New Zealand.

Despite the slight dip in November 2024 compared to October, Zanzibar’s tourism sector remains strong overall, with a notable increase in international visitors compared to the same period last year.

The data suggests that the island continues to attract a diverse range of visitors, with European markets leading the way while emerging markets show promising growth. However, the slight monthly decrease could reflect seasonal fluctuations or external factors affecting travel.

Zanzibar’s tourist arrivals drop in November 2024

Travel

Unguja. Zanzibar experienced a slight decline in international tourism in November 2024, with a 4 percent drop in the number of visitors compared to October 2024 as the Island continues to target 800,000 arrivals this year.

According to the latest tourism statistics released on December 17, 2024, by the Office of the Chief Government Statistician in collaboration with the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, the island recorded 67,049 international visitors in November, down from 69,860 in the previous month.

The report, however, does not give the possible reason for the slight slowdown in the number of arrivals in November.

Despite the drop from October, November’s visitor numbers showed a significant increase of 17 percent compared to the same period in 2023, when only 57,296 tourists visited Zanzibar.

European tourists continued to dominate Zanzibar’s tourism market, accounting for 73 percent of the total arrivals in November 2024.

Italy maintained its position as the top source country, contributing 11.2 percent of all visitors, followed by France at 9.4 percent.

The number of tourists from some European countries, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, saw notable declines of 25 percent and 35.6 percent, respectively, compared to the previous month.

South Africa leads in the number of tourists from Africa with 3,059 visitors followed by Kenya and Egypt in that descending order.

Most visitors (88.4 percent) entered Zanzibar via the airport, with the majority arriving on international flights.

Only 7,756 tourists used the seaport to enter, predominantly by ferry from the mainland. The data also showed that 99.3 percent of visitors came for leisure purposes, reflecting the island’s appeal as a top holiday destination.

The gender distribution of visitors was almost evenly split, with 49.5 percent male and 50.5 percent female. However, the data highlighted a decline in both male and female visitor numbers from October, with female arrivals seeing a larger drop of 6.3 percent.

In terms of age, the vast majority of visitors were within the working-age group of 15 to 64 years, comprising 88.3 percent of arrivals. Children (under 15 years) represented 3.7 percent of the total, and retirees (65 years and older) accounted for 8 percent of visitors.

The statistics also highlighted a strong performance from emerging markets such as Poland, India, and Russia, with visitor numbers from these regions increasing by 5.2 percent compared to November 2023.

Meanwhile, the number of American visitors dropped by 27.4 percent, and Oceania’s contribution also saw a decline, particularly from Australia and New Zealand.

Despite the slight dip in November 2024 compared to October, Zanzibar’s tourism sector remains strong overall, with a notable increase in international visitors compared to the same period last year.

The data suggests that the island continues to attract a diverse range of visitors, with European markets leading the way while emerging markets show promising growth. However, the slight monthly decrease could reflect seasonal fluctuations or external factors affecting travel.