Category Archives: Travel

Couple found guilty of running birth tourism company for Chinese babies in America

Your support helps us to tell the storyFind out moreCloseAs your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn’t have the resources to challenge those in power.Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November electionAndrew FeinbergWhite House CorrespondentA couple have been convicted of running a business that helped pregnant Chinese women travel to the United States without revealing their intentions to give birth to babies who would automatically have American citizenship.Michael Liu and Phoebe Dong were found guilty of one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of money laundering in a federal court in Los Angeles.The case against the pair went to trial nine years after federal authorities searched more than a dozen homes across Southern California in a crackdown on so-called birth tourism operators who authorities said encouraged pregnant women to lie on their visa paperwork and hide their pregnancies and helped the women travel to deliver their babies in the United States.Liu and Dong were charged in 2019 along with more than a dozen others, including a woman who later pleaded guilty to running a company known as “You Win USA” and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.Prosecutors and attorneys for the defendants declined to comment in court on Friday.Prosecutors alleged Liu and Dong’s company “USA Happy Baby” helped several hundred birth tourists between 2012 and 2015 and charged as the tourists much as $40,000 for services including apartment rentals during their stays in Southern California.Prosecutors alleged Liu and Dong’s company ‘USA Happy Baby’ helped several hundred birth tourists between 2012 and 2015

Irish island tourism gets €4m boost in investment

New developments are expected to extend the typical visitor stay across both sites, driving almost € 50 million in visitor spending for the regions over the next 10 years.
Fáilte Ireland, the the National Tourism Development Authority, and Údarás na Gaeltachta, a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of Irish-speaking regions of Ireland, have announced capital investment funding to support two major tourism development projects on the islands of Árainn (Inis Mór) in Co. Galway and Cléire (Cape Clear) in Co. Cork.

The projects aim to enhance both the community fabric of the islands, while also improving the visitor experience, extending the islands’ tourism season, and providing significant economic and cultural benefits to the local communities. 

The capital investment in these island tourism projects is just one of the outputs that aims to make Gaeltacht experiences appealing, accessible and relevant to visitors. Through this formal agreement, the organizations are actively collaborating across a number of priority areas for tourism development including capital projects, building capacity within the tourism industry and supporting the development of tourism products to showcase the unique cultural offering of Ireland’s Gaeltacht regions. 
Capital investment funding totaling over €3 million has been allocated to the Árainn – Place of Stone Visitor Centre, which will be located in the former Aran Islands Heritage Centre in Cill Rónáin, Inis Mór, Co. Galway. This project will create an immersive visitor attraction that celebrates the rich Irish language and cultural heritage of the island. The new center will provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the island’s unique history, traditions, and natural environment through cutting-edge interactive exhibits and storytelling.

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An aerial via of Inis Mor, off Galway.

The Place of Stone Visitor Centre will also deliver vital infrastructure such as a café, visitor orientation area and changing facilities which will help increase both visitor spend and dwell time from existing visitors and an overall extension of the traditional tourism season on the island. The center is also expected to become a cultural hub for both locals and tourists alike, offering year-round programming and events that reflect the vibrancy of the island community.
The Cape Clear Fastnet Experience and Heritage Centre has been allocated over €1 million in capital investment funding to significantly upgrade and develop the current visitor attraction, creating a new innovative visitor attraction that will offer augmented reality and 3D experiences centered around Fastnet Lighthouse. Additionally, the project involves relocating and interpreting the existing collection of heritage artifacts from the existing Cape Clear museum to tell the story of the island’s ancient past, as well as its maritime heritage.

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Cape Clear, County Cork.

Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD said: “Both of these new visitor attractions will help to preserve and showcase the islands’ heritage, language and culture in imaginative multi-media experiences that will create long-lasting, memorable experiences for visitors.”
Paul Kelly CEO at Fáilte Ireland said: “This funding not only represents a much-needed investment in the tourism infrastructure of both Islands, but also strikes a balance in developing visitor facilities that will also benefit the Island communities throughout the year.”

He added, “Fáilte Ireland estimates that these projects combined will drive almost € 50 million in visitor spend for the regions over the next 10 years.” 
Tomás Ó Siocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, added: “These projects embody our commitment to balancing tourism development with community needs, ensuring that our islands remain vibrant, living Gaeltacht areas for generations to come.”

Make Your Next TSA Experience A Piece Of Cake With These 28 Travel Essentials

Cadence is an AAPI woman-owned small business that was founded by Steph Hon as a way to eliminate single-use travel-sized plastics. The containers are made from recycled ocean-bound plastic. But I’m not the only fan on the BuzzFeed Shopping team. My coworker Abby Kass has these and loves them! Here’s what she has to say about them: “I recently got a set of four of these, and, wow, I love them so much. I used them on a six-day trip recently, and they were perfect. I customized the label so I knew which one was my shampoo vs. conditioner and did a general label for any other things I wanted to bring along. They do hold a surprising amount. According to the brand, they hold approximately one to two weeks of skincare products, more than two weeks’ worth of serum, two to three days’ worth of haircare, and more than 15 tablets (for medicine and such). And while two to three days’ worth of haircare might not seem like enough, I found it held more than that for me, but I also don’t wash my hair every single day. They were small enough to slip right into my toiletries bag and go through TSA with no problem. The container was easy to open in the shower (even with wet hands), and I had no leakage from them (like I did from my face wash bottle that will not be making the trip with me next time, SMH). These are an incredibly useful tool anyone who travels will want in their luggage.”Promising review: “I absolutely love these! I ended up buying more of the labels and extra containers on the website. These are perfect for a first-time set and the perfect size for flying. 100% makes my packing lighter and more contained overall.” —SaraGet a set of three from Amazon for $42 (available in four colors and in a haircare and daily routine set). 

Bulgarian Tourism Minister, TURSAB Vice President Present to BTA New Opportunities for Bulgaria-Turkiye Tourism Cooperation

Bulgaria’s Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev and TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies) Vice President Hasan Eker highlighted the serious potential for the development of tourism between Bulgaria and Turkiye at a tourism forum mottoed “Bulgaria – Discover and Share”, which opened here on Saturday. The Bulgarian-Turkish forum held in the Exarchate House in the Sisli neighbourhood was attended by the Bulgarian Consul General in Istanbul, Vasil Valchev, representatives of Turkiye’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines, the Turkish-Bulgarian Chamber, Istanbul City Hall and tour operators.In an exclusive interview with BTA’s Nahide Deniz, Evtim Miloshev said Bulgaria has had a tourism attache in Istanbul, Teodora Taskova, for a year now, which is a new element in the development of tourism with Turkiye.
Miloshev said: “This is a sign of how important the Republic of Turkiye is for cooperation in tourism. The most Bulgarian home in the megapolis of Istanbul – the Bulgarian Exarchate House – hosted a presentation of the Bulgarian tourist destinations which impressed the participants,” Miloshev said.
In his words, a growing number of Bulgarians choose Turkiye for tourism, holidays and medical treatment, while Turkiye is among the top three countries in terms of tourists visiting Bulgaria.
“53,000 Turkish tourists visited Bulgaria between December 1, 2023 and March 25, 2024, and there is a potential for many more in the coming winter season. I would emphasize reciprocity, I believe it is possible to increase the flow of tourists to Bulgaria because it can give Turkiye a huge tourism potential,” Miloshev said. He cited the Bulgarian Black Sea destinations, which are different from the Turkish ones, Bulgaria’s winter resorts, SPA tourism and cuisine, which is close to Turkiye’s but has some specifics.
“The essence of things is the cultural and historical heritage, with which Turkish citizens are unfamiliar. There are preserved Ottoman, Muslim holy sites in Bulgaria that are interesting for Turkish citizens,” Bulgaria’s Tourism Minister said.
Talking about his working meeting with Turkish Airlines representatives, Miloshev said the focus was on expanding the opportunities for attracting tourists from Turkiye to Bulgaria in the context of overseas tourists on connecting flight through Istanbul and pricing policy. Turkish Airlines expressed a readiness to advertise Destination Bulgaria as part of a joint product with Turkiye.
For his part, TURSAB Vice President Hasan Eker said Turkiye has a potential of 23 million tourists to Bulgaria.
“The Çanakkale Bridge has brought us closer to Bulgaria by land because it has helped increase the tourist flow from Bulgaria to the Aegean region. We expect group and individual travel to these routes to increase. There is also significant potential for the development of health tourism, which we are emphasizing because Turkiye offers opportunities which are appreciated by Bulgarian citizens. We have about 1,000 agencies that are licensed by TURSAB specifically for health tourism,” Eker said.
He added that the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies has proposed an agreement between the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and the Bulgarian Health Ministry for oncological, cardiac and ophthalmological treatment of Bulgarian citizens in Turkiye. Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev said he would bring this up at the next meeting of the Mixed Bulgarian-Turkish Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Sofia, to which TURSAB representatives will be invited, Eker said.
He said Bulgarian visas for Turkish citizens are a problem in view of the increased tourist flow to Bulgaria.
TURSAB proposed an increase in the quotas for Turkish tourists and visa facilitation for tourist trips and holidays in Bulgaria. There are many requests for travel to Bulgaria – there is a contingent of around 23 million people. According to TURSAB surveys, Turkish citizens are interested not only in Sofia, Plovdiv, the Black Sea or winter tourism, but also in Bulgaria’s natural sights, in Kardzhali, Shumen and the rural areas. There is a great interest in Bulgarian cuisine, whose taste is close to the Turkish citizens. Cultural and tourist programmes for visits to Southern and Northern Bulgaria could be offered on Turkiye’s tourist market, starting from the areas with a compact population with Bulgarian roots and spreading to the other areas of Turkiye as well.
Miloshev said a four-day tour of Bulgaria would be organized for people in the 15-25 age group of the Bulgarian community in Istanbul, Dimitri Yotef, Chairman of the Foundation of the Orthodox Churches of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul, told BTA. Many young people have never been to Bulgaria and this tour would take them to landmark places for the community which has preserved the Bulgarian holy places and traditions in Turkiye since the 19th century.

The incredible Spanish city now booming with tourists because it looks like Greek island

Home to white-washed houses and crystal-clear waters, the city of Altea in Costa Blanca is often compared to the Greek island of Santorini. As a result, it has become increasingly popular in the last few years as foreign and domestic tourists alike have flooded the coastal city to experience Greece, but in Spain. However, despite its growing popularity, Altea has maintained its authentic Spanish charm, unlike many other cities in the country including Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga which some locals argue are becoming less Spanish due to the huge influx of tourists.A three-hour drive from Madrid, Altea is an ideal destination for those looking to escape the capital city. It is found in Costa Blanca North, on the Mediterranean coast. Its Old Town is best explored on foot, home to architecture dating from the Moors, bustling street cafes, artisan shops, jewellers and art galleries. Its waterfront esplanade, meanwhile, is planted with palm trees, making it a summer holiday paradise.What’s more, Altea’s good weather sets it apart from other Spanish cities. As it is protected on the north by bluffs of the Serra de Bernia, it has its own mild microclimate. In September, the average daily temperature in Altea ranges from 22C to 28C with sea temperatures of a balmy 25C. Like the wider Costa Blanca area, Altea is known for its markets, held every Tuesday from 8am to 2pm. Here one can buy fresh produce, flowers and traditional regional goods. It is also home to a picturesque fishing harbour and is backed by mountains. Altea’s economy is based on tourism, which first started to grow in the 1950s thanks to its good weather, pretty beaches and whitewashed homes amongst labyrinth streets. The city is projected to reach record-breaking levels of visitors this year, even outshining the impressive figures from last year, according  to EuroWeekly News in July. In 2023, Altea welcomed over 10.4 million foreign and 17.9 million domestic tourists, a 21.7 percent increase on 2022. This is good news for local businesses, as it means more spending and a healthy financial boost for the area. Indeed, in 2023, tourist expenditures reached 12.5 million euros (£10.5 million), an increase of 24.5 percent on 2022.One key sightseeing spot is the La Mare de Due del Consol church, “Our Lady of Solace”, which is easily identifiable by its iconic blue and white domes tiled with glazed ceramics. The maze of cobbled narrow and crooked streets offering glimpses of the bay is one of the best features of the city. The city is also home to several important festivals throughout the year. Castell de l’Olla is the most important and well-known and sees fireworks launched into the sea on l’Olla beach on the Saturday closest to the day of St Lawrence (August 10). Every year, over 50,000 people come to enjoy the display, either from the beach or on boats out to sea. The Moro y Cristianos festival, on the fourth weekend of September, commemorates 500 years of Muslim dominance over the Iberian Peninsula and its end in the 15th-century in the course of the Reconquista. A symbolic war is held, begun by a peal of bells and cannon fire. It is followed by parades in costumes inspired by medieval fashion. Altea is highly rated on Tripadvisor, with one visitor saying: “A lovely characterful old town area – high on a hill so plenty of views available of sea and mountains. Seems to be growing even more in popularity but then this place is quintessentially Spanish.”Another said: “Lovely old town filled with restaurants, cafes, and tiny shops. It has an old church that is sitting on top with beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea. Visited on a Sunday and it was quite busy. We nevertheless had fun exploring the place and ended the day with lunch at a restaurant looking over the blue Mediterranean sea.”

Ryanair issues warning to those travelling from major UK airport today

Ryanair has issued a warning to those travelling to and from Manchester airports today (September 16).The low-budget airline made the announcement, via its website, that there would be possible disruptions due to low visibility.Those who plan on flying out or into Manchester today will be notified by the airline but flyers should also check the Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight.Ryanair said: “We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by these weather conditions, which are outside of Ryanair’s control and affect all airlines operating to/from Manchester Monday, September 16.”This comes as the airline is also experiencing delays across the network today (September 16).The airline has been experiencing this issue every day since it was posted on its website on September 11. This is due to repeated ATC staff shortages across Europe.Ryanair has apologised to its passengers for the excessive flight delays caused by European ATC staff shortages which is affecting all European airlines.ATC services, which have had the benefit of no French ATC strike disruption this summer, continue to underperform (despite flight volumes being five percent behind 2019 levels) with repeated “staff shortages”.On September 16, 13 percent of Ryanair’s first wave departures (77 of 579 aircraft) were delayed due to ATC “staff shortages”.Ryanair added: “These repeated flight delays due to ATC mismanagement are unacceptable.”We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”We encourage passengers to visit atcruinedourholiday.com and demand that the EU Commission take urgent action to improve Europe’s ATC system.”

Revolutionising Travel: How Etripto.in Is Changing Game For Vacation

The Indian Ministry of Tourism highlights a remarkable 15.6 million foreign tourist arrivals and approximately 1.9 billion domestic trips taken by Indians in 2023. Furthermore, a recent report by Future Market Insights (FMI) projects the sustainable tourism market to exceed $1 trillion in 2022, with expectations to grow to $8.4 trillion by 2032. Recognising this trend, the Government of India is actively supporting Affordable and Comfortable Vacations by launching many tourism schemes and policies such as  PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan, SAATHI, 7-S Mantra, Dekho Apna Desh, and NIDHI.Due to a busy life schedule and demanding lifestyles, often people find themselves stuck in a boring routine and they want a break that is essential for maintaining mental well-being. This is where vacations serve as a game changer. Travelling not only boosts confidence and personal growth but also enhances learning and cultural appreciation. Tourism is beneficial for the host community as it provides the financial means and the incentive to preserve cultural histories, local heritage sites, and customs. It stimulates interest in local crafts, traditional activities, songs, dance, and oral histories. While the desire to explore top destinations is universal, finding affordable yet luxurious options can be a difficult task. This is where Etripto.in, one of India’s leading travel agencies, steps in to bridge the gap. The platform offers low-cost but luxury customised tour packages that allow travellers to experience the best destinations without stretching their budgets.

2024 Latest Destinations in India for Travelling

Kashmir

Kashmir Tops the list for those who want to experience heaven on earth. Famous for its snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, flower gardens, and adventurous activities. Kashmir is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway or a peaceful retreat. Etripto.in offers budget-friendly Kashmir Tour Packages of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 days with accommodation in a luxury resort, food services, and a range of activities.

Click here to explore the most affordable Kashmir Tour Packages

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a popular holiday destination that is also a hub of evergreen tropical rainforest, active volcanoes, mud volcanoes, limestone caves, rich marine life, game fishing probabilities, a colourful and one of the best coral reefs in the world, exciting water activities, water sports, warm waters, sandy and secluded beaches and a lot of other natural wonderland some of the rarest species of animals and plants.

Choosing the Andaman Tour Packages for a romantic trip, family tour, or friend gathering can be one of the best holiday trips to visit beautiful scenic places, historical locations, and a great view of the Indian Ocean, beach view, and many other things.

Click here to see the best and affordable Andaman Tour Packages

Kullu Manali

Kullu Manali is an evergreen vacation place for families and couples. It is a stunning hill station located in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The vast natural splendour of the hill resort, present in the form of high mountain peaks, blooming apple orchards, and flowering wooded slopes, makes it enough to fall in love with it. Etripto.in offers customised Kullu Manali holiday packages or anywhere in Himachal Pradesh according to the preferences of travel lovers.

Leh Ladakh

Why go foreign when everything is available in India, Leh Ladakh is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, crystal clear skies, the highest mountain passes, thrilling adventure activities, Buddhist Monasteries, and festivals. Etripto.in offers tourism services with affordable but luxurious Leh Ladakh Tour Packages that include cab services and daily breakfast and dinner services.

Kerala

“God’s Own Country” Kerala, this charming southern state of India is known for its beaches, temples, culture, backwaters in Alappuzha and Kollam, mountain ranges, and wildlife sanctuaries. Explore everything in this state right from its beautiful cities to hill stations by booking Kerala holiday packages available at Etripto.in on a pocket-friendly budget.

What Makes Etripto.in Stand Out

Etripto.in has earned a strong reputation in the Indian tourism industry, the travel agency is known for its 100% customer satisfaction rate, which ensures that every aspect of the travel experience is carefully thought out and executed. Since their inception over 20000+ tourists have travelled with them and they have 4.7 rating on their online portal and Google Listing. Here are some reasons why Etriptois the preferred choice for many travel lovers-

 

They have in-depth knowledge of travel destinations, attractions, and accommodations that make them able to provide personalised recommendations.
They are highly responsive and attentive to client requirements. They have an average time target of solving any issue in a maximum of 10 minutes and are available to handle any kind of emergencies within 10 minutes during Trips.
They offer cost-effective tour customised tour packages that meet individual or group preferences.
They offer accurate information on policies, and conditions and are clear about costs, fees, and services included in packages.
They have collaborated with trusted airlines, hotels, and local tour operators to secure affordable rates and superior quality services.
They follow the latest travel trends and introduce unique experiences.
They prioritise the safety and security of travel. It includes working with trusted partners, maintaining high standards, etc.

Etripto.in is the place where your travel dreams take flight, we are recognised as a trusted travel agency in India that offers national and international customised tour packages at the best price. With us, there’s no better time to start planning your holiday getaway because whenever you come, we come with more discounts and offers. We deliver a range of exciting and well-organised travel packages that cater to different interests and budgets. With their expertise, all-inclusive packages, and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, Etripto.in ensures that your travel experience will be as seamless and memorable as possible. So why still wait? Start planning your next adventure with Etripto. in.

 

 

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lt’s sponsored feature, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)

Foreign travel to Peru surges in 2024

Monday, September 16th 2024 – 10:00 UTC

Full article

Peru is a paradise for cultural, nature, and adventure tourism, León Chempén highlighted

Foreign travelers visiting Peru went up by 39.2% between January and August 2024, according to a report released by Lima’s Tourism Ministry during the weekend which analyzed National Superintendence of Migration data.

Chileans were said to account for around 67% of the tourists (484,978), followed by US nationals (411,210), Ecuadorians (200,272), Bolivians (123,787), Brazilians (123,323), and Colombians (108,359).
Overall, South Americans represented 52.1% of foreign visitors, followed by North Americans (24.2%), Europeans (16.5%), Asians (3.8%) and Central Americans (2.5%).
“This shows again that there is interest in our country. Peru is a paradise for cultural, nature, and adventure tourism. As a government we are working on a policy to position the country as an important destination for high-value specialized segments,” Tourism Minister Úrsula León Chempén said.
She also pointed out that Peru has potential areas for birdwatching and community tourism, among other activities. She also emphasized that in order to make tourism a prosperous industry, it is necessary to articulate and coordinate the work of several actors from different levels of government and the private sector.
Already surpassing pre-pandemic levels of visitors were Brazil (+6.3%), Costa Rica (+20.3%), Dominican Republic (+31.1%), Poland (+17.9%), and India (+12.4%), León Chempén also pointed out.

Car parking fee rises in Gwynedd ‘should target tourist areas’

Rises in car parking fees in Gwynedd should “target tourist areas and not impact local residents”, councillors have argued. During a meeting of Cyngor Gwynedd‘s communities scrutiny committee on Thursday [September 12], councillors discussed the parking services’ money-saving schemes to meet budget shortfalls. In 2023/24, a savings scheme – approved by Cyngor Gwynedd’s cabinet –…

‘I’ve visited 44 countries in Europe and these are my top five travel recommendations – including Spain’

AFTER visiting 44 countries, this travel influencer has narrowed his selection down to just five spots, including Spain, Macedonia and Montenegro.