Travel News
Major IT outage delays flights across the US
Boston (TAN): United States airlines were temporarily affected earlier this week by data issues, the country’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
The computer outage was reportedly related to Aerodata, a programme that is used for planning weight and balance for flights. Airline dispatchers in remote offices approve weight and balance calculations before a flight can take off, which is why flight schedules can be disturbed if computer systems crash.
The problem started early morning, and lasted for 48 odd minutes. Although the situation was resolved, the data disruption had hit at least five airlines, including Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, and Alaska Air. Hundreds of flights were delayed in several major cities across the country, from New York to Boston, and Chicago to Miami. Continue reading Major IT outage delays flights across the US
US tourist tries to steal artefact from Auschwitz death camp, faces jail
Krakow (TAN): An American tourist faces up to 10 years in jail for attempting to steal a portion of the railway tracks from the infamous Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland.
The 37-year-old, who has admitted to the action, has been released pending legal proceedings, Deutsche Welle reported. He has been charged with attempt to steal and item of cultural importance.
A report quoting an Auschwitz Museum spokesman said visitors raised an alarm when they noticed the man trying to remove the part from the tracks. Continue reading US tourist tries to steal artefact from Auschwitz death camp, faces jail
Nothing has changed with Brexit row, Scotland assures Europe
Edinburgh (TAN): Scotland is letting Europe know that despite the uncertainty over Brexit, it will always be as open and welcoming to the rest of Europe as ever.
On the original date that the UK was scheduled to leave the European Union – March 29 – Scotland launched the latest chapter in its global marketing campaign with the message, “Europe, let’s continue our love affair”.
The launch deliberately coincides with the UK government’s original ‘Brexit day’ and intends to convey the message that Scotland remains an open and welcoming nation. Continue reading Nothing has changed with Brexit row, Scotland assures Europe
Use your OLA app to ride tuk tuks in Liverpool, UK
London (TAN): India-based ride-hailing company Ola is taking over UK streets with it entering the British market with an auto rickshaw service in Liverpool.
Ola UK has launched a fleet of bright green Bajaj and Piaggio autorickshaws or ‘tuk tuks’ in the city, with over 500 drivers in neon green jackets on board, media reports said.
The new service was recently rolled out in Liverpool’s Merseyside. Continue reading Use your OLA app to ride tuk tuks in Liverpool, UK
Have you ever hiked up a volcano? Do it at Camiguin in the Philippines
Camiguin, Philippines (TAN): Camiguin island, one of Philippines’ top tourism destinations, has launched another attraction for both outdoor enthusiasts and mountain trekkers.
Camiguin’s chain of volcanoes, especially Mount Hibok-Hibok, will be on the radar of adventure seekers as the provincial government, the department of tourism-10, and the department of environment and natural resources-10 launched “Climb Camiguin” on Saturday, March 23.
Climb Camiguin will promote the province as a prime destination for mountain tourism in the country. Continue reading Have you ever hiked up a volcano? Do it at Camiguin in the Philippines
FairBnb offers sustainable alternative to Airbnb model
Bologna (TAN): A startup called FairBnB offers a model for “hosts and guests to connect for meaningful travel and cultural exchange, while minimizing the cost to communities” as an alternative to home-sharing platforms such as Airbnb.
FirBnB co-founder Sito Veracruz says the AirBnb model, which initially looked good for business, has disastrous effects on the lives of the local people.
“I think it’s obvious that Airbnb contributes to gentrification,” Veracruz told The Guardian. “It drives up real estate prices…Neighbourhood business that create ties between residents are replaced by businesses that only focus on tourists. Bike rental companies replace local grocery shops. And apartments that are continuously rented out to tourists are lost to people who want to actually live here.” Continue reading FairBnb offers sustainable alternative to Airbnb model
Whale shark season is here at the Ningaloo reef in Australia
Perth (TAN): Whale sharks have started arriving this year at the Ningaloo Reef on Australia’s mid-north coast.
An increasing number of tourists have been coming to the World Heritage-listed reef over the past few years to experience its corals and wildlife. The primary attraction in this season is to swim with the whale sharks. Over 32,000 people swam with the world’s biggest fish in 2018, say reports.
The Ningaloo reef, which is 300km long, is the largest coral reef in the world situated close to a landmass. Continue reading Whale shark season is here at the Ningaloo reef in Australia
Tourist nearly swept away by giant wave near Bali
Bali (TAN): A tourist posing for a picture had a close shave when a wave nearly swept her away at the Nusa Lembongan island next to the popular tourist destination of Bali.
In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, a woman is seen posing with outstretched hands with the waves behind her crashing into the rocky coast.
A big wave that appeared to crash some way away but continued to smash against the shore behind her because of its size, is seen suddenly appearing from behind and entirely engulfing her. Continue reading Tourist nearly swept away by giant wave near Bali
Protests before elections affect tourists in South Africa
Hazyview, South Africa (TAN): Tourists movement to and from Kruger Gate and Sabi Sand Game Reserve have been affected by protests by the local people and many have missed planes and buses, media reports said.
The situation is unlikely to become better before the national elections, which are scheduled to be held in May.
Hazyview is a sub-tropical farming town in Mpumalanga. Most of the province of Mpumalanga’s private game reserves, including Sabi Sand, are found just east of Hazyview. The 65,000-hectare Sabi Sand Game Reserve, a private game reserve in South Africa, is located on the south-western corner of the Kruger National Park. Continue reading Protests before elections affect tourists in South Africa
Vietnam’s Hanoi named cheapest Asian city for backpackers
Hanoi (TAN): Tourism price index website Price of Travel has named the Vietnam capital as the cheapest Asian city for backpackers.
The low costs attract a large number of holiday-makers to Hanoi.
However, experts said, sustainable tourism development requires much more. Diverse and quality products and services are what keep tourists staying longer, spending more money and returning to the city. Consequently, the city’s tourism sector needed to consistently pursue long-term and sustainable strategies. Continue reading Vietnam’s Hanoi named cheapest Asian city for backpackers
Botswana’s elephant hunting proposal triggers debate
Gaborone (TAN): The Botswana government’s proposal to withdraw its ban on hunting elephants has trigged a big debate on social media.
According to reports, the proposal was timed ahead of elections and aimed to satisfy rural communities that had earlier been adversely economically affected by the hunting ban. The panel is said to have made the recommendations with only minimal consultation with the tourism industry stakeholders.
In the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Hunting Ban Social Dialogue report, it has been proposed to lift the ban on hunting. Continue reading Botswana’s elephant hunting proposal triggers debate
Iceland closes Justin Bieber canyon till June
Reykjavik (TAN): The Iceland government has closed the popular Fjadrargljufur canyon to the public in order to conserve its fragile ecosystem that has been affected by a humid winter and a large number of tourists, media reports said.
The relatively unknown canyon has been flooded by tourists since being featured in a 2015 Justin Bieber ‘I’ll Show You’ music video. Fjadrargljufur is around 100 meters deep and some 2km long with steep green walls and a meandering riverbed.
I’ll Show You has 440 million views on YouTube. Continue reading Iceland closes Justin Bieber canyon till June