BY Sarmind SafiDec 27, 2023

Bora Bora is a heavenly part of French Polynesia, sitting in the expanse of the south Pacific Ocean. They are set to make a shift in their tourism policy in the upcoming year. Given its natural splendor, the island has become a hot spot for tourists from all over the world. Tourists in large cruise ships have overwhelmed the island for the longest time. The island became so overrun with in 2019 that Bora Bora vowed to tackle the problem by limiting the number of visitors aboard cruise ships. However, this year, a new government having formed abandoned the promises made. They instead have pledged to double the number of visitors by 2033. It has actually gone to the extent of welcoming large cruise ships to many of its ports. This dramatic shift in policy has divided the opinion in Polynesia. Many support the growth of the tourism sector whereas there are others who want a more sustainable model of the island. The ships that port at the island is now posing a risk to the environmental stability of the ecosystem. The French Polynesia is made up of more than 100 islands that includes Bora Bora and Tahiti. Tourism is vital for French Polynesia. According to Tahiti tourism, it is responsible for contributing about 12% of GDP and 80% of the export revenue. Rainui Besinau is the chair of Bora Bora's tourism association. Besinau says, “The hotels wanted to protect the quality of their service. So when the ships arrived, the hotels closed the doors to the people outside. They [didn’t] want to be invaded. ”There are two models that have been proposed. One being the luxury model with a peaceful island and not too many people in the water. Or, a mass tourism spot involving cruise ships. Environmentalists have welcomed the move. Marie-Laure Vanizette, the spokeperson for an environmental group has said, “Capping tourist numbers is logical. It will also help, “preserve our assets and our way of life”. Additional Reading: 6 Things Locals Wish Tourists Wouldn’t Do When In Iceland Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes

BY Sarmind SafiNov 28, 2023

With Travel Tuesday, which is considered the Black Friday and Cyber Monday of travel deals, taking place on November 28 this year, there are already many travel deals available or coming soon. This year's Travel Tuesday and Cyber Week deals are especially noteworthy, as they offer some of the most significant discounts, free nights, perks, and more available throughout the year. Major brands like Delta, Hyatt, and Marriott are all participating in these deals. Best Deals For Travel Tuesday Here are some of your best bets on hotel deals for Travel Tuesday: World Of Hyatt World of Hyatt has acquired Mr & Mrs Smith, the luxury hotel booking platform, and is now offering its members exclusive access to purchase gift cards from MrMrsSmith.Redeam.com. These gift cards can earn members five base points for every $1 spent, and the offer is valid until March 31, 2024. Marriott Bonvoy Marriott Bonvoy has announced its biggest Cyber Week Sale to date, where members can enjoy a 20 percent discount on bookings made by November 28 for stays from November 26, 2023, to January 15, 2024. Non-members can also get a 15 percent discount on bookings across popular hotel brands like Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, W, and Luxury Collection. Hilton If you're planning to travel during the holiday season, you might want to check out the select Hilton properties that are offering up to 50 percent off on stays. For the best Travel Tuesday deals, consider booking at Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico, Hilton Orlando in Florida, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Vegas, or Hilton Cartagena, Hilton Barra Rio de Janeiro, Hilton Bogota in South America. Don't forget to read the fine print before booking. Rosewood Hotels For a luxurious stay, you can treat yourself or your loved ones to some of Rosewood's most sought-after properties such as Rosewood Little Dix Bay and Rosewood Phuket. By using the code CYBER23 when booking on rosewoodhotels.com, you can get discounts based on the length of your stay. This offer is valid for trips until June 30, 2024. The Retreat Costa Rica The Retreat Costa Rica, which has won awards for its services, is offering a discount of 35% on wellness packages. You can avail of this offer by booking before November 28, and the stay dates are from February 1, 2024, to December 19, 2024. Fontainebleau Las Vegas If you're planning to stay at the newest and most popular hotel in Las Vegas, you can book one night and get another night for free. This offer is valid for stays booked on or before Travel Tuesday. Read Also: North Luzon Travel Expo Launched To Boost Tourism Recovery: Philippines Play Airlines Is Celebrating Black Friday And Cyber Monday Deals On Flights To Europe Ghana Is Ready To Host The Rest Of The World: Ghana Tourism Authority On Christmas Concerts

BY Sarmind SafiDec 23, 2023

Icelandic Tourist Board reported over 1.7 million visitors in 2022. The ethereal beauty of Iceland has persistently drawn hoards of tourists to its shores. Unavoidably, these tourists make mistakes and encounter culture crushes. There are now about six things that collectively irks the people of Iceland. First, there is the joke about Iceland and Greenland. Actually we have all heard the joke. It stems from the fact that Greenland is covered in ice and Iceland is lush green. Then there is the northern lights that tourists look for during the summers. Icelanders are tired of tourists not doing their research before planning their trip. The midnight sun that occurs between May and August is also a matter of confusion among tourists. European culture, especially Iceland does not appreciate tipping in restaurants, finding it borderline offensive in certain parts. Saying no to tipping on the part of the service-providers also results in arguments. Anna Ragna, born and raised in Iceland moved to the US in 2015. She tells Business Insider, "A lot of times there would be tips on the table for the waitress and they say, 'We can't take it,' and then it'll end up turning into an argument, and that's something that happened quite often." Iceland is renowned for its pristine beauty and the natives hate when tourists littter. Ragna says, it "enrages us as a people." There is also the issue of tampering with the delicate Icelandic moss. This slow-growing green layer is able to adapt to the harshest climates but it can be very fragile when tread  upon. It grows incredibly slowly and it can take up a hundred years just to grow a simple patch." Tourists also ignore signs in different hazardous areas. For example, an Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter rescued an  "exhausted, cold and shocked" hiker who got too close to a volcanic eruption near Grindavík on December 19. Authorities warned tourists to "think four times." Davíð Geir Jónasson who is the owner of Icelandic tour company called Vik Expeditions says he has seen this happen too many times throughout his 15-year long service. He says, "In Iceland, a warning sign is put up because someone has died or multiple people have died. It's not just because something might happen." Read Also: Kenya Is Targeting 5.5M Tourist Arrivals By 2028 Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area Is Expecting Big Changes Christmas In Nottingham: 2023 Bin Collection Dates, Tram Timetable And More