Phuket – world’s most congested tourist place of 2023

As per latest study, Phuket was conferred the title of the world’s most congested tourist place of 2023. Now that the travel is back to its earlier space, popular places are once more stressed with over tourism. On the top of this list is Phuket in Thailand, followed by Pattaya and Krabi. Phuket is one of Thailand’s most well-known retreats and is particularly celebrated for those looking for a beach holiday and a destination that hosts some of the most popular revelries in the world.

The state of affairs has become so bad in some places that the administration is required to bring certain
measures in place to tackle tourist numbers.

Bali is also among those places that have put quite a few prohibitions on tourist movement to deal with over tourism. In Europe, Venice, Athens and Amsterdam also have announced methods to protect their places from the masses. Numerous tourist levies have been declared in Venice while the Acropolis in Athens, Greece has thought to bring a limit on the figure of everyday tourists. Then again, Austrian inhabitants have started complaining regarding the huge numbers of tourists.

Concerning the UK, the beautiful Edinburgh Castle has turned to be the most congested tourist allure while Bath is the most jammed city.

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New management at CTO sets developments

Dona Regis-Prosper, the Secretary-General and the CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO),
delineated her initial plans for managing the intergovernmental association in control of tourism
growth across 25 Caribbean countries and regions. She spoke to audience comprising local, regional and global media.

Regis-Prosper, a resident of St. Lucia was escorted by Kenneth Bryan, who is the Chairman of the CTO’s
Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism.

She was also accompanied by the Minister of Tourism and Ports for the Cayman Islands along with Rosa
Harris, the Chairman of the CTO’s Board of Directors and the Cayman Islands Director of Tourism.

Admitting the planned, multidimensional aspect of the CEO’s accountabilities, Minister Bryan praised Regis- Prosper for her treasure of knowledge, a desire for tourism and a pledge to the Caribbean that lines up flawlessly with their organization’s idea.

Regis-Prosper highlighted the significance of sustainable tourism observances and the requirement
for teamwork among Caribbean countries.

She emphasized the prospect for digital marketing and knowledge improvements to improve the region’s
tourism contributions.

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Despite disputes with China, South Korea seeing ease in tourism affairs

In spite of continuing a sequence of financial and geopolitical disagreements with China, South Korea is seeing a softening of tourism affairs. Chinese experts have lately taken away a long-lasting prohibition on group visits to South Korea, encouraging Seoul’s Tourism Ministry to present a multi-faceted plan targeted toward enticing more than 1.5 million Chinese travelers by the end of this year.

Previous to the pandemic, South Korea greeted almost 5 million Chinese tourists yearly. The numbers plunged intensely, primarily by the reason of Beijing’s 2017 embargo on collective visits. It was an initiative taken in response to South Korea’s placement of the U.S. THAAD missile defence arrangement, and afterwards owing to the pandemic. With the taking away of the travel injunction three weeks before, the Tourism Ministry is enthusiastically working to renew concentration among Chinese holidaymakers.

Exploiting a current Chinese cruise ship halt to Jeju Island, an important tourist place, South Korea is
initiating numerous inducements. These comprise inaugurating new visa submission centers, increasing
air ways, and proposing monetary inducements like VAT or visa fee repayments for group reservations.

Furthermore, tourism programs precisely intended toward catering to Chinese penchants are being
developed, as is the incorporation of predominant payment platforms like WeChat Pay and  Alipay .

Targeted toward improving GDP by 0.16 points, the government has a determined program to attract 2
million Chinese tourists by this year end. Nevertheless, there are apprehensions regarding how this
inventiveness might be acknowledged nationally, given the increasing anti-China thoughts of late among the South Korean public.

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Travel advisories in Morocco as earthquake rumbles

The recent catastrophic earthquake in Morocco has raised concerns for travellers, especially those planning to visit the popular destination of Marrakech. With the death toll rising and thousands of US and British tourists in the area, are stranded and race to leave the country.

Marrakech Airport operations

Marrakech airport is still open and operational. Several UK airlines, including British Airways, easyJet, and Tui, have continued to operate flights to and from Marrakech following the earthquake. In fact, some carriers have deployed larger aircraft to accommodate passengers who wish to return home early.

Options for British travellers

Currently, there are no plans for an airlift to evacuate tourists from the area. Travellers are advised to follow their original travel plans unless they perceive potential danger. It’s crucial to contact your travel company first to inquire about early departure arrangements. Travel insurance will typically come into play only if there is a genuine threat to safety.

Cancellations and travel advice

While many travellers may be reluctant to vacation in a region experiencing a humanitarian crisis, there are no clear grounds for canceling without penalty at this time. The UK Foreign Office has not issued a travel warning against visiting the region, and all Moroccan airports are open and operational. Travelers planning imminent trips are encouraged to check with their accommodation providers and tour operators to confirm arrangements in case of any disruption or damage caused by the earthquake.

Presumption of normalcy

The presumption is that most holidays will proceed as planned. However, there may be exceptions for trips based at specific properties that are currently unable to receive guests due to earthquake-related damage and Atlas treks.

US Embassy advisory

The US Embassy in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, advises American citizens to avoid affected areas, as local hospitals and resources may become strained. While hospitals in Marrakech and major cities are open, they have limited capacity. Travelers are urged to follow police instructions regarding road closures or traffic disruptions.

Airline operations

British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair are offering flexibility to passengers scheduled to travel to Marrakech in the next two weeks. Passengers can change their travel dates free of charge if they wish to do so. EasyJet and Ryanair have also encouraged travelers to contact their customer service teams for further assistance.

Tour Operator’s responses

Tui, one of the major holiday companies, is closely monitoring the situation, with teams on the ground in resort locations to support customers. There has been no change in the Foreign Office’s advice, and Tui Airways flights are expected to resume on Monday, September 11. Customers traveling on Tui holidays with other airlines have been or will be contacted by Tui’s team to discuss their options.

Jet2, another prominent package holiday company, does not operate to Morocco.

Rights of Travellers

It’s important to note that it is currently too early to determine the extent of damage and disruption in the area. The US Geological Survey anticipates ongoing seismic activity with aftershocks for weeks to come. If you choose not to travel before your holiday company makes a decision, you may risk losing most or all of your money since there is no official travel warning against visiting the region.

Travel Elsewhere in Morocco

While Marrakech is the hardest-hit area, the main holiday destinations in Morocco, such as Agadir and Essaouira, are believed to be unaffected. Travellers should exercise caution, stay informed, and follow local guidance when visiting these areas.

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Night train linking Paris and Berlin to restart in December

Austrian rail operator OBB’s Nightjet service between Paris and Berlin is set to launch on 11 December, departing from Berlin with a return journey the following day.

Starting with three trips per week, it will offer a daily service from autumn 2024, OBB and the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said in a statement.

The line, which was shut down in 2014 as part of a larger phasing out of sleeper service across Europe, is being revived as the EU looks to promote less polluting forms of travel, and as travellers look for alternatives to short-haul flights.

French rail operator SNCF has not commented on the line. Deutsche Bahn has only confirmed its “cooperation with OBB on night traffic”.

More European connections

OBB spokesperson Bernhard Rieder told the AFP French news agency the Paris-Berlin night train would stop at Strasbourg in France and Mannheim, Erfurt and Halle in Germany along the way.

It will leave Gare de l’Est at 7:12pm and arrive in Berlin’s Haupbahnhof at 8:26 the next morning. The train from Berlin will leave at 8:18pm and arrive in Paris at 10:24am.

Both sleeping berths and less expensive reclining seats will be available, priced from 34.90 to 79.90 euros, according to German media.

In 2021, ÖBB launched a new Nightjet route between Vienna and Paris, going through Salzburg and Munich, which joined its existing service between Brussels and Vienna.

In December, the company will also launch a service linking Brussels and Liège to Berlin.

High-speed Paris-Berlin link

Earlier this year, the French and German rail operators announced a direct high-speed TGV that would link Paris to Berlin in seven hours, which would start running in end of 2024.

After negotiations over its route, French transport minister Clément Beaune announced at the end of last month that it will eventually run through Strasbourg and Karlsruhe, after technical barriers are lifted.

“Even if it takes a little longer than I would have liked, this line will eventually go via Strasbourg,” he told journalists at the Strasbourg European Fair last week.

When announcing the link between the two capitals in 2022, German Transport Minister Volker Wissing said climate challenges meant rail needed to play a stronger role in European transport.

“With the new high-speed connection Berlin-Paris, another attractive alternative to flying is on the way,” he said.

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