Travel

The ongoing travel resurgence is already creating new economic opportunities for communities in emerging and lesser-known destinations. A recent Airbnb report revealed that Ipoh, Kuah, Semenyih and Port Dickson emerged as trending destinations outside major cities for long-term stays in 2Q22. (Photo by Zahid Izzani Mohd Said/The Edge) - A + A The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on tourism’s role as a key economic driver — not only for governments and global companies, but also micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), individual entrepreneurs and everyday Malaysians. As travel continues to return and travellers dust off their passports and luggages with renewed vigour, it is more important now than ever to build a more resilient and inclusive tourism industry. This is especially true as every day, people around the world, including Malaysians, face rising costs of living. In his official message for this year’s World Tourism Day on Sept 27, aptly … [Read more...] about Rethinking Tourism: Welcoming the travel revolution

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A new reservation service for American Airlines passengers flying out of Miami International Airport now expands the length of time for them to schedule their TSA checkpoint screening. Known as MIA Reserve , this free service was developed through a six-month pilot program with American Airlines and three tech-related companies; it started on September 15, 2022. They are Pangiam, a security technology firm; Copenhagen Optimization, a software and consultancy company; and CLEAR, which is known for their biometric travel document system at major U.S. airports and stadiums. “We are excited to partner with American Airlines and Pangiam on this six-month pilot program for MIA Reserve, which could pave the way for even shorter checkpoint wait times at MIA,” said Ralph Cutié, director and CEO of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, in a media release. Reserved screening times through MIA Reserve are available daily to … [Read more...] about Miami International Airport Expands Pre-Scheduled TSA Screening Times

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin While tourism numbers worldwide plummeted in 2020 and 2021 because of covid, the number of Americans visiting Turkey in the first half of 2022 is up 76.8% over the same period of 2019 before the pandemic struck. “This is an extraordinary and exciting result,” says Yalçın Lokmanhekim, the General Manager of TGA, Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, underscoring not only Turkish tourism’s recovery from the pandemic, but also highlighting how Americans are vacationing in Turkey in record-breaking numbers. “At the beginning of 2022, we set our aims to reach and surpass the numbers of 2019 by welcoming 42 million visitors and garnering 35 billion dollars in revenue,” says Lokmanhekim. “Thanks to the incredible season we’ve had, we have recently revised these figures to 47 million tourists and 37 billion dollars in revenue.” In the January-July period of 2022, Turkey had 26 million visitors, achieving a rise of … [Read more...] about Turkey’s Tourism Numbers Surge; New Michelin Guide Announced

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin A fter strengthening on Monday, Hurricane Ian slammed into western Cuba overnight as a Category 3 hurricane. Moving north at 12 mph with sustained winds as high as 125 mph, Ian is expected to make landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast as a potential Category 4 storm on Wednesday into Thursday. The U.S. air travel system is preparing for the hit, with hundreds of flights preemptively cancelled for Wednesday and Thursday, according to FlightAware , a free app that provides flight tracking data. But based on an historical trend analysis, those numbers will climb much higher as airlines continue to cancel flights closer to departure times. “As of midnight Sunday and even early Monday, no major US carrier issued a public statement regarding Ian, and there were very few pre-emptive flight cancellations,” says Kathleen Bangs, spokesperson for FlightAware. “What was surprising about Ian is that even after we saw it … [Read more...] about Airlines Are Canceling Hundreds Of Flights As Hurricane Ian Heads For Florida

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Dining is a huge part of travel, so Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform, today announced the next in its community-powered Travelers’ Choice® Awards series: the 2022 Best of the Best Restaurants. Here are the top-rated spots across the globe, inclusive of six different subcategories of restaurant types. Diners can peruse the menu of winners here: tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Restaurants . Award-winning restaurants this year spanned six continents and 51 countries. Global labor challenges and ongoing COVID-19 restrictions continued to limit dine-in capacity in some markets; for instance, some Asian nations were closed to international tourists for nearly the entire data evaluation period. Still, gourmands the world over savored dining out, leaving millions of reviews on Tripadvisor chronicling their experiences. “More than half of consumers in a recent survey* told us that food is the most … [Read more...] about The Top Rated Restaurants Around The World, According To Tripadvisor

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Whether you’re an avid multi-day backpacker, day hiker, or car camper, exploring our country’s ubiquitous state and national parks, or you’re someone who loves being outside with your family in tow in your own backyard, you’ll likely want to capture the flora and fauna. When it comes to nature photography, there’s much to learn, from picking the right lens to paying attention to what’s in the foreground and background to zeroing in on the scenery's close-up textures. With the help of the following intrepid outdoor photographers, discover tips on capturing your subject in the best lighting, using diverse angles and perspectives for a distinctive shot, and storytelling through dynamic images. Summit peaks, toss stones, come alive, and capture it all. An Australian shutterbug, who currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, Melissa Findley is well known for her crisp and thoughtful travel and adventure photography. On a … [Read more...] about Improve Your Nature Photography Skills With These Expert Tips

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When traveling in Prague you will want to add a visit to the nearby charming town of Český Krumlov to your itinerary. This Bohemian city is several hours away, so while it’s too far for a day trip if you want time to explore it properly, it’s the perfect location for a night or two. I would have never known this hidden European gem in Czech Republic even existed if I was not on a tour with Intrepid Travel. This B Corporation Certified tour company often combines popular cities such as Prague with smaller lesser known places like Český Krumlov. Intrepid Travel works directly with local guides and experts and our Český Krumlov tour guide lived nearby and was able to share unique stories of the town, tips when visiting, and interesting history such as ancient legends, plots, and romances from days gone by. We learned the name of the town translates to mean Crooked Meadow and the houses are about 700 years old. Český … [Read more...] about Český Krumlov Is Europe’s Fairytale Hidden Gem

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Prague, Praha in Czech, is the stunning and historic capital city of Czech Republic. Located in the heart of Europe along the Vltava River, Prague was the first stop on my six country Premium Central Europe Tour with Intrepid Travel. I choose to travel with them again (my first Intrepid trip was to Italy) because they are leaders in responsible tourism and have been on the forefront of animal welfare issues for years. They became the first tour company to put an end to elephant riding on all their trips and now they help preserve the planet by planting forests in Kenya, are committed to protecting ecosystems, and are a carbon-neutral business. Specializing in small group travel, they work directly with local guides, industry experts, and their exceptional leaders are a wealth of information regardless what country you visit. They recently introduced 10 new tours as part of their Intrepid Premium range featuring hand-picked … [Read more...] about 3 Must-Visit Places In Charming Prague

Thailand’s Department of Rail Transport is is implementing new rules for rail travel to ensure no second wave of covdi-19 for the start of the school term next month. Sorapong Paitoonphong, director-general of the Department of Rail Transport, said his department, Department of Disease Control and Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital have worked on measures to manage congestion on public transport when classes resume on July 1. He said they will propose the government axe social distancing on train platforms and trains. Also increase allowable crowd density from 50 per cent to 70 per cent as passenger numbers increase to a million per day. International research showed that if strict measures such as wearing masks and using sanitizing gel are observed, infections are unlikely to occur. Even though social distancing could be lifted, the department will make sure public safety is observed at all times, Mr Sorapong said. … [Read more...] about New Rules Set for Rail Travel Prior to Start of New School Term

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Canada will drop its Covid-19 vaccine requirement for visitors entering the country starting October 1, officials announced Monday, reopening the Canadian border to unvaccinated travelers for the first time since the worldwide coronavirus vaccination campaign began. Key Facts Canadian and foreign travelers will no longer need to submit proof of vaccination or pre-travel testing or go into quarantine or isolation upon entering the country starting Saturday. In a statement on Monday, Canada’s Public Health Agency said the country is lifting the requirements due to its high vaccination rate along with low coronavirus hospitalization and death rates, increased availability of vaccine boosters and rapid tests, and the peak of the BA.4 and BA.5 coronavirus waves passing. The move comes one week after Canadian members of Parliament and border-city mayors wrote a letter calling on Prime Minister Justin … [Read more...] about Canada Lifts Covid Vaccine Mandate For International Travelers