Turkish Hotel Won’t Let Two Men Share a Room but Will Give Straight Couples ‘Tantra Sofas’

PINK NEWS: Holiday resorts and hotels in Turkey have been banning men from staying without female company, in widespread policies that discriminate against gay men.

The issue was revealed by travel site One Mile at a Time, after writer Ben Schlappig was alerted to the issue by a reader.

The reader was told by a the Lujo Hotel in Bodrum, Turkey, that his booking for two men to stay in one room was not allowed.

When he enquired about the reason, he was told it was because men simply party too hard when there are no women around.

However, if the hotel is against partying, its management has a strange way of showing it. » | Lily Wakefield | Thursday, September 9, 2021

Hawaii Is Easing Restrictions and Preparing to Welcome Back Tourists.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The state is eager for its vacation industry to rebound after a devastating 2020 season.


Gov. David Y. Ige announced his state would welcome international tourists again and lift capacity limits later this month on bars, restaurants and gyms in counties that require patrons to present proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid test to enter. | Caleb Jones/Associated Press
Signaling that Hawaii is eager to jump-start its battered tourism and hospitality industries, Gov. David Y. Ige said that his state would ease Covid restrictions this month and welcome international travelers again, under new federal guidelines that go into effect on Nov. 8.

The governor’s decision was a turnaround for a state that only two months ago was advising travelers not to visit, as it dealt with the worst surge of coronavirus cases it had seen, a wave of illness driven by the highly contagious Delta variant that overwhelmed hospitals and halted Hawaii’s economic recovery. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Hawaii endured months of lockdown, imposing strict, 14-day quarantine protocols and suffering the economic consequences to its tourism economy.

Now, with low rates of hospitalizations and new cases, the islands are again ready for business, officials say. On Sept. 2, the state’s seven-day daily average of new cases was 910. As of Tuesday, it had dropped to 116, according to a New York Times database. » | Eduardo Medina | Thursday, November 4, 2021

The U.S. economy added 531,000 jobs in October. »

Qatar Looks to Increase Tourism despite Blockade

Tourism industry leaders from around the world are in Qatar to celebrate World Tourism Day. The number of tourists worldwide is expected to rise to around two billion by 2030, and sustainable tourism is a major concern for delegates. ¶ Qatar wants to attract five-and-a-half million visitors within the next five years, despite a blockade by neighbouring countries.

FOCUS - The Growing Pains of Iran's Tourist Industry

Egypt Warns Tourists of Islamist Terror Threat

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Warning follows an explosion on the bus which killed three South Korean Christian pilgrims heading from South Sinai to the Israeli border

Egypt’s prime minister yesterday issued a warning to the tourism industry after a terror group claimed a suicide bombing on a bus which killed three South Koreans and threatened to stage more attacks. The statement by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, or Supporters of Jerusalem, celebrated the loss of one of its “heroes”, who it said attacked the bus as it was heading towards the “Zionist entity”.

An explosion on the bus, which was carrying South Korean Christian pilgrims and approaching the Israeli border crossing at Taba after visiting St Catherine’s Monastery in South Sinai, killed three passengers and the Egyptian driver, as well as the bomber.

“This is part of our economic war against this treacherous, agent regime,” the statement said. “We are watching this treasonous gang and we will target its economic interests everywhere, to cripple them and their actions against the Muslim people.” » | Richard Spencer in Cairo | Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Iran Opens Doors to Tourists as Rouhani Fosters Thaw in Relations with the West

THE GUARDIAN: New atmosphere under reformist president sees visa rules eased with Chinese visitors a priority for sanctions-hit country

With its ancient ruins, glittering mosques and spectacular landscapes, Iran is home to some of the world's cultural treasures, but ever since the 1979 revolution, these have largely remained unseen by international tourists. In recent years, the country's most high-profile visitors have been nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Now, however, the new administration of Hassan Rouhani is taking steps to open up Iran to foreigners in an effort to improve its international image after the gloomy years under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – and to bring in much-needed foreign currency to an economy reeling from years of sanctions.

Mohammad-Ali Najafi, a vice-president and the head of the country's cultural heritage and tourism organisation, said Iran was overhauling its strict immigration rules to ease or abolish visa requirements for most foreign visitors.

"From the next two or three months, I predict that the number of foreign tourists who come to visit Iran as a tourist will greatly increase," said Najafi in a telephone interview from Tehran.

Najafi admitted some senior officials had been concerned at the prospect of allowing large numbers of tourists – especially westerners – in without prior security checks, but said that since Rouhani took office in August Iran's tourism body had eventually secured their support – and government approval. » | Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Friday, October 18, 2013

Teetotal Tourism
DAILY NEWS | EGYPT: As new hotel opens in Hurghada serving no alcohol, hotel groups call for reconsidering ratings system

Last week, the Les Rois hotel in Hurghada opened to the sound of breaking glass as bottles of alcohol were smashed in celebration.

The hotel was touted as Egypt’s first non-alcohol serving hotel, but the move has some recent precedents. When Abdul Aziz Al Ibrahim, a Saudi businessman who bought the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Egypt, prevented alcoholic drinks from being served at one of Downtown Cairo’s major luxury hotels, the move sparked some debate, spurring former tourism minister, Zuhair Garana, to threaten to cut the hotel’s ranking from five stars to two.

The owners of Les Rois have decided to not serve any alcohol to tourists at the hotel, in order to promote “a new kind of tourism”.

The hotel administration has also announced it will not be providing any services which violate Islamic Sharia law.

It will also be allocating a floor for women only, complete with female security guards, which will include a swimming pool, a restaurant, and a dance lounge.

The hotel owners said that the hotel earmarked the fourth floor as a women-only space because it overlooks a mountainous area, reducing the risk of violating “female modesty”. » | Hend El-Behary | Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Tourism on Trial - Egypt

UAE Considers Crack Down on Skimpy Dressers
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Authorities in Abu Dhabi are considering introducing a national law that would enforce a dress code in public places within the UAE.

The debate about preventing skimpy attire being worn in shopping malls and on the streets has recently been brought to the fore by various campaign groups. The issue has also been fiercely debated in the social media.

The proposed law is currently with the cabinet after a recommendation from the Federal National Council (FNC) was backed by Dr Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, on Tuesday.

The politicians involved have so far agreed that expatriate residents are most likely to walk around in inappropriate clothing, rather than tourists.

“In the UAE we are a conservative society. We hold on to our traditions. I speak as the head of the national tourism council and our powers are limited”, said Dr Al Owais, reported in the newspaper The National. » | Thursday, June 14, 2012

Egyptian Tourism Faces Worst Slump in 30 Years
Storied Nile cruises have been running for decades but since Egypt's successful uprising last year they've all but dried up. Farah Halim reports from Cairo on why tourism is not recovering around Egypt's ancient sites.

Niederlande wollen Coffeeshops für Touristen sperren

KRONE: Ausländer dürfen künftig in den niederländischen Coffeeshops, nicht mehr bedient werden. Damit will die konservative Regierung in Den Haag dem Drogentourismus das Wasser abgraben. Für alle, die bereits gebucht haben, gibt es allerdings noch eine "Gnadenfrist": Mit der Umsetzung der jetzt vom Kabinett beschlossenen Anti-Drogen-Maßnahmen soll erst nach dem Sommer begonnen werden, wie das Justizministerium am Samstag bestätigte.

Dann müssen schrittweise sämtliche rund 670 Coffeeshops, in denen bisher der Verkauf und Verzehr von Marihuana, Haschisch und anderen Softdrogen offiziell geduldet wird, in geschlossene Clubs umgewandelt werden. Sie können ihre berauschenden Hanfprodukte zwar an Clubmitglieder verkaufen, Ausländer sind davon aber ausgeschlossen. » | AG/red | Samstag, 28. Mai 2011

Revolution Halts Tourists Visiting Egypt
The recent uprising in Egypt brought political changes to the country, but it has also scared the tourists away.

In February, there were just over 200,000 foreign visitors, while the year before the number was 1.1 million.

With this loss, many businesses are now struggling to cope. And even the finance minister admits that when the tourist industry is hit, the entire economy takes a knock.

Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher reports from Giza.

Sultan Expects Big Inflow of Tourists to Kingdom’s Resorts
ARAB NEWS: JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s participation in international forums such as the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai would boost the flow of tourists to the Kingdom, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).

In a statement after visiting the Kingdom’s pavilion at the exhibition, he said Saudi Arabia is replete with tourist attractions including historical sites such as Madain Saleh and Diriya.

He emphasized the need to present Saudi Arabia as a major tourist destination in the region to Gulf citizens in order to encourage them to spend their vacations in the Kingdom’s tourist resorts.

“SCTA intends to organize a variety of attractive programs and activities to woo Saudis as well as GCC citizens to spend their holidays in the Kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.

He said Saudi tourism would not be limited to Haj and Umrah as new investment projects would enhance tourist facilities and attractions in the Kingdom.

“Forums like the Arabian Travel Market will enable SCTA to make use of the experiences of Arab countries in promoting tourism,” the prince said. » | P.K. Abdul Ghafour | Arab News | Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Tourists Flock to Britain for Royal Wedding
Preparations for the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton are in their final stages.



The couple tie the knot on Friday, and it is expected to attract the biggest television audience of any royal wedding to date.



Some 600,000 people are also expected to descend on London, the capital, for the big day.



Emma Hayward reports.

Uprising Ruins Egypt's Tourism
Egypt eagerly wants to regain its position as a major tourist destination. The sector has been crippled by the violence that led to the 18 day revolution toppling the Mubarak regime. Tourism accounts for 11 per cent of Egypt's struggling economy and one in eight jobs depend on it. But as Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports from Luxor, there are no signs yet of tourists returning

Les réponses de la directrice de l’Office National du Tourisme tunisien
Hamel Achani, directrice de l’Office National du Tourisme tunisien en France reste optimiste quand à l’impact de la révolution de jasmin sur l’économie du tourisme

Greece Will Be a War Zone, Sect of Revolutionaries Warns Tourists
THE OBSERVER: Security forces fear wave of terror as austerity programme provokes strikes, protests, violence – and assassination

A protesting lorry driver argues with a police officer outside the Ministry of Transport in Athens. Photograph: The Observer
Greek security forces have warned of a wave of violence reminiscent of the terror that stalked Italy in the seventies after urban guerillas threatened last week to turn the country into a "war zone".

"Greece has entered a new phase of political violence by anarchist-oriented organisations that are more murderous, dangerous, capable and nihilistic than ever before," said Athanasios Drougos, a defence and counter-terrorism analyst in Athens.

"For the first time we are seeing a nexus of terrorist and criminal activity," he said. "These groups don't care about collateral damage, innocent bystanders being killed in the process. They are very extreme."

The threats came from a guerrilla group called the Sect of Revolutionaries, as it claimed credit for the murder of Sokratis Giolas, an investigative journalist. Giolas was shot dead outside his Athenian home on 19 July, in front of his pregant wife.

The gang promised to step up attacks on police, businessmen, prison guards and "corrupt" media – and, for the first time, threatened holidaymakers.

"Tourists should learn that Greece is no longer a safe haven of capitalism," its declaration said.

"We intend to turn it into a war zone of revolutionary activity with arson, sabotage, violent demonstrations, bombings and assassinations, and not a country that is a destination for holidays and pleasure."

In an accompanying picture, the group displayed an arsenal that included AK 47 assault rifles, semi-automatic pistols and brass knuckledusters.

"Our guns are full and they are ready to speak," it said. "We are at war with your democracy." >>> Helena Smith, Athens | Sunday, August 01, 2010

Greece Suffers Fifth General Strike as Metro Blockaded in Madrid
Violence erupted in Bilbao during a one-day general strike. Photo: The Times
THE TIMES: Violence broke out during Greece’s fifth general strike of the year, while in Madrid the Metro was blockaded in a foretaste of a summer of industrial unrest.

As Mediterranean governments push through austerity measures, masked youths took part in running battles with police in Athens, with domestic flights and many ferry sailings from the port of Piraeus cancelled.

Public and private sector unions in the country announced that there would be a sixth all-out stoppage next week, when the package of pay and pension reforms comes to a final vote.

“These measures will not help. They will only lead to deeper recession and poverty,” said Despina Spanou, a board member of the Adedy civil servants’ union, which helped to organise the marches. “We are resisting the slaughtering of our rights.”

The governments of Greece and Spain are increasingly worried about the impact of unrest on tourism — which is a mainstay of both economies. >>> Philip Pangalos in Athens, William Bond in Madrid, David Charter in Brussels | Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Griechischer Tourismus leidet unter der Krise: Protestaktionen gegen Sparkurs der Regierung schrecken Feriengäste ab
NZZ ONLINE: Die Tourismusbranche in Griechenland leidet zunehmend unter der Schuldenkrise des Landes und den damit verbundenen Protestaktionen gegen den rigorosen Sparkurs der Regierung.

«Die Zahl unserer Gäste ist beträchtlich gesunken, und die Stornierungen nehmen zu», sagte der Vorsitzende des Verbandes der Hoteliers in Athen und Attika, Iannis Retsos, auf Anfrage. «Bei uns rufen Gäste an und fragen, ob die Unruhen noch andauern», sagte er weiter und klagte darüber, dass die Bilder von den Ausschreitungen und der einen brennenden Bank noch Tage später in den internationalen Medien zu sehen waren. Viele dächten, Athen brenne immer noch. >>> ddp | Donnerstag, 13. Mai 2010

Greek Crisis: Tourists Told to 'Exercise Extreme Caution'
THE TELEGRAPH: Tourists visiting Greece have been warned to exercise "extreme caution" as the country's parliament prepares to vote on austerity cuts to tackle the financial crisis.



The Foreign Office advice came a day after three bank workers died in a petrol bomb attack as demonstrations against the hefty cuts turned violent.

President Karolos Papoulias warned that Greece was on the "brink of the abyss" hours before the parliament was due to vote on the austerity measures.

Bank workers went on strike on Thursday to protest the fatal attack that left three dead in the worst clashes Athens has seen since the country disclosed that it had covered up a black hole of £272 billion in debt.

Mr Papoulias's government has promised to carry out strict spending cuts - a condition of a 110 billion euro (£95 billion) bailout by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, which is aimed at preventing the spread of the debt crisis throughout Europe.

The Greek parliament will vote on Thursday night on proposed wage freezes, pension cuts and tax rises. >>> | Thursday, May 06, 2010