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Four countries offering incredible coronavirus travel deals

<p>With many industries being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, it appears that the tourism industry is no exception. Although non-essential travel is currently prohibited, countries around the world are getting ready for visitors to appear on their shores this summer.</p> <p>In an impressive effort to entice tourists, some countries are offering discount vouchers for spas, museums and theme parks. Others are offering free hotel stays. Here are four countries that are offering incentives to travel there.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4YKXAnewW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4YKXAnewW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Discover our Sicily (@_discoveringsicily_)</a> on May 31, 2020 at 10:34pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>1.</strong><span> </span><strong>Sicily, Italy</strong></p> <p>The small southern Italian island has announced that the country is offering to pay half of visitors’ flight costs and a third of hotel expenses to entice tourists to return after the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>There are also free tickets being offered to many of the museums on the island as well as free tickets to archaeological sites.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rZVtnJpFK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rZVtnJpFK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Iceland Naturally (@icelandnatural)</a> on Jan 23, 2020 at 1:57pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>2.</strong><span> </span><strong>Iceland</strong></p> <p>Iceland has a plan to entice tourists by offering travellers free COVID-19 tests upon arrival at the airport. If you test negative, you’re free to enjoy your time in the country. If not, you’re required to self-isolate for 14 days.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.insider.com/all-places-offering-discounts-freebies-incentives-entice-tourists-post-coronavirus-2020-6#iceland-free-coronavirus-tests-5" target="_blank"><em>Insider</em></a><span> </span>is aware that the new border process is still being finalised, so it’s not known whether the tests will remain free for an initial two week trial period or beyond that.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qKxMqJu6p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qKxMqJu6p/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Cancun (@cancun)</a> on May 1, 2020 at 1:36pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>3.</strong><span> </span><strong>Cancun, Mexico</strong></p> <p>Mexico is very keen to welcome back tourists from mid-June, as a new tourism campaign called #Come2MexicanCaribbean or #VenAlCaribeMexicanoX2 has been launched. The campaign boasts a lot of perks for tourists.</p> <p>Some of these perks include two free nights for every two nights paid by guests, two free days of car rentals for every two days paid for, free stays for up to two children when two adults book as well as 20 per cent off at participating theme parks, golf courses and spas.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_6oFguD4Rk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_6oFguD4Rk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Visit Cyprus (@visitcypruscom)</a> on May 7, 2020 at 11:00pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><strong>4.</strong><span> </span><strong>Cyprus</strong></p> <p>Cyprus is also being generous with their highly anticipated tourists, as the country has promised to cover the costs of tourists who fall ill with COVID-19 while visiting.</p> <p>Authorities of the island have said that they will pay for any accommodation, food and medicine used by patients and their families if any tourists test positive for the virus.</p>

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The tragic story behind this photo

<p>At a first glance, Cancun beach in Mexico looks like one of the most pristine places on earth. It has spectacular white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters that attracts many tourists each year.</p> <p>However, there is a record of crime in this popular destination that is being hidden from the rest of the world.</p> <p>Located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, Cancun’s murder rate has doubled this past year – with 169 killings in the first half of 2017. Drugs, extortion and murders occur without consequence in Cancun</p> <p>Recently, British journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy visited Cancun for SBS’s <em>Dateline</em> to investigate why these many murders are taking place.</p> <p>“This is one of the most beautiful views in the world and we are the only people here,” Guru-Murthy said from Cancun’s main beach.</p> <p>Later on in the day, Guru-Murthy saw the busy beach transform into a crime scene as four men came through a luxury hotel and shot a man. He later died in hospital.</p> <p>To Guru-Murthy’s surprise, most tourists were unaware of the shocking event that was unfolding around them just metres away. He was surprised by the lack of police presence in this notorious spot.</p> <p>“It’s as if the police don’t want anyone to notice. There’s minimum fuss and hardly any officers here,” he said.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816270/2_499x375.jpg" alt="2 (65)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Image credit: SBS</em></p> <p>This attack is already the third shooting that has occurred on the beach in Cancun this year, yet there is no media coverage of what is going on.</p> <p>“We’ve been told that local politicians here have put the press under pressure not to report violence in this area, because if the tourists are scared away from here, it will be an economic disaster not only for Cancun, but for Mexico.”</p> <p>Sadly a well-known police commander, his wife and baby nephew were shot dead, in a separate attack during Dateline’s visit and nobody was arrested.</p> <p>Many are worried the paradise of Cancun will become lost in the depravity of crime and face a similar demise to Acapulco, which was once a glamorous location that has been turned into Mexico’s murder capital. </p> <p><em>Mexico Beach Wars airs on SBS Dateline, Tuesday 13 March at 9.30pm.</em></p>

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