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Tourism hotspot in Italy attracts attention for selling strange souvenir

Italy’s picturesque region of Lake Como has started selling a unique souvenir, making many people raise their eyebrows. The north Italian tourist hotspot has long been known for being the backdrop of many Hollywood films, while also hosting countless celebrity weddings, with many famous faces owning houses in the region. For those travelling to the stunning Lake Como and wanting to purchase a souvenir to remind them of their travels, you can now forgo the classic keyring or magnet for a more unique souvenir item. Communications company ItalyComunica says it has bottled the very air of Italy’s picturesque Lake Como and is selling these cans for €9.90 ($16 AUD) apiece. Each can is said to contain 400 millilitres of “100% authentic air” collected from Lake Como, with the website stating buyers can “Open it whenever you need a moment of escape, tranquillity, or simply beauty.” In an attempt to capitalise on the ever-growing visitor numbers, marketing specialist Davide Abagnale originally created the e-commerce site to sell dedicated Lake Como posters, before delving into the world of the unique souvenirs. His latest initiative of selling canned air aims to “create a souvenir that could be easily transported in a suitcase for tourists” and “something original, fun and even provocative.” Abagnale told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/04/travel/lake-como-air-cans-on-sale-intl-scli/index.html">CNN</a>, “It’s not a product, it’s a tangible memory that you carry in your heart,” adding that once tourists are home and have opened the can, they can repurpose it as a souvenir pen holder or plant holder. Not everyone was first onboard with the idea, as Como mayor Alessandro Rapinese said it wouldn’t be his first idea for tourists, and would prefer they take home other souvenirs, like the silk scarves the area is known for. “It’s a novel idea, but not for everyone,” he told CNN. “But as mayor of one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, if someone wants to take some of their air home, that’s fine as long as they also take beautiful memories of this area.” Image credits: ItalyComunica/CNN/Shutterstock

International Travel

How overcrowding impacts the world’s tourism hotspots

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joe-pavelka-1548337">Joe Pavelka</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/mount-royal-university-966">Mount Royal University</a> Every summer, millions of people jet off on vacations around the world. The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates that international arrivals, the measure of global travel, <a href="https://www.unwto.org/news/international-tourism-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2024">will be two per cent higher than the pre-pandemic total was in 2019</a>. However, as more of us are taking vacations, some of the world’s tourism hotspots are feeling more crowded than ever. And that’s even led to protests in some popular destinations. Residents in <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/a-point-of-no-return-why-europe-has-become-an-epicentre-for-anti-tourism-protests-this-summer-1.6980308">some European</a> cities have marched through popular areas, calling on tourists to “go home.” Some destinations, like Amsterdam, are doing what was previously thought unthinkable and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/2023-worst-destinations-overtourism-avoid-crowds/index.html">actively discouraging visitors</a>. Tourism crowding has become an indelible feature of travel and it warrants some understanding. So, what is overcrowding in tourism? How do we respond to it? And why does it appear to be increasing? <h2>Tourism overcrowding</h2> At its most basic level, overcrowding occurs because a lot of people decide to go to the same place at the same time. There are three basic principles of <a href="https://theconversation.com/overtourism-a-growing-global-problem-100029">tourism overcrowding</a>. Firstly, overcrowding is real and it creates stress and compromises our experience. Secondly, we feel more crowded in the presence of incompatible behaviours. For instance, we are more likely to feel overcrowded on a sidewalk if we have to avoid a skateboarder, a cyclist and a couple of aggressive vendors than we might at a packed music festival where everyone is acting similarly. Thirdly, a place is overcrowded when we think it is. There is no standard measure of overcrowding for the visitor. It is an individually experienced phenomena. We cannot understand tourism crowding without taking into account the context of local residents. We recently learned of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/08/travel/barcelona-tourism-protests-scli-intl/index.html">locals spraying tourists in Barcelona with water guns</a> as part of a demonstration. Locals do not do that unless they are truly fed up. This brings us to what I call the host-guest covenant, which is the idea that visitors should keep to touristic areas so residents can maintain the sanctity of their neighbourhoods. With the rise of short-term rentals, many visitors are able to go beyond the touristic parts of town. Some visitors might feel that, by sticking to touristic areas, their trip remains superficial and undeserving of the time and money it costs. Short-term rentals can allow them to avoid other tourists and gain a more “authentic” experience. However, <a href="https://upgo.lab.mcgill.ca/publication/strs-housing-bc-2022/Wachsmuth_BC_2022.pdf">it can make things worse for residents</a>, who must contend with more tourists encroaching on their neighbourhoods. <h2>How people cope with overcrowding</h2> Some people detest crowds, while others are drawn to them. There are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400306562">four basic ways people cope with the stress of overcrowding</a>. The first way is to alter travel plans to avoid crowds. It’s the most common coping method and involves avoiding certain places when we know their going to be busy. Another method is rationalization. When people find themselves in tourist crowds, they often rationalize the situation to avoid cognitive dissonance. For instance, visitors to the Louvre Museum might be more willing to tolerate crowds because they expect everyone wants to see the Mona Lisa. It implies people knowingly enter overcrowded tourist spaces. And they do, for several reasons: the attraction, fear of missing out, because crowds offer a sense of safety, and the validation that they’re somewhere important. Rationalization explains why we see thousands of people in the same place at the same time. A third coping method is product shift. It suggests we will intentionally downgrade a product to avoid cognitive dissonance. When someone tells you that Tofino used to be a quaint little surf town and now it’s touristy, they are engaging in product shift. The fourth is direct action, which involves contacting the authorities to rectify a situation. It can be as simple as asking a museum official to quiet down a noisy group or posting a review of Niagara Falls suggesting more information on how to avoid crowds. Coping methods are similar for visitors and the residents of the places they visit, but the latter places more emphasis on displacement. They have a deeper knowledge of the place and ability to navigate crowds effectively. <h2>Social media’s impact</h2> Some argue tourism took a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/social-media-tourism-effect-scn-wellness/index.html">sharp turn for the worse</a> with the advent of social media. Maybe, but the real impact of social media is that it made travel into a more visible status symbol. Prior to social media, returning travellers would print out their photos and share them with family and friends. Today we can share our photos instantly online. In addition, a desire to have the <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/instagrammable">most “Instagrammable” experiences</a> encourages risk avoidance. In essence, it encourages us to stick to the tried-and-true tours, destinations and attractions, rather than off-the-beaten-path places. This reinforces the basic principle of overcrowding: a lot people deciding to go the same place at the same time. Given all these trends, it is expected that most post-pandemic travel will continue to be trips to “safer” destinations <a href="https://www.unwto.org/news/international-tourism-to-reach-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2024">where tourists feel they are more likely to get their money’s worth</a>. In other words, the Global North travellers going to places in the Global North they feel will be worthwhile experiences. All tourists want to have a good time when on holiday. That often means the wisdom of crowds still holds sway, and no matter how uncomfortable overcrowding might be, thousands of people going the same place at the same time feels less risky than being on your own.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/235319/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joe-pavelka-1548337">Joe Pavelka</a>, Professor, Department of Health and Physical Education, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/mount-royal-university-966">Mount Royal University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-overcrowding-impacts-the-worlds-tourism-hotspots-235319">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

World's most disappointing tourist hotspots revealed

While many travellers tend to flock to must-see tourists attractions while exploring somewhere new on their holiday, it turns out not everyone is impressed with the hype. A host of scathing online reviews have targeted landmarks such as Stonehenge, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and even Bondi Beach, calling the sites "unimpressive", "boring" and "pointless". According to travellers, there are 15 tourist hotspots that don't live up to the hype, with many leaving the destinations feeling disappointed. Mona Lisa - Paris, France One of the most "disappointing" attractions, according to travellers, is da Vinci's masterpiece the Mona Lisa, which hangs in the Louvre in the French capital city. According to online reviews, nearly four in ten (37.1 per cent) visitors posted negative comments about visiting the work, saying it did not live up to their expectations. One review left on TripAdvisor described the experience as "a bit boring", adding, "The Mona Lisa was very small and not as beautiful as I thought it would be." Several other reviews stated how irritating the experience of actually seeing the artwork was, with one person claiming the Louvre had a "zoo-like atmosphere". The Eiffel Tower - Paris, France Tourists visiting France were double disappointed, after also being let down by the iconic Eiffel Tower, which many described as "not a very special place... it's just an iron building." "It's boring, nothing special about it. You have to wait in a long queue just to go up and take pictures," another person wrote. Others claimed the landmark is nothing but a "tourist trap", claiming it is "seriously underwhelming". Stonehenge - England For many, Stonehenge continues to be a wonder of mystery, as one of the most architecturally sophisticated ancient stone sculptures in the world, but for others, it's just a "big disappointment". One reviewer went so far as to say it was the "biggest disappointment of my life", saying, "I was expecting so much more. Do not waste your time people. The only magical thing about this place is that somehow it has the power to draw people on to look at it." Another person put simply, "It's a pile of rocks. Pointless." The Leaning Tower of Pisa - Italy While many tourists visiting Italy opt to check out the famous leaning tower, others tend to lean away from it, calling it a "tourist trap". One person reviewed the famous landmark, saying, "It's literally just a leaning tower. I wouldn’t make a stop here just to see it. It is overly crowded and hot in the summertime." Others claim they were hassled by countless street sellers, writing, "The whole area is crawling with at times aggressive street hawkers who feel it is OK to keep hassling and trying to sell you tourist crap." Checkpoint Charlie - Berlin, Germany Set up as a reminder of the former border crossing and the partition between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, Checkpoint Charlie is often known as a must-see spot. However, others have been left feeling let down by the historic spot. One traveller rated the site just one star, writing, "The only place in Berlin where we encountered street traders who were deeply unpleasant. The museum is overpriced and very tired. The whole area was uninspiring and a complete waste of our time." The Empire State Building - New York City, USA Every year, thousands of people pay to head to the top of the iconic Empire State Building to catch a glimpse of the New York City skyline. However, given the over-crowding of the observation platform and the hefty cost to enter, many have left feeling "underwhelmed" and "ripped-off". One person reviewed the landmark, writing, "Wow! What a waste of $185 for a family of three to struggle to fight our way to finally see a view obscured by a metal crisscross railing. Long lines, rude staff, cheesy "museum", and overpriced. It's as bad as an amusement park." Bondi Beach - Sydney, Australia A trip to Bondi Beach is often at the top of a tourist's travel itinerary when heading Down Under for the first time. But as the beach gains popularity, travellers have been increasingly underwhelmed by the picturesque beach given the over-crowding. One review read, "The beach is all the hype and show but it's like having a bath with your entire family and a dozen strangers. It's packed on any normal day and should be regulated with a fence line and tickets so it's not like cramming sardines into a can." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

How do Wi-Fi and hotspots work?

<div class="copy"> If you’re reading this article on your smartphone or laptop, it’s more than likely you’re connected to a wireless router. No need for bulky cables – just pick the wireless signal you want and the World Wide Web is at your fingertips. This is all thanks to the power of Wi-Fi. So how does it actually work? If you wanted to connect to the internet before Wi-Fi (which, by the way, doesn’t stand for wireless fidelity – it doesn’t actually stand for anything) you needed a cable known as an ethernet cable. This cable converts 1s and 0s of binary, the language of computers, into electrical signals which are sent down a wire and converted back into binary by the computer. But in the case of Wi-Fi, those electrical signals are converted by a router to radio waves that carry the electrical signal to the computer, where they’re converted to binary again. Information is sent as lots of small packets that are then stitched together. The process also works in reverse. If you need to send an email, your computer or smartphone shoots radio waves to the router. The radio waves are very similar to those used in mobile phones, walkie-talkies and other devices. So how can radio waves carry the amount of information needed to watch a high-resolution cat video? It’s true: the amount of information transmitted to make a phone call (audio) is far less than to watch an online video (audio and visual). This boils down to the radio wave frequency. Wi-Fi uses either 2.4 gigahertz or 5 gigahertz – far higher than those used by mobile phones at less than 1 gigahertz. A higher frequency means more radio waves – and more data – can be packed into a given space. The trade-off is that the waves can’t travel as far and are heavily influenced by nearby objects, including other Wi-Fi signals. That’s why your Wi-Fi signal gets weaker the more walls you put between your computer and router. You can get around this by linking lots of routers together to boost the signal. This is how the internet hotspots found in places such as cafes, universities and office buildings manage to reach out across multiple levels and large distances. For instance, the University of Twente in the Netherlands has a hotspot covering 1.4 square kilometres. It combines more than 600 individual routers from one massive signal that all students and staff can access at the same time. Image credits: Shutterstock  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=12344&title=How+do+Wi-Fi+and+hotspots+work%3F" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  </div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on cosmosmagazine.com and was written by Jake Port. </div>

Technology

Why living in an Instagram hotspot isn’t picture perfect

<a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/alicccce/media" target="_blank">Alice Johnston</a>, a longtime resident of the London neighbourhood of Notting Hill, which is the setting for the Julia Roberts film of the same name, has found its growing popularity as a tourist hotspot comes with highs and lows. With its pastel-painted row houses, the area has become a popular destination as a background for Instagram pics, and Johnston has seen all kinds of crazy behaviour as visitors snap their photos. <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVTfFwCF3mu/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/CVTfFwCF3mu/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Callista DeGraw (@callistagoesabroad)</a> </div> </blockquote> Johnston says there are some good stories, like the day she and a friend were walking his French bulldog. A tourist asked if they could “borrow” the dog for a photo and as a thank you for the snap, Johnston’s friend received five pounds. But, Johnston says other moments were less wholesome. “I was once woken up at 6am on Easter Sunday by French teenagers taking pictures outside,” she <a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/living-in-instagram-tourist-hotspot-neighbourhood-reality-for-residents/44522c73-395b-4a9f-b9c0-2576b190a9a9" target="_blank">says</a>. “One time I was changing after I got out of the shower and there was an elderly man taking a picture (of my windows) with an iPad.” Although her shutters were closed during that incident, she says she was still rattled by the experience. <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVdgciYg57-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/CVdgciYg57-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Rowena Nathan (@rowenanathan_)</a> </div> </blockquote> With the influx of visitors to one pale-pink house near where she lives, Johnston says the nearby residents have given up trying to keep them away. Instead, they’ve installed a donation box asking visitors for a donation to charity in exchange for a photo. As busy and inconvenient as it can be, Johnston says she tries to be sympathetic to travellers visiting her hometown and recalls how she loved doing the same thing while visiting the Marais in Paris. “I love to travel, so I have to be pretty understanding when people travel to where I live, and I feel lucky that it’s cool enough that people want to come where I live,” she says. Image: homesite_estate_agents

Travel Trouble

Booking data shows new hotspot that beats out iconic Aussie favourites

According to new booking data, a city is set to be the hot spot for Aussie and overseas tourists this year. Online travel agency Trip.com has revealed to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/australian-holidays/western-australia/early-booking-data-has-revealed-australias-new-hotspot-for-2020/news-story/7d7e52ada59c75ffcb998beb252e49c4">news.com.au</a> that bookings have already been made for travellers from January 1 to the 31st of December for this year to this one destination. It’s Perth. The West Australian capital has the most hotels pre-booked in 2020 by Australians, which puts it well ahead of usual favourites Sydney, the Gold Coast and Melbourne. <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6zvHzTob96/?utm_source=ig_embed&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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6zvHzTob96/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">‘Postcard perfection’ from @troy.a.sullivan taken on a recent #Rottnest adventure. The diversity of coral species, marine life and shipwrecks in the clear waters around #Rottnestisland make it a fascinating spot for #snorkelling 🐟🤿! Popular #beaches and #bays to snorkel include The Basin, Parakeet Bay, Parker Point, Little Salmon Bay and Little Armstrong Bay. 📷@troy.a.sullivan #justanotherdayinwa #westernaustralia #thisisWA #rotto #seeperth #indianocean #perthlife #rottnestislandwa #snorkelaustralia #snorkel #summerholidays</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/rottnestislandwa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Rottnest Island</a> (@rottnestislandwa) on Jan 1, 2020 at 11:10pm PST </div> </blockquote> Perth is also the number one spot for international visitors booking hotels in Australia. They’re heading to Perth, then Adelaide and then the Gold Coast, according to the data. One spot in particular is catching the attention of Aussies and overseas travellers alike, as there are some cute and cuddly animals on the island. Rottnest Island, home of the quokka, has tourists heading to Perth in droves. <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/B6g8Y8mIEjR/?utm_source=ig_embed&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/B6g8Y8mIEjR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Rottnest Island (@rottnestislandwa)</a> on Dec 25, 2019 at 4:00pm PST </div> </blockquote> “Perth has really come of age, we have a vast area of either brand new or refurbished hotels and are very competitive on price,” Destination Perth CEO Tracey Cinavas-Prosser said in a statement.

Domestic Travel

Why this Aussie summer hotspot is better to visit in the cooler months

Thousands of Australians head to Port Stephens for their annual summer break every year, and it’s easy to see why. This gorgeous corner of NSW’s pristine Hunter Region has some of the most idyllic scenery in the country, making it the perfect spot to surf, swim or simply sit back on the balcony and enjoy the warm summer breeze. There’s no shortage of reasons to visit Port Stephens in the summer. But if you’ve already been there and are looking to see a different side of this region, we’d recommend waiting a couple of months before booking your next trip. You avoid the crowds In summer, it can sometimes seem like every man and his dog has popped up in Port Stephens, jostling for the same accommodation, restaurant table and patch of sand at the beach. But this is a completely different story in the cooler months. Not only will the rates be better, but you won’t have to wait for a table, or in line at any of the region’s attractions, and it can seem like you have the whole beach to yourself. Still plenty of things to do And despite what the dispersal of tourists throughout the year might suggest, Port Stephens doesn’t simply close during the cooler months. There’s still plenty to see and do, and Port Stephens has a plethora of eateries, bars and cafés that are open all year round. The beaches are still great for walking, and the hikes are easier to manage. Oh, and if you’ve got a sweet tooth a visit to King Street Confectionary at Raymond Terrace is a must. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hOTag9jwkpY" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Whale watching But the jewel in the crown of Port Stephens during the cooler parts of the year is the whale watching. The great whale migration on the east coast of Australia makes Port Stephens the place to be for whale watchers, and with an 98,000-hectare marine park literally on your doorstep you relish your time in this hidden paradise. What are your thoughts? Have you been to Port Stephens?

International Travel

Another holiday hotspot is considering taxing tourists

One of the world's hottest and most expensive holiday destinations could soon become a little more expensive. Overwhelmed by a record number of visitors in spite of its far-flung location, Iceland's government is considering ways of raising taxes in the tourism sector. The alternative would be to limit sightseers' access to the country's most popular spots. "The sector and all of us have to be careful not to become victims of our own success," Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, Iceland's tourism minister, said in a recent interview in Reykjavik. A currency plunge and its location for scenes featuring in the popular TV series Game of Thrones helped create a tourism boom, with visitors' numbers growing exponentially - from 490,000 in 2010 to an estimated 2.3 million this year. That's a lot, considering Iceland's population totals less than 340,000. Tourism is now the country's main export, bringing in a forecast 45 percent of foreign exchange – or $5.1 billion (560 billion kronur) – in 2017, according to Islandsbanki, the country's second-largest lender. Still, Gylfadottir worries that overcrowding may ruin the experience for visitors and spoil natural treasures. Among the country's most popular destinations are Thingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Jokulsarlon, an otherworldly glacier lagoon on that island's southeastern coast now at the center of a legal dispute. The minister is calling on her partners in government and the tourism industry to be "brave." "Some areas are simply unable to facilitate 1 million visitors every year," she said. "If we allow more people into areas like that, we're losing what makes them special – unique pearls of nature that are a part of our image and of what we're selling." he coalition government is considering a number of options. They include forcing bus companies and tour operators into buying a special license or hiking the existing levy on hotel rooms. Ministry officials say the hotel tax generated 400 million kronur in revenue in 2016 and could bring in as much as 1.2 billion kronur this year. Iceland's previous government attempted and failed to pass a bill that would have required all visitors – Icelanders and foreigners – to purchase a "nature pass" priced at $14. Any tax hike would add to the already considerable bills tourists have to foot when visiting the country. A taxi ride from the airport to the city center costs around $150; while hotel rooms are as much as a third more expensive than comparable accommodation in other Nordic capitals and the price of alcoholic beverages is more than double the EU average, according to Islandsbanki. The ministry says proceeds of any new levy would be used to improve infrastructure and facilities. "When we talk about charging for access, to me that relates more to controlling the number of people entering particular areas - which we need to do," Gylfadottir said. "We also need to ensure that tourists that come here get a positive experience during their stay." Tourism officials are aware they can't push their luck. Since the start of the tourism boom, Iceland's currency has surged, making it an even more expensive destination than it already is. The recent lifting of capital controls, while bringing a degree of normalcy to the economy, has so far failed to reverse the trend. That in itself may be enough to curb foreigners' enthusiasm. Written by Omar Valdimarsson. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

International Travel

Unlikely locations that have become tourist hotspots

Thirty years ago, everyone would have thought you were crazy if you'd announced you were taking a holiday in Cambodia. As the Dead Kennedys sarcastically suggested, people would have checked you into a facility. No one wanted to go to Cambodia back in the 80s, and even for a good part of the 90s. The country was in the very early stages of recovery from the Pol Pot regime, a totalitarian dictatorship responsible for the slaughter of about 25 per cent of Cambodia's entire population. Doesn't exactly sound like a relaxing holiday destination. And yet today, Cambodia is a mainstream attraction. Your parents have not only stopped discouraging you from going there – they want to visit as well. Everyone wants to see the temples of Angkor around Siem Reap. They want to see the Killing Fields outside Phnom Penh. They want to hang out on the beach at Sihanoukville. It seemed unimaginable 30 years ago, but Cambodia is now a hugely popular tourism destination that relies on that industry to prop up its economy. You won't meet many backpackers who haven't been there. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36755/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (294)"/> This popularity is indicative of a fairly reliable phenomenon: today's warzone is tomorrow's tourist attraction. The places that seem like no-go zones today will eventually become the hot destinations of tomorrow. The progress is easy to track. First the conflict ends, then the backpackers arrive, and then as word gets out and the infrastructure improves, so the mainstream tourists begin to trickle in. Pretty soon you have a hugely popular destination. It happened to Cambodia, thanks to world-famous attractions like Angkor Wat, as well as the country's location, within striking distance of much of Asia and Australia, and its affordability. It also happened to Peru, one-time home of the Shining Path militant group, a no-go zone for all but the most intrepid explorers, which now receives more than 4.5 million overseas visitors a year. It happened to Vietnam, and Myanmar, and Korea, and Cuba, and Germany, and many other countries besides. What attracts tourists to these places? Is it the thrill of being able to visit a country that was once off limits? Is it the voyeurism of seeing a place you've only ever read about in the serious part of the newspaper? Is it the intrepid nature of being one of the first to arrive? It's probably all of those things for various people, but it could also be none of them. For many travellers the cessation of war is merely a chance to get in and explore a country they'd always wanted to see anyway. People would always want to see Machu Picchu, and Angkor Wat, and the temples of Bagan – the fact there used to be trouble around those sites is immaterial. It does make you wonder, though, where the next hotspots will be. What are the current centres of conflict that we'll all be visiting in 20 or 30 years? Iran is already on its way to becoming the next one. It will be a conventional destination before too long, provided the US' sanctions don't change things too drastically. The local people there are too friendly, the historical and religious sites too amazing, for this place to stay off the mainstream radar for too much longer. That's fairly predictable. Egypt, too, while going through a few issues at the moment, is sure to bounce back as a popular destination in the near future. Of the others, I would sincerely hope that Pakistan can begin attracting tourists in the next few decades. Afghanistan, too, could one day be a hub for those chasing a more intrepid adventure. Maybe we'll all be talking about going there in 20 years time. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36756/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (295)"/> Yemen has some truly amazing attractions that people will eventually be able to go back there to see. Even Iraq, you'd hope, will one day see an influx of tourists keen to explore the historical sites that still stand there. In fact of the current conflict zones, it's only really Syria and Somalia, sadly, that it seems difficult to imagine as tourist attractions of the near future. In the case of the latter, I'm not sure what would draw people to visit Somalia, even without the conflict. For Syria, so much has been destroyed, and the road to recovery seems so long, that it would be bizarre to think of it as a genuine tourist destination in the coming decade. Syria needs plenty of support, but that's probably not going to come in the form of mainstream tourism for a long time yet. Hopefully, however, one day the thought of a "holiday in Syria" will be the same as we now think of a holiday in Cambodia: a great idea. Until then, there's always Angkor Wat. Written by Ben Groundwater. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

International Travel

New York’s newest hotspots

Ah New York; the city so nice they named it twice. There’s a new hotel, bar, restaurant or store opening every week in the city that never sleeps. These are some of the best new hotspots to try on your next visit. Dine If you want to splash out, the place to do it is New York. With over 70 restaurants with Michelin stars, New York has options running the gamut from posh fine dining to casual cool. The Musket Room received its first star in 2014 after being open for only four months – an impressive feat. Chef Matt Lambert is from New Zealand and the menu focuses on our native cuisine with an Antipodean wine list to match. Another new arrival, Aska also earned its first star in 2014 and is an exercise in Scandinavian chic and sustainability from Swedish-born chef Fredrik Berselius. The kitchen team works with local farms, hand pick many of the ingredients and all animals on the menu are ethically raised. There are just 24 seats in the dining room (at the back of an art gallery in Williamsburg) so you’ll need to book well in advance. Wine Bars around Times Square have a reputation for being tacky tourist traps serving overpriced drinks. Bar 54 at the top of the newly opened Hyatt Times Square is hoping to change that. It is the highest lounge bar in Manhattan and has an open terrace looking over the square. The cocktail list features house-made syrups and locally distilled spirits in a huge range of delicious combinations. Shop Dover Street Market is an upscale fashion concept from Rei Kawakubo, the woman behind French label Commes des Garcons. The third branch of the store recently opened in New York and stretches across seven beautifully designed floors. It stocks everything from luxury labels like Yves Saint Laurent and Prada to Nike and up and coming designers. The store is a favourite of celebrities, so you could easily bump into a movie star perusing the $10,000 cashmere blazers. See The Whitney Museum is opening a huge new building in 2015 with more than 4,500 square metres of indoor gallery space. The building sits alongside The High Line, the famous converted railway line housing parks and cafes that runs through the city. A series of rooftops will become outdoor exhibition spaces overlooking the city and the Hudson River. Stay If you want to splurge, try the new Westhouse in Midtown Manhattan. It aims to blend the luxury hotel lifestyle with the residential comfort of a New York townhouse. Each of the rooms is designed to feel like a home – with a touch of art deco glamour. Guests pay a residents fee of around $45 per person per night (on top of the room rate) which includes breakfast, all drinks (including alcohol) in the two residents-only bars, in-room minibar, Wi-Fi and digital newspapers and magazines. You could happily spend the whole day in the hotel and never need to pull out your wallet. Rooms are priced from around $760 per night. Those on a budget should head to Queens and the Paper Factory Hotel where rates start from just $160 per night. It is a few minutes outside of Manhattan, but the subway station is right opposite the hotel and it’s only three stops to Fifth Avenue. The property opened in late 2013 inside a 100 year old paper factory and has 123 spacious rooms, a bar and restaurant, and a communal kitchen (if you want to save even more money). The décor is sleek, industrial and minimalist with high ceilings and huge windows overlooking the borough.

International Travel

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