Italy's Overtourism Campaign, Trump's Student Visa Rules and Ritz-Carlton's New Cruise Ship
On today's pod we look at Italy's push to expand tourists' bucket lists, Trump's student social media interrogations, and Ritz-Carlton's latest yacht.
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Good morning from Skift. It's Thursday, June 26. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Italy has launched a new national tourism campaign aimed at combating overtourism, writes Global Tourism and Experiences Reporter Jade Wilson.
The goal of the campaign — called '99% of Italy' — is to expose travelers to less popular parts of the country. About 70% of international travelers converge on just 1% of the country, according to Visit Italy.
CEO Ruben Santopietro said that, without a rebalanced approach, Venice could turn into a lifeless backdrop while Rome could become a parking lot for tour buses.
The campaign comes as tensions around overtourism rise across Europe. Residents in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Venice have called for tighter restrictions on short-term rentals and limits on cruise ship arrivals.
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Next, the U.S. State Department is requiring applicants for student visas to make all their social media accounts public for vetting, writes Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi.
Maharishi reports the requirement only pertains to those applying for student visas. The State Department recently said it would resume interviews for international students but with enhanced social media vetting.
The department stated student visa applicants have been required since 2019 to submit their social media accounts on application forms. However, applicants weren't required before to make their accounts public.
Finally, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is ramping up its presence at sea with the launch of a new ship in July, writes Hospitality Reporter Luke Martin.
The Ritz-Carlton said on Wednesday that its third vessel, Luminara, will debut in the Mediterranean before sailing past Africa and across the Indian Ocean. In addition, the brand's first Asia-Pacific cruises are set to begin in December as Luminara will embark on a slate of 19 voyages, including new ports for the Ritz-Carlton across Southeast and East Asia.
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