Another European city battles overtourism
Locals report that the historic area now resembles a theme park, with essential food shops being replaced by souvenir and snack stalls.
The Vivre à Montmartre association has proposed measures such as limiting tour groups to 25 people, banning loudspeakers, and increasing the tourist tax.
Concerns also include rising real estate prices, up 19 per cent in a decade, with the mayor of the 18th arrondissement advocating for stricter controls on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb.
Paris tourism reached 48.7 million visitors in 2024, with Montmartre receiving around 11 million annually, and a further 20 per cent rise in bookings is anticipated for 2025.
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North Korea's opened its doors to Russian tourists. So... how was their holiday?
Why you can trust Sky News The world's most secretive state is a mystery for billions of people - but not Anastasiya Samsonova. She has returned from a week's holiday in North Korea. "We saw nothing terrible there, there is no danger there," the 33-year-old HR manager tells me. "Frankly speaking, we really liked it." She was part of a group of 15 Russian tourists who were the first foreign visitors to a new seaside resort, which was opened to great fanfare by North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in June. Her holiday snaps show a white sand beach, shimmering seas and high-rise hotels. But something's missing - people. There are rows of sun loungers, but not a soul sitting on them. A glittering banquet hall that's devoid of diners. That's because, when it comes to international tourists, the Wonsan-Kalma resort is currently only open to Russians. "The hotel was absolutely new," Anastasiya enthuses, unfussed by the absence of others. "Everything was done very beautifully, a good interior ... very developed infrastructure." But why not Turkey? Or Thailand? I gently suggest that people in Britain might be shocked at the idea of a summer break in a country better known for famines and forced labour than parasols and pina coladas. "We were interested in seeing how people live there," Anastasiya explains. "There were a lot of prejudices about what you can and can't do in North Korea, how you can behave. But actually, we felt absolutely free." Anastasiya is one of a growing number of Russians who are choosing to visit their reclusive neighbour as the two allies continue to forge closer ties following the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. Last year, North Korean troops supplied military support in Russia's Kursk region, and now there is economic cooperation too. North Korean produce, including apples and beer, has started appearing on supermarket shelves in Russia's far east. And last month, Moscow launched direct passenger flights to Pyongyang for the first time in decades. But can this hermit nation really become a holiday hotspot? The Moscow office of the Vostok Intur travel agency believes so. The company runs twice-weekly tours there, and I'm being given the hard sell. "North Korea is an amazing country, unlike any other in the world," director Irina Kobeleva gushes, before listing some unusual highlights. "It is a country where you will not see any advertising on the streets. And it is very clean - even the asphalt is washed." She shows me the brochures, which present a glossy paradise. There are images of towering monuments, pristine golf greens and immaculate ski slopes. But again, no people. Ms Kobeleva insists the company's tours are increasingly popular, with 400 bookings a month. "Our tourists are mostly older people who want to return to the USSR," she says, "because there is a feeling that the real North Korea is very similar to what was once in the Soviet Union. "But at the same time, there is a huge growing demand among young people." Sure enough, while we're chatting, two customers walk in to book trips. The first is Pavel, a young blogger who likes to "collect" countries. North Korea will be number 89. "The country has opened its doors to us, so I'm taking this chance," he tells me when I ask why he wants to go. For pensioner Tatiana, the reason is sentimental. "My husband wanted to go there, but now he's gone. So I want his wish to come true," she says. It'll certainly cost them. One week's trip that takes in Pyongyang, a circus and the new beach resort, costs roughly £1,500 without flights.
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Daily Mail
5 hours ago
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Residents fume over gondola that would bring 1,700 visitors a day to luxury enclave: 'We're not Disneyland'
A controversial gondola ride has turned residents against a local developer who they say is exploiting historic lands for tourism greed. A proposal to build a tramway called Kamananui along Mount Ka'ala, a landmark of cultural meaning to the community of Oahu in Hawaii, was first proposed by Kaukonoahua Ranch in March 2019. The project also includes a zipline and trails for hiking and biking. Kaukonoahua Ranch estimated that the business would bring in around 1,700 visitors a day. Locals recently gathered for a rally to showcase their refusal to accept the development into their hometown. The proposal argued that the land would be used for agribusiness facilities to help preserve the land; however, locals have rejected the notion. A community group called Keep the North Shore Country is rallying to stop the project, advocating against the development down the historic mountainside. 'There are many problems with this project, besides that fact that few people want a major tourist attraction on the dangerous, narrow Kaukonahua Rd, or mechanized joy rides up the side of Mt. Kaala,' the group stated on their website. 'Rather than admit that the primary purpose of this project is to generate money from tourist attractions, the developer is exploiting zoning laws by calling the project an agribusiness operation.' A proposal to construct a gondola ride and zipline along Mount Ka'ala in the background of Kualoa Ranch (pictured) received intense backlash from locals (file photo) Protestors gathered to showcase opposition for the development, arguing that they don't want tourists coming into their cultural lands The proposal details plans for hiking and biking trails, a gondola, a zipline, and a cattle ranch Residents have frequently protested the effort and shown their opposition to the gondola at community meetings. At a protest this week resident Kathleen Pahinui told local CBS affiliate, Hawaii News Now, that visitors should go elsewhere for tourist attractions. 'We're not Disneyland. We're not a theme park. There are places in this world where you can go to do those kinds of things,' she said. 'This is Hawaii. We are not a theme park and we shouldn't be treated like a theme park.' Racquel Achiu echoed a similar sentiment, telling the outlet: 'We're tired of people coming in, buying up lands, and then telling us what we need and what would be right. 'They're not of this place. They don't even live here. They know nothing about our culture or our history and know nothing about what our community is, but yet want to hugely impact it.' Denise Antolini told Hawaii News Now that building a theme park over sacred Hawaiian lands was 'a complete desecration'. A petition was launched to stop the developer from continuing to pursue the land for agritourism. Residents have protested the development, claiming it will interfere with the cultural significance of Mount Ka'ala. Protesters are seen above this week Community members advocated against the development in a town meeting 'I'm supporting this cause because protecting Kaala (Mount Kaala) is essential for preserving not only the land but the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Native Hawaiian community,' one comment on the petition read. 'This mountain holds deep significance, and it's crucial that we stand together to ensure it's respected and protected for future generations.' 'All my life this mountain and its beauty is all I know.. Untouched and Preserved,' another agreed. Kaukonoahua Ranch proposed the project for agricultural use, stating the intention is 'To expand existing agriculture with comprehensive agroforestry, conservation areas (native tree reforestation), valley agriculture (including some traditional crops) and cattle ranching, while enhancing the property with educational, cultural and agricultural tourism.' The proposal added that recreational activities, including trails, the tramway, and the zipline, would support the agricultural uses of the property. The ranch's general manager, Mark Taylor, told Hawaii News Now that the agribusiness project is working to meet the requirements of the Conditional Use Permit for agricultural use. Kaukonoahua submitted edits to the permit to reduce the scale of the project and is awaiting a decision from the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting. 'We remain committed to being good community stewards for Kaukonahua Ranch,' Taylor said in a statement to the outlet. The proposal detailed plans for recreational activities, a tramway, and a zipline as part of an agribusiness project The proposal depicted a mock setup of what the top of the gondola ride would look like and how it would operate The proposal also detailed heritage crops to support the development's agricultural mission. Critics claimed that the developers called the project agritourism to evade backlash 'We continue to focus on enhancing our cattle ranching and crop-growing operations, the reforestation of native trees, and creating an agricultural-based model that is in keeping with the rural qualities, unique country feeling, and agricultural history of the north shore.' 'We look forward to sharing the latest details of our project with the community and how it will support the future of Kaukonahua Ranch, create more local jobs, and foster community partnerships and opportunities.' Daily Mail reached out to Kaukonahua Ranch for additional comment on the business proposal.
