Latest news with #FestivalandFringe
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How would a holiday lottery work? Simon Calder spins the travel roulette wheel
The old town of Dubrovnik has a spectacular location on the edge of the Adriatic, and a deep history. Churches and cottages line the cobbled streets and heavenly stairways, all wrapped in ancient walls. And on any day in summer, the place is overrun with tourists. Some are attracted by the sheer good looks of the Croatian city; others are lured by the Game of Thrones connection. The remainder were simply dropped off for the day by a cruise ship and are following (and augmenting) the crowd. Residents of other key tourism 'honeypots' across Europe, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Venice, say visitor numbers are unsustainable and are damaging the community, as well as the fabric, of the city. Glenn Fogel, chief executive of parent company, believes visitor numbers to key destinations could be limited by a combination of 'higher cost and lottery'. He told the BBC: 'Even though you may not be wealthy, you should still get a chance to visit some of those beautiful and great places in the world.' So how might such schemes work? These are the key questions and answers. Surely the easy (and lucrative) way to limit tourism is to raise prices? That is certainly a valid mechanism. Venice imposes a visitor levy on certain days, and there have been calls this week to increase the admission charge to €100 (£87). Meanwhile, authorities in Amsterdam are raising accommodation taxes. And in Edinburgh, which at this time of year is hosting the Festival and Fringe, hotel rates are so high that 'normal' tourists are staying away. Read more: Travel agents hit out at claim by boss that 'AI can find the best holiday for you' Justin Francis, chief executive of Responsible Travel, says: 'Price rises, tourism taxes, regulating accommodation – especially Airbnb – and 'demarketing' are ways to ensure limit numbers.' In the context of high fees, he cites the example of gorilla tracking in Africa, where permit prices can reach $1,500 (£1,130). Mr Francis says: 'Far from causing outcry, tourists view the handful of expensive permits as an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience. The experience has not been boycotted; permits regularly sell out. Better still, the forests remain intact, and gorilla numbers, which were once threatened, have increased substantially since the introduction of tourism.' But high prices can exclude less wealthy travellers from iconic locations, which many people believe that is unfair. In France, for example, many museums – including the Louvre in Paris – have designated days when admission is free. But when demand is unrelenting, using a lottery system has some appeal. Are lotteries currently used to manage tourism numbers anywhere? Yes. The principal that access to fragile locations should be decided randomly is used at a small scale to limit visitor numbers to US National Parks. For example, each year 450 permits are granted for rafting through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River. At a hikers' refuge in the National Park, Phantom Ranch, bed spaces are allocated by lottery 15 months in advance. Justin Francis, an advocate for accessible tourism, says lotteries are also used for cultural events in Japan and some Antarctic expeditions. Read more: Are online travel agents cleaning up their act? Could the principle be extended to entire cities? In a few specific cases, quite easily. Notable examples are cities such as Venice, surrounded by water, and the old town of Dubrovnik, with a big wall around it and limited access points. At present visitors arriving in Venice on 'permit days' have to present either ID proving they are a local or a worker, or evidence that they have paid the levy. That could be changed to proof that you have been successful in the lottery. But for large, sprawling cities such as London it would be utterly unmanageable – there will not be tourist checkpoints on the M25. However, key locations could operate with a quota system. For example, the royal parks have fences and gates that would allow for relatively easy control. How would a lottery actually work? Systems for allocating scarce resources through chance are already well-established for key sporting events, such as Wimbledon, the Olympics and the World Cup, so there should not be a problem with the technology. Applicants would go online and state their wish to visit on a particular day. At some appointed time, an electronic lottery would allocate the correct number of prizes – with lucky winners having a QR code to show at the gate. Residents and workers would need to show ID. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty. For a start, consider a family group of six. Would they all be able to apply together – or might some win and some lose? Individuals will doubtless try to game the system, for example by submitting multiple applications using different email addresses. Given the ability of sharks and touts to profit from excessive demand, however sophisticated a ticketing system may be, some permits coud be sold for inflated prices. While some locations in a few key cities are hopelessly overcrowded, inbound tourism in most places is rightly regarded as huge benefit – the closest that a city, county or nation can get to free money. Were parts of a country to start cordoning off areas and making tourism into something of a lottery, visitors may simply move to other nations. A highly localised case of overtourism could be alleviated, but at the cost of livelihoods for many in the tourism industry.
Scotsman
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
New insider guide to booking university rooms for the Edinburgh Festival launches online
The world-famous Edinburgh Festival and Fringe returns on 1 August but organisers have warned that soaring accommodation costs and holiday let restrictions could mean the event is facing 'grim' obstacles. The good news is that a new online guide has just launched revealing how festival-goers and performers can easily book bargain university rooms for August. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Many thousands of people are planning to visit Edinburgh's world-famous Festival and Fringe next month. However, available accommodation in August is reaching a crisis point, according to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, which is one of the events' organisers. The Society told the Scottish Parliament last year that the cost of accommodation faced by performers and companies trying to book in August has soared by up to 300% in the space of six years. It claims booking a one-bedroom flat in the capital for the entire Fringe can cost up to £9,000. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Society's fears are well-founded, says Johanna Jernberg, a leading tourism expert from 'Last year, ticket sales rose to over 2.61 million and event organisers claimed there was a shortfall of 25,000 guest nights to meet demand. The demand for accommodation in Scotland's capital rises every year. In 2024, Edinburgh had the third-highest number of guest nights in short-term holiday lets (such as Airbnbs) in the entire UK, at 3,016,130. Westfield university accommodation offers high-spec ensuite rooms as well as entire flats. A handy base to stay for the Edinburgh Fringe this August. 'Critically, it's during the Festival and Fringe events in August that the accommodation crisis peaks. Of the holiday-let guest nights recorded in Edinburgh last year 411,900 (13.6%) were in August. Fortunately, there is one solution to this soaring seasonal demand that is an amazing fit. Thousands of rooms actually stand empty in Edinburgh during August, just when they are most-needed. That's because many of the thousands of students who study in Edinburgh are home for the holidays in August. 'Now a new online guide has been launched by detailing how to find and book university accommodation in Edinburgh this August, and what are the best locations for festival visitors. 'The guide reveals: 'As every local and seasoned festival goer knows, cheap hotels in Edinburgh in August are about as mythical as the Loch Ness Monster – so we'll show you how to sneakily snag some student accommodation and bag yourself a bonnie bed for the night without forking out on astronomical accommodation.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'To stay as close to the centre as possible for the Festival and Fringe events, the guide lists a number of student residences across the city. Westfield: 'Tucked away in the tranquil Gorgie area, this accommodation was built in 2022 and offers high-spec ensuite rooms as well as entire flats – perfect if you head to Edinburgh with a group of mates. With free Wi-Fi throughout, it's easy to plan your next show or post pics to social media and the shared kitchen facilities give you the flexibility to make your own snacks in-between shows. Rooms are available from just £99 per night this August. Sugarhouse Close: Unite Students: 'Right in the thick of the action, Sugarhouse Close is hard to beat. Tucked just off the historic Royal Mile and a short stroll from Waverley Station, it's perfect for dashing between Fringe venues, catching late-night comedy or soaking up the festival buzz. A modern student residence, it has private ensuite rooms with access to shared kitchens or self-contained studios for those who like a little more space. Classic studio apartments are available from £219.24 per night this August. The University of Edinburgh: 'What could be better than waking up at Baird House at Pollock Halls, with the dramatic Arthur's Seat as your backdrop? With a large capacity of 2,000 single bedrooms on site, all with comfy beds, shared bathrooms, and a hearty Scottish breakfast included, this is a great go-to for last-minute Festival accommodation. An onsite shop, cash machine and free parking as well as Wi-Fi, communal areas and a 24-hour reception make this a perfect home from home in the summer months. Rooms are available from just £90 a night this August. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
