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Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The most overcrowded tourist destinations in the world - with one European country taking the top spot
From the sandy beaches of the Bahamas, to the stunning landscapes in Iceland, it might not be surprising that such locations attract millions of tourists a year. Aside from visitors, locals impact how busy a destination may feel too, and in some cases tourists can exceed the residents. Go2Africa has ranked the 15 most crowded locations, and one European country sits at the top spot with a whopping 6,800,000 visits a year, compared to the tiny population of 882. The huge difference at Vatican City means locals are massively outnumbered by 7709.75 tourists to one. As the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City attracts many visitors for its religious and historical importance. Andorra, which is located between France and Spain, comes second with 9,600,000 tourists a year compared to its 81,938 local population. Known for its amazing ski spots, Andorra is home to the stunning mountains and is a popular destination for winter sports. So many people visit that there's 117.16 tourists per local annually. While San Marino, near north-central Italy, sees 2,000,000 travellers each year and is home to 33,581 people. San Marino has breath-taking scenery as well as plenty of historical monuments and buildings to attract visitors. The country sees 59.56 visitors per one resident each year. The Bahamas has a huge 11,220,000 influx of tourists on an annual basis, while 401,283 live there, placing it fourth. With clear blue waters and stunning beaches, tourists flock to the Bahamas on an annual basis to soak up the sun. Some 27.96 tourists dreamy Caribbean location per one local. At fifth, Saint Kitts and Nevis attracts 875,085 guests but has a population of 46,843 locals. The tropical Caribbean island was loved by Princess Diana and is known for its stunning beaches and lush landscapes, with 18.68 tourists per local. The top 15 most overcrowded destinations: 1. Vatican City Local population: 882 Tourists per year: 6,800,000 2. Andorra Local population: 81,938 Tourists per year: 9,600,000 3. San Marino Local population: 33,581 Tourists per year: 2,000,000 4. Bahamas Local population: 401,283 Tourists per year: 11,220,000 5. Saint Kitts and Nevis Local population: 46,843 Tourists per year: 875,085 6. Antigua and Barbuda Local population: 93,772 Tourists per year: 1,154,236 7. Bahrain Local population: 1,607,049 Tourists per year: 14,900,000 8. Monaco Local population: 38,956 Tourists per year: 340,000 9. Malta Local population: 563,443 Tourists per year: 3,563,618 10. Hong Kong Local population: 7,414,909 Tourists per year: 44,500,000 11. Iceland Local population: 393,396 Tourists per year: 2,287,341 12. Croatia Local population: 3,875,325 Tourists per year: 21,300,000 13. Barbados Local population: 282,467 Tourists per year: 1,520,740 14. Switzerland Local population: 8,921,981 Tourists per year: 42,800,000 15. Grenada Local population: 117,081 Tourists per year: 504,000
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Are All the Celebrities Suddenly Wearing Merch?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Last month, Pope Leo XIV stepped out in Vatican City in his white papal cassock and a black Chicago White Sox hat. The funny, relatable, unexpected moment put the cherry on top of a trend I had been noticing and trying to deconstruct for some time: merch is back in the cultural sphere. The reason why may not be so superficial. During awards season, Bad Bunny wore the same 'Saint Barth West Indies' tourist cap with almost every look—even on the red carpet. Around the same time, Jennifer Lawrence styled her red mesh flats with a Twilight Saga hat and Dua Lipa soaked up the sun in a swimsuit from her own Radical Optimism Tour merch shop. During the NBA Playoffs, Timothée Chalamet was the New York Knicks's No. 1 fan in a string of sporty fits that repped the team's logo and colors, while partner Kylie Jenner followed his lead and even proved she's the world's best girlfriend in Knicks-themed lingerie. Some weeks ago, Britney Spears debuted a surprise merch collab with Balenciaga, and Jay-Z stepped out in Paris wearing merch from wife Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour. Earlier this month, Anne Hathaway wore a pair of $1,395, jeans with a baseball cap from Bruce Springsteen's merch shop ($51), and Madonna stepped out in New York City wearing Spears's Balenciaga-designed merch. Book merch is also having a moment. Model Kaia Gerber has repped tees from New York City-based McNally Jackson Books, and her ex Austin Butler has stepped out carrying a tote from the same bookstore. When we think of merch, we often think of sports team logos or commercial merchandise advertising a movie, an album, or an artist. But there also exists a strain of political merch which, rather than expressing fandom, expresses personal political ideologies. This kind of statement clothing, from organizations supporting human rights—such as the Human Rights Campaign, March for the Movement, and CHNGE—has also been making the rounds over the past couple of years, amid the world's grim political tensions. Recently, Pedro Pascal made waves when he stepped out in a 'Protect the Dolls' shirt in support of the trans community—which he styled with a New York baseball cap featuring upside-down text. (Merch on merch.) Of course, celebrity stardom paired with statement-making merch makes for a walking billboard—in this case, one for a good cause. Traditional merch—like the Yankees hat every New Yorker has in their closet—has always been around, but it was really Virgil Abloh who pushed merch into the high fashion sphere when he designed the moody Yeezus tour shirts for Kanye West in 2013. Pop stars including Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber followed suit, tapping fashion brands to collaborate for their own tour merch, all which quickly sold out. With trends functioning as they do, merch went from irrelevant to incredibly stylish to overkill in just a few years, and in 2024, GQ declared it dead. But there's no shortage of celebrities in merch in 2025, and I think this time around, the moment is a bit different. Wearing merch these days isn't about getting our claws on the latest trend or tapping into a newfound nostalgia for our dads' decades-old wardrobes, but rather suggests a deep craving for community and personal identity. Celebrity stylist Alexandra Grandquist, who works alongside her sister, Mackenzie Grandquist, explains that repping a piece that champions a cause you support, a team you're a fan of, or a niche book shop you frequent adds an individualized touch to a look—and in a time of endless options, of course we're all hungry for a little more individuality. 'It's an identity that you're sharing. It shows people what you're interested in, kind of like a walking billboard—a conversation starter,' the stylist says. 'It's a good way to connect with people and show your interests without having to talk.' Unlike in the 2010s, the tour merch being worn now is affordable and easy to access, something which shows a desire—from the artists' part—to break down barriers and let people in. Something like Beyoncé's 'Levii's' T-shirt in collaboration with Levi's ($45) is subtle, but instantly adds that if-you-know-you-know element to any outfit. Similarly, Shakira's tour merch with Hard Rock Cafe ($26.60) has been in high demand as she continues her shows; some pieces don't even have her face printed on them, but if you're a Shakira fan and see someone wearing them, you can instantly relate. 'It's also more personal than just wearing a random T-shirt or a Gucci logo T-shirt, you know? It's a little bit cooler,' Alexandra says. The Grandquist sisters constantly source vintage sports teams and music group merch ('it's more faded, it has more character than most of the merch that they're making right now') for their clients, which include Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott. And wearing merch automatically makes your part of a specific community—which, in times of turmoil, is something we are all desperate for. 'People are craving authenticity and a real way to express what they're about,' Bryan Escareño, the creative director of Los Angeles-based brand Amor Prohibido, says. 'Merch, at its best isn't just a logo on a tee—it's a piece of a story, a wearable statement. It's like saying, 'This is what I connect with, this is part of my world.' In my work with Amor Prohibido, storytelling is everything—taking my experiences, our community's experiences, and molding them into art.' The same sense of belonging that comes with wearing entertainment-world merch also applies to merch from political candidates, humanitarian initiatives, and LGBTQIA+ organizations, all which have become increasingly visible in the United States during Donald Trump's divisive second term. Escareño, who recently released limited-edition merch collection with Dos Equis and American regional Mexican band Fuerza Regida, says, 'Merch is a powerful connector. It's a visual cue that says, 'I see you, you're part of my tribe.'' He adds, 'Merch fosters that sense of belonging, of sharing a perspective. I think there's a deeper hunger for genuine connection and self-expression. In a world that's so fast and often filtered, wearing merch is a tangible way to plant your flag and demonstrate what you stand for.' You Might Also Like 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine Solve the daily Crossword
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Pope Leo has first call with Palestinian chief Abbas
Pope Leo condemned the 'barbarity' of the war in Gaza yesterday and again called for a peaceful resolution. (Vatican media/AP pic) VATICAN CITY : Pope Leo spoke by phone today to the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmud Abbas, about the conflict in Gaza and violence in the West Bank, the Vatican said. It was the first official conversation between the two men since Leo's papacy began. 'The Holy Father repeated his appeal for international humanitarian law to be fully respected, emphasising in particular the obligation to protect civilians and sacred places, the prohibition of the indiscriminate use of force and of the forced transfer of the population,' the Vatican wrote. The pope emphasised 'the urgent need to provide assistance to those most vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict and to allow the adequate entry of humanitarian aid', it said. It followed a call on Friday between the pope and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after a strike by Israel on Gaza's only Catholic Church that killed three people. Yesterday, Leo condemned the 'barbarity' of the war in Gaza and again called for a peaceful resolution. The Holy See, which supports a two-state solution, formally recognised the state of Palestine through an agreement signed in 2015, one of the first states in Europe to do so. In 2014, Israeli and Palestinian presidents Shimon Peres and Abbas planted an olive tree alongside Pope Francis in the Vatican gardens.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Yellowstone star Josh Lucas marries meteorologist Brianna Ruffalo in Vatican City ceremony
Actor Josh Lucas and partner Brianna Ruffalo are officially hitched, just one year after getting engaged in Italy. The Yellowstone star and the US television meteorologist tied the knot on July 18 during a breathtaking wedding ceremony held in none other than Vatican City. 'Mr and Mrs,' Ruffalo wrote on Instagram, sharing a carousel of dreamy black-and-white images from the ceremony. 'Incredibly blessed to receive this sacrament together inside the heart of the Catholic Church and holy city.' Lucas, best known for playing the 'other guy' in Sweet Home Alabama, wore a classic black tux while Ruffalo stunned in a strapless lace gown. In the comments, he left a sweet note to his new bride: 'I love you. Easily one of the greatest days of my life. I am so so grateful.' Over on his own Instagram, the 54-year-old actor gave fans a behind-the-scenes peek at the nuptials, thanking everyone who helped pull it off. 'A huge thank you to deeply talented @caterinaerrani_photography and to @weddings_italy @paolo_nassi @JinaneKafrouny who helped make the dream of wedding in the #vatican come true,' he wrote alongside a candid shot of the couple walking the cobblestone streets of Vatican City. 'Many many people to thank for this to come.' Their wedding comes almost two years after the couple first met – and just over a year after getting engaged on another trip to Italy. 'Almost 2 years ago this fall, and with no expectations, Josh walked into my life,' Ruffalo shared at the time. 'And we knew almost immediately we had each found our person in a way we've never experienced – on every level.' 'This was the easiest and best question I've ever answered,' she added. 'So, here's to forever with my love, my best friend.'
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pope speaks against ‘forced' mass displacement of Gaza civilians
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo warned against the 'indiscriminate use of force' and the 'forced mass displacement' of people in the Gaza strip in a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, the Vatican said in a statement.
