Latest news with #tourismindustry
The Guardian
19-07-2025
- The Guardian
Death on the sand: fish and animal carcasses rot on Adelaide shores amid toxic algal bloom
Across South Australia, thousands of animals from close to 400 different species have washed up on the shore, from leafy seadragons, octopuses and shellfish to rays, eels, crabs and more. As senior reporter Tory Shepherd explains, it's due to a 'harmful algal bloom', or HAB, caused by Karenia mikimotoi. It's not toxic to humans, but people are being told not to eat the sick or dead fish, and to keep their dogs away or on leashes. Some oyster and mussel producers have been closed as a precaution, while the tourism industry is suffering and beachgoers are horrified
Zawya
11-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Morocco records 18% rise in H1 tourists
A surge in investments ahead of the 2030 FIFA world cup games coupled with tourism promotion campaigns boosted the number of tourists visiting Morocco by nearly 19 percent in the first half of 2025. In a statement published on Thursday, the ministry of tourism said Morocco welcomed 8.9 million tourists in the first half of 2025, representing an additional 1.4 million tourists compared to the same period last year. The ministry said this number confirms Morocco's position as a top travel destination, maintaining an upward trend. The month of June contributed to the achievement with 1.7 million arrivals, an 11 percent increase compared to last year. This year's June is the best recorded to date, the statement said, noting that the news marks a positive start to the summer season. 'These results confirm Morocco's attractiveness and our ability to draw an increasing number of tourists,' Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said. She noted that the second half of this year focuses on top priorities like strengthening air connectivity and accelerating the development of accommodation and entertainment offerings to meet the expectations of an increasingly demanding clientele. Morocco has been strengthening its position in the sector by breaking records and welcoming millions of tourists throughout the year and across all seasons. The North African country recorded the arrival of 17.4 million tourists last year, representing a 20 percent increase compared to 2023. Morocco averaged $3.5 billion in FDI annually across all sectors, UN Tourism said, stressing that the country is now Africa's most-visited nation, surpassing Egypt. (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Skift
09-07-2025
- Business
- Skift
Tourist Arrivals to U.S. Drop Again – Now Just 80% of 2019 Levels
The U.S. inbound tourism recovery is stalling, not strengthening. June's roughly 3% year-over-year decline masks the real story: overseas arrivals remain stuck at just 80% of 2019 levels, six years after the pandemic. U.S. government data for June shows continued weakness in the number of international visitors to the U.S. amid broader economic and geopolitical turbulence. Visits to the U.S. from overseas fell 3.4% year-over-year, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by the National Travel and Tourism Office. Roughly half of the top 20 countries generating tourists from overseas saw year-over-year declines in visitation. The UK, the top generator (besides Canada and Mexico), saw a 1.1% decl
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourists are trickling into Afghanistan and the Taliban government is eager to welcome them
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — By plane, motorbike, camper van and even on bicycles, tourists are beginning to discover Afghanistan, with solo travelers and tour groups gradually venturing into a country that until recently was wracked by war. And the country's Taliban government, which seized power more than three years ago but has yet to be formally recognized by any other nation, is more than happy to welcome them. 'The Afghan people are warm and welcoming and wish to host tourists from other countries and engage with them,' Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press in an early June interview. 'Tourism brings many benefits to a country. We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them.' A potentially lucrative industry Tourism is a vital, multi-billion-dollar industry for many countries. Afghanistan's isolation on the international stage, largely because of the Taliban's restrictions on women and girls, has left much of its 41 million people mired in poverty. As it struggles to attract foreign investment, the lucrative potential of tourism is far from lost on the government. 'We are currently earning a considerable amount of revenue from this industry, and we are hopeful it will grow even more in the future,' Jamal said, noting money spent by visitors can reach more layers of society than revenue from other industries. 'We are optimistic this sector will evolve into a large economy, bringing significant benefits. It plays an important role in strengthening our national economy.' Trickle rather than a flood Tourist visas are quick and easy to obtain and flights from major transit hubs such as Dubai and Istanbul operate several times a week. The government has even set up a training institute for men — and it is only for men — seeking jobs in the hospitality and tourism sector. While visitor numbers are still very much a trickle rather than a flood, they are increasing. Nearly 9,000 foreign tourists visited Afghanistan last year, while nearly 3,000 people visited in the first three months of this year, Jamal said. Four decades of near-continuous conflict kept nearly all vacationers away from this landlocked country of towering mountains, deep gorges and millennia of history. The Taliban's takeover from a U.S.-backed government in August 2021 stunned the world and sent thousands of Afghans fleeing. But with the insurgency over, the bloodshed from frequent bombings and suicide attacks all but ended too. Attacks still occur, however. An Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan remains active and gunmen killed six people, including three Spanish tourists, in a May 2024 attack in Bamiyan, one of the country's main tourist attractions where centuries-old giant Buddhas carved into the cliffs were blown up by the Taliban in 2001. While Western countries still advise against travel to Afghanistan, a drop in violence from the two decades of U.S.-led military presence is indisputable, as the government is keen to point out. 'Afghanistan has gone through many years of war and hardship. Now, we want tourists to come and see the true traditions and customs of Afghans, to understand Afghan life, creativity and resilience,' Jamal said, noting there was 'comprehensive security across Afghanistan.' An ethical dilemma Critics question the ethics of foreigners visiting Afghanistan for pleasure when its government discriminates so heavily against half the country's population. Education beyond primary school level is banned for girls and women and few professions are open to them. Women cannot enter parks, gardens or gyms. Beauty salons are forbidden. Authorities dictate how women dress and have demanded they cover their faces in public, a decree still flouted by many, particularly in Kabul. Some visitors say they contemplated the ethics, but ultimately wanted to see the situation for themselves. French-Peruvian Illary Gomez said she and her British partner, James Liddiard, debated for about a year whether to drive through Afghanistan as part of their U.K.-to-Japan camper van journey. 'Some things didn't feel morally right,' she said. But once here, they said they found a warm, hospitable and welcoming people and beautiful landscapes. They didn't feel their presence was any form of support for the Taliban. By traveling, 'you put money in the hands of the people, not the government,' Liddiard said. Building bridges The treatment of women is particularly sensitive for government officials. Jamal declined to comment on the subject beyond saying male and female visitors were welcome. 'Those who respect our laws and traditions have already come and can continue to come,' he said. While most restrictions are strictly enforced on Afghan women, they are far more relaxed for foreigners. Although they must still wear a headscarf in public, foreign women are more likely to gain entry into some restricted areas such as parks and are rarely asked to cover their faces in public. Opening the country to foreign visitors was also a way of building bridges, Jamal said. 'It is a great way to promote interaction between the people of different countries. It helps build international relations and is also beneficial for trade,' he told the AP. 'When foreigners come here, Afghans also learn a lot from them. In addition to expanding commerce, tourism also helps foster mutual understanding, cultural exchange and strengthens talents as people learn from one another.' A foreign traveler seeing the country with his own eyes 'creates closeness, builds connections and fosters trust among people,' Jamal said. 'They will respect each other's culture and the distance between peoples will diminish. 'So this is not just economic development; it also brings spiritual and political benefits,' he said.
CNA
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
North Korea unveils new beach resort for 20,000 guests
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