Category: Europe

Even during the most depressing of times, there can often emerge a bright piece of news. In Venice, one of the world’s greatest tourist spots, marine life has come back to attract the crowd. Swans, dolphins and plenty of fish are seen again in the Venetian canals, much to the delight of the local people. With the advent of the corona virus, there are hardly any tourists in Italy and the same can be said about Venice, known for its canals. Tourists often take gondola rides down these canals, but with the country under a lock down there are hardly ... Read more

If you are currently in France, stepping out of your place of stay will become an inconvenient affair. Tourists and even French citizens will be required to fill out a form online each time they venture outside. For example, they may have to write “Stepping out to buy groceries” or “going to the park” every time they feel the need to go out. If that is not followed a fine of Euro 38 will follow. French president Emmanuel Macron has said that people would have to stay home as much as possible, unless they have to shop for food, go ... Read more

German car maker Volkswagen has said it will temporarily shut down most of its European plants in light following the corona virus pandemic. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chief Executive Herbert Diess said the company would shut down production at factories operated by the group’s brands “in the near future,” with most European plants set to suspend work for at least two weeks. Production at Volkswagen plants in Spain, Slovakia and Italy would all be halted before the end of the week, Diess added. The decision to shut the plants come shortly after the world’s largest carmaker by sales, warned ... Read more

Norwegian Air will suspend almost all ts flights and temporarily lay off majority of its staff, as a the corona virus scare has choked the demand for air travel. The carrier has said that it will cancel 85% of its flight and lay off 90% of its staff that translates into 7,300 employees. “What our industry is now facing is unprecedented and critical as we are approaching a scenario where most of our airplanes will be temporarily grounded,” Norwegian Air said in a statement. The company will primarily fly a reduced schedule domestically in Norway and between the Nordic capitals. ... Read more

India has prohibited all airlines from carrying passengers from the European Union and the European Free Trade Association member states. The blanket ban will come into effect from March 18 from 5.30 pm onwards. “Travel advisories have been tightened as a preventive measure,” said health ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal. An order by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said, “No airline shall board a passenger from these nations from March 18. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure.” The European Free Trade Association states include Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. United Kingdom and Turkey ... Read more

There goes your European vacation. The European Union (EU) has banned non-essential entry of all foreign nationals into the continent for at least a month. The stern measure follows the corona virus pandemic, that is beginning to hurt almost all countries in Europe. Only residents, family members, healthcare works and medical experts will be exempt from the rule. The ban has been imposed for the next 30 days, as an initial measure. EU has also announced plans to set up fast green lanes on major roads to give priority to transport of medical goods, food and other emergency services. Ursula ... Read more

A Shaman healer has introduced a pioneering programme at Six Senses Douro Valley, Portugal, revealing ancient secrets to ‘hack the human DNA’ to prevent disease and increase longevity. Dr Alberto Villoldo’sGrow a New Body programme runs from November 03 to 10 at the five-star luxury resort. It combines the ancient wisdom of Shamanic healers with latest advances in neuroscience, medicine and nutrition. A world-renowned psychologist, anthropologist and shamanic healer, Dr Villoldo was the youngest clinical professor at San Francisco State University. He later spent 25 years studying shamanic healing practices in the Amazon and Andes before founding the world-renowned Four Winds ... Read more

Nazaré beach, with its mild climate and natural beauty, has one of the most ancient traditions connected to fishing in Portugal. The long sandy half-moon shaped beach, which is also the town’s sea front, is known for its grandeur and for the brightly-coloured awnings that decorate the white sandy beaches, contrasting with the blue of the water. A typical fishing town, Nazaré is nowadays a busy summer resort, where side by side with the crowds of tourists, one still sees all over the streets of the town the fish-sellers, and the carapaus (horse mackerel) laid out to dry. The Sítio ... Read more

Switzerland is the heaven of tourists. From glaciers to mountain peaks, this tiny country has a tot to offer.

Portugal is a country of strong wine tradition, and the excellent quality of its wines is recognized across the world, with numerous awards and distinctions won in international competitions. And to appreciate and know them, nothing like visiting the regions where they are produced, and wine is an excellent excuse to also discover the landscapes, heritage, culture and the people who live here. The country offers excellent opportunities for wine tourism, often associated with rural tourism and boutique hotels in prime locations. Besides the wines, you can also enjoy other farm-produced products, such as fruits and jams, cheeses, olive oils, ... Read more

Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and the hub of a multifaceted area that appeals to different tastes and senses. Lisbon’s temperate climate, sunny weather, green space, lifestyle pace, history, culture, architecture, culinary reputation, as well as its comparably low cost of living and its status as a relatively uncrowded tourist destination, were some of the factors that went into Lisbon receiving this accolade. In a city that has been influenced by many different far-off cultures over time, there is still a village feel in each historic neighbourhood. Stroll through the Pombaline grid of streets in the Baixa district that opens on ... Read more

The Madeira Carnival in Portugal officially begins on the Friday before Lent (February 26, 2019) and ends on Shrove Tuesday (March 10, 2019), with the whole island being caught up in the intense and contagious liveliness. The Carnival festival in Madeira is one of the region’s liveliest festivals. Funchal city wakes up on the Friday morning to the sound of brass bands and carnival parades bringing their good humour to the whole of the downtown area, which is then continued at night with concerts and shows in the Praça do Município for five consecutive days. On Saturday night, it’s time ... Read more

Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany Bavaria in Germany is famous for its beer and the October Fest in Munich. But, there are unexplored places hidden in the Bavarian landscape. This week, Tourism News Live is taking you to a small, picturesque, and historical town in Bavaria. Famous for its salt mines, Berchtesgaden is located within a small territory surrounded on three sides by the Austrian border. Berchtesgaden Salt Mine The Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, which has been in continuous operation since 1517, is 500 year old now. The visitor train takes you below the earth’s surface, 650 metres deep into the mountain. The ... Read more

While the heated discussion are going on in favour of and against Brexit, the Independent predicts loss of around 700,000 tourism jobs across Europe, once Brexit become reality. As per estimations by The World Travel & Tourism Council, the UK would lose 308,000, while 399,000 positions in other parts of Europe would be in danger. Gloria Guevara, the president and chief executive of the WTTC, whose members include chief executives from around the world, said: “The UK is the fifth largest travel and tourism economy in the world. Given its importance to the UK economy it is now clear that a ... Read more

Tourist inflow has been in a growth track for Turkey during 2018, as per data released by the tourism ministry. Around 40 million foreign tourists visited Turkey during the year, depicting an increase of 21 per cent when compared to the previous year. Photo courtesy: Clueless Compass The Turkish tourism industry has been recovering from the wave of terror attacks in 2015 and 2016, which seriously shattered the sector. The total number of tourists visited turkey during 2018 was 46 million, including the foreign tourists counting around 40 million. The last major terror attack to hit Turkey was during New ... Read more