Amsterdam is making a major push to rid the city of its reputation as a hub for excess. The Dutch government’s latest proposals are aimed at curbing bad tourist behavior, particularly around drugs, alcohol, and sex. The measures include limiting the number of river cruises, introducing earlier closing times for bars, clubs, and window brothels, as well as banning cannabis smoking in certain parts of the city.

In recent years, Amsterdam has experienced an influx of foreign tourists drawn by its reputation as a party city. This has led to numerous problems with excessive drinking, drug use, and prostitution. The Netherlands’ Ministry of Tourism recently released an official statement outlining their plan to make Amsterdam more ‘civilised’:

The statement read: “The number one challenge facing our beloved capital is how to make it an attractive destination that people can enjoy without having to worry about things like drugs and alcohol abuse or inappropriate behavior. We want to ensure visitors feel welcome, safe, and respected when visiting our wonderful city.”

To achieve this goal, the ministry plans to implement several measures to reduce bad tourist behavior. These include introducing strict guidelines on river cruises in order to keep them from becoming too rowdy; implementing earlier closing times for bars, clubs, and window brothels; and banning cannabis smoking in certain areas of the city altogether. Additionally, local authorities will work with police forces to patrol areas known for misbehavior more actively.

The government also aims to create more opportunities for locals who live near tourist attractions so that they don’t have to suffer from overcrowding due to large numbers of visitors. For example, they plan on creating special business zones where locals can set up shops or eateries in order to take advantage of tourism traffic without having their neighborhoods taken over by it.

It remains unclear if these initiatives will be enough to rid Amsterdam of its rowdy reputation among tourists but it is clear that the Dutch government is taking steps towards achieving this goal.

Hundreds of tourists, including some families with small children, were left stranded in the remote Andean settlement of Machu Picchu after protests sparked by the ongoing political crisis in Peru blocked their way to Bolivia. The protests have been happening for more than 72 hours, leaving tourists stranded and unable to carry on with their plans.

Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located deep in the Peruvian Andes, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. It was also once home to the ancient Incan civilization and has become Peru’s most popular tourist destination.

The protests began when President Martin Vizcarra dissolved Congress and called for early elections earlier this month. This move sparked widespread unrest across the country and led to massive demonstrations, roadblocks, and strikes in various cities and towns, causing major transport disruptions and completely halting travel between Machu Picchu and Bolivia.

Tourists visiting Machu Picchu report being stuck there since Monday morning due to local people blocking off roads leading out of Machu Picchu to prevent transportation from occurring until the demonstrations end. Additionally, many areas around Peru are without electricity or phone signal due to power lines being cut down by protesters.

For those already stranded in Machu Picchu, hotels are providing extra food supplies while some restaurants remain open despite challenges posed by lack of access to basic needs such as water or electricity during these times. Additionally, some hotels are also offering free accommodation for those who got stuck there overnight or longer due to circumstances beyond their control although not all establishments can offer such services right now, given the current situation.

The Peruvian government has so far failed to address any safety concerns caused by these protests but authorities insist that measures taken over recent days will help ensure peaceful demonstrations going forward. However, it remains unclear how long it will take before peace is fully restored and travelers can start moving freely again throughout Peru without fear of disruption or danger along their way.

Driving down a canopy-covered road in northern Florida yesterday, I spotted a sign at a Methodist church that indicated an “Alternative Christmas Market” was being held. The parking lot was filled with cars, and it looked like a good opportunity to pick up some interesting presents.  The very thought that I would actually have any shopping done prior to the absolute last minute was a source of peculiar pride. The word “alternative” suggested to me that I would be able to find some most unusual gifts, something never before seen under a Christmas tree by any of the people on my list this year.

Indeed.

As I walked through the doors of the church, I saw immediately that I had misunderstood the nature of an “alternative” Christmas.  Read the rest of this entry »

The world’s largest freestanding cylindrical aquarium dramatically burst in the lobby of Berlin’s Radisson Blu hotel on Friday, releasing an estimated 265,000 gallons of water onto the floor below. Many of the fish that resided in the tank – officially known as Aquadom – were swept away by the cascading flood.

Located in Berlin’s Mitte district and boasting a height of 22 meters (72 feet), Aquadom is one of Germany’s most popular attractions, with more than 5 million visitors annually. The aquarium was also recently featured in Hollywood films such as Mission Impossible: Fallout and Ocean’s 8. With over 2,600 fish from 150 species on display inside its walls, Aquadom was home to some truly remarkable aquatic creatures – including rare species like the Red-tailed Black Shark and Arowana Fish. Almost all of the fish were lost in the event.

The exact cause of the incident is still being determined; however, officials have suggested that a major plumbing issue may have been at fault or some type of “material fatigue.” The incident occurred during peak business hours when many members of staff were present, in addition to several visitors who had come to admire Aquadom’s unique underwater vista. Miraculously, no serious injuries were reported though it remains unclear how much financial damage has been done given the size of the aquarium containing countless expensive artifacts such as statues, decorations, and other artwork – all submerged beneath deep water. The cost of repair will be significant.

As the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico continues to welcome more and more visitors each year, the government of Quintana Roo has taken a step towards ensuring the safety of these tourists who come to admire its spectacular cenotes. Cenotes are natural pits or sinkholes resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. These fascinating geological formations have been an integral part of Mayan culture since ancient times, used as both water sources and sacrificial offerings. The “Ruta de los Cenotes” (Route of the Cenotes) is easily accessible from  Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Both organized tours and self-drive explorations are popular attractions among tourists visiting the Yucatán.

In order to protect these sites, Quintana Roo’s government has announced plans to regulate cenote tours and activities heading into 2023 more strictly. These measures include limits on how many people can enter and swim in each cenote at any given time, as well as restrictions on what kind of objects can be brought in. However, one of the most noteworthy rules is that visitors must always book their cenote tour with a qualified guide who will provide information about the local ecology and ensure everyone follows all regulations for swimming safely in these unique environments. Tour operators are required to obtain authorization from the Secretary of Environment before offering a tour with access to cenotes.

These new regulations come as a response to increasing concerns about overcrowding at some of Mexico’s most popular cenotes, where inexperienced swimmers often find themselves in dangerous situations or fail to respect local wildlife and vegetation. The goal is to keep everyone safe and also to help preserve these incredible sites for future generations by limiting human impact and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

The new rules come into effect in 2023, giving tour operators time to be added to the government’s list of approved guides and to adjust their services accordingly. In addition, tour guides will have access to special training courses offered by environmental authorities so they can better understand how best to manage groups while navigating this delicate ecosystem responsibly.

By regulating cenote tours near Cancun and other locations throughout Quintana Roo state, officials hope both locals and tourists alike will enjoy greater protection during their visits while also reducing negative impacts on this unique natural resource over time.

Here’s the biggest surprise from my trip to Antarctica last week: A sedentary senior citizen from New York can have a lot of fun in the icy wilderness.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect when I signed up for the Swan Hellenic fam trip on the brand-new SH Vega expedition ship, headed to Antarctica. As the departure date drew nearer, I did consider that it might be a crazy idea. I’ve never climbed a mountain. I’ve rarely hiked. The ultimate goal of my daily exercise is 4,000 steps, mainly achieved by walking around my house.

In anticipation of wave season, Emerald Cruises will expand its ‘Explore the Extraordinary’ campaign into the new year. This campaign, which runs from December 16, 2022 to March 31, 2023, offers sizable savings on a variety of 2023 and 2024 river cruises, along with a new menu of bonus offers available when guests pay in full.

At the USTOA Annual Conference and Marketplace in Austin in late November, I had the good fortune of running into Scott Nisbet, the CEO of the Globus Family of Brands.

As head of one of the most global of all tour operators, Scott Nisbet is a good person to talk to for reading what is happening in the global travel industry. The Globus Family of brands includes Globus escorted tours, Cosmos budget priced tours, Monograms independent tour packages, and Avalon Waterways river cruises. It’s about as broad a selection of travel products as is offered by any company anywhere. Based in Lugano, Switzerland, the company’s reach spreads around the world and touches every aspect of the travel business that is part of a tour, and that’s practically everything. The company offers programs on six continents and sixty-five countries.

The holidays are upon us, and it’s excellent news that bookings are up. But it’s not going to be a Merry Christmas if you don’t prepare your clients for the new realities of this winter’s cruises now that we’re facing the triple whammy of COVID, flu, and RSV.

Upon first glance of every image available, Singapore is a city of the future. Contoured skyscrapers and artful glass domes stand over coastal waters. Once a quaint fishing village, Singapore has become one of the leading shipping and banking centers of the world as well as a leader in technological advances. It is a land of modern silicon valleys and a mixed culture with people from all over the East—creating a rich heritage of cultures and sights for the traveler to experience.

“Talk is cheap.” No truer words have ever been spoken.

Most people have a tendency to tell people what they think they want to hear, regardless of what they are planning to do later.

If you want to distance yourself from the rank-and-file, this is one of the easiest ways to do it. Do what you say you are going to do. If you are not going to do it, don’t say it. If you say it, do it.

It’s that time of the year!  After a year of “full steam ahead” it is time to take a breather! Unfortunately, in our industry there is this idea that there is no such thing as time off. I say BS! And I am going to do just that! Read the rest of this entry »

’Tis the season to be charitable—but across the spectrum of the travel industry, giving back is a year-long mission. All the major cruise lines, tour operators, consortia and franchise organizations have ongoing programs to support destinations around the world in good times and bad. Even at the travel advisor level, many have taken it upon themselves to find ways to support their local communities.

Riviera River Cruises has announced that its 2024 European river cruise departures are now on sale, with 10% savings and free beverage packages for new bookings made through Feb. 28, 2023. A total of 14 itineraries with 301 departures, including seven cruises exclusively for solo travelers, are available between March and November 2024 in destinations including France, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Portugal and more. For additional information about Riviera River Cruises and its European river cruise itineraries, call 888-838-8820 or visit https://www.rivierarivercruises.com/.

One of the reasons many attendees consider the USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace the best travel conference of the year is because the tour operator members send their top people to the conference. It creates opportunities for unparalleled access to the heaviest movers and shakers of the tour industry. Because the tour segment connects and aggregates the products of all the other segments of the travel industry, the USTOA conference is a central connecting point for the entire global travel industry.

Let’s delve into a few best practices and a few legal issues that confront travel agency newsletter publishers. Many of the best practices pertain to any email marketing, but they are worthwhile repeating to keep you and your agency in good standing both with your clients and with some important third parties!

Best Practices

When formatting your newsletter, try to avoid complicated CSS style sheets. Many email readers, notably Outlook 7.0 are not kind to CSS and will play havoc with the appearance and layout of your newsletter. Have your designer use simple “in-line” html tags instead. Read the rest of this entry »

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s time for the charter yacht sector to move beyond its old base of Sea Dog do-it-yourselfers and reach out to all those travelers looking for a great, unique, private, easy seven-day all-inclusive vacation for as little as $1,500. Read the rest of this entry »

Just when it seemed that most major cruise lines had weathered the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the bankruptcy of Genting Group’s Crystal Cruises at the start of 2022 sent shockwaves across the industry.

Luckily for loyal Crystal guests and cruise industry supporters, the majority of Crystal Cruises’ nine luxury ships found other homes within a few short months. As the year draws toward a close, this list provides the latest standings of Crystal’s ocean, river, and yacht vessels. Read the rest of this entry »

If you have been paying attention these past couple of years, you already know that not everybody you meet is a trusting, honest, and well-meaning soul. In fact, there are a number of people who feel it is their role in life to take advantage of others. They are good at fooling you. They actually enjoy being deceitful, and their only concern is “what’s in it for me?” Be cautious of who you trust. Don’t let your guard down too quickly.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. I have heard that for decades. And I disagree vehemently.  Small stuff has a way of becoming big stuff; if you are not watching it, you can be in trouble. Don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control is a better option for me. Read the rest of this entry »