The Chinese authorities have approved the construction of a Disney theme park in Shanghai. “China is one of the most dynamic, exciting and important countries in the world, and this approval marks a very significant milestone for the Walt Disney Company in mainland China,” said Disney president and CEO, Robert Iger. Disney already has operations in Hong Kong, where its fifth resort was built in 2005. A 1.5 square mile block of land has been earmarked for the Shanghai project, but there will ... Read Full Story

Cyprus has opened an ultra-modern airport that it hopes will boost flagging tourism and revive prospects of it becoming a regional transport hub. The Cypriot President, Demetris Christofias, opened the new Larnaca terminal, built by a consortium of French and Cypriot companies, at a ceremony attended by 2,000 guests. “Today serves as a landmark in the history of tourism development and the island’s infrastructure in general,” said Christofias. “This work plays a significant role in upgradin... Read Full Story

It’s been reported here in the UK that Beyoncé Knowles booked a hotel room - just for her luggage! The diva was performing at the Liverpool Echo Arena, but stayed in Manchester in the lavish Charles Forte Presidential Suite at the Lowry Hotel at the rate of about £2,450 ($4,000) a night. But after struggling to find space for her 12 items of luggage, her minders rented another room, this time at Liverpool’s Malmaison hotel. A source there told the Press: “She had seven suitcases, three hand... Read Full Story

As well as being an historic event, the 20-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall earlier this month brought a welcome tourist boost to the city. More than two million visitors made their way to the German capital – a new record for the city. Hundreds of thousands of Berliners and guests took part in the celebrations at the iconic Brandenburg Gate. Around 2,800 international journalists were accredited for the event and images were broadcast around the world. The head of Berlin’s to... Read Full Story

A mock funeral was staged in Venice on Saturday with grim-faced residents escorting a red coffin on a gondola through the famous canals. The demonstration was designed to highlight Venice’s shrinking native population. The number has dropped from about 300,000 in the 1950s to some 60,000 today. The average age is 60. Newsweek magazine recently reported that by 2030 there might not be a single native Venetian left. There are a number of reasons for the decline. Rents and property prices h... Read Full Story

Artist Carl Warner has taken the London skyline and recreated it using 26 types of fruit and vegetables. Tourists will be very familiar with the real Houses of Parliament – these are made from asparagus, green beans and runner beans. Nelson’s column is represented by cucumber, baby courgettes, a carrot, monkey nuts and almond, while the London Eye has been built with green beans as its spokes and baby plum tomatoes as the pods. 30 St Mary Axe – better known to Londoners as ‘The Gherkin’ beca... Read Full Story

Last month, I reported that the Maldives cabinet had held a meeting under water to highlight the dangers of global warming. Clearly, this kind of green protest is beginning to catch on, because I see now that ministers in Nepal are to hold a meeting on Mount Everest later this month. The entire cabinet will travel to a base camp at an altitude of 17,585 feet to highlight the impact of global warming on the Himalayas ahead of December’s climate change talks in Copenhagen. The Forest Minister,... Read Full Story

The first centre in London dedicated to gay and lesbian tourists has had a successful first few weeks. The Gay Tourist Office is situated in the Soho area of central London to provide visitors with information aimed at the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) market. Visitors from the UK and overseas will be able to book tickets for London clubs and concerts, as well as restaurant tables, tours and accommodation. The centre’s director, Shaun Newport, said: “We want to show that Lond... Read Full Story

I wrote in April about a group of intrepid travellers who’d ventured into Iraq on an organised tour. Now the Iraqi authorities are making a concerted effort to market the country as an up-and-coming tourist destination. A delegation has come to London this week to attend the travel industry’s showcase event of the year, the World Travel Market (WTM) exhibition. It will be the first time Iraq has attended such a gathering for more than ten years. WTM chair Fiona Jeffery said that in the past, ... Read Full Story

As an excuse for a delayed flight, it took some beating – a mouse was loose in the cabin. Nearly 150 passengers on the Delta Airlines Boeing 767 from JFK New York to London Heathrow last Sunday were transferred to another plane after the mouse was spotted. Airport officials told them that the stowaway could create a safety hazard by chewing through electrical wire and hydraulic lines. Amazingly, Delta confirmed that the same plane on the same scheduled flight had been evacuated three weeks ... Read Full Story