Stronger Dollar and Global Financial Concerns Cut Incentives for Tourists

End of the tourism boom?

U.S. cities enjoyed a tourism boom in recent years, thanks to the plunging value of the dollar. But as U.S. currency regains its strength and economies around the world falter, will U.S.

South Korea

Taxies designed for foreign tourists set to run in 2009

A taxi exclusively designed for foreign tourists will debut on the streets of Seoul in the first half of next year.

India

Government asks hotels to cut tariffs to beat decline in foreign tourist inflow

New Delhi - Amid the first signs of a slowdown in the foreign tourist arrivals in the country because of the global financial crisis, the Government on Wednesday asked hotels to cut down on their room

Australia

Weak dollar not enough to tempt tourists

Qantas has warned that foreign tourists fearful of the global economic slowdown have yet to be tempted to take advantage of the weak Australian dollar and visit the country.

Taiwan

Tourism bureau: Foreign tourist arrivals on rise

Although a violent incident might impact Chinese tourists' willingness to visit Taiwan, tourist arrivals from many parts of the world have been on the rise this year, Tourism Bureau Director-General J

Japan

Japanese hoteliers turn backs on foreign tourists

Japan's mission to boost the number of overseas visitors suffered a setback this week after hundreds of hoteliers and inn owners said they would turn away foreign guests.

US on sale

Mixed feelings as tourists spend cheap dollars

It didn't take an investigative reporter to discover that there are swarms of international tourists in San Francisco this summer.

It's Psych 101 - jealousy

New Yorkers envy free-spending foreign tourists

NEW YORK - Negin Farsad, a filmmaker and comedian, recalled a time not long ago when European friends would visit New York just to see her, and not, she said, to use her apartment as a "temporary lock

Japan

Government plans to poll foreign tourists in Kyoto

OSAKA - The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry in September likely will begin polling foreign tourists in Kyoto to get their opinions on sightseeing locations and find out common questions t

China

Chinese homes open their doors to Olympic tourists

BEIJING - For many of the tourists expected to descend on Beijing for next month's Olympics, an authentic Chinese home may be where the heart is.

Bhutan

Bhutan increases tourism tariff for foreign tourists

THIMPHU - Foreign tourists visiting picturesque Bhutan will have to shell out extra money from the next year, as the country will increase daily tariff for tourists entering the country by $50.

China

Official sources: Lhasa to reopen for foreign tourists

Beijing - More than three months after it was shut to the outside world following the worst anti-government protests in two decades, the Tibetan Capital Lhasa would soon be reopened for foreign tourists, local officials said.

Ecuador Goes Visa-Free

Ecuador to waive visa requirement for foreign tourists

QUITO - Ecuador will remove visa requirement for foreign tourists to enter the country, the Ecuador's presidency website said Wednesday.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa ordered to waive the visa requirement for foreigners who want to visit Ecuador from any country beginning on June 20, said the website.

Shop In Mexico Tax-Free

Mexico reimburses foreign tourists for sales tax expenditures

Sales tax rebates will be paid to foreign visitors beginning in June to enhance the experience of traveling to Mexico and make the country a destination of choice for international tourists.

The measure will go into effect once the Tax Administration Service (TAS), grants concessions to three companies to operate the program.

Kashmir

Omar suggests insurance cover for foreign tourists

SRINAGAR - National Conference President Omar Abdullah has suggested provision of an insurance cover to woo foreign tourists.

Travel advisories issued by different countries keep foreign tourists away by not only advising them against visiting the Valley but also rendering their insurance policies null and void if they do so, Abdullah ... read more

Cubans Can Finally Have It. That Is If They Can Afford It.

Cuba opens tourist hotels to citizens

HAVANA, Cuba - Cuba will allow its citizens to stay in hotels previously reserved for foreigners, the latest in a series of decisions to lift bans on goods and services that the average Cuban can't afford.

The prohibition on staying in foreigners-only hotels unnerved many Cubans, who complained that foreigners were being afforded rights ... read more

Weak U.S. Dollar Fuels Shopping Trips

Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness? Nah, just cheap shopping.

The weak dollar is luring overseas shoppers to the U.S., and the number of visitors to this country from foreign countries is the highest since 2001.

Tibet

Tibet a no-go zone as tourists hole up in hotels

For the few remaining foreigners in Tibet, most of Lhasa has become a no-go zone. Soldiers have filled the streets ahead of a deadline set by China for all demonstrators to turn themselves in by the end of Monday.

Malaysia

Tourist: I molested cop

Kuala Lumpur - A Vietnamese tourist got more than he bargained for when he patted the buttock of a policewoman on New Year's Day.

Vu Minh Vinh, 44, committed the offence while the 27-year-old police officer was standing in front of an outlet at KLCC in Jalan Ampang at 10pm on Jan 1.

The officer scolded him, showed her ... read more

India

Police to keep tabs on foreign tourists in Puri

PURI: Attention foreign tourists who plan to visit Puri. Next time you move out of this temple city, please make sure you tell cops of the places you plan to visit. The police have decided to keep a tab on the movement of foreign tourists to ensure their safety. The move comes in the wake of a German tourist getting roughed up by four young men ... read more