Afghanistan

Keeping Afghanistan's tourists safe

The lines between the Afghanistan at war and the Afghanistan at peace alter daily. Cities accessible by road today may only be reached by plane — or not at all — tomorrow.

Indonesia

Former rebels guide tourists in Aceh

As Indonesia's Aceh province recovers from the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, a new company there is hiring former guerrilla soldiers to use their skills for tourism.

Hong Kong Judge: Tips Are "Earnings"

Judge makes tips part of tour guides' salary

The Court of Appeal dismissed on Friday an appeal filed by Wing On Travel Service Limited against an earlier ruling that tips received by tour guides should be considered as part of their salary.

India

Kanha guides' strike hits tourists

NAGPUR: With trained wildlife guides in Kanha tiger reserve on strike it's the tourists who are bearing the brunt of inexperienced hands. Over 51 trained guides, affiliated to the Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Tiger Project Guide Sangh, Kanha, are on strike since May 1 demanding hike in remuneration from the existing Rs 150 to Rs 300.

South Africa

'Tjommies' help lost tourists

Tourists visiting Cape Town now have no excuse for getting lost thanks to the Cape Town tjommies, a unique project taking unemployed people and turning them into visitor guides.

The brainchild of non-profit organisation Men on the Side of the Road, the tjommies (Afrikaans slang for friend) are dressed in yellow bibs and red caps.

China

Chinese learn English to guide tourists during Olympics

BEIJING - When Zhi Lijiang first signed up to be an Olympic volunteer for the 2008 Beijing Games, she could hardly have imagined she would be playing the role of a Canadian tourist in English and etiquette classes.

The classes are all part of Beijing's effort to get its population to speak English to welcome the millions of foreigners ... read more