Mosquito-borne virus spreading in Caribbean

KINGSTON (AP) ― A mosquito-borne virus appears to be spreading quickly in the Caribbean during the winter tourism season just weeks after epidemiologists first found local transmission occurring in the French dependency of St. Martin.St. Martin now has as many as 200 cases of chikungunya, a virus found mainly in Africa and Asia that can cause a debilitating but rarely fatal sickness with fever, rash, fatigue and intense muscle and joint pain.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sa

Jan. 17, 2014

Health care key driver of tourism

The government has set an ambitious medical tourism goal of attracting 250,000 foreign patients and posting 450 billion won ($422 million) in revenue this year. Riding the rising popularity of Korean culture across Asia, the government will combine medical services with diverse tourism programs and products such as temple stays, traditional Korean medicines, skin care and K-pop concerts. It also will open a website as an online gateway to medical services available in Korean hospitals and clinic

Jan. 16, 2014

NYC Marriott claims tallest hotel in North America

NEW YORK (AP) ― A new Marriott in New York City is claiming to be the tallest single-use hotel building in North America. The Courtyard-Residence Inn Central Park is 228.6 meters high, according to Marriott spokeswoman Nina Herrera-Davila. The hotel opened Dec. 29 at 1717 Broadway at 54th Street. It’s 68 stories tall, with 378 rooms in the Courtyard hotel and 261 suites in the Residence Inn. The term single use means there are no private residences or offices in the building. Nightly rack rates

Jan. 10, 2014

Agoda.com recommends hot travel spots in Milan

Agoda.com, the hotel booking site of Priceline Group, announced a list of hot travel spots in Milan, as well as hotel suggestions for those planning a winter vacation there. Milan, the second-largest city in Italy next to Rome, is known as a cultural city and industrial and financial hub of the country. The country also is a desirable winter destination with cool winter weather, not terribly cold, for skiing. Some of the attractions for sightseeing include the UNESCO World Heritage Site Santa Ma

Jan. 10, 2014

Hana Tour donates $1 per tour package booking

Hana Tour is donating $1 per tourist to help the Philippines rebuild the region devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. The donation campaign saves $1 per tourist visiting the Philippines and expects to deliver the amount to the typhoon-struck region at the end of February. The tour agency also collects used clothes and daily necessities from customers and plans to send them to residents affected by the natural disaster. Those who wish to participate can send items to Hana Tour offices in Korea or deliver

Jan. 10, 2014

Air travel confusion with World Cup 5 months away

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Five months out from the World Cup, Brazilian authorities seem unsure about how to handle the crunch of international visitors, many of whom are expected to rely on air travel for the month-long tournament.The chief of staff for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said this week that a presidential decree was being considered to open more air routes to foreign carriers, partly aimed at keeping down soaring prices. The state-run tourism agency Embratur, which expects about 50

Jan. 10, 2014

World Cup hotels costlier than Olympics in Brazil

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Hotel rooms are expected to cost almost 50 percent more in Rio de Janeiro during the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament than when the city will host the 2016 Olympics, in part because organizer FIFA’s official accommodations agency hasn’t set maximum room rates like those promised in Rio’s winning bid for the Olympic Games.FIFA is working with the Swiss company MATCH Services as the official accommodations agency for the World Cup. MATCH signed contracts with the vast majority

Jan. 3, 2014

Gay Whistler Winter Pride 2014 kicks off on Jan. 26

The world’s popular annual gay and lesbian ski week will begin its 22nd run on Jan. 26 until Feb. 2 in Whistler, Canada. The Gay Whistler Winter Pride 2014 offers snow sports and pool parties exclusive for gays and lesbians. Participants will have fun joining a variety of snow activities such as snowshoeing, zip track and more. Other highlights include Mr. Gay Canada contest, a fashion show and the Snowball Dance ‘Till Dawn. “Whistler is the most welcomed by the LGBT community and offers close a

Jan. 3, 2014

KORAIL to open Lunar New Year ticket sales on Jan. 7

The Korea Railroad Corp. will launch train ticket sales for the Lunar New Year holiday from Jan. 7-10 on its website and at train stations nationwide. In an effort to prevent a ticket purchase rush, KORAIL will begin sales on different days for different routes. Sales will start with North Gyeongbu, North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang lines on Jan. 7 and 8, followed by Honam, Jeolla and Janghang lines on Jan. 9 and 10. Tickets will be sold from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the website on Jan. 7 and 9.

Jan. 3, 2014

Visa waiver expected to bring more Russian tourists

More Russians are expected to visit Korea under a new visa-waiver program that took effect on Jan. 1.The visa exemption program allows Russian travelers to Korea to stay for 60 days without a visa. A total of 160,639 Russians visited Korea from January to November last year. They accounted for 1.4 percent of the total foreign arrivals in Korea. “The number will certainly go up because Russians don’t have to go through the complex visa application process anymore. We expect it will definitely inc

Jan. 2, 2014

Vegas casinos draw tourists with holiday exhibits

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Las Vegas has mostly shelved its attempt to rebrand itself as a family-friendly wonderland. But there’s one exception: the dreaded holiday season, when visitor numbers crater and room vacancies soar.In an attempt to lure tourists, Las Vegas casinos are staging increasingly elaborate holiday events.The Bellagio has again transformed its conservatory into a faux winter wonderland featuring a 12.8-meter-tall Christmas tree, a life-sized candy house, a walk-through snow globe and to

Dec. 27, 2013

KTO suggests best sunrise spots in Korea

The Korea Tourism Organization has released a list of the best sunrise spots in each province in Korea. In Seoul, Seonyudo Park offers the great view of the sun rising amid the high-rise buildings. The park located in Yeongdeungpo is a small island on the Hangang River, well-connected to the city’s major public transportation. Surrounding the island are migratory birds staying there for the winter. In Daegu, Apsan Mountain is well-known as a sunrise spot. The mountain located in southern Daegu i

Dec. 27, 2013

Hyatt Regency Incheon wins Best Airport Hotel

Hyatt Regency Incheon has won the Best Airport Hotel award by the U.S. travel magazine Global Traveler for two consecutive years. The hotel has won the award in the Global Traveler Tested Awards that recognize leading travel services such as airports, hotels and airlines based on more than 22,000 votes made by business and luxury travelers. “It is a great honor to be awarded for two years in a row by this renowned world travel magazine,” said Paul Wright, general manager of Hyatt Regency Incheon

Dec. 27, 2013