VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Vatican is marking the 400th anniversary of St. Peter’s Basilica with a host of visitor-friendly initiatives, including expanding access to its spectacular terrace and its snack bar in the shadow of Michelangelo’s great dome. The Vatican outlined plans to make better use of St. Peter’s, while at the same time protecting its artistic treasures.
BEIJING (AP) – British and Canadian citizens can enter China without a visa, bringing to 79 the number of countries granted visa-free access in a bid to boost tourism and business. China has expanded eligibility for the program significantly in the last two years. Visitors can stay for up to 30 days for business, tourism, exchange programs and to visit family and friends.
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AP) – Flying in and out of Singapore, home to Southeast Asia’s busiest airport, will get slightly more expensive this year as the city state begins imposing a levy of between 75 cents to $32 per ticket to fund sustainable aviation fuel.
ROME (AP) – Italian police are investigating how one of Rome’s most beloved monuments, the elephant sculpture designed by Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, lost the tip of its left tusk – again.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Dubai International Airport maintained its crown as the world’s busiest airport last year as officials said Wednesday that a record 95.2 million passengers transited through its terminals, part of the emirate’s continued economic boom.
MADRID (AP) – Spain set a new tourism record in 2025 when it welcomed 96.8 million foreign visitors. The number of international visitors increased 3.2% compared to 2024, when there were 94 million tourists. Spain is one of the world’s most popular destinations, where tourism accounts for 12.6% of gross domestic product.
BERLIN (AP) – One-day strikes by unions representing pilots and cabin crew at Lufthansa caused a wave of flight cancelations Thursday at Germany’s biggest airline.
ROME (AP) – Tourists hoping to get close to the Trevi Fountain had to pay 2 euros ($2.35) starting Monday as the city of Rome inaugurated a new fee structure to help raise money and control crowds at the one of the world’s most celebrated waterworks.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – As record numbers of tourists descend upon Rio de Janeiro, many are looking beyond the city’s iconic landmarks, seeking instead local tours in the city’s favelas to learn more about the often-stigmatized territories that are also beacons of urban culture and art.
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