MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Thirty passengers were evacuated from a cruise ship that ran aground on a reef in Fiji, the ship’s owner said Monday. The MV Fiji Princess, operated by Blue Lagoon Cruises, ran aground Saturday near Monuriki Island, scene of the 2000 movie starring Tom Hanks ” Cast Away,” the Fiji-based tourism company said in a statement.
Most travelers flying with United Airlines will now pay $10 more to check their luggage beginning on Friday, as rising jet fuel costs driven by the war in the Middle East pushes another major U.S. carrier to increase fees.
Global instability did little to slow the growth of international tourism in 2025. According to the UN Tourism Data Dashboard, the total number of international travellers last year stood at over 1.5 billion, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The question is no longer whether geopolitics makes us travel less, but how it reshapes tourist flows.
U.S. carrier JetBlue has raised its checked bag fees by as much as $9 as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supplies and increases fuel prices. The new fees took effect Monday. For most domestic economy passengers, the first checked bag now costs $39, up from $35.
BEIJING (AP) – China’s flag carrier resumed direct flights between Beijing and North Korea’s capital of Pyongyang on Monday not long after the restoration of passenger train services between the capitals.
HANALEI, Hawaii (AP) – A tourist helicopter crashed near a remote beach off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, killing three people and injuring two others, authorities said.The helicopter was carrying one pilot and four passengers when it crashed Thursday afternoon at Kalalau Beach, the Kauai Fire Department said.
VERIA, Greece (AP) – Each spring, a pink veil unfolds across the plains of Greece’s largest peach-producing region. The blossoming peach trees create a spectacular sight that attracts visitors every year, mostly from Greece but increasingly also from the rest of Europe.
ROME (AP) – A hidden cloister just a few steps from Rome’s Pantheon is a peaceful place for silent meditation – if the millions of tourists who trudge past even know it’s there. Behind the large wooden door, its frescoed walls closed to the general public reveal details of the compound’s dramatic history, including papal conclaves.
Those who watched the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics probably placed Italy high on their travel bucket lists. Global events frequently generate abrupt spikes in visitor demand. This is a boon for many tourism operators and business owners, but it often leads to short-term yet significant pressures on destinations.
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