Political updates

Brazil: Police Drive Drug Gangs Out of Rio Favela, Restore Law and Order

Date: December 1st, 2010 |

Continuing a two-year effort to drive drug gangs out of the favelas overlooking Rio de Janeiro and establish police posts to restore the rule of law, police took control of a key neighborhood that sits near a highway that connects the city with the international airport. The assault had to happen because the drug gangs [read more]

Sri Lanka: Government to Legalize Gambling to Attract Foreign Tourists

Date: November 17th, 2010 |

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After almost three decades of civil war, Sri Lanka is looking for ways to attract more foreign tourists, and one option is to open its doors to casino development. Parliament recently passed legislation to legalize gambling and established a plan to designate special gambling zones where casinos and betting agencies could set up shop. The [read more]

Ecuador: Emergency Decree Extended in Quito

Date: October 20th, 2010 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Quito reported that the Ecuadorian government’s “state of exception” imposed on Sept. 30 following police protests has been extended to 60 days in Quito but lifted throughout the rest of the country. The emergency decree gives the military law enforcement authority in Quito. The Embassy’s announcement noted that Quito is listed [read more]

India: Touts Face New Penalties in Delhi; Goa’s Tourist Season Draws Hawkers; Ayodhya Court Decision Greeted with Calm

Date: October 6th, 2010 |

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A new law put in place in New Delhi Oct. 1 is designed to protect tourists from a scourge as old as India itself: touts. The Delhi Prevention of Touting and Malpractices against Tourists ordinance imposes a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of 10,000 rupees ($226). Anyone caught cheating [read more]

Bhutan: Restrictions on Tourist Numbers Easing

Date: September 22nd, 2010 |

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The Himalayan kingdom plans to more than triple the number of foreign tourists it allows to visit by 2012, permitting up to 100,000 visitors compared to the current limit of 30,000. Bhutan only began opening up to tourists in the 1970s and strictly limits tourist numbers to minimize erosion of its culture and traditions. The [read more]

India: Goa Police Enforce No-Smoking Ban

Date: November 23rd, 2010 |

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Police in Goa launched an anti-smoking campaign on the state’s popular beaches aimed both at second-hand tobacco smoke and drug users. They are targeting restaurants and beach shacks that offer the smoking of hookahs (water pipes) and insisting that the establishments post no smoking signs and remove ash trays from the premises. Restaurants that violate [read more]

Israel and the Palestinian Territories: New Rules Allow Israeli and Palestinian Tour Guides to Visit Bethlehem, Jerusalem

Date: November 10th, 2010 |

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In time for the Christmas holidays, authorities agreed to permit Israeli tour guides to accompany tours to Bethlehem and to allow Palestinian tour guides to accompany groups from the West Bank to Jerusalem. The plan authorized 200 Israeli guides and drivers to continue into the West Bank and 40 Palestinian guides to work in Israel. [read more]

Italy: Government to Impose Entry Fee for Visitors to Venice

Date: October 20th, 2010 |

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The Italian government is moving ahead with plans to impose an entry fee on all visitors to Venice who arrive by air, rail or cruise ship. The fee is likely to be insignificant, in the one euro range, but it will raise needed funds from the more than 20 million annual tourists to help restore [read more]

Portugal: Potential Lisbon Tourist Tax Won’t Break the Bank

Date: October 6th, 2010 |

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A modest proposal from Lisbon’s mayor could raise $18 million annually to promote the city’s tourism and cost visitors an amount they would never notice, but it is being fought by hoteliers. The plan calls for a tariff of 1 euro ($1.38) on arrival for all foreign tourists and an additional hotel tax of up [read more]

India: Commonwealth Games Threatened by Construction Delays, Security Issues

Date: September 22nd, 2010 |

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With the Commonwealth Games set for Oct. 3-13 in New Delhi, concerns are growing that the venue will not be ready and the events will be affected, possibly canceled. Many buildings remain unfinished and a footbridge built to connect the main stadium to a parking lot collapsed Sept. 21, injuring 23 workers, five of them [read more]

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