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Brazil: Rio’s Main Lagoon Overflows With Dead Fish

Date: March 19th, 2013 |

Heavy rains and rotting algae depleted the water-oxygen levels in Rio de Janeiro’s Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, filling the 2016 Olympic rowing venue—and site of countless postcard pictures—with thousands of dead, decomposing fish. During a two-day emergency cleanup process, workers hauled more than 71 tons of dead fish out of the lagoon, which is located [read more]

Mexico: President Rolls Out Plans to Restore Passenger Trains

Date: February 6th, 2013 |

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As early as 2014, travelers could be rolling across the Yucatan Peninsula by train, bypassing traffic-clogged, hazardous highways in air-conditioned comfort. As part of his Dec. 1 inaugural address, President Peña Nieto announced an ambitious, multibillion-dollar plan to rejuvenate and modernize the country’s rail system, including new passenger lines that would cater to tourists, and [read more]

Brazil: Street Mosaics Installed with Smartphone Codes

Date: January 30th, 2013 |

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Never mind the guidebook, tourist information is now available on the street in Rio de Janeiro—literally. Officials have incorporated Quick Response or “QR” codes—two-dimensional bar codes that can be read by a smartphone—into the traditional black-and-white pavement mosaics found around the city. After downloading the app, visitors can scan QR codes as they stroll, using [read more]

North Korea: Foreign Tourists Allowed to Keep Cell Phones

Date: January 23rd, 2013 |

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Authorities have always been quick to confiscate cell phones, smart phones, GPS units and tablets from foreign tourists at Pyongyang airport or at the border, and return them to their owners only upon departure. However, a foreign tour group recently reported being allowed to keep their cell phones, even using them within the country for [read more]

Sri Lanka: Military’s “War Tourism” Resort Dubbed Tasteless

Date: January 9th, 2013 |

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A human rights organization has criticized the military for promoting a luxury beach resort built on former killing fields, dubbing it “war tourism” and “tasteless.” Located on the north coast in Nanthi Kadal, where the final battles between the army and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) took place, the resort stands on the site where tens [read more]

Caribbean: Cash-Strapped Islands Offer Citizenship Bargains

Date: February 13th, 2013 |

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For travelers interested in a second passport or a resident visa in another country, cash-strapped islands such as Dominica or St. Kitts may offer the best bargains. In Dominica, for example, a foreigner can qualify for citizenship by investing $100,000 cash, while $250,000 will get you started in St. Kitts. Many other nations offer “investor [read more]

Puerto Rico: Medical Tourism on the Rise

Date: February 6th, 2013 |

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Thanks to its proximity to the U.S. and safe reputation, Puerto Rico is moving quickly up the hot list of “medical tourism” destinations. Patients from the U.S. can save 60 to 80 percent on medical costs, and since it is a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico’s doctors and medical facilities are held to the same licensing [read more]

Indonesia: Death Sentence for Drug-Smuggling Grandma

Date: January 23rd, 2013 |

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A British grandmother was sentenced to death Jan. 22 for smuggling cocaine into the tourist haven of Bali. Police arrested the 56-year-old woman at Denpasar airport in May, after finding more than 10 lbs. of cocaine—worth about $2.5 million—hidden in her luggage. The British government has decried the sentence as too harsh and a human [read more]

Italy: Vatican Attractions are Cash-Only For Now

Date: January 9th, 2013 |

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The Italian central bank has shut down electronic payments in the Vatican city-state as of Jan. 1, creating even longer lines than usual as tourists count out Euros—if they have them—for museum tickets and souvenirs. During a routine inspection, officials found that the electronic payment service provider for the Vatican had never obtained proper authorization, [read more]

Guatemala: Doomsday Tourists Damage Ancient Mayan Temple

Date: December 26th, 2012 |

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Tourists flocked to the ancient sites of the Maya to celebrate the Dec. 21 “end of the world,” as predicted by the Mayan calendar, bringing a much-needed economic boost to parts of Guatemala and Mexico. However, not all of the extra attention was helpful. When an estimated 7,000 apocalypse party-goers descended on Tikal, a UNESCO [read more]

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