Europe’s Overtourism Is Out of Control – Destinations are Fighting Back

Business, Europe, Travel

Europe leads the world in overtouristed destinations. Old Town Dubrovnik consistently ranks among the worst, with a 27:1 tourist-to-local-resident ratio during peak times. Others high on the list include Amsterdam, Venice, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Mallorca, Malta and some of the Greek islands, all struggling with a deluge of sightseers and day-trippers. Reasons include lower-cost airlines and cruise vacations, a surge in affordable rental properties on Airbnb and Vrbo, and the rise of “revenge travel” after the pandemic. Successful marketing measures have quickly outpaced existing tourism infrastructure, leaving planners far behind in managing crowds.
Destinations are fighting back with measures such as cruise ship taxes, entry fees for day-trippers, limiting hotel growth, and caps on property rentals.

SECRETS OF AUSTRIA’S SALT ROAD

Culture, Europe, History, Travel

High above Salzburg’s Alstadt (Old Town), the stark, impregnable, 11th-century stronghold of Fortress Hohensalzburg looms over a city long ruled by mighty prince-archbishops—Catholic prelates who wielded both spiritual authority and secular power within the Holy Roman Empire, which lasted from 800 to 1806. Below, amid glittering domes and ornate courtyards, visitors stream through the Salzburg…

Visit New York Where America’s First Major Battles for Independence Were Waged

America, Europe, History, North America, Travel

The British Army was on the move and the American militia was scattered across the New York countryside. What followed were nights of courage and defiance that helped shape the outcome of the Revolution. Through midnight rides, strategic river control, and decisive battles from Long Island and Fort Ticonderoga to Saratoga, New York emerged as a true battleground that determined America’s fate. Join writer Mark Orwoll as he traces the battles, landscapes, and forgotten heroes that made New York the linchpin of America’s fight for independence.

Where the Wild Bears Are

Asia, Central & South America, Europe, North America, Travel

For wildlife enthusiasts and travelers keen to explore the globe, there are incredible bear-viewing destinations on every continent except Australia — sorry, koalas are marsupials, not bears–– and Africa, where Atlas bears were hunted to extinction by the late 18th century. Whether it’s watching sloth bears snuffle through termite mounds in India or spotting the rare spectacled bear in the Andes, the world offers no shortage of unforgettable bear encounters. Alaska may be the gold standard for seeing bears in the wild. Thanks to its sprawling wilderness and salmon-choked rivers, the state has a population of more than 130,000 brown and black bears.

Inside Turkey’s Olive Oil Revival

Business, Europe, Middle East, Travel

By Barbara Noe Kennedy In a beautifully restored olive oil mill in Urla—on Turkey’s Aegean coast, west of Ephesus and its now-crowded ancient streets—oleologist Pelin Omuroğlu swirls a golden-green liquid in a blue, tulip-shaped glass, its color concealed, its character revealed through scent and texture alone. “Smell first,” Omuroğlu instructs. “Then slurp—pull in air through…