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Tag: tourist

  • Tourist dragged from police station, lynched, burned to death in Pakistan for blasphemy

    Tourist dragged from police station, lynched, burned to death in Pakistan for blasphemy

    In north-west Pakistan, a tourist was forced out of police station and killed by a mob after being accused of blasphemy.

    The incident occurred in the town of Madyan, Swat district, where the police had been attempting to protect the man from the large crowd that had gathered after he was accused of desecrating the Quran on Thursday.

    Lynchings are not uncommon in Pakistan following accusations of blasphemy, which can carry the death penalty. Last month, a Christian man was similarly attacked and killed after being accused of burning pages of the Quran.

    Video footage of this latest incident has sparked outrage on social media in Pakistan, showing the victim’s body being paraded through the streets before being set on fire. Police confirmed that the tourist was “torched” and reported that 11 people were injured, including eight officers.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sceECS9NhAY

    Malakand division’s regional police chief, Mohammad Ali Gandapur, accused a local mosque of inciting the mob after police had initially rescued the man, who was visiting the Swat Valley, a popular summer destination.

    Dr. Zahidullah, a police officer in the Swat region, told BBC Urdu that police made significant efforts to clear blocked roads and disperse the angry crowd on Thursday night.

    Authorities have opened a case against hundreds of people involved in the incident, some as young as 13, and have deployed additional security forces to the region.

    Hotels in the town, previously full, are now seeing tourists scrambling to leave.

    Violence fueled by religious accusations has increased in Pakistan since blasphemy was made a crime punishable by death in the 1980s, a law originally established under British rule in the 19th century. Even baseless accusations can provoke protests and mob violence against the alleged offenders.

    Human rights critics argue that minorities are often targeted by such accusations. Approximately 96% of Pakistan’s population is Muslim, and other countries like Iran, Brunei, and Mauritania also impose capital punishment for insulting religion.

  • Colombia outlaws prostitution in tourist-friendly neighbourhoods

    Colombia outlaws prostitution in tourist-friendly neighbourhoods

    The mayor of Colombia‘s second biggest city banned prostitution in some popular areas for six months to stop children from being sexually exploited.

    The Mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, said in a meeting with reporters that a rule will be put into action in the Provenza and El Poblado neighborhoods. These areas have a lot of popular bars and clubs and are visited by many tourists.

    The area is now popular with sex workers who are looking for clients from other countries. They walk around the streets to find them. The mayor said that bad people are taking young people to these neighborhoods and making them do sex work.

    “We need to take back control of this place,” Gutiérrez said. “We must also make sure to keep the community safe. ”

    In Colombia, it’s okay for adults to do sex work if they agree to it. Colombian laws allow city governments to temporarily stop this activity in certain parts of the city if it is considered dangerous for public safety.

    The Medellin prostitution ban was put in place because an American man was found with two local girls who were 12 and 13 years old in a hotel room. This was a big story in the local news.

    The 36-year-old was kept by the police for 12 hours, then let go while officials looked into the situation. The local newspapers said that he left Colombia and went to Florida.

    Gutiérrez asked Colombian authorities to investigate faster at Monday’s news conference.

    “He said it’s disappointing that so many people think they can do whatever they want in Medellín. ”

    Prostitution has increased in Medellín because more and more tourists are visiting the city for its nice weather, cheap prices, and fun parties.

    Some visitors are finding sex workers in the city’s streets or on dating apps, and some of these meetings have been dangerous.

    In January, the government warned people about the dangers of using dating apps in Medellin. This was because eight Americans had been killed there in the past two months.

    The warning said that bad people were using dating apps to trick people into going to hotels, restaurants, and bars where they were given drugs, taken away, or stolen from.

  • Joint govt and private sector investment targets 29 attraction sites for tourism boost

    Joint govt and private sector investment targets 29 attraction sites for tourism boost

    The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MoTAC) in collaboration with private sector stakeholders has finalized plans for an extensive investment in 29 tourist attraction sites to enhance the local tourism economy.

    This initiative, led by the Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited, is set to kick off this year, with several projects scheduled for completion in 2024. The government has allocated GH¢400 million for the redevelopment and construction of various tourist sites, aiming to draw two million arrivals and stimulate local tourism.

    Announcements regarding these developments were made during the Ghana Tourism Investments Summit 2023, themed “Tourism Investments; A Catalyst for National Development.” The Ghana Tourism Development Project (GTDP), funded by the World Bank, is designed to address infrastructural gaps in targeted destinations within Ghana as part of the broader Destination Ghana Project, positioning the country as the ‘Centre of The World.’

    Key projects in the Ghana Tourism Development Project (GTDP) include The Golf Resort (formerly Tema Country Golf Club), Assin Manso Slave River Site, Shai Hills Forest Reserve, Mole National Park, Kakum National Park, Keta Lagoon, Wli Waterfalls, Akwamu Gorge Project, and Paga Crocodile Pond.

    Additional sectors identified for further investment comprise Big Hotel Chains, Rest Stops, Amusement Parks, Eco Lodges, and Budget Hotels, as well as Restaurants, MICE Facilities, Beachfront Facilities, Transport Services, Aviation, Digital, and Tourism Platforms.

    Kwadwo Odame Antwi, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), highlighted the necessity of filling existing gaps in tourism infrastructure to amplify economic activities within the sector, despite previous government investments.

    “We have realized that there’re still gaps when it comes to infrastructure, and we need to reach the Minister’s target of 2million arrivals. For any businessman, the interest is his returns to his investments. We are making sure that we are not investing into just sites but profitable ventures,” he said.   

    Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister, MoTAC, said “tourism is a propeller of economic growth and with the requisite investments, Ghana could get more tourists arrivals that would experience our heritage, customs, culture and ecotourism.”   

    He said, “With two million tourists in 2024, we are getting $6 million if each tourists spend an average of $3, 000.” 

  • Army shoots dead killers of tourist and Ugandan guide

    Army shoots dead killers of tourist and Ugandan guide

    Soldiers from Uganda have successfully ended the lives of not less than 11 militants. These militants were responsible for killing two tourists and their tour guide at Queen Elizabeth National Park last month. This information was shared by a spokesperson from the army.

    A British man named David Barlow and his South African wife, Emmaretia Geyer, were killed while on their honeymoon when they were shot by a group called the Allied Democratic Forces.

    Ugandan tour guide Eric Alyai, who is survived by his wife and one-year-old child, was also killed in the attack.

    The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) quickly started a big operation to find the militants.

    According to UPDF spokesperson Lt Col Deo Akiiki, the people who carried out the attack on Tuesday night near Lake Edward, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, were shot and killed.

    Please understand, this individual was involved in the group that caused harm to the tourists. “We are still working to eliminate all the smaller groups associated with ADF,” he said.

    ADF is a rebel group connected to Islamic State. They are based in western Uganda, but they mostly do their activities in the eastern region of DR Congo.

    In June, fighters from ADF attacked a school in Uganda without warning and sadly, 41 children lost their lives.

  • Israelis on trial in Cyprus for raping British tourist

    Five men from Israel are being tried in Cyprus for sexually assaulting a 20-year-old British woman together.

    The supposed attack supposedly happened at a hotel in Ayia Napa, which is a well-liked place for tourists to visit.

    A crowded courtroom in a place called Famagusta, which is close to Ayia Napa, had many family members of the accused people present to show their support.

    The people being accused are 19 or 20 years old and are from a town called Majd al-Krum in Israel. They say the accusations are not true.

    During the meeting on Thursday, their attorneys expressed dissatisfaction that they had not yet been shown important evidence, such as the DNA report.

    Someone said that the report could prove that his two clients were not in the room when the alleged attack happened on September 3rd.

    The person in charge of enforcing laws for the government said that the test on the DNA would be finished by the end of today.

    After the meeting ended, the families of the defendants hurried to hug them. One of the men was clearly crying while hugging his mother.

    A previous lawmaker from Cyprus, Skevi Koukouma, went to the meeting along with members of a prominent women’s group called Pogo.

    Ms Koukouma said they were there to send a message that “people who have been hurt should feel comfortable telling their story and trust that others will believe them”. “She said there are other people with them. ”

    The trial will start again on 16 October.

    Israel’s foreign ministry first stated that six Israeli citizens were taken into custody for their suspected involvement in the attack.

  • British tourist murdered after vehicle slides into 20-meter-deep canyon in Montenegro

    British tourist murdered after vehicle slides into 20-meter-deep canyon in Montenegro

    On Tuesday, a bus in Montenegro went off the road and fell into a deep valley, causing the death of two people, including a person from Britain. Nine other people were also seriously hurt in the accident.

    The local police reported that a bus belonging to Papović Bus company fell off the main road and went down a 20-meter deep cliff around 12:10 pm local time.

    The bus with 30 people crashed into a barrier on the side of the road in Obzovica, in the hilly area of Cetinje. After crashing, it went forward for about 15 meters before breaking through the barrier.

    One person on the radio said, “I was listening to music and everything was fine. ” Then, out of nowhere, people started screaming and there was the noise of glass breaking.

    The police announced at 2pm on X, previously called Twitter, that two individuals passed away at the place.

    A newspaper in Montenegro called DAN said they talked about a British man who is 66 years old and a 19-year-old person from Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica.
    LB, who is 29 years old and from Ukraine, SK, who is 20 years old and from Podgorica, and NO, who is 25 years old and from Tivat, all experienced severe injuries and were quickly taken to the orthopaedic unit of a nearby hospital. Additionally, a 72-year-old individual named LDK also sustained serious injuries and was brought to the same hospital ward.

    AS, a 33-year-old person from Ukraine, is currently receiving medical care in the intensive care unit at the Clinical Center of Montenegro. JTK, who is from Britain, has been taken to the emergency department at the same hospital.

    At least 16 other passengers, who were tourists, got minor injuries. Some of them were a 25-year-old person from Britain, a 48-year-old person from Russia, a 38-year-old person from Japan, two people from Poland, and two people from Sweden.

    Only three people were not harmed in the accident.

    The police have accused a bus driver named NS, who is 36 years old and from Nikšić, of breaking the rules for driving safely on the road.

    The person who was driving says that they passed out while they were driving, according to the Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti.
    The person with a neurological condition got badly hurt and had to stay at the hospital’s neurosurgical department overnight in the city.

    Lawyer Anđa Radovanović wants the driver’s blood and pee to be checked for alcohol and drugs.

    The bus was driving its usual path to the village of Budva, which is about nine miles west of Obzovica. It was coming from the town of Cetinje when it had an accident.

    Pictures from the area showed several of the 42 rescue workers using tools to lift the bus out of the deep valley.

    A firefighter said that people from nearby towns assisted with the rescue operation.

    He said that it is hard to watch every accident.

  • Massive blaze burns through central Australia close to well-known tourist town

    Massive blaze burns through central Australia close to well-known tourist town

    In central Australia, a massive fire has been raging for over a week. Tennant Creek, a popular tourist destination, is rapidly approaching.The authorities are worried because the wind might change direction and put the people who live there in danger.

    Nicole Manison, who is currently leading the Northern Territory, announced a state of emergency for the entire Barkly government area. Later, some parts of the area, including Tennant Creek, were placed under a “watch and act” alert.

    A “watch and act” alert means there is a higher level of danger and people should start doing things to keep themselves and their families safe, as the situation is changing. The government of the area says residents should take action and be prepared.

    About 3,000 people live in Tennant Creek, which is a well-liked stop for travelers driving through the outback on the Stuart Highway between Alice Springs and Darwin.

    On Wednesday, the authorities said it would be the most important day for the town because the wind conditions are expected to change. The wind direction and speed may also change.

    By Wednesday evening, the fire had crossed the lines that were supposed to keep it contained, moving towards the northern and southern parts of the town. This information was given by Chief Fire Controller Tony Fuller in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Fuller mentioned that the fire was about 30 to 40 kilometers away from the actual town of Tennant Creek.

    There have been fires in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory since September 4. They have spread to an area of over 2 million hectares, which is about 20,000 square kilometers.

    There has been a lot of thick, black smoke in the area for several days because of a fire and the authorities trying to control it.

    The use of controlled fires will create more smoke in the Tennant Creek Town. The strong winds will probably calm down again at around 5 PM,” Manison wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

    Back burning is a way to stop a fire from spreading by starting a small fire near the main fire to use up its fuel.

    More workers came from South Australia to Tennant Creek on Wednesday, according to Fuller’s statement to ABC.

    According to James Gray-Spence, who is in charge of the police, fire, and emergency services in the Northern Territory, members of the Australian Defence Force were also present earlier on Wednesday. They were clearing paths to slow down the spreading of the fire.

    Gray-Spence said on ABC radio Alice Springs Wednesday morning that he believed they had control over the situation, but the final effects of the fire would depend on the weather.

    “I believe the main point here is that we feel very confident in the strategy,” stated Gray-Spence. “We just need to be patient and observe the weather to know what it will do. ”

    This happened a few weeks after a group called the Australasian Fire Authorities Council warned that there is a higher chance of bushfires happening in Australia, especially in the Northern Territory. They said this is mainly because of climate change.

    “We have had big fires before, but this one is the biggest one I have had to handle,” Fuller said to ABC on Sunday, when the fire covered over 9,300 square kilometers.

    Earlier this week, the weather bureau predicted that certain parts of the Northern Territory would have a high risk of fires.

    The state is going through a dry time, with temperatures in August higher than usual along with very little rainfall, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

  • US extends Nigerian tourists visa from 2 to 5years

    US extends Nigerian tourists visa from 2 to 5years

    The duration of Nigerian tourist and business visas has been increased from two to five years by the United States of America.

    On Monday, a press release by the US Consulate General stated that as of March 1, 2023, it will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians.

    Rauf Aregbesola, The Minister of Interior, said the decree was approved to implement the new Bilateral Consular Policy Agreements between the two governments.

    According to Aregbesola, the agreements include the reciprocity of five-year tourist visa validity for American Citizens under Section 30 of the Immigration Act, 2015 and; Extension of visa validity to three years for diplomats and government officials between the citizens of Nigeria and the United States of America.

    The US Consulate assured that the visa fee cost remains the same.

    The statement reads, “Effective March 1, 2023, the US Mission will increase visitor visa validity from 24 months to 60 months for Nigerians who want to enter the United States temporarily for business and tourism.

    “The visa validity extension allows Nigerians to use the visa for 60 months to make short trips to the United States for tourism or business purposes before renewing their visa. The visa application fee, currently USD160, will not increase due to the increased visa validity.”

    “Increasing visa validity is one of several initiatives the United States took to reduce visa appointment wait times in Nigeria.

    The US Mission continues to offer No-Interview Visa Renewals to those who meet the eligibility criteria.

    You may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview if your application is for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L, or C1/D (combined only) visa and you meet the criteria.

    “Please see our website at https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/ for further information.

    “Please note that processing times for the program are expected to be up to two months, and you will not be able to retrieve your passport during that time.

    Minors can apply without an interview only if they meet the eligibility criteria independently.”

  • Liberia to reopen airport and hotels in a fortnight

    Liberian President George Weah says the country has made enough progress against the coronavirus to allow the reopening of the international airport and hotels in two weeks’ time.

    A state of emergency which is due to end next Tuesday will not be renewed.

    To date, 345 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Liberia, with 30 deaths.

    Due to very low levels of testing, the full extent of the disease is uncertain.

    Correspondents say although schools have shut and an overnight curfew is in place, most people have carried on with their lives as normal during the state of emergency, with markets still busy and shops open.

    Source: bbc.com

  • French tourist killed taking selfie at Thai waterfall

    A French tourist has died after falling from a waterfall while trying to take a selfie in Thailand, police said Friday.

    The accident happened Thursday afternoon on the tropical island of Koh Samui, whose palm-fringed, white-sand beaches are a magnet for both backpackers and high-end tourists.

    The 33-year-old man fell from Na Mueang 2 waterfall, the same spot where a Spanish tourist died in a fall in July, Lieutenant Phuvadol Viriyavarangkul of the island’s tourist police told AFP.

    Read:Death sentence for Moroccan trio who killed European tourists

    “It took several hours to retrieve his body because the waterfall is slippery and steep,” he said by phone, adding that the spot is roped off and there is a sign warning tourists of the danger.

    “His friend said he was trying to take a selfie and then he slipped and fell.”

    Read:Greece storm: Six tourists die in Halkidiki

    Thailand is largely considered a safe destination for tourists and typically draws more than 35 million visitors each year.

    But the industry took a hit in 2018 after a ferry carrying Chinese visitors in the country’s south sank last year, killing 47 people.

    Read:Arrests made after two tourists beheaded in Morocco

    The accident highlighted lax safety rules in the tourism sector and authorities have been scrambling to restore the country’s image since.

    Source: France24