Latest Travel & Tourism News

Outdoor dining tables and beachfront seating at Gigi Rigolatto, Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Turkish Travel & Tourism News

Gigi Rigolatto reopens at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum

Pilgrims gather around the Kaaba at Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the Umrah pilgrimage, with the Abraj Al Bait Clock Tower in the background.

Tours

New Umrah visa guide aims to make Saudi pilgrimage planning easier

Frontier Airlines aircraft taxiing on a runway under a blue sky, featuring the airline’s signature animal tail design.

Aviation

Frontier launches 8 new routes after Spirit exits key US markets

Aerial view of Mamula Island by Banyan Tree at the entrance to Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, showing the restored 19th century fortress surrounded by the Adriatic Sea and mountain landscape.

Accommodation

Remote 19th century fortress in Kotor Bay restored into luxury sanctuary by Banyan Tree, and its first resort in Europe

TransNusa Airbus A320 aircraft in flight with blue sky and airline branding.

Aviation

TransNusa launches Jakarta to Bangkok flights and opens Bali to Wakatobi route

Travel influencer taking a selfie in front of Istanbul's Maiden's Tower on the Bosphorus during golden hour.

Technology

How Social Media Trends Are Influencing Travel Decisions in Istanbul in 2026

Aerial view of TRYP by Wyndham Didim hotel at sunset, overlooking the Aegean coast with illuminated outdoor terraces and waterfront surroundings.

Accommodation

Wyndham opens 96-room TRYP by Wyndham Didim

Colorful tulip display along an Amsterdam canal with historic canal houses, houseboats, and spring trees under a blue sky.

Tours

Amsterdam plans 20% tourist tax in overtourism crackdown

Gallery of restored and abandoned historic stone buildings in Borgo della Cunziria, Sicily, shown on a heritage project website.

MICE

Sicily’s restored Cunziria borgo reopens with 12 buildings

SunExpress Boeing 737-800 aircraft flying over clouds and sea

Aviation

SunExpress Boosts Summer Flights as Demand for Türkiye Picks Up

Turkish Travel & Tourism News

Türkiye balloon tourism passes 6.9 million passengers

Panoramic summer view of Ullswater from Gowbarrow Fell in England's Lake District, with green hills, a blue lake, and scattered clouds.

Rail

Cumbria Travel Pass Opens Lake District to Unlimited Travel

Floating pool and striped sun loungers at The Lake Como EDITION overlooking Lake Como and the surrounding mountains in Italy.

Tours

Italy tops Europe summer travel bookings with 51.2% online rate

Turkish Travel & Tourism News

Ercan Airport B plan targets international flights in 2027

Person holding a smartphone displaying a TikTok fitness video while sitting on a yoga mat with workout equipment nearby.

Technology

From Views to Bookings: How TikTok Algorithms Are Shaping the Future of Luxury Travel in 2026

New Hotel Openings

New Orlando Hotel Brings Two IHG Brands Together Near Epic Universe

Modern lakeside hotel overlooking Lake Tōya in Hokkaido with contemporary architecture and scenic mountain views.

Dusit Collection debuts in Japan with the opening of a lakeside retreat in Hokkaido

Lobby lounge at Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort overlooking the Andaman Sea through floor-to-ceiling windows with contemporary tropical design.

Hilton Debuts New Beachfront Resort in Langkawi, Malaysia

Aerial twilight view of HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, a restored Meiji-era prison transformed into a luxury heritage hotel in Nara, Japan.

HOSHINOYA Nara Prison Opens as Luxury Hotel in Historic Landmark

Turkish . News

Gigi Rigolatto reopens at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum

July 6, 2026

Wyndham opens 96-room TRYP by Wyndham Didim

July 6, 2026

SunExpress Boosts Summer Flights as Demand for Türkiye Picks Up

July 6, 2026

Türkiye balloon tourism passes 6.9 million passengers

July 6, 2026

Ercan Airport B plan targets international flights in 2027

July 6, 2026

Spanish . News

Spain Confirms Over 1,000 Heat-Related Deaths in Record-Breaking June

July 2, 2026

Spain nears 100 million tourists as arrivals jump 9.5%

July 2, 2026

IHG to Open Three New Holiday Inn Express Hotels Across Spain

June 30, 2026

Hilton to open 84-room Curio Collection hotel in Valencia’s Cabanyal district in late 2026

June 29, 2026

Rising Hotel Bills in Spain Drive Surge in Cruise Bookings, Says MSC Cruises

June 27, 2026

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Top tourist destinations to live unforgettable travel experiences

Explore unique tourist destinations and travel experiences across cultural, urban and natural landscapes. Ideal for curious travellers eager to discover the most surprising corners of the world.

Poland tipping guide says 5 to 10 percent is standard

An older man in a pharmacy holds up his smartphone, comparing information while a female pharmacist in a white coat stands nearby, with shelves of medicines and toiletries in the background.

Travel Pharmacy Costs Soar Abroad, Poland Cheapest in 19-Medicine Study

Cyclists riding through vineyard-covered hills along the Baden Wine Route near Schriesheim in southern Germany.

10 German Mountain Hikes for Beginners and Alpine Experts

Panoramic view of Weggis on Lake Lucerne with a church, lakeside village, and surrounding Swiss Alps under a dramatic sky.

Switzerland’s Riviera: Weggis Draws Visitors with Rigi and Lake Lucerne

Young girl hiking beside Bannalpsee lake in Nidwalden, Switzerland

Bannalpsee draws hikers to Switzerland’s secret alpine lake

New Madrid Hotels Opening in 2026

Aerial view of one of the new Maldives resorts at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives with curved overwater villas, white-sand beaches, and a turquoise lagoon.

New Maldives Hotels & Resorts, 2025 & 2026

Georgetown, the capital of Penang, Malaysia, was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for its well-preserved colonial architecture, multicultural influences and historical significance. It was founded in 1786 as a port to serve British interests in South-East Asia and it became a centre for global trading, attracting foreign merchants, largely from China, India and Arab countries. As a result, Georgetown developed a multi-ethnic society that still exists today. One of the key highlights of its UNESCO World Heritage Site is the colonial district that is full of historical charm and features British-era buildings and structures from the late 18th century. These landmarks are located close to each other so you can visit them on a walking tour so let’s go! Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower (photos 2a and 2b montage) A good place to start is the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower or the Jubilee Clock Tower which was built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee (1837 to 1897) of Queen Victoria, who was Queen Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother. The clock tower, which was completed in 1902, is over 200 metres or over 60 feet high. Each of the 60 feet represents the years of Queen Victoria’s reign. It was damaged by Japanese bombings during World War 2, resulting in the tower leaning slightly and the tower has undergone restoration over the years. Stanchart Building and Downing Street (photo 3a and 3b) The imposing building at 2 Beach Street, built in 1930, was the home of Standard Chartered Bank for decades but is now a co-working space, after the bank relocated in 2017. It was so delightful to see a couple wearing traditional costumes, having their wedding photos taken in front of the building, which has become a popular backdrop for photo shoots due to its beautiful neo-classical and Art Deco architecture. (photo 3c) Penang has its own Downing Street. It is one of the few places worldwide that shares an identical name with London’s famous Downing Street where the official residence of the British prime minister is located. Right opposite the Stanchart building is the HSBC Bank building which has the prestigious address of No. 1 Downing Street. The history of this building dates back to 1884 and it was rebuilt after World War 2. It is now a six-storey building built in the late Art Deco style and it was the first HSBC (The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) branch in Malaysia. Fort Cornwallis & lighthouse (photos 4a and 4b) Fort Cornwallis, the largest and oldest standing fort in Malaysia, and marks the landing site of the British under the command of Captain Frances Light in Penang in 1786. The fort features several historical cannons but it has never seen battle. Entry to the fort is ticketed. The fort faces a public park and the Esplanade, a seaside promenade so you can enjoy the sea breeze and a nice walk along the coast. Just right next door is the lighthouse, constructed in a form that resembles a ship's mast, and carries a navigational light which functions as a marker for ships heading towards Penang Harbour. Built in 1882, it is the second oldest lighthouse in Malaysia. Town Hall and City Hall (photo 5a and 5b) The Town Hall and City Hall are two of the most striking colonial buildings in Georgetown. They are located side by side. The yellow-walled Town Hall was completed in 1883 and the City Hall in 1903. The Town Hall was used for social events for the European elite and soon deemed insufficient for the governing of the state, hence the City Hall was built. Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce building (photo 6) The Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce building was constructed in 1928 as the headquarters for Penang's Chinese business community. It was the first Chinese Chamber of Commerce in British Malaya and Malaysia. The building’s western wing featuring Art Deco architectural style, has been converted into a 12-room boutique hotel, The Chambers. Penang State Assembly Building (photo 7) If you see a long building resplendent in white with an orange roof that looks like a Greek temple, it is the Penang State Assembly Building. It was built in the 1820s and the structure exemplifies Anglo-Indian classical architecture. Today, the State Assembly Building is where state laws are enacted, budgets are approved and major decisions for the state are made. Penang High Court (photos 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d montage) The Penang High Court, founded in 1808, is the birthplace of Malaysia’s judiciary system. It is housed inside an imposing classical-style building. featuring columns, porticos and a distinctive domed chamber. It incorporates elements typical of British colonial public buildings, with colonnaded walkways and geometric forms. The current courthouse was built in the early 1900s to replace the original structure that was built at the same site in 1809, the first such court to be set up in the Malay Peninsula. Modern annexes were added later. St George’s Church (photo 9) St George’s Church is a 19th-century church which is the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia. In 2007, the church was declared one of the 50 National Treasures of Malaysia. The church was built with a combination of neo-classical, Georgian and Palladian architectural styles, and features a portico of Greek columns. The apex of the roof is topped by an octagonal shaped steeple. Church of the Assumption and State Museum (photos 10a and 10b) Further along the road is The Church of the Assumption, which is a Roman Catholic church that was established following the founding of Georgetown in 1786, making it is the third oldest Catholic church in Malaysia. Right next to the church is the 100-year-old Penang State Museum which is currently undergoing major restoration, which includes rebuilding sections destroyed during World War 2. The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (photo 11a) The crown jewel of the colonial district is the iconic Eastern & Oriental, which echoes its historical heyday in colonial grandeur. Widely revered as a grand dame of heritage hotels, the E&O was established in 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers, who also founded the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1887. The ultra-luxury hotel, which has 100 elegant suites, has been upgraded over the years and annexes added, whilst restoring the hotel to its original grandeur, preserving its historic charm and classical character. (photo of 11b) Another architectural inheritance that the hotel takes great pride in is the antiquated cage lift with a sliding grill at the lobby area, that is still in working order but no longer in use. It was featured in the Hollywood film "Crazy Rich Asians". The heritage district features many other historical buildings and landmarks, which I will cover in future articles. In the meantime, you can read about Penang’s other attractions here and Penang Hill.

A nostalgic tour of a bygone colonial era in Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage Site

Heavenly Well at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, with a green reflective pond, stone railings, and traditional tiled-roof buildings surrounded by trees.

Temple of Literature in Hanoi showcases Vietnam’s ode to academic excellence

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