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Most countries' tourism policies (welcoming) are usually at odds with immigration policies (unwelcoming) but what happens when a tourism minister, indeed one keen on law & order and the police beating students, violates her own country's immigration laws? www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lankas-state-min…

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Tourism ousted from parliament | Tamil Guardian

Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage has been ousted from parliament after the Supreme Court found she had breached immigration laws by reportedly…

On Europe Day 2024, and a few weeks before the EU Parliament elections, "Europe" sounds powerless, indifferent and divided, with nationalism and xenophobia once more rising. In other parts of the world it is also despised and hated, for the past (still unpaid) crimes of Colonialism, and its ongoing crimes including neocolonial conduct by European businesses, pushbacks and incarceration of asylum...On Europe Day 2024, and a few weeks before the EU Parliament elections, "Europe" sounds powerless, indifferent and divided, with nationalism and xenophobia once more rising. In other parts of the world it is also despised and hated, for the past (still unpaid) crimes of Colonialism, and its ongoing crimes including neocolonial conduct by European businesses, pushbacks and incarceration of asylum seekers by European governments, and arms exports by the European military-industrial-banking complex so that people on other continents can get more effectively killed and so on. Worse, progressive forces in Europe including the Center-Left, the Left and the Greens are increasingly co-opted by the establishment and have swallowed their tongue on many issues. Their slogans like the "just transition", or "tax the rich" etc are too timid and cannot inspire or unite the opposition to the polycrisis and those who created it. We need a new unifying vision/theory/action asap, before we are perpetually divided and confined in a perpetual quarantine of cheap virtual entertainment, joblessness, meager neoliberal coupons, violence, pandemics, never-ending wars and fear of one another. Until such a new vision/movement emerges who knows from where (with fresh terms - the old ones probably carry too much baggage and historical errors), two peaceful, practical ways forward are to focus (a) on electing progressive mayors that may experiment with new community-based institutions, infrastructure and instruments and (b) on democratizing workplaces, one by one. This includes supporting (buying from) such democratic (worker/employee-owned) businesses/social enterprises/cooperatives in every sector - we can not have a real democracy without an economic democracy. For those of us who do not tolerate authoritarianism in society, why should we tolerate it in the economy, in the workplace? It goes without saying that we should also resist the privatization of (what's left of) the so-called welfare state (public health, education, housing, public utilities) and of the commons (parks, protected areas, beaches, forests, wild places etc). Show more

Cornell's Megan Epler Wood doubts that (over)tourism taxes are effective. My take is that tourism taxes, including green ones, are effective only so far as the proceeds are adequate and used for the stated purpose, locally, by those that need them most. If they are collected by the central government to plug budget holes they remain just an excuse. and the more (tourists) the merrier...Cornell's Megan Epler Wood doubts that (over)tourism taxes are effective. My take is that tourism taxes, including green ones, are effective only so far as the proceeds are adequate and used for the stated purpose, locally, by those that need them most. If they are collected by the central government to plug budget holes they remain just an excuse. and the more (tourists) the merrier. Overtourism taxes if improperly planned could even make a destination more dependent on tourism receipts. news.cornell.edu/media-relations/tip-sheets/are-en… Show more

Are entry fees effective? Sustainable tourism expert weighs in | Cornell Chronicle

Venice has begun charging an entry fee for day trippers in an effort to keep tourism down. Residents protested the action and argued it will…

According to the Cuban PM, 300,000 visa waivers for Europeans wishing to enter the US were cancelled as a punishment for having visited Cuba. Maybe the EU should look into this? www.plenglish.com/news/2024/05/02/prime-minister-o…

Prime Minister optimistic about tourism recovery in Cuba - Prensa Latina

Jardines del Rey, Cuba, May 2 (Prensa Latina) Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero today expressed optimism about the recovery of tourism in this country.

Protecting animals from your germs is another key reason to avoid great ape tours. Unless tour organizers can enforce distance and behaviour rules these tours, lethal for many apes, should stop. www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/may/02/great-…

Chimps are dying of the common cold. Is great ape tourism to blame? | Mammals | The Guardian

Viruses that cause mild sniffles in humans are devastating populations of chimpanzees and gorillas. In some ape communities, it’s a bigger killer than habitat loss…