Cruise tourism activity has insignificant impact on air quality in Lisbon. On the basis of a study, experts have arrived at this conclusion.

It analysed pollution concentration levels in the capital for a year.

The conclusions of this study came out in a statement, belonging to the Administration of the Port of Lisbon (APL).

The International Cruise Lines Association (CLIA), in partnership with the Spanish University of Rovira i Virgili, in Tarragona promoted this.

Pollution concentration levels in the Portuguese capital are not significantly subject to the influence of cruise activity. The analysis reveals this.

But, it is subject to other factors, such as other modes of transport or residential sources, reads the APL note.

Researchers carried out the study between September 2022 and 2023. They analysed the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM10).

According to the data, any contribution of cruise ships to the increase in local levels of various air pollutants, such as SO2 and PM10, is very less.

In terms of the amount of carbon monoxide and ozone in local air quality, the impact of cruise activity appears to be insignificant, highlights the APL.

Despite these positive conclusions, the president of APL’s board of directors, Carlos Correia, mentioned in the note, emphasises that the company will continue working to improve the sustainability of the activity.

Issues of environmental sustainability are strategic for decision-making.

For this reason, the Port of Lisbon has a set of ongoing actions. These are the supply of energy on land, monitoring of air and water quality in the surrounding areas of the Lisbon Cruise Terminal and the implementation of a system for evaluating and monitoring the emission rates of cruise ships during their stopover.

An Air Canada flight, AC235, originating from Edmonton, executed an emergency landing at Vancouver International Airport on Tuesday morning. The emergency landing was prompted by a “pressurization indication” encountered during the flight, as confirmed by Air Canada in an email to the media.

According to a statement from YVR (Vancouver International Airport), the emergency landing request was made at 8 a.m. The airport’s Fire and Rescue team promptly responded, ensuring the safe landing of the aircraft. After landing, the plane taxied to an available gate, and all passengers disembarked without incident.

Air Canada clarified that the pilots swiftly descended the aircraft to a lower altitude following the pressurization issue. As a precautionary measure, they requested a priority landing. The aircraft landed normally and taxied to the gate under its own power. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and the oxygen masks did not deploy.

As part of standard safety procedures, the aircraft will be taken out of service for a thorough inspection. Air Canada’s proactive response and adherence to safety protocols ensured the well-being of passengers and a secure resolution to the incident.

Both YVR and Air Canada deferred further inquiries to the airline for additional details. The incident underscores the critical importance of the aviation industry’s commitment to passenger safety, with airlines and airport authorities working collaboratively to manage and respond to unexpected situations effectively.

Thanksgiving travel is underway due to delay of more than 2,000 flights within, into and out of the U.S.

There is news of cancellation of almost 30 flights Tuesday.

This is because the weather is slowing things down.

The storm system bringing rain and strong winds threatens Thanksgiving Day holiday travel across the South and the Northeast.

The storm system may move from the Midwest by midday into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. It may thus be causing issues on the road and in the air.

Most on the East Coast will get rain. But, some snow and ice will break out across parts of the interior Northeast and northern New England.

On the southern side of the storm system, heavy rain and severe thunderstorms will move across parts of the Southeast.

Montgomery and Mobile in Alabama and Pensacola, Florida are the largest cities at severe risk. That is because damaging winds will be the main risk Tuesday.

An isolated tornado in the area can arise also.

A total of 2,072 flights faced delay and 29 faced cancellation as of Tuesday afternoon, according to a fligt tracking website.

More than 70 of the delays were at Los Angeles International Airport. Major airports received the brunt by Tuesday’s gusty winds and rain.

This include Chicago O’Hare, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, as well as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City-area airports.

On Wednesday, the bulk of the large storm system will clear the East Coast by lunchtime.

There may be just lingering showers and some gusty winds possible along the Interstate 95 corridor in the morning.

Heavy snow and wind will last through sunset for Maine, before all precipitation ends by midnight.

Two to 6 inches of snow could fall in parts of New England, isolated totals up to 8 inches possible at higher elevations across New Hampshire and Maine.

While the two days leading up to the holiday will be challenging because of weather hazards, Thanksgiving Day itself looks to be relatively tranquil across much of the U.S.

The only exception will be the risk for accumulating snow across parts of the Northern Rocky Mountains, including Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

That’s good news for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. There it will be mostly sunny, with temperatures in the mid-40s.

Winds are forecast to be breezy, around 15 mph, well below the parade’s wind threshold. This should allow the balloons to fly high with no issue.

Across the Northeast, it’s likely to be sunny, with temperatures in the high 50s, while in the Southeast there will be a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures in the 70s and above.

In the Midwest, it’s expected to be sunny, with a cool breeze and highs in the 40s. The Southern Plains will have a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures in the 60s.

Those on the West Coast can expect sun with temperatures in the 60s in California and the 40s and 50s in the Pacific Northwest.

Thanksgiving travel across the United States of America may be record-breaking this year.

A severe storm system likely to disrupt Thanksgiving travel. The storm is moving up the eastern seaboard of the United States on Tuesday.

Now is the busiest travel period of the year. More than 55 million people are likely to travel before the Thanksgiving holiday.

There is a forecast of thunderstorms from the lower Mississippi Valley to the mid-Atlantic region from Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

There are chances of snowfall on parts of northern New England, the U.S. National Weather Service said.

The severe weather was likely to cause delays and additional congestion during what the AAA group expects to be the busiest travel period in the country since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Industry group Airlines for America forecast that U.S. airlines would carry some 29.9 million passengers between Nov 17 and Nov 27.

That would be an all-time high, up 9% over the 27.5 million in the same period last year and up 1.7 million passengers over pre-COVID record levels.

AAA said that most of those traveling are likely to drive. They are possibly getting motivation by a drop in gasoline prices from 2022.

Around 49 million Americans are likely to get behind the wheel between Nov. 22 and Nov. 26.

It is a rise by 1.7% from the corresponding period in 2022, AAA said.

The heaviest rain and worst driving conditions were likely to affect the areas around the Interstate 95 corridor between Washington and New York, from Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.

Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service said this.

According to meteorologists, as millions of Americans prepare for Thanksgiving travel, a huge storm threatens to disrupt plans across the Midwest and Northeast. A big storm is predicted to bring rain, snow, wind, and perhaps ice to the eastern part of the United States after weeks of generally quiet weather.

The storm’s timing couldn’t be worse, with an estimated 55 to 56 million people travelling throughout Thanksgiving week. The Midwest is anticipated to have the most travel disruptions on Tuesday, while the Northeast will suffer difficulties from Tuesday until Tuesday night. The travel disruptions caused by the weather may extend until Wednesday.

Over the South Central states, the storm strengthened, bringing severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours, damaging winds, and hail. Tornadoes reported in Louisiana and Mississippi exacerbated the storm’s ferocity. As the system moves forward, heavy rain is likely in the Pittsburgh and Atlanta metro areas, with locally strong thunderstorms leading to probable delays in the Atlanta area.

Strong east-to-southeast winds, averaging 25-35 mph with gusts of 40-45 mph, are expected from late Tuesday afternoon to evening throughout the Northeast. Due to difficult conditions at airports in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, this may cause airline delays. Along the I-90 corridor from Ohio to western New York, power outages and severe traffic conditions are also anticipated.

The storm’s impact on roadways is predicted to be substantial on Tuesday, particularly along I-80, I-81, and I-95 in the mid-Atlantic area. The greatest rain is expected to fall on New York City late Tuesday afternoon and Boston late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, causing travel delays and difficulties.

While the storm will provide much-needed precipitation to drought-stricken areas, its wintry side may dump locally significant snow in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Accumulations of 3 to 6 inches in the Adirondacks and Green Mountains, and 6 to 12 inches from northern New Hampshire to northwestern Maine, are expected, with skiers likely to appreciate the natural snowfall.

Despite the fact that there will be little ice, forecasters advise care, particularly on high areas approaching freezing temperatures. While lake-effect snow was expected, the prediction indicates that it would be temporary owing to a quick return to dry weather in the Midwest and Northeast by Thanksgiving Day. During this potentially disruptive weather season, travellers are recommended to keep informed and use caution.

The Dominican Republic recently experienced the “largest rainfall event ever” with heavy rains.

It caused floods, landslides and other disasters, resulting in the loss of numerous lives.

While official reports state loss of 24 lives, other sources suggest a higher count of eight additional deaths.

The heavy rains and flooding primarily affected Greater Santo Domingo and other areas of the country.

There was an investigation after nine people died of a highway tunnel collapse in heavy rain in the capital Santo Domingo.

There was evacuation of 13,000 people to secure areas after heavy downpours.

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said rain caused flooded homes, power cuts and damaged bridges and roads. The casualties include three children.

Dominican President Luis Abinader called it the “largest rainfall event ever” in the country’s history, following torrential storms over the past 48 hours.

Torrential rainfall battered the Caribbean nation with footage on social media. It was showing torrents of water flowing through streets and washing away vehicles.

Officials rescued more than 2,500 people and more than 2,600 homes affected by the storm the COE said.

It added that 45 communities were without communication as of Sunday afternoon.

The rainfall developed out of a tropical depression. It may continue across parts of the country into Monday, the US embassy said.

Among the victims were four Puerto Ricans. They lost their lives in the overpass collapse, including a prosecutor and his family.

The United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic confirmed their deaths and offered condolences to their families.

The country faced a similar situation just over a year ago, and despite investments in infrastructure, such as the storm drainage system, the recent rains overwhelmed the region.

The Director of the National Meteorological Office reported that the Dominican Republic received 431 mm of rain. It was 62% more than the rainfall in 2022.

These extreme precipitations caused bridge collapses, flooding, and tragic incidents, including the collapse of an overpass that claimed nine lives.

The incident has raised questions about infrastructure maintenance and preparedness for extreme weather events.

Despite some preventative measures taken, the government faced challenges in managing the situation effectively, and a critical overpass remained open despite signs of impending danger.

As a result numerous vehicles beacme unusable. There is loss of several lives were tragically lost.

This event serves as a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness and infrastructure maintenance, especially in areas prone to heavy rains and flooding.

Most of us know Botswana as an ideal African travel and tourism country to invest in.

But, it clearly stands out as a reference in sustainable tourism in Africa.

37% of its land is under the protection of the authorities as national parks or wildlife management areas. It is to preserve the country’s wildlife and rich natural treasures.

In parallel, local communities receive support especially in the rural areas. It is to reap the benefits of ecotourism initiatives and infrastructure.

Thus it will be contributing to support social inclusion and economic development country-wide.

In addition, part of the revenues generated by tourism-related activities are re-invested in conservation programs.

Botswana boasts as one of the pioneer countries of sustainable tourism policies and practices in Africa.

It established a National Ecotourism Strategy as early as in 2002. That makes it one of the globally popular sustainable tourism destinations.

Wildlife sanctuaries are present there to save several endangered species such as rhinos and protect free-roaming elephant herds from poachers.

In the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its surroundings.

For instance, the safari camps and lodges preserve the environment so that future generations and the local communities can continue to enjoy and benefit from sustainable commercial operations.

A carefully planned approach to tourism has led this industry to become over the years the second pillar of the economy of Botswana. The destination to be for the discerning international travellers!

The country is now home to one of the largest populations of elephants in an African state with more than 200,000.

Moreover, as part of the Botswana National Ecotourism Strategy (2002), an Ecotourism Certification System has been rolled out.

This is not only to encourage but also, support responsible environmental, social and cultural behavior by businesses operating in the country’s tourism industry.

It is also to ensure that they provide quality eco-friendly products to consumers.

They have set key environmentally responsible standards for businesses to comply with or even exceed them.

The approach of the Government of Botswana has since then been aiming at attracting high-income, low-volume tourism so as to minimize the impact on the natural landscape and heritage of the country.

Discover tourism investment opportunities at the first-ever Botswana Tourism Investment Summit jointly organized by the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and International Tourism Investment Corporation Ltd (ITIC) will take place on 22 to 24 November 2023 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC), Botswana.

It will be in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). It is a member of the World Bank Group.

The summit will consist of sessions focusing on key challenges and trends and will act as a catalyst for a transformational change in the tourism landscape of Botswana.

Qatar Travel Mart 2023 will start from Monday at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Over 250 exhibitors from more than 60 countries are likely to participate in the travel event.

The exhibition welcomes attendees and visitors to tap into the top travel trends and growing sectors.

This includes sports, MICE, business, cultural, leisure and luxury, medical, and halal tourism.

Qatar Travel Mart 2023 is quickly establishing itself as a pivotal tourism industry platform in Qatar.

In keeping with its theme, ‘Discover Places, People, and Cultures’, QTM 2023 offers a collaborative forum for the industry professionals.

Their objective is to enhance their knowledge, forge connections, celebrate excellence and engage with international leaders and decision-makers in the travel and tourism sector.

The three-day conference features a roster of experts and industry leaders.

They will share insights and best practices, supporting Qatar’s and the world’s tourism development and recovery efforts.

Notable speakers include Professor Muzaffer Uysal from the University of Massachusetts; Tom Jenkins, CEO of European Tourism Association (ETOA); Chris Flynn, chairman and founder of World Tourism Association for Culture & Heritage (WTACH); and Djibril Fofana, president counsellor, World Association for Hospitality & Tourism Education Training (AMFORHT), among others.

Attendees can also experience Qatar Travel Mart’s Global Village.

It will alow them to embark on a captivating journey around the world from a single destination.

Twenty-five international embassies will offer a blend of education and entertainment, featuring cultural performances and experiences.

The grand gala dinner of QTM 2023 Tuesday will highlight exhibitors who have shown exceptional commitment to enhancing attendee experiences, championing accessibility, and creating conducive environments for productive business interactions.

Awards will be presented in a range of categories. This includes Most Accessible Booth, Innovation Excellence Booth, Best Sustainability Champion Booth, Transport Excellence Booth, and Best Designed Stand (above and below 150sqm).

During the final day of QTM 2023, exhibitors can avail the opportunity to join the first-ever QTM Golf Day event, at the Education City Golf Course.

On Friday, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake slammed the southern Philippines, causing one fatality, scores of injuries, and structural damage. According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the quake struck off the coast of Mindanao island at a depth of 60 kilometres (37.3 miles).

Angel Dugaduga, a disaster response official in the coastal town of Glan near the epicenter, confirmed at least one fatality and 18 injuries based on initial reports. The town’s municipal office building and gymnasium sustained damage, and the tremor caused a power outage.

The Philippines, which is located on the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” is prone to earthquake activity. A tsunami is not forecast, according to the Philippine seismology organisation PHIVOLCS and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

Amor Mio, the police chief of adjacent Koronadal, said there were no injuries but that officials were investigating damage to a retail complex. Due to substantial damage reported in the region, evacuations were requested for employee safety.

Teresito Bacolcol, head of PHIVOLCS, warned of the earthquake’s “destructive” force, predicting devastation. The quake lasted several seconds, and locals were warned to be on the lookout for aftershocks as severe as magnitude 6.2.

Leny Aranego, a radio broadcaster in General Santos near Glan, recalled how the earthquake rocked buildings and tables, causing broken walls and falling laptops.

RCBC economist Michael Ricafort reported on Facebook that passengers at General Santos City airport were evacuated to the tarmac. The incident shows the disruptive impact of earthquakes on infrastructure and local residents, emphasising the region’s persistent seismic danger. Authorities are still monitoring the situation and assessing the degree of damage, emphasising the significance of preparatory steps to limit the effect of such natural catastrophes.

JAXPORT, the cruise port in Jacksonville, Florida, celebrated a significant milestone on November 13, 2023, as it welcomed its 3 millionth cruise guest. The honored guests were the Lester family from Clayton, Georgia, who embarked on their fourth Carnival Cruise Line voyage aboard Carnival Elation.

Carnival Cruise Line and JAXPORT commemorated the occasion by extending VIP treatment to the Lester family. The family enjoyed a special complimentary dinner at Carnival Elation’s Chef’s Table, an exclusive multi-course culinary experience. The VIPs also received other special services and amenities during their 4-day cruise to the Bahamas.

Jacksonville, known as a drive-to port, has gained popularity due to its location, making it easily accessible for approximately 100 million people within a day’s drive. Carnival Cruise Line has been the sole provider of year-round sailings from JAXPORT since 2004, offering itineraries to the Bahamas and later expanding to the Eastern Caribbean.

In 2019, before the pandemic hiatus, Carnival Cruise Line hosted around 150,000 guests on over 70 cruises departing from Jacksonville. Carnival Elation, which replaced Carnival Ecstasy in April 2022, is scheduled to remain the homeport in Jacksonville through 2024.

JAXPORT’s cruise ship data for 2023 is not yet available, but in 2022, the port recorded 52 cruise calls. The port’s busiest months were October, March, and May, each with eight ship calls, while January saw the fewest calls with just three. Following the resumption of cruises in March 2022, the port reported $2.6 million in cruise-related revenues for that fiscal year.

While cruises are a notable aspect, JAXPORT primarily focuses on cargo operations, contributing approximately 75% of the port’s revenues. Cargo operations include containers and autos, with the port boasting three cargo terminals and two intermodal container transfer facilities along the St. Johns River.

Carnival Elation, in service since 1998 and accommodating 2,000 guests, offers various itineraries from Jacksonville, including 4-day Bahamas cruises calling at Freeport and Bimini, 5-day cruises to Nassau and the Princess Cays private island, and some itineraries featuring Celebration Key, Carnival’s new private retreat scheduled to open in July 2025. The ship offers diverse stateroom categories, dining venues, and signature attractions like Carnival Waterworks aqua park.

The celebration of JAXPORT’s 3 millionth cruise guest underscores the continued success and popularity of cruise travel from this Florida port.