News & Dispatches

From Iran with Love: Nuclear Facilities Open to Foreign Tourists

What some have dubbed as the new tourism niche, nuclear tourism–in which travelers visit atomic power plants and other nuclear-related sites–is quickly becoming all the rage and drastically altering how some people choose to spend their vacations. One need only look as far as the Trinity test site in New Mexico, which comes fully equipped […]

Footprint Too Big for Nature, According to WWF

In its biennial report released in Beijing on October 24, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) claims that if the world’s consumption of the Earth’s resources is not dramatically altered, human beings will need two planets’ worth of natural resources by the middle of this century. An “ecological footprint” is the environmental impact or demand that […]

Rare Animal Trade Thrives in Vietnam

Each year in Vietnam, nearly 3,300 tons of illegal live wildlife and animal products are shipped in and out of the country. Although trading exotic wildlife is technically illegal, the practice persists because demand and profitability remain high. A new report by the Wildlife Conservation Society says that the trade is a $6 billion-dollar-a-year industry […]

National Parks about to Get Noisier?

For the first time in five years, the National Park Service has overhauled its management policy. Passed in committee at the end of August, the policy’s official purpose is to “prevent impairment of park resources and values [and] ensure that conservation will be predominant when there is a conflict between the protection of resources and […]

Syrian Tourism Threatened in the Wake of Political Controversy

Many would agree that Syria is home to a proud people with a great cultural tradition. It is well known to tourists for its religious travel as well as its significant historical value. Although the history of Syria has been a tumultuous one, having undergone several periods of political instability, it is still best known […]

Microsoft and United Nations Team up to Improve Tourism in Africa

Microsoft Corporation and the United Nations have partnered to create an online infrustructure they say will improve tourism in Africa. The idea is that increased promotion, centralized information, and connectivity will lead to a more efficient tourism sector and increased visitation, ultimately contributing to the attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. In addition […]

Galapagos Threatened by Introduced Species

The isolated and biodiverse archipelago of Galapagos is a double World Heritage site, with both the land and the marine area being protected. While Galapagos is in many ways thriving, the flora and fauna are being threatened by invasive species. More than 600 miles off the Ecuadorian coast, Galapagos has a rich ecology which caught […]

Travelocity and Expedia, Making it Easier for Travelers to Be Green

According to Friends of the Earth, air travel is the world’s fastest growing source of the greenhouse gases which cause global warming. In fact, studies suggest commercial aircraft generate almost as much carbon dioxide annually as the entire continent of Africa. For the concerned traveler, purchasing carbon offsets is one relatively simple and inexpensive way […]