International tourism on the rise
International tourist arrivals were up 4 percent in the first four months of 2015, according a new report from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
The WTO said most regions experienced “strong growth” and that forecasts for May to August are “upbeat, with close to 500 million tourists expected to travel abroad during these four months.”
The WTO report said there were some 332 million overnight visitors between January and April 2015, 16 million more than the same period last year.
The increase is part of a long-term trend. International tourist arrivals have been up 4.5 percent a year on average since 2010.
Oceania and South America experienced the strongest increases this year, both over 8 percent. The WTO said that “limited data” for January-April arrivals in Africa suggest a 6 percent decline there attributable to concern over Ebola.
50 places in U.S. to get hitched
Inspired by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality, Frommers.com came up with a list of 50 places for destination weddings, one in each state, from Oak Island Estate in Wilsonville, Ala., to Jackson Hole, Wyo. (It recommends a Maui beach wedding for Hawaii.)
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
The choices range from traditional venues such as Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Ark., to wild places like Cannon Beach in Oregon. Some involve activities such as a hot-air balloon ride in Albuquerque, N.M.
To click through the slideshow go to frommers.com/slideshows and click on “Where to Get Married” under “Most Popular Slideshows.”
New Volvo buyers to get Europe trip
New Volvo car buyers can get a trip to Scandinavia courtesy of the Swedish car manufacturer.
If you order a new Volvo from a U.S. dealer, you can pick it up in Gothenburg, Sweden, or any official delivery location in Europe, and Volvo will throw in two round-trip tickets to Scandinavia, a hotel night in Gothenburg, Sweden, 15 days of European car insurance and shipment to your U.S. home dealer.
Details on the longstanding program at volvocars.com/us/buy/sales/overseas-delivery.
Several other companies have similar programs, including Mercedes and Audi.
