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This is Wikitravel's Travel news section, about issues affecting travelers, both positively and negatively. For more general news, see Wikinews.

The news items in this section refer to future events and have not been displayed on the Main Page yet. They should be copied there when the date approaches and then shifted to the monthly archives below.

16 September 2010

The final launch of a space shuttle by the US will occur in Florida this morning, unless delayed by adverse weather or technical problems. Expect large crowds as space shuttle Discovery takes off for a rendezvous with the International Space Station. The space shuttle has been an icon of the US space program since the first launch in 1981. Following the disentegration of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003, the US decided to end the program and design a new vehicle for space travel. The next manned US space flights will not occur until the replacement vehicle is ready around 2014.

21 August 2010

The Henley on Todd is the Northern Territory of Australia's longest running event. It is based on the famous Henley on Thames, but the major difference is that the Todd River which runs through Alice Springs very rarely has water in it! Its a great spectacle, and well worth it if you plan your trip to be in The Alice when its on!

10 August 2010

While most people stopped worrying about H1N1 months ago (if they even worried at all), the World Health Organization has officially declared an end to the alert, believing that the virus is now in its post-pandemic state. There are still new cases in New Zealand and India however, it is said to be just like any other flu. [1]

10 August 2010

Mexican airline Mexicana has cancelled flights from London, Madrid, Montreal, Chicago and South and Central America days after filing for bankruptcy protection. The company does not know how long they will continue to honour tickets already purchased. A list of flights affected can be found on Mexicana's website. [2] BBC report here. [3]

04 August 2010

Flooding in Pakistan has killed 1400 and displaced up to a million people amid fears of a cholera epidemic and a shortage of food, clean water and medicine. Around 1.8 million will be in need of food aid. [4]

3 August 2010

The 34th session met in Albi, the historical bazaar of Tabriz, Iran, India's Jantar Mantar, and the convict sites of Australia. Although the meeting also addressed the need for more consideration of sites outside of Europe, only one South American site and no African sites were added during this session. [5]

30 July 2010

In Kouqian town in Jilin province, residents were trapped when a reservoir and two rivers overflowed following torrential rain. In Jilin city itself, containers of explosive fluid from a chemical plant were washed into the Songhua river. China is facing its worst flooding in more than a decade. Weeks of heavy rain have swollen rivers and caused damage, landslides and bridge collapses across a swathe of the country. According to state media, 928 people have died because of the seasonal bad weather and another 477 are missing. [6]

28 July 2010

The Russian capital currently experiences the hottest summer ever with temperatures of nearly 40°C. Additionally the dry and hot weather has sparked numerous terrain fires in the areas around the city causing the smog levels to rise to ten times over the safe limits. The locals are advised to wear masks and if possible, to stay indoors. [7] [8]

28 July 2010

An Airblue airliner has crashed near Islamabad, killing all 152 on board [9]

25 July 2010

This year's Medellín Flower Festival, held in Colombia's "city of eternal spring" from July 30 to August 8, promises to be "memorable and better" than ever [10]

11 July 2010

A total solar eclipse will be visible across the South Pacific Ocean and extreme southern South America. The next total solar eclipse will not occur until 2012.

10 July 2010

Travelers to Colombia will have the opportunity to visit the Latin nation's isolated and largely unexplored Pacific coast when the luxury cruise ship "Sea Voyager" sets out on its maiden voyage from Panama to Buenaventura on August 3. The cruise is perfect for diving enthusiasts and whale watchers [11]

6 July 2010

The world's largest tent—the transparent 150m (490ft) tall Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center—opens today in Astana, Kazakhstan, becoming the city's tallest structure and the latest modern addition to the credit of President Nazarbayev. The $260million structure has two transparent EFTE layers to create a 140 000 square meter respite from the city's -40C winters, with temperatures of 15C in the outer shell and up to 25C in the inter shell! The giant tent houses a shopping and entertainment center, including a waterpark, amusement rides, a tropical atrium, a running track encircling the upper floor, a cinema, theater, and hundreds of shops large and small. The tent even boasts a multi-station monorail! The opening celebration, which coincide with the city's 13th and the president's 70th birthdays, will feature three days of circuses, theater, ballet, concerts, and fireworks at a cost of $10 million and will be attended by eight heads of state, the king of Jordan, & former British PM Tony Blair. [12]

23 June 2010

The oil leaking out of the Gulf of Mexico has already devastated coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Today oil was found on Florida's Pensacola Beach spanning nine miles and more is expected as relief efforts remain slow. [13]

23 June 2010

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake shook Ontario near the Quebec border, just above the nation's capital of Ottawa. Tremors were felt as far away as Chicago and Pittsburgh however, the earthquake does not appear to have caused any great damage. [14]

18 June 2010

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens today at the Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort. [15]

13 June 2010

Ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan has left at least 100 dead and has led an estimated 75,000 Uzbeks to flee to nearby Uzbekistan. It is unknown who/what instigated the violence, which erupted Thursday, but since Thursday gangs of armed Kyrgyz and Uzbeks have roamed the city of Osh (later spreading to Jalal-Abad and small communities in the region) in what appears to be a wide outbreak of ethnic violence. Uzbeks have been the primary targets, with Uzbek homes and businesses burnt, although many Kyrgyz claim they have been targeted. The weak, transitional government has been unable to establish authority, although there are reports that they are recalling reservists up to age 50 and have given troops "shoot-to-kill" orders to quell the violence. While the northern part of the country remains stable, travelers are highly discouraged from travelling to the southern region of Kyrgyzstan in the next few weeks and should stay abreast of the news and head the advise of their embassies prior to travel to the region in the coming months.

29 May 2010 - 1 June 2010

The curfew on Bangkok, Chiang Mai and 23 Thai provinces has been lifted as Prime Minister Vejjajiva has declared the situation 'under control' [16] The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has adjusted its level of advice [17] and no longer advises against travel to Bangkok or the affected provinces although On 30 May an explosive device was detonated on the ?walking street? market in central Chiang Mai; there were no injuries reported. Warnings against travel to Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla and Preah Vihear are still in force, but these are long-standing and are not related to the recent unrest. States of emergency are still in force in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Nakhom Ratchasima, Si Saket, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Bua Lumphu, Mahasarakham, Roi Et, Sakhon Nakhon, Kalasin, Muk Da Han and Samutprakarn. Travel might be restricted in these areas.

11 June 2010 - 11 July 2010

The 2010 FIFA World Cup begins today in South Africa featuring South Africa versus Mexico and Uruguay versus France. It is the first World Cup to be held on the African continent with 32 teams competing. It lasts exactly one month, ending on July 11.[18]

May 26, 2010

Department of State has cancelled the Travel Warning for Sri Lanka due to improvements in safety and security conditions throughout the country. The Government of Sri Lanka declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on May 18, 2009. Since the war's declared end, the LTTE has not mounted any attacks in Colombo or elsewhere in Sri Lanka. [19]

26 May 2010 - 31 May 2010

The curfew on Bangkok, Chiang Mai and 24 Thai provinces has been extended until Sunday 31 May 2010. It will last from midnight on each day to 04:00 the same morning. The FCO has eased its travel advice and now advises against all but essential travel to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The FCO also advises against all travel to the Preah Vihar temple area, but this is unrelated to the Bangkok unrest. [20] [21]

23 May 2010 - 25 May 2010

The curfew on Thailand and other Thai provinces has been extended for two more nights for 'security reasons' according to British newspaper The Times. The FCO still advises against all travel to Bangkok and all but essential travel to Chiang Mai. [22] [23]

19 May 2010 - Ongoing

An ongoing protest by the Red Shirt demonstrators in Bangkok has escalated as more than fifty people have been confirmed dead and large parts of the city centre are destroyed by fire and ordnance, including Bangkok's largest shopping mall. Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency and a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 6am. Police and army personnel have been ordered to shoot to kill in some zones, in what academic Charnvit Kasetsiri has described as the "most widespread and most uncontrollable" political violence Thailand has ever seen'. Although most of Bangkok and almost all of Thailand is safe, care should be taken by visitors not to be caught in the crossfire. UPDATE: The FCO (UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office) [24] now advise against all travel to Bangkok and all but essential travel to Chiang Mai. [25] [26]

7 May 2010

As a result of the inconclusive General Election in the United Kingdom, Sterling has fallen against the US Dollar and Euro by up to two percent in what is now a one-year low. Performance against other currencies has broadly matched this movement. [27]

4 May 2010

Riots in Athens leave three dead - three private sector workers confirmed dead due to a flame bomb in a bank. All political parties condemned the act. Things have settled down since. Strikes, pickets and demonstrations likely. Visitors are adviced to avoid the Syntagma Square, center of Athens, where the Parlament sits. The rest of the City and Country is considered safe.

[28] [29]

2 May 2010

A merger between Continental Airlines and United Airlines, both members of Star Alliance, has been approved. The combined carrier will be the world's largest and will keep the United name but take the Continental logo.

1 May 2010

The Nepal is paralyzed by a indefinite general strike called by the Maoists. The strike shuts down most transport and businesses since the 1st May.

1 May 2010 - 30 October 2010

The 2010 World Expo begins in Shanghai, China today and runs through October 30. The theme is "Better City, Better Life". It is estimated that 70 million people will visit the Expo. [30]

10 April - 23 May 2010

The Shroud of Turin is believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ and the image of a face and body can be seen on the cloth. While there is much debate over the date of the cloth's origins, its last showing brought over 1 million people to come and see it for themselves. Showings of the shroud are rare and irregular. Anyone may come to view the shroud, but those with reservations will be able to see it more closely.

15 April 2010

The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupts for the second time in a month. Ash from the volcano has spread east across the Atlantic towards Scandinavia and UK. Flights to and from several airports in Northern Europe has therefore been canceled until further notice. In Iceland the eruption has caused floods and the population near the volcano has been evacuated. [31] [32]

7 April 2010

Dozens are reported to have been killed in the Talas Tuesday, where small riots broke out against the regional government. Violence in both cities Wednesday saw thousands of unorganized protesters pelting riot police with stones, the overtaking of state-owned tv and radio channels, and the overtaking of government buildings in Talas & Bishkek. Protestors are largely angry about rising energy costs and pervasive corruption in the government. [33]

7 April 2010

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has once again banned tourists from attending the tuna auction's observation area at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. Officials have cited an "increasing number of visitors affecting the market's operations" and "foreign visitors' bad manners, such as touching fish" as the reasons for the ban. The restrictions will be in place from April 8, with the observation re-opening to tourists on May 10. Of course the rest of the market will be open to the public as usual.

6 April 2010

American Airlines is beginning its first ever service to North and South Dakota. Service will begin to Fargo and Sioux Falls today, and to Rapid City on June 10.

5 April 2010

The fifth general elections since independence, the first since 1986, will begin today in Sudan and last through the 12th, with results expected later in the month. The elections are a major milestone in the peace process following decades of civil war. Expect security around the country to be tight and Sudanese visas will likely be difficult to acquire for/during the month of April. A second major election, a referendum on the independence of southern Sudan, will be held next year. [34]

5 April 2010

American Airlines is abandoning its hub at St. Louis International Airport, which it acquired through its purchase of Trans World Airlines in 2000. Flights from St. Louis to destinations other than American's other hubs (Dallas, Chicago, etc.) will be moved to Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

3 April 2010

A massive statue was inaugurated today in Dakar, Senegal to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence. Taller than the Statue of Liberty (at 49m/160ft), the Monument of African Renaissance was built by North Korean workers at a cost of $27 million. Several controversies have arisen and thousands took to the streets to protest in the hours prior to the inaugural ceremony. Most notably that the woman in the statue is wearing a loincloth and has exposed legs, a taboo sight in predominantly Muslim Senegal (local immams have issued a fatwa and urged the devout to spend the day praying for forgiveness). Many also feel the cost was too much for this impoverished African nation to spend during a recession and President Wade has been heavily criticized for suggesting he receive 35% of revenue generated by the statue, which he claims was his idea. The inaugural ceremony was attended by 19 African heads of state, North Korean diplomats, and a delegation of African-Americans. [35]

28 March 2010

Philippine Airlines reconnects its hub Manila to Riyadh again after rising demands from the Filipino community, the airline restarts its service after an absence of 4 years in the Middle East region. The flag carrier will fly from Manila to Riyadh, four times a week.

21 March 2010

All flights to and from Iceland were canceled for 6-12 hours for safety. The eruption is harmful only to those who who hike for 5 hours in the wilderness and step into the molten lava.

16 March 2010

The city of Medellín will be putting on a variety of sport, cultural, recreational and artistic events between March 19 and 30, during the celebration of the South American games. Of special interest will be the inauguration (a spectacle of acrobatics, dance and pyrotechnics by the Cirque-du-Soleil-trained Dragone) and closing with a grand street parade. [36]

3 March 2010

Fire burnt down at least seven ancient buildings and destroyed a few more in the historic "old city" in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The mid-afternoon inferno may be the result of poor infrastructure or arson. Authorities have been trying for years to rehabilitate the old city and get it on the UNESCO World Heritage list, but lack of funds and unwillingness of property owners to fix their buildings has kept the old city in very poor shape. [37]

1 March 2010

The mayor of Topeka, Kansas, has proclaimed that the city should be referred to during the month of March as "Google, Kansas," in an attempt to get Google to choose the city as a test site for its new broadband Internet services.

27 February 2010

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Southern Chile this morning, destroying tower blocks, bridges and roads in the capital city of Santiago. Large portions of the country are cut off and many coastal towns have been inundated by resulting tsunamis. A Pacific-wide tsunami alert, the first since 1994, has put Pacific islands like Hawaii and Easter Island, as well coastal towns in Australia and New Zealand on red alert.

21 February 2010

The sentencing of Thaksin Shinawatra, former PM deposed in a 2006 coup, is expected this week. Thaksin, who is living in exile, may have a portion of his $2.2 billion in assets seized. His supporters have vowed to protest, non-violently, any verdict against him, which may result in tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters filling streets in Bangkok and pro-Thaksin regions. [38]

20 February 2010

The worst flooding in decades along with mudslides on the Portuguese island of Madeira have caused 32 deaths and closed the island's airport. The hardest-hit area appears to be around the main city, Funchal, although the Nuns Valley has been isolated and damage there is not apparent. [39]

19 February 2010

A minaret collapsed during Friday prayers killing 41. The minaret was part of a mosque in Meknes which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. King Mohammad has ordered an inquiry to assess the integrity of the hundreds of old mosques in Morocco. [40]

18 February 2010

Following a cabinet meeting Thursday, government soldiers launched a coup capturing president Tandja and his cabinet members following a brief exchange of gunfire in the capital Niamey. [41]

16 February 2010

In a sudden and unexpected move, Libya stopped issuing visas to the European countries in the Shengen area Monday as part of a row with Switzerland. Arriving Europeans who expected to get a visa on arrival in Tripoli were detained and forced to take the next flight home.[42]

14 February 2010

Singapore's first casino and Southeast Asia's first Universal Studios theme park open today on Sentosa Island. Expect crowds!

12 February 2010

The games of the XXIst Winter Olympics begin today in Vancouver and nearby Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The games will last until February 28th.

11 February 2010

Somalia's Islamist faction, al Shababb, has begun to flood the country's capital Mogadishu with hundreds of fighters along with weapons and artillery for a showdown with the country's UN-backed government, which controls only a small portion of the city. Panic filled the city's population and thousands have evacuated, fearing a massive showdown that would likely result in heavy civilian casualties.

10 February 2010

Upset over plans to freeze pay and increase pension eligibility age, public sector workers in Greece went on strike Wednesday, leaving trains stopped, airports closed, and hospitals open for emergencies only. Their is no indication if and for how long this will continue.

7 February 2010

The Space Shuttle Endeavor will lift off into space February 7 at 4:14 in the morning in the space shuttle program's final night-time launch, following a scrubbed Sunday morning launch. While all shuttle launches are spectacular, night-time launches which light the surrounding cities as if it were day are considered the most spectacular. Launches always draw large crowds, including a wide array of foreign tourists. The shuttle lifts off less than two weeks after the US budget for FY2011 eliminates funding for the shuttle program's replacement—the Constellation program—meaning this could be the final manned flight the US makes for the foreseeable future.

5 February 2010

The second major snowstorm this winter in what is now the snowiest winter in D.C.'s recorded history began on Friday around the Washington, D.C.?Baltimore area, and has been followed up by yet another huge storm, blanketing cities from Richmond to New York. Hundreds of flights, trains, buses throughout the Mid-Atlantic, as well as nearly all events and operations of the federal government in D.C., have ground to an icy halt. In Washington, just a couple inches are enough to cause havoc, but the roughly 40 inches accumulated during the past week would be enough cripple even the hardiest of the nation's cities.

28 January 2010

The US president announced over $8 billion in funding for several high speed rail projects with the hope that this is only the beginning of a nation-wide network of high-speed trains. Only one of these lines will surpass the 150mph (250km/h) threshold commonly considered for high-speed rail, the others operating between 90-130mph (150-210km/h) which is much faster than most rail lines in the US. California received the biggest amount of funding for the beginning of an 800 mile Sacramento-San Francisco-Los Angeles-San Diego system to be completed by 2026 and reach speeds of 220mph. Florida will begin work on a Tampa-Orlando line capable of reaching 130mph and to be completed by 2014-2015, with a future leg to Miami. Chicago-Saint Louis, Madison-Milwaukee, Seattle-Portland, & Charlotte-Raleigh lines will be upgraded to operate from 90-110mph. The president also promised $5billion a year to be spent on high-speed rail. The problem with building high-speed rail lines in the US is the lack of densely-populated areas and the ease of driving compared with Europe, Japan, or China.

26 January 2009

Hundreds of tourists got trapped in the historic Peruvian city of Machu Picchu, after three days of heavy rains and mudslides blocked the roads. The government has declared a state of emergency in Machu Picchu and the surrounding areas. An airlift rescue operation has been started, involving 10 helicopters to pick up the stranded people. 60 tourists have already been airlifted to Cusco, with priority given to the elderly, pregnant women and children.

23 January 2009

The Colombian president Alvaro Uribe announced that throughout the whole last year 1.324 million people visited Colombia, 10.4% more than in 2008 [43]. In a separate report, the city of Medellín said that tourism to the city grew 12% in 2009 [44]. This is significant since tourism worldwide had dropped between 4-10 %, according to figures by the UN World Tourism Organization and other sources.

21 January 2009

Citing the risk from terrorism, including potential terrorist recruits with UK or US passports, Yemen has announced it will no longer issue visas at airports. BBC News

12 January 2010

A powerful earthquake struck Haiti Tuesday evening just 10 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince and at a very shallow depth. Early reports indicate that the quake, the most powerful in the region since 1751, has caused catastrophic damage to the capital, home to over 3 million people. A long list of government buildings are reported to have collapsed, including parts of the presidential palace, several government ministries, the Supreme Court building, and a major hospital. The UN headquarters in the city are reported to have either collapsed or received extensive damage. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is high on the "failed state" index, and is no stranger to natural disasters, usually in the form of heavy rain causing flooding and landslides. Hurricanes Francis & Jeanne caused roughly 10,000 deaths in 2004 and the death toll from this earthquake is expected to be very high.

10 January 2010

Today the Africa Cup of Nations began, but much of the excitement was overshadowed by an attack on the Togo team envoy on Friday killing three people. The team was travelling through Cabinda, near the border of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo when gunmen opened fire. The gunmen have been confirmed to be from FLEC, a group who has been fighting for independence in Cabinda up until a ceasefire was agreed in 2006. Many had questioned Angola's choice to hold some of the games in the region, but the nation had assured safety. The Togolese team officially withdrew from the competition, as their government called for them to return home. They wished good luck to Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Cote D'Ivoire, the other teams in their division who will compete in Cabinda. Many are disappointed, as the cup was meant to show African unity and bring nations closer together. [45]

8 January 2010

Mali's world-famous 'Festival in the Desert' is being moved for the first time in its history to the outskirts of Timbuktu. The renowned Tuareg festival which draws music acts from around West Africa has been hosted each January since 2000 in the town of Essekane, about 70km north of Timbuktu. However, the security situation in Mali has deteriorated with several people kidnapped in the past year, including one Briton departing a similar festival in Anderamboukane who was later beheaded. Due to this possibility, officials have moved the festival to the outskirts of Timbuktu to better protect visitors and eliminate their exposure to bandits on the 70km drive across the desert to Essekane.

6 January 2010

An extended streak of cold weather has affected the US southeast for the past week, with even colder air currently moving in. Hardest hit has been Florida, where dozens of record lows and record low maximums have been set this week in addition to records for duration of the cold. Heavy snow is moving from the Plains into the Southeast Friday and Saturday, with heavy snow down through central Mississippi, Alabama, & Georgia. The normally balmy peninsula of Florida could see the first widespread snowfall since 1977. Long-term forecasts predict colder than average temperatures in the Eastern US for the rest of this winter and winter 2009-2010 may turn out to be the coldest in over two decades.

4 January 2010

With financial aid from neighboring Abu Dhabi, the city of Dubai was able to complete the skyscraper, reaching 2717 feet (828 meters). To show their appreciation, they have named the building Burj Khalifa after the current sheik of Abu Dhabi. Prior to the name change, it was going to be called Burj Dubai ("burj" simply means "tower" in Arabic). [46]

1 January - 31 December 2010

Festivities will be held throughout the year to commemorate 1300 years since the Nara Period, when Nara was the capital of Japan. The Heijo Palace Site is the main area for commemorative events, with the opening of the Former Imperial Audience Hall and special exhibitions in the museums at the site. From mid to late August, illuminations will be lit around the entire park and large parades and festivals will occur during October. [47]

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