A look at the week’s travel news which includes Sierra Leone being named the world’s fastest-growing travel destination; Finland’s latest national park; Trump’s travel ban (the abridged version); and marking 20 years of Harry Potter.
Finland has just designated its 40th national park to help celebrate the country’s 100 years of independence. Hossa National Park is packed with lakes (including Finland’s largest canyon lake) and has a long human history, evidenced by Stone Age rock paintings said to be up to 4,500 years old. Which is really very old.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Sierra Leone is the world’s fastest growing travel destination. Tourism in the West African country was up 310 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, numbers that likely have something to do with the once Ebola-stricken country being declared free of the disease almost two years ago. Nepal, Iceland, South Korea, Kiribati, Moldova, Madagascar and Slovakia were also included in the list of fastest-growing destinations for travelers.
Two major global hotel chains have announced they’re building new hotels in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, leading some to speculate that the architecturally impressive city is about to become one of the next big destinations for travelers.
An Indigenous man, Clinton Pryor, is literally walking across Australia to visit communities at risk of being shut down by the Australian government. Pryor realized he had to do something when, in 2015, Western Australia premier Colin Barnett announced that he intended to close 150 Aboriginal communities. Pryor began his walk from Perth on September 8, 2016 and will finish in Canberra, where he’ll take the stories he gathers during his journey to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. You can donate to help Clinton complete his Walk for Justice on his GoFundMe page.
In Trump-related travel happenings, the travel ban took partial effect this week, although attorneys don’t expect the ban to affect as many people. The levels of confusion caused by the original ban earlier this year are not expected either.
Elsewhere, England’s Glastonbury festival photographed, astronauts may soon be able to bake bread in space, the Harry Potter books turned 20, and India opened an astronomy-themed resort.
Quote of the week
“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” – Albus Dumbledore
