Spain’s 85.1 Million Foreign Visitors Last Year Set A Tourism Record

Spain received a record 85.1 million international tourists last year, 19% more than the year before, the National Statistics Institute reported Friday.

The number of foreign visitors in 2023 surpassed the 83.5 million who went to Spain in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic ruled out most leisure travel.

The U.K., France and Germany sent the highest number of tourists to Spain last year.

The National Statistics Institute said Spain’s income from foreign tourists reached 108.7 billion euros ($117 billion) in 2023, an increase of 25% from the previous year. Tourism accounts for 12% of the country’s gross domestic product.

The northeastern region of Catalonia, including Barcelona, followed by the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands off North Africa were the top destinations.

France, Spain and the United States have been the world’s three top tourist destinations for many years.

These Are The Airlines Returning To Israel - And Those That Are Not

Many airlines froze their routes to Israel because of the war with Hamas, but are now finding their way back to the Holy Land.

More and more airlines that have frozen their routes to and from Israel are bringing their activities out from hibernation in the last month, and announcing to the Israeli passenger - we are here.

Many airlines announced the return of operations to Israel - here is what to expect and who you can fly with.

Airlines that fly to Israel currently, and where they fly:

El Al (including Sun Dor): Amsterdam, Athens, Budapest, Boston, Bucharest, Bangkok, Berlin, Barcelona, ​​Dubai, Vienna, Venice, Warsaw, Geneva, Tbilisi, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Lisbon, Larnaca, Madrid, Moscow, Miami, Milan, Munich, Marseille, New York, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Phuket, Prague, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Chisinau, Krakow, Rome

Israir: Athens, Budapest, Bucharest, Batumi, Dubai, Varna, Tbilisi, Larnaca, Sofia, Prague, Chisinau.

Arkia: Athens, Budapest, Bucharest, Grenoble Batumi, Belgrade, Barcelona, ​​Grenoble, Larnaca, Milan, PragueFrom February: Sri Lanka, Amsterdam

Aegean Airlines: Athens

An El Al flight landed in Melbourne, Australia for the first time in April 2020. (credit: Walla)

Uzbekistan Airlines: Tashkent

Austrian Airlines: Vienna

Air France: Paris

Ethiopian Airlines: Addis Ababa

Etihad Airways: Abu Dhabi

High Sky: Chisinau

Hainan Airlines: Shenzhen

TAROM: Bucharest

Fly (TUS): Larnaca

Lot: Warsaw

Lufthansa: Munich and Frankfurt

Swiss: Zurich

Fly Dubai: Dubai

Airlines that announced that they are returning to fly to Israel in February:

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) from 2.8 to Baku

View of a ''Wizz Air'' flight, a Hungarian low-cost airline, taking off from Ben-Gurion Airport. September 03, 2014. (credit: MOSHE SHAI/FLASH90)

Air Seychelles: from 2.6 to Seychelles

Air Europa: from 2.22 to Madrid

Emirates: from 2.1 to Dubai

Blue Bird: from 2.1 to Athens

Georgian Airways: From 2.17 to Tbilisi

Transavia: from 2.1 to Paris

Smart Wings: from 2.1 to Prague

Airlines returning to fly to Israel in March

Iberia: from 3.1 to Madrid

EasyJet: from 3.1

Air India: from 3.1 to Mumbai

Eurowings: from 3.21 to Dusseldorf

American Airlines: from 3.21 to New York

Brussels Airlines: from 3.1 to Brussels

Gulf Air: from 3.30 to Manama, Bahrain

Wizz Air: from 3.1 to Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia, London, Krakow, Rome

United Airlines: from 3.2 to New York
KLM: from 3.1 to Amsterdam

Pegasus Airlines: from 3.1 to various destinations in Turkey

Finnair: from 3.30 to Helsinki

Cathay Pacific: from 3.28 to Hong Kong

Royal Air from Morocco: from 3.1 to Marrakesh

ITA: from 3.1 to Rome

Airlines returning to Israel in April

Air Baltic: from 4.1 to Riga

Air Canada: from 4.8 to Toronto

Emirates: from 4.1 to Dubai

Bulgaria Air: from 4.8 to Sofia

British Airways: from 4.1 to London

Delta Airlines: from 4.1 to New York

Virgin Atlantic: from 4.1 to London

Cyprus Airways: from 4.2 to Larnaca

Other extreme delays in returning to Israel

Air Malta, Air Serbia, and Norwegian Air will not return to Israel until further notice.

TAP, Turkish Airlines, and Royal Jordanian will not return to Israel until at least January 2025.

Korean Air: from 4.30 to Seoul

Vueling: from 3.2 to Barcelona

By WALLA! TOURISM

The Peninsula Hotels' Celebrated Global Art Programme,"Art In Resonance" Returns

The Peninsula, whose worldwide properties have long held partnerships with luminaries in the arts, has announced the return of its "Art in Resonance" programme, opening during Hong Kong Art Week. The relaunch will kick off with a collection of newly commissioned artworks from visionaries Kingsley Ng and Lachlan Turczan, which will be exhibited alongside pieces from The Peninsula's collection at the group's iconic Hong Kong flagship property. The exhibition will be open to the public.

Originally introduced by The Peninsula in 2019 in collaboration with its global cultural advisors Isolde Brielmaier and Bettina Prentice, "Art in Resonance" won wide acclaim for offering guests deeply immersive experiences in its hotels' respective destination cities. At its root, the commission-based art programme is designed to support the cultural eco-system by providing emerging artists with the funding, curatorial support and logistical capabilities that allow them to produce significant new public artworks.

"We are thrilled to bring back Art in Resonance, which has allowed our guests to engage with some of the world's most innovative artistic minds," said Gareth Roberts, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, The Peninsula's parent company. "It is particularly exciting to relaunch the programme in Hong Kong, a city that has experienced such a resurgence in vitality and creative energy."

A Dynamic, Thought-Provoking Exhibition

Starting in late March, visitors to The Peninsula Hong Kong will discover an inspiring collection of works. The first they will encounter is Hong Kong local Kingsley Ng's (b. 1980, Hong Kong) monumental sculpture Esmeralda, which will hover over the hotel's iconic façade. Ng describes the installation as "undulating between the physics of gravity and the buoyancy of air." According to the celebrated artist, the piece – named for one of Italo Calvino's fictional locations from his 1972 novel 'Invisible Cities' – is meant to be in dialogue with Hong Kong itself.

Also greeting guests this spring will be Lachlan Turczan's (b. 1993, Los Angeles) newly commissioned Harmonic Resonance - a kinetic sculpture that provides a mesmerising exploration of visible sound. The work features a parabolic mirror measuring over 1.6m in diameter will shape a shallow pool of water with a series of choreographed infrasonic tones that invite audience engagement. The low-frequency tones cause oscillating patterns to form on the surface of the pool – some of which appear to move in stop-motion.

Elise Morin's (b. 1978, Paris, France) glittering sculptural work SOLI, originally commissioned in 2019, has been significantly expanded by the artist especially for the Hong Kong exhibition. The work is newly augmented with an additional 4,000 crushed CDs - pulverized according to the security grade of their content. Morin's piece, resembling a whale breaching the ocean's surface, is a quiet commentary on the material burden of objects.

Another inspiring work included in the exhibit is Saya Woolfalk's (b. 1979, Gifu, Japan) Visionary Reality Portal, a digital portal for meditation and the contemplation of other worlds. The colourful, kaleidoscopic and multisensory video installation will be housed in a purpose-built room off street-level and open to the public. The piece, originally debuted at The Peninsula Paris in 2019, has also been further developed by the renowned Japanese-American artist to connect with viewers in Hong Kong.

"Giving artists like Elise Morin and Saya Woolfalk the freedom to further develop their pieces is one of the tenets of the Art in Resonance programme," said Bettina Prentice, co-curator of the Hong Kong exhibition. "Nothing is static - The Peninsula offers all of the programme's artists the opportunity to let their ideas evolve."

A Commitment to Contemporary Arts

The Peninsula has been committed to promoting the rich and vibrant cultural aspects of its properties' destination cities for generations by inviting its guests to engage with art through numerous channels. The group has hosted artist residencies; mounted enriching and culturally representative exhibits, talks, and symposia; and offered studio visits and workshops with local creators whose work exemplifies the distinctive flavour and energy of their home cities.

"Working with The Peninsula has been an extraordinary experience for me," said Kingsley Ng. "I feel privileged by the chance to partner with such a venerable brand, and to showcase my work to viewers in my cherished home city."

The exhibition artworks will remain at The Peninsula Hong Kong through May; after which they will travel regularly to other Peninsula properties, and be joined by additional, newly commissioned installations from local artists. For the duration of the exhibit, The Peninsula Hong Kong will offer visitors free access to all pieces, as well as guided tours, special dining experiences and other activations to highlight and pay homage to the artists and to the renewed vibrancy of the city.

More information can be found at The Peninsula's "Art in Resonance" programme webpage, www.peninsula.com/art.

Visit Philadelphia Giving Away 1500 Banned Books By Black Authors During Black History Month

To commemorate Black History Month, Visit Philadelphia launched Little Free(dom) Library, an initiative encouraging visitors and residents to explore Black history and narratives. Little Free(dom) Library is the third installment of Visit Philadelphia’s In Pursuit of A More Perfect Union series, a fresh take on how Philadelphia commemorates heritage months.

According to Penn America, more than 30 states have banned certain books by Black authors – both fiction and non-fiction – or otherwise deemed them inappropriate. In response, the Little Free(dom) Library initiative demonstrates Philadelphia's commitment, as the birthplace of the nation, to making these stories accessible and available to both visitors and residents.

Ms. Joyce Abbott and a Little Free(dom) Library. / Photo by R. Rabena for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

"Philadelphia strives to be a welcoming destination where every person can feel a sense of belonging,” said Angela Val, president and CEO, Visit Philadelphia. “We take pride in celebrating Philadelphia as the cradle of liberty, while also recognizing the complexity of its history. We want travelers and residents to know that in Philadelphia, Black history is American history, and Black stories are worth telling and sharing.”

The Little Free(dom) Library initiative includes:

15- and -30-second TV and radio spots, shot at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, featuring Ms. Joyce Abbott, Quinta Brunson’s sixth-grade teacher and namesake for Brunson’s Emmy Award-winning show Abbott Elementary

13 Little Free(dom) Library sites giving away 1,500 banned books by Black authors at visitor and neighborhood hubs across the city

A four-part social media video series with notable Philadelphians like Marc Lamont Hill, Dr. Christina Afia Harris and Solomon Jones reading passages from banned books

A dedicated page on visitphilly.com that will include visitor information for each Little Free(dom) Library location, a list of available books and Black-owned businesses to patronize before or after picking up a free book

“Visit Philadelphia implements a year-round marketing strategy that celebrates and highlights Philadelphia’s majority diverse population and actively invites diverse travelers to experience the destination,” said Neil Frauenglass, chief marketing officer at Visit Philadelphia. “Our Little Free(dom) Library initiative provides yet another opportunity for us to connect visitors to the values of our city and, especially in the lead up to the 250th anniversary of the country, continue exploring what it means to be American.”

Visit Philadelphia worked with integrated marketing agency Allen & Gerritsen to develop the TV and radio spots featuring Joyce Abbott that will run throughout February in more than 25 markets across the U.S. The $105,000 buy includes unskippable commercials on video and/or audio streaming platforms like Paramount, YouTube and iHeart. Digital and print ads will run regionally in The Philadelphia Tribune and radio spots will also run on WXPN and WURD.

"I'm excited to be part of Visit Philadelphia's Little Free(dom) Library initiative," Abbott said. "With over 30 years of experience as an educator in the Philadelphia public school system, ensuring students have access to Black history and stories holds great significance for me. I hope that individuals will find inspiration in the books they discover and deepen their understanding of the contributions of Black people in this country.

Little Free(dom) Library Banned Book Activation

In partnership with national nonprofit Little Free Library, Visit Philadelphia’s Little Free(dom) Library activation features 13 small library structures that will house banned books by Black authors.

Bold, vibrant artwork and uplifting expressions adorn each Little Free(dom) Library designed by local, self-taught artist Alloyius Mcilwaine. The Little Free(dom) Library sites work like the Little Free Libraries that have sprung up in communities across the country and function on an optional take-one-leave-one system.

“We are excited to partner with Visit Philadelphia on this new initiative,” said Greig Metzger, executive director, Little Free Library. “Part of our mission is to expand book access for all, and this activation does just that.”

The Little Free(dom) Library trail includes the following locations:

Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street

Columbia North YMCA, 1400 N. Broad Street

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, 2027 Fairmount Avenue

Faheem’s Hands of Precision, 2100 S. 20th Street

Frankford Community Development Corporation, 4667 Paul Street

Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street

Historic Germantown, 5501 Germantown Avenue

Johnson House Historic Site, 6306 Germantown Avenue

Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 419 S. 6th Street

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

The Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street

South Street Street Off Center, 407 South Street

Visit Philadelphia collaborated with local community leaders, organizations and small business owners to select the initial books available in the libraries. Visitors and residents can find a mix of banned or challenged, fiction and non-fiction books for adults, teens and children. Some of the titles include The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones, All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M Johnson and The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.

All books were purchased from Black-owned bookstores in the region including Black and Nobel, Hakim's Bookstore & Gift Shop, Harriet’s Bookshop, Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books and The Black Reserve Bookstore. The Free Library of Philadelphia created a resource page where people can find book descriptions and information about book banning in the United States.

Visit Philadelphia’s In Pursuit of A More Perfect Union series showcases Philadelphia as the premier welcoming and inclusive destination in the U.S. Previous installments include Drag Queen Story Time at Independence Hall and Hispanic Voices.

As the official destination marketing organization for the city, Visit Philadelphia works to honor the nation’s history, while also acknowledging that the Founding Fathers’ vision of America does not reflect how many of our values have evolved over time.

This series serves as an educational platform, aimed at bringing Americans closer to realizing a more perfect union. To learn more, please visit visitphilly.com/freedomlibrary.

Mary Cassatt at Work Opens May 18th At The Philadelphia Museum Of Art

A celebrated member of the French Impressionists, Pennsylvania-born Mary Cassatt challenged the conventional expectations of Philadelphia’s elite. In Paris, Cassatt committed herself to a career as a professional artist and made the social, intellectual, and working lives of modern women a core subject of her prints, paintings, and pastels. Though recognized in her lifetime for her intimate depictions of women and children, Cassatt has yet to be appreciated for her serious engagement with the realities of gender and labor in her portrayal of other traditionally feminine activities, such as embroidery, reading, or making social appearances.

The Bath, 1890–91, by Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926) (Art Institute of Chicago: Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection, 1932.1287) Image © Art Institute of Chicago

These depictions lie at the heart of Mary Cassatt at Work, which will present over 130 diverse works that follow the artist’s evolving practice and demonstrate her interest in the “serious work” of artmaking. The exhibition will present new findings about the materials she used and her processes—which were advanced for her era—as it coincides with a detailed technical study of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s significant Cassatt holdings.

Mary Cassatt at Work is the first major showing of the artist’s oeuvre since 1998–99. By considering her professionalism, her biography, and the wider Parisian world she inhabited, a richer and more complex picture of Cassatt develops, inviting contemporary conversations about gender, work, and artistic agency.

For more details, please visit: https://philamuseum.org/
Main Building 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19130 215-763-8100

Travelore News: JetBlue, Spirit Seek Expedited Appeal Of Ruling Blocking Merger

JetBlue Airways opens new tab and Spirit Airlines opens new tab are seeking an expedited appeal aimed at reversing a lower court ruling that blocked their $3.8 billion merger.

The airlines in a joint court filing asked the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the decision that they argue "disregards the benefits of the transaction to the majority of the flying public."

The airlines said if the appeal is not expedited, the court may have no opportunity to review the decision because the merger agreement includes an outside closing date of July 24.

"If the merger agreement terminates before this Court can issue its decision" benefits from the deal will be lost, they argued.

On Friday, JetBlue raised doubts about the merger deal, saying it might be unable to meet certain conditions required as part of the agreement for unspecified reasons.

JetBlue said it continues to evaluate options under the agreement and, unless the agreement is terminated, it would abide by its merger obligations. In response, Spirit said Friday there was no basis for terminating the merger agreement. It said it would continue to abide by its obligations and was expecting JetBlue to do the same.

Without the JetBlue deal, Spirit faces a rough road ahead as the ultra-low-cost carrier has grappled with weak demand in its key markets as it seeks to return to sustainable profitability. Some analysts have even suggested the company could face bankruptcy if it cannot shore up finances.

Earlier this month, a U.S. judge blocked the airline's planned merger with JetBlue, after finding that the proposed deal could threaten competition in the U.S. aviation market and harm ticket prices.

JetBlue said on Tuesday it was evaluating deeper cost cuts after the company forecast a fall in revenue and higher costs in the first quarter as it grapples with uneven travel demand.

Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Mark Potter

The Outing: The World’s Only LGBTQ+ Matchmaking Festival Returns To Ireland For Its 11th Year

The Inn at Dromoland has been confirmed as the host venue for the next five years of the world’s only LGTBQ+ matchmaking festival.

Now in its 11th year, The Outing is expected to attract more than 1,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight singles and couples from across Ireland and overseas to the County Clare venue this coming Valentine’s weekend from February 9th to 11th.

Organised in conjunction with The Outing Queer Arts Collective with support from Fáilte Ireland, Blacknight Solutions, Visit Clare, Limerick Pride, and Quare Clare, the award-winning festival is a fusion of music, comedy, ceilí bands, queer arts, and the best of Irish and international performers, drag artists and DJs. This year’s event is being hosted by “The Queen of Matchmaking”, Eddie McGuinness, and Victoria’s Secret.

Eddie McGuinness, who is the Festival Director of The Outing, commented, “We are delighted to have secured a lasting home for our festival and are excited about delivering an LGBTQ+ weekend like no other.”

“People have travelled from all over the world to our festival in previous years to enjoy pop-up clubs, drag performances, comedy, live music, arts, literary and film festivals and interactive events,” he added. “Of course, matchmaking plays a huge part in the festival. With more than a hundred relationships and two marriages, I have helped play a part in putting together our event in recent years. The Outing also acts as a celebration of the LGTBQ+ community, so whether you’re single or taken gay, trans, straight or bi, all are welcome to this fun weekend.”

Festival co-host Victoria’s Secret commented, “I am excited to escape to the West after what already feels like the longest January in record. Whether you’re coming to find love, mix and mingle with some new faces or just have a bop amongst like-minded people, there is something for everyone at The Outing. So, pop on something sparkly, shake off the January blues and come party with me. Well, it's Valentine's, after all.”

Drag queen and gay rights activist Panti Bliss, a longstanding supporter of the festival, said, “The Outing takes something quintessentially Irish and dips it in glitter. It opens up the idea of traditional Irishness to the LGBT community and says, actually, yes, you can be LGBT and still be as Irish.”

EuroPride Bid

The Outing organisers have also confirmed they are working with the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Shannon Chambers, Quare Clare and Limerick Pride to submit a bid to bring EuroPride to Limerick, Clare and the Mid-West Region in 2028, which would mark the first time that the pan-European international event has been held in Ireland. Attracting over 100,000 people from all over the world annually, EuroPride is hosted by a different European city each year.

According to Mr McGuinness, “Working with our partners in the Mid-West Region, we are hoping to bring LGBTQ+ tourists and activists from across the world to Limerick and Clare in 2028, which would also coincide with the 35th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. Limerick is well accustomed to hosting large-scale international events, and we are confident we can follow in the footsteps of Amsterdam, London, Lisbon, Copenhagen and Madrid in showcasing our vibrant LGTBQ+ community here in Ireland, as this would be the 1st time EuroPride would come to the island of Ireland.”

Karen Ronan, General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, “The Bureau is proud to support The Outing and their partner organisations in their bid to secure this prestigious event for the Mid-West which, should it be successful, would mark a landmark moment for the Pride movement in Ireland. Bringing the event to Limerick and Clare also would deliver a significant economic boost to the wider region and would follow on from the hosting of the World Rally Championship and the Ryder Cup.”

The Outing 2024 takes place at The Inn at Dromoland, Newmarket-On-Fergus, County Clare on February 9th to 11th, 2023. Visit www.theouting.ie for ticket and event details.