Art & Culture

In October 2025, Japan introduced a sweeping update to its tourism tax policy, affecting both domestic and international travelers. The new system imposes nightly fees ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥10,000 (approximately $6.50 to $65 USD) depending on the location, accommodation type, and season. While the move is designed to combat over tourism and fund infrastructure upgrades, it’s also reshaping how travellers approach budgeting, itinerary planning, and cultural etiquette. As rep

In March 2025, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) approved a major revision to its Destination Accreditation Manual, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of sustainable travel. These updates reflect the growing complexity of tourism’s environmental and cultural impact and the need for smarter, more inclusive tools to measure it. From AI-powered carbon tracking to indigenous stewardship benchmarks, the new standards offer a blueprint for destinations seeking to

In July 2025, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee convened in Paris for its 47th session and inscribed 26 new properties to the World Heritage List. These additions span continents and categories—24 cultural, four natural, and two mixed sites—each recognized for their “outstanding universal value.” For travellers, historians, and conservationists, the new list is more than a catalogue, it’s a call to explore, protect, and understand the world’s shared legacy. As reported by Wan