And other travel news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: locals fire squirt guns at tourists (again); a woman has an epic meltdown in Milan over excess baggage; and the Trump administration proposes another 36 countries for a U.S. travel ban.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
MORE PROTESTS IN EUROPE AGAINST OVERTOURISM
In three European countries, residents took to the streets last weekend to protest overtourism. In Barcelona, squirt guns reappeared and visitors outside a Louis Vuitton store became the target. Marchers also moved down the famous Golden Mile, chanting, “tourists go home.” In Mallorca, locals stopped a tourist bus on Saturday and hung a banner along its side. Genoa, Italy, saw protesters walking with suitcases, while in Lisbon, demonstrators carried an effigy of St. Anthony, the city’s patron saint, to the site of an upcoming hotel.
Groups from Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal met in Barcelona in April for a conference organized by the Southern European Network Against Touristification, leading to the coordinated protests. These destinations say they are overwhelmed by tourists and that their quality of life is severely impacted. Barcelona has demanded better protections from overtourism for years, and other cities have begun similar campaigns.
Related: If You’re Traveling to Spain, Expect More Tourism Protests
NO.2
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MAY ADD 36 MORE COUNTRIES TO TRAVEL BAN
The Trump administration is considering expanding its travel ban to include 36 additional countries, according to a memo reviewed by The Washington Post. The countries are being given 60 days to meet new State Department requirements. The list includes Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.
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The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sent to U.S. diplomats working with these countries. Cited reasons include government fraud, a high number of visa overstays, citizenship by monetary investment, or antisemitic activity in the United States. The list would expand on the previous ban, which included 12 countries.
NO.3
AIR INDIA DREAMLINER TURNS BACK DAYS AFTER CRASH KILLS 241 PASSENGERS
An Air India Dreamliner from Hong Kong to New Delhi turned back an hour into the flight due to mechanical issues. The incident occurred less than a week after an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed, leaving one survivor. In that incident, the Dreamliner descended within a minute after takeoff, striking dormitories at a teaching hospital. A total of 242 people were on board, including crew members, and only one survivor walked away with minor injuries. There were additional fatalities on the ground; at least 270 lives were lost.
The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 256 seats, was delivered to the airline 11 years ago. Among the passengers were 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the United Kingdom, seven from Portugal, and one from Canada. More than 90 bodies have been identified through DNA testing, with others still undergoing identification.
Investigators from India, the United States, and the United Kingdom are working to determine the cause of the crash, a process that may take months. The black box has been recovered and will help piece together the sequence of events.
NO.4
COUPLE BREAKS VAN GOGH-INSPIRED CHAIR IN ITALIAN MUSEUM
Verona’s Palazzo Maffei museum has released CCTV footage of a tourist seriously damaging a chair inspired by a Van Gogh painting. The video shows a woman posing for a picture with the chair. When the man takes his turn, he falls, breaking the two legs and the seat. The couple then left the scene without informing authorities. Their identities remain unknown.
The chair was designed by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and was inspired by Van Gogh’s famous painting of a chair. Created between 2006 and 2007, the chair is covered in hundreds of crystals. The artwork had a sign asking visitors not to touch it and was set on a pedestal so it would not be mistaken for a regular chair.
The incident occurred in April, and initially, the museum was concerned the chair could not be restored. However, it has since been repaired and returned to display. The museum stated that art should be loved. “A special thanks to all of you who walk through the museum’s rooms every day with care, attention and wonder.”
NO.5
WOMAN THROWS A TANTRUM AT AIRPORT
At Milan Malpensa Airport, a woman was filmed throwing a tantrum before her flight. The incident took place June 8, when she was informed her carry-on bag exceeded the weight limit. She was asked to either reduce weight or pay more, but instead chose a third option: screaming and kicking on the floor. Her meltdown has since gone viral. It was reported that she was rebooked on another flight after she calmed down.
@dailymail A passenger threw an embarrassing tantrum rolling around the ground – because her hand luggage was too heavy to take onboard. The Chinese tourist had reached the boarding gate when staff checked her carry-on suitcase at the airport. They told her to pay extra or throw away some of the contents, sparking an allmighty meltdown in front of astonished travellers. Read more at DailyMail.com 🎥 Viral Press #milan #chinese #airport #luggage #suitcase #meltdown #tantrum ♬ original sound – Daily Mail
