A new way to view the Bahamas on Google Maps Bahamas. Photo: Pixabay/AndreaM78 A new project will help capture more than 2 million 360-degree images of the islands of The Bahamas. The Google Street View Coverage Project, led by World Travel in 360, will have several street view equipped vehicles with mounted cameras travel on roadways across The Bahamas to capture the images. “We are excited to collaborate with World Travel in 360 and smooth a path for Google Street View to immortalize our islands with 360-degree imagery on Google Maps,” said the Bahamas Tourism Minister Chester Cooper. “Access and engagement are bedrock principles of tourism success. This project will make it easy for travelers from around the world to size up the beauty and wonders of The Bahamas from wherever they are.” The imagery will cover more than 3,729 miles of key tourist areas, including on the country’s [...]

American Travelers are d riving a Tourism Boom on the Caribbean Island of Curacao It was just a few years ago that the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao was a bit off the radar of American travelers. Arrivals from the US paled in comparison to those from the island’s traditional stronghold in The Netherlands. Now, almost three years after the arrival of Sandals in the summer of 2022, the watershed in the history of the island’s tourism, Curacao is becoming a true hotspot for American travelers. After a record-breaking 2024, Curacao arrivals continue to surge, with 73,289 visitors in January — a sizable 20 percent increase over the same month last year. That included a truly sizzling 30 percent increase in arrivals from the United States, with 17,708 visitors — which represented a jump of 13,604 arrivals. The island has more airlift from the US than ever, including the significant return [...]

UN Tourism opens call for Best Tourism Villages 2025 UN Tourism has opened applications for the 2025 edition of its prestigious Best Tourism Villages initiative. This initiative marks a continued commitment to advancing rural tourism as a catalyst for sustainable development and inclusion, while celebrating the rich tapestry of cultural and natural heritage, community values, and sustainable practices that make these destinations unique. Since its inception in 2021, the initiative has gained global recognition. Across the previous four editions, UN Tourism has received more than 800 applications from over 100 countries. Today, the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages Network includes 254 members worldwide: over 180 villages recognized as Best Tourism Villages and 70 participating in the Upgrade Programme, representing almost 60 countries across five world regions. The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism celebrates rural destinations where tourism serves as a catalyst for opportunity, cultural preservation, and sustainable growth UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab [...]