Malcolm Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 10 Most ANNOYING Habits of American Tourists in Europe (msn.com) The title is misleading as the commentator singles out annoying habits of tourists (not just Americans) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted August 15 Author Share Posted August 15 More Quebec demands federal quota system to relocate asylum seekers to other provinces | CBC News Loaded Montreal Quebec demands federal quota system to relocate asylum seekers to other provinces | CBC News Quebec demands federal quota system to relocate asylum seekers to other provinces Quotas would ensure asylum seekers contribute to 'economic vitality of all regions,' province argues Holly Cabrera · CBC News · Posted: Aug 15, 2024 11:13 AM MDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago In a letter addressed to federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller, Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette recommended that Ottawa set quotas for provinces to receive asylum seekers. (Karoline Boucher/The Canadian Press) Quebec is calling on Ottawa to introduce a nationwide quota system to evenly distribute asylum seekers across Canada. In a letter sent to federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller on July 22, Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette recommended that Ottawa set quotas for provinces to receive asylum seekers based on their demographic weight, their capacity to house newcomers as well as their "historic effort" to welcome them. Fréchette met Thursday with a committee established through the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration to discuss redistribution options. The story was first reported by the Journal de Québec. In July, at the Council of the Federation in Halifax, the provinces called for a "fair distribution" of asylum seekers and demanded that Ottawa consider each province and territories' resources to support them. Quebec Premier François Legault has often referred to the influx of asylum seekers in the province as a "national emergency," saying Quebec no longer has the means to integrate more non-permanent residents. The day Ottawa pledged $750 million to assist Quebec in supporting newcomers, Legault attributed "100 per cent of the housing problem" in the province to the increase in non-permanent residents. As of June 19, Quebec reported 597,140 non-permanent residents living in the province. Of that sum, 189,962 were asylum seekers — an amount that represents a little more than half of the total number of asylum seekers in Canada (363,312), according to Quebec's Immigration Ministry. However, Ottawa contests those numbers. Limiting work permits provincially In an effort to ensure asylum seekers go to their assigned location, Fréchette is urging the federal government to restrict their work permits by province. The restriction would apply until the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada renders a decision on the refugee claim. The letter also asks Ottawa to relocate asylum seekers to provinces and territories based on factors including their language skills and whether they have relatives living in a given province. "This system would make it possible to welcome asylum seekers with dignity and ensure that they can contribute to the economic vitality of all regions of Canada," the letter said. Immigration fuels population growth across Quebec, statistics institute says U.S. speeding up asylum claim processing along the Canadian border Creating a countrywide network would alleviate the pressure experienced by Quebec and Ontario — provinces that received a large number of asylum seekers — and prevent non-permanent residents from "systematically heading toward the metropolitan regions of Montreal and Toronto," the minister argues. If an asylum seeker were to settle in a different area than the one the federal government assigned, the person would have to assume all accommodation costs upon their arrival, the letter says. To incentivize provinces to follow the system, Quebec suggests that Ottawa create a new federal transfer tied to an information-sharing system that would help offset some of the costs of services for asylum seekers. The letter also emphasizes Quebec's repeated demand for Ottawa to tighten visa requirements. It says 17,490 asylum claims were filed in the province between Jan. 1 and March 31. Nearly half of them (8,070) were filed by claimants who entered Canada with a visitor visa Most people seeking asylum in Quebec are from India and Bangladesh, according to the province. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted September 2 Author Share Posted September 2 RegisterSign In Home News Sport Business Innovation Culture Travel Earth Video Live Málaga tourism: 'People feel the city is collapsing' 15 hours ago Share Guy Hedgecoe BBC News Reporting fromMalaga Guy Hedgecoe Kike España says with so many tourists Málaga feels like a theme park Kike España gazes across Málaga’s Plaza de la Merced. It’s late morning and it's still a peaceful spot at this time of day - jacaranda trees fill the square, an obelisk monument sits at its centre and on the far side is the house where Pablo Picasso was born. But it’s the city’s tourists, many of whom are already gathering in the host of nearby cafés, who concern Kike. “The situation is so saturated that Málaga has really reached a turning point at which people feel that the city is collapsing,” he says. “It’s the same feeling you have when you enter a theme park,” he adds. “There is a stream of people that are consuming the city and not really inhabiting it.” Kike is an urban planner and a local activist with the Málaga Tenants’ Union, which has been campaigning for a change in how the southern Spanish city manages tourism. Getty Images One banner carried by protestors in Málaga read "Málaga to live, not to survive" The organisation led a protest in late June in which thousands of local people took to the streets to voice their concern at the negative impact that tourism is having on their city, including pushing up housing costs, gentrification and crowds. And it’s not just Málaga. Spaniards have been protesting throughout the summer for the same reasons in other major tourist destinations, including Barcelona, Alicante and the Canary and Balearic Islands. In April, a group of activists on Tenerife staged a three-week hunger strike against the building of new tourist megaprojects. In Barcelona, demonstrators fired at foreign visitors with water pistols and among the slogans daubed on their banners were: “Tourism kills the city” and “Tourists go home.” Spain first established itself as a tourist hub more than half a century ago, as northern Europeans started to flock to its coastline and islands. Today, the industry represents about 13% of Spanish GDP and, having bounced back from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is surpassing records in terms of both revenue and arrivals. Guy Hedgecoe Spain's coastline has been attracting northern Europeans for more than 50 years In 2023, the country received 85 million foreign visitors and more than 90 million are expected this year, putting it close behind France, the world’s most popular tourist destination. José Luis Zoreda, president of the Exceltur, a tourism industry association, prefers to talk about the amount of revenue the industry generates – €200bn (£171bn) in direct and indirect activity this year, he estimates – rather than the number of visitors. He also highlights how tourism has ensured that the Spanish economy has outperformed most of its European neighbours in the wake of Covid-19. “We have been responsible in the last few years for the most important percentage of growth of our economy,” he says. “In 2023, we were responsible for 80% of the whole GDP growth of Spain.” So the sheer size of the tourism sector and its strong growth have driven the overall expansion of the Spanish economy. But there is a growing belief that the cost of such success is too high and the wave of recent protests has created the sense of a tipping point. Many Spaniards are now convinced that the towns and cities they inhabit are catering more for visitors than for residents. “Tourism was perceived as a positive economic activity that is a huge part of our GDP, but the numbers have become so huge in terms of international arrivals that we are now seeing the negative impacts, especially in cities,” says Paco Femenia-Serra, lecturer in tourism and geography at Madrid’s Complutense University. “Tourism is competing for space and the number of people out on the streets is unbearable for many residents.” Guy Hedgecoe Locals say tourism results in small businesses being replaced by chains Besides making these places less pleasant, locals say tourism has also pushed many smaller businesses out of the centre of cities. In their place have come franchise restaurants, bars and shops - and prices have risen. But the most-cited problem is that of housing. Spain’s biggest tourist destinations have large numbers of short-term rental properties aimed at tourists. A recent study by El País newspaper found that several areas of Málaga had the highest proportion of Airbnb properties in Spain. A quarter of all apartments in the area around the Plaza de la Merced are dedicated to tourist rental. Owners of apartments are able to charge more for short-term rentals than they would charge longer-term tenants and this has the effect of pushing up prices across the board. Locals say it is difficult to find an apartment for less than €1,200-1,300 per month in the centre of Málaga. With the average salary in the surrounding Andalusia region at just €1,600 per month, they are being priced out of their city. “If the people of Málaga don’t have somewhere to live, who will provide services for the tourists?” asked Isabel Rodríguez, housing minister for Spain's governing Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Speaking at a housing forum in the city in July, she continued: “Where will the waiters who serve us a glass of wine and a plate of sardines live?” As Ms Rodríguez’s comments suggest, Spain’s political class is now starting to grapple with the tourism conundrum. Catalonia and the Balearic Islands have already introduced a “tourist tax”, charging a sliding sum of up to €4 per person per day, depending on the type of accommodation used. Palma de Mallorca has sought to limit numbers of arrivals by sea, with no more than three cruise liners allowed to dock at the city per day, only one of them carrying more than 5,000 passengers. Guy Hedgecoe Spain expects to receive more than 90 million foreign visitors this year Measures are also being taken to tackle the tourist accommodation issue. This year, the regional government in Andalusia has handed town and city halls the power to introduce their own controls on short-term rentals. In the north-east, Barcelona has already announced its intention to revoke all of the 10,000 or so tourist accommodation licences currently in circulation in 2028. Mr Femenia-Serra describes the reining in of Spanish tourism as “a very tricky problem” given the economic weight of the industry but he believes restrictions are needed. “If we want to talk about sustainable tourism or a lower number of tourists we should discuss limits on activity and higher restrictions and more regulation of the sector, which until now has been kind of free to act,” he says. He suggests introducing limits on the number of flights to certain destinations as a possible measure. In Málaga, Kike España wants to see caps on rental prices and efforts to provide more housing for locals as immediate measures to counter the tourism crisis. While he insists that he and his fellow activists are not opposed to tourism, just the way it is being managed in Spain, he says he also hopes the protests will continue. “We are against city models that only focus on tourism,” he says. “We cannot lose all the energy and complexity and heterogeneity of our cities.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted September 7 Author Share Posted September 7 And now higher entry costs for tourists New Zealand triples its tourist tax Yet another holiday destination is hiking its tourist tax — nearly threefold (msn.com) New Zealand is nearly tripling the tax it levies on tourists entering the country. As Touria Izri reports, New Zealand is the latest country to evaluate the impacts of tourism. The new costs of travel that tourists should know 6 March 2024 Share Larry Bleiberg Features correspondent John Seaton Callahan/Getty Images (Credit: John Seaton Callahan/Getty Images) Tourist taxes are now as much a part a trip as selfies and souvenir shops. And more are on the way. Hammer Tsui remembers the first time she realised she was taxed for being a tourist. She and her husband were visiting Barcelona when she discovered that overnight visitors and cruise passengers were required to pay a surcharge. The fee, introduced in 2012, will climb to €3.25 a day on 1 April 2024, meaning a couple staying a week will pay more than €45. "It left me feeling disheartened," said the Hong Kong-based blogger, who documents her travels with her husband. "I've always believed that tourists contribute significantly to the local economy and should be welcomed with open arms." The tax, she thought, "seemed unfair and somewhat unethical". But whether travellers realise it or not, tourist taxes are now as much a part a trip as selfies and souvenir shops. And more are on the way. Last month Bali began charging international visitors an entry tax of 150,000 rupiah (£7.50). Venice recently imposed a fee of up to €5 for day visitors and Hawaii's governor has introduced legislation that would charge visitors a US$25 "climate tax". Seville has even just announced a plan to fund the conservation of its popular Plaza de Espana by charging visitors to enter. This is not a new thing, however. Countries have long taxed travellers by requiring them to buy tourist visas. Airports add fees to airplane tickets; local governments regularly impose hotel and car rental levies; and popular destinations with tourist fees dot the globe, from Bhutan to Belize, Mallorca to Malaysia. Gonzalo Azumendi/Getty Images Tourists visiting Seville may soon have to pay a fee to explore its famous Plaza de Espana (Credit: Gonzalo Azumendi/Getty Images) But the recent surge in destinations imposing or raising tourist taxes reflects the ever-increasing pressures of climate change and overtourism – and they look set to stay. Money raised from all these taxes are often added to a general budget, but many entities also earmark a portion to promote tourism. In some cases, the charges support sustainability initiatives, like protecting wildlife, rebuilding ruins and even supporting musicians. Academics say the fees make sense because travellers get to visit places without paying to develop or maintain them, while residents face the burden of litter and crowds. "The tourism industry 'freeloads' on the public realm," said Harold Goodwin, senior fellow in the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University. "What is the argument for tourists and day visitors not contributing?" Increasingly taxes also aim to limit the number of visitors. "In the past there was a sense that the more tourists the better, and that every additional visitor created an additional benefit. More recently, destinations are realising there is a finite number of visitors that can be accommodated," said Justin Francis, who partnered with Goodwin to start tour company Responsible Travel, whose trips are designed to reduce the harmful impacts of tourism. Experts say if travellers are required to pay a special tax, it's important they know how the money's used. A 2019 study in Italy's Puglia region showed that visitors who were told a fee would help protect the city they were visiting were more accepting of the levy, and were willing to pay nearly five times more. A few regions have taken this message to heart, aiming to be transparent with how they spend the money they raise. Iceland uses its accommodation tax of up to €7 a night to support tourism and sustainability. The Icelandic Tourism Board website details how the money has been spent, showing funding for hundreds of projects such as building infrastructure for whale watching, maintaining hiking paths near natural hot springs and adding toilets to a glacier research area. In Austin, Texas, visitors can literally hear what has been done with their money. Proceeds from a portion of the city's accommodation tax support a "Live Music Fund", which provides grants to musicians, concerts and festivals. And after Spain's Balearic Islands introduced a fee in 2016, it highlighted resulting projects including dune preservation, a new pedestrian walkway in Ibiza and the restoration of medieval walls in the city of Alcúdia. Some businesses have gone as far as self-imposing taxes for what they say is the good of the planet. Maple Leaf Adventures, an expedition cruise line operating along Canada's British Columbia coast, has joined other operators to collect a C$200 sustainability fee per passenger. "This is a 'representative amount' but not nearly the true actual cost to be a responsible operator," said Maureen Gordon, the cruise line's co-owner, noting that the money goes to conservation groups, sustainable operations and Indigenous communities. Still, critics wonder if it's elitist to charge a tax that might price some travellers out of visiting. "I believe there are more equitable and effective ways to address issues like overtourism without burdening travellers unfairly," said Tsui. "Ultimately, I hope for a balance where tourism taxes are used judiciously to support sustainable tourism practices while still welcoming visitors." Whatever your view, the charges have become an important revenue source for governments and aren't likely to go away. For example, Barcelona estimates it will collect up to €100m in 2024. These taxes, Francis notes, "are very effective in raising funding". --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted September 8 Author Share Posted September 8 Photo: Shutterstock© Photo: Shutterstock The iconic Trevi Fountain in Rome, a beloved tourist attraction known for its stunning architecture and the tradition of tossing coins for good luck, may soon require visitors to pay a fee. Overwhelming Number of Tourists Local officials are considering implementing a ticketing system that would charge tourists for access, while allowing residents of Rome to enter for free, according to Ziare. Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s councilor for tourism, has put forth the proposal, suggesting that a reservation system be established for tourists looking to visit the fountain. This move comes as the city grapples with the overwhelming number of visitors that flock to the site, which has become a symbol of the Eternal City. Tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain has been a popular tradition since the 19th century, with visitors believed to be ensuring their return to Rome. According to the lore, one must throw a coin over their left shoulder using their right hand while facing away from the fountain. This ritual was immortalized in the 1954 American film “Three Coins in the Fountain,” which further popularized the practice. Also read Knife Attack in Milan: Ultras Boss Stabs Mafia Member Fee for Tourists Currently, the fountain generates about €1.5 million ($1,605,000) annually from coins thrown in by tourists, which translates to roughly €3,000 ($3,210) per day. Related video: Rome wants to charge tourists to visit the Trevi Fountain - here’s why (Dailymotion) However, these funds do not contribute to Rome’s municipal budget; instead, they are donated to Caritas, a Catholic charity that assists the city’s impoverished residents, including the homeless. Onorato has suggested that the fee for tourists could be set at a symbolic €1, making it accessible while helping manage the flow of visitors. The city is in discussions about the feasibility of this plan as it seeks to balance the needs of tourists with the preservation of its cultural landmarks. Also read Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted September 10 Author Share Posted September 10 1 / 10 Slides Popular Greek islands set to launch visitor tax to combat overtourism (msn.com) Popular Greek islands set to launch visitor tax to combat overtourism The Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos are the latest destinations to introduce visitor taxes in an effort to combat overtourism. The new tourist tax will see cruise ship passengers charged a levy of €20 (£16.88) each for disembarking during peak summer, with the money raised to be invested back into local infrastructure (Picture: Getty Images) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 These countries are just taking a lesson from big corporations and 'monetizing' their 'commodities'. Who knows what's next? Maybe they'll charge for every bag brought in? Charge extra for snacks? The revenue streams are endless..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted September 18 Author Share Posted September 18 Published Sept. 18, 2024 9:47 a.m. MDT Share Link X Reddit LinkedIn Email The Government of Saskatchewan has said it will not accept asylum seekers under a recent federal proposal to relocate them across Canada. Currently, the majority of the 235,000 are in Ontario and Quebec – but the two provinces are having difficulty coping with the large number. Ottawa wants all provinces to accept a share but a growing number of provinces are resisting. Saskatchewan is one of them. RELATED STORIES Sask. immigration draws based on specific countries of origin could be 'problematic': advocate Sask. immigration employee suspected of involvement in illegal immigration scheme Sask. immigration nominations to increase 42% by 2025, province says "No, I mean what we have said all the way along is that regular and lawful immigration is something that we are open to and beyond open to,” Trade and Economic Development Minister Jeremy Harrison. “That's something that we've encouraged and I think has been a great benefit to the province. That's what we want to continue on that path." Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device(opens in a new tab) Saskatchewan's share under the federal proposal would be about 7,000 people. The asylum seekers are primarily from Mexico, India and Nigeria. "I would be concerned. I'm not sure that the public are fully supportive of those who perhaps have claimed asylum on some spurious grounds,” Harrison added. A growing list of provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are taking issue with the idea. "It's not fair to the asylum seekers to move them around the country into areas that are not able to manage," New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said. Ottawa says there are levers that it could use with the provinces. Saskatchewan says it's willing to talk but believes Ottawa should not attempt to solve its problems on the backs of provinces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted Thursday at 02:16 PM Author Share Posted Thursday at 02:16 PM From Welcome Mat to Warning Sign: Canada’s Immigration Opinion U-Turn (msn.com) For years, Canada was known as one of the most welcoming countries for immigrants. In fact, a big survey in 2019 said the country was the friendliest place for newcomers out of 145 countries. However, in 2023, a survey revealed that more Canadians started worrying about bringing in too many immigrants. This article digs into why so many Canadians are changing their minds about immigration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 4 hours ago Author Share Posted 4 hours ago International student asylum claims surged in 2023, data show This is an absolute indicator that the system is broken, Loaded: 12.51% Play Current Time 0:01 / Duration 1:50 Quality Settings Captions Fullscreen Global News Nearly 13K international students applied for asylum in Canada this year, data shows Unmute 0 View on Watch The number of international students applying for asylum in Canada appeared to shoot up dramatically in 2023, government figures show — and is on track to be even higher this year. It comes after Immigration Minister Marc Miller called the increase an "alarming trend." Data provided to Global News by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows a breakdown of asylum applications from people on study permits from 2018 to 2023. In 2023, a total of 13,075 students with study permits made asylum claims. That number was more than double the 5,290 seen in 2022. In 2018, that number sat at 2,230. That number rose to 4,040 in 2019, before falling to 3,065 in 2020 and then rising slightly to 3,425 in 2021. Last week on The West Block, Miller told Mercedes Stephenson that those claimants are using the international student program as a "backdoor entry into Canada," often to lower their tuition fees. Miller called on post-secondary institutions to improve their screening and monitoring practices. “There’s a growing number, Mercedes, and it’s frankly quite alarming given the volumes of people that come to this country, in theory, with the proper financial capacity to live and to pay their tuition fees, which are four times what Canadians pay,” the minister said. Video: Trudeau says ‘push back’ needed against international students using asylum for Canadian citizenship This year, the highest number of claims came in August with 1,785 claimants on student visas or study permit extensions applying for refugee status in Canada. More on Canada Former Canadian politician suspected of working for foreign government: CSIS Canada begins commercially assisted departures from Lebanon Is the CRA doing a good enough job? The agency wants to hear from you Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday Canada had a moral obligation to offer asylum to those fleeing violence and persecution, but to ensure the system wasn't being misused. “Our capacity to do that means we need to properly be able to identify who needs (the) most help, who is there as a true asylum seeker... Other people using the asylum path as a shortcut to gain Canadian permanent residency or citizenship is something that we need to continue to push back against,” Trudeau told reporters at the United Nations. A spokesperson for IRCC told Global News in a statement that the growing number of conflicts and crises has led to an increase in asylum claims and that applications fluctuate every month for various reasons. "Under the law, anyone seeking asylum in Canada is entitled to fair treatment," the spokesperson wrote. "However, there is no guarantee that a claimant will be allowed to stay in Canada. Each claim for asylum is decided individually, according to the evidence and arguments presented, and in compliance with Canadian immigration laws." Miller told Global News that his department was studying the issue of international students making asylum claims and suggested further reforms to the program were being explored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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