Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, the capital Seoul, the historic city…
Tag: Airbnb
City of Antwerp prepares crackdown on Airbnb growth amid complaints in Sint-Andries
The City of Antwerp is taking steps to limit the expansion of Airbnb properties in the city, as local authorities respond to increasing complaints from residents and growing concerns about the impact on housing availability.
Tourism Flanders to tackle illegal Airbnb accommodations amidst housing shortage reality
Holiday accommodations will soon need to submit a conformity certificate from their local council before they can be recognized by Tourism Flanders (Toerisme Vlaanderen). The Flemish Government is strengthening its oversight in a bid to reduce the number of illegal short-term rentals, which includes a growing number of Airbnb accomodations, the world’s favourite tourism villain…
Belgians book Asia, vintage travel and boutique hotels for spring and summer 2025
Overtourism? Inflation? Worrying world events? What are those? According to the Association of Flemish Travel Agencies or Vereniging Vlaamse Reisbureaus (VVR) Belgians have already booked more holidays in 2025 compared to the same period last year.
SPAIN | 94 million international visitors and €108.7 billion tourism income in 2024
Spain‘s tourism industry experienced an unprecedented year in 2024, breaking records with 94 million international visitors. The country is a prime example of an area struggling with overtourism. Vilified by citizens, but a major pillar of the economy and the welfare and prosperity of the kingdom.
2025: Overtourism overdose?
On 1 January 2024 we wrote about how rising prices affect travel. Not only the price of flights, but also the price of activities. Pricing was a topic the year before, 2023. In 2024, conventional and social media dug into the issue of overtourism. Articles about locals protesting, Instagrammers posting about big crowds in Japan…
Are there too many hotels in Antwerp?
At the start of December 2024, Antwerp welcomed a brand new hotel: a Motel One at Oever, in the city centre near St. Anne’s Pedestrian Tunnel (Sint-Annavoetgangerstunnel). And a new Van der Valk Hotel is readying a space near City Park (Stadspark). But the Antwerp Hotel Association believes that too many hotels are being added,…
ANTWERP 2025-2030 | City of Antwerp wants more tourists on weekdays, historic trams and it promises to tackle Airbnb overtourism
On Saturday 14 December 2024, Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Kathleen Van Brempt (Vooruit) presented ‘Allemaal Antwerpenaar‘ or ‘All Antwerpians‘, the City of Antwerp governing agreement for the 2025-2030 term. On Sunday 15 December, the parties ratified the document and the Council of Mayor and Aldermen was presented.
Spain demands personal data from all tourists
As of today, Monday 2 December 2024, tourists in Spain will be required to provide more personal information under a new regulation. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the measure is “justified in the public interest for the security of citizens”. The measure applies to foreign visitors and domestic – i.e. Spanish – tourists…
REVIEW | Feels Like Home (FLH) Restauradores Elegant Place, Lisbon apartment
Easter Holiday 2024. Danny and Sam visited Porto in February, I visited the capital, Lisbon, in April with Steve, Philippe and Nicolas. I had my free week during a school holiday and as the boys work in education, I made the best of it. We chose Portugal for its convenience and our hope for fair…
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