UN WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER | International tourism recovers pre-pandemic levels in 2024

With 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded globally, 2024 marked the recovery of international tourism from the worst crisis in the sector’s history. A majority of destinations welcomed more international tourists in 2024 than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, while visitor spending also continued to grow strongly. For 2025, more growth is predicted.

Rhodes

July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…

GREECE | A modest exploration of Piraeus

July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…

Spain – Andorra – Catalonia – Occitania – Andalusia 2023

In 2023 I ‘rediscovered’ the for Belgians traditional holiday destinations of France and Spain. And in France, I mostly stayed in what was traditionally more Latin or Iberian than the France which we associate with Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, Brittany, Normandy or the Champagne. In 2023, I explored areas with a more or less fiercely independent…

REVIEW | TUIfly Fly Deluxe Málaga to Antwerp

Six days. Five overnight stays in five cities in Spain. Lunch in Paris. Stopover in Barcelona. Then Córdoba, Seville, Granada and Málaga. An Andalusia Whirlwind Tour where we visit the Mezquita and the Alhambra. We’re touring Andalusia in October 2023 to follow the trend of travelling to hot spots outside summer, as we did with…

Mister Gay Europe 2025 to be chosen during Pride Amsterdam

In 2025, Mister Gay Europe will be chosen during Pride Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which is held between 26 July and 3 August 2025. The contest will be produced by Bram Bierkens, which has been organising Mister Gay Belgium for ten years.

Mr Gay Europe 2026 contest to cruise with VACAYA at summer’s end

In 2026, the Mr Gay Europe contest will take place on a gay cruise, specifically a VACAYA cruise. “The finals will take place on board an all-LGBT+ cruise spanning nine days in late summer 2026 alongside the world’s leading LGBT+ vacation company, VACAYA”, the press release says.