In The News

Deutsche Welle: Turkey's Referendum Result Could Scare Off Investors

Rolf Wenkel April 18, 2017
Turkish voters narrowly approved a referendum, by 51 percent, to replace its parliamentary system with a strong presidency. That could cement power for the current president over the next decade, though opposition leaders object to last-minute changes in voting procedures. Investors will watch closely how political leaders handle the transition as well as minorities, including Kurds who make up...

Caixin: US Hospitals See Opportunities in China

Coco Feng April 17, 2017
China’s growing middle class increasingly seeks state-of-the-art medical treatment, with about 500,000 Chinese traveled overseas for medical treatment in 2016. Japan, South Korea and the United States were the leading destinations, but more foreign hospitals are headed to China. “Two American hospitals have become the latest addition to a growing list of about 100 foreign clinics that have...

Phys.org: Indonesia Vows Action After UK Cruise Ship Ruins Coral Reef

Awa Mulalinda March 16, 2017
The tourism industry relies on environmental wonders and wildlife, but a 4,200-ton British-owned cruise ship carrying birdwatchers struck and damaged a pristine coral reef in Indonesia at low tide. Attempting to remove the vessel caused more damage. “Raja Ampat in eastern Indonesia has long been a top attraction for intrepid travellers and avid divers, home to palm-fringed islands surrounded by...

Chinese Are Celebrating Lunar New Year by Escaping China

Dong Lyu and Bruce Einhorn January 27, 2017
More than 6 million passengers are flying out of China during the weeklong holiday that begins January 28, mostly to nearby Asian countries like Japan and Thailand. Thousands of expatriates also travel to the country for celebrations of the traditional Lunar New Year with family. The vast majority, however, of the 414 million on the move – equivalent to the entire European Union – will travel...

Airbnb Cracks Down on Rentals in London, Amsterdam

Jasmine Enberg December 19, 2016
In an effort to appease regulators across Europe, Airbnb has implemented stringent rules for English and Dutch hosts on its home-sharing platform. These include limits on the number of days per year that one can rent out a property. With two of its top three most in-demand locations in Europe, Airbnb is trying to preempt regulations that may damage its bottom line. Germany and Spain are already...

Crowding Out the Locals: Are Weekend Trips Ruining Cities?

Dinah Deckstein and Alexander Kühn August 9, 2016
Many tourists try to squeeze as many possible experiences as possible into a few days, and quick weekend jaunts are common. Communities and businesses target visitors with sporting events and festivals; less savory are pub crawls and binge-drinking activities. “Tourists are conquerors who disguise themselves as friends, which often makes them difficult to deal with, no matter how much money they...

An Attack on Turkey's Airport and Its Ambitions

June 29, 2016
Coordinated suicide bombings at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport killed 41 and injured more than 200. Airports, with large crowds and lots of hefty luggage, make easy targets and are symbolic, too, representing globalization and world connections through commerce and tourism. Analysis from Stratfor points out that Turkey confronts multiple threats, including Kurdish militants, though the Islamic...