Notre-Dame de Paris reopens
Notre-Dame Cathedral, situated on an island in the River Seine in Paris, France, reopened on December 8, after more than five years of intense reconstruction work to restore the medieval building to its former glory.
On April 15, 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral suffered damage to its spire, and most of the roof structure, in a major fire that occurred during restoration work celebrating its 850th anniversary.
The reopening ceremony started with a two-hour sermon, attended by global leaders and dignitaries. The ceremony also represented the first opportunity to witness the result of the estimated €700 million restoration, a process that included the thorough cleaning of the stone interiors, revealing a glistening white gothic interior. The five-year restoration involved over 2,000 workers from 250 companies.
The annual report issued by Euromonitor International in partnership with data company Lighthouse revealed that this year’s top 10 ranking was dominated by six European destinations, while also showing an increase in non-European names making the list.
Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2024 delivered actionable insights into the performance, appeal and potential of urban markets. It compared 55 different metrics across six key pillars for 100 city destinations, to create an overall city attractiveness score. The six key pillars included: economic and business performance, tourism performance, tourism infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability.
Paris retained the title of the world’s leading city destination, followed by Madrid in second place and Tokyo in third. Rome came in fourth, while Milan rounded up the top five. Asia stands out in the top 10 with representation from two cities. European destinations maintain a good standing in the Index largely due to the Tourism Infrastructure pillar. Tourism spending grows faster than arrivals
Around 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of 2024, as the global tourism sector recovered 98 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism, a full recovery from the biggest crisis in the sector’s history is expected by the end of the year, despite economic, geopolitical and climate challenges.
The report also shows outstanding results in terms of international tourism receipts. A total of 35 out of 43 countries with available data on receipts exceeded pre-pandemic values in the first eight to nine months of 2024, many reporting double-digit growth compared to 2019 (in local currencies), well above inflation in most cases. Mekong Kingdoms unveils luxury river cruise
Mekong Kingdoms, a luxury river cruise operator specialising in boutique experiences along Southeast Asia’s most iconic waterways, presents Boheme, the newest addition to its luxury fleet. The 50-metre-long Boheme set sail on December 9, 2024, and completed its first return journey between the Kingdom of Laos’ royal capital, Luang Prabang, and the national capital, Vientiane.
Unfolding over six days and five nights, guests can start or end their signature journey with a stay at the historic Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel to explore the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. Once on Bohème, travellers can expect carefree mornings spent bird watching on one of the three decks or unwinding with massages in the two onboard treatment rooms. Afternoons are punctuated with cultural adventures, and nighttime is filled with the magic of riverside dining. Guests can also use the time between excursions to learn new skills with cooking and mixology classes.