tag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/22/Ellen_DeGeneres_happy_kiss_ground_61d7

US talk show star Ellen DeGeneres arrived in Australia on Friday, declaring she was happy enough to "kiss the ground" as she began a six-day visit officials are hoping will help boost tourism.

2013-03-22T04:20:46ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Pakistan_hopes_Buddhist_tourism_boost_dd7d

Religious violence may be on the rise and the Taliban still a threat, but Pakistan is hoping a rich Buddhist heritage will help it boost international tourism to its troubled northwest.

2013-03-20T05:48:04ZAFP Global Editionby Guillaume Lavalleetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Storm-damaged_Statue_Liberty_reopen_July_90d6

The Statue of Liberty will reopen by July 4 once repairs to extensive damage inflicted on the New York landmark by Hurricane Sandy are completed, US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday.

2013-03-19T21:43:32ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Rape_fears_fuel_tourists_anxiety_6e8d

Danish tourist Judith Jensen has a long list of don'ts to help her feel safe during her holiday in India.

2013-03-19T16:17:22ZAFP Asian Editionby Ammu Kannampillytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Lanka_opens_Chinese-funded_airport_9126

Sri Lanka's president opened the country's second international airport on Monday, intended to help spur a new economic hub and act as a gateway to the island's southeast.

2013-03-18T11:24:02ZAFP Asian EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/17/Five_admit_gang-raping_Swiss_tourist_744b

Five villagers have confessed to gang-raping a Swiss tourist in central India, police said Sunday, in an incident that has renewed focus on the rampant violence against women in the country.

2013-03-17T11:02:02ZAFP Global Editionby Ammu Kannampillytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/17/Ireland_eyes_Patricks_boost_gloomy_4a1b

As millions of green-clad revellers raise their glasses across the globe to mark St Patrick's Day on Sunday, Ireland has high hopes that the festivities will bring a much-needed boost to the economy at home.

2013-03-17T04:06:53ZAFP Global Editionby Conor Barrinstag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/16/Ireland_eyes_Patricks_boost_gloomy_4a1b

As millions of green-clad revellers raise their glasses across the globe to mark St Patrick's Day on Sunday, Ireland has high hopes that the festivities will bring a much-needed boost to the economy at home.

2013-03-17T02:55:06ZAFP Global Editionby Conor Barrinstag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/16/Swiss_tourist_gang-raped_India_police_449e

A Swiss female tourist was gang-raped in central India in front of her husband, police said Saturday, renewing the focus on the issue of sexual violence against women in the South Asian nation.

2013-03-16T16:14:36ZAFP Global Editionby Sanjay Sharmatag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/14/Pacifics_Palau_looks_commercial_fishing_8447

Palau's president has proposed banning all commercial fishing in the Pacific nation's waters to create one of the world's largest marine reserves, covering an area roughly the size of France.

2013-03-15T03:22:48ZAFP Global Editionby Bernadette Carreontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/13/Philippines_opens_join_global_gambling_368d

The Philippines makes its biggest bet this weekend in a high-stakes bid to join the world's elite gaming destinations, with the launch of a $1.2-billion casino on Manila Bay.

2013-03-13T17:18:03ZAFP Global Editionby Cecil Morellatag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/13/China_city_searching_modern_Marco_3f9d

A Chinese city is searching for a foreign traveller to become a "modern Marco Polo", with a 40,000 euro ($52,000) salary on offer to the winner, a tourism official said Wednesday.

2013-03-13T04:41:25ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/11/Egypt_Tunisia_strive_back_tourists_c5f6

Two years after the Arab Spring uprisings, Tunisia and Egypt are trying to win back holidaymakers in a lifeblood sector for both countries which are gripped by renewed political crisis.

2013-03-11T10:03:52ZAFP Global Editionby Celine Le Priouxtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/10/Egypt_Tunisia_strive_back_tourists_c5f6

Two years after the Arab Spring uprisings, Tunisia and Egypt are trying to win back holidaymakers in a lifeblood sector for both countries which are gripped by renewed political crisis.

2013-03-10T18:34:33ZAFP Global Editionby Celine Le Priouxtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/10/Facts_about_Falkland_Islands_d661

Factfile on the Falkland Islands, which hold a referendum Sunday and Monday on their status as a British overseas territory:

2013-03-10T10:44:07ZAFP European EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/07/Swiss_competition_list_tourism_leisure_49ad

Switzerland has the globe's most competitive travel and tourism sector owing to high quality transportation and hotels, skilled workers and rich natural resources, the Swiss-based World Economic Forum said Thursday.

2013-03-07T18:36:51ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/Cuts_mean_public_White_House_8b2d

The White House said Tuesday that all public tours of the US presidential mansion and grounds would be cancelled because of the impact of automatic budget cuts which came into force last week.

2013-03-05T20:00:17ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/Lanka_open_airport_wildlife_paradise_da80

Sri Lanka is set to open later this month a Chinese-built international airport surrounded by wildlife sanctuaries with the aim of boosting tourism, an official said.

2013-03-05T18:16:05ZAFP South Asian EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/Afghan_race_fuels_optimism_future_86a7

The road to get there may not be safe and local attacks may be at a decade high, but an annual ski race in the Hindu Kush offers Afghanistan the glimpse of a better future, organisers say.

2013-03-05T17:06:58ZAFP Global Editionby Joris Fiorititag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/Mad_Max_accused_destroying_Namib_fd82

Namibian environmental groups and tourism companies expressed fury Monday about a film crew's alleged destruction of sensitive areas in the world's oldest desert while shooting "Mad Max: Fury Road."

2013-03-05T10:16:05ZAFP Global Editionby Brigitte Weidlich