by admin | Aug 23, 2025 | community, culture, tourist attractions, tourists, Travel
Featuring ancient windmills and sloped-roof wooden homes situated along a winding river, the picturesque and widely popular spot known as Zaanse Schans is essential to visit for anyone exploring the Netherlands.
However, the village with its historic structures close to Amsterdam has been labeled “a national emblem of over-tourism” by local officials, who currently aim to implement a controversial entry fee.
The intense discussion regarding the proposed 17.50-euro ($20) ticket for next year occurs amid worldwide opposition to overcrowded tourism, with popular destinations such as Venice imposing fees for daily visits.
On a magnificent summer day during AFP’s visit, lengthy lines for the renowned windmills stretched outside the entrance, with groups moving across bridges, patiently awaiting photo opportunities showcasing the picturesque landscape.
Buses release hundreds of sightseeing visitors throughout the day, filling up a modestly sized space that remains open and accessible without charge — at least temporarily.
The local authority in neighboring Zaanstad claims the charge is essential for maintaining historic structures, which are facing “intense strain” due to large visitor volumes.
“Over the past few years, the Zaanse Schans has become a national emblem of over-tourism,” stated councilor Wessel Breunesse.
Approximately 2.6 million visitors came in the previous year, according to the council, with projections indicating an increase to three million in future years unless action is taken.
A ticket charge might lower the yearly number to approximately 1.8 million visitors and generate millions of euros for maintaining these historical structures.
“Not taking action is not feasible. With insufficient funds for proper upkeep, the heritage will disappear within a few years,” stated the council in a message delivered to AFP.
Tourism-dependent economy
Many visitors remain unaware until their arrival that although numerous structures originate from the 16th century, the location itself is a modern and constructed anomaly.
Following World War II, conventional wooden building techniques faced the risk of being completely lost.
Enthusiastic about safeguarding this piece of history, local Mayor Joris in ‘t Veld proposed a solution: he intended to move the homes and place them at a newly secured location.
In 1955, the first mill came into existence, followed by the first home a few years afterward. In time, the “Zaanse Schans” location became renowned enough to be formally inaugurated by Queen Juliana in 1972.
“Zaanse Schans was not originally intended to be the global attraction it has become, drawing millions of tourists from around the globe,” said councilor Breunesse.
However, for local resident and entrepreneur Ingrid Kraakman, the proposal to impose an entry fee would be catastrophic, not only as a community member but also for the dairy store where she is employed.
“A local living here doesn’t wish to reside behind a barrier… that’s unacceptable,” said the 62-year-old person, speaking to AFP from her 17th-century house located in the center of Zaanse Schans.
Kraakman and her husband Ko have resided in this region for 33 years and feel that implementing an entry charge would severely harm the local economy and employment opportunities.
“She mentioned there is significant fear,” she noted, adding that approximately 80 percent of the regional economy relies on tourism.
Her dairy store is full of visitors drawn in by complimentary tastings and mementos, yet she mentioned that the charge would significantly hinder their expenditure.
A household of four would already be spending approximately 80 euros including parking, which cuts into their funds for in-venue shopping, she pointed out.
“They do not purchase cheese. They do not buy clocks. Instead, they opt for a keepsake or perhaps the tiniest piece of cheese available,” she said to AFP.
Referendum demand
The Kraakmans have gathered over 2,000 signatures for a vote on this matter, yet their efforts have not been heeded at the municipal office.
Knowing about certain local opposition, the council has promised that the location will remain accessible to residents and that there won’t be any barrier surrounding the space.
Even though the plans are set for next year, an adjustment has been proposed to account for potential postponements. Currently, 2026 appears as an overly ambitious target — referred to by a local authority figure under confidentiality as a “moonshot.”
Many visitors believed the journey was worthwhile despite having to cover the costs.
Spanish tourist Robert Duque said to AFP: “It’s a beautiful location, although at times it gets very busy and you can’t fully appreciate the experience.”
A 35-year-old operations manager stated that he would be open to paying an entry fee to reduce tourism numbers.
“I believe it’s beneficial; thus, we can space out the arrival of visitors and make better use of the amenities,” stated Duque.
by admin | Aug 22, 2025 | celebrations, culture, events and festivals, festivals, social issues
August 19, Nepal – In 2018, Rishikesh Pandey released a compelling study in Quest titled “Religion, Rainfall and Rice: A Social and Ecological Analysis of Festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.” Among his key discoveries was that the Newar community in Kathmandu faces challenges maintaining their age-old traditions because of factors such as “transformations in the agricultural ecosystem.” How can they perform prayers and offerings in their rice paddies anymore, with these areas now replaced by sprawling urban structures? I think it’s time for us to reconsider how we celebrate major national events like Dashain. My view is that although our festivals should remain intact, their observances and customs require updating—due to both financial and societal considerations.
Excitement under the clouds
The monsoon is still in full swing. Many people continue to live in the mortal fear of terrible landslides and flash floods. And yet, the festive season has begun in earnest.
Most of our festivities fall in autumn. They are much more enjoyable once the monsoon rains have stopped, seasonal flowers blossom and the paddy fields turn golden with the ripening crop. This year’s Dashain, which is about a month and half away, is going to be wet and muddy.
Notwithstanding, everyone is looking forward to the start of the great festivals. Many people living and working abroad are already planning to return to their country for Dashain. Town residents are planning to visit their ancestral homes, which are rapidly emptying. No doubt, festivals are a great source of personal happiness and social connection. Yet they are also a source of angst for many.
Too costly
Our celebrations are impressive in various aspects, yet they often become excessively costly. Many expenditures arise due to the frequent occurrence of numerous festivals. Next week marks Teej, and certain women may try their best to purchase new saris, ideally accompanied by pricey golden jewelry.
Dashain presents an even greater concern, featuring numerous days filled with lavish meals, travel, new clothing, and jewelry. Likewise, many individuals offer goats and chickens as sacrifices to well-known gods. How can those who earn a modest salary through honest labor afford these costs?
The festival of Tihar follows Dashain almost immediately, which tends to be quite expensive too. A similar situation exists in Tarai, with Chhath right after Dashain. The Newars too have many festivals of their own, each involving lots of expenses.
Drain on foreign income
I think these successive festivals around the harvest season were crucial to bring agrarian communities together in the past. Almost every house grew its own crop and livestock hence, the expenses weren’t such an issue. They probably didn’t think about buying expensive jewellery and foreign clothes at the time.
Continuing the practice of long feasts and social events, along with displaying wealth through gold, silver, clothing, or even costly vehicles and residences, appears difficult. This is particularly true in modern capitalist societies, where farming communities are quickly diminishing, leaving large areas of farmland unused and many rural populations declining.
These traditional types of festive celebrations in an era of market economy have been a huge drain on the remittance economy. Our economy is surviving because hundreds of thousands of our young men and women toil in Malaysia, Arab countries, Korea, Japan and send money home. Much of that money remitted from abroad goes into family expenses, mainly in celebrating increasingly expensive festivals.
What this has done is prevent the productive use of the remittance. It would be much better for the concerned families, to the local and national economy, if much of the remittance was invested in small businesses, in innovative projects. That would also provide employment opportunities and, in the longer term, increase the rate of pay within our own country-requiring less citizens to go for unskilled labour overseas.
Promoting social inequality
Our religious festivals seem out of place or outdated in the performance of at least some of their rituals and customs. As a result, the festivals have not only hurt the national economy, but also social harmony. Isn’t it time to rethink the rituals that openly promote social inequality?
I ponder why we continue to observe Janai Purnima, for example. It definitely does not warrant being a public holiday. This is because it is a highly polarizing celebration. The so-called higher or purer castes replace their sacred thread—janai—on this day. Meanwhile, the rest of us, including Dalits, indigenous communities, and women, are denied the opportunity to partake in the same thread or ceremony.
The concept of sacred thread has been used since the Puranic period to distinguish the higher castes from the lower ones. So, it deserves to be either wiped off our annual calendar for good-or reformed massively.
Numerous other celebrations, such as the Grand Dashain, clearly reinforce and support the traditional concept of ceremonial cleanliness and impurity. The spiritual idea of ritual purity and contamination (thoroughly examined by Luis Dumont in his renowned work “Homohierarchicus”) serves as the fundamental belief system underlying social stratification and prejudice. We have permitted places of worship to engage in this practice without restraint.
During the nine-day period of pre-Tika pujas, Damai drummers perform their musical rituals at nearly every temple dedicated to goddesses and old fortresses. However, they are not allowed inside the temple to offer prayers like other worshippers, and instead receive tika placed on a leaf. Even more distressing, they face additional humiliation by being given the leftover parts of sacrificial animals such as goats and bulls.
The same thing happens in state-sponsored and historic temples such as Gorakh Kali and Nuwakot Bhagawati and Palanchowk Bhagawati. Why are we allowing such practices to continue even in a secular republic? We’ve dumped Hindu monarchy for good-it’s also time to dump old and divisive rituals and customs.
To conclude, rain or shine-let’s celebrate our festivals. One doesn’t even need to be a Hindu to enjoy them, to have fun, to reconnect with our social circles. However, let’s also start a serious debate about reforming the ancient methods of celebrating our festivals-keeping in mind economic and social concerns. So that festivals bring more fun and less angst amongst the masses.
by admin | Aug 19, 2025 | culture, pop culture, popular culture, religion, society
Released on, Aug. 19 — August 19, 2025 at 7:12 AM
New terms embraced by Generation Z and Generation Alpha, such as “skibidi,” “delulu,” and “tradwife,” have been added to the online version of the Cambridge Dictionary this past year, according to the publisher, which announced this on Monday.
The Cambridge University Press noted that “tradwife,” a blend of “traditional” and “wife,” represents “an emerging, contentious trend on Instagram and TikTok that promotes conventional gender roles.”
The dictionary also faced the task of explaining “skibidi,” a term that gained popularity through internet memes, describing it as a word with “various interpretations ranging from positive to negative, or sometimes used without clear significance.”
A nonsensical term gained popularity through a YouTube channel named “Skibidi Toilet,” and it is linked to the aimless, “mind-numbing” material seen on social media platforms, which resonates with the predominantly online habits of Generation Alpha.
The dictionary describes “delulu,” which comes from the term “delusional,” as “holding beliefs that are false or untrue, often due to one’s own choice.” For instance, it referenced a 2025 address in parliament where Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “delulu without any solulu.”
“Rarely do we encounter terms such as ‘skibidi’ and ‘delulu’ being added to the Cambridge Dictionary,” remarked Colin McIntosh, who serves as the Lexical Program Manager at the Cambridge Dictionary.
we insert terms only when we believe they will endure. internet trends are influencing the english language, and this development is intriguing to witness and document in the dictionary.
Additional new expressions are “lewk,” which refers to an distinctive style of dress and gained popularity through RuPaul’s Drag Race, along with “inspo,” a contraction of inspiration.
The remote work trend has led to the creation of “mouse jiggers,” which are devices used to simulate activity when one isn’t actually working. Additionally, “forever chemicals” refer to synthetic substances that persist in the environment for extended periods, becoming more widely discussed as worries increase regarding the long-term effects of climate change on human and ecological well-being.
by admin | Aug 15, 2025 | business, community, culture, lifestyle, local news
Having managed a rural guesthouse for six years, Tay ethnic woman Thong unexpectedly gained popularity on social media, bringing recognition to her secluded village in northern Vietnam.
“Never before have I had my homestay completely reserved for three consecutive months since I began this six years ago,” said the proprietor of Ban Lien Pine Homestay, located 20 kilometers away from Bac Ha Town in Lao Cai Province, which lies 300 kilometers north-west of Hanoi.
we were unable to handle the influx of reservation inquiries.
In April, her host family home was selected as the shooting site for a Vietnamese reality television program.
In July, when the program was broadcast, the 36-year-old gained widespread attention; her videos documenting everyday activities received millions of hits.
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A front-row view with Thong leads artists through rural daily activities as part of a television series. Image provided by Gia Dinh Ha Ha
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She states: “I wasn’t particularly impressed with it during production. I had no idea how famous the visitors were.”
The unexpected attention brought happiness along with an influx of reservations. Her guesthouse was fully reserved from July through September, including weekday dates. However, Thong’s family maintains a slow and eco-friendly schedule: three days of welcoming guests, followed by two days of break.
Pham Hoang Long, a tourist from Hanoi, spent his stay at the homestay during June.
Following the performance, he was pleased the venue received acknowledgment, describing it as a restorative refuge offering clean air, beautiful scenery, and tea.
What set it apart was the host; she is skilled at cooking, proficient in playing the leaf flute, and organizes distinctive excursions including hat making, fishing, and tea preparation.
He mentioned that he would come back provided he could secure a room.
In 2019, Thong and her spouse initiated the homestay project as part of an eco-friendly countryside tourism initiative involving four additional households.
It offered instruction in hospitality, secure food preparation, and home stay administration, along with providing loans worth 50 million VND ($1,911) to attendees.
Within a 100-square-meter elevated home, Thong allocated seven dormitory-style rooms and one individual room to host 20 visitors.
Her charges begin at VND150,000 ($5.70) per individual each night.
Although tourism provides a more convenient lifestyle compared to agriculture, Thong’s family continues to manage their rice paddies and incorporates agricultural tasks into the visitor activities, allowing guests to gain deeper insight into local customs.
She mentioned that hospitality can be demanding, yet interacting with individuals from various places makes it rewarding.
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Thong (R) demonstrates to a guest how to transport a conventional basket. Image provided by Ban Lien Pine Homestay
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The trips are adaptable and designed according to the family’s everyday routine. Guests are encouraged to participate if they choose to drink tea in the morning or help with rice planting in the fields during the afternoon.
In addition to other activities such as touring waterfalls, Thong and her spouse alternate in handling household responsibilities while providing guided tours for payment.
Thong states: “80% of our visitors like to stick to our daily schedule. They consume what we eat, and participate in whatever activities we undertake.”
Certain visitors consider the agricultural tasks demanding and leave before completing their stay; therefore, the family hires additional assistance as required.
More dangerous activities are avoided, and every guest receives information and is required to sign a release form prior.
Tasks such as harvesting vegetables or moving rice seedlings often require half a day or longer.
The price ranges from 400,000 to 500,000 Vietnamese dong per group for four to five distinct activities ($15 – $19).
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People attempt to catch fish. Image provided by Ban Lien Pine Homestay
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Although tourism brings additional duties to their agricultural lifestyle, Thong views it as a means to maintain cultural customs and generate consistent earnings.
She begins her day at 4 or 5 in the morning and finishes long after midnight.
She leaves for the field before dawn, as her visitors remain asleep.
By 7 a.m., she returns to the kitchen to prepare morning meals. Her spouse assumes responsibility for cooking, their daughter lends a hand whenever possible, and during large gatherings, neighbors contribute, although Thong prefers to personally escort the visitors.
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A collection of international tourists enjoy a meal alongside Thong’s family. Image provided by Ban Lien Pine Homestay
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Despite her increasing fame, she continues to focus on eco-friendly travel practices.
She prevents overcrowding, keeping a schedule that her family can handle. If the number of visitors goes beyond what she can accommodate, she directs them to other local families, making sure the advantages of tourism are distributed throughout the neighborhood.
At age 39, Thong remains involved in agriculture, hosts visitors, and acquires new abilities to enhance her tourist experiences. She is committed to developing a tourism approach that preserves her mountainous cultural heritage.
“If the entire village benefits from tourism, it can continue, and remains authentic to our identity,” said the local leader.
by admin | Aug 15, 2025 | culture, design, events and festivals, festivals, thailand
Prepare yourself to feel the artistic pulse of southern Thailand with the return of Pakk Taii Design Week 2025 (PTDW2025), now in its third year, taking place from August 28 to September 7 in the historic town center of Songkhla and the Hat Yai area within Songkhla Province.
Hosted by the Creative Economy Agency, this year’s gathering is centered around the theme “South Paradise: Come To The South And Recharge To Heaven.” Crafted as a sanctuary for peace, artistic expression, and genuine interaction, the festival unites artists from 14 southern regions in an impactful tribute to local heritage and progress.
The PTDW2025 initiative seeks to present southern Thailand not only as a tourist spot but also as a hub for culture and creativity, offering a peaceful retreat where individuals can discover tranquility, motivation, and fresh viewpoints.
Amidst the current era defined by unpredictability, financial turbulence, environmental issues, and evolving international regulations, the yearning for a more deliberate and significant way of living has reached an all-time high. In response to this deep-seated wish, the festival offers an extensive, multifaceted lineup that highlights the transformative potential of artistic expression in fostering recovery and development.
Spanning Southern food, modern handicrafts, design, clothing, buildings, and melodies, guests will experience a dynamic mix of regional creativity through displays, shows, discussions, hands-on sessions, escorted visits, and an energetic artisan marketplace.
The event this year strongly highlights cooperation among the public and private sectors, local communities, and artists.
By offering engaging programs centered around four main experiences — Times of Peace, The Practice of Unwinding, Spaces That Revitalize, and Areas Free from Anxiety — the gathering encourages participants to consider how architecture and cultural elements contribute to individual health and long-term economic development.
The historical district of Songkla Old Town will act as an essential location for this journey, where ancient alleys are turned into areas reflecting the region’s rich diversity and progressive future.
A key attraction at PTDW2025 is the South Destress Main Pavilion, an open area designed to help guests reconnect with happiness via hands-on displays and presentations highlighting local enterprises and community assets.
In the meantime, the 14 City Potential Space will showcase the finest offerings from every province using the perspectives of traditional skills, gourmet cuisine, creative design, and sustainability awareness. At the South Market, visitors can discover distinctive items and innovations from both new and experienced business owners, while exclusive joint initiatives will highlight groundbreaking collaborations among regional artists, academic organizations, and international connections.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc.
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by admin | Apr 3, 2025 | africa, culture, environment, public policy, rules and regulations
In Arusha, Tanzania recently unveiled the “Safari Guide Code of Conduct and Ethics” aimed at elevating its tourism landscape. This extensive document, crafted by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), seeks to maintain high professional standards and encourage ethical behavior within the nation’s travel sphere.
Available in nine global languages, the code is being evaluated by current tour operators and guides to guarantee full compliance among all players in the tourism arena. According to TATO Chairman Mr. Willy Chambulo, “This handbook encompasses numerous regulations such as vehicular and driving norms, respect for local cultures, conservation measures, personal cleanliness, attire rules, and general decorum.”
As an overarching body representing over 400 businesses spanning tours, accommodations, agency services, and supplies, TATO hosted specialized sessions instructing driver-guides about this updated set of moral codes. During one such event, Chambulo highlighted that despite recovering from disruptions caused by COVID-19, Tanzanian tourism experienced robust annual expansion rates between 15% – 20%.
For instance, revenue derived from travels surged up to $3.66 billion last year—a hike of approximately 8.38%, relative to figures recorded previously in 2023—thanks largely due to augmented promotional endeavors undertaken jointly by governmental bodies alongside commercial sectors. Consequently, plans have been laid out aiming toward achieving a target sum of $6 billion ($14 trillion equivalent locally) via incoming travelers anticipated to reach around five million before year-end per strategies detailed in FYDP III covering fiscal years through mid-decade.
Mr. Chambulo elaborated further: “Implementing our latest behavioral framework entailed consultations directly involving chauffeurs plus accompanying staff members concerning revisions made since initial publication.”
Moreover, digital access remains possible thanks to integration into corresponding Quick Response (QR) links facilitating immediate retrieval regardless location globally amongst prospective guests intending visits soonest thereafter.
Nay Paul, employed under Zara Adventure Tours based near Mount Kilimanjaro shared her perspective emphasizing applicability beyond just those leading excursions specifically stating relevance extends equally relevant for broader stakeholder communities encompassed therein. Similarly voiced sentiments were echoed similarly by Idd Jumaane stressing pivotal role played by frontline representatives acting effectively like unofficial goodwill envoys reflecting positively upon destination attractiveness overall experience quality perceived externally thus enhancing reputation significantly outward facing dimensions thereof impacting potential influx volumes considerably long term prospects accordingly aligned strategically moving forward henceforth.
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