like us on
TRAVELNEWS
facebook/tntmagazine
RIHANNA PLUGS HOME You can expect to be bombarded with pics of Rihanna frolicking in the Caribbean waves and soaking up the sun from November onwards as the Barbados Tourism Authority has enlisted the help of the Bajan bombshell. The superstar posted sneak previews of the campaign this week, which were seen by more than 60 million people within a few hours, thanks to Ri-Ri’s huge social media following (63m Tumblr and 26.5m Twitter followers). She’s the latest on a long list of celebs to get involved in promoting their hometowns, including Robert de Niro for New York and the slightly less glam Rupert Grint – Ron from Harry Potter – for Bridlington.
Photos: Getty
POLLUTED BEACHES The horribly wet summer of 2012 didn’t just wreck a lot of English holiday plans, but also did damage to numerous beaches around the country. After heavy rainfall washed pollution from urban areas and the countryside into rivers and the sea, 29 coastal sites dropped below the minimum clean water quality requirements, making them dangerous to bathe in. A survey by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs showed that figures for the more strict ‘guideline’ standards of water quality were even worse, with just 59 per cent reaching this benchmark compared to 79 per cent last year.
WEAR YOUR HELMET Protecting your noggin from smacking against Alpine rocks or being smashed by other people’s skis has always been an excellent idea. Now travel insurers Essential Travel has announced it won’t cover skiers who get injured after hitting the slopes unless they’re wearing a crash hat. “Whilst it is true that a helmet does not reduce all sports injury, it seriously reduces the risk of potentially fatal injuries,” said spokesperson Stuart Bensusan. “That alone warrants making wearing helmets compulsory.” This is the first British firm to adopt such a policy, but others are expected to follow suit.
TOO SOON FOR LIBYA? Scenes of 2011’s civil war in Libya – including riots, violence and the bloodied body of fallen dictator Colonel Gaddafi being dragged through the streets – are still fresh in the minds of anyone with the vaguest interest in the Middle East. But as the country slowly begins to get back on its feet, Libya is hoping to draw its tourists back. The Foreign Office currently advises against travelling to many Libyan regions, but in a survey of 1300 tourism industry bodies taken this week, more than half said Libya had the potential to become a popular tourist spot again in the near future.
TNTMAGAZINE.COM
1524 FINAL TRAV news.indd Sec1:57
57
9/11/12 12:23:25