EMEA Pulse: Stories You Should Read for Dec. 10, 2015
Destination & Tourism Josh Lew December 10, 2015

These are the travel stories worth reading as you make your way around the internet this Thursday.
Hard Rock Hotel To Open At Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie |
![]() | American Airlines Woos Aussie Passengers With Free Snacks And Pajamas |
![]() | India Considers Banning Elephant Rides |
![]() | British Airways Challenges Emirates With Dreamliner Flights To Dubai |
JUST THE LINKS
Palau has offered visa waivers for travelers from the European Union. The program, which officially started on Dec. 8, will allow EU passport holders to visit the tiny South Pacific nation visa free for up to 90 days.
Best Western is offering a sweet deal to travelers in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The hotel chain is reducing its rate by 20 percent for guests who book at least a two-night stay.
Thanks to an increased number of Chinese shoppers and travelers, Japan and South Korea saw a huge jump in tax-free shopping revenue. In fact, the two countries accounted for 18 percent of the global tax free shopping spending in October.
Even before their government issued warnings, Russians were traveling less. According to data from the tourism organization RATA, Russians took 10 million trips abroad during the first three quarters of 2015. That is down from 14.5 million during the same period in 2014
Norway is apologizing after a picture on its official Instagram account offended some people. The picture was of gingerbread cookies shaped like F-35 fighter jets. Some of the country's peace-minded citizens took offense to the use of military aircraft shapes in being used for the popular holiday treat.
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