Is prevention separate from lifestyle?

The disagreement emerged early. Lutz Lungwitz, president of the German Medical Wellness Association, drew distinctions between medical tourism, medical wellness and wellness tourism, associating the latter with lifestyle and enjoyment.

“So you’re suggesting that prevention is not lifestyle?” Puczkó asked, challenging a separation that would become a recurring theme throughout the debate.

For Emil Hidayatli, chief physician at TABIA Group, lifestyle and prevention are closely connected. Drawing on his work in lifestyle medicine, he argued that nutrition, physical activity and natural resources can form part of a medically supervised approach to preventing disease.

The distinction, in his view, lies partly in professional involvement. Medical wellness introduces medical assessment, consultations and personalised programmes into an experience that extends beyond general relaxation. Follow-up matters too: the ambition should be to support changes that continue after guests return home.

Yet this raised another question. If both wellness and medical wellness encourage healthier habits, how clearly can travellers distinguish between them?

Traditional spa destinations face a changing market

For Kateřina Adámková, director of Císařské lázně in Karlovy Vary, these questions have immediate commercial relevance. She described the challenge facing Czech spa destinations built around traditional treatment stays lasting two or three weeks.

Such lengthy visits are increasingly difficult to fit into people’s lives. Adámková also highlighted the loss of Russian guests and the pressure on destinations to attract different markets, including visitors interested in shorter medical wellness stays.

Thomas Bömkes, medical and health tourism adviser to ITB Berlin, argued that reaching younger generations requires a broader approach. Nutrition, cooking lessons, mental wellbeing and sleep could all help guests connect their stay with changes they can make at home.

The value of a visit, he suggested, extends beyond the days spent at the destination. Giving people something useful to take back into everyday life could also encourage them to return.

Must the benefits be measurable?

Puczkó pressed the panel to explain what visitors should expect to gain. Medical treatment often has an identifiable outcome, such as a new hip or a repaired tooth. What, he asked, is the equivalent promise in medical wellness?

“What’s the reason to believe?”

Hidayatli cautioned against promising rapid results. Some changes could be assessed during a stay, he argued, but medical wellness should focus on longer-term outcomes, supported by continued adherence and follow-up.

Puczkó challenged whether that proposition would persuade younger consumers looking for visible results. Hidayatli suggested that activity tracking and other tools could help guests monitor their progress after leaving.

Bömkes offered a different perspective, describing a two-week Ayurveda experience in India. Changes to his diet, daily treatments and restful sleep had left him feeling sufficiently better to want to repeat the experience annually.

“I don’t need figures. I don’t care. I felt it was good to me,” he said.

For Bömkes, that personal response also had marketing value: a satisfied visitor returns home and recommends the experience to friends. His example illustrated the appeal of wellness travel, while leaving open the moderator’s question about what makes its benefits specifically medical.

Who should set the rules?

The discussion became more concrete when it turned to regulation. If a service uses the word “medical”, what qualifications, supervision and safeguards should travellers expect?

Hidayatli supported certification involving cooperation between relevant authorities. Bömkes argued for government regulation of health-related activities, while allowing other bodies to oversee aspects outside that remit.

Lungwitz described his association’s work on an independent certification system combining medical involvement with hospitality standards. He also questioned whether “tourism” adequately describes a journey made specifically to receive medical treatment.

Across these different positions, trust emerged as a shared concern. Travellers need to understand what they are buying, who is responsible for their care and what claims a provider can reasonably make.

Tourist, patient or client?

Ultimately, the distinction depends on who the offer is designed for: a tourist seeking relaxation and wellbeing, a patient travelling for medical care, or a client investing in a personalised programme to improve their health.

Their motivations and expectations shape the services they need, the outcomes they seek and the level of medical supervision required. For destinations, identifying that audience is the starting point for defining a credible offer.

L’article When does a wellness holiday become medical tourism, and who decides? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

At Liberty Canyon, the freeway cuts through habitat that animals once moved between freely. For mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains, the road has limited their ability to reach potential mates on the other side. The crossing is also intended to reduce collisions with wildlife, protecting both animals and the hundreds of thousands of drivers who use the freeway each day. 

The 210-foot (64-metre) span over the freeway is the larger of two linked bridges. A second takes animals over neighbouring Agoura Road, so they can clear both roads in one passage. Together, the structures cover nearly 56,000 square feet (5,200 square metres). Crews have planted oaks and other native vegetation to make the route resemble the habitat on either side. Fencing will guide animals towards the crossing, while barriers will shield them from headlights and traffic noise.

Construction began on Earth Day in 2022. Officials initially hoped to finish in 2025, but heavy rain and flooding delayed the work. The estimated cost rose from $92 million to $114 million, a rise AccuWeather attributed to inflation, labour shortages and the complexity of construction. At Agoura Road alone, crews had to relocate power and telecommunications lines, reroute a regional water main and install concrete supports about 75 feet deep while working around two creeks and dozens of mature oaks. 

Project partners have already spotted coyotes and bobcats near the bridge during construction. Once it opens, researchers will be able to compare animal movements with findings from a two-year study that tracked five species before the crossing was available. More than 50 cameras are planned for the bridge and surrounding area. Scientists also plan to fit animals such as deer with devices that record heart rate to see whether they show signs of stress as they cross.

For researchers who have spent decades studying wildlife around Liberty Canyon, one measure of success will be whether animals previously separated by the freeway begin breeding across it. As David Szymanski, superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, put it, “This forward-looking project will help to end the isolation and reconnect natural habitat.”

L’article World’s largest wildlife crossing set to open over California’s 10-lane freeway in December est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The ship will operate seven-night cruises calling at destinations including Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia for Rome, Naples, Messina and Valletta. Asian influences will run through its seven districts, building on features such as the 12-metre illuminated dragon sculpture installed earlier in its construction. Travel Tomorrow

Un primo "assaggio" di ciò che arriverà nel Mediterraneo a Dicembre. MSC World Asia #MSC #MSCWorldAsia #TheArtOfCruising https://t.co/yqlMeBZLLO

— MSC Crociere (@MSC_Crociere) October 30, 2026

Asian street food meets Italian dining

A new Pan-Asian Street Food concept will bring together dishes inspired by more than five Asian culinary destinations. The venue will combine sit-down dining with complimentary grab-and-go options, an open kitchen and cocktails drawing on Asian flavours.

Italian food will also have a prominent place on board. Following its introduction on MSC World America, Eataly will make its European cruise debut aboard MSC World Asia, offering live cooking, a dedicated Chef’s Table, terrace dining overlooking the sea and wine experiences focused on Italy’s culinary heritage.

Meanwhile, a 300-square-metre Venchi venue will combine a chocolate boutique, café and gelateria. Described by MSC Cruises as its largest Venchi experience at sea, it will offer 20 gelato flavours, 20 varieties of pralines and 11 chocolate bars, alongside the cruise line’s exclusive Crunchy Waves gelato.

The wider food and drink offering will encompass more than 40 bars, lounges, cafés and restaurants. At the Masters of the Sea Pub, an onboard microbrewery will produce three beers developed with Italian brewer Baladin using desalinated seawater: Oceanic Pils, Oceanic India Pale Ale and Oceanic Asian Blanche.

Sip your way around our newest World Class ship with 25 bars and lounges to choose from. From authentic cocktails at the Pan-Asian Bar on the World Promenade to unique soda creations at the Clubhouse, #MSCWorldAsia, debuting in the Mediterranean this December, is serving up something new at every turn.

— MSC Cruises (USA) (@MSCCruisesUSA) October 30, 2026

A 12-deck slide and an over-water swing

Among the ship’s headline attractions is The Spiral @ Tree of Life, an 81.3-metre dry slide extending across 12 decks. Inspired by Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, it is described by the cruise line as the longest dry slide at sea.

The Harbour, whose family attractions were previously unveiled, will bring together a two-level high ropes course, an expanded aquapark and a Play Deck. The outdoor area will also feature Cliffhanger, an over-water swing suspending passengers 50 metres above the ocean, which MSC says will be the first of its kind at sea in Europe.

Food will be available nearby at The Harbour Bar & Bites, serving complimentary grab-and-go snacks. The area is intended to accommodate family activities during both the day and evening.

Pools, performances and new suites

Asian references will continue around the ship’s pools. The Manila Bay Pool will serve as a centre for daytime entertainment and relaxation, while the covered Coral Cove Pool will feature a retractable roof and a water-droplet installation by artist Elisabetta Milan, inspired by Philippine coral reefs.

JUST ANNOUNCED: New venues and experiences in the Aqua Deck District and Harbour on board MSC World Asia including: Manila Bay & Pearl Lagoon Bar – outdoor main pool area, perfect for fun under the sun Coral Cove & Coral Bar – indoor pool with a stunning underwater-inspired design The Tree of Life @ The Spiral – Asian-inspired 11-deck spiral dry slide, the longest at sea! All this and more, debuting this December! Discover MSC World Asia: https://t.co/NLyacPFlt3 #MSCCruises #MSCWorldAsia

— MSC Cruises (USA) (@MSCCruisesUSA) March 26, 2026

Entertainment will include six productions created for MSC World Asia. These will encompass three new shows in the World Theatre and a live music production in the Panorama Lounge.

For passengers booking the MSC Yacht Club, the ship will offer 144 suites across seven categories, the widest selection of Yacht Club suite categories in the fleet. A new Royal Duplex Suite will cater to families and groups seeking additional space within the ship’s private accommodation area.

Mediterranean debut before a Caribbean season

MSC World Asia will spend its inaugural winter and summer seasons in the Mediterranean. It will then move to the Southern Caribbean for winter 2027/2028, offering a choice of seven- and 14-night itineraries.

Its December debut will bring the ship’s Asian-inspired spaces to a European sailing programme, with dining, entertainment and family facilities forming the core of the onboard offering.

L’article MSC World Asia brings Asian influences to Mediterranean cruising est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Although it has been gaining more attention over recent years, the manosphere isn’t new. The term was first coined in 2009 and has been growing ever since. In a paper published in the medical journal The Lancet, authors Professor Sarah Hawkes and Professor Kent Buse define it as “a diffuse commercial ecosystem and loose collection of online communities united by shared beliefs about masculinity, misogyny, and male victimisation”.

Since its beginnings, the manosphere has taken on many different forms. From men going their own way to looksmaxxers and red pill communities, the phenomenon spreads over a large selection of subjects. However, there is one issue connecting them all: a fear of an apparent “crisis of masculinity”, allegedly brought on by feminism. A preoccupation that seems to only be getting bigger.

“Explanations for the rise in engagement with the manosphere are diverse and include social, psychological, cultural, and economic domains. At a time when boys are disengaging from education systems, and men are over-represented in suicide statistics and in rates of incarceration, health and social care systems that can offer support are under increasing financial pressure and are struggling to deliver services, and narratives of male disadvantage gain a great deal of traction,” the authors write. 

Although women nor feminism can be blamed for the sense of failure and abandonment members of the manosphere are experiencing, they are an easy scapegoat at a time when their needs aren’t met by health policies, systems, and services.

“This misattribution is precisely why content moderation alone is insufficient: restricting manosphere content does nothing to address the unmet needs that make its explanation attractive in the first place”, Hawkes and Buse write. 

In order to address the manosphere and the many problems it is creating in society as a whole, the authors thus propose to address it as a public health harm. By doing so, it becomes possible to look beyond strategies of content moderation, access safeguards, or algorithm diversion.

Instead, governments, healthcare systems, schools, social media platforms, and all other stakeholders could work together to address the issue through population-level prevention, education and engagement, norm change, and the strengthening of health and social systems alongside regulatory and fiscal measures. Moreover, by treating the manosphere as a public health problem, it would make seeking and giving mental health support more accessible. 

In their paper, Hawkes and Buse argue that public health approaches have previously been used to deal with other societal issues, such as gender-based violence and drug use, by targeting the underlying determinants, but also by reducing stigma and discrimination, reframing public narratives and attitudes, expanding equitable access to services, and moving beyond the carceral logic of policing and punishment as the primary responses.

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With that in mind, the authors put forward six priorities allowing for a comprehensive public health response to the health harms of the manosphere.

1. “The upstream conditions that shape vulnerability and engagement should be addressed, including educational marginalisation, social exclusion, and isolation in boys and young men.”

2. “Multisectoral collaboration between health systems and other front-line sectors that routinely engage with boys and young men should be strengthened, particularly education.”

3. Communications strategies should be developed to avoid framing masculinity as inherently toxic or boys and men as inherently problematic. Positive and inclusive framing should be encouraged instead, such as those that promote so-called healthy masculinities.

4. Platform regulation should be considered analogous to other public health regulation strategies.

5. Governments should invest in monitoring, research, and evaluation to track evolving digital ecosystems, assess the effectiveness and impact of interventions, and identify unintended consequences.

6. Although the manosphere did not create misogyny, it could be normalising and amplifying it. If the attraction and impact of the manosphere are to be tackled, the underlying misogyny and anti-equality prejudices embedded in most societies must also be confronted.

While according to the paper, reframing the manosphere as a public health threat will initially face resistance, especially from platform stakeholders and content creators. However, given the potential benefits for boys and men, women and girls, and the wider society, a coordinated answer to the issue should be given as soon as possible.

L’article Experts push to treat manosphere as public health issue est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The map covers the Hackney area and is designed by Igloo. It features lively pubs, iconic clubs, grassroots venues, and cultural spaces, all accredited by the council for safety standards and inclusive policies, and makes it easier, for example, to find places with wheelchair access and check accurate opening and closing times.

And it’s not only socialising spots that are included, but also the “hygiene factors” and transport options that help everyone have a better time when they are out on the town. The locations of toilet facilities, fresh drinking water, places to charge a phone, cycle paths, and active bus routes are among the helpful information identified.

Finding the new map itself is also facilitated by QR codes displayed at venues around the borough, and keyrings that the council is distributing. Scanning the code takes users to the digital tool, which also has a link from the council’s Hackney Nights website.

The initiative is part of Hackney Council’s “Hackney Nights” campaign, whose efforts, ongoing since 2019, include training 4,400 nightlife hospitality workers in best safeguarding practices. Over the coming year, the project will also look at how the council licenses night-time venues, reviewing planning rules and noise regulations, and putting forward a Cultural Strategy that supports the area’s night-time earners, movers, and shakers.

It’s a drive that comes in the wake of COVID-19’s impact on the hospitality sector, and as London and the United Kingdom more widely are grappling with widespread pub closures and the shutdown of some of the country’s most beloved nightclubs. Fewer people are venturing to rural pubs and restaurants, and with more and more buildings in towns and cities converted for residential use, councils are under pressure to close noisy venues down. 

Hackney’s own Dance Tunnel, in Dalston, is one such victim, after its owners stated in 2016 that they could no longer continue to operate sustainably due to strict noise rules that forced the club to shut its doors by 3:00 am. Other venues, including the BBE Store, a local record shop, and the Lord Napier Star pub, are still threatened by noise complaints.

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The problem has led to authorities adopting so-called “agent of change” principles, which put the onus on housing developers near pre-existing venues to adequately soundproof the new homes, rather than making long-standing venues adapt to new neighbours. The new approach has helped to save legendary venues such as London’s Ministry of Sound, and the Night and Day café in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, after bitter noise disputes and court battles over noise abatement.

The safety aspects of the Hackney Nights campaign also address public concerns over how vulnerable people might be when they have been out socialising at night, highlighted by recent tragedies such as the currently unexplained death of an 18-year-old man after a night out in Leicestershire.

L’article New interactive map aims to boost both London nightlife and safety est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

“Azerbaijan’s health tourism potential can only be realised through close cooperation between the tourism and healthcare sectors,” said Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, at the opening. “Our priority is to translate that potential into high-quality services, trusted international partnerships and a coordinated strategy that delivers lasting benefits for visitors and local communities.”

Organised by the State Tourism Agency, the two-day conference runs until 5 November. The programme includes medical and wellness tourism discussions, an exhibition, business meetings and a Global Healthcare Accreditation seminar.

Azerbaijan prepares a health tourism strategy

Addressing the conference, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Health, Nadir Zeynalov, said developing health tourism could support improvements in healthcare services and strengthen the country’s international competitiveness. He identified service quality, patient safety and cooperation between public institutions and private providers as priorities.

Zeynalov said Azerbaijan’s geographical position, medical infrastructure, specialists and tourism offer provide a foundation for becoming a regional medical tourism centre. Achieving that objective would require closer collaboration between healthcare institutions, tourism businesses, investors and international partners.

The conference comes as the country prepares a dedicated framework for the sector under its State Programme on the Development of Tourism for 2026–2030. As Travel Tomorrow previously reported, the programme includes plans for a health tourism strategy and action plan, alongside measures to support international accreditation.

Speaking to journalists at the conference, Elgun Javadov, head of the Cultural Heritage and Regional Tourism Department at the State Tourism Agency, explained that a concept and strategy document would help define Azerbaijan’s positioning and identify the resources required to develop the sector.

Javadov stressed that health tourism could not be developed by a single organisation or sector. The conference, he said, was intended to bring partners together to discuss priorities and apply relevant international experience.

Building patient confidence

International accreditation and the coordination of patient care were recurring themes in the opening discussions. Monish Arora, deputy CEO of Sea Breeze Health Valley, said Azerbaijan already has healthcare capacity, but providers must demonstrate that their services meet international expectations.

He called for clear responsibilities and better support throughout the patient’s journey, from the first enquiry to treatment and follow-up. Alongside accreditation and clinical standards, he highlighted practical requirements such as timely responses, communication in the patient’s language and reliable arrangements for transfers and accommodation.

Michel Julian, senior programme officer at UN Tourism, emphasised that a successful strategy requires a long-term vision and cooperation between healthcare and tourism institutions. Understanding target markets and building a reputation for quality, he said, are central to gaining the confidence of prospective patients.

Julian pointed to market diversification as another consideration, citing South Korea as an example of a destination attracting patients from different countries. Trust and a clear destination image, he argued, need to be built over time.

Measuring medical tourism consistently

The discussions also addressed how Azerbaijan can measure the sector’s development and compare its performance with other destinations. Participants highlighted the difficulties created by inconsistent definitions and data collection methods.

Julian stressed the importance of identifying the traveller’s primary motivation. Travel undertaken principally for treatment, diagnosis or other health purposes needs to be distinguished from healthcare received in other circumstances, including by foreign workers living in a destination.

Countries can combine sources such as hospital surveys, visa information and data collected by tourism authorities and statistical institutions, he explained. Using consistent definitions helps avoid double counting and makes international comparisons more meaningful.

Connecting medical care and wellness

While the opening day focused on medical tourism, the conference also examines opportunities in wellness, prevention and rehabilitation. Azerbaijan’s offer includes mineral and thermal waters, therapeutic muds, resort facilities and Naftalan oil, which has a long history of use in local treatment traditions.

The country has also been developing links with European health tourism organisations. Earlier in 2026, the Azerbaijan Tourism Board joined the European Spas Association as an advisory member during the HEALTHXCHANGE Summit in Varna.

L’article Health Tourism Conference opens in Baku with focus on quality and international growth est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

For a long time, artificial intelligence has been something we only thought possible in science fiction movies or maybe a far-off future. However, over the past few years, the technology has been making rapid progress, to the point where many consider it a threat to humanity as we know it.

Yet despite the cautionary messages expressed by creatives and those who are generally concerned about what humanity might become when generative AI takes over, many brands and businesses are not afraid of using the technology. Not only does AI allow them to manage their business more effectively, but an AI prompt is also cheaper than the work of a creative. 

Altogether, this has led to a never-ending amount of AI slop, or content created by artificial intelligence. Texts, images, and entire advertising campaigns are launched using the technology, which is increasingly leading people to feel fed up with it all. And in a world where AI slop is everywhere, those who specifically choose to work with humans stand out.

Prada, too, has gotten the message. Its newest Winter campaign, ‘Drawing Prada: Animated By Hand’, is explicitly taking a stance for human craftsmanship and creativity. The Italian luxury brand is thus making the most of the fact that human design is turning into a true selling point for those who no longer support the idea of generative AI.

“Drawing Prada”: a celebration of craft and process. 
Created with the anachronistic technique of hand-drawn illustration, the Prada Holiday 2026 campaign invents an ensemble of whimsical characters and landscapes, starring Luther Ford, together with Prada Ambassadors Chen Haoyu, Maya Hawke, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Sadie Sink. 
Discover the new Prada Holiday 2026 campaign: https://t.co/S7jP7Ua4nj Creative Directors: #MiucciaPrada and #RafSimons 
Photographer: #GlenLuchford 
Animation Direction: #JohnPomeroy
Campaign Creative Direction: #FerdinandoVerderi 
Cast: #LutherFord #ChenHaoyu #MayaHawke #KelvinHarrisonJr #SadieSink #PradaHoliday #PradaGifts #Prada

— PRADA (@Prada) October 27, 2026

In its campaign, Prada has combined live-action footage with hand-drawn characters. Those drawings were made by animator John Pomeroy, who might be best known for his Disney work on movies including Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, The Fox and the Hound, and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

“I learnt my craft with pencil and paper, through traditional, analogue drawing. We’ve remained faithful to that approach and want to pass it on to future generations. There’s a very distinct and purposeful reason to do hand-drawn animation, and that’s to see that there’s value in it and that hand-drawn and handcrafted work is still alive in the world today,” Pomeroy explained in a behind-the-scenes video accompanying the campaign.

The live-action scenes included in the campaign were photographed by Glen Luchford and include ambassadors such as Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Chen Haoyu, Luther Ford, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

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‘Drawing Prada: Animated By Hand’ was developed under the creative direction of Miuccia Prada herself and co-creative director Raf Simons, while Ferdinando Verderi oversaw the creative direction of the campaign. 

Although many brands, big and small, are still opting for AI slop out of convenience, Prada’s choice for human craftsmanship may be announcing a turning point. In a world where content generated by AI is within reach of virtually anyone, human creativity and expertise have become an actual luxury that is appealing to a growing, AI-sceptic public. 

L’article Prada’s hand-drawn winter campaign rejects AI slop and honours human craftsmanship est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The city of Copenhagen is continuously looking for ways to transform its former industrial port into a waterfront fit for community life. Back in 2015, the city asked locals for submissions regarding the future use of Paper Island, located in the inner harbour. Many of the ideas mentioned the need for a swimming facility, which eventually led to an international architectural competition, won by the Japanese studio Kengo Kuma & Associates.

After almost ten years, the result of that competition is about to open its doors. KAI, a reference to the Japanese word for sea and the Danish word kaj (quay), will be inaugurated on 5 December 2026. 

The 5,800-square-metre complex will feature 10 pools, three saunas, a heated stone, a steam bath, and several cultural spaces. Described as a Water Culture House, it will offer stunning views over the surrounding cityscape and harbour through its 403 windows.

Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates in collaboration with Cornelius Vöge Atelier for Architecture and Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, KAI Water Culture House is set to open on December 5, 2026, on Papirøen (Paper Island) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 5,800 m² public facility combines ten indoor and outdoor pools, wellness facilities, cultural spaces, and access to Copenhagen Harbour. Follow the link to read more about this topic:https://t.co/iiJdCjfLeR

— ArchDaily (@ArchDaily) October 28, 2026

“The Water Culture House is a distinctive new landmark on Copenhagen’s waterfront. As Paper Island’s cultural cornerstone, the House is a civic institution dedicated to water and community, embraced by a public harbour bath. Open to all, it creates new settings for everyday life in Copenhagen, where physical and mental wellbeing can become a natural part of urban life,” says Yuki Ikeguchi, Lead Architect and Partner in Charge at Kengo Kuma & Associates.

For the realisation of the project, the Japanese studio collaborated with Cornelius Vöge Atelier for Architecture and Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects. While the ground floor, featuring a fitness pool, teaching pool, and three children’s play pools, is entirely glazed, the upper floor consists of five brick towers which were shaped in relation to the pools beneath them. No less than 300,000 handmade bricks were used during the building process.

“I’m really excited about the opening of the Water Culture House. Copenhagen needs more swimming facilities, so it’s incredibly important that we are now getting new pools for adults, as well as paddling pools for children. I hope it will become the city’s new gathering point for water-loving Copenhageners and visitors alike,” says Copenhagen’s Lord Mayor Sisse Marie Welling.

One of the building’s most memorable features will be the outdoor Valley Pool, situated between the brick towers and allowing bathers to swim under open skies through the changing seasons. The heated Onsen nearby will offer a panoramic view over the harbour. 

“We are very proud to have helped make this new world-class swimming and community destination a reality for the people of Copenhagen. KAI will be both a welcoming place for everyone and an iconic landmark in one of the city’s most spectacular locations. It has the potential to become a new symbol of Copenhagen and a place that contributes to a high quality of life for the city’s residents,” says Henrik Lehmann Andersen, Chief Executive Officer of Nordea-fonden.

Aside from the above-mentioned facilities, KAI will also include a separate swimming and dipping zone along the waterfront in the harbour. They will be connected to the building by a timber boardwalk and are expected to open in early 2027.

Despite its very luxurious looks, KAI’s admission prices will be aligned with Copenhagen’s other municipal swimming facilities. The indoor facilities will be open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, seven days a week, while the swimming and dipping zone in the harbour will be accessible year-round, 24 hours a day.

L’article New Water Culture House to open in Copenhagen in December 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A lot has been written and said about jet lag, especially since the rise of commercial aviation in the 20^th century. The phenomenon is defined as the discrepancy that occurs between our circadian rhythm and the actual time when travelling over large east-west distances. Aside from having difficulty staying awake during the flight or upon arrival, this can create a long list of problems, both short-term and long-term.

But what about animals? Do they also suffer from jet lag? While most do not travel over such long distances under normal circumstances, as they lack the speed and endurance, some do. Migrating (sea)birds in particular are used to cover long distances, navigating on their internal compass, led by the sun and the surroundings. And they may thus very well get jet-lagged, in theory.

A new study publish in Science has analysed the effect of long east-west journeys on Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus), a kind of migrating seabird living on the west coast of the United Kingdom. After GPS tracking a substantial number of Manx shearwaters for over 20 years, the researchers came to some interesting conclusions.  

According to the study, when the birds fly home to their colonies after foraging trips over the Atlantic Ocean – trips that may cover distances of up to 1,000 kilometres – their sense of time and navigation was sometimes disrupted by the speed at which they were travelling.

This error is made possible by the fact that their internal compass relies on the Sun, more specifically on the endogenous clock to track the Sun’s arc. When travelling east-west, time shifts can cause mismatches between their internal clock and local time.

“For most navigational tasks, it is thought that compass systems are used in conjunction with a map system in a kind of two-step process. In the map step, the animal determines where it is in relation to a goal, such as a home colony. Then in the compass step it uses a compass to translate that into movement,” Tim Guilford, a University of Oxford professor of animal behaviour and one of the study’s lead authors, told Reuters.

Due to this double control system, most adult shearwaters did not steer off course very much. At most, their route was off by 15 degrees, which they were able to correct rather quickly. Generally speaking, this led to an extra 5 kilometres during a 1,000 kilometre journey. However, first-time migrant birds could be thrown off by hundreds of kilometres as they do not yet have a map sense to set them straight. 

Scientists have discovered that humans aren’t the only species to suffer from jet lag: Birds can get it, too. While studying Manx Shearwaters who fly over the Atlantic Ocean, they noticed the time zone change would cause them to veer off course and lose track of where they are. https://t.co/9GR0LFmEF5

— Pubity (@pubity) October 30, 2026

“Animals use an internal clock to do this, the same one that tells our bodies when to sleep, when to be active. The process behind what we’re observing here — the mismatch between the internal clock and external time caused by longitudinal movements — is exactly the same as what causes jet lag in humans,” stated Patrick Lewin, an ecologist at the University of Oxford and the study’s lead author, in an interview with Reuters.

The study is a first of its kind, tracking the effect of large east-west journeys on birds under natural circumstances. As the errors remain relatively small, it is not yet clear what the effect of the jet lag on the birds may be. However, consequences on their diet, reproductive scheme, and other aspects of their lives are not ruled out. By studying and understanding the effect of such jet lags on the birds, the researchers believe they may gain a better understanding of the long-term effects on humans.

L’article Study shows migrating seabirds also suffer from jet lag est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The trip is called the Finnish Dinner Date. It covers accommodation, meals and a hosted programme of activities. The main event is a group dinner in a surprise setting, where each group of eight is joined by two local Finnish singles. Winners will not know whether they are going to the capital or to Tampere until their place is confirmed.

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Each city offers a different version of Finland. Helsinki has its waterfront, its architecture and city life. Tampere, on the western edge of the Finnish Lakeland, is surrounded by forests and lakes and is known for its sauna culture. Each dinner will serve an official regional tasting menu. Chef Adele Kinnunen will cook in Helsinki and chef Henry Tikkanen in Tampere.

The idea comes from a Finnish custom called the sinkkukori, or “single basket”. In some grocery stores, shoppers can pick a pink basket to show they are open to meeting someone new. It is a quiet way to start a conversation in a country known for valuing personal space.

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The dinner date is the latest part of Visit Finland’s “Have some Finnish” campaign. The campaign aims to make Finnish food a reason to visit, rather than something secondary to the scenery. Earlier in 2026, people across Finland were asked which dishes best represent their regions. Leading chefs then turned the answers into four official tasting menus. Two were served to a first group of travellers in September. The Helsinki and Lakeland menus are the last two.

Visit Finland calls Finnish food “Europe’s last undiscovered cuisine”. It admits that most visitors could not name a single Finnish dish. Examples include creamy salmon soup, fried vendace and Tampere’s black sausage with lingonberry jam.

How to apply

There are two steps. First, applicants record a short video in English answering one question: what would you serve on a dinner date, and why? They post it on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube with the hashtag #FinnishDinnerDate and tag Visit Finland’s account on that platform: @ourfinland on Instagram, @visitfinland.com on TikTok or @VisitFinland on YouTube. Instagram and TikTok profiles must be public. YouTube videos can be uploaded as unlisted for anyone who prefers not to apply publicly.

Second, applicants fill in the online form on Visit Finland’s website and include the link to their video.

The trip is open to single adults who are not Finnish citizens. The deadline is Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 11:59 am Finnish time. Visit Finland will announce the winners on 1 December 2026 on its Instagram and TikTok accounts.

Romance is not guaranteed, but every participant will at least get to know Finnish food.

L’article Finland wants to fly 16 singles to a blind dinner date in February 2027 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.