Azerbaijan’s Formula One Grand Prix takes place at the Baku City Circuit, a 6.003-km street circuit designed by Hermann Tilke in the heart of the country’s capital. Formula 1 first raced in Baku in 2016, when the event was held as the European Grand Prix, before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the following year.

Until the addition of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in 2021, Baku was home to the fastest Formula 1 street circuit, mainly because of its long straight sections. It is also the third-longest circuit on the calendar in 2026, after Spa-Francorchamps (7.004 km) and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit (6.201 km).

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A decade of Formula 1 in Baku

The 2026 edition marks 10 years since Formula 1 first arrived in Baku. Over the past decade, the race has developed a reputation for unpredictable action, with the characteristics of the street circuit contributing to several eventful Grands Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo came from 10th on the grid to win a chaotic race in 2017, while Lewis Hamilton took victory in 2018 after Valtteri Bottas suffered a puncture with just three laps remaining. Sergio Perez won an eventful 2021 edition, Oscar Piastri triumphed for McLaren in 2024 and Max Verstappen dominated in 2025, taking pole position, victory and the fastest lap.

Part of the circuit’s appeal comes from the contrast between its different sections. Its 20 corners combine narrow streets around Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City with a roughly 2.2-km flat-out section along the Caspian Sea waterfront. The passage around the medieval city walls between Turns 8 and 10 is particularly narrow, leaving drivers little margin for error.

At the other extreme, the long run towards Turn 1 allows Formula 1 cars to reach some of the highest speeds seen on a street circuit and creates opportunities for overtaking. Teams therefore face the difficult task of finding a set-up that provides enough downforce for the technical sections without sacrificing too much speed on the straights.

The anniversary will extend beyond the racing itself. The 2026 Grand Prix weekend will include an F1 Fan Zone and live entertainment, with Katy Perry and Calvin Harris scheduled to perform as Baku celebrates a decade of Formula 1.

This year, the Baku Grand Prix is set to take place on Saturday 26 September to avoid coinciding with Azerbaijan’s National Remembrance Day on 27 September. Although it is not yet clear how many people will attend the event, the 2024 edition attracted 76,000 spectators. Of those, 80% were international visitors, who spent more than €2,000 on average over the weekend, while 72% said they intended to return in 2026.

More like Baku Pretty Circuit

Always an incredible backdrop for a Grand Prix!#F1 #AzerbaijanGP @BakuCityCircuit pic.twitter.com/NdV1rXRtRU

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 16, 2025

Visas on arrival

In a bid to make things easier for international visitors and boost attendance, Azerbaijan is granting visas on arrival to both Formula 1 ticket holders and racing personnel. The measure runs until 30 September 2026, four days after the race, encouraging visitors to extend their stay and discover Azerbaijan beyond Baku.

“Formula 1 fans tend to decide late, and a visa issued on arrival against a ticket or accreditation means that spontaneous decision can become a weekend in Baku. That is where the lasting value lies for us: turning a three-day motorsport trip into a week in Azerbaijan, and a first-time visitor into a returning one,” Florian Sengstschmid, chief executive of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, told Euronews.

To benefit from the special visa-on-arrival measure, applicants need to provide one of the following documents:

• An accreditation card or other document confirming accreditation in accordance with the relevant rules of Formula One Management Limited and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the international organisers of Formula 1 races.
• An accreditation card for Baku City Circuit Operations Company.
• A ticket, including an electronic ticket, or a document confirming the purchase of a ticket for the Formula 1 race to be held in Baku in 2026.

Those who intend to attend the event but do not yet have a ticket can obtain a visa through the electronic ASAN system or through an Azerbaijani embassy or consulate.

Tickets for the Baku Grand Prix are still available and start at €186 for general admission. Beyond the race, visitors can explore Azerbaijan’s capital and its many attractions, including the undying flame of Yanar Dag and the Carpet Museum, as well as destinations elsewhere in the country.

L’article Baku celebrates 10 years of Formula 1 with visas on arrival for fans est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The SongTeller Hotel and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum were conceived by Parton herself as a celebration of her music, life and the city of Nashville she loved so much and where the artist lived and died. The complex sits in the heart of Tennessee’s capital, just off Lower Broadway, the city’s live music and entertainment district.

The SongTeller Hotel has 245 rooms and suites, all filled with references to the artist’s songs, her unmistakable style and unique Southern charm woven throughout the private and public spaces.

The different room categories draw directly on her life and music. The Acoustic Suites, for instance, draw inspiration from the lyric “The sky is green and the grass is blue”, and the Six Sisters Suites pay homage to Parton’s close bond with her five sisters, accommodating up to six guests.

“All my life, I’ve been a SongTeller. And there’s no better place to write a song than Nashville”, Parton said of the project, describing the hotel as her “love letter” to the city, and a place where musicians and guests could come together to experience “the spirit of Music City”.

The hotel has two entertainment venues: Jolene’s, the top-floor bar, which offers a nightly stage for emerging Nashville singers and songwriters; and Parton’s Live, on the second floor, which is dedicated to the city’s songwriting culture through writers’ rounds, songwriter sessions and rising-star showcases. It aims to “immerse guests in the art of storytelling” and songwriting, around shared plates of food.

The entire third floor of the hotel, covering more than 1,860 square metres, is home to Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, and traces Parton’s journey from her childhood in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains to the height of international fame.

The experience begins with a recreation of the small cabin where she grew up before moving through the people, places, and events that shaped her life and career.

Interactive exhibits will feature personal stories, multimedia installations, and rarely seen objects from her collection. Footage of Parton herself, recorded earlier this year, will also guide visitors through parts of her story.

Over a seven-decade career, Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Her most famous songs are Jolene, I Will Always Love You, and the working-woman anthem, 9 to 5.

Parton’s legacy, however, extends far beyond her music. She was also an actress, a philanthropist, and an astute businesswoman who turned her musical success into an empire, all while never forgetting her origins or those in need through initiatives like her Imagination Library.

One of her most successful ventures is Dollywood, the theme park that she opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It has become one of the state’s biggest tourist attractions, as well as a major economic driver for the region, supporting thousands of jobs.

Tennessee’s governor, Bill Lee, together with Nashville International Airport, has announced plans to rename the airport in her honour. The final name has yet to be determined.

Lee proposed the move shortly after the singer’s death, describing her “extraordinary life” as “forever woven into the fabric of our state”.

“At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favourite daughter and greet travellers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith and kindness”, he added.

L’article Dolly Parton’s Nashville hotel and museum to open this month est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Presented on Wednesday, 9 September, by Apple’s new chief executive John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook earlier this month, the iPhone Duo opens like a book to reveal a 7.6-inch display, while retaining a 5.4-inch external screen when folded. Starting at $1,999 (around €1,720), it will also be the most expensive iPhone Apple has released. For European consumers, however, the direct conversion does not reflect the final retail price, which is higher due to VAT and regional pricing. For example, in Belgium, prices start at €2,339 for the 256 GB model, rising to €2,589 for 512 GB, €3,089 for 1 TB and €3,839 for 2 TB.

Apple has confirmed that the iPhone Duo will arrive in several European markets on 23 October 2026, with pre-orders opening on 16 October. France, Germany and the UK are among more than 70 countries and regions included in the first wave, while the device will reach a further 28 markets from 30 October.

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The launch takes Apple into a foldable smartphone market where rivals including Samsung, Google and Motorola have already been active for several years. Foldables, however, remain a relatively small segment, accounting for less than 5% of the overall smartphone market, according to CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood.

For travellers, the significance of the format could go beyond simply having a bigger screen. A device that combines smartphone portability with some of the working space associated with a small tablet could make tasks such as navigating maps, checking itineraries, editing photographs, reading documents or working between apps easier without carrying an additional device.

That could be particularly relevant for travel journalists, bloggers, vloggers and other creators who increasingly produce and publish material directly from destinations. Apple’s Split View allows two applications to run side by side, meaning, for example, a reporter could consult notes while writing, a traveller could compare a booking with a map, or a creator could work across editing and publishing applications on the same screen. Apple has also demonstrated the device running productivity applications such as Zoom and Slack.

Apple has confirmed that the Duo will support the USB-C Apple Pencil later this year, extending a capability previously associated with the iPad to an iPhone. That could make the larger display useful for annotating documents, taking handwritten notes or sketching while travelling.

A different approach to travel photography

The folding format also introduces several possibilities for photography and video. The Duo has two 48-megapixel rear cameras, while its outer screen can act as a preview when somebody else is taking the photograph. Users can also take selfies using the higher-resolution rear cameras while seeing themselves on the external display.

For solo travellers and content creators, the phone can be partially folded and placed on a surface, effectively creating its own stand for photographs, video calls, time-lapses or video recording without necessarily requiring a tripod.

Apple has added features specifically designed around the two-screen configuration, including Duo Preview, which lets the person being photographed see the framing, and Smart Take, which uses on-device artificial intelligence to identify when subjects are posing and automatically capture images.

The main camera can record 4K video at up to 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision, while Apple’s updated software allows Cinematic effects to be applied after recording. Those specifications could make the device particularly interesting to vloggers and mobile journalists, although whether a foldable phone can replace dedicated cameras, laptops, or other professional equipment will depend heavily on individual workflows.

A pocket-sized workspace?

The Duo is powered by Apple’s A20 Pro processor and runs iOS 27.1, which has been adapted to accommodate both screens and different folding positions. Apple says third-party applications, including Netflix, Zoom and Slack, are already taking advantage of the format.

The company is also putting artificial intelligence at the centre of the device through Apple Intelligence and its new Siri AI. Features include the ability to draw on information from messages, emails and photographs, understand what is displayed on screen and perform actions across applications.

Such capabilities could eventually have obvious applications while travelling, from finding reservation information buried in emails to organising schedules or working with content on the road. As with other AI assistants, however, their practical value will depend on accuracy, language and regional availability, as well as users’ willingness to give software greater access to personal information.

Apple says Apple Intelligence uses on-device processing where possible, alongside its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure. Siri AI is initially being rolled out in beta in English, with French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese and Korean support expected in October.

Connectivity is another potentially important consideration for international travellers. The Duo is eSIM-only worldwide and includes Apple’s C2 cellular modem, as well as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The device also supports Apple’s satellite connectivity features when users are outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

Battery life, meanwhile, is rated at up to 24 hours of mixed use across both displays. Apple says the phone can reach 50% charge in approximately 20 minutes using compatible wired charging, an increasingly relevant consideration for travellers relying on a single device throughout a day on the road.

Foldable, but not for everyone

Despite the possibilities, the Duo is positioned firmly at the premium end of the smartphone market. Foldable devices also continue to face questions around long-term durability and whether their additional screen space provides enough everyday benefit to justify their cost and complexity.

Apple says it has addressed durability through a grade 5 titanium construction, an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, Ceramic Shield protection and a hinge containing more than 100 components. The internal folding display uses several protective layers designed to reduce stress as the phone repeatedly opens and closes.

Apple’s arrival could nevertheless give the foldable category considerably more visibility. Analysts see the launch as characteristic of the company’s tendency to enter emerging product categories after competitors have spent years developing them rather than attempting to be first. Reuters reports that analysts at IDC expect Apple to capture around 40% of the foldable market by the end of 2027, although the category remains a niche compared with conventional smartphones.

Whether the Duo can push foldable smartphones beyond their current niche remains uncertain. For travellers and travel professionals, however, combining a larger screen with photography, video, editing, navigation and multitasking in a pocket-sized device could make it a useful tool on the road. Whether those advantages justify its premium price will become clearer once the Duo reaches consumers in October.

L’article Apple enters foldable market with iPhone Duo, but what could it mean for travel? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The conference is designed as a strategic platform connecting public institutions with healthcare and wellness providers, travel agencies, wellness and retreat facilitators, medical and wellness tourism operators, international experts, investors, destination management organisations and destination development partners.

Beyond promoting Azerbaijan’s existing offer, the event aims to encourage partnerships between the tourism and healthcare sectors, attract international expertise and investment, and support the development of new medical and wellness tourism products.

The conference comes at a particularly significant moment for the sector. Health tourism has recently been formally incorporated into Azerbaijan’s national tourism priorities under the country’s newly approved State Programme on the Development of Tourism for 2026–2030.

Health tourism enters Azerbaijan’s 2030 strategy

Approved by President Ilham Aliyev, the five-year programme provides a new framework for the development and diversification of Azerbaijan’s tourism industry through the end of the decade.

Health tourism is specifically addressed in the programme, which foresees the preparation of a dedicated strategy and action plan for the sector.

The country also plans to improve regulatory and legal acts governing the accreditation of medical institutions, with a particular focus on medical tourism. At least five facilities providing medical tourism services are expected to participate in international accreditation processes by the end of the programme period.

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Importantly, the organisation of an annual Health Tourism Conference is itself included among the programme’s targets, giving the Baku event a formal role in Azerbaijan’s longer-term tourism development plans.

The wider 2026–2030 programme also envisages creating a tourism product centred on the Great Silk Road, launching eight cultural tourism products and organising four domestic and one international promotional event, including festivals. Restoration of monuments and infrastructure development in state historical and cultural reserves are also planned.

Together, the measures point to a broader effort to diversify Azerbaijan’s tourism economy and develop specialised segments capable of attracting new international markets.

Building an international health tourism platform

The Health Tourism Conference has been developing alongside those ambitions, bringing together stakeholders from Azerbaijan and abroad to examine opportunities across medical and wellness tourism.

The first Health Tourism Conference was held in Shusha in 2024, establishing a platform for discussions around Azerbaijan’s potential in the sector. The initiative has since expanded as the country seeks to develop stronger links between tourism, healthcare and wellness.

Through panel discussions, networking and business meetings, the event seeks to create stronger connections between healthcare institutions, tourism businesses, investors, facilitators and destination developers.

Azerbaijan has a range of natural resources that could support this positioning, including mineral and thermal waters, therapeutic muds and the country’s distinctive Naftalan oil, which has a long history of therapeutic use. These assets are increasingly complemented by spa, wellness, medical and recreation facilities.

The objective is not simply to attract people travelling for medical procedures, but to develop a broader health tourism ecosystem incorporating prevention, rehabilitation, wellness, balneotherapy and nature-based experiences.

Azerbaijan strengthens European health tourism links

As Travel Tomorrow reported from Varna earlier this year, Azerbaijan showcased its growing health tourism ambitions at the HEALTHXCHANGE Summit 2026, organised by the European Spas Association (ESPA).

Representing the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, Deputy Chairman Teymur Suleymanzada presented the country’s health tourism potential to European stakeholders, highlighting its mineral springs, therapeutic muds, favourable climate conditions and expanding network of spa and recreation facilities.

A significant development during the summit was the Azerbaijan Tourism Board joining ESPA as an advisory member, providing a platform for closer cooperation with European destinations and experts on issues such as quality standards, certification and destination management.

The move is particularly relevant as prevention, longevity and wellness become increasingly important elements of European tourism discussions.

Part of Azerbaijan’s wider tourism transformation

The increased focus on health tourism comes against the backdrop of a broader transformation of Azerbaijan’s visitor economy.

This growing focus on health tourism is part of Azerbaijan’s broader efforts to establish itself as a leading tourism destination in the Caucasus, diversifying its international offer across culture, nature, winter sports, gastronomy, wellness and other tourism segments.

The newly approved 2026–2030 tourism programme now provides a framework for taking that diversification further.

Within that context, the Health Tourism Conference in Baku represents more than an industry gathering. Combined with a dedicated national health tourism strategy, plans for international accreditation and growing cooperation with organisations such as ESPA, the annual event is becoming part of Azerbaijan’s efforts to build an internationally competitive medical and wellness tourism sector.

L’article Azerbaijan to host Health Tourism Conference in Baku as sector gains strategic importance  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Held on 5 September 2026, the tournament was jointly organised by the Mission of China to the European Union and Euroclub, with support from the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) and the China Table Tennis College.

Cai Run, Ambassador and Head of the Mission of China to the EU, and Didier Leroy, Vice President of the European Table Tennis Union, attended the opening ceremony, while Fei Shengchao, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, performed the ceremonial opening serve.

The event also brought two prominent figures from Chinese table tennis to Brussels. Yan Sen, Vice President of the China Table Tennis College and former world champion, and Zhang Yining, former world champion and coach, provided guidance to participants ahead of the competition.

More than 100 table tennis enthusiasts took part, representing China, the European institutions and the European Parliament.

Sport as a bridge

Addressing participants, Ambassador Cai highlighted the role that sporting and cultural exchanges can play in strengthening mutual understanding at a time of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

He said China-EU relations have increasing strategic and global significance, arguing that the two sides should maintain their partnership, continue cooperation and address economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation.

According to Cai, stronger exchanges in table tennis can contribute to greater mutual understanding and friendship between China and the EU and support the development of bilateral relations.

Leroy similarly emphasised the potential of so-called “ping-pong diplomacy”, expressing hope that sporting exchanges could help China and Europe move beyond their differences, strengthen dialogue and bring people closer together.

Table tennis has a long association with diplomacy. The term “ping-pong diplomacy” became internationally recognised in the early 1970s, when exchanges between American and Chinese table tennis players helped pave the way for a thaw in relations between China and the United States.

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Chinese and European players compete together

Rather than placing Chinese and European participants on opposing sides, the Brussels tournament adopted a team competition format based on mixed Chinese-European teams.

Players competed together in both singles and doubles, with Chinese and European participants sharing teams throughout the tournament.

The format placed cooperation at the centre of the competition, with organisers describing a warm and friendly atmosphere as players competed alongside one another and spectators followed the matches.

The initiative comes as China and the European Union continue to navigate a complex relationship encompassing trade, investment, climate action, international affairs and growing people-to-people exchanges. Against that backdrop, the Brussels tournament sought to use one of China’s most internationally recognised sports as an informal platform for dialogue and connection.

L’article China-EU table tennis tournament brings ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ to Brussels  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A new study by researchers at the University of Southampton has found a small but consistent association between social jet lag and anxiety among adolescents, raising questions about whether school schedules sufficiently reflect teenagers’ biological sleep needs.

Published in Sleep Medicine Reviews, the research examined the relationship between social jet lag and anxiety among young people aged between 12 and 18. The researchers conducted a systematic review of 18 studies and combined the results of 12 comparable studies involving more than 230,000 participants in a meta-analysis.

The results showed that teenagers experiencing greater social jet lag were more likely to report higher levels of anxiety, and vice versa.

Although the researchers stress that the findings demonstrate an association rather than proving that irregular sleep causes anxiety, the pattern was consistent across the studies analysed.

What is ‘social jet lag’?

Social jet lag describes the mismatch between a person’s biological body clock and the schedule imposed by school, work or other social obligations.

For teenagers, this can mean waking up early throughout the school week despite naturally wanting to go to sleep and wake up later, before shifting their schedule at weekends to compensate for lost sleep.

“During puberty, the body’s internal clock usually shifts back by a few hours, meaning teenagers naturally don’t start feeling sleepy until later and would ideally wake up later too,” explained Dr Sarah Chellappa, co-author of the study at the University of Southampton.

At the same time, teenagers face competing demands ranging from early school starts to spending time online in the evening, potentially reducing the amount of sleep they get during the week.

Many consequently sleep longer at weekends in an attempt to catch up. But researchers warn that repeatedly switching between weekday and weekend schedules can further disrupt the body’s internal clock.

The phenomenon is comparable to travelling between time zones, except that instead of boarding a plane, teenagers are effectively moving their sleeping patterns backwards and forwards every week.

Anxiety and sleep may reinforce each other

The findings are particularly significant given the prevalence of anxiety among young people.

According to the World Health Organization, around 4.4% of 10 to 14-year-olds and 5.5% of 15 to 19-year-olds worldwide experience an anxiety disorder.

The Southampton research suggests that sleep patterns could be one of several factors associated with those difficulties. Importantly, however, the relationship may work in both directions: greater social jet lag was associated with higher anxiety, while higher anxiety was also associated with greater social jet lag.

Another meta-analysis published earlier in 2026 similarly found an association between social jet lag and both anxiety and depression among adolescents and young people. However, its authors rated the certainty of the available evidence as very low and called for further high-quality longitudinal research.

Together, the findings add to growing research examining how the timing of sleep, rather than simply the number of hours spent in bed, could affect young people’s wellbeing.

Should schools start later?

The researchers argue that addressing the problem should not be reduced to simply telling teenagers to go to bed earlier.

“The findings highlight the importance of maintaining regular bedtimes and wake times throughout the week, even at weekends,” said Dr Hannah Ravenhall, lead author of the Southampton study.

But individual habits are only part of the equation.

“It’s important to look beyond what individuals can do alone and recognise how broader societal systems can influence sleep,” Ravenhall added.

That includes considering whether secondary schools should start later to better accommodate the biological changes that take place during adolescence.

The combination of teenagers naturally becoming more inclined towards later sleeping hours and institutions requiring them to wake early can create a mismatch between biological and social time.

Researchers therefore suggest that public health guidance should place greater emphasis on regular sleep timing, while schools, families and policymakers could consider structural measures that make healthier sleep patterns easier to maintain.

With the new school year getting underway across Europe, the findings provide another reminder that catching up on sleep at the weekend may not fully compensate for disrupted routines during the week. When it comes to teenagers’ sleep, consistency could matter almost as much as quantity. 

L’article ‘Social jet lag’ linked to higher anxiety levels among teenagers, study finds est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

International Orangutan Day, marked annually on 19 August, aims to raise global awareness about the plight of orangutans and the urgent need to protect their natural habitats.

All three species, the Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans, face a high risk of extinction, with habitat loss among the biggest threats to their survival. Widespread deforestation linked to palm oil plantations, illegal logging and mining, as well as the illegal pet trade, continue to put populations under pressure.

Orangutans mainly eat fruit and play an essential role in dispersing seeds throughout the rainforest, helping the wider ecosystem flourish. This has earned them the nickname “gardeners of the forest”.

For every captive orangutan sold through the exotic pet trade, up to 11 others can be killed during the capture process. Many animals taken from the wild also fail to survive the journey.

Two orangutan families at Pairi Daiza

Pairi Daiza, an animal park and botanical garden in Brugelette, Hainaut, is contributing to efforts to preserve the species through conservation, breeding and public awareness.

The park held a special “orangutan weekend” on 15 and 16 August, giving visitors the opportunity to meet its two orangutan families, take part in activities and learn about conservation work protecting their relatives in the wild.

“Through encounters with the animals and their keepers and a special guided tour, visitors learned more about these remarkably intelligent great apes, their way of life and the growing threats facing them in the wild,” a park spokesperson said.

“The weekend also highlighted the urgent work being carried out in Borneo, where the 2026 forest-fire season has begun and the forests on which orangutans depend are once again under severe pressure.”

The award-winning park is home to nine Sumatran orangutans living in two family groups in its Kingdom of Ganesha.

Ujian, Sari, Berani and Mathaï live in the Flower Temple. Just opposite, Kembali, Rosa, Indah, Yori and Bukit live in the House of the Artisan.

The second family arrived at Pairi Daiza from Frankfurt Zoo in November 2025 as part of the European Ex Situ Programme coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Their arrival allowed the five orangutans to remain together while contributing to the responsible management of a healthy European population of this critically endangered species.

First encounter between the two families

In July, both orangutan families were outside at the same time for the first time, a moment Niels Vandemeulebroucke, orangutan caretaker at Pairi Daiza, described as “a wonderful milestone”.

“For Kembali and his family, almost everything was new: trees to climb, ropes and branches to explore, birds, toys, places to rest, and an entire world of movement around them,” he told Travel Tomorrow.

“You could really see how stimulating their new environment was.”

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Their neighbours in the Flower Temple were equally intrigued.

“At first, the whole family climbed high into the trees to get a better look at the newcomers. Interestingly, there were no striking vocalisations or direct interactions, and the initial curiosity quickly settled down,” Vandemeulebroucke said.

“Today, both families are once again mainly focused on the relationships within their own group.”

As ambassadors for their species, Pairi Daiza’s orangutans can help visitors understand the extraordinary intelligence of the great apes while providing a connection with their wild relatives and the rapidly disappearing forests on which their survival depends.

“Our role is to keep challenging them,” Vandemeulebroucke said.

“We continuously create new enrichments and opportunities to explore, think and interact, because orangutans are exceptionally intelligent animals.”

Pairi Daiza covers 75 hectares on the site of the former Cistercian Cambron Abbey and is home to more than 7,000 animals.

L’article How Belgian animal park Pairi Daiza is helping protect endangered orangutans  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

For many a traveller, long-haul flights are a necessary evil when discovering the world. Although alternatives do exist – including train travel and cruise trips – some destinations are just easier to reach by flight. But spending endless hours in a (cramped) aeroplane seat can leave its mark, from a stiff neck to sleeping feet and everything in between. The human body is not designed to spend too much time staying inactive.

“If you sit at work all day, if you sit at home a lot, then you should be really mindful of trying to take a break from your sitting habits as often as possible – at least every 30 minutes. Even if you exercise, you still should be mindful of taking breaks and be moving throughout the day, because exercise is not enough to overcome the risks of sitting, and sitting in long bouts,” said Keith Diaz, co-author of a 2017 study from Columbia University Medical Center that suggested movement ‘snacks’ every 30 minutes.

Walking the aisle every now and then is a great way to stay active during a flight, but it isn’t always possible and, depending on the seat you managed to secure, it may soon start to bother your neighbours. In-seat exercises can be a valuable alternative or simply an add-on to those aisle laps. But where to find inspiration?

Pilates, invented by Joseph Pilates in an effort to help World War I soldiers recover from their injuries, offers a large number of exercise options that can easily be done in a seated position. At home, they can help you deal with the long hours spent behind a desk; when travelling (by plane), they may prevent you from spending the first days of your trip feeling all shattered due to the voyage.

Five plane-friendly pilates exercises

Pelvic tilt

An immobile pelvis can cause quite a lot of lower back pain and other uncomfortable issues, as it has a tendency to go into an anterior or posterior position instead of staying neutral. To resolve this issue and to activate the pelvic region, pelvic tilts are a great exercise that can be done from a seated position.

1. Sit up tall and inhale, slightly arching your lower back and pulling your pelvis backwards.
2. Exhale, drawing your belly toward your spine while pulling your pelvis upwards.
3. Repeat this rolling motion for a couple of minutes.

@alignwithwellness #pelvictilt #pelvic #tilt #MyCostume #exprESSIEyourself #MicellarRewind #chiropracticadjustment #chiropractor #maine #yarmouthme ♬ Faded (Instrumental) – Alan Walker

Shoulder rolls

Shoulders generally don’t agree well with flying. Especially if you have a tendency to get stressed on the plane, chances are you’re unconsciously putting a lot of tension on your shoulders and neck. Shoulder rolls offer some much-needed relief in a matter of seconds.

1. Sit up tall, with your hands and arms relaxed along your sides.
2. Pull your shoulders slowly towards your ears, then backwards and upwards again, making a circular motion.
3. Repeat a couple of rounds before reversing the direction.

@yuta_bodymaking Muscles Stretched: Shoulders, traps, upper back #stretching #warmingup #shoulders #gym #fitness #fyp ♬ Die With A Smile – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

Spine stretch

Can’t shake the feeling that you’ve been sitting for too long, even after taking a little walk and doing the previously mentioned exercises? A spine stretch might be just what you need to get everything realigned and ready for the rest of your voyage.

1. Sit up tall and inhale.
2. Exhale, meanwhile slowly bending forwards. Keep your sitting bones grounded and stay in control of the movement.
3. Once you can’t go any further, inhale, slowly stacking your spine again into a seated position.
4. Repeat if needed, and if you want and can, use your (stretched) arms to accompany the movement.

Knee lifts

What if you can’t walk around but are desperately longing to get those legs moving? Well, you do a very convincing walking impression while staying seated. Not as good as the real deal, but it will get those muscles going.

1. Sit up tall and put your feet firmly on the ground, bending your knees at a 90° angle.
2. Lift one foot from the ground, keeping that knee in a straight angle.
3. Hold for a couple of seconds before slowly putting your foot on the ground.
4. Repeat with the other foot and go on as long as you want.

@gloveractive Try today's exercise of the day: Seated knee lifts! This gentle, effective exercise strengthens hip flexors, lower abdominal muscles, and quadriceps. They improve hip mobility, support functional movements like walking or climbing stairs, and help alleviate lower back pain. This exercise is ideal for beginners and seniors. #Exercise #Fitness #Health #Mobility #Strength ♬ Take My Space – nimino

Seated ABCs

If the previous exercise isn’t enough of a challenge or if those legs just won’t wake up, don’t hesitate to combine the knee lifts with some ABCs. If the alphabet is too long, just spell out your name and switch to the other foot.

1. Sit up tall, both feet on the ground.
2. Slightly lift one foot and start writing out the alphabet, moving your foot and toes but staying immobile with the rest of your body.
3. Switch to the other foot and repeat as long as necessary.

L’article Five pilates exercises to stay supple during a long-haul flight est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Although there are many rules that apply in the aviation industry, some things are left unsaid. Who gets which armrest? To clap or not to clap? When to stand up? Knowing what to do when is not easy, and opinions might differ. And all those who travel regularly will recognise the issue.

In order to address the unwritten rules of flying, Lufthansa has launched a Travel Etiquette Collection in collaboration with advertising agency Serviceplan. All seven clothing items and accessories in the collection feature short but sweet messages related to responsible travel behaviour.

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‘Boarding by Group Hits Different’, ‘Middle Seat gets the Armrest’, ‘Recline Responsibly’, ‘Live, Love, Exit by Row’, ‘It’s okay to Clap when the Plane Lands’, ‘It’s okay not to Clap when the Plane Lands’, and ‘Text your mom after landing’: seldom has travel etiquette been addressed so clearly and sounded so familiar.

“There may be no cure for a lack of empathy. The rest can be practised, and now, it turns out, worn as well. Because good manners are no science. They’re simply a smile that happens to take place at 30,000 feet. And if it looks good while doing so: all the better,” Lufthansa writes.

And yet, the Travel Etiquette Collection isn’t meant to be taken all too seriously. Lufthansa simply wants to get the conversation started between travellers, making it easier to talk about what kind of behaviour might or might not be tolerated.

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Along with the clothing collection, Lufthansa also put together a little air travel etiquette guide with the help of etiquette expert and ‘behaviour influencer’ Clemens Hoyos. In it, all behaviours mentioned in the slogans are explained and discussed in a humorous way.

“Now to the great question of fairness in civil aviation, that quiet battle waged in every row of three: the armrest. ‘Middle Seat gets the Armrest’ gets straight to the point and ends the debate before it even begins. The logic behind it is compelling. The person at the window gets to lean back and dream out the porthole. The person on the aisle stretches their legs and reaches the drinks cart first. And whoever sits in the middle gets both armrests in return — fair deal, right? Anyone wearing this wisdom on their sleeve may not even need to say it out loud. A glance down is enough, and the matter is settled,” the guide writes.

Contrary to most merchandise, the collection can not simply be bought online or in store. Instead, the clothing pieces have been distributed among a limited number of influencers, and Lufthansa also spread the message on social media. Travellers hoping to get their own piece of the clothing line are sadly unlikely to be able to do so anytime soon – unless Lufthansa decides to commercialise the merchandise, of course.

L’article Lufthansa launches exclusive clothing collection focusing on air travel etiquette est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The holiday season at Disneyland Resort will run from 13 November 2026 through 6 January 2027, bringing new character costumes alongside returning parades, entertainment, attractions and seasonal experiences across the resort.

Mickey, Minnie and some of their friends will appear in Town Square at Disneyland Park wearing new holiday attire inspired by “the spirit of holiday travel and an alpine gathering”. The new outfits will debut when the holiday season begins on 13 November.

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Santa Claus will also have a new meeting location this year. From 13 November through 24 December, he will greet guests at Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn near Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin at Disneyland Park. He will also appear at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail at Disney California Adventure.

Several of Disneyland’s most recognisable holiday traditions will return. “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” will once again travel along Main Street, U.S.A., featuring Disney characters, toy soldiers, dancing reindeer and gingerbread cookies. The “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular will also return, with snowfall and fireworks adding to the nighttime experience.

The park’s seasonal attraction makeovers will include “Haunted Mansion Holiday” and “it’s a small world” Holiday. Cars Land at Disney California Adventure will again feature Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, while Sleeping Beauty Castle will become Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, illuminated by more than 80,000 lights each evening.

“World of Color – Season of Light” will return from 13 November at Disney California Adventure. The resort will also bring back Disney Festival of Holidays, with seasonal food, music and cultural performances like “Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” at Paradise Gardens Park, which will bring Mirabel and her friends to life with stories and songs from Disney Animation’s “Encanto”.

On select evenings from 13 November through 6 January, guests at Disney California Adventure can also enjoy “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!”, featuring Miguel from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco”. Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will also return to celebrate the holidays with live music, specialty dishes and character appearances inspired by Latin American traditions, while the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party will feature The Three Caballeros alongside Mexican folklórico dancers, mariachis and Brazilian samba dancers. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and The Three Caballeros will also appear in festive attire at Paradise Gardens Park throughout the celebration.

Holiday celebrations will extend beyond the theme parks. Downtown Disney District will feature seasonal decorations, food, entertainment and nightly simulated snowfall, while Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail will return from 11 November through 6 January.

The 2026 season will also bring new festive merchandise, including the Mickey Mouse and Family Christmas Collection and Disney Vintage Holiday Collection, which feature festive apparel, accessories, and home decor. The festive offerings will include the Mickey Train Light-Up popcorn bucket and Holiday Stitch Christmas Tree sipper, alongside seasonal food specials such as the Cool Mint and Chocolate Cookie Mickey Elf Shake at Schmoozies! and the sweet-tart Merry Cranberry Crispy Chicken Sandwich at Galactic Grill.

Christmas is definitely coming to town at Disney, as the park goes all in on the festive spirit with new visual touches, including fresh looks for Mickey and friends, alongside the return of many of its most recognisable holiday traditions.

L’article Disneyland reveals 2026 holiday lineup with new costumes for Mickey and Minnie est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.