Tourism

WASHINGTON — Peak bloom isn’t expected to occur until sometime late next week, but an influx of tourists is already evident in anticipation of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is kicking off this year on Saturday, March 18, and... Read More

WASHINGTON — Approximately 18.8 million people visited the District of Columbia last year, contributing some $5.4 billion to the local economy, but the numbers, released Wednesday as part of the city’s annual Travel Rally at Union Market, still remain significantly... Read More

WASHINGTON — Over the last two years, Rick Steves, a leading American authority on European travel, has been largely grounded and he admits the situation has been frustrating. But on the same day that Steves restarted his company’s European tours,... Read More

WASHINGTON — Competing claims and diplomatic disputes over Antarctica resulted in 12 countries coming together to create an Antarctic Treaty that came into force in 1961. Now 60 years later, 54 countries are involved, and policies and management of the... Read More

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy is continuing its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic but not fast enough for tourism officials who testified before a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. They said their industry was the hardest hit during the pandemic shutdown and... Read More

WASHINGTON — COVID-19 has caused colossal damage to the U.S. travel industry, grounding airlines, emptying hotels, and stopping almost all business and leisure travel for months. The State Department isn’t suggesting this will change any time soon. In a discussion... Read More

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced more than $1.9 million in matching grants will be awarded to 161 local tourism initiatives as part of Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Recovery Marketing Leverage Program.  The tourism body revised its traditional marketing program, creating the... Read More

About Strickland:  Marilyn Strickland was born in Seoul, South Korea. Her father, who fought in World War II and Korea, met her mother while he was stationed there after the war. If elected to Congress, she will be the first... Read More

WASHINGTON - The National Cherry Blossom Festival may still be five months away, but organizers on Wednesday announced the festival parade, long a beloved part of the annual event, has been cancelled for 2021. The reason: The ongoing coronavirus pandemic.... Read More

CANNON BEACH, Ore. (AP) — As the coronavirus raced across America, this quaint seaside town did what would normally be unthinkable for a tourist destination. Spooked by a deluge of visitors, the tiny Oregon community shooed people from its expansive... Read More

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Capitol building will remain closed to tourists through May 1, the Sergeants at Arms of the House and Senate announced Monday. The decision comes after the White House extended its voluntary guidance on social distancing to... Read More

WASHINGTON - Public tours of the Capitol building are being suspended -- at least through the end of March -- in response to the novel coronavirus. In a joint statement, House Sergeant at Arms Paul D. Irving, and Senate Sergeant... Read More