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European Union

African Tourism Board Requests European Union Post-Pandemic Help

2020-05-20 by Phil Butler

Biskra Province

African Tourism Board (ATB) Task Force members and tourism experts are seeking European Union support for Africa’s tourism recovery.

Tags: Africa tourism, Africa Tourism Board, Africa Travel, COVID-19 response, Dr. Walter Mzembi, Egypt, European Union, Free Zone, Isreal, Jordan, North Africa, Vanilla Islands

UNWTO Launches a Covid-19 Technical Assistance Package for Recovery

2020-05-14 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Zurab Pololikashvili

The UNWTO has released a Tourism Recovery Technical Assistance Package that offers guidance to the Member States in response to COVID-19.

Tags: COVID-19, COVID-19 economics, Europe COVID-19, European Union, hotels, tourism, tourism recovery, UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili

A Pinpoint of Light for Greece Tourism After COVID-19

2020-04-01 by Phil Butler

Crete musician

A dissenters view versus the “pie in the sky” tourism industry sentiment over COVID-19. Greece tourism needs to shift into another gear.

Tags: alt tourism, Black Tomato, Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 cancellations, Donald Trump, EU GDP, Europe travel, European Union, Greece tourism, Greece travel, Greek officials, luxury segment, luxury tours, Spain, Tom Marchan, tourism, travel bans, US travelers, VAT

New European Driving Licence Takes Effect

2013-01-18 by Aleksandr Shatskih

New European driving licence

The European Union announced that starting January 19, 2013 a new driving licence, with a photo and standard information requirements included, will be issued across the EU. The new driving licence will have the form of a plastic “credit card” and tougher security protection. This new model will replace in time the existing over 100 […]

Tags: Eastern Europe, europe driving, european driving licence, European Union

Russia – EU Tourism Glee: Has the Boat Sailed

2011-10-05 by Phil Butler

Vladimir Putin mashup

Russian Federation Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is all over the news of late. First running for the Presidency again, and today talking about something termed a “Eurasian Union”-or as some proclaim – a soviet bloc party renewed. But, Putin’s ideas could well solve any number of points of pain for his people.

Tags: China Russia union, China travel, EU, EU visas, EurAsian Union, European Union, free visas, Russia, Russia travel, Sochi, travel, USSR, visa, visa rules, Vladimir Putin

Not Just Rotten in Denmark – Nationalism Surfacing

2011-07-05 by Phil Butler

Greeks protest austerity cuts to no avail

The news that the Danish parliament moved on Friday to reintroduce limited border controls, should not really come as any surprise. With one segment of the EU pushing hard for austerity measures on the other side, and the Russian Federation being nixed at every turn on free visa travel, and general upheaval increasing overall, isn’t it clear more than one border crossing is at risk?

Tags: Belgium, Belgium tourism, Copenhagen, Denmark, Denmark tourism, EU, EU Travel, European Union, free travel, German tourism, germany, Greece tourism, Russian Federation, Schengen agreement, Spain tourism, strikes, visa

Just How Unwired Is the European Travel Commission?

2011-06-27 by Phil Butler

ETC Facebook images

The European Travel Commission recently announced a travel contest via their Facebook engagement to attract US tourists to the continent. In what could be classified as either symbolic, or simply Europe’s latest and greatest online misfire, the pronounced Facebook engagement is nowhere to be found. The so called “I Wish I Were There” contest, is so far only a dream?

Tags: dream vacations, ETC, EU, EU tourism, EU Travel, Europe engagement, Europe Internet, Europe tourism, Europe travel, Europe wired, European Travel Commission, European Union, Facebook contest, Facebook travel, Gadling, I Wish I Were There, PR Newswire

EasyJet Looks to EU to Fund Ash Cloud Detector

2011-04-19 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Volcanic Ash

EasyJet has asked the European Union to help fund a new volcanic ash detection system for aircraft.  The technology, developed by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, is designed to do what radars cannot: detect the presence of dangerous dust particles and volcanic ash in the air, giving them time to adjust course. The detection […]

Tags: Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector, AVOID, EasyJet, European Union, Iceland, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, UK, volcanic ash

Estonia – The Next Big Thing In Eco-tourism?

2011-03-29 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Estonian eco-tourism has huge potential according to tourism experts

Largely unexploited Estonia offers huge opportunities for nature tourism devotees, it has been claimed. In particular, the country is a great place for birdwatchers, says Tim Appleton, chief organizer of the world’s largest eco-tourism trade fair, Birdfair. His comments yesterday were reported by the BBN news portal.

Tags: Bogshoeing, Eastern Europe, eco travel, Eco-Tourism, environmental, Estonia, Estonia travel, EU Travel, Europe tourism, Europe travel, European Union

European Capital of Culture: Spotlight Burgos

2011-02-24 by Phil Butler

The incomperable Catedral de Burgos

Every year The Council of the European Union selects two cities to act as the European Capitals of Culture. For 2011 those cities are Tallinn in Estonia, and Turku in Finland. But, the process for cities being selected actually began several years ago. In keeping with the process, future cities are due to be selected later this year – to represent the European Union in 2016 and onward.

Tags: Burgos, Burgos Cathedral, Burgos UNESCO, Castile, Count of Castile, Europe culture, European Capitals of Culture, European Union, Guimarães, Kosice, Marseille, Mons, Queso de Burgos, R-evolution, Riga, Rome, Spain culture, Tallinn, Turku, Umeå, UNSESCO, Visigoths

Russia – Finland Visa Free Travel a Step Closer

2010-12-17 by Phil Butler

Russia Finland visa-free talks go forward

The door for visa-free travel between Russia and Finland was opened on Sunday as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Finnish President Tarja Halonen officially opened a high speed rail service between St. Petersburg and Helsinki. The two leaders seemed positive about at least limited free-visa travel between the two countries. A positive outcome for rail between the two could well speed EU and Russian Federation talks to open up travel to Russia.

Tags: European Union, high speed rail, Russian Railways, Russian Trains, Tarja Halonen, Travel All Russia, travel industry, Travel Russia, visa free travel, visa news, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Yakunin

EU and Russia: Free Visa Talks at Standstill

2010-11-12 by Phil Butler

Dmitry Medvedev and Tarja Halonen

Travel and tourism for Russia is up this year despite slow progress on the free visa issue. The EU’s apparent stalling of Russia on free travel is holding up what could be a boom for the industry worldwide. Business between the EU and the Russian Federation could take many countries out of the recession with expanded cooperation, so just why the EU is holding back makes little sense to many.

Tags: Dmitry Medvedev, EU, European Union, free visa, free visa zone, Minister of Sport and Tourism, Moldova, Russia, Russia travel, Russia travel visa, Russian Federation, Tarja Halonen, travel, Ukraine, visa restrictions, Vitaly Mutko

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Why We Embrace AI

At Argophilia, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to bring you the stories that matter. You may notice a certain precision in our data analysis, a specific flair in our visuals, or a rapid turnaround on complex topics. That is no accident—it is the result of our rampant use of artificial intelligence.

We use Gemini to help synthesize data, structure our reporting, and ensure our news remains as sharp as the reality we cover. When it comes to our imagery, we rely on the creative power of Midjourney and NightCafe, unless otherwise noted in our editorial credits.

We are not apologetic for this. In a fast-moving world, these tools allow us to focus on what really counts: investigating the issues, giving a voice to the marginalized, and maintaining the journalistic integrity you expect from us. We see AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an engine that amplifies our ability to inform, analyze, and tell the truth about our island and beyond.

We are writers and journalists first—but we are proud to be tech-enabled ones, too.

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Stories of Interest

The Six Pufferfish Species Found in Greek Waters

2026-07-08 By Mihaela Lica Butler

From the infamous Silver-cheeked Toadfish, whose powerful bite and deadly toxin have made headlines across the Mediterranean, to tiny deep-water species that most swimmers will never encounter, these invasive fish are now part of Greece’s marine life.

spearfishing diver AI illustration

Search Intensifies After Missing Spearfisher’s Gear Found Off Frangokastello

2026-07-08 By Manuel Santos

A Frontex thermal drone and multiple vessels search for a 65-year-old missing spearfisherman in Crete after his gear was found 5 nautical miles offshore.

Silver Nova pool deck

Luxury Cruise Ship Silver Nova Makes First Visit to Heraklion

2026-07-08 By Argophilia Travel News

Heraklion welcomed a new addition to its growing cruise portfolio this week as the luxury cruise ship Silver Nova made its first-ever visit to the Cretan capital. The maiden call was marked by the traditional plaque exchange ceremony aboard the vessel, attended by representatives of the Heraklion Port Authority, the Hellenic Coast Guard, and the […]

Chania market reopening 2026

Chania Municipal Market Targets September Reopening After Years of Restoration

2026-07-08 By Iorgos Pappas

Chania’s restored Municipal Market is expected to reopen in September, with shop owners beginning work on their premises during July.

Heraklion restaurants

Heraklion Restaurants See Plenty of Visitors but Less Spending This Summer

2026-07-08 By Victoria Udrea

Heraklion’s hospitality sector says visitor numbers remain strong, but cautious spending and rising costs are squeezing restaurant businesses.

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