In 2016, the world’s oldest paddleboat still in operation, the 160-year-old Skibladner, operates on Norway’s largest lake, Møsja, from June 22 to Aug. 14.
On round-trip routes, it runs from the city of Gjøvik to the city of Eidsvoll on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and from Gjøvik to Lillehammer on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A restaurant on board offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In central Switzerland, the Gotthard Base Tunnel will become the world’s longest train tunnel when it begins operation, scheduled for Dec. 11, 2016. Located between the cities of Biasca and Erstfeld, the tunnel stretches 35.42 miles under the Gotthard massif and will knock up to a half hour off the travel time between Zürich and Ticino.
All passengers departing from Dubai International Airport, including transfers, will be charged an airport facility fee of AED35 (near $9.50) starting on June 30. The fee will be included when buying a ticket for a flight to or connecting through the airport. Passengers arriving and departing aboard the same flight are exempt. Revenue raised will go toward airport expansion projects.
In a referendum on June 23, the British public will vote on whether or not to remain in the European Union (EU). Should they vote for an exit from the EU, something colloquially being called the “Brexit,” the British Parliament will decide whether or not to support the public’s vote and begin to negotiate the Brexit.
On March 24, the Argentinian government suspended the $160 reciprocity fee imposed on US passport holders traveling to Argentina. Until further notice, US citizens visiting Argentina for fewer than 90 days for tourism or business will have free entry. Visa applications still must be submitted at least 30 days before the date of arrival and approved before travel.
In an attempt to conserve energy, Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, announced in April that the country’s time zone would change on May 1, with clocks moving ahead a half hour (to take advantage of light in the afternoon), making it exactly four hours ahead of GMT. Venezuela has been 30 minutes behind GMT-4 time since 2007, when then-president Hugo Chavez made the change.
An agreement made between Carnival Corporation and the Cuban government on March 23 will allow a ship run by the Carnival subsidiary Fathom (Valencia, CA; 855/932-8466, www.fathom.org) to operate the first cruises from the US to Cuba since the 1960s. Fathom’s weeklong cruises aboard the MV Adonia, Miami-Havana-Cienfuegos-Santiago de Cuba-Miami, were scheduled to begin on May 1.
The largest cave system in peninsular Malaysia, Gua Tempurung (Tempurung Cave), is 4.5 kilometers long, with 1.9 km (1.18 miles) open to visitors. It features five massive domed ceilings, an underground river and stalactite and stalagmite formations.
The world’s longest jungle canopy walkway is in Taman Nagara National Park in central peninsular Malaysia. Originally built for research purposes, the 1,700-foot-long bridge, connected to the trunk of a tree at either end, is raised 131 feet over the jungle floor. About a mile from the park entrance, it can be reached via jungle trails or boat and is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily (closed when raining).
Launched in March 2016, the Emilia-Romagna tourism website www.motorvalley.com offers information and locations of local automobile museums, a calendar of racing and car show events, and limited-time discount offers on car-driving experiences and day tours of factories and showrooms.
Emilia-Romagna province, in northeastern Italy, is home to the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani and De Tomaso luxury car manufacturers as well as Ducati motorcycles.