VENICE TO LIMIT TOUR GROUP SIZES
PASSPORT WAIT TIMES RETURN TO NORMAL
After a chaotic couple of years , the U . S . Department of State announced in mid- December 2023 that processing times for passport applications are back to pre-pandemic levels . Now , the average processing time for routine service is six to eight weeks , and expedited service , which costs an additional $ 60 , is two to three weeks . “ With this update , we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020 ,” the U . S . Department of State said . “ This reflects the work of dedicated employees working for the American people .”
U . S . passport wait times are now back to pre-pandemic levels .
RED LEMON / SHUTTERSTOCKCOM
OLEG SENKOV / SHUTTERSTOCKCOM
TSA ADDS AIRLINES TO PRECHECK PROGRAM
BO SHEN / SHUTTERSTOCKCOM
A sign outlines the perks of using TSA PreCheck .
Tourists gather in a crowded market square in Venice , Italy .
VENICE TO LIMIT TOUR GROUP SIZES
Beginning this summer , Venice , Italy will limit the size of tour groups to 25 people in addition to banning loudspeakers that “ may cause confusion and disturbance ,” according to a January 2024 statement from the city . The new regulations , which will go into effect beginning June 1 , are the destination ’ s latest efforts to soften the impact of overtourism on the local community , something the popular vacation spot has been working toward for several years now . Regarding the change , Venice Security Councilor Elisabetta Pesce said , “( It is an ) important measure aimed at improving the management of groups organized in the historic center and on the nearby islands of Murano , Burano and Torcello , promoting sustainable tourism and guaranteeing the protection and safety of the city .”
Just before the new year , Fiji Airways , Lynx Air , Norse Atlantic Airways and STARLUX Airlines were added to TSA PreCheck , the popular and trusted traveler program headed by the Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ). Excluding Fiji Airways , TSA PreCheck ’ s newest members are startup carriers hailing from Canada , Europe and Taiwan , respectively , all of which recently began service to the U . S . With the addition of its most recent recruits , TSA PreCheck currently encompasses 94 airlines and counting .
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