Germany's hotels enjoyed a record number of stays in the first nine months of the year thanks to the drawing power of the soccer World Cup, according to its main tourism association. The country recorded 276.9 million overnight stays from January to September, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the year-earlier period, the Federal Tourism Association said. Some of the biggest increases were in the cities that hosted games in the tournament.

Hawkers who disturb sunbathers by selling souvenirs have been banned from south Goa 's beaches. The Goan village councils made the decision after being prompted by shopkeepers who were worried that they would financially lose out if the hawkers (fondly known as the ‘sarong mafia' amongst backpackers for their fiercely territorial selling style) drove tourists away. However, the ban may not last – the hawkers are not breaking the law, and many tourists find them part of the experience rather than a nuisance.