January 2025


NI Children to Lapland Trust Takes Off For An Unforgettable Journey


www.nitravelnews.com British Tourists Warned Over New ‘Hug Scam’


UK HOLIDAYMAKERS planning to travel to Spain are being warned about a rising criminal scheme known as the ‘hug scam,’ which has the potential to cost visitors thousands of pounds in lost belongings. Reports indicate that this method of theft has surged in popular tourist destinations, particularly in Madrid. Local authorities have responded by confiscating approximately


£33,908 (41,000 euros) in cash,


alongside 11 stolen watches and a variety of jewellery. The alarming trend has been highlighted by the Spanish publication Cope, urging tourists to remain vigilant and safeguard their valuables while exploring the vibrant streets of Spain.


Journalist Pablo Munoz explains how the scam


annual trip provides unforgettable experiences that bring joy, respite, and cherished memories to children and their families facing some of life’s toughest challenges.


THE Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust’s (NICLT) much-anticipated annual trip to Lapland, took off on Monday,


16


December 2024. 2024 marked the charity’s 16th year of creating


magical


for children with life-limiting


moments and


life-threatening conditions. the years,


Over NICLT


has brought the wonder of Lapland to over 1,700 children, with only two


due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


interruptions This


The children, accompanied by a parent or carer, flew to Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus on the Arctic Circle. There, they enjoyed an enchanting day filled with reindeer and husky rides, mini skidoo adventures, magic sleigh rides, snowmobile safaris, and a magical


meeting with Santa Claus himself.


Carol Buick, mother of Max (age 10), from Antrim said ahead of the trip: “Visiting Santa in Lapland would have always felt like an impossible dream because of the complexities of traveling with my child’s needs. This trip has not only made it possible but has taken all the stress away, allowing us to focus entirely on the magic – from meeting Santa to playing in the snow. It’s a once-in-a- lifetime experience we’ll treasure forever.”


operates: “A man and a woman approach a target together. As the individual is approached, the woman hugs them, diverting their focus.” Mr. Munoz notes that during these brief moments of distraction, the target’s phone, money, and possessions are stolen. He emphasised that the thieves exploit the “nervousness” that arises when a stranger unexpectedly hugs someone, allowing them to grab “whatever they can.”


Another scam method, popular on the Costa del Sol,


is the ‘bird poo scam’. Pickpockets throw what appears to be bird poo over tourists. A person then attempts to help the victim clean up the mess, only to take their target’s phone, wallet, and other belongings.


UPDATES | 5


EASYJET and its fleet of A320 aircraft


easyJet Setting New Heights With Flight Simulator have


joined Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2024.


The simulator is available to play on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass,


including


Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PC Game Pass. It features easyJet’s A320 family of aircraft including the A319,


A320, A320neo


and A321neo, complete with the airline’s orange livery, allowing players to experience flying easyJet aircraft for the first time. Aviation enthusiasts worldwide will be able to fly to destinations across the airline’s network of over 1000 routes to 160 destinations in 37 countries,


spanning


Europe and North Africa. Captain David Morgan,


easyJet’s Chief Operating Officer


commented:


“We’re excited to be a part of the Microsoft Flight Simulator community, which is not only a fantastic opportunity for us to share our passion for flying with players around the world, but something we hope will help to inspire the next generation of pilots and aviation enthusiasts.”


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