tourism Archives

AppWizard

January 9, 2026

Religious statue is mocked for ‘looking like something from Minecraft’

A 100-foot statue of Jude the Apostle has been unveiled in Esperanza, Puebla State, Mexico, but has faced mockery for its design, which some compare to video game aesthetics. The statue features the saint's traditional green and white attire, with plans to add a wooden staff. Construction began in 2024 but was delayed due to weather and ecological concerns, and it was inaugurated last week. Local authorities hope it will attract pilgrims during Saint Jude Thaddeus's feast day celebrations. The backlash parallels a previous controversy in Seville regarding the restoration of a Virgin Mary statue, which led to protests and adjustments after criticism of its altered appearance.

AppWizard

December 17, 2025

Minecraft challenge breathes new life into rich cultural past

A young gamer named Qiu Zekai, known as Qiuxiaoniuer, has recreated part of the destroyed Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) in Minecraft, digitally repatriating the looted 12 zodiac bronze animal heads. His video has received millions of views, prompting discussions about "cyber reunion" and national pride. The zodiac bronzes were originally part of a fountain at the Qing Dynasty royal resort, which was looted during the Second Opium War in 1860. Only seven of the bronzes have been returned. Qiu spent two months on this project, which is part of a larger Minecraft building relay challenge that has amassed over 300 million views and showcases Chinese cultural architecture. Other participants have created significant structures, including a miniature Forbidden City and a floating palace inspired by Dunhuang art. The relay has become a cultural dialogue, connecting younger generations with their heritage through gaming.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

How Was THIS the First Game I Finished on My New PC?

The author recently upgraded to a new gaming PC and completed LEGO Horizon Adventures, a family-friendly game part of Sony's 2024 initiative. The game, built on Unreal Engine 5, has faced criticism for its system requirements and performance issues, but it performed well on the author's PC, especially with Nvidia's DLSS 4. The game features high production value and effective use of lighting and environmental detail, although it condenses a longer narrative into a shorter format. It was developed by Studio Gobo and Sony, not the usual TT Games team. The author created a document to track completed games and noted that LEGO Horizon Adventures is the only entry so far. The review was self-funded, with no compensation received from developers.

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

Gorgeous city builder elevating Minecraft’s blocky aesthetic just became a must-play with its new animal-themed update

Galaxy Grove's Town to City is a construction simulation game that features a blocky voxel aesthetic and is set in a 19th-century Mediterranean landscape. It was released on Steam last month and offers both a guided campaign mode and a freeform sandbox experience. The game includes detailed aesthetics, a photo mode, and economic strategy elements such as managing production lines and commerce. An upcoming update, Town to City Animals, will introduce farm animals, pets, new buildings, and a first-person mode. The update is set for free release in November, and the game is currently priced at .99 / £21.99, with a free demo available.

AppWizard

August 15, 2025

Stellar Blade PC Success is Indicative of Booming South Korean Gaming Industry

In its first three days of release on PC, Stellar Blade sold one million copies, contributing to a total of three million copies sold across PC and console platforms. A sequel is confirmed with a projected launch set for 2027. The game has received positive reviews for its combat mechanics and has benefited from the rising popularity of Korean culture. In 2023, Lies of P also gained acclaim, while Crimson Desert is generating hype despite a delay until 2026. The indie game Dave the Diver showcases the industry's expansion beyond traditional platforms. Additionally, Chinese developers have made significant progress, with Black Myth Wukong selling 20 million copies in its first month and boosting tourism to regions depicted in the game.

AppWizard

August 12, 2025

Tourism New Zealand Launches AI Trip Planner with Minecraft Integration to Inspire Global Travellers

Travellers can use an AI trip planner powered by GuideGeek technology on newzealand.com, which provides real-time answers to travel inquiries and connects to a fully playable Minecraft destination created by Tourism New Zealand. The AI offers personalized travel tips based on individual interests and integrates data from over 1,000 travel information sources. The Minecraft collaboration features digital recreations of New Zealand locations, enhancing engagement and curiosity about actual sites. Since its launch in late 2024, the AI has attracted around 200,000 unique users, who engage 600% more than average visitors. The initiative promotes New Zealand's cultural heritage through collaboration with Māori groups and local businesses, supporting both popular and lesser-known destinations. Future enhancements for the AI tool may include voice assistance and itinerary sharing.

AppWizard

August 9, 2025

Messenger, Pinterest, Lyft, Duolingo, Google Maps, Expedia Become Most Invasive Apps of 2025, Here is a New Update

The 2025 App Privacy Index reveals that Messenger is the most invasive app with a privacy risk score of 100/100, followed by Pinterest (72/100), Lyft (69/100), and Amazon Shopping (68/100). DoorDash ranks 5th (66/100) with its consumer app and 9th (58/100) with its driver app. Duolingo, Google Maps, WhatsApp, and Expedia complete the top ten most invasive apps. Instagram has a privacy score of 57/100 and recently faced criticism over its new Maps feature, which raises concerns about real-time location tracking. Meta's data collection practices are widespread across its platforms, including Messenger, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Some apps, like TeaOnHer (0/100) and ParentSquare (4/100), prioritize user privacy, contrasting with the other invasive apps. Users are advised to review app permissions and consider privacy-friendly alternatives. The public backlash against Instagram's Maps feature indicates a growing demand for transparency regarding data collection practices. As data protection regulations tighten, there is potential for companies in the travel sector to adopt better privacy practices.

TrendTechie

August 3, 2025

Главное за 3 августа ⟩ Заблокирован популярный торрент-трекер, черный день на дорогах и роскошная яхта в Риге

The National Council for Electronic Media (NEPLP) blocked access to the Russian torrent site kinozal.tv. The cruise yacht Ilma made its inaugural visit to the Port of Riga on August 2. A traffic accident resulted in two fatalities. A Riga resident, Lana, faced discomfort during her hotel stay in Ventspils and received a request from hotel management to stop public commentary after her negative review. The Prosecutor's Office charged a man with sexual assault against minors at a closed children's home in Kurzeme. Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies uncovered a corruption scheme involving a Rada member and military administration heads. Kremlin propagandists claimed Ukraine is a pawn in a larger conflict. A two-year-old girl died in an accident at the Aquagan water park in Croatia. Former President Trump announced the deployment of two nuclear submarines. The Krašennikov volcano erupted for the first time in recorded history without affecting populated areas. The Summer Sound festival in Liepāja is the largest beach festival in the Baltic region. Travelers faced flight cancellations from airBaltic. RUS TVNET covers celebrity gossip and relationship dynamics, particularly regarding narcissistic behavior.

AppWizard

August 3, 2025

Tourism New Zealand Pioneers Future of Travel with AI-Powered Minecraft Destination – What You Need to Know – Travel And Tour World

Tourism New Zealand has created a fully playable version of the country within Minecraft, making it the first nation to do so. They have partnered with GuideGeek to develop an AI-driven travel assistant on their website, newzealand.com, which helps users plan their trips by providing personalized recommendations and answers to common travel questions. The AI system utilizes a comprehensive database of tourism information to enhance user experience. The introduction of the Aotearoa New Zealand DLC in Minecraft allows players to explore landmarks like the Waitomo Caves and Abel Tasman National Park virtually. Since launching the AI trip planner, it has attracted over 200,000 unique visitors, with users showing a 600% higher engagement rate. Additionally, over 50,000 active users are exploring the Minecraft digital destination, highlighting the effectiveness of combining gaming with tourism marketing.

AppWizard

July 30, 2025

Tourism New Zealand Leverages GuideGeek Travel AI Technology to Drive Engagement in Fully Playable Minecraft Destination

Visitors to New Zealand can now use an AI trip planner from Matador Network's GuideGeek platform, available at newzealand.com. This tool answers common travel questions and provides personalized responses based on data from Tourism New Zealand and local businesses. Additionally, New Zealand has become the first fully playable destination in Minecraft, allowing users to explore virtual representations of iconic locations. Since its launch in late 2024, the AI has had around 200,000 unique users, with a 600% increase in interactions for those engaging with it. The initiative is part of a collaboration with 11 mana whenua groups, the tourism sector, Warner Bros., and Mojang Studios.