Travel Briefs

The kingdom of Bhutan, which first welcomed tourists only in the 1970s, announced it will nearly triple the number of visitors allowed into the small country, from 30,000 in 2010 to 100,000 by 2012.

The prime minister said, “We want to expand this sector without compromising our policy of high-quality, low-impact tourism.”

Increased revenue plays a role. Bhutan does not limit the number of visitors from neighboring India, while most other visitors must pay a minimum of $200 a day in visa and travel agency fees and travel in prearranged guided groups.

The government...

MS Deutschland features a golf theme in 2007. Among others, the 11-night “Britannica Golf” cruise offers rounds of golf at the 18-hole course at St. Andrew’s in Scotland and rounds at five other courses in Ireland. On a 20-night sailing from Phuket, Thailand, to Hong Kong, another cruise wraps up with golf at Mission Hills in Hong Kong, the largest golf facility in the world.

Prices for a twin cabin start at $5,706 for the European cruise and at $9,570 for the Thailand cruise. A discount for nongolfers is available. Contact Peter Deilmann Cruises (Alexandria, VA; 800/348-8287).

Every two years, the Grand’Place in Brussels, Belgium, is transformed into a 2,000-square-meter carpet of almost a million brightly colored begonias, laid down in one day by 100 craftsmen.

Each carpet has a different theme; 2012’s will have an African motif. The carpet will be open to the public at 10 p.m. on Aug. 14 and daily Aug. 15-19. Each night there will be a 5-minute sound-and-light show beginning at 10, 10:30 & 11.

Viewing at street level is free. A panoramic view from the balcony of the Town Hall, 9 a.m.-11 p.m., costs €3. For info, phone 02 513 89 40 or visit...