People in the News
Pig-skinning Palin is a swine, say Slovaks
LONDON – First it was Borat upsetting the Kazaksthanis. Now globe-trotting television presenter Michael Palin has caused a minor diplomatic incident by supposedly portraying Slovaks as beer-drinking simpletons who slaughter pigs.
The former Monty Python star was officially criticised by the Slovak embassy in London for his coverage in the final episode of his BBC1 series Michael Palin’s New Europe, while residents of Slovakia and visitors have posted complaints on a BBC website.
According to the London Daily Telegraph, Palin is said to have devoted only six minutes of the hour-long programme — which also featured Germany and the Czech Republic — to Slovakia and ignored its cultural landmarks such as the Spis Castle, the largest medieval castle in central Europe.
Instead, he was shown skinning a pig, learning how to make sausages and drinking beer with villagers in the Tatra mountains.
The Slovak embassy said it was “deeply disappointed” by the way the programme represented the eastern European country. “The reflection is totally misrepresented and British people don’t deserve to be misled in this way,” said a spokesman.
A BBC spokesman said: “Michael speaks very warmly of the people and splendour of the country.”
Chitra Mogul
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025