EU-DIGEST

The average daily spending by tourists in February was 62.2 euros - and the Swedes spend the least.

The Irish were the biggest spenders at 168 euros a day, while the Swedish were the most frugal, spending just 39.1 euros a day on average.

Income from tourism makes up 12 percent of gross domestic product. On the back of disappointing tourism income, the Cyprus economy contracted by 1.7 percent in 2009 to end decades of robust growth.

Labels: Cyprus, EU, Tourism, Turkey

U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, a Democrat representing Scottsdale and Tempe, and the U.S. Travel Association backed the Travel Promotion Act. They hope the foreign tourist tax and private-sector contributors will help market the U.S as a tourist destination.

Post-9/11 travel rules, anti-American sentiment stemming from the Bush administration and the poor global economy all have discouraged travel to the U.S. in recent years.

Note EU-Digest: the name this bill carries does not reflect its main purpose which is to collect money up front from foreigners for the "priviledge" to visit the USA. It certainly will not be considered an incentive by foreign tourists.

Labels: Taxation, Tourism, USA

Obese passengers who are unable to squeeze into a single plane seat are to be charged double to fly with Air France and KLM. Overweight flyers will be asked to pay for two seats, or not be allowed on board for 'safety reasons', the airline announced today.

Air France spokeswoman Monique Matze added: 'People who arrive at the check-in desk and are deemed too large to fit into a single seat will be asked to pay for and use a second seat.

Labels: Air France, Airline Industry, EU, KLM, Obeisity, Tourism

Who wants to go to Stockholm, Sweden or Oslo, Norway for under $300 roundtrip? We'll be the first to raise our hand, and the start-up Scandinavian low-cost carrier Feel Air is hoping you will too, since they plan to launch direct flight between New York and Stockholm and Oslo, and also Bangkok to Stockholm and Oslo, in spring 2010.

Right now, the Feel Air website is skint on information, but there is this promising statement: "All the initial routes are set and approved, we will disclose the launch date and fares when ticket sales open later." A quick search through some Scandinavian press however reveals that the airline plans to fly two Airbus A330-200s on the routes, focusing heavily on the New York-JFK end of it (yippee!) and offering roundtrip, taxes-included fares starting from $260.

Labels: EU, Norway, Tourism

No one died when the American Boeing 737-800 slid off a wet runway and slammed onto an adjacent rocky beach on Dec. 22, but dozens were hurt and the jet's fuselage was torn open in several places. It was the most serious accident involving a U.S. carrier since 50 people died in a commuter plane crash near Buffalo on Feb. 12.

However, despite years of pressure from the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), few airports south of the border have built safety zones. Each year, 23.6 million people travel from the U.S. to these destinations, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. At least 29 commercial airports in the Caribbean and Latin America lack adequate safety zones at the end of runways, according to a Sept. 29, 2009, report by the ICAO. The organization, which has been pushing for safety upgrades for years, wrote that the list of deficient airports "is still very extensive."

Airports on the list include some of the Western Hemisphere's most-visited vacation destinations, such as Cancun in Mexico and St. Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles. They also include such South American capitals as Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and Guatemala City.

Labels: Airport Safety, Tourism

''It's a party flight and also an expedition,'' says the travel company's head, Phil Asker. ''Passengers are welcome to dance to the jazz band if that is what they want.''

One couple gets engaged as the flight rolls on, dipping and leaning for better views, premium windows in high demand. One man has a suspected heart attack but it turns out to be respiratory and he lies hooked to a drip up the front all the way home. There are 18 birthday parties going on. Two 50th wedding anniversaries. And also a 49th, for 70-somethings Alan and Elaine Horsfield of NSW, perpetual travellers who want to see everything in the world.

Next year they'll party again. Mrs Horsfield says she wants to do a flight like this again but go first-class for all the comforts. Her husband, a writer, wants to go one better. He wants to buy a flight into space.

Labels: Airbus 380, Antarctic, Australia, Tourism

For the sixth year, Global Traveler readers have spoken, and the results are in! More than 25,000 people responded to the magazine's annual survey. This year, Global Traveler's distinguished readers recognized airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in 60 categories. This year's roster of highly regarded winners includes Singapore Airlines (Best Airline in the World), British Airways (Best Airline for Business Class) and Lufthansa (Best Trans-Atlantic Airline). Other top winners are Etihad (Best Airline in the Middle East), Asiana Airlines (Best Airline in North Asia), Air China (Best Airline in China), Park Hyatt (Best International Hotel Chain), Spain (Best International Tourism Destination), AT&T Wireless (Best Wireless Service in the World) and American Express Membership Rewards (Best Credit Card Rewards Program).

Labels: Airline Industry, Hotel Business, Tourism

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade still owns the city's biggest stage - even after going off Broadway. Parade newbies like the Pillsbury Doughboy and Sailor Mickey today joined old-timers such as Kermit the Frog for the New York holiday spectacle that steered clear of Broadway for the first time in its 83-year history. The new 2.65-mile route took clowns, floats and bands from Central Park West to Seventh Avenue and into five sharp turns before winding into its Herald Square destination before thousands of tourists and balloon-loving New Yorkers.

Labels: Macy's Parade, Tourism, US Consumers

Friday morning, at 11:39 am, Air France's Airbus A380 departed from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, operating flight AF 380, made the first transatlantic flight between Europe. The aircraft, registration F-GHJA, landed at New York-Kennedy airport at 1:07 PM. Among the 538 passengers were the 380 winning bidders for seats on the inaugural Paris-New York - Paris flights. This auction raised proceeds of 300,000 euros which will finance five different humanitarian projects by charities chosen by the Air France Foundation. The proceeds of this auction of seats on the two inaugural Paris-New York-Paris flights finally reached 300,000 euros, more than expected. The amount will thus finance 5 humanitarian projects for children in need instead of the three initially planned. The benefits of the auction for the inaugural Paris-New York-Paris flights will go to several projects in aid of humanitarian associations for children in need all over the world.

Labels: A380, Air France, Aircraft Industry, EU, Tourism, US

Spain-The opportunity to vacation in space may be right around the corner. A Barcelona-based company, Galactic Suite Ltd, plans to open a multi-billion dollar space resort in 2012.Tourists looking for an adventure that is out of this world will have to plunk down around $4.4 million in order to blast off to the Galactic Suite Space Resort. In addition to three nights in orbit, jet-setters will also take part in an eight-week training course on a Caribbean island.

For the promotional brochure on the hotel in outer space click on this link.

Labels: EU, Outer Space, Tourism

Inspired by the grandiose architecture of North Korea, Ceausescu decided in the Eighties to refashion Bucharest completely by building a vast “civic centre” district dominated by the “Palace of the People”, at the head of the “Boulevard to the Victory of Socialism” to be modelled on (but slightly longer than) the Champs-Elysées. To do so he ordered the demolition of a quarter of the city’s historic center. It was brutal, monumental architecture taken to the extreme and was a huge drain on the country’s resources and manpower (more than 1,000 people died during construction).

Labels: EU, Romania, Tourism

Traveling to Montenegro: The small country is meaty beneath the surface - by Rick Steves

There's a buzz among travelers that humble little Montenegro is becoming a new Mediterranean hot spot. Once part of Yugoslavia and then part of Serbia-Montenegro, this tiny mountainous nation on the Adriatic achieved independence only recently, in 2006. Most tourists stick to Montenegro's scenic and increasingly glitzy Bay of Kotor. It's certainly worth a visit, but for a "back door" experience, head deep into the rugged interior of Montenegro.

Labels: Montenegro, Tourism

EU attacks new US travel plan

A proposed new plan by United States authorities to charge a fee to US-bound travellers from visa-waiver countries* has been attacked by the European Commission. The fee would be used to promote foreign travel to the US, but John Bruton, the European Commission's Ambassador to Washington, said: "Only in 'Alice in Wonderland' could a penalty be seen as promoting the activity on which it is imposed," Coming just nine months after the introduction of the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, which requires that travellers from the visa-waiver countries register online at least 72 hours before travel, the charge is being seen as yet another burden on hard-pressed flyers.

Labels: EU, Tourism, US

Close-to-home holidays dubbed "staycations" by trend-watchers have proliferated in the financial crisis, but now the travel industry is gearing to draw another crowd -- aging populations in countries like Germany whose spending power may outlast the downturn.You could call them "greycationers": the 50-plus age group mutating under a massive influx of baby-boomers who grew up in the 1960s. After redefining youth culture, they are now making their mark on older age.Health pursuits and sports, spas, swimming and cycling are all popular, as are vacations organized around cultural events like concerts and museum visits, tour operators say.In 2008, they spent $91 billion on foreign travel, compared with $80 billion spent by U.S. nationals, the U.N. report showed.

"Seniors today are more active, financially independent, and eager to travel," said Klaus Laepple from Germany's DRV travel association. "Their favorite destination is Germany." A study released by the Economy Ministry last month showed the senior age group is expected to take 20.3 million domestic holidays a year by 2020 compared with 17.2 million in 2007.

Labels: EU, Seniors, Tourism

Foreign tourism dips in France

If you were in France this summer, chances are you got a warmer welcome than usual. Foreign tourists are becoming more a rarity, especially big-spending American travelers, who are finding the euro-dollar exchange rate tough to swallow. Foreign visits to France dropped dramatically this summer, dipping 14.5 percent in overnight stays in July and August. That was according to Henri Novelli, secretary of state for French tourism, who revealed the data during a press conference this week. France is the world’s No. 1 tourist destination, with 80 million tourist visits in 2008.

Labels: EU, France, Tourism

EU: Sun, sea and sickness – Europeans can expect better health-care abroad

Whether it is for business, leisure, visiting friends and family or education, Europeans are frequent travelers – making hundreds of millions of trips abroad each year. This sort of mobility – of people, products and services – is enshrined in European Treaties. It is good for economies and good for everyone. But one area in particular still causes headaches. Getting health-care while traveling can still be tricky for many Europeans, despite a long-standing legal framework for health-care provision across Member States. The situation got better with the launch of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), entitling European citizens to equal access to healt-care in another Member State if needed. Awareness of its benefits is still quite low among Europeans. Meanwhile, support systems – administrative and technological – have struggled to keep pace with growing leisure travel and labor mobility.

But European initiatives are keen to do something about that. Two projects developing IT-based services for cross-border health-care provision, TEN4Health and NetC@rds eEHIC ID, have agreed on common European messaging standards that link hospitals and other health-care providers with health insurance organizations, and with national health-care IT infrastructure. The common web services agreed by the EU-funded projects are specified in WSDL, a web-services description language, and messaging is communicated through XML, a software mark-up language for documents containing structured information, like health-care records. The agreement is considered a major step towards full interoperability of web services throughout the European healthcare sector. "With this agreement, we are paving the way for a European standard supporting the necessary communication and data exchange processes for cross-border health-care in Europe," commented an EU official close to the projects.

It means if an Austrian or German breaks his leg on a jet ski in Italy or the Netherlands, he can get equivalent healthcare to what he might expect in his home country. And now the healthcare provider can reliably and quickly determine that the patient has valid health insurance, making reimbursements faster and less painful. TEN4Health and NetC@rds are both co-funded by the EU’s eTEN programme for market validation and initial deployment respectively.

Labels: EU, Insurance Industry, Tourism

Rhine 'n' dine: Feasting on sights and delicious food while cruising the storied rivers of Europe - by Fran Golden

"Ladies and gentlemen, what would a river cruise be without an accordion?" the emcee asked in a thick German accent. We were on a river ship cruising the scenic Danube - actually more greenish than the "Blue" of Strauss' famous waltz - traveling from Germany to Hungary. Earlier, there had been knock wurst, pretzels and potent beer served on deck, where the views included vineyards. And that's the great thing about river cruising in Europe - the chance to taste local culture and get a closeup view of inland sights, all from the comfort of a floating hotel. River ships carry as many as 300 passengers, and often fewer than 200. And while this is a casual way to travel, you are in no way roughing it - some ships even have flat-screen TVs in the cabins. Food and accommodations, entertainment (like the accordion player) and sometimes tours, too, are included in the cruise fare, adding up to an easy and economical way to see Europe. You visit several places and only have to unpack once. Cruises are offered on the major rivers of Europe, which all tend to be calm and deliver a taste of river life among the sights - kids swimming, people fishing, boats and barges passing by with freight and passengers. This year there are some great deals, with week-long river cruises available from under $1,500 per person. The lowest prices are in fall and spring.

Labels: EU, Germany, Tourism

The Netherlands - Day Out - Haarlem Is a Lot Like a Small Amsterdam - by Beth Greenfield

It could be argued that one of the best introductions to Amsterdam actually lies 20 minutes outside of its borders, in the tiny jewel of a city called Haarlem. There, you’ll find bustling global restaurants, smooth-as-glass canals, ornate 17th-century architecture, a thriving bike culture and museums rich with both art and Nazi-resistance history. But in Haarlem, you’ll be able to experience it all in just a single day.“It’s just like Amsterdam, only smaller,” declared Dion Meinhardt, 23, who was cutting hefty golden triangles of aged Gouda for customers at Kaashuis Tromp, a Haarlem cheese shop whose walls are lined with yellow-wax-encased wheels of the local specialty. “It’s more like a village here.”

Make that a highly sophisticated village. Haarlem — accessible by frequent trains from Amsterdam’s Central Station — is home to not one but four must-see museums, the most renowned of which is the Frans Hals Museum.

Labels: EU, Netherlands, Tourism

Tourism - Istanbul: ‘You're seeing the future' - by Carly Weeks

It's just past 11 p.m. on a stifling Friday night when a group of young revelers bursts into song after a mariachi band in a packed bar serenades their guest of honor with a Spanish-flavored rendition of Happy Birthday. Down the street, a velvet rope and well-dressed doormen mark the entrance to a massive nightclub, ready to turn away anyone who doesn't meet the fashionable dress code. Steps away, young people rifle through racks of impressive fashions at high-end boutiques that welcome shoppers until midnight. Yes, this is Istanbul. According to David Judson, the editor of the Turkish Daily News, “it's the most interesting city in Europe on a Friday or Saturday night.” True, only part of Istanbul actually resides in Europe, the rest in Asia. And though it has been anointed the European Cultural Capital for 2010 even though Turkey is not yet a member of the European Union.

Labels: Tourism, Turkey

The Complete Rembrandt, Life Size - in Amsterdam

Amsterdam: Rembrandt’s birthday(403)anniversary was celebrated yesterday with a grand breakfast in the Rijkmuseum gardens. Everyone was welcome. There was white bread with herring, Rembrandt’s favorite snack, but also coffee and a huge birthday cake. At 7.00 a.m., the first "early birds" arrived and at 8.00, Mr. Frank Heemskerk, Minister for Foreign Trade, awarded the Rijksmuseum Partner Prize to to the Canal Company for being an outstanding corporate ambassador to the Rijksmuseum.

For the first time in its history Rembrandt’s complete oeuvre will be on show. By making use of the latest digital techniques all 317 paintings, 269 etches and the most relevant of Rembrandt’s drawings can be marveled at. Even mutilated and lost works have been reconstructed for this exhibition. This unique overview has been compiled by Prof Dr Ernst van de Wetering, head of the renowned Rembrandt Research Project. A collection of originals would amount to a maximum of 50 works. Rembrandt was an extraordinary painter and each of his paintings is considered exceptional. His oeuvre requires to be seen in its entirety. The Complete Rembrandt, Life Size gives the visitor the unique opportunity to experience this impressive and majestic oeuvre in one setting. The exhibit at the Rijksmuseum opened July 5 and will remain open till September 6, 2009.

Labels: Amsterdam, EU, European Culture, Netherlands, Rembrandt, Tourism

London 'dirtiest and most expensive city'

London is Europe's dirtiest and most expensive city and also has the worst cuisine, according to 36% of a poll by travelers. Second was Paris with with 9%. The UK capital was also considered to have the worst-dressed locals in a survey of 2,376 European travellers by the TripAdvisor company. It was the second-year running that London had been voted the dirtiest European city.

On a more positive note: London was reckoned to have the most tourist traps, but also the best free attractions, easily the best public parks and the best nightlife.

Labels: EU, London, Tourism

Cyprus: A taste of the good life - by Sarah Shuckburgh

The Karpas peninsula ( Northern Cyprus) is a wilderness of stony red earth, with scrubby hillsides of grey boulders and a coastline dotted with the ruins of early Christian churches. Large flocks of sheep are watched by grizzled shepherds who sit astride donkeys saddled with brightly coloured blankets. Few tourists come here, but Karpas is easily reached – the roads are empty, the sandy beaches are idyllic and small village guesthouses offer a taste of traditional Cypriot life. Although Greek Cypriots see North Cyprus as illegally occupied territory, border controls have relaxed. Cars hired at Larnaca airport can be driven into North Cyprus (extra insurance is required), but cars hired at Ercan in Northern Cyprus cannot be driven to the Republic.

From the roof of the Saray Hotel we get a panoramic view of two cities – the Turkish, with a jumble of red roofs, alleys, minarets, British colonial architecture and distant hills; and the Greek, 10 times the size, a modern European city with wide boulevards and glittering buildings. A derelict strip marks the buffer zone between north and south, guarded by UN watchtowers. This is the Green Line, named after the ink with which a British officer sketched the boundary in 1963. Blue and gold EU flags flutter on one side, and flags with the Turkish Cypriot moon and star on the other. Over lunch, Mr Hüseyín tells us that he, like Zekai, was born in the south. Their families lost everything in 1974. Many thousands of Greek Cypriots, evicted from the north, suffered similar losses. While politicians debate intractable difficulties, Mr Hüseyín is committed to teaching Turkish to Greek-speakers, and Greek to Turkish-speakers. "One day, Cyprus will again be one island," he says. "Cypriots, both sides of the line, have much in common."

Labels: Cyprus, EU, Tourism

Turkey: The Med at half the price - by Casandra Jardine

Turkey is supposedly the new Greece. It offers similar food, sunshine and beaches but at half the price. Last summer, the high euro meant that Turkey lay at the top of many a holiday wish list, but that wasn’t why I took my family there. We went because my niece was marrying a Turk. Sixteen years ago we had taken our elder two children to Turkey in search of a bucket, spade and classical ruins experience, and had found the coast largely undeveloped. In the interim, tourism has been a major growth industry: resorts that once consisted of a couple of hotels and a lokanta (Turkish for taverna) had turned into great sprawling masses of Lego-brick holiday homes that covered the surrounding hillsides. I gagged when I first saw the transformation, but there’s no point being sentimental – empty beaches are now a rare commodity pretty much anywhere in the Mediterranean.

Labels: EU, Mediterranean region, Tourism, Turkey

Turkish tourism to grow 10 percent in 2009

Turkish tourism will grow 10 percent in 2009 despite the ongoing global economic crisis, said Ibrahim Yazar, a high level bureaucrat of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, on Monday.Speaking to the Anatolian Agency at a fair held in the southern province of Antalya, Yazar said "the number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey increases every year".

"The number of tourists arriving in Turkey from various European countries continues to grow annually. We are noticing a decline in the number of tourists coming from Russia, Ukraine, Belgium and the Netherlands. However, we expect a 25 percent increase in the number of tourists coming to Turkey from the Middle East in 2009. More than two million tourists from the Middle East are expected to visit Turkey in 2009," Yazar said.

Labels: Tourism, Turkey

France: Cheapskate skiing - by Helen Beaty

Want to take the family on a ski holiday in Europe but worried about the cost? Helen Beatty shows you how to have a great time in the snow for a bargain price

Labels: EU, France, Tourism, Travel Industry

Go native in Europe and Japan -- take the train - by Benoit Lebourgeois

Who rides trains these days? Europeans, for starters. And the Japanese, of course. And maybe you, if you're looking to discover new places and save some money while you're in Britain or Ireland, on the Continent or in Japan.Rail Europe ([800] 622-8600, www.raileurope.com) has organized the region's patchwork of rail lines with a comprehensive group of passes that let users crisscross the countryside, customize travel to adjoining countries or visit just a single nation. North American residents must buy their passes before traveling to Europe.

Labels: EU, Japan, Tourism, Trains

Tourism: Europe feels U.S. financial crisis in absence of tourism -- Christine Spolar

American Express has shuttered two decades-old offices in major tourist cities. Taxi drivers are wailing that Americans and their big tips are nowhere to be seen. Clerks at the upscale clothiers along Via dei Condotti are helping buyers from Russia and China—the only holiday travelers found sifting through their racks one day last week. "Americans just aren't here," said driver Piero Capotosti, who used to draw a dependable income from Americans. He estimates his traffic has dropped as much as 40 percent from last year. "They don't have the money. You can really feel it," he said. "Now a lot of tourists are taking low-cost tours or coming from Eastern Europe. We have a name for them: The 'tight-fisted tourists.' "

Labels: Economy, EU, Europe, Tourism

New Year's Eve holiday ideas

Perhaps the biggest party night of the year, New Year's Eve elicits excitement and derision from potential revellers in equal measure. While some would rather hunker down at home and wait for the storm to pass, the majority relish the chance of hitting the streets – sometimes in new and strange locations – to make the most of the party which sweeps the world. To avoid a damp squib of an evening it is best to make a plan well in advance, and with this in mind travelbite.co.uk here makes a few suggestions as to what to do on the big night – taking in some obvious locations before looking for something a little out of the ordinary.

Labels: EU, Tourism

Nowhere is finer than the French capital at this time of year - by Natasha Edwards.

Paris is more beautiful than ever in winter, especially at night, when many buildings, notably the bridges and monuments along the Seine, are floodlit. Winter is also the period in which you’ll find some of the year’s best exhibitions, restaurants revel in oysters, foie gras, truffles and game, and you can get into the festive spirit at the free outdoor ice rinks in front of the Hôtel de Ville and Gare Montparnasse (December 20- March 1; skate hire €5). Even Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are great for visitors, as several major attractions, including the Centre Pompidou and Eiffel Tower, public transport, cinemas and many restaurants stay open and Parisians take to heated café terraces in the afternoon. And, if you wait until after New Year, you will catch what looks set to be a very tempting round of January sales.

Labels: EU, France, Paris, Tourism

QE2 arrives in Dubai greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,flotilla of yachts and the Airbus A380

For the complete report from The National click on this link

QE2 arrives in Dubai to start new life - by Tahira Yaqoob

One by one they appeared on the horizon, circling and sounding their horns, white sails bobbing on the waves. More than 100 yachts, navy frigates and speedboats were giving chase, like paparazzi pestering an A-list starlet. Leading the flotilla was Dubai, the super sized yacht owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Its decks were crammed with Emiratis keen for a glimpse of a legend. But even the 535ft Dubai looked small compared to the 963ft liner towering over it.In their midst, dwarfing all around, its size still enough to take your breath away, was the Queen Elizabeth 2. Belching black fumes, and gracefully cutting through the water, this great ocean liner was on the last leg of her final voyage, preparing to drop anchor in a new port and, after nearly 40 years of service, ready to enjoy an opulent retirement.The ship will be transformed into a luxury floating hotel permanently moored alongside the Palm Jumeirah.

Labels: Airbus 380, Dubai, QE2, Tourism, UAE

Nikki Beach Hotels Partners with Dolphin Capital Investors Five-star Resort & Beach Paphos Cyprus

Nikki Beach EMEA Hotels and Resorts Limited (“Nikki Beach”), announces the signing of a management agreement with Dolphin Capital Investors, the leading residential resort developer in South East Mediterranean. Through this partnership Nikki Beach, one of the world’s most recognizable lifestyle and entertainment brands, will operate a five-star luxury resort within ‘Venus Rock Golf Resort’ in Paphos, Cyprus. Expected to open in mid 2012, the Nikki Beach Resort and Spa will provide 80 sea view rooms and suites, a Nikki Beach Club and pool bar, spa and fitness facilities, an Ultra VIP Lounge/Club, and signature restaurants. Enhanced by its stunning natural setting, thematic architecture and the turquoise waters that surround it, the new Nikki Beach Resort and Spa at Venus Rock will combine five-star service, glamorous accommodation, distinctive design and a unique ambiance to provide a haven for the most discerning of travelers.

The Nikki Beach resort will also house a residential community consisting of 50 lifestyle villas offering unique benefits, such as priority access and VIP treatment to all the hotel’s facilities and outlets, 24 hour “Nikki Sensations” concierge service, carefree maintenance 24-7 and many other global privileges.

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Labels: Cyprus, EU, Real Estate, Tourism

Netherlands Conference Held At Turkish Foreign Ministry

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has said that the Netherlands was a powerful partner of Turkey, and they aimed at further intensifying and deepening the bilateral relations with that country in all areas. Babacan attended the Second Turkey-Netherlands Conference at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with his Dutch counterpart Maxime Verhagen who is currently in Ankara on a formal visit. Speaking at the conference, Babacan said that the Netherlands was one of the countries making the most investments in Turkey. Our bilateral trade has been rapidly growing, he said. "More than 400 thousand people of Turkish descent live in the Netherlands. We expect number of Dutch tourists spending their holidays in Turkey to exceed 1 million by the end of this year. Relations between Turkish and Dutch peoples constitute an important part of the relations between the two countries," Babacan said.

Dutch Foreign Minister Verhagen, in his part, expressed his profound sorrow over killing of Turkish police officers in Wednesday`s terrorist attack in Diyarbakir. Referring to the bilateral relations, Verhagen said that the 400th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands would be celebrated in 2012. Verhagen said that Turkey was the fourth biggest commercial partner of the Netherlands.

Labels: Economy, EU, Netherlands, Tourism, Turkey

Roman walk from Nijmegen (Netherlands)to Xanten (Germany)

Dutch and German historians have set up a new crossborder country walk between the Dutch city of Nijmegen and the German city of Xanten. Hikers will learn about the region’s historical Roman roots thanks to signposts and informationboards between the two former important Roman army posts. The mayor of Nijmegen will inaugurate the new hiking route in April with various experts. The route passes through the eastern part of the city, where the Romans had built a military camp, a forum and an amphitheatre. The city of Nijmegen plans to set up two additional routes along Roman ruins.

Labels: EU, Germany, Netherlands, Tourism

Labels: EU, Tourism

Globalysis Ltd., a leading international boutique strategy consultancy, issued its Strategic Perspective white paper suggesting that attracting more foreign tourism could be a significant component to boosting the United States economy. The Globalysis strategy white paper states that there are significant gains to be made from increasing the role of foreign tourism in the United States economy, especially due to the weakened state of the U.S. dollar making the United States more attractive as a destination to foreign tourists.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the tourism industry in the United States contributed a total output of US$1.32 trillion to the United States' GDP in 2007. Globalysis suggests that the United States federal government strategically invest US$100 million in international advertising campaigns, initially focusing on 10 key international inbound markets over a 6-month period. The white paper also recommends the streamlined issuance policy of tourist visas at U.S. embassies around the world to foreigners intending to visit the United States. The white paper further suggests that a more welcoming environment be created for international visitors at all points of entry to the country, especially at airports. Note EU-Digest: "Security measures at US Airports, some of them totally ridiculous, presently make traveling to the the US more of a chore than a pleasure".

Labels: Tourism, US Economy

Why do foreign tourists hate Russians on holidays?

A recent research published in the Netherlands revealed that many foreign tourists, particularly the Dutch, prefer to stay away from Russian holiday-makers in Turkey and Egypt. The research was conducted by Esme Visser, a specialist of Eastern Europe. She personally questioned hundreds of tourists and used several hundreds of comments which she gathered at hotels and online forums. She was interested in most popular destinations with Russian tourists – Turkey, Egypt and Arab Emirates. For example, over 1.5 million Russian vacationers visited Turkey in 2006 alone. The researcher said that she was shocked to hear so much criticism of Russians from Dutch tourists. About 40 percent of opinions included in the research touched upon Russian tourists, most of them contained complaints. There were positive comments, but they were in minority. To crown it all, there were hardly any complaints about tourists of other nationalities.

The phenomenon even led to the development of a new trend in tourism, known as “tours without Russians.”

Labels: EU, Russians, Tourism, Turkey

Travelers to US without visas or visa waivers required to register via the Internet

Travelers who don't need visas to enter the United States will be required to register on line with the U.S. government at least three days before they visit, a security regulation set to begin next year.Those needing to register will be travelers from the 27 countries whose citizens are not required to obtain visas for U.S. entry. The counties include those in most of western Europe as well as Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. Eight other countries — the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Korea among them — are expected to be admitted to the visa waiver program.

When the Homeland Security Department began discussing the online registration rule last year, European businesses worried that business travel could be impeded. NOTE EU-Digest: This will not only be the kiss of death for business travel to the US, but also work negatively on European tourist travel to US.

Labels: EU, Terrorism, Tourism, travel, US

Postponed travel (also to Europe) cost U.S. economy $26.5B in past year, industry study shows - by Mike Sunnucks

U.S. consumers put off 41 million flights during the past year because of frustrations with airlines, airports and security lines, according to a study by the Travel Industry Association. The industry group, which represents travel agents, reported that those avoided trips cost the U.S. economy $26.5 billion over the past 12 months, including lost sales for airlines and travel-related businesses as well as lost tax revenue.Business travelers and tourists have been affected by long security lines and airlines that have been cutting some flights, overbooking others, and imposing new fees and charges while wrestling with high jet fuel prices.

Labels: Tourism, US Economy

The dirty weekend guide to Europe - by Stephen Bleach

Let me take you away from all this, ma chérie. Let us fly to a little place I know, an intimate escape from the cares of this world, where our love may bloom like the bougainvillea, our hearts burn like the sunset, our passion be fulfilled like a ... Yes, all right, I’ll stop there. You get the drift. If you want to kindle new love, or rekindle old, there’s nothing like a romantic break. But, and I speak from experience here, hotels are not the answer.

Labels: EU, Sex, Tourism

Fewer European overseas tourists visit US

The number of overseas tourists visiting the United States declined last year, serving as yet another indication that the slowing of the world economy, coupled with high oil prices, is also hurting the travel industry. The US Department of Commerce made public key figures earlier today that suggest a noticeable drop in the number of overseas visitors to America. Most conservative estimates indicate that the number of tourists arriving on long-haul flights decreased by about 11 percent last year, when compared with figures from 2000. The Travel Industry Association (TIA) also contends that the number of overseas visitors is likely to continue to decline, at least over the short-term. The drop in European tourists to the US, however, is somewhat surprising, considering the fact that these visitors can take advantage of very beneficial exchange rates, since in 2007 the US dollar lost a significant amount of its value against both the euro and the British Pound. This exchange rate has made travel to the US much cheaper for Europeans, but trips to Europe far more costly for American citizens.

In concrete numbers, the US saw approximately 10 million fewer tourists last year than what had been expected. Note EU-Digest: Another reason for this drop in tourism to the US from overseas is the increased red-tape related to what seem to be unnecessary US security measures. For instance, transit passengers arriving at a US airport of entry who need to transfer to an ongoing flight have to go through the "belts and shoes off" screening procedure again, even though they or their luggage have not gone out of a secured area.

Labels: EU, security, Terrorism, Tourism, US

US - Florida economy in nose dive - Even European Bargain hunters are going elsewhere - by Michael Pollick and Michael Braga

If you are a beach bistro selling margaritas to tourists, you might not notice. But on the mainland, it feels and looks like a recession.The end of the real estate boom has sent ripples through the economy. Cash register receipts are slumping. Many workers — either laid off or marginalized by cut-backs in hours — are leaving town or taking lower-paying jobs. Food banks are dishing out free food as fast as they can find it.Business bankruptcies in the region have doubled from a year ago, while the amount of debt reported in the filings has nearly quadrupled.

Note EU-Digest: Last month the Florida Chamber of Commerce released its New Cornerstone Revisited, a report that outlined Florida's economic future. On tourism Mark Wilson, president-elect of the chamber, said domestic visitors have increased, while international visitors to the state have declined since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Even European bargain hunters who benefit from the strong euro are going elsewhere in the US.

Labels: Economy, Florida, Tourism, US

The worst of the European airports - by Elisabeth Rosenthal

In that spirit, and as a frequent flier around Europe, I have polled my fellow road warriors over the past two months - on airplanes, in security lines and at taxi ranks - to come up with an entirely unscientific survey of Europe's worst. And though I am no statistician, I think it must be significant that nearly everyone gives the same response: London Heathrow is, hands down, the worst, cited by 100 percent of respondents, as the scientists say. Charles de Gaulle outside Paris came in a close second. Leonardo da Vinci at Fiumicino, near Rome, and the Frankfurt airport won honorable, or should I say dishonorable,

Labels: Airports, EU, Tourism

Bulgaria: Skiing Conditions Good in Bulgaria

A week after the official opening of the season, the skiing conditions in all Bulgarian mountain resorts are good and many may combine their Christmas holiday with a swoosh or two down the slopes. In the resort of Pamporovo the snow cover is 60 centimeters, in Bansko and Borovest it reaches close to 2 meters. All ski runs are open. Temperatures even at 2,000 meters above sea level range between -2 to -4 C below zero and the weather will remain calm and stable without strong winds.

Labels: Bulgaria, EU, Skiing, Tourism

Pros may outweigh cons of Europe in the off-season - by Rick Stevens

Each summer, Europe greets a stampede of sightseers and shoppers with eager cash registers. Before jumping into the peak-season pig pile, consider the advantages of an off-season trip. Outside of peak season, adventurers loiter all alone through Leonardo's home, ponder un-pestered in Rome's Forum, kick up sand on virgin beaches and chat with laid-back guards by log fires in French chateaux. In wintertime Venice you can be alone atop St. Mark's bell tower, watching the clouds of your breath roll over the Byzantine domes of the church to a horizon of cut-glass Alps. Below, on St. Mark's Square, hungry pigeons fidget and wonder, "Where are the tourists?" Without the crowds, you can enjoy step-right-up service at tourist offices and experience a more European Europe. Although many popular tourist-oriented parks, shows and tours will be closed, off-season is in-season for the high culture: plays and operas are in their crowd-pleasing glory. For instance, in Vienna, while the Boys Choir, Opera and Spanish Riding School are scarce in the summer, all have a busy schedule of performances through the rest of the year. Europe's major cities crackle with energy year-round. In London, you can spend your days at the British Museum and National Gallery, and your nights at a cozy pub or a world-class play. In Paris -- the City of Light that always sparkles -- you can get face-to-face with Mona and scale the Eiffel Tower. In Florence, you'll see Renaissance paintings and Michelangelo's David without peak-season crowds.

Labels: EU, Tourism

Nowadays thousands of Russia's billionaires flock to Courchevel in the first two weeks of January to celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas and New Year. They stay in some of the most exclusive hotels in the resort, such as the Byblos des Neiges or Cheval Blanc, which is owned by Bernaud Arnault, the chairman of luxury goods group LVMH. Indeed, Roman Abramovich, the Russian owner of Chelsea Football Club, is said to have once hired the whole of Chalet Pierre, one of Courchevel's most expensive restaurants, for a private party two seasons ago.

Xavier Richaud, a prosecutor in the city of Lyon, was reported to have said he suspected that two separate groups of 19 and 20-year-old women who were part of Prokhorov's entourage in Courchevel were call girls brought along to spend time with the billionaire's friends. Dutch BT chief executive Ben Verwaayen says that after months of traveling he doesn't plan to go anywhere - "it'll be great to get into the kitchen, share meals with the family and watch the Arsenal game on Boxing Day".

Labels: Economy, EU, Tourism

Zoom Airlines to offer Fort Lauderdale-to-London flights - by Tom Stieghorst

Broward County will get regular nonstop flights to London for the first time in 10 years under a plan unveiled Tuesday by Canada's Zoom Airlines. Zoom has agreed to fly twice weekly starting in May 2008 between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and London's Gatwick Airport. The price for the flights will start around $750 to $800 round trip, including departure taxes, fees and an unspecified fuel surcharge. The London connection has been avidly pursued by tourism promoters in Fort Lauderdale. The 370,000 people who visit Broward annually from the United Kingdom typically fly through Miami or Orlando. Nonstop service makes it easier to sell Fort Lauderdale as a turnkey destination.

Labels: Airline Industry, EU, Fort Lauderdale, Tourism, US

Something strange is happening at Europe’s ski resorts. It’s snowing - by David Charter

In Verbier, Kitzbühel and Klosters, global warming is, like, so last year. After suffering a delayed and, in some cases, virtually snowless season in 2006-07, European resorts are enjoying record November snowfalls. Switzerland and Austria have had the best of the early snow, with even lowlying resorts that had been drawing up plans to become “winter hiking” destinations cranking up the chairlifts. France is expecting significant snowfalls this weekend, as are parts of Germany; some Italian resorts are already open and Sweden and Norway are also hoping to join the party. Zurich has had its heaviest snowfall since 1955 and the white stuff is settling all the way down to the beaches.

Labels: Economy, EU, Europe, Tourism, Wintersport

European Tourism: Turkish government in 2008 tourism drive

Ertugral Gunay, the Culture and Tourism minister has announced the 'Four Seasons, 12 Months' initiative, which aims to cut "bureaucratic handicaps" in order to simplify the investment process. The government also hopes to boost tourism as part of a wider strategy and has pledged euro 100 million to the campaign. Mr Ertugrul Gunay said he was targeting raising awareness of the country's other attractions, apart from its good beaches and sunshine. He said: "That is why we give priority to 'Four Seasons, 12 Months' tourism campaigns."

According to the Turkish Daily News, there is a government target to boost tourism from 20 million in 2007 to 25 million in 2008.

Labels: EU, Tourism, Turkey

Spain low-cost airline traffic up 41 pct in Sept

Low-cost airlines flew 2.6 million passengers to Spain in September, up 41.4 percent from the same month last year, the Industry Ministry said on Tuesday. About 41 percent of passengers arrived in Spain on low-cost airlines during the month, the ministry said.

Labels: EU, Spain, Tourism

The best European food experiences can be had at the smaller “mom and pop” restaurants commonly found in the countryside and at the larger restaurants located in cities not commonly on the itinerary for the international traveler. These restaurants are often owned by the same family for generations and offer local cuisine at its most authentic. One thing to look for when searching for an authentic European restaurant is a menu that is not in English.Speaking from my experiences in the German countryside, I was happy to travel with a local since my German is left to be desired. Traveling down 2-lane roads for an hour outside the city of Freiburg to my destination of Villengen, Germany I smelled exotic cheeses being created and saw miles and miles of open grasslands and grazing cattle. This is the Germany the casual tourist rarely sees. Without my interpreter, it probably would have been impossible for me to have this experience. Intermittently on the trip a sign saying ‘Essen’ or ‘Gaststätte’ along with a family name, these words announced a family owned restaurant open to passers-by on their way to the autobahn past Villengen and all points north and south.

Labels: EU, Germany, Tourism

The cost of skiing: Europe or North America? - by Peter Hardy

The cost of skiing: Europe or North America? - by Peter Hardy

The lack of reliable snow cover across much of Europe last season, coupled with the weakness of the US dollar, has resulted in a particularly sharp North America this winter.Skiers who annually cross the Atlantic insist that the overall winter sports experience is more enjoyable than in the often overcrowded Alps. The drawback has always been high prices, but has the weak dollar changed this? The Telegraph has compared holidays in European resorts with those of a similar profile in North America, and have uncovered some surprising results. Even taking into account the expensive transatlantic flight, you can ski more cheaply over there than over here - especially if you choose Canada and stay for two weeks.

Labels: EU, Skiing, Tourism

Great bargains for European skiers with Ski & Stay Packages at Sugar Loaf in Maine

Great Ski Bargains for European skiers at Sugar Loaf in Maine. Fly into Boston from Europe, rent a car and you can be skiing the same day you left home at prices which are far below those in the Alps and enjoy great facilities. Best of all snow is usually guaranteed.

Labels: EU, Sugar Loaf, Tourism

Overseas Travel to US plunged 20% since 9/11 : Europe and Canada picking up the slack- by Doreen Hemlock

Overseas travel to the United States has plunged 20 percent since Sept. 11, 2001, but a new U.S. law could help stem the slide, especially for South American visitors vital to South Florida, participants said at a travel industry conference in Hollywood.

Travelers requiring visas are forgoing the United States, partly because Washington now requires personal interviews to apply for visas but lacks staff to handle them. In Brazil, for example, wait times for visa interviews now top 60 days. Foreign visitors also rate U.S. border entry as the world's most unfriendly, worse than the Middle East, surveys show.

Europe is picking up some of the Latin American business that used to go to the US, as the number of direct flights between Europe and Latin America expands.Travelers requiring visas are forgoing the United States, partly because Washington now requires personal interviews to apply for visas but lacks staff to handle them. In Brazil, for example, wait times for visa interviews now top 60 days. Foreign visitors also rate U.S. border entry as the world's most unfriendly, worse than the Middle East, surveys show.

Labels: Canada, EU, Tourism, USA

European Driving holidays in Croatia and Poland

Road trips are normally associated with the great open roads of the USA, but travellers are also realising Europe also has plenty of amazing drives to offer. Spectacular coastal scenery, mountain views, untouched 16th century towns and shipwrecks await the adventurous drivers willing to dig out some Europe's best driving routes.

Labels: EU, Tourism

Europe's top ten tourist attractions (as published by TripAdvisor.com) by Phil Marty

The top European attractions, according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors:
1. London Eye, London
2. Tower of London, London
3. Eiffel Tower, Paris
4. Musee du Louvre, Paris
5. Colosseum, Rome
6. Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
7. Musee d’Orsay, Paris
8. State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia
9. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
10. The Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Labels: Europe, Tourism

Lock up your hotels, the Brits are coming - by Graham Hiscott

HANG out the flags Britain, the British are no longer the world’s worst holidaymakers. That’s the good news. The bad news is that foreign hotel­iers still quake at the approach of British tourists. In a survey of more than 15,000 hoteliers around the world, the Japanese were named as the best guests overall – well-behaved, quiet and polite. Britons were praised as being among the world’s most generous guests when it comes to tips, beaten only by the Americans and Russians. The best-dressed national visitors are Italians, French and Spanish.

Overall, France came out as the worst nation of tourists, followed by India, China, Russia and Britain.

Labels: Britain, Tourism

Europe on 5 Dollars a Day' Turns 50 | Chron.com - BETH J. HARPAZ

On the 50th anniversary of the book's publication, Frommer is still being credited with helping to change leisure travel by showing average Americans that they could afford a trip to Europe. And while the dollar-a-day series is finally ending this year after selling millions of copies, the Frommer brand remains strong, with a new series from Arthur's daughter Pauline carrying on the tradition.

Labels: Europe, Tourism

In a recent poll of international travellers, commissioned by Discover America Partnership, a coalition of US tourist organisations, 70 per cent of respondents said they feared US officials more than terrorists or criminals. Another 66 per cent worried they would be detained for some minor blunder, such as wrongly filling out an official form or being mistaken for a terrorist, while 55 per cent say officials are "rude."

"We are citizens of a country regarded as one of the closest allies the US has," frequent British visitor Ian Jeffrey told the Orlando Sentinel last November. "Yet on arrival we are treated like suspects in a criminal investigation and made to feel very unwelcome."

Labels: Tourism, US, US Economy

For the complete report from IndyStar.com click on this link

Going to Europe? Here are some ideas

If you'll be among the masses from the U.S. sampling culture, cuisine and countryside in Europe this spring or summer, here are some events to consider:Go to www.visiteurope.com or click on this link

Labels: Europe, Tourism

Zagreb graduates to the first rank of European cities - by Robert Cross

Over the Cold War years and again during the conflicts of the 1990s, Zagreb had filtered through my imagination mostly as a black-and-white image of a troubled and fragmented Yugoslavia.

Now, in person, the capital of an at-last independent Croatia shows off its colors and vibrancy. Maybe it always was thus, but it never came to mind as one of the must-see cities on the Continent.

Labels: Croatia, Europe, Tourism

Europe still a big attraction for Americans

Sure, air travel is a hassle. And no, the U.S. dollar doesn't go very far in Paris or London. But none of that is keeping Americans away from Europe.

Nearly 13 million Americans visited Europe last year, a 4 percent increase from the previous year, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Commerce Department's Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. The European Travel Commission expects those numbers will increase another 2 percent or 3 percent this year.

Labels: EU, Tourism, US

A380: Taking the Largest Passenger Jet for a Test Drive - by Barbara Peterson

ABOARD LUFTHANSA FLIGHT 8942, March 21 — It took a mere 16 seconds for the largest airplane in the world to lift off runway 4L at JFK International Airport. The short takeoff, which we could watch on our individual TV screens thanks to cameras positioned on the plane's exterior, confirmed that the world’s largest jetliner could use less runway than many smaller jets. It also was testimony to the force of the aircraft’s four Rolls Royce engines—which each provide about 70,000 lbs. of thrust.

“Wow—that was fast,” I heard someone mutter from a couple of rows back. And that is another feature that Airbus loves to talk about: Tthe fact you can eavesdrop on conversations is possible because the plane cabin noise level is lower than on the competition. Airbus has claimed that the cabin noise is 50-percent less than what you would experience on a 747. The plane is pressurized at about 5000 ft., around 3000 ft. lower than most commercial airliners. In theory, the lower cabin altitude will help to moderate almost every ill-effect of long-haul flying, from dehydration to jet lag.

Labels: Airbus380, Aircraft Industry, Comfort, Europe, Technology, Tourism

Open skies agreement could mean cheaper flights

Cheaper flights for air passengers may be on the horizon with a new agreement between the European Union (EU) and the US called open skies agreed today in Brussels. The agreement will lift current route restrictions between EU countries and the US by March 2008, giving passenger hundreds more flight options.

This means from March 2008 British Airways and Virgin Atlantic's monopoly on routes to the US from London Heathrow will be lifted, giving holidaymakers greater flexibility, as well as a strong chance of cheaper flights.However, there are still some elements of the agreement to be negotiated, notably over European airlines having full rights to operate flights in the US

Labels: Airlines, EU, Open Skies, Tourism, USA

Brits: 2 million to head for Turkey

TURKEY will remain one of the top five destination spots for Britons in 2007, according to British Ambassador, Nicholas Baird.He predicted that more than 2 million British tourists would visit the country this year, the third popular destination for Britons after France and Spain.

While paying a visit to Ismail Korkmaz, governor of southern city of Adana, Mr Baird said Turkey is still an attractive country for his people.

Labels: Tourism

Europe is the number one tourism destination in the world - by Jannis Patellis

Europe accounts about 55% of all international tourists arrivals corresponding to 52% of all international tourism receipts. Tourism activity is spread in Europe with a clear concentration in the traditional destinations in Western and Southern /Mediterranean. Europe is the main generating destination in the world, but the percentage of the population going on holiday varies greatly from country to country (76,9% of Germans, 31,2% of Portuguese (Eurostat 2006)).

According to the UNWTO Vision 2020, Europe is forecasted to reach 717 million arrivals in 2020; this is approximately a doubling of European tourism from. Growth rates will be different within Europe, as both the northern and the eastern parts are expected to have higher growth rates than the traditional destinations.

Labels: Tourism

Royal Caribbean deploys seven ships to Europe in summer 2008

Royal Caribbean International unveiled its largest deployment in Europe with seven ships visiting the continent in 2008. From four- through 14-night cruises, RCI will deploy the new Independence of the Seas , the first Freedom-class ship in the region; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; and Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas for its Europe schedule.

Labels: Tourism

What's new with Europe's top low-fare carriers?

It's no secret that flying Europe's no-frills, low-fare airlines is a popular—and cheap—way to get around the Continent (and not just for the student crowd, either). The demand is such that more than 45 carriers have sprouted up to serve Europe. With the peak summer travel season just around the corner, now's a good time for a refresher on Europe's most popular low-fare carriers, and a look at what's new with each.

Labels: Integration, Tourism

The $100 million Marques de Riscal's City of Wine was inaugurated last fall in Rioja Alta, one of Spain's leading wine-producing regions. The winery boasts a five-star hotel and spa. Two years ago, a wine museum opened in Briones as well as new wineries and tasting rooms. Recognizing travelers' interest in wine, the Spanish government is developing rutas del vino (wine routes) that will lead visitors through vineyards to wineries, tasting rooms, restaurants and haciendas. Surf to www.marquesderiscal.com or spain.info.

Crystal Cruises has introduced reduced business class air upgrade fares with 2007 European and Trans-Atlantic cruises booked by March 31. Representing approximately 50 percent lower than unrestricted business class airfares to Europe for $999 one way, guests can upgrade from air/sea coach fares to business class. And there is much more....

Labels: Tourism

The sport comes first on Sweden's exciting and beautiful slopes - by Aleksandra Moorast

Swedish skiing resorts are probably among the very few in Europe (and perhaps in the world) where people actually come to ski. Most other European winter sports centers — Italian or French Alps, for instance — are nothing more than open-air runways for showing off the latest trends in winter fashion. So if you are tired of the snow vanity fair — those glamorous overpriced resorts where the crème de la crème with their pocket-sized dogs in expensive outfits spend time before the après-ski scene sipping hot chocolate and gossiping — come to Sweden. Yes, as in the land of Volvo, IKEA and Ingmar Bergman.

Funäsdalen, also famous for its Sami communities and the cozy museum of Sami culture, offers its customers a "natural snow guarantee," meaning that at least five pistes (ski runs of hard-packed snow) and 12 miles of cross-country trails should be skiable within the area from Nov. 1 to April 30, no matter how warm the winter might be.

Labels: Tourism

European and other foreign tourists shy away from U.S. - travel to America is down 17 percent since 2000

Paperwork and cranky customs officials -- not crime and terrorism -- are scaring foreign tourists away from the United States, according to a report released Wednesday.

Whether the problems foreign travelers face in the United States are real or perceived they are costly, according to the report titled "A Blueprint to Discover America." In addition to lost spending, the decline has resulted in nearly $16 billion in lost tax revenue since 2000 and deprives the economy of 194,200 jobs annually, it stated.

A group headed by former Department of Homeland of Security Director Tom Ridge called the Discover America Partnership published the paper. The group is sponsored by Travel Industry Association, a hospitality trade group. The report was one in a series highlighting the decline of foreign travel to the United States since 2000 and suggestions to reverse the trend. It said in one survey more travelers were concerned about U.S. immigration officials than the threat of crime or terrorism.

Labels: Tourism

ARUBA singing REVIVAL song - by Linda Hutchinson

Badly dented by the disappearance of American teenager Natalie Holloway in 2005, Aruba is rising a wave of Spanish investors in its tourism sector, with the number of arrivals to the island rising. With efforts aimed at revitalising its tourism-based economy after suffering a six percent decline in arrivals in 2006 due to a bruising negative travel campaign surrounding the Holloway tragedy, the Dutch Caribbean island is opening its doors to Spanish investors in hotels and resorts. Last May, Occidental opened its Occidental Grand Aruba as the island’s first luxury all-inclusive resort in which they pumped over US$24M. Spanish hotel chain, RIU Aruba Grand, recently purchased the Aruba Grand which is currently undergoing a US$120M face-lift and expansion. When completed, the hotel will open with 451 rooms, nearly tripling the original 170 rooms.

Spanish resort giant, Sol Melia is also finalising the purchase of the 153-room Bushiri Beach resort and has plans to expand the property to 450 rooms.

Labels: Tourism

The European Commission adopted a Communication on "Guidelines for transport in Europe and neighbouring regions". It outlines an ambitious policy in view of creating an effective transport market involving the EU and its neighbours and of spreading the principles of internal market. The Communication identifies the five most important transport axes for international trade between the Union and the neighbouring countries and beyond. It also puts forward a package of measures to shorten journey times along these axes including improvement of infrastructure, streamlining of customs procedures and reducing administrative obstacles.

In order to make this policy a reality and boost cooperation between the European Union and the neighbouring regions, the Commission will launch exploratory talks with all the countries concerned.

Labels: Tourism