Smart Travel

London & New York – 3 October 2006 - Less than 6 months after WTTC’s Global Travel & Tourism Summit held in Washington DC where great debate was had on the need to open minds to the potential of the Travel & Tourism industry and its shifting geographical landscape, WTTC and its US Members are determined to call on US Government to recognize the state of the industry. Over the past 15 years the US national economy has lost an average of US$20 billion a year due to the declining status. According to Travel Industry Association of America calculations, an investment in growth could generate an estimated 8.1 million extra foreign visitors, representing an additional US$13.4 billion contribution to GDP and 153,000 more jobs for every one per cent of world market share regained. While WTTC was glad to see the support of four US Cabinet Secretaries and one Special Ambassador at the Summit in Washington DC in April at the Summit in Washington DC in April and felt that this was a ve...

The prices of airline tickets vary and change in as little as an hour or a day. The cheap ticket or the discount seat you are hankering about might be gone by the time you call. Of course, there is a chance that tickets for the flight you want are cheaper when you call later. But experience had taught us that the first possibility is more likely. However, there are ways, or tricks to increase your chances of finding a good deal. Just keep the prices of your airline tickets to yourself because your plane neighbor is likely to murder you if he finds out that you only paid half of the amount he did. Whether you intend to use the internet or travel agency, start your search early. By early, I don't mean a week or an hour before. A month before your desired date is ideal to find better prices of airline tickets. Don't buy just yet, just search. It'll give you an idea of how much and when the rates are likely to fluctuate or inflate at later dates. Keep in mind that airline rates...

Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia ( Indonesian : Republik Indonesia ), is a nation of islands consisting of 18,110 islands in the South East Asian Archipelago . Indonesia (from Greek : indus = India nesos = islands) is the world's largest archipelagic nation. Its capital is Jakarta . Indonesia is bordered by the nations of Papua New Guinea , East Timor , and Malaysia . With a population of over 200 million, it is the world's fourth most populous country and the most populous Muslim -majority nation. The Indonesian Archipelago was important to Ancient China as a trade route; it was a thriving part of the spice trade . Regional Hindu kingdoms expanded religious and cultural influences of Hinduism and Buddhism . Later, in the Middle Ages , the islands came under the influence of Islam . The region was colonized by the Netherlands under the Dutch East Indies . The natives of many of the islands rebelled against Dutch control in the early 20th century. Afte...

Abstract Tourism has demonstrated its potential for creating jobs and encouraging income generating activities to benefit local communities in destination areas. The tourism sector provides various entry points for women's employment and opportunities for creating self-employment in small and medium sized income generating activities, thus creating paths towards the elimination of poverty of women and local communities in developing countries. However, there are a number of conditions under which this potential can be used more effectively. This requires collaboration of all stakeholders - governments and intergovernmental bodies, local government, industry, trade unions, local communities and their different member groups, NGOs, community based tourism initiatives, etc. Employment In the last few decades, the tourism industry has undergone a period of explosive growth, and as a labour intensive industry, there has consequently been a rapid rate of job creatio...

There are encouraging signs for Northern Territory tourism in the latest tourist accommodation figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Chief executive of Tourism NT, Maree Tetlow, said the Territory recorded the strongest growth in guest nights of any state or territory for the March 2006 quarter, up 6.5% from March 2005. "The survey shows a 4.7% increase in the number of room nights occupied across the NT compared to March 2005. "Accommodation takings in the March quarter 2006 are also up by 2.3% when compared to the same quarter in 2005, and increased by 6.0% for the year ending March 2006. "This is encouraging news for all Territorians - a healthy tourism industry helps our economy," Ms Tetlow said. "Accommodation takings, room occupancy and guest nights are consistently heading in the right direction and we will continue to build on this in what promises to be a good year for tourism in the Northern Territory. "The signs are very...

Europe has always been a popular travel destination. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, there are several important things to keep in mind before calling your travel agent and booking your next vacation: 1. Time of year: While "Paris in the Springtime" sounds very romantic, the truth is that you're liable to spend many days indoors, because the weather can be cold and rainy. On the other hand, the French Riviera in the springtime boasts warm temperatures, sunshine and beautiful places to visit. If you're not sure of weather patterns, check with your travel agent who can advise you on rainy seasons or other weather-related issues for traveling to a specific spot. 2. Your Budget: Decide how much you've got to spend, and don't forget to include extras like tourist attractions, getting around, souvenirs and meals (which are typically more expensive in Europe than in the states -- dinner can cost upwards of 50 Euros per person, espe...

The UK is a fantastic place for you and your partner to spend your honeymoon after your nuptials are completed. There are a variety of locations and actives all over the UK that promise to make your honeymoon a romantic vacation to remember with your new spouse. Here are a few ideas fro locations and activities while celebrating your marriage: Take a trip to London London can be one of the most romantic cities in the world. Spend the afternoon walking around the city, and fall in love with you love all over again above the London skyline by taking a private late night ride on the millennium wheel. The millennium wheel offers private pods for couples that include a trip on the millennium wheel in a private pod for just you and your couple, a bottle of champagne, and a box of chocolates. London is home to a variety of fine dining establishments, Take a trip to the Welsh countryside The hustle and bustle of the city not for you? If a relaxed honeymoon is more your speed, get away from it ...

Spain and France are still the top holiday destinations for British tourists. However recent statistics show that tourism in Eastern Europe is rising sharply. In particular the number of trips to Poland and Bulgaria has increased significantly. Statistics from the Office of National Statistics showed that tourist numbers visiting Bulgaria and Poland nearly doubled while visits to China increased by 43 per cent. Trips to India were up by 33 per cent and trips to Mexico increased by 21 per cent. Although Spain and France are still the top holiday destinations for British tourists the number of trips to Spain rose by only 1 per cent while trips to France fell by 3 per cent. Trips to Portugal also dropped slightly (5 per cent down). A leading travel agent suggested that the reason for the increase in popularity of Eastern Europe was price. A hotel in Paris charges a much higher price per person per night than a hotel in Budapest or Prague. In addition the cost of eating out and the cost of...

In spite of world events, travel is still an activity that continues to be extremely popular. People will still have the desire to see new places and experience new things in the way that only travel can give them. Because of the importance of travel, an affordable and relatively pain free experience is high on the traveler's adjenda. A successful trip starts off with proper planning, but many beginner travelers don't realize that planning your travel budget, is just as important as planning your travel itinerary. The more successful you are with creating a budget that will work for your itinerary, the happier you will be about your travel experience. Outside of major mishaps that can occur during travel, such as bad weather, theft, and mechanical breakdown, there are some costs that many travelers forget to take into account when budgeting for their trip. These are costs that can't usually be avoided, but can be easily planned for. 1. Extra Hotel Charges When most people b...

Travel can be a time and resource intensive activity. There are many things that can go wrong, and often do, but careful planning, prioritizing and goal setting can reduce the number and severity of most problems that may creep into your travel experiences. Learning how to set and prioritize your travel goals will take you a long way towards creating travel plans that will fit into your life and are more likely to bring you wonderful memories. Treat Travel and Vacations Like Any Other Goal Driven Area of Your Life Travel and vacations can be a major financial expenditure in anyone's life, and should be treated as such. Therefore, goals should be set before you plan your travel. Details such as how many coutries you want to visit, the number of cities do you want to visit, which tourist attractions you would like to experience, how do you plan to travel, and in what style do you plan to travel, should be asked before making your travel plans. Typically, the longer your vacation and ...

There is no shortage of travel resources on the internet. There are two enormous sites dedicated to flight and auto bookings at www.expedia.net and www.travelocity.net. For purposes of exploring the cheapest way to fly from point A to point B, these two options are the best. They will show every flight available, with no bias toward advertisers or major airlines. They will also take a regional approach, and give you the cheapest flight to your destination from all locations in metro areas that have multiple airports. You can retrieve flight information to Boston, for example from San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose - all airports within a fifty mile radius of one another and easily reached via public transit. You can also book car reservations through these sites, if you are so inclined. Occasionally the auto rental agencies will have bargain rates for online rentals. Both Travelocity and Expedia have hotel packages to match up with your flight destination but those are basically promo...