Travelography: Travel Geography and Tourism News

Travelography #167: Cleaning Up After Tourists

2010-02-18T13:53:00.003-07:00

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My top story is an article about cleaning up New Orleans after Mardi Gras, which relates to many other tourism venues, as well. Also: The World's Most Dangerous Countries, The World's Most Delayed Airports, and When Travel and Facebook Do Not Mix.

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Travelography #166: Travel and Tourism Forecast for 2010

2010-01-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

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Everyone else is doing it, so here is my forecast for 2010 (which I came up with after reading a bunch of other predictions!)
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This podcast is available at: PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info and the TravelCastNetwork.com. And also followTravelography News on Twitter.com.

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#165: Looking Back at Travel and Tourism

2009-12-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

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It is the end of the year and time to reflect on where we have been and where are we are going in the world of travel and tourism. Today's podcast looks at the past, starting about 10 years ago. We will look at the future in the next podcast.

This podcast is available at: PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info and the TravelCastNetwork.com. And also follow Travelography News on Twitter.com.

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Travelography #164: Goodbye Carbon Offsets, Hello Chinese Tourists

2009-12-03T15:13:00.003-07:00

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The top story this past week was ResponsibleTravel.com's quitting carbon offset programs for travelers. Everyone seems to be competing for China's tourists these days, even the country of China. Plus the Nine Nations of China, a surge in Rhino poaching, and Go-Sim.

This podcast is available at: PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info and the TravelCastNetwork.com. And also follow Travelography News on Twitter.com.

Click Here for links to ALL of the News Stories discussed in this podcast.

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Travelography #163: Looming Challenges for Airlines and Travellers

2009-11-24T23:57:00.001-07:00

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The US government is, for the third time in 16 years, going to try to fix our dysfunctional airline industry. But the challenges are huge. The UK started its Green Tax on air travel on Nov. 1st, and people are complaining but this more such taxes seem to be coming. And is it the end of the World in Dubai?

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Travelography #162: The Right to Free Hotel Wifi

2009-11-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

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The first story today is about how unions are calling on more regulations to stabilize the very unstable airline industry. The second is eight reasons why all hotels should provide free wifi, with mention of Google's and Bing's free offerings this holiday season. And then I talk a little about Taiwan's Modern Toilet Hotel.

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And also follow Travelography News on Twitter.com.

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Travelography #161: H1N1 on a Plane

2009-11-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

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H1N1 Swine Flu and its impacts on travel in the US was the top story for this past week. Most of us who have the flu will be flying on a plane because airlines make it hard to do otherwise. Also, how to buy travel insurance; don't trust tourism numbers, like those from Lebanon; and Yosemite bears know which cars have kids.

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And also follow Travelography News on Twitter.com.

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Travelography #160: Tourism and the Internet: A Match Made in Heaven

2009-10-24T20:50:00.001-07:00

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Travelers primarily use tourism-related social networks to get up-to-date information, as do a lot of business travelers. Southwest Airlines is flying its new green plane. Bali is raising baby coral. Thailand find a home for retired elephants. And Cyprus is a major wedding tourism destinations for certain couples from Israel and Lebanon.

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And also follow Travelography News on Twitter.com.

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Travelography #159: Tourism and the Economy: Uneasy Bedfellows

2009-10-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

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Business travel is in the dumps, and a new study is commissioned to try and turn that around. The Australian dollar is stronger than ever -- which is really bad for Australia's tourism. Finally, I can take my precious water on the plane -- in Europe. And are floating hotels the future is a global warming world?

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And also follow Travelography News on Twitter.com.

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Travelography #158: Global Economy Hurting Tourism, Helping Sharks

2009-09-28T14:04:00.004-07:00

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Summary of the some of the more interesting tourism news stories from this past week, most of which are related to the continuing global economic crisis in the tourism industry. There are, though, a few brights spots -- Natonal Parks, Cuba, Haiti, and Paulau's sharks.

This podcast is available at PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com, TravelCastNetwork.com, and Travelgeography.info. And also check out Twitter.com/Travelography.

Click Here for ALL of the News Stories discussed in this podcast.

A couple of the top stories are:

International Visitor Spending in the United States Down Sharply in July - July 2009 marks the ninth straight month in which U.S. travel and tourism-related exports were lower when compared to the same period of the previous year, having declined in November 2008 (-4%), December 2008 (-2%), January 2009 (-6%), February 2009 (-10%), March 2009 (-18%), April 2009 (-14%), May 2009 (-23%), June 2009 (-22%), and July (-24%).

To protect tourism Palau creates shark sanctuary - In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Johnson Toribiong declared his country’s entire Exclusive Economic Zone, an area of 629 thousand square kilometers, or roughly the size of France as a "shark sanctuary," which will ban all commercial shark fishing. [I hope they can enforce it! - Alan]

Travelography #157: Fighting the Image War for Tourism

2009-09-20T20:44:00.001-07:00

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This podcast is available at PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info. And also check out Travelography on Twitter.com.

Click Here for ALL of the News Stories discussed in this podcast.

The Two Highlighted Stories for today are:

Political Instability, Violence Threat to Asia's Tourism Industry

Political violence has done considerable damage to tourism in Asia and the Pacific over the past few years. But industry experts say the damage is not necessarily permanent. Governments and industry leaders say much can be done to rebuild tattered tourism reputations.
Wish you were here? Asian war zones battle for tourists

Across a swath of south and south-east Asia previously wracked by war or strife, officials are carrying out a rebranding exercise to lure back tourists who have long been scared of visiting. In places such as Nepal, it is more like fine-tuning. In others, such as Kashmir, it means a complete overhaul.

Travelography #156: What do Brazil, Russia, Argentina have in Common?

2009-09-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

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This podcast is available at PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info. And also check out my Travelography on Twitter.com.

International Visitation To US Down 11% In June 2009

June 2009 marks the eighth consecutive month of decreases in international visitors spending. In the first six months 2009, visitors spent $60 billion, down 15 percent from the same period in 2008.

Travelography 155: Our Changing World: Geishas and Satellites

2009-09-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

Geisha turn barmaids to keep Japan’s ‘Floating World’ afloat

A traditional two-hour dinner with a geisha, who will entertain with music, dance performances and conversation, can cost as much as 67,000 yen ($715), more than half of which goes to the teahouse and an arranger, ... "It's a luxury industry, and like the high-end hotels, it has dropped," ... [However,] bookings have declined 50 percent since last October, the month after the collapse of [financial services firm] Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc, ...

Economists Measure GDP Growth From Outer Space

Using U.S. Air Force weather satellite picture composites, they look at changes in a region’s light density over a 10-year period. “Consumption of nearly all goods in the evening requires lights,” ... “As income rises, so does light usage per person, in both consumption activities and many investment activities.” ... For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lights suggest a 2.4-percent annual growth rate in GDP, while official estimates suggest a negative 2.6-percent growth over the same time period. The Congo appears to be growing faster than official estimates suggest. At the other end, Myanmar has an official growth rate of 8.6 percent a year, but the lights data imply only a 3.4-percent annual growth rate.

Travelography #154: Tourism is the New Flat

2009-09-03T15:51:00.001-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 26 August to 3 September 2009. This podcast is available at PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Travel is Growing Again!

“flat is the new up.” By that definition, and taking into consideration the trends and data discussed below, the good news is that U.S. Travel is growing again! Yes, this is a bullish view on our sector, but even if it’s premature, who couldn’t use good news?

Southwest Airlines adds charge to board sooner

... for an extra $10 each way Southwest passengers can automatically reserve a boarding position prior to general check-in. That would allow those customers to begin boarding the plane after certain elite fliers, who don't have to pay add-on fees for early boarding privileges. Unlike other carriers, Southwest does not offer assigned seating.

My H1N1 Swine Flu Inspection in China

2009-06-05T19:20:00.001-07:00

Mobile post sent by alew using Utterli. Replies. mp3

A Black African Ghetto in Guangzhou, China

2009-05-31T04:23:00.001-07:00

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Travelography #153: Mexico and Thailand's Tourism Challenges, and more...

2009-04-27T22:34:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 21 to 27 April 2009. This podcast is available at PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Canada hoping to attract Chinese travellers

Canada is one of the few remaining countries that hasn't been granted "approved destination status," known as ADS, by the Chinese. As a result, the Canadian tourism industry cannot actively market Canada in China, and Chinese travel agents can't advertise and promote Canadian trips. But that may be about to change.

Thais to move swiftly to limit strife damage

Tourism was hit particularly hard by recent street violence in a long battle between royalists, the military and urban Thais who back the current government and supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra whose power base was mainly drawn from the millions of rural poor. "The combination of the impact of the slowdown of the global economy and the social unrest domestically means that we're anticipating tourist arrivals, originally forecast at 14 million, to be something closer to…

Ryanair proposes surcharge for fat passengers

“With passengers voting overwhelmingly for a ‘fat tax’ we are now asking them to suggest which format the charge should take. The above four points seem to us to be the simplest, fairest and administratively easiest to apply. In all cases we’ve limits at very high levels so that a ‘fat tax’ will only apply to those really large passengers who invade’ the space of the passengers sitting beside them."

Swiss heartland voters ban nude hiking in Alps

By a show of hands citizens of the tiny canton (state) of Appenzell Inner Rhodes voted overwhelmingly at their traditional open-air annual assembly to impose a 200 Swiss franc ($176) fine on violators. Only a scattering of people on Sunday opposed the ban on the back-to-nature activity that took off last autumn when naked hikers — primarily Germans — started showing up in eastern Switzerland. RT @markwilliams

Baja, land of drug wars, tries to keep tourists coming

Given the circumstances (Tijuana's 843 murders last year doubled 2007's), it takes moxie to launch a [tourism] campaign. Number one on the list: "Take a picture with the famous Tijuana zebra donkey." Number 75: Get out of town by "Flying direct to Narita, Japan, from Tijuana Airport." Delusional thinking or marketing optimism?

Digital IDs make clearing customs easier

The ID cards are embedded with an image of the traveler's eye that is used to verify his identity. Industry groups say the program will encourage travel to the USA by reducing the hassles of clearing customs.

Thai tourism to lose $5.35 billion: Government spokesman

"The revenue from tourism could drop 35 percent... to only 350 billion baht from 540 billion baht in 2008," ... The kingdom's tourist-friendly image was dented by a nine-day seizure of Bangkok's airports at the end of last year that left thousands stranded, and was further affected by rallies held by rival demonstrators last week.

Travelography #152: Green Skeptics, and a Week of Bizarre Travel News

2009-04-20T22:50:00.004-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 14 to 20 April 2009. This podcast is also available at PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Polish travel agency takes tourists to Afghanistan [Extreme Tourism]

It said the 12 places, costing up to $3,700 apiece, have all been booked. However, reports of the offer spurred Poland's Foreign Ministry to warn Poles against unnecessary travel to Afghanistan, where NATO forces are struggling to tame a relentless Taliban insurgency. The ministry said the country "remains a zone especially susceptible to terrorist attacks" and said Poles could be targets for kidnappers due to the presence of some 1,600 Polish troops in the NATO force. #tnt

Four Corners misses mark by 2.5 miles

Oh No! ... the Four Corners marker showing the intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah is about 2.5 miles west of where it should be, According to readings by the National Geodetic Survey... #geog #travel

Zimbabwe dumps own currency

Trade in goods across Zimbabwe will now be conducted in US dollars, euros, British pounds, and probably South African rand, besides accepting currencies of neighboring countries. Ordinary people, however, in villages across the country will find it hard to get hold of foreign money making it arguably even more difficult to access goods and services.

Pets-only airline says it plans to serve Denver, New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles

Pet Airways, a startup based in Delray Beach, Fla., said in an announcement Thursday it will carry pets (but not their human friends) in the main cabin. The budding airline said it will carry "pawsengers" ...

Travel firm plans cruise to mark anniversary of Titanic disaster (example of Dark Tourism)

The sailing will follow the Titanic's original route westward and include a memorial service on the morning of April 15, 2012 in the exact location where the Titanic went down. The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912.

Police delete London tourists' photos 'to prevent terrorism'

He described his horror as he and his 15-year-old son were forced to delete all transport-related pictures on their cameras, including images of Vauxhall underground station. "Google Street View is allowed to show any details of our cities on the world wide web," he said. "But a father and his son are not allowed to take pictures of famous London landmarks."

72% Question Hotel "Green" Practices; 44% Say Green Travel Options Hard to Find

Seventy-six percent of travelers sometimes incorporate green choices in their travel plans and 27 percent of respondents intentionally made environmentally-friendly travel choices in the past year. Fifty-two percent regularly find it challenging to incorporate "green" choices into their travel plans and 44 percent of travelers find that environmentally-friendly options are not readily available when traveling.

Travelography #151: Time for Sustainable Tourism, and The Best of ...

2009-04-14T22:23:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 7 April to 14 April 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

US Volunteer vacation sales up 28 percent

"The recession has encouraged many people to volunteer and take some time away from all of the bad news. What we have seen is an increase in shorter volunteer trips in locations that are closer to home for Americans such as Latin America," ... There has been a distinct increase in 22-30 year olds wanting to volunteer abroad - a mixture of recession fear and a new generation of travelers that want to give back when going abroad.

No more new hotels for Bali

In an effort to protect the resort island's natural environment, the Bali provincial administration has decided to stop issuing official recommendations for the construction of new hotels, villas or homestays. "The moratorium for the construction of new hotels is an appropriate measure to secure the island's future." .... The moratorium is temporary, he added.

Ranking the country's (US) most popular destinations

#1. Times Square, New York City: 37.6 million; #2. The Las Vegas Strip, Nev.: 30 Million; #3. National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C.: 25 million ...

The 20 best views in the world

1. The Grand Canyon from the South Rim; 2. Hong Kong Island from Kowloon; 3. Phang Nga Bay, Thailand; 4. Manhattan from the top of Rockefeller Plaza; 5. Istanbul skyline from the Bosphorus strait, Turkey

Beijing extends limits on car use for cleaner air

The restrictions were first announced in October following public debate over whether to extend traffic restrictions that helped keep skies clear during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. They were set to expire at the end of this week. The traffic bureau said on its Web site Sunday that the capital will continue to keep a third of government vehicles off the road altogether.

Italy wrestles with historic preservation

... the state-run Civil Protection Service said it would cost at least $1.7 billion to monitor and upgrade the safety standards of government-owned buildings that are more than 3 centuries old. "The problem is extraordinarily serious in Italy because there are so many ancient structures still being used, probably more than in any other country," ...

Travelography #150: PATA Numbers, Hawaiian MICE, Antarctic Tours, & More Nudes

2009-04-06T20:37:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 30 March to 6 April 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Hawaii asks Obama to bring back business travelers

Gov. Linda Lingle, 90 business leaders and Hawaii's four mayors wrote Obama last week urging him to oppose any measure restricting companies that receive federal funds from using business meetings "as a legitimate business tool."

Obama Calls for Limits on Tourism to Antarctica

The new U.S. proposal contains no specific enforcement mechanism or penalties for limiting tourist operations. But it would require signatories to the pact to ensure that Antarctic tour operators bar ships with more than 500 passengers from landing sites, restrict landings to one vessel at a time per site and limit passengers on shore to 100 at a time. It would mandate a minimum of one guide for every 20 tourists while ashore, according to the documents.

Thailand shuts down tourist spots after fatal clashes

Thai authorities have indefinitely closed tourist spots near the Preah Vihear temple as Thai and Cambodian soldiers clashed twice in the vicinity today (Friday), leaving two Thai and two Cambodian soldiers dead and several injured.

Atlantic City casino brings back real-coin slot machines

It used to be the signature sound of gambling: the clacking of coins spilling into metal trays on slot machines. But newer electronic machines that spit paper vouchers or credit winnings to cards now emit only canned noise.

Report: Hawaii's tourism industry in 'crisis mode'

The report urges the tourism industry should receive the highest priority in receiving stimulus funding. "Until tourism gets well, the rest of the economy cannot," ... "And the Hawaii tourism industry is in a crisis mode now."

Check In at Germany's First Naked Hotel

Investors plan to set up a hotel catering exclusively to nudists in the picturesque Black Forest town of Freudenstadt, which incidentally translates as Town of Joys. Guests will be required to remove their clothes at the entrance and must be naked at all times while on the premises

Some cause for industry hope in new PATA Tourism Forecasts

The PATA (Pacific Asia Tourism Assn) Tourism Forecasts 2009-2011, to be published this month, suggest growth in international arrivals for many destinations across the region - despite the global economic downturn. The Forecasts indicate a very mixed bag of results with significant variations across Asia Pacific.

Travelography #149: Dark Tourism, East Africa, Vegas and the TSA

2009-03-30T22:08:00.004-07:00

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Travel and Tourism News Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 23 to 30 March 2009. This podcast is also available at PodcasterNews.com, Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info

Tourists look for luck at Pol Pot’s grave

Cambodia - He was one of the greatest mass killers of the 20th century, but that doesn't stop the hopeful from praying at Pol Pot's hillside grave for lucky lottery numbers, job promotions and beautiful brides. Nor does it stop tourists from picking clean the bones and ashes from the Khmer Rouge leader's burial ground in this remote town in northwestern Cambodia.

McCook abuzz over tourism idea: ‘Old Sparky’ the electric chair

Residents of a small southwest Nebraska town have a question for state officials: You’re not doing anything with that old electric chair, are you? The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled last year that the state’s use of the electric chair was unconstitutional because it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Some people in McCook—population just under 8,000—think “Old Sparky’’ could be a tourist attraction and have offered to take it off the state’s hands.

East Africa: Region to Start Issuing Single Tourist Visas

The East African Community (EAC) has agreed to start a single tourist visa for the region, ... the EAC members were discussing a protocol to create and market the region as a single tourist destination. Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda make up the EAC.

FAA to seal bird-strike records

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says that the information could mislead the public and its release could prompt some airports and others not to report incidents, but the proposal is drawing sharp criticism from bird safety experts and public records advocates.

80,000 on TSA's 'cleared' fliers list

critics want stricter standards for deciding who goes on the watch list. The list is based on "nominations" from intelligence and security agencies, such as the CIA and FBI, which use a "reasonable suspicion" standard to decide whether a person's suspected links to terrorism are strong enough to put him in the database. "No one wants to be the person who was too cautious about nominating names … so every name ends up on the list when only a handful should be,"

MGM Mirage says Dubai lawsuit ‘without merit’

On Monday Dubai World's Infinity World subsidiary filed a lawsuit against MGM Mirage because of its concern about the viability of their $8.6 billion joint venture project under construction on the Las Vegas Strip. The 67 acre project is under a cloud after SEC returns filed by MGM indicated it may breach its debt repayment obligations. MGM Mirage is currently saddled with $13 billion of debt.

Travel Geography #148: Tourism and Political Bedfellows

2009-03-22T15:46:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 15 to 22 March 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Tourism Concern Calls For Halt On Construction Of Mega-Resorts

The global trend in developing luxury, large-scale resorts is leading to widespread alienation and displacement of people from their land, and is wreaking havoc with fragile ecosystems. Poor communities in developing countries, which depend heavily upon their natural resources for their livelihoods, are the hardest hit.

Anti-illegal immigrant groups launch Mexico tourism boycott

Americans United to Halt Tourism in Mexico – formed by Minutemen groups across the country ... – is urging Americans bound for sun and fun south of the border to instead visit the U.S. Southwest. "Do not give your tourist dollars to Mexico!" the fliers say.

Forget the lederhosen: Nude hiking alarms a Swiss farm town

Last summer, the number of nude hikers increased to such an extent that the hills often seemed alive with the sound of everything but the swish of trousers.

Croatia courts old enemy and its tourism spending

... for the first time since Serbian and Montenegrin forces besieged this historic port city in 1991, businesspeople [in Dubrovnik, Croatia] are publicly appealing to Serbian tourists to help rescue the economy.

Air travel showing signs of stability

...the drops in new booking revenue that US Airways saw in January and the first half of February had stopped, and in March even rose a little. ... the overall number of leisure passengers has held up — it's just that they're paying less to fly than they used to.

The art of passport fakery is alive and well

One investigator used the Social Security number of a man who died in 1965, a fake New York birth certificate and a fake Florida driver's license. He received a passport four days later. A second attempt had the investigator using a 5-year-old boy's information but identifying himself as 53 years old on the passport application. He received that passport seven days later.

Travelography #147: Finally - Some Good Travel and Tourism News!

2009-03-15T23:05:00.004-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 8 to 15 March 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Tripology Report Finds Positive Trends for Agents

"With a 42% increase in trip requests received via Tripology.com in 2009 over the end of 2008, the increase demonstrates that many consumers are looking to travel in the next 140 days -- just in time for the summer travel season. Further, the increase in trip requests reveals a continued trend of consumers seeking the assistance of expert travel agents to help them plan and book their trips based on their specific specs -- a definitive plus for specialists."

Economic downturn to create new winners and losers in travel

Internet bookings will surge. Demand for online virtual meetings will gather pace. Domestic travel will stay stable or grow, as will demand for low-cost flights. Destinations adjacent to big travel markets will do not so bad. Long-haul travel will fall sharply. And the most pain will be felt in the business travel and MICE sectors.

Corporate Travel Cuts May Threaten Economic Recovery

In fact, 72 percent believe that increasing travel budgets will allow companies to gain a competitive edge by building market share and forging new customer relationships.

White House says it encourages business travel

"These comments are extremely positive for the 1 million employees in this industry whose livelihood depends on business meetings and events," said Geoff Freeman, senior vice president of the U.S. Travel Association.

South America tourism is up despite global economic slump

"In a year when flat is the new up, South America is actually up," said Melissa Snape, vice president of product at Collette Vacations, whose 2009 bookings for the continent are trending 30% ahead of last year.

Sen. Kerry, Rep. Matsui Introduce Cruise Safety Bill

“We have now held two House hearings and one Senate hearing on crimes aboard cruise ships, and this legislation will ensure that those who have bravely stepped forward to tell their story will not have done so in vain,”

Princess Cruises crew member accused of sexual assault

"Cruise lines are seemingly becoming more sensitive to the needs of crime victims, and are creating the appearance of being responsible.” It remains to be seen whether these moves are being made out of genuine concern for passengers, or out of a desire to avoid bad publicity.

No membership needed: Utah bars to open to public

"I think it's great that it essentially says to tourists, to travelers, that you are welcome here and that we're excited to host you and Utah's a normal place," ...

Travelography #146: Direct Flights are Best & Filling Cruises at Any Price

2009-03-08T19:48:00.006-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 1 to 8 March 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Seoul warns North Korea to withdraw airline threat

"Threatening civilian airliners' normal operations under international aviation regulations is not only against international rules but is an act against humanity," ... North should "immediately withdraw the military threat."

Downturn in cruise business worse than we thought

Several cruise lines including Carnival have reported strong bookings in recent months. ... Still, "while these bookings are clearly being taken at steep discounts, it is a positive that consumers are responding to the operators’ promotions and making up for some lost load factor,"

Cruise Analyst Sees "Challenging" Cruise Trends

Alaska “appears especially weak” with pricing down from 20 to 40 percent as fares “hit new lows in February….We believe both companies [Carnival Corp. and RCCL] are now aggressively moving to fill remaining Q2 and Q3 capacity after attempting to hold price as long as possible,”

Discount airlines grow amid downturn

Nimble discount airlines here and around the world are growing and opening new routes even as the recession forces traditional carriers to cut flights and jobs. Low-cost carriers, such as New York-based JetBlue (JBLU), Ireland-based Ryanair and Canada-based WestJet, are making inroads where higher-cost carriers are shrinking amid falling travel demand, especially among cost-conscious fliers.

The Economics of Airline Layovers

... the marginal cost of a connecting flight was $12 more expensive than that of a direct flight. The change is probably driven by the increasing fuel cost in the sample period. Since the fraction of fuel consumed at the takeoffs and landings could be as high as 40 percent, rising fuel costs offset the benefit of denser traffic created by connecting flights.

Carnival: Discounts sparking record cruise ship bookings

The world's largest cruise line says it recorded the highest number of net weekly bookings in its history during the one-week period that ended Sunday. On a cumulative basis, net bookings are up 10% as compared to last year since mid-January.

Tourism heats up at the North Pole

"With the centennial this year of the Robert F. Peary discovery of the North Pole, combined with the fear that global warming may soon change the arctic regions forever, it's a very busy year for us,"...

Travelography 145: Slumdog, Foreclosure and Oil Rig Tourisms

2009-02-25T23:28:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 16 to 23 February 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, embarrassed by surge in Carnival crime against tourists

Nearly 100 tourists have been robbed, many by armed gangs, raising questions over whether Rio is safe enough to win a bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

No danger in Martinique, travel journalists say

Recreational activities – kayaking, sailboarding, windsurfing, jet skiing, scuba diving operations, etc. – seem to be in full swing. The very good network of hiking trails remains open. The outstanding beaches are as inviting as ever, and the little cafes that line some of them remain open and serving excellent grilled chicken, ribs, fish, etc. As things now stand, people outside of Fort-de-France, where most visitors to Martinique stay, should experience little or no problem

Chinese crew filming documentary makes a stop in Macon, Georgia

“It’s a whole new market,” she said. “Tourism comes on the heels of trade. A lot of (Americans) have started to travel to China, and now we are seeing the reverse, because they’ve loosened all travel restrictions. Within five years, we think they will be as big as the U.K. or Germany in number of tourists here {to Georgia}.”

Ryanair to do away with check-in desks

Passengers would still be able to leave their luggage at a baggage drop but everything else could be done over the Web ... "Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage,"...

Chinese "Foreclosure Tourists" Shopping In U.S. (NPR)

A new kind of tourist package is being offered in China. Call it the "U.S. Real Estate Bottom-Fishing Tour." The first of 40 Chinese real estate shoppers are looking in the U.S. this week to buy for foreclosure properties and other housing bargains.

'Slumdog Millionaire' is Attracting Tourists to Mumbai Slums

Travelers often complain that the world is becoming homogenized, but India is an exception, its crumbling infrastructure, constant chaos and in-your-face poverty co-existing with trendy nightclubs and Bollywood glitz. Tourism here has fallen off precipitously, and airfares and hotel rates have plummeted. But among the trickle of international tourists are a striking number eager to see Mumbai's now-famous slums, home to an estimated 10 million of the city's 18 million residents.

Tourists leave Guadeloupe after being stranded due to riots - Thousands Of Tourists Cancel Their Vacations

Unemployment on Guadeloupe hit 22.7 percent in 2007, according to the most recent data available from France's national statistics bureau. That compares with 8.3 percent in mainland France in 2007. Some 12.5 percent of Guadeloupe's residents live in poverty, compared with 6.5 percent in mainland France,

Waterworld Dreams Realized: Oil Rigs Become Luxury Hotels

"There are approximately 4,000 oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico varying in size, depth and mobility that will be decommissioned within the next century. If a deck on one of these rigs is about 20,000 square feet, then there is potentially 80 million square feet of programmable space just off the coast of the United States. The current method for rig removal is explosion, which costs millions of dollars and destroys massive amounts of aquatic life. What if these rigs were recommissioned as exclusive…

Tourists cancel trips to French resort islands amid unrest

"Tourism is fragile," she said. "People are not only canceling this week, but also for all the months of February, March and April. We have a huge deficit of tourists ahead of us." At least 10,000 tourists have canceled vacations in Martinique and Guadeloupe, according to the National Travel Agencies organization.

'Incredible India' loses luster as tourists stay away

India has seen its tourist arrivals drop in recent months for the first time since 2002 when it launched its hugely successful "Incredible India" campaign that enticed millions of well-heeled tourists from around the world to explore the wonders of India. Winter is peak season, but this year business has been slow and hotels are struggling to fill empty rooms due to mass cancellations by foreign tourists. All sectors have been hit, from pricey tours of Rajasthan, to budget beach holidays in Goa.

Travelography #144: Business or Pleasure in Vegas, and Fleeing Tibet

2009-02-16T19:48:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 9 to 16 February 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Sin City worries its image hurts business travel : NPR

Born of carefully crafted slogans — "What happens here stays here" — and smiling, sequined showgirls, the image of a 24-hour adult Disneyland with free-flowing booze and casino chips is making the tourist destination seem radioactive to companies keen on not appearing frivolous as they seek government bailouts.
Tower Rising in Las Vegas but Now, Not So High

But because of what it is billing as structural defects, MGM Mirage announced recently it has decided to shorten a hotel-condominium project it is building on the Strip to 28 stories instead of the planned 49. Architectural experts say they cannot recall such a drastic midconstruction downscaling,
Canadian passenger bill of rights will make airfares soar

"The last thing, in this economic context, that airlines want to do is pass on that cost to passengers but they will have no choice. There is no way airlines could absorb that," said George Petsikas, president of the National Airlines Council of Canada.
US airlines face sharp drop in international demand

he now expects U.S. airline revenue to fall 11% for the year, compared to his prior outlook of an 8% decline. Hardest hit would be the lucrative international routes, particularly those of American parent AMR Corp. and Continental. Mainline international revenue could fall 12% for 2009, versus a prior forecast of a 6% decline,
Tibetan Areas Closed to Foreigners

Large swathes of Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai provinces — home to large ethnic Tibetan communities — are now off limits to foreign travelers, local officials confirmed Thursday. Last year, protests to mark the anniversary spun out of control, with deadly riots breaking out in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.
Chinese migrants may flee Tibet as tourism stalls

Many workers and traders from other ethnic groups who moved to the remote region in search of a better living said they were considering leaving for good, driven away by the tourism slump and icy anger of local Tibetans.
Nepal seeks way to promote tourism between Nepal and China

"China would tide over this phase of financial turmoil and come up as a much bigger player in the world economy, we, very close neighbor of China, hope that Nepal will also benefit from the strength of the Chinese economy,"
Travel Industry: This Is No Time to Check Out

"We've got to get away from the symbolism of corporate fat cats smoking a big cigar on a golf course and instead think about the symbolism of people meeting and thinking together and creating ideas and building their cultures,"
Mayor to Obama: Your comments are harmful to Las Vegas

Obama said during a town hall meeting this week in Indiana that companies shouldn't take trips to Las Vegas or go to the Super Bowl at taxpayers' expense.
Downturn hits international travel; flights from USA cut

With demand for international trips in free fall, most U.S. and foreign airlines are cutting international service to and from the USA. They're reducing the number of scheduled flights or parking big jets and putting passengers on smaller ones to avoid flying money-losing, half-empty flights.
TwisitorCenter - your one-stop shop for finding visitor information on twitter.com

Going somewhere? Get the insider information from those who know, the local tourism authority. Connect here with your final destination for all your traveling needs.

Travelography #143: Fire Tourists and Tweet My Spring Break

2009-02-09T20:12:00.001-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 2 to 9 February 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Police warn 'fire tourists' to stay away - Australia

People have died in their cars trying to escape the Gippsland fires and there are reports of a busload of Japanese tourists heading towards the Yarra Valley. Police say they will be blocking people who are driving towards dangerous areas and people could be charged with hindering police if they are caught sightseeing in "stupid" areas.
Australia's forest fire toll climbs - 166 dead - Summary : Environment

The body count reached 166 on Tuesday, more than doubling the death toll from Australia's previous worst forest fires in 1983. Authorities in the south-coast city of Melbourne warned the death toll would continue to climb as army bulldozers cleared a path for forensic teams to enter hamlets cut off by Saturday's inferno.
Future Tech May Reduce Bird-Plane Collisions

Most of today's anti-bird-strike efforts are ground-based, focusing on making airports less inviting to birds by removing ponds, exterminating the bugs birds eat, firing noise cannons, installing artificial owls, and so on. But the next frontier in bird-strike prevention is the sky. Bird-disturbing radar, pulsing lights, and reflective coatings may someday make aircraft more visible to birds, so they have time to dodge oncoming planes
Travel firms respond to events, share news via Twitter

Hotels, airlines, airports and other travel companies are joining the Twitter community, too, to pitch services, update travel conditions and respond directly to the individual needs of customers. They're finding the mobile nature of the technology is ideal for talking to travelers. "We consider our Twitter account akin to an information booth,"
Economy won't stop the spring break party

Bookings to popular beach destinations are strong, according to travel companies, and volunteering vacations continue to gain momentum. "Typically the student business is more resilient to the economy because it's like a once in a lifetime trip,"
$50,000 to stay in a house shaped like a toilet?

Traveling to Suwon, South Korea anytime soon? Feeling flush with cash and feel like staying in a house shaped like a toilet?

Travelography #141: More Birds, Fog, Obama, and Mexico

2009-01-26T22:00:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 19 January 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Turkish plane lands safely after bird strike

The aircraft with 143 passengers aboard had just taken off Monday from Istanbul bound for Denmark when it struck the birds and the pilot was able to return to the city's airport. Nobody was hurt. Turkish Airlines said passengers will be flown to Copenhagen...
JetBlue flight aborts takeoff on bird strike fears

None of the 136 passengers was injured, and the plane didn't leave the runway but returned to the gate. The passengers were put on another plane to continue their journey, and the plane was undergoing inspection to see if either of its engines had been hit.
Paramedics bring Big Macs to stranded AeroMexico passengers

The flight was diverted from Sea-Tac Airport on Tuesday night, and passengers weren't allowed off the plane in Portland, officials said, because no customs agents were available to process the passengers. Eventually, the plane went back to Mexico, and then it returned to the United States to complete the flight to Seattle.
Will Obama image translate into tourism?

This year, the number of foreign visitors is expected to dip for the first time since 2003 as the economic crisis spreads and consumers worldwide curb spending. The U.S. Travel Association, the industry's main trade group, this year expects about 60 million foreigners, or 1.6% less than last year.,
Mexico City is the world's top religious tourist destination

A study carried out by the Spanish Office of Tourism found that Mexico's capital is the preferred destination of tourists seeking religious sites, largely because of its Basilica de Guadalupe, which receives millions of pilgrims each year.
South African Airways crew held over drug haul

Customs agents found the drugs in three suitcases when the crew members passed through a customs clearance point. All fifteen cabin and flight crew staff including the pilot have been arrested after authorities found 110 pounds of cannabis, worth about $210,000, and 9 pounds of cocaine, worth about $240,000.
Tumbling peso makes Mexico a hot destination

Mexico is counting on its weakened currency against the dollar and its proximity to the U.S. to attract recession-shocked Americans and fuel its tourism industry — a major source of foreign income. Tourism officials say Mexico saw 3% more visitors who spent an estimated 4% more in 2008, with tourists flocking to its beaches and cobble-stoned streets even during the global economic crisis. And, unlike most tourist destinations around the world, there is no sign that this year will be any different.

Travelography #140: Inaugural Tourism

2009-01-19T18:13:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the first two weeks of January 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Disney hopes to build 1st park on Chinese mainland

The Walt Disney Company and the Shanghai municipal government have signed a project proposal to build the first Disney park on the Chinese mainland. Under the proposal, the entertainment giant will take a 43 percent stake in Shanghai Disneyland.
Security Net Wraps Capital for Inaugural

Though intelligence agencies have detected no credible threat to any inaugural event or to Mr. Obama, law enforcement agencies, operating from a network of centers, will command ground, air and waterborne forces numbering in excess of 20,000 police officers, National Guard troops and plainclothes agents from more than 50 agencies, according to security planners.
Bathroom Break: Will Inauguration Have Enough?

"This is the largest temporary restroom event in the history of the United States," ... Don's Johns is providing many of the 5,000 port-a-potties for the inauguration, but other suppliers are at work as well,
Industry submits travel and tourism stimulus plan to Obama

ASTA's stimulus proposals include the restoration of a 2001 program of direct low-interest-rate loans to small businesses through the Small Business Administration and the creation of an investment tax credit program for small business investments in information-related technologies, which will be crucial for travel agencies to compete effectively in the years ahead.
Net usage spikes after U.S. Airways plane crash

The crash now ranks as the seventh biggest Internet news event since Akamai started tracking spikes in traffic in 2005. The plane crash, which miraculously resulted in no fatalities or serious injuries, ranks just ahead of the post-Election Day 2008 coverage.
Legoland swears in mini-Barack Obama in mock inauguration

A 4-inch-tall Barack Obama rendered in Lego bricks will be sworn in as plastic president before more than 1,000 miniature-molded dignitaries at Legoland California’s inaugural pre-enactment
Cruise industry: 2009 shaping up as another record year

Helping to prop up the industry is the rapid growth of cruising among Europeans, Latin Americans and Asians. ... The industry's biggest players also have been rolling out significant discounts to keep ships full this winter and for the coming spring and summer.

Travelography #139: Travel Trends for 2009

2009-01-13T09:50:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 12 January 2009. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Trend Watch Euromonitor Internationals Top City Destinations Ranking ...
AAA releases tips and trends for 2009 travel - AAA
Travelers will be getting lots of deals in 2009 (in the US)

Other findings in the Travel Leaders 2009 trends survey: •90.5% say customers are cutting back on travel compared with the same period last year. •57.4% say clients are cutting back on the length of their trips. •31.5% say airfares on 2009 corporate bookings are equal to or lower than those in 2008. •81.6% say clients are trading down when it comes to hotels. •84.3% recommend Mexico as the best value outside the USA, followed by cruises (61.1%) and the Caribbean (43.9%). Agents were asked to pick up to three places.
The Optimal Way to Board Plane Passengers

...loading the back rows first and then gradually rows nearer the front -- should be among the best ways to board, but simulations indicate that this is the second-slowest way. Even random boarding is faster.
Mexican Hospitals Aim To Attract More Americans (NPR)

As many Americans struggle to pay for health care or health insurance, hospitals in Mexico are expanding in hopes of attracting more patients from north of the border — in addition, a rapidly growing industry is marketing "medical tourism" to Americans.

Travelography #138: Travel Now - Save the Economy!

2008-12-08T13:35:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 1 December 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

TSA says new uniforms calm travelers and make spotting terrorists easier

the new [blue] shirts project a more professional look and instill a greater sense of calm among passengers. In turn, the agency says fewer nervous travelers now make behavior profiling of potential terrorists more effective.
De-icer shortage threatens US flights

The federal government is warning airlines that flights could face disruptions this winter because of a severe shortage of a chemical used to keep runways free from snow and ice.
Australians told to take a break for the economy

The country's 11 million workers have hoarded about 121 million days of paid-leave entitlements which the government wants to unlock to help stimulate a tourism sector hard hit by the global downturn.
6 reasons we love to travel now

Turn back the clock just a year and you'll find a dramatically different picture. Travelers were unappreciated -- even exploited -- by unscrupulous travel companies that were flush with profits. No longer. With just one notable exception, it's difficult to find any part of the travel industry that isn't being extra-nice to its customers.
Lebanon tourism hits four-year high

Arab tourists accounted for 54 percent of visitors in October, the ministry said, hailing the "stable political situation since May 2008" when Lebanon's political rivals struck an accord after deadly clashes in Beirut. Lebanon has witnessed a string of political assassinations since the Beirut bomb blast which killed Hariri in February 2005.

Travelography #137: Bummer Week of Travel News

2008-11-30T19:40:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 24 November 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Budgets Shrink, and Holiday Airfares Follow Suit

The travel industry is bracing for a painful holiday season as people scale back their discretionary spending. But that is good news for anyone who has yet to book a winter getaway, with hotels, airlines and cruise operators introducing last-minute deals to entice vacationers.
Tourism Situation in Thailand - as of November 27, 20:30 hrs. (Bangkok Time)

TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) is cooperating with the Thai Hotels Association (THA), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), AoT, and Thai Airways (TG) to set up a Crisis Networking Center on the fourth floor of the Departure Terminal in Suvarnabhumi International Airport in order to facilitate the stranded passengers and tourists until the airport resumes normal operations.
Terrorists Strike in Mumbai (ABC New Photos)
Commandos battle room by room to save tourists - Mumbai

Helicopters buzzed overhead as the commandos, faces blackened, moved into one of the hotels, the Oberoi, where 20 to 30 people were thought to have been taken hostage and more than 100 others were trapped in their rooms. A 15-strong Air France team was among those unable to get out.
Thai PM declares emergency at two airports

Thailand's tourism minister says authorities plan to begin flying thousands of stranded travellers out of one or two military bases in the next 48 hours. Meanwhile, it's the hour of reckoning for thousands of anti-government protesters in Thailand who are trying to force Prime Minister Somchai to resign.
In Pictures - Bangkok airport disruption

Passengers queue in front of check-in desk inside Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of passengers are stranded after Suvarnabhumi Airport had been ordered closed because of a blockade by anti-government protesters.
Nearly 80 killed in multiple Mumbai, India shootings, blasts against tourists

A group calling itself the "Deccan Mujahedeen" claimed responsibility for the assaults on the landmark Taj Mahal and Trident hotels in the south of the city and a number of shooting and bombing incidents elsewhere, the Press Trust of India said. One report spoke of militants taking hostages and demanding US and British passports.
Airport Travelers Caught In Thailand Protests

The takeover "damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair." The airport, the 18th-busiest in the world, handled over 40 million passengers in 2007.
Crisis in paradise: Economic meltdown creates ghost resorts in the Caribbean

...the sprawling Atlantis resort in the Bahamas laid off about 800 workers, citing low occupancy rates. Baha Mar Resorts Ltd. laid off about 40 employees at its Sheraton Resort in the Bahamas and 40 more at the Wyndham Nassau Resort. The Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union has called a demonstration Thursday to demand government aid.

Travelography #136: Holiday Travel Ups and Downs

2008-11-23T16:11:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 17 November 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Gloomy economy expected to curtail Thanksgiving travel

Los Angeles International Airport holiday travel will be down 14.3% from the 1.85 million passengers that passed through the airport last year, airport officials said Thursday.
Japanese traveler refuses to leave Mexico City airport

At first, he frightened passengers, and airport authorities asked the Japanese Embassy to investigate why the foul-smelling man refused to leave. Now, he's somewhat of a celebrity, capturing Mexico's collective imagination with nearly daily television news reports on his life at the food court.
UK travelers avoiding USA - Skyscanner Report

while flight search traffic remains high on the Skyscanner site, over the last month there has been a 15 percent fall in searches for UK-USA flights, suggesting that the credit crunch and the weakening pound have finally taken their toll on British travelers, and that they are forgoing their American trips.
American Automobile Association Predicts Drop in Holiday Travel

AAA and the Air Transport Association predict fewer Americans will be on the move during the upcoming holiday travel period, the first drop in Thanksgiving travel since 2002. It's the fourth holiday this year that will have seen decreased travel compared with the year before.
End of the [US] Tourism Boom?

As an example, hotels in Miami alone expect a 3 to 6 percent decline in budget revenues, compared to the same period in 2007. With pressures to attract more customers, the hospitality industry is bound to offer more deals and reduce its rates. "The U.S. hotel industry is virtually frozen by the uncertain state of the global economy,"
U.S. Economy Expected to Receive a Shot in the Arm from Visa Waiver Program Expansion

Starting today [Nov-17], travelers from seven new countries--the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta and the Republic of Korea (South Korea)--can travel to the United States without first obtaining a tourist visa.
Despite Economic Challenges, People Traveling Over Holidays Feel Time and Money Spent is Small Price to Pay to be With Loved Ones

Older Americans, in particular, appreciate the value of travel during the holidays.

Fourth Podcast of the Day...

2008-11-17T14:22:00.001-07:00

Mobile post sent by alew using Utterli. Replies. mp3

Travelography #135: Responsible Travel and Tourism around the Globe

2008-11-16T14:08:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 10 November 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Air New Zealand Schedules First Commercial Biofuel Flight

On December 3rd, Air New Zealand will be the first commercial airline to power one of its jets with a second generation non-food biofuel made from the Jatropha plant. Jatropha is viewed as having a huge potential as a major source of oil for sustainable biofuel production.
The Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com

The judges declared New Zealand the overall winner for proving that it is possible to develop a national strategy which uses tourism to help make better places to live and to visit.
China’s First Carbon Neutral Hotel wins Accolade

“By renovating an existing downtown factory, focusing on using recycled and locally sourced materials such as reclaimed hardwoods and old Shanghai bricks, and introducing eco-friendly solutions like passive solar shades, and water based AC systems, URBN hopes to set an example for other businesses and industries in China and around the world,” Mr Krauss said. “We track the total amount of energy (gas, water and electricity) the hotel consumes, including staff commutes, in order to calculate the carbon footprint.
Ivory trade thriving in China but signs of decline

Ivory continues to be smuggled into China despite a ban on imports that dates back to 1991, with the tusks mainly being sourced from Africa, according to the report released by TRAFFIC, a wildlife monitoring organisation. Nevertheless, it said increased enforcement of regulations in China had led to some improvements, with surveys of markets showing that fewer illegal products were on sale.
United environmental flight reduces carbon emissions by nearly 33,000 pounds

ASPIRE United’ reduced fuel burn and emissions by using up-to-the-minute fuel data, priority takeoff clearance, normally restricted airspace around Sydney’s airport, and new arrival procedures – all of which are possible with new technology.
Maldives seek to buy a new homeland

The Maldives will begin to divert a portion of the country's billion-dollar annual tourist revenue into buying a new homeland - as an insurance policy against climate change that threatens to turn the 300,000 islanders into environmental refugees,...

Travelography #134: Barack Obama's Travel and Tourism Impact

2008-11-09T13:47:00.001-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 3 November 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Will Obama's holiday habits catch on?

President-elect and body-surfing fan Barack Obama could break the [previous] trend of White House incumbents by travelling overseas for his holidays. As well as trips to Hawaii to catch a few waves and take walks along the beach with his wife and children,
Officials Aim To Use Inaugural To Promote Hawaii

...national media already are generating interest in Hawaii sites connected to Obama. It likely won't be long before local tour companies are offering tours of Obama's childhood neighborhood, his grandparents' apartment and where he went to school.
For Inaugural, Obama Faithful Say It's Washington or Bust

Despite some rates surpassing the $1,000 per night mark, rooms are also booking, on average, three times faster than for the last inauguration, according to the travel Web site Expedia.com. Many hotels have imposed two- and three-night minimum stays.
Thousands clamour to see realisation of dream

Officials said the crowd could surpass the 1.2 million who attended Lyndon Johnson's inauguration in 1965. Senator Obama's election set off an instant desire to see his inauguration and frenetic efforts last week to be present for what will be a milestone in American history.
Barack Obama factor boosts US tourism

A [UK] Telegraph poll shows that 80 per cent of readers are more likely to visit the US now than they were before the presidential election. Until now many Telegraph readers have said they have been put off the US by its draconian border security arrangements and the foreign policy decisions made by George Bush.
Some Truth To An Irish O'Bama?

Moneygall, a town of 300 on the road between Dublin and Limerick, says that Barack Obama's great, great, great grandfather was born there and hopes for an onslaught of American tourism.
Illinois Banks on Obama Buzz to Boost Tourism

"experience the city the Obamas enjoy." The Illinois Bureau of Tourism plans to launch a three-day getaway promotion featuring Barack Obama sites.
Hotel prices, bookings soar for inauguration

...a $20,000 "Live Like a President" package. It includes tickets to an inaugural event, replica of an inauguration ball meal prepared by a personal chef, in-room massage and $1,000 shopping spree. There's a sanitizer (to combat germy glad-handing) and lip balm to aid in baby-kissing.
Jamaica may suffer ... If US lifts Cuban embargo

On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly voted to lift the American trade embargo on Cuba. The vote in the 192-member world body was 185 to three, with two abstentions. The US, Israel and Palau voted no, while Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.
Japan’s hottest new tourist destination: Obama

“We started this as a joke,” said Yasunori Maeno of the “Obama for Obama” campaign he helped organize. “But as we came to know more about him … and his emphasis on community, the more we liked him. It is important to love the place you are from and to work to promote it.”
Obama may mean higher airline labor costs, fewer route auctions

Obama's mediation board may take steps such as granting quicker releases from mediation, which would let unions start countdowns to possible strikes sooner, said Andrew Steinberg, former transportation assistant secretary under President George W. Bush.

Travelography #133: Crocs, Scales and Greenhouse Gasses

2008-11-02T14:56:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 27 October 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

25 Non-Cliché Travel Songs (With Videos)

Forget the tired tracks you’re used to hearing. Here are 25 inspiring songs that will have you hitting the road. - from the BraveNewTraveler blog
Croc terrorises north Queensland, Australia, tourist mecca

A major north Queensland tourist island is demanding compensation from the state government for dumping a croc on its beach. The government research program that unleashed the crocodile on Magnetic Island will be reconsidered,...
Weak Australian dollar not enough to tempt tourists

Rivals such as Cathay Pacific have been boosting flights into Australia to reduce the impact of falling demand, especially for corporate travel, on other routes....a 34 per cent fall in the Australian dollar against the greenback since July had also offset most of the benefits to Qantas of a recent fall in jet fuel prices.
Reach for the sky: aviation emissions in UK Climate Bill

The UK government has backed down on aviation and shipping, agreeing to include both in the Climate Change Bill's 80% emissions reduction targets. They had planned to let the industry grow as much as it liked while cracking down on other sectors, but changed their mind when faced with a major backbench rebellion. So in theory aviation emissions will have to reduce by 80% - and, as there are no sustainable fuels in the pipeline, that should mean a lot fewer flights.
TSA likely to ease restrictions on liquids in 2009

By the end of 2010, passengers should be able to keep liquids as they go through checkpoints... The restrictions are also likely to be eased in airports of other countries that adopted similar liquid restrictions two years ago after authorities disrupted an alleged plot to bomb trans-Atlantic flights with liquid-based explosives,...
Inspections show inaccurate airline scales may cost travelers money

Some airlines, including Miramar-based Spirit Airlines — whose scales at Fort Lauderdale passed inspection only 53 percent of the time and therefore ranked among the worst performers — allow their ticket agents to waive the fee for passengers with baggage weighing 1 or 2 pounds over the limit.

Travelography #132: Travel Downturn Hits NZ and A380 comes to LAX

2008-10-26T11:07:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 20 October 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Gloomy weather on New Zealand's tourist front

The financial crisis has hit tourism - one of New Zealand's biggest earners - causing visitor numbers to plummet last month. Statistics New Zealand figures show the number of international tourists fell 6.6 per cent...
Cancelled cruises bring loss to New Zealand and Australia

Celebrity Cruises, the company which owns the 2038-passenger Celebrity Millennium, has cut Australia and New Zealand from its 2009-10 itinerary, choosing to focus on northern hemisphere destinations. High fuel costs and high airfare costs for passengers were reasons for the cancellations,...
Recession may mean opportunities to some in the travel industry

Leading hospitality, timeshare and fractional leaders all across the country express concerns over business during these hard times. However, they believe some sectors will stay afloat and find opportunities in deep recession.
First A380 service between Australia and the US west coast begins for Qantas

The Qantas A380 is configured with 450 seats in four cabins – 14 in First Class, 72 in Business Class, 32 in Premium Economy, and 332 in Economy Class – with interiors designed by world renowned Australian industrial designer and Qantas creative director Marc Newson.
Study reveals what we love, and hate, about flying

89 per cent of Taiwanese, 87 per cent of Americans, 84 per cent of Thais and 83 per cent of British travellers agreed they would appreciate a seat swap if they were less than thrilled with where they were asked to park their posteriors.

Travelography #131: Tourism and The Economic Meltdown - Part 2

2008-10-17T22:28:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 13 October 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Tibet slashes tourism ticket prices after riots

In the first half of the year, 340,000 people visited Tibet. That's down 69 percent from the same period last year. Tourism almost came to a standstill after a riot broke out on March 14.
Tourists to tip less as they feel the squeeze

Penny conscious tourists are now refusing to tip waiters, taxi drivers and hotel staff when dissatisfied and 13 per cent say they'll definitely be tipping less and less often, no matter what the service, to make their travel money stretch further this holiday.
Travel industry gets flexible to calm clients' money fears

Under the new rules for fall 2009 cruises, customers will be able to cancel without penalty up to 45 days from sailing date instead of 75 days. They'll also be able to reserve a cabin with a 5% deposit instead of 10%. They'll have seven days to pay instead of three. ... the policy adjustments a "smart move" that can calm clients' nerves about committing to a cruise that can cost up to $8,000 a couple.
For airlines, oil is proving a two-edged sword

While cheaper crude breathes new hope into airlines, it carries other penalties. Oil is down because demand is grinding lower. OPEC just slashed 100,000 barrels a day from its 2009 demand growth forecast, citing shaky financial markets and mounting evidence that the global economy is in recession. Included in the downturn is a drop in travel.
Credit crisis threatens New Orleans' recovery

It's the commercial sector — privately funded hotels, condos and new-business development — that would be waylaid by a contraction of credit. Compounding the quandary: No one knows how badly the $5 billion-a-year, bread-and-butter tourism industry — the metro area's largest employer and generator of an average of more than $250 million a year in tax revenue — will be hit by belt-tightening consumers.
OAG revises 4th quarter analysis of global airline activity

The US domestic market will account for 21.4 million of the cutback in available seats, or 46% of the global decline and a staggering 59% of the global drop in frequencies with 265,000 fewer flights.

Travelography #130: Travel, Tourism and The Economic Meltdown

2008-10-11T08:52:00.001-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 6 October 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Economic woes cause travelers to postpone, cancel trips

One reason experts doubt travel will rebound quickly has to do with the way many people were financing their travels before the housing market collapsed. ... many people were financing their travels by accessing the equity built up in their homes, which appreciated dramatically in recent years.
Ahead of the Bell: Online travel sites

Orbitz Worldwide Inc. was downgraded and earnings estimates for online travel competitors Priceline.com Inc. and Expedia Inc. were cut Thursday, as analysts pointed to a weaker travel market and a stronger dollar.
Credit crunch 'good news for UK [domestic] travel'

"Consumer behaviour is changing. We're seeing more people taking short breaks close to home and it could be that the recession will be good news for UK tourism. ... Among the new deals being snatched up are city breaks in apartments, couples' breaks in log cabins and holidays with a sporting theme."
Airline industry faces 'year of hell'

The International Air Transport Association, IATA, has estimated that global airline loses will be $5.2 billion this year and $4.9 billion next year due to the economic slowdown and high price of oil. This compares with a combined profit of $5.6 billion last year.
Airline woes pinch Arizona tourism expectations

Fewer seats for sale means airlines can charge more. Tickets for Phoenix flights departing in October are up an average 28% from a year ago, ... At risk: A substantial slice of $19 billion in annual visitor spending in Arizona. This comes after months of reduced numbers in hotel occupancy and airport traffic as people struggle with a plunging stock market, the housing meltdown and other economic woes.
The silver [travel] lining in the global slump

Blame it on “comparative pain.” As bad as things seem in the U.S., they’re even worse in other countries with higher inflation, higher unemployment, and a weaker central bank.

Travelography #129: Airlines Flying Above Financial Crisis

2008-10-04T16:42:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 29 September 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Low Gas Prices Help Airline Stocks Take Off

Airlines also attracted investors by retiring older, less fuel-efficient planes and cutting capacity to support higher ticket prices. Passengers seemed willing to pay additional fees for everything from luggage to food to extra leg room, which added millions to airlines' revenue.
As International Airfares Soar, Americans Stay in the U.S.

Growth of international passenger traffic worldwide slowed to a five-year low in July and dropped further in August, according to the International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 airlines.
Airlines add service and amenities to Asian routes

...996 nonstop flights a week were scheduled in the third quarter of 2008 from the United States to Asian countries, more than ever before. Los Angeles is the most popular departure city from the United States, with 180 flights a week. Narita Airport in Tokyo is the most frequent destination, with 380 arrivals a week.
The give and take of travel

Bargain in good faith The 50 cents you save may give you pride because you "beat down" the salesperson, but you may have also robbed that person of extra food or prevented his or her children from purchasing school books or a mandatory school uniform.

Travel Geography #65: A Visit to the Tunis Medina

2008-09-30T16:52:00.007-07:00

This is a Travel Geography Podcast related post (click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

This podcast is part one of my audio diary of a recent trip to Tunisia. In this podcast I talk about two trips that I made to the Tunis Medina. This is the old market area next to downtown Tunis, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. I also talk about the conference that I attended near the Tunis suburb of Carthage. (38min 32sec long)

A Powerpoint slideshow of the Tunis Medina can be found here.

VIDEO: The Tunis Medina from a Roof Top Terrace

Links to My iTunes U class sites for Fall 2008

PL 406/506 (Planning Analysis): https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/BrowsePrivately/nau.edu.1627063009
GGR 346 (US Geography): https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/BrowsePrivately/nau.edu.1624865058
GGR 376 (World Tourism): https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/BrowsePrivately/nau.edu.1627062939

Travelography #128: Economy + Environment Stall Cruise Lines

2008-09-26T22:04:00.004-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 22 September 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Analyst cuts Carnival rating to "Sell"

... $100 a barrel oil and rising shipbuilding costs require the industry to focus on improving returns by raising cruise prices and cutting commissions to travel agents. ... Carnival's $10 billion in ship orders means that the company cannot make this shift for at least four years.

Regulators cite nearly half of the 20 ships that regularly discharge in Alaska waters

Six Princess Cruises ships, a Norwegian Cruise Line ship and a Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship were cited for exceeding limits on wastewater pollution. Last week, a Holland America cruise ship was cited. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has not yet dealt with samples from August and September, and may find more violations.

Little Mermaid's trip to Shanghai irks Copenhagen tourists, lawmakers

"How would people of New York feel if they decided to move the Statue of Liberty to China?'' says Karin Noedgaard, the People's Party spokeswoman on cultural affairs. ``This is a catastrophic idea.''

Grounded space tourist wants $21 million refund

Enomoto alleges he was pulled from the flight so Ansari, who had invested in Space Adventures, could fly instead. Ansari also was the primary backer of the $10 million Ansari X Prize awarded in 2004 for the first privately developed manned space flight. In a response filed on Wednesday, Space Adventures' lawyers said Enomoto's contract did not entitle him to a refund if he became medically disqualified.

Plane crazy? New airline launched

Jet Republic bosses are putting their trust in the ultra-rich avoiding the turbulence from the credit crunch as they launch their new luxury service. The company has placed an order worth around £830m for 110 Learjet aircraft, each seating seven passengers. The airline will fly to more than 1,000 airports in Europe, including the UK, from its base in Lisbon, Portugal.

With Economy in Crisis Mode, Leaders Gather at The Lodging Conference

...the next major trend to hit the lodging industry will be green hotels. That trend is being driven to a great extent by increasing energy prices. “In some islands of the Caribbean, energy prices have doubled since last year,” ... “As brands, we need to start requiring green changes.” “In many future developments, you will see more solar and wind technologies,

Travelography #127: Honey, I Shrunk the Airlines!

2008-09-20T20:27:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 15 September 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Airline Stocks Fly Through the Downturn

Looking for a safe haven in today's jittery stock market? ... Try the airlines. falling fuel prices may have masked what's really going on in the airline industry, which is that demand has remained strong, despite a slowing economy, and widespread capacity discipline shows no sign of diminishing.

TSA tests scanner for car bombs

TheTSA is running a test at a North Carolina ferry terminal of a 21-foot-high arch-like machine that shoots low-intensity X-rays at cars as they pass through. The photos show whether explosives or drugs might be in the car.

Five ways airline capacity cuts will affect you

1. Flight options dwindle, 2. Packed planes, 3. Schedule changes, 4. Kiss standby seats goodbye, 5. A scarcity of frequent flier tickets

Air fares nosedive amid falling travel demand

Hotel rates in Europe, the Middle East and Africa have also fallen over the second quarter compared with the first. Average daily rates in 41 out of 48 cities in the region rose 6.9 per cent year on year in January to March, but by June, average falls of 3.6 per cent were being recorded in 30 cities.

Netherlands man charged with NY `graffiti tourism'

a Dutch man who came to New York as a "graffiti tourist" has been indicted on charges of spray-painting a subway car and leading police on a dangerous chase along the tracks.

Travelography #126: Tourism Challenges All Over the Globe

2008-09-12T18:54:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 8 September 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Thousands stranded by XL collapse

Chairman Phil Wyatt said he was "totally devastated" by the failure which has grounded XL's 21 planes. The company flies to about 50 destinations. There are 67,000 stranded who booked directly with XL, and another 23,000 who booked via other companies.

XL Leisure Group Plc [including XL Airways] goes into administration [bankruptcy]

My kids are sat at the TV crying -- Taking a holiday to Greece this weekend and I have just told them them that we will not be now.

Caribbean Islands Assess Damage From Hurricane Ike

According to The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, thousands of pink flamingos on the island of Great Inagua were unharmed when their breeding colony — the world's largest — took a direct hit from Ike. All the country's hotels and other tourist facilities are open.

BEIJING 2008: TOURIST NUMBERS FELL DURING OLYMPIC GAMES

Far from causing a tourist boom, the Beijing Olympic Games actually caused a drastic fall in the numbers of visitors to the Chinese capital. ... In August, hotels in Beijing welcomed a total of 708,000 guests from other areas in China, 47% less than last year.

Rain washes away £200m on tourism [in SW England]

Britain had its wettest August since 2004 with Devon and Cornwall getting 179% of the 1971-2000 average and Cornwall 157% say the Met Office. Malcolm Bell, chief executive of South West Tourism, said: "Tourism is a massive industry for Cornwall, it's worth about £1.5bn.

Tourism Authority of Thailand issues situation update

TAT has also participated in several online travel forums such as Tripadvisor.com, Lonely planet.com and VirtualTourist.com. ... As part of Thailand’s tourism recovery plans, TAT will be hosting a “Thailand Invitation” mega familiarization trip (‘fam’ trip) for over 800 media representatives and travel operators from around the world.

Infamous Abu Ghraib prison gets a museum makeover

Abu Ghraib, which housed about 2,000 inmates, of which the prison's U.S. commander estimated 90 per cent were innocent, was closed in 2006. There's no mention in the announcement whether the abuses by U.S. soldiers will be covered in the museum's exhibitions.

Italy's Tourism Hits Defining Moment

Though plenty of visitors flock to Italy's cities, beaches and countryside all year round, over the past three decades the country has lost its primacy as a tourist destination to France, Spain, the U.S. and -- more recently -- China.

Spanish tourism feels pinch of economic downturn

After 50 years of uninterrupted growth, Spain's overbuilt and relatively expensive resorts seem ill-placed to cope with a downturn, at a time of increasing competition from cheaper, less-crowded destinations like Croatia and Turkey.

The ice melts quickly, generating polar disputes that may fester for decades

Among the trends that concern them are reports that fishing fleets are venturing farther north in search of new grounds as stocks become depleted at traditional fishing sites. Cruise ships are also making headway into Antarctica and the European and Canadian Arctic, raising concerns over the negative ecological impacts of ship discharge and solid waste disposal.

Travelography #125: The Trickle Down Travel Contraction

2008-09-05T19:06:00.005-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog
for the week of 1 September 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info

Hanna-caused detour prompts 'mutiny' on Carnival Miracle

The New York-based ship was supposed to head to the Caribbean... But thanks to Tropical Storm Hanna, the 2,124-passenger vessel ... will be spending Friday more than 1,000 miles off course in -- get this -- Newport, R.I. The drastic change to the ship's itinerary -- no other ship has been forced so far afield by this week's storms -- has cause a virtual mutiny on board, according to passenger posts on cruise-focused websites.

Airline Flight Cuts End Up Hurting Airports and Hotels, Too

The carriers' misery is spreading, or is expected to spread, to virtually every industry they touch in the travel economy: hotels, rental cars, convention centers, websites that book travel, airports and others.

Gas Prices Cause Airline [in Canada] to Remove Life Vests

...all of Jazz's flights operate within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of shore. ... A commercial-style life vest weighs roughly a half-kilogram, meaning 25 kilograms would be saved by removing them from a Dash-8 aircraft with 50 seats.

Australia issues travel advisory warns of high risks for travelers to US

In a fresh travel advisory issued on Sunday, the Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has warmed of "high risks" of terror attacks on domestic and international flights in and to the United States.

Fake Bomb Scare Brings Real $23,000 Fine

She asked an airline employee to make the plane come back with her bag and then asked what would happen if there was a bomb in her bag. Finally, she allegedly said that there was a bomb in the bag.

Somali pirates 'kidnap tourists'

Two French citizens and their sailing boat have been seized by pirates off the Somali coast, French officials say. ... The seas off Somalia have some of the highest rates of piracy in the world. The country has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered from continual civil strife.

Airbus to extend A380 to accommodate 1,000 passengers

Airbus SAS, the world's largest plane maker, is *considering* an extended 1,000-passenger version of the A380 aircraft...The A380, the world's largest commercial aircraft even in its current form, can carry 555 passengers.

Japan's Mt. Fuji draws record number of summer climbers

Some 247,066 people climbed the mountain in July and August, beating the previous record of 220,277, set in 1987, ... Four people also died from injuries sustained while climbing, marking the first deaths since 2005, ...

Travelography #124: Crime and Mayhem Against, and By, Tourist

2008-08-29T14:37:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 25 August 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Macau, the fastest-growing destination in 2008

More than 1.5 million international visitors have come to Macau in the first six months of this year, a 46.5 % jump over the same period last year. This does not include the 8.8 million Mainland residents who visited in the same period, according to the Macau Government Tourist Office.

European countries warn tourists against violence in Mexico

The German Foreign Ministry advised its citizens not to resist if they fell victim to any crime in Mexico, because that might threaten their lives. Criminal acts in Mexico have surged considerably recently and "unfortunately," police forces are involved in the violence, said the German government.

Italy Mulls Tougher Crackdown as Tourists Attacked

The Italian government was considering ordering more troops on to the streets Tuesday after two brutal attacks on tourists within three days during an already tough crackdown against crime, according to a newspaper report.

Crete mayor asks British government to act on drunken tourists

"They scream, they sing, they fall down, they take their clothes off, they cross-dress, they vomit," ... "It's only the British people - not the Germans or the French." His anger echoed the frustration felt by the residents of many Mediterranean resorts, who have watched helplessly while their town centres are invaded by hordes of carousing British teenagers.

Iraq plans giant Ferris wheel, hopes to lure tourists to Baghdad

It would be 650 feet high - even taller than the wheel that overlooks London's River Thames. "We hope to attract a great number of customers who will be able to see the whole city and enjoy the restaurants and pools on the ground below,"...

Eight million people at risk of ID fraud after credit card details are stolen by hotel chain hackers

An Indian hacker broke into the IT system of Best Western Hotel Group and stole personal details of everyone who has stayed there in the past 12 months. The details, which included home addresses, phone numbers, place of employment and credit card details, were sold on through an underground network controlled by the Russian Mafia.

Best Western Responds to Sunday Herald Story Claiming Security Breach

We have found no evidence to support the sensational claims ultimately made by the reporter and newspaper. Most importantly, whereas the reporter asserted the recent compromise of data for past guests from as far back as 2007, Best Western purges all online reservations promptly upon guest departure.

Travelography #123: Will the Next President Support Travel?

2008-08-23T13:48:00.001-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 19 August 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Tourism ads pressure White House hopefuls

"Democrats, We'll be Watching." A small box of text calls on presumptive Democratic candidate Barack Obama to outline plans addressing everything from "unnecessary waiting lines at airports" to "marketing the U.S. as a premier destination."
United pilots tell CEO to Stop Nickel and Diming Their Passengers

The airline claims that rising fuel costs require these changes, although the real reason may be to enable the airline to further reduce flight attendant staffing, which would make onboard service noticeably worse.
Wildlife tourism with kangaroos

Our aim is to be the flagship of a ‘See Australia’ promotion based around wildlife tourism with the marvellous mob of marsupials - the kangaroos and their kind. Through partnerships with conservation agencies, tourism organisations, operators and ...

Travel Geography Podcast #64: Diving at Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

2008-08-08T17:39:00.002-07:00

This is a Travel Geography Podcast related post (click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

This podcast is a series of four audio postcards that I made in May 2008 when I went diving at the Lembeh Strait near the city of Manado on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. This is near the center of the Coral Triangle of Southeast Asia. They were originally published on my travelography 2.0 podcast. Here, I have combined them into a single podcast.

(about 45 minutes long)

Photo: Pygmy Seahorse (copyright Alan A. Lew, all rights reserved)

More photos from thi trip described here can be found on my Flickr.com site.

Photo: Electric Clam, lodged in a crevice in a sea wall (Creative Commons Copyright Alan A. Lew, non-commercial, attribution, share-alike)

The homepage for this podcast is at TravelGeography.info

Travelography #122: Las Vegas Spending More Green on Green

2008-08-07T14:22:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 4 August 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Congress: No Cell Phones Mid-Flight

The committee's action comes as the European Union is moving to allow airline passengers to talk on their cell phones during flight...And some lawmakers worry that domestic airlines might try to get the cell phone ban lifted so they can charge passengers.
Delta to offer Wi-Fi on mainline domestic fleet [by mid-2009]

Several other airlines either offer similar service or plan to, though on a much more limited number of flights.... A flat fee of $9.95 will be charged on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours.
U.S. Starts Online Screening for Foreigners

Europeans and others who travel visa-free to the United States can start registering in August for a new online security screening check that will become mandatory in January to enter the U.S.
Las Vegas bets on environmentalism

The projects gunning for LEED certifications include the $2.9 billion Fontainebleau Resort, the $1.9 billion tower addition to Caesars Palace, the $4.8 billion Echelon resort and the $9.2 billion, six-high-rise CityCenter complex.
Green China Travel Tips

If you're in a big city, the idea of a "green hotel" might seem counterintuitive, but even in the heart of Shanghai or sprawling outskirts of Shenzhen, you'll find accommodations that have gone green to one degree or another. International chains like...
The 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes Of All Time
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” - St. Augustine

Travelography #121: $Billions for Medical Tourism

2008-08-01T13:55:00.001-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 28 July 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

$2.1 billion spent by Americans overseas for care SAVE

More than 750,000 Americans left the country last year for less expensive medical treatments, a number projected to grow to six million by 2010, potentially costing the U.S. health care system billions.
Hawaii visitor arrivals drop 14.2% in scary situation for tourism SAVE

"June's visitor statistics reflect the loss of two Norwegian Cruise Line ships, increased fuel costs and a continued soft travel market, especially from the U.S. Mainland" ... Among the top three visitor markets, visitors from the U.S. West dropped 16.5%
U.S. Railroads: Back on Track?
Travel by train consumes 18 percent less energy per passenger mile than flying and 17 percent less than driving. ... In fact, Amtrak reports that ridership has increased steadily over the past several years,
Philly Tour Guides Sue Over License Test : NPR audio
A city law set to take effect this fall requires tour guides to pass a written licensing test or face hefty fines. Similar laws are already on the books in Washington, New Orleans and Charleston, S.C.

Travelography #120: Europe's Airline Woes

2008-07-24T09:17:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 21 July 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

Germany | Pilot walkouts ground nearly 1,000 Lufthansa flights
Meanwhile the German division of British no-frills airline easyJet said it hoped to cash in if Lufthansa is hit by lengthy strikes. "A strike at Lufthansa would of course be just fine by us,"...
Lanzarote, Turkey - close enough?

The family had booked an all-inclusive holiday in a five-star hotel in the Canary Islands and were supposed to be flying into Arrecife, Lanzarote. But instead they found themselves in Bodrum airport, Turkey where they then had to pay a £10 visa charge...
World's most expensive tourist attractions

A family of four would have to pay 549.30 pounds if they wanted to take part in all 10 activities in London, compared with 386 pounds in Paris, 376pounds in New York and 216 pounds in Rome.
Airlines deliberately ignoring safety regulations and getting away with it

...the majority of European pilots do not always report defects as and when they occur. They are delayed until it is more convenient for the airlines to carry out repairs.
International travel booming despite oil prices

A report commissioned by Amadeus also showed that growing global migration would fuel thirst for international travel. Many migrants remain strongly connected to their country of origin with many reasons to return, such as visiting family and friends...

Travelography #119: Let's see.. shall I take the A380 or the RV ?

2008-07-09T22:55:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 7 July 2008. In addition to Podcasternews.com and Travelography.info, This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com .

Dublin Airport shut down after radar malfunction

The decision forced dozens of flights to be grounded at airports across Europe or, if already in the air, to be diverted. The airlines hit most heavily by delays were the airport's two biggest users, Ryanair and Aer Lingus.
Brussels Approves CO2 Trading Plan for Airlines
All flights starting and landing in Europe will be included in an EU Emissions Trade System from 2012, following a vote in the European Parliament. Airlines say it will drive up the cost of air travel.
U.S. Loses Grip on Foreign Tourists

Nearly 26 million people traveled to the United States from overseas in 2000.... The number bottomed out in 2003 with 18 million overseas visitors, and with 24 million last year still had not returned to previous levels.
Emirates to launch first commercial A380 service to US

...Emirates Airline's state-of-the-art A380...on August 1 when the airline launches its first A380 commercial service from Dubai to New York JFK. The 14-hour non-stop flight will also be the first-ever commercial A380 service to the United States.
U.S. tourists' visits to Canada hit 36-year low

Among the hardest-hit are communities and businesses that rely on short-term, drive-in tourists. In March, Americans made only 730,000 same-day car trips, down 2.5 percent from February and 68.3 percent from 2001.
RV Vacations Are Least Expensive, Study Shows

Fuel prices would have to more than double for typical motorhome vacations to become more expensive than other forms of travel, according to PKF Consulting. The study also shows that fuel costs would have to more than triple for trips in lightweight...

Travelography #118: Travel Woes and the Jamaican Bobsled Returns

2008-07-05T13:52:00.004-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 1 July 2008:

Car rental companies issue profit warning

"...As with the entire industry, we are confronting rising fuel costs, weaker-than-expected enplanements, lower commercial travel volumes and lower time and mileage rates per day," said [the Avis Budget Group Inc] Chairman
Yellowstone reports record June visitation

Visitation to Yellowstone National Park hit a new record in June, and is on a near-record pace for the first six months of the year. Park officials say Yellowstone recorded more than 612,000 recreational visits last month.
Rental Upgrade to Gas Guzzler? No T'anks

When I went to the counter, they had upgraded me from a compact to a big SUV at the same price [as my compact reservation]. After arguing with the counter person, the manager came out...He then explained that all they had left were the big SUV.
China doubles the price of its tourist visas ahead of Olympics

Many hotels in Beijing are struggling to find guests, some large travel agencies have temporarily closed branches, and people scheduled to travel here for seminars and conferences are cancelling...
Business Travel Coalition warns congress about airline industry failure

"Unless something is done to move toward some kind of fix, we're going to see every one of our major airlines in bankruptcy....Virtually all airlines will be out of cash by early in 2009 if oil stays in its current range."
Canada's tourism industry on verge of crisis

Many things have been blamed for recent downturn of the Canadian tourism industry including gas prices, the high Canadian dollar, the downturn in the U.S. economy, 9-11 and the SARS crisis.
New [US] Airline Passengers Rights Bill A Victory

...These plans must detail how the air carrier will provide food, water, restroom facilities, ventilation, and necessary medical treatment for passengers on board an aircraft that is on the ground for an extended time period without terminal access.
Bhutan increases tourism tariff for foreign tourists

The country will increase daily tariff for tourists entering the country by US$50...from $200 to $250 [to offset the deline in the US$ and increase in tour operating costs]. However, the revised tariff will be applicable only during the peak seasons.
Australia | Desperately seeking a tourist trap

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pilloried the previous government's "so where the bloody hell are you" tourism campaign, calling it a "rolled-gold disaster". Tourism Australia is expected to announce the name of the advertising agency this week that will...
TripAdvisor acquires VirtualTourist and OneTime

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel community and an operating company of Expedia, announced it has acquired VirtualTourist.com, Inc., a leader in user-generated travel content since 1999, and OneTime.com, Inc., a leader in travel booking comparison.
New Zealand tourism revenue hits record

International tourism contributed $6.7 billion to total New Zealand exports, and domestic tourism expenditure was $8.6 billion, the agency said. International visitors increased 2.8 percent to 2.5 million in the year to March 2007...
Unique bobsled tourist attraction opens in Jamaica

The expansive multi-million-dollar tourism attraction features an exciting and unique Jamaican Bobsled ride through the lush tropical forest, a chairlift journey over the verdant countryside, a zip-line canopy adventure through the treetops, an island...

Travelography #117: US-UK Border, Quake-Lakes, and Best Travelers

2008-06-26T16:44:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 23 June 2008:

US and UK border agencies agree to expedite travel
the Global Entry pilot program builds upon other trusted traveler programs, such as NEXUS (with Canada) and SENTRI (with Mexico), designed to facilitate and expedite the entry process for pre-registered low-risk international travelers into the US.
China to turn dangerous 'quake lakes' into tourist spots

"The scientific development of the quake lakes will be an important part of the rebuilding plan of new Beichuan," Chen Xingchuan, head of the Communist Party's Beichuan Rebuilding Committee was quoted as saying.
Beijing tourists to France drop 70 percent, ambassador says

According to a recent survey cited by the China Daily, many Chinese have developed negative feelings toward France after the Paris leg of the international Beijing Olympic torch relay was thrown into chaos by pro-Tibet protesters in April.
Hoteliers vote Japanese world's best tourists

They rated the travellers on manners, willingness to learn the local language and sample the cuisine, tidiness, generosity and stylishness. The Japanese won top prize for being overall best tourists...American tourists came in at number 11 overall.
Lyndhurst [NJ] is suing travel websites for its local hotel tax

...the internet travel sites negotiate room prices with hotels at a wholesale rate, then charge travelers who book through their websites a higher retail rate. However, the companies remit taxes only on the lower wholesale rate, the lawsuit charged.
State panel kills cruise safety bill that would have put peace officers aboard ships sailing from California ports
It would have been the most stringent regulation in an industry that victim-rights advocates contend is governed by a vague web of federal and international rules that allows crime and crime reporting to fall through the cracks.
Bush-Wacked! President Causes 40K Delays

Nearly 40,000 travelers will remember U.S. President George W. Bush's stopover in London. Their flights were canceled or delayed at Heathrow Airport to accommodate him, according to British Airways.

Travelography #116: Carry-On Baggage Police + Other Innovations

2008-06-20T13:09:00.002-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 16 June 2008:

Olympic Fever in Xinjiang

With the Beijing Olympic torch expected in Xinjiang on its nationwide tour, authorities have also confiscated the passports of some Muslims, Uighurs told AFP. "They are afraid people might travel abroad and join some sort of plot against the Olympics,"
Murders prompt warning to Jamaica tourists

After three people were murdered in Jamaica last weekend, travellers to the island were warned not to hire self-drive cars but instead to take organised tours and taxis.
Orbitz to automatically refund travelers when their airfares drop

If that happens, Orbitz will issue a refund for the difference, between $5 and $250 per traveler. Orbitz will continue tracking until the day of the customer's flight. Each time the price drops and another customer books, the refund amount will increase.
Turkish private airline restarts regular flights to Nothern Iraq

Although Arbil is a high-risk area in terms of security, charter companies have always been interested in flying to the region because of the high profitability.
The carry-on-baggage police will soon be out in force at US airports

American and United will station airline employees or hired contract workers at entrances to security screening lanes to intercept customers exceeding the carry-on limit of one bag small enough to fit in an overhead bin and one personal item like a purse>
60 percent of couples fight on holiday

The reasons for holiday tiffs differ enormously throughout Europe. With their latin temperaments, the Spanish are especially prone to react aggressively to their partners’ flirting: 60 percent of them named jealousy as the reason for arguments.
Top 10 travel innovations of the past 10 years

So many ideas came in that they put the 20 finalists to a vote at BudgetTravel.com - results: Online maps, Digital cameras, Online checkin, GPS, Worldwide ATMs, Cell phones, Global Internet access, TripAdvisor, Online booking, and Roller bags

Travelography #115: WW3 on the Beach and Wilding the Great Plains

2008-06-11T10:43:00.003-07:00

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Stories discussed in this podcast from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 9 June 2008:

Camera Karma: Find Your Lost Pics Here! http://tinyurl.com/6p4agn

India tourists stranded after group calls strike
http://tinyurl.com/6ds9q2

U.S. Tightens Rules for Foreign Travelers
http://tinyurl.com/4ntpzy

Mexico reimburses foreign tourists for sales tax expenditures
http://tinyurl.com/5gq7ty

Germans, Brits at War Again...Over Towels http://tinyurl.com/5ekobq

The Great Plains Restored and Ready for Eco-Tourists http://tinyurl.com/5ctqo4

Travelography #114: Families NOT First, $FO & Hello Kitty

2008-06-03T21:00:00.002-07:00

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Links to this week's stories

(also available at http://twitter.com/travelography)

American and United airlines takes on family pre-boarding: Families with small children may request.. http://tinyurl.com/6ja7py

Americans take 41 million fewer flights, survey shows: More than half of respondents said either.. http://tinyurl.com/6f7x26

French tour operators say Chinese boycottof France ‘catastrophic’: French authorities are trying to.. http://tinyurl.com/6xvh3b

San Francisco rakes in billions in traveler dollars: retweet @latimestravel - On my last trip there.. http://tinyurl.com/5qnjj8

Hello Kitty to be appointed Japan's tourism ambassador: It will mark the first time a cartoon .. http://tinyurl.com/5jddjv

Eco-communities around the world open up to tourists: Environmentally conscious travelers can find .. http://tinyurl.com/6xz8me

TGPodcast #63: Dubai World Tourism Conference in 15 Minutes

2008-05-23T00:09:00.006-07:00

This is a Travel Geography Podcast related post (click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

This is a soundseeing (sst) tour from the World Travel and Tourism Council Summit in Dubai (20-22 April 2008) that I attended. It includes three elements:

About 5 minutes from an Intro to Dubai city tour,
A short and interesting segment of a presentation from the conference, and
A segment of the Gala Dinner, which closes with my visit to a fortune teller (entertainment for the dinner guests).

The whole presentation is about 20 minutes due to my introduction section. The actual Dubai part is 14 minutes.

SOME PHOTOS:

The conference site was adjacent to the Burj Al Arab (literally, 'the Arab Tower') - the self-described 7-Star Hotel, with daily rates running US$1,200 to $12,000 a night.

The Dental Spa - near the area where the tour guide talks about houses owned by Emerati that are rented out to expatriate workers.

Fortune telling, henna, and Arabic calligraphy were some of the entertainment for guests at the conference's Gala Dinner.

More Dubai photos can be found on my Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alew/sets

Travelography #113: China, Thailand, UK, US, Iraq, and Airlines

2008-05-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

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THIS WEEK'S STORIES: China's Premier On-Line Travel Booking Site Launches in the U.S.: China's premier and fastest-growi.. http://tinyurl.com/58sppl about 22 hours ago
Tourism Authority of Thailand launches the amazing Experience Video Contest and the Thailand Portfo.. http://tinyurl.com/6rjn7u about 22 hours ago
Green Hotel Rating System Launched in Great Britain: The Green Start project aims to encourage a â.. http://tinyurl.com/5wzdft 06:08 PM May 05, 2008
Iraq signs deals for 40 planes from Boeing: "Today, the process of developing economy has started,".. http://tinyurl.com/6kpmjk 06:08 PM May 05, 2008
Global Traffic Continues to Slow: The slowdown in the demand growth continues the sharp downward tr.. http://tinyurl.com/65warx 06:08 AM May 04, 2008 Airline torches woman's baggage: The airline reportedly issued Blewitt a "baggage irregularity rece.. http://tinyurl.com/5ocuds ----- THESE AND OTHER TRAVEL AND TOURISM STORIES CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT HTTP:/TWITTER/TRAVELOGRAPHY LOOK FOR THE NEW TRAVELOGRAPHY PODCAST COMING IN JUNE 2008

Oman's Musandam Peninsula - A Travelography 2.0 Podcast

2008-04-27T02:10:00.003-07:00

Three Photos from Oman's Musandam Peninsula. More photos can be found in my Oman Set at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alew

Our "Dhow" - traditional Omani wooden fishing boat -- though these are for tourists.

View of part of Bhuka, Oman

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST - in case the player below does not work for you.

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TGPodcast #63: A Rennaissance in the 21st c. - by D'Arcy Dornan

2008-04-25T01:38:00.003-07:00

This is a Geography for Travelers Podcast related post (click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

REPOST WITH SLIDECAST: This Podcast was originaly posted in late November 2007. I recently made it into a Slidecast (with the original slides from D'Arcy Dornan), so am reposting it today.

~~~~~~~~
Today's podcast is the last of my recordings from the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, held in San Francisco, CA in April 2007. I also talk about changing the name of the Geography for Travelers Podcast to the Travel Geography Podcast.

And I talk about my new Travelography 2.0 Podcast for NaPodPoMo on Utterz.com.

Length: 36min 03sec
~~~~~~~

| View | Upload your own

Abstract from the AAG.org website:

Tourism Geographies: a Renaissance in the 21st Centurytrave
Author: D'Arcy J. Dornan, Ph.D. - Central Connecticut State University

Geography departments are seemingly well positioned to take advantage of the growth in the popularity of tourism as a field of study. The ever-growing international reputation of the journal Tourism Geographies is a good case in point if we can use this journal's success as an indicator of this trend. This paper aims to evaluate and discuss the impacts of academic managerialism and capitalism and related processes to the development of programs, both academic and professional, relating to the geography of tourism, the geography of tourism and hospitality, and to the professional development of tourism. Concrete and recent examples of the aforementioned program types will be drawn from program development efforts in both California and Connecticut. These 'case studies' will be examined and used to illustrate their significant impacts on the growth of this field within geography. Additional comments and conclusions will be taken from one of last year's panel discussions on a different but related topic entitled: 'Tourism geography: lost realities and prospective opportunities,' which sought to assess the current situation and future trends in the academic tourism geographer community in its ability to meet the needs and challenges of the tourism and hospitality industry and of academia.
Keywords: tourism, geography, impacts, California, Connecticut

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Direct .MP3 download: G4T-TGPod-60-28Novt07-TourismGeographies-DArcyDornan.mp3

TGPodcast #62: Defining Place Authenticity: My Heritage Can Beat Up Your History

2008-04-13T06:51:00.007-07:00

This is a Travel Geography Podcast related post (click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

This is a recording of a classroom presentation made by me in April 2008 at the National University of Singapore. The entire podcast is 50+ minutes long. I do two things in this podcast: (1) discuss four thematic communities / retail districts in the state of Oregon (Sisters, Junction City, Oakland and Florence) -- based on my Master's Thesis from many years ago; and (2) discusses five perspectives on authenticity which are then applied to the four cases studies. There is also some background perspectives on the issue of authenticity and some conclusions at the end.

The powerpoint slides for this presentatin can be found here:
http://www.slideshare.net/alew/slideshows

I also created the Slidecast, below. However, I had a hell of a time working with the interface -- not sure what the problem was. So only the first few slides are synchronized with the lecture. You have to make your own way through the remainder.

| View | Upload your own

Direct download: TGPod62-13Apr08-Defining-Authenticity.mp3

Travelography #112: Airline Bankruptcies - Global Implosion

2008-04-09T06:52:00.002-07:00

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Bankrupt Airlines to date: Maxjet (December), Aloha, ATA, Skybus, Adam Air (Indonesia), Oasis (Hong Kong) - all in these past 2 weeks. Coming soon: Champion Air (pretty much confirmed), and Mesa and Go (rumors on the last two). My prediction: look for the airline bankruptcy disease to spread internationally in the coming months.

Experts see regional airlines at risk now (SF Chronicle)

Travelography #111: Euros, Spies, Crime and Tourism

2008-03-26T01:08:00.003-07:00

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The first story today is about the trend for some large tourist cities on the east coast of the US to accept Euros in addition to dollars because of the many Europeans who are going shopping in the US. Reminds me of my recent trip to Cambodia, where they prefer dollars over the Cambodian Riel.

This is followed by a warning from the US State Dept that Americans (and anyone else) going to China for the Olympics (and in fact any other time) need to be aware that their hotel rooms, movements and conversations may all be bugged/monitored by Chinese authorities. So, when in China, smile -- you are on candid camera!

Also in China is a discussion of an increase in crimes againsts tourists, as Chinese theives seem to becom more emboldened. Still on the crime topic, Thailand's tourist police will be issuing whistles to women in "risky spots" (which seems like just about everywhere, in an effort to reduce crime concers following a year of negative publicity over murders and rapes of tourists (mostly females) in Thailand.

A final tourism and crime story comes from Sicily, Italy where a new tourists guide to the Mafia has been published -- again in an effort to reduce tourists fears of visiting the island, and to help them spot Mafiosi on the streets of the city!

GET MORE TRAVELOGRAPHY TRAVEL AND TOURISM NEWS STORIES ON TWITTER at: http://twitter.com/Travelography

Alan A. Lew

Travelography #109: Hawaii - Tourism Troubles in Paradise

2008-03-05T05:08:00.003-07:00

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Three news stories from Hawaii this week, all oif which are related. First, Hawaii's travel arrivals dropped last year (2007) about 1.2% from the previous year (2006), mostly due to the economic crisis in the US mainland. This year is likely to be flat, as well.

Residents across the islands are complaining about the impacts of illegal vacation rentals on their communities. The second story talks about this issue on Kauai, which is trying to keep its rural character in the face of growing tourism pressures. The third story covers the same issue on Oahu, which banned vacation rentals many years ago.

Photo of rural northern Kauai (by Alan A. Lew).

All of today's stories come from eTurboNews.com.

Travelography #108: Cruise Trends for 2008

2008-02-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

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I recorded this week's Travelography at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport using a simple microphone on a Macbook Pro It does not have the best sound quality (sorry about that), but at least I got it out.

Only two stories for this week's Travelography, though the first one s quite long.

- Cruise trends for 2008 include grwing popularity for European cruises, while Americans look more to Central America.

- Cruises to Cuba have declined 90% since 2005 - find out why!

Travelography: Kenya, ASEAN, and Cell Phone Users Arrested

2008-01-30T01:46:00.000-07:00

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Three travel and tourism news stories today (30 Jan 2008):

Kenya's recent political problems and resulting ethnic violence have had a devistating impact on the country's once thriving tourism industry.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently announced plans for a border-free travel region among its 10 countries by the year 2010. That is not very far off. Will they be able to deliver?
Three people on an Alitalia flight were arrested for refusing to turn off their cell phones which were interfering with the plane's navigation system and caused an aborted take off from Milan, Italy. they face up to 3 months in jail.

Trip Advisor's Top 10 Destinations in 2008

2008-01-26T08:09:00.001-07:00

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Travelography #106: Hyrdofoils Collide, Tourists Molested & Selling the USA

2008-01-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

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Three stories from Singapore's Straits Times newspaper from last week:

Two hydrofoils full of tourists collided in fog between Hong Kong and Macau, sending many to the hospital.

India starts a campaign to protect foreign female tourists from sexual molesters -- mostly groping, which seems to be a major problem in that country.

The US is still trying to gain back the international tourist arrivals that it received prior to 9/11. To do this, an increasing number of states and cities are running advertisements for the first time in Europe.

These stories came from the local newspaper in Singapore. I found the links above by searching online for similar stories.

Travelograph #105: Airplane Hotel, Philippines Downgrade, + Webcam Traveling

2008-01-16T19:38:00.000-07:00

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Stories in today's Travelography podcast include;

- An old, abandoned airplane in Stockholm is to become a budget hotel -- the first of more to come.

- Philippine Airlines is downgraded by the US FAA due to lax flight safety standards. And the US Embassy in the Philippines recommends that other airlines be used instead.

- The proliferation of webcams is providing a glimps of a future of virtual travel.

Travelography #104: Travel and Tourism in 2008

2008-01-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

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What will 2008 hold for Travel and Tourism?

New technologies and new planes will be tested in 2008, but wont really affect travelers until 2009. Open air agreements will expand air travel across the Atlantic, which will help to continue the year-on-year record growth in international travel. The high cost of travel to Europe will encourage many people to go elsewhere, benefiting many new destinations and special interest niche tours around the globe. Climate change will also affect where people go and how the travel and tourism industry develops.

Links to stories in Travelography #104:

Travelography #103: Prostitutes and Pilgrims

2007-12-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

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Links to today's stories:

Well, at least I put a tech story between the Amsterdam's brothels and the Vatican...

p.s. - I had some problems with the new PodcasterNews.com interface and was not able to upload this until December 31st when my problem was fixed. -- Alan

G4T/TGPod #61: Utterz from Northern Finland and Sweden

2007-12-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

This is a Geography for Travelers Podcast related post (click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

Travel Geography Podcast #61

The December Travel Geography Podcast is a compilation of mini Utterz.com podcasts that I posted during my trip to Finland and Sweden. The trip was from November 28 to December 10. Utterz.com is a free podcasting service on which you can post unlimited mini-podcasts -- sort of like an audio Twitter. The Utterz episodes that I have have compiled here include:

My first impressions of being in a place with only 4 hours of sunlite
A noon time walk on the University of Oulu campus to find the sun
Report on our post-conference field trip to Santa Claus Land at the Arctic Circle and to the World Cup Ski competition at the Ruka Ski Resort near the Russian border
A report on my job as a Ph.D. "Opponent" and the party that followed
Some thoughts while in transit back to the US, and my jetlag after returning to Arizona, and
A weather report update and news story about a new tourist attraction in Sweden

The sun never get very high above the horizon. Above is about 1 pm.

Me, standing on the Arctic Circle line in the Santa Claus Land shopping mall in Finland.

World Cup Ski Jump competition at the Ruka Ski Resort in Finland.

Wild (?) reindeer on a snow-packed road in Finland.

All Photos: Creative Commons Copyright: non-commercial, attribution, share-alike

Travelography #102: 2007 Travel News In Review

2007-12-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

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In today's podcast I give a summary of the major themes that were covered in the Travelography World Travel News podcast in 2007.

Links to new stories in today's podcast:

Travelography #101: Ski Resorts in the Alps Prepare for Global Warming

2007-12-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

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Spas and shopping malls are replacing replacing skiing as glaciers and snow melt in the Alps.

Resorts prepare for a future without skis

Travelography News on Twitter

Travelography News on Ning

Travelography 2.0 podcast

Geography for Travelers

Listen to Travelography on you phone +1 (360) 227-5594

With this Travelography #101 podcast I am changing to a more informal format -- mostly because it is easier for me, but also because I enjoy it more. I hope you like it, as well.

Travelography #100 - Theme Parks Boom, Gorillas Grow, and Air Hostess Games

2007-12-04T23:59:00.000-07:00

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Today's Stories:
- Amusement parks are doing well world wide
- Mountain gorillas bring high end tourist money to Uganda
- Women compete for airline hostess positions on a new game show in China

Links:
Amusement park and attractions business to grow in Asia and Europe but will go steady in US
Rare mountain gorillas prepared for tourists
China's airline clones

Travel Geography Podcast (this website)
Travelography News on Ning
Travelography News on Twitter
Listen to Travelography on you phone +1 (360) 227-5594

Santa + Ski Jump @ Arctic C Pt 2

2007-12-02T13:48:00.001-07:00

PART 2 - Recorded last night at the University of Oulu Research Center at Finland's Oulanka National Park. One Correction: The three events were Ski Jumping, Cross Country Skiing, and Nordic Combined (both jumping and x-country skiing). Sorry about the sound quality - I will try to avoid using that recorder in the future (or learn how to use it appropriately).

PHOTO: Ski Jump at the Ruka Ski Area in Finland, near the Russian border.

Mobile post sent by alew using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Santa + Ski Jump @ Arctic Circle

2007-12-02T13:43:00.001-07:00

PART 1 - Recorded last night at the University of Oulu Research Center at Finland's Oulanka National Park. One Corrections: The three events were: Ski Jumping, Cross Country Skiing, and Nordic Combined (both jumping and x-country skiing). Sorry about the sound quality - I will try to avoid using that recorder in the future (or learn how to use it appropriately).

PHOTO: Sun at about noon time in Oulu, Finland

Mobile post sent by alew using Utterz. Replies. mp3

NaPodPoMo - Travelography 2.0 - Daily Podcast Challenge - Week 4

2007-11-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

For 29 November 2007- First Impressions of Oulu, Finland

Pretty slow internet connection here at the university, but with patience it works and I did get today's podcasts posted on Utterz. Sunrise was a 9:30 am this morning, well after the conference had started; sunset was at 2:30 pm. It is now 4pm and pitch dark outside. Seems like I should be getting ready for bed now -- probably the jetlag. At our downtown hotel, stores are be open until 9 pm and the snow-packed streets are busy with shoppers.

Additional postings about my trip and conference are at http://twitter.com/alew

For 27 November 2007 - Flying by Car to Phoenix - My morning flight was canceled, so I had to drive to Phoenix to make my connecting flight!

Travelography #99: T-Day Travel, HI Superferry, and Japan Whales and Fingers

2007-11-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

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Today's Stories:

- Weather, among other factors, help make for smooth traveling during the Thanksgiving weekend in the US.
- Hawaii's Superferry to re-start on December 1st between Honolulu and Maui.
- Travel boycott called against Japan as it dramatically increases its whale catch.
- Japan starts fingerprinting all foreign visitors to prevent terrorist attacks.

Story Links:

Fearing worst, U.S. air travelers find smooth going

Hawaii Superferry Employees Heading Back to Work

Boycott Japan - Save the Whales

Tourists given the finger

Geography for Travelers

Travelography News on Ning

Travelography News on Twitter

Travelography 2.0 on Utterz.com

Listen to Travelography on you phone +1 (360) 227-5594