Travelography #18: Brits Ban Australia, Choice Seats , and Cruise Victim Rights

(click on the title above to go to the PCN TRAVELOGRAPHY web page)

Australia's 'Bloody Hell" tourism campaign is banned from UK television; Asian tourism growth is export heaven for Australian beef industry; Northwest Airlines starts charging extra for prime isle and emergency exit row seats; US Airfares went up last week; and the US Congress holds hearings on cruise ship crime and safety issues.

Links to this week's Travelography stories:

Australia undeterred campaign ban in Britain, says it will generate priceless publicity

Asian tourism boost demand for Australian beef

Northwest charges extra for seats with more legroom

Air fares rise on major U.S. carriers

Cruise industry safety topic of hearing

Cruise Victims Testify, Ask for Clearer Industry Laws

International Cruise Victims Organization

Tags: Australia, Bloody Hell, Australian Beef, Advertisement Ban, Britain, Legroom, Northwest Airlines, Congressional Hearings, Cruise Victims, Cruise, Travelography, PCN, Podcasternews, Alan A. Lew

G4T #28: Global Warming and Tourism, plus China's Great Walls

(click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

The news items in this podcast are all about China, including the Great Wall and the "Great Green Wall", which is designed to stem the rapidly expanding Gobi Desert. Historically, the invading nomadic tribes from Central Asia periodically brought havoc to the settled agricuturalists of China. In the long run, Chinese culture overcame these invations by acculturating the nomads and making them "Chinese." The advancing desertification from Central Asia today probably threatens the heart of Chinese civilation more than any invading group ever had. We will probably know sooner than later (like by the 2008 Beijing Olympics) whether or not the Great Green Wall will have any hope of stemming the advancing deserts.

This issue leads into the main topic of today's podcast -- the projected impacts of global warming on the major tourism regions of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a very upbeat topic. But it is one that needs to be discussed and addressed to prevent the environmental, social and economic chaos that could result from global climate change within our lifetimes.

Links to items discussed in today's podcast:

• China to Spend Staggering Amounts on Surveying the Great Wall
• Patrols to Protect China's Great Wall
• The Green Wall of China
• Climate Change and Tourism (Final Report UNWTO .pdf)
• Climate Change Poses Risk to Tourism WTO Warns (press release)
• Tourism and Global Environmental Change Ecological, Social, Economic and Political Interrelationships, by edited by Stefan Gossling and C. Michael Hall

Tags: China, Great Wall, Green Wall, Gobi Desert, Global Warming, Climate Change, Tourism Impacts, Travel Geography

Travelography #16: China Calling: Beijing to Tibet, plus the World Leisure Expo

(click on the title above to go to the PCN TRAVELOGRAPHY web page)

This podcast is all about China, including the China Help Line translation service, Tiananmen Square "For Sale", the highest train in the world from Beijing to Tibet, and the First World Lesiure Expo in Hangzhou.

• China Help Line translation service
• Budget Travel Extra Mile Awards 2005 (about the China Help Line)
• Old pieces of Tiananmen paving stones sold as souvenirs
• China to Tibet Railway
• Tibet Railway Offers Lap of Luxury Travel to The "Roof of the World"
• Hangzhou Will Host 1st World Leisure Expo

Tags: China, Chinese Translation, Tiananmen, Souvenirs, Tibet, Railroad, Hangzhou, World Leisure Expo, Travelography, PCN, Podcasternews

Dubai Architecture to Draw 15 million Tourists (not Terrorists?)

(this is a blog, not a podcast)

Where will you find the world's largest:

- Indoor ski facility
- Shopping center
- Tallest building
- Underwater hotel
- Artificial islands
... and more ... ?

These architectural extremes have either been built, are under constructions, or are in the planning stages in the Dubai United Arab Emirate. (Dubai is the same place that is the current boogie-man in the US terrorist landscape due to their intent to purchase the British company that currently operates several large US east coast ports.) The goal of all these projects is to increase tourism to Dubai to 15 million by the year 2010. Hopefully they will not also be a draw for the region's terrorists ?!

Click on the title to this blog to go to the Business Week online article and slide show of Dubai's architectural plans. THIS IS A MUST SEE !!!

Tags: Dubai, Architecture, Tourism Development

Travelography #15: London is Down, Florida is Up, & Cuba Remains an Issue

(click on the title above to go to the PCN TRAVELOGRAPHY web page)

This past year was a big for tourism in many parts of the world, including Florida, Cuba and Vietnam. However, tourists have been avoiding central London since last July's terrorist bombings, and a Sheraton Hotel in Mexico City is in hot water with both the US and Mexican governments for expelling a Cuban delegation there to meet US business leaders.

• Florida announces record tourism for 2005
• UK tourist spots see visitor numbers crash
• Ho Chi Minh City welcomes double-digit increase
• Cuba tourism boom
• Mexico City officials attempt to shut down U.S. hotel
  

Tags: Florida, Arrivals, London, Bombing, Vietnam, Cuba, Mexico City, Hotel, Travelography, PCN, Podcasternews

G4T #27.5: Travel & Geographic Knowledge, and Why Plan?

(click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

No news items for this week. For weekly travel news, please visit my weekly Travelography podcast.

Rather than news, I discuss an article from my Tourism Geographies journal on the topic of travel and geographical (actually mapping) knowledge. The full reference for that article is:

• Poria, Yaniv; Atzaba-Poria, Naama; and Barrett, Martyn. 2005. Research Note: The Relationship Between Children's Geographical Knowledge and Travel Experience: An Exploratory Study. Tourism Geographies 7(4):389-397.

The main topic then switches to issues of private and public goods, and the justification for government planning and regulation. The goal in this discussion is to define the role of government in planning for tourism in a community -- and the responsibility of the private sector in its reliance on public resources for tourism development. A bit theoretical, but I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers - Alan

(Length: 27min 0min)

Travelography #14: Where the Bloody Hell Are You?

(click on the title above to go to the PCN TRAVELOGRAPHY web page)

Travel News for this week: The Aeroscape blimp, the EU call for reduced travel restrictions to the US, and Australia makes waves with its new marketing campaign: "Where the Bloody Hell Are You?"

• Frankenstein of the Skies
• EU Commission Wants Easier U.S. Travel
• Bloody hell - Australia swears by new ad campaign
• Australia asks: Where the bloody hell are you?
• Wherethebloodyhellareyou.com - this is the full television advertisement

Travelography #13: Mardi Gras & New Orleans Guidebooks

(click on the title above to go to the PCN TRAVELOGRAPHY web page)

This week's travel news: Mardi Gras celebrations have started in New Orleans, and many other places around the US and World. Meanwhile, guidebook publishers are going online to update their guides for the US Gulf Coast. Unrelated is a story on US Air Marshals who have been charged with drug dealing.

• A Mardi Gras that's serious
• Opinion: Saving New Orleans
• New Orleans has competition for Mardi Gras
• Guidebook publishers revisit New Orleans — on the Web
• Wikipedia: Mardi Gras
• Air marshals face smuggling charges

G4T #27: Sustainable Development & the Travel Industry

(click the title above to download the podcast .mp3 file)

Today's podcast focuses on the concept of Sustainable Development as it applies to the Travel and Tourism Industry. The News portion covers some Travel Quotes, Space Travel News and the Mekong River Tourism Project.

Here are links to items discussed on today's podcast:

• Travel Quotes on ThinkExist.com
• Prepare for lift off, in 2008 (Space Tourism)
• Private Sector to review Mekong Tourism Plans
• Mekong nations work on joint tourism strategy
• World Travel and Tourism Council
• Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development
• The International Ecotourism Society

Travelography #12: Giant Cruise Ship, Shanghai Disney, Geo-caching & Sharks

(click the title above to go to the PCN website for this podcast)

Royal Caribbean orders a $1 billion cruise ship - the biggest and most expensive ever. Shanghai is likely to get the next Disneyland. Resorts are starting to offer geo-caching activities for guests. And a shark feeding frenzy keeps Autsralians out of the water in Queensland. Links to these stories are on the PCN website.

Check out "The Travel Show"

Well, I am finally not the only academic out here in podcastland! It was getting a bit lonley, but I figured that would change ... eventually.

The Travel Show is a podcast and blog page (similar to the way I have things set up) hosted by Dr. Martin Fluker of Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. His podcasts take you "on a virtual tour of the world, exposing you to places you've never been and taking you back to the places you remember fondly."

Show Notes & Blog Homepage: http://travel.thepodcastnetwork.com/

Subscribe to the RSS Feed using: http://travel.thepodcastnetwork.com/feed/

Travelography #11: Cruise Travel News - 12 Feb 06

Travelography is my short Travel and Tourism News podcast on the Podcasternews Network.

Now is the time to book your cruise for the coming summer months. I review some of the new trends in the cruise line industry, and make a plea for tipping those hard working cruise employees.

FYI - Scott Ahlsmith, 50% of all cruise availability for 2006 is already sold, as of the first week of February 2006! - This is new and not covered in the podcast.

Click the title above to go to the Travelography show notes and links, and listen to the podcast.

Travelography #10: Airline News & Hooters - 8 Feb 06

(Travelography is my short Travel and Tourism News podcast on the Podcasternews Network.)

Record numbers of travelers took the air in the US last year, and Hawaii and Las Vegas were major destinations. Hawaii's hotels are at near capacity, while Las Vegas celebrated the grans opening of the new Hooters Casino. Meanwhile London Heathrow is rationing jet fuel due to shortages, which is costing US and other non-UK airlines.

Click the title above to go to the Travelography show notes and links, and listen to the podcast.

G4T #26: Travel & Tourism Numbers and Jetlag News

(Click on the link above to download the mp3 file)

News items include a new Jetlag advisor website (link below) and a discussion of Turin/Torino, Italy where the Winter Olympic Games just opened last week. I then focus the on tourist arrival and expenditure numbers and impacts, first at the global scale and then at the local scale. [Show Length = 17min, 36sec]

Links to websited related to this week's podcast:

Scots scientist sheds light on problem of jet-lag misery

Winter Olympics boost Turin tourism

Power of Travel - Travel and Tourism Information

Did You Know? Fun Facts (TIA)

Tourism Talking Points: Economic Impact of Travel & Tourism (TIA)

Office of Travel & Tourism Industries' Information on Inbound Travel to the U.S. (TIA)

WTO Tourism Highlights, Edition 2005

MORE ON JETLAG -

Scott Ahlsmith of the Road Less Traveled Podcast and Blog describes his Jetlag Diet in a short, 3 minute podcast. The goal is to each a high protein meal on the day of your arrival at the destination. From that, you work your way backwards so that the day prior to the breakfast is a high carbohydrate day and the day before that is a high protein day. You do that for two more days, which means you start this diet 4 days prior to your departure. (In summary: Protein Day, Carb Day, Protein Day, Carb Day, Protein Breakfast at arrival place.)

G4T #25: Sustainable Development in Historical Context

(click on the title above to download the .mp3 file)

Tourism has played more of a role in the historical evolution of 'sustainable development' than you probably thought. Also discussed are (1) the surge in gay and non-gay tourism to Wyoming due to the popularity of the moview Breakback Mountain, and (2) Bali's slow tourism recovery from the October 2005 terrorist attacks that took place there.

You may notice a change in the sound quality of this podcast. I finally got a mixer and I think it is making a huge difference. I may be a bit strong on the bass, however, mostly because I am trying to reduce the sibilance ("ess" - sound). However, I will be playing with the setting more in the future as I try to further improve things. Any listener feedback on this would be appreciated.

Here are links to the stories discussed in the podcast:

• Looking to climb Brokeback Mountain? Head to Canada (USA Today)
• ‘Brokeback’ raises interest in Wyoming (MSNBC)
• Slump has Bali business owners worried (CNN)