Travelography #61: A Record 842 Million International Trips Taken Last Year

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The World Tourism Organization's 2006 preliminary numbers show a record 842 million international trips were taken in 2006, up 4.5% from 2005. Africa saw the highest percent growth, while North America grew the least. Tourism in any Asian countries is growing fast, which China being pegged to surpass Spain by 2010 to be the second most visited country in the world, after France. And ASEAN countries hope to promote more intra-regional travel.

Another Record Year for World Tourism

Asia’s Travel Industry Charges into 2007

Record Year for Singapore as Tourism Exceeds 2006 Targets

Asean Tourism Forum Opens

Open Skies, Single-Visa Regime Key To ASEAN

World tourism sets record in 2006, U.N. agency says

UNWTO: China set to surpass Spain by 2010

Vietnam tourism industry keen on achieving a new record in 2007

Korea targets 10 million inbound visitors by 2010

Travelography #56: NW Hawaii Makes 7 Wonders List, and a New Abba Museum

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The relatively new Northwest Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument was named to a New Seven Wonders of the World list created by USA Today and ABC News. (Not to be confused with the Other New Seven Wonders list that is currently being voted on.) And visitors may soon again be welcome at Monument's Midway Island. Meanwhile, a new museum devoted to the pop group, Abba, will be opening in Stockholm next year. And, first there were smoke free hotels rooms -- now we are getting smoke free states and countries!

Underwater Wonder: Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

Hawaii's Outer Kingdom

The New Seven Wonders (ABC News)

New 7 Wonders (election)

Visits to Midway Atoll could resume

Plans for ABBA museum unveiled in Sweden

Smoking gets snuffed out

Travelography #55: Amtrak Boost, Plane Dreams, and Macau Grows Up

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Amtrak saw its ridership grow this past fiscal year as it became more competitive with short flights in the eastern US. Boeing and Airbus are building more passenger comfort into their next generation of planes. And Macau, the only place in China where gaming is legal, is getting more tourists every month as new resort casinos are built.

Amtrak ridership increases

Aircraft Builders Try to Take Some of the Ordeal Out of Flying

Macau's visitor arrivals hit 2 million in October

Travelography #54: Passport Day is Jan. 23; and the Hassle of Visiting the US

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January 23rd is Passport Day for all travelers flying into the US. US is perceived as the most difficult destination for international tourists to enter. To counter this, Bush pushes to expand the sometimes controversial US Visa Waiver program to more countries.

U.S. to require passports for nearly all air travelers

Survey: Visiting the USA is a hassle

Bush wants more countries in visa-waiver program

Travelography #52: Austria, Iraq, Fiji, Europe, iPods & China Love Cruise

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Austrian Airlines is first European to return to Iraq. Fiji's political problems are impacting tourism. First class and business passengers to get iPod video support. The US is losing out to Europe in attracting Asian business and leisure travelers. And a cruise from Shanghai for millionaires and attractive single women only. (I guess I wouldn't qualify!)

Austrian Airlines First European Carrier to Fly to Iraq

Tension grips tourism industry in Fiji

Fiji military to tourists: There will be no coup

Fliers with iPods may soon be able to plug in

U.S. business tourism suffers on travel restrictions

China love boat for millionaires

Travelography #51: A Smoker's Airline; and More Smoke-Free + WWW Hotels

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Smint Air bring luxury travel up in smoke. Europeans now overwhelmingly prefer non-smoking hotels. Why does the Internet cost more the more you pay for a hotel room? Online Flash travel brochures for everyone. And checkout the new Jewel Cave soundseeing tour on the Geography for Travelers podcast (stereo headphone recommended).

Airline for smokers will fly by March, founder says

European Hotel Guests Overwhelmingly Prefer a Smoke-Free Environment

Ring, ring: cell phones also checking in

‘Next generation’ of online brochures unveiled

Online Travel Brochures

Travelography #50: Airlines Warm Planet, New Airport Security, + Vomit Comets

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Find out why airline growth could be disasterous for the planet! Innovations in airport security include 3-D baggage x-ray machines and RFID passenger tracking. And, you can now experience true weightlessness for under $4000 -- far less than a flight to the International Space Station or on Virgin Galactic. The "vomit comet", however, might not be for everyone!

New 'green' attack on airlines

Environmental Change Institute - Oxford University

TSA plan: X-ray for liquid bombs

New RFID tech would track airport passengers

More tourists weigh zero gravity flights

Travelography #49: Olympic Chinglish and Airline Profits and Mergers

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San Francisco is hoping its top ranking by Conde Nast Traveler magazine among US cities will give it a boost in its bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Beijing is working to cleean up its poor English grammar (known as Chinglish) ahead of the 2008 Olympics. US Airlines are about to report their most profitable year in the last five, though continuing problems in the industry will likely result in yet more merger.

San Francisco Wins as Global Travelers' Choice for the Best U.S. Destination City

A fresh attempt from China to wipe out `Chinglish’ ahead of Beijing Olympics

Chinglish examples and definition on Wikipedia

American to get airline-profit party started

US airlines looking seriously at consolidation

Travelography #48: Hawaii Quake Impacts and Cruises Return to New Orleans

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While scary, the immediate tourism impacts of last week's earthquake in Hawaii were minor compared to the potential longer term impacts that it my have. Regularly scheduled cruises from New Orleans will start up again this Sunday, marking the return of one of the fastest growing segments of the travel and tourism industry.

Here are links to these stories:

Quake could scare tourists away from Hawaii
Earthquake in Hawaii causes only limited tourist disruption
Earthquake leaves Hawaii unscathed
First post-Hurricane Katrina cruise scheduled for New Orleans

Travelography #47: Nuke Tourism in Iran, Travel Gear, European Travel Trends

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Iran introduces nuclear power plant tourism for foreign visitors. Two items from the Travel Gear Blog: self-weighing luggage and spray on ironing. And a new report to looks at the potential impacts of European social trends on travel and tourism.

• Iran’s nuclear sites open to foreign tourists
• Self-weighing Luggage
• Dry Cleaning Spray - Travel Gear
• European Travel Commission

Travelography #46: Passports 2.0; Tibet Flight; Brazil Crash; Virgin Reality Show

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The US Congress has extended to 2009 the due date when North Americans (US, Canada, Mexico & the Caribbean) will need passports to visit each other. Tibet received its first ever international air flight, while Brazil investigates its worst ever airplane crash. Virgin Galactic debuts its suborbital spaceship and plans a reality TV program for a free trip to space.

Tibet welcomes first nonstop overseas charter flight for tourists

Latest Passport Extension is Boost for Short Cruise Travelers!

Border security plan delayed

Ontario says lobbying against new U.S. passport rule has paid off

All 155 dead in Brazil plane crash

Branson unveils Virgin spaceship

Travelography #45: US Passports, Moroccan Train + Birds Head Indonesia

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Now is the time to get your US passport if you plan to visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean in 2007. Morocco plans the first the Arab world's first high speed train. And scientists discover the riches marine ecosystem in the world in the Bird's Head area off the west coast of Papua in Indonesia.

New passport rules to take effect Jan. 8

Arab world’s first high-speed train planned

50 New Marine Species Discovered in Indonesia

Stunning finds of fish and coral in Indonesia This podcast was originally posted on Sept 29, 2006. I was at the Podcast and Portable Media Expo on that day and forgot to post the show notes here, as I usually do.