World’s top 15 travel destinations
CBS New
Life in the U.S. in the debris of the Great Recession is slowly beginning to improve. Consumer confidence, while still sensitive to trouble signs (Greece, anyone?), is creeping up. One sure sign: More American are taking vacations. According to recent data from the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI), 8.1 million people traveled abroad in the first two months of the year. That’s a six percent increase over the same time period in 2011.
Americans who want to travel internationally but not contend with Europe’s unfavorable exchange rate are turning to less expensive destinations.
Through February, travel to Central American had risen 25 percent and was up 11 percent to Asia, according to OTTI. Along with affordability, increased travel to these parts of the world was driven partly by the many tourist-friendly cities in the regions.
Delta overcharges some fliers because of computer glitch
USA TODAY
Delta Air Lines says a computer glitch caused inconsistencies in airfares between fliers who were logged into the airline’s website and those who were not.
Delta spokesman Paul Skrbec told Today in the Sky that fares were higher for some passengers and lower for others. The carrier has not yet determined how many customers were affected, he said.
Tourism groups vow to fight 17pc hike in Aussie departure tax
New Zealand Herald
Australia’s tourism lobby groups are getting in behind a challenge to that nation’s 17 per cent hike in departure tax, which may squeeze New Zealand’s biggest source of visitors.
Australia’s federal government announced an increase in the departure tax to A$55 from A$47 per person, effective July 1. That means a family of four departing Australia will pay about NZ$280 just to leave the country. The move was unveiled in Treasurer Wayne Swan’s budget last week.
Virgin Atlantic’s withdrawal adds to Kenya’s tourism woes
Telegraph.co.uk
It came as little surprise this week when Virgin Atlantic announced its withdrawal from Kenya. Last winter – at the height of the tourist season – the airline was reduced to selling return flights to Nairobi for as little as £125 before taxes and charges were added.
Virgin has long struggled to make money on a route dominated by British Airways and Kenya Airways. BA has also made cuts to its service, dropping its second daily flight to Nairobi. Kenya Airways survives by using its Nairobi hub to offer tour operators attractive prices on multi-centre package holidays in the region.
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