Australian tourism industry is in trouble, claims new study
Herald Sun
THE tourism industry is out of money, out of workers and out of rooms – making it tough for the industry to compete against Asian rivals, according to a national study by the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF).
As tourists flock to Australia in record numbers, the industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers while investors are hitting a brick wall when getting finance from banks. There is also a shortage of rooms – a problem that has plagued Brisbane for years.
State Government data shows almost three million passengers moved through Queensland airports in July. But TTF said about 60 per cent of the industry claimed increased taxes, like the $55 passenger movement charge for international visitors, were holding back the industry.
Is Ikea’s Expansion Into Budget Hotels A Good Thing?
Huffington Post
The recent news that Ikea, the Swedish furniture giant, plans to open 100 low-cost boutique hotels across Europe has many budget travelers excited and perhaps a few small hotel proprietors nervous.
According to the Financial Times, the new hotels will most likely open in the UK, Netherlands, Poland and Germany. Ikea will own them, but they won’t use the Ikea name, and “an established hotel operator” will run them. Still, as owners of the chain, Ikea will most certainly bring in their design savvy, not to mention their ability to keep rates low.
So is this cause for celebration?
Lufthansa cancels hundreds of flights as strikes hit
Reuters
Deutsche Lufthansa, Germany’s biggest airline, canceled hundreds of flights in Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich on Tuesday as cabin crew launched a second round of strikes in a row over pay and conditions.
The strike action follows a walkout on Friday that left 26,000 passengers stranded and caused millions of euros in lost revenues.
“It is difficult for the company to cushion the impact. We cannot just get new flight attendants, and the personnel buffer is limited,” Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther said.
India cracks down on SIM cards for foreigners
Total Telecom
Mobile operators required to limit validity of mobile connections issued to foreigners as part of government bid to prevent misuse.
Foreign visitors to India face more stringent rules around obtaining a local mobile service as the country aims to crack down on the misuse of SIM cards, it emerged this weekend.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked mobile operators to limit the validity period on SIM cards issued to tourists to a maximum of three months and to ensure that the expiry date of any SIM card issued does not exceed that of the applicant’s entry visa, according to a number of local press reports. If the end-user holds a visa in excess of three months, the three-month limit on the SIM card still applies.
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
