Volcano Eruption Sparks Tourism

Mount Nyamuragira 

Mail and Guardian: Its status as the battleground in "Africa's world war", and possibly the worst place on Earth to be a woman, makes it arguably the world's most counterintuitive holiday destination.

Yet tourism in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ravaged east is doubling by the year as intrepid travellers set out to witness its natural wonders.

From a standing start of zero in 2008, when war was still raging, Virunga National Park's visitor numbers climbed to 550 in 2009, then 1 800 in 2010 with an expected 3 800 for 2011. As a result, this year the oldest national park in Africa expects to raise more than $1-million.

Among the attractions on offer are an overnight trek to the eruption of the Mount Nyamuragira volcano and tracking through forests to glimpse critically endangered mountain gorillas.

In a sign of growing confidence, Virunga is also due to open its first tourist lodge on January 1, with guests paying $200 a night in 12 bungalows boasting lava-rock walls and thatched roofs.

"Clearly it's not Spain we're trying to sell," said Cai Tjeenk Willink, the park's business development officer. "The good thing is we have high-quality attractions here: the mountain gorillas, the active volcanos, safaris with elephants, lions and leopards, the lake, a lowland forest and one of the highest mountain ranges in Africa. We have a lot to offer."

Willink said that most visitors were from Belgium, the former colonial power, and about one in 10 is British.

The Nyamuragira volcano began erupting on November 6 and has several lava fountains spewing up to 200m into the air, with lava flowing slowly north into an uninhabited area of the park.

The park, a Unesco world heritage site, has set up a tented camp in a safe area close to Nyamulagira, where visitors can stay overnight.

Ohio Launches Tourism Website

Media Post News: The Ohio Tourism Division is launching a website to showcase Ohio attractions, restaurants and destinations that have been featured in movies and on television.

The goal for the “Scene in Ohio” site is to capitalize on the “travel-motivating factors of mainstream media,” says State Tourism Director Amir Eylon. Travelers are visiting places they have learned about from their favorite television shows and movies, Eylon says. The website makes it easy to find those places along with other nearby sites to encourage a longer getaway, Eylon adds.

The interactive site is kicking off with more than 50 locations, but users are encouraged to add to the site’s content. Listings pull photos and videos from social media networks, show Yelp consumer reviews for applicable locations, and offer social media sharing capabilities.

The website’s main feature is a list of locations searchable by category (movie, television, and food), keyword and zip code; photos and videos from social media channels; Google maps; and Yelp reviews where available. The map feature also shows users the locations of other nearby “Scene in Ohio” sites as well as a brief highlight of stars born in Ohio or with strong Buckeye connections.

Each “On-Screen Ohioan” listing includes an overview of the star's career and Ohio connection, an interesting “factoid” and a link to their profile on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).

In addition to sample itineraries for “movie buffs” or “foodies,” visitors can build and share their own Ohio itineraries. Ohioans and visitors alike can share additional movie, television and restaurant sites that may be added to the website.

Sites and experiences of all sizes located across the state range from the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield ("Shawshank Redemption") to Cincinnati's Fountain Square ("Ides of March") and from Thurman Cafe in Columbus ("Man v. Food") to Wendy Kromer Confections and City Bake Shop in Sandusky ("The Martha Stewart Show").

Research has shown that tourism often increases after places are featured on TV or in movies. The Journal of Travel Research cites two of the most notable increases: a 7% increase in tourism for Savannah, Ga., after "Forrest Gump," and a 300% increase in tourism for the Wallace monument in Scotland the year after "Braveheart" was released. Many restaurants across the U.S. report double-digit sales increases after being featured on Food Network or Travel Channel programs.

Miami Touirism Hiring Rebounds -- Still Soft in Las Vegas

Miami Herald: The recession hit South Florida hard, but Las Vegas got clobbered.

By many measures, Sin City’s economy sunk deeper than Miami’s did. Among all of the major metropolitan areas in the country, Vegas has the highest unemployment rate: 13.6 percent. Property values sunk 58 percent from their peak in the housing crash, compared to the 49 percent drop in South Florida. Vegas also leads the nation in foreclosures.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that Miami’s tourism industry bounced back much faster from the recession than did the tourism industry in Vegas.

Vegas relies much more heavily on conventions than South Florida does, and the meetings industry got hammered in the recession as corporations scaled back on anything that looked lavish. Spending on gambling also took a dive during the recession.

These Vegas-Miami comparisons, of course, are taking on new importance as Florida considers allowing a law that would bring mega casinos to South Florida.

While Vegas is essentially a one-industry town, South Florida thrives on economic activity from tourism and construction — two Vegas staples — it also can count on international finance, trade, and a sizeable professional services industry to provide jobs and spending power.

Gambling opponents point the region’s tourism statistics as proof South Florida doesn’t need gambling, since the hospitality industry appears to be strong without it. But gambling supporters also point to the region’s economic diversity as an argument for bringing in casinos, since they would serve as an extra outlet for hiring and development — not the only one.

Galveston Hopes for Tourism Magic

Carnival Magic

Houston Chronicle: Galveston loves magic — especially the kind that promises to float millions of tourism dollars into the local economy.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic made its debut over the weekend and embarks Monday on an inaugural trip from Galveston, marking the third new cruise ship in the southern port this year. Island officials hope the ship will bring the island more tourism dollars, as Galveston marked a milestone in its decade-long efforts to market the port city as a cruising destination.

"It shows the major cruise lines understand the appeal of Galveston and are choosing to invest in it over other popular markets," said Leah Cast, a spokeswoman for the Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The 130,000-ton ship boasts a WaterWorks aqua park with a 312-foot-long spiral water slide, a ropes course, as well as numerous other amenities.

Rates for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise itinerary, departing from Galveston, range from $529 to more than $1,000 per person, depending on travel dates, for a standard inside stateroom based on double occupancy, according to Carnival's website.

Sue Schmitt, a Houston travel agent, says the cruise line is usually more economical and has already booked about 20 cabins for clients.

"Most of them are excited because it's brand new," she said. "For many of them, the ship is the destination."

Steady bookings

While the prolonged economic downturn has put a squeeze on tourism, Schmitt says her business has been surprisingly steady this year.

The addition of Carnival Magic adds to Galveston's cruising cachet, she said.

"Obviously Carnival feels that way or they wouldn't put a brand new ship here," she said, adding that she and her husband are booked to sail on the inaugural trip Monday. "I have clients going on it in two weeks, and they are so anxious for me to get back and report."

John Heald, Carnival's senior cruise director, said bringing the new ship to the Lone Star State was an easy decision.

"Florida was upset, but Galveston is a great revenue market for us," he said.

His only concern so far was the lack of a drugstore close to the terminal so the crew wouldn't have to travel far to buy toiletries.

The Magic arrived about one month after 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph began voyages from the island. Together, the ships have the potential to bring about 100,000 more visitors to Galveston and at least $10 million in direct economic impact to the island's tourism industry, according to the visitors bureau.

The potential tourism dollars had island officials wining and dining national media, travel agents and other industry players throughout the weekend, many of whom toured the ship and the island Sunday and spent the night aboard.

Selling Galveston

The visitors bureau handed out free passes to local attractions and gave a presentation about the island to Carnival's sales representatives over the weekend as part of an effort to have the cruise line pitch the city as a destination.

Sunday afternoon, pop band Maroon 5 performed for the crowd.

The port recently completed $12.5 million in renovations of the terminal designed specifically to accommodate more passengers and the larger Carnival Magic vessel.

Carnival's parent company helped finance improvements in 2004, a partnership that helped the port grow and raise the money it needed for the recent renovations, which included a new gangway and expanded passenger waiting areas, said Galveston port director Steve Cernak.

"We couldn't have done it without them," he said.

Other ships sharing the port with Carnival Magic include the Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, which started sailing out of Galveston last week, replacing similarly sized Voyager of the Seas. The 2,400-passenger Disney Magic is expected to start sailing from the port next September, followed by the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess in December 2012.

Troubled Bayport

Meanwhile, the Port of Houston Authority's $71 million Bayport Cruise Terminal remains without a ship regularly calling on the facility that was built in 2009.

Libya Hopes for Post-War Tourism Boost

Libya has remained off the beaten track for tourists despite boasting a range of interesting and ancient sites. But officials and businessmen in the country are hoping to make moves to help that change.

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U.S. Tourism's Lost Decade

US News: The travel industry today became the latest to slam federal rules and bureaucracy, charging that tough visa rules for potential tourists have robbed the nation of $600 billion and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Two grim facts: More Chinese now visit France than the United States, in part because it's hard to get a U.S. visitors visa. And while the U.S. used to be the destination for 17 percent of the world's tourists in 2000, that's dropped to 12.4 percent and shows no sign of changing.

"Even as world travel grew by more than 60 million travelers between 2000 and 2010, the U.S. share of the market remained essentially flat. During this 'lost decade,' our economy squandered an opportunity to gain $606 billion in total spending from 78 million additional visitors—enough to support 467,000 more jobs annually," said a new report out this afternoon from the U.S. Travel Association.

"We know that we are not getting our share," said USTA spokesman Robert Bobo.

The key issue: The U.S. is slow to issue visas, especially since 9/11, and visitors from distant nations are going elsewhere. Among the key problems are the post-9/11 requirement that visa applicants be interviewed before traveling and a lack of visa offices. In China, for example, 20 cities with 20 million or more citizens have no U.S. visa office.

To reverse the slide, travel officials today unveiled a broad plan to speed the issuance of visas, potentially leading to the creation of 1.3 million new jobs and additional economic output of over $850 billion.

The key suggestions on the plan dubbed "Ready for Takeoff" include:

— A presidential directive to boost tourism from countries like China, Brazil, and India.

— Have the State Department do more to promote travel to the United States.

— Hire 440 new consular offices and put them in China, Brazil, and India over the next five years.

— Allow existing visa holders, including many business travelers and student and exchange visitors, to renew visas in the United States instead of returning to their home countries to do so.

— Utilize demand management tools and techniques to analyze and predict periods of high user demand and lower wait times.

The industry, however, gives credit to the Obama administration for realizing the problems and working to boost foreign travel to the United States. Just this week, for example, the agency charged with pushing travel to the United States, the Corporation for Travel Promotion, renamed itself "Brand USA" and plans to launch an advertising and marketing campaign in the spring of 2012 to push the U.S. as a business and vacation hot spot.

Global Travel Trends for 2012

Terminal U: We’ve all heard of buzzwords like ‘staycation’ and ‘glamping’, but what are the next popular travel trends that everyone will be talking about?

An industry report has shed light on some of the key travel trends that will shape the year ahead.

Mystery holidays and camping in a stranger’s garden have been identified as some of the trends influencing the global travel industry in 2011.

The findings were published this week in the World Travel Market (WTM) Global Trends 2011 report, which is published annually in association with market analysis company, Euromonitor International.

Here’s the lowdown of what’s hot in the world of travel at the moment.

US: Top secret holidays

Playing holiday roulette by booking a trip to a mystery hotel or destination may not appeal to every traveller, but the ‘blind booking’ trend has taken off in America this year, the WTM report highlights.

US-based Nextpedition – launched by American Express this year – is said to be helping to drive the movement.

The site customises mystery package holidays for thrill-seekers willing to leave their entire itinerary and destination in the hands of a travel specialist.

The consumer takes an interactive online quiz to determine their ‘Travel Sign’ based on their hobbies and interests to help define what they might want from a travel experience.

After a consultation with a ‘Nextpedition Specialist’, a mystery itinerary is created based on their Travel Sign and budget.

The destination and itinerary are unknown until a traveller’s journey begins and is revealed day by day via a smartphone.

Online booking engines in the US such as HotWire and Priceline are also appealing to travellers’ sense of adventure with masked hotel reservations, the report adds.

Their ‘Secret Hotels’ offers don’t divulge details of a hotel’s name or exact location until a booking is made.

And US-based sites such as luxurylink.com that focus on mystery travel offers and auctions are also getting a following in the domestic travel market, according to the report.

UK: Camping in a stranger’s garden

When it comes to travelling on a shoestring, pitching a tent on a stranger’s lawn may not sound like everyone’s idea of a fun budget holiday.

But it has become something of a growing trend among holidaymakers in the UK, as cash-strapped homeowners turn to sites such as campinmygarden.com to rent out their gardens as campsites, the report says.

The campinmygarden.com website describes the experience as an “accessible, affordable and fun alternative to traditional accommodation.”

The report predicts that rent-a-garden idea will become even more popular during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

It has the most appeal to travellers in their 20s and 30s seeking modest, alternative accommodation, or who wish to experience the local community, the report highlights.

It adds that ‘uber cocooning’, where consumers look to save money by staying at home rather than going out will continue to drive the rent-a-garden trend.

Africa: Buying your plane ticket through your phone

Africa’s mobile boom is making travel accessible to those on low-incomes.

As a world leader in mobile or m-commerce, Africa’s 489 million mobile phone users are boosting demand for travel services, according to the report.

Mobile phone banking attracts low-income populations in urban and mainly rural areas of Africa, which have no access to financial services.

Kenya Airways and Uganda Airlines are tapping into Africa’s mobile boom by enabling customers without a bank account to book flights through their mobile phones, via systems such as M-PESA and Airtel.

Africa’s first mobile travel app was launched this year – wakanow.com – which includes searches for flights, hotels and car rental.

While South Africa Tourism Board has launched a mobile site – www.traveltoSA.mobi – offering travel deals to Africans in countries including Angola, Nigeria, Mozambique and Kenya.

Social media has also taken off since Facebook launched in major African languages (Swahili, Hausa and isiZulu), offering African mobile users free access to the site.

The report says that travel operators could open up more opportunities for African travel by developing mobile apps and allowing bookings via social media.

China: Hotel chains adapt for Chinese tourists

The Chinese are expected to spend US$57bn (£35bn) on accommodation domestically and abroad in 2011 – the third highest spending behind the US and Germany, according to the report.

Travellers may notice more hotels offering tailored services to entice Chinese tourists and their rising spending power, the report adds.

In 2011, Hilton announced its ‘Huanying (‘welcome’) programme’ which provides creature comforts to Chinese visitors on arrival, in-room and at breakfast.

The programme includes staff fluent in Mandarin at the front desk, two different congee at breakfast and TV programming, along with Chinese tea, tea kettles and slippers.

Also this year, Starwood Hotel Group launched the ‘Starwood Personalized Traveler Program’ offering Chinese amenities and dining.

Eight Key Global Travel Trends

Hotel News Now: At the Global Trends Report press conference on the opening day of the World Travel Market 2011, U.K. TV personality Gavin Ramjaun presented several key emerging trends.

Split into geographic regions, the report, compiled by Euromonitor International, focused on the way travel and tourism markets were responding to both the global economic downturn and also political unrest such as the Arab Spring.

Global arrivals were expected to slow down 5.8% from last year but by 2012 are expected to break the 1-billion arrivals barrier—amounting to a total spend of almost US$1 trillion. The global overview was of ‘recovery on the brink’ with the IMF predicting 4% global GDP growth in 2011, down from 5.1% in 2010. Rising fuel and commodity prices, taxation, austerity measures, political turmoil and social unrest were all found to have exerted some influence. Across all markets, online growth was considered to be without a doubt the most important growth area in the long term, with sales in the mobile device area very strong in the mid-term.

What follows is a list of key trends by region:

North America: mystery trips
“Mystery trips” are on the rise, particularly for popular milestone holidays such as honeymoons and birthdays. Luxury Link’s mystery auction and American Express’ Nextpedition provide hotels, airlines and online travel agencies to sell excess capacity in an opaque bundle that “brings back the element of surprise to the travel experience,” Ramjaun said. Millennials aged 20 to 34 are the main target of these trips, for whom luxury operators review customer profiles and customize mystery experiences for them.

Some other key stats from North America: During 2010, real GDP growth was 3.8% in North America but only 1.9% in 2011. Predictions for 2012 show an increase to 2.2%. Average hotel value in dollars saw 1.3% growth in 2010, 3.6% growth in 2011 and is estimated to be 2.9% in 2012.

U.K.: Rent a garden
“The outlook (in the U.K.) remains bleak with a stagnant economy,” Ramjaun said. Travelers are increasingly searching for alternative accommodation such as campsites and hostels, especially as hoteliers push rates in the buildup to the Olympics. A growing alternative is garden camping, in which Generation Z and the baby boomer markets rent garden spaces in which to camp out. Campinmygarden.com has 350 gardens listed, 80% of which are in the U.K.

The report also found that some London hotels are charging five times more during the Olympic period, and the International Olympic Committee is taking around 40% of hotel availability. Consumers were said to be becoming more ingenious and bypassing high hotel rates with “peer-to-peer transactions tapping into the zeitgeist of what consumers are looking for,” Ramjaun said. “In South Africa with the World Cup, arrivals were up 10%. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the U.K. to take advantage of this.” Whereas in the U.K. hotel growth was found to be -5.4% in 2010 and -0.1% in 2011, 2012 predictions were up to 2.1%.

Europe: luxury without the guilt
The report found the focus was shifting towards “luxury without the associated guilt” in Europe, and therefore ethical and sustainable travel was showing a strong presence. There is an increase in use of “living walls” and “vertical farms” so that luxury hotels can have their own kitchen gardens. The high-end segment is outperforming its mid- and lower-tiered counterparts.

The region as a whole is threatened by a double-dip recession, with increased volatility in the financial markets. Despite this, teal GDP growth remained reasonably stable at 1.8% in 2010, 1.5% in 2011. It is expected to be 1.4% in 2012. Spain, Italy and other bailed-out countries Ireland, Greece and Portugal continue to suffer with high debt and unemployment.

Middle East: rebranding
Arab Spring and other political unrest resulted in a 6.2% decline in tourism arrivals in 2011 compared to 11.5% growth in 2010. But rebranding efforts in regions such as Egypt and Tunisia will yield a bounce back in travel for the Middle East, according to the report.

New campaigns by Egypt’s tourist board are already underway. Bahrain’s summer festival attracted 83,000 visitors and it is thought that post-Gaddafi opportunities will open up in Libya, after an extensive restoration of the countries tourism infrastructure.

Tourist arrivals are expected to increase 1.3% during 2012.

Africa: Mobile commerce boosts travel
Africa was found to be leading the world in M-commerce with 60% of mobile Web users using mobile phones to purchase goods. Mobile-phone money transfer service M-PESA in Kenya targeted unbanked Africans so they could book travel via phones. The upwardly mobile population means that Africa is leap-frogging earlier forms of media and taking travel to those who were traditionally excluded from it.

During 2011, real GDP growth in Africa was more than 5%, driven by economic development and backed by a growing disposable income.

Asia and China: Growing influence
Asia’s economies enjoyed healthy growth but are expected to slow. In China, IHG renamed the Holiday Inn Express to ‘Smart Choice’ and the HND group acquired 20% of NH Hotels. Hotel companies continue to expand in China, with companies like Hilton Worldwide providing comforts such as food and amenities to outbound Chinese. Spending by Chinese travelers is expected to increase. Intra-regional travel is forecast to boost arrivals and incoming tourist receipts as more middle-class travelers explore the region for the first time.

Gamification of travel
Also highlighted as a key area of growth is the ‘gamification’ of travel, or the use of gaming dynamics in non-gaming environments. Interaction is key, with social media playing an integral part in building the brand. Online travel sales are expected to grow around 8% in value this year. The report found that gamification encourages people to share their experience. It appeals to 18-34 year olds and allows companies to target a specific market, build awareness, grow an online community and add information, competition, games and special offers. The report gave as an example Tourism Ireland’s ‘Ireland Town’ game on Facebook, where users can visit well-known tourist attractions in Ireland and share the experience with their friends. The campaign plans to engage 60 million people.

Global village—evolution of social media
On the subject of technology, the report found that hotels are fine-tuning their marketing to reach online audiences and capture social networks with friends and followers. Hotel chains were found to have embraced social media and to provide greater levels of customization. Global hotel chains are providing social media care teams and creating targeted events. A free-spa event in New York’s Madison Square boosted ‘likes’ for Marriott International, for example. For hotels, the benefits were seen as helping enhance brand awareness, opening direct lines of communication and enabling them to aim exclusive offers to online followers.

U.S. Angles for More Tourists

AFP: Say goodbye to the United States of America. Say hello to "the United States of Awesome Possibilities" as it looks to visitors from abroad to help lift it out of the economic doldrums.

By soft-pedaling patriotism, the newly-formed US national tourism board tasked with getting more tourists -- and their money -- onto US soil is reinventing the nation as a hip new land of diversity and possibilities.

"We're rebranding America for the first time," said Jim Evans, chief executive of the Corporation for Travel Promotion, ahead of the World Travel Market that opened Monday in London.

"Over the last 10 or 12 years, people have seen America as unwelcoming as we've focused on security ... and our competition (from other countries) is more fierce than it's ever been before."

The United States made $134.4 billion off international tourism in 2010, when a record 60 million tourists came to visit, according to figures from the US Commerce Department.

But the majority of those visitors came over the border from Canada and Mexico, including day trippers. Only six percent came from Britain, five percent from Japan, three percent from Germany and two percent from France.

The United States also trails France as the premier tourist destination -- and it's nowhere near tapping the full potential of the Asian market, after just 1.45 million Chinese and Indian visited last year.

Mindful that tourism already counts for 2.8 percent of gross domestic product and 7.52 million jobs, Washington sees the industry as a relatively fast and easy way to snap the economy out of its post-recession blues.

"The growing middle class in Asia is driving a lot of this," said Evans at the Corporation for Travel Promotion's not-yet-fully-furnished offices in downtown Washington.

One hurdle has little to do with image, and everything to do with bureaucracy -- a byzantine US visa application procedure that can take weeks to complete, including fingerprinting and interviews at an embassy or consulate.

Under a visa waiver scheme, most Western Europeans -- plus Japanese and Australians -- can avoid the byzantine process, but they still need to pay $14 to enter the United States.

"If we institute a smarter visa policy, we can create 1.3 million US jobs" and add $859 billion to the economy by 2020, Roger Dow, chief executive of the US Travel Association, representing the travel and tourism industry, has said.

Legislation passed in March 2010 set up the Corporation for Travel Promotion -- which is renaming itself Brand USA -- to spearhead marketing efforts which historically have been fragmented among individual states and businesses.

Central to that message is a pixelated "USA" logo, unveiled Monday in London and a world away from the Stars and Stripes, that is meant to represent what the corporation calls "the United States of Awesome Possiblities."

"It is not about patriotism, flag-waving or chest-beating," says the corporation in a capsule explanation of the design. "It is meant to be welcoming, unexpected and inclusive."

Full-fledged marketing campaigns are scheduled to begin in March next year, tailored to each market and focusing on the great outdoors, urban excitement, culture and "indulgence."

"We have to rekindle the romance with the United States," Chris Perkins, chief marketing officer at the Corporation for Travel Promotion, told AFP.

"It pains me, as a proud American, but we're viewed as arrogant and brash, and we've never been out there saying: 'Please come'."

British SAS to Boost 2012 Olympics Security

British SAS

The Telegraph: SAS squads will be based in a secret riverside bunker by the Thames for the London Olympics to combat terrorist threats more effectively.

The Special Air Service teams will use high-speed rigid inflatable boats to avoid traffic and increase their response speed.

The special forces troopers have been training for months against the potential threat of a Mumbai-style attack, in which terrorists seize hotels or other civilian targets and defend them against the authorities.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “All scenarios are being anticipated. London will be protected like never before - and the message is clear: if anyone is fool enough to try to endanger the public at these Games they will be met with the swiftest retribution by the best equipped troops of our most elite fighting units.

“Troops can deploy by air and water and be on site in moments. Then you’ve got force on the ground while the situation is monitored by the air.

“Major evacuation plans are still being revised in case of a terrorist attack but the most important thing is having the access and ability to strike back at terrorists. That will be achieved and those plans are in place.”

The SAS are understood to have already run training drills with live ammunition at the Olympics Village in east London.

Special Boat Service units have also been training off the Dorset coast to tackle the threat from suicide bombers, it has been reported.

Last year, two former senior commanders of the SAS told The Sunday Telegraph that Britain's security forces would be unable to cope with a Mumbai-style attack in central London.

Colonel Richard Williams and Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb said that such a "paramilitary threat" would "overmatch" any land-based police force and turn London into a war zone.

World Travel Trends for 2012

News.com.au: Escape asked several travel experts what they thought would be tops in destinations and trends for 2012.

 

FEDERICO Folcia and Jia En Teo are the founders and chief executives of Roomorama (www.roomorama.com), the website that offers comfortable yet affordable short-term accommodation in urban areas across the globe, with more than 250,000 properties in 450 destinations.

What destinations will be popular in 2012?

Europe will be hugely popular because of the London Olympics. There will be an estimated 500,000 new visitors each day to London for the Games and many will take the opportunity to travel to close destinations like Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Berlin. South-East Asia will continue to be popular because of the strong Aussie dollar and the affordability of travelling in the region.

What experiences will define travel in 2012?

Travellers want to live like locals. They're not just looking to check off the typical tourist spots but to experience a place and leave with stories to tell. Short-term or vacation rentals will prove to be popular, especially since the peer-to-peer accommodation concept is catching on with many travellers as an alternative to hotel rooms.

What will be the best destinations to get off the beaten track in 2012?

Manila is a fast-growing metropolis and while people usually head straight to the beaches when they go to the Philippines, and skip the capital, it's a city with many hidden gems and even the malls have plenty of local boutiques and businesses rather than large chains. Sri Lanka is another great destination because it's still untouched by tourism and quite underrated with balmy weather, great local food, art and history, and it's still very affordable.

What will be the unusual destinations everyone is talking about in 2012?

Ukraine and the cities of Kiev, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Lviv, because of the UEFA Euro 2012 football finals, and Odessa, which is a beautiful city on the Black Sea.

If you could rent an apartment anywhere in the world, and stay there for a month, where would it be?

It would be Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam because it's historic, the cost of living is very affordable and it's possible to rent a fairly decent room for $10 a night, or a completely private apartment for $25 a night.

If time and money were no object, where would you like to spend your next holiday?

We would love to travel to Brazil and take a boat down the Amazon there's so much to see there that you would need a lot of time.

Are OWS Protests Hurting Tourism?

Poll Position: More than four out of ten Americans say they would be less inclined to visit New York City because of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protests. In a Poll Position national scientific telephone survey 42% of the people we asked said they would be less inclined to visit NYC because of the protests, 38% said the protests would have no impact on their decision and 17% said the protests would make them more inclined to visit the city.

The question led to noticeable differences along political lines. Republicans we polled said they would be less inclined by 62% to just 9% saying they would be more inclined and 24% telling us the OWS protests would have no impact.

Democrats countered with 29% saying the protests would make them more inclined to visit the city, 25% choosing less inclined and 43% saying the protests would not have any impact.

Among Independents, 36% would less inclined to visit, only 15% would be more inclined and 48% said the demonstrations would not have an impact on their decision.

Poll Position’s scientific telephone survey of 1,082 registered voters nationwide was conducted October 27, 2011 and has a margin of error of ±3%.

Qantas Dispute "Absolute Disaster" for Australian Tourism

Nine News: The decision by Qantas to suspend its domestic and international fleets will hit Australian tourism hard at a time when it was already doing it tough, a spokesman for the hotel industry said.

Tourism Accommodation Australia managing director Rodger (Rodger) Powell said the latest development in the Qantas dispute was an "absolute disaster" for the industry.

"There's undoubtedly immediate concern in terms of the impact of travelling customers, but I think the bigger concern is the longer term impact on the Australian tourism brand, both overseas and at home," he said.

"The tourism industry has just had one setback after another over the past 12 months, between fires, floods, cyclones and the high Australian dollar."

He welcomed the federal government's decision to take the matter to Fair Work Australia on Saturday night.

"We called on the prime minister a week ago to intervene, we're glad to see they have finally acted, it's just a shame its got this far," he said.

Qantas on Saturday grounded its entire domestic and international fleets indefinitely and announced a lockout of engineers, pilots and other employees beginning on Monday night.

The move comes as a result of a long-running industrial impasse between Qantas and three unions: the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA).

The federal government made an application at Fair Work Australia which will be heard at 10pm(AEDT) on Saturday in Melbourne.

Positive Winter Travel Trends

Travel Agent Central: Consumers are spending more time planning their winter trips and they are planning their vacations farther out, Tripology, Rand McNally’s online travel referral service, reports. The new Third Quarter Travel Trend Report also shows travelers spending more money on their winter and holiday vacations when compared with the average trip budgets reported in the summer and fall. The Travel Trend Report also provides insight into the top requested travel destinations for winter 2012.

Key findings from the 2011 Third Quarter Travel Trend report are as follows:

- The Top Five Most Requested Countries since January 2011 have been: U.S., Mexico, Italy, Bahamas and Jamaica

- The Top Five Most Requested Cities (for the 3rd quarter in a row) are: Las Vegas, Orlando, Cancun, Miami and Honolulu

- The Average Consumer Budget has risen to $5,710 per trip. This is a steady increase from the first quarter 2011, when the average consumer trip budget was $5,239 per trip. The average consumer trip budget during the winter travel season also increased considerably last year, rising from $4,784 in Q1 to approximately $5,663 per trip in Q3

- The number of days until trip departure (the amount of time between quote request and beginning of trip) increased to 130 days. This was a similar trend in Q3 2010, indicating that consumers tend to spend more time planning their vacations and plan their trips farther out during the winter and holiday travel period

- The most popular winter trip length is between three and four days, the second most popular trip length is four to five days and the third is a trip between seven and eight days. Over 76 percent of travelers’ requests were for a trip duration of fewer than eight days, which was similar to last year’s findings.

“Overall our Third Quarter Trend Report reveals a positive outlook for the winter travel season, as consumers continue to increase their trip budgets as well as their advanced planning of trips during this time of the year,” said John T. Peters, vice president and general manager of digital strategy and travel of Rand McNally.

“Because these trends show that consumers are spending more money and time planning their winter vacations compared to the summer and fall months, it also suggests that a greater number of consumers are currently seeking out the expertise and services of travel professionals to help them maximize their winter trip budgets and plan truly memorable vacations that they are willing to spend a little extra money on," Peters said.

Additionally, the Tripology Trend Report reveals the following Tripology.com stats:

- The demand for travel to Asia increased each month during Q3 2011

- Paris and Rome show enduring popularity for travelers to Western Europe

- Punta Cana is the most requested Caribbean winter travel destination

- The Top Ten Most Requested U.S. Cities are: Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, Honolulu, Maui, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, New Orleans and Boston. The top requested U.S. cities were relatively the same in 2010, with the exception of Boston, a newcomer to the top ten most requested list.

The Tripology Trend Report is sponsored by the Association of Travel Marketing Executives, and is published quarterly by Tripology, a service of Rand McNally.

Sin City Still Fuming Over Presidential Rants

Las Vegas Sun: President Barack Obama has a Sin City problem that won't go away.

Obama is counting on Nevada's support for re-election next year. He easily won the Las Vegas Valley in 2008 and will probably win the largely Democratic, urban center again next year.

But some Nevada state officials and residents of this economically ravaged state have been fuming over comments they perceived as rants against the tourism industry since he first made them two years ago, and Republicans are hoping that fury will point voters in their direction.

The friction resurfaced as Obama visited a Las Vegas neighborhood Monday as part of a nationwide tour to sell his jobs plan. The stop came as Republican presidential candidates, business titans and former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman continue to remind people that Obama has twice disparaged Las Vegas tourism _ this western swing state's largest employer.

The jabs are notable because casino-dependent Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and Obama can't afford to have voters blame him as his Republican rivals try to convince the nation that they would do a better job of turning the stalled economy around. Nevada's unemployment remained steady at 13.4 percent last month.

"He said it more than once," said former Nevada Gov. Bob List, a national Republican committeeman. "You can't un-ring the bell. You have to live with what you say. It just shows a lack of understanding of the engine that drives the state."

The feud began in 2009, when Obama admonished corporations using federal bailout money: "You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer's dime." A year later, Obama warned families against gambling away college tuition: "You don't blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you're trying to save for college."

The call for financial responsibility didn't sit well with some Las Vegans, and Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Nevada all lashed back at the time. Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Obama's most prominent ally in Congress and Nevada's senior senator, told Obama to "lay off Las Vegas."

With Obama campaigning for a second term, the president's critics are eager to call the outcry to mind.

"Perception is reality," said Republican Rep. Joe Heck, who represents southern Nevada. "After those statements were made, we had conventions call and pull out, so it did in fact cost Las Vegas business."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who won Nevada's caucuses in 2008, pointed to Obama's Vegas statements while campaigning here last week. He reminded voters of them in a statement sent out before Obama landed in Nevada Monday.

"My guess is it did not help when he talked down Las Vegas as a convention city, did it?" Romney told dozens of supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters in Las Vegas last week.

Obama tried to make amends Monday during a fundraiser with business leaders at the Bellagio casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

"I love coming to Vegas," he said. "The only people who love coming more is my staff. I would not be surprised if some of them missed the plane accidentally."

But the president did not allude to the tensions when he later spoke on a residential street in Las Vegas. In all, he spent only three hours in Nevada Monday. Amanda Hulsizer, 31, said she appreciated that Obama stopped by her street, but she said he hadn't completely redeemed himself for his earlier comments.

"You don't only blow money in Las Vegas, you can just as easily blow money in California at Disneyland," she said after the president's speech. Her husband lost his job on the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas saw 3.3 million visitors in August, 2.8 percent more than the same month last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. But gambling revenues were down 6.7 percent for the same period in Clark County, home to the glittering Las Vegas Strip and the vast majority of Nevadans.

Michael Bonner, chairman of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, said Obama's critics read too much into his Vegas comments.

"There was a measurable impact on convention and trade business following those comments, but the intent of the president was certainly not to damage the economy here," said Bonner, who has donated to Democratic and Republican candidates in recent years.

List, the former Republican governor, said Republicans plan to remind voters at every opportunity that Obama slammed the industry that influences the livelihoods of most Nevadans.

"A lot of people out of work won't forget it any time soon," List said.

Fantasy Fest Underway in Key West

Washington Post: Key West’s decadent Fantasy Fest is under way with a packed schedule of masquerade balls, street parties and costume contests.

This year’s theme is “Aquatic Afrolic.” The annual festival continues through Oct. 30 with nearly 50 events including a costume competition for pets and their owners and a headdress ball. An evening parade on Oct. 29 is expected to attract more than 50,000 revelers.

At the kickoff Coronation Ball Friday, Key West residents Dave Taylor and Surrey Westrupp were crowned king and queen. Candidates campaigned for their crowns by staging fundraisers that amassed $181,480 for the AIDS Help organization.

Fantasy Fest debuted in 1979 to bolster tourism during a slow period. Now, tourism officials said it pumps some $30 million into the Florida Keys economy each year.

First Segway Park Opens in Denmark

NY Daily News: The world's first off-road Segway course opened its doors in Aarhus, Denmark on Friday.

Modeled as a miniature version of Yellowstone National Park, the course offers riders the chance to steer their two-wheel Segway scooters through mountains and waterfalls in a giant indoor hall.

"We have 6,000 square meters (64,583 square feet) and have built a copy of Yellowstone National Park, with mountains and waterfalls and tracks ranging from granite to sea-shells -- all sorts of things. You get the feeling you're actually driving in the park," Paul Teichert told AFP.

"A trip in the hall is a cross between a flying carpet and skiing in the Alps. And for those who are doing one of the courses as a race, we have automatic timing mechanisms that make sure they don't cheat," Teichert said.

The Segway is a one person, two-wheel, self-balancing, electrical transportation unit. Teichert said the Danish park was the first of its kind in the world, "and will be the biggest for a long time to come." He said that in tests, women appeared to be better initial off-road drivers of Segways than men.

"They're more careful to start with. Men just go at it and end up on their behinds," he said.

He said senior executives of the US Segway company had announced they would be arriving in Denmark soon to study the hall. He added that security had been a primary concern for constructors and all tracks and courses had been approved by both police and Denmark's Technological Institute.

The Segway was introduced in 2002 amid great fanfare as a means of revolutionising urban transportation. It uses gyroscopes, computers and electric motors to cruise to 12 miles (19 kilometres) per hour.