Author: Lee Fletcher
Train companies are asking passengers to book their rail travel early for the upcoming festive season. Rail passengers in the UK are being asked to book their Christmas tickets as early as possible by Virgin Trains, a UK-based train company, to benefit from the best prices and ensure reserved seating for the busiest travel period of the year. Currently, the price for a single ticket for advance travel from London Euston to Birmingham is around GBP7.50; GBP12.00 from London Euston to Liverpool or Manchester; and GBP40.50 from London Euston to Glasgow. Although there is still some political uncertainty over which…
After completing a successful 2012 Olympic campaign, VisitBritain, the official tourism website for Great Britain, is strengthening its growth strategy for promoting the UK as a tourist destination. The agency is hopeful of attracting around 40 million visitors by 2020, a 3 percent increase year on year, which is expected to generate GBP8.7 billion in additional foreign exchange to the country, and create around 200,000 more jobs. The agency is currently in a consultation with various other agencies, and public organisations to decide how to make the country more tourist friendly. Christopher Rodrigues, the chairman of VisitBritain, said, ‘This summer…
Travel loving UK citizens are willing to cut their lifestyle costs so that they can afford to continue taking holidays, according to a recent survey. The research carried out by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), a UK-based travel agents association, has reported that in 2012 UK travellers have taken an average of 3.51 holidays in the UK or overseas, a decrease from 3.82 reported in 2011. One in five travellers researched has reported that an overseas holiday is a necessity they cannot do without, while one in ten travellers felt the same about a holiday in the UK.…
There are a number of dates throughout the year promoting variations of local, national or international Chocolate Day – as if we needed an excuse to indulge our sugar cravings! UK Chocolate Week is every October and there is even World Chocolate Day which took place on September 4th. Take a look at our guide to enjoying some of the best desserts, sweets and cakes in three of Thomas Cook’s most popular European destinations. Turkey Last minute Turkey holidays are perfect for those of you with a sweet tooth. Turkish delight is probably the best-known sugary snack from the Middle…
Emirates, a Gulf-based air carrier, has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Tourism Australia to develop tourism and related activities between the Gulf and Australia. As part of the agreement, both parties to the deal will spend up to AUD14.3m over the next three years on joint marketing activities. The deal underlines the airline’s intention to expand its alliances with other companies. It has already signed a 10-year code share deal with Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas. The new deal, which is believed to be the air carrier’s largest investment in a global tourism body so far, is…
Airports in the US are under pressure to offer more amenities to customers. In the past decade, as security measures have gained more and more importance over basic traveller amenities, passengers have found it increasingly tedious to spend time at airports, especially when delayed flights require them to be there for long periods. Now, a US airport, BWI Thurgood Marshall International, and Airmall USA, its developer of retail, food and beverage operations, are trying to offer better amenities to customers with a range of services at the airport. The airport now has spas and an airline club to entertain travellers…
Three hotels in Finland are to offer attractions that feature the Angry Birds theme. Angry Birds is a video game that has captured the attention of smart phone users all over the world. With children and adults alike being addicted to the game, three hotels in Finland have taken it to the next level by bringing its themes to the real world, and allowing guests to play the game without using their smart phones. They are opening Angry Birds themed activity parks that are not like typical theme parks. Instead of a smart phone app, players use their hands and…
Ryanair, the Ireland-based low cost airline, will be undergoing an investigation before it may be cleared of charges of noncompliance to safety standards while flying in France. The airline, which has been reporting flight incidents quite frequently recently, had to make an emergency landing at Valencia, in Spain. European Union rules make it mandatory for commercial aircraft to carry plenty of fuel to cope with a range of emergency events. On September 18, 2012 a delegation from the Spanish Ministry of Development, led by the Secretary General for Transport, met members of the Irish Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport,…
Travellers visiting foreign countries may now install an Android app in their smartphones, which could help them contact emergency services if required. The new app is called Distress Signal, and is being marketed as an ideal companion for British people travelling to foreign countries. The app uses SMS and GPS services to track the person requiring help, and may be a life saver in case of emergencies. It will send a text message with information on location, name, blood group, any allergies, and any other important information to the local emergency services from the user’s smartphone. The new app is…
Post 2012 Olympic Games, air bookings in UK fell during August 2012 from 2011 levels. Guild of Travel Management Companies, a UK-based professional association of travel companies, reported a 4.7% fall in overall air bookings in August 2012, through its BSP system of selling airfares, compared to the levels in August 2011. Bookings in August 2012 generated around GBP227 million. Calling the fall in airline bookings the ‘Olympic Effect’, the association has recorded a decrease in the total number of transactions by 2.4% to 499,600 in August 2012, with average transaction value down by 2.4% to GBP455.06, compared to the…