Author: News Team

South Africa’s estimated £2.6 billion investment in infrastructure and media for the recent World Cup is paying off. While the games are over and the country’s stadiums significantly more empty (albeit less noisy) the country is experiencing a continued period of high tourism. More travellers arrived in South Africa during the first seven months of 2010 than any year before it, data shows. It’s easy to point to the World Cub for the country’s success, but doing so ignored the huge amount of long-term planning that went into South Africa’s investments. As one of Africa’s most stable and developed nations,…

A new survey from Hotels.com has revealed that London’s taxis are the most friendly, comfortable, and safe in the world. The survey and complete report asked users to contribute their experiences in taxis around the world, pointing out how safe they felt and how comfortable the ride was. Britain’s capital took the top spot, closely followed by other major European cities such as Madrid. Surprisingly, it was taxi capital New York City that came in last place for ‘taxi quality’, with users suggesting that despite the city’s large fleet of go-anywhere transportation, the surly and abrasive nature of many taxi…

The cost of travelling within Australia has decreased significantly over the past five months, giving an increasingly large amount of the population access to low-cost fares and simply travel options. A study of airline prices has revealed that passengers in Australia and New Zealand enjoy some of the cheapest in the world, with flight ‘value’ measured in distance travelled and compared to fares. The value on offers has been most visible throughout June and July, where the low cost of travelling between Australia’s eastern states lead to a surge in short-distance bookings. The most popular route was that between state…

As Europe’s third most visited country, Germany’s major centres certainly aren’t unfamiliar with the sound of rapid tourism. From Berlin’s massive shopping promenades to the historical buildings just hours south in Munich, the country is home to one of Europe’s most developed and friendly tourism industries – one that’s growing while others in Europe battle a drop in overnight stays. But while most tourists spend their time in Germany’s major centres and historical cities, a growing number are opting for an alternative accommodation option. Home to some of Europe’s largest and most effectively preserved castles, the ultra-niche German castle rental…

Americans are travelling less. Industry leaders have blamed the decline in travel on falling income figures and a lack of savings, despite the economy’s slow progress towards complete recovery and the nation’s penchant for spending. International travel, once a standard annual activity for middle class families throughout the nation, is now considered a luxury that may have to wait a year. But one American tourism icon continues to attract visitors in record numbers: Las Vegas. The town that truly defines sin has seen continued growth in its tourism industry, bringing in a record eighteen million visitor throughout the first six…

The age-old postgraduate holiday is growing up. While extended holidays amongst recent graduates and former students have been popular for several decades, an increasing number of graduates have spent their time volunteering in other countries while abroad. Charitable organisations have seen an increase in the amount of time donated by high-skill grads, particularly in impoverished Africa. There are hundreds of international volunteer organisations offering graduates the chance to work in foreign countries. While most are located in Africa and South Asia – two of the world’s regions with the largest degrees of income inequality and poverty – a growing number…

With America’s Labor Day holiday fast approaching, tourism firms are predicting an increase in the number of families leaving their homes. While flight costs are down across the United States due to the poor economy, industry experts have stated that prices are likely to increase over the weekend as more families opt to avoid traffic congestion and lengthy road journeys. The Triple A has predicted a ten percent increase in the amount of American families travelling over fifty miles by road, pointing to past data as an indicator of this year’s travel increase. Congestion has historically been an issue on…

Over the last decade, low-cost carriers and budget airlines have expanded their reach to a point that few could have predicted. With the growing cost of travel and declining levels of consumer savings, they certainly occupy a niche that’s very much in demand today. But alongside the massive growth in the budget airline sector is a steady level of consumer displeasure, particularly at extra fees. North American Spirit Airlines is the latest low-cost carrier to cause a consumer fuss. After charging consumers between $20 and $45 to take their carry-on bags onboard the plane, the company became a popular media…

Hotel occupancy rates are climbing, albeit at a fairly sluggish pace. While this presents a difficult situation for many of the world’s largest accommodation chains, it’s a golden opportunity for low-cost travellers and bargain seekers. In an effort to increase occupancy and boost financial records, many of the world’s most comfortable hotel chains are offering record low prices. But does that really make a chain hotel a good deal? The majority of international travellers still opt to stay in a major chain hotel, with industry leader Accor noting that despite financial concern, most travellers are still staying in well-known hotels…

The recession once extended into the artistic world. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art had made a habit of recycling its older collections, reusing pieces of work, and piecing though its back catalogue in search of items to display. Patronage was down and the museum was operating at its lowest level in decades, leading many to believe the recession was taking its toll on public centres. But a new exhibition highlighting the work of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is drawing in guests more quickly than any before it. An estimated 730,000 people attended the exhibition between the end of April…