Author: News Team

It’s the peak of Miami’s warm summer, and tourists are nowhere to be seen. The city, usually one of the United States’ top summer tourism destinations, remains almost completely devoid of travellers or families, despite clear skies and a comfortable temperature. It’s a frequent scene throughout other cities in the region, and despite a series of pro-tourism efforts it seems unlikely to disappear. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was one of the most devastating in US history, filling the country’s southern coast with hundreds-of-thousands of gallons of unwelcome crude oil. But it doesn’t look as if the oil is scaring…

The collapse of travel firm Sun 4 U  has raised questions for thousands of British holidayers. With over one-thousand travellers facing extra fees and accommodation expenses due to the company’s closure, an industry-wide drop in confidence could soon happen. It would be the first of many hits to Britain’s travel industry throughout the year, but it may not hurt all operators. The high-end travel industry is fairly small in its visibility, but has remained highly profitable even throughout the financial crisis. Luxury holidays targeting those with a high net worth and unlimited holiday time have sold consistently over the last…

For over four decades, travel between the United States and Cuba has been restricted, if not outright banned for most citizens. While a number of workarounds exist to allow Americans to travel to the island, none have been endorsed or sponsored by the state. The United States’ current policy is one that appears to be lifted straight from a Cold War safety briefing, but it could soon disappear. The Obama administration has announced its intentions to limit restrictions on travel to Cuba, one of several moves aimed at freeing up the country’s current foreign policy towards the island. Cuba remains…

Colombia was once South America’s murder capital. The country was home to one of the world’s largest drug industries and a centre for mob-driven crime, with several high-profile international drug dealers residing within its borders. It was a reputation that put off tourism to the country for several decades, and it’s one that, for many, remains to this day. But despite its reputation, Bogota has emerged as one of South America’s safest, cleanest, and most interesting capital cities. Home to classical housing and a number of historic churches, the capital is the most popular destination in Colombia and one of…

Hoteliers have rejoiced about the increase in occupancy rates. With a twenty percent surge in the number of booked hotel rooms throughout the first half of 2010 and an increase in travel industry spending, it seems as if Britain’s travel-friendly population was back to its old habits. But there’s one demographic that’s missed out on the industry-wide praise: internet-savvy solo travellers. Hotel aggregator firms like Priceline and its Pacific subsidiary Agoda have helped solo travellers find low-cost room deals and fill gaps in hotel inventory, industry journalists claim. The surge in recent bookings is primarily due to families and business…

One of the UK’s top tourism spots could be in the middle of an unwelcome re-branding effort. The town of Newquay, renowned as Britain’s surf capital, is growing increasingly popular with students and recent graduates, particularly those looking for a place to party. The small Cornish resort town has also grown popular with school students at year end as a beach party destination. While its new popularity certainly pleases some, many locals aren’t so impressed with the town’s new audience. Underage drinking has become fairly common in the town, with a typical night in Newquay revealing drunken tourists, unconscious underage…

Employees of BAA ( formerly British Airlines Authority) are threatening to strike, a move which could spell disaster for Britain’s tourism industry. The six airports owned and operated by BAA cover several of the UK’s biggest travel and aviation regions, and could result in thousands of missed flights and cancelled appointments if closure is the final outcome. BAA was privatized in the late 1980s as part of efforts by the Thatcher government to minimize state control of assets. The company operates six airports within the United Kingdom and many more overseas, making it one of the largest of its type…

With airfares at an all-time low and inexpensive travel the preferred option for most Britons, a large portion of the country’s frequent travellers are jumping the pond for a holiday in the northeast USA. While New York City tends to receive the region’s major share of visitors, there’s certainly reason to skip the city and head north – the historically significant New England region is just a few miles up. New England is frequently skipped over by Britons visiting the United States, despite its historical importance for both nations. The region consists of the six states northeast of New York,…

Russia’s ongoing heat wave may have taken a turn for the worst. The fires, which have blazed on the edges of capital city Moscow for the better part of two weeks, have approached a secret nuclear research centre, inspiring panic amongst city residents and prompting embassies to advise against travel to the Russian capital. Moscow is currently engulfed in smoke and hazardous dust. The warning comes at a bad time for the Russian economy, which is already fighting the effects of one of the worst agricultural crises in recent history. With output levels at an all-time low and most exports…

Indian travel company MakeMyTrip recently debuted in the USA, drawing praise from expert travel industry analysts and a fair degree of controversy from its American competitors. After debuting its stock at $14 on the Nasdaq, the company’s shares gained over 67 percent towards the end of trading, moving over five million shares throughout the day and securing it a place in the US travel space. The online travel company is the largest of its type in India, securing both air and rail tickets for the country’s growing middle class. While critics have pointed to the country’s low internet usage rates…