Author: News Team

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…

It’s the world’s biggest travel website, and it’s revolutionising the industry for both industry leaders and independent attractions. The website is, of course, TripAdvisor, one of the most prominent and influential community-driven websites in the travel space. Since its slow rise to popularity in early 2001, the website has grown into a do-all travel portal, and it’s soon to grow even more. Founder and CEO Stephen Kaufer has made it clear that TripAdvisor is his own creation. Despite a series of proposed sales and large offers from other travel industry leaders, the remains in Kaufer’s hands and is operated by…

For most truant schoolchildren, it’s illness that’s keeping them at home. But new figures researched by the Department of Education have suggested that the second-largest cause of school truancy has been the family holiday. With peak-season travel prices often unattainable given the economic state, more families are opting to plan their holidays in off-peak periods, taking their children with them. It’s a phenomenon that the department wishes to crack down on, claiming that the midterm holidays simply aren’t in the best interests of children. A series of new fines could go into effect next year, an expert within the education…

With the recent Philippines hostage situation dominating headlines, travel warnings and outright bans are in the spotlight once again. Hong Kong is one of the latest to advise its citizens to avoid travelling within the country, while a series of other foreign offices have advised holidayers to go with caution in mind, avoiding obvious security threats and potential high-risk areas. The unfortunate reality, however, is that most of these travel warnings will go ignored. Officials in Australia have noticed that, despite an increase in travel warnings against Fiji, the amount of people visiting the island remains at record high levels.…