Tag Archives: tourism

Industry Group: Virus Could Cost Airlines $100B+

The Associated Press reports: The International Air Transport Association says the virus outbreak that began in China could cost airlines as much as $113 billion in lost revenue due to the collapse of air travel. Representatives of the airline industry group said Thursday after a working meeting in Singapore that the industry urgently needs help from governments in waiving some …

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500,000+ Brits Stranded In Tour Company Bankruptcy

CNN International reports: British tour operator Thomas Cook collapsed Sunday night, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers and putting 21,000 jobs at risk. The 178-year-old company said in a statement that its board “concluded that it had no choice but to take steps to enter into compulsory liquidation with immediate effect” after talks on a financial rescue failed. All Thomas …

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China Warns Against US Travel Due To Shootings

Axios reports: China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a travel advisory, warning citizens against traveling to the U.S., effective until December 31, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday. “Noting the frequent occurrence of shootings, robberies and theft in the United States recently, the ministry warned Chinese tourists to fully assess the risks of traveling there,” the news agency …

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Cruise Line To Drop Brunei Stops Over Anti-Gay Law

Travel Agent Central reports: Princess Cruises is looking to change its calls to Brunei after the destination introduced a harsh penal code that includes laws that make gay sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death, a spokesperson for the cruise line tells Travel Agent. “Princess Cruises is aware of the news stories circulating about the country of Brunei and …

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EU To Require Visas From Americans Starting In 2021

NBC News reports: In two years, the European Union will begin implementing a new travel visa as a requirement for U.S. citizens and citizens from 59 other countries to enter. The EU cited concerns over illegal migration and terrorism as the reasons for the increased security measures. Currently, Americans traveling to Europe for 90 days or less don’t need a …

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Nebraska Tourism Pitch: “There’s Nothing To Do Here”

The Omaha World-Herald reports: Nebraska’s new tourism marketing campaign concedes that the state is a bit boring, yet it hopes to lure travelers by highlighting that you can escape noisy cities and create your own fun. “Nebraska Nice” is out. “Honestly, it’s not for everyone” is the new tagline in ads. The new ad pitch, which leans on self-deprecating humor, …

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REPORT: Cuba To Get 248-Room LGBT Resort

According to the Mexican news site ContraMuro.com and Forbes Mexico, a 248-room LGBT resort featuring five bars and three restaurants will open next year on or near (this is unclear) Cuba’s resort island Cayo Guillermo. The “luxurious five-star” hotel is reportedly the project of MGM Mutha Hotels, which currently operates about two dozen resorts in Europe and India, and already …

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Pay-To-Pee App To Launch For NYC Restaurants

The New York Post reports: Luluapp — a mobile app that, for a fee, promises to direct tourists and other assorted weak bladders to the nearest available bathroom — says it has already signed up more than 100 New York restaurants and bars ahead of its summer launch. “Instead of paying a lot of money for a Facebook or Yelp …

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CUBA: State Department Halts US Visas Indefinitely, Reduces Personnel Over Sonic Attacks On Diplomats

The Associated Press reports: The United States is warning Americans against visiting Cuba and ordering more than half of U.S. personnel to leave the island, senior officials said Friday, in a dramatic response to what they described as “specific attacks” on diplomats. The decision deals a blow to already delicate ties between the U.S. and Cuba, longtime enemies who only …

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FLORIDA: Key West Reopens For Tourists

USA Today reports: Two weeks after Hurricane Irma devastated the Florida Keys, the first cruise ship docked Sunday in this southernmost city, providing the first boost of tourist dollars to the storm-ravaged area. Key West Mayor Craig Cates said he agonized over the appropriate time to welcome tourists against to his city, which was spared from the worst of Irma’s …

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Foreign Tourism To USA Sags Under Trump

The New York Times reports: New figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce show a drop in international visitors to the United States by close to 700,000 in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the previous year. European countries were down 10.1 percent, and Mexico was off 7.1 percent in the quarter. The largest drops were from the …

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Tourism Industry Firm Forecasts $18 Billion Annual Decline And Loss Of 107,000 Jobs Because Trump

CNN Money reports: President Trump says he wants to keep out people who threaten the security of the United States. But his policies are discouraging tourists and threatening the American travel business, experts say. One study forecasts a 10.6 million decline in visitors this year and next. The drop — nearly 7% of expected travelers — will cost the U.S. …

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TEXAS: New Tourism Study Pegs Potential Annual Bathroom Bill Losses At $3.3B And 35,000 Jobs

The San Antonio Express-News reports: A proposed law to prevent transgender Texans from using bathrooms tied to their gender identity could cost the state more than $3 billion in annual tourism business, according to an economic impact study published Monday. The state’s nearly $129 billion tourism industry would take a $3.3 billion hit each year and see an annual loss …

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NEW YORK CITY: Marketing Officials Forecast $600M Decline In Tourism Revenue Because Donald Trump

The New York Times reports: For the first time in seven years, New York City officials expect the number of foreign visitors to decrease, a drop they attribute to the protectionist policies and rhetoric of President Trump — saying that those moves are scaring off many of the visitors who have helped fuel the city’s robust growth since the last …

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New Orleans Tourism Bureau Posts Beautiful Affirmation Of LGBT Tourism: We Welcome Everyone [VIDEO]

From the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation: New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC) and members of the New Orleans community gathered together during Mardi Gras 2017 to create a tourism video letting potential visitors know that New Orleans welcomes everyone. Conceived by NOTMC’s advertising agency of record, 360i, and directed by Trent Jaklitsch of Gravy Films, the spot illustrates New …

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SpaceX Founder Elon Musk Reveals That Two Paying Passengers Will Get A Ride Around The Moon In 2018

Gizmodo reports: Well, here’s a bit of space news we weren’t expecting: Today, future Martian overlord and SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced that in 2018, the company will fly two private citizens around the Moon in its Dragon 2 spacecraft, carried by its extremely powerful Falcon Heavy rocket. While the voyagers’ names have not been disclosed, according to SpaceX, a …

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Fort Lauderdale Becomes “World’s First” Destination To Use Transgender Models In Mainstream Advertising

Via press release: The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau will launch a new global marketing and advertising campaign on January 9th featuring three transgender models, and will become the world’s first destination to use transgender models in mainstream destination advertising. Greater Fort Lauderdale’s campaign, which also features straight, gay and lesbian models, follows the destination’s long and storied …

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BRITAIN: Post-Brexit Travel Within European Union Likely To Require Visa Application And £40 Fee

The Independent reports: Families were warned of a possible £40 ‘holiday tax’ to travel to the EU as the price of Brexit, after a bombshell Government admission. Home Secretary Amber Rudd revealed that a Brussels scheme that would require permission to be granted – and a fee paid – before departure could be adopted, saying “We don’t rule it out.” …

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FLORIDA: Britain Issues Sex Warning For Tourists

The Telegraph reports: Approximately 50,000 British holidaymakers currently in Florida should avoid unprotected sex for the rest of the summer holidays because of the risk from Zika virus, according to government advice. An outbreak of four mosquito-transmitted cases yesterday prompted Public Health England (PHE) to advise pregnant women to consider postponing non-essential travel to the southern US state. But for …

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British Government To March In 10 US Pride Events

Via press release: As part of the Love is GREAT campaign, the UK government will participate in local Pride events in 10 cities across the US to highlight the UK as a champion of LGBT equality and a global leader in human rights across policy, business, arts and culture, and tourism. The UK is proud to be recognized as one …

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