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2003
2004 2005 2006
2007 2008
2008 Jan
Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec January
US travel organisations have highlighted the increasing number of
solo tourists. Approximately 1 in 10 travellers is a solo traveller.
Tour companies are looking at innovative ways of catering for this
growing market.
February
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier Emirates will commence a
direct daily service to Cape Town, South Africa in March 2008. This
follows the recent start of flights from Dubai to Johannesburg.
Tourist and Business leaders from both countries are anticipating a
significant increase in both business and leisure travellers.
March
Beijing has recently opened its newest airport terminal.
The terminal will accommodate an expected surge in visitors for the Summer
2008 Olympics. The new runway will also be able to handle the new
Airbus A380. Airport officials are predicting that over 64 million
visitors compared with 50 million in
2007.
April
The new terminal 5 (T5) at Heathrow Airport has suffered from some
major teething problems, resulting in flight cancellations and major
baggage-handling problems. The new T5 structure is a state of the
art building designed to put glamour back into air travel. Airport
bosses are confident that once staff become fully familiar with the
new terminal, the full benefits of T5 will be seen.
May
Taiwan is looking to increase the number of visitors from China to 1
million per year. Taiwanese tourist chiefs are hoping that the
influx of Chinese tourists will give the economy a major boost and
also help to relieve historic tensions between the two countries.
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2007 Jan
Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
January
The favourable economy and the Yen's strengthening against other
major currencies, have appeared to contribute to large numbers of
Japanese travellers flying abroad for the New Year holiday period. This
is despite higher ticket prices and travel costs overall, due to a
succession of recent fuel surcharge increases.
February
The Madrid based World Tourism Organization (WTO) have reported that
international tourism has set new records in 2006 with over 842
million tourist arrivals. This represents an increase of 4.5%
despite predictions of a downturn due to increased fuel prices,
terrorist threats, and flu infections. Surprisingly, Africa recorded
the largest growth at over 8.0%, which has been attributed in part
to the region's remoteness from conflict hotspots.
March
The European Union and United
States have agreed to a proposal allowing both US and European based
airlines increased flexibility to choose trans-Atlantic routes. The
proposal would allow airlines from Europe to fly from any EU
country to any destination in the USA with a reciprocal agreement
applying to US based airlines. It is anticipated that that this will
increase trans-Atlantic passenger numbers and reduce fares.
April
Chinese tourist officials are using the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
as a springboard for expansion of Asia as a cruise destination.
Other attractions including the Great Wall of China and the
Indonesian Islands are predicted to attract US and European cruise
passengers. To this end China is establishing a new cruise passenger
terminal at Shanghai Port with expansion planned in other cities.
May
Airline Virgin Atlantic have ordered 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliner
aircraft. The Dreamliner is noted for its fuel efficiency and will
burn 27% less fuel than an Airbus A340-300. The Virgin Atlantic
chairman - Sir Richard Branson is committed to using 'cleaner'
aircraft and is looking to power his fleet with alternative fuels.
June
Singapore is looking to increase its tourism industry. With larger
numbers of affluent Chinese, Indians and other Asians travelling
overseas, Singapore tourist chiefs are attempting to tap into this
market. To this end a number of major new attractions are being
constructed including two large casinos, a Universal Studios theme
park, and a ferris wheel.
July
This month the Boeing 787
Dreamliner will be officially unveiled. This is Boeing's most
efficient aircraft with it's ground breaking design resulting in
significant gains in fuel economy. Passengers will also be
carried in quieter and more roomy cabins than any other plane.
August
Managers of Elvis Presley's famous residence at Graceland Memphis
Tennessee want to revamp it with a $250 million project comprising -
a new visitors center, a conventions hotel, and a high-tech
museum that would provide the King with a brand new digital
life.
September
Singapore Airlines is running an auction for seats on the maiden
passenger flight of the airlines Airbus 380. Proceeds from the
auction will be given to Singapore and Australian charities. The
airline is due to commence flying on the Singapore - Sydney route in
October.
October
Air New Zealand are to carry out the first test flight of an
aircraft partially run on biofuel. The airline will team up with Rolls-Royce Group Plc. and Boeing Co.
for this project and are planning to conduct the test flights by
early 2009.
November
Under a special access agreement
between the European Union and China, France and it's capital Paris
are experiencing a huge influx of Chinese visitors who are spending
large amounts of money on luxury products, and are snapping
photographs beside iconic landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe and
the Eiffel Tower.
December
The Eurostar train service will now leave from St Pancras
International Station after moving from Waterloo. The new service
will cut the average journey time between London and Paris by 22
minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes.
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2006
Jan
Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
January
African tourist organisations have highlighted the benefit of
tourism to the continent's economy. In 2005 Kenya received almost
600,000 tourists bringing in over $570 million, approximately 12
percent of its GDP. Kenyan tourist officials confidently predict
that over 1 million tourists will visit Kenya in 2006.
February
According to a recent survey - Japanese
and Chinese travellers are poised to challenge the Germans for the
accolade of "globe's most active tourists". This is due to
a recent improvement in the Japanese economy and the increasing
demand by Chinese travellers for business and long haul tourist
trips.
March
At the recently held Middle East Travel and Tourism Summit 2006
conference, the Jordanian Minister for Tourism highlighted the need
to promote Middle East travel and tourism to achieve long term
economic growth in the region. The two day conference was held in
Jordan beside the Dead Sea and attracted participation from over 19
countries, including Britain, Egypt, Iran and Turkey.
April
Travellers in Europe may soon benefit from plans by The
European Commission to limit the international mobile phone roaming
costs users can be charged for using their phones away from their
resident countries.
May
US airlines are finding that price rather than brand loyalty has
become more of a priority for
today's customers. The rise of budget carriers, re-organisation of
many major airlines and the decline of frequent flyer programs are
all factors contributing to this change.
June
Tourism experts predict that the Chinese province of Hainan will
become a major destination for UK visitors in 2007. The islands of
Hainan have been referred to as the "Hawaii of Asia" with
superb beaches and clean blue water. The exclusive resort of Yalong
Bay is being developed to cater for the expected influx of western
European tourists.
July
South Africa is experiencing rapid growth in visitor numbers. In
2005 over 7.4 million tourists arrived, an increase of over 10%
compared to the previous year. A major attraction is the Kruger
National Park with it's Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Rhino and
Buffalo) drawing thousands of wildlife enthusiasts. South Africa is
also the host for the 2010 Football World Cup Finals which will
further cement it's growing reputation as an attractive and
affordable destination.
August
Dubai is currently experiencing rapid construction of hotel
complexes and other tourist developments. These include the Palm
Island resort, Dubai Marina, Dubai World and Burj Dubai. The Burj
Dubai project includes the construction of one of the world's
tallest skyscrapers due to be completed in 2008 Dubai...
September
Singapore received 913,000 foreign tourists in July of this year,
the highest monthly total in the history of the Singapore tourism
industry. High numbers of visitors are also anticipated for the IMF
(International Monetary Fund) annual meeting to be held in Singapore
on September 19-20 Singapore...
October
Bangkok has just opened it's new international airport. The old
overcrowded Don Muang airport traffic has been transferred to the
new Suvarnabhumi Airport which is capable of handling 76 flights per
hour and 45 million passengers per year. It's modern design
comprising steel, concrete and lots of glass lets in natural light
while keeping out the tropical heat. Bangkok...
November
Panama has recently approved a major expansion project to the
Panama Canal. The project will cost nearly $6 Billion, and will
include the construction of new access channels and a 3rd set of 180
feet wide locks. The new locks will be capable of handling a new
generation of super tankers and container ships. The project
completion is planned for the year 2014, one hundred years after the
opening of the original canal.
December
According to the Passenger
Shipping Association (PSA), 1.25 UK citizens have taken cruise
holidays this year. The current 2006 figure of 1.25 million cruise
passengers is expected to rise to 1.35 million in 2007 making
cruising on ocean liners and riverboat cruisers one of the fastest
growing tourist sectors.
Top 2005 Jan
Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec January
The
number of dead from the Indian Ocean Tidal Waves could rise
above 100,000, the International Red Cross has said.
(Information and donations can be made through the site below).
International
Red Cross February
The Airbus A380, the world's
largest passenger plane has been presented to the world at it's
construction hanger near Toulouse in France. The giant aircraft
built by European company Airbus will undergo test flights in March
2005.
March
Malaysia is planning to
establish a special terminal for budget air carriers at Kuala
Lumpur's international airport. This development is intended to
expand it's status as a regional hub rivalling similar expansions at
Singapore and Bangkok.
April
SpiceJet the Indian low cost carrier is planning to entice millions
of train passengers to travel by air for both business and domestic
journeys. Indian air travel is anticipated to grow by about 25 - 30%
in the next 5 years as salaries rise.
May
Asian Airlines are buying new planes
as the region's rapidly growing economy increases demand for
domestic and international travel. This demand is making Asia the
latest battleground for the globe's two top aircraft makers: Boeing
and Airbus.
June
Michael O'Leary, Chief
Executive of the low-cost air
carrier Ryanair , remains
confident that the budget airline demand in Europe is still
increasing. O'leary is currently celebrating Ryanair's 20th
birthday.
July
Singapore Airines (SIA) are due to introduce in-flight
interactive language tuition. In conjunction with Berlitz
International the airline will provide 11 languages on it's
entertainment system. The languages will include English, French,
German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese &
Japanese.
August
As part of his plan to move Ukraine towards European Union
membership, President Viktor Yushchenko has extended visa-free
travel for travelers from the European Union beyond the previous
deadline of September 2005.
September
Millions of Americans are holidaying in Hawaii this year.
Hawaii tourism chiefs are crediting this boom, in large part, to
world unrest, including terrorism, which has led to many Americans
travelling to safer destinations within U.S. borders.
October
New York State wineries are
attracting almost three times as many visitors as a decade ago.
There are now 212 wineries between Long Island and Lake Erie
compared to only 19 in 1975. This is making the wine industry New
York State's fastest growing sector in agriculture and tourism.
Source: New York Agricultural Statistics Service
November
Nearly 10 years after a 36-year civil war, Guatemala is developing
into a top tourist destination. The country has something for
everyone including - tropical rain forests, fast flowing rivers,
over 30 volcanoes, unspoilt beaches and ancient ruins from the Mayan
civilization.
December
A Boeing 777 has recently
established a long-range flight record by making the non-stop
journey from Hong Kong to London. The
trip took 23-hours covering over 20,000 km. This has opened up new
route opportunities such as Miami - Taipei, Los Angeles - Dubai,
Sydney - Chicago, and Houston - Karachi.
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2004
Jan
Feb Mar Apr
May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
January
Foreigners entering U.S. airports and
seaports, except those from Western Europe and a handful of other
countries, will soon have their fingerprints scanned and their
photographs snapped as part of a new program designed to enhance
border security.
February
Many US Airlines are having to adapt
to customers whose expectations are changing more rapidly than
anticipated. Customers demands for lower fares are limiting revenue
opportunities and airlines will have to lower costs related to
selling tickets...
March
According to the National
Transportation Safety Board - Air travel would be safer if airlines
weighed their passengers from time to time to make sure they are
aware of how much weight their planes are carrying.
April
The Statue of Liberty will reopen to the public this summer,
according to officials. The
Statue was closed immediately after the September 11 terrorist
attacks and has undergone upgrades that were necessary before
reopening. At the moment
visitors can visit Liberty Island but are not allowed inside the
151-foot statue.
May
EasyJet, the UK based
low-fares airline, have set up a base at Schonefeld Airport, Berlin,
Germany. EasyJet have stated that the Berlin base would become its
biggest outside the UK and they expect to carry 1.5 million
passengers in the first 12 months. EasyJet and close rival Ryanair
have led the expansion of low-fares air travel from the UK to the
rest of Europe.
June
The recovery of the world airline industry, following the SARS
crisis and the Iraq war, is been hampered by high oil prices. Fuel
costs are about 16% of an airline's running costs and with fuel
prices at 55% higher than 2003 this issue is set to be high on the
agenda of the International Air Transport Association's annual
meeting, to be held in Singapore this month.
July
A new high speed train
service will connect St. Petersburg (Russia) and Helsinki (Finland).
The service will begin in 2007 it was announced by Russian Railways
president Gennady Fadeyev. The new trains will travel up to 250
kilometers an hour (155 mph) reducing the journey time from more
than five hours to three.
August
The USA and China have signed an agreement to increase the number of
passenger and freight flights between the two countries. The deal
will add 14 new passenger flights a week for 2004, starting in
August, with a planned expansion to 249 flights a week within 6
years as compared to the present limit of 54.
September
Greece is hoping that international praise for the Olympic
Games will see an increase in tourist visits.
To support this view, The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist
Agencies has already reported that bookings for September and
October are up 10 percent from the same period last year.
October
A group from California will
launch a campaign to claim a $10 million prize by sending a
privately funded manned craft into sub-orbital space. Their craft -
SpaceShipOne, has so far achieved that feat by reaching an
altitude of 328,491 feet (62.5 miles approx) on its initial flight
in June.
November
A new combined air traffic
and weather system will help Airports manage passenger queues more
efficiently by being able to predict busy hours. The system is
called PaxFlow and was developed at IBM's Research facility in
Zurich.
December
The Chinese city of
Shanghai is planning to extend its high speed MAGLEV (magnetic
levitation) line in time for the World Expo which it is hosting in
2010. The line is the world's only commercially run MAGLEV
system.
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2003
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May
Jun Jul Aug
Sep Oct Nov
Dec
January
Europe's third largest airline Lufthansa will become the first
airline to offer inflight Internet connection.
February
The Federal Aviation Administration is asking airlines to weigh
passengers and bags on small commuter planes similar to the one that
crashed in North Carolina this month.
March
Airbus parent EADS was down more than seven percent early on Monday
as Europe's biggest planemaker joined a fall in airline shares, hit
by risks of lower orders from war-hit carriers.
April
The rigorous screening of international travelers is among measures
included in a six-point plan adopted by Asian leaders to try and
control the outbreak of the deadly SARS virus.
May
Research findings this month have found that turning off your mobile
phone during flights and keeping your luggage weight within the
recommended aviation guidelines could make your flight more safe.
June
European Union governments handed over control of their skies
Thursday as they seek a single region-wide air travel market.
July
A second day of talks between British
Airways and unions to resolve a dispute that disrupted the travel
plans of 100,000 passengers collapsed in the early hours of
Wednesday.
August
The Department of Homeland Security is evaluating about a dozen
overseas airports to determine their vulnerability to attacks with
shoulder-fired missiles.
September
A mammoth
trans-continental rail project to link the northern Australian city
of Darwin with the southern city of Adelaide is just months away
from coming into operation.
October
California's wildfires
wreaked havoc with travel plans, disrupting air traffic nationwide
and forcing weekend gamblers on their way back from Las Vegas to
find alternate routes.
November
The U.S. and Britain have warned their citizens to proceed
cautiously in Istanbul after terrorists attacked the British
Consulate and a British-owned bank, killing at least 26 and wounding
hundreds.
December
The UK government are planning to place armed sky marshals
on some international flights.
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