5 Mar, 2013
Imtiaz Muqbil’s Columns in Lookeast Magazine
Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil writes two columns a month in Lookeast magazine, one of Thailand’s leading consumer travel publications. Here are some of the recent columns: The Next Big Thing: Northeast Thailand China is Now Dominant Force in Thai Tourism Chiang Mai, North Thailand Set to Boom Top 10 Reasons to Hold [...]
more…13 Sep, 2012
Airline Crews blamed for 40% of smuggling in Shanghai
September 13, 2012 – Airline crews accounted for about 40 percent of the suspects who smuggled items into the city on flights so far this year, Shanghai Customs announced yesterday. Customs detected 185 cases of smuggling in the first eight months of this year. Passengers accounted for the majority, at 108 cases, and airline crew [...]
more…8 May, 2012
Orient-Express Hotels Reports 1Q Earnings Growth, Net Loss
HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH, http://www.orient-express.com) (the “Company”), owners or part-owners and managers of 46 luxury hotel, restaurant, tourist train and river cruise properties operating in 23 countries, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. “In the first quarter of 2012, the Company’s [...]
more…2 May, 2012
PATA Conference Highlights Malaysia’s Top 15 Cultural And Natural Attractions
The PATA annual conference held in Kuala Lumpur between 19-22 April 2012 allowed Malaysia to showcase some of its most important visitor attractions. The following is a compilation of 15 of the country’s top cultural and natural attractions – ranging from national parks to mosques and theme parks. One prominent attraction has been identified in [...]
more…30 Apr, 2012
Beijing Theaters to Get Ticket-Price Subsidy
BEIJING (China Daily) 30 April 2012 – The Beijing municipal government has decided to subsidize large and medium-sized theaters, encouraging them to offer more low-price tickets to audience. From Monday to December, 15 theaters with capacities from 500 to 3,000 seats will get subsidy every month for performances such as Chinese operas, dramas, dance operas, [...]
more…29 Apr, 2012
Cruise Industry Report Woos Travel Agents
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 27, 2012. (BUSINESS WIRE)–Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced today the launch of a new report calling for a travel-industry dialogue aimed at elevating the role of the travel agent industry, a critical sales force for the entire travel and tourism industry. CLIA’s new report, “From Travel Agent to ‘Travel Advisor’: [...]
more…25 Apr, 2012
Australia Provides Financing “Security” for Airports Development
24 April 2012, (Minister for Infrastructure & Transport) – The Federal Labor Government has today announced that all federally leased airports will be offered the protection of a Tripartite Deed, giving them greater certainty in securing financing for infrastructure developments. The following statement was issued by Minister for Infrastructure & Transport Anthony Albanese: Last year, [...]
more…15 Apr, 2012
“Welcome to Palestine” Campaign: Letter to Global Church Leaders & News Update
Bethlehem, 15 April 2012 – The following is the full text of a letter from Welcome to Palestine Campaign to Global Church Leaders in the spirit of the Kairos document (http://kairospalestine.ps/). As Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter, we Palestinians also welcome international visitors to Palestine as has always happened this season for hundreds of years. This [...]
more…5 Apr, 2012
Close to Being Wiped Off the Map: Jews Control 85% of Historical Palestine
RAMALLAH, March 29, 2012 (WAFA) – Jews constitute around 52% of the total population living in historical Palestine and utilize more than 85% of the total area of the land, press release issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said Thursday. Arabs make the remaining 48% but are allowed to utilize only 15% of [...]
more…5 Apr, 2012
More Chinese Mainland Tourists Get Nod to Visit Taiwan
BEIJING/TAIPEI, (Xinhua), 2012-04-02 — Residents of ten additional Chinese mainland cities will be allowed to travel to Taiwan as independent tourists, according to a deal reached between organizations from both sides of the Strait on Sunday. Residents of Tianjin, Chongqing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Chengdu will be allowed to visit Taiwan individually starting from April [...]
more…4 Apr, 2012
African Cinema Explodes on the Web To Combat Colonial Mindset, Force Change
NEW YORK, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — As the democratic process in Africa grows momentum and the people express their will, news from the Continent continues to dominate the headlines. The people are increasingly challenging the status quo, their efforts recalling the works and philosophy of the late author and director Ousmane Sembene, known as [...]
more…4 Apr, 2012
EU Aviation Ban Update Now Lists 46 Indonesian, 51 Philippines Carriers
Brussels, 03 April 2012 (Source: European Union Media release) – The European Commission today adopted the 19th update of the European list of air carriers which are for safety reasons subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. The list of 279 carriers includes 46 in Indonesia and 51 in the [...]
more…3 Apr, 2012
U.S. Jewish Billionaire Wins Former Shepherd Hotel Land; Palestinian Owners to Fight On
JERUSALEM, April 2, 2012 (WAFA) – The Israeli Supreme Court Monday rejected an appeal by the heirs of the late Jerusalem mufti, Hajj Amin Husseini, against the Israeli government sale of the residence, also known as the Shepherd Hotel, located in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Editor’s Comment This report is further proof [...]
more…3 Apr, 2012
US$43 million ADB Loan to Uplift Tourism Infrastructure in India
New Delhi, (Press Information Bureau) April 2, 2012 – The Government of India (GOI), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and States of Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand today signed a $43.84 million loan agreement for the second tranche of Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism. The Program was approved in 2010 for a total loan package of [...]
more…31 Mar, 2012
Australia Seeks Public Comment for Strategy to Curb Growing Racism
Canberra, 29 March 2012 — Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke has called on all Australians to get involved in the development of a National Anti-Racism Strategy for the country. The Government’s National Anti-Racism Partnership, led by Dr Szoke, today launched a discussion paper, website and online survey to kick start the conversation about addressing [...]
more…30 Mar, 2012
UNESCO to Launch Project for Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Myanmar
Bangkok, 30 March 2012 (UNESCO Press release) – UNESCO together with the Ministry of Information and Culture will launch the project “Capacity Building to Safeguard Cultural Heritage in Myanmar” in a ceremony at 9:00 am on 4 April 2012 at the Parkroyal Hotel in Yangon. The Deputy Minister of Culture, HE Daw Sandar Khin, the [...]
more…29 Mar, 2012
BRICS Leaders Meet in New Delhi, Push More Intra-BRICS Trade & Business
New Delhi, March 28, 2012, (Press Information Bureau) – India is hosting the Fourth Summit of the leaders of Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa (BRICS) in New Delhi 29 March 2012. On 28 March, the Trade Ministers of the BRICS nations met for the second time since their first meeting in Sanya, China [...]
more…27 Mar, 2012
Bethlehem – The Politics of Tourism
At first glance one may presume that Palestine has a booming tourism sector; the vast majority of sites important to Christian pilgrims are located in the area and to the naked eye, places such as Bethlehem are brimming with tourists much of the year round. However, there are many things misleading about this first impression. [...]
more…24 Mar, 2012
Report Claims IPTV can Boost In-room Hotel Entertainment Revenues
DENVER, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – iBAHN, a supplier of IP-based entertainment and information services for the hospitality and meeting industries, today published a whitepaper: IPTV: Delivering a Higher Return on HDTV Investments. It is compiled from research and input from the hospitality industry, and responds to common pain points heard from hotel clients: despite investments [...]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Human Rights Watch Says Abuses Continue in Strategic Kachin State
BANGKOK, March 20, 2012 – The complexity of the process that will underpin system-change in Burma was further underscored on March 20, 2012 when Human Rights Watch (HRW) unveiled a report about alleged human rights violations in Kachin state, the northernmost state of Burma, strategically bordering China and home to a Chinese-supported hydropower dam that [...]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Bangladesh & Entire Region Will Benefit if Myanmar Reforms Progress – Ambassador Kazi Hussain
BANGKOK – The opening up of Myanmar will generate ripple-effect benefits for neighbouring Bangladesh, facilitate linkages between Southeast and South Asia and potentially contribute to the emergence of new development paradigm in the Asian Century, Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Kazi Hussain said. In an interview, Mr. Hussain said the significance of the changes in Myanmar [...]
more…23 Mar, 2012
UNESCO Training Course To Help Myanmar Draft New Media Laws
Yangon, (UNESCO Media release) – Myanmar’s Ministry of Information in co-operation with UNESCO recently organized a review workshop on the country’s first draft media laws in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw. “Myanmar is now transforming to a democratic society,” said U Ye Htut, Director General of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division, Ministry of Information [...]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Airlines for America (A4A) Blasts Bid To Double Airport Security Tax
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today called on Congress to consider further efficiency within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – not further taxes on airline passengers as proposed in the fiscal year 2013 budget passed by the House Budget Committee. The budget [...]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Australia Relaxes Visa Policies to Draw More Foreign Students
22 March 2012 (Ministry of Immigration & Citizenship) – The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today announced key changes to the student visa program recommended by the Knight Review will commence from 24 March, as part of the government’s commitment to position Australia as a preferred study destination for international students. ‘International [...]
more…20 Mar, 2012
Extremist Jewish Settlers Grab More Palestinian Water Sources – UN Report
UN Headquarters, Mar 19 2012 (UN News Centre) – Palestinians have increasingly lost access to water sources in the West Bank as a result of the takeover of springs by Israeli settlers, who have used threats, intimidation and fences to ensure control of water points close to the settlements, according to a new United Nations [...]
more…20 Mar, 2012
U.S. Group Backs Surveillance of Muslims, Mosques For “National Security”
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Holder defending the surveillance tactics used by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) – a strategy that has prevented 14 known terrorist attacks [...]
more…20 Mar, 2012
Learning the Lessons of Economic Crisis, EU Bids to Regulate “Shadow Banking”
Brussels, 19 March 2012 – So that the EU learns all the lessons from the crisis, it is implementing ambitious regulatory reforms in the financial sector in general and in the banking sector in particular. This will contribute to creating a stronger and sounder financial sector at the service of the real economy. As part [...]
more…19 Mar, 2012
Crystal Cruises Launches Christian Heritage Cruises Around Mediterranean
March 16, 2012 – For its upcoming European season, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises is offering new, interactive ways to explore the rich Christian history of the continent via new Christian Heritage Tours. Travelers cruising to the Mediterranean, Western Europe, or the North Cape will have nine new opportunities to make a pilgrimage, attend mass, contribute to [...]
more…19 Mar, 2012
Beijing to Host Int’l Cultural Congress On “China And The Muslim World”
JEDDAH – The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) through its Research Center For Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) are jointly organizing a congress on “China and the Muslim World: Cultural Encounters” to be held in Beijing between 28-30 June 2012. The concept adopted for the congress [...]
more…16 Mar, 2012
US Public Opinion in Disarray Over Waging War in Middle East
The latest Pew Research Centre poll of U.S. public opinion, released on March 15, indicates mass confusion about which war to wage in the Middle East. The results indicate public views supporting a pull-out from Afghanistan, not getting involved in Syria but in favour of starting another war by attacking Iran in order to protect [...]
more…16 Mar, 2012
Australia to Host Inaugural Special Olympics Asia Pacific in 2013
Canberra, 15 Mar 2012 — Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas today congratulated Special Olympics Australia for winning the right to host the inaugural Special Olympic Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle from 30 November to 7 December 2013. ‘I know Newcastle will do a magnificent job [...]
more…16 Mar, 2012
New Reports Out On Australian Aviation, Transport Stats
Canberra, March 15 – The Australian Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has released three reports providing economic analysis, research and statistics on infrastructure, transport and regional development issues. Highlights: There were 27.6 million passengers carried on international flights to and from Australia in 2010–11, an increase of 7.3 per cent over the [...]
more…15 Mar, 2012
Encyclopaedia Britannica To End Print Edition, Go Completely Digital
CHICAGO, March 14, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., announced today that it will cease publication of the 32-volume printed edition of its flagship encyclopedia, continuing with the digital versions that have become popular with knowledge seekers in recent decades. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, which has been primarily an online product for almost 20 years, [...]
more…15 Mar, 2012
India Gets First Expo for Civil Society and CSR Professionals
NEW DELHI, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — UBM India will launch NGO India 2012 at Epicenter, Gurgaon on 16 – 18 March 2012. NGO India 2012 will be an exhibition and conference aimed at fostering alliances and networking between the country’s CSR and NGO communities. As more and more corporates realise the brand value and [...]
more…13 Mar, 2012
Indians, I.T. Professionals Top U.S. H1B Visa Profiles for 2012
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 13, 2012 — Indian citizens and Information Technology Myvisajobs.com, a leading employment website for immigrants, has released its 7th Annual H1B Visa and Employment-based Green Card reports. The H1B Visa reports were created based on an analysis of 358,857 Labor Condition Applications (LCA) filed by 66,970 U.S. employers during fiscal [...]
more…13 Mar, 2012
Burma’s Karen People Caution Investors: Wait Until Peace Deals Cemented
Bangkok – Representatives of Myanmar’s Karen ethnic group, whose state is located right on the strategic transportation border contact point with Thailand, are cautioning investors and developers not to rush in until a proper political dialogue takes hold and yields a long-lasting peace agreement. Stressing that the current ceasefire agreed in the Karen regions only [...]
more…9 Mar, 2012
China Overtakes U.S. as Market With Largest Number of Credit/Debit Card Users
Boston, MA (PRWEB) March 08, 2012 – China, now the world’s single largest credit and debit card market by number of cards, continued to record significant growth throughout 2011 despite signals of a slowing economic growth. Surprisingly strong growth in Chinese consumer spending and the increasing penetration of cards in people’s daily lives are the [...]
more…9 Mar, 2012
New Report Explores Global Student Mobility Trends, as U.S. Seeks to Regain Market Share
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 01, 2012 – American Universities are seeking to regain their dominance in attracting international students, powered by the continued momentum from China and Saudi Arabia, revival of India, and emergence of new markets such as Brazil, according to a new report, “Trends in International Student Mobility,” released by World Education [...]
more…9 Mar, 2012
More Europeans Plan to Holiday Closer to Home in 2012 – Eurobarometer
March 5, 2012 (Eurostat) – 72% of EU citizens travelled in 2011, and more than 80% said that they would do so in 2012, choosing to go either on short trips or longer holidays. These are the results of the new Eurobarometer survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism, which also sheds light on [...]
more…9 Mar, 2012
Iran War Talk Raising U.S. Gas Prices, Affecting Summer Travel Plans
Worthington, OH (PRWEB) March 08, 2012 – Gas prices are expected to heat up this summer due to a variety of factors. With oil prices rising, talks of war with Iran in the news, and Americans marking their calendars for summer vacations, it is no surprise the majority is preparing to spend more to top [...]
more…9 Mar, 2012
Growing Numbers of Women Outliving Men In Europe – Eurostat
Brussels, March 7 2012, (Eurostat) – There were in total 257 million women and 245 million men in the EU27 in 2011, meaning that there were 105 women per 100 men. There were around 15% more women than men in the total population in the Baltic countries: Estonia and Latvia (both 117 women per 100 [...]
more…8 Mar, 2012
Business Travel to Australia Up 5% but Leisure Down 4%, 2011 Stats Show
International visitors to Australia remained steady last year although the mix of international visitors to Australia changed, with more coming for business and employment, and fewer coming on holidays, according to the latest International Visitor Survey. Tourism Research Australia found that business travellers increased by five per cent, visitors coming for employment by 14 per [...]
more…8 Mar, 2012
U.S. Hits Record 62 million Visitor Arrivals in 2011
March 07, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Commerce today released its 2011 report on International Visitation to the United States, which is now available on the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries website. Highlights include: 2011 international visitation set a new record to support the National Export Initiative. The United States welcomed 62 million [...]
more…7 Mar, 2012
Europe Hotel Market Up, Thanks to New Supply, Positive Demand
LONDON (STR Global) March 5, 2012 – The European hotel market reported overall positive revenue per available room growth 12-months to January, according to STR Global, a leading provider of market data to the hotel industry. Despite the economic conditions a majority of the 157 cities and destinations tracked in Europe, only 15 saw declining [...]
more…7 Mar, 2012
How Chinese New Year Holidays Affected Travel, Cargo Movements
Montréal, 05 March 2012 (Airports Council International) –The Chinese New Year holidays in January saw a boom in passenger movements through many Asia Pacific airports as well as a decline in cargo movements, according to a release by Airports Council International Said the release, “On the whole, both international traffic and domestic traffic posted gains [...]
more…5 Mar, 2012
Award for Sicilian Agency Which Backs Tourism Players Who Defy the Mafia
Berlin (March 5) — A Sicilian travel agency that supports local tourism products and services who refuse to pay protection money to the local mafia is one of the three winners of the international TO DO! Contest for Socially Responsible Tourism to be conferred at this year’s ITB Berlin. The other two are an ecolodge [...]
more…3 Mar, 2012
Pan European Survey Reveals Online Customer Behaviour
Barcelona, Mobile World Congress, (February 28 2012) : Social reviews prove increasingly influential in consumer buying decisions, according to an independent survey of 3,000 European consumers announced today. The findings, published in the eGain 2012 cross-industry benchmarking report for multichannel customer experience comprehensively charts influences on consumer buying behaviour and service preferences in seven European [...]
more…3 Mar, 2012
The World’s Worst Tourists? Americans Agree, It’s Us
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2012 (Businesswire) — Tired of the “ugly American” stereotype of U.S. travelers abroad? A new LivingSocial survey conducted among more than 5,600 respondents in five countries by Mandala Research discovered that Americans ourselves believe we are the world’s worst tourists. The survey found that Americans, Canadians and Australians all gave U.S. tourists [...]
more…1 Mar, 2012
New Project Set to Forecast Future of Great Barrier Reef
29 February 2012 — The Great Barrier Reef is set to be seen in a whole new way through an innovative project that will provide for the Reef the kinds of products that the Bureau of Meteorology provides for weather. This new project, called eReefs, will allow everyone to see what is happening today on [...]
more…27 Feb, 2012
U.S. Citizens Outbound Travel Totaled 58.5 Million in 2011
The U.S. Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) has released the final figures of outbound travel by US citizens in 2011. Total outbound travel was 58,496,587, comprised of 27,023,008 to overseas destinations and 31,473,579 to Canada and Mexico. Travel to Asia and Europe is up but Africa, Canada and Mexico is down.
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