Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

Archive for March, 2001

26 Mar, 2001

Nice I.T. Bells & Whistles but, Hoteliers Ask, Will They Deliver?

For all the hype surrounding the ‘solutions’ offered by the Internet and Information technology, hospitality industry investors and managers are taking a much more cautious approach towards further IT investments and demanding concrete proof that all the bells and whistles will deliver what the vendors say they will. Burnt by the continuing dot-com bust and […]

more…

26 Mar, 2001

The Sporting Life and Its Links to Tourism

Spurred by the high-publicity Olympics 2000 in Sydney, the World Tourism Organisation commissioned a study in 2000 to analyse the growing links between sports and tourism. An executive summary of how the French, Germans and Dutch travellers mix the two.
The Aussies are widely said to have got their Olympic experience right. But they also learned some lessons, and are now more than willing to share them.

more…

19 Mar, 2001

Aussies Fine-Tune Pitch for Incentives From Asia

In a revamped approach towards marketing incentives and corporate meetings in Thailand and the rest of Asia, the Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) has launched a strategy to get Asian companies to upgrade the content, quality and standards of the incentive travel rewards for their staff and dealers. In Bangkok last week, a contingent of 80 […]

more…

19 Mar, 2001

European Tour Operators In Feeding Frenzy, But Beware The Result

Who’s gobbling up who is the talk of the town in Europe as giant tour operators embark upon a frenzy of mergers and takeovers in pursuit of market share, vertical and horizontal integration. Watching this M&A frenzy with concern, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is warning developing countries that they could be left holding the short end of the stick in the final outcome.

more…

18 Mar, 2001

Blowing up of Bamiyan Statues Leads to Islamic Soul-Searching

Originally Published: 18 March 2001 The destruction of the Buddhist statues in Afghanistan has led to a torrent of soul-searching in the Islamic world. The Internet has hummed with reactions and counter-reactions to this low-intelligence action by the Taleban, most of it against with the odd one or two in favour. One self-professed Muslim religious […]

more…

5 Mar, 2001

Internet Bookings Soar in Germany

Berlin: Travel bookings over the Internet have soared in Germany and are set to rise further as major travel groups compete furiously to tap the advantages of the online market. Research presented at the global travel trade show ITB Berlin by the German travel research group F.U.R. showed that 2.6 million Germans had used the […]

more…

1 Mar, 2001

Trade Shows Under Pressure

The International Travel Asia has been scrapped after only two years, a victim of many factors including costs, location and a glut of shows. Meanwhile, the Australian Tourist Commission has just completed its first Global Trade Show Review, and made available some preliminary results. As more such reviews are done by other national tourism organisations, everybody is going to be under more pressure to deliver more bang for the buck.

more…