There are expected to be fewer residents in the Washington area going on trips this Memorial Day weekend, as holiday travel is forecast to fall for the first time since 11 September 2001.

AAA Mid-Atlantic expects that 12% of residents in the Washington area will be travelling 50 miles and above from home over the weekend; around 1% less than the previous year.

AAA spokesperson John Townsend said, "The drop is not surprising, given the price of gasoline. It's proof positive that $4 a gallon is a psychological and financial barrier".

The drop in travel marks a reversal. Townsend added, "Since 9/11, travel had been trending upward," and had grown steadily since the attacks.

Diesel currently sells at an average of $4.52 per gallon across the country, similar to mid-grade and premium-grade fuels. Townsend added that self-serve regular, the benchmark used by AAA, has reached the $4 mark in Connecticut and Alaska.

Passenger volume at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport is predicted to drop by 3.5% over the weekend compared to last year, said airport spokesperson Jonathan Dean.

Airfares have risen about 8%, AAA Mid-Atlantic said. Airlines are suffering from the rise in prices of jet fuel, and several are compensating by adding fees and charging for additional baggage.

Though more Americans are expected to remain at home for Memorial Day this year, the holiday is still a major time for travel. AAA said that over 12% of Americans would celebrate away from their homes.

PYONGYANG, CHINA — In a recent press conference, it was confirmed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that they will again be working and renewing their ties with the South Korean Hyundai Group, in connection to the unattended tourism projects in Mt. Kumgang and Mt. Kaesong. Also, they have finally permitted land passage, to be done via the Military Demarcation Line (MDL)

According to the joint statement drafted by representatives of both the Hyundai Group and Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, DPRK’s topmost official Kim Jong Il, had a chance to meet and hear chairperson of Hyundai Hyun Jong Eun’s insights. DPRK managed to settle their differences and agree on ‘redoing’ their projects by "complying with all of [Hyun Jong Eun’s] requests."

Immediately, they are planning to resume the operations of all tourist-related activities in Mt. Kumgang. They are aiming the public opening of Mt. Pirobong — the highest mountain range — will be held soon. "All necessary facilities and security for tourism will be reliably provided according to the special measure taken by Kim Jong Il," thus ensured by the statement.

They have also finally permitted people from the south to pass via the MDL (but remain in their area in the north). Mt. Kaesong — particularly the Kaesong Industrial Park — is expected to resume its tourist-related activities very soon.

DPRK has agreed to allow families to visit Mt. Kumgang on 3 October, during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

USA — According to recent investigations, in the 17 people of the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation who were given rights over the public money — millions and millions of it — intended for the promotion of both the Niagara Falls and the Niagara County, three were legitimate public officials.

Mainly, these officials need to determine how money garnered from casino operations could be used to invite more tourists to Niagara and keep them coming. These people, however, should also keep in mind that a part of the money must go to the hotel employees in the form of their salaries.

However, with the presence of the three officials, the agency has managed to veer away from limiting state laws which could allow ordinary civilians to access their records. This placed the agency on the hot sea t— incessantly being demanded by people and groups to give their insights on the question: “How much info must be released in public by agencies when it comes to the issue of spending the public’s money?”

At the most, the agency had released very few info, and had shown keenness and scepticism when it comes to releasing information regarding Niagara County’s tourism budget. Some of the info the agency has disclosed are the employees’ salaries (excluding that of the president); receipts and detailed expense breakdowns of domestic and international trips and the salaries private consultants have been given.
 

Tourists and travellers might be forbidden from hiking to Uluru under the plans revealed yesterday by the heritage chiefs who want to guard the most famous landmark in the whole world.
Trekking through the red sandstone monolith, which is 1,135 foot high, has been banned by the Aboriginal group who inherited the land in 1985 and treated it as a sacred place.

The federal parks staff and the tribe manage and protect the area, which is also considered a Unesco World Heritage spot.

The 10-year management programme suggests the permanent banning of climbing the site, after the tourism department has managed to create other activities.

Several signs placed at Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, ask travellers not to climb, indicating that the place is sacred for Aborigines and giving warnings that the slippery and steep land might bring danger to them. There are over 30 people who have died while trekking through the Uluru, which is higher compared to the Eiffel Tower and its circumference is approximately 6 miles.

The government also reported that Uluru was no longer open during summer days.

"For visitor safety, cultural, and environmental reasons the director and the board (of the park] will work toward closure of the climb", according to the report.

It also emphasised that the environmental effect of climbers, including erosion along the way and the impact on wildlife, comes from waste being left behind.
 

CAPRI, ITALY — After being the once-frequently-visited rendezvous of the rich and famous — from cash-generating head honchos, movie actors to soccer superstars — the island of Capri is now at a loss for visitors. Reportedly, the scenario now is that restaurants open, but they remain empty even at lunchtime. Hotels are also experiencing lesser guests.

“After 23 years working in Capri, this is the first time that been slow,” 42-year old Salvatore Vitiello, muses. The man works as a waiter at Al Piccolo, a bar located in Piazza Umberto. On the day of his interview, it really was noticeable that only a few dropped by to dine and enjoy a drink. As with number of tourists, he estimates this year’s record suffered 30% decrease than last year’s.

Perhaps crisis must be blamed. With the looming crisis, many of the then-usual vacationers and tourists chose to instead ‘break the habit’ for this year’s ‘peak season’, or opt for a much closer destination. In that way, expenses will not be much of a burden.

Also, STR Global reports that from January to June of this year, hotels from all over the world had been down in terms of occupancy figures.

A report issued by the World Tourism Organization in June includes a forecast that accounts for a 4 to 6% decline in tourist expectancy for the whole of the year. Possible contributors of the decline are the recession felt elsewhere in the world, and the global scare of the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Now that different kinds of packages and promos are being offered by airline companies, a lot of people have become interested in travelling to and from their countries. Some prefer domestic travels; however, since overseas trips come out much cheaper, most passengers opt for them.

British environmentalists on the other hand are lobbying for constant travellers to switch their destinations to some place nearer. Britons are inclined to travelling outside of country such as United States, Hong Kong and Rio de Janeiro instead of nearby European countries. In spite of environmentalists’ plea, they seem to not care about it. According to a survey done by Halifax, there were about 3.7 million Britons who travelled to far-flung places as of last year. These travels were in fact, not that long, and most of them only stayed in the foreign country for just a small number of days.

The flights being mentioned involve by far at least more than five hours of flight, and most of these travellers are exploiting the weak value of dollar by shopping loads of clothes and others in the United States. It was also noted that the Far East side of world came in second as the most popular destination of Britons, with India coming in at third place. Heathrow’s Terminal number five will be opened, and people are expecting for overseas rates to the United States to hit mid-rock bottom. Experts are anticipating for Britons to take advantage of this as soon as it opens.

More than one-third of Americans are reconsidering their vacation plans due to record-high fuel prices, according to a poll, adding that some travel destinations are being affected as this holiday weekend officially heralds the start of the summer travel season.

Thirty-seven percent of those changing their travel plans are cancelling trips, and one of four won’t be staying as long or going as far, says the poll.

The average price of gas per gallon around the country is $3.83. Federal Energy Information Administration expects the average to drop to $3.66 per gallon this summer.

Reservations for campsites and tourist destinations on federal land show Americans are staying close to home. Residents from 33 states who booked reservations this season chose more places in their own state than in the previous year.

Tour reservations for the weekend at the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky are lower than last year’s, according to Deputy Superintendent Bruce Powell. Scott Gediman, spokesperson for Yosemite National Park in California, says attendance is mostly from European Tour groups.

Six Flags has cut prices to entice families with lower budgets, according to CEO Mark Shapiro. Eleven of its 12 US theme parks enable online ticket buyers to use children’s rates rather than adult fees.

Scott Booker, guest advocate for Hotels.com, says that fewer users of the site have planned week-long trips involving flying. He says: “They’re opting to do shorter stays, weekend trips, and stay closer to home”.

South Wales-based coach firm, Shamrock Travel, was bought by international travel company, Veolia Transport, in a multi-million pound transaction last September 2006.

Shamrock Travel was formed by Pontypidd couple, Clayton and Alison Jones, thirty years ago. It has since become one of the leading coach service provide rs in the British Isles. Starting with only one coach, the business has grown into a transportation giant, and now has two hundred twenty nine vehicle units.

Veolia Transport announced its plan to maintain Shamrock’s current three hundred staff.

Veolia already owns two other south Wales-based coach companies Bebb Travel and Pullman Coaches.

Shamrock’s taking symbolised Veolia’s hold on Wales’ coach services. The company’s employee roster now numbered one thousand and it now has about five hundred buses.

The purchase contract stipulates that Veolia Transport UK will assume control of two hundred twenty nine vehicles and three hundred employees at operating hubs in Swansea, Abercynon, Newport and Barry.

The rest of the staff will be deployed to a new company called Shamrock Travel UK Limited.

Veolia also announced that the two Shamrock founders will no longer be involved in the new business.

The other half of the Shamrock founders, Clayton Jones released a press statement that showed his happiness in pushing for the acquisition of Shamrock by Veolia.

The Chair of Veolia Transport UK, John O’Brien on the other hand is optimistic that the deal will bring forward a stronger presence in Wales and compliment its existing businesses.