World’s Worst Tourism Slogans

Please help us find  the really bad ones.  For Cities, States, Provinces, Regions and Countries. Also travel companies.

Here are s few contenders:

Hilton: “Travel should take you places.” (Yes, it should. I think we can all agree on that totally meaningless statement. Would be nicer to say “take you someplace unique” but if you stay in a Hilton that wouldn’t quite work since the rooms look virtually identical no matter which country you go to.)

Fargo, North Dakota’s “Always Warm!” (No, everyone knows it’s warm in the summer and you freeze your ass off the rest of the year.)

British Colombia’s  “The Best Place on Earth.” Why not just come right out and tells us how fucking great B.C. really is.

“Andalucia. There’s only one.” If you can’t think of anything else to say about a place, this should work.

Annapolis, Maryland’s “Come Sail Away” — inviting visitors to come… and leave, preferably by boat.  

“Wales. The Big Country” No, Canada is a big country. So is China. And India, Brazil, Australia. If you’re going to start making shit up, why not say Wales is a tropical island with white sandy beaches and attractive, well-tanned natives who serve free beer around the clock. 

Source: titanicawards

Egypt invests $368m in historic hotels

The Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels (EGOTH) has created a new brand for nine of its most iconic properties.

The state-owned company owns a total of 22 hotels in Egypt, and has decided to group its most historic properties together under the moniker Historic Hotels of Egypt.

The hotels will have seen a total investment of $368 million by the end of 2013, said General Nabil Selim, chairman of EGOTH.

Originally founded in 1841, Cairo’s The Shepheard Hotel is currently undergoing a complete renovation, after the management was taken over by Rocco Forte Luxury Collection in July.

The Old Cataract in Aswan (pictured below), built in 1899 and past host to Winston Churchill and Princess Diana, will see its refurbishment completed in 2011.

The Nile Ritz Carlton Cairo, one of the city’s top hotels since the 1950s, is also in the middle of a major refurbishment, due to be complete by 2013.

The same year a refurbishment of the boutique Luxor Hotel will be completed.

Other properties now under the Historic Hotels of Egypt brand are Mena House Oberoi, located at the foot of the Great Pyramid, Cairo’s Marriott Hotel (both of which have seen their refurbishments completed), Alexandria’s The Palestine Hotel, Luxor’s Sofitel-branded Cecil Hotel and the 1886-built Winter Palace, also in Luxor.

EGOTH hopes to use its investment in the properties, as well as the creation of the new brand, to attract more international hotel chains to Egypt.

“We want to upgrade the entire hospitality industry,” said Selim.

“We are investing the money not just to protect the assets, but to attract new hotel chains that have not operated in Egypt before.”

It is also important that the state-owned hotels can compete with newcomers from the private sector, he added.

Under the renovation plans, the hotels will have upgraded meeting and conference facilities, as well as the latest technology, including wifi internet access and flatscreen televisions.

“Meetings, conference and incentive planners think two years in advance. That is why I am launching [the brand] now, because in two years I’m going to have my entire portfolio renovated,” said Selim.

Source: historichotelsofegypt.com

US Airport Secure Flight Passenger Checks Begin

A new airport security initiative has now started to be introduced to flight sites in the US by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). The Secure Flight programme involves acquiring passenger data to compare it to known terror suspect lists and, overall, passenger using airports in the US have welcomed its arrival.

The introduction of Secure Flight comes just days after the printer cartridge bombs incident - which has now resulted in tighter air cargo security measures being put in place – but it is not directly related to it.

Rather, Secure Flight represents a response to the 9/11 terror attacks. Privacy concerns have delayed its roll-out, until now.

Secure Flight Checks

Speaking to passengers at JFK International Airport, news agency Reuters gauged that, overall, the Secure Flight checks had their approval. “These things are probably necessary”, one said. “Terrorists are still trying to attack, and that needs to be made difficult for them.” Trade organisations have spoken up, too, stressing that the biggest airlines already question people in this way and, so, the air travel process will be little changed for bona fide passengers.

Secure Flight demands that airlines obtain a certain level of information about the passengers that will be flying with them, specifically their full name, their date of birth and whether they are male or female. Names, in particular, have to be stated exactly as they are written on passports or other identification documents, although minor discrepancies, like initials of middle names, will be permitted for the time being. This applies to all flights arriving at, or departing, airports across the United States.

US Airport Passenger Checks

The goal of the US airport passenger checks is to keep air travel free of known terror suspects and, on the flipside, to ensure passengers that are entitled to travel can do so, without being wrongly interrogated. Passengers that supply insufficient data will not be issued with boarding passes – ultimately making airlines directly responsible for their passenger quota. At the end of last week, a package was found to contain explosive material, but only after a second round of airport security checks had been carried out on it.

The episode served to highlight how aspects of air travel remain vulnerable to attack and, now, safeguards have been put in place to try and stop future events of this kind.

Jetstar delays iPad roll out

Jetstar, the low-cost subsidiary of Qantas Airlines, has delayed rolling out iPads across its network until next year. Initially, the iPads were to be rolled out by year-end.

The airline plans to rent out the gadget for US$9.70, which passengers can use to watch movies, read newspapers and magazines or play games. The delay, says chief of Jetstar corporate relations, Simon Westaway, is due to contract negotiations with Apple and media outlets. The scheme was first introduced in June on a trial basis on domestic routes, which proved to be successful.

Source: www.jetstar.com

Getting away from it all: checklist of passenger rights

Where are you going on holiday and how will you get there? If you go by boat, train or plane, EU rules will provide protection if something goes wrong. Last week the European Parliament approved new rules that will reimburse or reroute boat passengers if a ferry is more than 90 minutes late and the European Commission has just launched a campaign about your rights when travelling by plane or train.

Boat passengers suffering significant delays will be entitled to compensation of 25% of the ticket price, rising to 50% for long delays. If delays mean a passenger has to spend the night in a hotel, the ferry operator will have to pay for hotel and meals. In addition, the EP decided that disabled people should receive free assistance at ports. But, watch out, the new rules apply only from 2012.

The EP wants similar provisions for bus and coach passengers, but negotiations are still going on with EU governments.

Travelling by plane

If your plane is over-booked, cancelled, or more than 5 hours late, you can ask for reimbursement or rerouting. If you are denied boarding, you are entitled to compensation of between €125 and €600.

Depending on the circumstances, the airline should provide you with food, communications and, possibly, a hotel. When your luggage is lost or damaged, you are entitled to compensation of up to €1200.

Also, in these days of route sharing, bear in mind when booking that you have the right to know with which airline you will travel - check the EU airline blacklist before choosing (see link below). When you book online, the final price (including taxes, surcharges, fees etc.) should always be clear from the start.

Finally, if you choose an all-inclusive package, ask for all the details of your trip, and remember if anything goes wrong - the tour operator is responsible.

Taking the train

If the train is more than an hour late or is cancelled, you are entitled to reimbursement (or rerouting) and compensation. You also get compensated in the case of an accident or loss or damage to luggage (up to €1300 per item).

Passengers with reduced mobility have the right to non-discriminatory access and free assistance before, during and after travel by train and plane.

On the road

No compensation for delays by car. But be careful, take plenty of breaks and don’t drive if anything affects your ability to do so well.

Tune Hotels to open second London property

The Asian budget hotel chain is to open a property close to the Broadgate office and retail complex in the City of London, joining the brand’s existing Westminster hotel.

The group said that it has secured a site close to the Broadgate complex, although no further details have been given on the hotel or its scheduled opening date.

The news comes as Tune Hotels announced it has secured financial backing from a consortium of investors to develop 15 hotels in London by 2015, a total investment of over £100 million.

Tune Hotel Westminster opened earlier this year opposite Lambeth North tube station, and the consortium says it is in “active discussions regarding a number of additional sites in central London”.

The Broadgate complex is located next to Liverpool Street station, and includes the 35-storey Broadgate Tower, one of the City of London’s tallest buildings.

World’s Top Airport Runway Approaches Listed

The best 10 airport approaches in the world have been listed in a new report produced by aviation firm PrivateFly. The airport locations vary from busy urban locations to barren landscapes, but all give pilots and passengers exhilarating and striking views as they prepare to make contact with the approaching runways. Sion Airport in Switzerland heads the list, sat in an Alpine valley that inbound aircraft fly through before landing, while the dramatic Princess Juliana International Airport comes in second.

The remainder of the top ten best airports list is comprised of St Barts Airport, Gibraltar Airport, St Gallen-Altenrhein Airport, Madeira Airport, London City Airport, Lukla Airport, Las Vegas McCarran Airport and, finally, Barra Airport.

World’s Top Airport Approaches

Switzerland’s Sion is described in the world’s top airport approaches list as ‘Europe’s most stunning airport’. Two months ago, it was awarded another accolade when it won a high-profile airport safety award. St Gallen-Altenrhein is the other Swiss airport on the list and, again, it’s the surrounding, mountainous terrain that gives it a ‘wow’ factor. Princess Juliana International Airport is on the Caribbean island of St Maarten and lies directly beyond a well-attended beach resort. Popular with holidaymakers, the beach setting approach is perhaps even more popular among aircraft enthusiasts, who flock there from all corners of the globe to watch large airliners approaching from out over the sea, and skimming metres above the beach before their wheels hit the tarmac. Princess Juliana has a single, 7,400-foot long runway and a single terminal, but is a major international gateway and is used by airliners including Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines and KLM. St Barts Airport is very close by but is vastly different. Here, ‘very tight angles, hills, unusual wind conditions and the short runway’ make for a technically difficult runway approach.

Gibraltar Airport is owned by the Ministry of Defence and serves as a joint military/civil site. It is unusual in that a main road crosses the runway, which is closed to allow aircraft arrivals and departures to take place as normal. ‘The rock of Gibraltar looms large on the stunning approach, causing unusual wind patterns and turbulence’, PrivateFly says.

Airport Runway Approaches

Madeira Airport extends out over the sea, with a column-mounted runway section, while a large portion of the single passenger terminal is situated below ground level. London City, meanwhile, offers a ‘highly scenic approach over world-famous London landmarks’ and a airport runway approach that’s markedly steeper and more spectacular than at other airports,  while Nepal’s Lukla Airport sits over 9,000 above sea level, has a sloping runway and can only accept the smallest and highest-performance passenger aircraft types. ‘With a sheer rock face of hundred metres high at the end of the runway, there is no margin for error’, PrivateFly explains.

The last two sites in the best airports list couldn’t be more contrasting. Las Vegas McCarran blends natural desert surroundings with central, illuminated lustre, while Scotland’s Barra Airport is unique in the world in being situated on a beach. ‘Visitors and cockle-pickers share use of the beach, with signs asking them to observe the windsock to see if the airport is in operation’, PrivateFly writes.

India Approves New Mumbai Airport

Mumbai, India, is closer to gaining a second airport after governmental approval was given on 22 November 2010. The huge new Mumbai airport’s go-ahead was given by Jairam Ramesh – India’s Environment Minister – and it paves the way for the site’s construction. The approval came after months of negotiations between environmental and airport officials and includes a set of conditions meant to safeguard local wildlife. Campaigners had been against the first set of airport plans that surfaced, highlighting the amount of trees that would have been lost, and the waterways that would have been redirected. According to Ramesh, some trees will now be kept alive, and one waterway will be left as it is. “From an environmental point of view, this has been a very major compromise that has been reached”, he told media representatives.

“We have bargained, we have negotiated, and we have compromised. The result is an environmentally safe and ecologically sound, energy efficient international airport in Mumbai.”

Navi Mumbai Airport: India

Navi Mumbai Airport will go into full operation in two decades time and, at that point, its annual passenger-handling levels are expected to stand at a maximum of 40 million. The airport will feature a pair of runways running alongside each others. 1.55 kilometres of ground will separate them – less than was thought at first – and this is part of the plan’s environmental concessions.

This doesn’t mean that airport safety has been compromised, as Praful Patel – Indian Aviation Minister – explained. “There is no compromise on technical parameters”, he said. “The runway separation is as per international requirements for safe and simultaneous operations.”

New Indian Airport

The new Indian airport’s development comes as a result of the situation at the present Mumbai International Airport – the main base for national carrier Air India. Three times as many passengers are now passing through than did five years ago and, soon, it will reach capacity. Development of the existing site is not possible, due to the urban areas that surround it.

On the basis of today’s announcement, the new Indian airport in Mumbai might now open in 2014, analysts have suggested.

Fighter Jets Intercept Small Plane Over DC

The U.S. Secret Service is going to interview the pilot of a Cessna 182 who briefly violated Washington, DC airspace restrictions on Monday (11/22). Military officials who spoke to CNN said that NORAD scrambled two F16 fighter jets to intercept the small plane, and then escorted it to an airport in Manassas, Virginia,

Source: Planet Data

Air Force Says Pilot Didn't Survive Alaska Crash

Friday afternoon the U.S. Air Force announced that search and rescue teams looking for the pilot of an F-22 that crashed near Alaska's Denali National Park have found conclusive evidence that Capt. Jeffrey Haney did not survive. In providing this update, Col. Jack McMullen, 3rd Wing commander said, "Sadly, we can no longer consider this a search and rescue operation, but must now focus on recovery operations."

Source:Planet Data

TSA Debunks Myths, Offers Holiday Travel Advice

With escalating controversy about the TSA security procedures for people traveling through the nation's airports, the TSA is working overtime to address peoples' issues. Here are two TSA posts meant to clarify policy, technology and procedures. The first is the TSA's "Helpful Hints for Holiday Travelers" and the second is an official TSA blog post addressing some "Myths" about the screening process and certain recently news stories.

Source:Planet Data

Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing for Cracked Windshield

A Delta flight from Atlanta to Southern California was forced to make an emergency landing in Dallas Thursday afternoon after the jet's cockpit window cracked. The plane landed safely.

Source: Planet Data

Namibian Airport Scare Caused by Test Device

The suspicious piece of luggage containing possible bomb components found yesterday at Namibia's main airport has turned out to be a suitcase designed to test security procedures and technology. German and Namibian investigators say they don't know how the "real test suitcase" manufactured by a U.S. company ended up in the baggage area of the Windhoek airport and about to be put on an Air Berlin flight bound for Germany, but Namibian officials say the incident was not a security drill gone wrong.

Source:Planet Data

Why is Airline food such an anti climax?

In the event you are reading this article and share the view that airline food seems to always be bland and completely tasteless, new research demonstrates that the specific type noise which fills the cabin air actually affects our taste buds. The impact is to reduce our sensitivity to salty/savory and sweet food.

Interestingly NASA supplies its astronauts with strong foods, due to the fact that whilst in flight they are not able sense the taste of food in the same way as on planet earth. The answer again leads to this special kind of noise.

The actual research experiment conducted by the journal Food Quality and preferences featured 48 blind-folded volunteers, which were fed salty food like ordinary crisps in addition to sweet foods such as biscuits, whilst they listened to silence or a special noise through headphones.

Each volunteer was tasked to rate the each food sampled for flavor and enjoyment.

The overriding conclusion was that the evidence points to this effect being down to where the attention lies. For example if the background noise is loud it may draw ones attention to it and away from the food.

Results also demonstrated that the background simulated air-borne noise led to the conclusion that they were rated as less salty or less sweet by the volunteer tasters. Moreover, they were also perceived as more crunchy.


So there you have it, the truth about Airline food! Perhaps the Low Cost Airlines got it right after all, by not forcing us to eat with inclusive food. One certainly has to question the logic of so called 5 star Airlines, claiming a superior quality of food, as they cannot provide the right environment to eat it. Therefore the food in Forst Class and Business may all be hype after all. 


At Perpetual Traveller Overseas we suggest that you focus your attention in-flight on a good book instead, a decent Movie, a play on the i-pad or stimulating conversation with the person next to you!


The PTO Team

Disguised Man Flies from Hong Kong to Canada

 

Nov 5, 2010 — Canadian authorities intercepted a young Asian male disguised as an elderly white man on a flight from Hong Kong that landed at Vancouver on October 29. Air Canada officials say the man claimed refugee protection after his arrest.

Source: Planet Data

68 Dead in Cuban Plane Crash

Nov 5, 2010 — An Aero Caribbean aircraft crashed near the Cuban village of Guasimal in Santi Spiritus province last night killing all 68 people aboard. The plane was one of the last to leave Santiago ahead of Hurricane Tomas. There is no word yet on the possible cause of the tragedy.

Source: Planet Data

Eurocypria of Cyprus goes belly up, leaving thousands of tourists in the lurch

The Cypriot Charter Airline Company Eurocypria with its ongoing financial challenges finally announced on Thursday an indefinite suspension of all flights. This desperately bad news for Cyprus Tourism is expected to disrupt the travel arrangements of thousands of international tourists.

The state-owned board of Eurocypria made this desperate announcement after its 320 staff declared an indefinite strike over job losses. Rumours surrounding the airline seems have impacted on the distraction of its staff, which by some reports compromised air safety.

More specifically the Company stated "The executive board has decided to indefinitely suspend the company's flight programme from midnight, November 4,". The  board went onto advise the Government in the capacity of sole owner to proceed with entering the process of the Company liquidation at the earliest juncture and moreover to seek alternative employment for the Companies existing employees.

As the dust settles, it appears that Eurocypria were in such serious financial difficulty, that in essence it was the core reason why its flight programme could not operate under "conditions of absolute safety."

The Government on the Island of Love declared that it can no longer manage 2 national airlines and that it desires to save the National carrier Cyprus Airways (CA) which earlier posted H1 losses of 25 million euros.

The liquidation and eventual closer of Eurocypria is expected to affect an estimated 15,000 tourists. The greatest impact to of which will come from the markets of Germany and Russia. Cyprus Airways may however undertake some if not all of the routes.

The strategy of the Government is likely to feature the implementation of a voluntary retirement scheme, which will be true for both airlines, in order to  allow Cyprus Airways to absorb as many of the unfortunate staff of Eurocypria as possible. All this said, the Government of Cyprus still needs EU approval (following state aid rules for Cyprus Airways to absorb the staff and services of Eurocypria).

On the Political front opposition MPs jumped on the bandwagon to accuse the current Government of gross mismanagement of the Country’s funds. Other Politicians estimate that Eurocypria's debts may actually exceed a stunning 56 million euros in total, well over double of the purchase price, as it was only in 2006 when the state bought Eurocypria for 23 million euros from Cyprus Airways, for which it has a 70% stake to prevent the more established airline carrier from going bust.

Travel Alert - Haiti

Ahead of Tropical Storm Tomas (or Hurricane Tomas if it strengthens) possibly hitting Haiti, the U.S. State Department issued the following Travel Alert for the island nation on Tuesday (11/2) warning about the threat from the storm.

U.S. State Department
The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens there is a high probability that Tropical Storm Tomas may bring tropical storm force winds and heavy rains to Haiti later this week. While the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has downgraded Tomas from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, NHC reports Tomas could regain strength as it moves west. The NHC tracking model shows Tomas turning north toward Haiti by the end of this week; Haiti could begin to feel effects of the storm, such as powerful winds and heavy rain, by November 4. A Travel Warning issued by the U.S. Department of State on June 24, 2010 is still in effect and advises U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Haiti due to limited infrastructure and access to basic services. Even storms that do not reach hurricane strength have caused widespread damage and loss of life in Haiti in recent years. U.S. citizens who nevertheless plan travel to Haiti should defer travel until Tropical Storm Tomas has passed. This Travel Alert expires on November 10, 2010.

Source: Planet Data

Car Bomb Sat at Belfast Airport Since Last Year

A bomb squad defused an improvised explosive device in a parked car at Belfast International Airport over the weekend. The Belfast Telegraph reports that the vehicle has been parked in the long term lot since last year, and "was meant to go off at the time the car was abandoned." Thankfully it did not explode as the would-be bombers expected, and was only discovered after attendants examined the long ago parked car on Saturday (10/30).

Source: Planet Data

Ex-Guantanamo Detainee Gave Intel on Cargo Plane Bomb Plot

The British press (The Daily Telegraph, Sky News) is reporting that Yemeni officials have revealed that a former-detainee at the U.S. detention facility in Guartanamo Bay is the person who tipped off Saudi authorities about the parcel bomb plot discovered on Friday. According to the reports, it appears that Jabir al-Fayfi, a member of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, fled Yemen for his native Saudi Arabia where he surrendered to authorities on October 16 and then told them about the cargo plane terror plot.

Source:Planet Data

Airlines Must Be Compliant with Secure Flight

As from November 1st, the "grace period" for airlines to be in compliance with the TSA's Secure Flight program is over. This means that Secure Flight will not conduct watch list matching or approve the issuance of a boarding pass by an airline if complete passenger data is not submitted to TSA. When booking an airline reservation a traveler should make sure he/she provides complete Secure Flight passenger data, including full name (as it appears on government-issued ID you plan to use at the airport), date of birth, gender and Redress Number (if applicable).

For more information on TSA Secure Flight visit the TSA website.

Source: Planet Data

Investigation of Yemen Parcel Bombs Continues

Here are a some key updates about yesterday's discovery of suspicious packages being sent from Yemen to the U.S.

• President Obama confirmed in a statement to the country on Friday that at least two packages, one in England and one in Dubai, contained explosives.
• Obama called this a "credible threat".
• The packages stopped is England and Dubai were addressed to synagogues in Chicago.
• About 24 additional suspect packages are being examined in the Yemen capital of Sana'a.
• Officials around the world are saying that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is likely responsible for sending the packages.

Source: Planet Data

Going Through Airport Security, Leave that MacBook Air in Your Bag

Last week Apple released its new 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air computers. And CNN was quick to learn that for frequent air travelers the 11-inch version might help speed you through airport security checkpoints. A TSA spokesperson told CNN the 11-inch Air can remain in a traveler's carry-on bag when it goes through the airport security x-ray machine. But the jury is still out on the 13-inch version. However, for the immediate future, if you want to avoid the possibility of a delay at a security checkpoint you may want to separate your 11-inch Air from your carry-on until the policy has time to filter down to TSA security personnel.

Source:Planet Data