All posts filed under: News

Winners Unveiled For Australia’s ‘Best Jobs In The World’

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An American finance graduate, a Brazilian travel photographer, an Irish internet entrepreneur, a French tourism graduate, an English film costume designer and a Canadian adventure tour guide have beaten off more than 330,000 competitors from 196 countries to be awarded Tourism Australia’s ‘Best Jobs in the World’. The global competition drew to a finale in Sydney today (Friday 21 June) with job offers made to: Andrew Smith (USA): Chief Funster (New South Wales) Roberto Seba (Brazil): Lifestyle Photographer (Melbourne, Victoria)  Allan Dixon (Ireland): Outback Adventurer (Northern Territory) Elisa Detrez (France): Park Ranger (Queensland) Rich Keam (England):  Taste Master (Western Australia) Greg Snell (Canada): Wildlife Caretaker (South Australia) A seventh job was awarded by Virgin Australia to Cameron Ernst from the USA, who will fly the length and breadth of the country as the airline’s new ‘High Flyer’, championing Australia’s best customer service experiences. The 18 finalists in Tourism Australia’s global competition have spent the past week in Australia undertaking a series of adventure, nature-based, culinary, social media and photography challenges and assessments, as part of a …

Sharks Ecotourism Could Double in Next Two Decades

Shark Ecotourism Could Double in Next Two Decades

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WASHINGTON, May 30, 2013 /CNW/ – According to a new global analysis led by researchers at the University of British Columbia and other scientists, shark watching is a major economic driver for dozens of countries, generating $314 million annually. Citing the study’s projections that shark-related tourism could more than double within 20 years, generating over $780 million annually, The Pew Charitable Trusts is calling for greater protections for sharks through the designation of sanctuaries around the world. Shark-related tourism is a growing business worldwide, with established operations in at least 83 locations in 29 countries. Although places such as South Africa, the United States, and Australia have typically dominated this industry, shark ecotourism is becoming an economic boon to countries across the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions. The study finds that shark watching attracts 590,000 tourists and supports more than 10,000 jobs each year. The increase in shark ecotourism and its economic value can lead to interest in establishing sanctuaries for sharks, which play a critical role in the health of marine systems. In …

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Flying This Summer? You Might Want To Reconsider

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I read this today and thought I’d pass it along to our readers. It’s from The Wall Street Journal and it makes me glad I’m not flying this summer! Some of it only applies to flying in the U.S. right now, but some of the changes are happening world-wide. It’s only a matter of time before all the other airlines follow suit so this is eventually going to apply to everyone. Happy travels.  Summer Air-Travel Survival Guide    By Scott McCartney [The Wall Street Journal] The forecast calls for heavy frustration with a 50% chance of innovation at U.S. airports this summer. Airport crowds are expected to be the largest in the U.S. since 2008. There’s already concern that budget cuts in Transportation Security Administration overtime will lead to longer security-screening lines. Atlanta’s airport said wait times from an apparent TSA staffing shortage stretched to 70 minutes on a recent Friday, and both the airport and Delta Air Lines are encouraging summer travelers in Atlanta to get to the airport two hours before departure. Frontier Airlines has joined …

CNN: Consumers Respond That Safety And Security Greatest Concern When Travelling

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  A global study of CNN consumers’ travel perceptions and behavioural trends has revealed that, for 66% of respondents, safety and security is of greater concern when choosing an international travel destination, than any other deciding factor. The survey asked global respondents from over 70 countries, recruited via CNN websites, to identify the key influencing factors in their decision making process, when deciding upon both leisure and business travel destinations. The findings are that : · 67% say ‘safety and security’ matters most · 60% are ‘price’ driven · 58% are driven by ‘reputation’ · 55% say ‘knowledge and availability of information’ matters most · 54% are driven by ‘diversity of things to do/amenities’ The UK led Europe, and is among the top 5 countries globally, for safety and is seen as a developed, hospitable destination. The ‘Consumer Connect: Travel & Tourism’ surveyed 3,106 respondents from over 70 countries worldwide, recruited via CNN websites. The main areas covered included travel behaviour and activities, decision making factors, cultural events’ impact on travel, outlook on 2013 and hotels brand data.   About TravelBloggers.ca Iain Shankland …

Eight Cities To Visit – Where You Can Live Like A Local Without Breaking The Bank

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TORONTO, May 9, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – Travelling ain’t cheap. After flights, hotels and food, there is little left in the wallet for attractions and excursions. This is why so many Canadians travelling on a budget turn to all-inclusive packages where one payment can take care of it all. While this is great for some, the downside is that staying within resort grounds may mean missing out authentic experiences and culture the destination has to offer. The Hotel Price Index can help travellers find affordable destinations, like Hanoi, to gain authentic cultural experiences. So what’s a world explorer – on a budget – to do? Well, turns out you can have the best of both worlds. The travel experts at Hotels.com® have sorted through their Hotel Price Index™ (HPI™) to find eight interesting destinations where you can have an authentic cultural experience without going broke.

European Visitors Flock To Central America

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Central America was a big hit with European visitors in 2012 according to new figures released by the ministries of tourism of the seven Central American countries. In total Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama – received 832,567 European visitors last year, an increase of nearly 16 per cent when compared to the previous year. The German and British markets experienced the biggest growth last year, and were up by nine per cent and seven per cent respectively. Spain continues to be the main European outbound market for Central America with 151,202 visitors in 2012, followed by Germany (120,911 visitors) and the UK in third place (107,101 visitors). While Costa Rica continues to be the most popular destination for British visitors, a growing interest in the Maya culture and the celebration of the start of a new era according to the Maya calendar resulted in a huge surge in visitors to Guatemala, which received 31,286 British visitors in 2012, 27 per cent more than in 2011. Honduras, another destination with a …

Hotwire Reveals Annual List of Canadians’ Top Ten Destinations for Victoria Day Weekend

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Also announces the “Great Weekend Sale” – Save Up to 70% on Deals for Holiday Travel and Beyond SAN FRANCISCO, May 7, 2013 /CNW/ – Hotwire.com®, a leading discount travel site, today announced the 10 most popular destinations for Canadian travellers booking hotels over Victoria Day Weekend 2013 (May 18-20). This year, more Canadians are staying in Canada, with domestic destinations like Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa gaining popularity and newcomer Quebec City joining the list. Still, perennial favorite New York City tops the list. The good news is that regardless of where travellers want to venture to this holiday, they can now score even deeper discounts with Hotwire’s biggest sale ever – the “Great Weekend Sale” – offering folks up to 70 percent off weekend Hot Rate hotel bookings made throughout the month of May. [“Great Weekend Sale” ends 5/31/13. Saturday night stay required. Hotwire Hot Rate hotels only] “Hotwire prices are down in eight of the ten most booked cities for Victoria Day, so the trend was already good for holiday travel, and with …

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Visit Barbados And Get “Free Spending Money”

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Barbados’ Island Inclusive Package Boasts Added Value With “Free Spending Money” On-island Travelers seeking the ultimate Caribbean getaway need look no further than the sun-drenched island of Barbados, now offering even more reasons to flock to the destination this year — free spending money for island experiences! This exciting offer is available for travel May 1 – December 21, 2013 inclusive, but trips must be booked during the period April 29 – June 22, 2013 in order to experience the island known for mastering the art of fine living with daily lessons offered to those seeking to do the same!