November 16, 2007
Outline of the Topic
TOPIC: Tourism Industry and Aviation
1. What is Tourism & Aviation?
2. Influence of aviation on tourism
3. Air transportation and modern tourism
4. Future of tourism and aviation
5. Traveling Tips - Planning before take a trip
6. References and related websites
1. What is Tourism & Aviation?
2. Influence of aviation on tourism
3. Air transportation and modern tourism
4. Future of tourism and aviation
5. Traveling Tips - Planning before take a trip
6. References and related websites
1. What is Tourism & Aviation industry?
In general terms Tourism and Aviation industry are defined as follows.
Tourism industry – Tourism industry refers to an industry that deals with the people those who travel from their own place to other in order to visit.
Aviation Industry – Aviation industry is a segment of travel industry that deals with air transportation from one destination to another destination.
In order to know details about Tourism and Aviation industry we are going to have a closer look at the next:
Tourist, Tourism & Tourism Industry
According to World Tourism Organization: -
“Tourists” are defined as “people who travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited".
“Tourism” is known as the collective activities and services that facilitate and attract tourists and shaped within their participation. International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism defined Tourism in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment. These service industries include Transportation services such as airlines, cruise ships, rails, taxis and any other mode of transportation. Accommodation such as hotel, motel, resort, dorms and any further offers that accommodate people to stay overnight. Food services namely restaurants, bars, pubs etc. Recreation Entertainment, sports, festival, and Treatment services such as spas and resorts.
“Tourism industry” is the industry that focuses on the operation and implementation of the above components of service industries collectively to satisfy need and demand of tourists. In the broader sense, at present tourism industry is the worlds largest industry, which captures about 4% share of the world’s economy, and classified as the most employment generating industry of the world. For many countries tourism is the dominant sector for income by the consumption of goods and services by tourists, the taxes levied on businesses in the tourism industry, as well as the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism.
Classification of Tourism:
The United Nations classified three forms of tourism 1. Domestic tourism is involves residents of the given country traveling within the national boundary. 2. Inbound tourism involving non-residents traveling in the given country and 3. Outbound tourism involving residents of a given country is traveling in another country. The UN also have categorized tourism by 3 basic forms: Internal tourism, National tourism and International tourism.
Why people travel?
There are numerous reasons behind traveling such as Business, Visiting friends and family, Curiosity, Natural attraction, Historical places, Recreation. However, two factor that influence traveling – The first is “Internal push factor” – for example Pilgrimage, Education, Health Care. The second is “External pull factor” – Nature, Sports, Recreation and many more.
In order to regulate tourism nationwide organization is “National Tourism Council” Example – In Thailand “TOA” – Tourism Authority of Thailand” and for International tourism is “UNWTO” – World Tourism Organization”.
Aviation (Air Transportation, Airlines)
“Whatsoever the reason of traveling people need transportation for movement, the next question arise which mode of transportation?. The answer is affordable, time saving, convenient and safety. So, air transportation is the one meet most all of the above”
The aviation basically categorized as Civil aviation and Military aviation. Dear reader, at this point I would like to inform you that our focus would be on the civil aviation only. Hence “Air transportation” would represent “Civil aviation”. The air transport sector includes those activities that are directly dependent on transporting people and goods by air. Airports, airlines, air navigation services are the terms that describe the industry comprehensively. The airlines are classified as “Career” (Passenger Transportation) (career) and “Cargo” (Freight Transportation).
Aviation provides the only worldwide transportation network, which makes it essential for global business and tourism. Air transpiration alleviates poverty and helps to improve living standards by facilitating tourism. Air transport improves quality of life by broadening people’s leisure and cultural experiences. It provides a wider choice of holiday destinations around the world and an affordable means to visit distance friends and relatives. Air transport contributes to sustainable development not only by facilitating tourism and trade, it generates economic growth, provides jobs, increase revenues from taxes as well as facilitates the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid relief and swift delivery of medical supplies anywhere on the earth.
To regulate international air transportation navigation the organization “IATA” - International Air Transport Association, play the vital role. “ICAO” - International Civil Aviation Organization, works for to promote understanding and security through cooperative aviation regulation.
Tourism industry – Tourism industry refers to an industry that deals with the people those who travel from their own place to other in order to visit.
Aviation Industry – Aviation industry is a segment of travel industry that deals with air transportation from one destination to another destination.
In order to know details about Tourism and Aviation industry we are going to have a closer look at the next:
Tourist, Tourism & Tourism Industry
According to World Tourism Organization: -
“Tourists” are defined as “people who travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited".
“Tourism” is known as the collective activities and services that facilitate and attract tourists and shaped within their participation. International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism defined Tourism in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment. These service industries include Transportation services such as airlines, cruise ships, rails, taxis and any other mode of transportation. Accommodation such as hotel, motel, resort, dorms and any further offers that accommodate people to stay overnight. Food services namely restaurants, bars, pubs etc. Recreation Entertainment, sports, festival, and Treatment services such as spas and resorts.
“Tourism industry” is the industry that focuses on the operation and implementation of the above components of service industries collectively to satisfy need and demand of tourists. In the broader sense, at present tourism industry is the worlds largest industry, which captures about 4% share of the world’s economy, and classified as the most employment generating industry of the world. For many countries tourism is the dominant sector for income by the consumption of goods and services by tourists, the taxes levied on businesses in the tourism industry, as well as the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism.
Classification of Tourism:
The United Nations classified three forms of tourism 1. Domestic tourism is involves residents of the given country traveling within the national boundary. 2. Inbound tourism involving non-residents traveling in the given country and 3. Outbound tourism involving residents of a given country is traveling in another country. The UN also have categorized tourism by 3 basic forms: Internal tourism, National tourism and International tourism.
Why people travel?
There are numerous reasons behind traveling such as Business, Visiting friends and family, Curiosity, Natural attraction, Historical places, Recreation. However, two factor that influence traveling – The first is “Internal push factor” – for example Pilgrimage, Education, Health Care. The second is “External pull factor” – Nature, Sports, Recreation and many more.
In order to regulate tourism nationwide organization is “National Tourism Council” Example – In Thailand “TOA” – Tourism Authority of Thailand” and for International tourism is “UNWTO” – World Tourism Organization”.
Aviation (Air Transportation, Airlines)
“Whatsoever the reason of traveling people need transportation for movement, the next question arise which mode of transportation?. The answer is affordable, time saving, convenient and safety. So, air transportation is the one meet most all of the above”
The aviation basically categorized as Civil aviation and Military aviation. Dear reader, at this point I would like to inform you that our focus would be on the civil aviation only. Hence “Air transportation” would represent “Civil aviation”. The air transport sector includes those activities that are directly dependent on transporting people and goods by air. Airports, airlines, air navigation services are the terms that describe the industry comprehensively. The airlines are classified as “Career” (Passenger Transportation) (career) and “Cargo” (Freight Transportation).
Aviation provides the only worldwide transportation network, which makes it essential for global business and tourism. Air transpiration alleviates poverty and helps to improve living standards by facilitating tourism. Air transport improves quality of life by broadening people’s leisure and cultural experiences. It provides a wider choice of holiday destinations around the world and an affordable means to visit distance friends and relatives. Air transport contributes to sustainable development not only by facilitating tourism and trade, it generates economic growth, provides jobs, increase revenues from taxes as well as facilitates the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid relief and swift delivery of medical supplies anywhere on the earth.
To regulate international air transportation navigation the organization “IATA” - International Air Transport Association, play the vital role. “ICAO” - International Civil Aviation Organization, works for to promote understanding and security through cooperative aviation regulation.
2. Influence of aviation on tourism
Tourism and Air Transport industry are complement each other. Tourism depends on transportation to bring visitors, while the transportation industry depends on tourism to generate demand for its services. The growth in tourism industry directly reflects onto the air transportation. Over the last 25 years, the number of international tourists has more than doubled. The expansion of international tourism has a large impact on the discipline of transport geography.
Transport is the cause and the effect of the growth of tourism. To start with, the improved facilities have stimulated tourism, and the expansion of tourism has stimulated transport. Accessibility is the main function behind the basics of tourism transport. In order to access the areas that are mainly aimed, tourists will use any transportation mode. However, air transport is the main mode for international tourism. Air transport plays a dominant role in inter-regional movements of tourists, which normally entails travel over long-distance. Growth rates of international air traffic are pegged with growth rates of international tourism. Attractive package tours, competitive airfare attract more and more tourist day by days, therefore both the industry is expanding rapidly.
Transport policies and decisions of governments can make a big difference in the destinations available to tourists, for instance the Suvarnabhumi airport Bangkok, Thailand. Air transport is far advance than the transport mode. Air transport has revolutionized the geographical aspect of distances; the most remote areas can now be attained, any journey around the world can be measured in terms of hours of traveling. With jet that, can reach up to 1950 km/hrs, international tourism is no longer an on going adventure.
About 6.7 million jobs worldwide are in tourism industry directly supported by the spending of foreign visitors arriving by air. Taking into account both the overseas visors and work force employed it can be said that the Industry is giant in shape “The worlds largest industry of Travel and Tourism”. How big the airline industry and its market share are an example will give you a clear image - in a statistics it shown that, American Airlines saves US$40,000 in a year by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class only.
Transport is the cause and the effect of the growth of tourism. To start with, the improved facilities have stimulated tourism, and the expansion of tourism has stimulated transport. Accessibility is the main function behind the basics of tourism transport. In order to access the areas that are mainly aimed, tourists will use any transportation mode. However, air transport is the main mode for international tourism. Air transport plays a dominant role in inter-regional movements of tourists, which normally entails travel over long-distance. Growth rates of international air traffic are pegged with growth rates of international tourism. Attractive package tours, competitive airfare attract more and more tourist day by days, therefore both the industry is expanding rapidly.
Transport policies and decisions of governments can make a big difference in the destinations available to tourists, for instance the Suvarnabhumi airport Bangkok, Thailand. Air transport is far advance than the transport mode. Air transport has revolutionized the geographical aspect of distances; the most remote areas can now be attained, any journey around the world can be measured in terms of hours of traveling. With jet that, can reach up to 1950 km/hrs, international tourism is no longer an on going adventure.
About 6.7 million jobs worldwide are in tourism industry directly supported by the spending of foreign visitors arriving by air. Taking into account both the overseas visors and work force employed it can be said that the Industry is giant in shape “The worlds largest industry of Travel and Tourism”. How big the airline industry and its market share are an example will give you a clear image - in a statistics it shown that, American Airlines saves US$40,000 in a year by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class only.
3. Air transportation and modern tourism
In the modern world, traveling is more centered to the annual holidays and can be fairly well predicted. The demand in international and even national transport infrastructures implies a very large number of people who wants to move in an efficient, fast and inexpensive manner. It requires heavy investments and complex organization. Well-organized terminals and intelligently planned schedules are essential in promoting effective transportation facilities for tourists, notably since the industry is growing at a fast rate.
Inducement tour - Tourism now a day not only the personal influence, but it also is group affluence as well, many company to induce their work force arrange tour overseas, which is the significant reason of Group tour. Such as Japanese tour group in Thailand is very obvious example. So, when a big company arranges these types of tour instead to depending on schedule flight they usually seek for chartered flight.
Package Tours - The following example shows how the tour and travel is related to the modern tourism. People would like to maximize their value of traveling considering time limit. Therefore the package tours age becoming popular. Another reason is before they take the tour they know about their expenditures.
Here is some distinctive feature of modern tours :-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maldives Honeymoon Tour
Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days
Destinations : Maldives
Day 01 Male:
On arrival at the Maldives international airport meet our tour representative who will transfer you to the island resort by the means of a speedboat. Check in resort and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 02 Island Beach Resort: - - - - -
Day 03 Island Beach Resort: - - - - -
Day 04 Male:
Morning after breakfast, get transferred to the Male international airport to board your flight to the onwards destination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tourism dominantly takes place in Europe and North America. Traveling has always been an important feature of society. First the explorers traveled the world to learn more about geographical regions, potential markets and to exploit resources. As time moved on as transportation became more reliable definitely the air transportation, traveling became a mundane activity taking place in an organized environment, tourism. The importance of tourism as an economic activity has increased dramatically in recent years.
Inducement tour - Tourism now a day not only the personal influence, but it also is group affluence as well, many company to induce their work force arrange tour overseas, which is the significant reason of Group tour. Such as Japanese tour group in Thailand is very obvious example. So, when a big company arranges these types of tour instead to depending on schedule flight they usually seek for chartered flight.
Package Tours - The following example shows how the tour and travel is related to the modern tourism. People would like to maximize their value of traveling considering time limit. Therefore the package tours age becoming popular. Another reason is before they take the tour they know about their expenditures.
Here is some distinctive feature of modern tours :-
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maldives Honeymoon Tour
Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days
Destinations : Maldives
Day 01 Male:
On arrival at the Maldives international airport meet our tour representative who will transfer you to the island resort by the means of a speedboat. Check in resort and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 02 Island Beach Resort: - - - - -
Day 03 Island Beach Resort: - - - - -
Day 04 Male:
Morning after breakfast, get transferred to the Male international airport to board your flight to the onwards destination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tourism dominantly takes place in Europe and North America. Traveling has always been an important feature of society. First the explorers traveled the world to learn more about geographical regions, potential markets and to exploit resources. As time moved on as transportation became more reliable definitely the air transportation, traveling became a mundane activity taking place in an organized environment, tourism. The importance of tourism as an economic activity has increased dramatically in recent years.
4. Future of tourism and aviation
The travel and tourism industry employs 72 million people worldwide. Global tourism expenditure is estimated to be nearly US$ 3 trillion. Tourism accounts directly for 3.8% of worlds GDP. Tourism is expected to maintain its growth by 2014, the World Travel and Tourism Council expects the torsion industry to employ more than 84 million people globally.
Tourism as an upcoming industry
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forecasts that international tourism will continue growing at the average annual rate of 4 %. By 2020 Europe will remain the most popular destination, but its share will drop from 60 % in 1995 to 46 %. Long haul will grow slightly faster than intraregional travel and by 2020 its share will increase from 18 % in 1995 to 24 %.
With the advent of e-commerce, tourism products have become one of the most traded items on the Internet. Tourism products and services have been made available through intermediaries, although tourism providers (hotels, airlines, etc.) can sell their services directly. This has put pressure on intermediaries from both on-line and traditional shops.
It has been suggested there is a strong correlation between Tourism expenditure per capita and the degree to which countries play in the global context. Not only as a result of the important economic contribution of the tourism industry, but also as an indicator of the degree of confidence with which global citizens leverage the resources of the globe for the benefit of their local economies.
Space tourism is expected to "take off" in the first quarter of the 21st century, although compared with traditional destinations the number of tourists in orbit will remain low until technologies such as a space elevator make space travel cheap.
Technological improvement is likely to make possible air-ship hotels, based either on solar-powered airplanes or large dirigibles. Underwater hotels, such as Hydropolis, expected to open in Dubai in 2009. On the ocean tourists will be welcomed by ever larger cruise ships and perhaps floating cities.
Some futurists expect that movable hotel "pods" will be created that could be temporarily erected anywhere on the planet, where building a permanent resort would be unacceptable politically, economically or environmentally.
List of flown space tourists
-----------------------
All five space tourists flew to and from the International Space Station on Soyuz spacecraft through the space tourism company, Space Adventures: as follows:-
Dennis Tito (American): April 28 - May 6, 2001
Mark Shuttleworth (South African / British): April 25 - May 5, 2002
Gregory Olsen (American): October 1 - October 11, 2005
Anousheh Ansari (Iranian / American): September 18 - September 29, 2006
Charles Simonyi (Hungarian / American): April 7 - April 21, 2007
Tourism as an upcoming industry
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forecasts that international tourism will continue growing at the average annual rate of 4 %. By 2020 Europe will remain the most popular destination, but its share will drop from 60 % in 1995 to 46 %. Long haul will grow slightly faster than intraregional travel and by 2020 its share will increase from 18 % in 1995 to 24 %.
With the advent of e-commerce, tourism products have become one of the most traded items on the Internet. Tourism products and services have been made available through intermediaries, although tourism providers (hotels, airlines, etc.) can sell their services directly. This has put pressure on intermediaries from both on-line and traditional shops.
It has been suggested there is a strong correlation between Tourism expenditure per capita and the degree to which countries play in the global context. Not only as a result of the important economic contribution of the tourism industry, but also as an indicator of the degree of confidence with which global citizens leverage the resources of the globe for the benefit of their local economies.
Space tourism is expected to "take off" in the first quarter of the 21st century, although compared with traditional destinations the number of tourists in orbit will remain low until technologies such as a space elevator make space travel cheap.
Technological improvement is likely to make possible air-ship hotels, based either on solar-powered airplanes or large dirigibles. Underwater hotels, such as Hydropolis, expected to open in Dubai in 2009. On the ocean tourists will be welcomed by ever larger cruise ships and perhaps floating cities.
Some futurists expect that movable hotel "pods" will be created that could be temporarily erected anywhere on the planet, where building a permanent resort would be unacceptable politically, economically or environmentally.
List of flown space tourists
-----------------------
All five space tourists flew to and from the International Space Station on Soyuz spacecraft through the space tourism company, Space Adventures: as follows:-
Dennis Tito (American): April 28 - May 6, 2001
Mark Shuttleworth (South African / British): April 25 - May 5, 2002
Gregory Olsen (American): October 1 - October 11, 2005
Anousheh Ansari (Iranian / American): September 18 - September 29, 2006
Charles Simonyi (Hungarian / American): April 7 - April 21, 2007
5. Traveling Tips - Planning before take a trip
# International Travel Tips
================
1. Check the latest travel advice for your destination and subscribe to receive free e-mail notification each time the travel advice for your destination is updated.
2. Take out appropriate travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, including adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.
3. Before traveling overseas register your travel and contact details online or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive, so we can contact you in an emergency.
4. Obey the law Consular assistance cannot override local laws, even where local laws appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards.
5. Check if you require visas for the country or countries you are visiting or transiting. Be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry.
6. Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, traveler checks, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.
7. Check with health professionals for information on recommended vaccinations or other precautions and find out about overseas laws on traveling with medicines.
8. Make sure your passport has at least six months validity and carry additional copies of your passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
9. Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact with friends and relatives while overseas.
# High Fliers
========
* To beat jetlag, book an overnight flight or one that arrives in the evening when travelling east so you can either catch your sleep on the flight or as soon as you get in to your destination.
* To prevent the swelling of feet as is wont to happen on long flights, walk in the aisle at intervals and try not to take off your shoes.
* Refrain from OD-ing on the free booze when on a flight, as too much alcohol causes dehydration. Tank up instead on aqua-pura.
* When making flight reservation, remember to request for special meals if you have any food restrictions.
* After September 11, airlines follow very strict security procedures. So make sure you reach the airport for check in well before departure time. Its best to check with the airline regarding how much in advance you should be at the airport.
* If your baggage does not arrive on the same flight as you, fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), with a description of the baggage, a list of contents and address to which it should be forwarded. If your baggage does not arrive at all, place a claim with the airline within 21 days.
* Overbooking is a fact of life in the airline industry. If you are not in a particular hurry to get to your destination then volunteer to give your seat up and take the next flight. The airline will provide you a hotel room and other frills, so you can end up having an extended vacation at the airlines expense!
* Do not accept any package from a stranger.
* For a smooth ride on a plane, choose the seats located near the wings as if the plane hits an air pocket, this is where you will get the least amount of bumps.
* If you are planning to watch the in flight movie, choose the fourth or fifth row from the screen to avoid getting a neck cramp.
* If you are prone to motion sickness, take an anti sickness pill before the flight. The pill won't help much, if you have it after you have started feeling sick!
* Abide by the list of items prohibited on board and carry most items like skis/cues/walking canes/sticks/Swiss knives in checked in baggage - this smoothens the check-in process plus avoids the risk of confiscation and unnecessary delays.
Last and this is equally important - report any unattended items in the airport or aircraft to the nearest airport or airline personnel.
* Keep track of the weather at your destination and be prepared, especially if you are going to a hurricane prone area.
Heartbreak Hotel
* Make your hotel reservations in advance, especially if you are visiting a place in peak season. You don’t want to be caught without a roof over your head!
* Negotiating room tariffs over the phone? Call the hotel twice to confirm the rates. Note down the name of the person you have talked to and request a written/faxed confirmation. This way you can be sure that you will not be wrongly billed by the hotel.
* Don't depend solely on the hotel's alarm service. Carry your own little alarm clock to catch an early morning flight or that pre-dawn sightseeing trip.
* When you check into your hotel, ask the reception to give you a card with the hotel's name address and telephone number. This will come in handy if you get lost or forget the name of your hotel.
* Check whether your hotel has a hair-dryer, iron, coffee percolator, etc, to avoid carrying these gadgets and also making it easy to skip the 110/220 conversion problem when travelling to foreign countries.
Most hotels frown on guests doing their own laundry in the bathrooms, but if you do need to wash some smalls, carry a length of nylon twine to improvise a clothesline.
================
1. Check the latest travel advice for your destination and subscribe to receive free e-mail notification each time the travel advice for your destination is updated.
2. Take out appropriate travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, including adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.
3. Before traveling overseas register your travel and contact details online or at the local Australian embassy, high commission or consulate once you arrive, so we can contact you in an emergency.
4. Obey the law Consular assistance cannot override local laws, even where local laws appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards.
5. Check if you require visas for the country or countries you are visiting or transiting. Be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry.
6. Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, traveler checks, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.
7. Check with health professionals for information on recommended vaccinations or other precautions and find out about overseas laws on traveling with medicines.
8. Make sure your passport has at least six months validity and carry additional copies of your passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
9. Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with someone at home and keep in regular contact with friends and relatives while overseas.
# High Fliers
========
* To beat jetlag, book an overnight flight or one that arrives in the evening when travelling east so you can either catch your sleep on the flight or as soon as you get in to your destination.
* To prevent the swelling of feet as is wont to happen on long flights, walk in the aisle at intervals and try not to take off your shoes.
* Refrain from OD-ing on the free booze when on a flight, as too much alcohol causes dehydration. Tank up instead on aqua-pura.
* When making flight reservation, remember to request for special meals if you have any food restrictions.
* After September 11, airlines follow very strict security procedures. So make sure you reach the airport for check in well before departure time. Its best to check with the airline regarding how much in advance you should be at the airport.
* If your baggage does not arrive on the same flight as you, fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR), with a description of the baggage, a list of contents and address to which it should be forwarded. If your baggage does not arrive at all, place a claim with the airline within 21 days.
* Overbooking is a fact of life in the airline industry. If you are not in a particular hurry to get to your destination then volunteer to give your seat up and take the next flight. The airline will provide you a hotel room and other frills, so you can end up having an extended vacation at the airlines expense!
* Do not accept any package from a stranger.
* For a smooth ride on a plane, choose the seats located near the wings as if the plane hits an air pocket, this is where you will get the least amount of bumps.
* If you are planning to watch the in flight movie, choose the fourth or fifth row from the screen to avoid getting a neck cramp.
* If you are prone to motion sickness, take an anti sickness pill before the flight. The pill won't help much, if you have it after you have started feeling sick!
* Abide by the list of items prohibited on board and carry most items like skis/cues/walking canes/sticks/Swiss knives in checked in baggage - this smoothens the check-in process plus avoids the risk of confiscation and unnecessary delays.
Last and this is equally important - report any unattended items in the airport or aircraft to the nearest airport or airline personnel.
* Keep track of the weather at your destination and be prepared, especially if you are going to a hurricane prone area.
Heartbreak Hotel
* Make your hotel reservations in advance, especially if you are visiting a place in peak season. You don’t want to be caught without a roof over your head!
* Negotiating room tariffs over the phone? Call the hotel twice to confirm the rates. Note down the name of the person you have talked to and request a written/faxed confirmation. This way you can be sure that you will not be wrongly billed by the hotel.
* Don't depend solely on the hotel's alarm service. Carry your own little alarm clock to catch an early morning flight or that pre-dawn sightseeing trip.
* When you check into your hotel, ask the reception to give you a card with the hotel's name address and telephone number. This will come in handy if you get lost or forget the name of your hotel.
* Check whether your hotel has a hair-dryer, iron, coffee percolator, etc, to avoid carrying these gadgets and also making it easy to skip the 110/220 conversion problem when travelling to foreign countries.
Most hotels frown on guests doing their own laundry in the bathrooms, but if you do need to wash some smalls, carry a length of nylon twine to improvise a clothesline.
November 13, 2007
6. References and related sites
Online references :
===========
http://www.imagesaustralia.com/sydney.htm available on 16 Nov, 2007;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_Organization available on 10/11/2007
http://www.space.com/space-tourism/ available on 15/11/2007
http://www.monochrom.at/space-tourism/ available on 15/11/2007
http://www.tourismthailand.org/ available on 15/11/2007
Book:
====
Robert W. McIntosh, Charles R. Goeldner, J. R. Brent Ritchie; Tourism John Wiley & Sons Inc. Canada 2000.
===========
http://www.imagesaustralia.com/sydney.htm available on 16 Nov, 2007;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_Organization available on 10/11/2007
http://www.space.com/space-tourism/ available on 15/11/2007
http://www.monochrom.at/space-tourism/ available on 15/11/2007
http://www.tourismthailand.org/ available on 15/11/2007
Book:
====
Robert W. McIntosh, Charles R. Goeldner, J. R. Brent Ritchie; Tourism John Wiley & Sons Inc. Canada 2000.
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