Holiday News - Direct

The holiday booking season for 2009 has started well so far this year, with reports of a promising season for holidaymakers to travel abroad for their holidays. January and February enquiries and bookings were reportedly better than anticipated.
A spokesperson at ABTA said, “People will find a way to pay. They tend […]

Later this year Bulgaria will launch into rural and eco-tourism, their new caption will be “The nature welcomes you”. The launch of such a specific area of tourism has come into play as travel and tourism is currently suffering in the recession.
The Bulgarian tourist board are introducing the initiative in order to […]

Las Vegas is becoming a much more affordable destination with many reductions on hotels and internal flights. Vegas is becoming more inexpensive and great value for money, making now the best time to visit.
The popular Nevada city experienced less tourism spending in 2008 and the tourist board are hoping to increase on last years […]

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) are aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 2035 and are asking the industry to help.
A ten point action plan has been set up to help achieve the best practice; the report on ‘Leading the Challenge on Climate Change’ was launched earlier this month.
The report identifies a […]

The Thailand Tourism Authority has developed a new strategy to bring in the tourists. It’s an approach based on the same theme as Cuba being famous for its mojitos, New York for the manhattan cocktail etc.
The launch of Thailand’s national cocktail the Siam sunray is a concoction of: Vodka, coconut liqueur, chilli pepper, sugar, […]

Romances come and go, but a chocoholic is in it for life with that addictive cocoa creation, chocolate.
From Paris to San Francisco, chocolate tours are connecting visitors with delectable treats and insider’s information about the making of the irresistible sweets.
So give in to your cravings and take a tour to learn a thing or two […]

The American Idol Experience based on the hit television show has been introduced by Walt Disney Resort in Florida.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests are allowed to audition onstage, to experience the challenge of auditioning and the rush of being onstage, while their fellow guests cheer them on from the audience and vote for their favourite singer.
Before […]

The Bay of Alexandria is being considered by Egypt and UNESCO to be turned into an underwater museum with glass walls and an underwater tunnel.
The human imagination is one of our most fascinating features. There are so many things we adore and are willing to do anything for to see them. Hundreds of thousands are […]

Costa Cruises have much planned for 2010 in expanding its choices for customers, some of these include:
- new eco-tourism tours of parks and nature reserves
- food and wine trips to Michelin restaurants (in the 2009 guide)
- returning to previous destinations
- introducing new destinations
Demand for cruise holidays in the Arabian Gulf by Costa Cruises is growing so rapidly that the […]

The Tourism Authority in Thailand (TAT) has recently launched a new website for holidaymakers across the world, to keep tourists up to date with the latest information on the Thailand.
The ‘Thailand Tourism Update’ website will not only feature up to date information, it will also have a section for repeat travellers and a special interest […]

This year Britons are far more likely to holiday in caravans or camp than take a trip to Spain, according to The Caravan Club. Bookings for caravan holidays are up by 40%, the directory enquiries operator 118 118 said calls for camping and caravan sites had risen to 40% in comparison to previous years […]

In the Valley of Kings in Egypt archaeologists have discovered an ancient Egyptian tomb, the sarcophagi and 5 mummies have not yet been identified by archaeologists.
Egypt’s Chief Archaeologist Zahi Hawass believes they may be nobles or royals and that they may have been moved from original graves to be protected from grave robbers. The […]

Edinburgh Airport is to have a £40 million revamp to make it one of the most current and up-to-date airports in Europe.
The project will allow up to 13 million visitors to pass through its doors every year, according to BAA, there will also be purpose built amenities such as restaurants, shops and security area.
The first […]

The finalists have been announced for the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards by The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the awards recognise the most sustainable practices in tourism, over 4 different categories, and they are:
- Destination Stewardship
- Conservation
- Community Benefit
- Global Tourism Business.

* Destination Stewardship Award nominees are:

Grupo Puntacana – Dominican Republic
This group are recognised for developing employment, […]

Holidaymakers want the most for their money and to maximise their budgets for holiday spending; however at the moment with the pound sterling in a steady decline, tourists are finding it increasingly hard to get value for money on currency for their chosen holiday destination.
Their maybe some good news for holidaymakers as some destinations across […]

Cruise ship Caribbean Princess has undergone a renovation introducing a range of new facilities.
After three weeks in dry dock the the 3,110-passenger ship now offers passengers a piazza-style atrium with its International Café and Vines, the wine, seafood and cheese bar. Also an adults-only Sanctuary, seven new suites, and a more centrally located casino […]

In an attempt to boost tourism in China a Universal Studios theme park could open in the capital, Beijing, the proposal will be jointly run by the US film studio and Beijing Tourism.
A Beijing spokesperson said in a recent interview: “Universal has filed an application to build a theme park in Beijing and the project […]

Many families will be heading off to holiday in half term week, whether it’s a sun holiday or a ski holiday. Ski holidays are very popular this time of year as its half way through the season, although prices sometimes rise as demand increases.
The most popular ski destinations at half term are Austria, France […]

In 2010 Holland America Line will introduce a round trip to Sydney, Australia; the 14 day voyage will explore the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.
Richard D. Meadows, CTC, Executive Vice President for Marketing, Sales and Guest Programs at Holland America Line said “Our 14-day, roundtrip Sydney cruises are the perfect answer for a relaxing […]

In 2008 Austria had 32.6 million visitors, which were up just below 5% on the previous year. The travel and tourism industry in Austria surpassed expectations last year and are looking for a repeat in 2009.
The Austria National Tourist Office (ANTO) has unveiled a new slogan to accentuate the value of lifestyle, culture and […]