| ST LUCIA: 'Region's support for Venezuela might hurt tourism ...
President of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, Allen Chastanet, says the Caribbean's position to back Venezuela over Guatemala for a seat on the United Nations Security Council may have influenced the United States' decision to amend the Western Hemis-phere Travel Initiative. The amendment delays the implementation of the new passport requirements until June 1, 2009, for land crossings at the Mexican and Canadian borders and for cruise passengers coming to the U.S. from the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada or Bermuda. But it still requires all U.S. citizens travelling by air to these regions to have a passport by January 8, next year. The U.S. move has been criticised by leading regional tourism officials. "It is very likely that our alliance with (President Hugo) Chvez and the whole Security Council issue where we came out in support of the Venezuela leader against the Americans could be the determining factor," he told the Caribbean Media Corporation on Wednesday.
Spa Finder to Power New Spa Channel at India.MakeMyTrip.com
Spa Finder, Inc., the global spa resource, has been selected by MakeMyTrip.com , India's largest online travel company, to power their new spa channel. The spa channel will feature Spa Finder's proprietary Spa Distribution Network, the first online spa booking engine, which will enable MakeMyTrip's travel shoppers to research and book inclusive spa vacations through Spa Finder's global network of destination, resort and hotel spas. Spa Finder is the leading provider of spa information and research/booking tools, helping millions of consumers learn about and enjoy thousands of fine spas worldwide through the award-winning web site, Spafinder.com, its consumer publications, and partnerships with leading online companies. “With the Spa Distribution Network, our goal is to combine the most comprehensive spa travel information with a straightforward booking experience to help our partners expand their business," said Spa Finder, Inc.
Hello, Good Buys: Four Sites That Offer Fare Help
Move over Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz. A new generation of travel Web sites is emerging, and they're looking to revolutionize the online purchase of airfares. The brainchildren of PhD-in-mathematics types, the sites use what is called predictive technology." No crystal balls are involved: The sites mine and analyze historical airfare prices so consumers will know better when to push the button and buy. John Bray, vice president of advisory services at the travel research firm PhoCusWright, said travel technology visionaries "have been saying for some time, 'We've got to create our own iPod for the travel industry.' " The new sites, he said, are evidence that "we're now seeing the beginning of these killer applications emerging." .
From RP, with love
After nearly 70 years of travel and lifestyle restrictions, some 24.5 million people from the Russian Federation traveled abroad in 2004, putting the country on track to become the 10th largest tourist source by 2020. And when they travel, Russians spend bigbigger than the average tourists, according to the World Tourism Organization. Russians are now the eighth top tourist spenders in the world, with some US$15.7 billion spent for international travel in 2004. They are also more discriminating, preferring luxury accommodations, prestige resorts and exotic cuisine over mass-market enticements. The Philippine Department of Tourism sees Russia as another bright spot in its efforts to bring foreign visitors to local shores. In 2005, around 10,200 Russians traveled to the Philippines.
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