Travel Agent - October 1, 2007 - (Page 104)

TRENDWATCH New Commerce Dept. Data Shows Persistent Decline in Overseas Travel to Top U.S. Cities Problem: Despite the drop in the value of the dollar that puts America “on sale,” overseas travel to top U.S. cities remains depressed. Your 50+ Clientele I Americans who are 50 and older are more likely to have a passport now than 20 years ago, according to AARP magazine, which recently reported on the habits of its readership. Moreover, 55 percent of this group consider themselves to be adventurous travelers and 77 percent of these older travelers consider themselves more adventurous than their parents. AARP says these numbers reflect the desire of this age group—which they say tends to be a travel agent’s target audience—to have deeper travel experiences, as evidenced by the recent rise in “voluntourism” trips. In fact, AARP believes that over the next three to four years, baby boomers will be voluntourism’s most lucrative market. I Opportunity: The U.S. Conference of Mayors has called for the creation of a nationally coordinated promotion campaign to welcome more overseas visitors. A study by Oxford Economics shows that promotion, combined with visa and entry reforms already passed by Congress, would yield: 1.6 million new visitors per year $8 billion per year in new I visitor spending $100 Reform: million for security upgrades at America’s airports $850 new federal tax revenue million per year in The Travel Promotion Act of 2007 (S.1661 / H.R. 3232) would establish the nationally coordinated travel promotion campaign U.S. mayors have called for, at no cost to the American taxpayer. The Act requires matching funds from the industry, which would finance more promotion, yielding even higher returns than those cited by Oxford Economics. For more information on the importance of overseas travel to the United States, visit www.poweroftravel.org/pdf/DAP_blueprint.pdf CONNECTING YOU For more data and statistics on consumer and industry trends, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/stats TRAVEL AGENT (ISSN 1053-9360) is published 26 times per year (twice monthly except three times in October), by Questex Media Group, Inc., 306 West Michigan St., Suite 200, Duluth, MN 55802. Subscription rates: $250 for one year in the United States; $350 for one year in Canada and Mexico; all other countries $350 for one year. Single copies (prepaid only): $4.95 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and in all other countries. For air-expedited service, include an additional $75 per order annually. Include $6.50 per order plus $2 per additional copy for U.S. postage and handling. For current single copy or back issues on CD-rom, call 866-344-1315. Outside the US, please phone 615-377-3322. Periodicals postage paid at Duluth MN 55806 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to TRAVEL AGENT, P.O. Box 5066, Brentwood, TN 37024-5066. Canadian G.S.T. number: 840033278RT0001. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40017597. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2007 Questex Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the publisher, Questex Media Group, Inc. Authorization to photocopy items for internal/educational or personal use, or the internal/educational or personal use of specific clients is granted by Questex Media Group, Inc. for libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400 fax 978-750-4470. For those not registered with the CCC, send permissions request to: questexpermissions@reprintbuyer.com or 800-494-9051, Ext 100. http://www.poweroftravel.org/pdf/DAP_blueprint.pdf http://www.travelagentcentral.com/stats

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

Online Now From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Caribbena: Porta Caribe, Puerto Rico, an Unspoiled Retreat Carribbean Deals Mexico: Insider Tips: Hotels, Dining and Shopping in Cancun Mexico Deals Las Vegas: Tell Clients About Day Trips Into the Great Outdoors Europe: Budapest: Off-Season Promotions Pacific/Asia: Korea Expands its Offerings Seoul Primer: All the Info You Need For a Smooth Trip Pacific/Asia Deals Hawaii: Captivating Kauai: Enhanced Resorts, Natural Beauty Cruises: Building Revenue with Themed Cruises Cruise Deals Hotels: London: The Lanesborough’s New Guest Rooms Tours: Gutsy Women Travel’s New Morocco Itinerary Tour Deals Spas: Escape to Tranquility: Three Spa Havens Spa Deals Cover Story: Donna Flora Agent Profile Podcasts Offer a New Way to Give Your Clients Added Value Car Rental Navigation 101: Shift Profits into High Gear with These Tips Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Cruise: Commission Cutting, Hurricanes Pitch Colombia, Impress Your Clients Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism New Alaska Products for Families In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.