Travel And Leisure
Must-See Sights When Visiting Rome
Posted on December 9, 2011 |
Claiming the number two spot on the Cond? Nast Traveler’s 2004 Reader’s Choice Awards Top Ten European Cities, Rome is home to magnificent antique structures and an impressive history. It has a population of 2.7 million people with a fairly predictable climate of mild to rainy during the winter seasons and dry and hot during the summer months.
Except for a few countries in Europe, a passport is required to enter Italy. A visa is not needed, though, if you are staying for ninety days or less. Travel during the off-season between October and March is recommended to avoid the overwhelming mob of tourists during the more popular travel times. You can choose hotel accommodations near or within the historic district (centro storico). The Hotel de Russie between the Piazza del Popolo and Spanish Steps is a fabulous choice, bringing you next door to these two attractions you will definitely want to see first.
You can best enjoy the city’s treasures on foot allowing you to see the sights as you wish and taking side trips as you desire. However, it is still a good idea to list the sites you intend to visit so you can save cash. It can add up quickly. Guided tours are a great option to get around and see the sites and are available from your hotel concierge. The TramBus system is another convenient and economical choice. It travels around the city and provides a terrific tour of Rome.
Regardless of your tourist preferences, certain sights in Rome should not be missed. The most popular, or at least recognizable, sights are probably The Coliseum and the Vatican. You can join one of the hourly tours hosted by guides dressed as Gladiators, or tour on your own. Be sure to call ahead, though, as the operating hours vary during the different seasons.
After visiting The Coliseum, make your way across the street to The Roman Forum (Foro Romano) which was the civic center of Ancient Rome. It is here that the political, economic and religious activities occurred. Many columns are still standing among the ruins over 2000 years ago. Admission to The Roman Forum is free, though there are fees for the audio and guided tours of the premises.
The Pantheon is approximately 1,800 years old and stands basically unchanged. The Pantheon can be viewed as an example of how The Roman Forum would have looked if its buildings had not turned to ruins. The Pantheon, meaning “temple to all gods,” was built around 125 A.D. featuring a nine meter opening providing the only lighting into the structure. The Pantheon is the burial place of many prominent individuals throughout history including Raphael, the Renaissance painter, and two kings of Italy.
Finally, you cannot miss The Vatican and its collection of books, paintings, sculptures and other artifacts portraying the history of the Catholic Church. You could very easily spend several hours at The Vatican and still only scratch the surface of the collection. Be sure you do not skip the Sistine Chapel famous for Michelangelo’s painting on the chapel’s ceiling.
Edinburgh Voted Top City in the UK in Conde Nast Readers’ Travel Awards
Posted on November 23, 2011 |
The Conde Nast magazine portfolio is one of the most prestigious collections of household names, including, Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ. Its travel magazine, the Conde Nast Traveller, rates some of the most luxurious and esteemed holiday destinations and accommodations in the world, the results of which culminate in the annual awards events such as the Readers’ Travel Awards.
This year, Turkey came out on top as the overall winner, followed closely by Egypt and Australia in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. In the UK category however, it was Edinburgh which beat off tough competition from London and Liverpool to claim the award for best UK city.
The scoring system is based on “an index of satisfaction with travel facilities and services, scored out of a maximum of 100.” Edinburgh received extremely high marks across the board, most notably in areas such as aesthetics and architecture (93.72), as well as user-friendliness (90.46).
Edinburgh has improved on last year’s performance, when it came 2nd in the same competition. The accolade is not the first time the city has been recognised for its superior visitor experience; in 2008, the capital was named as one of the world’s top 10 cities by travel magazine Wanderlust, and has been voted as the UK’s favourite city break by Guardian/Observer readers for 10 years running.
The only other Scottish city to appear in the top 10 was Glasgow, coming in at number 5. Within top 15 UK business hotel category, the only non-London hotel in the winning bunch was The Balmoral in Edinburgh, a further testament to the esteem in which this glorious city is held.
With a veritable mix of cultural, culinary, and visual splendour, the city’s art galleries, top drawer restaurants, vibrant night-life, and luxury hotels in Edinburgh city centre, it is no wonder it appeals to so many cross sections of society.
The current Edinburgh marketing campaign, ‘This is My Edinburgh’, features a real-life mix of Edinburgh residents and their perspective of their home-town. With the release of the Conde Nast Readers Travel Awards, they have one more aspect to be proud of.
Travel and Leisure Jobs
Posted on November 21, 2011 |
Travel and leisure industry is one the most favored industry sector for job seekers worldwide. It offers you the wonderful opportunity of seeing new places, getting acquainted with new cultures and helps in developing a more comprehensive viewpoint about world affairs. So if you are one of those persons who are passionate about travel, and like to meet new people a variety of job opportunities are available in various segments of travel and leisure industry.
Here are few of travel and leisure industry which provide extremely good job opportunities, if you possess requisite skills for the job.
Online Travel – With the advent of internet, travel industry went online. Now you can book flight tickets, hotel rooms and buying tickets for the venue. These ventures require computer programmer, web designer, customer support and sales team.
Event management – This industry specializes in the creation of festivals and events which vary in scale from Olympics to the neighborhood Birthday party. Event managers are in great demand by companies.
Cruise ships – Cruise ships are a classy mode of travel which is popular amongst a section of tourists. These massive structures require hospitality professionals, maritime professionals, entertainers and security personnel.
Tour operators – They come in handy for those people who travel internationally and don’t have time for a “do it yourself” holiday. They take care of all the details of the tour saving their clients from the intricacies.
Airlines – Air travel is the most popular means of travel for tourist especially international tourists. Pilots, air hostess and flight crew are some of the most desired career. However an airline employs more people as ground staff in the form of air traffic controller, ticket checker, baggage checker and personal service assistant.
Travel websites, magazines and guides – These guide people on popular tourist spots, the best route to take, best time to visit and must see places amongst others. Here contractual or freelance writers can work as travel writers. Also photographers are hired to shoot photos documenting the journey.
Animation – Animation industry makes animated films some of which are hugely popular like Ice Age. Also they design and execute computer games. Animators, illustrators and designers are widely in demand here.
Cosmetics Industry – The desire to look beautiful is innate in every woman and man. This industry “claims” to make people beautiful. Cosmetics and the beauty industry require hair stylist, beauty therapist, manicurist and shampoo technician.
Games and toys industry – This sector produces games and toys for people of all ages and groups. It requires creative professionals and game designers.
Fitness sector – This sector works on making people fit through exercise and alternatives like yoga. It requires certified fitness trainers and yoga teachers.
Hotels and resort industry – When you travel anywhere you stay in one of these hotels and resorts. Hence this industry plays a very important role in the overall travel and leisure industry so much that hotel occupancy rates are an important indicator of the state of the industry. It requires waiting staff, interior decorators, management professionals and catering services personnel.
The travel and leisure industry is very often the dream job of many people. But many people are unaware of the tremendous job potential of this industry.
Conde Nast Names Best Places For Package Tours
Posted on November 16, 2011 |
Embarking on package tours is more than a hobby for most. Many of us travel for fun, to see new places or to experience a new culture. Some of us travel alone without a Travel Companion while others think trips with friends are the best. Regardless, for the 18th year in a row, San Francisco was named as the best city in the United States to travel to by Conde Nast Traveler.
This announcement likely comes as no surprise to anyone that has ever taken a sightseeing tour of San Francisco as this city has long been a favorite for people who long for a blissful combination of architectural magnificence, great foods and a splendid culture that can’t be matched anywhere. Along with this revelation, several other locations topped the list:
Maui was listed as one of the top location locations in the world. Package tours of Maui continue to be extremely popular even in the fall season, with people looking for a tropical tour to spend some time in a warm locale amongst the most beautiful scenery on the planet.
Florence, Italy, was named as the best place to visit in Europe. Capital of the Tuscany region of Italy, Florence tours attract millions of people each year who come to the city for its huge collection of art, historic and cultural heritage, fashion and more. Florence has been argued to be the last of the Renaissance cities in the world.
Bangkok was voted by readers as the best city to visit in Asia. The capital of Thailand, Bangkok’s canals welcome a sightseeing tour by boat to see the everyday way of life and culture on tours of Thailand. Explore the homes and temples of the people that live there and experience a way of life that you’ll remember forever.
While Conde Nast’s article was a great representation of locations to visit around the world, create your own experiences and make a decision for yourself on the best places to visit domestically and abroad on package tours with Tours4Fun today!
Travel to Taiwan
Posted on November 14, 2011 |
Taiwan is the first and the only democracy in China. You can see the future of China here. Taiwan is full of beautiful high mountains, with more than 100 peaks above 3,000 m elevation above the sea level. Taiwan is exciting, convenient, interesting and affordable.
Taiwan is also characterized by abundant rainfall and violent typhoon. It has an annual temperature of 22oC — the hottest month, July, averaging 27-28oC and the coldest month, January, 15oC — and an annual precipitation of over 2,000 mm. Taiwan is a country leading in technology use. This report covers trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV and converging media including VoIP and IPTV developments. Taiwan is the world’s fourth largest IC maker globally, and the second after the United States in IC design. Taiwan is among the world leaders in the manufacture of PC Notebooks, TFT-LCD units, computer peripherals and mobile phones.
Taiwan is an exciting new surf location. Surfing has been here for only 8-10 years, so you can imagine the number of surf spots yet to be discovered, let alone surfed! Taiwan is now a creditor economy, holding the world’s fourth-largest stock of foreign exchange reserves ($261 billion as of August 2007). Although Taiwan enjoyed sustained economic growth, full employment, and low inflation for many years, in 2001, Taiwan joined other regional economies in its first recession since 1949. Taiwan is a free republic, a loyal American ally, a guarantor of civil liberties, and an engine of economic freedom. It does not deserve to be treated as an international pariah, or to be hastily shushed when it points out that it is China’s political equal, not a rebellious Chinese province.
Taiwan is a cross point of east and west culture, of continental and oceanic culture. The shape of Taiwan is like a long and narrow sweet potato from north to south. Taiwan is an important global power in its own right. It is now the world’s 16th largest economy,[4] the 10th largest trading power, and the third largest holder of foreign exchange reserves after China and Japan.[5] It has a larger population than Australia and a larger gross domestic product than any member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Taiwan is known for its eminent mountain features that span from the north to the south of the island. These hard rock mountains had developed from series of volcanic activities during the past centuries.
Taiwan is a small island country off the southeast coast of mainland China. Not usually regarded as a top tourist destination in Asia, Taiwan is nonetheless a fascinating blend of cultures from the region. Taiwan is among few developing countries that announced specific targets to reduce its greenhouse gases emissions. The country made a commitment to stabilize its CO2 emissions at year 2000 levels by the year 2020.This paper intends to explore what factors lead Taiwan to pursue or eschew the adoption of renewable energy policies in the transitions toward a sustainable energy system. Taiwan is dominated by the Central Range of mountains which runs north to south, with the tallest peak being nearly four thousand metres high. In the east the mountains reach close to the sea, and in the west there is a fertile coastal plain which extends far and wide.
Taiwan is a democratic nation that respects human rights, freedom, and peace. Taiwan meets all the requirements of UN membership. Taiwan is a democratic society based on respect for human rights, while China is controlled by a tyrannical regime that tramples on human rights. Taiwan is a peace-loving society that poses no threat to anyone. Taiwan is also working to ink a free trade agreement with the United States, especially now that South Korea has done so. The U.S.-South Korea free trade agreement has created a lot of anxiety in Taiwan because it is feared it will increase competition in exports to the United States.
Taiwan is not generally recognized as a sovereign country internationally and is therefore not considered eligible for membership in nonproliferation treaties or export control regimes. The United States has taken an ambivalent official stance on Taiwan’s status, recognizing neither the sovereignty of Taiwan nor the PRC’s claim to sovereignty over the island. Taiwan is America’s tenth-largest export market. Taiwan has Asia’s fifth-largest military and Asia’s second-largest merchant-marine fleet (after China’s). Taiwan is also famous for it’s many night markets and active temples, especially Snake Alley and the Lungshan Temple. If all the traveling wears you out, stop in at one of Taiwan’s many natural hot springs for some rest and relaxation.
Taiwan is important to us. We don’t want to wait forever. Taiwan is a steadily growing, medium-sized market for UK education. Taiwan is also hit by typhoons, usually from July to October. Travelers planning a trip to Taiwan can obtain general information about natural disaster preparedness on the Internet from the U.S.
Taiwan is special in having this population mix. What keeps them united then? Taiwan is a place in the making. Its a shaky place, but its an island with a future. Taiwan is an island located off the southeastern coast of China. Also known as Ilha Formosa, or beautiful island, Taiwan has been inhabited for over 10,000 years.
Taiwan is also widely known as Green Silicon Valley, a kingdom of manufacturing and high technical development in computer science. In the past 50 years, there are so many daily electronic components made in Taiwan and sold to the world. Taiwan is an especially attractive locale for recent graduates with student loans to pay and travelers looking to make a quick buck. There are several reasons for this.
Advantages Of An Air Charter For Business and Leisure
Posted on November 14, 2011 |
On the face of it, air charter seems to be a luxury that high-flying corporate executives get as perks of the job. But look at it a little deeper, and turns out it’s actually a money-saver. The thing is that a top level executive’s time is very valuable, and each minute spent in an airport lounge is a lost minute for the company.
With each day and month, the situation at the airports is getting worse. Flight delays, airport security, missed connections and the exhausting experience of boarding a commercial flight all combine to wring the enthusiasm out of business travelers. An executive who turns up at an important meeting after such an experience can hardly be expected to be very effective.
The point here is that all that time spent is company time being wasted. So it’s safe to assume that it’s profitable for a company to allow the cream of its top level executives to hop around in private jets. But this doesn’t mean the company has to shell out big dollars to buy planes.
One of the more popular arrangements is called a fractional ownership system, where a person or company is one of many owners of the plane (usually between 2 to 8). The whole thing is managed by a fractional ownership company, which will have many planes of the same make and model. So when a company wants to use a plane, it just has to pay for the flight costs, including the fuel.
Other than the cost-savings of shared ownership, there are many more benefits. For example, passengers on commercial carriers can only fly to and from a limited number of big airports. An air charter, however, can fly to thousands of big and small airports, many of which are private.
This further reduces local transportation needs, and the time spent traveling. Plus, there are no delays for boarding or exiting. It is possible to drive right up to the plane and have the baggage loaded up right then and there. Pets, if any, can travel in the cabin.
Executives can travel in absolute comfort and get some good sleep. Or they can put in a few hours’ work with a laptop, wi-fi internet, videoconferencing, satellite phones and other tools. Some commercial carriers do offer some of these tools, but they cannot be used on account of a lack of privacy.
For personal use, it’s hard to justify air charter as a cost-saver, but there are situations where it can be a life-saver instead. Medical travel, for instance, is one such area where the patient might not want to ensure the agony of commercial flights. Elderly people and tourists unsure of being able to catch connecting flights may want to make their holiday experience more memorable and safe by taking a private jet instead.
It’s important to note here that prices for an air charter are not that high anymore, and it’s a lot closer to what’s considered acceptable spending while on vacation, similar to staying in a luxury hotel. Before booking a commercial flight ticket, just find out how much it would just for the same trip on a private jet. Most people are likely to end up surprised at how much cheaper it is than they thought it would be.
Gender Bias – Women, Utilize Talent and Innovation to Move Beyond the Glass Ceiling!
Posted on November 13, 2011 |
On the cover of the April 2008 issue of Cond? Nast Portfolio Magazine, is a picture of a woman’s ruby red high heel pitted against and unmistakably underneath the toe of a man’s business shoe. The feature article is titled: “POWER WHO HAS IT. WHO DOESN’T? The surprising news about gender in the office”
This article, written by Harriet Rubin, was such a surprise to me. After all it appears that women have made so much progress. I was beginning to believe that my writing about breaking the glass ceiling was old news. Or am I right on target with this subject?
To me, in my gut, something in the last few years just didn’t feel right. Everyone was trying to tell me “oh no, it’s not a problem anymore, look at all these women in PINK magazine!” Still the issues continue to creep into my conscience mind. I continue to speak to anyone; anywhere I can about women facing the barrier of career success, facing the challenges of breaking the glass ceiling. I continue to write articles discussing that very subtle gender curtain.
Then, vindication! Cond? Nast Portfolio Magazine features an article and substantiated evidence that supports what my gut is telling me.
When compared to their male counterparts, women are statistically in worse condition financially than they were in 2005. (The Bureau of Labor Statistics; Catalyst and Cond? Nast Portfolio research) In 2006 women earned 78.7 cents for every dollar earned by men which represents a decline from the 79.4 cents on the dollar earned in 2005 and marking only a 5-cent increase since 1991.
Women in the board room have not faired that well either. From 1995 to 2005 there was a steady increase in board membership for women, but in the last three years the numbers are flat. Women only represent 14.8% of corporate board seats in the Fortune 500. Within the same Fortune 500, 234 companies were represented by 3 or more female officers in 2006 and only 64 companies did not have a single female officer. The 2007 stats show an alarming 31 companies dropping below three female officers, down to 203, while 10 companies were added to the list of companies with zero female officers. Female CEOs across the board have also lost ground with 29% representing their companies in 2006 and only 27.2% in 2007.
Since the inception of The U.S. Department of Labor Glass Ceiling Commission in 1991 significant progress in these areas occurred and appeared to be gaining momentum. Since the ’90s the major news catching awareness of this issue appears to have died down, leaving most to believe that the issue has disappeared. This may be the actual reason for the slow down in progress. Less publicity leads to less awareness. When we look at the feature players such as Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, on the political front, and the CEOs of Avon, EBay and Xerox on the corporate front, everyone in Middle America begins to believe that the issue has disappeared. What remains are men and women in the day to day trenches who face a lack of true leadership. The system is void of the ability to assist both men and women as they attempt to improve their interactions, improve productivity and respect, work in an environment void of the sexism and void of the gender curtain in their path.
Today, I believe that it is a grass roots effort that will solve problems and create progress. It’s what we do in the corporations inside and outside of the Fortune 500, to improve the working relationships, policies and paradigms of all management levels, which will change the landscape over the next ten years. If we continue on the current path, progress will be slow and as our Cond? Nast author Harriet Rubin laments, 2081 will be the year that true parity will be achieved.
I for one do not want to wait that long. I believe there are mentors with tools to move us forward today. “A Woman’s Ladder To Success is Paved with Broken Glass Ceilings” is one of those tools. Men and Women can discover the underlying causes for that subtle gender curtain to exist. Once you are aware, then the challenge is to apply this wisdom to your personal career and your company’s future success.
It’s time for an awakening. Women cannot rely on the old school rules to solve the crisis of stagnation. Women need to utilize actual talent and innovation to step away from the crowd and create awareness of their true potential. In the March/April 2008 issue of PINK Magazine, the editors found 15 female innovators within Corporate America. The article is enlightening, pointing to the innovative ideas of the likes of Irene Britt, VP and General Manager for Campbell Soup Co. who took the V-8 product from weak in 2005 to V-8 Fusion in 2007. It’s innovation of this caliber that sets these 15 women apart from the rest of the corporate crowd.
Read PINK Magazine this month, read “A Woman’s Ladder To Success” and combine your talents with your innovative skills and presence and create a new level of success in your career.
History of Travel & Tourism
Posted on November 7, 2011 |
2000 years Before Christ, in India and Mesopotamia
Travel for trade was an important feature since the beginning of civilisation. The port at Lothal was an important centre of trade between the Indus valley civilisation and the Sumerian civilisation.
600 BC and thereafter
The earliest form of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. A museum of historic antiquities was open to the public in Babylon. The Egyptians held many religious festivals that attracted the devout and many people who thronged to cities to see famous works of arts and buildings.
In India, as elsewhere, kings travelled for empire building. The Brahmins and the common people travelled for religious purposes. Thousands of Brahmins and the common folk thronged Sarnath and Sravasti to be greeted by the inscrutable smile of the Enlightened One- the Buddha.
500 BC, the Greek civilisation
The Greek tourists travelled to sites of healing gods. The Greeks also enjoyed their religious festivals that increasingly became a pursuit of pleasure, and in particular, sport. Athens had become an important site for travellers visiting the major sights such as the Parthenon. Inns were established in large towns and seaports to provide for travellers’ needs. Courtesans were the principal entertainment offered.
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This era also saw the birth of travel writing. Herodotus was the worlds’ first travel writer. Guidebooks also made their appearance in the fourth century covering destinations such as Athens, Sparta and Troy. Advertisements in the way of signs directing people to inns are also known in this period.
The Roman Empire
With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with safe seas from piracy due to Roman patrols, the conditions favouring travel had arrived. First class roads coupled with staging inns (precursors of modern motels) promoted the growth of travel. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece, Rhodes, Troy and Egypt. From 300 AD travel to the Holy Land also became very popular. The Romans introduced their guidebooks (itineraria), listing hotels with symbols to identify quality.
Second homes were built by the rich near Rome, occupied primarily during springtime social season. The most fashionable resorts were found around Bay of Naples. Naples attracted the retired and the intellectuals, Cumae attracted the fashionable while Baiae attracted the down market tourist, becoming noted for its rowdiness, drunkenness and all- night singing.
Travel and Tourism were to never attain a similar status until the modern times.
In the Middle Ages
Travel became difficult and dangerous as people travelled for business or for a sense of obligation and duty.
Adventurers sought fame and fortune through travel. The Europeans tried to discover a sea route to India for trade purposes and in this fashion discovered America and explored parts of Africa. Strolling players and minstrels made their living by performing as they travelled. Missionaries, saints, etc. travelled to spread the sacred word.
Leisure travel in India was introduced by the Mughals. The Mughal kings built luxurious palaces and enchanting gardens at places of natural and scenic beauty (for example Jehangir travelled to Kashmir drawn by its beauty.
Travel for empire building and pilgrimage was a regular feature.
The Grand Tour
From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism was developed as a direct outcome of the Renaissance. Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, young men seeking positions at court were encouraged to travel to continent to finish their education.?Later, it became customary for education of gentleman to be completed by a ‘Grand Tour’ accompanied by a tutor and lasting for three or more years. While ostensibly educational, the pleasure seeking men travelled to enjoy life and culture of Paris, Venice or Florence. By the end of eighteenth century, the custom had become institutionalised in the gentry.?Gradually pleasure travel displaced educational travel. The advent of Napoleonic wars inhibited travel for around 30 years and led to the decline of the custom of the Grand Tour.
The development of the spas
The spas grew in popularity in the seventeenth century in Britain and a little later in the European Continent as awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water increased. Taking the cure in the spa rapidly acquired the nature of a status symbol. The resorts changed in character as pleasure became the motivation of visits. They became an important centre of social life for the high society.
In the nineteenth century they were gradually replaced by the seaside resort.
The sun, sand and sea resorts
The sea water became associated with health benefits. The earliest visitors therefore drank it and did not bathe in it. By the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up in England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in sea water. With the overcrowding of inland spas, the new sea side resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat services in 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit. The seaside resort gradually became a social meeting point
?Role of the industrial revolution in promoting travel in the west
?The rapid urbanisation due to industrialisation led to mass immigration in cities. These people were lured into travel to escape their environment to places of natural beauty, often to the countryside they had come from change of routine from a physically and psychologically stressful jobs to a leisurely pace in countryside.
Highlights of travel in the nineteenth century?
???????? Advent of railway initially catalysed business travel and later leisure travel. Gradually special trains were chartered to only take leisure travel to their destinations.
???????? Package tours organised by entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook.
???????? The European countries indulged in a lot of business travel often to their colonies to buy raw material and sell finished goods.
???????? The invention of photography acted as a status-enhancing tool and promoted overseas travel.
???????? The formation of first hotel chains; pioneered by the railway companies who established great railway terminus hotels.
???????? Seaside resorts began to develop different images as for day-trippers, elite, for gambling.
???????? Other types of destinations-ski resorts, hill stations, mountaineering spots etc.
???????? The technological development in steamships promoted travel between North America and Europe.
???????? The Suez Canal opened direct sea routes to India and the Far East.
???????? The cult of the guidebook followed the development of photography.
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Tourism in the Twentieth Century
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The First World War gave first hand experience of countries and aroused a sense of curiosity about international travel among less well off sector for the first time. The large scale of migration to the US meant a lot of travel across the Atlantic. Private motoring began to encourage domestic travel in Europe and the west. ?The sea side resort became annual family holiday destination in Britain and increased in popularity in other countries of the west. Hotels proliferated in these destinations.
The birth of air travel and after
The wars increased interest in international travel. This interest was given the shape of mass tourism by the aviation industry. The surplus of aircrafts and growth of private airlines aided the expansion of air travel. The aircraft had become comfortable, faster and steadily cheaper for overseas travel. With the introduction of Boeing 707 jet in 1958, the age of air travel for the masses had arrived. The beginning of chartered flights boosted the package tour market and led to the establishment of organised mass tourism. The Boeing 747, a 400 seat craft, brought the cost of travel down sharply. The seaside resorts in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Caribbean were the initial hot spots of mass tourism.
A corresponding growth in hotel industry led to the establishment of world-wide chains. Tourism also began to diversify as people began to flock alternative destinations in the 70s. Nepal and India received a throng of tourists lured by Hare Krishna movement and transcendental meditation. The beginning of individual travel in a significant volume only occurred in the 80s.?Air travel also led to a continuous growth in business travel especially with the emergence of the MNCs.
7 Golden Rules of Travel Writing
Posted on November 4, 2011 |
Did you ever hear of the “golden rule?” The golden rule states to “treat others as you would want to be treated.” This is great advice for anyone who is about to travel, especially if you’re visiting a foreign country.
Most travel writers are probably unaware of the “golden rules of travel writing.” Whether you’re an aspiring or experienced travel writer, it’s good to know and review the golden rules of travel writing. These rules can help you stay on track with your writing. Refer to them at anytime if you’re stuck or need inspiration.
Golden Rules
Travel as much as you can. It’s not necessary for you to travel around the world. Travel within your own backyard and discover something new and then write about it. Your discoveries will be interesting to someone, somewhere. Write every day. Even if you write for an hour each day, the point is to write! This is a great way to improve upon your travel writing skills. Read publications such as National Geographic and Travel + Leisure Magazine. If you have a plan to reach a goal of writing for one of these publications then start by reading them. This is a great way to learn what types of articles are printed. Pay attention to the style and tone of each article. Take a travel writing course or two. It will not hurt you to sign up for a travel writing course.? Join a writing group. You can join writing groups online or where you live. Visit Meetup.com and see what’s available. Make sure to check out your local bookstore because they usually have book clubs and writing groups. Purchase a couple of travel writing books. L. Peat O’Neil’s book See the World, Sell a Story is a fantastic book. It’s packed with useful information and you’ll find great resources at the end. Do not give up! Sometimes success takes time. Avoid giving up too soon before your dream is realized. Go with the flow and detach from your dream. This may sound contradictory from what you’re used to doing. If you hold onto something and try to force it to happen, you can sabotage your dream. Take a step back, breathe deep, and just write. Visualize yourself being a travel writer but do not become obsessed with it. If you do, you” put out an energy that reeks of desperation. You’ll create situations where you find yourself feeling desperate all of the time. This will only hinder your chances of being successful in travel writing.
Follow these golden rules and your travel writing will be good as gold! Refer back to them as often as you need to do so. It’s important to nurture your travel writing and yourself. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey you take to get there.
Travel and Leisure – Everybody Needs a Little Time for Themselves
Posted on November 2, 2011 |
Work is necessary. However, once in a while a person should also learn how to value one’s self and give in to its wants and cravings. If the body reaches the point where doing the daily routines becomes almost impossible to bear, it is an indication that one should at least take the week off and go somewhere far from the responsibilities placed on one’s shoulders. Some would regard this as a selfish act, leaving everything behind to relax and unwind. But take note, a tired soul is never effective when it comes to working because at the end of the day, he or she will just be working for everybody’s sake. The goal is not to produce quality product but produce only.
Resting once in a while especially if the body asks to is not a sin. Wherever the vacation may take place-safari holidays, beach resorts, spas and salons or even at the comfort of one’s house-it doesn’t matter. The point is, the body, the mind and the soul have a short time for themselves only.
Travel and leisure, although a bit expensive, is recommended to those who have worked almost all their life forgetting about their own happiness. This will be more than worth it though because after a week-long vacation in one of the breathtaking safari holidays, the person can feel renewed and ready to work again.
There are other options aside of course from the safari holidays in South Africa. There is a wide variety to choose from when your goal is to travel and find leisure. Sports can be a good alternative as well since they energize your worn-out muscles. With travel though, you get the chance to see unfamiliar places and persons so you would feel like a new person. There are also other forms of leisure in different places, so it is like hitting two lions with one shot.
If the goal is to be one with nature and to reflect on things, certainly, those places near to Mother Nature is most suggested. An accommodation near the mountains, rivers, beach or the most wanted safari holidays would be of great help merely because you get the chance of seeing face to face the wildest creatures in the wild.
Travelling may not be your main activity. If that is so, going shopping may be the right one for you then. No need to exceed your credit card limit. Just a little upgrade in your wardrobe and a few things that would make you feel relax is what you need. New make ups for the females, or a new necktie for the males can change a lot.
You may choose to stay in your house instead of going out to spend thousands of dollars. But it is not a big deal. Bake cookies and breads to take your mind away from your responsibilities. Do the garden if you want or stay in your room for a beauty rest.
We are working very hard to earn money. But then what is the use of all the wealth if we can’t even give in to our want to experience safari holidays even for once. We deserve this. And depriving ourselves with the right for travel and leisure may not be a good idea. Think about it.