Strike while the iron is hot...
Travel Ticker®, a leading inspirational travel website, today announced the results of its annual Travel Ticker Traveler Intentions Survey. The poll revealed the opinions of nearly 2,000 U.S. consumers on their leisure travel intentions for the next year. The results indicated that as compared to 2010, 87 percent of respondents intend to take the same or more leisure vacations in 2011. In addition, when asked if they would fit more travel into 2011 if good deals were available, 94 percent of respondents answered yes.
For the second year in a row, 18 to 30-year-olds spearhead the move to take more leisure trips in 2011:
Out of all respondents, 48 percent of 18 to 30-year-olds said they plan on taking more leisure trips in 2011 than the previous year. This represents a five percent increase from last year's poll.
Following closely behind 18 to 30-year-olds are 65+ year-olds. 42 percent of respondents age 65 and older plan on taking more leisure trips in 2011, compared to 38 percent in last year's poll; an increase of four percent.
Better economic situation and more free time listed as top reasons for more leisure trips in 2011:
30 percent of all respondents said that they believe that their current economic situation will improve in the new year, resulting in the benefit of being able to travel more in 2011. This number is up ten percent from last year's survey. In addition, 31 percent of respondents said that they planned on traveling more in the new year due to an increase in free time.
Given a good deal, almost all would fit in more leisure travel:
94 percent of all respondents agreed that if they found a good deal, they would find a way to fit in more leisure travel in 2011. While many consumers believe that they will be more financially stable in 2011, they are still on the lookout for heavy discounts, travel perks and incentives to inspire their travel. In fact, 66 percent of those polled went so far as to say that they would be comfortable being spontaneous when it came to travel, letting the deal be their inspiration for planning upcoming trips.
The Travel Ticker Traveler Intentions Survey was conducted from November 17 until December 1, 2010, online among Travel Ticker users.
Have you noticed that we have not read of any muggings in Fernkloof Nature Reserve recently? Good News indeed.
Addo is to open their tented camp later this month and this is ideal for those holiday makers wanting something less 'luxueux' than normal. Perhaps Fernkloof management should investigate the feasability of such a camp as the prestine picnic area would make the perfect spot for this type of accommodation.
Early predictions indicate that 2011 could be a bumper year for travel, with more tourists from the US and UK planning holidays abroad, according to a recent Tripadvisor survey.
In a poll of over 3,000 US-based travellers, 69% said they planned to take international trips next year. What’s more, they also plan to spend more while away, with 36% indicating that they will splash out more on travel in 2011 than they did in this year.
British travellers are also keen to travel long haul in 2011, with 66% of the 6,000 travellers surveyed stating that they plan to take an international trip next year. Over a third plan to spend more on their holidays in 2011 compared with 2010.
The survey also indicated that 2010 had been a year of travel anxieties, altering travel trends for the coming year. Top concerns for the Brits were further strikes but many were also worried about the rises in APD, the air travel tax, as well as the high-profile collapse of travel firms.
US travellers are mostly concerned about high carry-on baggage fees, hotels fees and TSA full body scanners but believe 2010 has seen several positive developments for the traveller, including more online travel deals and cheaper hotel rates.
American tourists are also reporting a rise in ‘fake-ations’, where travellers take their work on their trip. Technological advances have led to 59% of travellers in employment being more connected to work than ever before on leisure trips in 2010. Most travellers admit to checking their work e-mail on leisure trips, while 13% call the office to check in. Only 8% consider the remoteness of their destination specifically to avoid connecting with work.
The Medical Tourism sector worldwide is growing exponentially and set to become a $100bn sector by 2012, according to industry research. The sector is growing at a whopping 20-30% annually and is bound to continue its growth pattern in the years to come.
According to Frost & Sullivan, the medical tourism industry is currently a $78.5bn industry [end-2010], catering to over three million patients who travel around the globe for medical care. The Middle East is one of the latent source markets of patients and it is estimated that 20% of healthcare seekers worldwide are from Gulf and Arab states. Significantly, patients from UAE alone spend about $2bn in healthcare travel on an annual basis. As a result, many countries are targeting the region to woo guests and patients to their own medical tourism destinations. Germany, in particular, and Europe, in general, have been a primary medical tourism hubs for hundreds of years and continue to lead the industry today followed by Asian countries such as Thailand, India and Malaysia. Boasting of an excellent healthcare system, high quality, safe and quick treatment.
Germany is considered to be a top destination for patients from all over the world, and particularly from the Middle East, UK and the US. Germany is also an attractive destination for patients from the region, in terms of distance, costs and tourism attractions - thus reinforcing it as a premier medical tourism hub in Europe.
Source: ehotelior.com
Come and join us as we introduce you to MTB heaven, Hemel and Aarde style!
We'll show you everything a mountainbiker needs. Stunning trails for all levels and breathtaking views to reward those lung busting climbs.
Great farm roads, stunning jeep tracks and awesome single tracks will take you through our beautiful valley and introduce you to many hidden gems ranging from wine farms, farm stalls, award winning restaurants and quaint holiday accommodation.
The start and finish will be at the Hemel en Aarde Village with ample parking, great restaurants and coffee shops, galleries, health shops, specialist shops ranging from DVD's to horse and animal supplies, the world famous wine village and a newly opened cycle and adventure centre. The Hemel en Aarde Village truly is a lifestyle experience.
Come and get it!
StatsSA has released the arrivals numbers for October and, once again, the numbers of tourists, both overseas and regional, have shown increases across the board.
The US market appears to be showing very strong signs of recovery and other core markets are also on the up, including Canada, Australia, China and India. European markets are also showing promising returns with healthy growth over the month in comparison with 2009.
The total overseas arrivals grew by 9,7% from 189 932 to 208 276 while African arrivals grew by 13% from 438 756 to 496 071.
The top overseas markets for October 2010 were:
UK, down 2,9% from 40 829 to 39 642
USA, up 22,9% from 19 536 to 24 002
Germany, up 6,8% from 23 300 to 24 895
The Netherlands, down 5,2% from 15 612 to 14 796
France, up 9,8% from 11 834 to 12 995
Australia, up 32,9% from 7 029 to 9 339
India, up 24,6% from 5 047 to 6 291
China, up 73,7% from 3 280 to 5 697
Canada, up 25% from 4 536 to 5 668
Switzerland, up 28% from 3 983 to 5 097
Source: SA Tourism Update
Our very own and unique Sharklady, Kim Maclean, has written the ABC of Great White Sharks for the YOU Magazine to be published in the Young You section.
Sharklady, Kim Maclean, pioneered White Shark Cage Diving in South Africa in the early 1990's, and has established herself as one of the leading Shark cage diving operators. She has worked and studied Great White Sharks for over twenty five years and has extensive experience in skippering boats and Cage Diving.
Sharklady is an activist for White Shark protection, and is working with the ‘Save our Seas’ Foundation to support and develop an Education and Protection Programme of the Great White Sharks, which is of the utmost importance to her. She says, "Sharks are often portrayed as a man-eating predator of the seas which is not the case, and they are often hunted for their fins, and teeth." Her business operates in Hermanus and Shark Alley in Kleinbaai, which is 160km South East of Cape Town. We comply with the strictest code of conduct and safety for our clients, our boat, and sharks as laid down by our local Marine & Coastal Management. We operate a responsible operation and conform to being Eco-friendly. The Great White Shark is not interfered with nor is the environment polluted.
A is for Adaption: The Great White Shark has adapted a body temperature warmer than the surrounding water.
B is for Biting: When the shark bites, it shakes its head side to side, helping the teeth saw off large chunks of flesh.
Keep an eye open for the entire informative Great White Shark alphabet to be published in the YOU Magazine early next year.
Strike while the iron is hot...
