News

Washington – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Program and is required by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. “Rather than relying on paper-based procedures, this […]

As reservations for sleeping cars went down more than 45 percent from 2001 to 2007, Italian railway company “Trenitalia” announced to cease overnight railway services on the lines from Rome and Venice to Nice. However, consumer associations claim the enormous decrease at some extent was caused by bad quality of service: sleeping cars were often

As reported by Keith Bradsher, at The New York Times, “Do not bring any printed materials critical of China. Do not plan on holding any rallies or demonstrations in China. Do not think that you are guaranteed an entry visa because you hold tickets to an Olympic event. And do not even think about smuggling

The OFT is warning holidaymakers flying out to Spain about the dangers of bogus holiday club scams which cost UK consumers millions of pounds a year. Research has shown that this is a peak time for consumers being targeted by bogus holiday clubs, with the average victim losing over £3000. Every year thousands of UK

Organisations representing substantial proportions of the maritime shipping sector brought an action before the High Court of Justice of England and Wales regarding the implementation in the United Kingdom of the directive on ship-source pollution and the introduction of penalties for infringements. They argued that by establishing a stricter liability regime for accidental discharges two

In a recent decision (X ZR 49/07 of 11.03.08) German Civil Supreme Court (BGH) held that in case of flight cancellation or denied boarding a passenger cannot claim for compensation against the tour organizer under Reg. 261/2004. Compensation claims granted by this Regulation were solely directed against the operating air carrier. BGH saw no reason

CLIA is calling on travel agents to mobilize and vocalize against a bill in the California legislature that would mandate that the state’s “ocean rangers” board cruise ships as they enter and exit the Golden State’s waters, according to CLIA president and CEO Terry Dale at Travel Trade’s 26th Annual CRUISE-A-THON .Dale’s message was echoed

Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to require airlines and travel agents to disclose fees many airlines have imposed to check a second bag “in their Internet and print ads and before anyone purchases a ticket.”DOT also issued a final rule that requires carriers to “to report new and more complete data on the time passengers

After completing their tourism policy two years ago, which seems to have taken much inspiration from the generally considered visionary Ugandan tourism policy document, the next stage of development, a new tourism draft law seems to have drawn sharp criticism from the private sector. A consultative committee was therefore put into place to iron out

The head of the Transportation Security Administration says a proposed passenger surcharge will raise $400 million for modernizing airport security, even as critics faulted the modernization efforts. TSA Administrator Kip Hawley told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Tuesday the four-year, 50-cents-per-flight fee would pay for explosives detectors that would eventually screen all