News

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will begin collecting fees on travellers from Visa Waiver countries beginning Sept. 8, 2010. Travellers will be charged a USD 10 fee when applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). A portion of the fee will go toward funding the Corporation for Travel Promotion, […]

Online travel agencies and other hotel resellers will have to start paying higher taxes in New York from September. The legislation defines remarketers as anyone who “reserves, arranges for, conveys or furnishes occupancy, whether directly or indirectly, to an occupant for rent in an amount determined by the room remarketer” and requires all hotel room

The Federation of European Tourist Guide Associations (FEG) is outraged over European Tour Operator Association’s (ETOA) decision to produce its own pan-European ID-badge for anyone who guides tourists. According to ETOA, the main objective of this proposed pan-European ID scheme, is to support the freedom of those who deliver cultural commentary to tourists in public

A motion filed on July 16, 2010 by Union des consommateurs du Québec against Air Canada (proposing that the action cover all residents of the province of Québec who have purchased tickets directly from Air Canada since June 30), alleges that Air Canada failed to disclose the complete price of its tickets in its paper

In a press release, UNWTO expressed great concern over Spain’s decision to abolish a separate Secretariat for Tourism within the ministry of tourism, industry and trade:While the decision of the Spanish Government to implement a series of austerity measures to address the public deficit is fully understandable, UNWTO expressed great concern that such measures have

Keilir Aviation Academy, in cooperation with the Icelandic Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Administration, ISAVIA, the Meteorological Office, the Institute of Earth Sciences, Icelandair, the Association of European Airlines, and the US Embassy in Iceland, will convene a conference on Eyjafjallajökull and Aviation at Keflavik Airport, Iceland, on September 15-16, 2010.Fundamental themes of concern

Transport Minister John Baird has ordered an investigation into whether airlines are enforcing rules that require staff to see the faces of passengers who board their flights. He said in a statement that there are procedures in place to verify the identity of anyone who has their face covered, adding the approach is consistent with

The U.S. Travel Association announced the launch of www.GulfTravelUpdate.com , a portal site that centralizes links to up-to-date travel and recovery information on Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi – the states directly affected by the BP Oil Spill. GulfTravelUpdate.com includes links to traveler information from federal, state and local sources, plus oil spill news coverage

Danielle Covarrubias of Pierce County, Washington, wants American Airlines to pay USD 5 million. The airline “has breached its agreements with its passengers every time they have lost or delayed luggage and failed to refund the passengers their baggage fee,” according to a class action complaint Covarrubias filed in federal court earlier this month. American

Irish budget airline Ryanair has agreed to pay libel damages of 50,100 pounds to the founder of rival carrier easyJet after running advertisements picturing him with a long Pinocchio nose. Stelios had accepted and would donate to his philanthropic foundation. The settlement was announced in court Thursday.Source: AP; find article here>>.