The Huffman international Flying School, where two of the September 11th hyjackers trained, have just received letters from the INS (US Immigration Dept.) that their visa applications have been approved. The INS said that the original approval had been granted on 17 July and that the school had been notified ...

Work has begun on the demolition of the Intourist Hotel, one of Moscow's most famous landmarks. It was erected in 1970 to cater for foreign tourists. It was notorious for its Cold War standards, with surly staff, buged hotel rooms and illegal money changers. It was also the setting for ...

Nepal has experienced a 10% decline in tourist arrivals in 1999, with a 30% decline in the important Indian market. Tourism is an important industry for the mountain kingdom and the principal source of foreign currency. The reasons given for the decline is the number of general strikes, including threatened ...

The Bathing Water Directive 1976 is to be reviewed. A key aim is to improve information available to the public. It will also bring in more robust standards. the new proposal is expected to be published in June or July 2001.

The Commission issued a consultation paper on 8 February 2001 indicating that it intends to review the block exemption from EU Competition Rules given to airlines.This would affect the "passenger tariff conferences" held by IATA to deal with interlining agreements. The exemption will continue until June 2002 when the new ...

A Eurobarometer survey (16000 people in EU interviewed) reveals that English is the most widely-spoken second language in the EU (41%). 53% have a second language. French is second in the league (19%), German (10%) and Spanish (7%). 2001 is European Year of Languages.

IATA Director General, Pierre J Jeanniot, stated in letters to the Vice President of the European Commissioner and Commissioner for Transport, Mme Loyola de Palacio and US Secretary of Transport, Mr Norman Mineta, "At the present time, there is no conclusive medical evidence supporting the alleged connection of deep vein ...

Lord Gordon, chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board, has stood down, following a troubled year for the Scttish tourism sector. The number of foreign visitors to Scotland fell by 11% in 1999. The First Minister of Scotland, Henry McLeish, commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers to undertake an independent review of the STB. The ...

It has been reported that the Taleban have begun the demolition of two statues of the Budha, the largest rock hewn in the world. The statues date back to 2-5th centuries, when Afghanistan was an important centre of Budhism. The Taleban have condemned the statues as "idols" and an "insult ...

The EU Lisbon Summit on 23-24 March set as one of its objectives the setting of a strategy for removing barriers to the provision of transport services and further liberalization in the sector.

The EC Commission has launched a new interactive website so that the public can track latest developments in the EU's eEurope initiative and to encourage debate on e-commerce and access to the Internet. An on-line forum is also being planned to promote ADR in business and consumer disputes involving e-commerce.

Agreement has been reached to extend the Working Time Directive to a further 5 million workers in the EU. The decision was taken on April 3 and will now cover rail workers and those involved in air, road and inland waterway transport. They will have a right to rest periods, ...

A Memorandum of Understanding and a set of IATA Guidelines have been adopted by by the major airlines and airports authorities to address the problem of disruptive passengers. An IATA Seminar in Geneva on 23 March attracted 140 delegates from 64 airlines and other industry associations. Protocols adopted by Gatwick ...

The Dutch Bordello, Yab Yum, threatened to sue for the right to provide a "relax service" at Schipol Airport for tired travellers. Schipol Airport had rejected their request as inappropriate to the overall philosophy of the airport.

A Congressional Committee will determine on April 10 whether to remove immunity from prosecution from Tourism Minister, Oscar Espinosa. Mr Espinosa faces allegations of corruption amounting to 45 million dollars when Mayor of Mexico City.

The Home Secretary has unveiled plans on April 10 to biggest changes to Liquor Law in England and Wales since 1915 (Scotland has its own system). These proposals include the removal of fixed opening hours and restrictions on Sunday opening. Those restrictions are thought to have encouraged binge drinking. There ...

The EC Commission has prepared a paper on radical reform for the Inter-Governmental Conference in February. This is needed if the enlargement proposals are to work. It proposes a maximum of 20 Commissioners nominated in rotation by Member States. It also recommends that the existing 700 limit be maintained for ...

IATA stated that, though the Meeting of the Ministers of Transport of the 38 ECAC States in Brussells was helpful its outcome was inadequate. There is need for more action to reduce delays and to build a safe, efficient and cost- effective ATM system. IATA supports EC membership of EUROCONTROL. ...

The tourism sector is recovering from the doldrums brought about by the Asian economic crisis. The WTO's preliminary figures show international tourist arrivals in 1999 at 665-670 million, a growth of 4-5%. There has been robust growth in the European outbound travel to other European destinations, North America, North Africa ...

Walt Anderson, the US venture capitalist and backer of the Mir Space Station has suggested that the Mir Station could be converted into a tourist attraction. He estimates that the first holiday would cost $40m but thereafter the price would fall to "a more reasonable $20-$25m". Sales of such holidays ...

The Forum of Private Business has attacked the "deplorable attitude" of the Scottish Tourist Board follwing a survey into how the STB's services are perceived by the tourist trade. 40% of respondents rated the STB as poor or very poor. 80% believe that the Government does not understand the tourism ...

A Royal Air Maroc pilot was prevented from flying by officials at Schipol Airport after security officials noticed that he was staggering on his way to fly his plane to Tangiers. There were 125 passengers on board. He was found to have four times the level of alcohol permitted for ...

Indonesian troops have been instructed to shoot rioters in a bid to halt the religious riots that have plagued the tourist island in mid-January. Gangs of Muslim youths have attacked Christians, their homes and their property and have tried to seize the ferry terminal at Mataram. Some hotels have put ...

The Greek Foreign Minister, Yeoryios Papendreou, arrived in Ankara on 20 January 2000 to discuss and sign agreements between the two states on investment, tourism and anti-terrorism measures.

The killing of three French children on holiday in North East Namibia early in January has led to a serious fall-off in business for the tourist industry. Safari lodges in Caprivi and Kavago have had to dismiss staff and close.

The European Commission has warned the National Assembly of Wales that the principality could suffer a shortfall in overall funding (which includes funding for tourism projects). Although the Berlin Summit in March 1999 allocated €1.85 bn to the South Wales Valleys and West Wales over a 6 year period, this ...

The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions have rejected the city of Liverpool's request that road signs leading to the city should state "Liverpool - Birthplace of the Beatles" on the grounds that it would distract drivers. The Road Traffic Act permits brown and white road sigs to indicate ...

The EU Commission held a meeting in Brussels on 4-5 November to address the legal issues involved in e- commerce. Representatives of businesses, consumers' groups and regulatory bodies attended to address issues such as conflicts of jurisdiction, application of Contract Law and consumer protection.

Consumer Affairs Commissioner David Byrne submitted a report to the Consumer Affairs Council on the implementation of the Package Travel Directive. Member States are invited to comment by April 2000.

Pierre Jeanniot (DG of IATA) stated on 16 November 1999 "There is no question that the air transport industry will continue to liberalise. Our main concern is that liberalisation proceeds in a manner which produces the best balance of benefits to consumers, airlines and the public interest". IATA has issued ...