. Earth Science News .
TRADE WARS
Tourism bosses target budget travellers to spur recovery

Tourism targets US 'funemployed', golfers in China: survey
London (AFP) Nov 9, 2009 - US tourism chiefs are targeting credit-crunched jobless people with time on their hands - the so-called "funemployed" - while in Asia golfing holidays are booming, notably in China, a study said Monday. Africa is cashing in on Barack Obama-inspired "roots tourism," while the Middle East could see a surge in women-only hotels, added the Global Trends Report, released at the start of the World Travel Market industry event. In the United States, which triggered last year's global financial near-meltdown, the travel trade is pinning its hopes on the "funemployed" to keep the industry afloat. "Some are embracing their situation by becoming 'funemployed'... Most have severance packages to cushion the blow and more than half... are under 35, mainly single, without children or a mortgage," said the survey's authors. "The funemployed serve as a target for extended trips, world cruises and long haul airline tickets, and a means to boost offseason occupancy rates," added trend spotter Euromonitor International.

But in Asia, which is leading the world out of the downturn, travel bosses are looking to a more traditional source of income. "Asians are crazy about golf and the recession has done little to curb their enthusiasm... Rapid economic growth in China has created a new elite class jumpstarting demand for golf," said the survey, adding that China ranks fifth in the world with around 310 golf courses and hundreds more in the pipeline. Africa is hoping to benefit from the "Obama effect" - saying the US leader's recent trip to Ghana "put Africa under the international tourism spotlight. "Africa is benefiting from roots tourism, still largely unknown to many core markets with the potential to boost economic prosperity in local African communities," it said. In the Middle East there is an expanding market for "a growing number of young women who have developed an interest in travelling, though in some Muslim countries it is frowned upon by Arab society. "Female-only lodging therefore makes travel possible without a mandatory male escort. This will also appeal to Western women, given the widespread negative perceptions of women travelling alone in the Middle East."
by Staff Writers
 London (AFP) Nov 9, 2009
 US tourism chiefs are targeting jobless people seeking to enjoy time off, while Africa hopes to counter the global downturn by cashing in on Barack Obama-inspired "roots tourism", a study said Monday.

But while admitting that the worldwide recession knocked the travel industry sideways, the survey also highlighted the fact that golfing holidays are booming in Asia, notably in China.

"This past year has shown us how quickly things change as the world still reels from the global financial crisis that brought the travel industry to its knees," said the report released at the World Travel Market trade fair in London.

Hotels are expecting business to have slumped by 16 percent this year, while airline ticket sales are predicted to be down 14 percent, according to figures released at the annual industry event.

Consumers have reacted to the recession by giving up on luxury travel, while the swine flu epidemic has also hit the travel trade, halving hotel bookings in Mexico.

"Despite these difficulties, (the study) aims to spot opportunities, innovation and proactive measures to help reverse the slump in demand and put a halt to deteriorating profits to kick-start the recovery."

In the United States, which triggered last year's global financial near-meltdown, the travel trade is pinning its hopes on the "funemployed" -- jobless people seeking fun -- to help the industry recover.

"Some are embracing their situation by becoming 'funemployed'... Most have severance packages to cushion the blow and more than half... are under 35, mainly single, without children or a mortgage," said the survey's authors.

The funemployed "serve as a target for extended trips, world cruises and long haul airline tickets, and a means to boost off-season occupancy rates," added trend spotter Euromonitor International.

But in Asia, which is leading the world out of the downturn, travel bosses are looking to a more traditional source of income.

"Asians are crazy about golf and the recession has done little to curb their enthusiasm... Rapid economic growth in China has created a new elite class jumpstarting demand for golf," said the survey, adding that China ranks fifth in the world with around 310 golf courses and hundreds more in the pipeline.

Africa is hoping to benefit from the "Obama effect" -- saying the US president's recent trip to Ghana "put Africa under the international tourism spotlight.

"Africa is benefiting from roots tourism, still largely unknown to many core markets with the potential to boost economic prosperity in local African communities," it said.

In the Middle East there is an expanding market for "a growing number of young women who have developed an interest in travelling, though in some Muslim countries it is frowned upon by Arab society.

"Female-only lodging therefore makes travel possible without a mandatory male escort. This will also appeal to Western women, given the widespread negative perceptions of women travelling alone in the Middle East."

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
 Global Trade News


Memory Foam Mattress Review
SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
 Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


TRADE WARS
iPhone disappoints in China launch: analysts
 Shanghai (AFP) Nov 8, 2009
 The official launch of Apple's iPhone in China has been disappointing at best for mobile operator China Unicom, with the grey market still booming and competitors offering worthy alternatives, experts say. Unicom unveiled Apple's iconic handset in Beijing on October 30, but the few hundred people who braved the cold wind and rain to snap up the iPhone paled in comparison to hordes seen in ... read more






The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement