Africa Online

While doing research on Africa, I was pleasantly surprised with the information I found online. Although I travel often, Africa was one place I had never put much thought into visiting or taken the time to learn about. For most people when you mention Africa you think of the great Sahara and Kalahari Deserts and dry, hot weather. What you don’t think of are the great wetlands and rainforest areas along the equator in central Africa, the lakes such as Lake Albert and Lake Victoria in eastern Africa, and the varying landscapes and eco-systems of southern Africa. The online resources are endless and include both popular guides such as Lonely Planet and Excite.com’s Travel Guide, as well as sites of the individual countries and individuals that are sharing their experiences. I discovered that South Africa has numerous wineries and tours are available to visit many of these. I also found out that the people of Uganda are warm and welcoming and say they are Africa’s Friendliest Country. Online resources are a great source of discovery about new places. I plan to continue my discoveries about Africa and perhaps add it to my list of future travel destinations.

Demand for Middle East Tourism

The Middle East does not typically come to mind as a place in high demand for international tourism however Qatar is trying to break away from that stereotype. In September 2005 Qatar became the first Middle Eastern country to host World Tourism Day. Part of the celebration will include Qatar’s first National Tourism Conference as well as other events. Several weeks after hosting World Tourism Day, Qatar was awarded in the 12th Annual World Travel Awards for the Middle East’s leading Tourist and Convention Bureau. “'The prominence of Qatar as a quality destination, for leisure, business, education, sports…is becoming ever more apparent.” However, according to Nader Habibi of Global Insight it is possible that the supply for tourism in Qatar as well as other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, and Oman) may soon outweigh the demand, and that all countries in the region should work together to maximize the potential of the region.
Just this month, Qatar was again being discussed in the news. They will be host to the 15th Asian Games this year, and are again discussing the plans that lie ahead for the continued building of tourism in the country.

New York - An Attraction?

So what city would you pick as the top tourist attraction the US? If you said New York, you were right on the money according to Michael Verikios at Travel Daily News. And I would have to agree with him. New York has everything; museums, restaurants, sporting events, musicals, operas, and culture. There is history in New York, from Central Park, to SoHo, to the top of the Empire State Building. You could spend a week and not ever touch on all there is to do and see in New York. There is Little Italy and Chinatown, uptown and downtown, bridges and tunnels. Try the subway if you want to experience some true New York culture…street musicians, vagabonds, businessmen, families, it’s all there underground. New York, in my opinion, is an ultimate tourist and traveler destination. You can make the experience as authentic as you’d like…or you can buy souvenir t-shirts on the corner for $5.00 each. Although if you think about it, when it comes to New York, even that could be authentic because it is a part of what New York is.

If you would like to read Mr. Verikios’ article, it can be found here.

Travelers have more fun!

My husband and I travel often, many of our recent trips have been cruises. Cruising has it's goods and bads...Good, you get to visit many places during your 7-14 day adventure...Bad, you are visiting many places so you do not always get to experience everything you might like to see in any given port of call. Our goal is to make the most of the time we have. Shore excursions are for tourists, or the unadventurous. In the weeks before our travels we plan out how to see things the way the locals would...by bus, train, foot, or any other locally used means of transportation. Our most recent experience, why pay $5 per person for a cramped "bus" ride in St. Thomas when you can ride with the locals on the "$1 Bus." Same bus, different price, more memorable experience. On the "tourist bus" you'd never hear about a local's opinion of corrupt government affairs while at the same time pulling up alongside a truck of minimum security inmates returning from work duty, to have the passenger beside you hand $20 to one of the inmates, telling you he'd get it back in a couple months...it was his neighbor! On your next trip, try to be a traveler, not a tourist...you'll have more fun!