We don’t like...
Emirates cutting five flights to mainland US after American security agencies blocked passengers from having laptops on some flights from the Middle East. An eye for an eye, makes the whole world blind. Tell us what you like and don’t like in the world of travel. Email travel@nzherald.co.nz Winning I If you’re in the American travel industry, you must be winning so much that you’re already sick and tired of winning. Travel Wires understands you’ll dismiss this as fake news, but our sources have even more integrity than the Fox News office code of ethics. The US tourism industry contributed $1.5 trillion, or 8.1 per cent of the nation’s GDP, in 2016. In just one month, after the first travel ban, web searches for flights to the US dropped 14 per cent — 49.5 per cent from China, 16 per cent from Mexico (the US’ second largest visitor market) and Europe. Winning II International visitors’ purchases of travel goods and services fell 1 per cent. Airfare receipts on US airlines from international visitors, ditto.
How ’bout them big-spending business travellers? Nearly half the European convention organisers polled last month said they were less likely to plan meetings and events in the US. In short, the industry forecasts 10.6 million fewer travellers this year, costing the US economy $18b and about 107,000 jobs. Winning III Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, slashed its US flights by 20 per cent last week, blaming tougher security measures and those travel bans. Emirates, Qatar and Etihad have ramped up their US presence over the past couple of years, offering better service (it couldn’t be worse) and prices (ditto) than US carriers. Winning IV The US airlines got into Trump’s ear; hence the devices ban, which has nothing to do with on-board security and everything to do with making Middle Eastern airlines’ passengers wait an hour or two on the tarmac before getting their iPads out of the hold.
In response, Discover Los Angeles has launched a new initiative to highlight the diversity and inclusivity of La La Land culture. It’s called #everyoneiswelcome, proving that when the sky is falling in, the best defence is a warm, fuzzy hashtag. Winning Une Weirdly, as US borders get grumpier, the French — who have long held the title of World’s Least Cheerful Hosts — maintain their status as the world’s mostvisited country. The number of people checking into Paris hotels in January reached a 10-year high of just over 1.5 million, 6.4 per cent up on 2014.
Oui, mon brave, Paris, with terrorist attacks and notoriously unfriendly locals. How come people prefer to holiday there, Donald?