Leisure Travel Deals the Norm in Response to Economy
While an economic recession in the America will likely mean less people taking vacations, along with leisure travel operators catering to more bargain-hunting consumers, it also means that America represents a bargain to foreign travelers coming to the States.
Now, one of the problems with that scenario is that it hasn’t happened yet, and might not.
Since 2000, but especially since 9/11, there's been a decrease in overseas travel to the United States approaching 20 percent.
This has meant a loss of $100 billion in tourism dollars, around 200,000 jobs and over$15 billion in taxes.
Expedia Sweetens the U.S. Economic Stimulus Package
Major online travel company, Expedia.com recently revealed plans to add more stimuli to the U.S. economic stimulus package, which, starting in May, will provide up to $600 to individual taxpayers or $1,200 to those filing joint returns.
In a recent Expedia survey, more than half of Americans polled said they planned to spend their government rebate checks on travel or vacation.
To simplify the process of shopping for a trip within a $600 per person budget, Expedia has launched an online store to promote.
Expedia is sweetening the deal by providing various bonuses, along with coupons covering up to $200 off qualifying trips.
The store is open through May 13, 2008 at http://www.expedia.com/exploreamerica and includes dozens of exclusive Expedia deals for hotel stays and packages that offer discounts of up to 30 percent off regular rates.
Cruise News
Princess Cruises to make its mark on cruising in Australia
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Following an anticipated 350 per cent growth in the Australian cruise market over a successful 2007, Princess Cruises has announced the full time deployment of a cruise ship that along with its sister-ship, the Sun Princess, will serve Australia.
The new home for the Dawn Princess represents not only Princess Cruises’ biggest investment in the Australian market, but the largest by any international cruise line to date, and is expected to remain committed to the robust local cruise market.
Despite threats of global financial and economic crisis, 2008 and 2009 projections for the Australian cruise market looks promising.