"South Americans need no visas for region"

According to the Associated Press, "Nationals from all 12 South American nations will soon be able to travel freely throughout their region without needing visas, a regional foreign ministers summit in Chile has agreed.
The decision exempts the visa requirement for nationals from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The decision 'represents a step in our efforts to eliminate our traditional divisions,' said Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley who inaugurated the daylong conference. The visa exemption is expected to become effective within 90 days. Regional integration is the main subject in the ministers' agenda."

Switzerland joins European Aviation Safety Agency

Switzerland today officially became a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency. It is the fourth non-EU country to adopt European Union aviation safety legislation after Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Patrick Goudou, Executive Director of the Agency, said: “I welcome Switzerland’s membership. It is an important step towards a more integrated safety system in Europe and underlines the key role of the Agency in this system”.

The four non-EU countries are represented in the Agency’s Management Board and nationals of these countries are eligible to work for the Agency.

Source: EASA-Press release 2006-11-30.

UK: Travel industry urged to adress aviation's climate threat

Environment campaigners Friends of the Earth called on the travel industry to wake up to the threat posed by climate change and do more to reduce the environmental impact caused by the growth in aviation. Aviation can continue to be an important part of the travel sector, but the growth expected in the coming years is not compatible with protecting climatic stability.

Friends of the Earth is calling on ABTA members to promote rail over other transport for short-haul journeys, end support for an expansion in UK airports and raise awareness about the environmental benefits of holidays that avoid long distance travel.

Further details here.

Switzerland joins European Aviation Safety Agency

Switzerland today officially became a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency. It is the fourth non-EU country to adopt European Union aviation safety legislation after Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Patrick Goudou, Executive Director of the Agency, said: “I welcome Switzerland’s membership. It is an important step towards a more integrated safety system in Europe and underlines the key role of the Agency in this system”. The four non-EU countries are represented in the Agency’s Management Board and nationals of these countries are eligible to work for the Agency.
Source: EASA-Press release 2006-11-30

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

The Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award

"HOUSTON – HospitalityLawyer.com is proud to announce the following nominees for the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award:

• Jim Butler - Chairman, Global Hospitality Group of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro
• Madeleine Kleiner - Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Hilton Hotels Corporation
• Andria Ryan - Partner, Fisher & Phillips
• Irv Sandman - Shareholder, Graham & Dunn, P.C.
• Arch Stokes - Shareholder and Executive Director, Shea Stokes & Carter
• Stephen Barth - Professor of Hospitality Law and Leadership, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

The Anthony G. Marshall Award honoree will be announced on February 8, 2007, during the two-day Fifth Annual Hospitality Law Conference in Houston, Texas.
Each year at the Annual Hospitality Law Conference, the Marshall Award is given to someone who has made pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law. In presenting the award, the selection board seeks to recognize someone who exemplifies Mr. Marshall's commitment to hospitality law. This will be the third year the Award will be presented.
Anthony Marshall himself received the Award the first year, with Banks Brown, General Counsel to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Association of New York City and the Travel Business Roundtable, receiving the Award at last year's Conference.

For more information, please contact Jeanie Gibbs at 713-963-8800 or at jeanie@hospitalitylawyer.com."

British Airways: debate on religious emblems continued

British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered an astonishing put-down to the head of British Airways in the row over staff wearing personal religious symbols.
The issue came up at a conference of business leaders in the Confederation of British Industry. BA chairman Martin Broughton sought Tony Blair's support for the airline's robust ban on religious emblems worn by uniformed staff on duty, given that the police, the Army and other government uniformed staff have an identical policy in relation to crosses outside of the uniform.

However, Blair's responded that there were battles really not worth fighting. Being a a fan of BA and its management, his advice was "just to do the sensible thing".

Read more here.

British Airways to review its policy on crucifixes

British Airways will review its uniforms policy following a row over a check-in worker told to stop wearing a crucifix.
Ms Nadia Eweida, 55, has refused to return to work at Heathrow Airport since bosses told her last month she could not wear a necklace bearing a small cross over her uniform. She said she did not want to hide the cross because "Jesus has to be glorified". She lost an appeal against the decision last week, although she has the right to a second appeal. Ms Eweida said the airline's decision was good news, and she hoped it would help her win her case.
Leading figures in the Church of England had appealed to the airline to reconsider its stand. British Airways announced the review hours after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said talks had begun on a possible sale of the Church of England's £10.25 million ($25 million) worth of shares in the airline.

Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/3803

UNWTO Executive Council: fighting poverty and improving cultural understanding

The importance of tourism and its contribution to the process of economic and social development, within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations, was underscored during the Executive Council of the UNWTO, meeting in Algiers for its 79th session on November 20th and 21st.

The Executive Council decided specifically to strengthen a number of key programmes:

• To support, the fight against poverty – most notably by rationalizing technical assistance programs and projects within the framework of its Sustainable Tourism for the Elimination of Poverty(ST-EP).
• To ensure effective response to emergencies – endorsing action within the UN System to prepare for a possible avian flu pandemic, to extend this approach to other crisis situations and to provide a web based portal for effective support and communications to stakeholders in crisis situations.
• To encourage stronger security while enhancing facilitation (SAFE) and to explore new legal and technology processes, with a clear emphasis on ensuring that poor countries have the necessary technology.
• To strengthen public-private partnerships - supporting a new focus for its Affiliate Members, including an initiative to develop a UNWTO Centre of Excellence for Destinations in Montreal, Canada.

Read more here.

USA: Breastfeeding moms protest discrimination by airline

After a nursing mother was removed from a Delta commuter flight operated by Freedom Airlines from Burlington, Vermont, to New York last month, breastfeeding mothers today will conduct "nurse-ins" against Delta Air Lines at more than a dozen U.S. airports.

Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/3759

"Commission allows Malta to aid the creation of new air routes"

According to the EU Press Room, "The European Commission has decided today to allow Malta to grant start-up aid for new air routes from Malta International Airport. The measure will last until September 2011 and provides for a total of Lm25 million (€58 million) to airlines in order to finance new routes. The primary objective of the aid is to improve connectivity by enhancing access to air transport services which are of basic importance for the economic and social development of Malta."

This Press Release is available in full text.

Italy Scraps Tourist Tax Proposal

A proposal to introduce a levy on tourists visiting Italy has been scrapped by the coalition government, much to the relief of the country's tourism industry. The draft government budget for 2007 had originally contained a measure that would have allowed local authorities to put in place an EUR5 (US$6.40) charge per tourist per day to help them meet the growing costs of maintaining historic monuments. However, the measure received widespread opposition from parties within the governing coalition, including from the Prime Minister's own governing centre-left party, which acknowledged the tourist industry's fears that the tax would deter people from spending holidays in Italy.

Source: http://www.tax-news.com

UNWTO Executive Council: Tourism Fosters Trade and Development

The UNWTO Executive Council meeting in Algiers for its 79th session, with the attendance of 38 Ministerial Delegations from around the world, welcomed the estimated 4.6% growth of international arrivals in 2006. This market strength is forecast to continue through 2007, at around 4% - the fourth year of sustained growth in international tourism and in line with UNWTO’s long-term vision.
UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli, particularly underscored Africa 's strong 2006 forecast, where tourism arrivals are expected to increase by 10.6% through this year. Sub-Saharan Africa with a forecast 2006 increase of 12.6% is a key driver of the success. North Africa is also expected to grow well above the world average.
The Executive Council, will review the state of the tourism industry against the evolving global geopolitical and social dynamics, with an emphasis on tourism's role as a key element of trade and development and in the context of the organization's role as the specialized agency of the UN family dealing with this important service sector.

Read more here.

"Study: Perceived Treatment of Foreign Travelers Driving Away Visitors, Damaging America’s Image Abroad"

As stated by the Discover America Partnership, "The U.S. entry process has created a climate of fear and frustration that is turning away foreign business and leisure travelers from visiting the United States – and damaging America’s image abroad. But, according to a new global study conducted by the Discover America Partnership, minor improvements in welcoming travelers could yield substantial diplomatic and economic gains.
The study, conducted by independent polling firm RT Strategies and based upon a survey of more than 2,000 travelers worldwide, sought to gauge traveler perceptions of the U.S. visa and entry process, and how opinions of America differ among those that have and have not visited the U.S. The study revealed that, by deterring visitors, the U.S. is missing an enormous economic and diplomatic opportunity. Those that have visited the U.S. and interacted with the American people are 74 percent more likely to have an extremely favorable opinion of the U.S.
'This study should be a wake-up call for the U.S. government,' said Geoff Freeman, Executive Director of the Discover America Partnership. 'Visiting the United States and interacting with the American people can have a powerful, positive effect on how non-U.S. residents see our country. Unfortunately, perceptions of a 'rude' and 'arrogant’ entry process are turning away travelers and harming America's image.'."
This Press Release is available here.

"Vice-President Barrot leads high-level delegation to EU-India Aviation Summit"

According to the EU Press Room, "The European Union-India Aviation Summit, jointly organised by the European Commission and the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India, will take place in New Delhi on 23-24 November 2006. The Summit aims to enhance political and industrial co-operation between India and the EU in the aviation sector. India is one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets and of strategic importance to the EU and its industry. India is also taking a lead in market opening in Asia.
'The EU and its industry have much to offer India in facing the significant challenges of unprecedented growth in air traffic”, said Vice-President Jacques Barrot, Commissioner for Transport before leaving for India. 'The EU-India Aviation Summit is an excellent opportunity for bringing together top-level policy makers and industry executives to identify priority areas for enhanced co-operation.'

This Press Release is available in full text.

Scottish tourism going 'green'

Officials for the Scottish tourism industry have said that the sector must pay greater attention to 'green' issues.
The Scottish Tourism Forum (STF) has called for a reduction in the number of short-haul flights that service the country's airports and has warned that visitor numbers could fall if areas of beauty are littered with electricity pylons and wind farms, reports the Herald. The forum proposes the introduction of tourism-fragile zones, which would prohibit the installation of wind farms in the area as well as ensure that power lines ran along the seabed rather than overhead.

More information here.

"Out of shape" hostesses to fight Indian airline

Indian air hostesses embroiled in a legal battle with their employer after they were grounded for being out of shape said the move was unconstitutional and have vowed to win back lost wages. Eleven women say they have suffered from low self-esteem after being grounded by state-run Indian airline for being between a few hundred grams and 3 kg over the firm's specified weight limit. Lawyers for the company, known as Indian Airlines until last year, say the women are contractually obliged to meet weight guidelines for health reasons. The restrictions also apply to the 200 male stewards working for the airline, 20 of whom were also barred from work. The women will take their case to Delhi's High Court in March, demanding the company pay their salaries for the time they were grounded.
Source: http://www.travelindustryreview.com/news/3682

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

"Lawyer disputes plane sex activity case"

"RALEIGH, N.C. - A man arrested for allegedly engaging in 'overt sexual activity' with his girlfriend on an airliner was lying with his head on her lap because he wasn't feeling well, his attorney said.
That gesture was misinterpreted by a flight attendant, who humiliated and harassed the couple, said attorney Deb Newton, who represents Carl Persing.
Persing and Dawn Sewell, both of Lakewood, Calif., face federal charges of interfering with flight crew members, allegedly by disobeying a flight attendant's request that they stop their public displays of affection.
They were arrested on Sept. 15 when they arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles.
'The one witness I've talked to and the defendant dispute almost everything in the government's affidavit as to what happened on that airplane,' Newton said.
She said Persing suffers from a chronic disease requiring medication that makes him drowsy, dizzy and irritable. She would not identify the disease to protect her client's privacy.
Newton said she will ask that the charges be dismissed.
Sewell's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment."

Source: Associated Press.

Hospitality Law in the USA

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February 8-9, 2007

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This is the conference for hospitality owners, operators, general counsel, human resource
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Stay informed on issues such as:
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Attorneys - Earn Up to 11 CLE Hours
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• Conference Schedule
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Austrian Airlines becomes first European airline to fly to Iraq

Austrian Airlines will become the first European airline to fly to Iraq, commencing its flights to the northern Iraqi city of Erbil on December 11. Erbil is Iraq’s fourth largest city and a burgeoning industrial center -- providing rapid and safe access to the cities of Mosul, Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah. Austrian Airlines sees the route to Erbil in the tradition of pioneering that has made Austrian the airline with one of the most comprehensive route networks not only in the Middle East, but also in Eastern and Central Europe and in the new republics that were formerly part of the USSR.
Further information here.

New National Park in Tanzania

Tanzania plans to establish a new tourist wildlife park in the bustling northern tourist circuit and bring the number of national parks currently holding the country's tourism up to 15.

Mkomazi Game Reserve in northern Tanzanian border with Kenya will have its status elevated to a national park then marketed globally as one among Africa s wildlife destination sites.

Source: http://travelwirenews.com/eTN/10NOV2006.htm