Mir Hotel

Walt Anderson, the US venture capitalist and backer of the Mir Space Station has suggested that the Mir Station could be converted into a tourist attraction. He estimates that the first holiday would cost $40m but thereafter the price would fall to "a more reasonable $20-$25m". Sales of such holidays in the EU would of course be subject to the Package Travel Directive!

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Criticism of the Scottish Tourist Board

The Forum of Private Business has attacked the "deplorable attitude" of the Scottish Tourist Board follwing a survey into how the STB's services are perceived by the tourist trade. 40% of respondents rated the STB as poor or very poor. 80% believe that the Government does not understand the tourism industry. The Scottish Parliament has called for a root and branch reform of tourism development services in Scotland.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Pilot Fined for being Drunk

A Royal Air Maroc pilot was prevented from flying by officials at Schipol Airport after security officials noticed that he was staggering on his way to fly his plane to Tangiers. There were 125 passengers on board. He was found to have four times the level of alcohol permitted for driving in the Netherlands. He was fined NGL 2500 ($1000).

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Riots Hit Lombok Holiday Resort

Indonesian troops have been instructed to shoot rioters in a bid to halt the religious riots that have plagued the tourist island in mid-January. Gangs of Muslim youths have attacked Christians, their homes and their property and have tried to seize the ferry terminal at Mataram. Some hotels have put up Muslim prayer mats and pro-Muslim signs to attempt to ward off attackers. The Australian Government has airlifted its tourists from the island and other tourist nationals fled to neighbouring Bali. The unrest in Lombok has spresd to other islands and is causing serious damage to the Indonesian Tourism Industry.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Agreement on Tourism

The Greek Foreign Minister, Yeoryios Papendreou, arrived in Ankara on 20 January 2000 to discuss and sign agreements between the two states on investment, tourism and anti-terrorism measures.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Killing of French Tourists

The killing of three French children on holiday in North East Namibia early in January has led to a serious fall-off in business for the tourist industry. Safari lodges in Caprivi and Kavago have had to dismiss staff and close.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

European Aid for Tourism

The European Commission has warned the National Assembly of Wales that the principality could suffer a shortfall in overall funding (which includes funding for tourism projects). Although the Berlin Summit in March 1999 allocated €1.85 bn to the South Wales Valleys and West Wales over a 6 year period, this requires the Government to match funds £ per £. Furthermore, because of currency fluctuations the value of the grant has fallen to €1.15bn. The failure of the minority Labour Administration in Wales to match funding is expected to lead to a motion of "no confidence" by the main opposition party, Plaid Cymru (the Welsh Nationalist Party)

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Beatles Sign Rejected

The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions have rejected the city of Liverpool's request that road signs leading to the city should state "Liverpool - Birthplace of the Beatles" on the grounds that it would distract drivers. The Road Traffic Act permits brown and white road sigs to indicate routes to tourist attractions. The city's tourist office has appealed against the decision to the Secretary of State for Culture, Chris Smith.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

E-Commerce Hearing

The EU Commission held a meeting in Brussels on 4-5 November to address the legal issues involved in e- commerce. Representatives of businesses, consumers' groups and regulatory bodies attended to address issues such as conflicts of jurisdiction, application of Contract Law and consumer protection. A copy of the background paper prepared by the Commission is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/scic/conferences/991104/991104_info.htm

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Review of the Implementation of the Package Travel Directive

Consumer Affairs Commissioner David Byrne submitted a report to the Consumer Affairs Council on the implementation of the Package Travel Directive. Member States are invited to comment by April 2000.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Legal Action raised in Egypt Air Flight 990 Case

A legal action has been raised by relatives of a Syrian passenger killed as a result of the Egypt Air Flight 990 crash. The action has been raised in New York. The Syrian victim was working as a chef in New Jersey. The action is based on a claim for $50m wrongful death compensation alleging that Egypt Air were in breach of their responsibility to provide the hoghest level of safety to passengers. The action also accuses Boeing of negligence in design, repair and maintenance of the plane

(Originally posted by John Downes)

IATA's DG Calls for a Balance to the Benefits of Air Liberalization

Pierre Jeanniot (DG of IATA) stated on 16 November 1999 "There is no question that the air transport industry will continue to liberalise. Our main concern is that liberalisation proceeds in a manner which produces the best balance of benefits to consumers, airlines and the public interest". IATA has issued a discussion paper on Air Transport and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). At present GATS covers repair and maintenance, provision of computer reservation systems and sales and marketing of air services. These may be added to at the next WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle (USA) on 3 December 1999.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

IATA Presents Eagle Award to Airservices Australia

IATA Director General presented the Eagle Award to Airservices Australia. The award is made annually to airports and air navigation services which provide good value and good services to airlines. Last year's recipients were the Irish Aviation authority for air navigation services and the British Airports Authority for the airport category.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Lockerbie trial Judges Named

The three judges that will hear the Lockerbie Trial, according to Scots Law, in the Netherlands have been named as Lords Sutherland, Coulsfield and MacLean. Lord Abernethy will also participate and will act as a substitute if necessary. There will be a preliminary hearing of the case at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh before Lord Sutherland on 22 November 1999. Nb. There is a Lockerbie Trial wedsite provided by the University of Glasgow Law School at: http://www.law.gla.ac.ik/Lockerbie/index.htm

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Train Bomb

13 people were killed and nearly 50 injured after a bomb exploded on the Pooja Express which had left Jammu, Kashmir's winter capital, bound for Delhi. the train was carrying Hindu pilgrims who had been visiting the Vaishno Devi Temple near Jammu. Indian police officials were also on board.

(Originally posted John Downes)

Egypt Air Flight 990

The search for the voice cockpit recorder continues. The plane crashed into the Atlantic soon after taking off from JFK Airport in New York on October 31. All 217 passengers and crew were killed. The US National Transportation Safety Board has made a preliminary report on the flight data recorder. the plane had been cruising normally at 9900 metres (33000 feet) when the autopilot disconnected. Although the plane had previously had a fault with the thrust reverser device, there was no evidence that this device had deployed accidentally.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Transfer of Powers in the UK

The Devolution of power in the UK means that new bodies are now responsible for travel and tourism matters. The UK Parliament has power to make laws governing all matters relating to travel and tourism in England and Wales. It also enacts legislation on the British Tourist Authority, the English and Welsh Tourist Boards, travel documents (passports and visas), regulation of trade associations (e.g.ABTA), consumer protection and employment law for the whole of the UK. The Scottish Parliament has powers in relation to all other travel and tourism law matters, including setting tourism policy in scotland and the functions and powers of the Scottish Tourist Board. No change may be made by the UK Parliament re the functions and powers of the BTA without prior consultation with Scottish Ministers. The Welsh National Assembly (Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) took over the functions and powers previously excercised by the Secretary Of State for Wales and this included tourism in the Principality. The Assembly has powers to set tourism policy and has a budget to support and encourage tourism development. It does not have legislative powers, however. The Northern Ireland Assembly will have similar legislative powers to the Scottish Parliament and provision is made in the Peace Agreement (Northern Ireland Act 1998) for cross-border cooperation with the Irish Republic on tourism matters. The UK Government has introduced a Bill to establish a Greater London Assembly which will have specific powers and duties on tourism, economic development, transport, planning, emergency services, environment and culture. The directly elected Mayor will have executive powers in these matters and a budget.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Air Agreement Dispute

The Air Agreement between the Philippines and Taiwan collapsed in July when the Philippines accused Taiwanese carriers of failing to stick to the agreed 3000 passengers per week. Philippines Airlines (PAL) has announced that it is cancelling scheduled flights to and from Taiwan on Friday 1 October unless agreement is reached.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

European Commission blocks Airtours Takeover of First Choice

The EU Commission rejected the proposed takeover because it would leave the three largest tour operators in the UK with 80% share of the package holiday market (Airtours, Thomson and Thomas Cook). These companies are also vertically integrated and the Commission believed that the proposed merger would restrict competition in the UK package holiday market.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Holy See Prepares for 30 million visitors in 2000

The Vatican has created a new website to provide advice for the estimated 30 million pilgrims expected to visit the Holy See in 2000. The site is available in Italian, French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Latin and Polish. Russian, Chinese and Arabic are expected to be added. It has also issued a new "smart card", a computerised Pilgrim's Card which can be used to purchase transport, food, insurance, phone calls and other services. A microchip on the card can also contain essential information on the health of the bearer.

(Originally posted by John Downes)