Looking back at 2009’s travel highlights

Ten years ago, I was running crowd control at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Today, on the eve of 2010, I wanted to recap some of my 2009 travel highlights.

Walt Disney World: The last time I was at Mickey Mouse’s Florida home, I was taking tickets at the front gate or driving a replica of a fire engine up and down Main Street U.S.A. – Sept. 11, 2001, was just days away. I returned in 2009 with my affinity for Disney still in place.

An Ohio Odyssey: From a field of concrete corn in Dublin to Sherman’s birthplace in Lancaster to the Christopher Columbus replica ship in the capital city, the “Heart of it All” is full of history, heritage and places to see.

Amelia Island: After taking my first trip to Amelia Island in 2008, I returned this year. The “Birthplace of the Modern Shrimping Industry” is one of the Southeast’s gems.

To travel is to...

2010 looks to be better for travel

ATLANTA – A number of new surveys indicate leisure travel is expected to increase in 2010, but tough times remain – especially for the world’s airlines.

A survey from Travel Ticker indicates 35 percent of people are planning to travel more for leisure next year and 51 percent plan on taking the same number of trips. Only 6 percent are looking to travel less, the survey indicates.

“The feedback we received from our 2010 Travel Intentions Survey further supports Travel Ticker's belief that if consumers find a great deal, they will be inspired to travel,” Barbara Messing, vice president of Travel Ticker, said in a news release. “Our consumers seem excited for 2010 to be the year they take a vacation they’ve always dreamed about. This makes sense considering all the great deals we’re seeing as we go into the new year.”

While 4.1 percent fewer people flew in 2009, IATA estimates 2.28 billion people will fly in 2010. That would be roughly in line with the number of passengers who flew in 2007, but it isn’t enough to erase a bleak prospect for airlines globally.

“The worst is likely behind us. For 2010, some key statistics are moving in the right direction. Demand will likely continue to improve and airlines are expected to drive down non-fuel unit costs by 1.3 (percent). But fuel costs are rising and yields are a continuing disaster,” Giovanni Bisignani, director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association, said in a news release. “Airlines will remain firmly in the red in 2010 with … $5.6 billion in losses.”

Failed terror attack means new security measures

Travelers are likely to see new airport security measures in the wake of a foiled Christmas Day terror plot.

“Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in.”

Published reports indicate that immediately following the failed attack, the security measures included additional passenger pat-downs and a prohibition on passengers leaving their seats during the final hour of international flights.

While those measures seemed to have eased, the TSA said in a statement that “passengers may be asked to follow flight crew instructions, such as stowing personal items, turning off electronic equipment and remaining seated during certain portions of the flight.”

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian national, faces federal charges of attempting to destroy Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam as it prepared to land at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Authorities say Abdulmutallab tried to ignite an explosive device that contained pentaerythritol, also known as PETN.

“This alleged attack on a U.S. airplane on Christmas Day shows that we must remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism at all times,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. “Had this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously, and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice.”

In the wake of other terror plots, authorities have implemented a number of security measures. For example, following Sept. 11, 2001, only ticketed passengers could pass through airport security. And following 2006’s “Liquid Bomb” plot, passengers could only carry liquids in 3 ounce bottles on board.

The following Q&A is from the TSA:

Q: What additional security measures is TSA taking domestically?

A: TSA has a layered approach to security that allows us to surge resources as needed on a daily basis. We have the ability to quickly implement additional screening measures including explosive detection canine teams, law enforcement officers, gate screening, behavior detection and other measures both seen and unseen. Passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport.

Q: What additional security measures are being taken for international flights to U.S. destinations?

A: TSA issued a directive for additional security measures to be implemented for last point of departure international flights to the United States. Passengers flying into the United States from abroad can expect to see additional security measures at international airports such as increased gate screening including pat-downs and bag searches. During flight, passengers may be asked to follow flight crew instructions, such as stowing personal items, turning off electronic equipment and remaining seated during certain portions of the flight.

Q: Do passengers need to do anything differently to prepare for checkpoint security procedures? Has anything changed in terms of what passengers can bring in their carry-on or checked bags?

A: At this time, security checkpoint requirements for passengers departing U.S. airports remain the same. Passengers do not need to do anything differently, but they may notice additional security measures at the airport.

Q: Should passengers plan to arrive at airports earlier than normal?

A: Passengers traveling within the United States should give themselves extra time to check in and proceed through the security checkpoint before their flight, especially during the busy holiday travel season. TSA advises that passengers traveling on international flights to U.S. destinations allow extra time for security and arrive an additional hour earlier.

Q. How long will these measures remain in place?

A: TSA will continuously review these measures to ensure the highest levels of security.

DOT sets three-hour limit on tarmac delays

Airlines can only keep passengers waiting on the tarmac for three hours before it would be required to let them disembark, under a new rule announced today by the Department of Transportation.

Within two hours, airlines must provide passengers with “adequate” food and water and they must also “maintain operable lavatories,” the DOT said.

The three-hour limit only applies to domestic flights and it does provide for some exceptions, including safety or security and if returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations. Domestic airlines that operate international flights to or from the United States “must specify, in advance, their own time limits for deplaning passengers, with the same exceptions applicable,” the DOT said.

“Airline passengers have rights, and these new rules will require airlines to live up to their obligation to treat their customers fairly,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

The new rule also includes a number of other requirements, including a requirement that airlines display on their Web site information about flight delays for each domestic flight they operate.

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) said it would comply with the new rule, but it expressed concerns.

“We will comply with the new rule even though we believe it will lead to unintended consequences - more cancelled flights and greater passenger inconvenience,” ATA president and CEO James C. May said in a news release.

“In particular, the requirement of having planes return to the gates within a three hour window or face significant fines is inconsistent with our goal of completing as many flights as possible,” May said. “Lengthy tarmac delays benefit no one.”

Setting and sticking to your holiday travel budget

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Travel can be one of the biggest-ticket items on your holiday list, so it's worth it to plan ahead. Setting a budget -- and sticking to it -- can help you stay in better control of holiday spending.

According to a recent Visa survey, a majority (54 percent) of this year's summer travelers either didn't set a budget or overspent their budget while traveling, and more than a quarter of those surveyed overspent by more than $250. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, it's important to create a realistic holiday travel budget and make a plan for how you will spend within your means while on the road.

To create a budget, think through your trip. First, include the basics such as transportation to and from your destination, and lodging. Next, plan for expenses that come up along the way such as meals on the road, host/hostess gifts, rental cars or public transportation. Don't forget to include entertainment - whether sightseeing, sleigh riding or going to the movies. It's also a good idea to build in a cushion for the unexpected.

Once you've set your holiday travel budget, you need to stick to it. One tool that can help is a prepaid travel card. A prepaid card draws from funds that are set aside in advance for purchases. Here are a few ways prepaid travel cards can come in handy:

-- Keep travel funds separate. An easy way to make sure you don't go over budget is to set your travel budget aside on a prepaid travel card. Simply load the card with your travel budget, and use it for everything from online booking to grabbing lunch during an (unexpectedly extended) layover without worrying about spending more than you planned or dipping into gift-buying funds.

-- Access cash. Whether you need a few dollars or several yen, choose a prepaid card that will allow you to withdraw cash from ATMs around the world. If you're travelling internationally, it'll also save you the hassle of tracking down and waiting in line for local currency.

-- Browse and buy. Look for a prepaid card that you can use online. Travel sites offer a wealth of information and detailed listings of competing offers from airlines and hotels as well as reviews from fellow travelers. For flights, you can typically compare possible savings by traveling on alternate days or from nearby airports. Once you spot the deal that works for your budget, use your prepaid travel card to snap it up.

-- Enjoy peace of mind when traveling. Prepaid cards may come with travel-related services. For example, the Visa TravelMoney card offers Zero Liability for lost or stolen cards as well as lost luggage reimbursement and purchase security. Make sure you know which benefits your card offers and how they work so you can tap into them should the need arise.

With some advance preparation and the right tools in place, you don't have to overspend on travel this holiday season. In fact, with some careful planning, you could end up with enough left to buy yourself a little something during the post-holiday sales.

For more information about Visa TravelMoney, visit: www.visa.com/travelmoney.

Motorcoach bus safety bill wins U.S. Senate Committee approval

Special to The Travel Trolley   WASHINGTON -- Safety advocates and families of victims of motorcoach bus crashes today heralded a U.S. Senate committee's approval of long-sought legislation to dramatically improve motorcoach safety for the millions of Americans who rely on this popular transportation mode.   The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act (S.554), introduced by Senators Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, was passed by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for consideration.   As passed by the committee, the legislation requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to issue new regulations to improve the safety of motorcoaches and motorcoach operators. The safety measures required by the bill have been the subject of numerous safety recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) over the past four decades, according to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

Ethiopia, Destination For The Bold

Voice of America

An old saying that the greatest achievements were at first only dreams could well apply to Ethiopia. Some Ethiopians are dreaming big. Our correspondent visited the Ethiopian town of Harar and tells the story of dreamers who see adventure, excitement, and a possible tourist bonanza where others see only rocks and bones.

Harar is considered Islam's fourth holiest city. It boasts 82 mosques and more than 100 shrines. Its medieval Old Town has been recognized by UNESCO as unique in East Africa.

The surrounding region is turning out to be a treasure trove for archeologists, anthropologists and speleologists, or cave explorers. It is not far from where remains of the oldest known human ancestors, Luci and Ardi were found, shedding light on the origins of humanity.

But as a tourist destination, these sites are practically off the map. Harar is a day's drive east of Addis Ababa so getting there can be an adventure in itself.

That hasn't stopped dreamers, like Italian scholar Marco Vigano, from looking past the obstacles to the potential.

"It's the cradle of humanity," said Marco Vigano. "If we don't show the people more than Lucy. It's the bits that come after Lucy that interest us now, and there is so much to be discovered."

Discoveries are a regular occurrence here. A few kilometers outside Harar, a guide leads visitors up a mountainside to a cave chiseled by the Harla people who lived here for centuries. He splashes water on the outside wall, and it seems to come alive, revealing ancient secrets.

"The people were living with goats and cows. Yes, you can see horns."

These 500 to 1000-year-old cave paintings are young compared to the skeleton of Ardi, an upright hominid more than four million years old - discovered in Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley . The area is a two-day drive from Addis without much in the way of inns or guest houses.

Also a nearby volcano erupted four years ago, ripping open a crack in the Great Rift Valley. Scientists say it's getting wider every year and the area could eventually become a new ocean.

Professor Ahmed Zekaria, a cultural anthropologist at Addis Ababa University, says Ethiopia still holds many secrets.

"The Rift Valley gives you a scenario of human evolution," said Ahmed Zekaria. "Paleontologists are telling us every season they're coming with stones and bones that catapult us back into the nebulous past."

Scientists say Ethiopia is a work in progress, anthropologically and geologically. If they are right about that new crack in the earth, this landlocked country could become a beach resort within, say, a few hundred thousand years.

Thousands of stranded motorists expected

Dead batteries, flat tires and other car problems. They don’t spell Christmas cheer, but they’re a reality of holiday travel.

AAA is expecting that it will help 1.3 million stranded motorists during the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays. In addition, AAA projects it will handle:

• 280,000 dead batteries
• 170,000 sets of keys locked inside vehicles
• 170,000 tire changes
• 50,000 failing batteries on the roadside

“Becoming stranded on the roadway can quickly put a damper on your holiday spirit. Many motorists can avoid roadside trouble with a little preventative maintenance and careful driving,” Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive vice president, said in a news release. “Whether it's a trip to the mall for last-minute shopping or a road trip to visit family, having your vehicle properly maintained and prepared for winter weather will help ensure it gets you to your destination safely.”

In advance of Thanksgiving, the Car Care Council offered a 10-minute pre-trip checkup, which included:

– Checking fluids: This should include engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission fluids, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

– Checking hoses and belts: Be sure to make sure hoses and belts aren’t cracked, brittle, frayed or loose.

– Checking tires: In addition to tire pressure, be sure to make the tread. Also look for bulges and bald spots.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes First Flight

Special to The Travel Trolley

SEATTLE -- The Boeing 787 Dreamliner took to the sky for the first time yesterday, ushering a new era in air travel as it departed before an estimated crowd of more than 12,000 employees and guests from Paine Field in Everett, Wash.

The flight marks the beginning of a flight test program that will see six airplanes flying nearly around the clock and around the globe, with the airplane's first delivery scheduled for fourth quarter 2010.

The newest member of the Boeing family of commercial jetliners took off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. at 10:27 a.m. local time. After approximately three hours, it landed at 1:33 p.m. at Seattle's Boeing Field.
787 Chief Pilot Mike Carriker and Capt. Randy Neville tested some of the airplane's systems and structures, as on-board equipment recorded and transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team at Boeing Field.

After takeoff from Everett, the airplane followed a route over the east end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Capts. Carriker and Neville took the airplane to an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) and an air speed of 180 knots, or about 207 miles (333 kilometers) per hour, customary on a first flight.

"Today is truly a proud and historic day for the global team who has worked tirelessly to design and build the 787 Dreamliner - the first all-new jet airplane of the 21st century," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "We look forward to the upcoming flight test program and soon bringing groundbreaking levels of efficiency, technology and passenger comfort to airlines and the flying public."

Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, the first Boeing 787 will be joined in the flight test program in the coming weeks and months by five other 787s, including two that will be powered by General Electric GEnx engines.

The 787 Dreamliner will offer passengers a better flying experience and provide airline operators greater efficiency to better serve the point-to-point routes and additional frequencies passengers prefer. The technologically-advanced 787 will use 20 percent less fuel than today's airplanes of comparable size, provide airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity and present passengers with innovations that include a new interior environment with cleaner air, larger windows, more stowage space, improved lighting and other passenger-preferred conveniences.

Fifty-five customers around the world have ordered 840 787s, making the 787 Dreamliner the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history.

ATA: Christmas, New Year’s travel to decline in 2009

Fewer people are expected to fly this Christmas and New Year’s, according to new estimates from the Air Transport Association of America (ATA).

The association estimates 41 million people will be flying on American-based airlines – a 2.5 percent decline compared to last year.

“We are continuing to see fewer air travelers over the holidays, a trend that has been apparent throughout 2009,” ATA President and CEO James C. May said in a news release. “Capacity reductions will likely mean fuller flights on many days.”

It appears the “fragile economy” and the “depressed global demand for travel” are contributing to the decline, according to the ATA’s news release. Dec. 27, Dec. 28 and Dec. 29 are projected to be the busiest travel days.

The ATA’s estimates are based on travel between Dec. 17 and Jan. 6, 2010.

German town continues passion play tradition

NewsUSA 

We all engage in little traditions, but we usually do so on a family-basis -- rarely does the whole town get involved. And yet, that's exactly what happens in the village of Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany, where townspeople come together every 10 years to put on a huge Passion Play, involving over a thousand actors.

How did the tradition start? In 1633, the plague was taking a harsh toll on Oberammergau's inhabitants. To save their town, the villagers promised God that they would perform a Passion Play -- the story of the last days, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ -; every tenth year. From that day on, the plague deaths stopped. And so the villagers have kept their promise for the last 375 years.

It truly takes a village to put on the show. Participants must either be native to Oberammergau or have lived there for 20 years or more. Of the village's 5,300 inhabitants, about 2,500 will be involved in the production, whether they be actors, ushers, stage hands, seamstresses or musicians. No wigmakers are allowed -- on the Ash Wednesday the year before the play, women start growing out their hair, and men begin growing out their hair and beards for an authentic look.

The performers, both on stage and in the orchestra, are not professionals, but they undergo rigorous training and rehearsals. For example, the 55-piece orchestra will begin weekly rehearsals almost a year before they're required to perform. By opening night, the actors and musicians can put on a professional-quality performance.

The play is performed against the backdrop of the Ammergau Alps in a custom-designed theater. The actors -- there are up to a thousand on stage in the mass scenes -- are exposed to the elements, but the symphony-sized orchestra and audience stay dry in case of inclement weather. The theater can accommodate 4,700 audience members.

The next Passion Play will take place in 2010, with performances lasting from May 15th to October 3rd. The production will see a revised text, new stage designs and music, and new costumes. In 2000 more than 150,000 Americans traveled to Oberammergau.

For more information, visit www.oberammergau-passion.com.

Orbitz: Christmas the busiest travel week of 2009

Christmas is expected to be the busiest travel week of 2009, according to Orbitz.

The busiest weeks:

1. Christmas
2. July 4th
3. Thanksgiving
4. Third week of June
5. First week of August

The list is based on air bookings through Orbitz from Jan. 1 through Dec. 21 as of Dec. 8.

BTS: Rate of Flight Delays Increases in October

Special to The Travel Trolley   Flights operated by the nation's largest airlines arrived on time at a lower rate this past October than in either October of last year or in September 2009, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).   According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 77.3 percent in October, a lower rate than both October 2008's 86.0 percent and September 2009's 86.2 percent.   The monthly report also includes data on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers, as well as reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.

Provision would let Amtrak passengers carry guns in checked baggage

Railfanning.org News Wire

 

Passengers could soon bring firearms in their packed luggage on Amtrak trains under a provision included in the Senate's massive year-end spending bill.

 

“This is an important victory for sportsmen and gun owners across the country, and it affirms congressional support of the Second Amendment,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a news release.  “Airline passengers in our country are allowed to transport firearms in secure, checked baggage when declared during the check-in process.  Law-abiding gun owners who choose to travel on America’s taxpayer-subsidized rail line should be given the same right.”

 

The rule is the same as one that allows airline passengers to pack firearms in their checked luggage, according to Wicker. Under the provision, according to Wicker's office:

 

• "The passenger must declare to Amtrak within 24 hours of departure that the firearm will be placed in his or her bag and will be unloaded"
• "The firearm or pistol must be carried in a hard-sided container"
• "The hard-sided container must be locked and only the passenger has the combination or key for the container"

TripAdvisor says Mexican city top upcoming destination for 2010

A new “reading of the tea leaves” by TripAdvisor’s TravelCast indicates Troncones, Mexico, is the top emerging hot spot for 2010. The complete list:

1. Troncones, Mexico
2. Nairn, Scotland
3. El Chalten, Patagonia
4. Patara, Turkey
5. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

TravelCast identifies up-and-coming destinations using site data such as increases in search activity and postings to TripAdvisor.com made during the past year.

“As far as destinations to consider for 2010, Mexico offers some real bargains — and Troncones made the top of our emerging destinations TravelCast list,” Christine Petersen, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor, said in a news release.

Survey: Leisure travel could increase in 2010

Good news for the travel sector. A new survey from TripAdvisor reveals that 41 percent of Americans are looking to spend more on leisure travel in 2010 than they did in 2009.

In addition, 92 percent of Americans are planning to take at least two leisure trips in 2010 – a projected increase from 89 percent this year. The survey also revealed that 66 percent of Americans say the economy will not adversely impact their travel plans for 2010.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the swine flu – or the H1N1 – 88 percent say they are concerned about germs, bacteria and viruses when traveling. At the same time 77 percent say they are washing their hands more often than normal when on the road – a drastic increase from the 17 percent of a year ago.

“If it isn’t already, hand sanitizer should be among the first things travelers think to pack these days,” Christine Petersen, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor, said in a news release.

Pearl Harbor visit a moving one

 A U.S. Navy white boat sits moored at the pier of USS Arizona Memorial while visitors pay tribute to the fallen Sailors and Marines of USS Arizona (BB 39). The memorial sits directly above the sunken Pennsylvania-class battleship at Pearl Harbor and is marked at her bow and fantail by two white buoys. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – It was a typical Sunday morning in Hawaii. But just before 8 a.m. 68 years ago, the serene morning quickly turned hellish.

From the morning sky, 353 aircraft Japanese descended on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor intending “to destroy America’s military establishment in the Pacific.” A total of 2,400 Americans – 1,177 on the USS Arizona alone – were killed in the sneak attack.

“Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan,” President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said the following day.

Following the attack, the United States entered into World War II. “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve,” Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto supposedly said following the attack. He was right.

A visit to Pearl Harbor is indeed a moving one. Perhaps the most famous tribute to that horrible day is the USS Arizona Memorial.

The 184-foot-long memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day 1962. Today, 1.5 million people visit the memorial each year.

“The structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory,” the memorial’s architect, Alfred Preis, said, according to the U.S. National Park Service. “…The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of sadness have been omitted to permit the individual to contemplate his own personal responses...his innermost feelings.”

The USS Arizona Memorial is a somber tribute to a fateful day that forever changed the course of history.

Report: WDW guests spending less

West Center Street

Perhaps, it shouldn’t be any surprise that Walt Disney World guests are spending less.

The Daily Disney, an Orlando Sentinel blog, reports that guests spent 4 percent less during Fiscal Year 2009. According to the report, spending at resorts and time shares also dropped 8 percent – from $223 per room to $205 per room. Per room guest spending is defined as the average daily hotel room rate coupled with spending on food, beverages and merchandise at the hotels.

“Although last year was a difficult one due in part to the weak global economy, I’m pleased with the way our businesses have responded to the downturn,” President and CEO Robert A. Iger said in a news release. “We’ve stayed focused on our long-term strategy, efficiently managed costs, and continued to invest in initiatives to deliver future growth. We also have adapted our organization to respond to and take advantage of the changes taking place in our businesses and will continue to do so as we position Disney to thrive for years to come.”

Still, hotel occupancy during the 2009 fiscal year stood at 87 percent – down slightly from 90 percent in 2008.

Meanwhile, Disneyland in California saw a 9 percent drop in guest spending. Total domestic spending at Disney theme parks dropped 6 percent, records show.

Travel could be key to economic recovery

On the eve of the White House “Jobs Summit,” a travel association says the travel industry could be the key to economic recovery.

“There’s no doubt that if we can stimulate travel, this industry can help to turn the economy around,” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow said in a news release. “Building a plan for economic recovery that drives significant increases in travel would help to create tens of thousands of American jobs.”

Dow sent a letter to President Obama and Congress outlining seven “immediate” and “medium-term” proposals “crucial to job creation.” The proposals include “tax incentives for job-creating travel, targeted efforts to promote international travel and government funding to remove roadblocks to an efficient travel infrastructure,” Dow wrote in his letter.

According to the association, 400,000 travel jobs were “lost” in 2008 and 2009. But, 90,000 jobs could be created in 2010. TIA previously said leisure travel is expected to rise 2 percent, while business travel is projected to increase 2.5 percent and inbound international travel is estimated to increase roughly 3 percent, according to the association.

The travel industry currently employs 7.7 million Americans.

Exhibit of Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors Is Largest Ever in US

Voice of America

WASHINGTON -- The exhibit Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor has opened at Washington, D.C.'s National Geographic Museum.  This is the fourth and last city on a U.S. tour before the ancient statues and artifacts return to China.

This statue is more than 2,000 years old, is one of the clay cavalrymen that once protected the tomb of the first Chinese emperor Qin Shihuangdi.  The warrior and his horse are now at the entrance to the National Geographic Museum in Washington, and is among the largest number of Chinese terra cotta figures ever to travel to the United States.

Stanford University Professor Albert Dean curated the exhibit. It includes 15 life-size terra cotta figures and 100 sets of artifacts. 

"This army represents an unusual display of the level of craftsmanship in ancient China and of the scale of resources able to be mustered," Dean explained.

Thirty-five years ago a group of farmers near Xi'an in China's Shaanxi province, were digging a well. They came across a terra cotta warrior, leading to one of the greatest archeological discoveries of the 20th century.

Today, archeologists believe that about 7,000 vivid, life size ceramic figures, horses and chariots were buried in a massive underground tomb complex. About a thousand have been excavated. The warriors were supposed to protect Emperor Qin Shihuangdi in his afterlife.  

Professor Dean says the discovery of the terra cotta soldiers has provided a wealth of information about the Qin dynasty, including the construction of the tomb complex  which took 36 years.

"When they start figuring out how much wood it took to build these things, the kind of clays, all of this, the amounts stagger the imagination," Dean said.

This is the largest exhibit of Chinese terra cotta figures to tour the United States.

Xie Feng, a diplomat at China's embassy in Washington, spoke at the exhibit's press preview. He referred to President Barack Obama's visit to Beijing, which was taking place on the same day.  

"President Obama's visit to China is historic and so is too this exhibit.  Their coincidence is auspicious sign of further developments of U.S-China cultural exchange of mutual understanding and friendship."  

Susan Norton, Director of the National Geographic Museum, says the show  is already a success. "It is beyond our wildest dreams.  As of this morning we sold over 96,000 tickets.  This is unheard of," she said.

The museum shop is offering the chance for visitors to take something home: from small replicas of the terra cotta figures to Chinese souvenirs.

The exhibit remains in Washington, D.C. through the end of March 2010.