Tui Travel, the largest tour operator in Europe, has announced that renewed interest in the travel market has forced them to schedule more holidays for the summer, with the resulting financial windfall hopefully signaling an end to the economic crisis which has plagued operators for the past year and a half.
Established in 2007 by the collaboration of British group First Choice and TUI AG’s, Tui Travel claimed that the first improvements for months in operating profit/ loss figures should have the industry eagerly watching the next few months. The biggest growth region geographically was Scandinavia, where summer bookings have risen [...]

A total of nine transport representatives have written a joint letter to Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso demanding that transport policy be afforded a higher priority as befitting the important role the sector plays in the development of the European Union.
The letter was co-written by representatives from European road, rail, inland waterway, maritime and air sectors and called for a more comprehensive and stronger commitment from the Commission to transport policy.
The letter claimed that the transport sector is a vital cog in the economic, social, and environmental and employment mechanics that are intrinsic to the EU, with a cohesive and [...]

Thomas Cook, the second largest tour operator in Europe behind TUI travel, has announced its pre-tax profits for the year ending September at £308.2 million.
The group claims to have handled the effects of the recession and the global threat of swine flu comfortably, with both summer and winter bookings forecasts looking positive. The group said that medium haul destinations such as Egypt and Turkey contributed strongly to the better than expected profit results.
While the pre-tax profit fell slightly from last year at 0.4% the figure was still ahead of the predicted 3% fall by market analysts. Total revenues rose by [...]

One of Britain’s favourite sons, James Hoseason OBE has passed away at the age of 82.
Recognised by the travel industry as a true pioneer, he assumed control of Hoseasons Holidays back in 1950 and transformed the business until his retirement in 1999, leaving behind one of the UK’s leading travel companies and a fond legacy.
Widely recognised as a visionary, his leadership inspired Hoseasons to attempt many innovations which at the time were unheard of including such notables as computerised reservations, direct phone reservations and the requests for ‘dial-a-brochure’.
Hoseasons became famous for its iconic television advertisements for self-catering British holidays.
As a [...]

British holidaymakers, keen to avoid airline costs and rising fuel prices over the summer, saw rail operator Eurostar experience and unexpected surge in business.
Officials from the Channel Tunnel train organisation further increased passenger traffic with significantly discounted last minute offers, the most notable of which was the £59 return deal.
These factors combined to result in an 8% increase in journeys to the continent over recent months, despite the weakened pound making European vacations slightly more expensive
The company also revealed that between July and September this year Eurostar experienced an 11% growth in outbound travel, outweighing inbound passenger traffic which still [...]

The Cardiff Smart Bike Scheme will be launched today as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s scheme to limit car use in the capital.
The Smart Bike was first launched in Rennes in 1998 and has grown to become something of an icon in Paris. Several other European countries have adopted the scheme including Norway, Spain, Italy and Sweden and the system has been operating in Britain under the management of OYBike which has docking stations in Reading, Cambridge, Farnborough and London.
The Cardiff City Council has launched the bicycle rental system as part of its Sustainable Travel City project which has [...]

Michael Palin, globetrotting comedian and high-profile documentary maker, has spoken out against the BBC’s rebuke of his travel show New Europe. Palin has told of being let down and angry after his latest television adventure was censured by the BBC trust.
The controversy arose from a viewer complaint following the shows first episode of New Europe last year, Palin’s seventh travel show for the BBC. In the series Palin travelled parts of Eastern Europe in a bid to discover how countries had been affected since the disbanding of the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia
It is understood that a serial complainer had [...]

There is no denying that ours is an increasingly technological age, and the new generation of all-in-one Smartphone’s are a godsend to the high-tech traveller.
Unfortunately, for most of us the technical know-how is too difficult while those in the know often find it too slow. However, with the right handset, understanding and browser software today’s traveller can perform all manner of tasks to make life easier, without having to find a PC or carry a laptop.
So which browsers are best for you? A new study by PC Mag reveals their best picks;
The Blackberry is popular with businesses and can run [...]

In an effort to combat the economic downturn, an Australian resort is planning a naked, month-long “anything goes” party.
Without irony, Tony Fox, owner of White Cockatoo Resort in Queensland told newspapers: “Tough economic times call for stiff measures”, going on to add “It will be a hedonism resort, where anything goes for a month. It doesn’t take rocket science to work out what it means”. March 2010 would be ‘risqué’ month.
Controversy first made headlines for the resort three years ago when police were called in to put an end to the ‘clothes optional’ resorts partner-swapping parties, following a long list [...]

Seagulls - one sure sign that you have reached the coast and confirmation of your seaside holiday. However, visitors to Aldeburgh in Suffolk face penalties for showing affection to these local seabirds, with fines of up to £2,500 for sharing your fish & chips.
While some may consider the move to be extreme, the District and Town councils claim the area is ‘under siege’ from the peckish birds. Residents and visitors alike are being asked not to feed the birds, whilst street signs around the town warn of the massive fines for those who do.
The reasoning behind the move is that [...]