Are Jamaican Vacations Risky?

Jamaica is again in the top of news with negative publicity: there are heavy fights between police and the gang members who belong to the criminal organization of Christopher Coke, nicknamed &quo;Dudus", considered one of the leaders of drug traffic to USA. The problems began after the Jamaican govern decided to extradite Coke on the request of New York Attorney General - there started serious confrontations in the capital city of Kingston and its surroundings, ended in almost 50 dead persons! However, the situation was so serious that the Prime Minister of the country, Mr. Bruce Golding, was constrained to declare state of emergency on May 23^rd!

Of course, such news affected very serious tourist industry, one of the most important in Jamaica. This Caribbean island belongs to the most popular travel destinations in the region and therefore is visited yearly by more than 2 million foreign holiday makers, mostly coming from Canada and USA, the money collected in this way representing a serious part of the country's incomes (roughly 10 percent of the gross domestic product and 50 percent of the foreign exchange earnings). With hundreds of hotel room cancellations (touristic visits dropped already 2% in May!), accommodation estates' owners and managers became aware of the fact that Jamaican vacations aren't anymore attractive on the North American travel scene because people consider too risky visiting this state. As result, all governmental factor and especially the "Hotel and Tourism Association of Jamaica" started an international campaign to improve Jamaica's image abroad.

First at all, everybody is pointing out the fact that all clashes took place only in Kingston's area, the popular vacation resorts in the northern side of the island (like Ocho Rios, Negril or Montego Bay) being not affected in any way, as declared the spokeswoman of Sandals Resorts (one of the luxury tourist operators on the island, having in Jamaica not less as seven properties), Rachel McLarty. On the other hand, all hotels strengthened the security into an effort to convince holiday makers who spend already vacations in Jamaica that there is no imminent danger and they are protected whatever is going to happen. Finally, Mr. Wayne Cummings, the President of Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) started a strong coverage to change the negative trend present in news at Jamaica's address. He ceased any advertising on the international marketplace and started working with travel agencies connected to Jamaican tourist industry by providing accurate information on the local situation. In this way, he hopes that speculations are going to be restricted and people from abroad will understand that situation in Jamaica isn't dramatic and spending holidays in all popular tourist resorts - Port Antonio, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril - is safe and rewarding as always.

Phuket - Capital of Thai Tourist Industry

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, being located in the southern part of the country, in the Andaman Sea. This Thai travel destination is also one of the most popular vacation resorts in Southeast Asia and as result there have been developed plenty of resort complexes, hotels, residential areas, shopping malls, restaurants, as well as numerous sport and entertainment facilities. Thailand has a warm tropical climate and therefore isn't surprising at all that water sports can be practiced successful almost year-round, one of the favorite activities being sailing.

Recently took place in Hong Kong a very important ceremony for the sailing industry - the "2010 Asia Boating Awards", an event which has already a six-year history. Amongst the most notable wins can be mentioned Phuket, which won one of the most desired prizes - "Asian Maritime Capital of the Year"! A such distinction confirms again the high quality of sailing facilities and exclusive character of nautical clubs located on the island.

Along with water sports, Phuket is very popular on the travel scene as a leading destination for weddings! Since several years, Thailand is one of the preferred countries in Southeast Asia for people who want to get married abroad. Of course, a tropical jewel as island of Phuket attracts many of bridal couples and as result there has been developed a whole wedding industry including professional planners, luxury accommodation in 5* hotels, party cruises on high class yachts, restaurants with stylish cuisine, international artists and many others.

Because of the numerous points of interest, Phuket can be considered as the true capital of Thai tourist industry! Regardless of the motives that bring tourists in this part of Thailand, there are plenty of attractions and things to do. First at all, in the region are several awesome beaches like Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Beach and others. The sandy stretches are sites where most holiday makers come to relax, but also to practice aquatic sports like sailing, swimming, diving, snorkeling and windsurfing. Though nautical sports aren't all exciting activities available! There are numerous tennis and golf courses (one of the most popular being "The Blue Canyon"), spa centers, shopping areas, trendy bars and restaurants with fine cuisine! With so many things to fill up the holiday days, isn't surprising at all that in the peak season most hotels in Phuket have no free rooms!

Thailand was recently the scene of terrific confrontations between the actual regime of the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and its opponents which culminated with street fights and burning barricades in the central area of Bangkok, the capital city. Because of this fact, most tourist canceled their reservations and the country's tourist industry was in serious decline, many hotels in Bangkok being literally closed! However, now everything came back to normality and spending holidays in Thailand is safe again. Because of the negative news about the Thai Kingdom, people aren't sure whether is a good idea visiting this country right now. To fight again this suspicions and point out a great opportunity, hotel resorts in Phuket and other top vacation spots diminished significantly the room rates and therefore nowadays vacation packages to Thailand are extremely attractive!

Holidays in Thailand Attractive Again!

A few days ago the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced at TV that the order in the capital city of Bangkok and all provinces of Thailand has been restored. Many people know about the turbulence in this Southeast Asian country that lasted roughly two months and culminated with a week of confrontation between regime's forces and protesting people and almost degenerated in civil war! Impressive images with burning barricades erected in the central part of Bangkok have been watched around the planet every evening in the news and some people thought that the Thai government will be forced to resign. In this circumstances, all hotels in Bangkok settled in the "hot" area were closed and no foreign tourist opened anymore its doors!

However, in present the mass transportation services are fully functional, as well as full banking services, while trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) takes place normally. Accommodation estates located around the Ratchaprasong intersection, Pratunam, Siam Square and Saladaeng intersection (the sites of the most harsh confrontations) reopened one by one and in the airplanes landing on the two airports of the capital city (which remained yet operational during the bloody events), Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi, are again tourists interested in visiting the top landmarks and vacation resorts of the "Land Of Smiles"! It seems that holidays in Thailand are attractive again!

Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Southeast Asia, the main holiday resorts like Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya and Hua Hin welcoming yearly millions of travelers. The Thai Kingdom is a very attractive travel destination both to people who want to relax on awesome beaches and take tours to interesting landmarks and points of interest like Buddhist temples, old palaces, floating markets, mountain villages, national parks and many others. Because of the fact that Thailand suffered recently very serious negative advertising, hotels in the entire country decreased the room rates and as result even luxury vacation packages are available at very convenient prices. The rainy season begins only in July, so people thinking on holidays in Asia are advised to take advantage on the very affordable rates and visit Bangkok or other vacation spots in Thailand right now!

Greek Summer Holidays

News about the very serious financial difficulties of Greece gone already round the planet and therefore most people know about strikes and demonstrations in this country and its two largest cities, Athens and Thessaloniki. Because of this events, many people who planned holidays in Greece and booked accommodation are alarmed and don't know if going there is still a good idea. To cool down all spirits, the Greek National Tourism Organization took official position and started a worldwide campaign to improve Greece's image abroad. The president of this organization, Mr. Nicolas Kanellopoulos, declared: "Greece is a destination where comfort, style and culture meet to provide an unforgettable vacation experience. The Greek tourism sector is investing in modernization of key facilities and historic attractions. We could not be more enthusiastic to welcome our new guests for the 2010 season!"

The efforts of Mr.Kanellopoulos aren't singular. All hotel and vacation rental properties assure the guests who still to come in Greece that their holidays gonna be quite, relaxing and certainly unforgettable in any part of the country, both on mainland and the Greek islands spread over a large part of Mediterranean Sea. Also, to draw even more people, the room rates gone down with 10-15% in all tourist resorts and as result now foreign tourists have a plus reason to holiday on heavenly looking islands like Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, Samos, Kos, Naxos, Paros, Ios or Chios.

Greece is visited every summer by a few million of holiday makers and therefore isn't surprising at all that tourist industry is considered strategic by the Greek govern, but also by the simple citizens (for example the air traffic controllers haven't participated recently to a national strike to not disturb tourists who coming already in large number in the country after mid-May). Everyone knows that the money spent by vacationers is vital for the country's economy, so they unified the efforts to convince people that holidays in Greece are wonderful and the moments spent on the awesome beaches turn always in unique life experiences!

Montana Glacier National Park 100 Years

Recently, on Monday 17^th May 2010, have been celebrated 100 years since the Glacier National Park in Montana was established. Many people know about it, have seen awesome pictures with its sights and many tourists have also visited smaller or larger parts of the beautiful mountains which make up this wonder of nature. In fact, the park is visited yearly by 2 millions of holiday makers, being in this way the 11^th most visited of all 58 national parks in USA! The festive moment brought in attention a serious problem that confronts its future. Because of the global warming, many of the glaciers are gone are there remained only 25, located mostly in hard accessible areas and therefore being visited by few tourists.

Even if today not many people have chance to observe the glaciers, in the park are plenty of things to see and do! First at all, there are spectacular landscapes with towering mountains, snow-caped peaks, alpine lakes, green meadows and thick forests. The nature lovers have countless of opportunities to see emblematic wild species such as grizzly bears, wolves, lynx, wolverines, mountain lions and bighorn sheep, while the passionate angler feel like in paradise due to the impressive captures of fish, particularly trout. Due to the many rivers, lakes and streams, as well due to the various fish species, fishing in Montana is a very rewarding activity, being one of the reasons why many people coming back yearly to this state.

The more warm climate which is expected in the next decade puts in danger not just the glaciers, that probably will disappear totally in a few years, but also the habitats of all animal and plant species living in the area. Many of them gonna try to adapt to the higher temperatures or move to other altitudes, yet the ecosystem specialists are skeptical about their chances to succeed and think that probably there will be dramatic changes!

Along with the warming issue, in the park is present a another problem. The Going-to-the-Sun Road (a spectacular itinerary crossing the mountains from east to west) has to be repaired urgent and this costs $200 million dollars, an amount which isn't yet assured. Even if the road is opened only in summer and early fall, it generates each day $1 million dollars to the local economy, so it is an important factor for people who working in the park (roughly 4,000). Actually, the tourist industry connected to the Glacier National Park produces $1 billion annually and therefore the decline of the number of holiday makers buying vacation packages to Montana will have a huge negative impact over the entire state!