In its 34th session, where it named new locations to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, the World Heritage Committee has removed the Galapagos Islands from its list of endangered sites, following Brazil‘s request for the committee’s appraisal. Inscribed in 2007 for the threats to the archipelago’s eco-system, the committee recognized Ecuador‘s efforts to [...]

 The Obama administration is considering easing travel restrictions to Cuba, U.S. and congressional officials said Tuesday, The move would leave intact the nearly 50-year-old embargo against the communist regime but would expand opportunities for American students, educators and researchers to visit Cuba. The discussions to ease restrictions follow the release in July of the first [...]

Orient-Express‘ British Pullman and Northern Belle trains will travel across the UK throughout the end of November and December, with holiday lunches, dinners and day trips to festive markets, cities and carol concerts. Each excursion on these iconic trains includes a brunch (served with a Bellini!) on the outward journey. A four-course meal (complete with [...]

Hawaii could be back to 7 million visitors by the end of next year, and the next few months aren’t looking too bad, either. Carl Bonham, director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, said “We’re beyond where anybody expected us to be at this time, and there is still reason for optimism going [...]

Preliminary results show that New York received approximately 23.5 million visitors in the first half of 2010, an increase of 8.8% over the same period in 2009, according to NYC & Company, the city’s tourism marketing arm. According to the city, New York is on track to welcome some 47.5 million visitors in 2010, which [...]

Gov. Chris Christie said in one of the great understatements of his short tenure as governor. Gaming revenues fell to $3.9 billion in 2009, the lowest levels since 1997. Atlantic City has lost 12,000 jobs. The Republican called current and past Atlantic City elected leaders “corrupt and ineffective.” Christie believes the state can shore up [...]

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and PH Towers Westgate have joined other Harrah’s Entertainment hotels in Las Vegas in banning resort fees. The resorts join Caesars Palace, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s Las Vegas and other Harrah’s hotels as official “no resort fee zones.” Harrah’s Entertainment is the first major casino operator on [...]

Mexicans and their American neighbors are being bombarded by news of shootouts, bombings, kidnappings and executions as drug smugglers battle each other and the government for control of the narcotics trade. But a closer look at the latest official statistics indicates that much of Mexico has modest murder rates. The horrific violence that is jacking [...]

Walt Disney World is raising ticket prices once again, despite a still-weak economy that has the resort continuing to use discounts to lure travelers. Disney announced Tuesday that it will raise the price of a one-day, one-park adult ticket to $82-the first time any of Orlando’s theme- park resorts has charged more than $80 for [...]

Good news from Hawaii: During the first half of 2010, the state’s tourism economy has shown positive growth in total visitor arrivals and spending, with an overall increase in arrivals for the seventh consecutive month and visitor expenditures up 7.8 percent over last year.   “Our focused efforts to increase travel demand to Hawaii in [...]