Travel & Tourism Courses

Posted by admin on Oct 12, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

The travel and tourism industry, one of the first industries that witnessed the immediate effects of the global recession last year, is finally reviving. Not only is the country back on the international traveller’s list of favourite holiday destinations, but inbound travel too has witnessed an upswing. Though the tourism department has tightened the visa norms in wake of the recent terrorist attacks in the country, inbound, outbound as well as corporate travel in the country has seen a positive uptrend recently. The global travel and tourism industry is one of the most sensitive industries to external issues ranging from economic downturns to natural disasters and terrorist attacks, it is also one of the most resilient industries. The long-term potential of the Indian travel and tourism industry remains strong, and the short-term outlook is positive.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), a global forum for business leaders in the travel and tourism industry, the industry employs approximately 220 million people and generates over 9.4% of world GDP. The contribution of this sector to the employment statistics in India is expected to rise from 49,086,000 jobs in 2010 to 58,141,000 jobs by 2020.

The industry proffers employment opportunities in the public as well as private sector. Aspirants keen on pursuing options in the public sector can look to work with various state tourism boards or the central tourism department at various levels. Karan Anand, head, relationships and supplier management, Cox and Kings India Ltd, elaborates, “In the public sector, aspirants can work as tourism officers, information assistants, tourist guides and ground staff.

The private sector, which continues to expand with the rising participation of foreign companies in the country, offers various employment options. Qualified professionals are engaged in travel agencies, travel companies/ tour operating companies, airlines, hotels and cargo companies.

Disney World Packages – 4 Tips for best Disney World Packages Deals

Posted by admin on Oct 12, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

There are many sites online that claim to offer great deals on Disney travel, but many of them are just rip-offs. As such, you need to do research to make sure you are getting a legitimate offer. For visitors planning to attend more than one Disney theme park and for those who will be staying for a few days, a Disney World vacation package may be the way to go. Look over the various passes and decide which one(s) will be the best for you. Do you want a seasonal pass? A single day pass? A hopping pass? Some tickets don’t even have expiration dates, so if you want to make more than one single trip, you should definitely check them out. So you are looking for Disney World packages? Stay tuned, follow the tips for finding Walt Disney World Travel Packages for cheap.

If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Some cheap Disney World vacation packages require you to attend a timeshare meeting. While you will indeed save a lot of money on this type of trip, much of your vacation will be spent in a timeshare meeting or on a tour! Visit sites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Kayak to see what kind of packages they are advertising. There is a search function in which you can put dates of travel and departure city.  The packages include airfare and various hotel rooms. Experiment with dates and compare quotes to find the right package. I am going to give you tips to help you save money and find the best Disney world vacation packages. These deals are not hard to find if you know where to look.

Tip # 1 – You will not believe what you can find on the web.  For the most part, you can really sang a good deal.  Be sure to do your research and compare.

Tip # 2. You will need to add the Disney Dining plan to your package. This will save you nearly half off all of the food you eat. You can also eat twice as much food for less. This is the only way to do this. You will be glad that you did.

Tip # 3 – There are many Disney World freebies at the park.  You can get free souvenirs, free snacks and drinks.  Be sure to ask your Disney representative about the freebies around the park.  They will make a list up for you.

Tip # 4. When you check into a Disney resort, ask for a free upgrade. Most of the time you can upgrade your room for free. It never hurts to ask. My rule of thumb is always ask. I also have a Disney Travel guide e-book that never leaves my side. It is my Disney bible.

The advent of the Internet has made it easier to find cheap Disney vacation packages and deals. A little planning can go a long way towards making your Disney trips enjoyable but light on the pocket.

Considering Travel? Do It For Free!

Posted by admin on Oct 12, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

I could begin this article by talking about my deprived childhood. Being one of seven children there was not much money left over each week for the niceties of life. That meant that I was always a little jealous of my friends who seemed to go on holidays every year. I so longed to be part of their planning and preparation. I was even more jealous when they returned from holidays full of talk about all they’d done. The reality though, is that my childhood was not a deprived one. It’s just how I felt at the time.

I don’t look back on this experience, or lack of experience, depending on how you look at it, as having been so bad. After all, a day or so after arriving home, the holiday talk with my peers always died down and life would go on as usual. The reality is that I have made up for that deprivation many times over since. I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout the world. Now that I reside permanently in Australia, I have ensured that I have experienced much that this beautiful country has to offer. All of it I have found exciting and stimulating.

Interestingly, my parents eventually travelled too. As soon as their children reached adulthood they were off on their travels.

But why is it that some of us feel the need to leave the comfort of home and seek travel experiences? Let’s face it. It’s usually hard work to plan and prepare for the adventure. There’s a certain anxiety that is part of the exercise. Frankly speaking, travel is very tiring. And, the reality is that, despite having had a wonderful holiday, almost everyone I know tends to have a love affair with their own beds (and pillows) on their return home. Most crave a home-cooked meal. For a time at least they wallow in the routine and mundanity of everyday life, and almost everyone looks forward to catching up with family and friends.

So what is it? What makes us thirst for new experiences? For some it may simply be to catch up with family members who have moved overseas for work. Fortunately due to the low cost of travel, the world has become a shrinking place, so why shouldn’t they? It’s attractive.

Then there are some people who believe that holidays are a way of relaxing, of letting go, of downing tools. Have I missed something? Most people I see on holidays seem to be forever doing things, seeing things, and having wonderful experiences. It’s been my belief that they all fall into bed at night utterly exhausted. Despite this, they get up early the next day, ready to do it all again.

The reality is that holidays are hard work. They are tiring. They cost money and they leave large dents in our bank accounts. But who would want to grow old a doddery not having seen the Ruins of Pompeii, St Peter’s Square, Buckingham Palace, The Eiffel Tower, or the Leaning Tower of Pizza, to name but a few?

You see travel expands our horizons. It is our passport to worthy conversation. It lets us see and make comparisons on, how other people live. Travel is seductive. As a window on the world, travel develops compassion and understanding in people. Also, when you have travelled, when you have experienced the many wonders of the world, you thirst for more.

The world is a shrinking place. Opportunity for travel has never been better. So if you would like to expand your horizons do so! Determine where you would like to go, prepare as best you can, presume nothing, but hope for experiences beyond belief.

Travel and Earn at the Same Time

Posted by admin on Oct 11, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

I could begin this article by talking about my deprived childhood. Being one of seven children there was not much money left over each week for the niceties of life. That meant that I was always a little jealous of my friends who seemed to go on holidays every year. I so longed to be part of their planning and preparation. I was even more jealous when they returned from holidays full of talk about all they’d done. The reality though, is that my childhood was not a deprived one. It’s just how I felt at the time.

I don’t look back on this experience, or lack of experience, depending on how you look at it, as having been so bad. After all, a day or so after arriving home, the holiday talk with my peers always died down and life would go on as usual. The reality is that I have made up for that deprivation many times over since. I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout the world. I now live in Australia and I have seen and experienced much of that. All of it I have found exciting and stimulating.

Interestingly, my parents eventually travelled too. As soon as their children reached adulthood they were off on their travels.

But why is it that some of us feel the need to leave the comfort of home and seek travel experiences? Let’s face it. It’s usually hard work to plan and prepare for the adventure. There’s a certain anxiety that is part of the exercise. Frankly speaking, travel is very tiring. And, the reality is that, despite having had a wonderful holiday, almost everyone I know tends to have a love affair with their own beds (and pillows) on their return home. Most crave a home-cooked meal. For a time at least they wallow in the routine and mundanity of everyday life, and almost everyone looks forward to catching up with family and friends.

So what is it? What makes us thirst for new experiences? For some it may simply be to catch up with family members who have moved overseas for work. Fortunately due to the low cost of travel, the world has become a shrinking place, so why shouldn’t they? It’s attractive.

Then there are some people who believe that holidays are a way of relaxing, of letting go, of downing tools. Have I missed something? Most people I see on holidays seem to be forever doing things, seeing things, and having wonderful experiences. It’s been my belief that they all fall into bed at night utterly exhausted. Despite this, they get up early the next day, ready to do it all again.

The reality is that holidays are hard work. They are tiring. They cost money and they leave large dents in our bank accounts. But who would want to grow old a doddery not having seen the Ruins of Pompeii, St Peter’s Square, Buckingham Palace, The Eiffel Tower, or the Leaning Tower of Pizza, to name but a few?

You see travel expands our horizons. It is our passport to worthy conversation. It lets us see and make comparisons on, how other people live. Travel is seductive. As a window on the world, travel develops compassion and understanding in people. Also, when you have travelled, when you have experienced the many wonders of the world, you thirst for more.

The world is a shrinking place. Opportunity for travel has never been better. So if you would like to expand your horizons do so! Determine where you would like to go, prepare as best you can, presume nothing, but hope for experiences beyond belief.

DW Insider – Walt Disney World Family Vacation Packages

Posted by admin on Oct 11, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

It is quite usual for American families to plan trips to Disney World. Going on a trip to this one of a kind theme park can truly be memorable but can also be quite challenging in terms of budget. If you want to take your family to a trip to this theme park but you do not want to blow your budget, you can look for Walt Disney World family vacation packages online and in many newspaper ads.

Click Here For DW Insider Instant Access Now!

A trip to Disney World can mean spending a lot of money but you do not really have to spend more than what you can afford. You can look for Walt Disney World family vacation packages so you can let your family have fun without you having to spend so much. There are Disney World travel packages that can allow you to go to three Disney World trips for the price of one.

You can start your hunt for a Disney World package on the internet or in the papers. Keep yourself from going with the first ad you say because there are lots of Disney World travel packages out there and they all offer different features and they come in different costs. There are some that will not only help you save money on traveling, they can also help you save money while you are there.

One of the things you should look out for is whether or not a travel package includes accommodation. It would also be to your advantage if a travel package is able to recommended places where you can shop for memorabilia, eat your meals, and which airlines you should get on so you can truly save money on this memorable trip.

It is about time you start thumbing through Walt Disney World Family Vacation packages so you can take your family to a memorable trip and make them experience magic this holiday season.

Click Here For DW Insider Instant Access Now!

Travel – Custom Guided Tours Of The Philippines

Posted by admin on Oct 11, 2010 in World Travel | Comments Off

Living abroad & Saving “Big” while doing what I want!

If this sounds good to you and you want to cut expenses to live better then read on.
My name is Al, I am American and I have been living on and off here in the Philippines for some thirty years. Actually I have lived in quite a number of countries, but as I am older now I have learned to appreciate the Philippines a lot more. Here I would like to share with you some of the Big Time advantages and smart choices there really are to living in and even retiring here in the Philippines.
Firstly, as the Housing Market-‘crash’ has effected a lot of us, in one way or another (I am a Contractor so I know this part too well!) And I know also many of us are still struggling with coming up with that Big monthly mortgage every month and despite the housing ‘Glut’, rentals as well are still very high! For myself being a Contractor my normal working season is, or should I say, used to be April – Nov. I then would travel abroad on an ‘extended –vacation’ following the sun and now here in the Philippines. I would like to point out as well, that I had lived and worked in and around Central America, Mexico & Belize so I am also familiar with what is available in those countries. I have found personally that each country has its advantages and disadvantages that anyone should take into consideration when visiting and especially when considering purchasing any property etc. Yet, what I have found to be most important for any long term stay anywhere is- How well do you like and get along with the local people of which you have to deal with everyday? Yes, it really is the local people which really make or break any vacation and especially if you intend to live abroad.
Today it no exaggeration to say that the world over is getting to be a rougher place than just thirty years ago! Yes, thirty years ago anyone could travel from India to Europe overland- no problems; the value of A Dollar was significant and most people that had guns were the Police- another words, today our Dollars have lost much of their buying power and whole continents are significantly more dangerous e.g. essentially most of Latin America.
Today I live here in the Philippines which can be, almost is a 52nd. or 53rd. ‘State’- for the local government was set-up by The American’s back in the 1940′s and although the American military bases are gone ‘The American Dream’ is still idolized. Here things are slow and away from the few major cities like Cebu City or the Capitol Manila it can even be like, say the 1960′s! (Which is more than OK with me at this stage in my life, because here there is time to relax, think and little “stress”!) But what makes the Philippines- this little oasis here in Asia so valuable is that this country shares essentially the same values as in the US- religion, politics and business. Also, for the most part Filipino’s are bi-lingual and half of the TV, radio and all of the business is reported in English. Personally my own ability to speak the local language of ‘Tagalog’ is almost nonexistent, but I do not have to, for so many locals want to speak English (Unlike in Latin America!) And as an American it never ceases to amaze me how open and friendly Filipino’s are still and the courtesy paid to ‘me’ (Hey, I am just a guy!) But, to Filipino’s a foreigner, is to be treated with extra respect and assistance (Neither of which I can remember in the US!)
Shopping over here in the Philippines is largely done in huge air conditioned Super malls. Compared to even US shopping malls, over here things are brought to a whole other level not only in size, and comfort, but the overall ambiance is ‘family oriented’ and not with wayward, aimless teenagers ‘hanging out’! And then there is the pricing- outside of the Brand Name items and electronics imported from the US, essentially everything else will be a bargain compared to the US and definitely much cheaper than Japan or Europe.
Over the last two decades the Philippines infrastructure, at least as far as in the private sector is concerned has started catering to their rising Middle Class’ by building large and modern suburban home developments and luxury condominiums. As a foreigner I cannot own land here in the Philippines, but I can purchase and own an apartment or condo. And it is here that anyone coming from any modern industrialized country will find great deals on housing- brand new 1-4 bed rm. apts. & condo’s with a mortgage between $150.00 – 300.00 A mo. and if your interested in just renting a comfortable house or apt. you can for about the same!
OK, so now you have your housing needs covered so what next- food. Depending upon what you eat and where you shop will probably be one of your greater expenses. As you can imagine, living here in the Philippines beef is an imported item, while fish is cheap and mango’s are more common than apples. For myself I personally don’t care much for white rice (The local staple) but Red rice grown in the mountains is another story, for it is much more ‘chewy’, tastes great and excellent for keeping anybody regular! Over here you will find in the big cities modern grocery stores that also carry an imported-section with many brand names from the US and Europe- milk, butter & beef
are imported from Australia.
Ex-patriots and an international taste of home is where you can always find a friend to relate to. Personally I have local and international connections from all around the world right here- those like myself who have discovered the savings, advantages and uniqueness of living here in the Philippines. Statistically the Americans are always the largest number of tourists to the Philippines, but I seem to find that most foreign business’ are owned by Western European guys that had married a local Filipina. Yes, once you do marry a local you immediately have access to many more privileges- permanent legal status and the right to own property etc. Visa’s here for long term veterans like myself are easily gotten and it’s just a question of how long you would like to stay- there is no maximum time limit!
OK- so now your settled in the Philippines so what is there to see and do?? In case you may not already know, the Philippines is an island system of 7,107 islands each having its own ambiance and specialty- eco tourism in the westernmost island of Palawan has become one of the premiere world destinations of small secluded islands, snorkeling and breathtaking beauty. The island of Busuanga is famous for scuba diving to sunken WW11 Japanese shipwrecks- and the Philippines even has their own Waikiki counterpart in the well known island of Boracay. Indeed, around all these islands you will find what the Philippines / PI is most noted for- Summer Time fun with down to earth to all the First class amenities. Yet you need to know this as well, “outside” of the large urban areas the Philippines is largely a Second World country. Now, here is where those of you who have not traveled to poorer countries may at first be a little startled, but as you get to what I call, ‘the state of appreciation’ you will see the actual advantages in a world like the Philippines. For because it is a second world country that means for the foreigner that labor is cheap and thereby so is most everything else- a comfortable Three star hotel for $22.00 or Five star for $85.00 & up (You can also spend a night on a Five star resort on its own private island for $300.00 A night should you like!)
This all means that you the foreigner can live, travel and do most everything for much Less! With my fiance’ and myself to maintain our own lifestyle renting a comfortable one or two bedroom condo with food, drinks and various beach activities for one month costs about $850.00 – $1,000.00 a month. This estimate depends largely on ones preferences where, what and how you wish to live. When you take into consideration the value you get for your money, in an English speaking country that is cheap on the wallet, qualitative in people, always summer time it all is a very good idea that is ‘do-able’!. And all of these will surely ease your economic worries and give you a stress-less lifestyle, almost like returning to the 1960′s before things became so complicated. In some ways, it is like becoming young again only now you have the wisdom to live your life better this time around.
Regarding travel to PI and halfway around the world. Hey, start getting with it and start thinking airlines like- Cathay Pacific or China Air as well as some of your own major airlines now have flights here for just a few hundred dollars more than the Caribbean. (In Low Season I fly here RT from NYC for $950.00 & its good for 6 months!) and once you get here everything is cheaper!
Becoming the world traveler is now getting easier from the Philippines- Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore are only two hrs away; Japan about five hrs; Australia about seven and Hawaii about ten hrs. Thereby the Expats here come and go back to the US and Europe on regular basis. When renting as I do it is easy to simply let my apt. go and when I return I can just as easily find another for finances are not a worry, which then frees me to do more of what I want to- island hoping and discovery, meeting up with friends and spending qualitative time with my fiancé and quiet time reading.
Lastly, I would like to ad this bit on what I call- A search for Significance. Consider this, as even an average guy or gal coming from any Westernized country to the Philippines you already are well equipped to do a lot here in helping out those less fortunate then yourself. For, although the average Filipino wears a smile and is always ready for a laugh- they are poor and uneducated. Here in Manila the public schools are so neglected that the poorer children only can attend on half-day ‘shifts’ and many just don’t go at all. Obviously this has major ramifications when they get older and on their children. Thereby, the opportunities to help out either publicly, e.g. working with school kids, or individually helping out in an orphanage or a one on one basis is endless etc. Here one person can make a difference and you control what goes on, for there is no big anonymous organization that wastes your money! Truly, spending even part of your time sharing and helping out local Filipino’s – kids or adults is time very wisely spent.

Al Klimek works for A&M Custom Guided Tours of The Philippines Icrusiebyak@yahoo.com

http://www.paradiseguidedtours.ph/