Uganda tour rerouted following kidnapping, ensuing traveler safety concerns

After the rescue of American Kimberly Sue Endicott and her tour guide, who were ambushed and kidnapped Tuesday in Uganda, tourists may be asking themselves: Is it safe to travel there?

For at least one travel agency, they're not willing to take the risk where the kidnapping took place.

"Following the abduction and rescue of an American tourist and local guide in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park on April 2, G Adventures has proactively taken the precaution of rerouting a scheduled tour in April to avoid the area," according to adventure travel company G Adventures. "Instead of exploring the park, guests will enjoy a guided lake cruise and safari drive in the Lake Mburo region, followed by a visit to the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Lake Victoria."

The U.S. Department of State has Uganda at a level 2 travel advisory − last updated Dec. 17, 2018 − meaning travelers should "exercise increased caution."

"To give perspective to this rating, most European countries are only a level 2 as well," explained Kim Steiger, a certified travel specialist with Travel Leaders.  

The Department of State's highest travel warning is a level 4, or "do not travel."

The advisory for Uganda cautions travelers: "Violent crime, such as armed robbery, home invasion and sexual assault, is common, especially in larger cities including Kampala and Entebbe. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious crime."

Rescue or ransom? American kidnapped in Uganda will meet U.S. ambassador Monday

The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife & Antiquities Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu told USA TODAY: "This incident, regrettable as it is, is an isolated incident. The country has been secure for the last three decades. An incident of this kind, we have not experienced in recent times."

The U.S. government offers several tips for safe travel in Uganda.

• Keep your group of friends close in public
• Have a copy of your passport and visa on hand
• Don't leave food and drinks unattended (in particular at local clubs)

"I have clients that have, and continue to travel, to this part of the world without incident. It is important to always stay alert to your surroundings and to use reputable providers within the country," Steiger told USA TODAY.

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Tourism entrepreneurs to pitch ideas at Governor’s Conference on Tourism

Tourism partners from across the state will be in Hot Springs Feb. 24-26 for the 45th Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The annual gathering of Arkansas’ tourism industry offers sessions on topics such as Google’s latest trends, marketing to a diverse audience and 21st century visitor engagement.

New to the conference this year is the inaugural ArkTank startup pitch competition. The winner will walk away with a cash prize of $5,000 and guaranteed mentorship from Arkansas Tourism and Innovate Arkansas, which helps technology entrepreneurs turn startup companies into viable commercial enterprises.

Arkansas Tourism partnered with Innovate Arkansas for the startup competition that asked entrepreneurs to pitch ideas of viable business endeavors that relate to tourism. There were 21 entries in the competition, said Joy Barlogie, tourism development manager for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

“We are looking for the ideas and energy that entrepreneurs bring to everything they do. To apply those ideas for continued tourism business growth in our state is a great opportunity,” Arkansas Tourism Director Jim Dailey said when the contest was announced. “Ark Tank will be an exciting addition to our annual conference, and we can’t wait to see the ideas that will be presented.”

Contest committee members called each of the 21 applicants to discuss their ideas and determine if they would be fiscally viable, Barlogie said. Those applicants were narrowed to a list of nine. Those nine were then interviewed through video calls so committee members could see if the applicants would be able to sell their products, she said.

The list was eventually narrowed to four, who will pitch their ideas in a 12-minute presentation Tuesday (Feb. 26) at the Governor’s Conference. Those pitches will include a seven minute presentation and five minutes for questions and answers.

“We had some really great candidates. It was really hard to narrow it to four,” Barlogie said. “We had everything from fishing pole holders for the garage to promote fishing throughout Arkansas to a concierge service for things to do, hotels and attractions throughout the state.”

The competition is expected to become an annual event, Barlogie said.

“We had a great response. We definitely expect to do it again next year,” she said. “The 2020 conference will be in Fort Smith and the 2021 in Fayetteville. Both of these are areas attracting lots of entrepreneurs. We don’t see why the Governor’s Conference can’t be in on that as well.”

Also new at this year’s conference is a unique collaborative networking space called “Share Space,” located in Room 206 of the convention center. Attendees have the opportunity for one-on-one conversations with conference speakers and other industry professionals to collaborate, brainstorm and learn.

The conference will culminate with the presentation of the 2019 Henry Awards and an address by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism was first held in 1975 at Dogpatch, U.S.A.

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Financial questions hound two of Formula One's three races in North America

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Two of Formula One's three races in North America are facing financial issues that are raising concern about their future.

Organizers of the U.S. Grand Prix won't be reimbursed at least $20 million from the state of Texas for the 2018 race after missing a paperwork deadline set by law. And new questions lurk about the future of the Mexican Grand Prix after the country's new president suggested the government may not spend on the race like it has the last four years.

Both races have been popular with drivers and fans, and enjoy key dates on the F1 calendar. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton clinched season championships in Texas in 2015 and in Mexico City in 2017 and 2018.

Officials in Formula One and at the Circuit of the Americas, host of the U.S. Grand Prix, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Both races get huge government financial support.

The U.S. Grand Prix has reaped about $150 million since 2012 from Texas' Major Events Reimbursement Program, which is controlled by Gov. Greg Abbott's office. That money has been considered critical to paying F1's annual rights fee to host the race. In 2015, track President Bobby Epstein said a $5 million reduction that year could have jeopardized the future of the race, but it has survived.

Officials at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin have known for months the 2018 money wasn't coming. Track officials were informed in an Oct. 8 letter — 11 days before the U.S. Grand Prix — that race organizers would not get money from the fund because they had missed a state-mandated deadline to submit an anti-human trafficking plan 30 days before the event. That plan wasn't submitted until Oct. 3 and a previous letter of temporary approval was rescinded.

Two months later, track President Bobby Epstein contributed $50,000 to Gov. Greg Abbott, who had just won re-election.

The state requires major events that apply to the fund to have anti-human trafficking plans in part to help combat spikes in prostitution. The missed deadline and lost money were first reported Wednesday by the Austin American-Statesman . Abbott's office provided a copy of the letter to the AP.

Epstein didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Abbott spokesman John Wittman said the state had no choice but to withhold the money.

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The Trump Slump Hits U.S. Tourism

Summertime, but where are the foreign tourists?

Ever since our forty-fifth president was elected, tourism to the United States from foreign countries has steadily dropped—in the face of a world-wide boom in travel—and the authoritative U.S. Travel Association has just provided me with figures projecting a further drop in 2018, from a share of worldwide tourism of 12.0 percent in 2017 to 11.7 percent this year. And this is after a drop in Trump’s first year in office from 12.9 percent. Though the numbers and differentials look small in percentages, they are large in terms of dollars not spent here by foreign tourists and they have serious negative implications for jobs not created.

What has caused this series of drops in foreign tourism since Donald Trump was sworn in as president? Trump’s rhetoric and new policies and rules and regulations regarding travel have combined to blot America’s long-standing image as a welcoming nation.

And of course his travel ban, a barely disguised version of the total ban on Muslims being allowed into this country he announced during his presidential campaign, inflamed worldwide opinion and in practical terms it barred visits by citizens of seven entire countries in the name of preventing terrorist attacks (though none have come from the countries the ban singled out).

The administration’s treatment of people attempting to flee here from violence-wracked Central American countries and Trump’s rhetoric about Mexico from the moment he entered the presidential race hasn’t encouraged Hispanics to come see our wondrous sights and enjoy our beautiful beaches. Trump’s withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord hasn’t helped, nor have his rows with the leaders of friendly nations, which began almost from when he took office. Neither has Trump’s launching of a trade war. New visa-vetting policies have also caused delays and denials that didn’t used to occur. The invasive new tightening of airport security has put off numerous travelers to this country.

Maybe all these changes have prevented would-be terrorists from entering the U.S., but they for sure have also discouraged or denied many visitors with benign intentions.

The drop in tourism in 2017 was precipitous, and its velocity can be mainly attributed to one factor, what’s come to be called in the tourism industry the Trump slump. Earlier this year, Reuters quoted the head of a German company that specializes in trips to the United States as saying, “Politics is not helping us.” He added that since the price of the dollar was falling at that time, “we should have seen a much bigger increase in demand.” The Pew Research Center Reserve found earlier this year that a survey of ten nations showed that a favorable opinion of the US occurred in only one country: Russia. The inescapable fact is that Trump’s presidency has coincided with an unprecedented drop in travel to the United States. The US’s share in worldwide travel increased steadily until 2015. While some attribute the recent drop in tourism to the U.S. to a strong dollar, in fact, the dollar was strong in 2015, when our tourism growth was at its apex, and it was strong in 2016. Yet when it declined in 2017, which should have helped tourism, foreign tourism to the U.S. dropped steeply that year. (After starting off weak earlier this year, the dollar’s been gaining in strength robustly, and the recent tightening of credit by the Federal Reserve will likely send the dollar even higher—which isn’t good for U.S. exports, which includes tourism.)

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Vietnamese airlines granted access to U.S. market for first time

WASHINGTON/HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnamese airlines will be able to fly to the United States and codeshare with American carriers after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration declared the Southeast Asian country complies with international safety standards.

The U.S. aviation safety agency said in a statement late on Thursday that it was awarding Vietnam a “Category 1” rating, two weeks after Reuters reported the decision was expected.

“It’s recognition by a very developed aviation authority which requires a very high standard of safety and security,” Vietnamese Deputy Transportation Minister Nguyen Ngoc Dong told Reuters on Friday.

There are currently no non-stop flights between Vietnam and the United States, despite a large market catering to tourism and visits by friends and relatives. Vietnam Airlines JSC and Bamboo Airways have both expressed the desire to fly to the United States.

Bamboo Airways Chairman Trinh Van Quyet said Bamboo was considering destinations such as Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with the first route to open in late 2020 or early 2021. His airline has ordered 20 Boeing Co 787s for long-haul flights.

CAPA Centre for Aviation Chief Analyst Brendan Sobie said the FAA rating was important for Vietnam symbolically and politically.

But he said Vietnamese airlines could struggle to make U.S. flights profitable because of the lack of demand from high-paying business travelers.

Vietnam Airlines CEO Duong Tri Thanh told Reuters last year that airline could open routes to the United States despite such commercial limitations, due to a government mandate to help grow the economy.

The airline did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Friday.

The FAA last year sent a team to Vietnam to conduct a safety assessment.

Vietnam’s rapidly growing aviation market saw traffic increase 16 percent on average each year from 2010 to 2017, government data shows.

Its airlines, which also include budget carriers VietJet Aviation JSC and Jetstar Pacific, are major customers of Boeing and Airbus SE.

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NEWS IATA calls for cooperation in the USA for the sake of aviation

In his speech at the International Aviation Club in Washington, D.C., Alexandre de Juniac, highlighted the importance of both Government and Industry working together to reap the continued benefits of aviation.

IATA has urged the United States government and industry to work together to ensure that aviation is able to accommodate an expected 62 per cent rise in demand for air travel to, from and within the country over the next 20 years. 

Speaking at the International Aviation Club in Washington, D.C., Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, noted that aviation already supports 6.5 million jobs in the United States and contributes over $778 billion to GDP, including aviation-supported tourism. The social and economic benefits enabled by aviation will increase as the number of passenger journeys rises to 1.26 billion by 2037, from 780 million in 2017.

De Juniac highlighted key factors necessary to ensure aviation is able to meet this increase and grow aviation’s benefits. These include maintaining a competitive environment that stimulates innovation, and adequate infrastructure to cope with new demand. 

Speaking of competition he said: “Delivering aviation’s economic and social benefits requires a policy framework that supports competitiveness. Competition unleashes innovation and helps drive prices down. In 1978, the U.S. government recognised this fact and deregulated the airline industry, leading to lower fares and greater access to air travel.”

“Yet some in Congress are trying to turn back the clock on deregulation’s successful legacy. For example, a measure introduced in last year’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorisation bill would have required the U.S. Department of Transportation to regulate airline ancillary fees. Clearly the intent was to eliminate the unbundling model that has allowed airlines to keep fares low by asking consumers only to pay for those things they value.

“While the measure was not in the final bill, it should never have been introduced in the first place. On principle, it is outrageous that airlines were singled out in this manner,“ said de Juniac.

He also urged the U.S. to ratify the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14) to address loopholes in international agreements that make it difficult to bring the law to bear against unruly passengers. “No passenger or crew member should have to put up with verbal or physical threats, harassment, violence or assault. MP14 will close jurisdictional loopholes in the existing international treaty governing offenses on-board aircraft, ensuring that perpetrators will face justice regardless of where they are flying.” Sixteen countries have ratified MP14 of the 22 needed for it to come into force.

Speaking of infrastructure De Juniac highlighted the need for additional airport infrastructure to accommodate growth. “While the U.S. is in a better position than most markets, no major new airport has opened here in almost 25 years. With the U.S. market expected to add close to 500 million passengers by 2037, that just won’t do.”

De Juniac said that airlines require:

Sufficient infrastructure capacity

Alignment with airline technical and service level needs, and

Affordability

In the absence of adequate infrastructure, de Juniac stressed the importance of the Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG) in managing scarce resources around the world. Today the WSG is being used at about 200 airports—including at New York JFK—accounting for 43 per cent of global traffic.

de Juniac said: “While there may be local variation in how slots are managed, the system will only work if the parties at both ends of a route are using the same rules. Tinkering by any participant messes it up for everybody. Therefore, we cannot turn a blind eye to one country or one airline over another.” 

Partial Government Shutdown

De Juniac also called on leaders in Congress and the Administration to work together to ensure that aviation connectivity is not endangered in the event of another government shutdown. He thanked the thousands of dedicated government employees who kept the aviation system functioning without pay during the recent five-week partial shutdown.

“While aviation was fortunate to escape long-lasting economic damage during the shutdown, there were some serious impacts and airlines took a hit in terms of tickets not sold and trips not made. The shutdown also underscored the urgent need to remove the US air traffic control system from the federal budget process and place it in a nonprofit structure that would be immune to these kinds of situations.”

Business of Freedom

De Juniac emphasised aviation’s transcendent role as the Business of Freedom. He commented: “Aviation liberates us from the constraints of geography and distance. It empowers us to lead better lives and makes the world a better place. Aviation enables globalisation, which has been shown to be the most successful way to lift people from poverty. To be sure, we must aim for a more inclusive model. But that will not be achieved with protectionist policies or trade wars. Prosperity will come with borders that are open to the movement of people and to trade. We need to state this loudly and frequently.”

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There's 'no place on the planet' – not even Hawaii – to escape climate change, experts say

When it gets cold every winter, Hawaii becomes an increasingly popular retreat.

But climate experts in the Aloha State told USA TODAY on Monday that tourists cannot escape climate change – not even on the islands, where 60-foot waves and wind gusts up to 191 mph were part of a fierce weekend storm that downed power lines and felled trees.

"There's no place on the planet where (people) can expect to see conditions as they have been in the past," said Chip Fletcher, an earth sciences professor at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and vice chair of the Honolulu Climate Change Commission. 

From travelers to hotel businesses, Fletcher said everyone should factor climate change into their planning because extreme weather events will increase everywhere. On Sunday, for example, the Hawaii Tourism Authority advised visitors not to go hiking, swimming, snorkeling and surfing because of dangerous conditions.

This weekend's damaging storm, Fletcher said, is a good example of an extreme weather event that is more likely to occur in a warmer world. Climate change set up the conditions for the extreme waves, as well as what officials said could be the lowest-elevation snowfall ever recorded in the state. 

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Trending: Eco-tourism and Liveaboard diving tours

NEW YORK — The 2019 New York Times Travel Show showcased new travel trends, eco-tourism and exotic destinations from all over the world. In focus this year are Hungary, India and South Africa. Thrill seekers are in the hunt for new places to explore. A date in Budapest can easily make its way to Bucharest, for the legendary Bran Castle outside Romania.

Bucket list travelers set their goals each year. A growing trend is for solo travel, which may be attributed to a rise of adventure-seeking singles unwilling to compromise their plans. Millennials find greater sense of independence while traveling solo. The trend continues to grow even for baby-boomer singles and women travelers in their quest to explore off the beaten paths.

Exploration of the world under the sea presents an astounding alternative to usual Asian cities or European tourist capital. Scuba diving offers extraordinary opportunity to know more about the planet, and experience a close encounter with one of its gigantic creatures, coexist with the tiniest beings, spend time to be alone with nature, while gliding along vibrantly colored reefs like the school of fishes passing by.

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) announced, “Destinations like Australia and the Philippines are well positioned to attract the growing population of solo travelers.” PADI Travel website provides expert resources for those wanting to explore uncharted waters, and remote islands where there are no resorts, with options for those wanting to stay in resorts, for both divers and snorkelers.

Liveaboard is a diving tour that accommodates 16-24 passengers living on board the vessel, with a crew of 10 people serving buffet, cleaning cabins and providing expert guide to divers, complete with computer and image editing equipment. It is a mini version of river cruises providing land excursions to see additional wonders, such as the world’s smallest primates, the tarsiers at Bohol.

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What do I need to travel to USA: Requirements for travelling to USA?

On the off chance that you need to effectively go to the USA, you need to make a point to recognize what records you have to acquire and what different necessities you need to meet!

This is the reason you need to make a point to that you comprehend what are the variables that influence you when making a trip to the USA and in this article, we will furnish you with a response to what necessity you will meet to effectively visit the USA for business, travel or travel.

boycott" has influenced a few nations and before considering applying for a Visa or an ESTA, you need to ensure that the nation you are a subject of, is excluded in the USA travel boyco

Would I be able to the movement to the USA?

Since the new organization has had its spot in the White House, there is a justifiable reason motivation to check in the event that you are permitted to movement to the USA. The supposed "travel tt.

On the off chance that you are not a national of one of the nations under the USA travel boycott you can visit the USA for business, travel or travel in the event that you meet certain necessities for flying out to USA.

Along these lines to effectively go to USA you need to think about an application for a Visa or an ESTA.

This is beyond question the most essential inquiry you need to deal with before doing any all the more arranging of your visit to the USA.

What do I have to the movement to the USA?

The first and by a long shot the most imperative necessity for flying out to the USA is your Visa or ESTA application.

A standout amongst the most well-known inquiries explorers contact us with is: "Do I require a Visa for USA occasion?" and sadly it demonstrates that the lion's share of individuals are not educated about ESTA applications.

Truly, Visa isn't the main report you may need to obtain to movement to the US. Also, everything comes down to which nation you are a resident of. When you are flying out to the USA for business, make a trip or to utilize the US as travel for a period up to 90 days, there are two kinds of approval you can gain.

It is either an ESTA or a Visa. What's more, before broadly expounding on them two comprehend that an ESTA isn't the same as and Visa. On the off chance that you are searching for US visitor Visa prerequisites, for instance, there is a decent shot that what you really need to apply for is an ESTA.

Furthermore, this is precisely why it is so essential to know the contrast between the two sorts of uses for legitimate travel to the USA.

Nations of the Visa Waiver program and as of now the VWP nations are:

Andorra; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Brunei; Chile; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Republic of Korea; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Monaco; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Portugal; San Marino; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; United Kingdom*

This endorsement makes it simpler for voyagers from these nations to enter the US for a period that is no longer than 90 days.

To get an ESTA endorsement you basically need to round out an online shape which is then affirmed or declined in view of different components. After your ESTA is affirmed, it is substantial for a long time or until the point when your visa lapse dates. In this day and age, you are taken into consideration a boundless travel to the USA yet just for periods that don't surpass 90 days.

The ESTA Online Visa termination rules mean you need to check your ESTA status regardless of whether you have been affirmed, before venturing out to the US to stay away from any issues with the movement.

Travel to USA with ESTA

Individuals, who travel to the USA and are residents of one of the VWP nations don't need to obtain a Visa to visit the US for business, travel or utilize it as travel if the visit does not surpass a time of 90 days. Rather, they have to gain and ESTA, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization endorsement.