Joe Journeys Blog

TOP 100 MOST VISITED CITIES - 2010

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:00:24 +0100

The economic crisis that started in 2008 has caused a drop in international travel, in the top 100 cities there is an average 3.5% drop. There is no part of the planet that has not been effected. One of the worst years for international travel and tourism.

Here is the list of the Top Most Visited Cities 2010 along with the % change from 2008/2009:

Rank - % Growth
1. London -4.7
2. Bangkok -2.2
3. Singapore -4.3
4. Kuala Lumpur 5.2
5. Antalya 3.5
6. New York City -10.7
7. Dubai 2.6
8. Paris -6.9
9. Istanbul 7.0
10. Hong Kong -3.8
11. Mecca 6.1
12. Rome -1.5
13. Miami -9.4
14. Las Vegas -14.9
15. Los Angeles -8.0
16. Barcelona -5.3
17. Cairo -11.0
18. Shanghai -2.0
19. Pattaya -3.3
20. Dublin -7.0
21. Bucharest 24.1
22. Macau -6.2
23. Amsterdam -14.5
24. Prague -9.1
25. Moscow -12.0
26. Kiev -4.8
27. Beijing 2.3
28. Vienna -5.4
29. Phuket 0.5
30. Madrid -6.4
31. Tokyo -17.1
32. Muğla 2.4
33. San Francisco -8.8
34. Orlando -14.7
35. Taipei -5.1
36. Berlin 0.2
37. Budapest -5.4
38. Rio De Janeiro 0.3
39. Edirne 6.6
40. Toronto -11.5
41. Stockholm 2.7
42. Mexico City -13.0
43. Seoul 5.1
44. Denpasar 19.8
45. Delhi 1.5
46. St Petersburg -2.8
47. Brussels -5.9
48. Warsaw -16.7
49. Jerusalem -2.4
50. Guangzhou 0.9
51. Buenos Aires -11.5
52. East Province 9.8
53. Mumbai 1.5
54. Munich -2.7
55. Chennai 1.5
56. Sydney -8.7
57. Cancún -6.0
58. Sharm el Sheikh -18.0
59. Vancouver -14.9
60. Marrakech 14.5
61. Punta Cana 3.1
62. Ho Chi Minh -3.8
63. Milan -0.5
64. Jakarta 15.9
65. Athens -11.0
66. Seattle -10.8
67. Lima -13.1
68. Oslo -7.7
69. São Paulo 2.7
70. Lisbon -7.5
71. Riyadh 6.0
72. Florence -1.3
73. Chiang Mai 5.0
74. Tel Aviv -2.4
75. Johannesburg -8.9
76. Venice -3.8
77. Agra 1.5
78. Hangzhou 1.5
79. Burgas -8.3
80. Auckland -2.5
81. Varna -7.9
82. Jaipur 1.5
83. Shenzhen -2.1
84. Abu Dhabi 9.7
85. Cape Town -8.7
86. Chicago -1.8
87. Honolulu -17.9
88. Wellington 3.4
89. Sharjah 11.1
90. Minsk 4.0
91. Washington DC -16.1
92. Halong -0.3
93. Hurghada -15.0
94. Krabi 4.4
95. Christchurch -3.5
96. Suzhou -3.4
97. Sofia -3.1
98. Kolkatta 1.5
99. Montreal -9.6
100. Palma de Mallorca -4.2

North American cities were the hardest hit with the highest decline due to financial crisis and strengthening of the dollar. The overall winner is the Middle East with religion as the main draw, where Mecca is the final destination, fears and threats of terrorism has not effected the religious pursuit.

The fastest growing city was Bucharest at 24%, due to recent accession into the EU meant more low cost airlines now fly here and is now a growing European market where inflation has not really been prominent.

Indonesia is a surprise, with small growth, it still remains a rising star, thanks to AirAsia’s expansion in connecting Malaysia and Indonesia which increased the number of Malaysian visitors.

The recession has hit far and wide. Sharm el Sheikh, Honolulu and Tokyo recorded the highest drops. Trends suggest travellers are avoiding long haul, luxury destinations like Hawaii.

A recovery is not expected until at least 2012, after one of the worst years in international travel. Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa are the new emerging markets. Accelerated expansion of low cost carriers and rising middle classes are travelling in greater numbers. Cities serving as main airport hubs are expected to benefit the most.

*Sources:
Euromonitor International Top City Destination Ranking 2010

EGYPT CLOSED - CHAOS ACROSS EGYPT

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:30:11 +0000

So much for my trip to Cairo and beyond, three hours into my flight the captain announces we are diverted to Athens instead. Later it is confirmed the flight actually landed due to a bomb scare as reported by the BBC.

The rising unrest in Egypt and the peoples call to bring down the government brings disruption to tourism. (January 28, 2011)

Stranded in Athens, passengers are faced with choices of continuing onward to Cairo or to return to where they came. The UK Foreign Office finally advises not to travel to Egypt but the choice is still yours.

So I am seated on my return flight and cancelling my trip to Egypt. No Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel. The main theme seems to be we are safer returning, but now starts the job of knowing what coverage we have in regards to insurance policy. All hotel bookings, tours and internal flights are now dead.

Egypt needs to be set free from a dictatorship of the last 30 years, supported in part by the US. Egypt receives the forth largest aid from US after Afghanistan, Iraq, and Israel.

I hope to see Egypt free without aid, without internal corruption to those who rule. The is no question that the average Egyptian receives very little to live, it's more like the west treats it as legal slavery for tourism for it's value holidays.

Let peace fall on Egypt, the people of Egypt, and may those who come to rule bring everlasting calm and freedom to a land so rich in history.

For Joe Journeys this means I cannot visit such a rich historic country. My travels here have been canceled, but one day I hope when Egypt is rested I can finally return to set my eyes on it's historic treasures and meet the people who will finally be set free.

SHUNNING THE EUROZONE

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:33:09 +0000

With the low value of the British Pound and the Euro now almost the same value, holidaymakers (including myself) have decided to avoid travels in the eurozone to try and stretch the value of our well saved travel money.

Over the last few years there has been a rise in the value of the euro, but there has also been a rise in prices and inflation in goods and services, just visit any H&M or Zara’s which display prices in both euro and the pound, a shirt costing 10GBP is priced at 15euros, even with the exchange rate the same shirt costs 4euros more than it does in the UK.

At an annual gathering at the World Travel Market 2010 event, heads of the global travel industry were aware of the damage this brings over the eurozone nations. Days of bargain or value driven holidays in Spain, Portugal and Greece are now a thing of the past for many Britons looking for a bit of low-cost fun in sun, instead this gap is being filled by Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

The UK, Europe and the world has seen economic downturns, meaning job losses, salary freezes, government cut-backs and slow economic returns.
The eurozone is apprehensive about the outlook of 2011 in attracting Britons and oversea visitors, a challenge to keep up visitor numbers.

Tourist boards and travel firms in eastern Europe were more upbeat as the weaker currencies in those countries makes them increasingly popular destinations. Destinations like Bulgaria and Croatia have seen continued annual increase in visitors where, for example, a price of a pint of beer is 80p (1euro), as compared to the eurozone of 5-7euros. Though it is not all about prices, they also offer beautiful country, beaches and lots to do. These countries offer better ‘value for money’ because they are outside the eurozone.

In 2010, visitor numbers to the UK from the eurozone (mainly Germans, Spaniards) were up as it has become more affordable, an advantage to target more tourists from western Europe.

The outlook for 2011 is that all travel companies have to work harder to attract cash-strapped customers. Trends suggest the forecast is not good for companies and travellers alike. Airlines have reduced the number of flights and destinations, instead focusing on filling the airplanes they have, so bargains will be limited.

Choices I’ve made for the coming year mean avoiding the eurozone completely until I can feel assured it would be equal or greater value. In economic times such as these a traveler is extremely conscious about value for money. At the same time, we still want a holiday.

*Sources:
U.K. Tourists Shunning the Eurozone

MOST DANGEROUS AIRPORTS

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:21:49 +0100

Its not the sort of thing you always wanted to know before you travel, but there are some airports around the world notorious for risky landings and take-offs. I’ve researched and found a list of some of the worlds most dangerous airports. In no particular order, they are:

St. Maarten – Princess Juliana International Airport
A runway built for small and medium planes with just about 7,152 feet of runway, but big 747’s and A340s land on this airport. If you are sunbathing along Maho Beach, there is a big chance that you will in kissing distance from the big wheels of the big, big jet approaching the international airport.

Video: Air France A340 landing at Princess Juliana Airport

Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Toncontin Airport
You will be passing mountain terrain, prior to landing approach your heart might stop for a while as the pilot makes a last minute 45 degree bank towards the left to touch down properly to the airport located in the middle of a bowl-like valley with a 6,112 feet of runway. The airport is located 3,294 feet up and can only host an airplane as big as the 757 of Boeing.
Video: Toncontin Airport Landing

Funchal – Madeira Airport
Pilots need to direct their airplane towards the mountain then bank right at the last minute to align with the runway. The mountains and Atlantic Ocean make the path to be approached clockwise. Runway 05 remains to be a scary one. Prepare yourself for a turbulent landing on the island's partially over-the-water runway.
In 2000 the runway was extended over the Atlantic Ocean about half a mile in order to accommodate jet liners. The overwater landing strip is supported by giant pillars.
Pilots and passengers have to put up with mega-turbulence during landing, so much so that, at times, high winds and storms still close this airport to jet liners during winter months. The airport itself is extremely modern and well kept, which any entering visitor deserves after putting up with what can be a arm rest clenching landing.

Saba Netherlands, Antilles – Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
There is no room for any mistake. You will be landing on the northeastern portion of the island and the pilot needs to consider the very strong winds and 1,300 feet only of runway. Shorting the runway can spell disaster towards the cliffs. Overshooting the runway will force a go around.
Video: Landing in Saba

Lukla, Nepal – Tenzing-Hillary Airport
Only daytime landings of the Yeti Airlines are allowed in this airport which is really prone to the Himalayan wind shears and even the brave mountaineers who conquer Mt. Everest cross their fingers that the pilot in the cockpit is a good one. Landing will give you an uphill runway while take off will give you a short runway with a deep valley below. Scary stuff.
Video: Lukla Airport Landing & Takeoff

Courchevel Airport – Courchevel, France
Private aircrafts bringing visitors to the Les Toris Vallees Ski resort land on this French Alps airport with only 1,722 feet of runway that has a vertical drop at the end. Maneuvering towards the airport requires special training but meeting strong winds and ice make every landing scenario unpredictable.
Video: Landing at Courchevel Airport

Gibraltar Airport
Construction of the airport dates back to World War II, and it continues to serve as a base for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, though commercial flights land on a daily basis.
Winston Churchill Avenue, Gibraltar's busiest road, cuts directly across the runway. Railroad-style crossing gates hold cars back every time a plane lands or departs. There is a mountain on one side of the island and a town on the other, the runway goes from side to side on the island because it's the only flat space there, it just happens to be the best place to land, so sometimes it's a road and sometimes it's a runway.

I’m sure that there are a few more that could be added, if you have any suggestions I would be interested to know of any others.

*Sources:
Odee.com - Worlds Most Dangerous Airports
Journeyetc.com - Scary Landings
Wonders World - Most Dangerous Airports to Land

PARIS VS LONDON

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:08:01 +0100

There was a time when Paris was the clear winner as the most visited city in the world, but over the last four years its has lost the title to London which continues to see visitor numbers on the increase. After a weekend in Paris I can honestly give some information and an opinion to the differences between London and Paris, revealing the one that offers the best value for the cultural budget traveler.

Everyone knows London weather can change within hours and summers are far from perfect, but Paris shares a similar climate. On my fourth visit, in the month of June, I found Paris to be chilled, overcast and hazy. I lacked my jacket to shelter me from the cold winds and showers. Of all my visits, only once actually gave me some weather worth enjoying, on three of my visits it compared no better than London.

On arrival to Paris via Eurostar to Gar du Norte, the best option for a 3 day visit is a Paris Visitors Pass, this will set you back 20euros (€) for unlimited use of the metro, trains and buses (tip: buy on arrival). In London, you can buy a one week travel card for £26, though one day passes in London easily fetch £5.60 per day, but is still cheaper than the pass in Paris, even with the exchange rates.

I like to judge how expensive a city is by comparing prices of similar items like a McDonalds Value Meal (sandwich, chips, drink) which sell for an average of £3.99 in London, compared in Paris where the same meal will cost 6.80 euros. Ouch! A pint of beer can be purchased in Paris during happy hour for about 3.50 euros, but the normal cost is easily reaching more like 7.00 euros a pint, compared to £3.50-4.00 in London. Dining in restaurants are comparable in both cities depending on the style. Even if you consider the exchange rates, you still pay an average of 30% more for the same items in Paris (and Madrid and Barcelona).

The main reason for visiting London and Paris is for the culture and sites. Paris is well known for being rich with many interesting and historic sites as well as museums and galleries. The Louvre is clearly the best art museum in the world, no-where compares or even comes close to the collection here, the 9 euro entrance is a bargain for the wealth of items on hand to see, and seeing everything in a day is just impossible. There are many more galleries and museums worth visiting, too many to list here.

London also offers many museums and galleries worth visiting, but this will cost you absolutely nothing, they are all free (with few exceptions like the London Eye. The History Museum is a must, along with the Tate Gallery and National Gallery, along with the V&A and Science Museums.

Both cities offers so much for the traveler and visitors, but in a time where everyone is watching what they spend and counting their pennies, London is the clear winner. Paris is a great city and I love going back to see and know it more, but the low value of the British Pound, value for money, free things to see and visit, its no wonder London has overtaken Paris as the number one visited city in the world.