TravelPulse

Biden calls for fee-free family seating on airplanes

President Joe Biden released a tweet from his official X account (formerly known as Twitter) calling on all airlines to offer "fee-free family seating.” “You ought to be able to fly with your child – and sit next to them – without paying an additional fee,” he wrote Feb. 5 on X. This isn’t the first time he’s told airlines in the U.S. to stop charging travelers more to book seats together with their children. Last March, he announced a new family seating dashboard available on the U.S. Department of Transportation website that shows consumers which airlines offer fee-free family seating, and w...

How Taylor Swift took over the travel industry in 2023

“Once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned..." — Taylor Swift Global superstar Taylor Swift isn’t only one stealing fans’ hearts around the world with her Eras Tour: She’s taking center stage in a global tourism boom, and everyone from tour operators to world leaders to travel advisers are taking notice. Those who travel know that entertainment, such as sporting events and concerts, are intrinsically tied to the travel industry, but there's been nothing like this before. Swift’s U.S. tour, which spanned 20 cities across five months, brought in $5 billion in direct s...

1 in 3 travelers has been scammed when booking a trip: study

Plenty of travelers have already solidified plans for their summer escapes, but among those who have yet to book their trips, many cite record-high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis as the reason they’re searching the darker corners of the internet for affordable vacation options. The results of a recent market research survey commissioned by leading internet security company McAfee found that 56% of today’s travelers are more likely to actively go hunting for bargains on travel due to increased cost concerns amid the financial pressures of today’s economic environment. Unsurprisingly, o...

Peru's Machu Picchu reopens to tourism

Officials in Peru have announced that the iconic tourist site Machu Picchu has been reopened to visitors as of Feb. 15. The centuries-old religious sanctuary in South America's Andes Mountains had been closed since Jan. 21 due to civil unrest stemming from local protests calling for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte and members of Peru’s Congress. Last month's closure prompted the government to airlift more than 400 tourists from Machu Picchu to nearby Cusco by helicopter. Officials have revealed that important agreements have been reached by a handful of important groups and organiza...

Enjoy free entry to any US national park one day in April

Nature lovers around the nation should prepare to celebrate the presidentially proclaimed National Park Week this month, coming up April 16-24. During the event, the National Park Service (NPS) joins with U.S. national parks’ official booster, the National Park Foundation, to spotlight America’s precious preserved lands. And, as a means of encouraging Americans to come out and discover the delights of its outdoor spaces, every national park across the country will waive its entrance fees on the first day the event kicks off: Saturday, April 16. But throughout the week, the 400-plus national pa...

Visit any national park for free on these dates in 2022

Around one-quarter of the 400 national parks, historical sites, monuments, trails, forests and more that are managed by the U.S. National Parks Service charge fees for entry, but there are a few days each year when these incredible areas are opened to the public for free. This upcoming year will have five free days when admission is waived for every park that usually requires payment. The 2022 free days are as follows: — Jan. 17: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. — April 16: First day of National Park Week — Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act — Sept. 24: National Public L...

Rick Steves offers predictions on post-pandemic travel norms

Travel activist, renowned author and TV host Rick Steves has weighed in on the ways in which he believes the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to impact travel as it begins to resume in earnest. He recently talked with global education expert Karin Fischer in a recorded interview titled “The Future of Travel with Rick Steves,” now available online through event host The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA). America’s most respected authority on travel to Europe, Steves spoke on several subtopics, including the importance of travel in broadening one’s worldview — especially since increased globalizatio...

10 countries suffering the biggest tourism revenue loss due to COVID-19

The coronavirus crisis has hampered international travel for the past 10 months and countries all over the world are feeling the effects. Using data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and The World Bank, visa waiver processing firm Official ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) recently revealed the countries with the biggest tourism revenue loss due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "The past year has been extremely difficult for the travel and tourism industry, with the unpredictable circumstances resulting in countries being forced to close their borders to tourists,...