Destinations

US Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Down 17% in July

Published

10 months ago

June 20, 2023

The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) reports that air ticket sales have significantly decreased by 17% during the June to July month-long duration. The said report marks a 95% decline in year-over-year sales from July 2019. An overall total sale of merely $387 million was collected from ticket sales during this year-long period as compared to the $8 billion of the previous duration.

From June to July 2020, the following results were observed:

The total number of passenger travels went down by 10%;
US domestic travels decreased by 14%; and
International travel went up by 2%.

Year-Over-Year Comparison

In contrast to 2019’s total passenger trips, this year’s overall number went down by 80%. The total number of July 2019 to July 2020 passenger travels is only 5,116,520, a striking contrast to July 2018 to July 2019 record of 25,060,633.

Overall domestic travel went down by 77%, as well, with just 3.6 million year-over-year total. The total number of international trips showed an 84% decline as well. This resulted in a mere total of 1.4 million passengers.

Reasons for Decrease

There are several reasons for the impactful decrease in air tickets. The looming threat of the rapid transmission brought about massive lockdowns all over the country, halting the typical hustle and bustle of travelers.

COVID-19 Transmission

Current data asserts that the total of COVID-19 cases in the US is already 5,967,010—a huge number considering that the country’s present population is 331,298,704. Despite the desire and need of many Americans to travel, the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases severely affected previously made arrangements.

Massive Lockdowns

Similarly, the imposition of various lockdowns and quarantine protocols heavily caused the said decrease in air ticket sales. All over the country, different states adapted quarantine mandates with various public areas closed in an effort to reduce and eradicate community infection.

International travel was also lessened due to different safety and health measures created by various governments all over the world, limiting traveler entry into their borders. This is aside from the US government’s own strict health and safety protocols that also censure arrivals in all its various airports.

Social Distancing and WFH Set-Ups

Consequently, social distancing meant the massive reduction of gatherings among individuals. Numerous businesses, offices, and institutions adapted the work-from-home (WFH) set-up, significantly reducing the number of necessary domestic and international flights.

Instead of traveling to initiate various work and business transactions personally, most employers started doing virtual meetings and transactions to avoid massive infection in the traditional work environment. Employees are now encouraged to conduct daily work in the comfort of their own homes, eradicating the need to commute to work each day. Most schools started using the same online set-up, as well.

Summary

The significant decrease in air ticket sales will continue to manifest while the COVID-19 pandemic occurs. Due to the continuing increase in COVID-19 cases within the country and throughout the world, many regular travelers are hesitant to take different trips, both domestically and internationally.

Destinations

6 Heavenly Places For Photographers In Yunnan Province China

If you are searching for new photography subjects or ethereal places to capture, Yunnan province is a catch basin for it all.

Published

3 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Owen Gardocki

Many of China’s hidden wonders are found in its provinces like Yunnan Province. Yunnan’s breathtaking sceneries and dreamlike landscapes have made it every photographer’s dream destination. It is no surprise that many professional photographers consider Yunnan Province as one of the most photogenic places in China.

Meili Snow Mountain

Famous for its 13 Prince Peaks, Meili Snow Mountain has an altitude of more than 6,000 meters. The most popular peak, Kawagebo, is considered the highest peak in the Yunnan Province, with a height of 6,740 meters. Many mountaineers and hikers have climbed these mountain ranges, but until now, they were unable to reach the mountain’s summit.

Speaking of hiking, one of the most favorited routes up to the top is a very scenic route through the Feilai Temple to Yubeng Village. From here, you will be able to pass through the Ice Lake and Holy Waterfall.

Best Time to Visit: October to May

Dongchuan Red Soil Land

Dongchuan Red Soil Land, as per its name, is famous because of its unique red-colored soil. Dongchuan a tourist favorite is due to its magnificent sceneries – such as the sunrise and sunset, for example, as they cast their glows across the fields.

Dongchuan is also famously called “God’s pallet” because of how the crops and plants’ colors create a beautiful contrast to the red soil in which they grow. Some tourist even call the landscape photos taken at Dongchuan “as beautiful as a painting on canvas”

Best Time to Visit: It is said that there are two sets of months that are considered to be the peak time to visit because these are the times when the colors of the crops are in perfect contrast with the red soil: golden wheat, the white potato, and rape flowers and green crops. The first one is from May to June, the other is September to December.

Jiangdong Ancient Gingko Village

Jiangdong is a beautiful village situated near the Volcano Geopark and Tengchong county’s Prismatic Joint. The village becomes a tourist spot because of its Gingko trees, thus the name. Based on estimation, it is said that the village has almost 33,000 Ginko Trees growing around them, with around 270 of them to be at least 200 years old!

Best Time to Visit: October to November, when the Gingko Trees leaves are in a beautiful golden color.

Luoping Sorghum

Famously known for its breathtaking views of fields of Canolas! It is considered the most stunning view on all of Luoping. It is mostly composed of a wide field full of yellow Rape flowers, but recent developments also give way to fields of Red Rape flowers as well.

Best Time to Visit: August to November

Cherry Blossoms at Wuliang Mountain

Just like the Luoping Rapeseed fields and the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, the Wuliang Mountain Cherry blossoms are also a must-see when visiting Yunnan province. It’s one of the most beautiful places to admire the cherry trees with branches heavy with pink flowers. If you are someone who loves to appreciate the beauty of nature, Wuliang mountain is the place to be.

Best Time to Visit: Months of November and December

Luoping Rapeseed Flowers

One of the most visited places in Yunnan during the Spring season, Golden rapeseed flowers bloom and cover around 39,000 acres of land. From a far view, it looks like a golden sea that spreads up to the horizon. It is beautifully paired up with the primitive houses from the villages, the clear blue sky, beautiful karst peaks, and the crystal clear river.

Best Time to Visit: Early Spring, Months of February to September.

Well, Then!

So, there you have it! Have you copied the list? One of the aspects that make traveling to Yunnan more enjoyable, aside from getting your memory cards full of wonderful images, is that you become incredibly close to nature and its beauty. Capturing these spectacular sites makes you feel blessed to be able to immortalize these sceneries in photographs. The world may be changing quickly and turning into a concrete jungle, but places like Yunnan still exist to give you a quick escape.

Destinations

Tourists Keep Getting Stranded In This Italian Village – The Culprit Turns Out To Be Google Maps

Sardinia’s Mayor the mayor has taken steps to get the navigation app blocked on the mountain village known for its hiking.

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Owen Gardocki

Travelers often like to venture off the beaten path. But needing to be rescued as a result is a whole different story.

Leaders of the village of Baunei, on Sardinia’s eastern coast, say that’s just what’s been happening to travelers following the popular Google Maps app. And they’re trying to put an end to the misdirection that has prompted a reported 144 emergency calls from drivers and hikers over the past couple of years, according to CNN.

Misleading The Tourists

“Too many sedans and hatchbacks are getting stuck on unpassable tracks — sometimes off-road vehicles, too,” Baunei Mayor Salvatore Corrias told CNN. “All because they follow Google Maps, whose instructions are often misleading on our roads.”

So the village is urging people to use local tour guides or paper maps instead — just definitely not the technology they may be used to in their everyday lives.

The Baunei Facebook page shows roadside police signs that say in Italian and English: “Do not follow the directions suggested by Google Maps.” It also includes images of vehicles on rocky paths, including some with ropes attached for apparent towing.

#Blocked

According to the Daily Beast, the mayor has taken steps to get the navigation app blocked on the mountain village known for its hiking. He has also asked managers of tourist sites such as hotels, restaurants, and museums to use paper maps, the publication reported.

“We’re aware of an issue in Sardinia where Google Maps is routing some drivers down roads that can be difficult to navigate due to their terrain,” a Google statement said. “We’re currently working with the local government to resolve the issue, and are investigating ways we can better alert drivers about these types of roads.”

International Road Blocks

Other destinations have had their own Google Maps mishaps in the past. Between 2015 and 2017, tourists looking for the Blue Mountains in Australia were directed to a dead-end road more than 20 miles away, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Occasionally, those visitors would knock on residents’ doors looking for a restroom. In March 2017, a woman driving to the Grand Canyon followed Google Maps’ directions down a road in Arizona and ended up stranded for days when her car ran out of gas, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Tourists in Italy blamed the navigation app in 2016 when they drove over a pedestrian bridge and along the Grand Canal in Venice, according to the Local. That same year, some tourists searching for Mount Rushmore were led by Google Maps instead to a church camp, the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal reported.

A woman who worked at the Storm Mountain Center camp about 13 miles from the national memorial, Ashley Wilsey, told the newspaper that she often had to break the news to visitors that they were in the wrong place.

“For the most part, people have been very friendly, but some people are very insistent that this is where Mount Rushmore should be,” she said.

Destinations

Appreciating America’s Natural Wonders

There might be places in the US that you haven’t visited yet. Don’t miss out on the fun and check out these awesome places!

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Owen Gardocki

With the current technological advancements in the world, lots and lots of new attractions are now being developed. Whether it be a new amusement park or a mall, we sure are always looking for a place to be in awe.

However, are you aware that apart from man-made attractions, we also have a lot of natural wonders here in the US that are a must-visit for everyone? Sit back and relax while we take a quick road-trip across some of America’s must-visit attractions, thanks to Mother Nature.

Death Valley

Just because Death is part of its name, doesn’t mean that you need to run away. Though considered as an extreme place due to its weather condition, it is a beautiful place to visit and favorite places to conduct activities to test yourself.

Grand Canyon

One of the most famous attractions, not only in the US but also in the world, is the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a breathtaking place, not only by its beauty but also by its scale and its terrain and landscape.

Hawaii Volcanoes National park

When you say Hawaii, the first things that come to mind are the beach, coconut, hulas, and volcanoes. Hawaii is known to be the home to many volcanoes, including Mauna Loa, the largest volcano in the world.

Great Lakes

Great lakes are inter-connected lakes, know for its beautiful surroundings and uninterrupted habitat. The best way to explore them is thru guided boat trips.

Monument Valley

Come and wear your cowboy boots when you visit Monument Valley. Seeing the beautiful and picturesque landscape of red-sand dessert makes you wanna feel like you are staring in one of your favorite wild, wild west movies.

Niagara Falls

Want to be in two different countries in the same exact time? It’s easy to do that when you are having a boat ride in Niagara Falls. Situated right between the border of Ontario, Canada and the US, the place offers you a breathtaking view of three waterfalls.

Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

The old faithful geyser had been a favorite attraction since 1870. It is a cone geyser that spews out vapor as high as 180 feet every 35-120 minutes.

Mississippi River

Let’s all be Tom Sawyer just for once and explore the beauty of the longest river in the world. Spanning across 10 states, it is best to enjoy while having a smooth cruise on steamboats.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

If you are someone who loves to get the chills when seeing surreal landscapes, it is best to visit the Great Smokey Mountain, National Park. Perfect for biking,hiking and simply taking in the view. The best place to explore and experience the great outdoors.

There you have it. I hope you got your camera loaded with amazing shots of these natural wonders. If not, I wouldn’t mind coming back for another tour.