Travel agents have started the first month of 2012 with a “bang” according to agent only online wholesaler Excite Holidays, who reported an increase of 171 per cent in new sales compared to the same period last year.

More political capital is needed to make 2012 a stable year in aviation after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) found the industry to be very contrasting in 2011.

SEIT Outback Australia says travellers can still experience and learn the Australian indigenous culture despite recent pay disputes axing the operations of Anangu Tours.

Travel agents have shown strong support to assist airlines in selling ancillary services through the GDS as revealed by a survey of global airline merchandising by Travelport.

Taking bookings back to basics, ZUJI has announced it is adding consultants into the travel pot as part of its new phone bookings feature.

The strong Aussie dollar is doing favours for Hong Kong’s tourism industry, with Australians now the second biggest spenders in the region.

A large upsurge in visitor numbers from Australia helped Hawaii achieve a year-on-year 3.8 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in 2011.

Actual footage shot by traveller’s experiences in Canada will be used to entice Aussies to visit as the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) launches its new campaign to the Australian market.

The Qantas Group says its financial position is still strong despite risk management company, Moody’s downgrading the carrier’s credit rating late yesterday.

Tiger Airways has announced its return to Cairns later this year, months after the carrier was forced to suspend all its operations down under due to safety concerns.

Sydney’s biggest cruise month starts today, according to Carnival Australia, as the city welcomes a record number of ships this month to celebrate this year’s Festival of Cruising.

Since the success of Tropical North Queensland’s charter which brought 12 special direct flights from China to Cairns for Chinese New Year many airlines have followed suit.

Although passengers were offered a compensation package of up to 11,000 Euros, six passengers on board the Costa Concordia the day it hit rocks off the coast of Tuscany have filed a US$460 million lawsuit against Costa Cruises.

Sabre connected-agents will now be able to book Virgin Australia domestic in addition to international through the GDS after the Australian carrier signed a full content distribution agreement with Sabre Travel Network.

Air New Zealand has announced it will have a new head in 2013 as current chief executive Rob Fyfe plans his final year with the airline.

The cruising industry is a “dynamic” asset to the New South Wales economy, according to Carnival chief executive Ann Sherry, with turnover expected to triple in the industry to up to $1.3 billion by 2020.

Almost a year since launching flights to Melbourne Royal Brunei Airlines has released plans to increase its services into the Australian city from four times weekly to daily.

Upgrading the way the people view the globe and search for travel destinations, search engine, Google has unveiled the latest version of Google Earth.

While most visitors leave Vang Vieng with nothing more serious than a hangover, the once tranquil setting in Laos is now a craze of river tubing and riverside bars, making this latest ‘must do’ activity also the most dangerous place in Laos for travellers.

A recent global study has revealed that travel is more important than the internet, television and political diplomacy at boosting the economy and tearing down cultural barriers.

Recovery operations on board the Costa Concordia have been suspended as rough Tuscan seas cause the capsized ship to move four centimetres in up to six hours.

The price of US airline tickets will increase this week to include taxes and fees that the federal government feel should be transparent and part of the advertised cost of the fare.

Almost six months before commencing its 2012 season, American Cruise Lines has unveiled the 2013 schedule for its brand new Queen of the Mississippi.

Spanair has announced the suspension of all flight operations after filing for bankruptcy protection late last week.