Some General Questions About Travel During This Time

(Sorry had to post twice to fit in questions...)

Why should people take advantage of travel during this time (even though we have this economic crisis)? What are the benefits?

How low are the travel rates? What are your recommendations for travel at this time? Any countries in particular?

Will travel help boost the economy? What are your thoughts?

How will traveling to economically troubled (poor or third world) countries help those countries in need?

Any other tips in general about travel during this financial downturn?

Along with your advice and comments, please include Name and Qualifications to answer the question (ex: You are a frequent traveler, you have been to that country you are describing, you are an expert in that area, etc.). For reporting purposes I will also need your age, location and email. But if you are uncomfortable with sharing that, you can just state that or private message me.

THANK ALL OF YOU IMMENSELY FOR YOUR TIME AND WISDOM!!

I will be watching this board and eagerly await your replies. Please email me (teafanny[at]gmail..com) if you have further questions about the project or about the usage of your information. Thank you again for reading this!

Respectfully,

Tiffany Chen

Hello Tiffany. You said you "want to focus on the social and developmental benefits of tourism". For a good treatise on the subject of the social benefits of being an international tourist, read Rick Steves' book : "Travel as a Political Act". It is a new book. It is not really about politics. A video of Rick talking about that topic, to an audience, is on the new DVD set "Rick Steves' Europe : 2008 series". Rick said : the world could be a better place for all of us, if eveyone would do international travel. Rick Steves' qualifications : He travelled in Europe, as a tourist, 100 days each year, for 36 years. He organized group tours in Europe and Britain. He wrote travel guide books on countries in Europe and Britain : those books are the best - selling books on those countries. And Rick was a tourist in Russia, Israel, Egypt, Iran, India, Central America, China. I enjoyed my trips to Europe and England, which I planned by using Rick Steves' travel guide books.

Tiffany - Not to be quarrelsome, but you said you plan to write an "article", which to me means for publication. If it is to be a scholarly article, then the names and qualifications of your sources are required. Otherwise, your sources are simply anecdotal.

We here, save Kent, are more anecdotal than scholarly...:)

The DVD set that includes Rick Steves' lecture : "Travel as a Political Act" is Rick's 12 new shows 2009 DVD.

Thanks for the heads up. I realize that the personal info may affect who will answer the questions. The most important info I need is name and qualifications. Any other would be much appreciated but isn't necessary because I understand the hesitation. All I can offer is my word: I do not plan on distributing any contact info or personal information. They only other person who will see it is my professor.

Q: Why should people take advantage of travel during this time (even though we have this economic crisis)? What are the benefits?A: If the traveler's own financial situation has not been affected, then one benefit is reduced lodging cost and perhaps lower airfares (if that is the case, I have no data on reduced costs but data is available on this, some available to the public via a google search and other data is available by subscription).Q: How low are the travel rates? A: "How low" compared to what benchmark? Again, there is data out there on this. Q: What are your recommendations for travel at this time? A: Travel to take advantage of lower travel cost, if your own financial situation has not been negatively affected. But of course many of us have been negatively affected and are reducing our travel.Q: Any countries in particular?A: There is data out there that would help answer this question. Q: Will travel help boost the economy? What are your thoughts?A: This is a question for an economist. It seems reasonable to assume that, in the aggregate, greater spending benefits a country's economy, but that's only an assumption on my part.Q: How will traveling to economically troubled (poor or third world) countries help those countries in need? A: This is a question for an economist. Probably 95% of the discussions on this forum are about travel to other economically advanced countries, not poor countries.

You can watch "Travel As A Political Act" right here.
http://www.travelasapoliticalact.com/
When you get on the first page, click on "video" above that page.
Good luck on your interesting project!

Tiffany, Rick always recommends spending travel money with locals not some faceless corporation. He recommends B&B's not the Hilton, mom and pop restaurants not McDonald's so the money goes into the local economy.

Sorry I meant published-It was a typo. And I don't think I really contradicted myself. I am actually a public relations major, but I am just taking a magazine writing class.

Thank you all for your replies. Getting an article publicized is much harder than it would seem. This is for a class project for a magazine journalism class, and it's not a scholarly article. It actually will be written more anecdotal, so I was just gauging opinions. I think I can work your thoughts in without using names too. My professor just requested them. If it was going to be really publicized, I would ask for full permission and usage, or would agree to a confidentiality statement. I am ethically aware of how not to disclose information.

Again, I appreciate all your feedback and tips.

Tiffany -

"Publicized" or "published"?

How is it a "typo"?

You used "publicize" twice.

Tiffany, if you seek employment in public relations, your writing must be impeccable.

Online and offline.

Sorry, I was just using the auto-complete function and didn't proofread what I wrote before posting it. I really did mean "publish" and "publication". I do apologize...and I know this is now getting off-topic, so I will cease further discussion of it, unless you PM me.

Thank you to those that did respond to any of my questions, rather than criticizing me. I really don't take my writing online as seriously, as I'll use shortened words such as "u" instead of "you", but I understand, for sake of clarity, that I should have looked over what I wrote before sending it out.

-Tiffany

Tiffany - This is a tough crowd!

Yikes! Aren't we becoming a little curmudgeonly on the ol' RS Helpline? Seems to me, anymore, we spend as much time schooling posters about how they should ask questions, what homework they should do before posting, and even what name they should use in their profiles...not to mention the old stand-by, "Buy a guidebook"...as we do answering questions. I'm not saying that this counsel is never warranted, but sometimes it takes more energy to do the above than to just offer a thought on the question.

Here goes, Tiffany (I'll take a stab at one of your questions as a traveler to Europe 2x per year and blogger on travel, art and wine):

I believe that travel abroad does help offset (a little) the effects of the terrible economic situation in those locales (i.e. ensuring hotel staff keep their jobs, helping restaurants weather the storm, keeping some tax revenue coming in), but it really depends on where one is going. The reality is that the places most in need of the help are often not places on the typical tourist's itinerary. And things are so bad right now in some places that travel might do little more than prevent total collapse for a wage-earner or family. On the other hand, the benefits to travel, apart from sustaining local economies in some cases, are many and quite valuable: broadened perspectives, an appreciation for different cultures, a sense of the world as a small, close-knit place, the opportunity to understand yourself and your home culture more through exploring its roots or its distinguishing features to others...those benefits and a generally increased empathy with human beings not born under our American flag (which, by the way, I do revere)...these things seem as important during tough economic times (maybe more so?) than during times of prosperity. Those who can travel, should. Not exactly a moral imperative, and certainly not a panacea for the world's economic ills, but it's also more than good wine and a day at the beach. Just a thought.

I would never take seriously, someone using the letter "U" instead of typing the word "You". This is real life, not texting to your college friends on a cell phone. Not professional.

Since when do we have to be "professional" on this message board/forum site.
This is just a place for the friendly exchange of information.
I think we need to lighten up a little. JMHO!

I dont see a problem with traveling during this time as long as one can afford it. Not everyone is in a bad place with money. People really need to get an escape moreso during bad times just to take their mind off of it. I would probably be better off not travelling and putting the money towards debts and bills, but that would turn me into an overworked, overstressed jerk. Moreso than usual...

Tiffany
I think traveling is a very personal issue. Some people like me will travel, regardless of the economic times.
I don't know what can happen tomorrow, and I don't want any regrets that I could have done more while I am young(er) or still capable of hiking those cobble stone streets.

Where I work, there are a lot of people retiring. It amazes me that travel is on the top of their list yet they waited until they are 65+++ years to go on their first trip. My question is... WHY?

So traveling (for me) should be done regardless of the economy. Of course I have to be financially responsible.

I believe anyone can travel the world, experience culture, and without having to spend a ton of money

I would say that this severe recession has not changed our family's lives or travel plans at all. While my husband did get a slight pay decrease at his hospital and our investments are way down,we are still avid savers and haven't felt much of a difference.We have always lived frugal lives,never buying useless,expensive things to impress others. Travel has always been an essential part of our lives,but I can stretch the travel dollar farther than anyone I've ever met,so we've been traveling to Europe every year with the family since our daughters were old enough to appreciate it(last 7 years).We plan to continue this even with both daughters in college.We stay in the cheapest places and see the best museums,more intellectual stimulation than luxury,always.While I would never advocate spending money you don't have or wasting it on needless luxuries,I think those who have the money in this economic climate should continue to spend as they always did to stimulate the economy.Suddenly not spending when you have plenty of money hurts everyone.Next week we are going on an Alaskan cruise,simply because the deal was too good to pass up.Now is a great time to knock things off the list of places we have to see.The deals are fabulous and we would do a lot more if my husband had more vacation time.If you've always been extremely careful managing your money,live a Suze Orman economic life and have the money, now is an amazing time to travel,reap the benefits of great bargains AND help the travel industry.

Thank you all for your responses and support!

Tiffany,

this may not answer your questions but may explain how some people think about travelling during these times.

In June i'm heading on my first trip to Europe since the 70s when i travelled to Russia with my high school drill team (yes, during the cold war).

i've been wanting to do the UK for at least 20 yrs now. after i raised my kids and finished graduate school 5 yrs ago i started planning the trip but was cut short because i bought a house with my boyfriend. The money i added to my savings in the past 5 yrs was meant to refi my house or fix it up if need be.

well, because of the economic situation i'm severely underwater with my mortgage which will reset in January. I haven't saved enough to make up the difference between what i owe and what the house is now worth (-$150,000). so instead of throwing good money after bad, i'm using some of what i saved for refi and heading to the UK for 3 weeks with my adult son (paying both our ways). at least i'll be fulfilling a dream with this money rather than throwing it down a black hole in this housing crisis. If i have to foreclose i'm OK with that. some of my travel bucks will go to businesses in the UK, but i'm also flying US airways, catching an RS tour, and i've bought numerous items here in the US (luggage, ipod, shoes, etc) to prepare for the trip which is going into the US economy.

it's a personal thing. this is the best time for me to go. oh forgot to mention. my pay at work has been reduced by 10% with an accompanying 2 extra days of vacation a month. so now i have more time for travel. fortunately i live on less than i make so even a 10% cut doesn't hurt much.