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 Travel & Outdoors | June 2008 
AAA Study Shows Many Will Travel Abroad
 Charles J. Adams III - Reading Eagle Press
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I listened and watched with weary eyes and worn ears as my brethren in the electronic media continued their relentless reporting about just how dismal and dour the travel outlook is this summer.
They blitz us with bad news. They say many people are taking "staycations" at home because of the rising costs of everything. We're all hunkering down, we are told, mired in misery as 2008 becomes the year of the "nocation" for many Americans.
Oh, woe is us.
But wait! What's this news release that crossed my desk (OK, popped up on my monitor) about more Americans heading to Europe this summer?
It's not from the doomsayers at ABC, NBC, CBS, or CNN. It's from the bean counters at AAA.
According to statistics compiled by the research firm Global Insight, about 25.1 million Americans will travel abroad this year, which represents a 2.6 percent increase over 2007 figures.
Based on Triple-A's bookings, the increase is more like 5 percent.
Garnering the largest increase is France, which will be visited by 6.7 percent more Americans this year than last. It is further estimated that 1.1 million Americans will go to France this year.
While France will experience the biggest percentage improvement, Italy will host the largest number of Americans, 1.6 million. That's a 4.7 percent increase from last year.
About 724,000 of us will go to Germany, a 4.4 percent increase; and 337,000 (up 6.6. percent) will visit Ireland.
In Mexico as in most European countries, American tourists pay the flat 15 percent value added tax that is tacked onto purchases.
Now, Mexico has joined those European countries by allowing Americans who have visited by ship or air to be reimbursed for that tax.
This year, VAT refund kiosks will be inside airport terminals at Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, Cancun, and Guadalajara. Next year, the refund booths will be built at many more airports and cruise ports.
The VAT refunds will be applicable to retail purchases in approved stores. Tourists must ask for a receipt and refund form from the merchant and provide a passport to qualify for the refund. The purchases must reach the minimum of 1,200 pesos (about $115) and can only be refunded from retail, not accommodations or meals.
If you planned to travel from Philadelphia to Beijing on US Airways based on something I wrote in this column several weeks ago, put those plans on hold.
The airline announced that it has put the scheduled service on hold for a year.
The Transportation Department approved the service last year, and US Airways announced the route with much ballyhoo. The flights aboard Airbus A340 jets were to originate in Charlotte and make the crossing from Philadelphia.
Because air travel between China and the United States is limited by regulations set by both countries, airlines must receive approval from the Transportation Department for the routes and schedules.
US Airways has asked the department for a one-year delay in the start of the service, citing an incredible increase in estimated fuel costs.
Initially, it was believed that the fuel bill for one year of the Philadelphia-Beijing service would be $50 million. With recent fuel price increases, the estimate is now $90 million a year.
Scott Kirby, president of the airline, said he hopes economic conditions will be on the upswing next year, and service could begin then.
Contact columnist Charles J. Adams III at lifestyle(at)readingeagle.com. |
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