The State of World Travel

I organise International Summer Schools for Cambridge University and we are facing a crisis with our bookings - we’ve had Foot and Mouth, September 11th in previous years, and now war and Sars this year…

I asked a group of 17 year old Americans who attended a programme in March - right at the start of the war - why the thought it was important to study and travel abroad at such a time. This was one of the comments:

‘It kind of liberates you from a homogenized view of world events that you might get from being in the same country. You get new perspectives on issues….people) realize their nationality and culture much more when outside their home country…it is very important to learn how others perceive you. Travelling abroad is as important as ever now because we must continue to educate ourselves on order to work towards a better, more peaceful future.’

The rose-tinted view of a teenager, perhaps, but if only everyone thought the same way…

I am coordinating travel and home stays for teams of students from central Europe coming to the US for a competition in May. We are finding that group air fares we are quoted are about $200 per seat more than last year. My plans included about 120 to 200 students and adults. We are going to have about half of that due to the higher fares. That is between $50,000 and $100,000 in lost revenue for the airlines. I do not believe the airlines are acting in good faith when they cry about their losses.

i’m interested in going to bali. had put it on backburner with all the SARS/terrorism scares of late but after reading today’s newsletter, i’m inspired! figure i shouldn’t be afraid to live my life. step out on faith, i say.

Hello guys! I’ve been receiving and reading your website and newsletters, thanks for the great advice. My wife and I took the plunge, quit our jobs, and set off for a one year RTW trip. We’ve been out since last December and have been to London, Amsterdam, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, Italy, Croatia, and now Hungary. We’re heading up north to Slovakia and the Czech Republic before flying to Helsinke, taking a ferry to Estonia, and then taking an overnight train into Russia for the beginning of a Trans-Siberian trip. *we might still go to China if SARS isn’t such an issue by then* After that we’re off to India, Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and then New Zealand for the New Year. We have a round the world website being done by the fine folks at the Seattle Post Intelligencer newspaper in Seattle. Check out our website at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/goaway/
Thanks!
PS - Any advice on where to stay in Bali will be appreciated, We’ll be there around August!

Hi there to all you friendly fellows. I am actually writing because I want to thank you for being so informative and honest about what is going on in the world right now. I met a few of you at San Francisco State University, I think it was Nick and Sean, I got one of your cards and haven’t taken the time to write since. So here it is. I immensely appreciate you guys going out there and doing what you love, putting everything you have on the table and living your dreams. You guys are wonderful and I hope you will contact me if ever in San Frnacisco. Then maybe I can make the party I couldn’t make last time. THANK YOU !!!! Leslie Andereck
Oh yeah, and that April Fool’s prank almost had me in tears. I was devastated and then truly surprised. Peace love and world.

Leslie,

I remember you…you had a sweatshirt on and a big arse head phone thingy on and stayed to talk for awhile. Thanks for saying hi and writing back in support.

We’ll contact you next time in SF.

Harriet Main’s words, “The rose-tinted view of a teenager, perhaps, but if only everyone thought the same way…”

I’m thankful for the idealism of youth. We need them. And travel does expand your views and connect cultures.

Travel changed my life, gave me confidence and an appreciation for all people.

recent events haven’t scared me off the road, i’m still travelling. the current trip is in north and west africa. i’ve heard that since i’ve gone through Algeria, 31 tourists have gone missing there. but then your own back yard isn’t neccessarily a safe place to hang out. love the newsletters, unfortunately don’t always have time for a thorough review on the road.

Thanks for your numerous updates. Besides running a tour and travel business, I take a lot of interest in travelling. Perhaps I should let you know this is the low season here in Kenya and there are alot of special deals from both the hotels and the airlines making Kenya particularly attractive. I give you this info just in case you might fancy including it in your itineraries.

I’m living in rural China at the moment, and came out here in February just as the war with Iraq was starting. I never once seriously considered abandoning my trip because of world events, nor have I thought about returning home because of SARS. No one else in my town has that option, and I am part of this town now so why should I leave? The Chinese authorities are doing all they can now (admittedly they were slow on the uptake, but they’ve learned an important lesson) and risk taking is part of why I do this. What would be the point of there were no risks? If I stayed in England, yes, I’d be safe(er) but I’d also be bored stiff. It’s a cliche but true, no pain, no gain. I’m not saying go to Beijing right now or that you should have gone into Iraq during the war, but come on, we are all sensible human beings who can evaluate the risks. I think that we should not bow under the pressure of media overreaction. I agree with Nelly’s point of view, who says you won’t get mugged walking home drunk from the pub one night?! Come on, life’s too short!

Anyway, that’s my little rant over with! Cheers Bootsnall, where would I be without you? (well, actually, I know this - rotting somewhere in deepest darkest boring Kent).

My wife and I are just back from Italy last week after two weeks.People were asking us before we left if we were scared.I said no, why stop travelling and enjoying your life.I am glad to see that security is a lot tighter than before Nothing will stop me travelling until there is no where else to go.

I’ve been in New Zealand for the past 4 months and I’ve had the time of my life. Though I’m now returning to the States, I plan on being back on the road as soon as my bank account allows. Granted, New Zealand is not exactly a dangerous hotspot right now, but being here during a time of so much international crisis has opened my eyes tremendously to the world around me. I echo the sentiments of that idealistic teenager mentioned by Harriet Main. If everyone in the world were real travelers, conflicts like the War in Iraq would not occur. War and terrorism are the result of cultural ignorance and misunderstanding. Travel, in its purest sense, is about dispelling such ignorance and misunderstanding. To hell with war and terrorism. I say they give us all the more reason to hit the road.

I did think about travelling in the times of all the ‘tragedies’ and what not. But how do you really tell when is a safe time to travel and when is not? Some people do play it safe and stay home, but that don’t mean you are really safe, aight? Of course there are countries that you might like to avoid, but personally, I think it’s the same anywhere and everywhere. If shit happens, then it happens… ALl I know is, live life to the fullest. ive as much as you can now… Not tomorrow.