Travel news
From Wikitravel Shared
This is Wikitravel's Travel news section, about issues affecting travelers, both positively and negatively. For more general news, see Wikinews.
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[edit] Future
The news items in this section refer to future events and have not been displayed on the Main Page yet. They should be copied there when the date approaches and then shifted to the monthly archives below.
[edit] June
8 June 2007
Due to massive backlogs, Homeland Security has announced that Americans who have applied for passports may travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean with only photo ID and proof of their application until September 30, 2007. [1] (more...)
[edit] May
29 May 2007
Large scale protests against the Venezuelan government's move to censor a media outlet have turned violent in Caracas with police and protesters clashing. The US State Department has not issued a travel warning, however, exercise caution and avoid any demonstrations. Demonstrations may be announced in advanced in local media, including the English language paper Daily Journal. (more...)
25 May 2007
A new attraction has opened in Disneyland, Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. The attraction is located in Frontierland and is based on an old pirate fort. The new attraction is a play area for kids. The opening of this attraction is less than a month from the opening of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage on June 11 in Tomorrowland in Disneyland California. (more...)
23 May 2007
The Purple People Bridge Climb, the only operation in the Northern Hemisphere to allow the general public to climb across the top of the Purple People Bridge, connecting Cincinnati with Newport, Kentucky has closed. The closure was the result of poor demand and a lawsuit brought by an attorney claiming the idea as his own. (more...)
21 May 2007
Earlier today, the once fastest sailing-ship of the world, the Cutty Sark was devastated by fire. The exact amount of damage is unknown, since parts of the ship had been removed due to an on-going renovation project. Officials are hopeful the damage can be repaired, however, it's unclear whether the fire will further delay the projected 2009 reopening. The museum ship was part of Maritime Greenwich, a popular park-and-palace attraction, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. (more...)
18 May 2007
The Indian city of Hyderabad experienced a bombing at a city mosque. The death toll stands at 16 and several large cities in India have been placed on high alert. (more...)
10 May 2007
The Finnish capital Helsinki is hosting the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest until May 12th. Expect packed flights and hotels and security delays. (more...)
1 May 2007
Wikitravel has been announced winner in the Travel Category for the 11th annual Webby awards. Comment in the pub. (more...)
[edit] March
25 March 2007
Using light aircraft, Tamil Tiger rebels have bombed a military airbase near Sri Lanka's main international airport in Colombo. Many flights to and from the island have been suspended. (more...)
11 March 2007
Most American clocks will spring forward one hour at 02:00 AM on March 11, 2007 and will end November 4, 2007. The reason for the change coming sooner than in the past is because of changes in the federal law. From now on the U.S. will observe daylight savings time from the second Sunday of March until the first Sunday in November. (more...)
7 March 2007
On a flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the Boeing 737 crashed on landing at Adisucipto International Airport killing 22 of its 133 passengers and crew. The aircraft appears to have overrun the runway and come to a stop in a nearby rice field. Following the crash the aircraft caught fire and this appears to be the cause of most of the fatalities. Eyewitness accounts report that the plane approached the runway at a high rate of speed, which could have led to the crash. The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. A number of Australians were on the flight and Australian authorities have asked to participate in the crash investigation. This is the third crash in as many months of an Indonesian commercial aircraft. Indonesian Authorities has come under increased criticism and scrutiny for the countries poor public transportation safety record. (more...)
6 March 2007
Severe flooding due to weeks of rain in Zambia and central Mozambique as well as the effects of Cyclone Favio in southern Mozambique have left many roads and bridges damaged and large areas of the region under water. Vilanculos has been especially affected with around 90% of the population left homeless. Around 150 000 people have been displaced in Zambia. They UN, WHO, South Africa and Portugal is assisting Mozambique with food, medical supplies and transport helicopters. There is an increased risk of cholera in the region. (more...)
2 March 2007
Effective 25 March, Thai Airways (domestic only), Nok Air, One-Two-Go and PB Air will shift their flights back to Bangkok's old Don Muang Airport. Thai will retain a few domestic services at Suvarnabhumi for easy connections to Phuket and Chiang Mai. (more...)
[edit] February
19 February 2007
Passengers face delays and cancellations for a sixth straight day on flights operated by discount air carrier JetBlue Airways out of New York's Kennedy Airport. The carrier's failure to cancel flights in advance of a winter storm on February 14 was one of the reasons that operations were initially affected. JetBlue is aiming to resume full flight operations on February 20. (more...)
19 February 2007
A series of bomb explosions occurred on the Lahore bound express train as it passed through the northern Indian state of Haryana during the early hours of February 19. More than 60 people have been reported killed by the blasts with many more injured. Continuation of the India to Pakistan service, which resumed only in 2004, is now in doubt. (more...)
13 February 2007
Due to the Cricket World Cup visa arrangements will change for the Caribbean between 1st February and 15th May 2007. Affected countries are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Most visitors during this period will require a CARICOM special visa, except nationals from the following countries: Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, and nationals and residents of CARICOM member states (except Haiti). More info at the official CARICOM page[2]. (more...)
4 February 2007
Severe flooding has hit the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, killing 29 people and making around 400,000 homeless. With more rain forecast, outbreak of disease is possible. (more...)
[edit] January
30 January 2007
The United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation) is calling on travel lovers to enter the first World Heritage photo contest created by Friends of World Heritage. Submissions will be accepted through March 1. (more...)
30 January 2007
The T&G Union has called off their work action scheduled for 30 and 31 January, allowing British Airways to resume normal flight operations from Heathrow and Gatwick airports in London. (more...)
27 January 2007
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok has been denied a safety certificate by the Department of Civil Aviation due to ongoing repairs of damaged runways and the airport has failed to set up a safety board as required by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The airport will continue to operate, since some international standards and requirements have not become law, yet. Travelers may experience some inconveniences. (more...)
25 January 2007
After failed talks between BA and T&G Union, industrial action by the union on January 30 and 31 is set to lead to the cancellation of 1300 BA flights. London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports will be worst affected. (more...)
23 January 2007
The air travel portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) [3] goes into effect today. WHTI will require all travelers flying to and from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a passport to enter or re-enter the United States. Part 2 of WHTI (land and sea travel) goes into effect as early as January 1, 2008. Click here for US Passport information & forms (more...)
18 January 2007
Widespread blackouts can be expected throughout South Africa after a controlled shutdown at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant in Cape Town early Thursday morning. Traffic delays may affect your travel arrangements, especially in larger centers. The national electricity supplier Eskom expects to have the situation back to normal by the end of next week. The Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant consists of two 900 megawatt generators and supply about 50% of the power required in the Western Cape. One of these reactors have shut down and other coal power stations are also undergoing maintenance at the moment. This is resulting in a 2000 megawatt shortfall on the national grid. The situation is similar to what was experienced in California in 2001. (more...)
16 January 2007
Cambodia's up-and-coming beach resort Sihanoukville has opened an airport. Scheduled flights are limited to Siem Reap (Angkor), but are expected to surge once the runway extension is complete by the end of the year. [4] (more...)
5 January 2007
Taiwan's High Speed Rail line, running the length of the island from Taipei to Kaohsiung in just 90 minutes, has opened to the public. Until Jan 15, services are limited to 19 daily test runs, with tickets available for half price. [5] (more...)
1 January 2007
A spate of bombings in Bangkok over New Year's Eve and during the early hours of Jan 1 has killed three people and injured 36 others, including 10 foreigners. See Wikinews: [6] (more...)
1 January 2007
Bulgaria and Romania are now members of the European Union, and Slovenia has ditched its tolar for the euro. (more...)
