Last minute spring break travel deals

So, spring break is almost here and you haven’t made any travel plans. Is it too late to put together a reasonably priced trip? Not necessarily, say experts.  As always, it depends on where you go, when you go and what you want to do.
Here are a few tips from travel experts for making last-minute plans for spring break that won’t cost you a fortune.

Travel website Hipmunk suggests the following deal destinations during spring break which have average round-trip airfares under $400 during spring break season. Consider one of these destinations if you’re looking to save money on air travel:

• Myrtle Beach – $280
• Las Vegas – $327
• Ft Lauderdale – $331
• Los Angeles – $339
• Miami – $361

Avoid destinations such as Key West,  Cancun and Costa Rica which have average round-trip airfares of more than $500 during the same time period. Hipmunk experts say the most affordable, family-friendly destinations are Myrtle Beach and Los Angeles.
For accommodations, look for special Spring Break packages in less traditional spring break destinations.
For example, you can head to Toronto and take advantage of the April Showers package at the InterContinental Toronto Centre. Starting at $199 per night you get overnight accommodations, complimentary upgrade to the next room category, a free $25 pre-paid credit card, free InterContinental Toronto Centre umbrella, free WIFI and daily buffet breakfast for two adults at Azure Restaurant & Bar.
Travelers looking for an international getaway may be in luck. Though travel to Europe isn’t exactly cheap, there are ways to fly for less. Airfarewatchdog President, George Hobica, suggests that you concentrate on crossing the Atlantic as cheaply as possible, then look at discount European airlines like easyJet for onward flights. Just be sure you leave plenty of time for connections (or possibly even an overnight stay).
Save money by paying for your airfare in Euros versus dollars on the airline website. For example, Norwegian recently had LA to Copenhagen for $405 round-trip for October travel, but in dollars converted from Euros at $1.05/Euro, it was $340.
For accommodations abroad, check websites such as Tingo.com. If the hotel rate goes down after you book, it refunds the price difference to your credit card automatically. Flash sale sites like Jetsetter.com can save you money, but check the hotel’s website to see the rate if you were to buy there instead.

New Delhi: The Indian travel and tourism industry is likely to see a spurt in growth this year on the back of new visa reforms, according to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/h3ejs6Bz6NJ0BOW86ar1VL/Travel-and-tourism-industry-to-grow-75-in-2015-report.html?utm_source=copy

New Delhi: The Indian travel and tourism industry is likely to see a spurt in growth this year on the back of new visa reforms, according to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/h3ejs6Bz6NJ0BOW86ar1VL/Travel-and-tourism-industry-to-grow-75-in-2015-report.html?utm_source=copy

Travel and tourism industry to grow 7.5% in 2015: report In 2014, the industry contributed Rs7.64 trillion and 36.7 million jobs to the Indian economy. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint New Delhi: The Indian travel and tourism industry is likely to see a spurt in growth this year on the back of new visa reforms, according to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council. India’s travel and tourism economy is poised to grow 7.5% in 2015 over last year, exceeding the 6.9% growth that the global forum has predicted for the South Asian region. In 2014, the industry contributed Rs7.64 trillion and 36.7 million jobs to the Indian economy. By the end of 2015, the travel and tourism sector will contribute Rs8.22 trillion or 7% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 37.4 million jobs—almost 9% of total employment, the report said. “India has an excellent opportunity to benefit from visa reforms and infrastructure improvements under the new government,” David Scowsill, president and chief executive of WTTC, said in an email interview, adding that India’s projected tourism growth was the highest for any major economy. “But the overall contribution of India’s travel and tourism sector to the overall economy is still relatively low (6.7% of GDP, against a global average of 9.8%).” In November, India expanded the visa-on-arrival scheme to 43 nationalities from 12 countries earlier. It is in process of rolling out a similar facility for 150 countries. Investment in the sector is likely to rise by 9.3% in 2015 over 2014 when travel and tourism investments in the country accounted for Rs2.11 trillion, or 6.2% of total investments. “It should rise by 6.5% per annum over the next 10 years to Rs4,337.8 billion in 2025 or 6.9% of the total,” the report said, adding that the sector had the potential to contribute 46 million jobs to the India economy by 2025. Worldwide, the contribution to GDP from travel and tourism will have grown by 3.7% by the end of this year and the sector will contribute 284 million jobs, directly and indirectly, or one in 11 of all jobs on the planet. The report cautioned that although recent improvements in the process of granting visas are welcome, visa liberalization still has a long way to go. The recent insistence upon biometric data for visitors from France and the UK will have far reaching impacts on travel to India from these countries, it said. India also needs to recast and relaunch its the Incredible India campaign to “maximize India’s new visa regime”, said the report. Security and safety of tourists remain the major concerns. “Government strategy is required to offset the damaging impact on the country’s international reputation, from the negative perceptions of the treatment of women and women travellers in the country,” the report said. India is trying to raise the share of foreign travel arrivals to 1% of total global tourists over the next couple of years, from 0.64%. In 2014, foreign exchange earnings from tourist arrivals totalled $19.657 billion, compared with $18.445 billion in 2013. While it is possible for India to achieve 1% of global tourists by 2017, Scowsill said, it will need to act fast to achieve it. “The country has recently improved its visa processes but more needs to be done on the implementation side and to bring ever more countries into the visa waiver programme. This is fundamental,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/h3ejs6Bz6NJ0BOW86ar1VL/Travel-and-tourism-industry-to-grow-75-in-2015-report.html?utm_source=copy