Here’s a sampling of some of June 2016’s compelling findings from the U.S. Travel research team

Each month, the U.S. Travel Association sends its members the U.S. Travel Outlook, which provides insight into the current state of the travel economy and related industry trends, plus other relevant data and information on the travel and tourism sector.

Mixed Signals on Americans’ Feelings About the Economy

It’s hard to tell whether recent surges in consumer spending will continue into the summer months. U.S. consumer confidence gauges last month showed uncertainty about how Americans feel about the economy overall.

For example, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index declined further in May, indicating a lack of confidence in the U.S. economy and no expectations of change in the months ahead. On the other hand, the University of Michigan reported that its Consumer Sentiment Index registered at an 11-month high in May. The Gallup Economic Index, meanwhile, was flat last month. How confident American consumers actually are—and how that will change in the coming months—is really anyone’s guess.

Travel Exports Fall Slightly, But Stay Strong Comparatively

After growing four out of the last six previous months, travel exports fell by $352 million in April to $20.9 billion, amid a slight rise in U.S. exports overall. However, despite lagging a little behind other exports in April, through the first four months of the year travel exports increased by four percent compare to the same period in 2015. By contrast, other U.S. exports declined 6.2 percent during the same span.

Where in America Do International Visitors Want to Travel?

With IPW 2016 still on our minds—not to mention the recent Brexit referendum—the latest international travel search data is especially interesting to us.

The U.S. Travel Barometer is a monthly, forward-looking, first-of-its-kind report that tracks 30 billion global online lodging searches from 5,000 consumer travel websites to determine trends and changes to consumer interest in travel to and within the U.S.

According to the May U.S. Travel Barometer, the Mideast region of the U.S. (which includes New York and Washington, D.C.) continued to dominate international lodging searches (people outside the U.S. researching hotels for destination travel), capturing 36 percent of searches. The Southeast (which includes Florida and Louisiana, and recently hosted IPW 2016 in New Orleans) followed at 27 percent. The Far West (which includes California, Washington and Oregon) gained some share, now representing 22 percent of international searches.

A deeper dive into the data available in the June 2016 U.S. Travel Outlook—which includes the latest data releases on travel employment, domestic travel searches and more—is online here.

U.S. Travel Association members receive the full U.S. Travel Outlook, plus a myriad of other cutting-edge research reports with information relevant to the travel industry. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member here—or simply continue to enjoy a small taste of U.S. Travel’s research insight each month here, with the Research Round-up.

Source:-U.S. Travel Association

Central Deborah Gold Mine

At Central Deborah Gold Mine in Victoria, Australia, you have the unique opportunity to descend underground and explore a real gold mine that operated during the harsh gold rush era.

The passion, enthusiasm and knowledge of the tour guides is contagious and you can't help but become enthralled by the beauty and lure of gold as you are guided through the honeycomb of hidden underground tunnels where 929 kilograms of gold was unearthed. This would be worth about $48 million in today's prices.

With only the light on your cap to light the way, the silence of being far below the hustle and bustle of the city and the cool underground temperature helps you imagine what conditions as a miner were really like during the harsh gold rush era.

Three different underground experiences are available the Mine Experience tour, Underground Adventure tour and Nine Levels of Darkness.

The Mine Experience tour is 75 minutes in duration and 61 metres underground. Suitable for children three years and over.

The Underground Adventure tour is two and a half hours in duration and 85 metres underground. Lunch is included. This tour is suitable for children eight years and over.

Nine Levels of Darkness (Australia's deepest underground mine tour) is three and a half hours in duration and 228 metres underground. Lunch is included. This tour is suitable for children 14 years and over.

Bookings are essential, please contact Central Deborah Gold Mine for further information.

Central Deborah Gold Mine was inducted into the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame after being awarded Victoria's Heritage and Cultural Tourism Attraction of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

http://www.central-deborah.com/

Ethnic cultural festival in central Phu Yen Province

On June 29, the 9th cultural day of ethnic minority groups in the central province of Phu Yen took place at Hai Rieng Town, Song Hinh mountainous district.

The festival drew the participation of more than 800 artists, actors and actresses and thousands of local people and tourists.

Diverse activities such as art performances, traditional handicraft shows, folklore games and festivals of Ede, Cham’H Roi and Ba Na ethnic minority groups have been held.

In addition, an exhibition on Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, a fine arts exhibition on Phu Yen Province and its people, a performance of traditional clothes and traditional handicrafts will be held during the festival.

The event aims introducing fine cultural traditions, sports and folklore games of 31 ethnic minority groups in the province.

According to Phan Dinh Phung, Vice Chairman of Phu Yen provincial People’s Committee, this was also an opportunity for localities, units and artisans to have exchange, share experience and strengthen solidarity, contributing to promoting the movement to unite all people to build cultural lifestyle and popularize tourism for the province.

BLUE MOUNTAINS CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS IN JULY

The Blue Mountains is welcoming visitors to celebrate Christmas in July this winter, with the annual Yulefest celebrations bringing a European-style atmosphere to the Mountains and a host of Christmas cheer.

Yulefest offers visitors the experience many people associate with Christmas , with a frosty landscape outside and cosiness inside complete with roaring fires, hot food and drinks, traditional decorations and festive music – all just 90 minutes from Sydney.

With many venues offering special Yulefest celebration packages, from the luxurious Hydro Majestic Hotel and Fairmont Resort to Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, Yulefest is a wonderful time to enjoy a winter escape to this magnificent region.

For more information on Winter Yulefest Packages across a range of venues, visit the Blue Mountains Australia website.

FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT TO GAY RIGHTS IN NYC IS THE NEWEST ADDITION TO AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

—NYC Also Home to WorldPride 2019, in Conjunction with 50th Anniversary of Historic Stonewall Uprising—

Last week, President Barack Obama designated 7.7 acres of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village – including the Stonewall Inn – the Stonewall National Monument, the newest addition to America’s National Park System and the first national monument to gay rights

2019 marks a pivotal moment in the City’s history, with the 50th anniversary of the June 1969 Stonewall Uprising, widely considered the catalyst of the modern LGBT rights movement. In celebration of the anniversary, New York City will also be home to WorldPride 2019, an expanded two-month series of events and programs alongside NYC Pride’s annual events. -

NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organisation, and the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) today announced that New York City will host IGLTA’s 2019 Annual Global Convention, the premier educational and networking event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender tourism industry. More than 600 participants are expected to attend the three-day convention in spring 2019.

“In 2019, New York City will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall and IGLTA has chosen to share this celebration with the global LGBT travel industry,” said IGLTA Board Chair Juan Julia. “Our members will be able to attend a great conference and also experience New York City's incredibly vibrant LGBT community. Rich with history and the cachet of being the city that never sleeps, there’s never a shortage of things to do in New York City, whether you're looking for theater, film screenings, museums, restaurants or world-class gay bars and clubs.”

The announcement comes on the heels of New York City’s annual Pride celebration, which took place June 19-26 and is among the most popular in the world. Each year, millions of people participate in events including The March, PrideFest, Dance on the Pier, and The Rally.

“We are thrilled that in 2019, just months before the 50th anniversary of the historic events at Stonewall, New York City will be home to IGLTA’s Annual Global Convention,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. “We look forward to showing IGLTA’s membership exactly what makes New York City the most vibrant and welcoming LGBT destination in the world.”

According to Community Marketing, Inc., New York City is the #1 LGBT destination in the United States.

VIVID SYDNEY 2016 SMASHES VISITOR RECORD WITH 2.3 MILLION ATTENDEES

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events this week announced Vivid Sydney had smashed a new record, with more than 2.3 million people attending the world’s largest festival of light music and ideas – up more than 35 per cent on last year’s attendance.

“Vivid Sydney 2016 is officially our biggest year yet with a record 2.31 million visitors. That’s on par with the population of Brisbane and demonstrates the momentous growth and enduring popularity of this world-class festival,” Mr Ayres said.

“A standout area of growth this year has been the number of visitors travelling to NSW on specific Vivid Sydney travel packages, with a remarkable 88,300 packages sold, up an incredible 104 per cent on 2015 figures.”

Destination NSW CEO and Vivid Sydney Executive Producer Sandra Chipchase said “New precincts at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Taronga Zoo were firm visitor favourites as well as the spectacular Songlines projection onto the Sydney Opera House sails that celebrated Indigenous Australian culture.”

The Vivid Music program recorded substantial growth with more than 132,000 attendees at the 190 performances staged at 63 venues across the city. A further 54,000 attendees participated in the Vivid Ideas program.

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Interesting Vivid Sydney 2016 facts:

• 2.31 million attendees
• More than 88,300 Vivid Sydney travel packages
• Over 44,100 international travel packages
• Over 44,200 domestic travel packages sold
• 17, 827 visitors from China on Vivid Sydney travel packages
• More than132,000 attendees at Vivid Music events
• More than 54,000 attended Vivid Ideas events
• Over 2.2 million visits to www.vividsydney.com
• 404,500 Vivid Sydney Facebook fans
• 42 million people reached from Vivid Sydney Facebook
• 360° Facebook videos generated 1.9 million views in two days
• More than 88,000 downloads of the Vivid Sydney app
• 190 Vivid Music performances
• 658 speakers participating in 183 Vivid Ideas events
• More than 90 light installations and projections created by more than 150 artists from 23 different countries
• Guinness World Record title for the Largest Interactive Lighting Display awarded to the Dress Circle installation at Circular Quay.

WHAT’S ON IN JULY IN NSW

July brings a wealth of sporting talent to NSW together with a number of prestigious cultural events that are sure to inspire. 

Event highlights include:

• Ballina Fine Wine and Food Festival, 1-3 July
• Cricket Australia – Australian Indoor Junior Championships in Dubbo, 2-9 July
• Eastern University Games in Wollongong, 3-7 July
• Sydney International Piano Competition, 6-23 July
• Holden State of Origin – Game 3 in Sydney, 13 July
• Archibald Prize Exhibition in Sydney, 16 July-9 October
• Snowtime in the Garden in the Hunter Valley, until 17 July
• Helpmann Awards in Sydney, 25 July
• Australian Surf Festival in Coffs Harbour, from 29 July-15 August

NEW AERIAL PARK AND TREE-CLIMBING EXPERIENCE FOR WESTERN SYDNEY

A new eight-storey aerial park in St Marys has sent Penrith’s Adventure Capital of NSW status soaring.

Skypeak Adventures is a new multi-million dollar attraction next to St Marys Leagues Club which in a world-first, combines an aerial playground with a unique tree-climb experience.

A relocated 28-metre tall River Red Gum Tree is the impressive centrepiece of the new aerial park. The tree’s trunk and branches are incorporated into the aerial courses making them more challenging and exciting for participants.

Skypeak Adventures Chief Executive Officer Amgad Botros says introducing kids and reconnecting adults to the joy of climbing trees was behind this innovative design.

“For kids it will take them away from technology and challenge them in a safe and controlled outdoor environment,” Mr Botros said. “It will also give adults an opportunity to relive one of their favourite pastimes.”

With five courses to choose from and featuring over 100 adrenaline-fuelled aerial challenges including bridge walks, trapeze swings, rope swings, zip lines and free-fall drops, Skypeak Adventures delivers the ultimate thrill for people of all ages.

Penrith Mayor Councillor Karen McKeown says it’s exciting to have another world-class attraction to offer visitors to Penrith.

“Penrith is becoming known as the place to challenge yourself through adventure, face your fears and have a great time in the process. Skypeak Adventures is a wonderful addition to our growing suite of adrenaline attractions and further cements our reputation as the Adventure Capital of NSW.”

For more information on Skypeak Adventures go to http://skypeak.com.au/

Hue recognized as green city

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on June 28 recognized Hue City as a National Earth Hour Capital 2016. Hue is one of 125 cities of 21 nations to attend WWF’s Earth Hour City Challenge 2016 and the first city in Viet Nam that has taken part in the contest.

Participating in the challenge, Hue committed to cut 20% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 2011. The city also mapped out seven specific moves, focusing on developing urban green coverage, eco-tourism products, wastewater and garbage treatment, smart public lighting system, renewable energy and environmentally friendly building materials.

WWF also recognized as National Earth Hour Capitals 2016 seventeen other cities around the world, including Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Boulder (U.S.), Chiangrai (Thailand), Edmonton (Canada), Jakarta (Indonesia), Lappeenranta (Finland), Montería (Colombia), Murcia (Spain), Paris (France), Petaling Jaya (Malaysia), Quito, (Ecuador), Rajkot (India), Santa Rosa (Philippines), Shenzhen (China), Singapore, Tshwane, (South Africa), and Umea (Sweden).

Paris took home the title Global Earth Hour Capital of WWF’s Earth Hour City Challenge this year.

Van Ngoc Thinh, director of WWF Viet Nam, was quoted by Tuoi Tre newspaper as saying that Hue can pioneer in green and sustainable development.

“Viet Nam has been and will be suffering negative impacts of climate change and what Hue City has been doing should be encouraged and applied nationwide,” he told a WWF ceremony for handing over the National Earth Hour Capital 2016 certificate to Hue.

Hue City chairman Nguyen Van Thanh said the city will work harder to make it greener and carry out its socio-economic development plan with a focus on environmental protection and cultural-historical preservation.

Earth Hour City Challenge was launched by WWF in 2011 to call on cities around the world to build a planet which is more environmentally friendly, as well as to develop and implement plans to adapt to climate change and reduce its impacts.

CINDERELLA ON STAGE IN SYDNEY

Producer and recent inmate on Channel 10’s ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’BONNIE LYTHGOE has finished casting her next fabulous pantomime CINDERELLA that will be delight audiences at Sydney’s State Theatre from Friday 1 to Sunday 17 July.

‘The Real Housewives of Melbourne’ favourite GINA LIANO will play Wicked Stepmother, LARA MULCAHY will be Fairy Godmother (direct from starring as ‘Madame Thenardier’ in Les Miserables), JIMMY REES (aka Jimmy Giggle) is ‘Dandini’, KEV ORKIAN is ‘Buttons’, PETER EVERETT is ‘Baron Hardup’, CRAIG BENNETT & JOSH ADAMSON play the ‘Ugly Stepsisters’. ‘Prince Charming’ will be played by Hi5 favourite TIM MADDREN and ‘Cinderella’ will be played by JAIME HADWEN.

The magical rags to riches fairy-tale story of CINDERELLA will feature sumptuous glittering sets, gorgeous fairy-tale costumes, contemporary songs, fabulous dance numbers, riotous comedy magic and bags of audience participation.

Bonnie Lythgoe Productions is Australia’s biggest family musical pantomime producer.

CINDERELLA is the third panto produced by Bonnie Lythgoe after the success of Snow White Winter Family Musical in 2014 followed by Aladdin and His Wondrous Lamp last year. Bonnie has been staging pantos in the USA for a number of years. Well known for her creativity and involvement in global television hits “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance”, Bonnie is dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across Australia by presenting fun, musical theatre that the whole family from the age of 3 to 103 can enjoy.

www.ozpanto.com

Venue: State Theatre, 49 Market Street
Dates: Friday 1 – Sunday 17 July 2016
OPENING NIGHT: Friday 1 July 7.30pm
Show times: Matinees: 11am & 3pm Thursday 7 & 14 July
Wednesday to Saturday 2pm; Sunday 2.30pm
Evenings: Wed to Saturday 7pm (no show Wed 13 July)
Prices: from $50.00 to $90.00 (transaction fees may apply)
Bookings: Ticketmaster 136 100 or ticketmaster.com.au
Groups 10+ SAVE! Call Group Bookings on 1300 889 278 or
email groups@ticketmaster.com.au