Travelpulse.com

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast!

My two boys are grown now, 24 and 20, and I always tell them to be careful. And invariably they always say to me that they are grown men and can be trusted.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering educators an exclusive year-round cruise discount and onboard credit. The cruise line is also once again recognizing top teachers—and giving them free cruises—through its Giving Joy program.

Could the summer air travel season be impacted by a potential Congressional amendment?

Goway announced on Monday that the company is expanding its luxury tour itineraries to include several of the most popular National Parks in the United States.

Rendering of Wynn Al Marjan Island. (Photo Credit: Wynn Resorts Media)

Los Angeles, California — The United States has “serious problems” when it comes to international inbound travel that must be resolved if the country is to regain its competitive edge.That’s the assessment of the U.S. Travel Association and its leader Geoff Freeman, the organization’s president and CEO.Freeman delivered his sober take on the problems plaguing inbound travel to the United States during a press conference today in Los Angeles, California where a travel industry convention is taking place.“The United States remains the world’s most desired nation to visit, but at the end of 2019 we had 79 million visitors internationally and in 2023 we had 67 million international visitors," Freeman told the media gathered for the IPW 2024 convention. “That’s only 84 percent of pre-pandemic levels.”“When you look at travel as an export - before the pandemic we had a 12 billion [person] travel trade surplus. At end of last year we had about a 50 billion [person] travel trade deficit,” Freeman added.There's a handful of challenges that the United States currently faces when it comes to attracting international visitors and significantly ramping up inbound numbers, said Freeman. And some of those challenges are within the country’s ability to fix, while others are not.There’s not much that can be done, for instance, about the strength of the U.S. dollar, which makes this country very expensive to visit from many other parts of the world. Similarly, there’s not much U.S. officials can do about the current prohibitions surrounding flights over Russian airspace, which pose a major obstacle for airlines coming to this country from China.However, visa wait times continue to be a significant roadblock for international visitors — and that’s an issue U.S. officials can — and should — be able to fix, Freeman said.“On the visa side, I checked this morning — if you're a Columbian and want to come to the U.S. the wait times are over 600 days to get an interview at a U.S. consulate,” said Freeman. “If you’re in Mexico, the wait times are over 800 days.”By contrast, for visitors from India the wait timeline for visa interviews has recently been reduced to a somewhat more reasonable 150 to 200 days. Similarly, wait times for those visiting from Brazil have been reduced drastically — from what was once 500 days down to just 21 days, according to the U.S. Travel Association.“It shows us that it can be done. When the State Department uses their ingenuity and gets creative and puts resources in the right places, this problem can be solved,” explained Freeman. “But it’s been going on for far too long. It needs to be solved now.”

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. (Photo Credit: Walt Disney World Resort Media)

Nayarit is a land of natural beauty and incredible cultural and historical experiences for travelers to enjoy. If you’re not familiar with this destination, then this is the guide for you. 

On Friday, Hawaii Governor Josh Green signed into law landmark legislation (SB 2919) that grants local governments the power to regulate short-term rentals to meet the needs of their communities. 

Southwest Airlines is introducing new enhancements to its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, offering members greater flexibility and value when it comes to booking flights and hotels. 

Tauck will have a busy year in 2025, with several new itineraries set to make their debut. The line is also boosting its capacity on the Seine River and unveiling the new Tauck River Academy for travel advisors.

O’Hare International Airport in Chicago is one of the biggest and busiest airports in the country. But nobody ever referred to it as a possible money driver.

The United Kingdom (UK) continues to be a top destination for American travelers, but if you’re planning on soaking in some of the country’s incredible dramatic coastlines and picturesque beaches while you’re there on holiday, a word of warning—you may find yourself swimming in sewage if you aren’t careful. 

Hilton announced a new partnership with ResortPass to bring curated day pass packages to participating properties across the Americas.

(Courtesy of The Travel Corporation)

The Dominican Republic is a lush, tropical Caribbean isle perfect for growing cocoa, and farms and tourist initiatives across the island offer the best ways to savor the flavor of chocolate, right where it’s grown and produced. 

Cruise season is officially underway in Montreal.

Caribbean all-inclusive leader Sandals Resorts has concocted a one-of-a-kind gig for one lucky new hire who will get to work sampling and fine-tuning cocktails for its new Poolside Sippers menu. In the exclusive role of Caribbean Cocktail Critic, this person will be part of a stirring pilot program at the company’s newest Jamaican resort, Sandals Dunn’s River.  

Governor Gavin Newsom and Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta just broke the news that California still retains the largest market share of tourism in the entire United States. According to new data released today, travel spending in the Golden State reached a record high of $150.4 billion in 2023, outstripping the previous record amount of $144.9 billion seen in 2019.

Norwegian Cruise Line will team up with a nudist travel company to present a naked cruise. Packing should be quick and easy.