Italy’s position as a world leading tourism destination seems unlikely to dwindle as domestic figures continue to rise. Italians show a strong passion for their homeland, being the main visitors to the paradisiacal southern regions and creating an increased demand for rental property in these areas. Tourism figures reflect sharp growth in the past two years: International tourism arrivals to Italy amounted to over 40 million visitors in 2006 according to UN World Tourism Organization, giving the country the impressive ranking of 5th most popular destination in the world. Tourist arrival numbers rose by 17.2% in 2007, therefore we may be pleasantly surprised when new UN ranking figures are released in June this year. The findings come as no surprise, with cities like Rome or Venice seldom being matched in travel brochures and Milan and Rome having climbed their way into the “Top 50 Most Expensive Cities in the World”, according to a survey carried out by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Meanwhile, stunning countryside draws discerning visitors seeking the charms of Italy’s most stunning rural retreats.

Italy’s GDP continues to be amongst the world’s top ten, with a gross national income per capita of over $32,000. After undergoing a mass exodus to the cities in the past decades, nationals are now returning to their rural origins, favoring a more relaxed and homely approach to holidays. The fast emerging southern region of Calabria alone saw over 209,000 Italian visitors in 2006, with 2007 figures still under review. However, with the World Travel and Tourism Organization forecasting a 2% growth in 2008 and subsequent years, it is highly unlikely that figures will drop.

Calabria is now regarded as a strong emerging property market, with high anticipated rental yields in key holiday locations. Indeed, prospects for buy-to-let investors in southern Italian regions are high: domestic demand, complemented by a distinguished international presence, creates a perfect combination for landlords looking forward to having as few vacant weeks a year as possible.

Amazing Thailand 2008″ - Thailand’s latest destination marketing initiative which incorporates the use of the e-marketing channels to promote ‘Amazing Thailand’ online which is expected to response in not only a greater revenue outcome to the travel suppliers as well the country but also a better reputation of Thailand tourism to world wide online travelers. TAT launched “E-marketing for Amazing Thailand 2008″ on January 28th 2008, introducing 5 new projects for the year, each targeting the inbound travelers from countries through out the world. The objective is to increase tourism in Thailand and create a better impression by conducting different online marketing activities for the focused group travelers via various online channels through the announced amazing Thailand campaign.

The announced 5 projects of “E-Marketing for Amazing Thailand 2008″ campaign consists of: Thailand Amazing Deals Project is to promote the travel products of Thailand by launching a mini. Her Own Way: “Thailand - The Woman’s Paradise” Project is to promote the travel products categorized under golf, shopping, beauty and spa by launching a mini site: targeting women travelers from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Middle East.

Thailand Portfolio Project is to promote tourism in Thailand by distributing online travel content comprising of photos, videos and travel articles through 9 worlds’ most famous user-generated media websites targeting world wide online travelers.

Amazing Shot… Amazing Experience Contest is to organize an online event, VDO competition, for both domestic and international travelers to send their travel experiences in Thailand through VDO clips format under the concept of “Amazing Shot.. Amazing Experience!” in order to win TAT’s amazing prizes.

In its second annual Global Property Hot Spots roundup, currency specialist HiFX reveals an increase in enquiries over the past 3 years regarding less traditional overseas property destinations like Bulgaria and China, while interest in old favorites such as France and Spain has declined. The report, based on an analysis of enquiries received by the firm, has found France and Spain to be consistently at the top of popular destinations for Brits buying abroad in recent years.

However, the lead of these traditional holiday home countries is being lessened by new emerging markets where investors are vying for properties that will deliver quick growth. Interest in Bulgaria in 2007 was double what it was in 2005, while enquiries relating to property in China increased from zero in 2005 to 3% in 2007, which is more than were received for more traditional destinations such as Portugal and Cyprus.

Over the last 10 years the Western world has enjoyed the biggest property boom in its history, creating a whole generation of potential property investors. Indeed, house prices have boomed in almost every developed market with the exception of Germany and Japan. But with developed economy markets at their current high, investors are increasingly turning their attention away from the traditional markets like Spain and to the emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe and (new for 2008) even farther flung destinations such as Brazil, Egypt and, the canoeist’s favorite, Panama!

According to the report, interest in Spain has decreased by 2% since 2006 and is 10% lower than in 2005. Interest in France remained steady from 2006 to 2007; however enquiries last year were down 7% compared to 2005.

Jean Fears recently finished the final chapter on a family history project that spanned 54 years. With some sadness, Fears realized it was time to end the monthly newsletter she and her eight siblings kept going all these years. It didn’t matter if they were traveling in distant countries, working long hours or nursing children or spouses through illness, everyone counted on the newsletter arriving in the mail to keep them informed about what was going on in each other’s lives. After her brother died last month, only Fears and an invalid sister in New Mexico remain. By sharing her family’s story, Fears hopes others will see the value in regular correspondence, especially if the family is scattered.

Even ordinary daily events can be meaningful decades later. In one entry, for example, an older brother who lived on a ranch out West told about using a new electric saw for the first time. What an improvement it was over cutting logs with a manual saw, he reported.

The newsletter never would have happened without the initiative and persistence of Fears’ late sister Clara, a stern taskmaster who insisted everyone send their family news to her by the first of the month. She typed it up and had copies made on onionskin paper with an old-fashioned mimeograph machine for years. The carrot at the end of the stick was the prompt arrival of the newsletter each month.

In an effort to expose the Pensacola Bay Area’s rich black cultural heritage to a wider audience, the Bay Area Visitors Guide for African-American Guests has been designed in a digitized format. Plans are for prominent tourism and travel groups to distribute the guide, set to be released Jan. 1, said Eugene Franklin, president of the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce. Headquartered in Pensacola, the statewide group, in partnership with several affiliates, first published a 28-page travel guide in 2006 — 40,000 printed copies were inserted into Pathfinders Travel magazine, a national summer travel publication that has more than 100,000 subscribers.

In addition to subscribers, the new digitized version of the guide will allow for a distribution of more than 60,000 to travel agents and tourism directors nationwide, Franklin said. “The return on investment for local businesses is expected to be significant.”Hank Harris, director of the National Black Tourism Bureau, participated in the production of both travel guides.”We want people to know the contributions blacks have made and are continuing to make in this community,” he said. “Many of those contributions can be easily seen as people visit our shops, restaurants and other entities.”