Can Travel Change the World?
February 18th 2009 16:28
Some 50 years ago the first ever transatlantic passenger flight took place with a service to New York. This saw an extreme turnaround in how travel was percieved by the general public. Places that had only ever been a part of their dreams where now a reality. Sonce that 1st flight all them years ago, we have never looked back, having taken to the skies and discovering some of the remote destinations of the woeld in ever increasing numbers. But the question is can travel chane the world, is it opening our minds to other people or is it just closing them and cementing cultural divisions?
According to Martin Davidson, CMG chief executive 'international connections between people will only develop good relation and understanding if there is an interest ont he part of the traveler'. For example, the Brits tend to be quite bad at this, when they travel they want to go somewhere where they are able to find "english stuff" this shows in the fact that Spain and the USa are the 2 of the most visited places by the british. Spain have changed their costal destination to sppeal to the british by creating english style pubs, serving sunday roats and fish and chips. In this case, all air travel has done is brought england to Spain rather than showing the traditional features of the country. Most other european countries when holidaying go the extra mile to try new things and understand the culture of the country they are in.
However, Mark Tamer, cheif executive of ABTA, believes that this national stereotype of british eating fish and chips while drinking a beer and making no attempt to speak the local language is somthing than can no longer be justified. This can be seen in a number of ways, firstly have you been into a supermarktet recetly, have you seen the food on offer? These days you can buy paella, mussels, mousakka, schnitzel, crepes now do you think these would be on our shelves in mass if the british hadn't been on holiday to tryt hem in the first place. Probably not, but their minds have been open to new things. In fact many british like it that much that they now own property abroad, with the large majority in Spain. SOme may say that they are only there for the sun but really they are adapting to the more relaxed way of life and healthy lifestyle.
Is this the Golden Age of Tourism?
Simon Calder 'Senior travel editor of the indepent, believes thatwe are in fact in the Golden age of travel. Thanks to the many low-cost airlines and do-it0yourself companies online allowing overall costs to be reduced. We also have thr basic sort after commodities of sun, sea and sand being available to everyone now even thise in the lowest income bracket. When air travel 1st begun one would have to work approx 12 weeks in order to have enough money to fly to New York and back, these days with the flights from London to New York averaging £300 return on minimum wage just one weeks work could see you on your way!
Ryanair and Easyjet
These two companies have done alot more than any intitiative put forward by the EU, they have opened up the contintent. They have stimulated our minds towrds the interest in other countries language, cuisine and landscapes that have been on our doorsteps all along.
Yesm,i believe we can safely say that travel has gone someway in chaning the world, and defintley for the better. So next time your booking a break, take a chance, visit somewhere different and let your bodys tastbuds go wild and taste a new culture!
According to Martin Davidson, CMG chief executive 'international connections between people will only develop good relation and understanding if there is an interest ont he part of the traveler'. For example, the Brits tend to be quite bad at this, when they travel they want to go somewhere where they are able to find "english stuff" this shows in the fact that Spain and the USa are the 2 of the most visited places by the british. Spain have changed their costal destination to sppeal to the british by creating english style pubs, serving sunday roats and fish and chips. In this case, all air travel has done is brought england to Spain rather than showing the traditional features of the country. Most other european countries when holidaying go the extra mile to try new things and understand the culture of the country they are in.
However, Mark Tamer, cheif executive of ABTA, believes that this national stereotype of british eating fish and chips while drinking a beer and making no attempt to speak the local language is somthing than can no longer be justified. This can be seen in a number of ways, firstly have you been into a supermarktet recetly, have you seen the food on offer? These days you can buy paella, mussels, mousakka, schnitzel, crepes now do you think these would be on our shelves in mass if the british hadn't been on holiday to tryt hem in the first place. Probably not, but their minds have been open to new things. In fact many british like it that much that they now own property abroad, with the large majority in Spain. SOme may say that they are only there for the sun but really they are adapting to the more relaxed way of life and healthy lifestyle.
Is this the Golden Age of Tourism?
Simon Calder 'Senior travel editor of the indepent, believes thatwe are in fact in the Golden age of travel. Thanks to the many low-cost airlines and do-it0yourself companies online allowing overall costs to be reduced. We also have thr basic sort after commodities of sun, sea and sand being available to everyone now even thise in the lowest income bracket. When air travel 1st begun one would have to work approx 12 weeks in order to have enough money to fly to New York and back, these days with the flights from London to New York averaging £300 return on minimum wage just one weeks work could see you on your way!
Ryanair and Easyjet
These two companies have done alot more than any intitiative put forward by the EU, they have opened up the contintent. They have stimulated our minds towrds the interest in other countries language, cuisine and landscapes that have been on our doorsteps all along.
Yesm,i believe we can safely say that travel has gone someway in chaning the world, and defintley for the better. So next time your booking a break, take a chance, visit somewhere different and let your bodys tastbuds go wild and taste a new culture!
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