The travel industry accounted for 11.4 percent of the total number of U.S. jobs created so far this year, according to an analysis of the Labor Department’s just-released jobs report for July.

For the first time in three years, a majority of Americans plan on taking a vacation. A majority (51 percent) of Americans say they’re confident (36 percent very confident/15 percent somewhat confident) that they will take a vacation in 2011, defined as leisure travel of at least a week to a destination at least 100 miles from their home.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that demand for air travel softened in June; traffic trends continue upward but at a slower pace. Compared to June 2010, passenger demand was up 4.4 percent.

The appearance of low-cost carrier REDjet in the relations between the countries of Caricom brought to the fore a number of issues, in particular the conviction by the public that the cost of air travel in the region is exorbitant.

Ports closer to home, ports cheaper to fly to, ports with the opportunity to drive rather than fly - all are becoming more attractive to cruisers. While the ports serving Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami are the most popular, for some Canadians that’s still a long trip. New Orleans and Galveston are looking to become an alternative for the heartland of the country.

The Caribbean’s share of the global cruise market has been declining steadily over the last several decades. That was the assessment of President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA) Nathan Dundas, who said as a destination, the Caribbean at one time represented over 60 percent of all cruises.