Despite a 15 percent to 40 percent decline in hotel room occupancy and revenue compared to the same period last year, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism Senator Richard “Ricky” Skerritt said employee layoffs should only be a last resort for cost reduction.

Madeleine de Grandmaison, chairwoman of the Martinique Tourism Authority, issued the following statement today celebrating the official resolution of a general strike in effect on the island over the past few weeks:

Travel industry leaders met with President Obama to discuss the unique role that travel can play in strengthening the American economy. The meeting focused on two critical areas: the need to welcome more international visitors and the business community’s concerns about the dramatic nationwide downturn in meetings and events. “We are pleased that President Obama recognizes the power of travel to strengthen America’s economy,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association. “The travel community has an ally in President Obama, and we appreciate the leadership he intends to bring to increasing travel to and within the United States.” The travel industry employs 7.7 million Americans and generates more than US$740 billion in spending annually. “Travel will play a critical role in driving America’s economic recovery,” said Jonathan Tisch, chairman of Loews Hotels and chairman emeritus of the US Travel Association. “We are pleased to have the support of President Obama and his team and look forward to working with them in the days ahead.” In the meeting, industry leaders discussed the urgent need to pass the Travel Promotion Act, which would establish the first-ever US promotion and communications campaign to attract millions of additional international visitors to the United States annually and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Overseas visitors spend an average of $4,000 per person, per visit. Participants also discussed the need to maximize the benefits of business meetings and events, which generate more than US$100 billion in spending and create more than one million jobs that are the lifeblood of local communities across the country.

The FlyFreeForHealth platform is a medical concierge network, providing visitors medical advice via its portal. The Singapore startup, which was established in August 2008, provides services designed for foreigners looking to receive medical care in the region. The new e-service aims to help patients make travel arrangements into the region, in addition to pairing them with the appropriate hospitals.

A range of new developments were unveiled by the Singapore Tourism Board at a breakfast meeting in New York City, as the destination seeks to stem the tide of falling tourism numbers.

Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast wants to make sure travelers are no longer in the dark about their part of the Sunshine State. Seeking a spot on the national tourism stage, the region’s beach communities will henceforth be collectively known as “The Beach.”