There's no place like home...

Spring is in the air and thoughts are turning to the summer and perhaps a holiday. But rather than travel abroad this year, how about a holiday right here in the UK? According to Tom Wright, chief executive of VisitBritain, 80% of the the travel industry in the UK is created by domestic tourism. However, a recent survey by Travelodge of 2,000 adults showed large numbers of people in the the South who have never ventured North for a holiday, and vice-versa. And they're missing out on such wonders as the Lake District, the Eden Project, Warwick Castle, the Loch Ness monster (or perhaps not!). Not to mention our very own European Capital of Culture - Liverpool of course.

“These distinctions [between north and south], whether factual or perceptual, do exist" says Richard Sharpley, professor of tourism at UCL, "[But] they should be celebrated by Brits and I would urge people to travel further afield in the UK to enjoy them.” (Sunday Times, 24.01.08).

Journals - latest issues

JOHLSTE is available free online; latest contents include articles on the theory of e-learning, postgrad students who work part-time, as well as hospitality and tourism students' part-time employment, and postgrad learning styles. The Journal of Heritage Tourism, available via Multilingual Matters, has had a recent special edition looking at managing world heritage sites, developing community-based tourism, heritage and wilderness preservation and the development of the Ecomuseum in Vietnam. Also available in Multilingual Matters, is the Journal of Sustainable Tourism; click here to view contents. Remember, all subscription journals in Multilingual Matters can be accessed on campus only.

ps. Channel Vew Publications, at Multilingual Matters, are calling for papers for the Journal of International Volunteer Tourism and Social Development - a new journal to be available next year.