Tourist-drawing events in 2011 will be wide-ranging
Events that will have major influences on travel in 2011 will run the gamut: from a royal wedding to the start of the Civil War, to the tragic anniversary of 9-11 in New York to the more light-hearted opening of Legoland in Central Florida.
Tourism officials worldwide increasingly recognize the value of events, planned or not. A Canadian study found that national events and festivals last year contributed US$650 million to the economy there.
“This study confirms the crucial economic role played by major cultural festivals and events across our country,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival Group.
Long-anticipated events this year include:
—If Charles and Di got 600,000 people for their wedding, could one million royal watchers turn up for the April 29 affair with the Prince William and Kate Middletown in Westminster Abbey? Some sites are predicting that number.
—Increased hotel rates are already starting, as well as minimum stays. And this is just a warm-up for 2012, when there will be the Summer Olympics and the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
—This year is also the 150th anniversary of the start of the US’s Civil War, though not everyone agrees that it actually started back then. But backers of what they call the first shot of the war will be holding various events at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC. Other sites are expected to host various celebrations.
—New York has also increasingly turned up on hot lists for 2011, including the No. 1 city in Lonely Planet’s "Best in Travel 2011" guidebook. But even bigger crowds should be on hand when a new memorial is expected to be unveiled.
—The spot close to where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington will draw thousands of tourists to a new national memorial on Aug. 28.
—The biggest theme- park news last year was the opening of a Harry Potter attraction at the Universal theme park. This year, theme-park fans will have a look at Legoland at the former Cypress Garden Park in Winter Haven.
—Disney will also be trying to pair news with attendance with the debut of a ride called “The Little Mermaid” at Disneyland in California. And the launch of the Disney Dream cruise ship, which begins sailings Jan. 26. The ship redefines big. It has a water coaster that wraps around an entire deck.
As always, other long-established yearly events such as Mardi Gras will draw its usual horde of tourists. The city is launching a new tourism campaign to attract more young people.
Several other destinations believe celebrity attention will bring in more visitors, such as Australia’s US$4 million budget to host Oprah Winfrey and her fans on a week-long trip down under.
And even Sarah Palin could get into the act. Tourism officials in Alaska are hoping the cable TV show by the former US Vice Presidential candidate will attract a lot more visitors.
Overall, most observers see travel starting to slowly increase this year over 2010.
By David Wilkening
David
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