Simultaneously, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) released a statement pointing out that the problems created by UK Border Agency at Heathrow, while bad for Britain’s image and economically damaging, should be viewed in the wider context of the problems caused by issuing visas.

Research conducted by ETOA reveals that hundreds of millions of pounds are lost to the UK economy every year because the visa process is so alienating that applicants give up and decide to go elsewhere.

- The UK tourist visa costs £78, which currently offers two countries: the UK and, courtesy of a recent waiver scheme, Ireland. The Schengen visa costs €60 and offers 26 countries.
- The Schengen visa application form is three pages long; that for the UK is eight pages.
- The UK visa form has to be completed in English. The Chinese do not require their visa forms to be completed in Chinese characters; the Russians do not insist on Cyrillic
- Prospective visitors have to submit fingerprints as well as a photo, make themselves available for an interview at a location that can be hundreds of miles from where they live. They may have to wait for as long as three weeks for a decision
- ETOA’s survey of travel agents and tour operators showed that 26 per cent of Indian and 30 per cent of Chinese clients applying for UK visas gave up rather than endure this time consuming and humiliating application.
- France now attracts over 50 per cent more visitors from India than the UK.
- In 2009, Switzerland joined the Schengen Area. Indian visitor arrivals were at 132,000 in 2008, by 2010 they stood at 197,000; this was growth of 49 per cent. In the same period, the UK numbers rose from 359,000 to 371,000: a growth rate of 3 per cent.
- Since the UK introduced visas for South Africans in 2009, visitor numbers have declined by 24%. In the same year visas were abolished for Taiwanese travelling to the UK. Visitor numbers have since increased by 39 per cent and revenue by 155 per cent.
- Visit Britain’s figures show that just three per cent of Chinese visitors to Europe in 2010 obtained a UK visa, two per cent obtained both UK and Schengen visas and 95 per cent obtained just a Schengen visa

Tom Jenkins, Executive Director of ETOA said: “Images of queues at Heathrow damage the UK; they make the prospect of a visit here tiresome and unattractive. The damage done by this is major, but is short term: it can be fixed quickly. The damage done by our visa regime takes place thousands of miles away, where the clients are, in the origin markets. These markets, such as India, China and Indonesia, are of enormous long term importance to our strategic growth as a destination. They are being lost.

The current government is making efforts to improve the speed and experience of obtaining a UK visa. Given the benefits to jobs and investment, this should have the highest priority.”

Sterling’s solid performance against the Euro has grabbed most of the headlines – it’s up 8.6 per cent on this time last year. But that’s small beer compared to the Pound’s extraordinary 18 per cent appreciation against the Indian Rupee, or its 17.7 per cent increase against the Brazilian Real.

Other popular tourist destinations are also offering substantially better value thanks to the soaring Pound. Anyone booking a South African safari will see their Pounds go 14.1 per cent further against the Rand, while Brits heading for the beaches of Sri Lanka can enjoy an exchange rate that’s 15.1 per cent better than it was in May 2011.

Football fans planning a trip to Poland to watch the Euro 2012 championships already have something to cheer – one Pound now buys 15.9 per cent more Polish Zloty than it did at this time last year.

Meanwhile anyone heading to a stag do in Prague can raise a glass of Pilsner to the fact that the Pound is now worth 12.6 per cent more against the Czech Koruna than it was a year ago.

But it’s not all one-way traffic. Moneycorp data shows that the Pound has weakened 4 per cent against the Chinese Yuan and 3.8 per cent against the Kenyan Shilling relative to this time last year. And for anyone heading off Stateside, the Pound is worth 1.2 per cent less against the US Dollar than May 2011.

Alex Lawson, senior broker at Moneycorp, commented: “Everyone’s talking about how the Pound is soaring against the Euro and that’s understandable given the continuing question marks over the single currency’s future.

“While the EU is by far the most popular overseas holiday destination for Brits, this Euro vision is blinding people to some of the other opportunities that are arising from the strong Pound.

“Sterling has gained against a number of other currencies in the last year and this shouldn’t be overlooked as people consider their holiday options. 18 per cent on the Indian Rupee, 17.7 per cent on the Brazilian Real and just over 14 per cent on the Rand gives anyone heading off to those countries significantly more purchasing power.”

HOT
Burma
It’s official: Burma is back on the map. Bookings to Burma (or Myanmar) have doubled since the National League for Democracy lifted its tourism boycott and encouraged ethical travel. Subsequently tour operators such as the Ultimate Travel Company have added extra dates to their schedule.

In-flight fast food
Hands up if you miss your Maccy Ds when up in the air? Fast food lovers might be able to enjoy their big macs on board in the near future if predictions prove true. A jetcost.co.uk poll found that 46 per cent of Brits believe that fast food outlets like KFC, Burger King et al,  will be available on planes by 2020.

Oscar winning holidays
Destinations that featured in Academy Award nominated films are on the rise. Case in point? Holidays to Hawaii have rocketed by 70 percent thanks to George Clooney’s best actor nomination for The Descendants. Elsewhere Paris has also enjoyed a surge in popularity, after Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris was nominated for Best Picture.

From Russia with love
Russian visitors are flocking to Britain in their droves: 200,000 touched down in Blighty last year alone. As a result British Airways launched a direct flight from London to Moscow on March 25. The 747 flights have a First Class and the 767 have a Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller Class. See www.ba.com for more.

Stockholm for single ladies
Which city is home to the world’s hottest men? Step forward Stockholm. The Swedish city – home of True Blood’s easy on the eye actor, Alexander Skarsgard, topped US website, travelersdigest’s list. New York came second with Sydney – famed for its flaxen haired surfers – in sixth place.

Holidaying at home
The government has launched a ‘Holidays at home are GREAT’ campaign in a bid to encourage more Brits to holiday at home during 2012 – the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and of course, the Olympics. Expect discounts of 20.12 per cent on a host of hotels, restaurants and attractions.

The China girls
Travelling in China is tough, owing to the language and cultural barriers. Enter At Your Side – who offer translators, personal assistants and specialists in Shanghai and Beijing to help you navigate China’s two major metropolises with more confidence and comfort. For the full low down, visit www.atyourside.asia

NOT

Messing with Malaria medication
The NHS has reported a 27 per cent increase in patients seeking treatment for Malaria over the past two years. Malaria is the world’s second biggest killer and is spread by mosquitoes in tropical areas. The message? If you are travelling to afflicted areas, make sure you take your malaria medication.

Boozing abroad
A new survey has revealed that young travellers are consuming a whopping 1,592 calories a day in alcohol while on their hols. Eeek! Given that the average calorie intake for a woman is 2,000 per day and 2,500 per day for a man, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised to find that our waists have widened when we return to the Motherland.

Air fares
Industry insiders have warned that flight prices will continue to rise for the price of jet fuel shows little sign of dropping. So how to avoid paying above the odds? By booking early. Comparison site Fly.com says: “Airlines will be forced to push up their pries or risk going out of business. Consumers should start researching flight prices well in advance of their trip.”

The survey found that:

• 59 per cent of the over-60s surveyed are taking nearly three holidays a year with
• four per cent taking as many as seven holidays a year.
• 70 per cent wanted longer holidays.
• Over-60s are taking the most holidays, now travelling to more exotic locations than any previous generations of that age.
• 99 per cent of respondents say they are more active than their parents and grandparents were at the same age.

The most popular destinations are Africa, India, South-East Asia, China and South America.

Howard Carter, managing director of Incognito, said: “The Baby Boomer generation clearly love their holidays abroad and are now competing with their grandchildren in opting to take gap years as they travel around the world. Clearly the ‘Grey Pound’ is very valuable to the travel industry as young families struggling in the economic downturn opt to stay at home.”

Carter continued: “Crucially this is probably the last generation who will retire on full, index-linked pensions. Their children have left home, they are sitting on huge equity investment in their homes and they have cash to spend.”

Are you a grown up gapper? If so, we want to hear all about your great adventures be they during a career break or after retirement. Get in touch by emailing editor@cd-traveller.com or by posting a comment below

Cupping
I nervously tried this traditional Chinese remedy – an alternative to acupuncture that is reported to boost blood circulation and suck out toxins – and leaves large circular bruises on your back.

It wasn’t pleasant (make no mistake; this treatment is definitely more productive than pampering). My therapist showed no mercy as she moved the suction cups across my back hovering up swathes of skin in quick succession, so as to encourage the flow of qi (energy) around my body. Fast forward 15 minutes and I was left with a mass of sore, swollen and angry looking red welts – the more toxic you are, the deeper the bruising – proof that I had definitely overdone it during the festive season.

Afterwards, however, while enjoying some health conscious cuisine against a backdrop of the soothing sound of pan pipes, I did feel strangely invigorated and my shoulders certainty felt looser – though that might merely have been relief that my torture was over.

CD-Traveller’s verdict: If you’re in need of purifying, give the cupping craze a go: it’s  good enough for Gwyneth Paltrow and La Beckham and, if nothing else, makes a great dinner party story.

Scraping
The Chinese sign up for a scraping session whenever they find themselves afflicted with flu or even a just a common cold. Using what looks like a scalpel, your TCM doctor will quite literally scrape your back and throat in long, languid movements. It’s terrifying but not half as painful as you would think and, against all the odds, really does work. Half an hour after my scraping session, my cold symptoms (weeping eyes and nose) had cleared – something a month of western medicine  failed to accomplish.

CD-Traveller’s verdict: Definitely recommended to anyone suffering from a cold or hacking cough. It’s not for the squeamish (see picture above) but is an effective (and affordable) way to get your body back on track.

Acupuncture
The ancient Chinese favourite sees needles inserted into the skin at seminal pressure points to improve your energy flow and repair any imbalances. In China, acupuncture tends to be offered at clinics and hospitals but in Britain, salons and spas such as Ragdale Hall (www.ragdalehall.co.uk) administer acupuncture.

I smiled weakly as my therapist produced the needles but my fears were misguided. For the most part, my acupuncture experience was a relaxing one – only proving mildly unpleasant when the needles entered an area where my flow of energy (or Chi as they say in China) was blocked.

CD-Traveller’s verdict: Surprisingly relaxing. Don’t believe me? Just ask the Iraq war veterans who are turning to acupuncture in their droves to ease their pain. However one acupuncture treatment is rarely enough: a course is recommend for optimum health.

Chinese Reflexology
Aka a supremely painful foot massage. Pressure is applied to various points on the feet, all of which relate to our organs. Again if the flow of energy is blocked, pain is felt. My therapist was able to ascertain from my winces that my kidneys aren’t functioning as well as they could/should. She wasn’t wrong: I have had kidney problems in the past.

CD-Traveller’s verdict: Worth a try for anyone who feels one degree under most of the time – and not just in January.

Chinese pedicure
Ask the stylish Shanghainese the secret to looking (and feeling great) and they’ll reply: good grooming. Even during an arctic winter when feet are hidden away, encased in man made fibres, the Chinese never mistreat their feet. The Chinese argue that a pedicure leaves you feeling more groomed than all the other beauty procedures (read: masks, scrubs and the sort) put together; it’s almost part of your outfit… Fish pedicures, dead skin scraping, cuticle clearing (don’t panic – it’s all terrific, not terrifying) are the name of the beauty game before polish is applied by therapists with hands so steady as to make Petr Cech look shaky. 45 minutes later, you’ll be left with fabulous looking feet.

CD-Traveller’s verdict: As pick me ups go, pedicures are affordable and quick. Translation? Even the time poor and budget conscious now have no excuse for not having baby soft heels…

Tui Na massage
Tui Na is an oil free massage where therapists rub, press, squeeze and work their way around a body as though with the claws of a satisfied cat. So don’t be surprised if your therapist uses his or her forearms, feet, elbows, knuckles and knees to knead out your knots. While it might not sound in the slightest bit relaxing (there’s no scented candles or pan pipe music playing in the background), at the end you’ll leave feeling invigorated and re balanced. In China, both men and women have Tui Na massages at least once a month, to soothe away the stresses and strains of modern life.

CD-Traveller’s verdict: A must. This is one of the best, not to mention cheapest, massages we have ever had.

China is arguably the only country to have emerged from the financial crisi relatively unscathed yet this time around I wasn’t remotely tempted to take up the offer. For one thing, I have a job – at CD-Traveller towers – that I absolutely adore (cheesey but true) but leaving work to one side,  even George Clooney couldn’t persuade me to leave London in 2012.

The capital has entered the most extraordinary and exciting year, with the Olympic and Paralympic Games guaranteeing a summer like no other. Of course London in 2012 isn’t only about sport. There’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations to look forward to, plus a cornucopia of cultural events.

In February we have the Lucien Freud exhibition over at the National Portrait Gallery, while Daniel Barenboim arrives at the Royal Festival Hall in April. Factor in London Fashion Week next month, the Arts Festival in June and a summer that will see an array of events including free al fresco music sessions in Heddon Street and West End musicals in Trafalgar Square and you have to wonder: why would anyone in their right mind leave?

Or as The Clash once sang:
“London calling at the top of the dial.

And after all this, won’t you give me a smile?

London calling

I never felt so much alive”

Jane Egginton

As London and much of the western world shakes off its collective New Year hangover, there is an altogether more exciting, colourful, and even spiritual celebration to look forward to.

Spectacular lion and dragon dances, giant puppets, leaping acrobats and ear-splitting firecrackers kick off the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations in the world outside Asia. Chinese New Year actually falls on 23 January in 2012, but a full day of festivities in central London on 29 January will see the 60th year that they have taken place in the UK.

Enthralling lion dances take place throughout the streets around Trafalgar Square accompanied by loud drums and cymbals that are believed to ward off bad luck. They are just part of a full programme of free events including a parade and musical and cultural performances. Visitors can graze at food stalls in the streets surrounding Leicester Square, slowly making their way to Chinatown for impromptu street parties and more eating and dancing.

Festivities continuing throughout February will welcome in the Year of the Dragon. In Chinese astrology, this special sign (the only one representing a mythical creature) signifies larger than life happenings and spectacular successes for the coming year. With the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee and a host of spin off events taking place throughout the city this year, 2012 certainly looks set to be an auspicious year for London.

image © sheng-fa lin

Celebrations will be taking place across London, with Chinese restaurants offering special menus and the National Maritime Museum hosting a full programme of family activities, with a procession, workshop, performances and theatre on 18 February to usher in the Chinese New Year from a historical perspective.

The British Film Institute will mark Chinese New Year by putting on a quartet of films throughout February to offer a fascinating insight into the cultural history of China. Chosen to coincide with the start of Chinese New Year, the month-long film season will launch with a biopic of the legendary grandfather of Chinese Philosophy, Confucius on 4 February.

The £10-million blockbuster is one of a handful to have been backed by the Chinese government and the most expensive Chinese movie ever made. It’s screening will be followed by A Simple Life, an emotional account of the poignant theme of growing old, that swept the board at China’s version of the Oscars and Unseen China, a rarely shown documentary that sensitively examines the complexities of Chinese contemporary life. The BFI programme culminates in screening of the slightly more left field Woman Basketball PLayer No. 5. Dating back to 1957 and London’s Chinatown’s first flush of youth, when it caused a huge stir, the film documents the heartbreaking account of a coach who successfully inspires Shanghai’s female basketball team.

Shanghai Blues offers dancing and feasting on the night of 23rd January, with Rich Mix, one of London’s most exciting cultural venues, putting on a unique – and free – combination of performances, workshops and events as well as food stalls.

While the public New Year’s commemoration lasts for one day, traditional celebrations last as many as 15 days. During this time, with echoes of Hogmanay, the Chinese clean their houses and decorate them with red scrolls to banish bad luck. They may also get a new haircut and buy some new clothes. Food typically comprises of dumplings and vegetarian fare, with gifts of envelopes containing ‘good luck’ paper money.

A quarter of million people from around the world will join in the Chinese New Year celebrations in London this year. That is as many as the number that will visit London Eye on the Southbank and who witnessed the firework displays in the capital during the dog days of 2011. Millions more watch these events on television screens around the world.

London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks heralded the beginning of an exciting year for London. The Mayor has put his name to a full city wide programme of free events that will take place in the build up to the Olympic games. Look out for highlights such as SECRETS showcasing the city’s hidden locations, SHOWTIME, an outdoor arts festival. Full details and news will be announced throughout 2012 on a new website that was launched on 31 December www.molpresents.com

Sixty years ago Elizabeth II became Queen of the United Kingdom, the start of a reign that continues today, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap opened in London, now the longest running stage show in the world, and a deadly fog engulfed London and the word smog was invented.

Following hot on the heels of the Chinese New Year celebrations is Maslenitsa, the Russian Sun Festival on 26 February, a free event in Trafalgar Square. It is just the second time this unique celebration of the end of the chill of winter and the beginning of the warm start of spring will take place in London. The world has a bright future of events to look forward to in London over the coming months and ‘A summer like no other’ as it is being billed.

A little bit of history

We may all know that London’s Chinatown has been a cornerstone of city life since the 1950s, but who knew that the colourful quarter was originally in the East End? Chinese sailors first landed in the Docklands during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) and a hundred years later a small Chinese community had developed around Limehouse.

The Blitz and the near decimation of the British shipping industry meant it was almost impossible for the Chinese to find work on the ships. But one happy result of the war meant that British soldiers had developed a new found love of Chinese food, and Chinatown’s restaurants were born in an area once known for its cheap rent and exciting nightlife.

Alan Locher

What do you like to do on holiday?
I love travelling and exploring different countries.  If I return to the same country, I always try to see a different city or do something new to make it a unique experience.

Where did you last go?
My partner and I just returned from a 10 day trip to California, driving down the coast from San Francisco to San Diego.  I had done this trip before but had never been to Solvang or travelled as far south as San Diego.  We spent time in San Fran, Carmel, Santa Barbara, and Solvang before arriving in San Diego.

The Great Wall of China

Of all the places you’ve been to, which was your favourite and why?
China! China wasn’t on the top of my list of places to visit, but I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed that trip.  We spent time in Shanghai, Beijing, Xian and Guilin.   We were in Beijing when President Obama became President finding out via Blackberry that he won.

Do you know where you’re going next?
We are headed to Amsterdam in the first half of 2012 for a ceremony that will honour the family that hid my mother and grandmother away, during WW II.

Amsterdam

How do you plan your holiday?
We plan the location first and then figure out all the other cities or excursions we want to experience, while we are there.

How often do you go away?
We try to take one big trip a year with some weekend get-aways thrown in during the winter / summer months.

Who do you travel with?
The majority of my travels are done with my partner.  Depending on where we go, we might be travelling with some friends or family thrown in.

In Boston, what would you recommend tourists see that isn’t in the travel guides?
There is so much to explore in Boston.  It’s all about the history, sports and food.  There are some great up and coming hot spots like Jamaica Plain or Southie (South Boston).  I always recommend spending time in the city proper, but also branching out.  Check out www.mysecretboston.com as they are known for highlighting ‘secret’ things the travel guides might have missed.

Thanks Alan! For more information on On Location Tours, please visit www.screentours.com/tour.php/boston/

Sounds good? Sure but it would be slobby to spend all your time in Tianjin holed up in a hotel. CD-Traveller tells you how to get the most of out the maritime city, regardless of whether you have one day or four.

St Regis Tianjin

One day
Spend a not to be missed morning becoming acquainted with Tianjin’s old quarter. Much of the action revolves around Ancient Culture Street  and the Drum Tower – with its decorative archways and elegant opera towers – but the Confucian Temple  and Guangdong Guild Hall are also worth a punt. Once you’ve gotten the old town out of the way, amble over to the Italian Concession or Jin Wan Plaza  – top spots for an alfresco lunch.

Refuelled? Make for the open air museum that is Jiefang Lu. Unlike Shanghai, the colonial buildings here haven’t been reconstructed, and an air of fading grandeur prevails. Next, bust out your black Amex and hit Heping Lu for some serious retail therapy. Aim to end your day with dinner at Goubuli followed by drinks at Sitong  or City Space.

Two days
Wudadao tops the sightseeing agenda for day two. As you wander around this gem of a district with its international architecture, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that you’re in Tianjin. A stone’s throw away is Yue Wei Xian. The line out of the door can remind you of queuing to get into a nightclub in your teens, but the Cantonese cuisine and collection of fascinating antiques and artifacts are worth the wait.

Ticked off Wudadao? Check out the TV Tower for jaw- dropping views of Tianjin and the Memorial Hall to Zhou Enlai  for the low-down on the former Premier and the city’s famous son. For a change of pace, take yourself off to Tianjin Waterpark where you’ll have no obligation other than to relax and read a book in one of the park’s pavilions. Have dinner at Kissling and then bounce between the bars of nearby Xiaobailou.

Three days
Three days is the optimum amount of time in which to properly get to grips with this enchanting city. Follow the same route as the two day travel plan, only at a more leisurely pace. You’ll also have time to pile on the pounds at Nanshi Food Street, ride the only wheel to be built over a bridge and admire the architectural feat that is the Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium.

Four days
On a four day trip you’ll be able to explore further afield. Standouts include the Shi Family Grand Courtyard, Pan Mountain and the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall. Meanwhile Pringles wearers won’t want to miss the chance to hone their game. Can’t see the attraction of chasing a little white ball up and down a fairway? Golf widows can always enjoy some ‘me time’ at one of the city’s sumptuous spas.

For more top Tianjin ideas, please see: http://www.cd-traveller.com/2010/09/20/tianjin-uncovered/