US Travel Leaders Head to Egypt and Jordan on "Restoring the Journey" Tour

Is it safe to travel to Egypt and Jordan? Travelers aren't so sure, and tourism is down significantly in the Middle East.

The presidents of leading US-based travel associations are heading to the region tomorrow for a six-day trip. Sponsored by the tourism ministries of Egypt and Jordan, the “Restoring the Journey” trip is both a fact-finding mission and a way for the U.S. travel industry to show its support for Middle East tourism.

I will be joining the leaders of the USTOA, NTA, ATTA and ASTA on this tour and will be providing live coverage on Downtown Traveler's Twitter and Facebook pages.

For more information, read the full post here:
"Is it safe to travel to Egypt and Jordan? US tourism leaders to investigate"

Photo courtesy of Visit Jordan

Follow Downtown Traveler on Twitter and Facebook for continued coverage of the “Restoring the Journey” trip.

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Huffington Post review of NYC's indoor pop-up park

New Yorkers have one more day to visit the Openhouse Gallery pop-up park. The chirping birds, green grass and trees may be artificial, but this is the closest you'll get to the real thing until springtime! Click on my Huffington Post article to learn more about the park:

"New York City's Indoor Pop-up Park Is a Winter Escape"

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"Meet the Local Expert" debuts on Downtown Traveler

Aruba expert Keirsin Tjon Pian Gi

During my round the world trip, I often found myself in cities where I didn't know a soul. I was eager to get out and explore but I wasn't sure where to go. Guide books pinpointed the tourist boutiques and theme restaurants, but didn't include the hottest bars or latest attractions. 

I discovered that the best advice comes from locals who know their hometowns inside and out. As a result, we're launching a new feature on Downtown Traveler called Meet the Local Expert.

We'll interview travelers and members of the tourism industry to uncover their insider tips.

The first "local expert" is Keirsin Tjon Pian Gi of the Aruba Marriott resort. She shares her knowledge of Aruba's food, music and attractions-- and reveals that she will be dancing in the 2011 carnival parade!

Click here to read the first installment of Meet the Local Expert:

>> Meet the Local Expert: Interview with Aruba Marriott’s social media specialist

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