The Travel Industry Association of America (TIAS) recently warned that several new security measures intended to deter terrorists from entering the United States will also quite likely put off foreign tourists. The rules, which will take effect over coming months, means that all tourists who require a visa to enter the US will be interviewed by immigration officials. The TIAS notes that by January, the government will expand its tracking system for foreign visitors, which will include fingerprints and photographs. Officials say the changes are necessary for protection against terrorism. Travel executives, representing the largest airlines, hotels, cruise lines and car rental companies were critical, saying that the measures could further weaken the tourism industry. Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, there has been a 20% drop on the number of international visitors to the US.

What does this mean for foreign visitors? US visa staff in embassies and consulates around the world will begin to interview almost all tourists who apply for visas, and this will create significant delays. In the past, consular officials had the option of allowing tourists who did not present security risks or did not seem likely to overstay their visas to apply by mail. In countries assessed likely to be sources of terrorists or illegal aliens, consular officials already routinely conduct interviews of visa applicants. For visitors from the 27 or so countries, mostly in Europe, who are not required to obtain visas, they will be required to produce computer-readable passports. Most British and Japanese visitors already have such passports, but travellers coming from France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland do not routinely carry computer-readable passports.

This is the second of three descriptions of the 24 sites of “outstanding universal value”, that have been designated world heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

These are as follows:

· The Jewish Quarter and St Procopius' Basilica in Trebic, Czech Republic: A reminder of the co-existence of Jewish and Christian cultures in the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. The Jewish Quarter provides an insight into a community of a bygone era, while the St Procopius' Basilica, built in the 13th Century, is an example of the influence of Western European architecture on the region.

· James Island and related sites, Gambia: Significant for its relation to the beginning and abolition of the slave trade. An early gateway to the interior of Africa.

· Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, India: Located in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau. Contains five clusters of natural rock shelters, displaying paintings that appear to date from the Mesolithic period right through to the Historical period.

· Takht-e Soleyman, Iran: The archaeological site in north-western Iran includes the principal Zoroastrian sanctuary partly rebuilt in the Ilkhanid (Mongol) period (13th Century) as well as a temple of the Sasanian period (6th and 7th Centuries AD) dedicated to Anahita.

· Ashur (Qala'at at Sherqat), Iraq: The ancient city of Ashur dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. From the 14th to the 9th Centuries BC, it was the first capital of the Assyrian Empire. The city was destroyed by the Babylonians, but revived during the Parthian period in the 1st and 2nd century AD.

· The White City of Tel-Aviv – the Modern Movement, Israel: The White City was constructed from the early 1930s until 1948. The buildings were designed by European-trained architects, who created an outstanding architectural ensemble of the modern movement in a new cultural context.

· Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, Italy: The nine Sacri Monti (Sacred Mountains) of northern Italy are groups of chapels and other architectural features created in the late 16th and 17th Centuries and dedicated to different aspects of the Christian faith.

· The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Kazakhstan: The mausoleum, in the town of Yasi, now Turkestan, was built from 1389 to 1405. It is one of the largest and best-preserved constructions of the Timurid period (1370-1507 AD).

Source: BBC News

Oh dear, oh dear, the airline we love to hate, Ryanair has just got itself into trouble in Germany, for saying that it flies to Dussledorf.

A court in Cologne said that it was deceptive advertising to use the description Niederheim (Dussledorf) as the airport is over 40 miles away from the city. (Is that all? Beetle). Ryanair accused Lufthansa and Dussledorf Airport of supporting the action brought against it by an Unfair Competition organisation. Lufthansa has denied the claim.

And still on the subject of court action, a French court has upheld complaints against low-fare carrier Ryanair and stopped the airline from accepting local subsidies (EUR560,000 (USD$644,000) a year from the local Chamber of Commerce) to publicise flights and build up passenger numbers on the London Stansted – Strasbourg route.

It is the first time a ruling has been made barring the airline from making financial deals with local tourist authorities or airports to boost its passenger traffic. Ryanair says it will appeal against the decision.

OK, don’t look – can you name the five largest lakes in the world? A quick clue, one of them is a sea.