Scanner column sparks reaction...Nuts on planes... China rising

Im an idiot.

No, wait, I'm a genius.

My Saturday Travel column on scanners in airports is posted on our website already, and I've already received dozens of emails; both pro and con. I'm not used to the attention, I gotta say. But I feel strongly about the issue. And so do you, which is great.

So, rather than listen to me rant any more about shutting up and getting scanned, I'll put together some of your thoughts in the next few days and post your comments online and in the paper. Sound fair?

I don't particularly like being called a moron, but that's the price you pay when you stick your neck out. And I've heard worse from my family over the years, so that's fine.

NUTS TO YOU

Interesting that Air Canada might have to provide nut free zones on planes. Guess it makes sense. I have a mild nut allergy but I understand some folks have it much, much worse.

Sill, you gotta wonder where it will end. Personally, what I want is a "no kids kicking the back of my seat" zone and a "no slamming your seat back into my lap and spilling hot coffee on my only good pair of pants" zone. But that's just me.

CHINA RISING

Spotted this on travelmole, and it only goes to show what incredible opportunities there are for folks involved in China tourism, as well as selling cars and cement and potash.

"Total revenue in China's tourism industry is expected to grow 13 percent to hit US$205 billion in 2010, as the country rolls out favourable policies to back the industry, said the China Tourism Academy in a new report.

Chinese tourists are forecast to make 2.1 billion domestic trips this year, up 12 percent from 2009.

The number of inbound trips by overseas tourists would reach 136 million, up eight percent from a year earlier, while outbound trips by Chinese tourists would advance 15 percent to 54 million.

The Chinese government posted guidelines last December to promote the development of the tourism industry, vowing to lower market threshold and simplify approval procedures for tourism enterprises, and encourage local authorities to attract overseas investment, opening the domestic tourism market to foreign companies.

Canada recently signed a sort-of "most favoured nation" tourism deal with China, which will mean more Canadian flights into China and, hopefully, more Chinese tourists coming to see the wonders of Canada. It's an enormous opportunity.

China, of course, has done more than its share to attract foreign dollars - preferably Canadian given our surging loonie - to its shores. The Olympics last year were a huge success. On a personal note, I was overwhelmed by the architecture and the scale of the changes.

I was part of the Star's Olympic team for the 2008 Games, and the city was absolutely jumping. There were flowers strewn all over highways and condos, the people couldn't do enough for you (kinda like your average Torontonian) and they threw money at everything. The Birds Nest stadium was awesome and the  Water Cube was great and everything worked like clockwork; enough to make the Swiss envious.

I can only imagine that the Shanghai Expo this summer will be equally remarkable. They say Shanghai is China's Montreal, with plenty of style and capitalism chutzpah, so it'll be fascinating if I can get over there and check it out.

 

Comments

[Thane]

Jim:

I wasn't one of the ones who called you a moron (and I agree that it's wrong). But when you lower the debate by telling people to 'shut up', it shouldn't surprise you when they respond in kind.