News articles in Supplier Issues

(Dive Travel Business News - April 17, 2012) -- Dive travel pros take note: Pinterest, the social media scrapbooking site, might be the social media tool best suited to dive travel specialists and suppliers alike.  Divers love taking photos and videos, and that is what Pinterest is all about:  Pinterest is a social network that allows users to create digital collections of photo and video albums and share things they find interesting. Users “Pin” (collect) things they they like (or dislike) and set them up on various themed personal "Pinboards" (albums) for their Pinterest followers to see and share on Facebook, and other social networks.

Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest is not about selling or telling. It's about showing, and creating conversations with pictures, which plays right into the strengths of how dive travel pros market their trips.  Pinterest lets users tell their travel stories through photos rather than words. Keep in mind: Pinners are not on Pinterest to be marketed to. They are there to collect interesting things and share them with their friends. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - July 14, 2010) -- A U.S. House of Representatives hearing hosted by the US Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Aviation will be held today that focuses on the proliferation and disclosure of ancillary airline fees.  The hearing comes about four weeks before the close of a public comment period on a related set of rules proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Among other things, the proposed DOT rules would require carriers to provide GDSs with information about bag fees and optional services fees. Proposed rules also include details on tarmac delay regulations and data, disclosure of customer service plans, consumer problem rectification, oversales and advertising "full" fares.

"The proliferation of ancillary fees over a relatively short period of time has raised concerns over the costs and transparency of such fees," according to the subcommittee. "Often, consumers are not entirely aware of the range of fees that they may encounter in the ticket booking process, at check-in and at the gate." read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - June 4, 2010) -- The April 20, 2010 explosion and oil spill on the British Petroleum Oil Drill Platform Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico has caused concern for the diving industry, specifically in regions around the Gulf.

The extent of the environmental damage is not yet known, but in anticipation of damage occurring to the coastal areas and the potential for extensive economic damages concerning the diving industry, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) has put together an Oil Spill Assistance Planner to help dive businesses impacted by the spill to connect to contacts that can assist them. The Oil Spill Assistance Planner is available by clicking here. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - April 23, 2010) -- A November 2009 DTBN article, "Unlicensed Tour Operators Thrive on the Internet" discussed a trend in travel where the internet is now being used to persuate to buy from illegal agents by offering ridiculously cheap rates and empty promises. Now tourists to Malaysia are being advised not to buy tours from unlicensed operator or so-call "free lance agents" to avoid being conned.

Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) KL Tan reminded travelers that only bona fide tour operators licensed by the Tourism Ministry and registered with Matta are allowed to provide tour excursion packages read more »