WHITE RANKS HIGH FROM FASHION TO AUTOMOBILES IN JAPAN
TOKYO, Japan -- The hottest color these days in Japan is white. From white cars and white coats to white beer.
The color white may be lifting Japanese spirits in an otherwise depressed economy, according to trendspotters there. In fact,
white coats accounted for a large portion of the 20% year-on-year increase in sales of women's coats during
November/December. White clothing, in general, seems to be big for women ages 20 - 25 and teenagers.
Ford Motor Company also sees white as a popular sales attribute. Car sales among their recently released
Winter Version vehicles, all in white, had 10 - 40% higher sales than other white Ford vehicles. In fact, 45.9%
of all cars sold in 1997 were white, according to the Automobile Registration &
Inspection Association in Japan. It is expected that more than 50% of new car sales in 1999 will be white cars.
Even "white beers" are gaining popularity as a change of pace. According to the Japan Fashion Color Association, white
may be gaining popularity because it represents a bright future for those who wear it.
Reader's Comments
(Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
UPS EXPANDS LATIN AMERICAN PRESENCE
Central America -- United Parcel Service (UPS) continues to expand its services throughout Latin America
with the most recent addition of Costa Rica to its air freight services from Miami. Later this month, UPS
will also add service to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. These added services are in
response to increasing volume of shipments that UPS makes to/from the region, up 16% from 1997 - 1998
to 11.6 million packages.
Until recently, UPS utilized space on commercial and cargo carriers to make deliveries to the region, but could not count on
needed space or availability. With their own flights, UPS can now provide customers with increased
reliability and save a considerable amount of time for transit and also handle larger capacity cargo. Main
competition for UPS in the region includes Federal Express and DHL, both of which offer several weekly flights.
UPS has also applied for regulatory approval for flights into the Dominican Republic and Colombia. They are
awaiting approval later this year.
(Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
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JAPAN GIVES SHOPPING VOUCHERS TO 35 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS
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US TRAVEL TO CUBA STILL ILLEGAL
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TOKYO, Japan -- In an effort to boost Japanese domestic consumption, the Japanese government began
distributing shopping vouchers to approximately 35 million eligible households throughout the country. Nearly
60% of Japan's GDP comes from personal consumption -- and the expectation is that these vouchers will spur additional
purchasing. Worth US$170, the vouchers will only be valid for a limited time. Eligible households include the elderly and
those with children under the age of 15.
(Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
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WASHINGTON, D.C., USA -- Despite an opening up between the US and Cuba, the US State Department
has issued recent warnings to Americans that pleasure and business travel to Cuba is still illegal. There has been an
increase in the number of Americans traveling to Cuba; but in fact, legal travel is approved only for academic, religious
and cultural trips. Moreover, Americans and those subject to US jurisdiction are prohibited from spending American currency in
Cuba; such action is punishable by US law including 10 years in jail and fines of US$250,000.
Reader's Comments
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NOTE: Reprints, downloads or copies of this issue are available for US$5.00 per copy,
payable on the honor system to PANGAEA.
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TURKISH TRAVEL TO ITALY RESUMES
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FOREIGN BANKS CLOSE IN VIETNAM
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ISTANBUL, Turkey -- After an 11 week tourism and trade boycott which began last November, tourism to
Italy from Turkey resumed. (Around 300,000 Turks visit Italy every year.) Hardest hit by this boycott were the approx.
1000 Italian companies doing business in Turkey. They lost about 58.3 million euros' (US$67.6 million) worth of business due
to cancelled orders, according to the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade. The boycott started when the Italian government
refused to extradite Kurdish rebel leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to Turkey last year. The embargo ended because the Italians
threw Ocalan out of the country.
(Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
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HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam -- Last year, 18 foreign banks closed in Vietnam, leaving 56 by the end of 1998.
This year, 3 more Japanese banks will close their Ho Chi Minh City branches by mid-year: Sakura Bank, Fuji Bank
and Daiwa Bank. However, Fuji Bank will maintain an office in Hanoi.
(Source: YOUR LINK HERE)
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TOPICS:
LAST MINUTE TRAVEL BARGAINS -- Special Discounted
Fares
American Airlines' Net SAAver and Net SAAver International offers last minute travel
bargains for travelers departing from the USA. You can schedule a last minute meeting
or a weekend getaway to selected destinations throughout the USA, Europe, the Caribbean,
Central America or South America each week and benefit from these discounted rates.
Through this program, you can fly at discounted rates, as long as you
can plan to travel on short notice. These low round-trip fares are good for travel
only on the dates specified. They expire on Fridays. Check back each
Wednesday for the week's destinations!
From Boston, MA (BOS) to:
US$199 -- London Gatwick, England (LGW)
From Chicago O'Hare, IL (ORD) to:
US$249 -- Brussels, Belgium (BRU)
US$259 -- Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
US$389 -- Stockholm, Sweden (ARN)
US$259 -- Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH)
From Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (DFW) to:
US$299 -- Caracas, Venezuela (CCS)
US$299 -- Lima, Peru (LIM)
US$249 -- London Gatwick, England (LGW)
US$179 -- Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
US$149 -- Monterrey, Mexico (MTY)
From Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to:
US$299 -- London Heathrow, England (LHR)
From Miami (MIA) to:
US$253 -- Antigua, West Indies (ANU)
US$218 -- Barbados, Barbados (BGI)
US$219 -- Bogota, Colombia (BOG)
US$209 -- Caracas, Venezuela (CCS)
US$159 -- Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic (LRM)
US$183 -- Curacao, Netherland Antilles (CUR)
US$179 -- Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA)
US$179 -- Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
US$179 -- San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
US$179 -- San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
US$219 -- St. Lucia, St. Lucia (UVF)
US$179 -- Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU)
From New York Kennedy, NY (JFK) to:
US$199 -- London Heathrow, England (LHR)
From Newark, NJ (EWR) to:
US$199 -- London Heathrow, England (LHR)
From Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU) to:
US$228 -- London Gatwick, England (LGW)
From San Antonio, TX (SAT) to:
US$139 -- Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
From San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) to:
US$124 -- Pointe A Pitre, Guadaloupe (PTP)
[Restrictions apply. Check with American Airlines or our
travel service group for details and
confirmation. Not responsible for typographical errors.]
International flight departures leave on Thursday or Friday, February 25 - 26, 1999.
Thursday departures return anytime the following Monday and Friday departures return
anytime the following Monday/Tuesday.
To take advantage of these last minute bargains,
or any travel needs, Call 1-800-715-4440 and ask for a Net SAAver Domestic or
International Fare. Be sure to give the agent this PIN#: 27035 to book
your flight. Or send e-mail to
travel@pangaea.net, include your name
and telephone number, please.
You can also read the latest news about
Travel & Tourism.
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.....check back for more news this month! |
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