Rebound in travel industry threatened by fuel prices

March 03, 2011 |

The mood was buoyant at the New York Times Travel show last week, which featured 500 destinations in 150 countries, but tensions in North Africa and the Middle East, soaring crude oil prices and airline fare hikes were making headlines as travel agents and tourist officials publicized their destinations.

United, Continental, American, Delta and US Airways all announced recent fare increases and travel experts fear more are still to come.

"The big trend that is about to hit us is the rise in the price of oil. It is going to underlie everything," travel writer Pauline Frommer predicted in an interview. "That's the dragon looming on the horizon."

She usually advises travelers to wait a bit before buying a ticket to see what airlines are offering, but not anymore. She fears further price hikes could be devastating for the travel industry.

"We have already seen four upticks in the price of airfare just in the last month and a half, so I say buy your airfares now." said Frommer. "If oil goes higher there is no way the cost of tickets isn't going to skyrocket."

Get the full story at The Los Angeles Times

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