Jean-Philippe Pérol, Chairman USA, European Travel Commission (ETC), speaking in the ETC’s July newsletter, which is assembled by Donald N. Martin & Company, said “for the first time in many months, global traffic to Europe is growing. Even if it concerns more specifically the leisure business, and is pushed by deals and offers at dramatically lower fares, it is a good signal for the summer. On top of that, the dollar is buying 15 percent more in Euroland than a year ago. A slight growth over the next months is possible with a return to positive numbers in 2010 when business travel again takes off.” Perol was speaking of the most recent trends while the statistical report deals with the latest numbers available which reflect travel realities in March.

The newsletter reports that overall trans-Atlantic traffic resumed, in May, its 2009 pattern of significant decline. The leading carriers reported an average drop of 6 percent compared to May 2008 (April was down only 1.8 percent). Lufthansa/Swiss stood out with a 13.1 percent decline. The leading carriers also reduced capacity by an average 5.1 percent (compared to an average 11.2 percent increase in May 2008). Average load factor was maintained at 80.8. Continental, Lufthansa and Air France led in reducing capacity.

U.S. visits to Europe for March were down 13.8 percent, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce, and down 12.9 percent for the first quarter. The rate of decline should ease up somewhat for the second quarter. European visits to the U.S. were down even more (declining 23.2 percent for March and down 16.8 percent for the first quarter).

The dollar slid to a seven-month low of $1 = 0.70 euros on June 4 then bounced back to 0.72 euros. In mirror action, oil prices rose to $72 then dipped to $68. “There were,” said the report, “similarly mixed signals on the state of the U.S. recession.” Unemployment jumped again to 9.4 percent, but only 345,000 more lost jobs were reported for May. Foreclosures declined from the record set in April (but were still 18 percent more than in May 2008). Consumer confidence surged. Retail sales rose for the first time in three months. The stock market brushed off the Chrysler and General Motors bankruptcies; the Dow was up as much as 33 percent from its 12-year low of March 9, then began to pull back.

“Walk My Alps” print ads and online promos have generated more than 250,000 unique visitors to the website of the same name. The campaign was launched this spring by the Alpine Tourist Commission (Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland). In New York this month, Turkey took over two Times Square video displays for its “Unlimited Turkey” campaign. The seven-story-high screens are showing video shot for TV spots, focusing on modern Istanbul, ancient civilizations and natural wonders. Visit Europe magazine comes out Sunday, Oct. 4, via The New York Times, Washington Post and Boston Globe. The emphasis will be on great photos of fall and winter activities, and on value with many good-deal offers. For more information, call 212-922-0400 or visit www.DNMartinco.com  or www.etc-corporate.org.

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