Staff Picks: 5 Travel Fails That Really Got Under Our Skin in 2016

We prefer to accentuate the positives of the travel industry here at TravelPulse, but we also believe in the power of constructive introspection. So with that in mind, we asked our editors to give us the one piece of news or one annoying trend started in 2016 where we believe the travel industry failed miserably. We offer these up with the hopes that the offenders will use these errors in judgment as teachable moments for the future.

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BRIAN MAJOR, SENIOR WRITER, CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA: Aruba's exclusion of all-inclusives

Aruba’s decision to defy several Caribbean hotel and tourism organizations to pass anti all-inclusive legislation is among the strangest decisions made by a Caribbean destination in recent years.

The all-inclusive segment is arguably the resort industry’s hottest trend and has led to strong resort and arrivals growth in destinations across the Caribbean, including Aruba.

Just why the government opted to respond to reported concerns from local restaurant operators who say all-inclusive hotels guests do not contribute to the economy to the same degree as visitors at non all-inclusive properties with a law restricting one resort category remains unclear to many hotel industry observers.

Jim Hepple, president and CEO of the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA), described the new law as short-sighted, saying an all-inclusive limit would ultimately hurt employment levels, the cost and availability of air transportation and government revenues.

PATRICK CLARKE, SENIOR WRITER, BREAKING NEWS

As much as I approve of smoke-free establishments, I consider vacation to be the ideal time to indulge in a cigar or two. And therefore, the trend of cruise lines banning smoking on stateroom balconies has me irked more than any other travel-related policy change of 2016.

This year, Seabourn Cruise Line and Holland America Line joined the list of cruise lines that have cracked down on smoking of late. While I agree there should be designated areas for smokers and penalties for those who risk starting fires and potentially damaging staterooms by smoking indoors, the private balcony is a sacred place and should remain such.

DONALD WOOD, SENIOR WRITER, BREAKING NEWS: Rising theme park prices

For amusement park enthusiasts, the biggest point of contention year after year is the price of tickets. In 2016, both Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World announced that the prices for one-day tickets would increase. With many people working all year just to take their vacation at one of the top travel destinations in the world, increased prices make it even harder for lower-income families to afford the trip. Theme parks need to start thinking more about the customer and less about their bottom line.

MICHAEL SCHOTTEY, SENIOR EDITOR: Politicians' Zika ignorance

It took the United States congress four attempts to pass a Zika spending bill this year, and that would be a sentence worth laughing over, except for the fact gridlock like that puts lives in danger. Debate and disagreement aren’t just parts of democracy, they’re features. However, any illusion that government is supposed to work for the people went out the window—especially for Floridians—over Summer and Fall 2016. People will debate just how much of an impact Zika actually had, but that doesn’t change the anger and rancor many felt when the people they elected just didn’t seem to care. 

TIM WOOD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Boy, we missed on Cuba

I prefer to spend my time focused on the positives rather than dwelling on the negatives when it comes to the travel industry. But the travel world is not immune to mistakes, and as much as I'd like to use this space to once again rant against the rising passenger rage resulting from the pillaging of personal space aboard airplanes, I have to point this jab inward. The travel media severely overinflated the interest in Cuba heading into 2016. It was understandable, it being one of the last frontiers to get excited about in places we U.S. travelers have not been allowed to see. 

READ MORE: TravelPulse's Look Back at 2016, the Year in Travel 

In our rush to make Cuba the next great destination, we forgot the reality that Cuba does not have the infrastructure to support the masses rolling into the island. The price-point and comfort variety of lodging is not there yet to support even a modest influx of visitors. The tourism backbone is nowhere near ready, so the result is a gritty experiential adventure that will be a pleasure for many like me. But for the traveler that has become accustomed to ease of access and high-end accommodations, Cuba is likely a decade away from being ready -- and that clock doesn't start until full trade and business restrictions are lifted. That's far from a certainty given the campaign rhetoric from the Trump camp.

The airlines have quickly retreated off their aggressive plans, as most of the early flights were mostly empty. Cruise lines may be the way to go, where you get a quick taste of the island but can still get back on the ship and bathe in all-inclusive gluttony. But with the uncertainty behind which itineraries are approved and for how long, those sailings may be financial fails as well.

Why the empty seats and cabins? Because beyond the fascination with this long-forbidden gem, the reality is it is still a pain in the butt to get there.

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BARRY KAUFMAN, MANAGING EDITOR: Everything is awesome

I don’t really have anything here. I’m usually the guy who understands where most of these changes come from. Look, nothing’s arbitrary and nothing’s without an upside. That charge for an overhead bin lets you get your ticket cheaper or at the very least customize where you want to spend your money. And I’m generally not phased by things like changes to loyalty programs, since I don’t belong to any (you should try it, it’s the best. You just buy a ticket based on wanting to go somewhere and then move on with your life).