Tourism slumps

World tourism fell by 1.3% - or eight million trips - last year, the first fall for two decades and the biggest since mass travel began, according to figures from the World Tourism Organisation. The WTO put the total number of international arrivals at 689 million.

Inbound tourism into Britain was down by 7% to 23.4 million visitors last year, according to the British Tourist Authority. Overseas visitor spending fell by 14% to £11bn. Spending by overseas visitors to the UK in December decreased by 19% to £765 million compared with December 2000, making December 2001 a particularly bad month.

Environmental apathy

A top travel agent has called into question research by Tearfund, the Christian relief and development agency, which showed there was a growing demand from the British public for holidays abroad to be more ethical. Noel Josephides, the managing director of Sunvil Holidays, wrote in the Travel Trade Gazette this week that only 8% of his customers, when asked, said that his company's environmental initiatives encouraged them to book.

He added: "With the exception of a handful of niche players, environmental awareness among operators does not result from pressure from clients but from our wish to educate them. Customers simply want a comfortable holiday in a five-star hotel on an unspoilt beach, and they do not care how this is achieved. I almost forgot - they also want it cheap and to hell with who or what is exploited to the get the price down."

Wider horizons

Thomson (0870 1607300) has relaunched its Thomson Worldwide brochure featuring a range of destinations including the Far East, the Indian Ocean, Dubai, Africa, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Stepping out

Dance Holidays (01293 527722, danceholidays.com) has launched its new brochure with 75 different breaks on offer. New this year is a week from September 21 in the Andalucian town of Vejer learning raqs sharqi , a dance tradition of the upper Nile for £459pp.

High anxiety

If you have an aversion to flying, then Virtual Aviation (01223 300300), is running sessions at London Heathrow and Gatwick in a simulator with a pilot available to try to cure you. A one-hour session for up to three people costs £585.

Where were you last night?

Restaurant guide publisher Zagat Survey is preparing to publish its first London nightlife survey. Participants will rate establishments on their appeal, service, decor and drink cost. Zagat is looking for people to fill in questionnaires about nightclubs they know.

For questionnaires, email london qtr@zagat.com and include your name and address, or send a self-addressed and stamped envelope to ZFL, 45 Holmead Rd, London SW6 2JE.

Those who complete the questionnaires by April 8 will receive a free copy of the guide in the autumn.