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1. Fire evacuees struggle for shelter as LA hotels fill
With a total of 92,000 people around the Los Angeles area under evacuation orders at the start of this week, shelter — including hotel rooms — are increasingly hard to come by, with many people having to resort to looking to shelters and sleeping in cars, the New York Times reports.
The newspaper highlights 75-year-old Lila King, who "has been bouncing between motels and sleeping in her truck with her 40-year-old son since they were displaced by the Eaton fire."
“We’re trying to get some help to get a place. I'm worried,” said King, who recently had surgery for broken ribs.
CoStar News reporter Brannon Boswell recently took stock of how wildfires have affected businesses in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
2. Strong Lunar New Year travel expected despite economic issues in China
A record 9 billion trips are expected across China during the 40-day Lunar New Year travel season, which kicks off today, Reuters reports. While the country has been experiencing prolonged economic issues, there is hopefulness that domestic travel demand will remain strong.
National broadcaster CCTV is projecting: "Railway passenger volume is expected to exceed 510 million passengers, while more than 90 million passengers are expected to fly. However, the number of journeys by private vehicle is expected to reach 7.2 billion trips, or about 80% of the total domestic passenger flow."
3. Travel hopes rise in Bulgaria, Romania as countries open to EU residents
Both Bulgaria and Romania fully joined the European Union's free-travel Schengen area as of Jan. 1, and now hoteliers in those countries are optimistic that a corresponding spike in tourism is coming, HNN contributor Vladislav Vorotnikov reports.
“The eased travel regulations are poised to boost tourism flows to and from Romania, which was already noticed during the partial accession of the past months, potentially yielding further growth and contributing significantly to gross domestic product,” said Simona Constantinescu, CEO of Ana Hotels and president of the country’s hotel industry federation, the Federația Industriei Hoteliere din România.
4. Expectations for gradual tariffs weaken dollar
Bloomberg reports the U.S. dollar has lost ground against major international currencies as reports emerge that President-elect Donald Trump could impose tariffs more gradually than previously expected.
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell as much as 0.4% after the currency climbed to a two-year high to start the year.
While many in the broad travel industry hope for a weaker dollar to spur inbound international tourism, there is some concern the current trajectory won't last.
"The dollar’s drop underscores the key role tariffs play in swaying sentiment across the $7.5 trillion-a-day foreign-exchange market," said Mary Nicola, markets live strategist for Bloomberg. "But the move may prove temporary: Most Wall Street banks expect the greenback to strengthen following an 8% rise in 2024, and blowout employment numbers last week have raised further questions about the pace of potential rate cuts."
5. Kyoto to raise hotel taxes as city copes with overtourism
Officials in Kyoto, one of the hottest tourist cities in Japan, have announced significant increases to hotel taxes as residents cope with heavy crowds and overtourism, CNA reports. Japan had a record of more than 35 million visitors in 2024.
"For rooms costing between 20,000 to 50,000 yen (US$127 to US$317) per night, visitors will now see their tax double to 1,000 yen per person per night, under the plans," the news outlet reports. "For accommodation over 100,000 yen per night, it will soar tenfold to 10,000 yen. The new levies will take effect next year, subject to approval from the city assembly."