European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 8, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse The . Stand attracted crowdy of visitor at Berlin Trig tourist fair. . Gear Rij by Linda White travel editor americans Are coming Back to Europe but w them ate culling earners and shortening their to because of the weak Dollar. However europeans encouraged by thai v weakness of die Dollar Are making plans Torii Unseld Stales and America is gearing up or a big influx of this summer. Last year was a record breaker with 21.5 Millie visitors this year us. Officials Are predicting a 20 percent incr a tourism. As Eaily As february the us. Consulate in was advising travellers to apply Early Lor visas predicting it periods of up to six weeks in High season because of the increase in travellers the United states reshuffling its travel and tourism administration in Europe up a new headquarter in London to be headed by Peter Bol ran the regional Bureau in Frankfurt. Other regional offices Amsl Cadam Milan and Paris. The International tourism Exchange its huge travel i Helof each March in Bettin is a Good gauge o whal is Happe the travel world and the United states had quite a show cat More than 130 companies and organizations exhibited at the sprawling us Pavilion which this year grew so much that t mexican display i Jally adjoining had to move of ano1 one of the big attractions Tor the Public was a Ben Frankf alike from Philadelphia who Sang his City s praises. Bul a Survey o some of to visitors showed Hal it s still new Yort California Florida and Washington . That Are most Atlas Tho first time and oven second time visitor. The big Apple Florida s Disney world the smithsonian institution. Over and Over that s whal the fair goers wanted to sea. Wild West lives on in Many a Fertile imagination i want to s cowboys and said one Lilllie boy who Ihen put his his Mouth and refused to say anything else. I have friends in new York we be stayed in Contact of years said Hagar Simic. I visit them at their Home Orsort we meet in other places. Once if was Chicago. This year it i Hawaii. I love to go to America there Are so Many Dilfer enl i see and a Low of those who had Neon to America already talked c wide open spaces in Iho Well of travelling by bus across to country americans Are so Friendly of finding a Little hideaway of the South Carolina coast. However american food got generally poor Marks excer. Young last food crowd. But i can get Mcdonald s Here als a teen Ager who did nol is name. Nol everyone of Couise. Wants to see America. When Orv propped against an airline exhibit Booth was asked what i wanted to visit in the United Stales he replied to have no in the United Stales. I m return to Europe weak Dollar won by Elc Schmitt new York times ear of terrorism caused John and Mildred Mclaughlin of Clark. N a. To cancel their in to Italy and France last year. This year the big threat to americans in Europe is the sinking value of me Dollar which has sharply raised tie Price of a f drop an vacation but the Mclaughlin undeterred Are planning to visit Portugal next month. Last year we just did t feel about going to Europe said Mclaughlin a 64-year-old Antiques shop owner. Now we in going to pay a Hotle More and stay a few Days less " Many americans appear to share thai viewpoint bookings show Hal they Are preparing to Hock to Europe his summer airlines hotels. Car rental companies and Tavel agents report that travel to Europe in the to. K summer months will increase by 15 percent from 1he Disasi Ous summer of 1986, when anxiety about unrest in the Mediterranean and Tho nuclear Accident at chernobyl kept americans at Hame in fact american travel to Europe this year is expected to to second Only to that of 1985, when 6.4 million americans made the trip backed by a Strong Dollar the travel Industry is benefiting from the pent up demand created by last year s cancellations. Wanh air Lares unchanged or even a bit lower than they were last year american tourists seem undaunted by the Elt ocl of Iho higher Dollar on european prices they fire. Like the Mclaughlin. Simply Laking Shofler vacations reserving lower Cost accommodations or Locking themselves into packages Tours with guaranteed prices o project themselves lion currency swings this helps explain Why such traditional Suimei hot spots As London. The Swiss Alps and the French Countryside Are drawing americans Back despite the 20 percent decline of the Dollar against major european currencies in the last year they know the Dollar in t Strong they know hotels Are More expensive and they know Tho shopping won t to a said Estelle Lessack president of the Agency travel Trench in foil Lee n j but people Are going to Europe anyway because it s still the most Page 14 the stars and stripes popular place a double room at the Holjol do Paris in Monte Carlo that Cost $190 a night in 1986 is now $250 a night. A pair of italian loafers that Cost $120 last year is now 1149, a plate of Paella in maund that Cost $6.80 a Vear ago is$7.87. Y people Don t feel Tho Dollar is Low enough to defer their vacations icy can live with in said Carol Ross a spokeswoman for Virgin allanic airways a discount Carrier whose daily summer flights Between Newark and London Are Bolo 85 Porcell booked already. Travel agents and airline officials said that Britain. Wes Germany and the scandinavian countries which travellers still perceive As Saler nations were registering the strongest comebacks. An Early Surprise for the summer season is bookings to the soviet Union which often include scandinavian fjord cruises the inns Are up about 25 percent. Italy and Greece which suffered the largest drop in american visitors Are recovering More slowly. Only 206,000 american visited Greece in 1966, dowry from hoping to prevent a Ronal of Kisi year the greek Friday m
