News from Haiti
United Nations officials said a large number of U.N. personnel were unaccounted for.
Communications were widely disrupted, making it impossible to get a full picture of damage as powerful aftershocks shook a desperately poor country where many buildings are flimsy. Electricity was out in some places.
Karel Zelenka, a Catholic Relief Services representative in Port-au-Prince, told U.S. colleagues before phone service failed that "there must be thousands of people dead," according to a spokeswoman for the aid group, Sara Fajardo.
"He reported that it was just total disaster and chaos, that there were clouds of dust surrounding Port-au-Prince," Fajardo said from the group's offices in Maryland.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in Washington that embassy personnel were "literally in the dark" after power failed.
"They reported structures down. They reported a lot of walls down. They did see a number of bodies in the street and on the sidewalk that had been hit by debris. So clearly, there's going to be serious loss of life in this," he said.
Alain Le Roy, the U.N. peacekeeping chief in New York, said late Tuesday that the headquarters of the 9,000-member Haiti peacekeeping mission and other U.N. installations were seriously damaged.
"Contacts with the U.N. on the ground have been severely hampered," Le Roy said in a statement, adding: "For the moment, a large number of personnel remain unaccounted for."
Felix Augustin, Haiti's consul general in New York, said a portion of the National Palace had disintegrated.
"Buildings collapsed all over the place," he said. "We have lives that are destroyed. ... It will take at least two or three days for people to know what's going on."
An Associated Press videographer saw the wrecked hospital in Petionville, a hillside Port-au-Prince district that is home to many diplomats and wealthy Haitians, as well as many poor people. Elsewhere in the capital, a U.S. government official reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine.
Kenson Calixte of Boston spoke to an uncle and cousin in Port-au-Prince shortly after the earthquake by phone. He could hear screaming in the background as his relatives described the frantic scene in the streets. His uncle told him that a small hotel near their home had collapsed, with people inside.
"They told me it was total chaos, a lot of devastation," he said. More than four hours later, he still was not able to get them back on the phone for an update.
Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., Raymond Joseph, said from his Washington office that he spoke to President Rene Preval's chief of staff, Fritz Longchamp, just after the quake hit. He said Longchamp told him that "buildings were crumbling right and left" near the national palace. He too had not been able to get through by phone to Haiti since.
With phones down, some of the only communication came from social media such as Twitter. Richard Morse, a well-known musician who manages the famed Olafson Hotel, kept up a stream of dispatches on the aftershocks and damage reports. The news, based mostly on second-hand reports and photos, was disturbing, with people screaming in fear and roads blocked with debris. Belair, a slum even in the best of times, was said to be "a broken mess."
The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was centered about 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of Port-au-Prince at a depth of 5 miles (8 kilometers), the U.S. Geological Survey said. USGS geophysicist Kristin Marano called it the strongest earthquake since 1770 in what is now Haiti. In 1946, a magnitude-8.1 quake struck the Dominican Republic and also shook Haiti, producing a tsunami that killed 1,790 people.
The temblor appeared to have occurred along a strike-slip fault, where one side of a vertical fault slips horizontally past the other, said earthquake expert Tom Jordan at the University of Southern California. The earthquake's size and proximity to populated Port-au-Prince likely caused widespread casualties and structural damage, he said.
"It's going to be a real killer," he said. "Whenever something like this happens, you just hope for the best."
Most of Haiti's 9 million people are desperately poor, and after years of political instability the country has no real construction standards. In November 2008, following the collapse of a school in Petionville, the mayor of Port-au-Prince estimated about 60 percent of the buildings were shoddily built and unsafe in normal circumstances.
Tuesday's quake was felt in the Dominican Republic, which shares a border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, and some panicked residents in the capital of Santo Domingo fled from their shaking homes. But no major damage was reported there.
In eastern Cuba, houses shook but there were also no reports of significant damage.
"We felt it very strongly and I would say for a long time. We had time to evacuate," said Monsignor Dionisio Garcia, archbishop of Santiago.
The few reports emerging from Haiti made clear the country had suffered extensive damage.
"Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a U.S. Department of Agriculture official visiting Port-au-Prince. "The sky is just gray with dust."
Bahn said he was walking to his hotel room when the ground began to shake.
"I just held on and bounced across the wall," he said. "I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance."
Bahn said there were rocks strewn about and he saw a ravine where several homes had stood: "It's just full of collapsed walls and rubble and barbed wire."
In the community of Thomassin, just outside Port-au-Prince, Alain Denis said neighbors told him the only road to the capital had been cut but that phones were all dead so it was hard to determine the extent of the damage.
"At this point, everything is a rumor," he said. "It's dark. It's nighttime."
Former President Bill Clinton, the U.N.'s special envoy for Haiti, issued a statement saying his office would do whatever he could to help the nation recover and rebuild.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti," he said.
President Barack Obama ordered U.S. officials to start preparing in case humanitarian assistance was needed.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said his government planned to send a military aircraft carrying canned foods, medicine and drinking water and also would dispatch a team of 50 rescue workers
Haitian musician Wyclef Jean urged his fans to donate to earthquake relief efforts, saying he had received text messages from his homeland reporting that many people had died.
"We must think ahead for the aftershock, the people will need food, medicine, shelter, etc.," Jean said on his Web site.
Brazil's government was trying to re-establish communications with its embassy and military personnel in Haiti late Tuesday, according to the G1 Web site of Globo TV. Brazil leads a 9,000-member U.N. peacekeeping force there.
Felix Augustin, Haiti's consul general in New York, said he was concerned about everyone in Haiti, including his relatives.
"Communication is absolutely impossible," he said. "I've been trying to call my ministry and I cannot get through. ... It's mind-boggling."
Have Fun In 2010
Where will we go, what will we do and how much will we spend in 2010? Jane E. Fraser consults the crystal ball to discover the trends ahead.
Australian travellers will flood overseas destinations this year, driven by a powerful combination of affordable prices and pent-up demand. Cheap air fares, a strong Australian dollar and greater consumer confidence are expected to lead to a surge in international trips.
"There's no doubt that many are getting itchy feet to take off and explore the world after staying home last year," says a spokesman for Escape Travel, Colin Bowman.
"As conditions have started to improve, there's been an increase in interest in long-haul travel."
The managing director of Harvey World Travel, David Rivers, says forward bookings show Europe is "back" and the US is "a boomer", thanks to the strong Australian dollar and competition between airlines.
The executive director of the Tourism and Transport Forum, Brett Gale, says the trend to international travel is likely to continue for the next decade, with fewer people holidaying at home.
Overseas destinations
Lonely Planet's top 10 places include El Salvador in Central America, for hiking, surfing and low tourist numbers, and the Dutch-speaking Suriname in northern South America - the smallest country on that continent - for its cultural diversity and natural riches, including underwater wonders.
On the more traditional front, the US is "cool again" thanks to President Barack Obama, Morocco makes the list for its combination of "glam and grit" and Nepal is expected to be in demand now that peace has returned.
Interest in Germany is expected to be high, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, while Greece makes the cut for having "something for everyone" - from ruins to idyllic beaches - and Portugal is expected to draw in travellers as it experiences a "new wave" of modernity amid tradition. Closer to home, New Zealand and Malaysia round out the top 10 due to their natural beauty and diversity of experiences.
The US (particularly New York and Las Vegas) also makes the cut for Flight Centre's top 10 destinations, along with Vancouver in Canada, with the city hosting the Winter Olympic Games next month.
Botswana's plush tented camps are predicted to be in favour with the glamping (glamour camping) market, while Mexican and Caribbean beaches are back in fashion and luxury river cruising is expected to draw visitors to Vietnam.
Flight Centre joins Lonely Planet in including Greece (particularly Santorini and Mykonos) in its top 10, along with Malaysia (especially for shopping in Kuala Lumpur).
Rounding out Flight Centre's top 10 are Cadaques in northern Spain, "for a coastal yet cultural escape"; Provence in France for activity-based holidays such as cooking and art classes; and cruises from Australia.
Intrepid Travel is banking on interest in East Timor, with a new trip this year. The company says East Timor is "virtually untouched" by tourism and offers a combination of lush rainforest, traditional villages and Portuguese and Indonesian influences.
Transglobal Destinations says Turkey is emerging as a cheaper alternative to France, Spain and Italy, while World Expeditions says demand for off-the-beaten-track destinations such as Madagascar, Syria and Ethiopia has risen as confidence has returned.
Australian destinations
AOT Holidays, Australia's largest wholesaler of domestic holidays, says the Gold Coast will retain pole position this year, due to its ability to cater for all budgets and ages. Queensland islands are expected to be in second place, thanks to deals such as free nights and children-stay-free, while Tasmania is in third spot thanks to more fly-drive packages coming on to the market.
More-competitive accommodation and touring rates, along with improved flight access, is generating demand for Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania, with the Margaret River region, Kangaroo Island and Broome particularly attractive.
Luxury travel specialist Travel Associates says more than 40 per cent of its forward domestic bookings are for Queensland island getaways, typically for three to four nights.
How we'll book
The general manager of Zuji Australia, Peter Smith, says figures collated by research agency PhoCusWright show the move to online bookings will speed up. While the overall market (leisure travel and independently booked business travel) is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year and by 9 per cent next year, online booking and sales growth is expected to be almost 20 per cent each year.
"In 2008, online share was 26 per cent; this is due to rise to 41 per cent by 2011," Smith says.
Webjet.com, a flight booking provider, is banking on healthy growth this year after reporting its October bookings were up 50 per cent on the previous year. Also expecting to see continued growth is online auction site ubid4rooms.com, which allows travellers to bargain direct with hotels by stating what a guest is willing to pay. The rapidly growing site, which features about 800 accommodation options, recently expanded to include houseboats and motor homes and has indicated flights and cruises are on its radar.
What we'll book
Travel agencies are reporting a trend to small-group tours and personally escorted tours as travellers seek more authentic experiences while not wanting to give up the convenience and safety of group touring.
A Travel Associates spokesperson says the company has experienced a 25 per cent increase in demand for small-group tours (up to nine people), as well as a 20 per cent increase in inquiries about women-only tours.
STA Travel, which caters for the youth market, says organised tours are "definitely cool again".
Travel Associates says food and wine tours and cooking schools are also in demand - up 35 per cent - thanks to television shows such as MasterChef.
Viator, an online tour booking service, says independent travellers are returning to traditional hop-on, hop-off tours, with bookings increasing 65 per cent over recent months, while cultural products such as museum tickets are up by more than 50 per cent and adrenalin-charged experiences have risen by more than 70 per cent.
Active holidays are expected to be popular this year, with UTracks reporting strong demand for its self-guided walking and cycling holidays and World Expeditions saying bookings for its Australian walking holidays are up by 25 per cent.
Travel.com.au says it is seeing demand for "shop-overs", with Australians stopping in Asia on their way home from Europe. It is also seeing demand for multi-generational family holidays.
Luxury walking tour operator bothfeet reports a 50 per cent increase in demand from families with teenagers, who are turning to activity-based trips rather than traditional touring.
Cruising is expected to continue its stellar growth, with Harvey World Travel's David Rivers saying voyages from Australian and Asian ports are particularly popular.
Specialist retailer Cruiseabout has noticed a trend to themed and special-interest cruises, from salsa dancing and Italian cooking to a cruise inspired by the Twilight vampire books and films.
The Tourism and Transport Forum's Brett Gale says he expects to see strong growth in nature-based tourism at both upmarket lodges and in the caravan and camping sector.
And STA Travel is predicting continued growth in "voluntourism", particularly short-term volunteer projects focused on community work.
How much we'll spend
Australians will have less disposable income, in real terms, than they had last year, according to a senior economist at ANZ, Julie Toth. While the dip is partly a statistical anomaly due to the effect of 2009's stimulus payments, factors such as weak jobs growth, inflation and high population growth will be at play.
"We're actually looking at quite a weak year for household disposable income," Toth says. "This is a delayed effect from the downturn ... people won't have any additional money."
However, Toth notes that spending on recreation remains in second place in Australia, behind outlays on a mortgage or rent but ahead of food.
"It's just a matter of how that [spending on recreation] is divided up," she says.
A demographer for KPMG, Bernard Salt, believes Australians will spend more on travel after staying close to home and choosing cheaper options last year.
"I think people will be bolder in terms of their travel aspirations," Salt says. "I think we'll see a greater confidence; there's a sense that we've escaped the worst of this [financial crisis].
"I think there will be a reasonable rebound ... as people enjoy a period of greater confidence and rising prosperity."
What we'll pay for
An aviation consultant for CAPA Consulting, Ian Thomas, expects continued restraint in the classes of travel people will book throughout the year. Premium economy will continue to grow at the expense of business class and low-cost carriers will continue to expand at the expense of full-service airlines.
"One of the biggest changes in the past year has been in premium travel - business-class travellers have moved down a notch and they don't seem to be moving back," Thomas says.
"People are looking for a fairly basic, comfortable product and they won't find it in economy but they might find it in premium economy."
When it comes to accommodation, research by online booking agency Wotif shows Australians are consistent in their standards, regardless of the economy.
A recent survey found 63 per cent of respondents budget for between $150 and $200 a night for accommodation, a figure consistent with previous years.
The general manager of Wotif, Megan Magill, says people tend to shorten their stay rather than lower their standards, with four-star accommodation and quality apartments remaining the most popular.
What we'll learn
Travellers accustomed to bargain-basement deals could be in for some shocks, with prices expected to steadily rise as conditions improve.
American Express is forecasting Australia will face some of the biggest increases in the world and industry leaders warn that the best deals may have been and gone.
"If demand continues to improve, it will inevitably become harder to get a bargain," says a spokeswoman for Flight Centre, Nicole Moy. "We will continue to see eye-catching special offers from time to time but the widespread discounting we saw last year is unlikely to be repeated."
Australian travellers will flood overseas destinations this year, driven by a powerful combination of affordable prices and pent-up demand. Cheap air fares, a strong Australian dollar and greater consumer confidence are expected to lead to a surge in international trips.
"There's no doubt that many are getting itchy feet to take off and explore the world after staying home last year," says a spokesman for Escape Travel, Colin Bowman.
"As conditions have started to improve, there's been an increase in interest in long-haul travel."
The managing director of Harvey World Travel, David Rivers, says forward bookings show Europe is "back" and the US is "a boomer", thanks to the strong Australian dollar and competition between airlines.
The executive director of the Tourism and Transport Forum, Brett Gale, says the trend to international travel is likely to continue for the next decade, with fewer people holidaying at home.
Overseas destinations
Lonely Planet's top 10 places include El Salvador in Central America, for hiking, surfing and low tourist numbers, and the Dutch-speaking Suriname in northern South America - the smallest country on that continent - for its cultural diversity and natural riches, including underwater wonders.
On the more traditional front, the US is "cool again" thanks to President Barack Obama, Morocco makes the list for its combination of "glam and grit" and Nepal is expected to be in demand now that peace has returned.
Interest in Germany is expected to be high, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, while Greece makes the cut for having "something for everyone" - from ruins to idyllic beaches - and Portugal is expected to draw in travellers as it experiences a "new wave" of modernity amid tradition. Closer to home, New Zealand and Malaysia round out the top 10 due to their natural beauty and diversity of experiences.
The US (particularly New York and Las Vegas) also makes the cut for Flight Centre's top 10 destinations, along with Vancouver in Canada, with the city hosting the Winter Olympic Games next month.
Botswana's plush tented camps are predicted to be in favour with the glamping (glamour camping) market, while Mexican and Caribbean beaches are back in fashion and luxury river cruising is expected to draw visitors to Vietnam.
Flight Centre joins Lonely Planet in including Greece (particularly Santorini and Mykonos) in its top 10, along with Malaysia (especially for shopping in Kuala Lumpur).
Rounding out Flight Centre's top 10 are Cadaques in northern Spain, "for a coastal yet cultural escape"; Provence in France for activity-based holidays such as cooking and art classes; and cruises from Australia.
Intrepid Travel is banking on interest in East Timor, with a new trip this year. The company says East Timor is "virtually untouched" by tourism and offers a combination of lush rainforest, traditional villages and Portuguese and Indonesian influences.
Transglobal Destinations says Turkey is emerging as a cheaper alternative to France, Spain and Italy, while World Expeditions says demand for off-the-beaten-track destinations such as Madagascar, Syria and Ethiopia has risen as confidence has returned.
Australian destinations
AOT Holidays, Australia's largest wholesaler of domestic holidays, says the Gold Coast will retain pole position this year, due to its ability to cater for all budgets and ages. Queensland islands are expected to be in second place, thanks to deals such as free nights and children-stay-free, while Tasmania is in third spot thanks to more fly-drive packages coming on to the market.
More-competitive accommodation and touring rates, along with improved flight access, is generating demand for Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania, with the Margaret River region, Kangaroo Island and Broome particularly attractive.
Luxury travel specialist Travel Associates says more than 40 per cent of its forward domestic bookings are for Queensland island getaways, typically for three to four nights.
How we'll book
The general manager of Zuji Australia, Peter Smith, says figures collated by research agency PhoCusWright show the move to online bookings will speed up. While the overall market (leisure travel and independently booked business travel) is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year and by 9 per cent next year, online booking and sales growth is expected to be almost 20 per cent each year.
"In 2008, online share was 26 per cent; this is due to rise to 41 per cent by 2011," Smith says.
Webjet.com, a flight booking provider, is banking on healthy growth this year after reporting its October bookings were up 50 per cent on the previous year. Also expecting to see continued growth is online auction site ubid4rooms.com, which allows travellers to bargain direct with hotels by stating what a guest is willing to pay. The rapidly growing site, which features about 800 accommodation options, recently expanded to include houseboats and motor homes and has indicated flights and cruises are on its radar.
What we'll book
Travel agencies are reporting a trend to small-group tours and personally escorted tours as travellers seek more authentic experiences while not wanting to give up the convenience and safety of group touring.
A Travel Associates spokesperson says the company has experienced a 25 per cent increase in demand for small-group tours (up to nine people), as well as a 20 per cent increase in inquiries about women-only tours.
STA Travel, which caters for the youth market, says organised tours are "definitely cool again".
Travel Associates says food and wine tours and cooking schools are also in demand - up 35 per cent - thanks to television shows such as MasterChef.
Viator, an online tour booking service, says independent travellers are returning to traditional hop-on, hop-off tours, with bookings increasing 65 per cent over recent months, while cultural products such as museum tickets are up by more than 50 per cent and adrenalin-charged experiences have risen by more than 70 per cent.
Active holidays are expected to be popular this year, with UTracks reporting strong demand for its self-guided walking and cycling holidays and World Expeditions saying bookings for its Australian walking holidays are up by 25 per cent.
Travel.com.au says it is seeing demand for "shop-overs", with Australians stopping in Asia on their way home from Europe. It is also seeing demand for multi-generational family holidays.
Luxury walking tour operator bothfeet reports a 50 per cent increase in demand from families with teenagers, who are turning to activity-based trips rather than traditional touring.
Cruising is expected to continue its stellar growth, with Harvey World Travel's David Rivers saying voyages from Australian and Asian ports are particularly popular.
Specialist retailer Cruiseabout has noticed a trend to themed and special-interest cruises, from salsa dancing and Italian cooking to a cruise inspired by the Twilight vampire books and films.
The Tourism and Transport Forum's Brett Gale says he expects to see strong growth in nature-based tourism at both upmarket lodges and in the caravan and camping sector.
And STA Travel is predicting continued growth in "voluntourism", particularly short-term volunteer projects focused on community work.
How much we'll spend
Australians will have less disposable income, in real terms, than they had last year, according to a senior economist at ANZ, Julie Toth. While the dip is partly a statistical anomaly due to the effect of 2009's stimulus payments, factors such as weak jobs growth, inflation and high population growth will be at play.
"We're actually looking at quite a weak year for household disposable income," Toth says. "This is a delayed effect from the downturn ... people won't have any additional money."
However, Toth notes that spending on recreation remains in second place in Australia, behind outlays on a mortgage or rent but ahead of food.
"It's just a matter of how that [spending on recreation] is divided up," she says.
A demographer for KPMG, Bernard Salt, believes Australians will spend more on travel after staying close to home and choosing cheaper options last year.
"I think people will be bolder in terms of their travel aspirations," Salt says. "I think we'll see a greater confidence; there's a sense that we've escaped the worst of this [financial crisis].
"I think there will be a reasonable rebound ... as people enjoy a period of greater confidence and rising prosperity."
What we'll pay for
An aviation consultant for CAPA Consulting, Ian Thomas, expects continued restraint in the classes of travel people will book throughout the year. Premium economy will continue to grow at the expense of business class and low-cost carriers will continue to expand at the expense of full-service airlines.
"One of the biggest changes in the past year has been in premium travel - business-class travellers have moved down a notch and they don't seem to be moving back," Thomas says.
"People are looking for a fairly basic, comfortable product and they won't find it in economy but they might find it in premium economy."
When it comes to accommodation, research by online booking agency Wotif shows Australians are consistent in their standards, regardless of the economy.
A recent survey found 63 per cent of respondents budget for between $150 and $200 a night for accommodation, a figure consistent with previous years.
The general manager of Wotif, Megan Magill, says people tend to shorten their stay rather than lower their standards, with four-star accommodation and quality apartments remaining the most popular.
What we'll learn
Travellers accustomed to bargain-basement deals could be in for some shocks, with prices expected to steadily rise as conditions improve.
American Express is forecasting Australia will face some of the biggest increases in the world and industry leaders warn that the best deals may have been and gone.
"If demand continues to improve, it will inevitably become harder to get a bargain," says a spokeswoman for Flight Centre, Nicole Moy. "We will continue to see eye-catching special offers from time to time but the widespread discounting we saw last year is unlikely to be repeated."
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