Now that we've got our freedom, wanna come over? A Reuters article published this weekend described the follow-up fight of the new Southeast Asian country East Timor, which emerged from 24 years of occupation to join the UN in 2002, to capitalize on its troubled past in attracting visitors. Actually, it was more "speculated on" than "described," but we'll get to that in a minute.

East Timor declared itself independent in 1975 when Portuguese colonizers left, only to be invaded and occupied by Indonesia a week later. Some 180,000 civilian deaths and two attempted military uprisings later, East Timor is now a democracy backed up by its neighbor to the south Australia -- so it must be time for tourist dollars to flow in again. ]]> egw 2009-11-02T08:49:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/10/231310/181

After a suspenseful and tragic week in Santa Barbara as wildfires evacuated 30,000 people and destroyed over thirty homes, a Pacific mist is helping to turn the tides, but will the city recover in time for summer tourism?

Californis Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger—we'll never get used to writing that—declared a state of emergency for Santa Barbara on Thursday, sending residents fleeing to the city's hotels, among them the Four Seasons Biltmore (fire rates from $250-ugh) and numerous Motel 6.

Relocation won't save you from the intermittent power outages or terrible air quality, however, and as a result Santa Barbara survived the weekend as a ghost town with the beaches clean of volleyball players and joggers and the streets full of closed shops unsure of their ability to conduct business or attract customers during this time. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-05-11T08:46:52-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/5/95114/69905

Fifty years ago this week, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made Alaska and Hawaii the 49th and 50th states. And they barely look a day over 25! Alaska has already taken the bull by the horns and started planning for its milestone year.

The state nicknamed the Last Frontier, scrutinized in 2008 for its colorful governor, already partied in Anchorage and Valdez on Jan. 3 to celebrate the official date on the state proclamation. But the Anchorage Museum's expansion opens in June, the same month Seward's Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge opens its doors to offer visitors the chance to stay within a protected wildlife sanctuary. Fairbanks got its own visitor center last year, but its airport is getting a makeover, and Juneau will reenact its first raising of the state flag on July 4 along with a parade and community picnic.

Sadly, we can't find any information on Hawaii's official tourism website about a birthday celebration, aside from an acknowledgment that the state came into being in 1959. However, our sis site, HotelChatter, has discovered a "Nifty to be Fifty" deal for Aqua Hotels. Room rates for the first night of stay are $50 and guests over 50 receive a free amenity. Not sure what that free amenity is but we're guessing it's something to do with the AARP.

Related Stories:
· Alaska celebrates 50 years of statehood [Travels with Terry]
· Alaska Travel [Jaunted]
· Hawaii Travel [Jaunted]
· History of Hawaii [GoHawaii.com]

[Photo: Fish Taxi]]]> egw 2009-01-05T12:35:43-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/