Travelers stopping at Georgia’s Visitor Information Centers will now hear a stirring introduction to the state’s rich musical heritage.

Nine of the 11 state visitor centers, which are operated by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), are playing songs by Georgia musicians, from marquis names like Ray Charles and R.E.M. to lesser-known talents such as Sonia Leigh and Luke Bryan. “The Soundtrack of your Life,” a partnership between GDEcD and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, was turned on at 10 a.m. on Aug. 15 at the Augusta, Columbus, Kingsland, Lavonia, Ringgold, Savannah, Tallapoosa, Valdosta and West Point centers.

Guests at the visitor centers will be greeted by signs showing some of Georgia’s most well-known musicians. The music and associated commentary will entertain and educate travelers, encouraging them to visit the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, which showcases more than 450 Georgia musicians including Little Richard, James Brown, Otis Redding, Trisha Yearwood, the B-52’s and the Allman Brothers. The Hall of Fame is currently producing a series of CDs similar to “The Soundtrack of Your Life” that will reflect the diversity of Georgia’s musical landscape. (www.exploregeorgia.org) 

Wilderness Wildlife Week is Pigeon Forge, Tennessee’s annual tribute to its neighbor, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the 2009 event has special meaning because it is the first major program marking the park’s 75th anniversary.
 

Wilderness Wildlife Week, Jan. 10-17, 2009, will be one of many special events in and around the national park that are part of the 75th anniversary celebration. More than nine million people a year visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, more than any other national park.
 
The Pigeon Forge event is eight days of seminars, workshops, photography classes, hikes and excursions that relate to the park and other outdoor topics. 
 
Historic re-enactors portraying President Teddy Roosevelt, John Muir and others important to the creation of America’s national parks will be a special part of Wilderness Wildlife Week 2009. This is the 19th year for the event.
 
More than 100 experts―nature photographers, biologists, raptor rehabilitators, social historians and just plain folks who grew up in the Smokies―donate their time to present daily programs and a range of outdoor activities.

Topics include bears in the Smokies, the elk reintroduction project, the Smokies’ logging history, fire towers in the Smokies, close-up photography, trout fishing and birding by ear. Admission is free to all activities.

“The week is extremely flexible. You can attend one lecture or take one hike, or you can participate day after day,” said organizer Deanna Sorge of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.
 
Wilderness Wildlife Week won the Pinnacle Award for Best Environmental Program or Best Educational Program in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005 from the International Festivals & Events Association and has been acknowledged nine times by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast.
 
Wilderness Wildlife Week information is available at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling 800-946-8373. The overall anniversary website is www.greatsmokies75th.com.

Atlanta will soon celebrate the U.S. premiere of an all-new King Tut exhibition and the Southeast’s debut of China’s Terracotta Army.

Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs (Nov. 15, 2008 – May 22, 2009 at the Atlanta Civic Center) and The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army (Nov. 16, 2008–April 19, 2009 at the High Museum of Art) will open almost simultaneously, making Atlanta the only place in the world where both exhibits can be seen at the same time.

To help visitors explore Atlanta’s world of treasures without spending a fortune, a special “Treasures Fit for Kings” combination ticket will offer discounted admission to both exhibitions. The ticket also gives visitors access to other special exhibitions and to the permanent collection at the High Museum of Art.

The combination ticket prices are: Adult (Tues.-Thurs.), $39; Adult (Fri.-Sun.), $41; Youth (Tues.–Sun.), $25. These tickets and special hotel packages will be available online at Atlanta.net beginning Sept. 9. Discounted group tickets for both exhibitions can be reserved by calling 866-524-7687.

Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs features more than 130 treasures from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tut and other ancient sites. Striking objects from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history will be on view, spanning the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C.–660 B.C.), many of which have never before visited the United States.

The exhibition will include the largest image of King Tut ever found – a 10-foot statue that originally may have stood at Tutankhamun’s mortuary temple and retains much of its original paint. One of the four gold and precious-stone-inlaid canopic coffinettes that contained his mummified internal organs also will be exhibited. (www.kingtut.org)

The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army, inspired by one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, features 100 works, including 15 full terracotta figures. The exhibition represents one of the largest groups of important works relating to China’s First Emperor ever to be loaned to the U.S. With rarely seen and recently discovered objects from his famed tomb complex, the exhibition will provide insight into the legacy of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, who reigned from 221–210 B.C. He is best known for unifying the warring states of China and building the Great Wall.

The life-sized terracotta figures populated the First Emperor’s underground tomb complex, just as they would have been integral to the activities of his actual court. Close to 1,000 figures have been excavated from the tomb, and it is estimated that a total of 7,000 may ultimately be unearthed. No two terracotta figures are identical; all are individualized with a distinctive facial appearance. In addition to the terracotta figures, the exhibition also includes artifacts such as bronze weapons, stone armor and coins. (www.high.org/firstemperor)

The U.S. Traveler Sentiment Index displayed its second consecutive quarterly decline in July 2008, dropping to 78.3 from 82.4 in April 2008, according to the closely-watched travelhorizons survey.  The decline was due to significant decreases in both the perceived “affordability of travel” and “money available for travel.” .

These data suggest that travel service suppliers may experience additional declines in demand during the next six months.  The recent drop in the price of gasoline may reverse part of this expected decline but may not be sufficient to offset consumers’ concerns about credit issues and other economic factors. 

Traveler Sentiment Index

Although the overall Traveler Sentiment Index is down, leisure travel intentions for the next six months (through January 2009) actually exceed those recorded at approximately the same time last year.  According to the July survey, 74.5% of U.S. adults are planning a trip during the next six months versus 70.9% in June 2007.  This translates into a potential gain of 8.2 million adult leisure travelers based on the 2007 U.S. Census estimate of 227.7 million Americans aged 18 or over.

Intent to Travel During Next Six Months

Q.12 Over the next six (6) months (that is from now through January 2009), do you plan to take any leisure (pleasure, vacation, personal) trips of 50 miles or more one way or one that will include an overnight stay?  Base: Total Respondents

However, future trips are likely to be characterized by shorter stays and reduced spending in destinations that are “closer to home.”

A total of 58.1 million American adults do not plan to take a leisure trip between August 2008 and January 2009.  Economic factors continue to be the major reason for the decision not to travel, although the lack of time appears to be an increasing barrier to leisure travel as well.  Over half (52.2%) of respondents cited the price of gas as the reason for not traveling, while 40.9% agreed that “travel in general is too expensive.” Both sentiments remained virtually unchanged since April 2008. 

 The percentage of respondents mentioning the high cost of airfares increased from 23.6% to 30.9% between April and July 2008.  And time, or the lack thereof, appears to be an increasing barrier to leisure travel.  Over one quarter (25.2%) of respondents said they had “no time or were too busy” to take a leisure trip during the next six months – up from 19.0% in April.  Similarly, the percentage agreeing with the statement they “can’t get time off from work” increased from 10.2% in April to 17.0% in July. 

Reasons for Not Intending to Travel

Q.13 Why aren't you planning on taking any leisure trips during the next six (6) months?  Base: No Intentions to Travel

travelhorizons is a quarterly survey of Americans’ travel intentions viewed through the lens of emerging economic, social, and political developments.  The nationally representative online survey of 2,231 U.S. adults is co-authored by the Travel Industry Association and Ypartnership, and was conducted during the month of July, 2008.  The average error interval for all estimates is +/-2.2% at the 95% level of confidence.