When Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunisia in January his departure was greeted with scenes of jubilation across the country. Power, it appeared, was flowing back into the hands of the people. Now, six months later, these first assumptions, while still valid, have been tempered with a hint of cold reality. Breaking Travel News here assesses the situation on the ground as Tunisia seeks out its future.

Wild Dolphin Days, an annual event celebrating the wild dolphins of Maui County, will be held on Saturday August 13 and Sunday, August 14.

ARC, the financial settlement link between airlines and travel sellers, reported today that the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies increased 7.22 percent(*) year-over-year in the first half of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, and 30 percent over the same period in 2009. January through June 2011 ticket sales totalled $44 billion, compared to $41 billion in 2010, and $34 billion in 2009.

Consumers in the UK looked to book their holidays well in advance of summer, according to the latest quarterly research by independent search and social marketing firm, Greenlight.

As the economy slowly rebounds from several years when vacations evaporated for many people, the concept of a several weeks’ vacation, booked months in advance, has grown untenable to the stressed businessperson, couple, or family who must quickly carve out the time to unplug, relax, and reconnect.

Scientists in the United Kingdom have isolated a chemical in the human body they believe causes the pain associated with sunburn. If correct, the development could help alleviate the suffering of millions of holidaymakers around the world.