Tourism: Bucking the Trend

CouchSurfing the Financial Crisis Away

The tourism sector has been hit so badly by the financial crisis that airline companies are not the only ones flying low, or even worse - caught with their pants down.

Even 6-Star hotels have been reduced to dwelling places of demons where the bling of gold and marble arches wallow in the dusty decline.

Budget hotels, hostels and campsites on the contrary are holding on by the skin of their teeth but for how much longer can they hang in there? Not much longer one would assume!

The Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden, Germany announced last week (10 August 2009) that the number of foreign tourists travelling to Germany has fallen by 8% compared with figures for 2008. They also confirmed that the number of German nationals vacationing at home has increased by 5% in comparison with last year's figures.

Where will the buck stop?

Ironically, Michael Glos (Germany's former Economy Minister) made an anti-recessionary, protectionist rant in 2005 requesting all German holiday makers to remain in Germany and enjoy the German Baltic Sea or the Franconian wine region as opposed to escaping Germany for the warmer regions of the world such as the Caribbeans.

Who's bucking the trend?

While the tourism monster undergoes a global melt-down, CouchSurfers are bucking the trend and going from strength to strength - the network is growing quickly, adding about 2361 new members daily!

The international non-profit organisation, couchsurfing.com, connects travellers with locals in over 231 countries and territories around the world. Since 2004, members have been using their network to come together for cultural exchange, friendship, and learning experiences. Today, over a million people who might otherwise never meet are able to share hospitality and cultural understanding.

A graphic showing where CouchSurfers are registered

These exchanges are a uniquely rich form of cultural interaction. Hosts have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world without leaving home. 'Surfers,' or travellers, are able to participate in the local life of the places they visit. More and more people have the opportunity to travel, because 'surfing' dramatically lowers the financial cost of exploration.

CouchSurfers come from 62,002 different cities around the world and speak 1,272 unique languages.

CouchSurfing Statistics [See current statistics]
(Generated 16 August 2009)

• Total CouchSurfers: 1,330,318
• Successful Surf or Host Experiences: 1,357,650
• Friendships Created: 1,532,420
• Positive Experiences: 2,455,418
• Countries Represented: 231
• Cities Represented: 64,002

CouchSurfing is not just about finding free accommodation around the world; it's about making connections worldwide. CouchSurfers make the world a better place by opening their homes, their hearts and their lives. They open their minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. They create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing is not only changing the way we travel but also how we relate to the world!

SAFETY FIRST !

There has been a recent report of an alleged incident in which a Moroccan-born man is suspected of raping a 29 year old Chinese woman in Leeds, UK - the man offered her free accommodation through CouchSurfing.com

Read the full report here!

Remember!
When CouchSurfing, your personal safety should always be paramount in every decision you make.

Read the safety features & advice provided by CouchSurfing.com:

Safety First!
Welcome to the world of hosting and surfing! Here are some safety features and tips that will help you make your hosting and surfing experience yet another safe and successful adventure. We encourage you to look over these features and guides before you surf or host as they will help you make safe, responsible choices about your connections.

Safety Features

Verification
Verified members are key to the community’s safety. When you see someone with a verified profile, it means a few different things. First, verified members have all made a donation to help CouchSurfing keep running, so you can feel confident that they care about the community. Second, they’ve confirmed both their name and physical location, so you can feel more comfortable that they are who they say they are. If you’d like to become a verified member, click the link above for more information!

References
References are an excellent indicator of the type of experience you can expect to have when interacting with a member. What do fellow members have to say about them? What kind of references do they leave for others?

Vouching
The Vouching System is taken very seriously here at CouchSurfing. Users can only vouch for members that they have met face to face and feel are trustworthy people. Respecting the significance of vouching is essential to the integrity of the network.

Safety Guidelines

Safety for Surfers
When surfing, be aware of your surroundings. Your safety is your primary concern, and your responsibility.

Safety for Hosts
When hosting, evaluate your situation and your guest. Here are some things you might want to think about when meeting guests for the first time.

Use Your Common Sense
Safe surfing and hosting boils down to common sense. If you don't feel comfortable with something, don't do it! By using the features above you can help increase your awareness of potential guests and hosts, but the decision to host or surf is up to you. You never have to let someone into your house who you are not comfortable with, nor do you have to stay somewhere you feel uncomfortable. Make the best choice for you, and keep experiencing new cultures and people around the world!

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UPDATE (15th August 2009):

Published Date: 15 August 2009
(Source: Yorkshire Evening Post)

Jury fails to reach verdict in Leeds 'couchsurf' rape trial

A Jury has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of raping a woman he met on a website.

Abdelali Nachet will remain in custody after the jury spent five-and-a-half hours deliberating but could not agree on a verdict.

Moroccan-born Nachet, 34, is accused of raping a woman from Hong Kong who spent a night at his flat in Moortown, Leeds. He denies the charge.

The pair had met on www.couchsurfing.com, which puts travellers in touch with people offering free accommodation.

In her evidence, the woman said she had been raped twice during a prolonged ordeal which lasted throughout her stay in March. She also said Nachet had threatened to kill her and then kill himself if she tried to escape from his flat on Cranmer Bank.

But in his defence, dad-of-one Nachet, a part-time chef, said the 27-year-old had "wanted lots of sex" and "loved it".

Judge Kerry Macgill discharged the jury yesterday and Nachet may now face a re-trial. The case will appear at Leeds Crown Court again on August 28.