Cape Canaveral
New fountain honors JFK’s
space dreams
The Kennedy Space Center has opened the first phase of a 10-year upgrade to the Visitor Complex, a $16 million entry plaza that includes a retail shop, restaurant, ticket stations and a fountain that pays homage to the dreams of President John F. Kennedy. Next up is the $100 million shuttle exhibit featuring Atlantis, scheduled to open in July.
Meantime, the center has extended three behind-the-scenes tours. Tours of the Launch Control Center and launch pad have been extended at least through March 31, and tours of the Vehicle Assembly Building have been extended through 2013. Information: www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
New York
Big Apple tourism hits all-time high
New York City welcomed 52 million visitors in 2012, a new all-time high and a 2.1 percent increase over 2011, city officials said. Those numbers included an estimated 41 million domestic visitors and 11 million international visitors. Tourism is New York’s fifth largest industry, generating an estimated $55.3 billion in economic impact to the city’s economy in 2012.
Air travel
3.6 billion fliers predicted by 2016
A forecast by the International Air Transport Assn. predicts that airports around the world will serve 3.6 billion fliers by 2016. That represents an average of 5 percent growth each year, adding about 800 million new fliers in four years.
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