Copenhagen Theme Park Observes 150th Birthday

Tivoli--the flower-filled amusement park in Copenhagen that is said to have inspired Walt Disney in designing some elements of Disneyland--will celebrate its 150th birthday this spring and summer. With 28 restaurants and 10,000 seats in its theater and concert halls, Tivoli will mark its 1993 season, April 22-Sept. 19, with concerts by world-famous performers, a new museum dedicated to its history, a new restaurant housed in the replica of an 18th-Century frigate floating on Lake Tivoli, and special celebrations on and around its Aug. 15 birthday. Performances by conductor Gary Bertini, opera greats Jessye Norman and Rene Kollo, and violinist Isaac Stern will highlight the season’s 144 classical concerts. The New York City Ballet will perform Aug. 31-Sept. 8. And on the eve of the birthday, a concert hosted by comedian-musician Victor Borge will be followed by a massive fireworks display. Tivoli was founded by Georg Carstensen as an amusement park featuring music and food in what is now downtown Copenhagen, and was an immediate success. Admission is about $6 for adults; about $3 for children.

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Travel Quiz: What four states begin with the letter “A”?

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Buying a Camp Experience: RV industry leaders are forecasting a strong surge in RV travel this spring and summer based on strong sales in 1992. According to the national Recreation Vehicle Industry Assn. (RVIA), 1992 dealer shipments of motor homes, travel trailers, truck campers, folding camping trailers, park trailers and van conversions rose 30% over 1991, to 300,000 units. And industry leaders are predicting that dealer orders for 1993 may surpass 1988 totals--the decade’s best year--when more than 427,000 RVs were shipped. Also optimistic about the growing popularity of RV travel is the National Assn. of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC). Based on a recent survey of its Campground Industry Advisory Board, ARVC said it is expecting a 10%-12% increase in revenues this spring and summer, based on increased numbers of campers during the 1992 spring-summer season.

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Euro Disney Trims Prices: The Euro Disney theme park outside Paris is offering reduced entry fees and certain other enticements in an attempt to lure reluctant Parisians to the park 18 miles east of the city. Euro Disney president Philippe Bourguignon said a $36 adult admission fee, including round-trip train fare from Paris, would be offered through March 31, a $16.50 savings off normal rates. Euro Disney will also introduce traditional European festivals at the park, such as Oktoberfest from Germany, Saint Lucy from Sweden and Saint Jean from France. The park reported a loss of $91.1 million for the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Parisians in particular have stayed away despite a suburban train line built especially for the park. One of the reasons most cited is the French coolness to American culture and the predominance of the English language in the park.

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Quick Fact: One additional paying, business-class passenger per flight adds up to an extra $12 million per year for Continental Airlines, according to a spokeswoman for the company.

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Tourism Pollution May be Harming Elephants: Pollution from tourist camps and boating marinas in northern Zimbabwe may have led to lead poisoning of some elephants, who have lost the use of their trunks and are in danger of starving to death, according to officials of the state parks department. Rangers have shot two helpless elephants so far, according to a parks official who said others that appear unable to adequately feed themselves have been spotted near Lake Kariba on the northern border with Zambia. Elephants use their trunks for eating, drinking and cooling their bodies with sprays of water and mud. Officials speculate the paralysis is caused by lead or other heavy metal compounds, but its exact cause is under investigation.

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Making a Date With California Festivals: From the Ft. Bragg Whale Festival to the Grapefruit Festival in Borrego Springs, this year’s California Special Events calendar lists festivals around the state and, new this year, also identifies events that are wheelchair-accessible. For a free copy of the 35-page booklet and a packet of trip-planning information, write: California Office of Tourism, P.O. Box 1499, Dept. SE, Sacramento 95812-1499, or call (800) 862-2543.

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Will Discounting Drive Up Air Fares? More than half of the travel professionals surveyed believe that last summer’s air-fare wars contributed to destabilization of the airline industry and, ultimately, will drive up prices. The new 1993 Travel Barometer Survey, Budget Rent a Car’s annual poll of travel agents and corporate travel managers, also found that more than 75% of the 400 travel professionals surveyed said the air-fare wars fostered a “sale” mentality among consumers, who continue to seek rates comparable to last summer’s. On the positive side, the survey predicts a strong upsurge in travel in 1993, due to increased consumer confidence in the economy.

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New Nonstop Between LAX and Reno: Northwest Airlines will begin nonstop service between LAX and Reno April 1 with one flight a day, and will add a second daily flight May 1. Special introductory fares will begin at $55 one way and will remain at that level for an unspecified period, according to an airline spokesman. Passengers who continue beyond Reno to Northwest’s Minneapolis/St. Paul hub can do so for as little as $145 one way--31% off the airline’s normal super-saver fare. And those who fly to Seattle from LAX via Reno can do so for as little as $100 one way, a 29% savings off Northwest’s current super-saver fare for nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Seattle.

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Comparatively Speaking: Top 10 states, in terms of fishing license revenues for 1989, the most recent year for which figures are available: California, $33,391,143; Minnesota, $19,871,298; Michigan, $19,057,720; Texas, $17,427,430; Wisconsin, $16,987,379; Pennsylvania, $13,644,169; Washington, $13,363,435; New York, $12,389,898; Oregon, $9,466,218; North Carolina, $8,716,540. (Source: U.S. Department of the Interior.)

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Quiz Answer: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona and Arkansas.