HEADLINE NEWS.

The U.S. Department of State is warning against travel to Saudi Arabia, reminding Americans that targeted attacks against U.S. citizens has resulted in deaths, injuries and a kidnapping. It strongly urges any private U.S. citizens there to depart. State also is asking that Americans defer all nonessential travel to Indonesia. Anyone who does travel there should register with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, U.S. Consulate in Surabaya or the Consular agent in Bali. Americans are asked to keep a low profile and avoid crowded areas, especially during the July 5 2004 presidential election when demonstrations may occur.

U.S. is to test program to speed air travel security. The government will seek voluntary personal information, fingerprints and eye scans from thousands of frequent fliers as part of an experiment this summer to speed travelers through airport security, officials said on June 16 2004. The Transportation Security Administration's registered traveler pilot program will begin this month in Minneapolis and will include Northwest Airlines customers. The agency plans to expand the effort to Los Angeles and Houston next month, and then to Boston and Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport by the end of the summer. United Airlines, Continental Airlines and American Airlines will also participate. The registered traveler initiative has been on the drawing board for two years. It has been approved by Congress but has stalled once already over concerns that it would not be practical or economical.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has agreed to launch a pilot program later during June 2004 that would help speed frequent travelers through airports. Known as the Registered Traveler Program, the TSA will initially enroll up to 10,000 travelers to participate at five major airports. The travelers will volunteer for prescreening that will allow them to be approved before they travel, and should expedite the security process. The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has been advocating such a system for more than two years. NBTA president and CEO, Carol Devine, said the association has offered volunteers, and hopes to work directly with the TSA on this effort.

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Railroads intends to introduce a bill on Thursday June 17 to tighten security for passenger and freight rail. It is apparently prepared to provide the financial resources necessary to improve security against terrorist attacks by proposing $1 billion in federal funds, including $600 million to improve the safety of tunnels used by Amtrak and commuter railroads. The subcommittee said the legislation would propose remedies that range from the simple to the high-tech.

Get set for more high-flying adventures when A&E Network premieres the second season of its hit real-life show AIRLINE. New episodes of the series, which showcase the thrills and spills behind-the-scenes of the nation's fourth largest airline, Southwest, will air every Monday on A&E at 10:00 pm ET/PT and 10:30 pm ET/PT beginning July 5, 2004.

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce, 3.4 million international visitors traveled to the U.S. in April, representing a 28 percent increase over April 2003. This statistic shoes continued positive growth from the first quarter of 2004, which demonstrated a 12 percent increase over the same period in 2003. For April, Canadian visitation increased by 25 percent; Mexico, by 16 percent. Overseas arrivals increased 33 percent, and Asian visitation showed a 68 percent increase. U.K. visitation increased 19 percent, solidifying that country's position as the top overseas market. German visitation increased 20 percent.

Canada enjoyed a huge year-over-year increase in April 2004 over April 2003, posting a 21.9 percent hike, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC). The April 2004 volume reached 1,133,000 trips. Overnight travel from the U.S. to Canada in April rose by 22.7 percent, representing 897,000 trips. The CTC attributes this increase to the number of U.S. travelers arriving both by car (20.8 percent) and other modes of transportation (26.1 percent). Despite the positive news, the CTC cautioned that the result is only the second positive monthly result recorded this year, and "cannot be considered a trend at this time."

Have a nice stay, Malaysian style! This true story is from Ian Thomson, Britannia Airways cabin services manager at Manchester via the airline's house magazine Britannia Briefing. Upon landing at Kula Lumpur the following came over the broadcast system. "Ladies and gentlemen. It is illegal to bring drugs into, or be caught with drugs whilst in Malaysia. If you are found with them in your possession it will result in the death sentence. Have a nice stay in Malaysia".