Great deals in 1998 could be found in Asia and Hawaii because of the downturn in the Asian economy. The strong U.S. dollar also contributed to great bargains in places like Canada. Theme park attendance was down a bit in 1998, but the industry continues to expand. Disney opened Animal Kingdom in 1998 and launched its Disney Magic cruise ship. Orlando, with its many theme parks, has grown into one of the nation's most popular destinations.
Big names continue to dominate the industry, which is beset by merger-mania.
Four companies now own the 50 biggest amusement parks. Hurricanes in the Caribbean impacted that region's tourism in the latter part of the year, though the islands say they have recovered and are ready for tourists again. The airline industry had a strong year, with nearly full flights. Ticket prices stayed down for consumers. 1998 saw an increasing emphasis on frequent fliers and many frequent flier programs merged.