Getting Married

The 3 Honest Conversations You Should Have Before Getting Married

BY MARY CAMPBELL

It's finally happened; you've met the person you think is "the one." Things have been going smoothly, and you believe a ring will soon be on the horizon. It seems like everything is going according to plan. Now that you're engaged, in love, and preparing for the big day, how do you know you're ready for married life? Some couples seek the advice of their faith-based leader or therapist before they wed to help them understand how to communicate with each other and prepare for marriage. If it's such a good match, to begin with, don't couples just naturally know how to have a good relationship? Not necessarily. While there are definitely elements of many healthy couples that can create a strong solid foundation, every single couple — no matter how healthy, happy, and into each other they are — will experience conflict at one point or another. Relationships are complicated, and every relationship is different. So, before taking the next step, you must have these three honest conversations to ensure you're both on the same page. Are We on the Same Page About Finances? One of the most common stresses in relationships is financial stress. Because of this, it's vital to have open conversations about how the finances will be handled in your relationship. For instance, will you open a joint bank account? What will your respective contributions be? Which types of purchases should you make together or separately? You will be in a better position to deal with any issues that may arise if you have a clear picture of your finances. In addition, it is important to be on the same page about spending habits and budgeting. Do We Want Kids? Let's be honest — kids are cute but they can also be a handful. Even though someone has a genuine love for children, it does not mean they want one of their own. The decision as to whether to have children is not one to be taken lightly. It may be cause for concern if one partner is adamant about having children, while the other is ambivalent. A conversation like this can be delicate. It's essential that both people are as honest and open as possible. If it turns out that you're not on the same page, you can at least rest assured that you discussed this before committing to marriage. Do Our Beliefs Align? Your religious, political, and general beliefs play a significant role in your relationship. Early on in a relationship, it is easy to overlook misalignments. Keep a long-term perspective. It is important to talk about blending beliefs if you and your partner come from different religious backgrounds and plan to have children. Moreover, political beliefs can also be a bit challenging, especially if both partners are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Different perspectives do not have to be deal-breakers, but it's a good idea to have a plan for resolving tensions that may occur.

Compromise Is Key Relationships are filled with give-andtake. However, some issues are more important than others and require both partners to be on the same page. If you're ready to move forward in your relationship, sit down with your partner and discuss everything on your mind. Making a plan to deal with issues will ensure future success in your relationship. Remember, couples who appreciate each other are more likely to stay together. l

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

20 Flight Bookings Indicate Sizzling Summer of Travel

BY LINDA S. HOHNHOLZ, ETURBO NEWS

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and its knowledge partner ForwardKeys, forecast a major increase in global international flights bookings as international travel takes off. The booking bounce back was revealed at WTTC’s prestigious 21st Global Summit, taking place this year in Manila, as the world continues to reopen from the pandemic. News of the strong recovery highlights a promising prospect ahead for summer holiday travel, with sun and sea destinations, such as the Caribbean and Latin America, leading the international inbound bookings. According to ForwardKeys, leading travel and analytics company, the country’s leading the ranking of top 20 best performing destinations for the summer are Costa Rica, Aruba, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, all of which rely heavily upon international travel. These destinations lead the pack with bookings already surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Last year, the industry’s gradual recovery was significantly slowed by the surge in Omicron cases. However, the future is looking brighter for 2022 with positive booking data worldwide. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “WTTC 2022 booking data from ForwardKeys is a firm signal of the strong recovery of the global Travel & Tourism sector. Olivier Ponti, ForwardKeys Vice President Insights, said: “It is very encouraging that Asia has finally begun re-opening, which is driving the return of both travel to Asia and within the region, both of which are clearly going to be instrumental in driving the global economic recovery.” According to the data, Q1 and Q2 figures for this year are showing triple-digit growth for inbound flight bookings around the world, compared to last year, including the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Travellers are eager to spend more on travel following the loosening of restrictions, with heightened demand for premium cabin classes in 2022. Other trends seen include stronger last-minute bookings. Further evidence of the resurgence in travel is shown in arrivals in Europe, with a massive 350% surge in international arrivals for Q1 in 2022 compared to last year. Asia-Pacific countries also saw an increase in arrivals for Q1 of this year compared to 2021, with bookings for the region up 275%. In Q2 we see further acceleration of the continuing recovery with a significant rise in international bookings, which have soared by 264% on the year before. This acceleration is particularly notable in Asia where travel restrictions are being removed. Host to the WTTC Global Summit, the Philippines is the fastest growing single destination in South East Asia, 29% up in Q2 this year compared to Q1. The summer travel outlook is led by the resurgence of travel to the Caribbean and Latin America, which includes seven out of the top 10 travel destinations. India and Pakistan are also highly popular, thanks to travel mainly for visits to family and friends. Meanwhile in Europe, destinations such as Iceland, Greece, Portugal, Spain and France are showing a strong resurgence with travel bookings just slightly behind pre-pandemic levels. Africa and the Middle East also feature in the top 20 list with Tanzania, Qatar and Egypt also reaching close to prepandemic levels of travel. The continued recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector in the Asia-Pacific region looks set to accelerate as destinations gradually reopen throughout 2022.l