The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "tourism" ...
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Councilmen on Tourism
With the help of a hidden camera, this RBS-TV/Globo TV investigation of city council members in seven Brazilian states shows how many politicians were skipping taxpayer-funded seminars and classes to vacation instead.
Tags: Brazil; politician; taxpayer; tourism; council
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Councilmen on Tourism
The RBS-TV news crew followed city council members from seven Brazilian states as they attended 6 training courses over 40 days. They found that many of them enjoyed tourist day trips instead of the courses they were supposed to be attending. They also found that the politicians could purchase certificates of completion even when they did not attend the courses.
Tags: Brazil; city government; city council; fraud; tax dollars; abuse of power;
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Space Florida
A new agency, Space Florida, was created in the state of Florida to find innovative ways to help those who were losing their jobs and create alternative business. But an investigation into the agency revealed that it was creating more controversy than helping. Some of these include things like spending huge amounts of money without return, stealing ideas, not creating jobs because they didn’t track it, and awarding contracts to those later convicted of crimes.
Tags: Steve Kohler; NASA; space shuttle fleet; astronauts; space-tourism; industry; aerospace; state crisis; rockets
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Biggest Nonprofit Fraud of our Time
Sandy Frost uncovers a network of prostitution, human trafficking and child sex tourism in the secret Masonic subgroup, the Royal Order of Jesters (ROJ). Frost found that Jester groups paid for prostitution rooms and the society was linked to Richard Schair, a former fishing tour operator who brought North American into the Amazon for sex with minor, Indigenous girls.
Tags: Richard Schair; Royal Order of Jesters; Jesters; Mason; Sandy Frost; prostitution; child abuse; human trafficking; sex;
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Unconventional Spending
After a six month investigation, Reporter C. S. Murphy reported for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the "Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau spends more than twice as much money as a tytpical city tourism agency but can't show the public what it's getting in return for its money." Murphy also finds "The bureau's regular annual audits have repeatedly called for tighter spending controls and more accountability."
Tags: Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau; FOIA; LIttle Rock Advertising and Promotion Commission; CLinton School of Public Service; no-bid contracts; Cranford Johnson Robinson & Woods; Arkansas Tourism Development Foundation; Arkansas Ethics Commission; retaliatory firings; Arkansas Host Committee; Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce; African American fraternities
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Councilmen on Tourism Spree
Local councilmen in Brazil were collecting per diems paid out to enable politicians to attend qualification courses presented in other countries. Using a hidden camera, the reporter passed himself off as a politician as the others admitted they were only signing up for these courses to collect the money while skipping the classes and taking a vacation. As a result of the investigation, many city councils in the southern Brazil state of Rio Grande do Sul cut back the payments.
Tags: per diems; councilmen; Brazil; goverment; politicians
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Pulling G's
This investigation looks at the G forces riders experience on thrill rides at central Florida theme parks. The parks have resisted releasing such information, so Florida Today measured them, developing data using a 3-axis accelerometer. Despite much concern, the rides were within established safety limits.
Tags: amusement parks; roller coasters; thrill rides; Disney World; g forces; physics; theme parks; safety; tourism
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Troubled Waters
The authors investigated a dive company in Belize after one of its customers, Abigail Brinkman, died. They found questionable practices and a history of incidents. The company, Advance Dive, and dive master Vance Cabral were found to have put people's lives at risk for profit. On Dec 14, 2006, Belize's Licensing Committee announced their decision to refuse to renew Advance Diving Tours tour operator’s license for a period of 5 years.
Tags: Scuba diving; snorkeling; Belize; Abigail Brinkman; Vance Cabral; Advance Dive; water safety; tourism; tour operators
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International Drive: Tourism's Main Street; I-Drive: How it Grew; I-Drive: Set to Boom
This series of stories traces the development of Orlando's International Drive, where attractions, restaurants, gift-stores and hotels crowd together to lure in tourists. After examining the history of International Drive, Leusner recognizes that the strip's heyday has past. He talks to business owners and developers to make predictions about the area's future.
Tags: Orlando; Disneyworld; tourism; Sea World; land development; property; immigration; international community; vacation; theme park
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Is Bigger Better?
When officials in Orlando decided to build a new convention center for the town (which will end up costing a total of $2.8 billion), they told residents that it would attract around 500,000 visitors during its first year. However, the center only attracted a mere 154,317 visitors and had a bad impact on Orlando's economy. Dan Tracy investigated and found that the numbers given by those who run the convention center are only estimates and educated guesses. He also found that it is becoming harder and harder for other cities to compete with Las Vegas, which is the number one convention destination.
Tags: The Orange County Convention Center; Las Vegas; tourism; Convention and Visitors Bureau