Predictions say that tourism in New South Wales is showing signs of recovery, with talk of a billion dollar boom.

Sydney is the heart of tourism in the state, but holiday spots further afield are also seeing increased hotel bookings, while camping and caravan holidays are also proving popular. In all, a ten per cent increase in visitor numbers is being seen.

The Sydney Festival, which runs at New Year, is expected to bring 1.5 million people out that night while sport is apparently another major attraction. With an Ashes summer on the horizon, British tourists can be expected in even greater numbers next year.

One-time rapper and generally underwhelming actor, Ice-T, has been spotted taking a family holiday in Miami, Florida.

Ice-T was seen along with his wife, Nicole Austin, his son and some of his wife’s family. Ice-T said on Twitter that he thought he had blown his son’s mind by taking him to South Beach for the first time. Quite what he meant by this is open to interpretation, but it is likely to be a reference to a tolerance of topless sunbathing. It might also to refer to the many nightclubs that are littered around the area.

It was earlier reported that Sienna Miller had asked Jude Law to join her on holiday for Christmas at short notice. Now it seems that he has taken her up on the offer, albeit slightly later than planned.

The two were spotted in Barbados and the usual vague ’sources’ are muttering about how the pair are planning to make a go of it together. Both have late December birthdays, so they have been able to celebrate Miller becoming 28 and Law becoming a rather surprising 37.

It is being reported that Orient-Express Hotels have paid seven million dollars for a hotel in Peru.

The hotel in question is the Hotel Rio Sagrado, which is situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas – a prime spot. It offers 21 suites as well as two villas.

This is Orient-Express’s 49th hotel and the fifth in Peru, clearly indicating that the popular South American holiday destination is part of its plans in years to come.

John Park, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has addressed Visit Scotland, encouraging them to include broadband as a factor in hotels star ratings.

Currently, broadband is not a consideration when awarding a hotel a star rating, but Park goes further than that, saying that all hotels in Scotland should offer free broadband as standard.

He believes that these days this is an important way that hotels can make themselves more appealing to international visitors. He says that hotels don’t charge for TV or showers and believes that broadband should be considered in the same way.

Despite the recession and ongoing financial problems in the town, Las Vegas has just seen the opening of its biggest development. The Aria casino is central to the vast CityCenter development which also features four separate hotels.

MGM chief executive, Jim Murren, somewhat questionably labels it ‘a landmark of taste and style’. No matter what your opinion of that statement, it’s impossible to argue with the scale of a project that will see two 37-storey glass towers when finished.

This is in spite of unemployment of 12 per cent and freefalling property prices in the desert city and many believe the project is poorly timed. The new casino was opened by Eva Longoria and Priscilla Presley.

Miami hotel revenue dropped by nearly a quarter in 2009 and a further drop is anticipated in 2010. However, one night seems set to buck that trend with Lady Gaga’s New Year’s Eve gig at the Fontainebleau reportedly the most popular spot in the US that night.

Tickets are changing hands for ludicrous prices. As much as 425 dollars for ordinary tickets and even 25,000 dollars for a table. In all, more than a million dollars have been made, but it will take more than this to help Miami hotels to more long-term profitability.

Simon Cowell has spent this Christmas cruising round the Caribbean in a luxury yacht. This is in keeping with previous years, where the high-trousered TV personality has spent the festive period at Sandy Lane Hotel on Barbados.

Due to this love of the area, Cowell splashed out £15m on a holiday home on the island, but building work has been slow. Other plots on the luxury development have been bought by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Eddie Jordan and they too must wait, with the resort expected to be finished in 2011 having originally been scheduled to open last year. Funding difficulties have stalled the project for now, but the developers remain confident that work will recommence shortly.

Following an attempted bombing on Christmas Day, flights into the USA are typically running late due to enhanced security and baggage restrictions.

Additional security staff have been brought in to cover all flights arriving in the States and many airlines are now limiting hand luggage to one item, although they will allow additional bags to be checked into the hold free of charge to make up for this.

It is also likely that passengers will not be allowed access to overhead lockers or the toilets for the last hour of their flights as an additional security measure.

Kylie Minogue headed to Spain last week in order to spend time with the family of her boyfriend. Andre Velencoso is a Spanish underwear model, who is reportedly ‘dedicated’ to his career.

Velencoso hails from the unfortunately named Tossa del Mar on the Costa Brava and Kylie was photographed deep in conversation with his sister, walking along a beach.

The week prior to this was also spent away from home, with the couple visiting Kylie’s family in Melbourne.