FACTBOX-Crisis hurts tourism in Europe

Aug 12 (Reuters) - Here are some details about winners and losers in tourism around Europe:

WINNERS:

* ICELAND -- A dramatic tumble in the Icelandic crown has attracted foreign tourists and encouraged residents to spend their holidays at home. Iceland has also benefitted from publicity over its crisis, with more travellers now aware of the remote, glacial land.

LOSERS:

* AUSTRIA -- Austria's economic research institute, Wifo, expects tourism by foreigners to contribute 3.5 percent less in real terms to Austria's GDP in 2009.

* BULGARIA -- Foreign tourist visits dropped 8 percent in the first six months on an annual basis to 2.12 million people. The decrease in June alone was 12.7 percent, data from the statistics office showed. Industry officials expect about 20 percent fewer tourists to visit Bulgaria's Black Sea resorts.

* CROATIA -- Official figures show the overall number of tourists fell 7 percent in the first six months of 2009, but the number of stays was down by just 3 percent. Tourist revenues fell 4.4 percent in Q1. However, the last weekend in July and the first in August, seen as the peak of the season, recorded an unexpectedly high number of foreign arrivals, prompting officials to say the season may not turn out as bad as feared.

* CZECH REPUBLIC -- Prague, the Czech Republic's main tourist destination, saw an 18 percent fall in tourism numbers in Q1 as Europeans and Americans cut back travel, according to the government agency CzechTourism.

* FRANCE -- France faces a lacklustre rather than disastrous tourist season, with stay-at-home French holidaymakers helping make up for a drop in foreign visitors, tourism officials say. French tourism body Protourisme said there was a 7 percent drop in the number of nights people stayed in French hotels, camp sites and B&Bs during July.

* GREECE -- Greek tourism industry groups see their revenues falling about 15 percent in 2009. Tourism accounts for nearly a fifth of Greece's 250 billion euros ($358.9 billion) economy.

* HUNGARY -- In the January-May period, the number of foreign tourists dropped by 15.6 percent year-on-year, with foreign guest nights falling by 14.2 percent.

* ITALY -- Tourism accounts for about 10 percent of GDP. Turnover for summer 2009 is expected to drop 15 percent, according to trade body Confturismo-Federalberghi. Hotel bookings by Italian and foreign tourists were down 7.1 percent between January and July, mainly due to the economic downturn and swine flu.

* SLOVENIA -- In the first six months of 2009 the number of overnight stays fell by 5 percent compared to the same period in 2008, the Statistical Office said in July.

* SPAIN -- Spain's tourism industry accounts for about 11 percent of the country's economy. In the first six months of the year, foreign tourist arrivals dropped 11.4 percent to 23.6 million, although there was a slight improvement in June, mainly due to a slowdown in the decline of British tourists, according to official figures.

* SWITZERLAND -- Switzerland expects the number of hotel stays to fall by over 7 percent in the summer season from May to October, the sharpest drop since 1982.

* TURKEY -- The tourism industry looks to have held up well in terms of foreign arrivals. The number of visitors in the first six months of 2009 fell only 0.9 percent to 10.6 million. However, those tourists are spending significantly less. Tourism receipts fell by 9.6 percent in the second quarter to $4.24 billion, after falling 11.2 percent in the first quarter.

* SOME NUMBERS:

According to the U.N. tourism barometer, worldwide international tourism arrivals are down 8 percent from January-April 2009, with Europe second-worst hit -- down 10 percent. The Middle East was down 18 percent.

Outbound tourism from Europe's second largest market, Britain, has been strongly affected by the depreciation of sterling.

Source: Reuters bureaux/United Nations World Tourism Barometer

Decline in Asian travel seen slowing: Abacus
13 August 2009
Agence France Presse

The rate of decline in Asia's travel industry should slow in the second half of this year as the global economy stabilises, but risks remain, a top industry player said Thursday.

Abacus International, an Asian air ticketing and reservations firm, forecast travel bookings from July to December would fall between 4.0 and 6.0 percent from a year earlier, compared with the 10 percent drop seen in the first half.

"It's true that there is evidence of green shoots sprouting and lining the path that the industry is travelling on right now, which is great news," said Abacus president and chief executive Robert Bailey.

"However, this road is still likely to be a bumpy one."

The risks include terrorist attacks like the hotel bombings in Jakarta last month and a further escalation of the swine flu virus.

Despite the travel industry being hammered by the global economic slump, there were also bright spots, with Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, China, Pakistan, Nepal and Kazakhstan registering travel growth in the first half, he said.

More people were also booking for short-haul and domestic trips, he said.

Corporate travel, however, will remain subdued and could recover only by mid-2010, Bailey told reporters.

Companies are scrutinising business trips more closely and this practice is likely to stay even after the global economy recovers, he added.

"The financial pressures faced by companies have forced them to be more stringent about granting permission for staff travel," Bailey said.

Markets like Singapore and Hong Kong, which draw the bulk of the business travellers, have been the most affected "and will continue to feel that pain for some time," he said.

"When will it upturn? I would say we're looking well into mid-2010 before that comes back."

Premium airlines have suffered from the decline in the number of corporate clients as they derive a bulk of their income from business class travellers, analysts have said.

Tibet notches record number of tourists for July: state media
16 August 2009
Agence France Presse

A total of 1.2 million tourists visited Tibet last month -- a record for July -- state media said Sunday, as travellers returned to the Himalayan region 17 months after deadly unrest there.

The domestic and foreign tourists generated revenue of 1.1 billion yuan (160 million dollars) in the month, nearly double the amount for July 2008, the official Tibet Daily reported.

We "achieved the highest performance in terms of the number of tourists and total income in July in the history of tourism development in Tibet," the report said.

Tourism in Tibet was hit when China banned travellers from going there immediately after riots erupted in the region's capital Lhasa in March last year, marking the 49th anniversary of a failed revolt.

The ban was later relaxed, but authorities once again tightened their clampdown on Tibet earlier this year to prevent unrest during the 50th anniversary of the uprising.

Official statistics showed visitor arrivals in Tibet reached nearly 2.25 million in 2008, down 44 percent from the previous year with tourism revenue more than halving, a previous report from the official Xinhua news agency said.

But from January to July this year, more than 2.7 million tourists visited Tibet, nearly triple that of the same period in 2008, the Tibet Daily report said.

Less International Arrivals In Asia Pacific
August 19, 2009 20:35 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- International inbound arrivals in Asia Pacific this year todate decreased to 124,550,780 from 130,962,043 in the same period of last year.

The number of international visitor arrivals in Southeast Asia for the first quarter this year contracted by 18.9 percent compared with a growth of 7.8 percent in the same quarter of last year.

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) President Gregory A.Duffell cited political instability, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, disease and security issues among the reasons for the drop in inbound arrivals.

Fear of contracting the highly infectious virus Pandemic A(H1N1), brought about thousands of travel package cancellations from May to July this year, he said during the launch of the Standard Online Tourism Architecture (SOTA) international conference here Wednesday.

SOTA is a consolidated tourism e-business platform aimed at uniting government agencies, various sectors of the travel industry and consumers.

It is a travel eco-system to leverage on the power of networking, via collaboration with Google, Cari.com, Nuff Nang, and other social networking websites.

The online platform includes components for travel packages, hotel and flight bookings, and other travel-related technology integral to the entire supply chain of the tourism industry.

The platform was created by Creative Advances Technology Sdn Bhd (CAT) which is also the developer of VirtualMalaysia.com, the official e-tourism portal for the Ministry of Tourism.

CAT has been an e-business catalyst for the Malaysian tourism industry since its establishment nine years ago.

--BERNAMA

Tough year for travel, even in peak season
Downturn has tourists staying close to home or spending less on trips
19 August 2009
International Herald Tribune

CAPRI, ITALY-- This island off southern Italy is known as a playground for movie stars, soccer players and billionaires and for attracting tourists from all over the world. But this year, its numbers are down. Restaurants are nearly empty at lunchtime. Most luxury hotels are not full.

"After 23 years working in Capri, this is the first time that it's been slow," said Salvatore Vitiello, 42, a waiter at Al Piccolo Bar, in the Piazza Umberto, where only a handful of customers enjoyed a drink on a recent afternoon. Mr. Vitiello estimated a 30 percent drop in tourists this year, compared with 2008.

The global tourism industry is taking a nose dive, even during the peak summer season in the Northern Hemisphere. Travelers are taking shorter vacations, if they go at all, and spending less. Hotel occupancy rates during the first half of the year were down in Europe; the Americas, including the United States; and the Asia-Pacific region compared with last year, according to data compiled by STR Global, a market forecaster.

A report published in June by the World Tourism Organization, a U.N. agency that studies and promotes tourism, predicted that the industry would decline by 4 percent to 6 percent over all during 2009. Those figures were revised downward because of the global recession and concerns about the swine flu.

David and Sharon Zad from Los Angeles acknowledged being more cautious about how they spent money, because of the economic downturn. During a recent three-week vacation in Europe, they resisted splurging.

"Shopping doesn't make sense here because of the exchange rate," said Ms. Zad, who works in real estate development. Eight years ago, a dollar was worth Û1.14. These days, it hovers around 71 euro cents.

But visitors to the United States are also cutting back. Despite the weak dollar's providing better value for most travelers, the downturn has limited their disposable income. In May, the latest full month for which figures were available, international visitors spent 22 percent less on travel and tourism-related activities compared with the same period last year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Tourists spent more money in the United States than anywhere else in 2008, when the industry was still booming.

May was the seventh consecutive month in which the U.S. spending figures were down compared with the year-earlier period, after more than 60 consecutive months of growth, according to a report by the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, a government agency that promotes U.S. tourism interests. The number of international visitors was 12 percent below last year's figures, the report said, and it predicted an 8 percent drop in international travel for the year.

Britain, another top international tourist destination, is also suffering. According to the Travel Trends report published in July by the Office for National Statistics, the number of foreign tourists visiting Britain in 2008 fell for the first time in seven years. While more French residents crossed the Channel to take advantage of the weak pound, the number of visitors from the United States decreased by 20 percent.

British residents opted for less expensive travel destinations closer to home, with the amount of overseas travelers dropping by 0.6 percent last year, according to the Travel Trends report. The trend is continuing in 2009 as their economy plunges further into recession and the value of the pound against other currencies continues to fall.

Even Asia, which last year was expected to experience a milder downturn, has not been able to escape the travel industry decline. The U.N. tourism report shows that demand in the Asia-Pacific region fell about 6 percent in the first four months of this year.

Cathay Pacific, a leading airline serving Asia, had 4.2 percent fewer passengers from January to June this year, compared with a year earlier.

But not all regions have experienced a downturn in tourism, the U.N. report showed. Foreigners traveling to Africa grew by 5 percent during the first four months of 2009. The travel industries in Morocco and Tunisia have been helped by inexpensive package vacations from overseas tour operators.

Similarly, inexpensive accommodation options are benefiting from the global recession. Hostelworld.com, an online budget reservations provider, reported substantial hostel booking increases for places like Moldova, Colombia and Ukraine during the past year.

"Growth in these markets is driven in part by the economy and those seeking more affordable choices in accommodations," a Hostelworld.com representative, Aisling White, said in a statement.

Businesses that are surviving the economic downturn are getting creative. During April and May this year, the Hotel La Palma in Capri organized free live music to entice customers, as well as a special offer of a two-course meal and glass of wine for Û25.

Travelers may be spending less, but they are still spending. Marcus Leon Pelham, the restaurant and bar manager at the Hotel La Palma, said it had received more bookings this year, especially from people who might have gone to a more expensive property in the past.

"Everybody comes to Capri," Mr. Pelham said. "The rich still come and spend here."

NYC hoping to lure US visitors from LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas and Miami with air deal
19 August 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - New York City tourism officials are hoping to lure some extra visitors this fall with a new campaign targeted at residents of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas and Miami.

It's the first time that NYC & Co. has partnered with a domestic air carrier to draw people to the city from within the United States.

American Airlines is offering fares from the five cities for between $138 and $218 round trip. The deal is available until this Friday.

The offer comes as city tourism officials face a 5 percent drop in the number of visitors this year compared to last. Federal travel officials say the country's tourism industry shrank by more than 15 percent in the first three months of the year.

Hawaii hotel occupancy still on the decline
21 August 2009

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii's hotel occupancy fell again in June, closing out the first half of the year that saw the lowest rate ever recorded by Hospitality Advisors LLC since its survey began in 1987.

Island hotels were 66 percent full from January through June, down from 78.3 percent over the same six-month period last year, Hospitality Advisors said.

Hotel room revenues over the first six months of the year fell by $339 million to $1.2 billion, representing a 21.8 percent decline, it said.

The plunge in occupancy reflects a 9.8 percent drop in visitor arrivals to Hawaii during the first half of the year as reported by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

"Similar to most destinations, we have experienced a tremendous pullback in the market, unlike anything we have seen before," said Joseph Toy, president and CEO of Hospitality Advisors.

"Despite the steep discounting of room rates in the market, hotel occupancies during what would normally be our busy summer season are at record lows, and the impact on hotel revenue and Hawaii's tax base is tremendous," Toy noted. "With such weak performance, we still do not expect to see any foundation for recovery until mid-2010."

For June, statewide hotel occupancy fell by 5.8 percentage points to 63.1 percent, while average daily room rate declined by 16.6 percent to $171.97, Hospitality Advisors reported.

Oahu hotels led the state in June occupancy at 67.8 percent, while hotels on Kauai suffered the most, dropping 10.3 percentage points in occupancy to 61 percent, the company said.

China completes renovation of Tibet's Potala Palace, once home to the Dalai Lamas
24 August 2009

BEIJING (AP) - China has completed a seven-year renovation of Tibet's Potala Palace -- home to the Dalai Lamas until the region's current spiritual leader fled during an aborted uprising against Communist rule 50 years ago.

China says the project is part of its plan to promote Tibetan culture and language in the region as it develops its economy, of which tourism forms a major part. The renovation, which also repaired the Norbu Lingka, a summer palace for the Dalai Lamas, cost 300 million yuan ($43.9 million), according to a report Monday from the state-run news agency.

But many Tibetan exiles say the Himalayan region's cultural heritage has been threatened by Beijing's restrictions on the native Buddhist religion and the Tibetan language as well as a government-orchestrated mass migration of Han Chinese in the last three decades. A large number of monasteries and other artifacts also were destroyed during China's Cultural Revolution, from 1966 to 1976, although the Potala was spared in the violence.

In March 2008, riots erupted in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, to protest Chinese rule. In response, Beijing poured troops into Tibetan areas and intensified its vilification of the Dalai Lama, accusing him of instigating the unrest.

The spiritual leader, who fled China in 1959 and now lives in exile in India, has said that restrictions on Tibet's religious practices have resulted in a "cultural genocide."

A ceremony was held Sunday on the square in front of the Potala -- whose facade looms over the city of Lhasa -- according to the Xinhua News Agency.

"The repairs to the three key cultural relics is an important part in the conservation of the Tibetan culture," said Liu Yandong, a member of the Communist Party's Politburo, who attended the ceremony.

More than 189,000 workers were involved, and the government also spent 94.74 million yuan ($13.9 million) repairing the Sagya Monastery, which houses classical Buddhist texts, Xinhua said.

Xinhua quoted a former director of the Potala's administration office saying the palace could now accommodate 1,000 visitors a day.

The renovations are part of a 570 million yuan ($73 million) plan to promote tourism to Tibet, a mainstay of the region's economy, and include the repair to 22 cultural sites.

Earlier this year China tightened restrictions on advertising and construction outside the palace, following calls from the United Nations to better preserve the UNESCO World Heritage Site's natural setting.

Although palaces have existed on the grounds of the Potala since the seventh century, the current building dates from the rule of the fifth Dalai Lama, known as the "Great Fifth," who started its construction in 1645. It was then used as living quarters and a winter palace by the Dalai Lamas.

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The News
While it is still enjoying its current buzz-worthy status, Dubai is no place to live. Nor is Hong Kong. Milan perhaps passes muster. Mumbai? Forget about it.

Behind the News
After a year of research, across 95 cities and with over 3600 hotel, bar and restaurants reviews by our global team of writers, contributors and ambassadors – the results are in. Melbourne, nestled on the south-eastern coast of mainland Australia, is the world's most desirable city to live, stay, eat and play, ranking at the top of SA's Global Cities 2009 Index.


By assessing current conditions in 95 cities based on stability, health care, education, infrastructure, culture and environment, Melbourne ranks first in the world, just slightly ahead of Zürich and Geneva. Copenhagen comes in fourth and Paris rounds out the top five list of the world’s most liveable cities.


Joining Jakarta at the bottom of the list were Mumbai (#99), Macau (#98), Mexico City (#96) and Dallas (#93). Beijing and Manila also ranked poorly coming in at #94 and #87, respectively. We have simply found that these cities have aspects of daily life that present significant challenges to its inhabitants and visitors alike.


With the exception of high scores in Australia and some Asian centres, most of the better-ranking cities are based in the more developed regions of Western Europe and North America. Tokyo (#6), Singapore (#10), Hamburg (#16) and Toronto (#13) – all placed in the top 25.


Cities that scored highly are mostly mid-sized, in developed countries with a medium population density. They also benefit from cultural or recreational availability but with lower infrastructure problems typically caused by large populations. The world’s most interconnected cities help set global agendas and serve as the hubs of global integration. These are the well-oiled machines of growth for their countries and the gateways to the resources of their regions in the 21st century.




1) Melbourne

While Sydney enjoys a stunning harbour and that much ballyhooed opera house, and Adelaide with its vineyards and the outback on it’s doorstep, it's Melbourne that has emerged as the most important city in Australia. With its idiosyncratic blend of Victorian and contemporary architecture, impressive cultural life and situated as one the top university cities, Melbourne is also one of the world's pre-eminent global cities. The city is now the fastest growing city in Australia, with thousands flocking to live here on a never before seen scale. By paying attention to urban flow, Melbourne has opened itself up as extremely pedestrian and biking friendly, with its extensive network of laneways and arcades; an enormous amount of new outdoor cafés and restaurants have opened on Melbourne’s streets. While the tram network (the world’s largest) is due for a much needed upgrade, and the city has an increasingly expanding waistline (it's estimated that the city will need to accommodate another 1 million people before 2025), all eyes are currently on Melbourne.
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Coastal erosion threatens Goa's idyllic beaches
29 August 2009
Agence France Presse

India's resort state of Goa has been hit by several setbacks in the last 18 months, including high-profile crime and the knock-on effects of Islamist extremist attacks up the coast in Mumbai.

But with each holiday season, a greater threat to the tourist trade emerges -- coastal erosion that is leading to fears that some of the former Portuguese colony's famous white sandy beaches could disappear for good.

The Goa assembly heard last month that more than 10 percent of the 105-kilometre (65-mile) coastline was falling into the sea, including the beach next to the state governor's official Raj Bhavan residency.

"A total of 21 stretches are affected. They cover 11.22 kilometres of coastal area," Goa's minister for water resources Filipe Neri Rodrigues told the state parliament.

Two major stretches of beach -- Colva, in south Goa, and Coco Beach, in the north -- are being reinforced with flexible barriers called "geotubes" which stop land being undercut by erosion, Rodrigues said.

Other beaches where work is required include Calangute, Baga, Sinquerim, Candolim and Palolem, which attract many of the 2.4 million tourists from India and abroad who flock to Goa every year.

"The sea erosion over the years has intensified to a very large extent, resulting in a very huge threat not only to the coastline but also to human lives," Rodrigues' department said on its website.

For Goa's many shoreline tourist bars, the situation could wreck already insecure livelihoods.

Last tourist season, business dipped sharply after the widely-publicised rape and unsolved death of a 15-year-old British girl in February 2008.

The investigation into the death of Scarlett Keeling, whose battered body was found on a beach, exposed the dark underbelly of traditionally laid-back Goa and led to a police crackdown on drink and drug-fuelled excess.

Many tourists also stayed away after militants killed 166 people in Mumbai in November last year, while restrictions were placed on Goa's annual Christmas and New Year beach parties on security grounds.

"If we lose the beaches to soil erosion, tourism will naturally be affected," said Cruz Cardoso, a local entrepreneur who heads the Goa Shack Owners Association.

Flooding due to coastal erosion had already affected trade at some beaches, he added.

The state tourist authority has expressed concern and said it is working with scientists to shore up beaches so they are not lost to the Arabian Sea.

"We're taking it very seriously because we understand how important beaches are to us," Lyndon Monteiro, vice-chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, told AFP.

"We're doing whatever is required to see that our beaches are protected from nature's fury... We're confident we can address this issue and people are aware. They know that we must act fast and in the right manner."

Goa's predicament is faced by many coastal areas around the world, as global warming affects sea levels, the intensity of storms and ocean currents.

Monteiro also accepted that haphazard and unauthorised development since tourism took off in Goa from the days of the hippie trail in the late 1960s and early 1970s has added to its woes.

Environmental scientists have said the destruction of mangroves and salt pans, plus sand mining and construction for tourism have exacerbated problems.

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that coastal erosion could displace millions and many idyllic destinations, like the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, could be wiped off the tourist map.

In India, about 1,500 kilometres or 26 percent of the mainland coastline faces "serious erosion" and is "actively retreating", according to the Asian Development Bank.

The Manila-based organisation is currently providing technical assistance for a 1.2-million-dollar sustainable coastal protection and management project of shorelines in three states along India's west coast, including Goa.

Stay-at-home French prop up tourism business

PARIS, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Tourism in France, the world's top holiday destination, held up over the summer months because a rise in domestic holidaymakers offset a sharp drop in foreign visitors, government data showed Wednesday.

Hotels in France saw visitor numbers rise 1 percent in July and August, breaking down into a 3.6 percent increase in July and a 1.2 percent fall in August, Herve Novelli, state secretary for tourism, said in a statement.

Tourism accounts for around 6 percent of France's gross domestic product and the government had forecast a marked decline for 2009 because of the economic crisis, extending last year's 3 percent drop.

Foreign visitor numbers did indeed dive in France over the summer, with a 14.5 percent fall in July-August underlining the tourism downturn that has hit cities, beaches and mountain resorts all over Europe.

Compensating for this, hotels, holiday homes and campsites recorded a 6.3 percent rise in the number of French customers.

"In terms of types of accommodation, we have noticed that French customers tend to stay in more moderately priced accommodation," the statement said.

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Top Paris brasseries ban flu masks for waiters
4 September 2009
Agence France Presse

Waiters in famed Paris brasseries such as La Coupole and Bofinger will not be allowed wear masks to protect themselves from swine flu, the group that owns them and nearly 300 other French eateries said.

"It is incompatible with a service industry like our own," Dominique Giraudier, chairman of Groupe Flo, told AFP on Friday when asked what plans his group was drawing up to deal with a potential major flu outbreak in France.

He said masks would not be distributed to workers but said he would close restaurants if staffing levels fell by more than 40 percent due to illness.

The group's best-known brasseries in Paris include La Coupole, Bofinger, Le Boeuf sur le Toit and Le Vaudeville, but it also owns restaurant chains such as Hippopotamus and Bistro Romain.

It employs 5,200 people and has eateries in countries as far apart as China and Morocco.

Gulf Arabs to boost Oman's tourism 11 pct in 2009

MUSCAT, Sept 13 (Reuters) Oman will see an increase of about 11 percent in tourists this year, taking it to the two million mark, thanks to Gulf residents looking for cheaper holiday in the region, tourism officials and operators said on Sunday.

"The global crisis has forced Gulf nationals to travel closer from home and Oman is hugely benefitting from it," Khalid Al-Ghassan, Head of development at the ministry of tourism told Reuters.

"For the first time in any year on record, we expect about two million tourists in 2009," he added.

About 1.8 million tourists visited Oman in 2008 -- 75 percent of that are regional residents from Oman's five energy-exporting neighbours who made up the Gulf Cooperation Council economic bloc, Ghassan said.

The number of GCC residents visiting Oman has increased 6 percent in the first half of 2009 to 710,000 compared to the same period last year, Ghassan said.

About 1.1 million total tourists visited Oman in the first six months of this year, from 980,000 over the same period in 2008, according to Ghassan.

"The improvement of oil prices, and I guess the H1N1 flu has got something to do with the rise of GCC tourists as well," Suleiman Al Harthy, Managing Director of Horizon Tourism said.

Apart from Oman, the GCC states comprise of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. The GCC states rely heavily on crude oil exports, which make 70 percent of their income.

Gulf states have seen revenue fall with the slump in oil prices from a peak near $150 in July 2008. Crude prices have recovered from lows around $32 a barrel in December to around $70.

Travel agents said that Salalah in the south is the major tourist attraction for Gulf nationals for its mild weather in the summer and Ras Al Hadd during the winter.

"Gulf citizens and Europeans love Salalah during the summer and the place is booming...they also go to see turtle nesting at Ras Al Hadd," said Mustafa Al-Khairy of Bahwan Travels.

Other major tourist attractions in Oman are the ancient castles, beaches, handicrafts and desert camping.

Spain moves upmarket to attract more tourists
14 September 2009
Agence France Presse

Half a century after it pioneered the cheap "holiday-in-the-sun" package deal, Spain is seeking to upgrade its image by convincing the discerning and affluent tourist that it has much more to offer than just sun, sea and sangria.

Instead of overcrowded beaches in concrete jungles, tourist authorities want to put Spain's lesser known attractions, including its strong home-grown gastronomic traditions, firmly on the tourist map, targeting in particular the upper end of the market.

Among the destinations being highlighted are the vineyards of the Rioja region, the futuristic Guggenheim Museum in the Basque city of Bilbao and the vast Donana national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to rare wildlife.

"It is time to look for customers with high purchasing power because there is plenty to offer them," said Jose Maria Rubio, the head of Spain's Hotel and Catering Federation (FEHR).

A plummeting number of tourists to Spain has forced the shift in focus -- the UN World Tourism Organisation says Spain lost its spot as the second-most visited country in the world to the United States last year -- while tourism still plays a crucial part in the struggling Spanish economy.

Military dictator Francisco Franco first opened up Spain to foreign tourists in the late 1950s.

But his idea has seen Mediterranean fishing villages transformed into a mass of skyscrapers, fast-food outlets, bars and nightclubs that are now synonymous with the worst of mass tourism.

Spain is suffering from a "perceived loss of authenticity in its coastal destinations," the tourism ministry concluded in its Horizon 2020 plan last year.

It must "develop new proposals to meet the new requirements of the market" and emphasize "qualitative rather than quantitative growth."

Tourism accounts for about 11 percent of Spain's jobs and gross domestic product, with the bulk of the industry's income generated in the ageing resorts that extend along much of its Mediterranean coast.

But stiff competition from cheaper Mediterranean destinations such as Turkey, Croatia and Tunisia, the declining popularity of such package beach holidays and the economic crisis in its main markets of northern Europe have all combined to batter the sector.

Spain received 57.4 million visitors last year, a 2.6 percent drop from 2007 and the first fall since the current record-keeping system was introduced in 1995.

And in the first seven months of this year, tourist arrivals plunged 10.3 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2008.

The government has now moved to diversify the industry, to make it less focused on the summer season and on Spain's coastal regions.

This summer it unveiled the "privilegespain" initiative aimed at creating "high-value products to promote Spain as a tourist destination capable of attracting and satisfying the most demanding travellers."

The plan targets four countries -- Britain, Germany, France and Italy -- and seeks to attract both the elderly and families with young children, as well as gourmets, and anyone seeking "alternatives to the more traditional" tourist sites.

It has started with three destinations -- the historic Moorish cities of Cadiz and Jerez in the southwest, the beautiful wine-growing region of La Rioja in the northeast, and the northern Basque Country, home of some of Spain's best cuisine.

Work is underway to expand privilegespain to other areas, including Madrid and the rugged northwestern region of Galicia, where the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the final stop on an ancient pilgrimage route.

Rubio emphasized that tourist authorities were not seeking "to change the image of Spain from a sun and beach destination to a cultural destination."

"Spain has more than 3,000 kilometres of coastline and this will remain a key factor" in its tourism promotion, he told AFP.

"It is more a question of completing the image of Spain with its culture, natural and historical attractions and gastronomy."

Rubio is also heading another new initiative called "Saborear Espana" ("Tasting Spain").

Backed by top chefs, it aims to "improve and diversify the international image of Spain, using food to increase its competitiveness in the global tourism market."

Rubio said authorities were producing "gastromaps" of the country and organising gastronomic tours and other specific events to attract food lovers.

Despite the growing international recognition of Spanish cuisine, its gastronomic diversity is still relatively unknown overseas, he said.

"Spain is known for paella, gazpacho, tapas and little else, and yet if you stroll through the centre of any Spanish city you will see bars and restaurants offering gastronomic delights."

There are already signs of a shift in Spain's tourism dynamic. Figures released this month show stays at the country's 93 Paradores -- luxury hotels in converted castles, palaces and monasteries -- were up around 2.0 percent this summer from the same time last year.

"It's another sign that there's light at the end of the tunnel" of the economic crisis, said the president of the Paradores association, Miguel Martinez.

HK stands great chance of world 'geopark' status, academic says
12 September 2009
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong stands an excellent chance of being recognised as a world "geopark", but the community seems unaware of the city's tremendous natural resources potential, a leading geotourism academic said.

Dr David Newsome, an associate professor of environmental science and ecotourism at Australia's Murdoch University, said he was surprised to learn about the city's unique geological features, which were more spectacular than he had imagined.

Newsome said the massive hexagonal rock columns found in Sai Kung were more impressive than geological features in Iceland, which he had just visited.

"I have never seen anything like this before and the geology actually speaks to me," he said during a visit to the city this week.

The visit was arranged by the Association for Geoconservation of Hong Kong as part of its application to Beijing to list eastern parts of the city as a national geopark and then seek Unesco recognition.

Newsome said it seemed many Hongkongers still overlooked the potential of the city's natural resources and their ability to reshape the city's tourism brand.

"When I got on the city-bound airport train, I could see the promotion of geotourism in New Zealand, but not Hong Kong," he said.

"It is not tall buildings, restaurants or shopping malls that define Hong Kong, as you can find them all in London or Sydney. Hong Kong in its context is unique. You have nature in the city and you've got an urban geopark next to your doorstep."

As a qualified assessor for the global geoparks network under the umbrella of Unesco, Newsome said Hong Kong certainly had the qualities to become a network member. "It stands an excellent chance. I would be horrified if it doesn't occur."

Criteria include the park's naturalness, plans for sustainable development, ecotourism and public education. There are 63 geoparks in the network.

But Newsome was also concerned about a proposed wind farm, with up to 67 wind turbines, to be located in the southeast.

He said it might be a "potential problem" for the world geopark bid as the man-made structures could "spoil the visual amenity" and wilderness of the seascape.

"I do not oppose wind farms, but the real question is where you put them," Newsome said.

A detailed cost analysis should be conducted to see if the project was cost-effective and if alternatives had been fully explored.

War-weary Asian nations offer new treats for tourists
15 September 2009
Agence France Presse

Tempting tourists back when the bombing stops is never easy, but war-weary Asian countries are planning new treats for travellers in a bid to cash in on a "peace dividend".

Governments are scrambling to replace images of conflict with offers of dream holidays, from whale-watching in Sri Lanka to leisurely treks in Nepal, meditation in Bali and golf in Cambodia.

Sri Lanka's golden beaches, along with tea plantations and ancient religious sites, had long attracted visitors -- but numbers dropped as decades of war tormented the teardrop-shaped tropical island.

When government forces claimed victory against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels in May, tourism chiefs set to work, launching a campaign entitled "Sri Lanka: Small Miracle", to polish its post-war image.

One of the new activities designed to sell the country as a diverse destination is whale watching, focused on the giant mammals frequenting the island's shores between December and April.

British marine biologist Charles Anderson says the numbers of blue and sperm whales and their proximity to shore make the island a natural lure for the growing numbers of eco-tourists.

"Sri Lanka has enormous potential to be a whale destination," said the Maldives-based Anderson, who has been studying Indian Ocean whales for 25 years.

Dileep Mudadeniya, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau's managing director, estimates the promotional campaign will help raise tourist arrivals by at least 20 percent to 500,000 visitors in 2010.

"We have an image that has been challenged by war and travel advisories. Now the war is over. There is lot of interest in us and we will see an upswing by November," Mudadeniya told AFP.

Another country recently freed from the grip of conflict, Nepal, is also hoping that peace will bring back the tourists and is looking to tempt them with a new "Himalayan Trail" running the length of the country.

The number of tourists travelling to Nepal slumped during a 10-year civil war between the army and Maoist rebels which ended in 2006.

But last year a record 550,000 people visited the Himalayan state after foreign governments relaxed their travel warnings.

Tourism authorities say they hope to attract a million visitors by 2011 and are focusing on some of the less developed areas of the country, where few foreigners have ventured.

"We are banking on the peace dividend," said Aditya Baral, director of the Nepal Tourism Board.

"There are lots of unexplored areas in western and eastern Nepal and this time we are trying our best to encourage people to visit those areas where very few people have travelled."

One plan -- still in its early stages -- involves creating a "Himalayan Trail", taking trekkers to some of the remotest parts of the country.

The trail would link paths already used by local people to transport goods and livestock, and would take three months to complete -- with most visitors expected to walk it in stages.

Even intermittent violence can ruin a country's tourist trade, as the Indonesian resort island of Bali learnt to its cost after Islamic militant bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005 killed a total of some 220 people.

The first Bali bombings cut foreign tourist arrivals to the island by 70 percent -- and they took years to return.

Bali Tourism Board secretary general Anak Agung Suryawan Wiranatha said the island had marketed itself as a haven of peace to counter the negative consequences of the bombings.

"Now we promote Bali as a peaceful and spiritual destination. We promote yoga and meditation on the island," Wiranatha said.

"Now health tourism and spas are booming. They are the favorites of tourists from Japan and Korea."

But it is not easy to rebuild tourism in a country that has seen sustained violence, like Cambodia, where up to two million people died under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

Decades of civil strife ended in 1998, and tourism is now one of the few sources of foreign exchange for the impoverished southeast Asian nation.

Even though Cambodia now lures more than two million foreign visitors a year, most stay only briefly to see the ancient World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat temple complex.

"We need time to (change our image)," Ho Vandy, co-chair of Cambodia's tourism working group told AFP.

The government last year launched an international "Kingdom of Wonder" campaign promoting the country's beaches, eco-tourism and culture.

More than 20 islands have been designated for development, Vandy said, while a new airport in seaside Sihanoukville is expected to open later this year.

Other plans include a game park for well-heeled hunters in the remote jungle-covered northern Ratanakiri province and several luxury golf courses around the country.

Nothing illustrates the cost of violence and the value of peace in the Asian region quite as clearly as the contrasting situations in Pakistan's Swat valley and Indian Kashmir.

Tourists are returning to Kashmir, once described by a 17th-century visiting emperor as a "paradise on earth", as militant violence in the Muslim-majority region subsides to its lowest level since 1989.

In 1988 more than 700,000 tourists visited Kashmir, but the number declined sharply as the insurgency intensified. Now the tide appears to be turning again, with more than 380,000 visiting in the first seven months of 2009.

Not far away, Pakistan's Swat valley was the jewel of the country's tourism crown and known as the "Switzerland of Pakistan" -- until Taliban militants this year pushed into towns and villages in a bid to enforce sharia law.

It is not just Swat that has been hit by insurgents -- more than 2,000 people have been killed in Taliban-linked attacks across Pakistan in the last two years, scaring away all but the most intrepid foreign tourists.

Pakistan earned 16 billion rupees (200 million dollars) from 800,000 visitors in 2007. Fewer than 400,000 visitors came in 2008, bringing in just eight billion rupees, and the numbers are expected to be even lower this year.

"Terrorism has really affected us a great deal," Tourism Minister Ataur Rehman told AFP.

"We have started our endeavours to attract tourists from the world over as the situation in Swat and other areas is stable now and will enable us to again make them attractive tourist zones," he said.

But the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2009 put Pakistan at 113 out of 130 countries, and officials say there is a long way to go until Swat is returned to its former glory.

Until then, tourists are likely to turn to the countries that have already put their conflicts behind them, to sample the new temptations on offer.

Hawaii hopes to cash in on Japan's 'Silver Week'
18 September 2009

HONOLULU (AP) - Japanese tourists have long been golden for Hawaii. The islands now hope to cash in on Japan's so-called "Silver Week."

Hawaii and other vacation destinations are expecting to see a much-needed boost in Japanese travelers thanks to the first-ever Silver Week, a series of national holidays that provide a five-day respite starting this weekend.

It couldn't come at a better time for Hawaii, which has been reeling from a drop-off in the highly coveted visitors because of the stumbling global economy and swine flu fears.

Japan's outbound travel is down nearly double digits this year. The ones who are traveling are spending considerably less, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue for cash-strapped Hawaii.

"This year is going to be very tough," said Takashi Ichikura, executive director of Hawaii Tourism Japan.

According to the latest state figures, Japanese arrivals to the islands have fallen 10.7 percent through July, the largest decline in Hawaii's four top feeder markets, which include the Eastern U.S. (10.4), Canada (8.6) and the Western U.S. (5.4).

Ichikura said Hawaii is actually faring better with Japanese travelers than most places like North America, Australia, China and Guam.

Japanese are treasured in tourism-dependent Hawaii for their affection of shopping and dining. They also embrace Hawaiian culture, such as hula, and outspend Americans nearly 2-to-1 on a per-person, per-day average.

"It's not just their spending, but their habits when they are here," state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert said. "They are just voracious experiential travelers."

And that's why Hawaii is not willing to say "sayonara."

The Hawaii Tourism Authority recently committed $3.4 million to stimulate the Japan market and lure visitors in the short term with a media and marketing blitz.

During the summer, the state sent a delegation to Japan to meet with travel agents. Hawaii also helped coordinate July's Aloha Yokohama festival, which attracted 300,000 people and featured Hawaii-born sumo wrestler Konishiki and musicians.

There was also Hawaiian music playing at Narita International Airport, TV commercials, and images of the islands plastered along train lines during the Japanese royal couple's visit to Hawaii in July.

Ichikura said Hawaii is now working on having a strong presence at travel agencies, where 80 percent of Japanese still go to book package tours.

"We want to show there's so much to see and experience," he said.

Meanwhile, Japanese-dependent businesses are trying to survive the downturn. Luxury retailer DFS Galleria in June launched its first-ever, global storewide sale at its 150 stores stretching from New York to Abu Dhabi.

"We've never had a storewide sale before where almost every brand in every category had some merchandise on sale," said Sharon Weiner, global vice president of communications for DFS Group Ltd.

DFS operates four stores in Hawaii, including a 180,000-square-foot location in Waikiki, where 90 percent of duty-free sales are to Japanese.

Since the Japanese aren't spending like they used to, despite the favorable exchange rate, Weiner is worried about what would happen if the yen declines. She remains hopeful of a quick recovery.

"Hopeful is a better word than optimistic," Weiner said. "We are still planning very conservatively."

DFS and other retailers, along with hotels and restaurants, are counting on Silver Week. The week was created this year because two holidays -- Respect for the Aged Day and the Autumn Equinox -- fell a day apart this year. In Japan, any day in between two holidays becomes a day off as well.

Besides Silver Week, the royal visit in July provided priceless media attention and helped mitigate concerns about the 2009 H1N1 virus known as swine flu.

"It was a huge hit for Hawaii. We were the envy of every travel destination in the world," said Weiner, who also serves on the state tourism board. "Because the emperor came here, and he didn't wear a mask, it was very positive. ... The trip showed how much they clearly love Hawaii."

The market isn't expected to fully rebound until the world's second-largest economy shows improvement or flu fears subside.

Hawaii is expected to fall short of its original 2009 target of 1.17 million Japanese visitors, which is far less than the 1.5 million that visited in 2005. The projection was made before H1N1 became prevalent.

Another major challenge for Hawaii is fuel surcharges being imposed by struggling airlines, which are cutting flights and staff. Japan Airlines incurred its biggest-ever quarterly net loss of $1 billion in the three months that ended in June. Asia's biggest carrier is restructuring and plans to cut 14 percent of its work force and raise capital.

Hawaii had high hopes after a strong showing in April when Japanese visitors to Hawaii actually rose 8.8 percent to 84,387 because of the annual "Golden Week," when many Japanese vacation.

Then the peak summer travel season arrived, along with fears of swine flu. Japanese arrivals plunged 32.8 percent in June. July fared much better because of heavy discounting and the royal couple, but arrivals were still off 9.2 percent.

"It takes awhile to get a market motivated again," Wienert said. "It just doesn't happen overnight."

Death prompts New Zealand adventure tourism inquiry
21 September 2009
Agence France Presse

The death of an English tourist on a guided ride down a New Zealand river has prompted an inquiry into the safety of adventure tourism, Prime Minister John Key said Monday.

Emily Jordan, 21, drowned while riverboarding -- riding on a flotation board -- down the Kawarau River near the South Island tourist centre of Queenstown in April last year.

Her grieving father Chris Jordan wrote to Key, who is also the tourism minister, saying safety standards need to be improved.

Key said he believed most adventure tourism operators had good safety standards but added there were concerns some were cowboys and safety standards were not being monitored.

Ministers from several government departments would report on the state of the sector and whether changes were needed.

"Tourism is critically important to New Zealand and we must do all we can to ensure visitor safety," Key told journalists.

"A lot of people come here and engage in forms of adventure tourism and there are always risks involved," he said.

"It is also important they are afforded the protection and care we would expect to take place and in the case of one or two of these incidences I am just not absolutely satisfied that has been the case."

Jordan drowned after becoming trapped against a rock in the river during the trip run by Queenstown company Mad Dog Riverboarding.

An inquiry fined the company after finding it did not have necessary safety equipment.

A Chinese tourist was also killed near Queenstown in September last year when a jetboat flipped in the Shotover River. The jetboat driver is scheduled to stand trial over the incident.

Spain's converted castles see brisk business despite downturn
21 September 2009
Agence France Presse

The tide of tourists may have ebbed at Spain's beaches this year in the economic downturn but business is up at its paradors, state-run luxury hotels at affordable prices set up at converted castles, palaces and monasteries.

Prices at the national network of 93 paradors, set up in the 1920s to help promote Spain's image abroad, offer tourists the chance to spend a holiday steeped in Spanish history at lower prices than those at luxury hotels but with the same level of quality.

All have restaurants offering regional cuisine and provide guests with spacious bedrooms with 21st century comforts.

"We could never afford a hotel of this category in France. It was like traveling in the past," said Adele at the parador located in a former convent in the western town of Plasencia, where she was celebrating her 22nd birthday with her boyfriend Benjamin.

"It's a great atmosphere but not at all obsolete," she added.

The network sold 275,704 room nights during July and August, the peak tourism season in Spain, a 5.9 percent increase over the same time last year.

By comparison, Spanish hotels overall posted a 5.5 percent decline in overnight stays during the month of July, according to the latest official statistics.

"The paradors are profitable despite the economic climate. We are a public company that is self-financing and invests its profits in the preservation and restoration of Spanish heritage to offer a different type of tourism," the president of the parador network, Miguel Martinez, told AFP.

The 15th century convent of Santo Domingo was in disrepair and was completely empty when it started being renovated in 1998 to become a parador.

Today soft chairs are located in the cloister to invite travellers to enjoy the serene atmosphere but the former monastic asceticism is gone.

Guests stay in former monastic cells that are equipped with satellite TV, eat local dishes in the refectory where walls are lined with mosaics and sip cocktails in the bodega, which once housed jars of olive oil and wine barrels.

Not all paradors are set up in historical buildings. Some modern paradors have been custom-built, often in spectacular scenery or towns of historic interest.

The paradors are becoming the spearhead of Spain's new tourism model, which had previously relied heavily on sun and sea holiday packages at resorts that dot the country's extensive coastline.

But the number of visitors to Spain's beaches has dropped amid growing competition from cheaper destinations like Turkey or Egypt and a long-tern shift away from the sort of sunshine holiday packages that the country pioneered half a century ago.

Spain's tourism authorities have responded by trying to put the country's lesser known attractions, including its strong home-grown gastronomic traditions, firmly on the tourist map, targeting in particular the upper end of the market.

In July Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the paradors "diversify, enrich and noticeably improve Spain's tourism offer" when he inaugurated a new one at Alcala de Henares, the birthplace near Madrid of Miguel de Cervantes, the country's greatest literary figure.

Their image as an ideal location for a romantic get-away got a boost when Spain's Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia spent part of their honeymoon in 2004 at a parador located at a restored 16th century convent in the central town of Cuenca.

"On weekends, the most luxurious suite at the convent at Plasencia, with its four-poster bed and a jacuzzi is almost always occupied by young couples," the director of the parador, Felix Lobo, said.

The suite costs 320 euros (470 dollars) per night, double the standard price.

"The Spaniards are very proud of their paradors which are the focus of attraction for some villages that are remote and of little importance," said Angel, a 55-year-old from the northwestern region of Galicia, as he sipped a beer at the parador at Plasencia.

He received a 30 percent discount on the 120-euro nightly rate for a double room at the parador because of his age, a discount policy which is partly behind the increase business at the parador network.

Sri Lanka's Sept tourist arrivals surge 28.6 pct

COLOMBO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals jumped by more than a quarter in September from a year ago, the fourth straight monthly rise since the end of a decades-long war in May, the country's tourism board said on Friday.

September tourist arrivals to the Indian Ocean island nation rose 28.6 percent to 37,983, up from 29,529 recorded a year ago.

In the four months since May, arrivals have risen 25.2 percent versus the same period a year earlier but year to date, total arrivals have dipped 2.6 percent year on year.

The rise in arrivals in recent months and expectations of post-war investment have driven the Colombo Stock Exchange's tourism sector index <.CSEHT> up 179 percent this year, about double of the gain in the broader market <.CSE>.

"Still we see the benefit of post-war peace," S. Kalaiselvam, the director general at Sri Lanka Tourism Authority told Reuters. "We have seen a huge increase from two major markets India and the United Kingdom."

Arrivals from both United Kingdom and India accounted for over 37 percent of the total 309,142 in the first nine months.

In August, Sri Lanka raised its 2009 annual tourist target to a six-year high of 500,000 visitors, which it expects to generate revenues of $400 million, a 17 percent increase from last year.

It received 438,475 visitors in 2008, a drop of 11.2 percent from a year earlier. Revenue fell by 11.2 percent to $342 million as visitors stayed away because of intense fighting.

Sri Lanka is targeting 2.5 million arrivals and $2 billion in earnings by 2016. ($1=114.80 Sri Lankan rupee)

China's Andersen theme park may open next year: partner
16 October 2009
Agence France Presse

A theme park dedicated to Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales is expected to open in Shanghai during the 2010 World Expo next May, a partner in the project said Friday.

The eight hectare (20 acre) park will celebrate the Danish writer's stories including the Little Mermaid, the Ugly Duckling and the Emperor's New Clothes, said Yang Wenyan, director of the state-run Haha children's channel and the project's media partner.

"The park will open on May 11 during the World Expo, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Denmark," Yang told AFP.

Denmark will donate to the park a replica of the Andersen statue that stands in front of Copenhagen city hall, Yang added.

The theme park in the northeast outskirts of Shanghai was first announced in August 2006, but was suspended due to financing problems, according to previous state media reports.

The main investor in the project, Shanghai Gujing Investment and Development Co Ltd, has not released any information about the park's cost and could not be immediately reached for comment.

In addition to the park, Copenhagen's famous Little Mermaid sculpture will be brought to Shanghai to be the centrepiece of Denmark's pavilion at the six-month World Expo, which begins on May 1.

Lebanon sees highest tourism growth worldwide - report
Tuesday, October 27, 2009

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/images/editions/lebanon.gif

BEIRUT: The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) released its World Tourism Barometer in which Lebanon came first worldwide among countries that witnessed an increase in tourism.

In 2009 so far, the number of tourists visiting Lebanon saw the highest growth rate among the 165 countries examined by UNWTO.

The barometer, which was published by Audi Bank’s Weekly Monitor, ranks countries according to their year-to date variation in the number of visiting tourists, and this time it compared the number of tourists visiting each country in the first eight months of 2009 relative to the same period of 2009.

For countries where data for August 2009 is not yet available the UNWTO calculated the variation as per the latest available data.

The study noted that with the world facing the most severe recession of the post World War II period, tourism has also been seriously impacted, and most countries witnessed a plunge in the number of incoming tourists.

Among the 165 countries, only 15 countries bucked the overall negative trend posting positive growth rates.

Lebanon, with its flourishing tourism activity in 2009, ranked first among those 15 countries.

In Lebanon’s case, the survey used data of the first seven months of the year and thus placed Lebanon in the top spot.

In the first nine months of the year when Lebanon saw a 46.3 percent escalation in the number of its incoming tourists, the country still performs best globally, as the country which ranked second, Kenya saw its tourists rise by 43 percent in the first eight months of 2009.

They were followed by Korea with a 15 percent year-to-date growth in the number of tourists, as well as Syria and China with a growth of 12 percent each.

– The Daily Star

Italy tourism minister proposes 10-15 new casinos

MILAN, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Italy could get an extra 10-15 luxury casinos if Tourism Minister Vittoria Brambilla's plans go ahead, her spokeswoman said on Thursday.

The casinos, which would be in five-star hotels, are part of a 19-point plan by Brambilla to boost tourism in Italy, especially in the less-developed and crime-hit south, she said.

The plan still needs full government approval.

"The aim is to develop (the sector) and put the south in the same condition as the north, where there are already four casinos. The minister supports a policy of tourism to reactivate the south," the spokeswoman said.

"The idea is to put casinos in five-star hotels. But the text of the proposal is still under examination," she said, adding the plan was unlikely to be finalised at Friday's cabinet meeting.

The plan includes reopening casinos formerly operated in the Sicilian city of Taormina and in San Pellegrino Terme near the northern city of Bergamo, she said.

In the north of Italy there are municipal-controlled casinos in Venice, at San Remo, near the French border, at Campione near Como at the Swiss border, and in San Vincent in the Val D'Aosta region.

On Wednesday, the Agipro news agency which specialises on gaming, said the five-star hotels hosting casinos would have to be approved by local municipalities.

One of Italy's largest hotel chains, Alpitour , is not currently planning to open casinos at its five-star hotels, an Alpitour spokeswoman said.

"We have a different philosophy," she said.

Alpitour, which is owned by the Agnelli family holding company Exor, recently opened a hotel in a converted convent in Rome.

In the first nine months, casino bets in Itay were 347 million euros, with Venice the busiest of the four, with 126 million euros, Agipro said earlier this month.

Space hotel says it's on schedule to open in 2012

BARCELONA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - A company behind plans to open the first hotel in space says it is on target to accept its first paying guests in 2012 despite critics questioning the investment and time frame for the multi-billion dollar project.

The Barcelona-based architects of The Galactic Suite Space Resort say it will cost 3 million euro ($4.4 million) for a three-night stay at the hotel, with this price including an eight-week training course on a tropical island.

During their stay, guests would see the sun rise 15 times a day and travel around the world every 80 minutes. They would wear velcro suits so they can crawl around their pod rooms by sticking themselves to the walls like Spiderman.

Galactic Suite Ltd's CEO Xavier Claramunt, a former aerospace engineer, said the project will put his company (http://www.galacticsuite.com) at the forefront of an infant industry with a huge future ahead of it, and forecast space travel will become common in the future.

"It's very normal to think that your children, possibly within 15 years, could spend a weekend in space," he told Reuters Television.

A nascent space tourism industry is beginning to take shape with construction underway in New Mexico of Spaceport America, the world's first facility built specifically for space-bound commercial customers and fee-paying passengers.

British tycoon Richard Branson's space tours firm, Virgin Galactic, will use the facility to propel tourists into suborbital space at a cost of $200,000 a ride.

Galactic Suite Ltd, set up in 2007, hopes to start its project with a single pod in orbit 450 km (280 miles) above the earth, travelling at 30,000 km per hour, with the capacity to hold four guests and two astronaut-pilots.

It will take a day and a half to reach the pod - which Claramunt compared to a mountain retreat, with no staff to greet the traveller.

"When the passengers arrive in the rocket, they will join it for 3 days, rocket and capsule. With this we create in the tourist a confidence that he hasn't been abandoned. After 3 days the passenger returns to the transport rocket and returns to earth," he said.

More than 200 people have expressed an interest in travelling to the space hotel and at least 43 people have already reserved.

The numbers are similar for Virgin Galactic with 300 people already paid or signed up for the trip but unlike Branson, Galactic Suite say they will use Russian rockets to transport their guests into space from a spaceport to be built on an island in the Caribbean.

But critics have questioned the project, saying the time frame is unreasonable and also where the money is coming from to finance the project.

Claramunt said an anonymous billionaire space enthusiast has granted $3 billion to finance the project.

^^ :nuts:

We've lost our place in the sun - Australia no longer the No.1 destination
10 November 2009
The Courier-Mail

AUSTRALIA has lost its winning edge as a global travel brand, a poll of 3000 business and leisure travellers from nine countries has revealed.

The US knocked Australia off its coveted No.1 spot as the world's top country brand.

Canada also beat Australia, which came in at third, ahead of New Zealand and France (fifth).

Australia had topped the poll index for the past three years.

Comparisons with the 2008 rankings show that Australia dropped out of the top five country brands for beaches, resort and lodging options and natural beauty, despite Queensland's highly successful ``Best Job in the World'' campaign and global exposure from the Baz Luhrmann film Australia.

But international travellers polled by global consultancy FutureBrand and public relations agency Weber Shandwick found Australia improved its best country brand for families (second behind Canada).

It also rated first for outdoor activities and sports ahead of NZ and eco-destination star Costa Rica.

Australia also was the best country brand for extending a business trip, the third-best brand for political freedom, the second-best (behind Canada) for the country most of those polled wanted to live in and the country most travellers wanted to visit or re-visit.

FutureBrand spokesman for the Asia-Pacific, Tim Riches, said ``the Obama effect'' had propelled the US to the top of the brand rankings for the first time. He said Australia's demotion from the top position after three years had been a matter of time.

``The measurable decline of some key attributes, combined with the revitalisation of Brand USA, has resulted in the effect on Australia's ranking,'' he said.

``It highlights the importance of keeping a country brand fresh, relevant and engaging - no small challenge in a highly competitive international marketplace.''

The country brand poll coincided with new arrivals and departure figures showing the number of Australians travelling overseas reached a record six million in the year to the end of September.

Industry group Tourism & Transport Forum said Australians increasingly were taking advantage of cheap airfares and the strong dollar to travel internationally.

TTF executive director Brett Gale said the overseas travel boost came at a cost to local tourism operators, although there were signs of a recovery in inbound travel from the US, China and Japan.

He said the industry welcomed a Federal Government decision to bring forward spending of $9 million on tactical marketing.

48 hours in Bucharest for architecture buffs

BUCHAREST, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Got 48 hours to explore Bucharest, with its rare mixture of western architectural ideas, eastern imagery and 20th century totalitarian megalomania? Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors map the city's shift from one of Europe's most progressive urban centres at the start of the 20th century to a chaotic maze of dusty boulevards and quaint neighbourhoods bearing the scars of brutal communist policies.

FRIDAY

4 p.m. - Follow road signs for historic centre, but watch out, it's easy to miss. Nestled between two major avenues, the medieval merchant district of Lipscani is in fact a tiny fraction of Bucharest's former old city.

Its meandering, cobblestoned streets survived demolitions ordered by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in the 1980s that buried Bucharest's oldest sections, or a fifth of the city.

After massive renovations in recent years, Lipscani teems with bars and restaurants and is a popular weekend hangout for the city's partygoers.

Stop for a drink but make sure to wander into one of the side streets. Lined with tiny textile or antique shops, the crumbling tenements bear witness to communist-era neglect.

7 p.m. - Dinner at Caru cu Bere, a 19th century brewery that serves traditional Romanian fare under impressive vaulted ceilings. Try sarmale, minced meat wrapped in sour cabbage, or mamaliga, a cornmeal dish often served with cream and cheese.

On the way out don't miss Stavropoleos Monastery. Built in 1724, it is a great example of Brancovenesc style of Romanian architecture, a rich mix of Byzantine and baroque motifs.

Stop also by Curtea Veche, the 15th century residence of Vlad Tepes -- also known as "Vlad the Impaler" -- a bloodthirsty ruler who inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula.

9 p.m. - Walk off dinner with a short stroll north on Calea Victoriei, Bucharest's fashion street, towards Cercul Militar National, an impressive Beaux Arts structure.

SATURDAY

10 a.m. - Have a pastry at a traditional Bucharest market, Piata Matache near strada Buzesti. Tucked behind modern office buildings alongside government headquarters, Piata Matache still attracts villagers selling their produce and local winemakers.

For the tougher crowd, go to a "mici si bere" vendor, where traditional garlic meat rolls can be washed down with a pint of beer.

11 p.m. - Head towards Piata Victoriei and the Romanian Peasant Museum. The building is an essential example of Neo-Romanian architecture, a trend contemporary of Art Nouveau and Antoni Gaudi's Modernism.

Pioneered by Ion Mincu, the style adapted historic church architecture to secular buildings, mixing in Oriental and folklore ornaments such as pumpkin flowers.

The museum houses a collection of folk art and a shop with with embroidered belts, copper pots and glass paintings.

2 p.m. - Lunch at Casa Doina, a landmark Bucharest restaurant (www.casadoina.ro) designed by Ion Mincu. Try a selection of Romanian eggplant and roasted bell pepper salads.

4 p.m. - Cross a small park towards Bulevardul Aviatorilor and a tangle of leafy streets behind it. Hunt for spectacular modernist and Art Deco villas that earned Bucharest the name of Paris of the East at the turn of the 20th century.

But hurry. Many gems of modernist architecture are disappearing, left to rot by developers who want to construct high-rise apartment blocs on prime real estate.

7 p.m. - Dinner at another reconstructed villa. Serving French fare, Ici et La has a secret. Ask the owner for a selection of his homemade sorbets.

10 p.m. - If you still can, check out the modernist hotels and housing blocs lining Bulevardul Magheru. Modelled after Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, it was a gem of early 20th century urban planning.

SUNDAY

10 a.m. - Get ready for a day's walking with brunch at the Athenee Palace Hilton. Built at the start of the 20th century, the hotel was a notorious meeting spot for spies in the 1930s.

Under communism, rooms were said to be bugged and many staff on the payroll of the pervasive secret service, the Securitate.

12.00 p.m. - Take a taxi to Casa Poporului or Palace of the People, the monstrous building concocted by Ceausescu in the late 1970s. Now housing parliament, it looms over Bucharest.

Don't go by foot, you will need energy to walk through its cavernous halls and seemingly endless corridors. Ceausescu hoped the building, made with thousands of tonnes of crystal, marble and wood, would become Romania's "Acropolis", but it came to symbolise the destructiveness of his social policies.

Construction devoured large chunks of the state budget at a time when food and energy rationing tormented much of the population.

15.00 p.m. - In the back of the building, find the Contemporary Art Museum, with a cafe overlooking the city.

17.00 p.m. - Hop in a taxi again towards the Armenian Church on Bulevardul Carol II. Stroll through a picturesque district of French-style villas, modernist apartment blocs and tiny Neo-Romanian castles complete with vine-covered turrets.

Look for villas designed by Marcel Iancu, one of the founders of the Dada movement, or find a map of his designs on www.e-cart.ro.

If you see someone going into a modernist bloc, make friends quickly. Interiors in some of the stern-looking buildings can look like film sets from 1930s Hollywood.

In the autumn, the smell of burning leaves emanates from the gardens. Behind the area, starts a chaotic expanse of drab apartment blocs, Bucharest's communist legacy.

NZ whale venture scoops top tourism award
10:35 AM Thursday Nov 12, 2009

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Whale Watch Kaikoura has been named the supreme winner at this year's Responsible Tourism Awards in London. The international accolades are awarded annually and recognise tourism ventures operating in a way that respects and benefits both the destination and the local people. Whale Watch Kaikoura's CEO, Kauahi Ngapora, said it was humbling to be chosen as the best from among the world's leading responsible tourism operators.

"This award is a mark of success for not only Whale Watch Kaikoura but to the many people of our community who support the success of our business and provide true hospitality to the many tens of thousands of people who visit Kaikoura," he said.Whale Watch Kaikoura is owned and operated by Ngati Kuri, a hapu of the South Island's Ngai Tahu tribe. It was formed in response to Kaikoura's declining economy in the late 1980s, when hapu leaders realised that a tourism venture based around the area's sperm whales could hold the key to unemploment problems amongst local Maori.

It's a business plan which impressed the awards judges, who said it was rare to see a tourism initiative "developed from the ground up by a local community to such a successful and grand scale". "Whale Watch Kaikoura provides consistently responsible whale watching tours with minimal impacts. The founding of the enterprise by four Maori families has demonstrated that the local Maori community can not only grow a considerable tourism business, but, more significantly, use that business to buy back their ancestral land for the benefit of the indigenous people and their cultural identity," they said in naming the venture this year's supreme winner.

Since its launch, Whale Watch Kaikoura has grown to become one of New Zealand's most famous tourist attractions, with more than 100,000 visitors a year taking the chance to get up close and personal with the region's ocean giants. Twenty-two years on, the company continues to expand. A sixth vessel was added to its Kaikoura fleet earlier this month and last year it invested $5m in a joint venture with Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast to provide their whale watching. Whale Watch Kaikoura chairman Wally Stone says the company's ongoing success is down to its sustainability and responsibility as a host. "Bill Solomon [Whale Watch Kaikoura's founder] instilled a deep respect for the environment and a strong sense of community in our organisation from our first day of operation. "It is a deep respect for the environment that embraces responsibility for the protection and nurturing of our natural resources to ensure they remain gifts we can continue share."

Another local winner in this year's Responsible Tourism Awards is YHA Wellington, which was named best large hotel. Judges said the hotel employed a host of innovative initiatives and went "above and beyond regular hotel practice to engage and communicate with their guests around issues of sustainability in an upbeat and inspiring way". Its 'Tree Planting Day' for guests was among initiatives praised by the judges.

Lebanon tourism up 43 percent in 2009: ministry
14 November 2009
Agence France Presse

More than 1.5 million tourists visited Lebanon in the first 10 months of 2009, or 43 percent more than the same year-earlier period, the tourism ministry said on Saturday.

"This number marks a 42.7 percent increase for the same period from 2008 and an 84 percent increase from 2007," a ministry statement said.

A record one million tourists landed in the tiny Mediterranean country in July alone, the ministry said.

The ministry has said Lebanon hopes to have hosted two million tourists by the end of 2009, a figure roughly equivalent to half the country's population.

Most visitors are Lebanese expatriates and tourists from the oil-rich Gulf, but the tiny Mediterranean country has also gained popularity as a holiday destination among Europeans.

Tourism in Lebanon had taken a beating in recent years after a string of assassinations that began with a Beirut bombing that killed former premier Rafiq Hariri in February 2005.

In 2006, Israel and Lebanon's Shiite militia Hezbollah fought a devastating summer war and the following year the army battled with Al-Qaeda-inspired Islamists in a Palestinian refugee camp.

However, tourism made a dramatic recovery in 2008 with the arrival of 1.3 million visitors to the country once dubbed the "Switzerland of the Middle East."

Mauritius tourism revenue seen falling more in '09

PORT LOUIS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Mauritius' tourism revenue for 2009 will be poorer than previously thought despite signs the sector will rebound to help spur economic growth of 4.3 percent on the Indian Ocean island next year, officials said.

The Central Statistics office (CSO) said in a statement seen by Reuters on Thursday that tourist arrivals this year were expected to decline by 9.7 percent from 2008 to 840,000.

"According to the Bank of Mauritius, tourism receipts for 2009 will be around 36.0 billion rupees ($1.20 billion) -- down 12.6 percent -- compared to 41.2 billion in 2008," it said.

In August, official forecasts showed the island's tourism industry generating 38.2 billion rupees, a fall of 7.3 percent on the previous year.

The tourism sector is an important driver of the roughly $9.8 billion economy. But the global economic slowdown has hurt long-haul, high end destinations like Mauritius.

Best known for its azure waters, white beaches and luxury spas, the Indian Ocean nation has pursued an aggressive international marketing campaign and its hotels have offered big discounts as it fights to maintain market share.

Finance Minister Ramakrishna Sithanen said in his budget speech on Wednesday that he would give tourism chiefs an extra $11.37 million to continue marketing Mauritius.

Sithanen said $450 million dollars was being spent on upgrading the international airport. A new $17.39 million passenger terminal at the port would be fully operational next year to bolster growth in the cruise-liner industry.

The CSO said the average room occupancy rate for the first nine months of the year was 58 percent. During the first half of 2009, room occupancy was at 59 percent, compared with 71 percent during the same period last year.

Mauritius, a nation of 1.3 million people, aims to more than double visitor numbers to 2 million in the next six years.

FEATURE-Hungarian lake resort helped reunify Germany

ZANKA, Hungary, Nov 25 (Reuters) - They called it the "Plattensee" (flat sea), and for Germans from both sides of the Berlin Wall, Hungary's Lake Balaton was close, cheap and mostly free of spies.

No one knew then their 1960s lakeside holidays would set in motion events that helped bring down the wall dividing them.

As the world recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War and Germany's reunification, Hungarians on the scenic shores of central Europe's biggest lake recalled the decades when crowds of East and West Germans vacationed here, just to be together.

"A West German family of three would rent a four-bedroom house," said Csaba Sall, a local travel agent. "A few days later, we would see three cars in the garden and 10 people on the patio: the eastern relatives."

East Germans started to flock to Hungary after the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to exploit easy visa regulations and security laxer than almost anywhere in the communist bloc.

"The German decision to seal off the borders coincided with an easing of travel policy in Hungary," said Janos Rainier, a historian who directs the 1956 Institute in Budapest.

The Institute studies the events leading to and following Hungary's failed 1956 revolution against Soviet rule.

"After the 1956 uprising, Hungarians relaxed rules to soothe tensions," Rainier said, noting that hundreds of thousands of Hungarians fled to the West in 1956, leaving relatives behind.

Instead of sealing its borders, Hungary secured periodic Western passage for its citizens by issuing visas to Westerners, with no questions asked.

That allowed West Germans to travel to Lake Balaton. It was an easy drive from East and West Germany, with ample services, low prices and few if any spies -- a far cry from East Germany with its informers and Stasi secret police. Tourism flourished.

In 1982, Sall became the private first travel agent to get a licence in Hungary. The authorities vetted him for six months, but never asked him to report on the tourists.

"We would rarely know about (the Germans') plans," he said. "They would just come and rent a house far bigger than their needs. They would say the father snored, or some such."

TRICKLE TO FLOOD

The flow of Germans became stronger toward the end of the 1980s. Handwritten "Zimmer Frei" (vacancy) signs were ubiquitous over most of western Hungary.

"We opened up our home in 1985," said Aranka Hera, who owns a big house close to the lake in Zanka.

"A West German man came, looking for a place for his brother from the East. They rented the rooms and came back every year after that."

Hungary's authorities continued to turn a blind eye to the reunions, although the throngs of German tourists were clearly drawn by more than the swan-dotted waters or the vineyards planted in volcanic soil nearby. In some villages, they far outnumbered locals.

"At the time, I thought a lot about where these reunions might lead," said Imre Csanadi, who led the regional council of Zanka and seven nearby villages for 25 years. "It never occurred to me that they would foretell the end of the system."

That, however, is exactly how it played out.

In the spring of 1989, Hungary signed the Geneva Refugee Conventions, officially restricting weapon use by border guards to self defence. International relations warmed as fast as the weather. Germans went to Lake Balaton in record numbers.

At the end of that summer, Otto von Habsburg, a descendant of the country's last royals, organised the now-famous Pan European Picnic at the Austrian border.

When a few hundred East Germans used that temporary opening to run across the border to Austria, the guards stood by, guns idle.

It was the point of no return.

TOURISTS TO REFUGEES

"It happened quite suddenly," Csanadi recalled. "The summer season ended, but the Germans just didn't go home. Everything was full. The beach, the campsites, even the Pioneer City."

Pioneer City, a vast youth holiday centre of slab grey buildings and dinky wooden huts, came to be known as "Lager 3" (German for "Camp 3") in those days, housing over 2,000 German refugees. Two more such centres operated in Budapest.

Csanadi, a faithful communist, ended up hosting a basketball team from Leipzig.

"They slept here because they had nowhere else to go," he said. "Then, when the border opened, they asked me if they could open a few bottles from my cellar. They got good and drunk that night, their last night in Hungary."

The date was Sept. 10, 1989. East Germany's leaders would only crack two months later, but for many, this was the first taste of freedom, and a sure sign change was inevitable.

"The borders were to open at midnight," said Tamas Toth, the housing manager of Pioneer City. "That afternoon the Germans lined up every workable car, flying flags, honking, singing."

"They spent what little money they had left on champagne," Toth said. "At about 9 p.m., they set out behind a police car toward the Western border. Then buses came for the rest of them. By noon the next day, they were all gone."

"They were hugging, crying, thanking us... it was an emotional time."

As the crowds disappeared, the refugees left behind mounds of Red Cross clothes and broken-down cars in the Pioneer City and around. They also left behind memories of a time when business was brisk and Germans plentiful.

"After 1989, business from Germans immediately halved," said Sall, the travel agent. "Today, tourists are mostly Hungarians, and they stay for days, not weeks."

"A few Germans still come out of nostalgia," he added. "Some have even bought houses. But they have changed, Easterners as well as Westerners. We can't really tell them apart any more."

Spain approves aid for tourism, airlines

MADRID, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The Spanish government has agreed a series of measures to boost tourism and air travel in Spain, the Ministries for Industry and Public Works said on Wednesday.

The measures include a 600 million euro ($904.3 million) credit line for Spanish airlines and the freezing of airport tariffs in 2010.

The government also said approval to re-route flight tracks would help reduce C02 emissions and save the airlines an annual 11.5 million euros in fuel costs.

According to sector sources, Air Comet could be one of the first airlines to take up a credit to overcome financial difficulties that have led to staff strikes over unpaid salaries. ($1=.6635 Euro)

Hotel operators press on with Asia growth
The New York Times
2 December 2009

The global hotel business is in a deep funk, but that has not kept the industry from betting on Asia, the one region of the world where growth is strong.

In October, two major upscale hotels opened in Hong Kong, each with views of the skyscrapers huddled between the city's mountains and harbour. One is a 381-room Hyatt Regency, on top of a shopping mall in the Kowloon district.

The other is the 117-room Upper House, owned by the Hong Kong conglomerate Swire and within walking distance of the central business district on Hong Kong Island. A 300-room Ritz-Carlton is among the hotels due to open here next year.

Many of these projects began before the downturn hit the travel industry, but even in the midst of the gloom, hotel companies big and small are pressing ahead with expansion plans in Asia.

But the slowdown that has caused a drop in occupancy worldwide has also struck Asia. For the entire Asia-Pacific region, hotel revenue is down 28.4 per cent, echoing the situation in Europe, as businesses and tourists cut back on overnight stays and events, forcing operators to offer deep discounts.

Although some hotel firms say occupancy rates have started to pick up, room rates remain under intense pressure. And many economists say they believe the global economy is not yet out of the woods, given that US consumer spending - the driving force for much of Asia's growth - will take years to return to normal.

"Europe and the United States are still in a total mess, and Asia is not immune to what's going on there," Albert Edwards, head of global strategy at Societe Generale, said.

Still, hotel managers stand by their belief that Asia is the place to be.

"We're growing more rapidly here than in any other region of the world," said Michael Issenberg, who heads Accor's Asia-Pacific business.

Accor, the French hotel giant that runs the Novotel, Mercure and Sofitel brands, is opening 54 hotels, with about 10,000 rooms, in Asia this year and about as many again next year. In India alone, Accor plans to have 50 hotels, with more than 10,000 rooms, by 2012, up from five hotels now.

"The growth opportunities in Asia-Pacific are unsurpassed perhaps anywhere in the world," said Frits van Paasschen, chief executive of Starwood, whose brands include Sheraton and Le Meridien and which just opened its 150th hotel in the region.

Smaller local hotel operators are also joining the rush. Amari, a Thai hotel management company with 11 properties and 3,000 rooms, announced plans in October to add 40 hotels by 2018. Also in October, the Park Hotel Group, which is based in Singapore and runs eight large hotels, announced that it planned to open as many as 12 in the next three to five years.

Not all projects have gone as planned. In Beijing, a 34-storey building under construction and designed by the architect Rem Koolhaas was ravaged by a blaze in February, ignited by an illegal fireworks show. The building was to be completed in May and house a Mandarin Oriental hotel.

A number of hotels opened in Beijing and Shanghai for the Olympics last year and for the 2010 World Expo, adding a lot of supply at a time of generally low demand.

Revenue per available room, a key measure of hotel performance, plunged 56 per cent in Beijing in the first eight months of this year, according to a recent report by the Deloitte consulting firm. In Shanghai, the figure was down 35 per cent as many hotels stood half-empty.

But many operators see growth opportunities, particularly in developing regions.

"Look at the statistics: the United States currently has 4.9 million hotel rooms catering to a population of 300 million. Europe has about 5.3 million rooms. China, with its population of 1.3 billion, has only 1.7 million, and India barely has 120,000. There's a lot of runway left in these countries," said Paul Foskey, who heads Marriott International's Asia business.

Marriott has 72 hotels, with 19,000 rooms, in its Asia pipeline, adding to the 113 hotels it operates in the region now.

Britain tells Alpine enthusiasts "don't drink and ski"

PARIS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Britain on Wednesday warned its skiers and snowboarders to avoid excess alcohol when taking to France's ski slopes, after a spate of drink-related deaths and serious accidents.

More than thirty Britons died in Alpine accidents last year, half of whom were under 25. Many died because they underestimated the risk of drinking at a high altitude, British diplomats in the French city of Lyon said.

"Over the past years, we've noticed a rise in accidents in resorts linked to alcohol consumption, particularly accidents on the slopes, mostly among young people," British ambassador Peter Westmacott told reporters when launching an anti-drink campaign.

"We are telling our compatriots to be careful: when you consume too much alcohol at an altitude and it's cold, the danger is greater," he said.

The effects of alcohol are magnified by higher altitudes.

The campaign poster carries the slogan "Don't catch your death" and shows young drinkers, glass in hand, before an Alpine background.

French authorities said drink-skiing was becoming a growing problem in resorts and had caused several accidents on the slopes in recent winters, including avalanches set off by tipsy tourists going off-piste.

A study published by the British foreign ministry estimated a third of skiers and snow-boarders under 25 had experienced problems abroad linked to a mix of altitude, adrenaline and alcohol.

Westmacott said the embassy had often been forced to bear the cost of accidents since many British tourists failed to take out appropriate insurance covering winter sports.

The campaign posters will be put up at French airports and in resorts, and there will also be an online campaign.

Some 700,000 Britons visited French ski resorts last winter, Claire Bouteille, Britain's consul in Lyon said. An increase in low-cost flights to Lyon has helped fuel British tourism in the Alps.

Luxury travel business bounces back
12 December 2009
Agence France Presse

The luxury travel market is bouncing back after a couple of difficult seasons, but today's well-heeled travellers are spurning the excess of the boom years in favour of authentic experiences.

"2009 has been a challenging year for the luxury travel industry but we are seeing a recovery in 2010," Nick Perry, chairman of the magazine Ultratravel, told a forum at the International Luxury Travel Market last week in Cannes.

The super-rich travel sector, which caters for rock divas, tycoons and billionaires happy to shell out for unique experiences like short trips just beyond the earth's atmosphere, remains unscathed by the economic downturn.

But the high-end corporate travel sector has fallen as much as 25 percent and it's been the leisure market that has offset this drop, execs said at the two day conference in this French Riviera resort.

"We still have business from families, and seasons such as Christmas are booked out. Luxury travellers are not prepared to forgo their annual family trips," stressed Paul Jones, chairman of One and Only Resorts.

Wealthy but not uber-rich holidaymakers have started to hunt for attractive rates on the Internet and ask for discounts, executives told a conference of more than 3,000 of the world's leading luxury travel suppliers and buyers.

This quest for cost-conscious luxury trips that offer value and are environmentally sustainable looks set to continue and also puts pressure on the travel industry to respond to new expectations.

"The bling has gone. It's all about the quality of the experience and the feeling of space," underlined award-winning hotel and restaurant designer Glenn Pushelberg.

Given the high cost of real estate in the word's main cities, space is today's new luxury, according to Sonu Shivdasani, the founder and CEO of the Six Senses group, which has been a pioneer in sustainable tourism.

His group has also invented a new description for these "super" suites.

Forget the presidential suite, lovers of space willing to pay between 6,000 and 8,000 dollars (4,000 and 6,000 euros) a night, can now book the "reserve" at the new Soneva Kiri Six Senses on the tropical island of Kood in Thailand.

Its massive 1,001 square metre airy wooden villa with its own 209 square metre pool and a tree house for the kids is probably the largest in any residential resort, said Six Senses' chief commercial officer Vincent Gillet.

Guests there also don't have to feel guilty about all that luxury as the resort grows its own organic produce, uses solar power and also involves the local communities, who helped build it.

Experience-driven destinations in Latin America, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are hot tips, while Beirut, Madeira and Morocco are also places to watch.

Bahrain with its rich history, culture and cuisine is widely expected to be become a newly fashionable Middle Eastern holiday destination.

Increasing numbers of well-off travellers are looking for one-off experiences that go beyond luxury and even prove to be life-changing.

The Ritz-Carlton in Cancun, offers guests an opportunity to volunteer for community work in local villages.

Indagare Travel's Melissa Biggs Bradley told conference participants how one of her clients helped out at a local orphanage during an overseas holiday and returns on a regular basis to support it.

Space travel also looks poised to take off, with no shortage of people willing to pay astronomical sums to float weightless like an astronaut in specially-modified planes.

Tom Shelley, vice president of Space Adventures, the only company to date to have sent private citizens above the atmosphere, said 2008 and 2009 were their most successful years since the business started in 1998.

And news this week that British billionaire Sir Richard Branson is ready to test a rocket plane that will take fare-paying passengers into space could add a new dimension to the luxury travel world.

Travel in the last decade was changed profoundly by technology and terrorism
Tue Dec 15, 6:50 AM
AP

NEW YORK - Remember getting through an airport without removing your shoes, dumping your water bottle or showing ID?

Remember when buying plane tickets by phone was faster than using a clunky Web site with a dial-up connection? Remember when you needed a guidebook to plan a vacation, and when you had to phone ahead to get directions?

All these things are different now, thanks to two forces that have changed travel and tourism in the last decade profoundly and forever: terrorism and technology.

Long before Sept. 11, 2001, air passengers walked through metal detectors and had their carry-on luggage screened by X-ray. But these procedures failed to prevent the 9/11 attackers from boarding four jets with knives and box cutters.

In the aftermath of the attacks, the Transportation Security Administration was created, "the number of prohibited items doubled or tripled," all checked bags were screened, and "the scrutiny passengers undergo was increased," said Robert Baker, director of global security intelligence studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz.

A few months later, in December 2001, Richard Reid tried to blow up a plane by igniting explosives in his shoe. That led to barefoot passengers padding through the checkpoints. Then in August 2006, British authorities uncovered a plot to blow up aircraft using liquid explosives. That led to restrictions on liquids and gels.

Today, travellers who forget that snow globes, wine and water bottles aren't allowed through airport checkpoints seem absurdly out of touch. And there's little sympathy if you miss your flight because you didn't allow enough time for security lines.

The attitude toward air travel has changed over the last decade too. Flying isn't fun anymore. It's just one big headache: Flight delays, lost baggage, overbooked flights, fewer onboard amenities and fees for things that used to be free.

Despite the hassles, though, Americans fly more now than they did a decade ago. U.S. air travel hit a record high in 2007 with 769.6 million passengers, 100 million more than flew in 2000. Even with the recession, more people flew in the first eight months of 2009 - 478.6 million - than in the first nine months of 2000 - 453 million, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Why do we take so many flights when it's so unpleasant? Because families are spread out; jobs require travel; and relatively low ticket prices encourage it. Bureau of Transportation Statistics data comparing average domestic itinerary fares for the second quarter show that they were actually 11 per cent lower in 2009, at US$301, than in 2000, at $339.

Technology is the other big force that's changed travel in the last decade. Expedia and Travelocity began accepting online bookings in 1996, but the phenomenon of using the Internet to routinely book and plan travel has exploded in the 21st century.

In 2009, for the first time, more than half of travel bookings were made online, according to Douglas Quinby of PhoCusWright, a travel industry research company. (If you're surprised that online bookings make up only 50 per cent of travel, consider this: Most group travel, most cruises, many complicated itineraries and even the majority of lodging reservations are still booked through a travel agent, by phone or in person, Quinby says.)

But the Internet's impact on travel is not just in booking; it's also in planning trips. Instead of buying a guidebook, today's traveller might consult a destination website. To find a restaurant, you might go online to Yelp or Chowhound, or ask friends for a recommendation through Facebook or Twitter. For hotels, you might visit TripAdvisor.com, which started allowing customers to post reviews in 2001 and today has over 30 million of them.

Technology has even changed the way we drive to our destinations. MapQuest started offering directions online in 1996, the same year GM introduced Onstar. Google Maps dates to 2005. An early handheld Garmin GPS device sold for $589 in 2003; today's Garmins start as low as $89. But you might not need one if your phone has a mapping app.

A few other noteworthy travel trends from the last decade:

-Americans make more international trips than they used to and they are choosing more exotic destinations.

In 2000, 61.3 million U.S. residents travelled abroad. In 2008, the number climbed to 63.5 million.

But the number going to Western Europe declined about 20 per cent, from 12.9 million to 10.4 million. In contrast, travel increased from the U.S. to many other regions: Eastern Europe and South America, up 30 per cent; and travel to India, China, and Vietnam, roughly twice in 2008 what it was in 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

-The old saying that "cruises are for the newlywed, overfed and nearly dead" is no longer true. The last decade has seen innovations in cruising as in no other mode of travel. Ships have become small cities, carrying 4,000 people, with amenities like ice rinks, rock-climbing walls, planetariums, surfing machines and water slides. Some cruises cater to families, with kids' programs; others are magnets for partying singles, offering easy spring break trips to sunny climes. And you don't have to live in Florida to catch a ship. There are year-round home ports in New York, Galveston, Texas, and many other coastal cities.

"Cruising, once the territory of the rich and famous has become a mainstream vacation today, and provides a well-packaged floating vacation with all the basics included in the price: accommodations, meals, sports/fitness facilities, and entertainment," said Douglas Ward, author of the "Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2010." "It has become a particularly good vacation value for families with children - hassle-free, entertaining, and safe."

2010 destinations: Vancouver, S.Africa, Shanghai, Mexico and Orlando
Wed Dec 23, 6:54 AM
By Beth J. Harpaz, The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Forecasts for 2010 predict that more people will be travelling, but the numbers are still well below what they were before the recession. Still, if you can afford to get away, interesting events will drawing visitors to destinations around the world, from Shanghai to South Africa to Orlando.

And here's a surprise: Mexico is turning up on many top 10 lists for 2010, despite the swine flu epidemic and worries over drug violence.

Destinations: Several destinations will be in the tourism spotlight in 2010 thanks to headline-grabbing events, including the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Feb. 12-28; the FIFA World Cup soccer games in South Africa, for a month beginning June 11; and the Shanghai Expo, May 1-Oct. 31, a 21st century world's fair that organizers are hoping will attract as many as 70 million visitors.

Another destination that will get attention in 2010 is Oberammergau, Germany, where the oldest continually acted Passion play in Europe has been performed by the locals roughly every 10 years since the 1600s. The show will be staged May through October, and is typically seen by a half-million people.

Spain is expecting more pilgrims travelling the Camino de Santiago, an ancient route to Galicia, where the cathedral is said to house the remains of St. James the Apostle. Typically the route draws more visitors when the saint's Feast Day, July 25, falls on a Sunday, as it will in 2010.

Closer to home, Universal Orlando opens the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure this spring. For theme park fans keeping an eye on new attractions for 2010, "the Harry Potter project at Universal is in a category of its own in terms of scope," said David Mandt, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The marquee attraction will be a high-tech ride called "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" that will take guests through scenes and rooms from the blockbuster Potter movies.

Universal Hollywood also has news for 2010. Its King Kong attraction, which burned down in 2008, is swinging back onto the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot tram tour next summer. The new 3D attraction, King King 360, will transport visitors to Skull Island where they will witness "the eighth wonder of the world" tussling with dinosaurs and other critters.

Disneyland's California Adventure Park is also debuting a big new attraction in 2010 called World of Color. This unique nighttime water show uses a kaleidoscope of colour, powerful fountains and audio and visual effects to take viewers on a journey through animated Disney classics like "The Lion King," "Toy Story" and many others.

Disney will also be offering a free day's admission to parks on both coasts to one million guests who complete a day of volunteer work in the new year. The "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program will provide certified volunteers with a one-day ticket to any park at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. Disney is partnering with HandsOn Network, a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities, to connect people with projects and to certify that the work was done.

And finally, never mind that worries about swine flu and drug violence led to a 12.5 per cent decline in air travel to Mexico by U.S. citizens for the first nine months of 2009 compared to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Lonely Planet's top 10 list for 2010 declares that "H1N1 is so 2009," and puts Mexico as the No. 4 destination for the new year, adding that it's "still a good bargain, easy to get to for most Americans."

Yahoo's top 10 destination list for 2010 also includes Cancun and Cabo San Lucas, and Mexico City was on Frommer's top destinations list for the new year as well.

George Hobica, founder of AirfareWatchdog.com, says if flying to Mexico is too expensive, just drive to a port and take a "crazy cheap" cruise to Cancun. "Get the vaccine and don't tangle with any drug lords," he added.

But if even a cruise is beyond your budget, you can still be a trendy traveller by hopping in your car and driving to the nearest national park. Visits to national parks in 2009 were up 4.13 per cent over 2008 - 286.2 million compared to 274.8 million - and that's without even counting attendance for the entire month of December. The inauguration of President Obama helped draw visitors to park sites in Washington, but millions of Americans travelled to parks elsewhere, too, recognizing them as perfect destinations for a recession vacation.

Economics: Domestic leisure travel is expected to increase two per cent in 2010, with an increase in leisure travel spending of nearly five per cent, according to the U.S. Travel Association. IBISWorld, an industry research firm, forecasts an increase in tourism revenues for 2010 of just 1.2 per cent.

But even with this small recovery, numbers for 2010 will be lower than they were in 2008. The USTA said travel expenditures in the U.S. are expected to total US$712 billion in 2009, then rise to $745.2 billion in 2010 - still lower than the $772.9 billion in expenditures in 2008.

The World Travel&Tourism Council predicted that the industry worldwide would show a 5.5 per cent decline for 2009 over 2008 once all the data is counted. For 2010, the organization's president, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, said travel and tourism activity "is likely to be flat at best."

The lodging forecast for 2010 from PricewaterhouseCoopers shows a small increase in the number of average daily rooms sold, up 2.5 per cent to 2.68 million rooms in 2010, compared to 2.61 million in 2009. But that's the lowest number since 2003.

"The industry is not rebounding," said Scott Berman, hospitality and leisure leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He said he expects the hotel industry will see some of its older, undercapitalized and physically obsolete properties closing as a result.

The good news for consumers is that PricewaterhouseCoopers is also forecasting lower average daily rates ($95.79 in 2010 compared to $97.51 in 2009), due partly to increased competition from a larger supply of hotel rooms - 4.78 million rooms available in 2010 compared to 4.74 million in 2009.

Berman also said he thinks business travel has "hit the bottom" and that corporate group bookings are "picking up across the board, including in luxury properties."

On airfares, Hobica, of AirfareWatchdog.com, says that if the economy picks up, "my guess is we're going to see a lot of firming up of airfares," especially since many airlines have cut capacity.

"We are not going to see the desperate fare sales as much as in the past," he added.

If you are hoping to snag an airfare deal, though, Hobica says it's crucial that you sign up for frequent flyer programs, email alerts and Twitter feeds.

"That was the big trend of 2009, with airlines using different marketing channels to go directly to the consumer with promotion codes and offers."

Pakistan aims to lure tourists back to Swat

MINGORA, Pakistan, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Pakistan's Swat valley will soon be reopened to tourists, an army commander said on Thursday, although sporadic violence continued with 17 militants killed in the latest clashes.

The army has largely cleared the former Taliban bastion in the valley, once a prime tourist destination 120 km (80 miles) northwest of Islamabad, in an offensive launched in late April.

The military says more than 2,000 militants have been killed although there has been no independent verification of that toll. In the latest violence, 17 militants were killed in several clashes, the military said in a statement.

But despite that, the commander of forces in Swat said the valley would soon be ready for visitors.

"The operation has been a complete success and we plan to open the valley to local tourists within a month," Major-General Ashfaq Nadeem told reporters in the region's man town of Mingora.

The offensive in Swat came after Taliban advances early this year and a string of attacks in cities raised fears for nuclear-armed Pakistan 's stability and alarmed its ally the United States.

The army is now turning its attention to the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border, the headquarters of Pakistani Taliban militants.

The Swat valley with its Alpine scenery, ancient Buddhist ruins and trout fishing was for years a favourite tourist destination for both domestic and overseas visitors.

Young Western backpackers used to flock there for a rest on the overland trail from Europe to India.

The valley was also home to Pakistan's only ski resort, but militants burned down the hotel at the resort last year.

Nadeem said he wanted to get the message out that the valley was safe.

"We've asked the provincial government to arrange seminars on tourism and tell people that militancy has ended and tourists can come," he said.

Indonesia sees 2010 tourist arrivals up 8.5 pct

JAKARTA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Indonesia aims to attract 7 million foreign tourists in 2010, up from about 6.45 million visitors this year, Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik said on Wednesday.

The minister said the Southeast Asian country had edged past its target of 6.4 million arrivals for this year despite the global economic crisis, militant suicide attacks on two luxury hotels in Jakarta in July and concerns over possible violence during parliamentary and presidential elections in 2009.

Wacik said, however, the amount spent by each foreign tourist fell to $995 this year from $1,178 in 2008.

The minister said foreign tourists in 2010 were expected to spend around $1,000 each, meaning a $7 billion inflow into the economy.

The minister also told reporters that the lifting of a European Union ban on airlines including flag carrier Garuda this year would also help boost tourism next year.

"And now, because Garuda Airlines is flying to and from Europe now, the numbers of tourists will go up," he said.

Tourism accounts for about 3 percent of gross domestic product in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, but some areas, including the resort island of Bali, are heavily dependent on tourism for jobs and growth.

The archipelago of more than 17,500 islands has beaches, mountains and dive-spots among its diverse attractions, but tourism infrastructure outside Bali is often poor and tourism campaigns have often been criticised as lacklustre.

Indonesia is also well behind tiny neighbour Singapore, which aims to attract up to 9.5 million tourists this year, and Malaysia, which is targeting 19 million foreign tourist arrivals.

Wacik said, however, that Indonesia's arrivals had held up better than Vietnam and Thailand, which had seen drops of 16 percent and 17 percent respectively.

Foreign arrivals expected to reach 16 million this year


BANGKOK, Jan 5 (TNA) – The number of foreign tourists this year is expected to reach 16 million as targeted if there are no serious political disturbances nor epidemics, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Speaking on the first day of assuming the TAT governorship, Governor Surapon Sawetseeranee said he would attempt to increase the number of foreign arrivals to the target set by Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa.

“Unless there is political chaos or epidemics, the number of foreign tourists will edge up to 15-15.5 million against the target number of 14 million,” he said.

For local tourism, the target number of local tourists is expected to reach 90 million with combined revenues of Bt430 billion this year.

He said strategies to attract foreign tourists are to expand, maintain, and retrieve the 3 groups of markets including ASEAN, Oceania (Australia-New Zealand and the Pacific) and China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Canada where there are several million targeted foreign tourists.

The TAT chief added that the New Year celebrations this year were more joyful than those of last year, which could help boost tourism.

The New Year celebrations generated incomes of at least Bt3.2 billion. Of this, Bt1.1 billion came from foreign tourists and Bt2.1 billion baht from domestic tourists.

Thailand’s most favoured destinations are major provinces including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phuket, Songkla, Samui and Pattaya. (TNA)


....

Is 16 million above the pre-crisis figure?

Is 16 million above the pre-crisis figure?



Yes, according to this graph. It's from http://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourism.asp


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b174/khunten/graph.jpg

a bit different number from another source.



BANGKOK – Given Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s tourism promotion initiatives and the recovery of the world economy, TAT estimates that the number of international tourists for 2009 came close to 14 million, down only four percent compared to 2008.

The global financial crisis and Thailand's political turmoil that began in late 2008 have resulted in a decline in the number of inbound tourists, with a decrease of 16 percent in the first half of 2009. The greatest decline included visitors from Northeast Asia, with a drop of more than 30 percent, followed by the Americas and Oceania. The ASEAN and Europe markets were affected only slightly, while South Asia and the Middle East were able not only to maintain their market base but to show actual growth.

Since August 2009 however, tourism in Thailand has shown clear signs of recovery. The number of tourists declined by only five percent in August and switched to a growth of more than 10 percent in September and October. This dramatic increase continued until the end of 2009.

TAT said the number of tourists arriving via Suvarnabhumi International Airport between November and mid-December 2009 increased nearly 40 percent. Charter flights from Europe and Asia to major tourism destinations including Phuket and Koh Samui also grew significantly during November and December. TAT said that from September, there were clear signs of recovery and normalisation in all adversely affected markets.

The NTO said the Thai tourism industry is expected to be more favourable in 2010, as long as no major political crisis occurs. The economic situation of individual countries continues to be the major factor influencing the growth of each target market. Given these, TAT expects the number of international tourists to grow at around seven to 10 percent to approximately 15 to 15.5 million in 2010.

According to...http://www.travelweeklyweb.com/Article/Thailand_optimistic_on_tourism_projection_for_2009_forecast_for_2010.html

Indian Ocean isles eye tourism rebound in 2010

ANTANANARIVO, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The Indian Ocean's luxury island destinations eye a tourism rebound in 2010 after receipts fell sharply last year despite better than expected arrival numbers.

The azure waters and palm-fringed beaches of Mauritius and the Seychelles may be among the world's top holiday spots, but the global downturn still forced the rivals to slash prices to keep market share.

"The visibility that we have for the first three or four months of 2010 is quite positive and encouraging. It seems people have started to travel more," Patrice Legris, head of the Mauritius Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs (AHRIM), told Reuters.

Mauritius posted record visitor numbers in December, boosting 2009's overall tourist arrivals which reached 871,356, down 6.5 percent on the previous year.

But Legris said he expected tourism receipts to be down by 13 to 15 percent on 2008 because of a strong local unit and aggressive discounting.

AHRIM's data showed tourism accounted for 7.4 percent of GDP in 2009, against 9.4 percent and 8.7 percent in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Revenue falls are set to be more severe in the Seychelles where 2009 receipts are expected to sink by up to 20 percent from more than $320 million a year earlier -- key for a nation whose entire gross domestic product is below a billion dollars.

AIRLINES CHASING DEMAND

Famed for the pristine environment of its coral atolls and forested granitic islands, a rebound in Seychelles' tourism is seen underpinning economic growth of 4 percent this year after an estimated contraction of 7.5 percent in 2009.

"For 2010 we are quite bullish, we're going for plus 5 percent (on 2009) or 165,000 arrivals," Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, head of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said in a phone interview.

The Dubai-based Emirates airline will increase its flights to Seychelles to six times a week from four, he said, while another Gulf airline, Etihad, will launch a new service four times a week in August.

"Airplane seats are now chasing demand," observed Loustau-Lalanne.

He said Russia and the Arab Emirates were among the archipelago's fastest growing markets.

But it is Madagascar, renowned for its leaping lemurs and exotic chameleons and plant-life but battered by a year-long political crisis, that faces the sternest challenge.

Joel Randriamandranto, who heads the National Tourism Office, said tourism revenue in 2009 slumped to $116 million compared to $302 million the year before.

A political crisis which started last March is still occupying the time of international mediators who are keen on a resolution.

Perhaps most damaging long term to its emerging reputation as a top eco-tourism destination will be the pillaging of precious hardwood and poaching of endangered animals that has exploded in the current security vacuum.

"For Madagascar's image, it's really awful," said Randriamandranto. "They've got to stop that."

Syria tourist numbers up 12 pct, government says
24 January 2010

DAMASCUS, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Tourist numbers in Syria rose 12 percent last year from 2008 levels, with Arabs accounting for the bulk of visitors, government statistics showed on Sunday.

Syria, which contains several important sites of antiquity, including the ancient city of Palymra, received around six million tourists, including 1.1 million Syrian expatriates and 3.6 million Arabs, in 2009, the state media said.

The government deems almost any foreigner who enters to be a tourist, a practice criticised by industry specialists as misleading.

Syria has been under U.S. sanctions since 2004 for its support of militant groups, but relations with the West have improved and Washington is seeking a rapprochement.

The ruling Baath Party has taken steps to liberalise the economy after decades of nationalisation and bans on private enterprise.

In the last few years new hotels have been built, mainly in Damascus and Aleppo, but fewer of them are of international quality than in neighbouring Lebanon or Jordan, which have put more resources into developing their tourism sector.

The Baath Party took power in Syria in 1963, banning all opposition and imposing emergency law that remains in force.

UAE's Noor to build $100 mln Iraq hotel -report

DUBAI, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi investment company Noor Capital will build a $100 million five-star hotel apartment project in Karbala, Iraq, with UK hospitality developer Range Hospitality, an executive said in remarks published on Wednesday.

The project in the holy city, called The Range, is expected to be completed in 2013, daily The National reported.

The hotel will have between 650 and 700 rooms and will be managed by the Splendid Hotel Group of London.

"The transaction is in line with Noor Capital's governing philosophy to promote hospitality projects within the Middle East and in particular within the religious tourism sector," Ehab al-Bakri, the head of placement and business development at Noor was reported as saying.

Caribbean tourism outlook improves despite tax, crime
28 January 2010

SAN JUAN (Reuters) - After taking a flogging last year, the Caribbean tourism industry is looking toward an improvement in 2010 despite concerns about a British-imposed environmental tax and crime against tourists on some islands.

Earthquake-hit Haiti has not been a major tourist destination, except for Royal Caribbean's private Labadee beach resort on the north coast, which was spared from damage.

But most other Caribbean islands depend heavily on tourism for revenue and jobs, and reported declines last year as the global economic crisis and credit crunch kept Europeans and North Americans at home.

The tourism minister in the eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia, Allan Chastanet, said he has been meeting with airline officials and arranging for additional flights.

"We will probably end the year 5.6 percent down but we're looking for a strong rebound in 2010," Chastanet told Reuters during Caribbean Marketplace, an annual event hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association which brings together hoteliers and suppliers.

St. Lucia received 360,000 stayover visitors -- those who spend money on hotel rooms and on restaurants -- and saw a 15 percent increase in cruise arrivals.

Tobago, the smaller sister island of Trinidad, suffered significant declines in tourist arrivals from their major UK market and also from Germany.

"The economic situation globally impacted negatively on Tobago. Hotels reported as much as a 40 percent decline in stayover, particularly from the British and the German markets," said hotelier Rene Seepersadsingh.

While most of the islands are reporting a poor 2009 for tourism, Jamaica saw an increase of 4 percent in arrivals.

"It was a good year for us notwithstanding everything globally," said Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett.

MORE SEATS

Jamaica has been running television ads across North America during an unusually cold winter to entice viewers to its warm climate, and hopes for one of its best years.

"For this winter season now beginning, we have a record 1 million (airline) seats which is the largest number we ever had," Bartlett told Reuters.

While tourism officials are optimistic about improvement in the industry this year, they're worried about the impact of an environmental tax the UK government imposes on air travelers.

When a rate hike takes effect in November, an economy-class ticket from a UK airport to the Caribbean will carry a tax of 75 pounds while the tax on a first class ticket is 150 pounds .

"It's a tax that is unfair, unnecessary and unjust," said John Taker, purchasing director at Virgin Holidays.

Many of the islands face an additional challenge of convincing potential travelers of their safety following several crimes against tourists.

Armed robbers in the Bahamas have targeted cruise ship visitors, while travel advisories have been issued for Trinidad and Tobago because of sexual assaults and murders of tourists and foreign residents.

Though local residents are more often targeted than visitors, the region is struggling with high murder rates.

Bermuda had six murders in 2009 and one already this year. At least three of the killings were gang-related.

Hotelier Michael Winfield, chairman of the Bermuda Alliance for Tourism, said the killings and the resulting international publicity threatened the island's image.

"One of Bermuda's strongest selling points has, traditionally, been its safety and friendliness and for that main plank of our profile to now be threatened is alarming; this at a time when projections are already very poor," Winfield said in Bermuda.

Seeparsadsingh said Tobago had boosted police presence, while the crime detection rate has been increasing.

Jamaica, described as one of the most violent countries in the Western Hemisphere, continues to attracts tourists despite its staggering murder rate. The island logged 1,680 murders last year, a record for the nation of 2.7 million people.

"It's a contradiction. The most iconic attraction in Jamaica is the people. It belies the crime statistics," Bartlett said.

Peru repair of Machu Picchu train to take 2 months
29 January 2010

MACHU PICCHU, Peru, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The last of about 4,000 tourists stranded by floods and mudslides near Peru's Incan citadel Machu Picchu waited to be airlifted on Friday, as travelers were told it would likely take some two months to re-establish train service to the famous ruins.

Authorities said they expected to complete the evacuation of the roughly 800 tourists late on Friday.

They have been stuck near the World Heritage Site since the heaviest rains in the region in 15 years flooded the area over the weekend, killing five people.

The torrential rains triggered mudslides that washed away parts of the only train line that connects the ruins with the nearby city of Cusco.

In places, bits of twisted track plunged into rivers of muddy water, which had risen with the rains.

Officials said it would likely take seven weeks to re-establish rail service, but that they were looking at other ways to reach Peru's top tourist draw.

Apart from the train, the only ways to reach the ancient Incan site is to trek some 28 miles (45 km) through steep mountain passes, or fly by helicopter.

Authorities closed the hiking trail earlier this week.

"Clearing the southern railway that runs ... to Machu Picchu will take some seven weeks at least," Armando Pareja, head of PeruRail, told Reuters.

The company operates the train with Orient-Express.

Pareja said PeruRail was exploring a northern route, which would run on roads and a separate train line.

Machu Picchu was built in the mid-15th century and lies some 690 miles (1,100 km) southeast of Lima. Roughly 1 million people visit the site, which sits some 7,874 feet (2,400 metres) above sea level, each year.

Authorities say roughly 4,600 homes and several bridges have been damaged by the rains, as well as some 39,500 acres (16,000 hectares) of farmland.

Cusco's governor has put an initial estimate of the damage at $280 million, while the National Chamber of Tourism said the impact of the rains would be wide-reaching.

"The tourism sector was hit hard, but so were the townspeople, who won't have work for two months," said Bartolome Campana, head of the tourism chamber.

In Vancouver and suburbs, museums, malls, dining show Asian immigration, diversity
1 February 2010

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - With its colorful ornamental gate, traditional garden and old-Shanghai-style street lamps, a small section of Vancouver lays claim to the title of Chinatown.

However, it's the nearby suburb of Richmond that acts like it.

Home to one-sixth of Vancouver's nearly 700,000 Asians, Richmond considered installing Chinese street signs due to the prevalence of Chinese speakers. The city entices visitors with working museums detailing the lives of Asians and others on the coast of British Columbia, a multitude of dining choices, and malls which transport visitors to the other side of the Pacific.

Richmond was founded in 1879 with an already-thriving aboriginal culture added to by British, Japanese and Chinese immigrants.

Recent immigrants have come in waves from Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan. All have left an indelible stamp on the Vancouver region's culture.

For fascinating shopping or lunch outings, Richmond's Yaohan Centre and Aberdeen Centre malls are must-sees.

Yaohan Centre is home to a vibrant food fair catering to the many palates of Asia. Near Richmond Centre mall is Kirin Restaurant, which boasts a celebrated Cantonese and seafood menu.

Richmond's Aberdeen Centre kicks off the Chinese New Year Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. with Chinese dragons and lions and dancers back by Chinese festival drums.

In Vancouver, the Year of the Tiger parade starts to roll through Chinatown at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 14.

For those with a spiritual bent, the International Buddhist Society's Kuan Yin Temple in Richmond is considered North America's most magnificent and authentic temple of traditional Chinese architecture.

At 11 p.m. on Chinese New Year's Eve (Feb. 13), Abbot Guan Cheng, will lead chanting and group prayers. Visitors are welcome.

Chinese architecture can also be explored at Vancouver's Sun Yat-Sen Traditional Chinese Garden, a Ming Dynasty oasis of serenity in the busy downtown core.

But the Chinese community is just one of many diverse ethnic groups adding to the vibrancy of the Vancouver area.

Japanese contributions to B.C.'s culture are celebrated at the University of British Columbia's Nitobe Garden. It's considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America, and among the top five outside of Japan.

"I am in Japan," Japanese Emperor Akihito once said as he strolled past Nitobe's reflecting pond with Koi, streams and waterfalls, stone lanterns and the teahouse.

For more than a century, Sikhs from India have made their homes in the Vancouver area. The 49th Avenue and Main Street area is known as the Punjabi Market and is alive with stores, markets and restaurants.

The Sikh presence is marked by two large gurdwaras or temples.

Vancouver's Ross Street Temple and Guru Nanak Gurdwara in the suburb of Surrey welcome visitors.

A darker side of Olympic history is documented at Vancouver's Jewish Community Centre's Holocaust Education Centre. Two current exhibits, "More Than Just Games: Canada and the 1936 Olympics" and "Framing Bodies: Sport and Spectacle in Nazi Germany," caused a sensation when they opened prior to the start of the Olympic Torch Run.

Back in Richmond, the early contributions of the region's diverse populations to B.C.'s economy are preserved at the Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site. It's a rare surviving example of a once-thriving mixture of fish canneries, boatyards and heritage buildings.

Situated atop wooden pilings over the Fraser River, the village of Steveston's Gulf of Georgia Cannery is one of the few remaining 19th century salmon canneries on the coast.

A less-talked-about piece of B.C. history is the seizure of Japanese-Canadians during World War II. Fearing a Japanese invasion, the Canadian government rounded up Japanese-Canadians, stripped them of their belongings, and forced them into camps in the province's interior. (The U.S. conducted a similar round-up of its Japanese residents.) That dark episode in Canadian history is commemorated at Richmond Museum, as is the rich coastal aboriginal culture. For visitors heading into the province's Interior, New Denver is home to a haunting internment camp museum.

Steveston is also a great place to wander through quaint shops or have a beer on the docks. After that, Dave's Fish & Chips serves up a hearty English meal. This is where the Brits eat.

------

If You Go...

GETTING THERE: Vancouver International Airport is located in Richmond. Vancouver's newest light rail line, Canada Line, runs from downtown Vancouver. For Richmond, take trains to Richmond-Brighouse. Trip Planner: http://tripplanning.translink.bc.ca

VANCOUVER ETHNIC TOURISM: http://tinyurl.com/yzj24f6

SHOPPING: Aberdeen Centre: http://www.aberdeencentre.com. Yaohan Centre: http://www.yaohancentre.com.

DINING: Kirin: http://www.kirinrestaurants.com/ (several locations in Vancouver and Richmond. Dave's Fish & Chips: http://dinehere.ca/richmond/daves-fish-chips (3460 Moncton St., Richmond).

PLACES OF INTEREST:

Steveston: http://www.stevestonivillage.com/aboutsteveston.html

Gulf of Georgia Cannery: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/georgia/index.aspx

Kuan Yin Temple: http://www.buddhisttemple.ca

City of Richmond: http://www.richmond.ca/home.htm

Nitobe Memorial Garden: http://www.nitobe.org/

Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara: http://www.gurunanakgurdwara.ca/

Ross Street Sikh Temple: http://www.kdsvancouver.com/ross-street-temple.html

Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre: http://www.vhec.org/

Ritz-Carlton to close 5-diamond Las Vegas hotel in May

NEW YORK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co will close its five-diamond property in Las Vegas this May, after the hotel struggled with a slide in demand and revenue.

"It's nothing the hotel did. It's a simple lack of business and a decline in the tourism industry," said Ritz-Carlton spokeswoman Vivian Deuschl.

The owners of the 348-room property, Village Hospitality LLC, an arm of Deutsche Bank , will stop funding the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas day-to-day operations on May 2.

"That was the owner's decision and we reluctantly agreed to go along with it," Deuschl said.

Luxury properties have been hit hard in the past year and a half. Corporate travel and business from associations accounts for the bulk revenue of these hotels, but companies and groups have cut back on travel spending in the past year.

Village Hospitality, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank's German American Capital Corp, acquired the hotel in a nonjudicial foreclosure sale in February 2009.

"The unprecedented economic downturn has had a significant impact on the hotel's operations," said Deutsche Bank spokesman Scott Helfman. "As a result, Village Hospitality LLC concluded that continuing to fund operations was no longer economically viable and consequently decided to close the hotel effective May 2, 2010."

Ritz-Carlton is a division of Marriott International .

The hotel opened seven years ago and has played host to an array of celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, Celine Dion and the late pop icon Michael Jackson.

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas property employs some 350 people, Deuschl said, some of whom may be relocated to other Ritz-Carlton properties or other Las Vegas hotels.

THE "AIG" EFFECT

Located 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, the hotel boasts retail boutiques, a wedding chapel and gondola rides, according to the hotel's website.

It received a "five-diamond" rating from the American Automobile Association for 2010.

Last year, revenue for U.S. luxury hotels fell nearly 17 percent, outpacing the 14 percent drop in the overall industry, according to an analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR), a fiscal measure of health in the industry, plummeted about 24 percent, compared with a 16.4 percent drop for the industry overall.

Luxury hotels have also suffered from the backlash from the so-called "AIG effect," referring to the uproar caused by American International Group's decision to fly top brokers and executives to a resort shortly after receiving a bailout check from the U.S. government.

"The whole demonization of luxury meetings and companies' pulling back on having their high-end meetings in luxury hotels -- this has had a tremendous impact on Las Vegas," Deuschl said. "I can't think of another destination that has had to defend itself more against comments from politicians."

Deuschl did not comment specifically on the hotel's occupancy level, but said it was lower than the company would have liked.

a bit different number from another source.



BANGKOK – Given Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s tourism promotion initiatives and the recovery of the world economy, TAT estimates that the number of international tourists for 2009 came close to 14 million, down only four percent compared to 2008.

Since August 2009 however, tourism in Thailand has shown clear signs of recovery. The number of tourists declined by only five percent in August and switched to a growth of more than 10 percent in September and October. This dramatic increase continued until the end of 2009.



We have a similar situation in Las Vegas, tourism for 2009 compared to 2008 was down 3% while the last 4 months of 2009 saw an increase in visitation compared to the same months of 2008.

Overall visitation numbers for Las Vegas in 2009 was around 36+ million.
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NUMBER OF VISITORS TO LAS VEGAS DROPPED 3 PERCENT LAST YEAR

By Tim Richardson (contact), Richard N. Velotta (contact)
Published Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 | 11:19 a.m.

The number of visitors to Las Vegas declined by 3 percent last year when compared to 2008.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said the city had 36,351,469 visitors last year. The average daily room rate for 2009 was $92.93, which was a drop of 22 percent compared to a year earlier.

Room inventory finished the year at 148,941, which was a 6 percent increase in the number of rooms over the past year. The average occupancy rate was 81.5 percent last year, which was down 4.5 percentage points from a year earlier.

Convention attendance was down 23.9 percent last year, while the number of conventions was down 13.6 percent, the LVCVA said.

But the numbers weren’t all bad.

A trend of increasing visitor numbers continued into the December, according to numbers released today. Las Vegas had 2,780,648 visitors in December, which was up 1.5 percent compared to December 2008.

It’s the fourth consecutive month that year-over-year visitor numbers have increased.

The LVCVA said convention attendance in December was up 11.6 percent compared to a year earlier, while the number of conventions was up 10 percent.

Kevin Bagger, senior director of marketing for the LVCVA, told the organization’s board of directors Tuesday that he is forecasting a 3 percent increase in visitors in 2010 to an estimated 37.4 million.

Bagger said that while Las Vegas’ 81.5 percent occupancy rate was down from last year, it still was considerably healthier than other centers of tourism. Citing statistics from Smith Travel Research, Bagger said convention-hosting rival Orlando had occupancy of 60.7 percent in 2009 while Chicago had a rate of 56.6 percent.

Other cities in the comparison: New York had an occupancy rate of 77.2 percent, the Hawaiian island of Oahu, 73.3 percent, and San Francisco, 71.6 percent. The U.S. average rate was 55.1 percent, down 5.2 percentage points from last year.

Las Vegas’ occupancy rate has been challenged by the dramatic increase in the number of rooms in the city. The 6 percent increase in the number of rooms translates into a net change of 8,412 rooms with the opening of the M Resort and CityCenter and expansions at the Golden Nugget, Planet Hollywood and two at the Hard Rock.

Other cities struggled with their average daily room rates, but Las Vegas’ 22 percent decline was the largest by percentage of any of the major tourism centers and at $92.93 was below the national average.

The average national ADR was calculated at $98, 8.8 percent below the 2009 level.

Most of the other major tourism centers were off by double-digit percentages. New York City’s ADR fell 21.8 percent to $215, Chicago’s fell 14.5 percent to $113 and Orlando’s fell 12.2 percent to $93.

Bagger said the LVCVA is happy about the four consecutive months of visitor volume increases, but leaders also are pleased with the three consecutive months of increases in the consumer confidence index through January.
Las Vegas Sun

Hmm .. that hotel occupancy % is still quite high even during boom times!

Mauritius sees tourism resurging in 2010

PORT LOUIS, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Mauritius expects its its tourism industry to recover this year on the back of higher visitor numbers after the island, one of Africa's best tourism performers, has weathered the crisis better than expected.

"Based on data available on tourist arrivals and information gathered from stakeholders, it is expected that tourist arrivals for the year 2010 would be around 915,000, representing an increase of 5 percent over the figure of 871,356 in 2009," the Central Statistics Office said in a statement on Thursday.

The Indian Ocean island's tourism revenue for the year is forecast at around 40.1 billion rupees ($1.3 billion), up over 12 percent on the 35.6 billion generated in 2009.

Long-haul luxury destinations have suffered as the financial crisis and the ensuing economic slowdown changed consumer spending habits.

Mauritius, which is best known for its azure waters, white beaches and luxury spas, has pursued an aggressive international marketing campaign, while its hotels have offered heavy discounts as it fights for market share.

Arrivals from Europe in 2009 fell 4.7 percent to 579,509 led by a 16.6 percent decline in German arrivals, a 14.6 percent drop in Italian arrivals and a 5.5 percent fall in British visitors.

France, Mauritius' leading market, bucked the trend with a 6 percent increase.

Visitor numbers from Asia, a market the island is increasingly looking to tap, decreased by 14.6 percent to 62,131.

Arrivals from India, a big revenue generator, fell by 10.6 percent, the United Arab Emirates by 23.6 percent and Japan by 22.8 percent.

This week, Mauritius' leading hotel groups including New Mauritius Hotels reported sharp declines in revenues.

The statistics office said the average room occupancy rate for all hotels during in 2009 was 61 percent.

Cuban tourism season off to rough start
24 February 2010

HAVANA, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The Cuban tourism season got off to a rough start in 2010, with arrivals down 4.9 percent in January from the same month of last year, according to a government report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The report, due to be released later this week, said arrivals were 254,845 in the first month of this year, compared with 268,115 in January 2009. It gave no further details.

Tourism and related businesses are an important source of income for the cash-strapped, communist-run Caribbean island, totaling more than $2 billion last year, or about 20 percent of Cuba's foreign exchange income.

Foreign sources in the tourism industry blamed the January decline on a pricing spat with a major Canadian tour operator that reduced bookings from Canada, economic hard times in Europe and competition from lower-priced packages in the Dominican Republic and the Mexican resort of Cancun.

Slightly more than 2.4 million tourists visited Cuba last year, an increase of 3.5 percent over 2008. Of those, the biggest number -- 914,884 -- were Canadians.

The foreign manager of a Cuban hotel said tourist arrivals were down again in February and prospects for March were not encouraging because the response by tourism officials to January's decline was too slow in coming.

"They are running around lowering their prices now but it's too late through March," he said.

Also, other countries expecting fewer arrivals from Europe and the United States due to the global recession are trying to lure Canadian tourists.

"They have waged a price war for the Canadian market," the hotel manager said.

The U.S. market is largely off-limits to Cuba because the 48-year-long U.S. trade embargo against the island prohibits most Americans from traveling there.

WHAT A CATCH!
25 February 2010
China Daily

http://www.pbase.com/venturabumm/image/74252660.jpg
Source : http://www.pbase.com/venturabumm/image/74252660

One in every five fish caught in the world ends up here but you would never guess this in Tokyo's orderly Tsukiji market, Ou Shuyi reports

It is 5 am and I am wide awake amid the rising buzz in the chilly warehouse. Squeezing into a roped-off aisle, I stand on tiptoe jostling dozens of other tourists for a good view of the highlight of my visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.

The tuna auction is about to begin.

More than 200 frozen tuna have been laid out on the floor like rows of torpedoes, with their tails sliced off. On each of them is a small piece of paper that gives its origin and weight.

A swarm of bidders, all wearing baseball caps and rubber boots, bend over the fish, prodding the flesh of the sliced-off tail end with a long, wooden handled hook, peering at it with a flashlight, and taking notes on a palm-sized pad.

"They are checking the freshness and fattiness of the flesh," says my guide Oliver Weber, executive chef at Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo. The American has visited the market several times during his one-year stay in the city and knows the auction process well.

The bidders include wholesalers who operate stalls within Tsukiji Market, as well as other licensed buyers, such as agents for restaurants, food processing companies and large retailers.

As one of the largest wholesale seafood markets in the world, Tsukiji is at the very heart of Japan's seafood business, handling more than 2,200 tons of at least 400 varieties every day, worth $15 million.

From penny-a-piece sardines to golden grown dried sea slug caviar, it is all in abundance here. One in every five fish caught in the world goes through this market.

While certainly a serious place for business, Tsukiji reminds me more of a playground where a "fishy drama" - the tuna auction - is unfolding, offering me a glimpse into a culture of seafood commerce that dates back to the 16th century.

A brass bell rings and the bustle in the warehouse stills - the auction begins. The auctioneer, standing on a small stool, is the star of the proceedings. He moves his knees, hip and arms in a strange dance while yelling out prices in a rhythmic way, his eyes flitting across the audience to make sure he does not miss a bid.

"Bids are sealed within seconds," Weber explains, pointing to a bidder making a small hand gesture. "And the prices vary dramatically."

The smaller fish, weighing about the same as an average adult, go for around $3,000. The bigger fish, weighing more than 200 kg, can fetch up to $10,000. In 2001 a bluefin tuna was sold for $220,000, the highest price in Tsukiji's auction.

The frenetic auction sees about 200 tuna sold in half an hour. But the tuna auction is only one of a series of auctions taking place everyday in the market; there are also those for sea urchins, shrimp and dried fish. Tsukiji sets the pulse of this sushi-craving nation.

The history of the market dates back to the early development of Edo (now Tokyo) about 400 years ago when Tokugawa Ieyasu established a fish market to ensure supplies for his castle. The fish market expanded gradually but was mostly destroyed in an earthquake in 1923. The current market was built in 1935 in Tsukiji, located near the Sumida River in central Tokyo, and is now administered and managed by the municipal government.

Covering an area of 23 hectares, Tsukiji is divided into two sections: The inner market, where the auctions and processing of the majority of the fish takes place with about 900 licensed wholesale dealers operating small stalls; and the outer market, consisting of a mixture of wholesale and retail shops that sell everything from seafood to Japanese kitchen tools - and many sushi restaurants.

Every morning at around 3 am, while most of Tokyo's 12 million people are still asleep, Tsukiji comes to life - seafood pours in from all over the world and much of it comes from ships that pull right up to the unloading docks on the Sumida River; and the rest arrives by trucks from other ports, or airplanes.

The auctions end at 7 am. The activity then shifts to the wholesale stalls in the market as hundreds of three-wheeled electric trolleys whistle around, moving tons of fish from one stall to another. Wholesale dealers get busy, cutting up the frozen tuna and swordfish with band saws or chopping the fish into saleable pieces with axes.

"All the seafood we see right here, right now, might arrive at the city's supermarkets or restaurants by lunchtime," Weber says, as he leads me through a maze of alleys lined with hundreds of small stalls.

Each stall is fronted by tables heavily laden with Styrofoam containers. The tanks of live fish, mountains of octopus, bundles of crawling crabs and endless varieties of shellfish, will leave the most jaded foodie with an open jaw.

Although choking with fish, the market does not have a fish smell. Employing about 60,000 people, this is one busy place, but is highly orderly - a fine reflection of a nation that prizes efficiency and organization.

For years this major tourism draw of Tokyo has been dogged by plans of relocation. The government once planned the site as a possible Olympics Game venue when Tokyo bid for the 2016 Olympics. The plan was suspended when the city lost the bid.

Yet, rumors keep swirling that it will soon be relocated.

The sun begins to rise as I walk into the outer market. Vendors have already set up their wares, such as hand-made sweets, cooked octopus, various kinds of fish gut, tuna heads and rice crackers.

Like most other tourists, I top off my visit with a sushi breakfast - the freshest and tastiest I've ever had.

European heritage label seeks to bind EU states

BRUSSELS, March 11 (Reuters) - In an effort to create a sense of shared history, the European Union has launched an initiative to promote important sites of culture and heritage across its 27 member states and the continent.

The European Heritage label -- modelled on the U.N. World Heritage programme -- brings together dozens of locations that have had a part to play in forging the culture and history of modern Europe.

The label has already been awarded to 64 places, from Poland's Gdansk shipyards, a hotbed of the Solidarity movement that helped bring an end to communism, to the Acropolis in Athens, a relic of ancient Greece and a symbol of democracy.

The European Commission formally signed off on the idea this week, and it will now be expanded across the union, with each member state allowed to nominate two sites for the label each year, although only one, at most, will be chosen.

In its sweep, the initiative seeks to contribute to the political and economic integration of Europe by binding its 4,000-year-old history and culture more tightly together, and building on the European City of Culture programme that has been running since the 1980s.

Cypriot Androulla Vassiliou, the European commissioner in charge of education, culture, multilingualism and youth, believes the initiative will give the European Union's 500 million citizens a better sense of where they have come from.

For young people particularly, she hopes it will be educational and contribute to cultural tourism throughout the bloc, which will in turn have economic benefits.

"There will be new opportunities to learn about our common yet diverse cultural heritage, about the history and the building of the European Union, and about the democratic values and human rights that underpin European integration," she said.

Costing less than 1 million euros ($1.4 million) a year to administer, she said the initiative had a price that was "small compared to the potential educational and tourist benefits."

Other notable sites already awarded the label include the Palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete, the palace of the popes in Avignon, France, and the birthplaces of Italian composers Rossini, Puccini and Verdi.

Switzerland, while not a member of the European Union, has had three sites recognised, including the Hospice of St. Gothard high in the Alps that has been a stopping off and treacherous passage point between north and south Europe for centuries.

Although the label idea was begun by France, Hungary and Spain four years ago, the Commission has only now given its formal backing. Its support should raise the profile of the scheme and make it possible to promote it more widely.

The timing would appear to be right. An online poll conducted by the Commission last May showed that 58 percent of people were unaware there was even a European Heritage label.

At the same time, 89 percent of the 220 polled said the idea would help define a European identity, and 90 percent said it was good that the Commission was backing it.

Sleepy India town wakes up to tourists, business

GOKARNA, India, March 12 (Reuters) - German tourist Oliver Krupke has travelled to India every year for the past three years, but it's not the Taj Mahal, the beaches of Goa or the bustle of Mumbai that keep bringing him back.

For the 33-year-old, the perfect holiday lies in the sleepy beach town of Gokarna, some 125 kms (78 miles) from Goa, India's beach capital.

"This might not be the most beautiful beach in the world, but the people and the peace here are like no other," said Krupke, adding that on his way to Gokarna, he had to stay for a day in Goa and hated it.

Gokarna, on the shores of the Arabian Sea, has four famous beaches -- the Om, Half-Moon, Paradise and Kudle.

And it would appear that these low-profile beaches on the India's western coast are stealing a number of tourists from its more famous neighbour Goa, as more and more foreigners look for the anti-thesis of their often busy city lives.

With its blend of spirituality and tolerance, Gokarna has been steadily building its popularity with tourists.

While the town of holds religious significance for Hindus, the beaches draw people from all over the world.

As the sun goes down, the shacks -- the numerous makeshift lodges that dot the shores -- don't start pumping loud party music. Instead, people gather wood to light bonfires in the evening, which they huddle around and jam with mandolins and guitars on the dimly lit beaches.

For tourists looking for more traditional accommodation, there are also a number of motels further away from the beach. And if the lure of the city becomes too strong, you can always go to Goa for a few days.

"I came here after a lot of my friends recommended this place. Beaches in Europe are more beautiful, but this place helps me relax," said Ludwik Ballton, a Polish home builder, who was staying at one of the many beachside shacks.

As word-of-mouth recommendations increase, traffic through Gokarna is increasing by the day, and business in and around the town is booming.

In 2009, the number of foreign tourists visiting Gokarna rose 9 percent, according to the state tourism department.

When Ganesh, who runs a shack and who declined to give his full name, came to Gokarna eight years ago, guests were few and far in between. Now, business is so brisk, he often has to decline boarders.

"If you have stayed here for two days, everyone knows everyone else. Most of my foreign guests stay here for weeks on end, though Indian visitors are generally here only for the weekend," said Ganesh, adding that repeat visitors comprise most of the crowd in Gokarna.

Another shack worker on Om beach who goes by the name of "Rambo" also reported more visitors, adding that he and his peers expect even more tourists to come this year.

Goa's image has taken a beating recently, largely due to a spate of crimes against foreign tourists as well as rising prices and over-crowded beaches.

The resulting media coverage of the crimes has lead to security fears, chairman of Goa Tourism, Ralph DeSouza, said. Interim 2009 official figures show a 3 percent drop in the number of foreign tourists to the former Portuguese colony, and 2008 saw a decline of about 10 percent.

All these factors have helped the allure of lesser-known destinations such as Gokarna. But as the town becomes more and more on the tourist track, it could also become a victim of its own success.

"If these beaches ultimately start brimming with people... and they already are... we would move further along the coast, looking for other places," said Polish tourist Ballton.

Once a Spring Break mecca, Fort Lauderdale has shooed away collegiate bacchanalia
7 March 2010

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - As they stripped off their sweatshirts and began to toss around a football, Justin Gibson and three college friends had just what they needed to kick off a weeklong vacation from snow and studying for exams.

The sun broke through the clouds, the sand of Fort Lauderdale beach grew warm beneath their toes, and on a blanket nearby was their beer cooler.

"I do wish there were a few more people around," said Gibson, 20, as he launched a spiral to Indiana Wesleyan University classmate Justin Sauder. "But we don't have to worry about hitting anyone with a bad pass."

As the annual bacchanal called Spring Break builds toward a peak later this month, there might be a few more college-age revelers on South Florida beaches than there were last week when Gibson and Sauder were here. But not many more.

Almost 25 years after Broward County officials began to actively discourage the Spring Break mayhem touched off by the movie "Where The Boys Are" and fueled by MTV, there is plenty of room for football on the beach where Las Olas Boulevard meets it.

And that is just fine with local tourism officials.

"That low-rated, kind of raunchy thing?" said Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau chief Nicki Grossman. "No one in the tourism business wants to go back to that."

Palm Beach County also is well down the list of favored Spring Break destinations, though tourism officials hope Black Entertainment Television will choose Riviera Beach for a fourth consecutive year as the site of "Spring Bling."

The April festival of music draws about 3,000 young people to Singer Island.

"It's a big deal," said Jorge Pesquera, president of the county's Convention and Visitors Bureau.

College students taking in the rays Saturday at Boca Raton beach said they were there because it's a beautiful place and a passport isn't necessary.

"There's no place like Florida," said John Garrish, 21, a Wagner College junior who was taking a break from the New York snow. "You can go to Cancun and get the MTV treatment, but I'm just trying to relax and it's calmer here."

Twenty-somethings were playing volleyball, trying to catch a wave or a tan to show off when they return to their winter-struck schools.

But long gone are the chances of finding a $100 beachfront hotel room to serve as a crash pad for any number of sunburned, beer-blasted young scholars on holiday.

Rooms at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, formerly known as the Yankee Clipper, start at $229. And that's for a double, not a dozen.

Some college students pick South Florida because they cannot afford Spring Break hot spots such as Cancun, Acapulco or Panama City.

"I started out with about $350 for the week -- that's gas, food, drinks, everything," said Sauder, who is from Archbold, Ohio.

Many don't even pay for a hotel.

"We're staying in my great-grandmother's house," said Tara Duhl, 19, an Indiana Wesleyan sophomore who drove from Indiana with Gibson, Sauder and Haley Pearce, 21. "We thought about Mexico," she said. "But this was the best option for us."

Nearby on the sand last week were four Minneapolis men, including University of Minnesota political science student Nick Erickson, 24. They were staying with his parents in Fort Lauderdale and socializing on the sand with four women on Spring Break from Cegep de Sherbrooke, a technical school in Quebec.

They, too, were staying with relatives, said Catherine Brendle, 21.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler said he understands the economics.

"I was here for four years when I was at Notre Dame," Seiler said, "and I always brought six to 12 kids with me to stay at my house."

Seiler's undergraduate years, from 1981 to 1985, marked the heyday of Fort Lauderdale as a Spring Break mecca.

"It was a little crazy, a little wild," Seiler said. "I was here. I had my share of cold beers on the beach."

However, Seiler does not want to revisit those days, nor see the city again become a Spring Break capital.

"In this economy, dollars are dollars," he said. "We are not targeting that crowd, but we're not turning our back on that crowd. Everything in moderation."

There are some echoes of the past. The beachside ban on open containers that helped wipe out Spring Break in the mid-1980s was suspended recently for events such as the Super Bowl. And Seiler said it is unlikely now that any older-than-21 college student is going to be busted for having a beer on the beach.

"We can allow people to responsibly have a cup of beer or wine while sitting outside," he said. "The key is that it not become a problem."

On the south side of the venerable Elbo Room along Las Olas is a poster for the Great American Beach Party, which will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1960 movie that put Fort Lauderdale on the Spring Break map. Connie Francis, one of the stars of the movie, recently was in town to promote the Memorial Day weekend event.

Seiler said he plans to be there, as will City Commissioner Romney Rogers, who partied on the beach in the early 1970s. "I saw it," he said. "And no, it's not in the best interest of the city to bring it back to that level."

INTERVIEW-Lebanon's key tourism sector growing fast-minister

BEIRUT, March 17 (Reuters) - Tourism in Lebanon is expected to grow by 25 percent in 2010 after setting a record-breaking year in 2009 when it contributed a quarter of the country's GDP, the tourism minister Fadi Abboud said on Wednesday.

Abboud, who described 2009 as the best year for the tourism sector since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war, told Reuters in an interview that he plans to attract more European tourists through competitive packages which will pay off in 2011.

"The income from tourism in 2009 was $7.2 billion -- compared to around $4.8 in 2008 and this makes up the quarter of GDP," he said.

"Lebanon received about 1.85 million tourists in 2009, an increase of 39 percent from 2008," he added.

The tourism sector used to account for about a fifth of Lebanon's gross domestic product before the industry was destroyed by the 1975-90 civil war.

Abboud said investment in the tourism sector increased by 60 percent in 2009, most of which went to restaurants, hotels and spas.

Abboud said Lebanon signed deals with Chinese companies to encourage tourists and is expecting around 100,000 Chinese tourists to visit the country in 2010.

"We are working on a plan to make Lebanon a tourism (destination) 365 days. It's worth noting that packages and tours make up less than 3 percent of the tourism in the country," he said, adding that he was looking to increase that.

Nearly 750,000 of the tourists that visited last year came from Arab countries, 600,000 from European countries and the rest from elsewhere.

Lebanon's economy is expected to grow as much as 8 percent this year if structural reforms and long-stalled privatisation plans are implemented, the finance minister has said.

But Lebanon, which shrugged off the effects of the global financial crisis, is one of the most highly-indebted countries in the world with a public debt of $51 billion.

Pitched into crisis by war, assassinations and political instability from 2005, Lebanon has enjoyed relative calm for more than a year. The country's economy has seen rapid growth in the past two years, expanding by 9 percent in 2009 and more than 8 percent in 2008.

"There's no doubt that with the new government and stable conditions ... the tourism sector has benefited. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to talk about tourism (growth)," he said.

Tourism leaders look to transform to survive
HAIKOU, March 24 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Leaders in the world of tourism need to start plotting a sustainable recovery for the industry after one of the worst years on record.

Industry leaders are still reflecting on the message that emerged after the close of the five-day Boao International Tourism Forum in south China's Hainan Province on Sunday.

Last year saw the first decline in global tourism revenue in 15 years and tourist numbers dropped 3 to 4 percent year on year, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

"Even if this year's growth rate reaches 4 percent, world tourism will only be at the same the level of 2008," UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai said at the forum.

The industry should understand that it had grown unsustainably in the past 50 to 60 years, said Rifai.

It was also vulnerable to challenges, including climate change and unemployment, he said.

Industry figures agreed the recovery was fragile and global cooperation was needed to overcome challenges.

PROBLEMS AHEAD

UNWTO forecasts the industry will grow by 3 to 4 percent in 2010.

However, at a time of weak economic performance, many people are traveling shorter distances and spending of individual tourists had not increased since the downturn began.

Rifai said the industry faced two major threats -- government debt and unemployment -- which could lead the governments to withdraw support for the tourism industry.

Unemployment could also lead to social tension, discouraging travelers.

The industry could provide remarkable employment and promote other industries, but it was vulnerable to natural disasters, epidemics and financial crises, said the 2010 Hainan Tourism Declaration.

The world's tourism industry should establish cooperation and development mechanisms to jointly respond to these problems, the declaration said.

POST-CRISIS TRANSFORMATION

Tourism has become desirable for many countries and regions to expand domestic market and achieve green recovery, and it is becoming more connected with sectors such as culture, sport and exhibitions.

Integrated development of tourism and culture offered huge potential for the industry, said Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in a keynote speech.

"The cultural element is essential to the transform and sustained development of tourism," said Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu.

Tourism, as an important engine in economic development, could provide jobs and be a green industry, as tourists could promote the protection of nature, said Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of Sate.

Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said global tourism should learn from the past and start balanced development with innovative growth measures.

Baumgarten stressed the environment was at the core of tourism and development should not be made at the expense of nature.

CHINA'S ROLE

"China, we predict, is going to become the world's number one tourist destination in the world by the year 2015," Rifai said.

With 48 million international tourists a year, China was already the fourth biggest destination after France, the United States and Spain.

Chinese outbound tourists rose 4 percent year on year to 47.65 million in 2009, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

The policies for Chinese to travel overseas remain unchanged while China itself faces difficulties in economic growth.

Rifai praised China's tourism policy documents last year, which rated tourism as a pillar industry of the economy, and said he believed China would see the benefits in the next 10 years.

The government announced January it would develop China's only tropical island, Hainan, into an international tourist resort by 2020.

The Ministry of Culture and the National Tourism Administration will hold a year of cultural tourism every four years from 2010, an international cultural tourism festival every two years and support eight to 10 local cultural tourism events. (PNA/Xinhua) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=266061

Zambia wants to raise 2010 tourist arrivals by 25 pct
27 March 2010

LUSAKA, March 27 (Reuters) - Zambia wants to increase tourist arrivals by 25 percent to one million this year, helped by an improved global economic environment and the World Cup in South Africa, industry officials said on Saturday.

Tourism accounts for about 18 percent of Zambia's GDP and is a key employer, especially in the southern African country's rural areas, but officials say visits were sharply lower last year as a global recession weighed.

Timothy Mushibwe, chairman of the Zambia Tourist Board, said rebranding the country's tourism packages and promotions in key markets like Europe would spur the increase in visitors.

"The feeling in the market is that tourists are beginning to travel again and in as much as we are targeting one million tourists this year, we think we can move to a level of attracting 3.5 million people to Zambia in the next three years," Mushibwe said.

Mark O'Donnell, chairman of the Tourism Council of Zambia, said hotel bookings had dropped by 20-25 percent in 2009.

"This year, what we want to do is probably recover those numbers, especially with the soccer World Cup coming to South Africa," O'Donnell told Reuters.

Zambia, Africa's largest copper producer, has been pushing to diversify the economy away from mining to agriculture and tourism for sustainable growth.

more AP coverage of Durban - published numerously worldwide

Life's a beach in World Cup city of Durban
South Africa's most-popular holiday resort city expected to draw thousands to its sand and sun
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DurbanUmhlangaSAfirstFive-starHotel.jpg
By Robert Millward, AP Football Writer
Associated Press | Posted: Apr 1, 5:52a ET | Updated: Apr 1, 5:52a ET

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) -- If World Cup fans going to South Africa want a taste of sun, sea and sand before they head for the games, they should book themselves into Durban.
Built on a huge natural lagoon in Africa's biggest and busiest harbor, Durban has a year-round warm, subtropical climate, soft, sandy beaches and is South Africa's most popular domestic holiday resort.
The draw was kind to sun-seeking fans from Germany, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and Brazil, who all have games in the east coast city at its spectacular 70,000-seat Moses Mabhida football stadium just outside the center.
Though hot and very humid in the summer, temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter, when the World Cup is being held June 11-July 11, and rarely dip below 16 degrees C (62 degrees F) at night.
What began as a small trading post settled by the British in 1824, Durban spread along the coast and now has a population of 3.5 million. Most of those are Zulu, although 15 percent have origins in India, their families having crossed the Indian Ocean several generations ago.
Like Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban has a crime problem but it is mainly concentrated in the townships, well away from the tourist areas.
"It's easy to police the city," said Dr. Zweli Mikhize, premier of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. "The whole area is much more highly policed than before. I wouldn't worry about that, not at all. The football World Cup has done wonders for us. There's huge investments in infrastructure, facilities and prevention of crime."
A new international airport, the King Shaka, is being built to allow direct flights from abroad rather than via Johannesburg. Also known as La Mercy, after the name of the nearest town 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the city, it should be completed by May, a month before the World Cup kicks off, and will replace the existing Durban Airport, which will be closed.
While the main tourist hotels overlook the beaches and the ocean, the cruise liners and yachts moor around the corner in the Bay of Natal. The city's business and entertainment centers are in between.
The main sports arenas, Kingsmead cricket ground, Kings Park rugby stadium and Moses Mabhida, are situated a short drive away.
The football stadium has a unique feature-a Y-shaped arch which visitors can climb either by going up the 560 steps or using the cable car. The top of the arch gives the best view possible of the city and the ocean.
The city has four Premier League clubs, Amazulu, Golden Arrows, Thanda Royal Zulu and Maritzburg United, and is the home of Super 14 rugby union team Sharks. The Sharks play at the Kings Park, which is next to the spectacular new football ground.
Durban has had a long football history and the biggest match it has hosted was when South Africa played a full strength England national team in 2002. Durban was also the venue for South Africa's first post-apartheid game when the national team played Cameroon, winning 1-0 at Kings Park. The city also hosted group, quarterfinal and semifinal matches during the 1996 African Cup of Nations.
The new three-tiered stadium will be part of a Kings Park sporting precinct, which will also include athletics, rugby, golf and swimming.
Source: http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=466692.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-04-01-4240398009_x.htm
http://arabnews.com/sports/article38158.ece
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-wcupcity-durban

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more AP coverage of Durban - published numerously worldwide

Life's a beach in World Cup city of Durban
South Africa's most-popular holiday resort city expected to draw thousands to its sand and sun
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/DurbanUmhlangaSAfirstFive-starHotel.jpg
By Robert Millward, AP Football Writer
Associated Press | Posted: Apr 1, 5:52a ET | Updated: Apr 1, 5:52a ET

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) -- If World Cup fans going to South Africa want a taste of sun, sea and sand before they head for the games, they should book themselves into Durban.
Built on a huge natural lagoon in Africa's biggest and busiest harbor, Durban has a year-round warm, subtropical climate, soft, sandy beaches and is South Africa's most popular domestic holiday resort.
The draw was kind to sun-seeking fans from Germany, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and Brazil, who all have games in the east coast city at its spectacular 70,000-seat Moses Mabhida football stadium just outside the center.
Though hot and very humid in the summer, temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter, when the World Cup is being held June 11-July 11, and rarely dip below 16 degrees C (62 degrees F) at night.
What began as a small trading post settled by the British in 1824, Durban spread along the coast and now has a population of 3.5 million. Most of those are Zulu, although 15 percent have origins in India, their families having crossed the Indian Ocean several generations ago.
Like Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban has a crime problem but it is mainly concentrated in the townships, well away from the tourist areas.
"It's easy to police the city," said Dr. Zweli Mikhize, premier of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. "The whole area is much more highly policed than before. I wouldn't worry about that, not at all. The football World Cup has done wonders for us. There's huge investments in infrastructure, facilities and prevention of crime."
A new international airport, the King Shaka, is being built to allow direct flights from abroad rather than via Johannesburg. Also known as La Mercy, after the name of the nearest town 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of the city, it should be completed by May, a month before the World Cup kicks off, and will replace the existing Durban Airport, which will be closed.
While the main tourist hotels overlook the beaches and the ocean, the cruise liners and yachts moor around the corner in the Bay of Natal. The city's business and entertainment centers are in between.
The main sports arenas, Kingsmead cricket ground, Kings Park rugby stadium and Moses Mabhida, are situated a short drive away.
The football stadium has a unique feature-a Y-shaped arch which visitors can climb either by going up the 560 steps or using the cable car. The top of the arch gives the best view possible of the city and the ocean.
The city has four Premier League clubs, Amazulu, Golden Arrows, Thanda Royal Zulu and Maritzburg United, and is the home of Super 14 rugby union team Sharks. The Sharks play at the Kings Park, which is next to the spectacular new football ground.
Durban has had a long football history and the biggest match it has hosted was when South Africa played a full strength England national team in 2002. Durban was also the venue for South Africa's first post-apartheid game when the national team played Cameroon, winning 1-0 at Kings Park. The city also hosted group, quarterfinal and semifinal matches during the 1996 African Cup of Nations.
The new three-tiered stadium will be part of a Kings Park sporting precinct, which will also include athletics, rugby, golf and swimming.
Source: http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=466692.html
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-04-01-4240398009_x.htm
http://arabnews.com/sports/article38158.ece
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-wcupcity-durban


So excited to watch the 2010 FIFA Worldcup. Waiting for June 11, 2010.

KOLLAM - The Gateway of back water tourism in India (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=754306)

Inland tourism is heavily evolving in Germany. :) I'll see if I can't find some proper English news articles about it.

cross-post from SA threads

Giant arch turns Durban stadium into tourist trap

2010 WORLD CUP: World Cup fans will see Durban stadium arch as bonus attraction

By Robert Millward
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/Durban2010WCStadiumInside.jpg
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) - Fans going to Durban's spectacular new football stadium will get a view no other World Cup spectator has had before.
A gigantic Y-shaped arch which spans the length of the Moses Mabhida Stadium has steps and a cable car ride that will take visitors 106 meters (350 feet) above the field with a panoramic view of the city and its beaches.
If they take the car ride rather than the 520 steps, fans can stand on a walkway high above the stadium and, although they can see little of the field, the view is breathtaking, if not a little scary.
Months before the World Cup arrives in Durban on June 13, the arch is being put to use as a tourist attraction and is likely to be a money maker long after the tournament finishes on July 11 as organizers aim to make up the $450 million cost of building the stadium.
It emerged in March that the city council in charge of Durban's new World Cup venue had been given 60 days to ensure that the cable car above the stadium is safe after an incident in which it became stuck, leaving its passengers stranded.
Safety inspectors visited the stadium following media reports and complaints about the stranded passengers.
The stadium sits alongside the 56,000-capacity Kings Park rugby stadium, which is the home to the Sharks rugby union team and regularly hosts national team games. It was strongly hoped that the Sharks would move next door to the new stadium but they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park and only a huge amount of money will persuade them to leave.
There have also been rumors that the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which has plenty of space for a running track, might be the venue if South Africa bids to host the first Olympics to be staged on the African continent. But that is unlikely to be before 2024 and local government officials are coy when asked about the prospects because the South African government first has to decide whether to mount an Olympic bid and where it should be.
Meanwhile, the three-tiered stadium seems certain to be one of the wonders of this year's World Cup.
Only about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) outside the city center, it is also a short walk from the ocean and organizers are building a complex and a walkway so that spectators can easily get to the complex from the beaches.
Once inside, fans will be able to see former World Cup winners Brazil and Germany, two-time runner-up Netherlands and current European champion Spain play at the 70,000-capacity stadium. The ground will also stage a second round match and a semifinal match.
Germany and Australia will play in the first match in Group D on June 13 and, three days later, Spain will face Switzerland in Group H. The Netherlands will take on Japan in Group E on June 19, and Nigeria will face South Korea in Group B three days later.
The stadium then has one of the highlights of the first round, Portugal vs. Brazil, on June 25 in Group G.

SOURCE:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-04-01-2081864952_x.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36134107/ns/travel-destinations/
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9EQBCKO

Q+A-Are Thai protests hurting tourism and the economy?

BANGKOK, April 7 (Reuters) - Growing political unrest in Thailand, including the occupation of Bangkok's main shopping area by anti-government protesters, could hurt tourism but may not have a big impact on the economy unless it drags on.

Tourism in Thailand directly employs 1.8 million people out of a population of about 67 million and it accounts for 6 percent of the $264 billion economy, Southeast Asia's second largest.

Comparisons with tourist data last year are tricky.

Tourism was dealt a blow in April 2009 by Thailand's worst street violence in 17 years, involving the "red shirts". And the sector was only just recovering from a blockade of Bangkok's airports by a different group of protesters in late 2008.

ARE PROTESTS HURTING TOURISM?

The occupation since Saturday of a district of five-star hotels such as the Grand Hyatt, operated by Erawan Group, has hurt the retail, restaurant and tourist sectors, persuading some foreign visitors to stay away.

Some operators said thousands of tourists from China, Hong Kong and South Korea had pulled out. Out of 100 flights booked for Chinese tourists to fly in for the Thai New Year festival, Songkran, more than 60 percent had been cancelled, according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations says the industry has already lost more than 10 billion baht ($309 million).

Thailand Tourism Council says foreign arrivals have dropped about 10 percent from normal levels since the protest started but arrivals so far this year are still higher than in 2009.

About 3.2 million foreign visitors arrived in the first two months of this year compared with about 3.6 million in the first quarter of 2009.

The Thai Hotels Association says bookings at hotels around the occupied area stand at just 20-30 percent of capacity.

But AllTheBestTravel says Japanese clients, often nervous about political unrest, are still coming and heading to the resort island of Phuket.

Khao San Road, a magnet for budget tourists just a 10-minute walk from one main protest site, seems unaffected, with plenty of Westerners in the bars and Internet cafes.

HOW MUCH WILL IT AFFECT THE ECONOMY?

Central World, the second-largest shopping complex in Southeast Asia, and many other big malls remain closed.

The protests, including the occupation of the shopping district, are expected to cost the economy up to 2 billion baht ($62 million) per day, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce predicts.

The university said last week the problem could cost the economy $3.1 billion and cut growth by 0.5 point to 3.0-3.5 percent this year, if it dragged on for three months.

On March 29 the Finance Ministry raised its 2010 economic growth forecast to 4.5 percent from 3.5 percent but warned the turmoil could cut that by as much as 1.8 points if it went on until the fourth quarter and led to a dissolution of parliament.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij told Reuters on Wednesday the protests could delay an interest rate rise and might cause growth this year to be "significantly" worse than the ministry's forecast..

The World Bank forecast on Wednesday that Thailand's economy would grow 6.2 percent this year.

Private economists expect growth of 4-5 percent. They say that, despite the problems, the export-driven economy should perform well due to the global recovery, with momentum carrying over from the final quarter of 2009, when the economy grew 3.6 percent, its fastest quarterly pace in 10 years.

WHAT EFFECT DID THE AIRPORT SIEGE AND 2009 RIOTS HAVE?

The eight-day closure of Bangkok's two main airports by the "yellow shirts" in December 2008 cut GDP growth by 0.6 percentage point, stranded 230,000 tourists and disrupted trade flows.

Foreign arrivals fell 18 percent in the final quarter of 2008 from a year earlier and the hotel occupancy rate slumped to 51 percent. Arrivals rose just 0.8 percent in 2008 as a whole, when the economy grew 2.5 percent, also hit by the global downturn.

The tourist sector remained weak in 2009, when April's riots and the global economic slump helped push arrivals down 3 percent.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has forecast 15.5 million tourist arrivals this year, up from 14.1 million last year. It is aiming for a 10 percent rise in tourist revenue to 580 billion baht ($18 billion).

HOW HAVE CONFERENCES BEEN AFFECTED?

Central Plaza Hotel says it has lost 4-5 million baht ($123,500-$154,400) a day since Saturday, the result of cancelled bookings for hotel rooms, seminars and meetings at its Centara Grand hotel at Central World.

GMM Grammy and Advanced Info Service have cancelled a joint business event scheduled for Central World this week.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau says the protests have prompted several seminars and meetings to be cancelled with the damage estimated at about 800 million baht so far.

Operators of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, which hosts many major events and seminars, says there have been no cancellations so far.

I for one had plans to go to Bangkok but canceled it due to the protests.

I for one had plans to go to Bangkok but canceled it due to the protests.

Yes - I've held off going to Thailand for the past few years due to the sporadic protests, then the airport blockade really put me off from going any time soon. There are more options in that region that welcome my dollars.

India opens Himalayan peaks to foreigners
By AIJAZ HUSSAIN, Associated Press Writer
Fri Apr 9, 1:48 pm ET

SRINAGAR, India – Foreigners will be allowed to climb nearly 100 high-altitude Himalayan peaks for the first time on the Indian side of Kashmir, an official said Friday.

The move by the Indian government to allow foreign climbers follows a significant decline in violence by insurgent groups in the region since India and Pakistan started a peace process in 2004, said Farooq Ahmed Shah, a state tourism official.

The move is aimed at helping to boost tourism, an important source of income for Kashmiris and their saucer-shaped valley of fruit orchards, lakes and wildflowers.

Before the start of the insurgency by separatists in 1989, hundreds of thousands of tourists flocked to the region — known as the Switzerland of the east — to enjoy the glacier-fed streams flowing through the forests and grasslands or lounge on houseboats floating on Srinagar's Dal Lake.

"We are optimistic that the decision will give a big boost to tourism and attract more and more foreign tourists," Shah told The Associated Press.

Separatist violence caused the number of tourists to drop to a few thousand every year, deterred by travel warnings from Western governments and extensive media coverage of fighting between government forces and insurgents.

The government in the Indian state of Jammu-Kashmir declared 2010 a "visit Kashmir year" following an improvement in the security situation, Shah said.

"The decision has been taken at the highest level and nearly 100 peaks in Ladakh region are open for trekking and mountaineering," he said.

These peaks are situated at an altitude ranging from 9,840 feet (3,000 meters) to nearly 26,246 feet (8,000 meters).

The Indian climbers have been scaling those peaks for decades.

Aijaz Ahmed, a travel operator, said the opening of the peaks to foreign tourists would help promote Kashmir.

"The tourism sector has suffered a lot during the last two decades. We're hopeful the decision will attract foreign tourists to the region," he said.

Ladakh is a remote part of the former princely state of Kashmir, which is at the heart of the decades-old conflict between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan. The heavily militarized region also borders China. A part of Ladakh — an ethnically distinct region with historical ties to Tibet — has been controlled by China for decades.

More than a dozen rebel groups have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with neighboring Pakistan since 1989.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Muslim militants. Islamabad denies the charge, saying it only gives moral and diplomatic support to the rebels.

More than 68,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in the uprising and the subsequent Indian crackdown.

NZ guest nights rise in February - Statistics NZ

WELLINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - Guest nights in short term New Zealand commercial accommodation rose for the sixth month in a row in February, with a rise in international visitors offsetting a fall in domestic visitors, data showed on Monday.

There were 3.3 million guest nights in the month, up 1.5 percent on the same month a year earlier. International guest nights rose 6 percent while domestic guest nights fell 3 percent, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said.

The number of guest nights were a seasonally adjusted 3.7 percent down on the previous month, which SNZ might be because a public holiday occurred during the weekend rather than a weekday as in 2009.

The data compared with 4.4 percent rise in January's guest nights from the year before.

The government agency said nine of New Zealand's 12 regions had more guest nights, with higher numbers at hotels and motels.

Overseas visitors rose 4 percent in February from the same month a year ago.

Tourism accounts for around 10 percent of New Zealand's gross domestic product.

Cross post from the Durban/ SA threads

Zuma to officially open King Shaka airport
April 13 2010 at 02:02PM

President Jacob Zuma will officially open the new state of the art King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal on May 8, the province's economic development MEC said on Tuesday.

The R8-billion airport would start operating on May 1, but it would be officially opened by Zuma on May 8, MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu told members of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Pietermaritzburg.

"On May 8 history will be made when our president officiates at the opening of this state of the art airport which has superior facilities and a longer runway compared to the old Durban International Airport," he said.

The old Durban International Airport would be used during the World Cup then decommissioned.

"Pre-opening trials and tests of facilities continue to be undertaken to ensure that, come the decommissioning of the old airport and commissioning of the new facility, it is all systems go," he said.

He said the government's challenge was to attract more international airlines to use the airport. - Sapa

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=181&art_id=nw20100413133805936C636363

^^
YES! - It's definitely a tactical move taking advantage of the thousands of tourism industry delegates and media in the city for Africa's biggest travel tradeshow and a month before the World Cup!!!

INDABA 2010 set to capitalise on World Cup buzz in Durban
09. APR, 2010
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/IndabaICCDurban2010.gif

INDABA 2010 in Durban is a month away and, with the World Cup kicking off in June, the southern African tourism industry is gearing up for the continent’s biggest annual travel tradeshow with more fervour than ever.

“It’s going to be a massive publicity event this year, effectively being the last major business and tourism showcase before the World Cup bonanza hits us a month later in June.

“Durban and the International Convention Centre (ICC) is going to be the epicentre of the hype around South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup,” said Ndabo Khoza, chief executive of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.

Wendy Tlou, SA Tourism’s global communications manager, said: “Yes, Indaba 2010 is definitely going to be big because of the event’s close proximity to the World Cup.

“Many of the World Cup LOC bigwigs will be in Durban, together with some of the leading tourism industry deal-makers and government leaders.

“There are some exciting things and big names expected but that is going to be under wraps for now.

“Exhibition space for the event is sold out, and we have even reduced our SA Tourism stand this year so that the 2010 host cities can take advantage of the event and get more profile.

“We’re expecting a huge contingent of media again this year with already more than 400 registered,” said Tlou. “Many international media already in the country at that time, setting up for the World Cup, will come down to Durban for Indaba. Because of high numbers, SA Tourism is moving the media centre at Indaba to another part of the ICC and making it six times bigger this year,” she said.

Tlou would not name the VIPs expected for Indaba, but industry insiders say it won’t be surprising to see President Jacob Zuma or Fifa president Sepp Blatter among the big names attending.

There have been moves to try to get the spectacular Indaba opening ceremony broadcast on SABC. The Coca-Cola World Cup Trophy Tour is expected to start touring South Africa soon and Indaba organisers want its arrival in Durban to coincide with the trade show.

Tlou said SA Tourism was expecting similar attendance to last year because of the downturn.

However, they were expecting better quality exhibitors and tourism industry buyers at Indaba this year.

Last year, Indaba attracted more than 12 000 delegates. This included stand and event organising personnel; local and international tourism industry players – such as tour operators, airlines and destination marketing organisations; and more than 600 industry and mainstream media.

Khoza agreed with Tlou, saying that even if Indaba 2010 did not break the record in terms of attendance figures, there was no question this year’s event would be the most important and high-profile show yet.

“Due to the profile of the World Cup and hype around hosting the event, we are expecting top-quality industry buyers and better value deals to come out of this year’s Indaba. But it’s not just about the World Cup…

“The industry needs to be looking beyond that and how South African tourism can leverage off the global exposure of the event to boost international tourist arrival for years to come,” he said.

Khoza said another major factor in increasing the Indaba experience in Durban this year was the opening of the new King Shaka International Airport in May.

“This is a big thing and Indaba delegates jetting into Durban will be among the first to get to experience our stunning new airport.

“Also, many international delegates will have the opportunity to travel on Emirates Airlines’ new international air route into Durban for Indaba this year via Dubai. It will be the first time in almost a decade that they will be able to fly straight into Durban for Indaba.”

Khoza urged the KZN tourism industry to pull out all the stops to ensure that this year’s Indaba would be the best yet. He said the local industry also needed to look at the broader potential benefits from the event and not just the economic spin-offs of hosting it.

“Indaba is more than the five or so days of hosting the event. It is an industry trade show and the Durban and KZN tourism industry needs to be more proactive in taking advantage of the opportunities and business deals that could come out of Indaba,” he said.

“When we talk about the success of Indaba, it’s not just about the economic benefits of hosting the event. It is about the deals and networks that are made at Indaba with ‘buyers’ or tour operators who develop the tour packages to bring more tourists into a region. KZN tourism firms and business people taking part in Indaba need to ensure they have full diaries during the event,” said Khoza.

“The sooner the local industry realises that Indaba is not about all the tourism industry bosses staying at Durban hotels during the event, the better.

“It’s about the thousands of tourists and ‘bed-nights’ these important tourism industry people can bring into Durban as a result of business deals from Indaba.”

Meanwhile, turning to the World Cup, Khoza said this year’s Indaba would also see some last-minute industry engagements.

“It will effectively be our last opportunity to market the World Cup to the people that will help bring the tourists to South Africa – the tourism industry operators.

“But perhaps most crucial will be the large contingent of media expected. The expectations are that Indaba will get the good news about the World Cup out there and help in positively profiling the country,” he said.

Source: http://www.travelwires.com/wp/2010/04/indaba-2010-set-to-capitalise-on-world-cup-buzz-in-durban/

Visitor arrival from China to Fiji increase
23 April 2010
Copyright 2010 China Daily Information Company. All Rights Reserved.

Visitor arrival from China to Fiji has increased tremendously by 93.2 percent for January-February, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009.

Tourism Fiji's chief executive Josefa Tuamoto said on Friday that with Fiji's 2010 visitor intake figures from China already showing a massive 90 percent plus spike for the first two months of the year, they were confident the numbers would continue to rise.

For January-February, Chinese arrivals were 3,428 for this year and 1,774 for the same period last year.

And while Fiji traditional source markets Australia was 34,363 for January -February and 23,309 for the same period last year, New Zealand recorded 8,212 for this year and 6,028 for last year.

Tuamoto believed the Chinese market's potential has also been boosted in recent weeks following a Tourism Fiji-lead industry visit to the key cities of Beijing and Guangzhou.

"In China, the Fiji team staged industry workshops with key local partners in Beijing and Guangzhou, both of which were very well attended. They also participated at the Guangzhou International Travel Fair," he said

Tuamoto added that the high levels of interest now being shown in Fiji by the Chinese market were extremely promising.

He said February figures alone had shown a massive 112 percent increase over the same month in the preceding year.

"Admittedly the increases are coming off a very small base but low numbers aside, the huge jump we have seen in our Chinese visitor arrivals is indicative of the potential the market holds," he added.

"It also underlines the efforts Tourism Fiji and its industry colleagues have gone to throughout 2009 and in this first quarter of 2010 to attract this prime source of visitor arrivals," he said.

"Both workshops were very well attended and the Fiji stand at the fair certainly attracted a good deal of attention at the International Travel Fair," he added.

Tuamoto said the China visit, which also encompassed a visit to Hong Kong, was a prime example of how the national tourist office and its industry colleagues were continuing to thrust Fiji's international brand target into the spotlight in emerging markets such as China, China's Hong Kong and India.

Fiji is targeting the luxury or high-end Chinese market, upon gaining Approved Destination status from the Chinese government.

As the world's travel and tourism industry aggressively competes for a share of China's huge outbound travel market, Tourism Fiji says Fiji too has begun to pave ways to entice Chinese visitors. " With greater air accessibility and capacity, visitors from China and Hong Kong are expected to increase substantially," he said.

U.S. top international tourism exhibition kicks off in Orlando
ORLANDO, the United States, May 18 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Thousands of tourism operators and buyers gathered here on Monday for an annual U.S. international travel event in an effort to revive the industry inflicted by the global economic downturn and recent disasters.

"The global economy -- and even Mother Nature -- has affected our industry in so many ways, but we are vey optimistic about the road ahead and are -- thankfully -- moving into positive territory, " U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow said on the opening day of the International Pow Wow 2010, the U.S. travel industry's premier international marketplace and the largest generator of visits to the country.

During the three-day fair, more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations across the country and more than 1,200 buyers from 90 countries would conduct business negotiations, according to the U.S. Travel Association, organizer of the Pow Wow.

Dow said that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and flooding in Tennessee further burdened the already struggling tourism industry amid global economic downturn.

"Reporting from the Gulf has painted the unfortunate picture that beaches and resorts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are adversely affected by the oil spill, and that perception is causing peril to the one million workers who serve our industry in those states," he said.

Despite recent difficulties, Dow expressed his optimism for the future, adding that the spill has stayed well away from the shorelines, and inundated Tennessee is well into recovery.

Pow Wow is not a typical trade show. It is featured with intensive pre-scheduled business appointments, in which buyers and sellers are able to conduct business that would otherwise be generated only through an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips.

"In the three days here, we'll have 90,000 appointments between buyers and suppliers, between 3 and 4 billion dollars of contracts would be signed," Bruce Bommarito, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the U.S. Travel Association, told Xinhua.

Seychelles expects record tourist arrivals in 2010
VICTORIA, May 17 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The Seychelles is expecting a record tourist arrivals in 2010, according to the Indian Ocean island country's Tourism National Council.

Alain St Ange, the marketing officer of the council, told reporters on Sunday that the number of arrivals for the first four months represents a growth of 13 percent over last year and 1 percent over 2008, when the Seychelles registered the highest number of visitors.

The good performance of the tourism industry shows that this economic pillar of the archipelago has resisted shocks of global economic recession, or better still, the recent threat to aerial transport by the Iceland volcanic ash.

St Ange attributed the performance to the new tourism policy of the country based on public-private partnership and the strategy of diversification of the source market.

The Seychelles' tourism guru explained that the new tourism policy was a win-win strategy where the state regulates the industry while the private sector drives the industry.

On diversification, he noted that the Seychelles had succeeded in moving away from its dependence on the traditional European market, thanks to the aggressive work on the emerging markets.

The strategy has attracted such countries as South Africa, already the sixth source market for the Seychelles. The South African market has the potential of doubling the arrivals since the country is also a hub for visitors from other countries, especially those from the United States. There are also visitors from the Reunion, Kenya, India and China, which constitute the emerging markets with great potential. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=276209

Orascom, Montenegro to build 1.1 bln euro resort

PODGORICA, May 17 (Reuters) - Montenegro and Swiss-based developer Orascom Development announced plans on Monday to develop a 1.1 billion euros ($1.36 billion) resort town on the Adriatic coast.

The project will consist of a marina, town centre, commercial facilities and 2,350 apartments over 6.8 million square metres on the Lustica peninsula near the coastal town of Tivat, Montenegrin tourism minister Predrag Nenezic said.

"This should be region's first self-sustainable holiday resort. It means a lot to us, because this is one of the biggest projects which can bring back tourists from Western Europe," Nenezic told Reuters.

The former Yugoslav republic has sought major investments for its Adriatic coastline, where officials would like to promote upscale tourism. About a quarter of Montenegro's total economy is related to tourism.

Orascom has a 90 percent stake in the Lustica Development AD company, with the Montenegrin government holding the rest. The joint venture was formed in 2009.

The first phase of Lustica project should start immediately after the 2010 summer season and be completed by 2013, Nenezic said after a joint presentation of the project in the capital Podgorica.

The economy of Montenegro, a European Union applicant, contracted 5.3 percent last year, according to the government, and by 7 percent according to the IMF.

The government in Podgorica is seeking investors in its real estate and tourism sectors to generate more revenue and boost employment in the least populated country in the Balkans. "Several hundred new jobs will be created in connection with the project," Orascom said in a statement.

Orascom Development's main presence is in Egypt but it has projects in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Switzerland and Morocco.

On Monday, the firm said it posted net profit after non-controlling interest of 16.9 million francs in the first quarter of 2010, down from 21.6 million a year earlier. ($1=.8114 euros)

WEAK EURO THREATENS AFRICA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY
JOHANNESBURG, May 22 (NNN-AFROLNEWS) -- The weak euro and pound make travels to Africa more expensive for Europeans. But the few African countries able to offer all-inclusive packages, like Egypt, tend to become the winners of the 2010 season.

Europe is the main market for almost every African tourist destination. Trends on the northern continent thus strongly influence the annual development of this increasingly important industry in Africa.

The trends for the northern summer season are already quite clear. In the euro zone, including main markets Germany and France, economic modesty is high on the agenda. And with the euro steadily losing value, euro consumers fear for their vacations abroad.

The reaction to this situation is already measured by European travel agencies and tour operators. Many chose to spend their vacations in their home country. Most of those choosing to go abroad however seek all-inclusive packages. These packages make travel costs calculable far in advance, and any further euro devaluation will not influence the holiday budget.

In Germany, Europe's greatest tourist market, the influential German Travel Association (DRV) has registered a 4 percent growth in bookings this year, compared to the poor 2009 season. Bookings are almost reaching the level of 2008, before the global financial crisis.

According to DRV President Klaus Laepple, there is "a growing demand for all-inclusive summer holiday deals within Germany." Turkey and Egypt continue to be increasingly popular trendy destinations, DRV found. Especially Egypt, with its large offer of all-inclusive packages, tends to be the market winner on 2010, new statistics show.

But also other intercontinental destinations are strongly growing on the German market. This includes Kenya and especially Mauritius, according to the DRV. With the increasingly tense situation in top tropical destination Thailand, popular African destinations could see even stronger growth, other German travel market analysts hold.

But for more individual travels and non-inclusive packages to African destinations, the weak euro is already having a negative impact. Especially Southern Africa, where many countries bind their currency to the strong South African rand, is seeing lower booking numbers than expected. For euro and pound consumers, Southern Africa has become an expensive destination, travel agents note.

The UK market, also among the greatest in Europe, confirms the trend. Even the numerous British soccer fans are failing to book travels to South Africa "due to the high costs," according to the English Football Supporters Federation. FIFA had originally expected 450,000 fans to travel to South Africa, but has already downgraded its latest estimate to 350,000 fans. Many newly built hotel rooms in South Africa will stand empty during the World Cup.

With the pound sterling at an almost historic low and with announced budget cuts in Britain, travel agents have registered a growth in inland travels this year. International travels still show a downwards trend this year and a recovery is not in sight. And the Britons going abroad also prefer calculable all-inclusive packages, including cruises. Trips to Africa however are decreasing less than other destinations.

Back in the euro zone, the French remain among the most important travellers to Africa. Indeed, last year 12.5 percent of French tourists travelling abroad went to North Africa, with Morocco being a leading destination, and 5.8 percent went to sub-Saharan Africa, mostly former French colonies.

The French are expected to maintain or increase their level of travels to Africa this year. Many typical destinations for French tourists in North Africa and the Indian Ocean offer all-inclusive packages, while most ex-colonies on the continent use the franc CFA currency, which is tied to the euro.

Other markets in the euro zone experience greater trouble. Spain and Portugal, countries that recently recorded the highest growth rates in travels to Africa, are in a deep recession, which strongly is reducing household abilities to travel abroad.

But outside the euro and pound zones, some markets are experiencing better times. In Switzerland, Norway and Sweden, currencies have strengthened against the euro and some African currencies, making travelling cheaper and more attractive. Travel agents here are registering growth, with North Africa and in particular Egypt crystallising as a winner for the 2010 season.

The trends registered by European travel agents are somewhat in line with earlier forecasts by the UN's World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which had forecast a growth in international tourist arrivals of between 3 and 4 percent in 2010. Growth in Africa was forecast to be somewhat higher than the global average.

But growth seems to concentrate on fewer destinations than UNTWO had forecast, and several African nations could therefore see a decline in arrivals in the 2010 season. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121072

MALAYSIAN STATES OF SABAH AND SARAWAK TO LURE 120,000 SINGAPORE TOURISTS IN 2010
SINGAPORE, May 20 (NNN-Bernama) -- Sabah and Sarawak states which are aggressively marketing their tourism products abroad, hope to lure about 120,000 Singaporean tourists to the two states by this year.

The tourism boards of the two states joined hands Thursday with Tourism Malaysia in Singapore, led by its local director Zalizam Zakaria, in organising a seminar and travel mart for over 50 Singapore travel agents here.

About 20 travel agents and hoteliers from Sabah and Sarawak participated in the events promoting the nature and adventure attractions, which are in abundance, in the two states.

The Sabah delegation was led by the Sabah Tourism Board Assistant Marketing Manager Simon Jr Jalin and Sarawak, by the Sarawak Tourism Board Marketing Director, Benedict Jimbau.

Simon said Sabah hoped to increase its Singapore tourist arrivals to between 42,000 to 45,000 this year from the 40,000 recorded last year, by luring them to its fascinating Mount Kinabalu, forest and nature reserves as well as sea and diving spots.

Benedict said Sarawak was targeting 76,000 Singaporeans to visit the state this year, especially to its nature products such as the Mulu National Park, the Pandaw Cruise along the Rejang river and its international events, the annual Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching and Jazz Festival in Miri.

Last year, the state registered over 50,000 tourist arrivals from Singapore, making the city-state fourth, among top-five tourist generating markets for Sarawak after Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Benedict said the Sarawak Tourism Board, now operating in a more business-like manner rather than as a government agency before, has been going all out to promote the state tourism industry abroad, especially in the international travel marts.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=120963

ALGERIA SIGNS CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT WITH WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION
ALGIERS, May 19 (NNN-APS) -- Algeria has signed an agreement for a co-operation programme with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) for the 2010-2015 period.

The agreement was signed here Monday on the sidelines of the 50th meeting of the WTO Commission for Africa being held in the Algerian capital from May 17 to19.

The agreement, which was inked by Minister of Town Planning, Environment and Tourism Cherif Rahmani and WTO Secretary General Taleb Rafai, is "a short and long-term agreement that includes three main lines -- marketing, the improvement of Algerian capacities and means to become a tourist destination, as well as training", the WTO secretary-general told the press.

He added that it was dealing with the promotion of human resources by training and upgrading within tourism institutes and schools in Algeria in order to train high level executives in tourism services.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=120815

IATA SAYS EUROPE NEEDS MORE PRECISE PROCEDURES TO IDENTIFY ASH, ALLOW MORE FLIGHTS
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on European governments and air navigation service providers to urgently develop more precise procedures to identify ash-contaminated air space and allow more flights.

The call came in the wake of 1,000 flight cancellations on Monday this week as a result of the continued volcanic eruptions in Iceland.

"This problem is not going away any time soon. The current European-wide system to decide on airspace closures is not working," said IATA Director-General and Chief Executive Officers Giovanni Bisignani in a statement Tuesday.

"We welcome the operational refinements made by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in their theoretical model but we are still basically relying on one-dimensional information to make decisions on a four-dimensional problem. The result is the unnecessary closure of airspace," he said.

He said France had been able to safely keep its airspace open by enhancing the VAAC data with operational expertise to more precisely determine safe fly zones.

On Tuesday, UK Civil Aviation, working with UK NATS (the air navigation service provider), announced another step forward by working with airlines and manufacturers to more accurately define tolerance levels while taking into account special operational procedures.

"Both are examples for other European governments to follow," said Bisignani, who called for more robust data collection and analysis, a change in the decision making process and urgency in addressing the issues.

He said numbers showed that the current system was flawed. "Over 200,000 flights have operated in European airspace identified by the VAAC as having the potential presence of ash. Not one aircraft has reported significant ash presence and this is verified by post-flight aircraft and engine inspections," he noted.

"We must back the theory with facts gathered by aircraft to test ash concentration. France and the UK are showing that this is possible. If European civil aviation does not have the resources, it should look to borrow the test aircraft from other countries or military sources."http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=120781

Everest climbers to get free Nepal visas

KATHMANDU, May 13 (Reuters) - Foreign mountaineers who have climbed Mount Everest and another peak will get free Nepali visas for two years, part of a scheme to boost tourism in the Himalayan nation, a senior government official said.

More than 4,000 climbers have scaled the 8,850 metre (29,035 feet) Everest summit since it was first climbed by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953. Some 700 of these foreigners are said to be still alive.

"We will waive the visa fees for them to visit Nepal in 2010 and 2011 part of the Nepal Tourism Year plan," Ranjan Aryal, the most senior bureaucrat in the tourism ministry told Reuters this week.

Himalayan Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest, has designated 2011 as the year to boost tourism. It plans to receive one million visitors next year, up from nearly half a million now.

Tourism accounts for 4 percent of the gross domestic product but travel officials say political unrest, frequent general strikes and shutdowns of transportation and roads had hit the industry.

Officials said nearly 200 foreigners who have climbed Mount Dhaulagiri, the world's seventh highest at 8,167 metres (26,794 feet), would also get free visa this year and in 2011 as Nepal marks the 50th anniversary this week of the first ascent of Dhaulagiri by a Swiss-Austrian expedition.

Climbers will also get a 50 percent discount in climbing fees for Dhaulagiri for the rest of 2010 and all of next year as part of the celebrations, another official said.

Each foreign climber has to pay $5,000 to the government as royalty for climbing Dhaulagiri.

BARBADOS TAKES TOURISM ROAD SHOW TO BRAZIL
BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS), May 23 (NNN-BGIS) -- The Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) will intensify its promotional efforts in Brazil when a delegation of government officials and trade partners travel to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to launch the island's official marketing campaign.

According to Director Marketing Services, Averil Byer, the design of the campaign was led by Brazil-based advertising agency, ONEWG, in concert with destination representatives, Global Vision Access (GVA), and seeks to drive traffic to the upcoming direct service via GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes (GOL Intelligent Airlines), which commences June 26.

"Our partners in Brazil have assisted us in developing a culturally appropriate institutional campaign that will play a significant role in promoting our new direct service and drive awareness of Barbados as a new and exciting destination for the Brazilians. We have been proactively engaging the Brazilian market through initiatives targeting the travel trade and the media, and we are excited about the new relationships that have developed as a direct result and see great things ahead from this emerging market."

The road show will allow local hoteliers, attractions managers and destination management companies the opportunity to participate in business meetings with Brazilian tour operators, travel agents, media professionals and tourism-related associations.

These occasions will also be used to garner additional market intelligence on how to advance the island's bid for its fair share of this burgeoning market.

Participating companies include the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Divi Southwinds, Almond Beach Resorts, The Crane, Ocean Hotels, Suntours Caribbean, Intimate Hotels of Barbados and Elegant Hotels Group.

They will be joined by Ambassador Yvette Goddard who is based in Brasilia, Ms. Juliana Razetto and representatives of GOL Airlines. A team of entertainers has also been commissioned to provide cultural entertainment throughout the show.

The BTA signed the contract with GOL back in February and moved swiftly to create a long-term presence within that market. The Barbados team has been actively conducting educational seminars for the tour operators, travel agents and staff of GOL airlines.

Key personnel in the public and private sector have already commenced training in Portuguese and important collateral materials are being appropriately translated. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121230

MARTINIQUE NAMES 'BEST CARIBBEAN DESTINATION'
NEW YORK, May 23 (NNN-CNN) -- Martinique was the runaway winner in the recent ”Best Caribbean Destination” poll conducted by About.com’s Caribbean Travel site.

The Isle of Flowers was the preferred choice of 38% of the 3,800 voters, out-pacing second place finishers Dominica and St Kitts & Nevis, each with 26% of the vote.

Among the seven other finalists placing even further behind Martinique were such notables as Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Mexican Caribbean (Cancun, Cozumel, etc.), Costa Rica, Antigua & Barbuda and St Maarten/St Martin.

Muriel Wiltord, director Americas for the Martinique Promotion Bureau /CMT USA, commented on the survey results, stating: "This is a wonderful affirmation that our special brand of tourism product, characterized by intimate boutique hotels and emphasizing nature, a rich cultural heritage, romance, scuba diving and gastronomy is winning the hearts of US travelers.”

The About.com honour is the latest in a recent string of accolades for Martinique. In November 2009, Caribbean World Magazine named Martinique “Best Gourmet Island of the Year” for a second consecutive year.

This followed an impressive win by Martinique in an October 2009 Caribbean Travel Life Magazine survey asking readers to name their favourite Caribbean destination for delectable dining. Martinique garnered 43.3% of the 807 votes cast over the course of the one-month survey period. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121229

SOUTH AFRICA TO PROMOTE TOURISM LOCALLY
PRETORIA, May 23 (NNN-BUANEWS) -- Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk says the South African government is willing to invest in a partnership with the private sector to develop holiday resorts for modest income earners.

Addressing media at the launch of the department's National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) in Johannesburg on Friday, Van Schalkwyk said while no definite steps had been taken with regards to this initiative, it was an idea he wanted to discuss with unions.

"We want to convince them [unions] that workers can also become tourists in this country and not just travel for work purposes," he said.

The minister emphasised that these resorts would not be government run or owned.

"We are willing to come to the table and provide some of the funding and expertise but it must be privately run resorts," he added.

The resorts were just one of the ways through which the department was aiming to attract more domestic and international tourists.

The draft NTSS which was approved by Cabinet earlier this week, outlines the department's targets for the next five years.

"I believe this strategy, which is the result of a collective industry-wide effort, places South African tourism firmly on a new and ambitious growth trajectory for the future. We recognise the vital role tourism must play in growing the economy and creating jobs," he said.

The objectives for the department as set out in the NTSS is to: grow the tourism sector's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) by more than average GDP growth: achieve transformation within the tourism sector: provide excellent people development and decent work; entrench a culture of travel among South Africans and deliver a world class visitor experience.

Targets set out in the NTSS are to increase the number of jobs supported by the tourism sector by 500 000 and to grow tourism's contribution to the GDP from an estimated R173.9-billion in 2009 to R338.2-billion by 2015.

South Africa saw an increase is the number of foreign visitors to the country last year, despite the recession, and the department says it is determined to see that trend continue.

While 9.9-million foreigners visited the country in 2009, the department hopes to increase that figure to 13.5-million by 2015.

The NTSS will be gazetted in the Government Gazette next week after which the public will have 60 days to comment on it.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121224

CARIBBEAN: ELECTING TOURISM EXECUTIVES
KINGSTON, May 22 (NNN-Prensa Latina) -- Electing its five Vice Presidents for the 2010-2012 term will be the key point of the Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) next June 27 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

In its announcement release, CHTA indicates that the group will also choose its Treasurer, discuss other business matters and hear the reports on the Association work during 2009 from its President and General Director.

How the Association members have coped with the global economic crisis will surely be one of the issues the two leading executives will discuss in their reports.

The CHTA Nominating Committee has recommended Richard Doumeng, Alberto Abreu, Sherille Hughes, Georg Roehrbein and William Jonckheer

for the posts of Vice Presidents, and Oliver Jordan for Treasurer.

CHTA, founded in 1962, represents the entire spectrum of the hospitality industry's private sector including 36 national hotel associations across the Caribbean region.

Over 850 hotel members with approximately 125,500 rooms, and more than 600 supplier companies are represented as 'Allied' members.

On May 4-6 it held in Puerto Rico its Hotel Investment Conference.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121146

MARUDU BAY HAS POTENTIAL TO BE AN ECO-TOURISM CENTRE
KOTA MARUDU, Malaysia May 23 (NNN-Bernama) -- Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili on Saturday called on the people of Kota Marudu to intensify efforts to develop the district as another destination for eco-tourism.

He said over the past 400 years, Marudu Bay here had been known for the uniqueness of its beaches and marine resources and it could become a fast-growing tourist destination if the eco-tourism aspects were to be developed.

As such, he said the ministry's National Oceanography Directorate, with the cooperation of Universiti Putra Malaysia, was in the midst of conducting a research on Marudu Bay's mangrove and seashore areas to improve the eco-system and the socio-economic level for the local residents through mangrove resource management.

He said the ministry had also allocated RM720,000 for the research.

"The research, which is 75 per cent completed, has found that the seashore and mangrove areas in Kota Marudu are intact in terms of the water quality.

"The areas also have vast potential for economic development such as through the breeding of fish and mussels in cages," the minister said at the opening of Marudu Bay Carnival 2010 in Kampung Tanjung Batu Laut, here Saturday.

Ongkili said a scientific research was also being done to identify local products with potential to be developed in the future.

So far, he said the research also revealed that Marudu Bay had over 60 species of almost-extinct birds, mammals and reptiles which could attract tourists to the area.

"The area could also be developed with homestay and water-village," he added.

Meanwhile, the annual Marudu Bay Carnival is aimed, among others, at creating public awareness on the importance of preserving the nature for future generation.

It is held in conjunction with the Kota Marudu-level Kaamatan Festival scheduled for Sunday.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121189

"ATLAS OF TUNISIA'S LANDSCAPES" LAUNCHED
TUNIS, May 23 (NNN-TAP) -- “The Atlas of Tunisia’s landscapes”, a new database of Tunisia’s rich landscapes was presented on Friday in Tunis, during a study day on “Town Planning and Tourism”.

The opening of the event was chaired by Secretary of State in Charge of Housing and Territory Development, Mohamed Nejib Berrich, who placed emphasis on the complementarity between the sectors of tourism and land planning.

He also highlighted their contribution to boosting Tunisia's radiance worldwide so as to attract more tourists, foreign direct investment (FDI) and bolster development in regions.

The database is elaborated by the Land Planning General Management stemming from the Equipment, Housing and Territory Development Ministry.

It provides an overview of Tunisia’s landscapes as well as data about 300 landscapes.

Out of the total landscapes, eight internationally renowned sites like the Cartahge-sidi Bou Saïd archaeological park, the Ichkeul Park, the El Djem Roman Amphitheatre, the Dougga archaeological site, 80 national sites, and some 200 regional ones, are included in the data base.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121271

Does anyone have a link or know of a good source listing the top travel destinations (cities) around the world for 2009?

CRUISE SHIPS AVOIDING CHILE WITH HIGH GOVT. EXTRA COSTS
SANTIAGO, May 25 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Cruise vessels are avoiding Chile with another 35% downturn anticipated this year and next year.

Cruises are known for the great numbers of tourists they bring into port cities where passengers usually disembark and spend a few days in the host city, visiting historical sites, dining in restaurants and doing city tours.

Over the past few seasons, however there has been a notable decline in the number of passengers who choose to disembark in Chilean port cities, as well as a decline in the number of cruisers that call at Chilean ports, according to the Santiago Times.

Sources said this is attributed to the high prices cruises lines must pay to navigate Chilean waters and dock in port cities and the high disembarkation fees slapped on cruise passengers.

Cruises through the waters of Patagonia and around the most southern point of South America are a popular tourist attraction for U.S and European tourists. In more recent years however, cruise lines have started avoiding Chilean ports.

For example, if a passenger were to do a 15-day cruise from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Valparaiso, Chile, they would end up paying an additional US$500 just to stop and disembark in Chile’s national ports.

Valparaíso is Chile’s main port and has always been a major stopping point for cruises passing through South America. The cruise season run from Nov to April and has been a major source of revenue for the city and Region V during these summer months.

In the 2008-2009 season around 104,000 passengers passed through the Valparaíso port. But in 2009-2010, only about 68,000 passengers passed though the port, a 35% drop.

For the next season it is expected that only 45,000 passengers will come through Valparaíso, another 34% drop from last season and a total 53% drop from 2008.

The number of ships passing through the port and the number of times each ship stops in the port is also reflected in this decline. In the 2008-2009 season a total of 25 ships called a total of 47 times in Valparaíso.

For the upcoming 2010-2011, season only 18 ships are anticipated to call in a total of 28 times. That is a 28% decrease in the number of vessels and 41% in calls. This decline in Valparaíso is reflected throughout Chile’s other port cities.

A major reason for the anticipated further decline of cruise tourism in Chile was the sale of the boat Norwegian Sun by the Norwegian Cruise Line. The NCL is one of the biggest cruise companies in the world and the Norwegian Sun was the third boat from the NCL cruise line to start in Buenos Aires, pass through the Southern point of South America and end in Valparaíso.

This vessel could carry up to 2,400 passengers and for the past four years has brought over 104,000 tourists to Chile.

But this past April, the Norwegian Sun passed through the port of Valparaíso for the 47th and final time and the NCL has made no indication of replacing the boat or of continuing with this route.

NCL was one of the major pioneers for cruises throughout South America and put Chile on the cruise industry’s map.

A NCL press release cited several reasons for discontinuing docking at Chilean ports. Port congestion was cited as a main reason, due to lack of coordination by the port itself and the various cruise companies that call at Valparaíso, sometimes with up to three vessels docking in the same weekend, followed by weeks of not having a single call.

But the other big problems cited was the high price cruise companies must pay to bring passengers into the port cities – up by as much as 400% in recent years in several port cities.

There are three different fees associated with passing through the southern point of South America and docking in Chile: the fee to cover the cost of the Maritime Authority, used to navigate the southern waters; the fee of using the port itself; and the fees attached to transporting passengers from the cruise ship into the city.

Each cruise ship must also pay a harbour tax, which is calculated using a flat fee multiplied by the boat’s size in meters, as well as a flat fee for each passenger that disembarks.

In ports throughout the world there is a competition to have the lowest harbour fees but a recent Andes University study found that docking in Valparaiso is three times more expensive than docking in Argentina and nine times more expensive then docking in Uruguay.

The NCL is not the only company that has stopped calling at Chilean ports, other cruise companies have begun to follow suit and more have chosen to avoid stopping in Chile altogether due to the difference in costs. http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121437

MALAYSIA: DOCUMENTARY ON INSTALLATION OF NEGERI SEMBILAN STATE RULER TO BE BROADCAST WORDLWIDE
KUALA PILAH, Malaysia May 24 (NNN-Bernama) -- Around 600 million people will get to view how the installation of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di Pertuan Besar Ruler of Negeri Sembilan state was carried out when the documentary "Revealed: Malaysia's Royal Rites Negeri Sembilan" is broadcast on the Discovery Channel from May 30.

The cost of the 45-minute documentary is borne by Malaysia's Tourism Ministry.

Tourism Minister Dr.Ng Yen Yen said it would be aired specially for viewers in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Japan, United States and South Korea.

"The world will get to witness this unique ceremony and make Seri Menanti (the royal town where the installation took place) a tourist detsination," she said at the premiere screening of the documentary at the Seri Menanti palace's grounds, here Sunday.

DVD copies of the documentary would also be distributed to tourism agencies, Malaysian missions abroad and at Malaysia's pavillion at the ongoing Shanghai exposition in China to promote the documentary, she added.

Tuanku Muhriz and his family members, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) Mohamad Hasan along with some 200 local and foreign dignitaries witnessed the premiere screeining of the documentary.http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121344

INDIAN STATE OF JAMMU &KASHMIR EYEING MALAYSIA FOR TOURISM TIPS
SRINAGAR, India May 24 (NNN-Bernama) -- Malaysia's remarkable achievement in its billion-ringgit tourism sector has caught the eye of internationally popular tourist destination Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

A high-powered J&K ministerial delegation was set to visit Malaysia to study its success story, said its Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

He said Malaysia had made remarkable achievement in luring tourists to its shores and there were areas where the state of J&K could gain some industry knowledge.

"Malaysia is also Muslim majority as is J&K. It is important for destinations like J&K that want to promote tourism to look at countries like Malaysia, which is still protecting the Muslim character, and still allowing non-Muslims the space to make their own choices, without impacting on the psyche of the majority.

"Those are lessons to be learnt. Malaysia has been so successful and this is certainly something in the medium term which J&K can take a look," Omar told Bernama in a recent interview in the capital.

The chief minister also said the J&K state government would look at Malaysia as an important market to promote the scenic state where Malaysian tourists in recent years, were reported to be among the major visitors to Kashmir.

"Before militancy started in J&K (in 1989), our entire focus was on the west, our tourists would come from the West and America, but these days, we find our largest market is Southeast Asia.

"It's Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. We plan to send our tourism minister to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, to drum up interest in J&K," he added.

The tourism industry is picking up in the northern-most state of India, which once suffered due to militancy, but this summer, tourist arrivals reached almost 200,000 since March.

In August, the J&K tourism ministry plans to organise a road show in Kuala Lumpur.http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121339

Does anyone have a link or know of a good source listing the top travel destinations (cities) around the world for 2009?

http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2009

Does anyone have a link or know of a good source listing the top travel destinations (cities) around the world for 2009?

There's the Wikipedia listing. The sources come from official statistics of each city. But it's for 2008 (I don't think 2009 figures are estimated yet).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism#Most_visited_cities

http://urbanismul.blogspot.com/

http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2009

Thank you for the link.

There's the Wikipedia listing. The sources come from official statistics of each city. But it's for 2008 (I don't think 2009 figures are estimated yet).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism#Most_visited_cities

I was looking for a top 100 or 200, not top 10.

I am aware of Euromonitor, but was looking for more sources.

http://www.euromonitor.com/Euromonitor_Internationals_Top_City_Destination_Ranking

FEATURE-Sorely missed: Foreign tourists shy away from Yemen

SANAA, May 28 (Reuters) - The ancient alleys of Sanaa are still bustling. Shoppers mingle, traders peddle their wares and children play in the street, all to a cacophonous backdrop of roaring motorbikes and honking cars.

But there is one thing that is almost entirely missing from the oldest and most picturesque part of the Yemeni capital: tourists.

"We have had no clients for a year and a half," said Madeleine Schaffner from France, who, together with her Yemeni husband, has been running a tour operator for the past 12 years.

This week's kidnapping of two U.S. tourists by armed tribesmen near the capital was another nail in the coffin for the badly needed tourist industry of this impoverished country, said tour guide Mohammad al-Hubaishi.

"That's it -- 99 percent of tourism has stopped as a result of the kidnappings," he said.

"The government needs to take harsher measures. If they were in place, then nobody would do it."

Hubaishi, who has worked in tourism for the last 20 years, was himself kidnapped in Shabwa in 2006, when he was held hostage along with French tourists for 16 days -- long by Yemeni standards, where most abductions last just a few days.

Yemen, bordering the world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, surged to the forefront of Western security concerns after the Yemeni arm of al Qaeda claimed responsibility for an attempt to bomb a U.S.-bound plane in December.

Yemen is also witnessing rising violence between government forces and southern separatists; and a truce reached in February with northern Shi'ite rebels who have been fighting the government on and off since 2004 is looking fragile.

Kidnappings of foreigners and Yemenis are common in Yemen, where hostages are often used by disgruntled tribesmen to press demands on authorities.

Most kidnappings are resolved within days with no harm to the hostages, but some have had violent endings. In an unexplained incident, a group of nine foreigners were kidnapped in the northern region of Saada last June, of which three women -- two Germans and a South Korean -- were later found dead.

YEMEN LOVERS STAY AWAY

Yemen's struggling economy is badly in need of revenues from tourism, which contribute 3 percent of GDP. The country offers visitors rich historical sites, rugged mountains and pristine beaches. But a number of violent incidents have scared many off.

In 2008, an al Qaeda suicide bomber killed four south Korean tourists and their Yemeni guides while visiting Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage site dubbed the "Manhattan of the Desert" for its 16th-century tower houses rising up to 16 storeys high.

In January 2008, gunmen killed two Belgian women; and in July 2007, a car bomb killed seven Spaniards in Maarib, a region to the east of the capital.

Some of the European embassies in Sanaa tried to keep travel advice on Yemen positive for as long as possible, a Western diplomat said, but the deteriorating security situation had eventually made this impossible.

There are still plenty of foreigners in Sanaa, but most are residents who work in Yemen. The visitors who come often have professional or family reasons for their trip.

"I am never scared, I don't know why, but I am never scared," said Segolene Belier, who was on her fourth visit to Yemen and planning to set up a private aid organisation.

"I live in Paris, I tell myself that I can be blown up there also," she said, sipping tea in a cafe on the edge of Sanaa's old city.

Tighter visa restrictions for visitors to Yemen, imposed after it was revealed that the Nigerian behind the December attempt to blow up a plane bound for Detroit had visited Yemen not long before, significantly cut the number of tourists.

Britons were among those who could previously get visas on arrival, but must now apply at Yemeni embassies at home.

"At the beginning it was affecting us. All the agencies and the institutions -- they were not ready for this procedure. Now it is getting easier," said Soraya Abu Monassar, general manager of the Burj Al Salam, a popular hotel housed in one of the old city's iconic tall buildings.

She said most of the clients of her hotel, which boasts spectacular views of Sanaa and the surrounding mountains, were professionals working for government and non-government organisations.

For Yemen, where more than 40 percent of the 23 million population live on under $2 a day and more than half the young men are out of work, the loss of revenue to an industry estimated to be worth $900 million last year is another huge blow.

"This is a very, very big problem for Yemen. A lot of people work in tourism, it's one of the only jobs here," Schaffner said. Asked what she can do to save her business, she shrugged and said: "We wait. We wait."

US CANCELS TRAVEL WARNING; LANKA WELCOMES THE MOVE
WASHINGTON, May 27 (NNN-PTI): Citing improvement in security situation in Sri Lanka after the defeat of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) last year, the US has announced lifting of its travel advisory for the island nation.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya welcomed the decision.

"The Travel Warning issued for Sri Lanka on November 19, 2009 has been cancelled, effective May 26, 2010," the State Department said in a statement.

"Department of State has cancelled the Travel Warning for Sri Lanka due to improvements in safety and security conditions throughout the country," the brief statement said.

"As we have moved past the direct conflict, the longer that we come from the direct conflict, the more we start to hopefully see Sri Lankan society stabilise, heal, then a great deal of effort over a number of months to deal with the displaced population of Sri Lanka.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121696

Thank you for the link.



I was looking for a top 100 or 200, not top 10.

I am aware of Euromonitor, but was looking for more sources.

http://www.euromonitor.com/Euromonitor_Internationals_Top_City_Destination_Ranking

There's no other sources to my knowledge. The Euromonitor study is completely biased (economic stakes) I advice you against using it.

RURAL COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM FUNDS FROM UN TOURISM BODY
NAIROBI, May 31 (NNN-KNA) -- Rural communities in Kenya are set to get a share of tourism earnings following the injection of funds by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to finance community-based tourism enterprises in the country.

The first beneficiaries of the 16 million shillings (about 200,000 USD) in funds provided under the Sustainable Tourism for Elimination of Poverty (STEP) programme are 15 community initiatives based in the tourism hot spots of Amboseli, Magadi, Kitengela and Central Rift Valley.

Tourism Minister Najib Balala, who presented cheques worth four million shillings to the beneficiaries last Friday, said the objective of the programme was to enhance local employment and improve quality and competitiveness of community tourism businesses.

"The initiative is line with the government's policy of spreading tourism earnings to the rural communities and ensuring sustainable utilization of tourism resources," said Balala, who added that it was a major milestone in embracing a "pro-poor tourism agenda" which aimed to unlock opportunities for the people living in marginalized areas to benefit from the sector.

Twenty-two small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have so far been identified for funding, seven of which have been granted two million shillings in the first phase while the remaining 15 received 4.1 million shillings each.

Balala, who will be attending the 88th session of the UNWTO Executive Committee meeting in Argentina next month, said he would lobby for more funds to support community tourism based projects.

"The ministry will showcase some of the products made by the communities such as sewn shirts and carvings in Argentina and lobby for funds in order to enhance community-based projects," he added.

Kenya is among nine projects in Africa with a budget of 200,000 USD each from the UNWTO.
Tourism accounts for 21 per cent of Kenya's total foreign exchange earnings and 12 per cent of the GDP.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=122068

LIBERTADOR US$30 MILLION LUXURY RESORT ANNOUNCES SOFT OPENING IN URUBAMBA
LIMA, May 30 (NNN-ANDINA): Libertador Peru Hotel Chain, owned by Brescia Group, announced the soft opening of its luxury resort Urubamba Luxury Collection, located in the Inca's Sacred Valley in Cusco.

They expect to invest US$ 30 million in this resort especially designed for luxury-seeking tourists, who would spend an average of US$ 350 per day.

At the beginning of 2009, the company said the hotel was expected to open on August 1 but due to several factors, such as the international crisis and inundations in Cusco in early 2010, the opening date had to be changed.

“Other factors such as the purchase of environmentally friendly finishing materials, delayed more the construction starting,” the company's general manager Jorge Melero, pointed out.

The hotel will has a total area of 118 000 square meters distributed in a luxury spa, restaurant, temperate swimming pools, a train station and 128 rooms of 40 square meters each decorated with local materials.

The hotel in Urumbamba is part of a franchise agreement with the US Starwood Hotels & Worldwide Resorts, which involves a 200-million-dollar investment in the remodeling of Libertador Cusco Hotel and the construction of other two hotels in Urumbamba (Cusco) and San Isidro (Lima).

Starwood Hotels & Worldwide Resorts, is the owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts such as Saint Regis, Luxury Collection, Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121989

CUSCO EXPECTS SOME 800,000 TOURISTS DURING HIGH SEASON
LIMA, May 30 (NNN-ANDINA). Foreign Trade and Tourism regional director Victor Hugo Perez reported Saturday that Cusco expects to receive some 800,000 local and foreign visitors during the high season months of June, July and September, that is 100,000 more people compared to the same period last year.

The most popular sites to visit in Cusco include the Sacred Valley of the Incas including the archaeological parks of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, Sacsayhuaman, the museums of Historical Center, Macchu Picchu –reopened in April- and the Imperial City’s festivities.

“We'll spare no efforts in promotion. In these past days in which the visit of tourists has recovered, we will have better prospects of reaching the figures of 2009 and exceed them”, he stated.

The officer ratified their participation in the 2010 Latin America and Europe Trade Show of Tourism, Art and Culture (Euroal) to take place from June 3 to 5 in Málaga, Spain, where experiential tourism in Lamay and Calca will be featured.

Perez also pointed out that they had worked on positioning alternative archaeological regions to Machu Picchu, with great acceptance among the visitors, who travel now by the south valley of Cusco and the provinces of Quispicanchi and Canchis.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=121983

Viet Nam welcomes 50% increase in tourists
HA NOI, June 1 (PNA/VNA) — Viet Nam welcomed nearly 440,000 foreign arrivals in May, an increase of more than 50 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Most of the tourists were from mainland China, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, France, Malaysia and the US. The number of Chinese tourists surged remarkably, up by 111 percent compared to last May.

Ministry statistics revealed that about 2.2 million foreign arrivals passed through the country's borders in the past five months, representing a 37 percent increase over the same period last year. Ho Chi Minh City was the most popular destination, with 1.3 million arrivals, accounting for more than 50 percent of all foreign tourists across the country.

Experts said the increase could be attributed to efforts by the national tourism sector to organise various programmes and take full advantage of large cultural events, including the 35th anniversary of the Liberation of South Viet Nam and the national reunification, the 120th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh and the Sen (Lotus) Village Festival.

Viet Nam Ethnic Culture Week in northern Thai Nguyen Province and the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi are also considered big tourist draws.

A large number of domestic travellers were also reported during the long Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holiday.

Many tour agencies and companies are offering tourists stimulus package programmes. Central Khanh Hoa Province will launch a programme to reduce the cost of entertainment services and air tickets by 30-50 percent, and central Da Nang City will offer a 5-25 percent price reduction programme in August and September.

More tourist arrivals

Viet Nam's tourism industry hopes to attract one million Chinese visitors this year, officials have said.

In the first quarter of the year, Chinese tourists to Viet Nam increased 215 percent year-on-year, according to Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director of the Department of Travel Agents under the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism.

He said the national flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines launched direct air routes from Ha Noi and HCM City to Shanghai.

"The last two programmes promoted in Shanghai and the two eastern coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu can be considered to be successful with the attendance of representatives from around 100 Chinese tourist companies. They were interested in Viet Nam sea travel," Tuan said.

After the first tourism promotion programme held in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Sichuan last year, 100 travel companies have carried out surveys in Viet Nam with the aim to create new tours.

"The Tourism Bureau of Sichuan, the province with more than 100 million people, along with a group of enterprises and media, surveyed Viet Nam last March. They want to open a direct air link with at least charter flights from Sichuan to Viet Nam," Tuan said. (PNA/VNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=279002

Shanghai Expo receives over 8M visitors in first month
SHANGHAI, May 31 (PNA/Xinhua) -- More than 8 million people visited the Shanghai World Expo in the month since it opened, official Expo statistics showed Monday.

By 4 p.m. Monday, more than 304,800 paying visitors had entered the park since it opened Monday morning, taking the total number of paying visitors during the expo's first month of operations to 8.01 million.

The biggest number of visitors was on May 29, when about 503,600 people toured the park.

The Expo attracted 200,000 visitors on its opening day, May 1.

Expo organizers expect about 70 million people to visit the event during its six months of operations, or about 380,000 visitors per day. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=278852

Australia unveils new global tourism campaign
SYDNEY, May 31 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Tourism Australia launched a new global tourism campaign on Monday -- "There's Nothing Like Australia" -- featuring the personal holiday experience of the Australian people.

Around 2,000 international and local tourism industry delegates attended the launch at the Australian Tourism Exchange trade show in Adelaide.

The new campaign uses digital, print and broadcast media to show what is unique and iconic about Australia and why others should visit.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Andrew McEvoy, said at the heart of the campaign was a new online interactive map of Australia, featuring almost 30,000 images and stories submitted by the Australian people.

"Our research found that 80 percent of Australians wanted to promote their country as a travel destination so we invited them to share their pictures and stories at the campaign website," McEvoy said.

"Now potential travelers around the world will be able to access this information using the latest interactive digital media technology at www.australia.com and www.nothinglikeaustralia.com to research and plan their trip to Australia.

"Australians have identified our people, wildlife, beaches, the reef, the outback, vibrant cities and laid-back lifestyle as the things that make Australia a unique and special place to visit. These suggestions are highlighted in all the elements of the new campaign," he said.

Supporting the website is a suite of adaptable digital, print and broadcast advertising materials that give the travel trade the ability to consistently sell Australia's tourism experiences internationally with the "There's Nothing Like Australia" message.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=278831

Lake Sentani festival to attract tourists
JAYAPURA, Papua, May 31 (PNA/Antara) - Themed "Loving Culture for Our Future," Lake Sentani Festival (LSF) from June 19 to 23, 2010, will try to attract as many domestic and foreign tourists as possible.

Jayapura district head Habel Melkias Suwae said here on Sunday that preparations had been made for this annual cultural festivity.

He said this year`s event would be the third since its first one held in 2008, and will serve as a year-long gateway for the tourism industry in the Indonesian easternmost province, Papua.

In 2008, the Papua Tourism Office organized the first Lake Sentani Festival from July 16 to 19 that year to support the annual Lembah Baliem Festival in Jayawijaya district.

Since then, the LSF was held as an effort to protect the culture of Jayapura district, especially at the areas around Lake Sentani.

Located some 75 meters above sea level and surrounded by beautiful hills, the 3.63-hectare Lake Sentani is a perfect place for fishing, swimming, canoeing, skiing, and other kinds of water sports.

"No wonder, Lake Sentani Festival will serve as a year-long gateway for the tourism industry in Jayapura district specifically and in Papua province in general," Habel Melkias Suwae said.

It means, he said, that in this case tourism will strengthen the identity of the people of Papua, preserve their traditional and cultural values, step up their economy.

Therefore, Habel added that the Jayapura district administration would make every effort to develop the attractive villages around Lake Sentani to constantly attract as many tourists as possible.

"This year`s Lake Sentani Festival is themed `Loving Culture for Our Future` because whoever loves and preserves traditional and cultural values, will also prepare the future of the future generation," Habel said.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=278701

Shanghai Expo recently attracted over 500,000 visitors on a single day ... think I'll wait a bit before I visit.

^^Wow, it is really attracting tourists from the four corners of the world :applause::applause::applause:

Kenya tourism arrivals up 16 pct in Jan-April 2010

NAIROBI, May 31 (Reuters) - The number of tourists visiting Kenya in the first four months of 2010 rose to 336,179 from 289,518, led by arrivals from Britain, the United States and Italy, the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) said on Monday.

Tourism, the third largest foreign exchange earner after horticulture and tea exports, was one of the sectors hardest hit by the country's bloody post-election crisis in early 2008 and the global economic slowdown.

"We could have had more had the Iceland volcano not erupted," Michael Riungu, from the KTB's research and development department, told a news conference.

The sector earned 62.46 billion shillings ($784 million) in 2009 up from 52.71 billion shillings a year earlier.

KTB Chairman Jake Grieves-Cook said the industry expected a better performance in 2010.

"For 2010 ... our target remains more than a million visitors flying in, more than a billion U.S. dollars revenue attributable to tourism," he told the news conference.

To help boost arrivals, the board said it planned to increase advertising in China, Australia, South Africa, the Gulf region, Russia and within Kenya.

The hotel and tourism sector contributes less than 2 percent directly to output in east Africa's biggest economy, but the indirect influence on the economy is much bigger.

Industry officials said they were keeping a close eye on how a referendum for a new constitution goes on Aug 4.

Kenyans have been calling for a new constitution since the early 1990s to replace one dating back to the eve of independence in 1963. Critics say it encourages corruption and tribalism because of the president's immense powers.

Guarantees of a new charter were central to a power-sharing deal in 2008 that ended weeks of violence that killed about 1,300 people after a disputed presidential poll.

"Where a referendum may create problems will depend on how the nation is handling the process. If they decide to handle this process peacefully, constructively, I don't think that will affect us," said Eunice Miima, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Tourism.

MALAYSIAN GOVT APPROVES MUMBAI-BASED VISA HANDLING SERVICE TO SCREEN APPLICATIONS
NEW DELHI, June 3 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- The Malaysian government has approved Mumbai-based VFS Global visa facilitation service provider to screen visa applicants to ensure that only bona fide travellers enter Malaysia.

VFS India, the local visa facilitation arm of the Zurich-based Kuoni Travel Group, plans to open up at least nine visa application centres (VAC) across major Indian cities to help applicants and visa issuing authorities quicken visa processing and weed out bogus travelers.

"India is a very important country for Malaysia and this is an initiative to provide a higher level of service to the Indian traveller. Individual visa applicants, corporate houses, institutions and the travel trade community will all derive benefit from this service," said Tan Seng Sung, the Malaysian High Commissioner (ambassador) to India, after inaugurating the first VAC at Chowpatty Bandstand in Mumbai on Tuesday.

He opened another VAC in Hyderabad, the capital of southern Andra Pradesh state, on Wednesday.

Tan added that the VACs would help enhance Malaysia's image as a "round-the-year destination" for all travel segments, including businessmen, honeymooners and first-time travellers.

With the number of Indian tourists to Malaysia increasing every year -- the number reached 590,000 last year -- the move is expected to give a boost to outbound tourists in key cities.

VFS Global is currently operating in 47 countries and serves 30 diplomatic mission clients from more than 350 VACs globally. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=122363

MALAYSIA:SABAH TO HOST WORLD TOURISM CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER
KOTA KINABALU, June 2 (NNN-Bernama): Sabah will host the prestigious World Tourism Conference (WTC) on Oct 4-6, Chief Minister Musa Aman said.

He said the event would provide opportunities for the state's tourism sector to showcase Sabah's assets to the international delegations and provide avenue for stakeholders to participate.

Musa said the federal government had approved an allocation of RM500,000 to the Tourism Ministry to organise the event.

"We welcome and thank the federal government especially the Tourism Ministry for suggesting that the event be hosted by Sabah," he told reporters after chairing the state cabinet meeting, here Wednesday.

He said the WTC 2007, hosted by Kuala Lumpur, attracted 826 participants from 72 countries including 13 ministerial-level participations.

"This will bring about positive impact to the state's tourism sector. We hope that participations would be as many as the WTC 2007 in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

According to the WTC website, the conference, organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, was held for the first time in Manila, the Philippines in 1980 followed by Acapulco, Mexico in 1982.

After an absence of 25 years, the WTC returned for the third time in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=122337

UNESCO designates Nicaragua's Ometepec Island as Biosphere Reserve
MANAGUA, June 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Wednesday designated the Nicaraguan Island of Ometepec as a world Biosphere Reserve.

The decision was announced in Paris during the 22th session of the International Coordination Council of the Mankind and the Biosphere, said Claudia Valle, assistant secretary of the Nicaraguan delegation to UNESCO.

Valle told local daily La Prensa that Ometepec's candidacy was approved unanimously at the meeting.

"This commits all the Nicaraguan people to duplicate the efforts for conservation and effective preservation of people's living in the Reserves of the Biosphere, for their management and efficient operation of the natural resources," Valle said.

Located in the Great Lake of Nicaragua, Ometepec Island covers an area of 276 square kilometers and is one of the biggest freshwater islands in the world. The island is formed by the two volcanoes of Concepcion and Madera.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=279453

Feature: Kunak's salt water hot spring draws tourists
KUNAK (Sabah), June 2 (PNA/Bernama) -- If there is any mention regarding a hot spring, then one may think it is something common as there are many such locations spread over the country.

Among the hot spring areas in Sabah is the spot in Ranau that has been drawing thousands of visitors monthly.

But have you ever heard of a hot spring that contains salt water? It sounds a bit 'weird' but such a salt water hot spring does exist in Kunak.

The salt water hot spring is located on the high ground at the Sime Darby plantation in Tingkayu at some 650 feet (around 216 meters) from sea level and 60 km from Kunak town.

YET TO BE DEVELOPED

Even though the hot spring at Tingkayu is yet to be developed into a tourism spot, the estate owner has 'excavated' two ponds that each measures 2.0 to 3-0 metres in diameter to pool the hot water that flows out from the earth's bowels.

A unique feature is that water in one of these salty hot springs is clear while the water in the other pond is cloudy.

The flow of hot water into the clear pond is rather 'sluggish' as compared to the gush and bubbly hot water that poured out from the earth's depths in the other pond.

Apart from these two ponds, there are other 'untouched' hot springs spread over the high ground plateau within that area making the location to be rather damp particularly along the route up to the salt water hot spring.

According to the local residents, the type of vegetation that grows near the salt water hot spring is also similar to that which can be found near the coastal line.

HUNTER

A local resident Abdul Kusin Husin, 39, said his uncle, Saraii Panglima Ombit, who was a hunter and lumberjack discovered the area in the 1970s.

Abdul Kusin said apart from the hill with the hot spring, there is another high ground that is yet to be 'touched'.

A villager from Kampung Langas, Endem Suliman, 81, attributed the existence of the salt water hot spring and seaside vegetation to two giants that exchanged attacks with missiles.

According to the legend, Endem said a giant on top of the hill nurled bamboo trees (or tamiang in the local dialect) at another giant on Pulau Timbun Mata who replied by hurling mangrove trees (or tangar).

That is why the hot spring has salt water and the surrounding is abundant with seaside vegetation while Pulau Timbun Mata has many bamboo trees.

GEOLOGIST

Sabah Mineral and Geoscience Department senior geologist, Fredolin Javino said the existence of the salt water hot spring is a unique feature for Kunak as such pond is a rare find in Sabah.

"As far I know, in Sabah only Kunak has a salt water hot spring. If the water is salty, then it implies that the salt content is high in sodium (natrium).

"However in order to determine the chemical contents of the salt water, samples should be taken for tests to be carried out", he said.

He said the water that flowed out on top of the hill may have come from higher grounds and the water could have passed through various layers of minerals in the earth's bowels.

The water could have become hot after passing through the layers of molten rocks in the earth's inner layers, he said.

SCIENTIFIC STUDY

He said a scientific study should be held to understand the phenomenon and to determine the actual salt content in water at the hot spring.

Fredolin advised visitors not to simply taste the hot water in order to avoid untoward incidents.

"We are concerned that the water could contain toxic susbstances such as mercury and arsenic", he added.

Meanwhile the State Legislative assembly representative for Kunak Datuk Nilwan Kabang said the hot spring is among the unique features of Kunak.

He said the other attractions in Kunak are the hot spring in Sungang, volcano mud pool at Binuang Estate, Baturong Cave at Tingkayu and the eight km long 'Japanese tunnel' in Mostyn.

Nilwan said Kunak's unique features like the Baturong Cave, which is a limestone cave, has great potential in becoming tourist attractions.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=279276

More Tourists To Visit Papua For Lake Sentani Festival
JAKARTA, June 4 (PNA/ANTARA) - More foreign as well as domestic tourists are expected to visit Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua this year for the Lake Sentani Festival (LSF).

Themed "Loving Culture for Our Future," the Lake Sentani Festival (LSF) from June 19 to 23, 2010, is designed to attract as many domestic and foreign tourists as possible.

Jayapura district head Habel Melkias Suwae said Jayapura city on Thursday the Lake Sentani festival this year would be the third of its kind since the first one in 2008.

"The first festival in 2008 attracted around 2,000 foreign and domestic tourists. The number rose to around 5,000 in the second event. This year in the third festival, we hope to see more than 10,000 tourists," Habel said.

He added various preparations were being made to ensure the annual event`s success.

According to him, this year`s event would serve as a year-long gateway for the tourism industry in the province of Papua.

In 2008, the Papua Tourism Office organized the first Lake Sentani Festival from July 16 to 19 to support the annual Baliem Valley Festival in Jayawijaya district.

Since then, the festival was held as an effort to protect the culture of Jayapura district, especially at the areas around Lake Sentani.

Located some 75 meters above sea level and surrounded by beautiful hills, the 3.63-hectare Lake Sentani is a perfect place for fishing, swimming, canoeing, skiing, and other kinds of water sports.

"No wonder, Lake Sentani Festival will serve as a year-long gateway for the tourism industry in Jayapura district specifically and in Papua province in general," Habel Melkias Suwae said.

It means, he said, that in this case tourism will strengthen the identity of the people of Papua, preserve their traditional and cultural values, step up their economy.

Therefore, Habel added that the Jayapura district administration would make every effort to develop the attractive villages around Lake Sentani to constantly attract as many tourists as possible.

"This year`s Lake Sentani Festival is themed `Loving Culture for Our Future` because whoever loves and preserves traditional and cultural values, will also prepare the future of the future generation," Habel said.

According to him, the festival this year was projected to attract more foreign and domestic tourists, and to step up relations between Papua with other provinces in the country.

Habel said being of Melanesian stock, Papuan people were ethnically different but at the Lake Sentani Festival, Papuan people and their culture and traditions would be introduced to both the national and international communities.

"It is because we want to know each other better to strengthen our big national family and to build our mutual trust," Habel said, adding that unlike other events, the Lake Sentani Festival would present guests with dance performances, local customs and antiques, as well as sightseeing tours to historical sites and a tourist village near the lake.

Habel said the festival committee had prepared 1,500 dancers from 24 villages around the lake, while villagers have been encouraged to accommodate the guests and tourists in their own homes to show their sincere hospitality.

Meanwhile, Lake Sentani Festival promotion manager Mian Simanjuntak said his team was working to promote the event through hotel associations and airlines, both at home and abroad, and at cultural events in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States.

Besides tourists and guests, even Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Mgr Leopoldo Girelli is scheduled to visit the arena at Kalkote resort in Jayapura district on Sunday, June 13, 2010.

Jayapura episcopal spokesman Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar said on Thursday that the Vatican Nuncios Apostolic Mgr Leopoldo Girelli would visit the land of Papua next week.

"The Vatican envoy will come to Papua as part of his pastoral mission, but he will also take time to visit the Lake Sentani Festival arena to obtain first hand information about preparations for such an annual cultural event," Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar said in Jayapura, the capital city of Papua province.

According to him, the Vatican envoy was profoundly interested in the Lake Sentani Festival, themed "Loving Culture for Our Future," because for him, whoever loves and preserves traditional and cultural values, the same has prepared an expected future for the next generation.

The bishop said that in principle, the Catholic Church in Papua respected the local culture and tradition as an integral part of the life of local people.

And again, Habel Melkias Suwae said he had been informed by Bishor Leo Laba Ladjar that the Vatican envoy during his pastoral mission in Papua would visit Lake Sentani Festival arena.

"As the host, the Jayapura provincial administration and the people will sincerely receive the visit to Papua by the Vatican ambassador to Indonesia," Habel said.

He added that the people in Papua were made up of different ethnicities and religions but they could coexist in perfect harmony with one commitment to preserving the values of local tradition and culture.

He said Lake Sentani Festival would be a momentum to strengthen the local tradition and culture and to introduce it to international community.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=279626

Boracay posts P5 billion in tourism revenue
ILOILO CITY, June 4 (PNA) –- The Department of Tourism (DOT) here said that tourism in Boracay has been very robust in the first four months of 2010.

The island renowned for its white sand had a whopping revenue of P5.3 billion in just four months.

Likewise, Boracay has collected P1.86 billion (P1,863,139,206.60) worth of receipts from its tourism industry in for the month of April alone, according to the DOT.

The tourism revenue has not fallen below the one billion mark and steadily increased since January.

DOT data showed that the number of tourists that visited Boracay increased by 16.19 percent in the first quarter of the year.

Around 291, 443 tourists both foreign and domestic tourists visited the island as of April this year when compared with 250, 843 last year.

DOT regional director Edwin Trompeta said that Koreans, Chinese and Europeans topped that list of foreign visitors in the island. In fact Boracay had an average 20 thousand foreign tourists every month since January.

This only shows that the country is still a favorite destination among foreign vacationers thanks to bullish tourism programs being promoted by the DOT abroad, he said.

Trompeta said that Boracay has been a consistent tourism powerhouse in the country. He hoped that the local government of Aklan would be able to use the amount in improving the schools and inroads within the island, as well as protect its environment and the Aeta community.

He said that Boracay has always been a favorite destination during summer . He cited the island’s world-class hotels and restaurants and reasonable tourism packages.

He also said that the positive support of the locales and the government’s innovation makes Boracay a formidable force in world tourism.(PNA)http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=6&rid=279785

Australians rate New Zealand, U.S. and United Kingdom as top travel spots
CANBERRA, June 4 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Australians' favorite travel destinations are New Zealand, the U.S., the United Kingdom and Thailand, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Statistics released on Friday.

In 2008, there were 5.8 million short-term departures by Australian residents, the highest number ever recorded.

The bureau's Yearbook said there were 921,100 departures to New Zealand, 492,300 to the U.S., 420,300 to the United Kingdom and 404,100 to Thailand.

Visits to Thailand has increased by 115 percent between 2004 and 2008.

There were six million short-term international arrivals in 2008, with most visitors coming from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan and the U.S.

Almost half, 48 percent, of visitors came to Australia for a holiday, while employment accounted for only three percent of short-term international arrivals.

In 2007-08, international visitors spent 23 billion Australian dollars (19.5 billion U.S. dollars) on Australian goods and services and the tourism industry's share of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) was four percent. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=6&rid=279654

CARIBBEAN WEEK IN NEW YORK FEATURES ST LUCIA
CASTRIES (ST LUCIA), June 5 (NNN-Prensa Latina) -- Senator Allen Chastanet, Saint Lucia''s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Nerdin St. Rose, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board''s Vice President of Marketing and Sales, lead the island''s delegation to the 2010 edition of Caribbean Week in New York starting Saturday.

During the week of activities organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Senator Chastanet, the recently appointed St. Rose, and Titus Preville, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, will join US-based representatives of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, led by Lorine St. Jules, to promote the destination's new and newly refreshed resorts, attractions, festivals and increased airlift.

St. Rose disclosed that Saint Lucia will have a strong presence at the Caribbean Media Marketplace event, by showcasing authentic Saint Lucian products that feature the specialty aspects of the destination, as well as the Caribbean Meeting and Incentive Trade Showcase to help position the island as an attractive meetings destination.

"With increased flights to Saint Lucia from New York thanks to American Airlines and JetBlue Airways, and from Atlanta on Delta Air Lines, we certainly have good news to share with the media and traveling public during the week," stated Senator Chastanet.

Renowned chefs Bobo Bergstrom of The Edge Restaurant in Rodney Bay and culinary entrepreneur Chef John-Conrad Ste. Marthe, who was featured in the New York Times last fall, will tantalize taste buds at two New York City department stores.

Chef Conrad will display his mastery of local cuisine before scores of onlookers at Macy's Herald Square on Thursday, June 10 while Chef Bobo will be featured at Bloomingdale's (59th Street & Lexington Avenue) on Saturday, June 12.

Caribbean Week in New York is a celebration of the sights, sounds, colors, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean.

Tourism officials, the media, artists, performers, celebrity chefs, sponsors and strategic partners are set to converge on New York for a week of Caribbean and Saint Lucian hospitality.http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=122692

OVER 13 THOUSAND TOURISTS HIKED PERU' S MACHU PICCHU TRAIL SINCE REOPENING
CUSCO, PERU, June 8 (NNN-ANDINA) - Over 13,400 domestic and foreign tourists hiked the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Archeological Park since its reopening on April 1, anthropologist and head of the archeological park Fernando Astete Victoria said.

He also said that the tourist flow has returned to normal along the alternative route toward the country's main tourist destination previously affected by landslides.

The route is lined with 17 archaeological sites: Salapunku, Q’anabamba, Willkarakay, Q’entimarka, Patahuasi, Runkuraqay, Sayaqmarka, Qonchamarka, Phuyupatamarka, Yunkapata, Wiñaywayna, Intipunku, Choquesuysuy, Chachabamba, Waynaq’ente, Torontoy and Qorihuayrachina.

“The National Institute of Culture (INC) is responsible for the maintenance of Inca Trail as well as its monitoring and surveillance in any emergency ,” he said.

According to INC figures, about 200 tourists walk the Inca Trail to visit Machu Picchu daily. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=123050

From June 10th to 16th, Accorhotels.com will offer up to 50% discount on nearly 800 hotels worldwide, in categories ranging from upscale to budget, for stays between June and September, 2010.

All the details here: http://www.dubaichronicle.com/business/hospitality/for-a-limited-time-only-50-discount-on-nearly-800-hotels-worldwide-30843

URUGUAY HAD 911,000 TOURIST ARRIVALS FROM JAN TO APRIL SPENDING US$744 M
MONTEVIDEO, June 10 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - Nearly 911 000 tourists spending US$744 million entered Uruguay between Jan and April, the Undersecretary of Tourism and Sport, Liliam Kechichián said.

Kechichián, quoted by the presidential website said that the stay ranged over nine days while the average expenditure per visitor reached US$817.

She said that in the cruise season from Nov to April last year 300 000 visitors arroved spending about US$20 million.

Another growth sector are regional and international meetings and Uruguay was the venue of 97 events during 2009-2010 season, she said.

Kechichián said that the recent visit of the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Taleb Rifai was recognition to Uruguay for its achievements.

The official said the WTO will continue to support the Uruguayan policies based in areas such as accessibility and integration of renewable energy.

She added that the WTO selected Uruguay to study its case for being one of the few countries whose indicators have continued to rise even in times of international crisis.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=123194

Buying foreign currency at the best exchange rate !!", but rather, I agree with the OP, will allow France and the ferry is the best way to go on holiday. You can see the country instead of the airport. " It is very good for any travelers i think. If you want to real travel , so that it is very important for you.

thank you everyone.

USAID-FUNDED SURVEY AFFIRMS GAINS OF OUT-GOING PRES ARROYO'S TOURISM STRATEGY
MANILA, June 16 (NNN-PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s tourism development programs in her nine-year term have brought about P62-billion worth of investments into the country and generated three million jobs for Filipinos.

This is the conclusion of an independent study conducted by the Philippine-based Center for Research and Communication (CRC) and funded by the Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In a presentation during the Retrospective Seminar of the Department of Tourism (DOT) held Wednesday in Intramuros, CRC representative Cherry Rodolfo said that from 2000 to 2009, the tourism industry generated some P62-billion worth of investments from enterprises registered with the National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) and Board of investments (BOI).

Rodolfo cited a DOT survey that in May this year alone, the Central Philippines Super Region, one of the five themed growth corridors mapped out in President Arroyo’s 2004 strategic development program, has generated 28,629 employment from 2002 establishments.

“With a lot of activity going on, Central Philippines will have another 147 new establishments plus additional room expansion by existing establishments that will generate 14,376 new employment,” the CRC official added.

She said these achievements in tourism have made a significant impact on local area development in creating more jobs, generating more income and strengthening community partnerships.

The CRC credited these accomplishments to the various tourism investments that the Arroyo administration has made to provide greater mobility and accessibility.

Rodolfo cited Arroyo’s airport development projects, the nautical highway project (RoRo project) and road networks, such as NLEX and SLEX, as among the infrastructure projects that contributed in no small amount in stimulating domestic tourism.

She also noted an improvement in inbound tourism, citing the 311.84 percent growth in flight arrivals in Clark Airport, from 27,452 international flights in 2000 to 106,016 flight in 2008.

The DOT Retrospective Seminar was attended by DOT officials led by Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and representatives of The Asia Foundation, and USAID.

In his speech, Durano cited the important role of private sector in tourism development, saying their aggressive marketing strategies and constructive feedback on tourism have helped place the country among the major tourist destinations in Asia. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=123928

JAMAICA TO SPEND ANOTHER US$10 MILLION ON TOURISM MARKETING CAMPAIGN
KINGSTON, June 19 (NNN-JIS) -- Cabinet has approved the provision of an additional US$10 million to boost the Jamaica Tourist Board's (JTB) budget to execute an integrated marketing and sales plan over the next nine months.

"The strategy devised by the JTB. will involve an integrated approach of sales, marketing, promotions, events, social media, and an effective public relations programme to add value to the work already being done," informed Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz.

Vaz, who was addressing Wednesday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said that the initiative was aimed at restoring confidence in the country as a tourist destination, in the aftermath of the West Kingston unrest.

He noted that the turmoil, which received some negative international media coverage, has caused some damage to the Jamaica brand globally.

Travel alerts and security advisories were issued for citizens in the key United States, Canada and the United Kingdom markets, while several events and activities were postponed locally.

Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, has said that Jamaica stood to lose up to US$350 million consequent on the unrest, and cited a need to move, post-haste, to effect damage control and repair Jamaica's image in the premium North American and European markets, as well as those emerging markets. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=124227

Australia launches campaign to lure more Chinese tourists
CANBERRA, June 21 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Australian federal government on Monday announced spending of 30 million dollars (26.3 million U.S. dollars) on luring more Chinese tourists to Australia.

"China is expected to emerge as Australia's number one source market for international visitors in the next few years," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in a statement.

The government will stage a forum "in the near future" in Cairns of Queensland on boosting two-way tourism.

A key goal is to tempt more Chinese visitors, especially from regional areas, to north Queensland.

Tourism Australia's "There's Nothing Like Australia" advertising campaign will also be rolled out in China in early August.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=282760

BIMP-EAGA BACKS PHILIPPINES' UNDERGROUND RIVER, KOMODO NATIONAL PARK AS WORLD'S NEW 7 WONDERS
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia June 22 (NNN-Bernama) -- The Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) tourism cluster, strongly backs the bid of the Philippines' Puerto Princesa Underground River and Indonesia's Komodo National Park, to be among the world's new Seven Wonders of Nature.

A statement issued by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), here Tuesday said the Puerto Princesa Underground River and Komodo National Park are two of the 28 finalists vying for a spot in the search for the world's new seven wonders of nature.

The campaign is run by the New7Wonders Foundation in partnership with the United Nations which aims to discover the seven natural wonders that best represent earth's beauty and variety.

At the end of the 7th BIMP-EAGA Joint Tourism Development Cluster Meeting held in Puerto Princesa recently, tourism leaders of the subregion issued a statement of support to Komodo National Park and the Underground River.

The support is also a gesture of strong partnership within the BIMP-EAGA region in strengthening cooperation for the development of tourism.

"We are in agreement that direct and indirect benefits shall be achieved by the member countries with the Puerto Princesa Underground River and the Komodo National Park, as inclusions to the new seven wonders of nature, come 2011," the statement said.

"We have come up with a joint statement to push what we consider as a gift of nature, which you can't find anywhere else, except in Palawan and Indonesia," Ik Pahon Ak Joyik, Permanent Secretary of Sarawak Ministry of Social and Urban Development and Chairman of the EAGA Joint Tourism Development Cluster, said during a press conference.

The St. Paul Subterranean River, also known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River, is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km navigable underground river. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest.

One of the country's pristine attractions, the Underground River is listed under the World Heritage sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

It is one of the four world heritage sites in BIMP-EAGA primed as a key ecotourism destination.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Komodo National Park is located in the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores.

The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals. The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin.

In 1986, the Park was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, both indications of the Park's biological importance.

The EAGA tourism industry has been adopting Community-Based Eco Tourism (CBET) development as a strategy to intensify partnerships among the local governments and communities, as a means for addressing rural poverty.

The 7th EAGA JTD meeting earlier this month gathered 127 participants from all across the sub-region's tourism industry, including representatives from the BIMP EAGA Business Council, BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council, BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center, Asian Development Bank, German Technical Cooperation, local government units and the private sector.

The meeting discussed key major issues and updates on subregional efforts to establish the EAGA as a key tourism destination in Southeast Asia.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=124529

BIG POTENTIAL EXIST IN TOURISM IN PAKISTAN: SECRETARY TOURISM
BEIJING, June 25 (NNN-APP): Federal Secretary Tourism Hafiz-ur-Rehman said here Friday that there is big potential exist in tourism sector of Pakistan.

The Federal Tourism Secretary who is the part of Pakistani delegation participating in the 2010 Beijing International Tourism Expo (BITE) while talking to APP said that the present government is paying maximum attention for the promotion of tourism in the country.

“Our visit is part of the present government efforts to introduce tourists destinations of pakistan to out side world”, Rehman said.

He pointed out that we have all kind of tourist attraction spots in Pakistan including religious tourism.

Rehman said that Taxila, Takht Bhai, Indus valley, Moenjadaro civilization, northern areas and Swat Valley are some of the few places that can attract a large number of both domestic and foreign tourists.

Sardar Mohammad Sayyab Khalid, Minister for Tourism Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) talking to APP said that the present AJK government was paying maximum attention for the promotion of tourism in the valley.

“Tourism and Hydro power generation are the two main areas from where we can generate maximum revenues”, he said.

Talking to Chinese Media Minister Khalid said that he was delegated to be here as China is our best friend.

“China is contributing in big way in the development of AJK” said Minister Khalid adding that the hydro power project in AJK is one of the shining examples of Chinese cooperation.

Pakistan is participating in the BITE since last six years.

Earlier, the Mayor of Beijing Liu Qi inaugurated the June 25-27 tourism festival and also visited the Pakistani Stall.

Liu expressed keen interests on publicity material available at the Pakistan stall.
A number of tour operators also exchanged views with the Secretary Tourism and Minister AJK for the promotion of tourism between the two sides.

Chinese young girls were also visiting Pakistan stall and having Mehdi painted on their hands. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=124867

More Southern Californians expected to travel over July 4 holiday
LOS ANGELES, June 29 (PNA/Xinhua) -- More than two million Southern Californians are expected to travel over the Independence Day holiday weekend, an increase of 19 percent over last year, the Automobile Club of Southern California said on Monday.

Among the 2.57 million local residents who plan to travel, 2.23 million, or 87 percent of them, will get to their destinations by car this holiday weekend, 20 percent more than the 1.85 million who drove to their destinations last year.

A projected 306,000 travelers will fly, which is a 20 percent increase from last year's 173,000 plane travelers, according to the projection.

Statewide, 4.14 million travelers are expected to take holiday trips, also an increase of 19 percent. Car travelers are expected to number 3.58 million, while 306,000 are expected to go by plane.

"As we saw in our summer travel survey earlier this month, people are getting back to traveling, but they are hanging on to value-driven spending habits and are economizing on their trips," said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring.

"Bargains for Independence Day trips are not as plentiful this year as they were in 2009 when the recession was in full swing, but travelers can always save money by taking shorter trips, going to closer locations and choosing less expensive lodging, eating and entertainment."

Nationally, July Fourth travel is expected to increase by 17 percent compared to last year, with 34.9 million Americans projected to take holiday getaways.

According to the AAA/Auto Club holiday travel survey, the average distance traveled for Fourth of July getaways for local residents will be 470 miles (756 km), and the travel budget will be 756 U.S.dollars on average in California and nearby states.

According to a poll conducted by the Auto Club's AAA Travel Agency, the top five destinations for Southern California travelers are: San Diego; Las Vegas; San Francisco; Central Coast and Grand Canyon. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=6&rid=284371

* Thailand Launches “WE LOVE THAILAND” Promotional Event

The UAE Foreign Ministry has lifted a warning recently issued to citizens against travel to Thailand, Sultan Al Ali, Director of Media and Government Communications Affairs at the Ministry, announced today.
”This resolution was motivated by the return of life in the Thai capital Bangkok and other cities of provinces to normalcy,” he added.

He indicated that tourist movement and exchange of visits between the two countries had returned to normal course and there were no reason to prevent UAE citizen from traveling to Thailand.

However, he appealed to UAE citizens to exercise utmost caution when traveling abroad and urged them to register with the Ministry’s Tawajedi (www.moft.gov.ae), a service aims at offering assistance to UAE citizens in case of emergencies abroad.


http://www.dubaichronicle.com/life/travel/uae-lifts-travel-warning-on-thailand-31972

http://www.dubaichronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Elephant-Trekking-Tour_2-Kanchanaburi.jpg

http://www.dubaichronicle.com/business/hospitality/hotels-com-summer-sale-launches-today-23rd-june-31770

Travellers should shop around when booking their summer holidays, as most of the large hotel chains and travel agenciesare offering huge discounts, not only in Dubai, but all over the world. Budget and top-end hotels have cut their prices many categories, which means that the price difference between a three-star hotel and a four-star is less than it has been for years. Other offers include discounts, sometime even up to 60% , on longer stays.

Hotels.com launches today it's Summer Sale, which will run until 8th of August, but offers deals on stays in over 17 000 hotels worldwide until 31st of August. The most popular deals are on Summer City Breaks, Summer Beach Breaks, Deals in USA and Canada, and Family Deals.

INTERVIEW-Greek tourism outlook less grim, China to be wooed
22 June 2010

ATHENS, June 22 (Reuters) - Athens reckons the outlook for tourism is less gloomy than after anti-austerity riots last month and is shifting to seek visitors from China or Japan more interested in Greece's ancient culture than its sunshine.

"I'm not saying it's going to be a good year for Greek tourism but we hope to recover many of the losses," Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos told Reuters during a promotion of Greek islands, beaches and temples.

Many foreign visitors cancelled trips after the deaths of three people, including a pregnant woman, in rioting in Athens on May 5 against government cuts imposed to secure a European Union and IMF bailout worth 110 billion euros ($136.2 billion).

At the height of the crisis, Geroulanos said Athens feared that the percentage fall in revenues from tourism -- which accounts for almost a fifth of Greece's gross domestic product -- "could have been in double digits" in 2010 from 2009.

"Now we hope to keep it in the low single digits," he said in an interview late on Monday night. "I'm cautious in mentioning numbers because the situation is still fluid."

He said Athens was hardest hit by cancellations, while some islands were barely affected. In an incentive, Greece would guarantee hotel costs for tourists stranded, for instance by strikes or flights grounded by ash from an Icelandic volcano.

The tourism industry had hoped to benefit from a weaker euro to stabilise revenues after a 10 percent drop in 2009. Greece's overall GDP is expected to contract by 4 percent this year.

In a switch from dependence on European visitors, Geroulanos said that Greece wanted to attract more tourists from countries including China, India and Japan.

CHINA

He will travel this week to China to promote Greece. Germans and Britons make up about a third of about 15 million annual visitors to Greece but have been among those with the most cancellations.

Visitors from countries such as China, India and Japan "can be very substantial" in the long term, he said. And they would not overlap with the sun-worshipping beach tourists.

"They are not stuck on a particular time to visit...they dislike extreme heat and prefer times when they can go and visit monuments and cultural sites," he said.

"The more tourists we have like that the more we can preserve the culture of Greece as we want it to be.

"We don't need to become too accommodating to changes in our culture," he said. Some British tourists, for instance, merely wanted to "experience a British pub in a warm place."

So far this year "you see a drop in numbers (of tourists) from England and Germany but we see a huge increase from Russia. And they tend to spend more money per capita," he said.

Greece would also seek to ease EU visa requirements for visitors from Turkey, for instance by allowing passengers on cruise ships one- or two-day stays in Greece.

Firms vie to build Egypt's $550 mln pharaonic museum

CAIRO, July 12 (Reuters) - Fourty companies are vying to build the final phase of Egypt's new $550 million museum which will showcase the largest collection of pharaonic treasures in the world, the project's supervisor said on Monday.

These firms submitted pre-bid documents for the main construction phase of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which will span 117 acres overlooking the great pyramids of Giza and will exhibit 100,000 artefacts.

"The Ministry of Culture called for companies to submit prequalification documents for this Grand Museum project," Mohamed Ghoneim, the project's supervisor, said by telephone. "Fourty companies submitted documents yesterday."

The museum will include lavish gardens copying pharaonic designs, galleries and an archaeological research centre.

Thousands of ancient artefacts are already on display at the main museum in downtown Cairo, but more are boxed away in storage and new finds are dug up each year, so Egypt is building new museums across the country to showcase these treasures as it strives to attract more foreign visitors.

Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) and its subsidiary BESIX Group have jointly submitted pre-bid documents, while other bidders include state-owned Arab Contractors and Spain's Obrascon Huarte Lain, Egyptian newspaper al-Mal reported on Monday. OCI declined to comment.

Egypt's Ministry of Culture, which spearheads the project, will announce a bid short-list in two months, al-Mal said.

At the launch of the third and final construction phase in February, the Ministry said $300 million of the museum's cost would be funded through a Japanese loan, without giving more details, with the rest financed by the Egyptian government.

In February, a joint venture between U.S.-based Hill International and EHAF Consulting Engineers won a five-year, $50 million contract to manage the design and construction of the museum's final phase.

Egypt is aiming to bring in $13 billion in tourism revenue in the full year 2010. Tourism accounts for about 11 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and provides about one in eight jobs in Egypt.

The global economic crisis hit Egypt's tourist industry last year, with visitor numbers falling to 12.5 million from 12.8 million in 2008, while revenues slipped to $10.8 billion from about $11 billion.

Egypt said last week earnings from tourism surged in the first half of 2010.

OCI shares ended 1.7 percent lower, tracking index losses.

TOURISM AGENCY REASSURES VISITORS AFTER DEADLY WORLD CUP BOMBINGS
KAMPALA, July 19 (NNN-NEW VISION) -- THE Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has reassured tourists and other visitors that the security situation is under control.

“All the tourists’ attractions are secure. There is no need to panic,” Serapio Rukundo, the tourism and wildlife minister, told a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala over the weekend.

“Kampala is safe and the security agencies are on full alert to ensure heightened safety, security and security for all,” the minister assured.

He appealed to the media to give a positive image of Uganda, arguing that the terrorist attacks were “meant to scare and discourage visitors.”

Rukundo disclosed that the Government’s commitment was to maintain Uganda as an attractive and safe country for all. He called for extra vigilance from the general public and security operatives.

The briefing was also attended by the Airlines Board, the Uganda Tourism Association and the Association of Uganda Tour Operators representatives, who appealed to the Government to invest heavily in the rejuvenation of the country’s image after July 11 terrorist twin bombs in the capital city that killed 76 people while watching the World cup final.

They challenged the Government to emulate Kenya, which had since the 1998 terrorist attacks, continued to publicise herself within the region and overseas.

“It is too early to say that we have been affected by the bomb attacks. As for Brussels Airline, which I represent, it is ‘a No’.

“But I do not know the position of the 13 other association members,” Pierre Declerck, the vice-chairman of the Airlines Board, told journalists.

He revealed that they had received various inquiries from their clients globally on the situation in Uganda.

“We are doing our best to encourage our clients. This is a good period for us because of the high profile delegates coming in Kampala for the African Union Summit, tourists and Ugandans from the diaspora.

“We must all market the country because we are in business,” Declerck urged the stakeholders. He commended the Civil Aviation Authority for ensuring tight security at the airport.

He advised their clients to arrive at the airport an hour before the check-in time because of the long queues due to extra checking.

Amos Wekesa, the president of the Uganda Tourism Association, noted that security directly affects tourism.

“You do not need to sell a bad image outside but regaining a good image lost means investing heavily in marketing and advertising,” he pointed out.

Wekesa explained that Kenya and Tanzania set a vote for tourism marketing as soon as they got out of the 1998 US Embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=127371

MALAYSIA TARGETS 36 MILLION TOURIST ARRIVALS BY 2020
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia July 18 (NNN-Bernama) -- The government targets 36 million tourist arrivals by 2020 as there has been a steady increase in the numbers of tourists visting Malaysia each year, said Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She said 36 million tourist arrivals would enable the government to get a revenue of RM3 billion a week.

"Malaysia is becoming more and popular as a tourist destination, in fact were were in ninth place as the most visited country last year," she told a press conference after opening the 1Malaysia Clean and Beautiful campaign at the FLORIA 2010 flower festival, here Sunday.

Dr Ng said, from January till May this year, tourist arrivals also increased to 9.6 million persons as compared to 9.2 million for the same period last year.

"In Asean, Malaysia has the highest tourist arrivals followed by Singapore," she said.

On the campaign, Ng said each and every Malaysian must do his or her part towards ensuring cleanliness of their surroundings.

She said the tourism industry was a very competitive one and that clean surroundings gave the country and edge over its competitors.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=127353

ARGENTINA EXPECTS MORE THAN FIVE MILLION FOREIGN TOURISTS THIS YEAR
BUENOS AIRES, July 19 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Argentina is expecting over five million tourists this year, a historic record which represents a 15.5% increase over last year, said Tourism Minister Enrique Meyer.

“Foreign tourist arrivals this year will be over five million, which is a new record”, said Meyer based on the numbers from the first quarter, up 14.5%, May, plus 21.9% and April, 9.7% compared to a year ago.

The Minister also revealed that air bookings are at a record level for the rest of the year and said that one of the positive factors this year has been the significant retraction of the A H1N1 flu scare following last year's pandemic.

Last year the number of foreign passengers visiting Argentina dropped 14.1% to 1,999,535 and spent the equivalent of US$2.6 billion, according to official statistics.

The International Tourist poll from the Ministry of Tourism showed that during May, 191,665 foreign tourists arrived in Argentina which represents an increase of 21.9% over May last year.

Of that total, 30.3% were from Brazil; 11.4% from Chile; rest of Latinamerica, 21.7%; Europe, 19.3%; United States and Canada, 11.8% and the rest of the world, 5.5%.

Last June the Argentine government upgraded the Tourism Office to Ministry taking into account that the tourism sector represents 6% of GDP and an even greater percentage in creation of jobs.

Tourism in Argentina has increased steadily since 2003, mostly because of a favourable exchange rate following the collapse of the fixed parity of US$1 equivalent to 1 Argentine peso. The exchange rate now stands at 3.90 Argentine pesos to the U.S dollar.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=127390

22 July 2010 Last updated at 23:35 GMT
Tourism value to UK 'could grow by 60% in 10 years'
BBC

Tourism's contribution to the UK economy could grow by more than 60% to £188bn by 2020, a report suggests.

The number of jobs directly and indirectly linked to tourism could rise by 264,000 to 2.89 million in that time, said the study for VisitBritain.

Domestic and overseas visitors put an estimated £115bn a year into the UK. Foreign visitors' spending could almost double from £16bn to £31bn by 2020.

Government help was needed on tourism market problems, the study added.

Professional services firm Deloitte and forecasting organisation Oxford Economics produced the report, which studies the effects on firms both directly and indirectly serving the tourist industry.

It predicts that favourable exchange rates and the prospect of the 2012 Olympics mean the tourism sector is likely to grow by 3.5% per annum between 2010 and 2020.

'Enormously encouraging'

VisitBritain said only the financial and business service sectors were likely to grow faster than tourism over the next few years.

But the report warned government intervention would be essential to success, by helping tackle a range of problems in the tourism market.

These included co-ordinating marketing to help small and medium-sized tourist businesses and helping rural firms with higher operating costs to adopt innovative technology.

It also called for support for areas across the UK which rely disproportionately on tourism as a source of jobs for low-skilled and part-time workers.

The report said the industry needed help to improve its ability to predict what facilities would be needed for tourists and ensure the modernisation of hotels took place in a manner sympathetic to their original style.

It also called on it to adapt more swiftly to new trends, such as the growth in older tourists.

The chairman of VisitBritain, Christopher Rodrigues, said the report was "enormously encouraging".

"The continuing low level of the pound and the approaching Olympics in 2012 give us a tremendous opportunity to promote Britain's attractiveness as a destination to the rest of the world," he said.

ALGERIA:TOURISM PROMOTION: 43 PROJECTS TO BE LAUNCHED
ALGIERS, JULY 26 (NNN-APS): A total of 43 tourism projects will be launched Monday during a ceremony chaired by the Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Smail Mimoune, the ministry said Sunday in a release.

"This operation through which will be initiated 43 tourism projects, carried out by domestic investors, for a total additional capacity of nearly 3,760 beds, will see the creation of nearly 5,640 direct and indirect jobs," the same source said.

This operation is to reinforce to the similar ones previously materialized and are designed to achieve 431 tourism projects with a total capacity of 41,376 beds to generate the creation of 62,064 jobs.

"This initiative is a partnership approach based on shared trust and mutual commitments of public and private sectors," the same source added. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=128102

JAMAICA'S US$10 MILLION TOURISM MARKETING INTIATIVE YIELDS SUCCESS
KINGSTON, July 24 (NNN-JIS) -- There are indications that the marketing initiative undertaken by Jamaica's Tourism Ministry in key overseas markets, to counter the negative publicity generated by the West Kingston unrest, is yielding fruit.

In the aftermath of the unrest in May, Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, announced a major US$10 million marketing and promotional initiative, targeting the traditional United States, Canada and United Kingdom markets, as well as emerging destinations in South America and Europe.

He contended then, that the negative publicity generated, could lead to a possible US$300 million loss in Jamaica's foreign exchange earnings, if effective and timely damage control measures were not employed.

Speaking at Wednesday's Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Chairman's Club Breakfast Forum in New Kingston, Bartlett said Jamaica is on track, this month, to possibly repeat the over 190,000 visitor stopover arrivals recorded in July 2009.

"This summer is holding well. Last.July was the largest month in the history of tourism arrivals in Jamaica. (with) 196,000 stopover arrivals recorded, only bettered by March, this year, when we broke the 200,000 mark. We are, at this time, pacing at the same level of July last year," the Minister informed.

While pointing to a possible fall in autumn figures, he was optimistic about winter, noting that, "we think we will be back up."

Bartlett said that the meetings and discussions with the travel partners, yielded several positive results. These, he informed, include safeguarding airlift arrangements with several airlines, which fly into Jamaica.

"Airlift for us was very critical, because Jamaica is the most connected destination in the (Caribbean) region. When we were able to satisfy our airline partners that Jamaica is still strong enough as a destination for them fly into.that not a single flight was cancelled.they bought into it sufficiently. When I left Canada, West Jet announced eight more flights to Jamaica for the winter, and, on the weekend, we (met) with the President of Jet Blue, and they will soon be announcing some more new gateways that we are going to be connected to," the Minister disclosed.

Also, as part of the initiative, Bartlett said the team was able to secure commitments for visits to Jamaica from a number of overseas tour operators and travel agents with whom they interfaced, pointing out that "they have started coming already."

Regarding the government's response to the unrest, Bartlett said Jamaica's overseas tourist partners were given the assurance that the move was a concerted and determined effort by the society to counter crime and violence, in a bid to effect a major transformation of the country, to one that is safe for visitors and locals. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=127967

Russian icebreaker to carry tourists to Franz Josef Land
MURMANSK, July 27 (PNA/RIA Novosti) -- Russia's icebreaker Kapitan Dranitsyn will carry more than a hundred tourists to the Franz Josef Land, an archipelago in the far north of Russia, a Rosmorport company official has said.

The ship will leave the northern Russian port of Murmansk on Tuesday for a 10-day cruise, Vladimir Ivanov said.

"This is not an ordinary voyage. The Kapitan Dranitsyn usually does not carry tourists on board," he said.

The Kapitan Dranitsyn was built in Finland for the former Soviet Union. She has been used as a research vessel by Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute since 1995.

The ship took part in an international Arctic expedition in 2007, during which Russian, Norwegian, Canadian and German scientists studied the seafloor off the Svalbard archipelago, in the Kara, Barents and Laptev seas.

The Franz Josef Land, located to the east of Svalbard, consists of 191 ice-covered islands with a total area of more than 16,000 square km (over 6,200 square miles). The only inhabitants of the islands, which lies only 900 to 1,110 km (560 to 690 statute miles) from the North Pole, are Russian settlers.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Franz Josef Land in late April. He emphasized that the archipelago alone had almost 60,000 tons of fuels and lubricants, some of which spill and pollute the environment, and called for a general clean-up of the Arctic.

Yuri Trutnev, the Russian minister of natural resources and ecology, said in June that the clean-up program, which is to start in 2011, would require 1.2 billion rubles ($ 40 million).http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=290366

Flooded World Heritage Grottoes in central China re-open to tourists
ZHENGZHOU, July 27 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The World Heritage-listed Longmen Grottoes in central China's Henan Province re-opened to tourists Tuesday, three days after floods forced authorities to close the site.

The 1,500-year-old grottoes were closed to the public last Saturday as waters from the swollen Yi River -- a branch of the Yellow River, China's second longest waterway -- flooded the trails linking the caves. In some parts, stagnant water rose to a knee-deep level.

But Buddha carvings and other cultural relics have not been damaged.

Tourists are still banned from entering the site at night as lighting has not been fully restored.

Recent floods in Henan have killed at least 52. Twenty others are still missing. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=290431

Seoul eases visa requirements for Chinese tourists
SEOUL, July 27 (PNA/Yonhap) -- South Korea will drastically relax visa requirements for Chinese tourists beginning next week, in a move to attract more visitors from its fast-growing neighbor nation, the Justice Ministry said Tuesday.

Under the new measure, the number of Chinese eligible for multiple-entry visas from Seoul will be expanded to newly include, for instance, employees of the top 500 Chinese companies, schoolteachers, retirees with pension income, holders of various professional licenses and graduates of prestigious colleges and universities.

The multiple-entry visa would allow them to freely enter South Korea during a set period.

Currently, the special visa benefit is offered only to those who have residence in member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, owners of platinum- or gold-class credit cards and professionals, like professors and doctors.

In addition, Seoul will newly issue "double-entry" visas that would allow Chinese visitors to enter the country twice within a set period for tourism and brief visits between overseas trips.

Students enrolled in prestigious colleges and universities in China will also be allowed to obtain a visa, while family members of those who have single-entry visas are expected to be automatically given the same visa, officials said.

"We expect this measure could attract more tourists from China and boost the tourism industry in the nation," an official at the ministry said.

The number of Chinese visitors to South Korea has steadily increased, reaching 1.2 million in 2009, up from 585,569 in 2005, and 920,250 in 2007, according to the ministry.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=290380

Looks like much of Northeast Asia is liberalizing tourism requirements for mainland tourists to lure their dollars.

Rabies epidemic hits tourist haven of Bali; govt short on vaccines, kills 200,000 dogs
2 August 2010

BALI, Indonesia (AP) - Putu Valentino Rosiadi should have started third grade this month. But instead of buying a new school uniform and notebooks, his father mournfully cradles a black-and-white photo.

The 8-year-old was next door when a stray dog jumped him in May, ripping its teeth into the boy's right calf. He was stitched up at a local hospital and sent home. His family was told no cases of rabies had been reported in their area.

Earlier this month, a high fever hit him. Valentino died two days later.

"He was delirious. There was foam coming out of his mouth," said the boy's father, Komang Suda, 32. "Every time we tried to give him water, it was like he went into shock. He was shaking and very agitated."

A rabies epidemic has gripped Bali, an island of 3 million people and one of Asia's top tourist destinations. Seventy-eight deaths have officially been logged in the past two years, including that of a 40-year-old woman a week ago, and many other deaths have likely gone unreported.

The Indonesian government says it's overwhelmed, with more than 30,000 dog bites reported in just the first half of this year across Bali. In a highly criticized move, officials killed about 200,000 dogs, instead of initially conducting mass vaccinations as recommended by the World Health Organization.

"We have a serious problem with the anti-rabies vaccine for humans ... we are very short of treatment across the island," said Nyoman Sutedja, chief of Bali's provincial health ministry, who expects all stocks to run out by next month. "We need help."

Hospitals across Bali have faced periodic shortages of free post-exposure vaccines since the outbreak began, leaving poor residents with few options. The shots remain available at pharmacies, but many Balinese cannot afford them.

"The sad part is they get to the hospital and they get turned away because they don't have any vaccines," said Janice Girardi, an American who runs the nonprofit Bali Animal Welfare Association, which has vaccinated 45,000 dogs and recently received funding to conduct an islandwide campaign. "Then they go home and die."

Several countries, including the United States and Australia, have issued travel warnings advising vacationers to consider getting pre-exposure rabies vaccinations before arriving and to avoid contact with dogs while in Bali. A handful of foreign tourists have reported dog bites, but none have been fatal.

Shots given immediately after contact with saliva from a rabid animal can easily prevent death. But once symptoms appear, treatment is useless.

Rabies kills some 55,000 people annually -- mostly children -- with nearly 60 percent of those deaths from dog bites in Asia, according to the WHO. The disease still exists in the U.S., but human deaths are extremely rare. Nearly all bites occur from wild animals, such as raccoons or bats.

The rabies incubation period can last from a few weeks to months or even beyond a year. Flulike symptoms, such as headache, fatigue and fever, are the first signs of infection, followed by agitation, breathing problems, fear of water, paralysis and coma.

Bali dogs, often covered in a scaly mange, are a common sight across the island. They roam beaches and hang out in packs, lounging around temples and markets. Many are kept as guard dogs, but as part of the island's Hindu tradition, most are typically allowed to run and breed freely. They forage for food from restaurants and garbage heaps, and have largely coexisted peacefully with locals and tourists. The entire island remained free of rabies until the first case was reported in November 2008.

Some believe rabid dogs from the neighboring island of Flores may have carried the virus with them into Bali aboard boats. Many Indonesian sailors refuse to leave port without their dogs, convinced canines are a source of good luck at sea.

"Culturally, it is difficult to convince people that dogs can carry disease," Sutedja said. "In the traditional Balinese faith people believe that dogs will take them to heaven."

Once rabies arrived, the virus spread quickly because a mass vaccination campaign was slow to start. Government officials opted to kill dogs in areas where human rabies cases occurred, using strychnine-filled meatballs and blow darts.

A third of the island's estimated 600,000 dogs have been killed since the outbreak began, Sutedja said. But he admitted the problem has only worsened with more puppies being born along with a spike in dog bites. Only about a quarter of Bali's dogs are kept as pets.

"The government doesn't want to do what everybody tells them from the WHO on down," said Dr. Henry Wilde, a rabies expert at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, which serves as a WHO collaborating center on the disease. "It's a virtually hopeless situation."

Because dogs are territorial, vaccinating an entire village creates a natural barrier to keep rabid strays out, Wilde said. He added that in some cases, vaccinated dogs were being killed. About 70 percent of the dog population must be vaccinated to control the spread of the virus, but so far only about 20 percent of Bali's dogs have been reached.

Sutedja said the government has responded seriously to the threat, fearing dog attacks could damage its lucrative tourism industry, which so far has remained strong.

The island, known for its sun, surf and shopping, has slowly rebounded from two suicide bombings in 2002 and 2005 that killed more than 220 people. Many hope next month's release of the movie "Eat Pray Love," filmed on location in Bali with Julia Roberts, will attract hordes of new visitors.

But Valentino's father is a world away. He sits quietly outside his tiny two-room brick house nestled among lush banana trees near the western border with Java, about 100 kilometers from the five-star beach resorts and exquisite restaurants bustling with tourists.

Since the dog that attacked his son was killed and never tested for rabies, no one can say for sure whether his boy was infected with the deadly virus. Doctors maintain a rare autoimmune disease was to blame. Sutedja, however, said rabies is the suspected cause because dogs in the village had tested positive for the disease.

"I'm definitely upset, but there's not much I can do," said the boy's father, as a warm summer rain poured down. "My kid is dead and nothing can bring him back."

--------

Associated Press writers Irwan Firdaus and Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia contributed to this report.

Adventure travel going mainstream - study
6 August 2010

NEW YORK, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Adventure tourism, long considered the milieu of a small group of dare devils, is becoming more mainstream, with tourists more likely to rappel down mountains, cycle or volunteer while on vacation.

These adventurers are young, affluent and spent $89 billion last year, excluding the cost of airfare and gear, according to a study by researchers at George Washington University's School of Business.

"You have a lot of people who want to roll up their sleeves, get involved in a culture and have a more authentic experience than just laying in the sun," said Dr. Kristin Lamoureux, an author of the study, which was conducted with the Adventure Travel Trade Association, an industry group.

The researchers questioned 850 travelers from North and South America and Europe. Seventy percent of international travel originates in those regions. Countries with the most travelers are the United States, Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.

Although overall tourism figures were down by 6 percent in 2009, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the study showed that when people travel, they are more likely to engage in physical activities, providing a new revenue base for tour operators.

Based on their findings and data from the UNWTO, the researchers estimate that 150 million adventure trips will be taken next year.

"There is a perception that the adventure tourism market is a very limited group of people who are seeking high-risk activity, but the reality is that it's a much broader market than we thought ... and they are willing to spend," Lamoureux said.

The typical adventure traveler was 36 years old, spent between $450 and $800 per vacation, excluding airfare, and owned a passport, according to the researchers.

The biggest source of news for adventure tourists was their local newspaper and information found through Google and Facebook.

Most adventure travelers did not own cutting edge technology like iPhones, a crucial point, Lamoureux said, in helping tour operators maximize their advertising dollars, especially in times of recession.

FEATURE-Cape Verde: no resources, no problem

PRAIA, Aug 11 (Reuters) - For a small string of barren volcanic islands that have no natural resources, suffer from chronic droughts and are perched far off Africa's west coast, Cape Verde is punching well above its weight.

Unscathed by conflict or political instability, the country has quietly become a middle-income nation and looks set to be one of few in Africa to meet any of the Millennium Development Goals set for measuring progress in improving livelihoods.

Yet it has loftier ambitions.

In return for special deals on economic and political cooperation with Europe, it increasingly plays a trouble-fixing role on the more unruly mainland some 400 kms (250 miles) away.

It hopes to turn its location to its advantage by becoming a springboard for business in West Africa. And it thinks tourist numbers could soon match the country's population.

"The fact that we don't have resources has made us be creative," Fatima Fialho, Cape Verde's minister for tourism, industry and energy, told Reuters.

"We are an economy in transformation -- moving from one of (aid) to one of production," she added, detailing plans for a service-based economy focusing on shipping and fisheries, providing a hub for technology and finance, and tourism.

Economic growth for 2010 will be 5-6 percent, she said.

The country is not without its challenges. The lack of rain still means over three quarters of its food is imported.

Cape Verde's response to the financial crisis has been to accelerate its public investment programme, known locally as the nation's "air bag". This has delivered an impressive upgrade of infrastructure, but also rising debt levels.

Fitch ratings said in May a fiscal deficit of 12 percent of GDP in 2010 and 2011, and central government debt at 78 percent of GDP by the end of next year, should ensure long-term growth but will increase pressure for sound management.

POOR, BUT SUCCESSFUL

After other African nations with similarly small populations but far higher revenues, mainly from oil, failed to use vast sums of money to benefit the country outside a tight-knit elite, the nation is being heralded as a non-resource success story.

In April, the African Development Bank (AfDB) called Cape Verde the first African case of "policy induced graduation".

"Here is evidence that no matter how bad the initial conditions, with good governance, solid institutions, and a peaceful political and social climate, take-off is possible," Donald Kaberuka, AfDB group president, said during a visit.

Ahead of elections next year, Jorge Santos, deputy head of the MpD opposition party, is quick to express confidence in the political system, saying there is no comparison in the region.

Donor aid has played a key role in its success.

But so too have payments from its diaspora -- believed to be double the 500,000 Cape Verdeans living at home. Many left the country due to hardship there and, spread out across the globe, send millions to families back home every month.

Even after taking a hit from the global crisis, remittances amounted to 132 million euros ($172 million) in 2009, having averaged 12.3 percent of GDP between 1999-2008, according to the AfDB.

But Fialho said that tourism has just overtaken remittances as the biggest contributor to the economy at around 20 percent of GDP: "This is an important shift."

Ever since Italian dictator Benito Mussolini built the first airport on the island of Sal, Italians have dominated tourism there. Charter flights from around Europe jet in to a number of gleaming new airports, ferrying most of the 330,000 tourists in 2009 to all-inclusive hotels on sun-blessed beaches.

Some in the industry grumble that vast hotels, like a 4,500-bed all inclusive resort being built for Spanish firm Riu on Boa Vista, are wrecking the charm of the islands.

"This is not very good for local communities -- they only stay in the hotels. They don't learn about our cultures ... we must not move too fast," said Lindorfo Olivio Marques Ortet, who owns a hotel for walkers in mist-shrouded hills above Praia.

But Fialho argues that mass tourism was essential to get the country on the map, and the focus is now on improving services to meet a target of 500,000 visitors a year by 2012.

LINK TO THE REGION

Uninhabited until it was discovered by Portuguese mariners in the 1450s, the country's population is a mix of settlers and former slaves, a combination that means tribalism is not an issue.

Yet many speak of Africa as a separate continent and have far more links with Europe or the Americas. The national airline, for example, flies directly to Brazil, the United States and a number of airports across Europe, but just one in Africa.

The islands, however, are becoming an increasingly important strategic partner for the African mainland but also for outsiders looking to strengthen their African links.

"What Cape Verde can bring to the region is a bridge," Foreign Minister Jose Brito told Reuters.

A visit by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in July highlighted the role Cape Verde could play as a springboard into West Africa. But Europeans and the United States also see the country as barrier against the flow of drugs and people.

Cape Verde was the first West African nation used to transit cocaine headed to Europe, and has since been widely praised for cracking down on corruption and improving law enforcement.

In July, it helped the United States by receiving a Syrian prisoner from Guantanamo Bay. The country is also increasingly active in seeking to resolve African conflicts, such as in Guinea-Bissau.

In return, Praia has secured a special partnership with Europe and is the first country to be made eligible for a second round of funding from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Brito said it was in Europe's interests to have a special relationship with Cape Verde, especially in having a real partner in fighting crime, and the country would seek to meet EU standards, but was not looking to join the institution.

"We are an African country ... Cape Verde cannot be alone, separate from what is happening in (the region)."

Obama looks to boost Gulf tourism with family trip
Julie Pace, Associated Press Writer, On Friday August 13, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is heeding his own advice to American vacationers, taking his family to the Gulf Coast this weekend to help the sagging tourism industry.

The president will arrive Saturday and spend just over 24 hours in the Panama City, Fla., area, a quick jaunt in contrast to the family's upcoming 10-day vacation to Martha's Vineyard, known as a destination for the wealthy and privileged.

White House officials dismiss questions about the length of the family's stay, saying that has no relation to the president's commitment to the region's recovery.

"The president is deeply committed to the folks in the Gulf region," said White House spokesman Bill Burton. He said Obama wants to ensure the people of the Gulf Coast are "made whole again after what was a terrible catastrophe."

Obama's been promoting the idea of Gulf travel as a way for Americans to help the region's recovery. The White House says the Obamas and daughter Sasha (her sister Malia's at summer camp) plan to spend much of their time in the Gulf enjoying the area's recreational activities.

The president and first lady Michelle Obama also will meet with small business owners to discuss the recovery efforts. They'll be joined by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, a former governor of Mississippi chosen by Obama to develop a long-term Gulf Coast restoration plan.

In Florida, particularly the Panhandle region where the Obamas will spend the weekend, it's tourism -- the state's top industry -- that's been hurt most by the spill.

Tourism officials say the region typically brings in 70 percent of its yearly income between June and August. But despite the fact that just 16 of the 180 beaches in the western part of the Panhandle were effected by the spill, tourism officials say many potential visitors have stayed away, deterred by images of oil-slicked waters and tar-ball strewn beaches in other parts of the region.

The head of the U.S. Travel Association has proposed that BP -- the company that held the lease to the offshore rig that exploded April 20 and spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf -- set aside $500 million for a marketing campaign to help draw tourists to the Gulf states.

Obama has tried to do his part to boost tourism on four previous trips to the region, urging Americans to include the Gulf Coast in their summer travel plans.

"This is still a place that's open for business and welcoming so vacationers and people can have a wonderful holiday here," Obama said during a June trip to Pensacola, Fla.

The first lady went a step further during a July visit to Panama City Beach, Fla., practically ensuring that her own family would vacation in the Gulf when she said, "One of the best ways that fellow Americans can help is to come on down here and spend some money."

The president's trip comes as the government's point man on the spill, retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, said Friday that the blown-out well in the Gulf is not securely plugged to his satisfaction and that the drilling of the relief well -- long regarded as the only way to ensure that the hole at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico never leaks oil again -- must go forward.

Work on the relief well was suspended earlier this week because of bad weather. Allen did not say when it would resume, but when the order comes, it could take four days to get the operation up and running again.

Kenya tourist numbers set to beat 2007 record - board

NAIROBI, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Kenya's tourist arrivals rose to 483,000 in the first half of 2010, officials said on Monday, putting east Africa's largest economy on track to beat record foreign visitor numbers set in 2007.

Tourism is Kenya's second-largest foreign exchange earner after horticulture and tea exports.

"We are fully recovered and on a growth trajectory," Muriithi Ndegwa, head of the Kenya Tourist Board, told Reuters in an interview.

In 2008, post-election violence hurt Kenyan tourism, and then the global economic slowdown hit.

In the first half of 2007, 477,000 tourists visited the country, which is popular for its safari parks and beaches.

"We are above our benchmark year. God willing and barring any negative incidents, we see tourism growing this year and surpassing the level we saw in 2007," Ndegwa said.

Kenya had 1,048,000 visitors in 2007, and around 953,000 last year.

The country earned 62.46 billion shillings from tourism in 2009, down from a record 65.4 billion in 2007 before the country plunged into ethnic violence following a disputed election.

The country is due to promulgate a new constitution next week in the hope of avoiding similar violence in future.

CHINA LIMITS TOURIST NUMBERS TO PROTECT WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE SITE
ZHENGZHOU, Aug 20 (NNN-Bernama): Local cultural heritage officials in central China's Henan Province said Friday they will limit tourist numbers during peak travel times to better protect the World Cultural Heritage-listed Historic Monuments of Dengfeng, China's Xinhua news agency reproted.

"We have taken measures to restrict the number of tourists and the burning of incense," said Gong Songtao, deputy director of the administration of cultural heritage in Dengfeng City.

Nestled in the Songshan Mountains, the "Center of Heaven and Earth" is composed of eight clusters of 11 buildings and sites, including the Shaolin Monastery, the Three Han Que Gates, the Observatory, the Songyang Academy and the Songyue Pagoda.

"Carbon dioxide and humidity levels are also being strictly monitored since high concentrations of those chemicals may damage the structures," said Gong.

"Tourists will be encouraged to visit other sites when the numbers at one site approach their limit," said Gong.

The Three Han Que Gates and the Ancestor's Monastery will remain closed to ordinary tourists as they have been for the last six decades, added Gong.

"Que," located at the side of a road, is an entry sign to a city, palace, temple, pass or tomb.

The Three Han Que Gates, made of stone and adorned with calligraphy and carvings, can be dated back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.).

The Historic Monuments of Dengfeng were added to the World Cultural Heritage List during the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee on Aug 1 in Brasilia, Brazil.

UNESCO said the monuments stand out for their great aesthetic beauty and their profound cultural importance.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=130824

TOURIST SPENDING SPIKES NEAR YOG OPENING
SINGAPORE, Aug 19 (NNN-CNA) -- The Singapore economy has seen a boost in foreign visitor spending during the days leading to the opening day of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

More than US$8.3 million was spent by international visitors to Singapore on Visa-branded payment cards on the opening day of the Games.

This was almost twice what was spent over the same day in 2009.

Between Aug 11 and 15, more than US$42.5 million was spent by international visitors to Singapore on Visa-branded payment cards.

Visa said this is a 45 per cent increase from the same period in 2009.

Visitors from the US, Indonesia and Britain were among the top spenders.

Visa's country manager for Singapore and Brunei Meranda Chan said based on these initial figures, the YOG looks to have started on a positive note for the local economy and businesses. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=130729

ETHIOPIA SECURES 3.06 BILLION BIRR REVENUE FROM FOREIGN TOURISTS
ADDIS ABABA, Aug 19 (NNN-ENA) -- Ethiopia haS secured more than 3.061 billion Birr (one USD = about 13.66 Birr) from foreign tourists who visited the country so far this year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The stated amount of revenue was obtained from over half a million foreign tourists who visited different centres existing in the country, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Tadelech Dalecho told a news conference here Wednesday.

She said the revenue Ethiopia earned from the sector had shown a growth rate of 22 per cent over the last five years with the number of tourists visiting the country in the last five years increasing by 13.5 per cent.

Tadelech said over 400,000 tourists had visited Ethiopia in 2009.

The amount of revenue secured during the reported period accounted for 17 per cent of the country's total export revenue secured during same year, she said.

Tadelech attributed the increase in the amount of revenue and number of foreign tourists visiting the country mainly to the promotional work undertaken by the ministry, Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian embassies abroad.

The revenue being obtained from tourism is expected to increase by 20 per cent on average. She said over one million foreign tourists are expected to visit the country by 2020, making Ethiopia one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Africa. -- NNN-ENA
http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=130677

PRE-HISTORIC VILLAGE UNCOVERED IN BELAAS MOUNTAIN, HAMA
HAMA (CENTRAL SYRIA), Aug 18 (NNN-SANA) -- A part of archeological village dating back to Neolithic Era, 10,000 years before Christ, was discovered at-Belaas Mountain located to the southeast of Hama Province, central Syria.

Head of Hama Antiquities Department Abdul Qader Farzat said the Syrian-French expedition found two archeological sets at the site, the first consists of simple archeological constructions paved with stones in a circular shape in addition to rows of stony walls.

The second set is the oldest part of the village. It dates back to the Neolithic Era, having an architectural design that is different from those found in Palestine and Euphrates Basin.

Farzat pointed out that the Stone Age was known in the East through the archeological excavations in Euphrates Basin, Damascus Basin and Palestine, yet vast areas between these geographic clusters are still unstudied precisely.

He added that the discovery indicates that the site was inhabited during the prehistoric period through discovering the nature of the houses ancient ancestors lived, in addition to the economic and social activities pursued at the site.

Archeologist Abdul Salam al-Bashmaky said the site chronicles the Neolithic Era in Syria, from 1000 to 6000 years before Christ, particularly that the period witnessed an important transition in human history, moving from the stage of hunting and picking up to agriculture stage.

He added that the archeological site discovered is one of the first agricultural villages which made a transitional point from the Modern Stone Age to the so-called Agriculture or Neolite Revolution. -- NNN-SANA http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=130633

Monday, Aug. 23, 2010
Tourism chiefs want 26 million 'intervisitations'
Japan, China, South Korea set 2015 goal

HANGZHOU, China (Kyodo) The tourism chiefs of Japan, China and South Korea agreed Sunday to get 26 million people to visit their three countries in 2015 — nearly double the total for 2009.

The target, mentioned in a joint statement from their trilateral meeting in China, noted that the three countries' earlier goal of 17 million "intervisitations" in 2010 is expected to be achieved. A total of 13.5 million people traveled among the three East Asian countries in 2009.

"It is significant that the three countries set a target and confirmed what must be done to that end," Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara said after signing the statement.

The three ministers also decided to share information related to tourism, including that pertaining to major natural disasters and infectious diseases, the statement said.

They also agreed at the meeting, the fifth trilateral tourism ministerial meeting, to cooperate on developing and utilizing such areas as health care, sports, movies, animation, and food and beverages to develop tourism.

Maehara, Chinese National Tourism Administration Chairman Shao Qiwei and South Korean Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In Chon visited the Hangzhou area in Zhejiang Province for a series of related meetings that ran from Saturday to Monday.

On Saturday, China's Shao hinted that Japanese travel agencies might be allowed to sell services to Chinese tourists headed for Japan.

"We are now preparing to revise (relevant) laws," Shao was quoted by Japanese officials as saying to Maehara.

Maehara later said that any deal might be restricted to frequent visitors.

"Japanese companies would be able to offer a wide range of travel plans to Chinese who travel to Japan repeatedly, since they have explored the tourism routes most extensively," he said.

Later, Maehara held a meeting with South Korea's Yu. Maehara proposed that the two countries make efforts to increase visitors both ways by taking advantage of a plan by Japanese and South Korean filmmakers to jointly film movies next year.

Maehara, who flew to Shanghai from Tokyo's Haneda airport earlier in the day, inspected Chinese bullet train technology firsthand by riding a train with a top speed of over 300 kph from Shanghai to Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Hong Thai cancels all Philippine tours beginning tomorrow to the 28th. The government will issue the black outbound travel alert shortly.

康泰取消明起所有前往菲律賓旅行團
【21:40】2010年08月23日

http://news.on.cc/ncnews/hknews/img/ncbrka01_20100823214029_big.jpg

【on.cc專訊】 康泰旅行社總經理劉美詩表示，由於接獲保安局通知，將會向菲律賓發出黑色旅遊警示，故旅行社會取消明日起至本月28日的所有前往菲律賓的旅行團，合共3團共68人受影響，亦會安排現時在當地的旅行團盡快返港。

Hostage crisis ends in bloody carnage

The hostage crisis in Manila ended in a bloody carnage Monday night, after a SWAT team assaulted a tourist bus full of mostly Chinese nationals (HK), resulting in the death of hostage taker Rolando Mendoza, a former police officer, and at least four hostages.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo told reporters at least six of the hostages were confirmed alive.

Four hostages were confirmed dead, according to presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. The fate of the other hostages, meanwhile, was unknown as of posting time.

Mendoza was confirmed dead after sustaining a shot in the head, according to the sniper who claimed he hit the hostage-taker who was armed with an M-16 rifle.

The wounded hostages were taken to Ospital ng Maynila and Philippine General Hospital.

Of the six hostages taken to Ospital ng Maynila, two were declared dead after sustaining several gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.

Philippine hostage crisis ends, four captives alive

MANILA (AFP) – A hostage crisis in the Philippine capital ended on Monday with four captives emerging from a bus alive and the gunman believed to have been killed, according to footage broadcast on television.

Fifteen tourists from Hong Kong were believed to have been on the bus at the end of the 12-hour ordeal, and there were fears for the lives of the others who did not get off the bus immediately afterwards.

The body of the man believed to be the gunman, an ex-policeman who hijacked the bus in a desperate bid to get his job back, was seen slumped out of the main door of the vehicle.

Grenade attack in Bangkok,Thailand
Daily Photos from Thailand
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Car Bomb in Southern Thailand
Daily Photos from Thailand
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Two Rubber Tappers Shot Dead,Thailand
Daily Photos from Thailand
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Very interesting read on Thailand beach pollution

Overdevelopment Killed Pattaya, Phuket; Pollution - Is Koh Chang Next?
READ MORE- CLICK - http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2008/07/08/overdevelopment-killed-pattaya-phuket-is-koh-chang-next/
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“(Phuket’s) reputation for bars and illicit activities overwhelm the natural charm of the Thai people. Prostitution and urban sprawl rampant.”

“Too much tourism development without a plan,” cried yet another. “Patong is a classic sex-tourism destination, probably worse than Bangkok. Some nice resorts and beaches. The water ‘looks’ fine, but is polluted.”

But the fact is by even the Thai government’s own admission, Phuket, Pattaya and Samui are polluted and overdeveloped.

READ MORE- CLICK - http://www.bangkokdiaries.com/2008/07/08/overdevelopment-killed-pattaya-phuket-is-koh-chang-next/



Very interesting video on Koh Chang,Thailand


TOXIC KOH CHANG -- THAILAND
THINKING OF A BEAUTIFUL BEACH HOLIDAY IN THAILAND ??? THINK AGAIN !!!!!!!!
READ MORE- CLICK - http://toxic-kohchang.blogspot.com/
TOXIC KOH CHANG,THAILAND VIDEO
QMC_U-4F0LY



People pay a good amount of money to go there and what they see is the result of abuse, overdevelopment and mismanagement of the place.
Dont cheat the tourists.

One more thing, Thailand is the Sex Capital of asia or the world. Here is this picture, even though Thailand is 2nd in Reported Cases HIV.
They are number one in Reported HIV/AIDS cases per population/ per capita.
1,115,415 Reported Cases HIV year 2007. We are now in 2010 its more now.
READ MORE- CLICK - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HIV/AIDS_cases_and_deaths_registered_by_region
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108 big foreign travel agents to attend 10th RP Travel Exchange
MANILA, Philippines—Delegates of 108 wholesale travel agents from the world’s six continents are coming over to forge deals with the various sectors of the local tourism industry.

“They (foreign travel wholesalers) are joining this year’s 10th Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex 2010), which is geared to bring in big volume of tourists from around the world,” said Tourism Secretary Alberto A. Lim in a news release.

Lim said among the foreign delegates to Phitex 2010 are large representations from outbound travel wholesalers in China, Korea, Japan, Asia Pacific, North America, India, the Middle East, and Europe.

“They will do business with 194 local sellers (of tour packages), thus generating volumes of foreign visitors over the short and long term,” he said.

Scheduled at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel on Tuesday (September 2), Phitex 2010 is an industry-based and government-supported marketing initiative that links foreign wholesale buyers and local sellers of tourism products and services in a full day of one-on-one business meetings, with each delegate being accorded a number of pre-scheduled appointments for table-top discussions.

“Thus, the foreign wholesalers themselves will push the Philippine tourism brand in their respective countries through OTC (over-the-counter) or POS (point-of-sale) promotion and other agency-driven consumer marketing schemes,” said Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions (TPP) Vicente R. Romano III.

“At the same time, their participation in Phitex 2010 will guide the members of the local tourism industry in conducting product development based on market-specific demands, or the actual requirements of their target foreign clients,” he explained.

In the process, Romano said, local industry players would also learn about the present and future global market opportunities that they could take advantage of.

“All in all, Phitex 2010 will boost and guide our efforts in focusing on infrastructure and product development since this event covers both ends (supply and demand) of the market spectrum,” Romano added.

With the theme “Awesome Philippines, Awesome Sceneries, Awesome Activities, Awesome Experiences,” Phitex 2010 will be formally opened by Lim, who is expected to speak on the strategic direction of the country’s tourism development for the duration of his term.

To highlight the welcome dinner for the participants is the celebration of “A Decade of AWESOME Phitex Experience” jointly hosted by the Department of Tourism and Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila.

Part of this Awesome Phitex Experience is the foreign buyers’ visit to the Manila Ocean Park, the Philippine’s first state-of-the-art oceanarium. The following day, the foreign buyers will have a glimpse of the country’s Awesome Sceneries through the Philippine Travel Mart, which will be held at the SM Megamall.

The buyers then get the chance to sample these local destinations with the familiarization programs organized by the DOT in cooperation with the Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa). They will visit Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Bicol, Palawan, Clark, Subic, and the Ilocos Region to see and experience the Awesome Philippines, according to Romano.

These Awesome Experiences are made possible by Philtoa, Philippine Airlines, Manila Hotel, Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila, and the participating hotels and resorts.http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100829-289381/108-big-foreign-travel-agents-to-attend-10th-RP-Travel-Exchange

Philippines 101 – Origin of Myth
Posted by Scott Allford on Apr 19th, 2010
Filed Under: Walkabout Pinas


While writing about the media’s negative portrayal of the Philippines in my article ‘Viewing the Philippines in a Different Light’, I was “baffled as to why [The Philippines] has been branded in such a negative way by the International media.” Since then I have come to realize that a lot of negativity towards this beautiful country comes out of misinformation, uninformed opinions/ideas and perhaps a little prejudice. After months of reading blogs and articles it became clear that these common themes were the root of most ‘anti-Pinoy’ commentary online. So it’s time to look at the facts and examine some of the negative myths that surround this country.

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Philippine Geography

Last night I was online and got a message from a relative in Australia asking if I was okay after the bombing in Basilan. I replied that Basilan is over 1,000 kilometers (well over 600 miles) from Manila and is just off the coast of Malaysia. She then replied that she really needs to get an atlas. Most people around the world need to not only get an atlas, but also read it when it comes to the Philippines.

http://tourism-philippines.com/images/batanes2.jpg

Just to help those who don’t know -The Philippines is the 12th most populated nation on Earth and is made up of 7,107 islands which stretch over 2,000 kilometers (Well over 1,200 miles) from Batanes in the north to Tawi-tawi in the south. Politically the country is divided into 80 provinces, 17 Regions and 3 Island Groups: Luzon in the north (where Manila is), Visayas in the centre and Mindanao in the south.


The Geography of Danger

It seems that many people overseas think that the whole of the Philippines is constantly experiencing problems with terrorist attacks. However, most of the troubles of this nature in Philippines are in the south western portion of the island of Mindanao which is over 1,000 kilometers to the south of the Philippine capital of Manila. Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and the 19th largest in the world making it just over 1.5 times the size of Tasmania.

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Speaking of Tasmania, let’s focus on one problem I have. Back in 1996 in Port Arthur, Tasmania when Martin Bryant went on what was at the time the world’s worst killing spree and shot 35 people who were mostly tourists; massive numbers of people didn’t suddenly cancel their trips to Australia or even the cities of Hobart and Launceston in Tasmania. Yet last year in November when the Maguindanao Massacre happened (57 killed in a politically motivated attack) people suddenly cancelled tours around Manila and jumped on the next plane back to their home countries. Maguindanao is literally on the other side of the country from Manila. It would be like people cancelling tours in New York when the LA riots happened, ridiculous.

This ignorance of Philippine geography is not only prevalent amongst foreign travellers but also amongst some Filipinos and some expats living in the Philippines. Many times I hear from people in Manila that Mindanao is dangerous and a no go zone. I went to Northern Mindanao last year and had a great time. I also met a lot of really friendly locals who helped me as much as they could on my travels. I travelled by taxi, tricycle, ferry, local (non air conditioned) bus, multicab, a friendly stranger’s brother’s van and also just walked. There was no point along the way that I felt like I was in danger. I also hear from foreigners who live in or travel in the more notorious parts of Mindanao, that they had similar experiences to mine. Perhaps it just comes down to having some good old fashioned street smarts when you travel.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs178.snc3/20544_303709534063_86996579063_3595746_1497835_n.jpg

Official Misinformation

Earlier this week, I was looking at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s travel advisory website and was surprised to learn that their level of caution for the Philippines is exactly the same as Thailand. Thailand has bombings in the south just like the Philippines but that’s about where the similarities end. Thailand also has border skirmishes with Cambodia, Bird Flu, the Thai Government has declared a state of Emergency and people are dying on the streets of Bangkok amidst grenade attacks, shootings and the current protests by the Red Shirts. I was also surprised to learn that the site warns about the eruption of the beautiful Mayon Volcano in the Philippines. This volcano did have a small eruption back in December (concerned relatives in Australia asked if I was in danger even though Mayon is about 450 km away from Manila) and tourists actually flocked to Albay Province to take pictures of the streaming lava at night. It has since died down and I took my mother there last month and it really didn’t seem like a “hazardous magmatic eruption” was going to happen, as the DFAT suggests. In fact, PHILVOLCS agrees with my observation stating:

“This is a notice for the lowering of Mayon Volcano’s status from Alert Level 2 (evidence of magmatic intrusion that could eventually lead to an eruption) to Alert Level 1 (no hazardous eruption imminent).”

Even though PHILVOLCS issued this update on March 2, 2010, the DFAT website currently states that their advice on the danger of Mayon erupting “…is current for Friday, 16 April 2010.” It is sites like this which present a dangerous Philippines that just doesn’t seem to exist in reality.

Is it safe?
On our Tourism Philippines Facebook Fanpage (www.facebook.com/TourismPhilippines) the other week an American man asked if it was safe to come to the Philippines. Here is my response in which I quoted http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php :

“For murder per capita (US #24/Philippines not in top 62), rape (US #1/Philippines not in top 84), burglary (US #1/ Philippines not in top 68), executions (US #7/Philippines not on the list) the US is far more dangerous than the Philippines.”


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Makati_skyline_mjlsha.jpg/960px-Makati_skyline_mjlsha.jpg


The question of safety in the Philippines has to be one of the most common ones I hear and I believe it is so prevalent due the spread of misinformation and uninformed opinions that have spread across the internet and the media in general.

I have asked many people in the Philippines if they think it is dangerous here and the most common responses are either “No.” or “It’s no more dangerous than any other country, you just need to be a little street smart.” I totally agree with these comments. I wouldn’t walk down a street in a bad area I’m not familiar with at 3am in Manila. I also wouldn’t do the same in London, New York or Sydney for that matter. I’m also not the kind of traveller who arrives in a destination without knowing anything about the place. As travellers we must have some personal responsibility. On landing in Hanoi back in 2006, I hadn’t read up on the best way to get from the airport and was quite sleepy so my internal currency converter wasn’t working well. As a result, I was majorly ripped off by an unlicensed taxi driver. Ultimately, it was my own fault for not being prepared.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/DPP/FortSantiago.jpg

Crab Mentality / Tall Poppy Syndrome

After my previous article on the Philippines being portrayed negatively in foreign media was posted on countless blogs, a lot of people had their say about what I wrote. While a lot of the feedback was positive, there were also countless negative responses. One Filipino referred to Manila as a “festering sore” and others focused on corruption in the Philippines or poverty. While I have never stated that the Philippines has never had problems, I do feel that the over promotion of the negative aspects of this country has managed to squash most of the good that comes out of the Philippines. I also view this as a vicious cycle which gradually diminishes the pride of country that Filipinos have and erodes the international image of this nation further. I say this because it is exactly what I witnessed on the blogs. I wrote something good about the Philippines and many Filipinos ignored the positives and went back to saying how terrible the country is.

Our own Worst Enemy
Jojo A. Robles wrote on this in the Manila Standard in response to my article stating that:

“no one can out-criticize Filipinos like the Filipinos themselves, as we do every single day in our own media……. if we are to stop people in other countries from thinking that we live in a hopelessly corrupt, poor and dangerous country, perhaps we should begin by ending our own persistent and oft-stated belief that we do so in the first place.”

Last December when I took a walk through Quiapo in Manila with Carlos Celdran, I saw many of the things that may lead a person to think of Manila as a ‘festering sore’, however, I really enjoyed the experience and actually went back the following month. The culture and history of Quiapo is really quite amazing and all you have to do is walk down Hidalgo Street or around the occult stalls beside Quiapo Church to see it for yourself. I guess that one man’s trash can truly be another’s treasure and to quote Carlos Celdran, “You can’t change the way Manila looks, but you can change the way you look at Manila.” This country really needs a vast number of its citizens to change their perspectives in order to create a better image of The Philippines on the world stage.


http://ourparadisephilippines.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/manila_ocean_park_ourparadisephilippines.jpg


What it all boils down to in the end is that no country is perfect, but each is unique and beautiful in its own way. Sadly, the image of the Philippines has been under attack from all angles for quite some time. Nevertheless, many Filipinos and foreign visitors are starting to discover that while the Philippines does have many problems, it also has so many amazing experiences to offer if you’re willing to seek them out. As more people experience this country and word gets out, the perceptions of both locals and foreigners are becoming more informed. Ryan Buaron recently posted on our Facebook Fanpage (www.facebook.com/TourismPhilippines): “When we see something amazing in the Philippines, we usually exclaim “Parang hindi sa Pilipinas! (Looks like it’s not in the Philippines!) – WRONG. It should be – “Ang ganda talaga ng Pilipinas!” (The Philippines is really beautiful!).” As a result of this change in thinking, Pinoy Pride is slowly on the rise and the astounding ecological and cultural beauty of the Philippines and the warmth of its people are starting to become more than dull whispers to travelers around the world.


http://www.pinoylife.jp/img/news/Sinulog-Festival.jpg

Viewing the Philippines in a Different Light
Posted by Scott Allford on Oct 7th, 2009
Filed Under: Walkabout Pinas


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs027.snc3/11463_205328329063_86996579063_3190478_4154219_n.jpg


If you live outside of the Philippines and you watch or read the news you may feel very justified in believing that the Philippines is a very dangerous country. Savaged by typhoons, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, and terrorist attacks. You may also be assured in your belief that it is a poor country with images of children picking through garbage, slums, and corruption scandals broadcast in most international news reports. I am not going to deny that these things are true, however, they are not all that the country contains. Not every person in the Philippines is poor, a terrorist, or a victim of terror. In fact other countries around the world suffer from these same problems yet they do not become iconic images of those nations.

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The common view of the Philippines

A few months ago I was at a roof-top birthday party in Makati filled with socialites and expats. Whilst there I was introduced to a German ‘journalist’, and my friend asked him why the Philippines is portrayed in such a negative light in the foreign media. His response was in two parts; Firstly because in his experience he could not sell stories about the Philippines in Germany if they were not about poverty, violence, or corruption. Secondly, he said that because there is so much poverty, violence, and corruption there is nothing else to report on. After saying this he sipped his glass of red wine and was whisked away into a group of Filipino socialites.

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Photo from: http://pedroiho.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/surigao-escapade-marvelous-tinuy-an-falls/

Perhaps the red wine was ‘poor’ in taste, or the fact that that particular roof-top was one of the few in Makati which doesn’t have a swimming pool made him focus on the poverty in the Philippines, or maybe the sounds of merrymaking were ‘violent’ on his ears. I think that it was none of these things. Germany, a developed country, has slums. But if the focus can be moved away from the poverty in the developed countries and put on some islands way out in the Pacific Ocean, then people in developed countries can feel a little bit better.

I remember growing up in Australia, taking garbage out to the dump after cleaning up the garden. I would see Aboriginals picking through the garbage for food. Yet that has never been an iconic image of Australia. I went to ‘water villages’ in Malaysia and Brunei and thought how similar they look to slums in Manila. Yet ‘water villages’ are tourist attractions and the slums here are not. I lived in South Korea a few hundred kilometres away from the DMZ, with jets and helicopters flying overhead all the time it felt like a war zone. In the spring I would have 40 tanks facing in the direction of my apartment. Yet South Korea is generally not viewed or branded as a dangerous country. And South Korea has slums too. Perhaps the time will come when people outside the Philippines will come to realise that the branded image of the Philippines portrayed in the media is only a small piece of the full picture of this country.


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A Different View

Since the Philippines was settled by people 30,000 years ago this country has blossomed into a mix of over 180 indigenous ethnic groups, over half of which also represent unique linguistic groups. This array of cultures, languages, and cultural artifacts cannot be matched by most nations of the world. From the Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, and Visayans to the Binukid, Moros, Ati, Igorot, and the T’boli, just to name a few. These cultures are rich, strong and proud and in most cases the people that make up these cultures are very friendly and welcoming to outsiders. On a trip to Sagada I was welcomed into a very warm and friendly Kankanaey family. They showed us around Sagada and told us stories of Kankanaey cultural practices. They even taught me how to wear a traditional bahag (a hand-loomed loin cloth or G-string).

Neighbouring Sagada is Ifugao, with vast rice terraces that shape the mountains of the region. The oldest rice terraces are 6,000 years old, which is 1,000 years older than the oldest pyramid in Egypt. If put end to end the rice terraces dwarf the Great Wall of China and the rice terraces were not made by using slave labor like most other ancient wonders of the world.


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The Banaue Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage site. But they are not alone. The Philippines have numerous UNESCO world heritage sites including the Baroque churches of San Agustin Church in Manila, Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, and Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo. There is also the beautiful and historic town of Vigan in Ilocos Sur. Furthermore, there are the natural UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.


Lastly the Philippines consists of 7,107 beautiful islands. These islands contain remote beaches and amazing rock formations as well as other natural wonders like the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the perfectly conical Mt. Mayon volcano or the stunning Bacuit Bay in El Nido, Palwan. But also on these islands is a range of biodiversity not seen in most other places on the planet. In Romblon, Sibuyan Island is known as the Galapagos of Asia as it contains such a diverse range of species which can be found nowhere else on the planet. If you get off these islands and dive into the cool blue-turquoise waters of the Philippines, you may also see some of the richest biodiversity in the world’s seas. The Verde Island Passage has been named as the ‘centre of the centre’ of marine biodiversity in the world. It has over 300 species of corals as well as vast numbers of fish that you will not find anywhere else.

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With all that this country has to offer I am baffled as to why it has been branded in such a negative way by the International media. However, I think that more and more people are starting to discover that there is a different side to the Philippines to the one they have been bombarded with for the past few decades. Those who come to the Philippines to seek out the beauty of this country will not be disappointed. However, first time travellers to the Philippines should beware, just like me and many other foreigners, this amazing country may compel you to stay quite a bit longer than you initially planned.


http://tourism-philippines.com/viewing-the-philippines-in-a-different-light/

Cuba, with eye on golf, liberalizes land law

HAVANA, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The cash-strapped Cuban government will allow foreign investors to use state-owned land for up to 99 years in a change that is likely to bring developments of luxury golf courses to the communist island.

The new law, published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, was said to be aimed at "facilitating the process of participation of foreign investment in international tourism" by giving "greater security and guarantee to the foreign investor in the real estate business."

Cuban authorities have said that a dozen or so golf developments are under consideration as they seek ways to boost tourist revenues for the fragile economy.

Before the legal change, which was decreed in July but not announced until Thursday, Cuban law permitted use of state lands for 50 years. Most land in Cuba belongs to the government.

Foreign investors who have proposed the golf developments say the 99-year limit is necessary to attract buyers and make their projects, which will feature course-side homes, financially viable.

Cuba, which discouraged the sport after the 1959 revolution, has only two golf courses.

Cuba attracted about 2.4 million tourists last year, and is hoping golf will bring wealthier visitors to the island.

Officials are also planning for the day when the United States, 90 miles (145 km) away, ends its longstanding ban on travel to Cuba.

Legislation is pending in the U.S. Congress that would lift the ban that is part of the 48-year-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.

President Raul Castro has undertaken various reforms to improve the Cuban economy, with the goal of ensuring the survival of the communist system installed after the revolution that put his older brother Fidel Castro in power.

Earlier this month, he told the national parliament that the government would grant more licenses for people to operate small businesses.

In another decree published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, the government said it would allow small-time private vendors to sell agricultural products from roadside stands.

The concept has been in use in some parts of the country since last year, but now is official national policy.

Bosnia, Serbia restart steam train line in bid to attract tourists, boost ties
29 August 2010

VISEGRAD, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Bosnia and Serbia restarted an old steam-powered train Saturday in an effort to increase tourism in a region that was devastated by war in the 1990s.

Thousands of people gathered in the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad to greet the train on century-old, narrow-gauge rails as it ended its 26-mile (42-kilometer) journey from Mokra Gora station in Serbia.

Bosnian and Serbian officials said the joint Serbia-Bosnia effort also is aimed at restoring the broken ties between the wartime foes.

"I am very happy that we are restarting an old train, an old railway, to open new perspectives," said Serbia's President Boris Tadic, who traveled to Visegrad for the ceremony.

The narrow-gauge rail line once connected Belgrade with Sarajevo and Dubrovnik in Croatia, but was closed in 1974.

It was forgotten for many years until Serbia reconstructed a 9-mile-long (15-kilometer-long) section in scenic Sargan Mountain to promote its own tourism with the vintage train.

Bosnian authorities invested $6.4 million ((EURO)5 million) to extend the route the rest of the way to Visegrad.

Bitter ethnic conflicts involving Serbs, Croats, Muslim Bosniacs and other groups in 1991-95 split Yugoslavia into several nations, including Bosnia and Serbia. It was the worst fighting that Europe had seen since World War II.

BRAZIL PROMOTES TOURISM TO RIO'S CRIME-FREE SHANTY TOWNS
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 1 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) -Tourists usually try to run from Brazil’s Rio do Janeiro's notorious slums.

Now officials headed by President Lula da Silva are inviting them to come and visit instead. The Santa Marta shantytown this week became the first community in a programme meant to promote tourism in the poor neighbourhoods that are home to some unique music and art work.

The programme, “Rio Top Tour: Rio de Janeiro in a Different Perspective,” also rewards communities like Santa Marta that have been cleared of the violent drug gangs that have long made Rio's crowded hillsides notoriously dangerous.

Slum residents will be trained to work as tourist guides and street signs in English will be posted throughout the shantytown of some 5,000 people, which will have about 30 attractions such as the place where Michael Jackson in 1996 filmed a video, a samba school and works of local artists, as well as a vista point with a breathtaking view of the city.

“Rio will not be known only for the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Sugar Loaf Mountain or the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches,” Brazil's Tourism Minister Luiz Barreto said.

The programme created by federal and state authorities includes a marketing campaign and information booths posted in more traditional tourist spots.

President Lula visited Santa Marta over the weekend to officially launch the programme and said he intends to spread the programme to other poor communities in Rio and across Brazil. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=131913

Sri Lankan tourist killed fleeing Malaysian kidnappers

AFP - Tuesday, August 31
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/sri-lankan-tourist-killed-fleeing-malays-20100831-14e0p.html
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100831/tap-malaysia-srilanka-crime-kidnap-0193655.html

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31, 2010 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan tourist died fleeing kidnappers in Malaysia while a friend escaped and another was rescued by police, the force said Tuesday.

The three had just arrived on holiday and to sell gemstones worth 40,000 ringgit (12,736 dollars) when they were abducted last week at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, district police chief Abdul Rahim Abdullah said.

"The three were trying to get a cheap ride to the city but were instead led into a van and kidnapped by four people and taken to a flat in the suburbs," he told AFP.

"The men were held for ransom and one of them managed to escape their captors on Sunday morning but one died in the escape bid," he said.

Mohammad Mihilar, 32, the tourist who escaped, told the New Straits Times he and his two friends, whom he identified as Samsudeen and Sarifdeen, were tortured during the three-day ordeal to get family details so that a ransom could be demanded.

"We were beaten and tortured for three days and were not given any food or water for refusing to give them the contact details of our families in Sri Lanka," he told the paper.

"They used masks as they assaulted us with iron rods, water hose and hot iron," Mohammad said.

He said the kidnappers took the gemstones and demanded a 35,000-dollar ransom from their captives' families.

"As I was heading to the toilet, I turned around and kicked the kidnapper before running out of the flat. I ran up to the rooftop of the flat and jumped off to escape," he added.

Mohammad broke a leg in the fall but said Samsudeen, who had jumped out of an open window, fell to his death.

Mohammad raised the alarm and police rescued Sarifdeen, who was found handcuffed in the flat.

"We have arrested two persons and one is believed to be a volunteer in the reserve police and we are on the lookout for two others believed to be involved in the kidnapping," Abdul Rahim said.

"Police are still investigating the case but we do not believe the kidnappers were part of any syndicate operating at the airport as it appears to be an opportunistic crime."

Tourism Dept leaves HK tourists out of goal equation
The Department of Tourism is leaving Hong Kong tourists in peace for now, focusing on other countries instead to achieve its goal of attracting 3.3 million tourists into the country and $2.5 billion in tourism receipts.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim told the House appropriations committee Tuesday the department can't force the Hong Kong market to bounce back right away after the Aug. 23 hostage tragedy that left eight Hong Kongers and seven others wounded.

“We are focusing heavily on other markets to replace what we lose in the Hong Kong-China market," Lim told the House appropriations committee during Tuesday’s discussions on the P1.303 billion the department wants for 2011.

Once the "wounds" over the hostage incident have healed, tourism officials will again woo the Hong Kong and Chinese tourists back to the Philippines, Lim said.

Those wounds are "something that must be healed naturally." There are indications that the wounds are already healing and “we are ready to start working quietly," he added.

“We are hoping to get 3.3 million foreign visitors by year-end and $2.5 billion in receipts and additional job generation of 377,000 people employed this year," Lim said.

'Notwithstanding the incident' The department wants to achieve a 10 percent increase in arrivals over 2009, “notwithstanding the incident that happened in Luneta on Aug. 23," he said.

According to him, the DOT expects to double tourist arrivals in the country to 6 million by in 2016 – the end of President Aquino’s term.

Tourists from Hong Kong and China account for 9 to 10 percent of arrivals in the Philippines, Lim earlier said.

In his budget presentation Tuesday, Lim said the department plans to spend P87 million in promoting Philippine tourist destinations to Asia Pacific markets including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Australia.

The department will also spend P86 million in promotion money to get American and Canadian tourists, as well as P64 million for Korea, P43 million for Japan, P38 million for Europe, P23 million for China, P15 million for the Middle East, P12 million for India, and P8.1 million for other countries.

The Philippines at present ranks sixth in terms of visitor arrivals, following Malaysia (No. 1), Thailand (No. 2), Singapore (No.3), Indonesia (No. 4), and Vietnam (No. 5).

Lim told the committee that the country has limited access and interconnections to other countries and lacks world-class infrastructure and tourism facilities.

The Philippine’s unfriendly business environment and inconsistent regulations were also cited as reasons why the Philippines is not attracting more tourists, he added.http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100914/tph-tourism-dept-leaves-hk-tourists-out-d6cd5cf.html

CHINA NOW MALAYSIA'S 3RD LARGEST TOURISM MARKET
SHANGHAI, Sept 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- Strong co-operation and friendship between
Malaysia and China has paid dividends in the form of continued growth in trade
and tourism and helped China to overtake Thailand to become the third largest tourist
market for Malaysia, after Singapore and Indonesia.

Malaysian Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said here Sunday that last year, one million
Chinese tourists visited Malaysia, an increase of 7.4 per cent over the previous year. She was speaking to the media after officiating the Malaysia Pavillion Day Celebration at the Shanghai EXPO Centre where she represented Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

"Malaysia attracted 23.6 million tourists last year, and we are now placed ninth in the world tourism branding. The China market is important to us for its quantity and quality ... and we are targeting 1.2 million Chinese tourists this year," she said.

"Tourism Malaysia has changed its strategy accordingly, to attract high-yield Chinese tourists who will stay for five days or more, and those who visit frequently."

Dr Ng added that as China had become more prosperous, Chinese tourists were now eyeing quality and luxury vacations overseas.

She said her ministry was in the midst of introducing focus pakaging and doing away with general sight-seeing tour packages. The tour packages had been re-designed and re-packaged to suit the Chinese tourists coming to Malaysia for shopping, food, cultural heritage and adventure.

"China's tour operators are asked to develop focus products, such as to attract clans and associations and companies to hold annual gatherings and conventions in Malaysia, under the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions concept for tourism," said the minister.

Apart from famous Malaysian pop singer Michael Wong (Guang Liang), renowned Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Ooi Chean See has also been appointed Tourism Goodwill Ambassador for Germany and Europe to lure tourists, she added.

Ooi works with the equally-renowned Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, having put together a unique orchestral performance at the Shanghai Concert Hall, in conjunction with Malaysia's 53rd independence anniversary celebrations here Sunday night. http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100914/tph-tourism-dept-leaves-hk-tourists-out-d6cd5cf.html

Australia's int'l visitor numbers lag behind growth levels -- tourism forum
CANBERRA, Sept. 13 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) on Monday said newly appointed Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson faces some major challenges, with international visitor numbers still in the doldrums at 2008 levels.

Ferguson will be backed by Tasmanian senator Nick Sherry as assistant minister and Simon Crean, through his new role as regional affairs minister.

Queensland's Craig Emerson, in his new position of trade minister, will also contribute to industry growth and the development of Australia's global brand.

"Tourism looks set to have a high priority in the Australian Labor government, with a number of ministers focusing their attention on the flagging industry," Australian Associated Press said on Monday.

The national industry body said developing new products and experiences, and a whole-of-government approach must be the hallmarks of the government's term.

"The latest figures show international travel to Australia rose by three percent in 2009/10," TTF managing director Christopher Brown told Australian Associated Press on Monday.

"But while the increase is good news, it only returns us to 2008 levels, and Australia continues to lag behind growth levels in global tourism. Investing in new products, experiences and tourism infrastructure has the double benefit of enticing more Australians to travel at home, helping to address tourism's balance of trade deficit."

Tourism directly employs nearly half a million Australians, almost half in regional and rural areas. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=300363

Russia says EU stalling on visa-free travel

MOSCOW, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday that the European Union was dragging its feet in talks on scrapping visas and warned that the delay was already hurting relations with its biggest trading partner.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has repeatedly said that clinching a deal on visa-free travel is one of its top priorities in relations with the European Union.

But some EU members are worried that scrapping visas for Russians could spark a surge of illegal immigration from Russia and other former Soviet republics whose citizens already have the right to travel to Russia without a visa.

"One problem which I would say is becoming unseemly for our level of our relations is the foot-dragging on the move to a visa-free (travel) regime," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"This is already creating real problems for the development of our relations," Lavrov said. He added that fears about illegal immigration were unfounded and said the EU needed to make a political decision as soon as possible.

Russians, most of whom consider themselves as part of a wider European culture, say visa rules are one of the most frustrating aspects of their dealings with the European Union.

European officials say privately that visa-free travel with Russia is a matter of time but that there are serious divisions between member states on what measures need to be implemented before a deal could become reality.

The European Union, for which tourism generates over 5 percent of gross domestic product each year, has reported soaring numbers of tourists from countries such as Russia, India, China and Brazil over the past decade.

Russians were the ninth biggest spenders on international travel in 2009, spending $20.8 billion, according to the World Tourism Organization.

Israel touts record-breaking tourist season
JERUSALEM, Sept. 15 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Israel broke what officials said is an all-time record for incoming tourism in August, according to just-released figures.

Some 280,000 tourists arrived in Israel in August -- a seven percent jump year on year, with 2.2 million visitors entering the country since January -- a 30 percent increase over the same period in 2009, according to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics figures.

"The significant and consistent growth in incoming tourism over the last year, alongside the interest shown by Israeli and foreign investors and entrepreneurs, obligates placing the issue of marketing land for tourism at the top of the order of national priorities in order to avoid bottlenecks that will adversely affect the tourism industry's development," Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said in a statement on Tuesday.

Citing a ministry investment budget for 2010-2011 of about half a billion shekels (more than 100 million U.S. dollars), Misezhnikov said his ministry and the Israel Lands Administration "will work to market additional plots in areas of demand to the hotel industry, in order to encourage new entrepreneurs and facilitate increased construction."

"Competition with neighboring countries is continually increasing and will do so for the next few years," Misezhnikov said in the statement, adding that "in order to compete, the Tourism Ministry will invest a significant part of its budget over the coming years in offering assistance to entrepreneurs." http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=4&rid=300925

Australia's int'l visitor numbers lag behind growth levels -- tourism forum

CANBERRA, Sept. 13 (PNA/Xinhua) -- The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) on Monday said newly appointed Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson faces some major challenges, with international visitor numbers still in the doldrums at 2008 levels.

Ferguson will be backed by Tasmanian senator Nick Sherry as assistant minister and Simon Crean, through his new role as regional affairs minister.

Queensland's Craig Emerson, in his new position of trade minister, will also contribute to industry growth and the development of Australia's global brand.

"Tourism looks set to have a high priority in the Australian Labor government, with a number of ministers focusing their attention on the flagging industry," Australian Associated Press said on Monday.

The national industry body said developing new products and experiences, and a whole-of-government approach must be the hallmarks of the government's term.

"The latest figures show international travel to Australia rose by three percent in 2009/10," TTF managing director Christopher Brown told Australian Associated Press on Monday.

"But while the increase is good news, it only returns us to 2008 levels, and Australia continues to lag behind growth levels in global tourism. Investing in new products, experiences and tourism infrastructure has the double benefit of enticing more Australians to travel at home, helping to address tourism's balance of trade deficit."

Tourism directly employs nearly half a million Australians, almost half in regional and rural areas.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=300363

HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY AUSTRALIAS INTERNATIONAL VISITOR NUMBERS ARE LOW

Crime against tourist in Australia.


Indians attacked again in Oz
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/never-safe-indian-attacked-again-in-oz/94414-2.html

Indians attacked in Australia
http://www.livemint.com/2009/09/15155805/3-Indians-attacked-in-Australi.html

Indian killed in Vic 'feared for life'
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/indian-killed-in-vic-feared-for-life-20100103-lmrc.html

Fatally and critically attacked Irishmen in Coogee,Sydney's east
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/attackers-wanted-to-roll-tourist-20100315-q7ek.html

A disabled Canadian man bashed in Sydney's west.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/10/2842242.htm

A Scottish man forced to undergo brain surgery after getting bashed in Sydney
http://thumbrella.com.au/four-teenagers-charged-for-attacking-scottish-working-holiday-maker-7104

German tourist hospitalized after attacked at Australian school
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7132508.html

There’s nothing like Australia’s violence on tourists
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/back-in-a-bit/2010/04/14/there%E2%80%99s-nothing-like-australia%E2%80%99s-violence-on-tourists%E2%80%A6/

Irish backpacker died after he was attacked in Sydney
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/924542/backpackers-mum-wants-attacker-spared-jail

German tourist attacked, stabbed in Melbourne
http://www.eturbonews.com/11981/german-tourist-attacked-stabbed-melbourne

Coast thugs attack Irish tourists
http://www.finda.com.au/story/2010/01/01/an-irish-tourist-has-had-half-his-ear-bitten-off-a/

Tourist attacked by 'brick-wielding teens'
http://abc.gov.au/news/stories/2009/07/27/2637699.htm?site=brisbane

Solon's assistance to promote Estrella Falls in southern Palawan as tourist site sought
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Sept. 20 (PNA) – Efforts to pursue Palawan’s development through Governor Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra’s Health, Education, Agriculture and Tourism, or the H.E.A.T. program, is expeditiously gaining momentum with propositions to further exploit other potential tourist sites like Estrella Falls in the town of Narra in the southern part of the province.

Palawan Provincial Board member Ernesto A. Llacuna said Estrella Falls located in Barangay Estrella, Narra has the largest potential to bring income to the province through foreign and domestic tourists if it has the necessary facilities they are looking for, such as a good road.

Llacuna said Estrella Falls’ weakness at the moment is that the 15-kilometer road that leads to it is rough, rugged and uncomfortable to travel, particularly during the rainy season when it is covered with mud.

He said this is the reason why he will propose to Palawan 2nd District Rep. Dennis Victorino M. Socrates to help with funds that would cement the road all the way from the falls to the national highway where it ends.

Llacuna is positive that with the right proposal that would include the potential income and other benefits cementing the road could bring to the residents of Barangay Estrella, Socrates will approve and help make Narra the next best town to visit aside from Puerto Princesa City and the municipality of El Nido on the mainland.

“There are many sites in southern Palawan that have the potential for eco-tourism development, and one of them is Estrella Falls in Narra, which is just about four hours away from Puerto Princesa. If we can cement the road that leads to the falls, there’s no reason why foreign and domestic tourists won’t come,” he stated.

He furthered that as soon as the road development project has been placed, Estrella Falls, which is nestled in the middle of a dense forest in Narra, can be packaged well to attract the visitors it needs.

“I am positive that Rep. Socrates can help bring Estrella Falls to be one of the most visited tourist sites in the province in the southern part,” Llacuna added.

The water at Estrella Falls never goes dry even during the summer. It is as clean and clear as any in the Philippines for it runs down from Victoria’s Peak, which is the second highest mountain in Palawan at 2,050 meters.

Nature lovers and revelers who have visited Estrella Falls testify that most mornings, one can run into monkeys that make a habit of showing off from the forest. It is also a great site for bird watching.

“Most tourists when they think about the province only think about El Nido, Port Barton in San Vicente, the Calamianes Islands and the underground river in Puerto Princesa. But there’s a lot more to see in southern Palawan. It’s about time we develop the south as a potential tourist haven,” Llacuna said.

The municipality of Narra alone has many things to showcase. It is home to Arena Island, a breeding sanctuary for the Hawksbill and green turtles, eight kilometers off Antipuluan Beach; Rasa Island, which is home to the endangered Philippine Cockatoo. http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Solon_s_assistance_to_promote_Estrella_Falls_in_southern_Palawan_as_tourist_site_sought.shtml

APEC TOURISM MEETING CALLS FOR BALANCED, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
NARA, Japan, Sept 23 (NNN-Bernama) -- A declaration of the 6th tourism
ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) urged for
balanced and sustainable growth of travel and tourism industries to boost
regional development and tourism cooperation, China's Xinhua news agency said.

The "Nara Declaration," adopted Thursday at the two-day event held in the
Japanese city of Nara, proposes that tourism grow in a sustainable, balanced and
inclusive way by approaches like encouraging tourism flows more evenly, and
providing stable employment.

The 2010 meeting, themed "Tourism for New Strategic Growth in the Asia-Pacific Region," considered tourism to be an economic engine in the region.

The document also states that it is essential to continue to develop a tourism-friendly business environment in the region to accelerate economic recovery.

Additionally, it said member economies will strive to exchange information and best practices to expand emerging types of tourism, including medical and
wellness tourism and ecotourism.

The meeting was one of the APEC meetings ahead of the upcoming annual APEC
summit in the coastal city of Yokohama in November.

APEC involves such members as Australia, China, Japan and the United States.
The biennial tourism ministerial meeting was initiated in July 2000 in Seoul. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=134207

Tubbataha National Marine Park offers free entrance fee for Palaweños
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Sept. 24 (PNA) -- Tubbataha Park Management Board (TPAMB) announced Thursday that they are waiving the conservation fee for local residents of Palawan entering the world-renowned Tubbataha National Marine Park located in the municipality of Cagayancillo in Palawan.

Palawan governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra made the announcement in line with the desire of the provincial government to boost local tourism and make the travel to one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world less expensive and affordable to local tourists.

Mitra hopes the move will encourage Palaweños to experience for themselves the excitement and pride of visiting the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, a privilege which has long been reserved for elite and moneyed sports divers and reef lovers worldwide.

Tubbataha's trademark among the world divers is its coral walls with extensive colonies of fish.

”We believe local tourism in the area will be enhanced and thousands of people will acclaim how powerful and artistic our Almighty God is in creating this wonder of nature,” Mitra said.

Tubbataha Reef is located in the middle of the Central Sulu Sea, 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City.

It is composed of two large shallow reef platforms enclosing a sandy lagoon. On the seaward portions of the reef platform are steep, often perpendicular reef walls extending to 50 feet.

Most of the park area is submerged, with only a few permanent emergent sandy islands.

Deputy Park Manager Dr. Terry Aquino said that the executive committee of TPAMB is now drafting the implementing rules and regulations to ensure that the privilege of free entrance to the Tubbataha reef for the local residents of Palawan will be followed accordingly.

The committee wants to determine what proper documents will be required from the marine park visitors to establish residency in order to avail said benefit.

”Park visitors still need to pay the pumpboat hire going to Tubbataha. Only passenger boats with allowable passenger capacity are allowed in Tubbataha reef. The Philippine Coast Guard and MARINA will not allow fishing boats to enter the marine park,” Dr. Aquino said.

Tubbataha reef is one of the three World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. The other two are the Puerto Princesa Underground River and the Banaue Rice Terraces.

It is home to nearly 400 species of fish and bird species, enough reason to declare Tubbataha as a National Marine Park through Proclamation No. 306 on August 11, 1998.

Underwater visibility can often exceed 30-meter seascape with underwater caves teemed with marine life.

Commercial fishing or collecting corals are illegal within the 33,200 hectares of its reefs and surrounding areas.

To manage the tourism activities, the Protected Area Management Board was formulated and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff acts as secretary.

A master plan was approved which included zoning and charging of entrance fee for dive boats and making the area a no-fishing zone. The money collected will directly be used to cover various conservation programs.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=302617

Bhutan looks to raise annual tourist numbers to 100,000
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, so far wary of mass tourism, is looking to triple its annual number of visitors.

Prime Minister Jigme Thinley has outlined an expansion plan for the sector, setting a target of 100,000 tourists by 2012.

About 30,000 tourists are expected to enter the picturesque kingdom this year.

Bhutan, which fiercely guards its ancient traditions, only began to open up to outsiders in the 1970s.

"We want to expand this sector without compromising on our policy of high quality, low impact and not volume tourism," the prime minister told a news conference.
Tall target?

The prime minister did not clarify whether the 100,000 target would include regional tourists, like those from India.

The Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) said it would be possible to bring in up to 60,000 non-Indian tourists by 2012, but perhaps not more.

"If it's only dollar-paying tourists, it seems a rather tall target," an ABTO official said.

Indian tourists pay in rupees as it is the same value as the Bhutanese currency, the Ngultrum.

Almost all other foreign visitors to Bhutan must pay a daily minimum tariff of between $200 (£130) and $250.

Prime Minister Thinley says that fee will remain.

The kingdom, which held its first parliamentary elections in 2008, imposes no limit on the number of Indian tourists.

But it has so far kept a select entry policy for foreigners, who must travel as part of a pre-arranged guided tour.

The Tourism Council of Bhutan is planning to re-brand the kingdom as "the last Shangri-La", a reference to a fictional Himalayan utopia.

New destinations within the country are being opened to tourism, while hotels and credit card infrastructure are to be upgraded.

Meanwhile, more than 250 acres of land in south, east and centre of the kingdom have been earmarked for tourism resorts. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11313412

PERU ATTRACTS LUXURY TOURISTS FROM U.S THIRD YEAR IN A ROW
LIMA, Sept 27 (NNN-ANDINA) - Peru attracted numerous luxury tourists from the United States for the third year in a row after a successful campaign.

This translates into a growing annual flow of tourists seeking high-cost travel experiences, Peru’s Export and Tourism Promotion Board (Promperu) reported.

According to Promperu’s Incoming Tourism Coordinator for the U.S and Britain, Elisabeth Hakim the average American tourist spends 1,290 soles (about US$464) and visits the country mainly attracted by the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cusco.

Statistics reveal that luxury visitors mainly come from Florida, California and New York, markets that are not yet fully covered.

According to official data, American tourist arrivals up to 377,232 last year, a 1.7% increase despite the fact that the U.S is just coming out of a crisis. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=134519

PERU'S GARCIA URGES YALE UNIVERSITY TO RETUN MACHU PICCHU ARTIFACTS
LIMA, Sept 28 (NNN-ANDINA) - Peru's President Alan Garcia has urged Yale University to return thousands of artifacts taken from the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu nearly 100 years ago.

The Peruvian leader said that the relics must return to Peru before the 100th anniversary of American explorer Hiram Bingham’s rediscovery of the world heritage site on July 7next year.

"We do not want a half-Machu Picchu, we do not want a Machu Picchu piece by piece, we want a Machu Picchu with everything it had on July 7, 1910," said President Garcia, "a hundred years have passed and that is enough time to return what they took for study."

American explorer Hiram Bingham was a professor at Yale when he re-discovered Machu Picchu in 1911. The Peruvian government had authorised the transport of the items to Yale for examination and scientific study for a period of 18 months but the agreement was not respected by the university.

Peru sued for the return of the items in 2008 and Yale has been embroiled in a legal battle with the South American nation ever since. Peru dropped six of its 17 charges against the university in March, but is still demanding the return of what the country deems its cultural patrimony.

Peru argues that Bingham helped bring 46,332 artifacts from the site back to New Haven between 1911 and 1916. Many of the items are stored at Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History.

Bingham is widely credited with bringing Machu Picchu to world attention but many historians agree that Peruvian Agustin Lizarraga had discovered the 15th century Inca citadel -perched 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) up in the mountains near Cusco- in 1902, nine years before the Yale archaeologist.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=134594

SEYCHELLES OPENS FIRST "CARBON NEUTRAL RESERVE'
VICTORIA, Sept 29 (NNN-AFROLNEWS) -- Cousin Island in Seychelles is launched as the world's first "carbon neutral natural reserve" at the national 2010 Tourism Expo. Eco-tourists flying in from overseas are assured their flights' CO2 emissions are reduced elsewhere.

Seychelles' 2010 Tourism Expo was launched in Victoria Monday by President James Michel and stood in the light of the Indian Ocean archipelago's increased focus on biodiversity and eco-tourism.

In this context, the Expo included the launching of Cousin Island as "the world's first carbon neutral nature reserve" by Nirmal Shah, leader of Nature Seychelles, the national body that runs the reserve.

Cousin Island already welcomes thousands of tourists each year. "In recognition of the environmental impact of these visitors, most of whom fly from Europe and reach the island by boat, and after media reports in Europe urging citizens not to travel to long haul destinations like Seychelles, Nature Seychelles took the decision to make the reserve carbon neutral," according to Mr Shah.

"Nature Seychelles was concerned about the impact of such media campaigns. Our main concern was the possible negative effect on tourism revenues that go towards conserving Cousin and other environmental projects," Mr Shah explained.

The Seychellois became aware of anti-long flight campaigns in Europe after afrol News wrote about the "Sylt instead of Seychelles" campaign in Germany in 2008. The article titled "Africa to pay for Europe's 'green politics'" was reproduced and referred to in many African media. Also Seychellois diplomats in Germany noted the campaign with concern, reporting home.

Nature Seychelles since that commissioned "a rigorous carbon footprint assessment" of Cousin Island from Carbon Clear, a European carbon management company. This included both on and off island costs as well as the hotel, transport and other impacts of international visitors.

"We found that we were responsible for more than 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents annually," according to Mr Shah.

The restored forest on Cousin was estimated to absorb a certain amount of this. But the bulk had to be offset. Nature Seychelles therefore invested in "high quality carbon credits in order to offset that footprint."

It was decided to support a high-impact and independently verified clean cook stove project in Darfur, Sudan, buying carbon credits. Altogether, therefore, Cousin Island's tourism industry therefore became carbon neutral.

Seychellois President Michel was full of praise for the world's first carbon neutral tourism destination. "The carbon neutral initiative taken by Nature Seychelles is a very positive thing. It is the first such project in the world, yet again showing Seychelles’ leadership on environmental matters and conservation," said the President.

President Michel also promised further developments of Seychelles as an eco-tourism destination.

He noted that, while Seychelles currently has the world's highest percentage of protected area - with Silhouette Island's recent declaration as a nature reserve bringing Seychelles to 47 percent - he hoped to soon have over 50 percent of the country dedicated for protection.

Eco-tourism and biodiversity was definitively going to be "the future of the Seychelles brand," a government statement today said. "Our tourism industry depends on our ability to protect the natural beauty of our islands," President Michel added. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=134733

Russian firm unveils plan for first space hotel

MOSCOW, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The lead Russian contractor for the International Space Station (ISS) says it plans to build the first hotel in space to cash in on a growing market for private tourism, a senior executive said on Thursday.

Energia, part owned by the Russian state, wants investors for a private space station that would house up to seven people and serve as a hotel, said Alexander Derechin, the company's deputy chief designer.

"Commercial space ships are being built around the world, they will need to fly somewhere," Derechin told Reuters.

Energia has paired with start-up Orbital Technologies, which will raise investment and market the services.

Enthusiasm by the super-rich for space tourism has rocketed in recent years. Virgin Galactic, an offshoot of billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways, said earlier this year it is aiming to test space launch flights in 2011.

The hotel will provide facilities for scientific research, media projects and entertainment and will be able to dock with Russia's Soyuz manned spacecraft and Progress transport craft, Orbital said in a statement.

Private investors have pledged to commit between $100 million and $1 billion, said Derechin. Orbital said several customers have already signed contracts.

"I do not think we will be able to complete it before 2015 but I do not think we should wait much beyond that. The competition is growing and we need to hurry up," Derechin said.

Derechin said the Russian project will compete with Bigelow Aerospace, a Las Vegas-based firm headed by hotelier Robert Bigelow, owner of Budget Suites of America, which also plans to build a space complex.

Earlier this year, Russia said it would temporarily halt trips for space tourists as it did not have spare capacity on Soyuz flights as the ISS expanded to accommodate a permanent crew of six.

Gulf Coast eyes tourism boost from fall fishing
AP
Wed Sep 22, 2:33 pm ET

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – The Gulf Coast's tourism industry is betting on red snapper to survive the winter.

In an unusual move, the federal government is allowing fall fishing of the popular schooling snapper, a favorite for anglers who missed nearly an entire summer of saltwater fishing because of the BP oil spill.

Enthusiasts typically flock to the Gulf to catch red snapper during the summer, and the fish is off limits later in the year. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Tuesday it was allowing snapper fishing over eight three-day weekends beginning Oct. 1.

In coastal areas hardest-hit by the oil, the special season is more about tourism dollars than seafood. Tackle shops, restaurants, hotels and stores that suffered steep declines in revenue because of the Gulf of Mexico gusher are hoping for a big boost headed into what is historically the slowest season of the year.

"It's not going to save the summer, but it's certainly going to help put cash in the drawers and get people through the winter," said Mike Foster, a spokesman for the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Danny Pitalo's small tackle shop in Biloxi, Miss., depends heavily on coastal visitors for business, and he said the fall snapper season could help keep him going.

"It will be a big help for us," said Pitalo, whose shop is still operating out of a trailer because of damage from Hurricane Katrina five years ago. "Our tackle business is gone, our tournaments are gone. The charter season is pretty much gone."

Red snapper seasons in the Gulf are based on weight quotas. This year's limit was about 6.9 million pounds, with commercial boats allowed to catch 51 percent and recreational boats allowed to harvest the rest.

The regular season opened June 1, and plenty of snapper were caught off the coasts of Florida and Texas before it ended in late July. But fishery experts estimate only one-third of the quota set aside for recreational anglers was harvested since so much of the Gulf was closed because of the oil spill.

Peter Hood, a federal fishery biologist, said estimates show about two-thirds of the recreational limit is still waiting to be caught. That means an estimated 2.2 million pounds of red snapper are available this fall in areas with pent-up demand like Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Repeated testing hasn't shown any spill-related contamination in fish taken from areas that have been reopened for angling, Hood said, and experts don't expect any problems with red snapper.

Johnny Greene, a charter captain based at Orange Beach Marina on the Alabama coast, said some boat operators aren't interested in the fall snapper season because they made so much money off a BP program that paid crews thousands of dollars each week to scout for oil in Gulf waters.

"(And) some people are so far behind they say there's nothing that can help them," he said. "Personally, I think it's a really good thing."

Tourist revenues were down as much as 50 percent on the Alabama coast because of the oil spill, and that contributed to a 10 percent decline in tourism statewide, said Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department.

The state spent about $300,000 on promotions for the beach before Labor Day, and it has a TV commercial geared toward fishing that will likely air this fall in conjunction with the red snapper season, he said.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said the red snapper season was a commonsense step toward bringing business back to charter captains.

Anglers are allowed to catch a maximum of two red snapper a day with a minimum length of 16 inches on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays until Nov. 22, when the season closes.

Puerto Rico unveils $3 billion plan to revitalize Old San Juan, attract tourists, create jobs
29 September 2010

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Officials unveiled details of a $3 billion, two-part development plan for the capital's historic quarter Tuesday that aims to ease traffic jams, attract more tourists and create thousands of jobs as Puerto Rico enters its fourth year of recession.

The backbone of the city's part, a 20-year plan, is a $200 million light rail system running from Old San Juan to the mainland and scheduled to be completed by 2012, announced at a conference held to court private investment.

The trams are part of a $1.5 billion "Walkable City" project that includes proposals to build reef barriers, develop parks and construct paths to expand beach access from 2.3 miles (3.7 kilometers) of coastline to 7.5 miles (12 kilometers).

The plan also would try to ease daily traffic jams by restricting vehicle traffic in Old San Juan, located on the western tip of a small island with essentially one road in and out.

More than 77,000 cars currently enter the seven-square-block area a day. No details were provided on what restrictions are planned, but the idea is to get people out of cars and into trams and water taxis.

A trapeze school and an observation balloon also are in the works.

"It seems like a lot, and it is, but it's real," Mayor Jorge Santini said.

The other half of the revitalization plan is a $1.5 billion project known as "Urban Bay," under which the U.S. territory's government aims to build hotels to accommodate tourists, and office buildings and apartments to attract more permanent residents.

Officials are hoping to double the hotel capacity in Old San Juan and triple the number of full-time residents, currently about 8,000.

The mayor said some 4,700 tourists a day walk the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, known for its colonial architecture and tight rows of colorful homes, in what he called "hit-and-run" visits.

"We don't want them to leave after three hours," Santini said. "We want them to live here one, two and three days."

It all seems ambitious for a city that has taken about a decade to finish a 150-yard (137-meter) bridge in the tourist district of Condado, Santini acknowledged.

Officials estimate the plan will create 20,000 temporary jobs and 7,000 permanent ones.

At least $25 million in local stimulus funds is immediately available and will be used to revitalize dark alleys and fix potholed streets near cruise ship docks under the plan proposed by the territory's Department of Economic Development and Commerce, said Jose Perez Riera, the agency's secretary.

So far that is the extent of money that has been committed. Additional funding could come from local and U.S. government sources, and Santini said the city hopes to attract $1 billion from private investors.

Gustavo Velez, an economist and private consultant, said increasing the number of hotels in Old San Juan is a smart idea, but overall the island cannot afford the projects.

With the economy unlikely to improve until 2012, there will be scant appetite for the new apartments and it's doubtful local investors have enough capital to support the plan, Velez said.

"Even when Puerto Rico comes out of its recession, it will not have the same level of wealth that it had before," he said.

AFRICAN DESTINATIONS CONQUER EUROPEAN MARKET
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 6 (NNN-AFROLNEWS) -- Not many years ago, Africa was an exotic travel destination for a few individualists. Now, both North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are becoming mainstream destinations, increasingly integrated into the normal travel market. Also 2010 sees fast growth.

The trend is indubitable. Any travel market analysis published nowadays includes Africa as any other tourist destination. Only a few years ago, this was not the case. Africa was too exotic for mainstream tourism.

The "normalisation" of Africa is best illustrated by those investing in the travel market's basic infrastructure. Global airlines are queuing to announce their participation in the strong growth of the African market.

Only last week, two important announcements were made.

The Star Alliance, dominated by Germany's Lufthansa, announced its decision to include Ethiopian Airlines into its exclusive club as part of its expansive Africa polices. Ethiopian Airlines joins South African Airways (SAA) and Egyptair as the third African carrier in the alliance. This will mean a new Star Alliance hub in Addis Ababa and five new countries - Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Mali and Niger - getting easier world connections.

At the same time, Air France and its Dutch partner KLM announced a great expansion into the African market. New destinations in Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Libya are to get direct flight connection to Europe, while Congolese and Tanzanian destinations get an increased frequency.

Air France already has partnered with Kenya Airways, using the Nairobi hub for smaller African destinations such as Comoros, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi. Also South Africa's Comair has teamed up with Air France, in total offering one of the most extensive Europe-Africa networks.

Earlier, in particular Belgian, Spanish, Portuguese and British air carriers had expanded their Africa-Europe connections. Even the smaller American-African flight market has already been strongly enhanced by carriers like Delta Air Lines and SAA, while Brazil's TAM and Chile's LAN are planning to follow.

The strengthened Africa-Europe air infrastructure of is based on a greater demand. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for years has documented that both the North African and sub-Saharan tourism market is among the strongest growing destinations in the world.

Indeed, both markets were the only ones globally to record growth during the two troubled halves of 2009, a year when the global tourism market plunged. They also had the highest two-year growth in the pre- and post-crisis era. From the record first half of 2008 to the first half of 2010, international arrivals to North Africa grew by 12 percent and to sub-Saharan Africa even by 16 percent.

In the European market, African destinations meanwhile figure among the most popular. Also during the northern winter of 2010-11, African destinations have a high profile. While North Africa still dominates, sub-Saharan Africa is getting a broader attention.

Egypt, with its Red Sea destinations Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, is still the great boom country for European winter holidays. In Britain, new cheap flights to Egypt are set to make a large addition to the great charter market. In Germany and Italy, Egypt is registered as on of the season's main destinations. In Sweden, Egypt will be the third largest destination this winter, after Spain and Thailand.

Even in Eastern European countries such as Romania and Poland, Egypt is emerging as a major winter destination.

The Maghreb countries Morocco and Tunisia, which also have seen record growth in tourist arrivals during the last few years, are mainly European summer destinations. The 2010 summer season is still not analysed, but preliminary data indicate yet another record for Morocco, with around 15 percent more international arrivals. Also t

In sub-Saharan Africa, the greatest winner this year is Southern Africa, mainly as a consequence of the FIFA World Cup. In particular South Africa has seen a large increase in arrivals, which is expected to be long-lasting due to the image lift of the country during the World Cup and the investments in tourism infrastructure.

But also South Africa's neighbours see a positive impact of the Cup and of years of investments in the sector. Mozambique is rapidly rising, however mostly due to South African arrivals. Also Botswana and Namibia are consolidating their position while Zimbabwe is returning as a destination.

In the Indian Ocean, the well-established destinations Mauritius, Seychelles and Réuinon were affected by the 2009 crisis but have achieved considerable growth in 2010. Madagascar however has experienced a setback due to the political chaos on the island.

East Africa's classic destinations in Kenya and Tanzania have seen a slower growth than Africa at large, but nevertheless maintained growth during the 2009-10 northern winter season. For the 2010-11 season, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) foresees a "tourism boom".

In West Africa, Cape Verde continues to be the great winner and managed to substantially increase international arrival throughout 2009 by lowering prices. The archipelago was helped by the start-up of discount air connections from Europe, but also charter operators in countries such as Britain and Luxembourg had to add extra flights to the popular Cape Verdean destination. The 2010-11 season is expected to break all previous records.

But also other West African destinations were emerging. Ghana seems to be the region's new shooting star, with travellers from outside Britain now discovering the country on a larger scale.

Ghana is increasingly mentioned as a winter destination in the European press, and preliminary data by the government indeed indicate arrival numbers are booming.

Meanwhile, Senegal saw a minor decline in arrivals in 2009, but with new infrastructure, a small growth is foreseen for 2010. The Gambia even experienced a massive decline in arrivals in the 2009-10 season, probably due to negative headlines, but is expected to repair some of the damage in the upcoming season.

But also African destinations that still are poorly developed, on the frontier of the travel market, are experiencing strong growth. As the mainstream discovers consolidated African destinations, the interest for exotic places off the beaten track is booming.

This is illustrated by the established airliners' increased offer of flights to "undiscovered" but highly potential destinations such as Gabon, Burundi, Comoros and Liberia. Another indication is the unprecedented high response to afrol News series about "Africa's secret destinations" this year, producing one reader record after the other.

The trend is further confirmed by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which sees the sub-Saharan region as one of the strongest growing travel destinations at large. Also, with the large investments in tourism infrastructure and eco-tourism by most African governments - from Mali to Malawi - new destinations are constantly being opened up.

The tourism sector indeed has conquered Africa and experts agree it will soon become one of the continent's main economic growth motors. Soon, many more African countries may be added to the mainstream tourist destination list, for example Ghana, Mozambique, Gabon, Ethiopia, São Tomé and Algeria. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=135409

Lhasa receives 257,544 tourists during "Golden Week"
Statistics shows that during the "golden week" period, altogether 257,544 person-time tourists visited Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, highlighting a 30.38 percent increase over the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the total tourist revenue was reported to reach 79.434 million yuan from Oct.1 to 8, up 28.94 percent year on year.

Among so many scenic spots, the Potala Palace and Namtso Lake hosted 0.24 million and 0.11 million tourists respectively. The average occupancy rate of star hotels was said to remain above 60 percent.

During the National Day holidays, the Municipal Tourism Bureau intensified monitoring the local tourist market and strictly regulated the market order in line with the objectives of "safety, order, quality and efficiency".

Specifically, tourism authorities checked on the service provided by bus drivers and tour guides to prevent from cheating in shopping and travel arrangements.http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/7163327.html

PHUKET'S VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL PROMPTS HIGHER ROOM BOOKINGS
PHUKET, Oct 13 (NNN-TNA):The annual vegetarian festival in this southern resort island this year has attracted around 70 per cent of Thai and foreign visitors according to the average room check-in ratio, said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket director Bangornrat Chinaprayoon.

Participants in the festival are Thais of Chinese origin as well as Malaysian, Singaporean, and Chinese tourists.

The director said hotels along the roads where the festival parade is held are fully booked, while it is expected that the vegetarian festival this year, which is to end Sunday, will generate at least Bt400 million in circulation in the province.

Such room reservations resulted also in the upcoming high season with some 60 per cent of rooms having advance bookings, especially along Phuket's famous beaches.

TAT Phuket estimated that the tourist season this year would be more lively than last year, while room reservations were mainly from new tourist groups in India, coming for their weddings and film production in the resort town. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=136114

Zambo City gov't allots P5-M for development of Sta. Cruz Islands
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 16 (PNA) -- The local government has initially appropriated the amount of P5 million to develop the Sta. Cruz Islands into another tourist attraction in this southern port city.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said Saturday the initial appropriation of P5 million is contained in the P140.7- million Supplemental Budget No. 2 which was approved by the City Council in a special session last Saturday.

Lobregat said the appropriation of funds is an initial step in the preparation for the takeover of the management of Sta. Cruz Islands from the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

The Sta. Cruz Islands, known as the Little and Great Sta. Cruz Island located 1.9 nautical miles south of this city, are favorite visiting places of both domestic and foreign tourists.

The Great Sta. Cruz Island is known for its pinkish sand beach while the Little Sta. Island has beautiful white sand beach.

The Sta. Cruz Islands are ideal place for picnic, snorkeling and scuba diving.

Lobregat noted that Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Alberto Lim had already agreed in principle to turn over the management of Sta. Cruz Islands to the city government.

Lim, who recently visited this city, said that they are working on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the actual transfer of the Sta. Cruz Islands from the PTA to the city government.

Lim was the guest of honor when the city government inaugurated last October 10 the Plaza del Pilar, an all-in-one “pasalubong center” in this city which has 56 stalls catering to all type of goods, candles, devotional items, and souvenir items that are truly Zamboangueño.

Lobregat said that the development of parks and gardens has been identified as one of the priorities of the city government as indicated in the City Development Strategies (CDS). http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=307056

Buglasan Festival of Negros Oriental opens Friday
DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct. 15 (PNA)-– As the 10-day Buglasan grand celebration formally opens Friday at the Sidlakang Negros Village, Festival Directorate chair Glynda Descuatan said this year's Buglasan is getting bigger, more colorful and more attractive as all 25 cities and municipalities participated in different events.

An opening program dubbed "The Best of Negros Oriental presents: BUGLASAN" will be held at 8 p.m. at the center stage of the Sidlakang Negros Village, said Jennifer Tilos, manager of the local Philippine Information Agency and head of the Buglasan promotions team.

The Buglasan King and Queen candidates from the different towns and cities are to be presented in a parade and during the contest proper while other best performances from different groups in the province will be presented, Descuatan was quoted as saying.

Part of the program a guest presentor, the colorful Solili Festival will perform and share the traditional marriage ritual of the nearby province of Siquijor.

The presentation of Solili is a tribute to the late Provincial Governor Emilio Macias II as Siquijor was part of Negros Oriental province before it became independent on Sept. 17, 1971 by virtue of Republic Act No. 6396.

Right after its show at Sidlakan, the Solili Festival will also present at Robinsons Place shopping mall at 8:30 p.m. on the same night as a prelude to a midnight sale.

With this kind of large celebration, Descuatan said Buglasan Festival will not only bring merrymaking to all local and foreign visitors but economic or livelihood share in the province. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=306906

AFRICA MOST DESIRED AMONG YOUNG TRAVELLERS
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 14 (NNN-AFROLNEWS) -- Young people are trendsetters, and new research shows that Africa has become the most desired travel destination for Western youths. The trend bodes well for Africa's booming travel industry.

Young Europeans have already followed their parents to the Mediterranean and Thailand and heard about the elders' round-the-world trip with stop-overs in Australia and the US. A charter trip to Egypt or the Caribbean is nothing special anymore.

For the big, once a lifetime adventure, trend researchers have found, sub-Saharan Africa is currently the hot spot among young people.

One of several market analyses documenting this trend was today released by the UK travel analyser 'Year Out Group', which looked into the increasingly lucrative "gap year" travel market, where predominantly young people take a long break from studies and work for a lifetime experience.

"The most popular gap year destinations are shifting," the survey found. "Travellers are heading further afield and wanting to do something beyond just sitting on a beach in Thailand," the market researchers concluded.

The study found that "South Africa and Kenya are the most popular destinations for structured gap year placements, with increasing numbers of gap year travellers avoiding the traditional destinations of Australia and New Zealand, in favour of more exotic destinations and activities, such as going on safari to see the 'Big Five' in Africa."

"Gap year travellers are not content with just a glorified holiday; they want exciting and varied destinations, cultures and activities to experience," the researchers said. "Although the old favourites do offer these, more and more people are attracted to destinations that have been under the radar of traditional gap year travel, such as Peru, Tanzania and Fiji."

Another trend, especially among young Americans, is to seek a meaningful gap year as a volunteer worker in the developing world. Also here, Africa is the great trend, taking over for the classic Latin American volunteer working holidays market.

The market for shorter and longer working holidays is booming, also conquering Europe. The trend among young travellers is combining what many see as an "immoral" act of travelling - as it is an expression of luxury and environmental destruction in a poor and fragile world - with a "moral" act of getting engaged.

Popular issues for engaged youths currently primarily include environmental issues and animal welfare, while humanitarian and medical aid is losing its dominance among volunteer working holidays. African wildlife is of special interest.

Among the many trendy "volunteer and adventure travel" organisers is I-to-I, having Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia among its top destinations. "As part of you gap year in South Africa you could find yourself helping out at a lion park in Jo'burg, working with orphans in Cape Town or even training to be a wildlife ranger in the African bush," the operator promises, very in line with current market trends.

Also in major European travel markets such as Germany, France, Spain and Scandinavia, "adventurous" African destinations tailored for young travellers are standing out as a trend. Increasingly, established charter giants are following this trend and offering lighter and shorter "adventure" trips to a growing number of African destinations for middle age and older tourists.

The trend is promising for Africa's tourism industry, where many more countries from Mali to Malawi could find trendy "moral" niches for engaged young travellers from Europe and North America.

As a trend, Africa's popularity among the youth may have far reaching consequences as established travel operators react and offer more African destinations to the mainstream market. Also, these youths will one day grow up and probably visit more high standard African destinations with more ease than elder generations.

Africa, in any case, already is one of the world's fastest growing tourist destinations. It bodes for the industry well that especially the upcoming generation has embraced the continent. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=136197

ECUADOR TO DEVELOP TOURISM INDUSTRY POTENTIAL
MONTEVIDEO, Oct 14 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - Uruguay's Tourism Minister Hector Lezcano has highlighted the possibilities of Uruguay as a major regional tourist destination and its potential to develop the sector.

The sector has generated incomes of US$1 billion and received 2.2 million visitors in the last tourist season, he said.

In an interview with Prensa Latina, Lezcano spoke about the objectives of Uruguay and the competitiveness of its offers meeting the growing demand for global tourism.

He said these included diversification to different local areas, conventions, congresses and other projects.

"The destinations will be fluvial, rural, nautical and strong activity of the domestic industry by promoting the social tourism system," he said.

He expected a good season and environment as he had observed in his tours of the provinces of Maldonado, Rivera and Colonia.

As an example, he said that 10 percent more of tourists are expected in Uruguay this weekend in comparison to the same period last year.

He announced that next month will the official launching of a promotional campaign with other Latin American countries supported with the presence of soccer star Diego Forlan.

Other promotional activities included the one at the resort of Piriapolis with the participation of 7,000 people in an international plaza together with Uruguay with Brazil. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=136213

Bengkulu to turn Panjang beach into tourism destination
BENGKULU, Oct. 18 (PNA/ANTARA) - Bengkulu provincial government plans to turn Panjang beach into an international tourism destination, and the local people have been asked to support the plan.

Bengkulu Governor Agustrin Najamudin said here that the people of Bengkulu should be prepared to receive foreign tourists to the province to visit the beach.

"All people in the province have to be ready and open to welcome foreign tourists who will come because Panjang beach will be turned into international tourism destination," the governor said.

The govern said the that if a lot of foreign tourists visited Bengkulu, it would certainly increase the local people`s economy and welfare.

Agustrin pointed out that the people in Bali were prosperous because the island has been the main tourism destination in the country that has been visited every months by tourists from many countries.

To improve the economy of the people at coastal areas in Bengkulu, the governor said the local government has built hundreds of home-stays which would be managed directly by the local people.

"Foreign tourists who come to Bengkulu are expected to stay at the local people`s houses located near the beach," the governor said, adding that the foreign tourists preferred staying at home stay to hotels.

Therefore the governor has asked the people in the province to help ensure security and order, and be ready to welcome their foreign guests for the sake of the development in the province.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=307320

NICARAGUAN TOURISM MINISTER CALLS FOR CENTRAL AMERICAN INTEGRATION
MANAGUA, Oct 17 (NNN-MCT) -- The worst of last year's global economic crisis may be over, but that's no reason for Central America's tourism leaders to forget the lessons learned from it, says Nicaraguan Tourism Minister Mario Salinas.

Central American integration, Salinas said, should be the key to developing tourism to its full potential in the years to come, just as it was instrumental in helping the region survive the crisis last year.

"We need to forget about our borders from the point of view of tourism," Salinas told The Nica Times in a recent interview. "We need to integrate with more energy and support; we should follow the example of Europe."

While a European-type union of Central American nations might be a way off, the merits of tourism integration were proven during last year's economic slump. Some wisely saw the crisis as an opportunity for needed change in the tourism industry.

"We needed to be knocked out of our complacency," said Dionne Chamberlain, head of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, during last year's Central American Travel Market conference in El Salvador. "We need to do things differently and look for alternative markets. This was the kick in the pants that we needed to revitalize the whole tourism industry."

Many countries realized they didn't have to look too far to find alternative markets. Central Americans, it turns out, also like to travel -- both within their own countries and throughout the region.

Nicaragua has been rewarded for lifting its visa requirements on neighboring Costa Rica with a 25 percent increase in Tico tourists traveling to destinations such as Granada and Ometepe Island. And El Salvador experienced similar success by promoting itself in Guatemala and Honduras, resulting in a 24 percent increase in tourism visits during this year's Semana Santa Easter Week vacation.

Guatemala also continues to promote domestic tourism with its program "Go on Vacation Without Leaving Your Country."

But perhaps the greatest example of domestic-tourism success has been in Honduras. When the number of tourists traveling to Honduras plummeted by 70 percent in the wake of the June 2009 military coup, the country's tourism sector -- both public and private -- began an aggressive and coordinated domestic-tourism campaign by offering 50 percent off hotels on Roatan Island.

The plan worked so well last year as a stopgap measure that it continued as a rainy-season incentive in 2010, according to Honduran Tourism Minister Nelly Jerez.

Jerez said the discount prices have given many Hondurans a chance to visit their famous white-sand beaches for a vacation that otherwise might have been too expensive to consider. And helping Hondurans get to know their own country better can have an additional promotional effect abroad.

"If you don't know your own country, how are you going to sell it to others and tell people to come visit?" Jerez said.

While Central America's experience with tourism integration has been mostly positive, much more needs to be done, according to Nicaragua's Mario Salinas.

For integration to really advance to the next step, lingering suspicions and isolationist tendencies must change, he said.

"There is still a sense of competition among the countries of Central America -- a belief that if tourism grows in one country, it will decrease in another. But I am not convinced of that," Salinas said.

On the contrary, the Nicaraguan tourism minister stressed, integration could help lift all economies and project a more positive image of a united Central America.

Plus, he said, integration would help Central America develop common goals and plans, rather than every country pushing and pulling in different directions.

"Central America doesn't have a common goal for tourism growth. How many tourists do we want by the year 2020? We don't know. We need to have a goal and a plan, and the only way to do that is to integrate," Salinas said.

Salinas said the countries of Central America should stop eyeing one another as competitors and start looking at each other as partners in development.

For example, he said, if Costa Rica is interested in growing its tourism market to 5 million visitors annually, the country is going to have to integrate its tourism offering with Nicaragua's to start promoting a greater package of destinations that includes Granada, the San Juan River and Ometepe Island.

"Costa Rica's offering alone is not going to be sufficient; they need to start thinking about something different," Salinas said. "If Costa Rica grows its tourism in a way (that includes Nicaragua), it means more tourism for them and for us, too."

"And that's how we grow as a region," Salinas added. "We have to look at tourism 10 years down the road."

The problem, he added, is that Costa Rica -- and Central America in general -- is not ready to make any giant steps toward integration.

"We're not there yet," he said. "Costa Rica wants to promote itself alone in the United States and won't allow a Central American promotional campaign."

Costa Rica, for its part, says it has different promotional techniques in different parts of the world. In European markets, Costa Rica has decided to promote itself as an integrated part of a multidestination region, as part of the Central America Tourism Agency in Spain.

But in the United States and South America, "where tourists don't visit more than one country on their vacations, we continue to promote ourselves as a singular destination," explained Maria Amalia Revelo, deputy director of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT).

Revelo said varying standards of quality and sustainability pose a challenge to greater tourism integration in Central America. Different levels of citizen security are another major concern, she said.

The Costa Rican official said the ICT agrees that Central America needs to develop a more positive image, and she hopes the problems affecting the region's image will improve.

"We hope that the current situations affecting the image will (sort themselves out) and allow us to explore together, in a sustainable way, the diverse tourism products we have as a region," Revelo said, without identifying what "situations" Costa Rica thinks are problematic.

Nicaragua's Salinas said he thinks Costa Rica fears it would tarnish its image by associating with neighboring countries. But he doesn't think that's a very progressive way of looking at the situation.

"Costa Rica should say to other Central American countries, 'I have a good image in the United States, so take advantage of me -- offer me more destinations and we'll come up with a strategy to expand the (regional) tourism offering,'" Salinas said.

If Costa Rica were to take the lead in such an initiative, Salinas said, it would help project an entirely new image of Central America to the rest of the world -- an image of unity and cooperation, which in turn would help tourism.

"We have to see things in a different light," Salinas said. "We need to push integration so that everyone grows." http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=136464

Travel Picks: Top 10 sporting event destinations for 2011

SYDNEY, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Sports fanatics happily travel to all corners of the globe to watch their favourite sport or team but planning ahead is key to securing good seats and hotel rooms.

Online travel company Expedia (http://www.expedia.com.au) has come up with a list of the top 10 sporting event destinations in 2011 to help sports buffs plan their vacation next year. This list has not been endorsed by Reuters:

1. The Australian Open (Tennis)

Melbourne, Australia from Jan 17 - 30

Kick off the sporting year at the Australian Open, Asia Pacific's Grand Slam, at Melbourne Park. Between sets, travellers can explore Melbourne and be tempted by some of the best food and shopping experiences in Australia, visit the Eureka Tower for a 360 degree view of the city, or take a dip at St Kilda beach.

2. Super Bowl XLV (Gridiron)

Arlington, Texas, USA on Feb 6

One of the most watched games in the world, a quarter of a million fans are expected to visit the Dallas-Fort Worth area for next year's Super Bowl. The game is at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, so after the celebrations head to Dallas for some Texan cuisine and explore the history of JFK's murder.

3. Cricket World Cup

Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka from Feb 19 - April 22

The cricket world's premiere event will be held in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, allowing fans watch some great cricket matches and between innings visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawella, Sri Lanka, Old Dhaka in Bangladesh where they can learn about the country's history, or take a day trip from Mumbai, India to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Elephanta Island, to explore 9th century caves and rock architecture.

4. IRB Sevens (Rugby Union)

Hong Kong from March 25 - 27

This will be the 12th season for the Sevens Series with eight tournaments held between December 2010 and May 2011 with Hong Kong being the city to draw the biggest crowds. After the final whistle, the best way to explore the sights and sounds of Hong Kong is to hop on the 'Ding Ding' tram which runs from Kennedy Town in the island's west to Shau Kei Wan in the east.

5. FA Cup Final (Football)

London, England on May 14

This tournament takes close to a year to complete, culminating on May 14 at London's Wembley Stadium. Take in the iconic sights of Big Ben and the Tower of London before joining the masses catching the train to Wembley to watch the match.

6. Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix (Motor racing)

Monaco from May 26 - 29

The most anticipated event on the Formula 1 racing calendar, the action never ceases as fans mingle with the rich and famous, gamble at the famous Monte Carlo casino and dine at luxurious restaurants when they are not watching the track. The racing is held over three days so plenty of time to explore this city and visit places such as Lavartto Beach or the Exotic Garden.

7. The British Open Championship (Golf)

Kent, England from July 14 - 17

For four days, the town of Sandwich will be transformed into a hub for the world's golfing enthusiasts as they eagerly await the next champion to raise the Claret Jug. While visiting Kent, history buffs will be able to visit some of England's most spectacular castles, gardens and historical houses.

8. FINA World Championships (Swimming)

Shanghai, China from July 16 - 31

All water sports are on display including swimming, water polo and diving, so the pool deck will be busy. Typically there is a break between the day and evening competitions, which leaves plenty of time to visit the best of Shanghai, including the People's Square, the Bund and the Yu Yuan Gardens.

9. IAAF Athletic Championships (Athletics)

Daegu, South Korea from Aug 27 - Sept 4

Catch a glimpse of some of the fastest athletes in the world and take the opportunity during the day to climb Palgongsan Mountain for a bird's-eye view of Daegu. At night, head to Daegu stadium to watch the world's best cross the line in the finals before heading out to try traditional Korean cuisine.

10. Rugby World Cup (Rugby Union)

New Zealand from Sept 9 - October 23

Rugby powerhouse New Zealand will host the 2011 Rugby World Cup with 12 cities hosting games. Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland will play host to the final rounds but many regional cities and towns on both the North and South islands such as Whangarei and Rotorua will also host matches, providing endless opportunities to experience some of New Zealand's natural wonders.

ZIMBABWE IN BID TO REGAIN LOST TOURISM MARKET SHARE
HARARE, Oct 18 (NNN-NEW ZIANA) -- Zimbabwe is implementing an aggressive tourism marketing drive aimed at repositioning the country to regain lost market share, says Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi.

He told participants at this year’s edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair on saturday that the country was also aiming to penetrate new markets as well as improve its relations with the rest of the world.

"Since the establishment of the inclusive government, source markets have opened up to us and Zimbabwe is ready to regain lost market share and penetrate new ones,” he said, adding that the country was rebranding as part of its drive to increase tourist arrivals in the country.

Zimbabwe's tourism sector had registered a dip in the last few years because of the unstable political, socio-economic environment in the last few years, combined with hostile international media attention.

Revival signs, Mzembi said, were clearly evident as shown by the 7.0 per cent growth in international arrivals in the first three quarters of the year while an increased number of international buyers also participated at this year’s Sanganai.

About 290 international buyers from Asia, Europe, America as well as Africa attended the three-day expo which ran under the theme “Green Tourism: Anchoring economic growth.”

The country took advantage of the fair to launch its new pay off line, “Zimbabwe -- a world of wonders” which exposes the numerous endowments of world class status in the country.

Major attractions include the majestic Victoria Falls, Matopo National Park and the ancient city, Great Zimbabwe.

Mzembi said the ministry would soon package all the sectors of the economy to attract investment as well as tourists to the country.

"Our role in lobbying for investment is right at the forefront, we are the public relations desk of this country,” he said, adding the tourism sector would continue to provide the bridge between the country and the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, Mzembi appealed to the local media to exercise restraint on writing negative issues about the country. "We are sponsoring a Zimbabwe that is read quite negatively by the world,” he said.

He added that the government was working with the international media to help tell the “true Zimbabwean story".

Harare governor, David Karimanzira said the city, which played host to the fair, was ready to do business with international investors. "Zimbabwe is ready to partner with serious business people in various ventures especially in tourism,” he said.

He described the fair as a wonderful tourism showcase.http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=136555

CHILE'S DAP AIRLINES HAS NEW AIRCRAFT FOR ANTARCTIC CHARTERS
SANTIAGO DE CHILE, Nov 1 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Chile’s DAP airlines - once the link between Punta Arenas and the Falkland Islands - has acquired a second BAE-146 for seasonal charter flights to Antarctica.

The four engine aircraft acquired through leasing can transport 100 passengers has six hours autonomy and was flown from the Faeroe Islands in the North Atlantic.

According to the Punta Arenas local media, the service involved over US$4 million including associate costs such as spares and training of pilots overseas.

“We need the extra aircraft to consolidate our growing Antarctic operations and to ensure we have a support in case of need”, said Alex Pivcevic manager and associate of the charter company that has a fleet of small aircraft and helicopters for regional operations.

Pivcevic said that the arrival of the new aircraft coincides with the Antarctic Week celebrations launched yesterday in Punta Arenas and praised the Chilean government and local officials for boosting Punta Arenas as the main access to Antarctica.

“We are doing our share with the incorporation of the new aircraft”, said Pivcevic. “The BAE 146 will also fly charters with tourists both from Ushuaia and El Calafate in Argentina” he said.

The aircraft acquisition is also part of DAP celebrations for its thirty years of service in the Magallanes region and Antarctica. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=137963

TWO LAT AM PRESIDENTS HEAD CHILE'S ANTARCTIC DAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK
SANTIAGO DE CHILE, Nov 1 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Punta Arenas launched yesterday the one-week “Chilean Antarctica Day” celebrations.

A highlight of the celebrations wil be the visit of Chilean president Sebastián Piñera and his Ecuadorean counterparty Rafael Correa specially invited for the occasion.

From Punta Arenas on Fri Nov 6, the two leaders will fly to King George Island in the Antarctic Peninsula to visit their countries respective scientific bases - President Eduardo Frei Montalva and Pedro Vicente Maldonado.

“It’s a most important event which will ratify Punta Arenas as the natural access to Antarctica plus consolidating a country-strategy over that territory. That is why and barring no inconvenient, we will be hosting both presidents”, said Punta Arenas mayor Liliana Kusanovic.

From Quito, Ecuador's capital Correa said he was particularly excited since he will be the first Ecuadorean president to visit Antarctica and the country’s scientific base, Pedro Vicente Maldonado.

“We are leaving Thurs Nov 5 for Punta Arenas and on Friday to the Chilean base President Frei and from there by helicopter or snow-cat, depending on the weather to Ecuador’s base”, he said.

Another milestone of the week’s celebrations is a special session of Chile’s Antarctica Policy Council when the 2011/2015 Strategic Plan will be considered with the attendance of Foreign Affairs minister Alfredo Moreno; Defence minister, Jaime Ravinet and Finance minister, Felipe Larraín.

Other activities include a painting contest for school children under 9, “Create your Antarctic dream” organised by the local Regional Culture Council. During the week at one of Punta Arenas high schools there will be a Schools’ Antarctica Fair, when 26 different secondary school delegations from all over Chile will compete to win a trip for their class to visit Antarctica.

“The purpose of all these activities is to show the relevant aspects of the territory regarding tourism, science research, logistics, culture and government policies, besides creating awareness and a regional identity with Antarctica”, said mayor Kusanovic.

Chile has all of its Antarctic activities concentrated in Punta Arenas including the headquarters of the country’s Antarctic institute which moved to the extreme south of the country only a few years ago. http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=137961

Is there a website that centralizes all these alerts so it's transparent and accessible readily?

^^^^
No

FEATURE-Mecca hopes to revive pilgrim tourism during haj
3 November 2010
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101103/lf_nm_life/us_saudi_pilgrims_haj_1

MECCA, Saudi Arabia, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Rashed Abdullah displays Oriental perfumes on a glass table to late-night shoppers in his small shop in Mecca ready for what he hopes will be a sales bonanza during this month's haj pilgrimage.

He is confident of attracting customers after fears of a swine flu outbreak kept many away last year.

"This year will be the best. There is really strong demand," he said, standing behind an incense collection in one of dozens souvenir shops around the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Business has picked up in Islam's holiest city since Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month which fell in August and September when many visit Mecca.

The annual haj is one of the world's biggest religious gatherings, bringing together millions of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam.

In 2009, the number of pilgrims fell to about 2.5 million but a record 4 million are expected next week when the haj begins.

"We wanted to come last year but friends advised us to postpone so we came this year," said Shaikh Habib, a pilgrim from India who came with four members of his family.

While last year hotels had trouble filling rooms in Mecca and the nearby port city of Jeddah, where most arrive by air, this year hotels are almost entirely fully booked.

"People are really interested and everyone is trying to make up for last year ... things will be much better this year," said Walid Abu Sabaa, head of the tourism and hotels committee at the Mecca chamber of commerce.

Mecca governor Khalid al-Faisal said 1.5 millions foreign pilgrims had already arrived, Saudi daily al-Watan said on Wednesday.

"Sales have been going well, many have arrived early," said Salah al-Maqdad who sells prayer beads and perfumes.

PILGRIM TOURISM

John Sfakianakis, chief economist at Banque Saudi Fransi, said foreigners were forecast to spend 8 billion riyals ($2.1 billion) during the haj, up from 7.2 billion last year, while locals would spend 3.6 billion riyals versus 3.3 billion riyals.

"The multiplier effect from the haj season for the entire economy could surpass 35 billion riyals this year alone," he said, adding last year it was 31 billion riyals.

Tourism GDP would surpass 7.2 percent of non-oil GDP this year, up from 6.8 percent in 2009, and 2.8 percent of overall GDP, up from 2.6 percent last year, he estimated.

Although revenues from pilgrims are small compared to the massive wealth of the kingdom because of its oil and gas resources, it helps a sector the government is developing.

Faced with a fast-rising population of 18 million Saudis, the government needs to create jobs and developing tourism is one area to do that.

"The main economic potential for the haj is encouraging pilgrims to visit elsewhere in the kingdom," said Paul Gamble, head of research at Saudi bank Jadwa Investment in Riyadh.

So far pilgrim visas are limited to visit the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina but officials have said they are working on plans to allow visits to tourist sites as well.

"There are a variety of potential tourists sites in and around the Mecca region," Gamble said.

Even in the evening, the floodlighted Grand Mosque -- home to the Kaaba, the ancient cube-shaped shrine that Muslims around the world face when they pray -- is packed with worshippers, while dozens rest or picnic in the nearby streets.

"We want to stay as long as possible and we also want to see Medina," said Shaikh Habib's brother Fairouz, after performing evening prayers in the haram.

Top 10 countries for 2011: Europe’s got the goods

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 has just come out, and Albania has claimed the number one spot in the top 10 countries for 2011. But Europe has three reasons to celebrate as two more of its countries, Bulgaria and Italy, have also made the grade, making Europe the most awarded continent this year. Well done Europe.

Want to know why these countries made the list? Read on.

No.1: Albania

http://media.lonelyplanet.com/lpi/22423/22423-23/681x454.jpg

Picture a place where rulers have names like King Zog, Enver Hoxha and Bamir Topi. Set the scene with coastal cliffs, snow-capped mountains and jungle-wrapped ruins. Cast some female ‘sworn virgins’ to fill the roles of men who have been lost in ancient blood feuds. Let the spoken dialects be known as Tosk and Gheg. Make it that daily life is governed by a code of conduct with 1262 instructions including 38 on hospitality towards guests.

It may seem like you’ve just conjured a medieval fantasy novel rather than an up-and-coming travel destination, but this is Albania in all its epic, eclectic glory.

The defining Albanian experience

If you are a journey-over-destination kind of traveller, take the road (and a sick bag) from Korça to Gjirokastra. The road climbs along the Greek border to the highlands, slices through pine forests along the edge of the Gramoz mountains before crossing the Barmash Pass (1759m) and descending dramatically into the narrow valley of the Vjosa River and up the Drinos valley. Recover down south on the beach at Dhërmi or take the ferry from Saranda across the Ionian sea to the Greek Islands – just because you can.

No.5: Bulgaria

Now proudly part of the 21st-century EU, Bulgaria is enjoying more attention. Its ski slopes are de facto destinations for Europeans looking for cheaper alternatives, empty patches of lovely Black Sea beaches can still be found, and its quietly brilliant wine industry is flourishing. Even remote Belogradchik’s unreal fortress made it on a short list for the 2011 New Wonders of the World.

The defining Bulgarian experience

Eat a hot banitsa (cheese-filled pastry) for breakfast while studying the Cyrillic alphabet (that’s right: it’s a Bulgarian creation, not a Russian one), then pop into a folksy 19th-century revival-era kâshta (traditional home; Plovdiv’s Old Town or Koprivshtitsahave loads of them). Finish the day with great Bulgarian wines (like the hangover-free reds in Melnik) – it’s only fitting here in the birthplace of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.

No. 7: Italy

Italy is a beguiling, beautiful, charismatic mess. The press might be largely owned by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, stories of corruption, bribery and sex scandals might be everyday news, and the economy might be in the doldrums, but this is still one of the world’s most magnificent places to be. The food is delicious, sunshine is plentiful, scenery and towns are sublime, and there is millennia-worth of art to look at. There are 44 Unesco World Heritage Sites here, more than in any other country.

The defining Italian experience

Start with an early-morning dip in the powder-blue seas off a blinding-white Pugliese beach. Drive in a convertible along the rollercoaster Maratea coast, then negotiate the madness of Naples traffic and encounter the power of Pompeii. Down an espresso in Rome, and get lost in the capital’s incredible splendours: ancient, medieval and baroque. Meander around Renaissance Florence and stay in a hilltop Tuscan villa. Dine in Bologna, capital of the state that brought us parmesan, parma ham and unparalleled ragù (meat sauce). Float through Venice and shop for killer threads in Milan.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/albania/travel-tips-and-articles/76175

All right ... Ryanair or easyJet needs to start flying to Tirana.

Sri Lanka fully legalises gambling in tourism drive

COLOMBO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's parliament passed a law on Wednesday to fully legalise gambling despite opposition and religious protests, part of a government plan to revive its tourism industry after the end of a three-decade civil war.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has embarked on a reform programme aiming to grow the $42-billion economy by exploiting his country's strategic position in the Indian Ocean.

One of the more ambitious goals is a targeted $2 billion in tourism revenue a year by 2016. Sri Lanka earned $350 million in 2009, and $391.8 million by October this year.

Gambling is not totally prohibited and there are small casinos and sports-betting parlours in Colombo, but they operate under a hazy regulatory framework that has not encouraged large-scale investment nor robust revenue collection.

"This will enable the government to streamline all casinos, which are now being monitored under various state institutions," junior finance minister Sarath Amunugama told parliament before the bill was passed.

Gaming industry investors are already jostling for position over a proposed $500-million tourism zone in Colombo's Beira Lake area, to be anchored by a $100-million hotel-casino complex.

The government's change to the law prompted some opposition, but with a two-thirds parliamentary majority, it fizzled. Opposition legislator Ravi Karunanayake said the government had gone ahead despite protests from the influential Buddhist clergy.

The majority of Sri Lanka's 21 million people are Buddhist, and there are Hindu, Muslim and Christian minorities. Despite some recent signs of conservatism, the country's modern history has generally been culturally moderate.

Recently, a section of Rajapaksa's government has pushed for bans or curbs on pornography, alcohol and smoking. On Tuesday, police launched a manhunt to arrest people who had acted in locally produced pornographic films.

However, the majority of newspapers refused a police request to print the pictures of the suspects, citing privacy laws.

"The Editors Guild has not discussed this issue, but the vast majority of the editors who were requested to publish these pictures have decided it is best not to publish them," said Manik De Silva, president of the Sri Lanka Editors Guild.

Mauritius sees higher tourism arrivals in 2011

PORT LOUIS, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Mauritius said on Wednesday it expected the number of tourists visiting the Indian Ocean island to rise 3.3 percent in 2011 as the economy emerges from the global crisis better than expected.

The Central Statistic Office (CSO) said in a statement that based on arrivals data and information from the industry it had raised its arrivals forecast for 2010 to 920,000 from an August prediction of 915,000.

"This represents an increase of 5.6 percent over the figure of 871,356 in 2009. Tourist arrivals in 2011 are forecast to be around 950,000, representing an increase of 3.3 percent over 2010," the CSO said

Mauritius, which is best known for its azure waters, white beaches and luxury spas, has pursued an aggressive international marketing campaign in source markets and has propped up the sector with a stimulus package.

The Indian Ocean island's tourism revenue for the year is forecast at around 39 billion rupees ($1.3 billion), up 9.3 percent on the 35.6 billion generated in 2009.

According to the Bank of Mauritius, tourism receipts for 2011 should be about 41 billion, representing an increase of 5.1 percent over 2010.

Tourism minister, Nando Bodha told Reuters earlier this week that the sector will grow 6 percent this year. Bodha said the country planned to diversify into niche markets to keep ahead of the competition.

Finance Minister Pravind Jugnauth unveiled a 12 billion rupee stimulus package in August targeting the textile, sugar and tourism industries to help boost a fragile economic recovery.

Jugnauth is expected to present the government's budget for 2011 to parliament on Nov. 19.

The CSO said tourist arrivals were up 6.2 percent at 646,656 in the nine months to September compared with the same period last year. It said the average room occupancy rate for all hotels for the first nine months was 63 percent.

At the end of September 2010, there were 104 registered hotels in operation, with a total room capacity of 11,383 and 23,296 bedplaces.

Dutch govt seeks tourist ban in cannabis shops

AMSTERDAM, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The Dutch government said on Wednesday it wanted to ban tourists from buying cannabis in "coffee shops", where hash is on sale legally, as part of a national crackdown on drug use.

The Netherlands has one of Europe's most liberal soft drug policies and its coffee shops are a popular tourist attraction, especially in Amsterdam and border cities near Belgium and Germany.

But some cities near the border with Belgium have clamped down on drug tourism, and the Dutch minister for security and justice confirmed on Wednesday a wider crackdown after coalition parties agreed to push for a ban in September.

The government, which took office last month, has agreed to limit the sale of cannabis to Dutch residents to curb crime linked to its production and trading.

"No tourist attractions. We don't like that," the minister, Ivo Opstelten, told public broadcaster NOS on Wednesday.

"The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it."

Amsterdam, home to 223 coffee shops, is already in the process of closing some in the red light district to tackle riminal activity in the area, and was studying the government proposal.

"We are taking the current practice as a starting point. It is not perfect but in many ways we have a functioning coffee shop system," an Amsterdam city spokesman said.

The government's plans for a tourist ban, whereby only holders of a resident's pass would be allowed to buy hash, has not yet been formally put into law and no timeframe has been proposed.

The possession of up to 5 grams (0.18 oz) of cannabis or hash is allowed in the Netherlands but large-scale production and transport is a crime.

Some Dutch border towns such as Maastricht and Terneuzen have already restricted the sale of marijuana to foreigners to limit crime and disturbances such as traffic jams.

The advocate-general of the European Court of Justice advised in July that Maastricht had the right to refuse foreigners entry to its coffee shops, giving support to the Dutch government's nationwide ban if the court followed the advice.

Wildlife groups condemn Ugandan golf course plan

KAMPALA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Environment groups have condemned President Yoweri Museveni's order to allow an investor to build a golf course in Uganda's biggest national park, saying it would disturb wildlife and hit tourism.

Museveni earlier this month told the state-run Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to allow the Madhvani Group to build the golf course and a swimming pool in Murchison Falls National Park, which straddles the River Nile.

Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for the east African economy which attracted about 800,000 foreign tourists in 2009, data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics shows.

"Uganda has laws that clearly describe what investment projects can be undertaken in nature reserves," Frank Muramuzi, executive director of the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), told Reuters.

Museveni rejected UWA objections to the project, saying there was no evidence the facilities would harm the park's ecosystem and they would draw more visitors to the park.

"These laws do not permit projects like golf courses. It is outrageous that a president should be violating the law in such a brazen manner," Muramuzi said.

The 3,800 sq km park has populations of antelopes, chimpanzees, elephants, birds, lions and leopards.

UWA had argued large numbers of people in one area would scare animals and escalate poaching while the buildings and fences would disrupt natural movement patterns.

Muramuzi said NAPE would send a petition to Museveni to reverse the order and would sue the government if he ignored them. Kenneth Kakuru, executive director of Greenwatch Uganda, said Museveni's order was illegal and should be fought in court.

The Madhvani Group was not able to provide an immediate response when contacted.

In 2006, plans by Madhvani for a golf course in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's second biggest, provoked outrage and UWA stopped the plan.

Gulf Coast hopes for post-spill boom from retirees
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press
Thu Nov 25, 3:53 pm ET

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – For all the oil spill claims and cleanup work by BP, retirees from the North may be the best survival bet for some Gulf Coast resort towns this winter.

After a disastrous summer tourism season and a slower-than-normal fall, Northern and Midwestern visitors known as "snowbirds" already are flocking along the Gulf for the winter, filling up condominium parking lots and campgrounds with cars and RVs from states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.

This annual migration of the AARP set is worth millions to the coastal economy and typically serves a financial bridge for tourist-dependent condominiums, restaurants and stores between the holidays and the start of spring break season, when business picks up again.

This year, snowbirds are critical for the companies and property owners who have suffered for months because of the BP oil spill. Without the snowbirds, some businesses teetering on the edge of solvency may not make it until the weather warms up again.

"You take that away when they didn't have anything to start with and you start a whole new tier of desperation," said Tony Kennon, mayor of this beach town on the Alabama-Florida state line.

The local tourism agency is advertising in the Midwest, inviting snowbirds to return to the coast. Winter rates always are far less than summer prices, with many condominium owners renting out their units to Northern visitors for months at a time. Some condominiums and motels are offering even lower prices than normal this year, with prices reduced by two-thirds at a few.

At the Gulf Breeze RV Resort in neighboring Gulf Shores, workers didn't know whether snowbirds would be scared off by images of oil hitting beaches during the summer. Would they go elsewhere this year, perhaps to the East Coast or further south into Central Florida?

Julie Kenney, who works at the RV park, was relieved to see campers from the Midwest begin arriving earlier than normal in late October. The resort's 250 sites are now about 80 percent full, and it's completely booked after Jan. 1 without any spill-related discounts.

"It would be really difficult if they don't come," said Kenney. "A lot of the snowbirds will travel over to Pensacola (Fla.) to go shopping, so it really helps the whole coast."

Retirees Mark and Diane Schnabel of Linton, Ind., were worried about the oil spill as they planned their trip to the coast earlier this year, but they came anyway. Now, they're glad they did — the beaches are virtually oil-free, the seafood is tasty and a dry fall has made for mild, sunny days.

"We were very concerned about it, but we never thought of not coming," said Diane, relaxing on the beach with her husband. "We already have plans to come next year."

Ron Sandefer researched beach conditions before making the annual trek to the coast with his wife Linda from their home in Paducah, Ky.

"We come here every November and I checked the websites for oil reports and looked at a lot of websites with live cam displays, and we decided it would be just fine," said Sandefer. "I figured it there was a problem somewhere, we could easily find a nice spot. It just didn't look that bad, and it isn't."

Snowbirds are big business in Florida Panhandle communities like Panama City and Destin, where there was little impact from the oil spill. They matter even more in places that were affected by the oil like Perdido Key, Fla., and Alabama, which have a high concentration of condominiums and a reputation for lower prices.

"Those people tend to look more for bargain-basement deals, and those are more likely in areas with lots of condos," said Fred Simmons, a real estate agent and property manager in Pensacola Beach, Fla.

Mike Foster of the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau said reservations appear to be on track with past falls and winters, despite the lingering fallout from the oil spill.

"We're feeling optimistic about it," he said. "I think the real test will come at spring break. I think at that time we'll see what kind of memory there is of the oil, be able to see what the perception is of the beach."

Rick and Jean Neal have been coming to the Alabama coast for four or five years from their home in Linwood, Mich. This year, they have a corner condominium overlooking a beach dotted with heavy machines digging deep into the sand to remove the final traces of tar balls.

The oil spill was a worry, they said, and the cleaning machines are loud at times. But the Gulf water is still sparkling, and the weather is so much warmer than in Michigan.

"It's beautiful," said Rick Neal.

Its a great move from the Natiional Trust for historic preservation. Increasingly tourists want to go to newer and lesser known places. Many countries are going this route including India!

Sri Lanka tourism revenue at record; Oct visits up 39 pct

COLOMBO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's tourism revenue hit a record high in the first ten months of 2010, with October arrivals jumping 39 percent as the country continues to enjoy a post-war surge, tourism board data showed on Wednesday.

Earnings from tourism have jumped 61.8 percent in the first 10 months of this year to a record $437.9 million, the central bank's latest data shows. The previous record of $416.8 million was set in 2004 when a peace accord between the government and separatist Tamil Tigers was in place.

Arrivals have risen every month since the government defeated the Tigers in May 2009.

The hotel and travel index on the Colombo Stock Exchange has almost tripled since then, outpacing the overall stock index's near-doubling.

Tourism is one of the main foreign exchange earners of Sri Lanka's $42 billion economy along with remittances, garments, and tea. Tourism revenue was $326 million in 2009, according to the revised numbers given by the tourism board.

Following table shows tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka:

2010 2009 Change
(in %) October
52,370 37,575 39.4 Jan-Oct
497,598 346,717 43.5

* The government expects arrivals to hit a record high of 600,000 this year, exceeding a previous peak of 566,202 in 2004.

* In the first 10 months, arrivals from North America surged 66.5 percent year-on-year.

* Visitors from Western Europe, the island nation's largest market, have risen 49.3 percent year-on-year.

* Arrivals from the Middle East rose 58.0 percent.

* Tourist arrivals from East Asia, South Asia, and Australasia have risen over 33 percent.

* Sri Lanka has imposed a tax of $20 per room night on five-star hotels if they fail to charge a minimum rate of $125.

* Sri Lanka is targeting 2.5 million arrivals and $2 billion in earnings by 2016. ($1=111.325 Sri Lankan rupee)

Sri Lanka '11 tourist arrivals hit record high
14 December 2010

COLOMBO, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's post-war tourism boom reached deeper into record territory again, with November clocking the highest number of arrivals and bringing the 2010 total to a single-year record, data released on Tuesday showed.

Arrivals in from January through November have risen 45.7 percent to 569,849, surpassing the island nation's previous annual record of 566,202 in 2004, when a peace accord between the government and separatist Tamil Tigers was in place.

November arrivals of 72,251 surpassed the monthly record high of 66,159 in December 2004, tourism board data showed. Arrivals have risen every month since the government defeated the Tigers in May 2009.

Tourism revenue has jumped 61.8 percent in the first 10 months of this year to a record $437.9 million, the central bank's latest data shows. The previous record of $416.8 million was set in 2004.

Following table shows tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka:

2010 2009 Change
(in %) November
72,251 44,311 63.1 Jan-Nov
569,849 391,028 45.7

* Sri Lanka aims to attract $2.7 billion in investments to upgrade its post-war tourism capacity, with the goal of growing revenue by more than 700 percent by 2016.

* The hotel and travel index <.CSEHT> on the Colombo Stock Exchange has almost tripled since the end of the war, outpacing the overall stock index's <.CSE> near-doubling.

* Tourism is one of the main foreign exchange earners of Sri Lanka's $42 billion economy along with remittances, garments, and tea. Tourism revenue was $326 million in 2009, according to the revised numbers given by the tourism board.

* The government had forecast arrivals to hit a record high of 600,000 this year.

* Sri Lanka has imposed a tax of $20 per room night on five-star hotels if they fail to charge a minimum rate of $125. ($1=110.91 Sri Lankan rupee)

just nothing, Quiere Lang yo publece estos aqui como de nuestro mana na Lenguaje Zamboangueno Chavacano ejemplos rezos para con ustedes tambien...:)


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FEATURE-Kenya tourism rides crest of booming demand

NAKURU, Kenya, May 14 (Reuters) - Lunchtime at an upmarket Kenyan safari lodge in what should be the slow off-season, and the dining room is packed with tourists from all over the world.

Chattering excitedly in many languages as they watch antelope, buffalo and a giraffe grazing just a short distance away across a stone terrace, they are driving an unprecedented boom in a key sector of east Africa's biggest economy.

Kenya made $800 million from tourism in 2006, making the industry its best hard currency earner ahead of horticulture and tea. This year, the tourist board expects revenues to top $1 billion for the first time.

"This is the busiest we have seen it," says Patrick, a barman at the lodge. Behind him, Lake Nakuru reflects the sky like a mirror, lined with an electric pink fringe of about 1 million flamingos.

Kenyan tourism was hit by U.S. travel warnings after bombings in 1998 and 2002 that were blamed on al Qaeda.

But it has rebounded strongly in the past three years, and earlier this month the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) said March 2007 had been the most profitable month on record.

Perhaps the best news was that -- defying the warnings -- U.S. arrivals were up by 20.7 percent in the first quarter to 22,802.

PRE-ELECTION BOOST

The figures reflect a broader financial boom in the country and a success for President Mwai Kibaki, who inherited stagnant economic growth of just 0.6 percent from his long-serving predecessor Daniel arap Moi in late 2002.

His administration is staking its reputation on economic recovery ahead of elections due in December, and was boosted by a recent central bank forecast of 8 percent growth by 2008, up from at least 6 percent this year.

Tourism will play a leading role. While growth is constrained by potholed roads, environmental degradation, and fear of crime -- particularly in Nairobi -- the government still hopes to more than double visitor numbers to 5 million by 2012.

From Beijing to Baltimore, television, print and radio campaigns are selling the attractions of parks like Nakuru: nestled in the Great Rift Valley, ringed by acacia and euphorbia forests and roamed by wildlife including lions and rhinos.

Much of the future growth will be fed by emerging markets in Russia and China, officials say, as well as more tourists from traditional markets like Europe and Japan.

Underlining the booming interest, Virgin Atlantic is launching daily London-Nairobi flights next month, hoping to carry some 100,000 extra passengers to Kenya in the first year.

"If it is successful we hope to go up to two planes a day," Virgin Chairman Richard Branson said during a visit in March.

RE-BRANDING DRIVE

Rising before dawn with strong coffee, donuts and fresh fruit in Nakuru, one group of Americans prepared for an early game drive, hoping to spot the park's more reclusive big game.

Numerous forays into Africa by U.S. celebrities in recent months have raised the continent's profile there.

But this year's biggest growth came from Eastern Europe, and particularly Russia, where KTB said economic growth meant aggressive Kenyan adverts were reaching more potential visitors.

To support its bullish vision, the government is reforming operations at home as well as spreading the word overseas.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the body that runs more than 60 parks, reserves and sanctuaries, held its first conference on the science of wildlife preservation last month, drawing hundreds of delegates to the golden ballroom of a Nairobi hotel.

It stressed the importance of the organisation becoming more "science-led", and of a re-branding drive to market each area as a unique destination, from climbing Mount Kenya to lion-trekking in the savannah to lounging on the coast's sandy white beaches.

It is trying to improve facilities and services at its resorts, hotels and lodges, and the infrastructure linking them.

Yellow bulldozers are repairing the notoriously potholed road to the Maasai Mara reserve, famed for its huge wildebeest migration which begins in July.

When tourists reach the park, new technology has been introduced and they will sign in and out using smart cards to instantly build a database that was once compiled by hand.

"ONLY IN KENYA"

There are, of course, long and short term challenges.

Competition from African safari rivals, notably South Africa and neighbouring Tanzania, has become increasingly fierce in recent years. Weakness in the rand has made South Africa even more attractive for Western tourists in recent months, KTB says.

And in the longer term, Kenya faces a threat from the projected impacts of global warming, which is seen dramatically affecting weather patterns and cutting existing animal ranges.

Even the government's upbeat growth predictions will not be enough to pull the majority of its 35 million population out of penury. Donors say Kenya's economy needs to grow by at least 10 percent a year to halve the number in poverty by 2015.

But Kenyan tourism players are optimistic, and even the Rift's stunning pink flamingos -- once threatened with extinction by erosion and pollution -- are making a comeback as locals are encouraged to play a bigger role in conservation.

Winter's Rocky Mountain majesty

By Jennifer Fong, Postmedia News

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/4010950.bin?size=620x400

The first trip to the mountains at the start of each snow season is always the most magical.

You're tucked into your warmest winter tuque, fleecy gloves and fuzzy socks. Your skis and snowboards are packed in the trunk.

As you step on the gas and the snow-capped peaks loom closer, you swear you can already smell the crisp scent of pine. When the mountains finally come into view, it takes your breath away. Even if it's your 100th time driving this stretch of road.

This year, recent upgrades at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Marmot Basin means there's lots to look forward to, says Anastasia Martin-Stilwell of Tourism Jasper.

Therapeutic mineral baths and maple-butter body wraps are just two of the luxe treatments on offer at the hotel's new $6-million, 10,000-square-foot spa.

If that's not enough indulgence, the JPL has also opened Cavell's Restaurant and Terrace, where top-notch local fare is served at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Over at Marmot Basin, skiers are still buzzing about the new Canadian Rockies Express high-speed quad lift, which opened last year.

"It's really transformed the ski area," says Brian Rode, vice-president of marketing and sales at Ski Marmot Basin. The longest high-speed quad chair in the Canadian Rockies, the Express takes riders from base to peak in eight minutes.

Rather than skiing or boarding strictly in the upper or lower portions of the mountain as they used to, enthusiasts can now take longer runs from top to bottom, thanks to the Express, says Rode.

For 2010-11, Marmot has also upped its snow-making capacity, renovated its mid-mountain Paradise and Eagle Chalets, and expanded its terrain park by adding new rails and a wall ride.

Since 2003, more than $25 million has been spent at Marmot on capital improvements, including another high-speed quad, the Paradise Express, set to open next November.

"It is a super-exciting time," says Rode.

Not only is there plenty of fresh powder in Jasper, there are also plenty of good deals.

A great time to visit is during the Jasper in January Winter Festival, says Martin-Stilwell. From Jan. 14 to 30, the town will be alive with parties, tastings, and concerts. Marmot will be offering discounted lift tickets, and many hotels will have specials on accommodations, says Martin-Stilwell.

It's also a great time to sample the natural beauty of the area, including the famous Maligne Canyon Icewalk.

"This is a time where Jasper the community really comes on board in kicking off winter," she says. "There are loads of activities right through."

"Winter is a very popular time for people to come and from all around the world," she says.

"Jasper is really like holidaying in a Christmas card."

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

^ I prefer Lake Louise but Jasper's setting is nevertheless very nice!

^^ agreed! but the problem is you can't ski in Lake Louise. :)

Overcrowding shuts Disneyland for 2 straight days
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Two of southern California's most popular resorts were forced to shut their gates to holiday visitors for two straight days Tuesday, as an overwhelming number of mass descended upon Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to enjoy their time there.

Disneyland had to stop selling tickets around 10 a.m. -- roughly two hours after the park opened, and patrons were directed to Disney California Adventure, both situated in close vicinity in Anaheim, Orange County.

"Disneyland Resort is extremely popular today due to holiday offerings," a park official said. "Disneyland park access is temporarily limited."

Disney California Adventure, which sits close to the Disneyland, reached its capacity three hours later.

The holiday between Christmas and New Year has traditionally been one of the busiest times of the year for the Disney resort, and park officials did not know how long will it take before ticket sales resume.

This is the second straight day for Disneyland to halt admitting to the popular theme park. Visitors were banned for admittance Monday as the park struggled with overcrowding. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=320949

RI attracts 7M foreign tourists in 2010
JAKARTA, Dec. 29 (PNA/Antara) -- Indonesia was in 2010 visited by a total of about seven million foreign tourists who spent more than US$ 7 billion in the country, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said.

"The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) has recorded seven million foreign tourist arrivals or more than the target figure for 2010. More detailed information on this matter will be given in early 2011," the minister said when attending a Visit Indonesia Year (VIY) 2010 appraisal night here Monday (Dec 27).

Jero said the seven million foreign tourist arrivals constituted a new record because in 2009 the target figure was about 6.45 million.

"In my contract with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, I promised to attract 6.75 million tourists. But it turned out to be more than 7 million," Jero said.

Jero also stated tourism in Indonesia during 2010 was hampered by several natural disasters like the Mt. Merapi eruptions in October to November.

"I was worried when 14 airlines canceled their flights to Jakarta and Yogyakarta last November. But it did not last long because I met the managements of the airlines," Jero said.

The normalization of airline flights had a salutary effect on the target`s achievement which was 9.3 percent up from 6.45 million in 2009 , said the minister. http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=320934

Tourists spend more money in Spain in 2010
MADRID, Dec. 29 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Tourists traveling in Spain spent more money in 2010 than they did in 2009, according to data released Tuesday by the Institute of Studies in Tourism (IST), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Tourism and Commerce.

The IST said in a survey that as of November the tourism industry had scooped up a total of 46.259 billion euros (about 61. 104 billion U.S. dollars), 2.4 percent higher than the same period in 2009. Average spending per tourist rose by 1.2 percent.

Except for those from Britain, visitors from most other countries increased their spending in Spain, the survey showed.

Spain appeared increasingly popular with the French whose spending rose by 19 percent while Italian tourists also increased their spending vastly in 2010, it said.

The winter sun of the Canary Islands continues to be the most popular destination, followed by Catalonia and Andalusia in the south of the country, it added.http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=320914

Irish tourism drops in 2010, small growth seen in 2011

DUBLIN, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The number of tourists visiting Ireland fell by 16 percent in 2010 but favourable exchange rates and a faster rebound in the British and American economies should drive modest growth in 2011, an Irish tourism body said.

The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) said financial woes that forced Ireland to accept an 85 billion euro bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund earlier this year had hurt the country's image abroad.

ITIC said there were 1 million fewer overseas visitors compared to 2009, with total arrivals estimated at 5.5 million. Total tourism revenue, including domestic tourists, generated 4.5 billion euros.

Eamonn McKeon, ITIC's chief executive, said he expected the number of tourists to increase between 5 and 8 percent next year and forecast a 5 to 7 percent increase in revenues.

McKeon said it would take until 2014 to reach the peak 2007 figure of 7.7 million visitors.

"There are a number of things going our way for next year that we haven't had up to now," McKeon said.

"The dollar is trading much more strongly against the euro -- that's good, it means Americans will be more disposed to come to Europe and to Ireland.

"The (British) pound is appreciably stronger against the euro," he said, while the U.S. and British economies "are recovering at a rate considerably faster than ours".

Britain and the United States are the two biggest markets for Irish tourism, with Britain accounting for 45 percent of tourist visitors.

DOMESTIC TOURISM HURT

One-off incidents like the volcanic ash cloud and major flight disruptions due to heavy snow also hit visitor numbers in 2010, ITIC said.

Domestic tourism is not expected to fare as well next year, as Irish taxpayers feel the brunt of an austere 2011 budget which calls for 6 billion euros in spending cuts and tax hikes. The budget is the toughest in a four year-austerity drive that aims ultimately to save 15 billion euros. "We do realistically expect that as the impact of the budget kicks in, (affecting) January, February and March paychecks, that the domestic market will be slow," McKeon said.

He said the banking crisis that followed the collapse of the property sector that fuelled Ireland's boom years, and which ultimately forced Dublin to resort to external assistance, had damaged the former Celtic Tiger's image.

"We have a problem with publicity. Just as Irish tourism benefited during the years of the Celtic Tiger of that good news story ... the publicity ... most particularly of the last couple of months has just been enormous. It's not been good, (with) the IMF arriving in," McKeon said.

"We've really got to get this message across quickly that we have survived all this, we will survive it. We need to get the message across that the product is still brilliant, the people are the same, we're friendly and we're open for business."

The message may have got through: Readers of Frommer's travel guide recently voted Ireland the top tourist destination for 2011.

Irish tourism drops in 2010, small growth seen in 2011

DUBLIN, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The number of tourists visiting Ireland fell by 16 percent in 2010 but favourable exchange rates and a faster rebound in the British and American economies should drive modest growth in 2011, an Irish tourism body said.

The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) said financial woes that forced Ireland to accept an 85 billion euro bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund earlier this year had hurt the country's image abroad.

ITIC said there were 1 million fewer overseas visitors compared to 2009, with total arrivals estimated at 5.5 million. Total tourism revenue, including domestic tourists, generated 4.5 billion euros.

Eamonn McKeon, ITIC's chief executive, said he expected the number of tourists to increase between 5 and 8 percent next year and forecast a 5 to 7 percent increase in revenues.

McKeon said it would take until 2014 to reach the peak 2007 figure of 7.7 million visitors.

"There are a number of things going our way for next year that we haven't had up to now," McKeon said.

"The dollar is trading much more strongly against the euro -- that's good, it means Americans will be more disposed to come to Europe and to Ireland.

"The (British) pound is appreciably stronger against the euro," he said, while the U.S. and British economies "are recovering at a rate considerably faster than ours".

Britain and the United States are the two biggest markets for Irish tourism, with Britain accounting for 45 percent of tourist visitors.

DOMESTIC TOURISM HURT

One-off incidents like the volcanic ash cloud and major flight disruptions due to heavy snow also hit visitor numbers in 2010, ITIC said.

Domestic tourism is not expected to fare as well next year, as Irish taxpayers feel the brunt of an austere 2011 budget which calls for 6 billion euros in spending cuts and tax hikes. The budget is the toughest in a four year-austerity drive that aims ultimately to save 15 billion euros. "We do realistically expect that as the impact of the budget kicks in, (affecting) January, February and March paychecks, that the domestic market will be slow," McKeon said.

He said the banking crisis that followed the collapse of the property sector that fuelled Ireland's boom years, and which ultimately forced Dublin to resort to external assistance, had damaged the former Celtic Tiger's image.

"We have a problem with publicity. Just as Irish tourism benefited during the years of the Celtic Tiger of that good news story ... the publicity ... most particularly of the last couple of months has just been enormous. It's not been good, (with) the IMF arriving in," McKeon said.

"We've really got to get this message across quickly that we have survived all this, we will survive it. We need to get the message across that the product is still brilliant, the people are the same, we're friendly and we're open for business."

The message may have got through: Readers of Frommer's travel guide recently voted Ireland the top tourist destination for 2011.

Whales find peace in B.C.'s Inside Passage

2,000 humpbacks pass through

BY MICHAEL MCCARTHY, SPECIAL TO VANCOUVER COURIER

http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/1713395.bin?size=620x400

Janie Wray and "whale dog" Meekus stand carefully balanced in the bow of a small research boat, watching intently. While African chimps have Jane Goodall to protect them and the mountain gorillas can thank the late Diane Fossey for preserving them, in Canada lovers of humpback whales have Wray, who's determined to assure their future.

Aside from the honk of ducks and a slight murmur in the trees off Princess Royal Island, the waters of Whale Passage are silent. Suddenly, not 20 metres off the starboard bow, there is a whoosh as a gigantic humpback whale launches its entire 10-tonne body out of the ocean and lands with a mighty splash. A few seconds later, a second humpback breaches, and then another. The spectacle continues unabated for over half an hour, the enormous creatures throwing their entire bodies in the air like porpoises.

"Last week, I watched a calf breach over 75 times in a row," Wray says. "I guess it was in training to follow its mother south in the fall. We've even seen some right whales and fin whales migrating through this year. The northern whale populations are starting to recover and grow. This is the best place in the world to see and study them."

On Gil Island, just west of Princess Royal Island some 80 kilometres south of Prince Rupert, whale researchers Hermann Meuter and Wray have established Cetacealab, a research station to study the lives of resident and transient orcas and the growing population of humpback whales that pass through these waters every year. For any lover of these creatures, as Hermann and Wray surely are, it's a wilderness dream come true.

While scientists track the southern pods of resident orca whales in the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound with some concern for their future (in March, researchers confirmed the birth of a calf in J Pod, bringing the precarious southern resident killer whale population up to 86), in the sparkling northern waters around Princess Royal Island the future of whales looks sunnier. Wray estimates there are "about 100" humpbacks living near the lab and about 2,000 that pass through the Inside Passage every summer.

Wray and Meuter built Cetacealab in 2001. They formed the North Coast Cetacean Society, a charitable organization dedicated to the research and protection of whales in B.C. coastal waters. "From Gil over to Aristazabal Island is like an orca highway," Wray explains over a cup of tea in the house they built by hand. "We have four hydrophones placed around the region, with one more to come. We've lost a few over the years to the winter storms, which are pretty rough. Hermann dives down to 60 feet and places a hydrophone on a cliff or rock face, and fixes it in place with rocks. A microphone runs up a cable to the forest and a radio transmitter. The hydrophone and cable each cost $2,000 and the transmitter is $2,000, so it's about $8,000 per unit."

Some orcas and humpbacks stay in the Princess Royal Island region all winter while others come and go with the seasons. Wray and Meuter estimate there are 220 resident orcas and 250 transients in the region, but an accurate count requires more study. Wray is the humpback lover, while Meuter tracks orcas.

Aside from a few floating fishing lodges moored nearby in the summer months, Meuter and Wray are alone in this vast wilderness. Their closest neighbours are an hour north by boat in the village of Hartley Bay, where the Gitga'at people are pleased to welcome guests to their bed and breakfast, take visitors out to whale watch, fish for five different species of salmon in summer, kayak, and go bear watching in the fall.

A hydrophone suddenly starts squawking, indicating a pod of humpbacks right outside the front door. In a flash, Wray runs for the boat, binoculars in hand, with Meekus right behind. B.C.'s own wilderness woman and whale champion is on the job, and those who worry about creatures can rest assured their future is in good hands.

For guiding and accommodations to the Princess Royal Island region, go to www.gitgaat.net. To learn more about whales or to donate to Cetacealab, visit www.whaleresearch.ca.

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

British ship docks in Havana to much fanfare as Cuba welcomes return of big cruise liners
6 January 2011

HAVANA (AP) - A salsa band, dancing schoolchildren and showgirls in bikini tops and feather headdresses welcomed some 1,500 tourists on a British cruise liner that officials described as among the biggest ships to visit Cuba in years.

Once a frequent sight here, cruise ships have become a rarity since 2006, after then President Fidel Castro complained that the industry did little more than flood this communist-governed country with trash.

But the cash-strapped government now led by Fidel's younger brother Raul appears to have taken a rosier view of late. Tourism Ministry official Jose Manuel Bisbe said the arrival of the Thomson Dream underscored the recent resurgence of cruise traffic to the island.

In a brief address to journalists as passengers in shorts and flip-flops streamed off the ship, Bisbe said a number of deals have been signed with European cruise operators to add regular stops in Cuban ports, and more accords are in the works.

"We think that more than anything, this change reflects the operators' understanding ... of all Cuba's attributes as a destination," said Bisbe, the ministry's commercial director.

Each passenger spends an average of $50 to $200 a day on the island, he said, adding that officials hope increased traffic will pump "several million dollars" into the lackluster Cuban economy this year.

Bisbe did not specify how many cruise passengers were expected to dock in Cuban ports in 2011 but said about 10,000 visited the island last year. That was down from some 100,000 passengers in 2005, he said.

Bisbe blamed the downturn on the 2006 purchase of Pullmantur Cruises -- a Spanish company that was among the biggest operator of tours to Cuba -- by Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Washington's trade embargo bars U.S. tourists from visiting Cuba and prohibits nearly all business between both countries, so dockings dried up after the company changed hands.

Cuba rolled out the red carpet to welcome the Thomson Dream, a nine-deck behemoth with four restaurants, two swimming pools, a casino and a disco.

Little girls in traditional white dresses and colorful sashes and others inexplicably decked out in bee costumes performed as waiters to hand out shot-sized samples of Havana Club rum to the disembarking passengers.

Four showgirls in towering headdresses and yellow spandex pants and matching sequin-covered bikini tops struck seductive poses as the tourists snapped pictures.

Richard Ring, a 40-year-old Briton, said he was amazed by the warm welcome.

"People were leaning out of windows waving at us and we were waving back. It was really enthusiastic," Ring shouted over the din of the salsa band.

He added that "it was nothing like that" at the other ports visited by the Thomson Dream during a 14-day cruise, which included stops on the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Grenada and Curacao.

New York City tops list of U.S. travel destinations

NEW YORK, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Despite an economic recession and fears of bedbugs, New York City attracted a record 48.7 million visitors in 2010, making it the biggest tourist destination in the U.S for the second year in a row.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the number of visitors marked a 6.8 percent increase over the 45.6 million people who visited in 2009, which was the first year since 1990 that the Big Apple attracted the most tourists, surpassing Orlando, Florida.

According to Bloomberg, the city should meet his administration's goal - set in 2007 - to attract 50 million visitors annually by 2012.

"This past year was New York City's most successful year for tourism ever, and we're well on our way to achieving our goal of attracting 50 million visitors a year," he said.

Of 2010's visitors, 39 million were American and 9.7 million from abroad. Both numbers broke previous records.

Room rates rose to an average of $330 last year, an 8.9 percent increase over 2009. Overall, tourists spent $31 billion.

The hospitality industry added 6,600 jobs in 2010. July was particularly notable, with 323,200 people working in hospitality jobs across all industry sub-sectors.

A record 25.7 million hotel room nights were sold in 2010, two million room nights more than the year before.

George Fertitta, the CEO of NYC&Company, said that although New York is still visited by fewer people than Paris and London, they lag behind New York in occupancy rates and hotel rates.

"That makes a visit to New York more valuable than it would be in Paris and London," he said.

New York City's Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, Robert Steel, attributed the local tourism industry's strong performance to enhanced efforts to market the city both domestically and abroad.

NYC&Company operates 18 offices to market city tourism in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Financial Times: Albania is hot in 2011


http://media.ft.com/cms/e91d9458-1a1a-11e0-b003-00144feab49a.jpg

Even in 2011, pockets of Europe remain thrillingly unfamiliar. One of this year’s most intriguing prospects is Albania – partly for its quiet, affordable Mediterranean beaches, partly for its rugged landscape. For active types, the biggest buzz is around the “Accursed Mountains” of the country’s far north – an isolated region of serrated 2,600m peaks populated by bears and wolves, with farming villages rich in folklore.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/8b194f34-19e1-11e0-b921-00144feab49a.html#axzz1AmZ7xHeA

In the FT page they mention the photo as being in Northern Albania but I'm afraid that's not the case. That right there looks very much like Vjosa River with the Nemerçka mountains in the background which are located in the SouthEast part of the country.
Here's a larger image of the area near where the photo was taken:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3596118824_c8bdc87f0a_b.jpg

And a broader perspective of the region

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3596131552_0aaf2be7e8_b.jpg

Russian tourists flock to France for New Year party

PARIS, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Hotels across France are gearing up for an influx of Russians coming to celebrate their Orthodox Christian New Year in a country that is becoming a playground for millionaires from the former Soviet Union.

As Russia grows richer, more than half a million Russians are visiting France each year, according to French tourism development agency Atout France. Numbers peak each January when Russians celebrate their New Year according to the Orthodox Julian calendar, 13 days after the western New Year.

Well-heeled Russians favor the fashionable ski resort of Courchevel, Cote d'Azur resorts like Nice and Paris -- where five-star hotels are busy lining up decadent Russian-themed soirees with caviar and vodka to mark the 2011 party.

"We get families, couples, celebrities like the model Natalya Vodyanova, oligarchs, some politicians and business clients," said a spokesperson for the swanky Le Meurice hotel, which will offer a special menu of beef stroganoff, caviar and blinis prepared by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alleno.

In the same chic Paris district, the upmarket hotel Bristol also has caviar and blinis on its January 13 dinner menu, with prices ranging from 240 euros ($310.8) to an eye-watering 800 euros per head in a annexed eatery -- and that excludes vodka or wine.

On the elegant Champs Elysees avenue, nightclub L'Arc will cater to Russian revellers by laying on live Cossack-style music and installing an ice-rink for the occasion.

"We're talking about a clientele with a very high purchasing power, that is very much dependent on the financial markets, on stock market and commodity prices," said Thomas Deschamps, head of statistics at the Paris tourist board.

Russia's move to a market-based economy and high demand for oil, natural gas and raw materials has created a large pool of millionaire tycoons who are flaunting their wealth abroad, including snapping up Paris apartments and holiday chalets in the Alps, where they stand out in designer ski suits.

In December, Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Pinchuk made headlines in France by putting on a lavish 50th birthday bash at a reported cost of several million euros at the Courchevel ski resort. He flew in the Cirque du Soleil circus for a private show and some 150 guests were served a gourmet buffet prepared by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse.

With crude oil prices headed towards $100 a barrel, and other raw materials prices surging to record highs, celebrations by wealthy Russians are unlikely to be restrained this year.

Russians headed to the French Riviera this year will be able to splash out on an Orient Express-style experience, travelling on a direct Moscow-Nice rail service launched last autumn.

Tickets for the 50-hour journey start at 306 euros, and 1,200 euros buys a luxury compartment with shower and mini-bar.

Photo Gallery: Beauty of the Harbin Ice Festival

Now in its 27th year, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival is gaining world renown.



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Global tourism to grow 4-5 pct in 2011 - U.N. body

MADRID, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is predicting global tourism growth of between 4 and 5 percent in 2011 after a stronger than expected recovery in 2010, the U.N. body's secretary general said on Monday.

The UNWTO said global tourism rose 6.7 percent to 935 million international arrivals in 2010, following a decline in 2009, thanks to strong growth in Asia and a recovery in Europe and the Americas.

"We are now back in line with the pace of growth expected over the long term. Now the challenge for 2011 is to consolidate this growth," UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai said.

However, he said tourism growth will decelerate in line with slower global economic growth, and said austerity measures and higher taxes in Europe as the region continues to battle sovereign debt crises could have a negative impact on travel.

The recovery in Europe, which receives over half the world's tourists, was the slowest in the world in 2010 at 3 percent, Rifai said.

Thailand closes dive sites to halt damage to reefs
20 January 2011

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Thailand is closing dozens of dive sites to tourists after unusually warm seas caused severe damage to coral reefs in the Andaman Sea, one of the world's top diving and beach resort regions, authorities said on Thursday.

More than half of southern Thailand's 15,000 hectares of coral reefs are suffering from bleaching, or the shedding of coral colours, a phenomenon caused largely by rising sea temperatures over an extended period, officials said.

"We will study the cause and effect and find a way to restore them," Sunan Arunnopparat, director of the Department of National Parks, told Reuters, adding that the reefs will be closed across seven national parks.

"This is part of an effort to restore the reefs."

He declined to say how many diving spots would be closed or how extensive the damage was to the reefs. He said diving sites where bleaching had spread to 80 percent of the reefs would be shut for an unspecified period.

The coral bleaching -- whitening due to heat driving out the algae living within the coral tissues -- was first reported in May after a surge in temperatures across the Andaman Sea from the northern tip of Sumatra island to Thailand and Myanmar.

Other parts of Southeast Asia have also suffered. An international team of scientists studying bleaching off Indonesia's Aceh province found that 80 percent of some species have died between May and August.

Marine conservationists blame unregulated tourism -- walking on coral, mooring of boats over reefs and contamination of the water in the Andaman Sea, a region of sparkling blue-green waters and pearl-white beaches that draws thousands of tourists a year.

But Sunan said global warming was at fault.

Between April and late May, sea surface temperatures in the Andaman Sea rose to 34 degrees Celsius or about 4 degrees C above the long-term average, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coral Hotspots website. (See: http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/ocean/cb/hotspots.html)

Coral bleaching involves the loss or expulsion of single cell algae (zooxanthellae) which normally live within the coral tissue and give it a brownish coloration. Loss of the algae sees the coral skeleton become visible through the transparent tissue giving the coral a bleached white appearance.

Bleaching occurs when coral is under stress from high temperatures, strong light and low salinity. Coral can only recover from minor bleaching.

"We did not close all of the national parks, just some of the dive sites. Tourists can still go see the forests and the mountains in these parks," Sunan said.

Sun-drenched Caribbean hopes for rebound in tourism

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Tourism-dependent Caribbean countries are optimistic that business will continue to grow this year after visits to the sun-drenched region increased nearly 5 percent in 2010.

Regional business leaders expect to see growth, essential for sorely needed jobs and tax revenues, despite many challenges, including Britain's 2009 hike in its air passenger duty tax, which caused British travel to the Caribbean to fall.

Josef Forstmayr, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, speaking at the group's Marketplace 2011 event earlier this week in Montego Bay, Jamaica, said there are signs of growth after the global recession in 2008 and 2009.

"Right now at Marketplace 2011, we have more buyers that have come to meet with hotels and tourist offices than last year, an indication that business is coming back," he said.

The Caribbean is more dependent on travel and tourism than almost any other region, according to the World Tourism Organization. Of the 10 countries in the world most reliant on tourism, seven are in the Caribbean.

Forstmayr, a Jamaican hotelier, said tourism is the essential provider of employment and a principal provider of taxes for Caribbean governments to provide funding for education, healthcare and key infrastructure projects.

According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, visitor arrivals in 2010 rose by 4.7 percent to 23.1 million, up from 22.1 million visitors in 2009.

Cruise tourism has also been on the rise, growing 6 percent in 2010.

"Indications are that the fortunes of Caribbean tourism are gradually changing for the better, but could take some time before experiencing robust, sustained growth," said Winfield Griffith, director of research and information technology for the tourism organization.

SURGE IN SEA CRUISE ARRIVALS

Bermuda's director of tourism, William Griffith, said preliminary figures indicate that the island, which is highly dependent on the U.S. market, saw arrivals rise by 12 percent in 2010, driven by a double-digit increase in cruise arrivals.

Air arrivals at 235,000 were flat, he said.

"In terms of advance projection, certainly in the first six months of the year, we are optimistic. We are keeping our fingers crossed that things continue to trend positively for Bermuda," Griffith said.

Barbadian hotelier Peter Odle said the biggest challenge on the horizon was next summer, a time when the industry traditionally sees a slight decline.

"Hopefully, we can maintain market share and then we should be OK," he said.

St. Lucia Tourism Minister Allen Chastanet called 2010 a record year for the eastern Caribbean island, with over 670,000 cruise ship arrivals and 320,000 land-based arrivals.

"Those numbers would have been substantially higher had it not been for the mishap with Hurricane Tomas, but overall, I think we are very pleased with the performance of tourism in St. Lucia for 2010," he told Reuters.

Chastanet said he was cautiously optimistic about this year but will be looking at the impact of the increase in the price of fuel and continuing fallout from the British tax.

Britain's air passenger duty tax rates vary, dictated by how the UK government classifies worldwide destinations -- with passengers to the Caribbean among those particularly hard hit.

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding said several appeals had been made about the tax's negative impact on the region.

"Going to London and pleading are not the only options we have," Golding said at the opening of the Marketplace conference. He did not elaborate but called the tax "unfair and unjust," saying it was "in conflict with established global rules of tourism."

British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh, speaking at a conference in Barbados last October, said arrivals from Britain to some Caribbean islands had fallen as much as 25 percent since November 2009 due to the tax.

'Rubbish hotel' opens in heart of Madrid
Jan 19, 10:15 pm ET

MADRID (AFP) – A new hotel has opened in the heart of Madrid proudly declaring that it's complete rubbish.

More of a wooden shack than a five-star establishment, the walls of the Beach Garbage Hotel are strewn with detritus dragged up by the tide, recovered from landfills or snapped up at flea markets.

Among the wall decorations: Plastic drums, wooden frames, musical instruments, striped socks, tyres, and children's books.

In the five rooms there are street lights, wobbly sideboards, and torn Persian rugs, ready to welcome the lucky winners of a Facebook competition whose prize was a free stay.

Out front, there is a small patch of sand and palm trees.

Located in the city centre's Plaza de Callao, it is the work of German artist Ha Schult, timed to coincide with Madrid's hosting of the annual international tourism trade fair.

"I created the Beach Garbage Hotel because the oceans of our planet are the biggest garbage dump," Schult said.

Rosa Piqueras, spokeswoman for the environmental project, said the idea was to show something a little different from the ideal destinations touted by the tourism industry.

"We wanted to show what our holidays could become if we don't clean our beaches," she said.

About 30-40 percent of the objects adorning the hotel were picked up from beaches in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The dirtiest, said Piqueras, were the beaches in southern Italy.

Hotel notices warn guests of environmental developments, such as: "One Spaniard in 10 no longer goes to the beach because of their bad state. Fourteen percent of Europeans do the same."

The hotel closes January 23.

Inside Cuba, small businesses ramp up tourism offer

CIENFUEGOS, Cuba, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Communist Cuba's recent easing of red tape for private enterprise is improving services for tourists in provincial towns on the Caribbean island, with hundreds of new restaurants and lodgings opening up.

"Mom-and-pop" small businesses have begun to boom in Cuban cities and towns following reforms by President Raul Castro to boost private enterprise and lay off state workers to improve efficiency in one of the world's last Soviet-style economies.

In the quaint south coast port city of Cienfuegos, the number of private restaurants has jumped from two to 16 in just a few months. There are now more than 100 home-based 'bed and breakfast' lodgings, local entrepreneurs say.

That is a welcome relief for visitors to the town, nestled between the foothills of the Escambray mountains and a palm-lined bay. Both foreigners and locals have grumbled in the past about the poor food and accommodation on offer in the Cuban interior, away from the capital and main tourist resorts.

Cienfuegos' 400,000 residents and wandering tourists, who last year struggled to find refreshment in the often sweltering city, can now choose between dozens of home-based snack outlets serving pizza, pastries, coffee and soft drinks.

"Competition means you have to improve your service and that's a good thing, everyone gains, you, the tourists and the country," said Orestes Toledo, owner of the Perla Hostal, a two-room bed and breakfast.

"Now even the state will have to shape up," he added, sipping coffee on his roof-top terrace overlooking the bay.

Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro nationalized all small businesses in 1968 and only after the collapse of longtime benefactor the Soviet Union in 1991 begrudgingly allowed their return under tight regulation.

But after a few years, his government stopped issuing new private self-employment licenses that underpinned small business. Many small businesses were strangled by red tape.

Fidel's brother, Raul Castro, became president in 2008 and has now struck out in a different direction with plans to turn much of the retail sector over to leasing arrangements, cooperatives and private entrepreneurs.

Cienfuegos is 150 miles (240 km) east of Havana, near the restored colonial town of Trinidad and a few hours from the popular Varadero beach resort. Foreign visitors to the city usually pass through for a day or two.

HIGH HOPES

Cienfuegos' new private entrepreneurs believe their businesses will now steadily improve and seem to relish the challenge of more joining their ranks.

"I think a lot of people are going to open restaurants. I calculate you might eventually see 40 or 50 and a lot of cafes," said Tony Azorlin, a strapping former forest ranger.

Azorlin and his wife doted over clients last week at the Ache 'paladar', or home-based restaurant.

"I think there is a market for that many, as long as tourism holds up," he said. Azorlin added the sky would be the limit for local private business if the United States lifted its ban on most Americans visiting the island.

This ban persists under the decades-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, which U.S. President Barack Obama slightly eased earlier this month, to allow more trips by American professors and students, artists and church groups.

Some 2.5 million foreign tourists visited Cuba last year, the government reported.

The Ache was one of 18 'paladares' that opened in Cienfuegos in the 1990s when small family businesses were first allowed. All but two closed over the years under ensuing over-regulation imposed by a state loath to allow competition.

Azorlin said under rules introduced in the last few months, his taxes were now lower. He also could have more seats, hire employees and serve what he pleased, with beef, shrimp, lobster and potatoes no longer banned from private restaurant menus.

At a government office in Cienfuegos issuing private business permits, Arlina Rodriguez estimated she and colleagues had issued more than 200 licenses since Castro lifted restrictions in October, proclaiming small business vital to the country's future.

"It hasn't stopped and doesn't appear it will any time soon," said Rodriguez, busy dealing with eight people seeking licenses at her poorly lit hole-in-the-wall office.

Nationwide, the government reports more than 75,000 self-employment licenses have been granted so far.

The Ache is a quaint, upscale eatery, but right next door neighbor Carlos Alberto is of a more ambitious breed. He has just opened the Casa de Chango restaurant and bar, a splashier and lower-priced establishment, operating around the clock.

Carlos Alberto said he wanted to take full advantage of new regulations allowing him to hire labor and rent space.

"I have decided to expand and open a second Casa de Chango, and eventually will have three, four or five," he said, insisting local authorities and Chango, the most powerful deity in the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion, would bless his ambition to found the first private restaurant chain in the country.

Sri Lanka military HQ to make way for hotels
Wed Jan 26, 2:32 am ET

COLOMBO (AFP) – The Sri Lankan government said Wednesday it was relocating the defence ministry and main army headquarters in Colombo to make way for a billion-dollar hotel project.

An information department statement said the cabinet had decided to shift the military facilities from their prime, seafront location in the capital to the eastern edge of the city.

The move would accommodate "two giant foreign (hotel) projects that will bring in a direct investment of $1 billion," an information department statement said.

Sri Lanka's military has been expanding its commercial operations since the defeat of the separatist Tamil Tiger rebel movement in May 2009.

It already runs small restaurants and kiosks along the main highway across the island's former northern war zone, and operates a lucrative vegetable business in competition with private traders.

Tourism has boomed after the end of the island's ethnic conflict that had previously deterred both foreign investors and holiday makers.

Hong Kong-based Shangri La leisure group announced earlier this month that it had paid $125 million for a 99-year lease on the Sri Lankan army's sports grounds to build a deluxe hotel.

Some $1.5 billion worth of hotel projects are expected to start this year, according to Sri Lanka Tourism.

FACTBOX-Protests and Egypt's tourism industry

CAIRO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year reign have raised questions over whether Egypt's vital tourism industry will be affected.

Here are some facts about the sector:

HOW IMPORTANT IS TOURISM TO EGYPT?

-- Tourism accounts for over 11 percent of Egypt's gross domestic product, according to the tourism ministry.

-- It provides about one in eight jobs in the most populous Arab country.

-- About 12.5 million tourists visited Egypt in 2009, bringing revenue of $10.8 billion. Tourism brought in over $9 billion in the first nine months of 2010, government figures show.

-- Tourism is one of Egypt's top sources of foreign revenue.

WHERE IS TOURISM CONCENTRATED IN EGYPT?

-- Most major tourism sites are away from the heavily populated cities that have seen two days of anti-government protests.

-- The Red Sea resort towns of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are major draws for tourists because of their beaches and year-round warm weather.

-- But antiquities such as the Egyptian Museum and the Giza Pyramids also draw millions of tourists to the capital Cairo, which has seen much of the unrest.

-- Also popular are the southern cities of Luxor and Aswan.

-- Most of Egypt's tourists come from Russia, Italy, France, Germany and Britain.

ARE TOURIST COMPANIES WORRIED ABOUT THE PROTESTS?

-- Hamed El Chiaty, chairman of Egypt's Travco, said on Wednesday: "Given the fact that it was a peaceful demonstration, I don't think it will have a negative effect. Unless of course these demonstrations continue".

-- A spokesperson for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland said: "We continue to monitor the situation in Egypt and we are in close contact with the FCO (British foreign ministry). Our experienced teams on the ground assure us that no tourist areas at the Red Sea have been affected in any way by the recent demonstrations".

HOW HAS THE INDUSTRY WEATHERED PREVIOUS CHALLENGES?

-- The industry suffered after gunmen killed 58 tourists and four Egyptians at an ancient temple in Luxor in 1997, but has weathered disruptions relatively well since then.

-- The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the second Palestinian Intifada, and a series of bomb attacks on tourist resorts in Sinai from 2004 to 2006 all led to temporary decreases in tourist arrivals, but the trend over the last decade has been broadly upward.

-- Protests in Egypt may not be enough on their own to deter tourists. But news of unrest in Tunisia, Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East, could help convince some travellers to reroute to a region that is making fewer headlines.

Antalya received 10.3 million tourists in 2010

Turkey's Mediterranean province of Antalya was the favorite holiday destination for tourists from Germany and Russia in 2010.

German tourists visiting Antalya increased by 10.4 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, while the number of Russian visitors were up 16.6 percent, tourism officials told the Anatolia news agency on Thursday.

Last year, number of British tourists also rose by 37.9 percent compared to 2009, authorities said.

According to the Governorship of Antalya, the magnificent city of Mediterranean where is Antalya received 10.3 million tourists in 2010.

Visitors from Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, Britain and Ukraine preferred Antalya the most throughout the year.

The number of Swedish, French, Austrian, Polish, Norwegian, Danish, Kazakh, Swiss, Czech, Belorussian, Romanian and Iranian tourists were on the rise in 2010, officials noted.

Turkey's Mediterranean resort city of Antalya eyes to host 11 million tourists in 2011, head of a local union of hoteliers has said."We have set a target of 11 million tourists to host in Antalya this year and I believe we will achieve that target,"Sururi Corabatir told reporters.Corabatir said the number of tourists visiting Antalya last year reached to around 10.3 million, which marked a 11 percent increase over 2009.
http://i.imgur.com/1CVhy.jpg

At the Pyramids, unrest empties desert of tourists

By Alexander Dziadosz CAIRO, Feb 2 (Reuters) - At the pyramids, something is wrong with the picture. The Sphinx is still there, gazing out inscrutably over the sands of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo.

But as Daniel Tham from Malaysia pointed his camera to take some souvenir snaps on Wednesday, something was missing from the much photographed view of the Great Pyramids -- the people.

Instead of the thousands of foreign visitors who normally flock by the busload, Tham and his friend were alone, and could take only long-distance shots of this wonder of the world, kept out by gates locked after the outbreak of unrest across Egypt.

"A lot is closed," Tham said. "A lot of tours are not able to carry us and there are no trains." He had been able to see only a fraction of the sights he planned to visit on his trip.

Most foreigners have not been so intrepid. They have flocked to airports trying to get out of the country, cancelled holidays if they had not yet arrived, and in doing so they have delivered a heavy blow to the Egyptian economy and its tourism industry.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, sympathy for the pro-democracy demonstrators who have tried to unseat President Hosni Mubarak is in short supply among the guides and stallholders of Giza.

"We need peace," said Fouad Hassan, 63, as he stood outside his locked souvenir store. "People now are flying back home. How long will it take for these people to come back?"

SECURITY

In central Cairo, street clashes surged back and forth around the Egyptian Museum, home to mummies and a treasure trove of antiquities from the time of the pharaohs which is another major focus of tourist activity in normal times.

Giza's pyramids, 15 km (10 miles) from Tahrir Square downtown, was much too quiet for the liking of the locals, some of whom felt Mubarak, in promising to stand down later in the year, had done the right thing and that protests should now end.

"He has done his best, you know," said Abdullah, 35, a tour guide with no tourists to guide. "He changed almost 90 percent or 95 percent of what they were looking for."

The dusty streets near the pyramids, usually bustling with camels, perfume vendors and sunburned visitors, were mostly deserted. Shopkeepers sitting by their shuttered storefronts complained that unrest had strangled their business and many echoed vigorous support for Mubarak, crediting him for security they said helped draw millions of tourists to Egypt a year.

Mubarak, dubbed "Pharaoh" by some Egyptians, has portrayed himself to Western allies and his own people as a bulwark of stability -- an image many have accepted in return for a government criticised as repressive, brutal and corrupt.

Mubarak's forces fought a violent Islamist insurgency in Egypt's south in the 1990s that included a bloody attack on tourists in Luxor, home to the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple. Soldiers guard tourist trains and man desert checkpoints around beach resorts and major attractions. It seemed to work.

"It's safe, it's very, very safe with Mubarak," said Ayman, a 25-year-old souvenir vendor, sitting outside a shop filled with postcards, papyrus, ceramic scarabs and alabaster pyramids.

The tourism industry has grown steadily over the last decade, weathering bomb attacks on resorts in the Sinai peninsula. Over 12 million tourists visited in Egypt in 2009, earning the country nearly $11 billion in revenue.

On a normal day, said Ayman, he might see 200 to 300 customers, mostly from Europe, at his store near the Sphinx. But on Wednesday, he said, he had just three.

Yet his neighbour Gouda Fayed, 55, put the troubles into perspective as he drank tea by his empty souvenir store close by the monuments which have symbolised Egypt for 4,500 years.

He said: "I'm sure when everything settles down, it will all go back to normal."

wow that s really great !

Travel Picks: Top 10 Spring Break destinations

NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Sun, sand, surf and a sea of friends and possible dates is the recipe for a successful Spring Break holiday for North American university students.

Online travel advisor Cheapflights.com (www.cheapflights.com) provides a list of the top 10 Spring Break destinations. Reuters does not endorse this list:

1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

With 24,000 hotel rooms and counting, Punta Cana is the tourist haven of the Dominican Republic. Rife with some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, all-inclusive deals and buffets galore, this destination has a lot to offer in terms of value. Nightlife abounds too, with free VIP passes to the island's top-rated clubs when you look through student programs like Student City, which has two headquarters there - Grand Paradise Bavaro and Barcelo Punta Cana.

2. Cancun, Mexico

If you didn't know it already, Cancun is the unofficial Spring break capital of North America. With an average daily temperature of 80 degrees, this Mexican mother city is unapologetic in its mass-tourism reputation. Students love it for its accessibility to nightlife and the plethora of all-inclusive resorts that include food and drink. Add in the fact that the dollar is standing strong against the peso, and you've got yourself a deal.

3. Montego Bay, Jamaica

The island's busiest airport and cruise-ship port bring loads of tourists to Montego Bay all year round, but a certain clientele appreciate it most during Spring break season. Sunny days are well-spent along Fletcher Beach and Doctor's Cave Beach, while partygoers find countless clubs on Gloucester Avenue, (referred to as "hip strip") at night.

4. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

An alternative to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta is known by some as the liveliest and most sophisticated resort destination. It brims with stylish restaurants and shops along cobblestone streets, and holds the elegance of beach vacations in high esteem. So, whether you're in the mood to explore tequila manufacturing, or chill out within the local dining scene, Puerto Vallarta offers a new edge on discovering Mexico.

5. South Padre Island, Texas

Any location that offers Mardi Gras Tuesdays -- every Tuesday -- screams spring break to us. Just off the Gulf Coast of Texas, South Padre Island is all the fun of sun and social scandal, but right at home within the States. Students love Coca-Cola Beach, open every day for festivities and revelry (so, choose another beach for peaceful sunbathing). Lots of cheap food and all-inclusive offerings are available here for an economical week of celebrating.

6. San Diego, California

Sunny SoCal rarely fails for a mix of beaches and outdoor activities. Trail along the boardwalk and scope out the incredibly fit packs of residents, or stretch out along Balboa Park for a greener view. More than 70 miles of beaches make San Diego an easy target for sun seekers and surfers. Once the sun goes down, head to nightlife areas of Garnett Avenue or the Gaslamp District.


7. Miami, Florida

While it's perfect for partying, Miami is also an upscale city, with world-renowned cuisine, culture, art and shopping, so students with more complex agendas will enjoy the Latin rhythm here. High-priced hotels are the norm here, but there are low-cost accommodations and inexpensive food options for those willing to dig. Rem
ember though " you're still in the U.S., so the drinking age remains at 21.

8. Panama City Beach, Florida

If Cancun were in the U.S., it would have to duke it out with Panama City Beach for the title of best spring break city. Celebrities like Kenny Chesney, 50 Cent and Sean Kingston have made appearances in the past to hail this Floridian locale as a party mecca. Walk along the main strip, and you'll find a steady concoction of beach bars, hotels, mini golf centers, souvenir shops, and more beach bars. Dive into its renowned wreck-diving site for an alternative daytime activity.

9. Orlando, Florida

Think Orlando is just a minivan destination? Think again. With plenty of all-inclusive resorts with glamorous pools and lots of food and drink, Orlando makes spring break a secret hot spot for students. Universal Orlando is more than just kiddies and snow-cones, too: The attraction hosts multiple Mardi Gras nights with parades, street performers, Cajun cuisine, free concerts and other free events with your ticket purchase.

10. Montreal, Quebec Canada

Go ahead, buck the trend. You won't find sun and sand here, but you will get a better exchange rate, a legal drinking age of 18, and a whole lot of "European" charm on top of amazing food. It's like Paris on the cheap, but without the jetlag. Ski the Laurentians by day, and hit one of 300 nightclubs, bars, pubs or lounge at night.

Heli-skiing takes flight in Kashmir as violence wanes

GULMARG, India, March 1 (Reuters) - Helicopters aren't just carrying troops to the snow-capped mountains of Indian Kashmir any more.

They are also flying foreign skiers to ski slopes near a ceasefire line that divides the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.

Ski operator Gulmarg Heliski started the heli-skiing service in January hoping to attract adventure tourists to Kashmir with separatist violence down in the region once a top tourism destination popular with honeymooners, skiers and trekkers.

The region attracted about a million tourists a year until 1989, when simmering anger against New Delhi's rule burst into a violent rebellion.

But years of separatist violence across the Muslim-majority region ensured visitors stayed away even though authorities built a spectacular cable car network running through forests of towering pine trees to attract skiers to Gulmarg.

"Gulmarg is an adventure destination. There are endless possibilities for heli-ski runs in this area," said Martin Jones, a New Zealander, one of the directors of Gulmarg Heliski.

"The future for heli-ski in Kashmir is very good, and Inshallah, we will return next winter with big business."

A little over 300 people signed up during the six-week season that ended early this week.

"There is hardly any violence. I think overall security situation has improved significantly, that is why Gulmarg is abuzz with foreign skiers," Billa Bakhshi, a Kashmir-based partner in the firm, said.

Behind Bakhshi, a number of Western tourists were strapping an avalanche transceiver to their chests before boarding the helicopter ready to ski in the Kashmir mountains.

"I have discovered a safe heaven for skiers in Himalayas, unparalleled adventure, amazing powder riding," said Lel Tones, a 40-year-old skier from California.

"Such spectacular terrain, I personally think access to these Gulmarg mountains for a skier is a special opportunity," she said.

Tourism returned in force to Kashmir in 2005 as violence fell after India and Pakistan began a peace process. Some 600,000 people visited the scenic region, most of them Indians. But numbers dropped off again since 2008 after massive anti-India protests broke out in the region.

Scores of protesters were killed and hundreds wounded, most of them in police firing.

The armies of South Asian neighbours India and Pakistan, who have gone to war twice over Kashmir, regularly exchanged artillery fire along the disputed border until they declared a ceasefire seven years ago.

Jammu and Kashmir officials said they expected skiers to return next winter.

"Kashmir is safe and everything is normal. I am sure Gulmarg next winter will be house full," Nawang Rigzin Jora, Kashmir's tourism minister, said.

Florida jumps into fray over online hotel taxes
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press
Tue Mar 1, 2:55 pm ET

TAMPA, Fla. – Two years ago Florida joined dozens of other states and municipalities in suing online travel companies for a bigger chunk of local hotel taxes. This spring, though, the state's Republican Legislature seems poised to do an about-face.

The passage of bills in Florida siding with online travel operations such as Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline would be a significant victory for the industry in a conflict that has dragged on for years and led to a patchwork of lawsuits and contradictory court decisions around the country. About 9 percent of the nation's 4 million hotel rooms are in the Sunshine State, where tourism is $60-billion-a-year industry.

The bills in the Republican-led Florida Legislature would exempt the online companies from paying a larger share of hotel occupancy taxes. A similar measure stalled in the Senate last year, but backers are buoyed this spring by the militant anti-tax tone set by new Gov. Rick Scott and other new conservative faces in the chambers. The session starts March 8.

But lawmakers will act at the risk of angering Florida's hotel and lodging industry, which says shielding the out-of-state sellers from paying more gives the companies an unfair competitive advantage and could ultimately lead to higher taxes as cash-strapped local governments try to make up the revenue.

Online travel companies make money by negotiating discounts from hotels and then selling the rooms to consumers at a higher rate. States and municipalities say they are losing tax revenue because the online sellers pay local occupancy taxes only on the wholesale price of the room, not the full rate they charge consumers.

For instance, if an online company negotiates a rate of $100 per night and sells the room to a traveler for $120 per night, it pays occupancy taxes only on the $100 at the time the room is booked. In Florida, state economists estimate the loss of revenue to state and local governments amounts to $20 million a year.

The online companies consider the difference a booking fee that's not subject to local taxes.

"An online company is not a hotel," said Andrew Weinstein, spokesman for the Interactive Travel Services Association, which represents online travel companies. "It's not in the business of renting rooms and managing properties, and it was not intended to be a collector of these taxes."

There is certainly no consensus on the issue.

If the bill is passed, Florida would follow Missouri as the second state with a law favoring the online sellers. Some states and municipalities, most notably New York City and Washington, D.C., have gone the other way, passing measures that extend occupancy taxes to the online companies. Judges have sided with the industry in most of the cases already decided by the courts, and another 40 to 50 lawsuits — including the 2009 Florida action — are still pending nationally.

A federal class-action suit against 15 online travel companies in Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys, was settled last year for $6.5 million, split among 32 Florida counties. The deal does not require the companies to start paying taxes for the full room price, but temporarily precludes the counties from suing some of the online companies.

State Sen. Don Gaetz, who sponsored the bill in the Florida Senate, said it's critical to remove any barriers to increasing hotel bookings in his Florida Panhandle district whose tourism industry took a one-two punch from the recession and Gulf oil spill last year. Moreover, he hopes a state law will definitively settle the rancorous issue here, instead of relying on the courts or the federal government to do something about it.

"I'm optimistic we will come to some solution," Gaetz said. "I don't believe that the way to improve our tourist economy is with a tax increase."

While hotels have to deal with third-party online sellers to keep their properties full, they also are competing with them for consumers' online business. So, the lodging industry argues that the online companies are not carrying their fair share of the local tax burden, which they say could result in the hotels — and their guests — paying more.

"As hotels, we think if this goes through, if Florida passes this thing, what this is going to result in is the hotels paying the difference," said Shawn McBurney, senior vice president of governmental affairs for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. "It's eventually going to get passed on to the consumer."

The online travel industry unsuccessfully shopped a federal measure in Congress last year that would have exempted them from paying any additional taxes. But Weinstein said the cause is being boosted by a new wave of conservative elected officials around the country who swept in last fall with a clear anti-tax message.

"I think you have reinforcing waves of anti-tax and pro-tourism (sentiment), and legislators are realizing how critical the tourism industry is for local revenue," Weinstein said. "And I think they are generally disinclined to pass new taxes that could hurt that revenue stream."

Egypt, Tunisia tourism recovering fast - German assn

FRANKFURT, March 4 (Reuters) - Tourists are returning quickly to Egypt and Tunisia after the uprising there, according to the German travel association DRV.

The two countries are a popular destination for Germans, who spent more than any other nation on holidays abroad in 2010, said the DRV.

Juergen Buechy, president of the DRV said the unrest would have a short-term effect on travel there, but that bookings were already significantly improving.

"I am certain Egypt and Tunisia will recover quickly and reclaim their place on the tourism map," he told journalists on Friday.

"Many Germans have sympathy with the peaceful uprisings," he added.

Sales at German tour operators increased by 2.5 percent to 21.3 billion euros ($29.71 billion) last year. Buechy said the industry should return to or even exceed the pre-crisis levels of 2008 this year.

Buechy added some months had even shown double-digit increases in bookings for this year compared with last year.

The largest tour operators in Germany include TUI Travel, Thomas Cook and unlisted Rewe.

Buechy said the current spike in the oil price was not having an effect at the moment, especially as many summer bookings had already been made.

While sales at German tour operators rose 2.5 percent last year, the numbers of holidaymakers actually increased by 5 percent. This discrepancy reflects that tour operators lowered prices in 2008 to attract customers, Buechy said.

Buechy told Reuters Insider Germans were definitely spending more on holidays this year and the consumer mood was good.

"They're booking earlier. It's definitely not a 'last-minute' year," he said.

German retail sales came in much stronger than expected in January, showing traditionally conservative consumers are contributing to an economic recovery that shows little sign of faltering. ($1=.7170 Euro)

Now there's a surprise. I always thought the Brits were the single biggest tourists in the world. Could've never guessed that it's ze Germans.

lol at the title: :lol::nuts:

"Egypt, Tunisia tourism recovering fast - German ass"

Tourists still wary of revolutionary Egypt, Tunisia

BERLIN, March 10 (Reuters) - Tour operators and travel officials may be encouraging people to travel to Egypt and Tunisia after their largely peaceful revolutions, but it will take time for holidaymakers to return in their former numbers.

Egypt's economy ground nearly to a halt during weeks of protests that started on Jan. 25 and toppled the government of Hosni Mubarak, and some of its main sources of foreign exchange, including tourism, have collapsed.

Tourism is a key source of income for Tunisia, too, accounting for 7 percent of its GDP and providing jobs for about 30 percent of the population.

"Over the past few days we have seen the beginning of recovery; hotel occupancy is increasing, the situation is bouncing back," Egypt's new tourism minister Mounir Abdel Nour told visitors to the ITB travel fair in Berlin.

While Nour believes Egypt can match 2010's visitor total of 14.2 million people, Tunisia expects tourist arrivals to slide this year to 60-80 percent of last year's 7 million, tourism Minister Mehdi Houas told Reuters.

Tour operators in Germany, the world's biggest spenders on international holidays, say bookings to the countries for the summer have collapsed by as much as 50 percent.

The big three tour operators, TUI Germany , Thomas Cook AG and Rewe, have now restarted holidays to the countries after a hiatus in February.

"The two destinations are coming on slowly," said Peter Fankhauser, head of Thomas Cook's German unit.

MARKETING THE REVOLUTION

The countries' tourism authorities, however, have not been slow to grab the marketing opportunity offered by the uprisings.

Egypt's huge stand at the ITB, the world's largest travel trade fair, is emblazoned with slogans such as "Online revolution - made in Egypt" and postmarks of Jan. 25, the day on which the protests began.

Visitors can also take away small posters with the message "Tahrir Square - from Egypt with love".

Tunisia's is more modest, calling on people to visit "now!", while the tang of revolution is still in the air.

"The big difference is now you can see a country with its face uncovered," said Tunisia tourism minister Mehdi Houas, who admits the uprising took him by surprise.

President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali was toppled by mass protests on Jan. 14 after 23 years of autocratic rule and fled to Saudi Arabia.

Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, said the new political landscape was creating opportunities to attract visitors.

"People are going to Egypt to see many places -- the Pyramids, Luxor, the Red Sea -- and now they're adding Tahrir Square; it's become something for them to admire," he said.

German economy minister Rainer Bruederle also said at the ITB opening ceremony, "The people have earned our sympathy. We must help them out."

The most recent summer bookings figures for other sunny destinations indicate people do not yet feel comfortable choosing Egypt and Tunisia for their holidays.

Rewe said Turkey had gained in particular, with bookings up around 50 percent, while Thomas Cook and TUI have shifted capacity to Spanish destinations such as the Canary Islands.

Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters it was having a knock-on effect in neighbouring countries, as often people travel first to Egypt and then on to places like Jordan.

Starwood Hotels CEO Frits van Paasschen said Egypt, where its hotels are currently only between 5 and 30 percent full, may be helped by the fact it has some convention business.

"Once the world feels like the water is safe to jump back in, business will resume fairly normally," he added.

INTERVIEW-Tunisia sees tourism falling by up to 40 pct in 2011

BERLIN, March 9 (Reuters) - Tunisia expects tourist arrivals to slide this year to 60-80 percent of last year's 7 million in the wake of January's revolution, Tourism Minister Mehdi Houas said on Wednesday.

But Houas said that the country was now safe for tourists and that it was determined to distinguish itself from neighbouring Libya, where rebels are battling forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

"In 2010 we had 7 million tourists, and if we manage to reach 80 percent of that figure (this year) we will have saved the season," he told Reuters on the sidelines of the ITB travel fair in Berlin. "Today we expect between 60 and 80 percent."

President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali was toppled by mass protests on Jan. 14 after 23 years of autocratic rule and fled to Saudi Arabia. Interim authorities have struggled to restore stability in the North African country, but over the past week they have laid out a plan for a transition to democracy.

"Safety is now totally guaranteed and established because the police and the army are working hand in hand," Houas said in an interview. "We are on the path to free and democratic elections that has greatly satisfied the Tunisian population."

German travel association DRV said last week that tourists are returning quickly to Tunisia.

"TUNISIA IS NOT LIBYA"

Houas said Tunisia's tourism sector, which employs about 400,000 people directly, should recover to maintain a vital sector of the economy in the years ahead.

He admitted that Tunisia may struggle to differentiate itself in the eyes of Western tourists from the upheaval affecting other Arab countries, especially Libya.

"We are hoping to distinguish Tunisia's image to reinforce the fact that Tunisia is not Libya," he said. "The changes in Tunisia are making it easier for tourists to come."

As part of a drive to draw new types of visitors, Houas said the government was preparing 12 archaeological and cultural sites to receive tourists from this spring.

He also tried to reassure German tour operators, which include TUI Travel , Thomas Cook and unlisted Rewe, saying Tunisia would no longer be a "mafia state".

"We are giving large companies like TUI, Thomas Cook and Rewe the extra guarantees they need to be reassured the country will respect the law."

"We are guaranteeing people the same beaches, the same sun and the same sea, but with a much more liberal, transparent and warm-hearted welcome," he added.

Cricket nudges up Sri Lanka Feb tourist arrivals
11 March 2011

COLOMBO, March 11 (Reuters) - Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka rose 14.8 percent in February compared to a year earlier, tourism board data showed on Friday, boosted by spectators to the cricket World Cup which the country is co-hosting.

Numbers of visitors in the first two months of 2011 rose 29.6 percent as the Indian Ocean island's tourism industry continued a revival that began following the end of a 25-year civil war in May 2009.

Arrivals hit a record high of 654,476 in 2010 with a 46.1 percent year-on-year rise and broke the previous record of 566,202 set in 2004, when a peace accord between the government and the separatist Tamil Tigers was in place.

Tourism revenue jumped 64.8 percent year-on-year to a record $575.9 million in 2010, the central bank's latest data showed. The previous full-year record of $416.8 million was also set in 2004.

The cricket tournament runs from Feb. 19 to April 2.

The following table shows tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka:

2011 2010 Change
(in %)
February 65,797 57,300 14.8
Jan-Feb 139,994 108,057 29.6

* Sri Lanka aims to attract $2.7 billion in investments to upgrade its post-war tourism capacity, with the goal of growing revenue to $2.5 billion by 2016.

* The hotel and travel index <.CSEHT> on the Colombo Stock Exchange has risen nearly fourfold since the end of the war.

* Tourism is one of the main foreign exchange earners for Sri Lanka's $50 billion economy along with remittances from abroad, garments and tea.

* The government had forecast arrivals to hit a new record of 700,000 in 2011.

* Sri Lanka, through its 2011 budget, has imposed a tax of $20 per room night on five-star hotels if they fail to charge a minimum rate of $125.

($1=111.02 Sri Lankan rupee)

Japan faces lean tourist season

TOKYO, March 21 (Reuters) - As Japan enters its annual cherry blossom festival season, tourists are heading elsewhere, scared off by fears of radiation from a nuclear crisis that erupted hard on the heels of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Tokyo, with its sleek shops and high-end restaurants, has long been a favorite destination for wealthy tourists, particularly those from Japan's faster-growing neighbors such as China.

The crisis around the crippled Fukushima power plant and reports of radiation in food have sparked a wave of cancellations by foreign visitors, dealing another blow to airlines, stores and restaurants in an economy already smarting from weak domestic consumption.

As the tourists stay away, it will also be bad news for department store operators Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings and Matsuya Co, as well as electronics retailer Laox Co, all popular with visitors.

"Sales to overseas tourists, especially the Chinese, of high-end goods and personal electronics have been growing, but that will certainly stop," said Takayuki Suzuki, a retail analyst at Primo Research Japan.

"The increased levels of radiation ... have raised many fears, so I see many tourists avoiding Japan for a year, at least," he said.

In the upscale Ginza neighborhood, a major tourist draw for its sprawling department stores and expensive boutiques, the crowds were noticeably thinner this weekend ahead of Monday's national holiday.

"We get a lot of visitors from China, Russia and other places during the cherry blossom season, but after the tragic destruction it's hard to see many tourists coming this year," said Shigeyuki Ando, manager of the Ginza branch of Ando Cloissone, a boutique selling pricey traditional ceramics.

The shop usually makes up to 10 percent of its sales from foreigners in the peak season, another manager at the store said, adding he had seen only a trickle of European visitors over the weekend, and no Chinese.

COUNTING ON ASIA

Travel and tourism were expected to contribute nearly 7 percent to Japan's gross domestic product this year, or 33 trillion yen ($409.4 billion), according to the International Air Transport Association, a forecast that will likely be scaled back following the quake.

Squeezed by an aging population and deflationary pressures, Japan has pushed to draw more tourists to offset weak domestic consumption, particularly from elsewhere in Asia.

A record 9.44 million foreigners visited Japan last year. In-bound Chinese jumped by more than a third to about 1.6 million, overtaking Taiwanese as having the most visitors to Japan, behind the South Koreans.

All tours from Hong Kong to Japan have been cancelled until the middle of next month, the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council said. Japan usually accounts for 20-30 percent of outbound tourists from Hong Kong, said Joseph Tung, executive director of the travel council.

"People are worried. Until the situation is clear, I don't think people will have any interest to visit Japan," Tung said.

South Korean tour agencies also said many package reservations to Japan had been cancelled.

That could put pressure on airlines such as All Nippon Airways and may impact Oriental Land Co, which operates the Tokyo Disneyland theme park, a popular tourist draw that has been closed since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake.

Korean housewife Jin Hye-ryun may speak for many would-be tourists to Japan. Jin, 52, and her husband had planned to visit in May, but cancelled as soon as they heard about the earthquake and radiation leaks.

"Safety is not guaranteed," she said. "Besides, think about people dying there. No one wants to go there to have fun."

($1 = 80.610 Japanese Yen)

INTERVIEW-Kenya tourism hit by Egypt, local politics

NAIROBI, March 25 (Reuters) - Tourism in Kenya will suffer this year after Egypt slashed hotel rates by up to 50 percent to draw back visitors after weeks of political unrest, a major Kenyan hotelier said on Friday.

Mahmud Janmohamed, managing director of hotel group TPS Eastern Africa, said Egypt's discounts would divert traffic from Kenya's beaches and safari parks.

The north African country's economy came to a halt after protests which toppled President Hosni Mubarak and stalled the vital tourism industry.

"People may think events in Egypt will impact us positively. But as far as I am concerned they are creating competition because they have dropped rates by 40-50 percent," Janmohamed told Reuters in an interview.

Kenya's tourism sector earned a record 73.68 billion shillings ($887 million) in 2010, up 18 percent from a year earlier, while TPS registered a 33 percent jump in 2010 pretax profits to 692.9 million shillings.

Kenya's political climate after the International Criminal Court summoned six suspects of the its 2008 bloody post-election crisis and ahead of 2012 general elections has dimmed its appeal.

"If Kenya starts to get a lot of bad publicity, people would think twice about booking Kenya. Tour operators who supply us with business are already asking us if there will be any problem (in 2012). There will always be nervousness," said Janmohamed.

He said ripple effects from the global financial crisis continue to take a toll on Kenya's tourism, leading to last-minute bookings.

This was causing panic in the industry and forcing some hotels to offer too many special deal which are typically bad for the bottom line, he said.

"Nowadays people are booking very short lead times because they not sure about a destination or whether they will have a job in six months," Janmohamed said.

TPS operates a string of hotels under the Serena brand in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Rwanda and plans to expand to Burundi.

TPS has several cash-intensive projects for 2011 following a 1.2 billion shilling capital injection from last year's rights issue. Of this 600 million is yet to be drawn, while the group has shelved plans to raise additional capital.

Its Nairobi Serena hotel will be expanded to 220 bedrooms from 184 by third quarter of this year.

Fewer Las Vegas visitors gambled in 2010 compared with 2009, and those who did each spent less
28 March 2011

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Fewer Sin City visitors gambled in 2010 than in 2009, and they each spent less wagering on games like craps, slots and blackjack, according to a study by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The agency that promotes tourism in Las Vegas said 80 percent of visitors spent an average of just over $466 gambling during their trips last year, compared with 83 percent gambling nearly $482 each in 2009.

Visitors also spent a little less time gambling -- just under 3 hours per day in 2010 compared with 3.2 hours per day in 2009, the study said.

The gambling spending bucked trends for other spending in 2010. Visitors spent slightly more last year on hotel rooms, food and drink, transportation, shopping, shows and sightseeing than in 2009.

The demographics of Las Vegas visitors were essentially unchanged in 2010, with the exception of a slightly higher share of foreign visitors.

Casinos and the visitors authority have been hoping for more international visitors because they typically take longer trips and spend more while they're in Las Vegas.

The study said 18 percent of visitors in 2010 were from a foreign country, compared with 14 percent in 2009.

Most Las Vegas visitors came from the western United States, including 30 percent from California, the study said.

About 18 percent of visitors last year said they were taking their first trip to Las Vegas, up slightly from 2009.

The study said 59 percent of visitors in 2010 game by car or some other mode of ground transportation, with 48 percent using their own cars.

The survey was conducted for the agency by GLS Research, which interviewed 3,600 visitors each year for the study. Participants were chosen randomly from Las Vegas casinos, hotels, motels and RV parks.

Heli-skiing takes flight in Kashmir as violence wanes

GULMARG, India, March 1 (Reuters) - Helicopters aren't just carrying troops to the snow-capped mountains of Indian Kashmir any more.

They are also flying foreign skiers to ski slopes near a ceasefire line that divides the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.

Ski operator Gulmarg Heliski started the heli-skiing service in January hoping to attract adventure tourists to Kashmir with separatist violence down in the region once a top tourism destination popular with honeymooners, skiers and trekkers.

The region attracted about a million tourists a year until 1989, when simmering anger against New Delhi's rule burst into a violent rebellion.

But years of separatist violence across the Muslim-majority region ensured visitors stayed away even though authorities built a spectacular cable car network running through forests of towering pine trees to attract skiers to Gulmarg.

"Gulmarg is an adventure destination. There are endless possibilities for heli-ski runs in this area," said Martin Jones, a New Zealander, one of the directors of Gulmarg Heliski.

"The future for heli-ski in Kashmir is very good, and Inshallah, we will return next winter with big business."

A little over 300 people signed up during the six-week season that ended early this week.

"There is hardly any violence. I think overall security situation has improved significantly, that is why Gulmarg is abuzz with foreign skiers," Billa Bakhshi, a Kashmir-based partner in the firm, said.

Behind Bakhshi, a number of Western tourists were strapping an avalanche transceiver to their chests before boarding the helicopter ready to ski in the Kashmir mountains.

"I have discovered a safe heaven for skiers in Himalayas, unparalleled adventure, amazing powder riding," said Lel Tones, a 40-year-old skier from California.

"Such spectacular terrain, I personally think access to these Gulmarg mountains for a skier is a special opportunity," she said.

Tourism returned in force to Kashmir in 2005 as violence fell after India and Pakistan began a peace process. Some 600,000 people visited the scenic region, most of them Indians. But numbers dropped off again since 2008 after massive anti-India protests broke out in the region.

Scores of protesters were killed and hundreds wounded, most of them in police firing.

The armies of South Asian neighbours India and Pakistan, who have gone to war twice over Kashmir, regularly exchanged artillery fire along the disputed border until they declared a ceasefire seven years ago.

Jammu and Kashmir officials said they expected skiers to return next winter.

"Kashmir is safe and everything is normal. I am sure Gulmarg next winter will be house full," Nawang Rigzin Jora, Kashmir's tourism minister, said.

I completely agree with you, Gulmarg is one of the most beautiful places I have been to, but not much people are visiting it because of the common misconception that it is unsafe. It was unsafe a couple of years back but not now, the situation has greatly improved and tourists are back again. Its a must visit.

Japanese tourism drop not as bad as expected
3 April 2011

HONOLULU (AP) - The drop in tourists from Japan to Hawaii may not be as severe as originally thought.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is projecting an 18 percent decline in arrivals from Japan for the month of March, a smaller dip than the authority's initial 25 percent estimate.

The loss of Japanese travelers was expected to damage Hawaii's economy and government, both of which rely on tourism money.

The state Council on Revenues downgraded its forecast this week, in part due to the drop in Japanese visitors, to show the state government now has an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over the next two years.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority also said it's hopeful that April flight reductions by Japan Airlines from Narita to Honolulu will be restored soon.

Checking in for a Canadian hotel recovery

TORONTO, April 3 (Reuters) - Investors in Canada's hotel sector discovered a hard truth when the recession hit -- no other real estate play has customers who can pack up and leave so quickly. The upside is they're starting to check back in.

Retail, office and even apartment landlords all fared better than hoteliers when the downturn hit, with longer-term leases helping cushion the impact on revenues and profits.

Yet this liability in a recession is actually an advantage in a recovery, say analysts, who predict the hotel sector will outperform other real estate investment options as the recovery takes hold.

The Toronto Stock Exchange is no longer host to grand hoteliers such as Fairmont and the Four Seasons. But it still lists a few hotel operators, typically structured as tax-advantaged real estate investment trusts (REITs).

"At this point, a lot of the other REITs have gained what they lost. Hotels have not yet. Within the REIT space, I think hotels are fairly compelling," said Jenny Ma, an associate research analyst at Canaccord Genuity.

"You've seen the bottom behind you and you've seen a little bit of a recovery to show that fundamentals in the hotel space have firmed up."

Canada's lodging stocks, such as InnVest Real Estate Investment Trust , Royal Host , Holloway Lodging REIT , Lakeview Hotel REIT and Temple REIT , offered investors little shelter when the global financial crisis hit.

Each took a steep dive at the end of 2008. Investors were spooked by a freefall in occupancy and average room rates -- two of the industry's performance yardsticks -- across the country as business and leisure travelers reined in costs.

None of the Canadian lodging stocks has yet returned to pre-recession levels. But hotel room demand is picking up, and room rates are expected to soon follow, as the economic recovery gains traction.

Recent Statistics Canada data showed tourism spending advanced in the fourth quarter, while tourism GDP notched its sixth straight quarterly gain.

And Smith Travel Research tracking data for the week ended March 26 showed the Canadian hotel industry's three important performance measures trended higher year-over-year.

Occupancy rose 1.3 percent to 60.1 percent, while the average daily rate edged up 0.7 percent to C$121.99. Revenue per available room, which multiplies the occupancy rate by the room rate, bumped up 2.1 percent to C$73.27.

"There isn't, largely, a market across Canada that hasn't improved," said Bill Stone, executive vice-president at brokerage CBRE Hotels.

INVEST IN INNVEST

As the largest owner and operator of hotel properties by brand and geography in Canada, InnVest REIT is a natural choice among lodging stocks in all types of real estate picks, say analysts. The handful of other lodging REITs are much smaller and more geographically focused.

"If you're a Canadian investor looking for hotel exposure, InnVest is by far the most liquid way to gain that exposure," said Scotia Capital real estate analyst Mario Saric, who rates InnVest a "top pick."

"As an investor you're also getting a healthy distribution yield to wait for that eventual recovery in hotel demand."

Units of InnVest, which yield more than 7 percent, closed on Friday at C$6.89. The units are up more than 14 percent in the past 12 months, underperforming the S&P/TSX real estate subgroup <.GSPTTRE>, which has risen 23 percent, and underperforming the main Toronto composite index <.GSPTSE>, which is up 16.3 percent in the same period.

By comparison, Royal Host dropped as much as 18 percent since it suspended its dividend on March 24, but shaved losses on Friday, finishing up 8.5 percent at C$1.79. Saric said the stock may "remain under pressure given a lack of yield support and a far-from-cheap valuation."

Analysts warn that investors in the hotel space should recognize the industry is cyclical, and that another global economic shock or downturn would trip up the hotel recovery.

That said, they see the outlook for the entire real estate sector firming, with hotels having especially good return potential.

"I'm expecting pretty decent fundamentals across the board for Canadian real estate," said Saric. "Going forward, you could make the argument that you're going to get the best growth from the hotel space. It has the most upside because it fell the most during the downturn."

($1=$0.97 Canadian)

NY's rat problem damaging tourism - city official

NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - Absolutely no one likes a rat, a city official said on Tuesday, demanding $1.5 million be restored to the budget to be help control what he called Manhattan's horrific rat problem.

Seeing vermin running amok on city streets and in subway tunnels is a turn-off for tourists, said Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer.

"They don't want to come here and share their vacation with a New York City rat," Stringer told Reuters.

Demanding rat control money be restored to the city Health Department budget, Stringer said the cuts forced the layoff of 57 Pest Control workers. The result has been a 1.5 percent rise in complaints over last year and damage to New York's appeal as a tourist destination, he said.

It's also a public safety issue.

"I find this to be unacceptable because rodents are very dangerous to children and the quality of life of the city," Stringer said.

He said the cut "makes no sense" as the city's pest control program was collecting around $6 million in fines each year from building owners for pest-related health violations.

"Why would you make cuts to a program that actually makes money for the city?" Stringer said.

Unless the cuts are restored and the pest control force fortified, the rat control problem is only going to get worse, he said.

City health spokeswoman Susan Craig said the layoffs have "had no impact on the agency's ability to respond to rat complaints."

The city has adapted to the cuts by doing more comprehensive pest control sweeps of neighborhoods as opposed to responding to individual complaints, she said.

"Our new approach has allowed us to become better at discovering rat problems, better at notifying landlords about infestations and better at getting properties near each other to treat rat problems simultaneously," she said.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Monthly Stats and Year to Date Stats as of February 2011. Even with an increase of visitor numbers, people are gambling less but the nightlife and everything else is going well.


Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (http://www.lvcva.com/getfile/37/ES-Feb2011.pdf)

Little wiggle room for LVCVA
13 April 2011
The Las Vegas Review-Journal

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

In the face of an unpredictable outlook for the tourism industry, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's predictions will count for more than at any time in recent memory.

The budget for the authority's coming fiscal year calls for finishing with a reserve, called a fund balance, of $7.8 million on June 30, 2012. This represents a drop of nearly half from the current spending plan and just 4.3 percent of total operational spending, the low end of the range the authority tries to maintain.

At the same time, the authority has built in a $7 million increase next year in room tax revenue, the source of three-fourths of its funding. A hiccup in visitor traffic could quickly eat away at the reserve, although better-than-expected room taxes this year allowed the authority to come in with a reserve $5.3 million higher than originally expected.

The budget calls for a 1 percent decline from this year to $230 million. Due to rising debt service, spending on operations, including running the Las Vegas Convention Center and selling the city to the world, will drop 4.5 percent to $180.4 million.

In putting together the 2012 estimates, authority Vice President of Finance Brenda Siddall said she canvassed member hotels about their outlooks. "To a person, they talked about the inconsistency of what they were seeing," she said. "Roller coaster was the operative term."

Sharply climbing oil prices have emerged as a potential brake on the economy, hitting Las Vegas in the form of rising airfares and gasoline prices that now average about $4.17 a gallon in Southern California, the largest source of visitors. Siddall noted that the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index dropped sharply in March after several months of gains.

Boulder City Councilman Cam Walker, an authority board member, raised a caution flag about the shrinking reserve. If the revenue projections turn out to be high, it could lead to another round of budget cuts like those that followed the onset of recession three years ago.

"I am concerned about the people that would be affected," he said.

The state calls for authorities to keep reserves of 4 percent to 8.3 percent of an operating budget, but the authority has adopted a target of 4 percent to 12 percent.

The reserve hit $45.7 million three years ago, 16.4 percent of operating spending, as the authority built up funds to carry out a capital improvement program. But when room tax collections took a sharp dive, the more ambitious projects were shelved and some of the funds went to maintain the authority's basic functions.

Out of 572 positions shown on the books, 101 sit vacant. As part of the new budget, the authority will eliminate 67 permanently.

The allocations for 2012 were trimmed 1 percent for marketing and 7 percent for advertising, two categories that comprise just over half of the operating budget. The dollar amounts for both categories are still lower than they were in 2005.

Still, said Siddall, the gradual economic improvement over the past year is projected to continue, with low single-digit percentage gains in hotel room occupancy and average daily rates. This will let the authority make some headway in its two top funding priorities of boosting the advertising budget and spending on employees through such measures as eliminating mandatory furloughs.

ANALYSIS-Tourism boost could lift Spain economy

MADRID, April 14 (Reuters) - Holidaymakers unnerved by turmoil in the Middle East are giving Spain's tourist industry a welcome boost, but for the sector to hold its gains and help drive economic growth, it must become more competitive.

That may require politically and fiscally difficult cuts in wages and taxes as Spain -- like other southern European states whose historic sites and sunny beaches make visitors a key economic resource -- struggles with high debt and unemployment.

Around one million more tourists are expected to visit Spain this year, many of them northern Europeans re-routing trips from regions that have become natural or political disaster zones: good news for an industry emerging from a long downturn.

But Spain -- the world's third largest tourist destination behind France and the United States -- has seen past windfalls from crises in other regions prove temporary, and experts say quality must rise and prices fall for growth to be sustained.

"Spain has a lot to offer ... but we fall short in terms of price-to-quality and legislative control,"

Josep Francesc Valls, a tourism expert at the ESADE business school in Barcelona said.

Valls expects foreign arrivals to grow between 2 and 2.5 percent in 2011, after rising 1.4 percent to 53 million in 2010 after two years of declines. That could help the tourism sector recover between 7,000 and 10,000 jobs of 180,000 shed since since the financial crisis began three years ago.

Tourism accounts for about 11 percent of Spain's gross domestic product, despite the impact of lower travel spending as the country crawls out of recession and battles the highest unemployment in the euro zone at more than 20 percent.

COMPETITION

It has struggled to compete with cheaper destinations such as Turkey, however, while the euro's rise against sterling has weighed on travel from Britain, home to some of Spain's most faithful tourists.

The website of Europe's second-biggest travel firm Thomas Cook currently shows an all-inclusive seven-day beach holiday package to a 4-star hotel in Spain or Turkey over Easter costs an average 600 pounds per person, compared to about 450 pounds for a similar trip to Tunisia.

Analysts said prices in Spain are likely to remain stable this year -- reflected in the performance of listed hoteliers like NH Hoteles and Sol Melia -- despite cuts in competing markets such as Greece, where tourism brings in nearly one-fifth of GDP and is also seen as key to recovery for the debt-choked economy.

Aware of tourism's economic potential as global travel grows, the Spanish government has pumped over 3.6 billion euros ($5.21 billion) into the sector in the past three years, despite cutting overall spending to avoid a Greek-style bailout.

Industry lobby Exceltur believes its forecasts for an average 1.5 percent growth in tourism each year between 2011 and 2015 could double if the government gave the sector priority treatment, boosting growth for the wider economy.

But experts say lower airport taxes and better legislation to protect infrastructure from the kind of wildcat strikes that paralysed Spanish airports in December, costing the sector millions of euros, could be as important as marketing campaigns.

Last month, airport unions called off 22 days of strikes to protest the privatisation of airport operator AENA, averting disruption over peak holiday periods between April and August.

NEW STRATEGIES

From the 14th century Alhambra Moorish palace in southern Granada to the modern Guggenheim Museum in northern Bilbao, the mountainous Spanish peninsula offers a range of cultural, gastronomical and leisure options beyond its beaches.

And with 900 million people crossing international borders each year, according to data from the World Tourism Organisation, experts say more could be done to promote the country as an all-seasons destination.

"The challenge is coordinated public-private efforts for creative and competitive new packages across the country so that one city isn't competing with another's uniqueness," Jose Ramon Pin, professor at business school IESE said.

One suggestion is the creation of a tourism minister to coordinate policy among the regions and sectors affected by travel, from infrastructure to the environment.

Spain has never had a single tourism chief, unlike rivals such as Tunisia, which has launched fresh campaigns to lure back tourists after political upheaval early this year. Tunisia's tourism minister said last month that 2011 arrivals there were expected to fall by up to 40 percent, while Egypt has predicted a 25 percent drop in tourism revenues.

Another strategy is for Spain to upgrade accommodation and facilities to distinguish itself as a quality destination for higher-spending visitors. Tourists spent about 49 billion euros in Spain in 2010, according to government data, with the same expected this year -- well below boom-year figures of about 52 billion euros.

The government has already pledged to promote Spain as a destination in major emerging markets like China and India through aggressive campaigns and moves to facilitate visas.

Another step would be to tear down the apartment blocks that flourished on the country's coasts during a long property boom and rebuild with boardwalks and parks, Valls of ESADE said -- although funds for such large-scale investment are unlikely to be found until Europe's debt crisis comes to an end.

Congratulations Russia & Turkey.A visa-free travel regime between Turkey and Russia officially went into effect today as a sign of expanding bilateral relations between the two countries. Russia has thus become one of several countries with which Turkey has mutually waived visa requirements and enabled citizens of both countries to enjoy visa-free travel.The simplification of visa procedures now allows citizens to freely enter the territory of each country.
The agreement establishes a 30-day period during which a person with, for example, a Russian passport, can be on the territory of Turkey.

Russians and Turks may be in the others country without a visa for a total of 90 days during a 180-day period.If there is a need to extend these deadlines citizens will have to contact the consular offices to obtain a visa.
The number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey was expected to increase from three million to four million while Turkish trips to Russia were expected to rise from 300,000 to 500,000 under the new agreement.

http://i.imgur.com/JTQxJ.jpg

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-241173-visa-free-regime-with-russia-officially-begins-today.html

Brazil to promote tourism with release of 'Rio'
AP
Wed Apr 13, 5:13 pm ET

BRASILIA, Brazil – Brazil's tourism agency plans to use the global release of the 3-D animation movie "Rio" to promote the country as a destination for foreign tourists.

Embratur said Wednesday a short promotional video — "Brazil Calls You. Celebrate Life Here" — will be shown in theaters in 10 nations around the world just before the film is screened this weekend.

There will be 7,500 showings of the video at 250 movie houses in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Italy, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain and the United States.

Besides promoting Brazil, the video is aimed at reducing concerns that foreigners may have about violence in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian city most visited by tourists, an Embratur official said. The official agreed to discuss that aspect of the video only if not quoted by name.

Last week, a gunman killed 12 children at an elementary school in Rio, lining them up against a wall and shooting them in the head. After being shot in the legs by a police officer, the shooter killed himself.

Rio is frequently in the news as a city rife with drug-gang violence in its vast slums.

In 2009, police began an ambitious "pacification" program in which security forces clear heavily armed gangs from slums and establish a police presence. The program aims to reduce violence in the city before the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games and improve the lives of shantytown residents by bringing in basic services.

"Rio," which was directed by Brazilian Carlos Saldanha, opened last month in Brazil.

It is the story of Blu, a rare blue macaw born in Brazil but raised in Minnesota, where he never learned to fly. Blu travels to Rio de Janeiro after his owners learn a female blue macaw has been discovered there, then amid a series of adventures falls in love with her and learns to fly while rediscovering himself among sweeping views of the city.

"It is very important to take advantage of this visibility to promote our diversity," Embratur president Mario Moyses said in a statement. "Besides Rio de Janeiro, which everyone should visit, we have natural beauties: beaches, sun and destinations for anyone seeking culture, sports, ecotourism, and adventure and business tourism."

Top 10 destinations in the world (by TripAdvisor):

1. Cape Town, South Africa
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2. Sydney, Australia
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3. Machu Picchu, Peru
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4. Paris, France
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5. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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6. New York City, United States
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7. Rome, Italy
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8. London, United Kingdom
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9. Barcelona, Spain
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10. Hong Kong, China
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The news:CNN (http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/cape-town-named-worlds-top-travel-destination-246390)

Hawaii tourism up 9 percent in first quarter
AP
Fri Apr 29, 1:46 pm ET

HONOLULU – Visitors to Hawaii increased 9 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to last year despite a decline in arrivals from Japan following the earthquake and tsunami.

Japan arrivals plunged nearly 17.9 percent last month compared to March 2010, according to data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority released Thursday. Prior to the earthquake and tsunami, the number of visitors from Japan had increased nine out of the last 10 months since last May.

"As expected, Hawaii saw a decline in arrivals from Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11," tourism authority president and CEO Mike McCartney said.

The tourism industry made up for that anticipated loss because of business from other markets, he said. Arrivals from the U.S. mainland and Canada increased from last year despite a drop in spring break visitors. The authority anticipated seeing the full effect of spring break in April, which is when the majority of California schools schedule their breaks.

Total visitor spending in Hawaii during the first three months of the year increased 16.9 percent to $3.2 billion compared to the same time last year. Last month's visitor spending grew 11.8 percent from last March while arrivals increased 4.2 percent. The average daily spending by all visitors last month was $167 per person, a $5 increase from last year.

McCartney said tourism is expected to be strong in April and May because of spring break, the Easter holiday and charter flights from Japan for the country's string of national holidays known as "Golden Week."

The authority, he said, "will continue to monitor the Japan market as well as other global conditions, such as the rise in oil prices, which will have an effect on our state's economic recovery."

Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Bhutan

THIMPHU, May 13 (Reuters) - The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is becoming increasingly popular for well-heeled travellers keen to explore this remote and unspoiled Buddhist Shangri La.

Surrounded by mountains and flanked by India and Tibet, this tiny country has only been opened to tourism for a few decades and its traditional way of life remains miraculously preserved despite the growing prevalence of mobile phones and cable television.

While tourists are lured to Bhutan for a break from the 21st century, the country is also uniquely progressive. Tobacco is illegal, plastic bags are banned, and traditional economic indicators are shunned in favour of Gross National Happiness.

The expensive price tag ($200 per person per day) has kept budget travellers at bay, but the cost includes all meals, accommodation, guide, driver and car. Contrary to popular belief, there is no quota on the number of tourists allowed per year although hotels and airline seats fill up fast.

FRIDAY

5 p.m. - Marvel at the view from your Druk Air window seat at one of the most spectacular commercial airline descents in the world as you make the hair-raising landing in Bhutan's steep Paro valley. Meet your guide after clearing customs.

The 1-hour journey to Thimphu follows a river through idyllic countryside, taking in paddy fields and villages featuring Bhutanese-style architecture.

6 p.m. - Arrive in Thimphu, a charming city which boasts of being the world's only capital without traffic lights, and where white-gloved police direct traffic by hand. Walk into town to soak up the village-like atmosphere at dusk where monks with mobile phones mingle with government officials wearing traditional 'ghos', a knee-length robe worn by Bhutanese men, and young modern Bhutanese playing carom, finger snooker, in bars. Wander into shops selling handicrafts, prayer flags and textiles.

7 p.m. - Eat dinner in one of the local restaurants around Clock-tower Square. Chillies are the staple of Bhutanese dining and feature in almost every meal along with red rice. Buffet-style dining is popular for tourists and common dishes include chicken, dried beef, lentils and dried vegetable spiced with chilli and cheese.

9 p.m. - You don't travel to Bhutan for the nightlife but if you are still keen to party, ask your guide to take you to one of the town's friendly bars or karaoke clubs.

SATURDAY

7 a.m. - After a huge buffet breakfast at your hotel, strap on your hiking boots and meet your guide for an early start. Drop into Thimphu's National Memorial Chorten, an impressive monument to a former king, and soak up the enormous prayer wheels and watch locals in colourful traditional dress. Take in views of Bhutan's impressive Taschhhodzong or parliament building.

If you have time, visit one of the local Thanka-making houses where intricate Buddhist tapestries are hand-sewn.

11 a.m. - Take the winding roads back into the Paro Upper Valley to begin the steep trek to the famous Taktsang or Tiger Nest Monastery. This cluster of buildings hanging off a sheer cliff face 900 metres above the valley below is Bhutan's most photographed attraction. It involves a strenuous hike through lush pine forests and groves of prayer flags for one to two hours but the reward is worth it.

1 p.m - Rest and enjoy lunch at the wooden teahouse halfway up, taking in spectacular views of the monastery and the valley below. Tackle the steep path to the top, passing the Snow Lion Cave and a waterfall. Explore the labyrinth of chapels inside the monastery and watch the monks, who spend large parts of their lives meditating at the top of the world.

4 p.m - Drive back to Paro to check into your hotel and rest your feet after the long climb. Paro offers a range of accommodation nestled in pine forests or by rivers and many rooms have scenic views across the valley. The most popular at the high-end is the Uma Como. (http://www.uma.paro.como.bz/).

An increasing number of hotels feature luxurious spas where tourists can ease any aches and pains from long days trekking with hot stone massages and other treatments.

7 p.m. - Enjoy Bhutan beer -- Druk 11000 is a popular and potent brand -- from your balcony overlooking the valley before either venturing into town or enjoying dinner by a roaring fire at your hotel.

SUNDAY

9 a.m - Reward yourself for yesterday's hike with a large buffet breakfast in your hotel before meeting your guide to explore the picturesque Paro valley.

10 a.m. Archery is Bhutan's national sport and a great spectator event. Drop by the Paro Archery Grounds to watch local men in traditional dress hitting impossibly distant targets. The sport is laced with ritual and the competitive singing and dancing which follows each round is more fun to watch than the archery itself. Some hotels will organise archery lessons.

11 a.m - Drive up to Paro's National Museum, an old watchtower perched above the town, and inspect the ancient artefacts which illustrate Bhutan's rich history. From here it is a short walk downhill to the Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong), an enormous fortress-monastery built in 1646 which featured in the movie The Last Emperor. It is also the site for Bhutan's famous Tsechu, a spectacular festival held each spring where thousands come to see the elaborate costumes and dances which recreate stories from Buddhist mythology.

1 p.m - Lunch in Paro town and spend the afternoon visiting the weekend food market or wandering around local shops. Relax in the town square and take final photos of locals in traditional dress before departing for the airport.

Unrest boosts tourism in more stable Gulf states

DUBAI, May 17 (Reuters) - Gulf Arab states least affected by regional turmoil are likely to see a boost in tourism, analysts said on Tuesday, with the United Arab Emirates outperforming other destinations.

"Dubai has benefitted drastically, with high occupancy rates, more tourists, and high retail numbers, because your average Arab who used to go to ... Jordan, Syria or Lebanon, or to Egypt find these countries suffering from unrest," said Mahdi Mattar, chief economist at Abu Dhabi-based CAPM Investment.

"They have adjusted to the next best thing which is Dubai. Also international tourists who used to go to Egypt and wanted to see a better weather are coming to Dubai right now," he said.

UAE Economy Minister Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri said earlier this month that he had already seen an uptick in tourism in the first four months of 2011.

Tourism contributes about 25 percent to Dubai's economy.

"It's a very broad mix of tourists. If we look at the Dubai market for tourism, the number one nationality providing tourists to Dubai is traditionally the United Kingdom, closely followed by Asian, Russian and (Gulf) tourists," said Farouk Soussa, Citi's Middle East chief economist in Dubai.

"If you look at the number of tourist arrivals, the number of people going through Dubai airport, all these indicators are growing at a rate of between 10 to 15 percent," he added.

The UAE, along with Qatar, has avoided the public protests that have swept through the Arab world, and Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in the Gulf. Occupancy rates in Bahrain hotels dropped to 10 percent in March, compared with 60 percent a year earlier, according to a Ernst & Young Middle East survey.

In Oman, a small sultanate hit by street protests since February, hotel occupancy rates stood at 68 percent in March this year, down from 83 percent in March 2010, the data showed.

France to help Russia create Caucasus ski resorts

DEAUVILLE, France, May 26 (Reuters) - France will help Russia with its ambitious plan to create a constellation of ski resorts in the North Caucasus, a poor region plagued by insurgent violence, the two presidents said on Thursday.

Russia laid out a $15 billion plan last year to build five resorts in the stunning mountains of the North Caucasus, hoping to draw tourism and investment to an area where poverty fuels an Islamist insurgency a decade after the wars in Chechnya.

France voiced support in a joint statement released after talks between President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a G8 summit in the seaside resort of Deauville.

Sarkozy and Medvedev "agreed to list the creation of a tourist cluster in the North Caucasus as a priority ... in the strategic partnership between the two countries," it said.

"France has unique and varied experience and knowledge of full-scale development of highland regions ... and is ready to share its experience with Russia," the document said.

Russia and France are considering a joint venture that would inject at least 2 billion euro ($2.79 billion) in to the project, the Russian business daily Vedomosti reported.

State-run North Caucasus Resorts Company (NCRC), which is running the project, has said it would create 200,000 jobs in the impoverished region and is to be named Peak 5,642 after Europe's tallest mountain, Mount Elbrus.

Russia has ski areas around Mount Elbrus and elsewhere in the western portion of the North Caucasus, but much of the infrastructure is rudimentary and few foreigners visit.

The insurgency, which is rooted in Russia's 1990s wars against Chechen separatists but has spread to other mostly Muslim provinces further west in the North Caucasus, poses a serious challenge to the plan.

In February, three Russian ski vacationers were killed by insurgents near Mount Elbrus in Kabardino-Balkaria province.

Unrest boosts tourism in more stable Gulf states

...

In Oman, a small sultanate hit by street protests since February, hotel occupancy rates stood at 68 percent in March this year, down from 83 percent in March 2010, the data showed.

I don't understand how Muscat, the capital, is so expensive compared to Dubai. Every price (except petrol/gas) was more expensive: The hotels, restaurants, fashion, grosseries, McDonalds. I was really surprised.

A 5 years old, but very interesting article. I bet still actual:

'Paris Syndrome' strikes Japanese
By Caroline Wyatt
BBC News, Paris

A dozen or so Japanese tourists a year have to be repatriated from the French capital, after falling prey to what's become known as "Paris syndrome".

That is what some polite Japanese tourists suffer when they discover that Parisians can be rude or the city does not meet their expectations. The experience can apparently be too stressful for some and they suffer a psychiatric breakdown.

Around a million Japanese travel to France every year.

Many of the visitors come with a deeply romantic vision of Paris - the cobbled streets, as seen in the film Amelie, the beauty of French women or the high culture and art at the Louvre. The reality can come as a shock.

An encounter with a rude taxi driver, or a Parisian waiter who shouts at customers who cannot speak fluent French, might be laughed off by those from other Western cultures.

But for the Japanese - used to a more polite and helpful society in which voices are rarely raised in anger - the experience of their dream city turning into a nightmare can simply be too much.

This year alone, the Japanese embassy in Paris has had to repatriate four people with a doctor or nurse on board the plane to help them get over the shock.

An encounter with a rude Parisian can be a shocking experience. They were suffering from "Paris syndrome". It was a Japanese psychiatrist working in France, Professor Hiroaki Ota, who first identified the syndrome some 20 years ago.

On average, up to 12 Japanese tourists a year fall victim to it, mainly women in their 30s with high expectations of what may be their first trip abroad.

The Japanese embassy has a 24-hour hotline for those suffering from severe culture shock, and can help find hospital treatment for anyone in need.

However, the only permanent cure is to go back to Japan - never to return to Paris

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6197921.stm

The six best cities to get lost in

Put your map away and spin round three times – it is time to get lost. Going off the radar in a strange city can be the perfect way to uncover its secrets, get a feel for the layout and meet the locals.

Of course, there is good lost and bad lost. It is best done on purpose, with plenty of time to spare and a sound way to get found again. Some cities lend themselves to this kind of off-the-chart adventure; here are six of our favourites – and six ways to make it home again.

Venice
This northern Italian city is the ultimate head-spinner. First it comes at you with an endless recession of identical canals and bridges, then it veers off at odd angles and into blind corners, and all the time boggles your senses with its impossible film-set beauty. No fair, Venice! Getting lost here pays – the tramp of a thousand tourists yields to tranquil sunlit courtyards and the sound of pigeons’ wings.

Get found: Look for signs and arrows scrawled on the walls. You can follow them to hubs like the Rialto and L’Accademia.

Varanasi
You could throw yourself into Varanasi’s dark maze of streets a hundred times over and still come out at a different point. Discover temples, sweet shops and silk bargains in the back alleys of this Indian city.

Get found: Countless bicycle rickshaw drivers will be only too happy to take you home – for a price that is in range of just about every budget.

London
Most visitors to London have a fractured, point-to-point experience of the city, popping up from tube stations to visit the sights then diving underground again. It is efficient, but where is the romance? Try to wander and you will be rewarded by grand squares, secluded churchyards and one-off boutiques.

Get found: Just look for the distinctive London Underground sign. Bingo, you are back on the map!

Tokyo
The bewildering pace and flickering neon of this go-go city guarantee a bit of giddiness. Abandon yourself to the disorientation and you might just get off-road enough to find the wabi-sabi side of Tokyo.

Get found: Like London, Tokyo has an excellent public transport system. If it all gets too much, jump a train back to home base.

Istanbul
There are (at least) two great things about getting out of the tourist centre in Istanbul. One – the hotels and hard-sell rug merchants fall away, replaced by local tea shops, parks and houses. Two – the city’s rollercoaster hills reward you with Bosphorus views and toned-up legs. Get lost every day and see your fitness soar!

Get found: If you want to get back to the tourist area, stop for a glass of tea and ask the way to Sultanahmet. Soothe your tired muscles in one of the city’s spectacular bath houses.

Canberra
With its systems of circular roads, Australia’s capital city regularly traps its visitors in a hamster-wheel spiral of confusion. But there are better ways to get lost here. Head out of the city centre – yes, into the bush. Keep going. There! See those suburbs? That is where the life of the city is going on – including some of its best eating.

Get found: Hooray for GPS! Or go with the traditional Aussie method and ask for directions at a servo (service station).

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110722-the-six-best-cities-to-get-lost-in

Top 10 Gay Honeymoon Destinations

You’ve got the ceremony and reception planned, now comes the really fun part. Need ideas for the perfect honeymoon spots? Here are our top 10 picks for cities that are sure to inspire romance!


10. Sitges, Spain

The pride of the Mediterranean, Sitges is a beach resort haven located just a 40-minute drive from the coast from Barcelona. Sitges is a former fishing village offering more than 300 days of sunshine a year and unlike some summer hotspots that close down in autumn, Sitges is jumping 12 months a year.

9. San Juan, Puerto Rico

PR has unique charm, beauty and excitement. It’s an amazing island and perfect for a romantic honeymoon getaway. You’ll find many warm and friendly people and as a stand-alone getaway, you definitely won’t be disappointed. You can also take a cruise and explore the other exotic surrounding locales.

8. Sonoma, California

You’ll fall in love with this tiny, charming town nestled in the rolling hills and sweeping landscape of the Valley of the Moon. When you want a break from wine-tasting, take part in one of the popular festivals, including the Sonoma International Film Festival in April and The Sonoma Jazz Festival in May.

7. Ogunquit, Maine

This sleepy gay resort town encompasses the beauty and appeal of New England. Less than two hours from Boston, Ogunquit offers sprawling shoreline, lovely galleries, shops and friendly locals. Summer is the most popular season but tourists continue to flock here in the fall.

6. Quebec City, Quebec

This historic and quaint city is an ideal honeymoon destination. There’s a plethora of attractions if you’re into sightseeing but there are also world-class restaurants, shopping and nightlife options as well.

5. Maui, Hawaii

Locals say “Maui no ka oi” - “Maui is the best.” Newlyweds are sure to agree. Beyond the tourist traps it’s still possible to find remote areas with indescribable natural beauty and tranquility.

4. Cape Town, South Africa

The jewel of Africa is a place you must explore with the one you love. Go on safari, lay on the beach, shop or luxuriate at a spa. There’s no limit to what you can do.

3. Stowe, Vermont

For winter sport enthusiasts, the Green Mountain State is most appealing when those mountains turn white. Whether you ski or snowboard, Stowe will delight and amaze you. Hit the slopes during the day and soak in a hot tub with your hubby or wife at night.

2. Palm Springs, California

Some couples like it hot! For those who do, Palm Springs is the honeymoon destination for you. The key is finding the perfect resort or hotel. Lounge by the pool, then take a stroll down Palm Canyon Drive. A longtime haven for Hollywood’s elite, you’ll find great restaurants, shops and performances almost every night.

1. Gold Coast, Australia

Spanning some 40 miles, Australia’s famous holiday destination is surely one of the most romantic spots in the world. The flaxen, sun-kissed, golden sands nestled near the majestic rainforests will leave you breathless.

http://www.gaytravel.com/blog/entry/top-10-honeymoon-destinations/#When:15:20:13Z

Cuban tourism up 10.6 percent, U.S. travel stable
Fri, Jul 29, 2011

HAVANA (Reuters) - The Cuban tourism industry performed strongly through June as arrivals from just about all travel providers increased and the number of U.S. visitors was stable, according to a government report released on Friday.

Tourist arrivals during the first half of the year were 1.538 million, up 10.6 percent over the same period in 2010, the National Statistics Office reported on its website (http://www.one.cu).

The 148,000 additional arrivals included just 30,000 in the "other" category where Cuban American and U.S. citizens not of Cuban origin are included.

Cuba has said it had 2.53 million tourists in 2010, with Canada the largest provider at nearly 945,000, followed by Britain at 174,000 and Italy at 112,000.

Tourism is one of Cuba's most important earners of foreign exchange, with revenues of $2.2 billion last year, and an important provider of jobs.

U.S. President Barack Obama lifted all restrictions on Cuban American travel to the island in 2009, resulting in a big jump in arrivals in 2010. That appears to have leveled off this year.

According to industry insiders 375,500 Cubans residing abroad visited in 2010, compared with 296,000 in 2009, with most of the increase attributed to Cuban Americans.

The number of U.S. citizens visiting their government's long-time ideological foe also increased last year by 20 percent, reaching 63,000, according to Cuban government statistics.

The Obama administration earlier this year significantly loosened travel restrictions for non-Cuban Americans visiting for academic, religious and other professional reasons, authorized the issuing of licenses to more Cuba travel providers and allowed more airports to give charter service between the two countries.

The new regulations are now kicking in and are expected to result in a significant increase in U.S. travel to the country for the remainder of the year.

Travel providers report they are swamped and forecast more than 100,000 Americans not of Cuban descent will come to the island this year.

The increase in U.S. travel to the country, which remains under stiff U.S. sanctions and a ban on tourism-related visits, has provoked the ire of Cuban American lawmakers. They have introduced legislation that would roll back Cuban American visits to once every three years and more strictly enforce other travel to the country.

The lawmakers argue that the Obama administration is helping to prop up the Cuban government, while the White House counters more people-to-people contact is the best way to undermine the island's Communist authorities.

The Irish Times
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Dublin Tourism voices concern at unofficial outlets

DUBLIN TOURISM, Fáilte Ireland’s official tourist organisation in the capital, has raised concerns about unofficial tourist offices that have opened over the last 18 months.

Paul Hayden, acting chief executive of Dublin Tourism, said while he had no problem with sales and booking offices, he was concerned about the quality of the service offered to visitors.

“We would be concerned about the orientation of visitors, for example, whether or not they are being directed to historical sites and approved accommodation,” he said.

“Some only have a certain budget while others do want to undertake paid trips.”

He also said Dublin Tourism would take leaflets from any tour business once they were approved and would hold them for the public to access, though display in the office required partnership agreement.

Four private tourism offices have opened in Dublin in the last year – on Grafton Street, College Green, O’Connell Street and Bachelors Walk.

All four display the “i” sign, synonymous with tourist information the world over, and offer booking facilities for tours in the capital and beyond. None of the offices has any affiliation with the official tourism office, Dublin Tourism on Suffolk Street.

The College Green and O’Connell Street offices, both signed “Tourism Office”, are owned by adventure company Extreme Ireland.

The Grafton Street office, signed “Tourist Office”, sells independent tours and does not provide accommodation. It is owned by tour operator Paddywagon.

The Bachelors Walk office, signed “Dublin’s Tourist Office”, sells accommodation, tours and bus tickets.

All four offices stay open longer than the official office, which operates from 9am to 5pm only.

Mr Hayden wished the operators “good luck” in running their business, but said there had been some “anecdotal feedback” and some complaints from people who had visited the offices and were unhappy with the services.

“Anything damaging the reputation of Dublin would be of concern,” he said. “We have a good reputation, but it could break down quite easily.”

A spokesman for Extreme Ireland said all of his staff were highly trained and multilingual. The business worked on a commission basis and did not charge tour businesses to have their flyers in his offices, while Dublin Tourism charged €700, he said.

They were serving a need for small operators who couldn’t afford the charge as well as for tourists who could avail of their services, he said. “Dublin Tourism is not happy because we are taking customers away,” the spokesman said. “It’s Aer Lingus vs Ryanair.”

Robert O’Dolan, co-founder of the Bachelors Walk office, said 12 jobs were created with the opening of their office and they received “nothing but compliments” about it.

“Dublin Tourism doesn’t encourage competition,” he said.

“I think we are a thorn in their side. We are giving good service over long hours and making small profits and we have shown up a State-sponsored organisation.”

A spokeswoman for the Grafton Street office said it opened two months ago and had created seven jobs. It gave free general information to visitors as well as selling tours and directing them to the official office for accommodation, she said.

QUEENSLAND has been voted the 'Green Tourism Destination of the Year' by more than 4.2 million readers of China's Travel Weekly tourism trade publication.

Queensland Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt was today celebrating the win, announced in Beijing overnight.

"This result shows the hard work of Tourism Queensland is delivering results for Queensland and boosting the state's profile as an eco-friendly holiday destination," she said.

"Queensland was chosen as one of the top three green tourism destinations in the world by the selection panel.

"We went head-to-head with Norway and New Zealand before being voted into the No.1 spot by Travel Weekly China readers in an online poll."

China is Queensland's fourth largest and fastest-growing international market, with 197,000 Chinese visiting in the year ending March 2011, 29 per cent more than the previous year.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/08/30/345145_tourism-news.html

I'd think the Great Barrier Reef would be a huge draw to Chinese tourists, although I expect Norway to offer a different kind of stunning natural beauty as well.

Abu Dhabi delays opening dates for Louvre, Guggenheim museums
Sat, Oct 29, 2011
Excerpt

DUBAI (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi government-owned Tourism Development and Investment Co (TDIC) said on Saturday it was postponing the opening of three museums, in a fresh delay for one of the largest cultural projects in the Middle East.

The company gave no new date for opening the Abu Dhabi branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre museums and the Zayed National Museum, originally scheduled between 2013 and 2014.

The announcement came less than a week after the company said it had canceled a tender related to the construction of the 450,000 sq foot Guggenheim museum, designed by architect Frank Gehry and expected to be the largest in the world.

"Due to the immense magnitude of the work associated with the development of such consequential projects, the company has decided to extend the delivery dates," the company said in a statement.

*******************************

The Guggenheim and Louvre museums are planned for the Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, which is a $27 billion art and culture project.

($1 = 3.673 UAE Dirhams)

Wow, Cape Town is really cooking at the moment. The momentum from the World Cup is continuing, Tripadvisor says Cape Town is the number one travel destination in the world, the Telegraph just listed it second best, and now the city has been named the World Design Capital!


Cape Town awarded design gong
31st October 2011


CAPE Town has beaten the other shortlisted finalists, Dublin (Ireland) and Bilbao (Spain), in being awarded the title of World Design Capital 2014 at the International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress.

South African Tourism Australasia country manager Lalie Ngozi said*Cape Town's status as World Design Capital 2014 is a major boost for South Africa's credentials as a major international lifestyle destination and a big boost for the country's tourism industry.

"This is wonderful news for Cape Town and our country's entire tourism industry and South African Tourism congratulates everyone involved with the Mother City's successful World Design Capital 2014 bid," Ms Ngozi said.

The prestigious World Design Capital award is made every other year by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) to a city that is dedicated to using design for social, cultural and economic development.

The Mother City is the first African city to be given the honour, joining former World Design Capitals Torino, Italy (2008), Seoul, South Korea (2010) and Helsinki, Finland (2012).

...through our involvement this year with events such as Design Indaba in Cape Town, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the Joy of Jazz and Macufe Festivals, the Joburg Art Fair, the Joburg, Cape Town and Africa Fashion Weeks and the Designing South Africa project, we have made a concerted attempt with our cities and provinces to position South Africa as a major international lifestyle destination.

"Cape Town specifically already has a world-renowned reputation as an amazing city to visit amongst Australian travellers, not only because of its acclaimed natural beauty, but because it is home to creative, inspired people who are building an innovative future," Ms Ngozi said.

Previous award winners have seen increased visitor numbers following their awarding of the title, with Torino reporting higher visitor numbers in their title year than in the year the city hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006.

"From our consumer research we know that travellers want to engage with South Africa's design, art, fashion and music offering when they visit our country and we're responding to that demand. This award gives us all a considerable boost and even more compelling reasons to entice visitors to our exciting destination," Ms Ngozi said.

The World Design Capital title is awarded well in advance, allowing winning cities sufficient time to plan, develop and promote a year-long programme of World Design Capital-themed events for their designated year and also the opportunity of two years of pre-publicity to showcase its design and creativity.

Cape Town officials are looking to use the title to celebrate the role design has played in taking a previously divided city and transforming it into a more integrated one and to address the issues of growing urbanisation.

Liverpool FC agrees deal with Turkish Tourism
http://s1.postimage.org/c3pm6hpy2/162782_169364229769363_100000873625186_326447_7961518_n.jpg
Liverpool Football Club has announced a new two-year partnership with Turkish Tourism.

The deal, the first of its kind in the UK for the tourism body, includes advertising rights and other benefits.

The club’s managing director Ian Ayre said: “Turkey is a great country and we all have fantastic memories of our European Cup win in Istanbul in 2005.

“Through this partnership the club can provide Turkish Tourism with significant brand visibility and access to our supporter base to help raise awareness of their tourism opportunities.”

Tolga Tuyluoglu, director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in London, said: “I am delighted that Turkey will be an official partner to such a historic club. I am sure that all Liverpool fans will have positive associations with Turkey already, following their dramatic Champions League win in Istanbul back in 2005. We hope to build on this to create a dynamic partnership.

“The city of Liverpool is known for its music and culture; its world-class galleries, museums and landmarks, which of course provides a body of shared values for us to work with. Over one quarter of those taking package-holidays to Turkey do so from the North West of England so this area is very important to Turkey. Of course, the fact that Liverpool FC plays in red and white is a bonus too!”

The deal was unveiled at the World Travel Market in London.

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Summary Box: Egypt tourism slipped in 2011
Associated Press
Thu, Jan 19, 2012

VANISHING VISITORS: Revenues from Egypt's vital tourism sector plunged about 30 percent last year, dragged down by the unrest following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak. The shortfall has forced the country to turn to the International Monetary Fund to bridge a burgeoning budget deficit.

NERVOUS ON THE NILE: The decline in revenues caused by near-daily protests and strikes underscores the challenges as its military rulers and the interim government plot a course toward handing over power to an elected civilian administration. The number of tourists who came to Egypt in 2011 dropped to 9.8 million from 14.7 million in 2010.

IMF ON BOARD: The tourism drop has led the country to turn again to the IMF after having rejected an earlier loan offer. Earlier in the week an IMF delegation visited the country and a formal request for a $3.2 billion support package was issued.

Japan sets ambitious tourism target
AFP
Fri, Feb 17, 2012

Japan has set itself the ambitious target of attracting 18 million visitors a year to its shores by 2016 as it bids to shake off the impact of the natural disasters of 2011.

A record 8.61 million tourists visited Japan in 2010, attracted by a strong campaign to raise the nation's profile as a vacation destination. Tourism authorities were hoping to build on that success in 2011 and had set a target of 10 million foreign visitors a year.

That target became impossible to achieve after the massive earthquake of March 11, which triggered a tsunami that devastated stretches of the coast of northeast Japan and crippled the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant.

The total number of overseas visitors for the year slumped to 6.22 million. A year later, however, the crisis has abated and Japan wants to put itself back on the tourism map.

The Japanese government is expected to approve a plan that will be put into action from April that will increase the amount of information available to foreign visitors and particularly target tourists from China, South Korea and other nearby Asian nations.

As well as trying to attract tourists for short trips and repeat visitors, the government wants to increase the number of people visiting destinations that are off the beaten track for tourists.

The aim is to have tourists spend Y30 trillion (€292.8 million) a year, Y18 trillion (€175.7 million) of which will be by Japanese holidaymakers on overnight stays, Y6.5 trillion (€63.4 million) by Japanese day-trippers and some Y3 trillion (€29.3 million) by foreign tourists.

The Japan National Tourism Organisation has been promoting the message that virtually all of Japan is completely safe and that food and water supplies pose no danger to visitors a year after the disasters struck.

The agency has seen tourist numbers recover in areas such as Hokkaido, Okinawa, Kansai and Kyushu, although the recovery in Tokyo has been less strong, officials said.

Tourism accounts for only 2 percent of Japan's GDP, but the government hopes to increase that figure substantially in the years ahead.