Warning Bells For Caribbean Tourism:
By Tameka Lundy -
Nassau, Bahamas:
Turbulent economic times have set off warning bells for Caribbean tourism officials who are fully aware that any upheaval in the global economy – if left unchecked – could spell disaster for the main driver of economic activity in the region.
A recent United Nations World Tourism Barometer report indicated that tourism confidence has weakened in some markets tied to increased economic volatility.
However, tourism business in The Bahamas and the Caribbean has not yet suffered dramatically as a result, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization [CTO] Vincent Vanderpool Wallace told the Bahama Journal Tuesday in a telephone interview from his Barbados office.
"We are not yet seeing [weakness] in any substantial degree," he said.
"…But really what we see down the road we can’t help but be a little bit concerned with the sub prime problem that’s going on [and] the talk about a recession in
The rich culture of Bali being maintained from one generation to the next generation is never the boring of tourists of reason to visit this island. But Bali does not offer simply its unique culture; eco-tourism also has a part in the attraction of Bali.
The culture of Bali will be always the wire in attraction for tourists. It is because the community follows closely the Hindu lesson, which
L to R: Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Dr. Michael Misick, Lindsey Musgrove, Mr. Wesley ClerveauxMore on TCI tourism developments from Caribbean Net News:The theme for the 10th annual Caribbean Sustainable Tourism conference to be held in TCI April 28 to May 1, 2008 is "Keeping the Right Balance, Sustaining the Caribbean Coastal Project".Premier Misick has announced some short term Government initiatives:Creating Salt Cay into a 'green island', where any new development will be environmentally friendly [why not do this for all the islands, especially Providenciales?].Establishing a Tropical Fish Museum based on one of the cays, so that people can go and see all of the different species of marine life and fish in the TCI and around the Caribbean region [OK, but why not take people out to see them in the natural surroundings?].Making the country's 33 national parks, sanctuaries and areas of historical interest accessible to all. These areas contain a wealth of natural historical and spirit
Vietnam aims to attract one million international cruise tourists per year by 2015, but many believe it to be an unrealistic target.It is true that the number of international cruise tourists coming to the country is rising sharply, critics say.In the first 11 months of 2007, 200,000 out of a total 3.8 million foreign tourists traveled to Vietnam by sea.Saigontourist alone received 40,000, a 159 percent increase over the previous year.The year also saw other auspicious events for the marine travel industry, including the launch or resumption of several sea tours to the country by a series of cruise operators.Hong Kong-based Star Cruises Limited resumed its weekly Monday tour to Ha Long Bay in addition to its current tour packages to the southern and central regions.Other major cruise lines like Costa Croupiers, Silver Sea Cruises and P&O Princess Cruises also jumped on board.Singapore-based V.Ships (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd.’s chief executive Chui Mun Yew Daniel said his company wo
A few weeks ago Smithsonian Magazine announced its annual ranking of tourist destinations according to eco-responsibility and sustainability practices. Turks & Caicos Islands did not score well, due to over-development with little infrastructure, especially on Providenciales. So it is good thing that we will be hosting the 10th annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (April 28-May 1) featuring a key speech by David Suzuki, author of over 40 books, including the best-seller The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Planet in Nature and one of the world´s most famous voices on preserving the environment."The conference, organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in collaboration with the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board and the Caribbean Hotel Association, is designed to provide attendees with information on the development and implementation of tourism practices in a responsible manner."Tags: Turks and Caicos, Providenciales, Caribbean, eco-tourism, smithsoniam, d
NEW DELHI: The travel industry may take an investment dose this Budget. The ministry of tourism has proposed to the finance ministry to reintroduce section 80 HHD of the Income-Tax Act in the forthcoming Budget. Under this section, 50% of profits earned by hotels and tour operators are exempted from income tax and the balance 50% is exempted if it is reinvested in the tourism sector. "This will help in creating infrastructure for the tourism sector and also bring in the investment this industry needs," said a tourism ministry official. The section, which was earlier applicable to the tourism industry, was withdrawn almost three years ago. Tour operators across the country have been demanding a reintroduction of the provision. "It's an important catalyst for infrastructure development. From late 1990s to the time the section was applicable, it spurred investments in the sector. Its reintroduction is one of the best ways for capacity building," said Arjun Sharma, president of Indian Asso
Talking to newspersons here, Fairfest Media Limited Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Agarwal said "the three-day event will also provide the people with options to gather information on various national and international destinations, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, adventure tourism, theme parks, tour operators, travel agents, finance, insurance, airlines and railways and make bookings on the spot"."It will also help prospective business and leisure travelers to discuss and finalise customised plans, tailored to suit their budget and individual needs and interests," he added.He said the event would also provide an opportunity for the travel trade visitors from the city and the state to meet and do business with over 140 exhibitors from India and abroad.TTF had participation from six countries, including partner country Nepal, feature countries such as Egypt, Malaysia,Chennai and Hong Kong, also including Dubai and Thailand as the other participants. Most of the state government de
By Brij Khandelwal, Agra, Jan 12: Most tourists flock to Agra to see that ever-beautiful monument to love, the Taj Mahal, but the city is a treasure trove of many religious monuments as well.Now the Agra Hotels and Restaurants' Association has released a new tourist guide map, highlighting centuries-old shrines in the city.Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Hindus all have their places of worship here, most of which are ancient. Few cities in India perhaps have such a diversity of shrines."The new information will help tourists prolong their stay in Agra and soak in the local cultural and religious flavour," Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Association, told IANS.Agra is headquarters of the Radha-Soami faith. The 500-year-old Akbar's Church and the Guru Ka Taal Gurdwara are equally revered by the faithful.With Mathura-Vrindavan just 50 km away, the entire area around Agra draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and domestic tourists round the year. The Uttar Pradesh government has started
Kenya's game parks usually teem with camera-toting tourists at this time of year. Now they are all but empty after images of deadly clashes that rocked the country were beamed around the world.Operators say pictures of machete-wielding youths battling riot police and of a torched church that evoked nightmares of the Rwandan genocide, have sent some tourists packing and others delaying trips or scrapping planned visits outright.A minority have bravely chosen to see out their holidays."We have never felt like we were in danger," said Debbie Shillito, a Canadian relaxing by the pool of a lodge in the Samburu Game Reserve, the only tourist in sight. "Our biggest fear was that our trip would be cancelled."Protests and clashes following President Mwai Kibaki's re-election have killed 500 people. His rival, Raila Odinga, believes he was cheated of an election win and the controversy has triggered bloodletting displacing more than 250,000 people.Tourism industry players say the violence, which
Raju Gandharva is a player of traditional musical instrument called Sarangi. He roams around Thamel area playing melodious tones and looking for tips from generous tourists.This year while statistics have shown that record number of tourists – over half a million – came to Nepal, people like Gandharva are not too encouraged."Yes, there were tourists. But I could earn only as much as to feed myself," he said.Similar is the response of small and medium traders in Thamel – the important tourism hub in the country.Surendra Bajracharya, a trader of pashmina shawls, said that though increased numbers of tourists have come, their businesses have not flourished."It is true that the number of tourists have increased. More tourists have come but they come to Kathmandu and immediately leave for trekking or for other places, return back and then head to their home country. They have not been spending money in shopping," Bajracharya rued.Sharing his sentiment, trader of handicraft and thanka
By IBM. Dharma PalgunaTourism is commander. That is what people said, not us. We listen what people said then we imitating. If we want to honest, Bali is leading to The Commander inauguration. And we proud of it, cause we have been desperately waiting a leader figure for along time. Without a leader in our life, we are like an orchestra without conductor. Our music life is no other that chaos it self. The tourism commander, we hope could lead us out of this multidimensional crisis. september_petani.jpgAnd for that purpose, we are all ready to sacrifice more for the commander. Besides sacrificing is the point/core of our school education, tourism has given us international identity as human with high culture, unique custom, paradise of the world, island of thousand deities, natural artist, and more other remarkable epithet. Those international identities that w-e got, and we used as a basic to build a new civilization which is unclear of the form. But we stand up proudly. We are ready t
KIEV, Ukraine -- The Culture and Tourism Ministry has embarked on an ambitious international advertising campaign to promote winter tourism in the country.
The government has embarked on an ambitious campaign to depict Ukraine as an ideal destination for winter tourists.
The campaign, called “Ukraine invites,” features ads on popular European television channels such as Euronews and National
The development of the tourism industry in Bali is getting better after having crisis due to the first and the second Bali bomb blast. But the flaw within the tourism itself has occured and still occur before and after the bomb blast. It happens towards the tourists (domestic, foreign, and local tourists). They usually get unfair treatment.This is the flaw within the tourism:From the price view point the tourist, especially the foreigners are given a very high price. The art shops could inflate the price from 100% up to 400%. Wow! Maybe it will be fine for the rich tourists but not all of the tourists can accept that condition. It would be more reasonable to give normal price because it will give pleasure and comfort for them who are going to do shopping.From the service point of view, the domestic and local tourists usually get less quality of services even though they pay the same price for it as the foreign tourists. However, it shows that there is customers’ segregation between t
In Bali to date still rely on the tourism sector as area economics. But confessed, sector which one this very sensitive to various of issue. Life of Bali Tourism not yet convalesce in this time, although Bali very peaceful to be visited.Nowadays component of society bali to take the steps recovery through cultural concept. People from United States, English, Prancis, etcetera come flocking to coast Kuta and coastal of Sanur in Bali. Isn'T it true that in themselves state of there are a lot of coast which its nature view might possibly more beautiful than coastal view of Kuta And Sanur in the Bali? If we deeper study, in the reality becoming their target, all the foreign turis is wishing to see the famous Bali Culture of eksotik and unique, different with the their society culture. If Bali do not offer its society culture, might not there will be fascination of all tourist to visit it Matter of that's in fact represent the picture konkret from concept of culture tourism which its term o
Tapping the ‘greenThere has been a spurt of media reports on tourism promotion in the country. Wildlife reserves and areas of outstanding natural beauty would be the obvious attractions. Though this enthusiasm is encouraging, certain issues have to be taken note of or else unregulated tourism will be another serious threat to the list of problems to our wildlife and their habitats.In India, tourism to wildlife destinations in the garb of “eco-tourism” is already a popular concept. However, the term is by and large misused. In practice, it is used as just another “eco-sell” marketing tool. Wldlife tourism is carried out in an unsystematic and unscientific manner with no clearly laid out policies. For instance, carrying capacity is undefined for most of our protected areas, neither have there been scientific rules defined on visitor discipline. Enforcement of existing regulations has been very frail. Many of our natural wonders are seen as ideal locations to be unruly, play lou
Beach Lebih in countryside Lebih, placing about 9km of south of town Gianyar. Popular for the place of athletic in surf-casting water sport. With the ground swell and black sand make this place is very beautiful, visitor earn also enjoy of traditional boat alongside beach the above black sand This View add very beautiful if seen in the morning day. This place often used by a Hindu ceremony, like ceremony Ngaben( cremation) and Melasti Ngaben:ngaben the omission of corpse of human being died by burning. Trusted after death, body have to return to its original elements. Ngaben is tradition in Bali of when dead somebody, overall of villager will assist the preparation for the ceremony of cremation. Usually this matter is done in a crematorium or at the cemetary in Bali is so-called setra or pasetran. When all dead body become dust, will continuing ceremony in sea.Melasti:Ceremony of Melasti is done in lake or coast. Society execute the ritual melasti walkedly. If far from coast can use
The Union Tourism Ministry today launched a training programme, ‘Earn While you Learn’, to sensitize the youth towards the tourism sector. The main objective of this programme is to inculcate appropriate tourism traits and knowledge amongst the trainees, which will enable them to act and work as student volunteers, a government release said. These programmes would be of 21 days duration. Applications for this programme were invited through advertisements in national dailies and applicants were selected through written tests. During the three week training programme, the trainees would be taught issues concerning Indian society and culture, historical monuments, managerial and behavioural skills, etiquettes, overview of tourism scenario, public speaking, presentation, etc. The faculty chosen are experts in their respective fields. The course would end with visits to certain places of tourist value. After the completion of trai
HIV-AIDS Surely Matters:
Bahama Journal Editorial -
Nassau, Bahamas:
In a matter of days Christmas will be here.
In a matter of days Christmas will be gone. In a sense, this is emblematic of life itself, a process suffused with expectation, joy and sad regret.
Today we make this point as we reflect on some of the harsher realities that often occur in times like these.
One of these realities has to do with the fact that there are very many Bahamians who routinely profane this most holy season, using it as an occasion for ribald excess and pure bacchanal.
Compounding the matter is the fact that this Christmas season will also provide occasion for unlimited alcohol consumption, leaving some of our people sick or dead.
In other instances, some other Bahamians will find themselves victimized by some depraved sexual predator or the other.
What we are suggesting is that things have gotten so much out of whack in a supposedly modern Bahamas that people are describing their destruction
The rich culture of Bali being maintained from one generation to the next generation is never the boring of tourists of reason to visit this island. But Bali does not offer simply its unique culture; eco-tourism also has a part in the attraction of Bali.
The culture of Bali will be always the wire in attraction for tourists. It is because the community follows closely the Hindu lesson, which
As the queues for National Health Service operations increase people start considering more and more the private healthcare options. However, the cost of those is spiraling upwards and taking the procedures out of the reach of most of us. So, what do you do?
Well, more and more people are looking abroad for their private healthcare [...]
Newsletters has become an important internet marketing tool for all the business. In the tourism industry newsletters are quite ineveitable. Newsletter enables to get more business as people are being given adequate information directly in their inbox. As most of the people don’t remember a particlular website for a product or service, newsletters helps to [...]
How do you get people to visit a small town in the middle of no where? In Soap Lake, WA they had a brillant idea...a lava lamp. The city council agreed to spend $100,000 to put up a 50 plus foot lava lamp in the middle of the city. It would definitely boost interest in tourists who could also come to bathe in the mineral dense lake once believed by Native Americans to have healing powers. The Target Corporation donated the $2 million lava lamp to the city and it arrived in 2005. However, due to several challenges, the city has been unable to erect the lamp. This is bold marketing and I hope they are able to make it a reality because it will put Soap Lake on the map.Giant Lava Lamp Site Article Article 2
Temperatures in the Mediterranean have reached nearly 110 F in a continuing, dangerous, and unprecedented heat wave.
Many politicians now fear the Mediterranean coast may soon become too hot to sustain a viable tourist industry. ‘The Mediterranean climate of this country no longer exists. It is changing, perhaps even faster than we expected,’ said Michalis Petrakis, director of Greece’s Institute of Environmental Research at the National Observatory in Athens.
In really wonderfull talk Burt Rutan, legendary aircraft (and spacecraft) designer, at TED conference gave lot of reasons why space voyages should come to commercial market. Once it comes it would provide huge financial injection which could lead to higher level of space exploration.
You can watch his talk at ...
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