Abu Dhabi is out to boost tourism from Oman
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Sep 30, 2009
MUSCAT - Abu Dhabi is out to boost its inbound tourism from Oman with expanding events, attractions and accommodation proposition. A delegation, spearheaded by the Abu Dhabi Authority (ADTAADTA), the apex body that manages the emirate’s tourism industry, is in town to spell out its enhanced offering — the November 1 Etihad Airways Formula 1 TM Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and will be quickly followed by the Fifa Club World Cup in December.
“Oman’s proximity to the UAE capital and Omanis’ love of soccer lead us to expect many will make the trip to Abu Dhabi this December,” said Saeed Al Dhaheri, visitor information manager of ADTAADTA.
“In November, Abu Dhabi is going to be in celebratory mode during and after the event with activities for race-goers and non-fans alike,” he noted.
Al Dhaheri outlined the latest developments in Abu Dhabi’s expanding tourism proposition — which includes more events, new hotels, including seven on Yas Island where the Grand Prix will be held, a new dessert retreat in Liwa, new airline routes servicing the destination and the arrival of new attractions including the world-renowned Big Bus Company, which is to begin its own brand of city tours in the UAE capital next month. “Attraction upgrades are happening throughout the emirate, in the capital city, in the Eastern Region, particularly the Oasis City of Al Ain and in our vast Al Gharbia Western Region,” explained Al Dhaheri.
“The options are highly diverse and span museums and historical sites in Al Ain, the marvels of the Liwa Dessert and the Sir Bani Yas Island nature-based destination in Al Gharbia, new golf courses coming on line on Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and an expanded course in Al Ain, luxury and business hotels and an events programme which is to be expanded and upgraded,” he added.
He pointed out that the GCC is currently producing 100,000 hotel guests a year for Abu Dhabi, which is 10 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s total international hotel guests. “We believe that figure can be substantially increased with out Gulf neighbours representing a prime market for the development of sustainable business links and ongoing visitor generation,” Al Dhaheri said.
Approximately 4,000 visitors from Oman stayed in the emirate’s hotels in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 32 per cent compared to the first quarter in 2008. In all the GCC produced 21,000 hotel guests in Abu Dhabi in the first three months of this year. “Oman remains a key market, central to the continual growth of regional tourism in Abu Dhabi. The GCC, as markets in close proximity and characterised by a propensity to travel locally during challenging times is vitally important as Abu Dhabi moves forward in its aim of becoming an international destination attracting 2.3 million hotel guests annually by 2012,” he added.
Edinburgh campaign targets 40% increase in cruise passengers
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Sep 30, 2009
A major new marketing drive is to target a 40 per cent rise in the number of big-spending cruise liner passengers coming to the Capital.
The £35,000 Cruise Edinburgh marketing campaign will see a new dedicated website set up to promote the city to cruise passengers, while tourism leaders will target a series of adverts and brochures at trade operators.
A main target will be to incADVERTISEMENTrease Edinburgh’s presence on the itineraries of the Baltic and Norwegian operators and build on the growing popularity of the Northern European cruises. It is hoped that it will help achieve a 40 per cent rise in passenger numbers by 2013.
National tourism agency VisitScotland today confirmed that it is to award £17,500 towards the campaign from its growth fund.
The other £17,500 is to be provided by the Cruise Edinburgh partner agencies Forth Ports and the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, which includes the city council’s Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance, Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland.
Peter Lederer, chairman of VisitScotland, said: “We’re delighted to award this latest funding to Cruise Edinburgh and it’s encouraging to see tourism groups in Edinburgh and the Lothians working together and making good use of the VisitScotland Growth Fund.
“Growing tourism is critical to the future of Scotland and the industry is worth £4 billion to the Scottish economy. In the current economic climate it’s crucial we work together to get tourism growth back on track and the growth fund encourages businesses to seek out joint opportunities where they can maximise on their marketing efforts.”
Latest data from Forth Ports indicates that 55,000 passengers came to Edinburgh in this year’s cruise liner season.
In the three months to the start of July, passenger numbers were five per cent ahead of last year.
While Leith Harbour can take relatively small vessels, larger ones drop anchor at Hound Point in the shadow of the Forth bridges or at Rosyth.
Because cruise liner passengers spend more on average than other tourists, they are seen as being an important means of achieving the target of increasing Scotland’s tourism revenues by 50 per cent by 2015.
Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city’s economic development leader, said: “The administration is very keen to ensure that Edinburgh benefits from the Northern European cruise liner industry and has a longer-term ambition to have a dedicated new cruise liner terminal at Leith Docks.
“It is a significant growth market and people sometimes forget that the benefit comes from not only the people who come to the city but also the services provided on the cruise liners, which can provide business opportunities.
“People often think of cruises as being beneficial in terms of the passengers who come to the city but these are also bringing ship crews that come into the city and support the local economy.
“It is essential that we re-engage with the blue belt and that we have a cruise liner strategy that ensures we benefit from a lucrative sector.”
New US administration must translate words into action, Cuba tells UN
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By
eTN Staff Writer |
Sep 30, 2009
Cuba’s Foreign Minister told the General Assembly yesterday that it is still waiting for the global optimism generated by the new United States administration to be translated into action, calling for an end to the decades-long embargo against the Caribbean nation.
With the election of President Barack Obama in the US, “It seemed that a period of extreme aggressiveness, unilateralism, and arrogance in the foreign policy in that country had come to an end, and the infamous legacy of the George W. Bush regime had been sunk in repudiation,” Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said at the Assembly’s annual high-level debate.
In spite of Mr. Obama’s calls for change and dialogue, “Time goes by and the speech does not seem to be supported by concrete facts,” the Cuban official said. “His speech does not coincide with reality.”
The current US authorities have displayed “uncertainty” in overcoming the “political and ideological trends” propagated by the previous administration, he noted.
“The detention and torture center in the Guantanamo Naval Base – which usurps part of the Cuban territory – has not been shut down,” Mr. Rodríguez Parrilla said. “The occupation troops in Iraq have not withdrawn. The war in Afghanistan is expanding and is threatening other states.”
In April, the US announced it was going to “abolish some of the most brutal actions taken by the George W. Bush administration” preventing contact between Cubans living in the US and their relatives in Cuba. “These measures are a positive step, but they are extremely limited and insufficient,” the foreign minister stressed.
Most importantly, the economic, commercial, and financial blockade against Cuba is still in place, he pointed out.
“Should there be a true desire to move towards change, the US government could authorize the export of Cuban goods and services to the United States and vice versa.
“Further, Mr. Obama could allow US citizens to travel to Cuba, the only country in the world they cannot visit,” Mr. Rodríguez Parrillo emphasized.
“The US blockade against Cuba is an act of unilateral aggression that should be unilaterally terminated,” he said, expressing his country’s willingness to normalize relations with the US.
Getting off the beaten path in the Falkland Islands
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Sep 30, 2009
With autumn fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to start planning your adventure to the Falkland Islands, located 400 miles off the southeastern tip of South America. The latest edition of Footprint’s, the infamous South American Handbook, is hot off the press, providing an essential resource for anyone heading to the Falklands - packed full of advice on how to get off the beaten track.
The Falkland Islands are a must for intrepid travelers passionate about wildlife, wilderness, and discovery. Whether you’re interested in walking, wildlife, photography, or history, you’ll find everything you need in this new handbook: comprehensive listings for hotels, B&Bs and restaurants, activities, events listings, plus photography and handy maps. Author, Ben Box, parts with his wisdom and first-hand experience of the destination with suggestions of where to go and what to do.
One thing’s for sure, the Falkland Islands are full of surprises, and here are the top five experiences not to miss off any Falklands itinerary - the “must-sees,” as well as some of the more unusual experiences:
See the Penguins at Volunteer Point
Home to the world’s most accessible colony of nesting king penguins, join a guided 4WD excursion to the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of Volunteer Point. At just over a 2.5 hours’ drive from the capital, Stanley, visitors are guaranteed to see gentoo and Magellanic penguins, while sea lions and dolphins can often be seen in this wildlife sanctuary.
Island Hopping, Falklands-style
Traveling in a Falkland Islands Government Air Service 9-seater Britten Norman Islander aircraft is the way to take in this stunning archipelago. Where else would your pilot also be the postman and your lodge host doubled up as your airport baggage handler?! Flights operate to major settlements and islands including Sea Lion, Bleaker, Saunders, Pebble, and Carcass Islands; each has a diversity of flora, fauna, and natural beauty to discover.
Revisit Falklands History
Take a guided or self-guided historic walk around the capital, Stanley, to unveil a maritime history that spans back to the seventeenth century. The Falkland Islands Museum in Stanley shows a fascinating insight into the islands’ past. A battlefield tour of Goose Green or Mount Tumbledown, led by local people with expert knowledge, will evoke memories of the 1982 conflict.
Boat Trip to West Point Island
Experience vast numbers of black-browed albatross, rockhopper penguins, and superb cliff scenery on an excursion to this island off the most north-westerly point of West Falkland. During the hour-long boat journey, dolphins will keep you entertained and on arrival you can explore the picturesque settlement.
Explore Camp
Camp is the local term for everything outside Stanley, derived from the Spanish for countryside, el campo. A camp visit is a must for anyone wanting to experience the real Falklands – from working sheep farms to spectacular beaches bursting with plant life and wildlife, including elephant seals, sea lions, and penguins.
For further information on the Falklands Islands plus a downloadable taster guide, please visit www.falklandislands.com.
Seoul: Nukes are nukes, tourism is tourism
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Sep 30, 2009
A senior government official said Tuesday that North Korea’s nuclear programs and tours to Mt. Geumgang in the North ― the latter of which have been halted since last July ― are separate matters, indicating that South Korea has no intent to link the two.
His remark was construed as Seoul’s intention to soften its stance toward Pyongyang.
In a breakfast meeting with journalists at a restaurant in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho said that resumption of tours to Mt. Geumgang was not something to be discussed together with security issues.
Hundreds of South Koreans have gathered at the Mt. Geumgang resort for the second round of reunions of displaced families between the two Koreas.
“If we link the tourism to the nuclear program, there will be no areas that South and North Korea can work together on,” Hong said.
Previously, Seoul made it clear that it would be willing to move inter-Korean cooperation forward only when Pyongyang took steps toward denuclearization.
Hong reiterated that prerequisites for the resumption of the joint Mt. Geumgang tourism project include an apology for the killing of a South Korean tourist by a North Korean soldier, laying out tighter safety measures for tourists and guaranteeing that there will be no such incident again in the future.
“South Korea has consistently expressed its willingness to resume the tourism when the above conditions are met. Therefore, I think now is the time for the North to respond to our call,” he said.
Seoul banned tours to the scenic mountain on the North’s East Coast after a female South Korean tourist was shot dead at Mt. Geumgang.