After a brutal rape case in Acapulco shook Mexico on February 4, President Pena Nieto has pledged to create a new militarized police force to ensure the safety of locals and tourists in the popular holiday resort.

The case, involving six Spanish women who were raped in a rented beach house by masked gunmen, was astonishing even for Guerrero, with its high level of crime. Only one woman managed to avoid assault by saying that she was Mexican. According to Fox News, it is yet to be confirmed if the Spaniards were targeted because of their nationality. The UK newspaper The Guardian said “Mexican local authorities determine if organised criminal are behind an attack, and, if so, pass the case to federal authorities.”

Up until now, however, the government did very little to help the victims. Acapulco Major Luis Walt downplayed  the crime, saying “It could have happened anywhere in the world.” Even though Walt later apologized for his comment, it looks like he was more concerned about the image of Acapulco rather than the raped women.

Freelance writer Phillippe Diederich pointed out “It is too easy for six Spanish women, or 60,000 dead Mexicans to become a statistic used by politicians and the media… Governments need to allocate resources toward prevention, security, victim advocacy and education about violent crimes against women.”

President Pena Nieto has continuously underlined the importance of the security problem. Right after his election in December, the President communicated a plan to strengthen security by dividing the country into five security regions and improve the coordination of law enforcement  In addition, the President committed to switching the focus from punishing crime to preventing it. It was obvious that the implementation of measures could not be done in a few months; however, the issue is now how much time it will take and how many people will become the victims before results are achieved. Pena Nieto claims that the government is working to improve the conditions for public security, but he has not provides any time frame.

On February 12, the government announced its second anti-crime plan. Focusing on the 251 most violent towns, $9.2 billion will be spent on preventing young people from joining criminal organizations. The measures include improving health and social services, creating additional jobs and increasing the number of schools. The following day, Pena claimed that the tourism policy can only be successful when the measures of security are implemented. The National Tourism Policy for 2013-2018, presented on February 13, includes four directions: legislative and sectoral transformation, development and promotion; and sustainability and social well-being.

Does it mean that tourists have to wait until after the policy has been implemented to visit Mexico? Choosing the right state can be an alternative solution. According to the Economist, Yucatán, with its famous resorts Cancun and Riviera Maya, is as safe as Finland. Oaxaca, Veracruz and Pueblo also exhibit low levels of crime, while Guerrero, with its capital Acapulco, remains one of the most dangerous, with a murder rate of more than 2100 people per year.

In addition to increasing expenditures on security, Pena Nieto promised to create a comprehensive security environment and grow confidence for travelers in the country by working on infrastracture and improving medical services.

Image Courtesy : World Economic Forum

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Hong Kong, China — Marriott International has signed an agreement with Weligama Hotel Properties, a fully owned subsidiary of East West Properties, to open a hotel in Sri Lanka, the Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa 2014 – this will be Marriott’s first property on the Indian Ocean Island.

The 200-room, 11-storey Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa, will be operated under Marriott’s flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand.

“Marriott is delighted to be extending its portfolio and opening a world-class hotel in Sri Lanka,” commented Simon Cooper, president and managing director Marriott, Asia Pacific. “Sri Lanka is a destination that has great potential and opportunity and we hope to capitalise on that and establish a strong presence in the country.

We are confident that the reputation of Marriott Hotels and Resorts and the power of Marriott Rewards, our loyalty programme, will create great interest from both local and international travellers and be successful in promoting the beautiful area of Weligama Bay, as well as the country itself as this is our first hotel here.”

Commenting on the project Mr. Nahil Wijesuriya, Chairman, East West Properties PLC said: “We are among the first companies in Sri Lanka to sign up with an international branded hotel company and to open as early as 2014. The resort is being built according to Marriott International’s five star brand standards, with a beach frontage of 115 meters on the Galle-Matara road in the South-East of the country. The construction is being carried out in-house by East West Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd. so we have direct control of every aspect of the construction of the resort and are confident that it will be of the highest standards and quality.”

Marriott International is a world renowned operator and franchiser of a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts which include Bulgari Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz Carlton. Marriott International currently operates over 3,700 hotels in over 73 countries and territories around the globe. Marriott Hotels and Resorts are Marriott International’s signature and most widely distributed brand and is also known for the world’s largest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards.

Weligama, located 144km from Colombo is a popular tourist destination renowned for its sandy beaches. Famous for its stilt-fishermen perched on a cross bar of a single pole planted into the sea bed, this attraction has been captured in every corner of the world depicting Sri Lanka as a preferred destination of choice for travellers from all over the world.

The Hotel will be located in Weligama, a part of Matara which is one of the largest cities on the south coast of Sri Lanka, where tourism and fishing are the two main businesses. Tourism is the mainstay of the south-western coast of Sri Lanka. The services sector is expected to be the primary engine of growth in coming years which is expected to be led by tourism.

2011 was declared as the “Visit Sri Lanka” year by the government. The country witnessed record levels of tourist arrivals in the early months of the year; a trend that is expected to continue for the remainder of the year.

“We see great opportunity in Sri Lanka with ever-increasing visitor numbers to the country,” continued Cooper. “While India, UK and Germany are the largest source markets for hotels in Sri Lanka; the Middle East and Russia are the emerging source markets and with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (“SLTDA”) aiming to achieve a target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016 we are confident of attracting great leisure and business guests to the property.”

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The Way of St James (Camino de Santiago de Compostela) is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, located in Galicia, northweste of Spain. The pilgrimage path can be covered by walking or cycling and some routes start from Europe.

For more than 1,000 years pilgrims have traveled along the many ways to Santiago. In 1985 only 2,491 pilgrims completed the Way. Since then, the route has been increasing its attractions to pilgrims from around the globe and not pilgrims. Ten years later, 19,821 people covered the Way.

The Camino de Santiago is for everyone, young, old, fit, unfit, religious or otherwise. The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October 1987. UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage Site. In 2005 there were 93,921 visitors according to the city of Compostela.

In your way to Santiago from wherever place you start in Europe or Spain; the scallop shell will guide you to arrive in Santiago. Historically, the shell had also metaphorical and practical meanings for the pilgrims. As the waves of the ocean wash scallop shells up on the shores of Galicia, God´s hand also guides the pilgrims to Santiago. The pilgrims used to use the shells as an instrument to gather water from wells and rivers.

There are five main Camino pilgrimage paths in Spain: the Silver route (starting in Seville, southwest Spain 621 miles), the Northern route (starting in Irun, north of Spain 512 miles), the Portuguese route (starting in Porto, Portugal 143 miles), and the English road (starting in Coruna or Ferrol, Northern Spain 68 miles). There are more paths in Spain but these ones are the most popular.

However, the French Way is the most popular route to start for people who do their first Camino. This Camino starts in St. Jean Pied de Port, near the Pyrenees and has 484 miles distance to Santiago. You will need a document called the credencial (pilgrim’s passport) which provides cheap (between $3,7 and $8,8 per night) and sometimes free accommodation in official or municipal pilgrim hostels along the route. There are also private hostels, but they are little bit more expensive, around $12,5.

The credencial can be purchased in any Spanish tourist agency or in a confraternity in your country. The credencial provides record of where pilgrims have eaten or slept, but also is a proof to the Pilgrim´s Office in Santiago to show that the journey has been accomplished according to an official route.

The infrastructure along the French Way is very good and it is very difficult to get lost. You will spend between 7 and 10 days to complete the French Way to Santiago; it depends on how many days you stay in the Spanish cities that you will find in your route. The route passes along a few major Spanish cities such as Pamplona, Burgos and Leon.

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Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched a new nonstop flying route from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai. The airline takes its name from an Arabic word that literally means Union, which refers to the seven emirates that makes UAE.

Etihad’s new flight route is to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which is the primary international airport serving Shanghai city. The airline has planned to operate five weekly flights by Airbus A330-300 starting April 15, 2012. Shanghai is the third destination of Etihad airways in China after Beijing and Chengdu.

The outbound flight to Shanghai number EY862, while the inbound flight to Abu Dhabi number is EY867. The EY refers to The International Air Transport Association (IATA) code of Etihad airways.

The EY 862 is scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi international airport at 10:10 local time and arrive in Shanghai at 21:45 local time on all days except Mondays and Fridays. The flying time of the EY 862 is 7 hours and 35 minutes.

The EY867 is scheduled to depart from Shanghai Pudong international Airport at 00:20 local time and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 06:30 local time on all days except Tuesdays and Saturdays. The flying time of the EY867 is 10 hours and 10 minutes.

The difference between the duration of inbound and outbound flights is due to factors such as wind direction and the earth’s eastbound rotation. When a plane travels from east to west it takes longer than if it was flying in the other direction.

By adding Shanghai to Etihad’s list of destinations, new options have been created for travelers from Europe and the USA. Also, it bolsters tourism in the UAE and especially to Abu Dhabi city. Near Abu Dhabi international airport there are a lot of tourist attractions such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Island and Saadyat Island.

Also it is expected to add value to the booming trade between Middle East and China which hit 190 billion USD in 2010 according to the Chinese commerce ministry.

Lastly, the newly opened route is expected to ease the traveling of Chinese employees in the UAE to their homeland. Many Chinese citizens work in one of the 2000 Chinese firms in the UAE. Most of these firms work in the booming construction field.

Earlier in 2004, the Dubai-based airline Emirates was the first UAE originated airline to operate direct flights to Shanghai. Right now, the Emirates airline has three weekly flights by Airbus A380, the biggest passenger plane in the world.

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In a global study released January 25 at the World Economic Forum, it was revealed that international travel is considered even more important than the Internet, TV/movies, or political diplomacy at stimulating the economy and breaking down cultural barriers.

The independent study was conducted by Penn Schoen Berland on behalf of Marriott International and included the views of 1,100 global travelers and opinion leaders from eight countries, including Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Ninety-six percent of respondents, who ranged in age from under 35 to over 50 years old, believed that travel and tourism stimulates the economy, while 77 percent felt that “the more people experience other countries and cultures, the more peace will spread.”

“I believe we are entering a ‘Golden Age of Travel,’ where opportunities to do business and travel abroad are opening up like never before,” said Arne Sorenson, Marriott International’s CEO-elect and current president, pointing to the number of international arrivals, which have doubled in the last 10 years and will reach 1 billion in 2012 (UN World Tourism Organization).  “Travel opens up your mind, your heart and your wallet. This survey shows it is also a powerful form of soft diplomacy in the world today.”

“Bringing down barriers to travel creates jobs and prosperity and we applaud President Obama’s announcement to reform U.S. visa and entry systems to welcome more international visitors.  We look forward to even more progress in the U.S. and around the world to develop multi-national solutions that will grow the travel industry and benefit economies and people worldwide.”

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the industry is predicted to account for an extra 69 million net jobs by 2021, including direct, indirect and induced employ­ment — almost 80 percent of which will be in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

Put another way, one American job is created for every 35 international visitors to the U.S., according to the U.S. Travel Association.  Marriott plans to fill about 60,000 jobs in 2012 alone, with two-thirds of those being in countries outside the U.S., where more than 50 percent of its hotel pipeline resides.

WTTC estimates that total contributions of Travel & Tourism to the global gross domestic product (GDP) are forecast to rise by 4.2 percent annually to US $9.226 trillion by 2021.  Visitor exports—or the amount visitors spend in a given foreign country—will increase 6.6 percent annually through 2021, rising to US$1.789 billion by 2021.

As an example, in New York City alone, Brazilians spent a total of $1.63 billion, topping the $1.42 billion spent by travelers from the U.K., the $1.27 billion spent by Canadians and the$1.1 billion spent by Italians, according to NYC & Co., the city’s tourism board.

“We already knew that travel and tourism have a major impact on the economy, but now we also know that it can change people’s views worldwide,” says Mark Penn, CEO of Penn Schoen Berland and CEO of Burson-Marsteller.  “International travelers advance people’s understanding of different cultures and reinforce all that we as humans have in common with each other.”

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Club Med – the world’s leading all-inclusive brand with more than 80 resorts worldwide – proudly launches its innovative application for the iPhone and iPad, allowing consumers to discover, share and book their ideal Club Med vacation from anywhere in the world.

The iPad application features an original 360-degree virtual tour of Club Med resorts by holding your iPad in front of you and moving it left and right as if you were walking through the property. Providing views from the over-water suites at Club Med Kani in the Maldives and the ski school at Club Med Peisey Vallandry in the French Alps to the circus trapeze at Club Med Ixtapa Pacific in Mexico and the international tennis academy at Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Florida, Club Med offers the perfect getaway at your fingertips.

“The team is excited to bring the Club Med application suite to market as it’s the most interactive way to display our resorts and immerses potential guests into the unique Club Med experience,” said Jerome Hiquet, Vice President of Marketing and Digital for Club Med North America. “Our objective was to develop the most user friendly iPad and iPhone applications that appeals to all potential and past guests.

With these apps they can discover the best of Club Med spirit wherever, whenever. As a new structural ecosystem, it’s important for Club Med to launch into the mobile space now, and to integrate mobile as a key and consistent component in our global marketing strategy to better accommodate today’s consumers in the digital space.”

Club Med collaborated with Phonevalley, a leading mobile communication agency and part of Publicis Group, to develop these user-friendly apps. ”We were enthusiastic about this opportunity to work with a brand like Club Med on this application,” said Alexandre Mars, CEO of Phonevalley. ”We were able to create a quality experience for shoppers to discover the Club Med resorts in a unique capacity much different from the standard vacation booking apps.”

Consumers can discover their dream Club Med vacation in just a few scrolls by exploring more than 80 resorts through photos, videos, descriptions and 360-degree virtual tours. The comparison function helps potential guests choose between resorts based on their personal preferences, from luxury to golf and eco-friendly to winter sports. Guests are then able to share what they like with family and friends while also planning and booking a trip.

The “Click to Call” button quickly connects consumers to an experienced Club Med travel advisor for over the phone booking. For those that can’t make up their mind, the “Shake and Escape” function allows you to shake your iPhone for destination ideas complete with sound.

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Paris is consistently the top tourist destination in the world, yet relatively few people seem to know about one of the more intriguing sites in the city — or rather, under it. The ossuary keeps the remains of about six million residents, all sharing two kilometres of subterranean accommodation.

The guides and the city custodians cite a number of celebrities who have visited the site since it was created in 1786, among them, Charles X; François, the Austrian Emperor; and Napoleon III. It took two years to construct the catacombs; it took until 1814 to fill them. The bones were taken from the many cemeteries which could not keep so many bodies.

It is recommended that tourists consider the lack of toilets and vestibule, and remember that it is two kilometers of dimly-lit tunnels, with many stairs. The elderly and very young might prefer another tourist attraction.

Those who descend are in for an unusual walk. Many bones have been arranged into creative and even aesthetic sculptures and pieces of art; many line the walls as an extra layer. Skulls stare, and signs point the visitor along his way. The guides are keen and know much about the history and details.

The entrance is located beside a pretty little park, at the exit from the underground train at Denfert Rochereau, south of Notre Dame. It is on the site of the old “Barrière d’Enfer” (Wall of Hell), the site now called the Place Denfert Rochereau. As with many places throughout Paris, this area has a rich history and bears investigation; but it is the catacombs that provide a more visual experience.

There are other, more famous cemeteries in Paris; quite a few, in fact. Père Lachaise, the cemetery at Montparnasse, and that at Passy are only three examples with memorials to some of the most famous names in French history and some foreigners. There are very few names in the Catacombs, but it is impressive for other reasons: dead celebrities can be found in many places, but fewer places can be found celebrated for the dead.

It is a humbling feeling, walking down corridors of bones. The presentation is not disrespectful, though there are elements of humour in some designs and in many of the signs and placards throughout the site. Indeed, the entrance greets the tourist with a creepy but tongue-in-cheek “Arrête, c’est ici l’empire de la mort.” (Translation available at the site itself.)

The Catacombs are open until 10:00pm most of the year; it is suggested allowing 45-90 minutes, and to dress appropriately, as the temperature hovers around 14°C. It is possible to visit at one’s own pace, or to sign up for a tour, which provides a much better picture of the story of this distinct site. Paris is best known for its vivacity and wealth of interest. The Catacombs are not for everyone, but they are for those interested in discovering something memorable and unusual.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/seangraham/

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The HospitalityNet.org announced that the World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi Conference is going to be held between the fifth and seventh  of December. It is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is the capital and second largest city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in terms of population, and the wealthiest emirate of the UAE in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income. This wealth can be credited to its huge hydrocarbon resources of the area, which hold nine percent of the world´s proven oil reserves and almost five percent of the world´s natural gas.

The city has actively attempted to diversify its economy in the recent years through investments in financial services and tourism. Through this new engagement towards tourism, Abu Dhabi has also gotten involved with the environmental issues of the world. The upcoming conference is the region’s only commercial event dedicated to examining how the travel and tourism industry can become more sustainable.

This event will bring an introduction to the tourism industry and sustainability by educating those with little knowledge on its benefits, confronting the challenges in the sector, and presenting innovative solutions and examples of cutting edge initiatives. The conference and exhibition has a notable delegation of heads of industry, academics, advocates, and government bodies gathering to discuss topics surrounding sustainable development, support of local culture, and preservation of indigenous species.

The World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi Conference will cover interesting themes and debates for tourism experts such as:

• Can mass market tourism ever be truly sustainable?
• Empower consumers to make a responsible choice – what steps should the travel industry take?
• Whose responsibility is it to green the tourism industry?
• Practical steps to making your hotel or attraction more sustainable
• Regenerating and developing new destinations using sustainable tourism principles
• Can the tourism industry afford to turn its back on water conservation?
• Adventure tourism, conservation, and supporting local communities
• How can airlines do better?

There is hope that this conference will open more eyes towards sustainable developments in the tourism area and will profit with positive improvements all across the world.

For more information about the conference, please follow the link.

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Forget Tipperary: it is a long way to Victoria, British Columbia.  It is easy to feel sheltered, growing up on Canada’s West Coast, all the more so on Vancouver Island. There is an island mentality buffered by the remote location, which is not necessarily as bad as it sounds. It benefits from one of the mildest climates in the country.

It is still clean and beautiful, despite the best efforts of myopic developers and uninspired architects. People are generally courteous and friendly, and there is a healthy representation of many cultures getting along, which is better than many, though not without hiccups. Victoria is quaint, but growing. It is not the big city Vancouver is, but it is quasi-content to be its quieter sibling.

There are no lumberjacks bellowing or singing about the place, nor are there hippies draped across park benches as their minds wander the clouds. Instead, there are tea houses, garden tourism, cafés, varied cuisine, malls, and cinemas. It is beginning to lose its status as ‘the city for the newlyweds and nearly-deads.’

Not a kind description, though intended with some affection. It now hosts some big names at its renovated arena, as well as some should-be-big names at its cosier venues. It is a pretty city, and a nice gear down from Vancouver for the older set -beyond their 20s. It has a fantastic museum that was once free. There are killer whales, seals, horse-drawn carriages, and a park with roaming peacocks. It is a nice bubble away from the real world

Remember Tipperary: it is not so far from St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Labrador. St. John’s is as far east as one can get in this country. Cape Spear is the most eastern tip. It is closer to Europe than it is to Victoria, and the Irish charm really paints the region a more European colour (note the ‘u’ here, as much of Canada retains some European traces).

The people are possibly friendlier than reputation, and the food is hearty and tasty. The weather is not as bad as we in the West were told.  Part of the West Coast’s identity is to believe we have the best weather and that the East is a nice place with awful and incessant winters. The geography is remarkably similar in many ways to that of the west coast, yet with a distinct “je ne sais quoi.”

There are many whales off the shores, including humpback and sperm, and there are dolphins and puffins as well. St. John’s has charming architecture, houses with solid colours and trim with a colonial appearance, malls, cinemas, traditional food, and bars. It has a deserved reputation for Irish boozing, which is another stereotype and regrettably inevitable, but most are happy inebriates.

The Irish can balance intoxication and charm, and the Newfoundlanders are in many ways as Irish as their ancestors. The cultural and musical scene there is thriving and offers more than a jig and fiddle, but it is the people who might very well charm the pants off one. It is said, by Newfoundlanders, that the national magazine, MacLean’s, ran a survey in which Newfoundland was recorded as the sexiest place in Canada, the province seeing more sex than does any other.

In each case, whether the far West or the far East, the capital of the province is a beautiful and charming escape. Different stages of life might dictate how much one can get from a city, or any location, but some cities offer a greater range. Both of these cities have advantages and limitations. They are a very pleasant way to start and end a trip across this stupendously wide country, should one have that kind of time.

Flying saves time, but we would miss so many trees and much wheat. Each is a hop down to the USA as well. In either case, property is not as cheap as it was, but immigration and tourism are still healthy.

Bons voyages!

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For tourists around the world, going to Barcelona could be a dream vacation. When they hear about the famous architect “Gaudi”, “Colon”, “La Ciutadella”, “Las Ramblas” and “Plaza Cataluña”, they will automatically think about Catalonia’s capital. Travelers get to know the city while visiting the most popular monuments, but from a local point of view getting to know the city takes longer.

Art, literature, and history are important reasons for visiting a city. However, Barcelona is not only known for cultural wonders. For football supporters, follow the Football Club Barcelona Tour. Only one ticket grants entrance to the New Camp, Barça museum or any VIP area popular among tourists.

Barcelona’s nightlife is breathtaking. There are clubs, bars, pubs or even karaoke bars for any age and style. You could find a wide range of bars and clubs:  House music, R&B, Latin music, Techno or Dance, whatever you feel like dancing.

One way to get a feel for the city is to check out a local party or tradition in town or around the city. Loriana Mitova, a Latvian girl coming from Ireland said, “The best way I could know the real lifestyle of the city was enjoying the best traditions and local parties. I also lived with a Spanish friend and that helped me to get different holidays which I have never expected to have.”

She also admits she “didn’t want to be a normal tourist. That is why I looked up the most amazing tours I could find”.

Being in Barcelona on St George’s Day is unusual for tourists. On that day, the tradition is special for couples. The girl must give a book to the boy, and the boy must get a red rose for the girl.

Because of this, the streets are full of small stores selling books and roses. The popular tradition has grown up and nowadays they even sell Barcelona Football club roses and any book that is on the market. People go crazy and look around for the best book for their boyfriends or the nicest rose for their girlfriends.

It is also very easy to keep children entertained in Barcelona, due to the amount of amusement parks in the area. “Port Aventura” stays in the memories of tourists, as well as “Tibidabo”. In summertime, aquatic parks are the best decision.

Because of the usual hot weather it is very enjoyable for kids being inside a swimming pool the whole day. Also, every family is free to go around the most beautiful beaches of “Costa Daurada” and “Costa Brava”.

In the winter, Christmas lights of “Plaza Cataluña” brighten the sky. In spring, indulge in buying books or roses for your partners on St George’s day. In the summer, the wide range of beaches offers many choices. Finally, fall is the perfect season to enjoy the different landscapes of colorful trees.

Clearly, it is not possible to visit Barcelona in one or two weeks. But if time allows, it is possible to really visit and experience the authentic life style of the city.

Being a tourist in Barcelona means following any situation that might come up without hesitation. Whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall, any time of the year is perfect for a Barcelona vacation.

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Having lived and worked in my Miami for years, I wonder how Miami keep their visitors coming, may it be for the first time or a return trip. Back in 2009, when the economy sank the lowest in years, local businesses were suffering. Even during winter, when Miami was supposed to be making big bucks, restaurants along the famous street, Ocean Drive, were offering as much as fifty percent discount. I remember sitting in an empty café, having a nice hot breakfast, in which I paid about 12 dollars for.

That won’t happen today.

The hotels and restaurants on South Beach seem to be doing fine. As the matter of fact, many hotels are doing excellent, selling out their rooms every weekend – and not at a discounted price. According to Smith Travel Research, the average daily rates for Miami are up 13.1 percent, where a place like Washington DC experiences a close to 3 percent drop. Moreover, Miami Convention and Visitor Bureau’s figures suggested 2011 will be better than last year. Already, the first quarter of this year resulted in a gain of 11% in occupancy when comparing to the same period last year.

It would be no surprise to see lots of tourists during the winter period, where events such as South Beach Food and Wine Festival and Ultra Music Conference brought in people. Now in May, as the weather down here warms up and the weather up north becomes more pleasant, Miami, as many would think, should automatically turn into a less desirable place to escape.

Well, that was not the case.

So, what bring people to Miami? For many, it’s the climate. As for Aviv Shufman, a Toronto resident, it was because “We were looking for something fun. We went to Las Vegas last year and we wanted something similar for this year”.

Moris Pierce, another Toronto Resident, who was debating between Miami and Los Angeles prior to his trip, said “Miami is somewhere warmer. There’s a lot more to do here, especially nightlife. The beaches here are nice also.”

With so many Canadians roaming around town over the past weekend, I had to ask if there were any special deals going on at all, from their departure city, and they all said in a quick agreement “No. The price has no influence on our decision whatsoever. As the matter of fact, the package we bought was not cheap. We chose Miami because we wanted to be here.”

It is an advantage that what Miami offers is available all year round. The beach is always going to be there. The weather is always going to allow beachgoers to wear bikinis. On top of that, people in Miami love to party and for this reason, the nightlife is always exciting.

Other than the sun and fun factors, fortunately, Miami gets to pick up transit travelers who are on their way to South America or the Caribbean.  Some are continuing their journey on a 30 days transatlantic cruise while others are visiting relatives in Ecuador.

As Miami is approaching summer, local businesses fear the decrease in tourism. But until then, pool parties anyone?

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Eco tourism is a still growing market, with tourists gaining a growing awareness of the carbon footprints on the countries through which they are traveling.

China, a country still suffering a reputation as one of the most polluted countries in the world, has begun taking tentative steps towards promoting a cleaner, greener image for their tourism campaigns.

China’s Ministry for Environmental Protection (MEP) and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) have released a survey on the current state of eco tourism in China.

The survey found the eco tourism market continues to expand, and a variety of destinations including nature reserves, forest and wetlands parks and scenic spots have been set up under the program.

China is still an emerging market in terms of the power of the green tourist, and the survey recognized a large number of areas where eco tourism strategies were undefined.

The importance of ensuring further eco tourism was highlighted in a statement from Conservation International China, Country Director Lu Zhi, reflecting positively on the future for eco tourism.

“There is a demand for more eco-tourism in China. Its popularity is not spurred by scientist or government, but is emerging in response to market demand. As the economy grows and more and more Chinese people have disposable income, people’s interest in tourism will ultimately become more diversified and high-end oriented.”

The survey highlighted problems in the current state of eco tourism in China: issues in management, regulation and policy and informational stages of development.

The survey revealed a lack of awareness and implementation of environmental regulations and protection of tourists.

Both the MEP and the CNTA have been responsible for developing China’s growing market in eco tourism, and conducted the eco tourism survey. The survey was conducted over eight months and polled 6556 tourists and 92 management staff.

In response to the problems found with China’s eco tourism, the Ministry for Environmental Protection and the China National Tourism Administration released a list of eight strategies.

The strategies aim to correct the problems found with China’s current implementation of policies.

-    The establishment of various laws and regulations enabling eco tourism to be certified, and to regulate the development of the industry
-    The set up of an inter-departmental way of providing services and guidance in relation to eco tourism
-    Strengthening environmental supervision over eco tourism. Including establishing ways to quickly ensure the environmental quality of tourist destinations
-    Encouraging environmental and low-carbon infrastructure with tailor made solutions for the best possible travel experience
-    Supporting and increasing scientific research in relation to eco tourism
-    Encouraging local government to develop policies in favor of eco tourism
-    Training and developing a professional eco tourism team with a full understanding of the concepts behind eco tourism and desirable management skills

On the positive side for further eco tourism Conservation International China, Country Director Lu Zhi mentioned the diverse landscapes of China and its natural beauty, a factor which will continue to draw tourist numbers.

“In Western China, there are abundant and unique eco-tourism resources, possibly unrivaled worldwide. The towering and majestic Himalayan mountains, glaciers, gorges, and pristine turquoise lakes and rivers all entice the imagination.

“These hot spots of global biodiversity contain unique temperate forest and endangered species like the giant panda, golden monkey, and Tibetan antelope. Broad grasslands, wetlands, and deserts present an endless horizon for the explorer.”

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