#Australia tourism industry under climate change threat

Australia's multi-billion dollar tourism industry is under increasing threat from climate change with some of the nation's top natural wonders in the firing line as temperatures and sea levels rise, a study warned Thursday.

The report by environmental advocacy group the Climate Council said the government needed to do more to reduce carbon emissions harming Australia's beaches, national parks and the Great Barrier Reef.

Tourism is the nation's second-largest export industry, valued at Aus$40 billion (US$31 billion) and employing more than 580,000 people, it said. 

But popular visitor destinations were at risk, with major cities in coastal areas expected to face more frequent flooding in coming years, while Australia's "Red Centre" region could experience more than 100 days annually above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2030, it found.

"Tourists travel across the globe to see Australia's remarkable natural wonders. But these icons are in the climate firing line as extreme weather events worsen and sea levels continue to rise," ecologist and report co-author Lesley Hughes said.

"Some of our country's most popular natural destinations, including our beaches, could become 'no-go zones' during peak holiday periods and seasons, with the potential for extreme temperatures to reach up to 50 degrees in Sydney and Melbourne."

 A separate report last year from Deloitte Access Economics valued the Great Barrier Reef as an asset worth Aus$56 billion, which included its tourism revenues and its indirect value for people who have not yet visited but know it exists.

The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists each year, is reeling from significant bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change.

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"Without credible climate policy that cuts Australia's rising carbon pollution levels, the impacts of climate change will only intensify and accelerate across the country over the coming decades," Climate Council chief executive Martin Rice said.

Environmental advocates on Thursday urged Canberra to move away from coal-fired power generation.

With its heavy use of coal-fired power and relatively small population, Australia is considered one of the world's worst per capita greenhouse gas polluters.

"The extra heat from global warming will further reduce the tourist season and make some enterprises unviable," said Liz Hanna, from the School of Environment at the Australian National University.

"Protecting the tourism industry protects jobs and protects Australia's economic wellbeing."

Canberra insists it is taking strong action to address the global threat of climate change, having set an ambitious target to reduce emissions to 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Australia sweltered through its third-hottest year on record in 2017, with seven of its 10 warmest years experienced since 2005.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Amsterdam cracks down on illegal holiday home rentals

Amsterdam is booking progress in its fight against illegal holiday rentals, the city said Wednesday, dishing out over four million euros in fines as it seeks to stem a stream of tourists.

"There has been an intensive crackdown on housing fraud over the past year," the Amsterdam council said in a statement.

Some 378 fines were handed out totalling 4.2 million euros ($5.1 million), "the overwhelming majority of these for the illegal rental of holiday apartments," it said.

The news comes as the highest Dutch court, the State Council, upheld stiff fines totalling 168,000 euros for illegal holiday rentals in the capital.

Last month Amsterdam announced it would impose a new 30-day curb on the renting of private homes via websites like online booking giant Airbnb from next year, as it seeks ways to deal with the masses of tourists that flock to the city's canals, museums and famous cannabis-friendly red-light district.

"By enforcing these measures, the city wants to end the illegal use of homes... which can then again be made available on the normal housing market," the council said.

It also hailed agreements with Airbnb which it said remained the largest online rent-a-home provider in Amsterdam.

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 The agreements included Airbnb informing its potential hirers over rules and regulations in Amsterdam and that rentals this year may not exceed 60 days.

Airbnb had also blocked 1,770 adverts for home rentals that exceeded the 60-day threshold, the city said.

This week Airbnb praised the "positive results these measures have brought to the Amsterdam community."

But it said it was disappointed that it was one of the few online rent-a-house bushinesses sticking to the rules.

"A year after the agreement between Airbnb and Amsterdam, many other online platforms refuse to follow Airbnb's example," it said.

"Airbnb is helping Amsterdammers to share their homes in a responsible manner and with tourist tax," the company's northern European general manager James McClure said.

"We are disappointed that others are not taking similar steps to help strengthen the city," McClure said in the statement.

In total, Airbnb said it helped Amsterdam residents rake in some 125 million euros in income and contributed some 500 million euros to the capital's economy in 2016.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Thailand - 'Famous Tiger Temple’ Reopen as Tiger Zoo

Update soon

#Thailand - Limiting tourists on the most popular islands

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation held a meeting at the Pearl Hotel on Phuket on Tuesday to discuss the excessive numbers of tourists visiting the famous islands and bays.

Songtham Suksawang, chief of the DNP’s National Parks Office, who chaired the meeting, said that the amount of tourists in marine national parks was directly affecting the environment.

“Those national parks, especially marine national parks, are suffering from an oversupply of visitors. There are many problems such as oil from boats, rubbish and the effect on the local lifestyle on the islands, which is difficult to rehabilitate in the short term. They [meeting participants] discussed rearranging of the marine national parks to better meet the demand, but by limiting supply and providing a more sustainable solution,” he said.

“There will be a study on the limiting of tourism. Some locations have already had these studies done. After sending the officers to check, we found that there’s a specific period of time when the islands are overcrowded, which is 11am to 2pm when the tourists come onshore to rest and have lunch. There are approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people visiting some of the islands each day,” he added.

The DNP has plans for a solution on the Similan Islands by spreading tourists around the other islands, as Island Four and Island Eight are way too overcrowded.

“We will spread tourists to other islands, apart from Islands Four and Eight, by installing piers to connect them. They will be floating piers to avoid disturbing the corals. There will be a floating centre, where tourists can rest in front of the island, as well.''

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 “The purchasing process of the centres will be completed by March 31. We will start this project near the islands that are highly overcrowded, such as Similan, Phi Phi and in Phang Nga Bay. The limitation of tourists according to the time of the day will also follow after the study is done,” Songtham explained.

  “The limiting of tourists and an increase in customer fees are possible if the environment continues to be damaged too much from tourism,” he pointed out.

The DNP will also create an e-ticket to enter the islands, which will possibly start with the Similans, Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay, as this would also help solve the issue of transparency in national park management, the National Parks Office chief said.

For security, he said that he had approved budgets for ambulance and rescue boats and was currently coordinating with the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand to provide assistance to tourists in the marine national park area.

In case of emergency, the 1669 hotline is also available 24/7.

Source - TheNation

 

#Indonesia - Palembang launches new tourist destinations ahead of 2018 Asian Games

The Palembang city administration in South Sumatra launched two new tourist destinations on Sunday, namely Tepian Sekanak Bersolek and Kampung Mural Gudang Bonjiet.

The city's Tourism Agency head Isnaini Madani said the two spots were part of Palembang's 13 highlighted tourist destinations prepared to welcome the 2018 Asian Games in August.

"Following its popularity on social media, now Tepian Sekanak Bersolek and Kampung Mural Gudang Bonjiet have officially become tourist destinations to welcome both domestic and foreign tourists," said Isnaini as quoted by Antara on Sunday.

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The development of the two places, which feature colorful images and patterns, is said to be the result of a collaboration with PT ICI Paint Indonesia in South Sumatra as part of its corporate social responsibility program. 

"Employees of Palembang city's Public Works Agency and student volunteers worked together to paint the destinations," added Isnaini.

Tepian Sekanak Bersolek is said to be a pilot project as the city administration seeks to beautify all rivers across Palembang. "We are targeting to make all river areas prettier, but considering the current budget we will focus on Sekanak River first."

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Thailand to host Amour Asia Pacific 2018

Show will boost Kingdom’s reputation as world-class honeymoon destination

Thailand will host the first ever Amour Asia Pacific 2018, a luxury travel trade event that will cement the Kingdom’s reputation as the destination of choice for lovers and honeymooners from around the world. To be held from February 14-17, 2018, at the Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Amour Asia Pacific 2018 will help spur continued growth in the elite romance travel market.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said “TAT is proud to support the Amour Asia Pacific 2018. We are confident it will help to underscore Thailand’s reputation as a world-class romance and honeymoon destination, building on the success of the Destination Wedding Planner Congress 2017, which we also hosted. As a leader in this sector, we will continue to increase our competitive advantage in the romance and honeymoon market by innovating to deliver the latest products and services that couples value, while providing opportunities for Thai operators to meet with sellers from across the globe through platforms such as, the Amour Asia Pacific 2018.”

Thailand’s reputation as a host for honeymoons and weddings helped the Kingdom attract 1.1 million international romance travellers in 2016, representing 3.37 percent of all international visitors, and generating 1.65 billion USD for the Thai economy (or approximately 1,500 USD per visitor, per trip).

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Mr. Richard Barnes, CEO of Worldwide Events said “Thailand is truly at the heart of romance and honeymoon travel in Asia, so we are pleased to be able to showcase the plethora of products and services on offer for today’s discerning luxury romance traveler. The sector has seen tremendous growth, which has led to a demand for experience-based products that cater to a diverse range of interests; all of which will be on show at the Amour Asia Pacific 2018.”

The Amour Asia Pacific 2018 is a luxury travel trade event specifically designed for the elite romance travel market, including honeymoon curators, destination wedding planners and romance travel designers. Organised by Big Worldwide Limited, a leading international tourism promoter behind major events such as M&I Forums in 2016 (including Europe, the emerging markets, and the Americas), PRIVATE Luxury Forums in 2016 (the Americas and Europe), and the Amour Europe Forum 2016.

The Amour Asia Pacific 2018 will welcome 77 high-quality buyers including both Romance Travel Buyers and Destination Wedding Planners. The show will also feature 84 exhibitors, ranging from hotel and accommodation providers to destination management companies from across the Asia Pacific including 15 from Thailand.
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As a co-host, TAT will ensure that Thailand’s hospitality is extended to every delegate, from seamless on-ground transportation, to networking activities, and an exclusive gala dinner and after party at the Nai Lert Park Heritage Home. As a TAT partner, Thailand Elite (Thailand Privilege Card) will welcome delegates on arrival, provide fast-track immigration services, and offer access to a Welcome Lounge.

To enrich the delegates’ experience and offer them a glimpse into the various shades of Thai heritage and culture, TAT is also hosting pre- and post-tour activities. Pre-tour activities include a Thai Boxing Class – The Legend Thai Boxing, a Thai Cooking Class at the Blue Elephant Cooking School, a Bangkok Food Tour – Historic Bang Rak Food Tasting and Culture Tour, a tour of Khlong Bang Luang (Royal Barge Museum + Baan Silapin), and a tour of Rattanakosin Island. Ensuring guests will leave Thailand with memories to last a lifetime, TAT’s post-tour trips are to the island paradises of Krabi and Ko Samui, two of Thailand’s key wedding and honeymoon destinations.

Amour Asia Pacific 2018 will be held from February 14-17, 2018, at the Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park.

 

Source - TheNation 

 

#Indonesia - Pertamina resumes fuel shipments to Karimunjawa Islands

Underwater paradise: A diver explores coral reefs near the Karimunjawa Islands in Central Java in this undated photograph

State-owned energy company Pertamina has resumed shipments of fuel to the Karimunjawa Islands following a disruption of about two weeks due to bad weather.

Pertamina shipped at least 1,500 3-kg canisters of LPG from Jepara Port on Friday and 115 kiloliters of gasoline from Semarang on Saturday, according to Pertamina’s spokesman for Region IV distribution, Andar Titi Lestari.

The archipelago, located some 80 kilometers off Central Java’s northern coast, has been grappling with fuel shortages. Home to some 90,000 people, the islands are famous for a marine garden and sea nature park and are a popular weekend destination for Central Java residents.

Karimunjawa is vulnerable to fuel crises, because the islands can only be reached by sea.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has called on Pertamina to construct fuel storage facilities on the island to overcome the frequent supply disruptions. “With such storage, the fuel supply would not be disrupted,” Ganjar said in Semarang on Jan. 30, as reported by kompas.com.

Pertamina’s general manager for distribution in Region IV, Yanuar Budi Hartanto, said his company currently had no plans to construct such facilities, adding however that demand for storage would be discussed.

For the time being, he said, Pertamina might resort to using bigger ships to transport fuel to Karimunjawa, so that they could be on standby on the island with the remaining fuel.

 

Source - TheJakartaPost