Wednesday, July 20, 2011
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Alain Ducasse in Provence
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July 1, 2011 10:01 pm
Short cuts
By Tom Robbins
Alain Ducasse in Provence
Sarajevo: Kate Adie, the BBC’s former chief news correspondent, is turning her hand to being a tour guide, working alongside other journalists, diplomats and analysts for a new travel company specialising in politics and current affairs. Adie will lead a tour of Bosnia in September for Political Tours, which has been set up by Nicholas Wood, a former New York Times foreign correspondent, with the aim of giving tourists the chance to visit places in the news. Other destinations include Scotland (to investigate the independence agenda), post-revolution Egypt, plus Ethiopia and North Korea. Guides include Tim Judah of The Economist and Neil MacFarlane, professor of international relations at Oxford University.
www.politicaltours.com
July 1, 2011 10:01 pm
Short cuts
By Tom Robbins
Alain Ducasse in Provence
Sarajevo: Kate Adie, the BBC’s former chief news correspondent, is turning her hand to being a tour guide, working alongside other journalists, diplomats and analysts for a new travel company specialising in politics and current affairs. Adie will lead a tour of Bosnia in September for Political Tours, which has been set up by Nicholas Wood, a former New York Times foreign correspondent, with the aim of giving tourists the chance to visit places in the news. Other destinations include Scotland (to investigate the independence agenda), post-revolution Egypt, plus Ethiopia and North Korea. Guides include Tim Judah of The Economist and Neil MacFarlane, professor of international relations at Oxford University.
www.politicaltours.com
Saturday, July 2, 2011
gulfnews : Preserving a way of life
gulfnews : Preserving a way of life
Preserving a way of life
As the Abu Dhabi tourism grows, authorities step up efforts to preserve modern heritage
By Samihah Zaman, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
Published: 00:00 July 2, 2011
Grand attraction: The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the most popular cultural sites in the capital.
Abu Dhabi: Steeped in history and tradition, the UAE has always housed a rich Emirati culture and way of living.
So even as the capital city transforms into a world class tourist destination of choice, authorities are markedly stepping up efforts to preserve and popularise sites of both historic and modern heritage.
While historic sites representing Emirati culture are being preserved or getting a facelift, conservators at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) are also conducting a survey to determine places and landmarks which hold a special value to current residents.
This is because the tangible heritage of a place is composed of both historic sites, as well as places that are currently significant and that will retain value for future generations, Aqeel Ahmad Aqeel, historic building conservator at ADACH, told Gulf News.
Article continues below
Wind towers
"Sites of heritage are especially important because they help people learn about the ideas and lifestyles of a civilisation. For instance, the structure of older Emirati houses includes wind towers. So simply visiting an old house teaches you about a natural mechanism of protection from the desert heat that was adopted in the past," he said.
"Currently, there are about two historic sites in the city open to the public, namely Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's summer house in Khalifa Park and the Maqta Fort and Customs House. We are also working to develop the Qasr Al Hosn, which will be a major cultural centre when opened," Aqeel added.
Qasr Al Hosn, which is also known as the White Fort or the Cultural Foundation and was the seat of the government in the capital since 1793, has been closed for renovation for the past year.
According to Aqeel, the stone structure is scheduled to house a museum and other cultural activities.
"We know that both Emirati and expat residents, as well as tourists, would like to visit more places within the city that are rich in Emirati heritage. While these are limited in number at present, the ADACH is also surveying residents to determine other sites which could be developed into heritage landmarks," he added.
Aqeel also said that as part of another initiative, the ADACH would compile a list of modern heritage landmarks that would be preserved for the future.
"This will include sites like the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Al Manhal Palace on Airport Road, the souq in Mina, and other places which residents hold dear at present," he said.
Currently, the Grand Mosque is one of the most popular cultural sites in the capital, and according to statistics released by the Grand Mosque Centre last month, it saw 1.16 million visitors during the first four months of 2011.
Most residents in the capital, contacted by Gulf News, called for more Emirati culture-related attractions within the capital city.
Places of interest
"The Zayed Centre on the breakwater and the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque are must-see places of interest, but few other heritage landmarks exist otherwise and even less is known about them," said M. Mughal, a 40-year-old cost engineer from India who has been living in the capital since 2005.
"I have two young children, and am always looking for places within the city that they can visit to learn and experience Emirati culture. Since we have seen the few places of interest already, we now have to travel to Dubai and Al Ain," he added.
Other residents said they missed one-time landmarks like the Corniche's iconic Volcano Fountain.
"I clearly remember the fountain which we visited on weekends, and I miss going there. I also remember spending afternoons perusing the stamp and coin collections at the Qasr Al Hosn," said O. Yasmin, 22, another resident from Bangladesh who had lived in the capital as a child.
When contacted, Lawrence Franklin, director of strategy and policy at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said that the capital also had other sites rich in heritage.
"In truth, these can include more humble centres of commerce or trade activity such as the fish market at Mina Zayed and Shaikh Zayed Bridge. In addition, a variety of other architectural landmarks are being developed at present in the Saadiyat Island's Cultural District, including the Zayed National Museum that will chronicle the life and times of Shaikh Zayed," Franklin said.
In addition to efforts by the ADACH and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, authorities have also called upon the private sector to assist in the preservation of historic sites.
Must-see! List of heritage sites
•Qasr Al Hosn (closed for renovation)
•Maqta Fort and Customs House
•Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's summer house
• Mina Zayed fish market
•Zayed Centre
- Source: ADACH and ADTA
Preserving a way of life
As the Abu Dhabi tourism grows, authorities step up efforts to preserve modern heritage
By Samihah Zaman, Staff Reporter, Gulf News
Published: 00:00 July 2, 2011
Grand attraction: The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the most popular cultural sites in the capital.
Abu Dhabi: Steeped in history and tradition, the UAE has always housed a rich Emirati culture and way of living.
So even as the capital city transforms into a world class tourist destination of choice, authorities are markedly stepping up efforts to preserve and popularise sites of both historic and modern heritage.
While historic sites representing Emirati culture are being preserved or getting a facelift, conservators at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) are also conducting a survey to determine places and landmarks which hold a special value to current residents.
This is because the tangible heritage of a place is composed of both historic sites, as well as places that are currently significant and that will retain value for future generations, Aqeel Ahmad Aqeel, historic building conservator at ADACH, told Gulf News.
Article continues below
Wind towers
"Sites of heritage are especially important because they help people learn about the ideas and lifestyles of a civilisation. For instance, the structure of older Emirati houses includes wind towers. So simply visiting an old house teaches you about a natural mechanism of protection from the desert heat that was adopted in the past," he said.
"Currently, there are about two historic sites in the city open to the public, namely Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's summer house in Khalifa Park and the Maqta Fort and Customs House. We are also working to develop the Qasr Al Hosn, which will be a major cultural centre when opened," Aqeel added.
Qasr Al Hosn, which is also known as the White Fort or the Cultural Foundation and was the seat of the government in the capital since 1793, has been closed for renovation for the past year.
According to Aqeel, the stone structure is scheduled to house a museum and other cultural activities.
"We know that both Emirati and expat residents, as well as tourists, would like to visit more places within the city that are rich in Emirati heritage. While these are limited in number at present, the ADACH is also surveying residents to determine other sites which could be developed into heritage landmarks," he added.
Aqeel also said that as part of another initiative, the ADACH would compile a list of modern heritage landmarks that would be preserved for the future.
"This will include sites like the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Al Manhal Palace on Airport Road, the souq in Mina, and other places which residents hold dear at present," he said.
Currently, the Grand Mosque is one of the most popular cultural sites in the capital, and according to statistics released by the Grand Mosque Centre last month, it saw 1.16 million visitors during the first four months of 2011.
Most residents in the capital, contacted by Gulf News, called for more Emirati culture-related attractions within the capital city.
Places of interest
"The Zayed Centre on the breakwater and the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque are must-see places of interest, but few other heritage landmarks exist otherwise and even less is known about them," said M. Mughal, a 40-year-old cost engineer from India who has been living in the capital since 2005.
"I have two young children, and am always looking for places within the city that they can visit to learn and experience Emirati culture. Since we have seen the few places of interest already, we now have to travel to Dubai and Al Ain," he added.
Other residents said they missed one-time landmarks like the Corniche's iconic Volcano Fountain.
"I clearly remember the fountain which we visited on weekends, and I miss going there. I also remember spending afternoons perusing the stamp and coin collections at the Qasr Al Hosn," said O. Yasmin, 22, another resident from Bangladesh who had lived in the capital as a child.
When contacted, Lawrence Franklin, director of strategy and policy at the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said that the capital also had other sites rich in heritage.
"In truth, these can include more humble centres of commerce or trade activity such as the fish market at Mina Zayed and Shaikh Zayed Bridge. In addition, a variety of other architectural landmarks are being developed at present in the Saadiyat Island's Cultural District, including the Zayed National Museum that will chronicle the life and times of Shaikh Zayed," Franklin said.
In addition to efforts by the ADACH and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, authorities have also called upon the private sector to assist in the preservation of historic sites.
Must-see! List of heritage sites
•Qasr Al Hosn (closed for renovation)
•Maqta Fort and Customs House
•Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's summer house
• Mina Zayed fish market
•Zayed Centre
- Source: ADACH and ADTA
Friday, July 1, 2011
Chinese visitors a boon to Taiwan's tourism industry
Travel
Chinese visitors a boon to Taiwan's tourism industry
TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- China on Tuesday will implement the latest changes to its policy governing cross-strait tourism, doubling the length of time a Chinese visitor can remain in Taiwan, and allowing for the first time "free independent travelers" to visit the island outside of a registered group tour.
The expected economic benefits of these changes are significant in Taiwan, where the government hopes that jobs in tourism will help to replace those lost in manufacturing as companies have relocated to mainland China in recent years to take advantage of lower labor costs.
China's new policies will add to earlier ones that have dramatically altered Taiwan's tourism industry, making the mainland the No. 1 source of visitors, a position that until last year was held by Japan.
According to the Mainland Affairs Council, over 2 million mainland tourists have visited Taiwan since June 2008, when the Chinese government began allowing limited cross-strait travel, creating a profit of US$3.8 billion.
Under the new FIT program, 500 residents of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will be permitted to visit Taiwan each day.
As these visitors can also stay longer, tourism authorities estimated that the changes will create business opportunities of US$9 billion to US$19.5 billion per year.
The greatest impact of Chinese visitors to Taiwan has been felt by those directly involved with transportation and hospitality.
Thanks to the increase in cross-trait flights, Taiwan's principal air carriers -- China Airlines and Eva Air -- anticipate higher earnings this year.
Eva Air recently announced it will spend NT$101.1 billion (US$3.4 billion) to purchase at least 25 new airplanes. Bus and taxi companies also expect to profit from changes, as they invest in promotions and equipment to deal with the expected increase in Chinese tourist traffic.
In Sun Moon Lake, one of Taiwan's top tourist areas, hotels welcome the new program. Lai Cheng-i, president of Shining Group, which owns the upscale Lalu Hotel, hopes to see a 5 percent increase in Chinese clientele, making them nearly equal to Japanese visitors.
Five-star hotels are not the only ones expected to benefit from the FIT program. Chuang Jin-chuan, owner and operator of an eight-room bed and breakfast at the other side of the lake from the Lalu said that while he serves mainly Taiwanese, he anticipates significantly more Chinese visitors thanks to the FIT program.
In addition to accommodations, shops that sell snacks and souvenirs have posted signs in simplified Chinese characters to attract mainland customers. Restaurants and food vendors have been especially pleased with the increased business.
Seventy-eight-year-old Tsou Chin-pen used to sell 200 to 300 tea eggs per day at the pier by the lakeshore. But in the last three years, this number has grown to 2,000 per day and continues to rise.
The real estate industry is also optimistic about the effects of the FIT program.
The recent implementation of a luxury tax to curb property speculation in Taiwan has increased the incentive for long-term investors, including those from abroad.
Huang Chiu-yuan, a project manager of Sinyi Realty Co., said that Chinese FITs are unlikely to invest in upscale apartments, but they may be potential buyers of office space, which they will then lease out in high-rent areas such as Taipei's Xinyi District.
Chinese investors will also be interested in the storefronts in popular tourist areas such as the city's famous Shihlin night market or along Zhongxiao East Road in eastern Taipei.
In all cases, real estate brokers are set to profit from the increase in Chinese visitors.
Not everyone is happy, however. While the tourism and real estate industries welcome Chinese FITs, some have expressed concern over problems caused by rising property values and threats to national security.
Others see only opportunity, pointing out that rising property values will be accompanied by more jobs and higher salaries. Even security concerns are likely to translate into increased employment as police and other personnel will be needed to deal with the heightened risk.
(Mainichi Japan) June 29, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/travel/news/20110629p2g00m0dm075000c.html
Chinese visitors a boon to Taiwan's tourism industry
TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- China on Tuesday will implement the latest changes to its policy governing cross-strait tourism, doubling the length of time a Chinese visitor can remain in Taiwan, and allowing for the first time "free independent travelers" to visit the island outside of a registered group tour.
The expected economic benefits of these changes are significant in Taiwan, where the government hopes that jobs in tourism will help to replace those lost in manufacturing as companies have relocated to mainland China in recent years to take advantage of lower labor costs.
China's new policies will add to earlier ones that have dramatically altered Taiwan's tourism industry, making the mainland the No. 1 source of visitors, a position that until last year was held by Japan.
According to the Mainland Affairs Council, over 2 million mainland tourists have visited Taiwan since June 2008, when the Chinese government began allowing limited cross-strait travel, creating a profit of US$3.8 billion.
Under the new FIT program, 500 residents of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will be permitted to visit Taiwan each day.
As these visitors can also stay longer, tourism authorities estimated that the changes will create business opportunities of US$9 billion to US$19.5 billion per year.
The greatest impact of Chinese visitors to Taiwan has been felt by those directly involved with transportation and hospitality.
Thanks to the increase in cross-trait flights, Taiwan's principal air carriers -- China Airlines and Eva Air -- anticipate higher earnings this year.
Eva Air recently announced it will spend NT$101.1 billion (US$3.4 billion) to purchase at least 25 new airplanes. Bus and taxi companies also expect to profit from changes, as they invest in promotions and equipment to deal with the expected increase in Chinese tourist traffic.
In Sun Moon Lake, one of Taiwan's top tourist areas, hotels welcome the new program. Lai Cheng-i, president of Shining Group, which owns the upscale Lalu Hotel, hopes to see a 5 percent increase in Chinese clientele, making them nearly equal to Japanese visitors.
Five-star hotels are not the only ones expected to benefit from the FIT program. Chuang Jin-chuan, owner and operator of an eight-room bed and breakfast at the other side of the lake from the Lalu said that while he serves mainly Taiwanese, he anticipates significantly more Chinese visitors thanks to the FIT program.
In addition to accommodations, shops that sell snacks and souvenirs have posted signs in simplified Chinese characters to attract mainland customers. Restaurants and food vendors have been especially pleased with the increased business.
Seventy-eight-year-old Tsou Chin-pen used to sell 200 to 300 tea eggs per day at the pier by the lakeshore. But in the last three years, this number has grown to 2,000 per day and continues to rise.
The real estate industry is also optimistic about the effects of the FIT program.
The recent implementation of a luxury tax to curb property speculation in Taiwan has increased the incentive for long-term investors, including those from abroad.
Huang Chiu-yuan, a project manager of Sinyi Realty Co., said that Chinese FITs are unlikely to invest in upscale apartments, but they may be potential buyers of office space, which they will then lease out in high-rent areas such as Taipei's Xinyi District.
Chinese investors will also be interested in the storefronts in popular tourist areas such as the city's famous Shihlin night market or along Zhongxiao East Road in eastern Taipei.
In all cases, real estate brokers are set to profit from the increase in Chinese visitors.
Not everyone is happy, however. While the tourism and real estate industries welcome Chinese FITs, some have expressed concern over problems caused by rising property values and threats to national security.
Others see only opportunity, pointing out that rising property values will be accompanied by more jobs and higher salaries. Even security concerns are likely to translate into increased employment as police and other personnel will be needed to deal with the heightened risk.
(Mainichi Japan) June 29, 2011
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/travel/news/20110629p2g00m0dm075000c.html
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