Tourism Review Online Magazine - 05/2009

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Dear readers, Europe is enjoying spring sunshine and blooming trees. However if you belong to those who like it hot you might be interested in visiting East Africa and the wild and wonderful Kenya. Read more in the Destination part. Nature or rather ecology is the topic of the Ethical supplement presenting several projects from the world of ecotourism – visit responsible Belize, green Ireland or go for agrotour in Ecuador. For those who strive to be as close to nature as possible there is the Active part focusing on naturism. If you had too much fun and enjoyment in your life lately you might wish to go for the darker destinations. Get familiar with famous burial sites where the tourists flock in the Heritage supplement. First of all however, imagine a complete luxury and enjoy the Professional part offering holidays for the richest of the richest. Milada Sovadinova Editor


CONTENTS

CONTENTS

M A Y, 2 0 0 9 Ethical/REligious

H E R I TAG E

Ecotourist? WElcomE to thE club

Next Stop? A BuriAl Site Believe it or not but even burial sites and cemeteries represent a luring destination for curious travelers. This branch of dark tourism has even its own term – cemetery tourism. Come and read about a unique Chilean burial site for dissidents, Pere-LaChaise in Paris, grief tourism landmarks in Berlin and of course the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow.

Being eco and green might already seem a complete cliché for some as this color appears to flood all news about tourism. Yet, there is a point in it so get familiar with some intriguing ecotourism projects like ecoDestinations, read about Ecuadorian agrotourism or Belize that is soon to be hosting a Responsible Tourism Conference. What more, did you know that green tourism actually help to fight the recession?

HERITAGE: Next Stop? A Burial Site.................... 4

TRANSPORT: Ecotourist? Welcome to the Club.............................................. 32

Cemetery Tourism: Touring the Dead......................................................................... 5

Belize: Pushing Responsible Tourism Forward...................................................... 33

Chile: The Dissident Burial Site in Valparaiso............................................................ 7

ecoDestinations: Travel the World & Help Protect Amazing Destinations. ... 35

The Lenin Mausoleum........................................................................................................ 9

Greenbox: How Green Can Ireland Get?................................................................... 37

Berlin: Where the Stars Say Good-Bye...................................................................... 11

Agrotourism – An Alternative for Development. ............................................... 39

Cemetery Heritage Trail in English Salford......................................................... 13

Credit Crunch and Green Tourism............................................................................ 41

Professional

De st i nat ion Wild Kenya

Million Dollar HoliDays Yes, there is the global downturn, but not for everybody. Luxurious and incredibly expensive hotels will always be there. Remember the last year’s $1 million package at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi? In 2009 you have also numerous possibilities how to get rid of spare thousands in cozy hotels. Check out Atlantis in Dubai, must-see suites according to Elite Traveler or even luxurious Scotland and India.

Vast lands, fascinating wildlife, remarkable culture – all of it is Kenya. But not only. Read about the latest developments in tourism facing not only the economic downturn but also the effects of the last year’s political turmoil. Get to know the safari capital of Africa or a slice of the Kenyan wild and wonderful national parks. By the way have you ever thought about this East African country as a medical tourism destination?

Professional: Million Dollar Holidays............... 15

Destination: Wild Kenya................................................ 43

Atlantis Dubai: Forget the Recession!. .................................................................... 16

Kenya: Tourism Proves Resilient in Times of Trouble......................................... 44

Luxury & Golf: Where It All Began............................................................................. 19

Nairobi: The Safari Capital of Africa....................................................................... 49

Elite Traveler: 101 Top Hotel/Resort Suites............................................................ 21

Kenya Unveils Massive Tourism Plan. ....................................................................... 51

India: Grand and Fabulous........................................................................................... 22

National Parks: Get Adventurous in East Africa................................................. 53 Medical Safari: The New frontier in Kenya’s Hospitality Industry. ............. 56

Active/Adventure

Fairs & Exhibitions T r av e l / To u r i s m

i n

m aY

2 0 0 9

b Y

r e g i o n s

GettinG naked on the Way

Active/Adventure: Getting Naked on the Way............ 23

Fairs & Exhibitions: Travel/Tourism in MAY 2009 by regions................................................. 58

Naturism All around the World................................................................................ 24

Western Europe. ............................................................................................................... 59

Florida’s Haulover Beach: A Touch of the Riviera in America........................ 26

CENTRAL Europe................................................................................................................. 60

NUDE HIKERS CAUSE A STIR IN THE SWISS ALPS. ............................................................. 28

Africa/MIDDLE EAST.......................................................................................................... 61

Where to Go for Nude Holiday? Greece!................................................................... 30

North America.................................................................................................................. 62

Warning: unclad people on display here! Nudism or naturism (or even FKK in German) is growing in popularity especially in some region. Read about the famous Haulover Beach in Florida, nude Greece as well as about the troubles Swiss villagers experience with hikers “au naturel”.

Asia & Pacific................................................................................................................... 63


H E R I TAG E Next Stop? A Burial Site Believe it or not but even burial sites and cemeteries represent a luring destination for curious travelers. This branch of dark tourism has even its own term  – cemetery tourism. Come and read about a unique Chilean burial site for dissidents, Pere-LaChaise in Paris, grief tourism landmarks in Berlin and of course the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow.


H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

Cemetery Tourism: Touring the Dead

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emetery tourism can be seen as part of the current overall interest in dark tourism, driven at least in part by the move of the Gothic from the periphery to the mainstream of popular culture. In its modern form, it began in early 19th century Paris, as Pere-LaChaise became a fashionable destination for the living as well as the dead. As more and

May, 2009

more tourist guidebooks, perhaps catering to the interests of younger travellers, feature cemeteries as interesting urban locations, cities seem keener to develop cemetery tourism as part of their visitor attraction portfolio. At the European level, the Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe is working hard

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Pere - LaChaise

Pere-LaChaise in Paris, France, a burial place for such notable figures as Maria Callas, Modigliani, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Chopin, and Gertrude Stein, is thought to be the most visited cemetery in the world. When first established in 1804 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the cemetery attracted few funerals and fewer visitors due to its remote location. In an effort to exploit the potential profit from tourism, marketing strategists moved the remains of Moliere and the legendary lovers Heloise and Abelard to a more accessible site. As more famous people were interred in Pere-LaChaise, it soon became a much sought-after burial place. Today, tourists come each year to view the grand mausoleums, private chapels, and elaborate tombs of the people who made history. Cemetery tourism, oddly enough, does seem to provide a great deal of satisfaction for many in reliving the excitement and passion of long ago. Some tourists bring the appropriate flowers, wreaths, or other tributes, while others simply follow tradition, leaving lipstick kisses on the headstone of the infamous and flamboyant Oscar Wilde. Since the cemetery is quite large, with over 300,000 burial sites and five World War I memorials, navigational maps are provided for tours of the premises. Visitors and tourists bring lunch on family outings and holiday treks and enjoy the roasted chestnuts and sausages sold just outside the cemetery gates. Gr i ef-tour ism.c om

to promote and develop cemeteries as significant cultural resources of interest equally to residents and visitors. More locally, there are a growing number of Friends groups who have the same aims, using guide books and guided tours to raise the profile of their sites and using their collective strength to support the owners in con-


H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

serving and developing the material aspects of the property. For most people, a visit to a cemetery as part of a holiday is not a dark tourism episode. It is, rather, a way to get another, more oblique view of the social or cultural history of the host city or region, and to view the works of local architects and sculptors. For the dark tourist, however, the imagined pres-

May, 2009

ence of the dead – or indeed Death itself – amid the rich symbolism of grave markers and atmospheric surroundings, provides a sensational or emotional pleasure, rooted in Romantic or Gothic art and literature. By Dr Ronnie Scott (The Dark Tourism Forum) http://www.dark-tourism.org.uk

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H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

Chile: The Dissident Burial Site in Valparaiso W

hen one hears the name of Valparaiso it is mostly to think of the place where people embark to go on a cruise. Valparaiso is located at the Pacific Ocean just 1.5 hours west from Santiago International Airport. Its picturesque layout enhanced by the surrounding hills that seem to dive into the Ocean, remind us that this was once the most important harbour in South America before the Panama Canal was opened for navigation in 1914. The city itself shows interesting architecture with the influence of different cultures. It is worthwhile enjoying the lovely Boutique Hotels, delicious seafood and many other things. Founded in 1536 the town went through many historical stages. It was in the 18th century when the first immigrants mainly from Germany, Italy and England came to Valparaiso hoping to find new opportunities and a better place to live. The different nationalities influenced not only the fast growing of the city but also gave her a special cultural touch. In the following years Valparaiso became famous as it was one of the first cities in South America having electricity and streetcars which arrived here even before they made it to Berlin. One witness of the interesting cultural and religious influence is the Dissidents Burial Site. A mixture of different religions has been created by the inhabitants of Valparaiso throughout the years. The name “Dissident” was given to people who professed another religion than the Catholics. May, 2009

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Those people were not allowed to be buried on a Catholic Burial Sites which made it happen that many of them found their last peace in the Sea or in the surrounding hills of Valparaiso. Finally in 1823 Sir George Seymour bought a piece of Land on the Panteon Hill with a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding mountain-


H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

side. He created a place where from now on the Non-Catholics as well could rest in peace. The first impression once you get there is the simplicity of the tombs. The “Dissident” always tried to stay very basic as the decent belief was most important. The tombs show names and messages of and for the people that found their last peace at the Dissidents Burial Side. They are mainly written in English and German. Even today, do Visitors find relatives at this place sending them back to a time many years ago. There are a lot of stories about this place. One tells about a North American Frigate that has been sunken in the shores of Valparaiso by the English Navy in 1814. Years after this event the British Council George Seymour took the remains of May, 2009

the sailors to the Dissidents graveyard where they still rest in peace. In 2005 the Dissidents Burial Site was declared as a National Monument and is one of the most famous burial sites in the world. Valparaiso offers many different alternatives of Lodging. You can stay in traditional houses which have been refurbished as boutique hotels with cosy rooms and lovely views over the bay of Valparaiso. Different interesting excursions can be done to explore the city and surroundings. Discover the Magic of Valparaiso and find more information about other places and tours in Chile at Protourschile.com. By Rudyard Ullrich Zulic http://www.protourschile.com

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H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

The Lenin Mausoleum

Once inside, visitors are still not allowed to pause for long. The mausoleum is usually open 10am– 1pm; closed Mondays, Fridays, and is free of charge. Once in while some die-hard Communists and Lenin Loyalists will gather at the mausoleum to honor the former leader. But after the attempted coup of 1991, the lines to Lenin's mausoleum have diminished dramatically, and sometimes there is no line at all. In 1994, a German executive tried to purchase the body and take it on a world tour with a final resting place in a Cologne museum. Today there is still a movement within the country to remove Lenin's body from the mausoleum and rebury him elsewhere (he had requested to be buried in St. Petersburg). Ironically though, with the new wave of capitalists, Lenin souvenirs are now more popular than ever, and Lenin's formaldehyde experts are offering their eternal Lenin Delux preservation techniques for a price of just over a quarter of a million dollars. Marble viewing stands on both sides of the mausoleum hold up 10,000 spectators on national holidays. Atop the mausoleum is a tribune, where the heads of the former Soviet Government and Communist Party once gathered on May and Revolution days. Behind the mausoleum, separated by a row of silver fir trees,

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the Kremlin wall on the southwest side of Red Square stands the Lenin Mausoleum. Inside, in a glass sarcophagus, lies Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, who died on January 21, 1924. Three days after his death, a wooden structure was erected on this spot. Four months later, it was rebuilt and then replaced in 1930 by the granite, marble and black labradorite mausoleum, designed by Alexei Shchusev. May, 2009

"Lenin" is inscribed in red porphyry. For more than 75 years Russians and foreigners have stood in the line that stretches from the end of Red Square to the mausoleum to view the once idolized revolutionary leader and "Father of the Soviet Union". Two guards man the entrance but there is no longer a changing of the guard. Photography is prohibited and cameras should be placed out of sight in bag.

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Lenin M au s ol e u m C l o sed f or T wo M onths

Every two years the Lenin mausoleum on Red Square is closed to scheduled restoration of Lenin’s body. The work usually lasts for one-and-a-half to two months. Lenin’s body has already spent over 80 years in the mausoleum and scientists think that another 100 years or more are possible. Previously the state financed the procedure, but this year the funds were taken from science budgets. Mnw e ek ly.r u


H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

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E mba l mment

First days after Lenin`s death no one intended to embalm his body – authorities relied on severe frosts. However, numerous delegations from all around the country and telegrams from workers asking to show the body of Lenin to the whole world gave an impetus to perpetuate the body and not commit it to earth. The widow and sisters of Lenin were strongly against making a “doll” of Lenin, but they remained unheard, as a propaganda effect was more powerful than common sense. Nevertheless, Soviet medics managed to operationally cope with the unique task of embalmment and a red Soviet pharaoh appeared in Moscow. Russi a-i c .c om

are the remains of many the country's most honored figures in politics, culture and science, whose ashes lie in urns within the Kremlin walls. They include Lenin's sister and his wife, Sergei Kirov, Maxsim Gorky, A. K. Lunacharsky, the physicist Sergei Korolyov and the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Foreigners include John Reed and William Hayword (USA), Arthur McManus (England), Clara Zetkin and Fritz Heckert (Germany), and Sen Katayama (Japan). There are also the tombstones of previous leaders of the Communist Party: Sverdlov, Dzerzhinsky, Frunze, Kalinin, Voroshilov, Suslov, Brezhnev, Chernenko, Andropov, and Stalin, who was buried next to Lenin in the mausoleum from 1953-61. Nearby are the granite-framed common graves of 500 people who died during the October Revolution of 1917. http://www.r-tg.com

May, 2009

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H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

Berlin: Where the Stars Say Good-Bye

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here are many places of interest in the German capital of Berlin. A number of architectural treasures lure tourists fond of the historical atmosphere of this famous city. Especially its very moving history after World War II is what attracts a large number of travelers who come to learn about the unfortunate communist era and the differences between what once used to be East and West Berlin. However, there is yet another aspect of Berlin many respect and come to admire. The long gone past is still very real in any of the 260 cemeteries that are to be found in this city. The cemeteries vary in size and character and all together take up 1,200 hectares of land in and around the area of Berlin. The surprising number of cemeteries is due to the fact that in the 19th century, when Berlin was made capital of the German Empire, it quickly started spreading into the surrounding areas. And thus, little towns and villages in the vicinity became absorbed – together with their cemeteries. Nowadays, the cemeteries are a rather odd attraction for tourists. One of the reasons are naturally the personalities buried here. Graves of Felix Mendolssohn Bartholdy, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Marlene Dietrich, Willy Brandt, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht are among the most visited ones. However, many ex-Berliners tend to visit these places as well. They take guided tours of the more ‘fabulous’ burial places and feel they are reliving the history they ran away from. Some of the sculptures are remarkable as well as bronze statues and wall engravings,

May, 2009

reliefs and mausoleums. A very striking experience tourists are encouraged to go for is visiting any of the five Jewish cemeteries, including Europe’s largest site of Jewish burial in the Weissensee district. The cemeteries are surprisingly well maintained, as the local authorities are aware of the importance of keeping this aspect of Berlin’s history alive. However, the maintenance would not be possible without generous donations from private individuals, foundations and the state lottery.

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Old Cemetery of Twelve Apostles The first cemetery of the Protestant Parish of Twelve Apostles, established in 1864 by the royal landscape architect Carl David Bouché (18011881) in the style of a Campo Santo. High concentration of grave monuments with considerable artistic value, some rare galvanized bronze sculptures, iron casted fences and a visible historical tree and plant population characterize this worth seeing place. You can find here the gravesites of famous artists of the 19th and 20th century, for example the


H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site created by architects and artisans of the Prussian Empire, some of them are buried here, for example Friedrich Drake, Heino Schmieden and Alfred Messel.

Stahnsdorf Southwestern Cemetery

sculptor Reinhold Begas and the painters Anton von Werner and Robert Warthmüller.

Old St. Matthew`s Cemetery The cemetery was founded in 1856. It is one of Berlin’s most significant listed graveyards, with more than 60 graves of very important personages, for example the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the doctor and politician Rudolf Virchow, the educationalist Adolf Diesterweg and the composer Max Bruch. Many impressive grave architectures and sculptures are of considerable artistic value,

May, 2009

On March 28, 1909 the South-Western Cemetery officially opened. Given its size and the vast park/ forest-like layout, the South-Western Cemetery developed into one of the largest and best known burial sites in Germany already a few decades later. Several personalities found their final resting place here, such as, among others, Heinrich Zille, Rudolf Breitscheid, Lovis Corinth, Edmund Rumpler, Louis Ullstein, and the Siemens family. The overall impression is definitely influenced by the combination of garden and cemetery art, architecture and sculptures. Architects and artists such as Franz Seeck, Alfred Grenander, Max Taut, Hugo Lederer, Hermann Hosaeus and Emil Cauer worked here, to mention but a few. Apart from 19th and 20th century tombstone art, the mourning chapel in the style of the Norwegian Stave churches is the core of the SouthWestern Cemetery. Gustav Werner, royal building surveyor, found his inspiration in Scandinavia and between 1908 and 1911 implemented the chapel building plans. The cemetery achieved thus fame and popularity as a cultural monument, far beyond the boundaries of Berlin. http://www.tourism-review.com http://www.significantcemeteries.org

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H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

Cemetery Heritage Trail in English Salford

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here can you find an African prince, a veteran of the Charge of the Light Brigade, Salford's first MP, the founder of the Hallé orchestra or a victim of the Munich air disaster? Answer: in Salford's cemeteries of course! Just one-and-a-half miles from Salford Quays, Weaste Cemetery is a peaceful place for visitors, May, 2009

schoolchildren and their teachers to learn about Salford's history and some of the fascinating individuals who lived in Salford in the past. It is primarily a place to respect and commemorate the loved ones we have lost. People also visit cemeteries for exercise and relaxation, and to study nature and local history. It is our aim to offer a fitting environment for the bereaved and also to enhance the life of the community. Weaste Cemetery was Salford's first municipal cemetery. Before the cemetery opened in 1857 most burials took place in churchyards. Salford Corporation was one of the first municipal authorities to recognise that churchyards could no longer provide sufficient burial space and so the plans for Weaste were made. In the Victorian age cemeteries were considered to be amenities like parks and gardens and were usually designed in a similar way. Weaste Cemetery was no exception and its beautiful design made it the most desirable resting-place for well to do Salfordians and Mancunians. Since 1857 over 300,000 interments have taken place at the cemetery, including: Joseph Brotherton–became MP for Salford in 1832. In 1849 he was instrumental in making Salford the first municipal authority in Britain to establish a library, a museum and an art gallery, and later with William Ewart persuaded Parliament to pass the Public Libraries Act. Joseph Brotherton's belief in clean living and a clean environment for working people made him a prime motivator in the estab-

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lishment of Peel Park in Salford. He also helped set up the vegetarian movement. Sir Charles Hallé–Britain's longest-established professional symphony orchestra, the The Hallé, was founded in Manchester by the pianist and conductor Charles Hallé, and gave its first concert in the city's Free Trade Hall in 1858.


H eritage : Ne xt Stop ? A Bur i al Site

Mark Addy–a renowned local figure who worked in a factory near the river Irwell, and during his life saved around 53 people from drowning after leaping in to save them. There is a memorial in the cemetery dedicated to him, and paid for by grateful local people. Eddie Colman–one of the Busby Babes who tragically died in the Munich air disaster in 1958. Ferdinand Stanley–was immortalised in Alfred Lord Tennyson's epic poem Charge of the Light Brigade, after surviving the battle in 1854. At Agecroft Cemetery you can also find the final resting place of Prince Lobengula who came to SalMay, 2009

ford from Africa at the end of the 19th century with a travelling circus type show, sent here because his father wanted him to see the world. Prince Lobengula met a Salford girl called Catherine, who died young, and he then settled with an Irish woman called Kitty. He ended up in a public grave in the cemetery. You can find out more about these extraordinary individuals on the heritage trail opened by the Salford City Council & Friends of the Cemeteries. http://www.salford.gov.uk

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Professional Million Dollar Holidays Yes, there is the global downturn, but not for everybody. Luxurious and incredibly expensive hotels will always be there. Remember the last year’s $1 million package at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi? In 2009 you have also numerous possibilities how to get rid of spare thousands in cozy hotels. Check out Atlantis in Dubai, must-see suites according to Elite Traveler or even luxurious Scotland and India.


Prof essiona l : Mi l li on D oll ar Holi d ay s

Atlantis Dubai: Forget the Recession!

ly over the top. The bare facts are a little crazy in themselves. The arch-shaped behemoth rises from 46 hectares of reclaimed land and cost US$1.5 billion to construct. There are 1,500 rooms and 17 hectares of water park. The aquarium is a “marine habitat” which houses 65,000 ocean dwellers. Sure there are serious scientists and specialists employed to manage the resort’s eco-system, but in Atlantis it is more about the fantasy than the reality. The high point (literally) of the hotel’s water park is the Ziggurat which features a 27.5 meter drop down the Ziggurat before surfing through a sharkfilled lagoon – fortunately the sharks are kept on the outside of the clear tunnel the riders pass through. If it all sounds like an upmarket theme park merged with a 6-star hotel you wouldn’t be too far off the mark. Though there is enough to entertain the adults including the obligatory spa and at least four world-class restaurants and numerous other beachside cafes and bars. Remembering that this is Dubai and alcohol can only be served in a hotel’s bar don’t go wandering off down town looking for

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ubai still does offer over the top luxury. The rest of the world is worried about the effect of the economic crises on luxury hotel occupancy rates or even whether they can afford the next luxury condo on the beach. Not Dubai though – the

May, 2009

real estate bubble may have burst for the real-world Dubai – but welcome to Atlantis – fantasy land! Atlantis Hotel, Dubai is a mega-hotel. This is not a small, boutique property. This is not under-stated or quietly elegant. This is unbelievably, fantastical-

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Fabulous Opening in November 2008

The opening ceremony was grand. In fact, it was so grand that the fireworks show could have been seen from space. Having been planned for months, the ceremony was undoubtedly the highlight of all glamorous events of 2008. Hundreds of honorary guests participated in the event. Celebrities like Michael Jordan, Charlize Theron, Dame Shirley Bassey, The Duchess of York, Boris Becker or the Dubai Royal Family were present. The music production introduced a magnificent performance by Kylie Minogue as well as Nawal and the Bollywood star, Priyanka Chopra. Tourism-Review.com


Prof essiona l : Mi l li on D oll ar Holi d ay s

the local night life! In fact the Atlantis has its very own in-house nightclub including a raised catwalk around the dance floor. Atlantis doesn’t come cheap at any price. The entry level suites start from US$500, and reports are these are fairly ordinary. Instead save Atlantis for that last large splurge before the world’s economic melt down catches up with you. If you can handle the height then the pick of the place must be the Bridge Suite which costs unbelievable $25,000 per night and spans the two towers of Atlantis. The views are obviously stunning from both directions May, 2009

and as the suite consists of 3 bedrooms, 3 en-suites and a dining table which seats 15 so you can bring all your friends. If heights are not your thing go for the other extreme – Lost Chamber’s suites offer floor to ceiling views of the marine environment from both the bedroom and ensuite. The Atlantis is not only a hotel; it is another world. Those who wish to escape from reality will find this the ultimate place to go. http://luxuryproperty.com

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May, 2009

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One Event, Unlimited Destinations

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Register now at: www.arabiantravelmarket.com/register09 Arabian Travel Market Customer Service Helpline: +44 (0)208 271 2158 Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of the Government of Dubai.

Prof essiona l : Mi l li on D oll ar Holi d ay s

The leading travel exhibition for the Middle East and pan Arab region

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Prof essiona l : Mi l li on D oll ar Holi d ay s

Luxury & Golf: Where It All Began

it is unique in the Game today, and requires a calm mind, patience, and skill more than power. In its early layout, the Old Course had 12 holes, 10 of which were played both out and in, making a total of 22 holes. As play increased, the first four holes (all of which were played twice) were combined in 1764 to make two holes, leaving a total of 18 holes. Over time, this became the standard number of holes for Golf Courses all over the world. St. Andrews is also home to the prestigious University of the same name (founded in 1412AD), whose students add colour and vibrancy to the Town in term time. Aside from the Old Course, the cemetery and ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral (burial ground to 8 Open Champions) offer a short acquaintance with early Golf’s worthy figures. And there’s St. Rules Tower, the oldest surviving building in St. Andrews, for commanding views of the Town and the West Sands. St Andrews has adapted to modern needs at its own pace. In 1824, 1 Golf Place began to be used as a meeting place for Golfers, then in 1877, William Rusack built his Hotel, still in use today, and, in 1896, Hamilton Hall was built (as the Grand Hotel); sadly, it now lies vacant.

Luxurious Pastime

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trip to the UK is never complete without a visit to Scotland, the birthplace of golf. St Andrews is located on the east coast of Scotland, about an hour from Scotland’s Capital City, Edinburgh. Edinburgh has direct Flights from the major European Capitals, and, from the Eastern Seaboard of North America. For those using Private Jets, direct access to St Andrews can be had using RAF Leuchars, a NATO Base only 5 minutes from the Old Course. May, 2009

The Cradle of Golf Golf (from the Old Scots word “gowfe” meaning to hit or swipe) came to life on natural unfashioned land over 600 years ago as a pastime for locals and fishermen. It was, and remains, a sport played on links ground; the turf and whins (a thick prickly bush) linking the sea and sand, with grazing ground inland. Changing winds produce an Old Course which rarely plays the same way on two consecutive days, with wide fairways and 7 double greens,

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While Golf in Scotland has always been regarded as “the people’s game”, recognition of the need to service the luxury market was recognised in 1974, with the opening of the Old Course Hotel, and in 1997, St Andrews Bay was opened (now managed by Fairmont). Both Hotels are well worthy of their Five Star rating. They also offer activities for those who do not venture out on to the Golf Course. Already one of Europe's finest five-star resorts, the Old Course Hotel has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment, lifting it to un-


Prof essiona l : Mi l li on D oll ar Holi d ay s

precedented new heights in luxury. Situated alongside the hallowed 17th 'Road Hole' of the legendary Old Course, the hotel offers a warm welcome in the finest tradition of Scottish hospitality and a unique choice of restaurants and bars. A completely new concept for the UK, the 'Kohler Waters Spa' opened recently with eleven treatment rooms and the wonderfully innovative thermal suite featuring hydrotherapy pool, plunge pool, Japanese salt steam room and a light therapy sauna. These final touches come together with the indoor pool featuring a spectacular waterfall, fitness suite, exercise studio, crystal steam room and nail studio to provide one of Europe's most stunning spas. An enticing choice of dining experiences are available; fine dining in the Road Hole Grill, Italian influenced cuisine in the relaxed atmosphere of Sands Bar & Restaurant, a Scottish-American menu at Duke's Clubhouse and the Jigger Inn, a popular

May, 2009

golfing pub serving real ale and good wholesome food. Sitting on the summit of a spectacular cliff top, Fairmont St Andrews and its two stunning golf courses have breathtaking panoramic views of St Andrews Bay and the Firth of Tay and the medieval skyline of St Andrews. It is one of the premier conference and leisure destinations in Scotland. From the pristine fairways of the Golf Courses (the Torrance and the Kittocks) to the Grand Ballroom or the Conference facilities it is a philosophy that pervades every corner of its 520 acres. The driveway to the Hotel’s entrance canopy runs through the Golf Courses, looks out to sea and certainly creates a sense of arrival. Valet parking takes care of the car and helpful concierges are always on hand. Step indoors to a flickering fire in an impressively wide, castle-style hearth. Above the mantle-piece is a regal portrait of James VI, the Scots King who later became the first King of Great Britain. Externally, the Hotel has the profile of a French château; indoors it is largely modern with some 21st century touches. Stroll past the handsome entrance and past the inviting and stylish, Kittock’s Den Bar and, the mezzanine level the stylish Esperante Restaurant awaits. Look out over an open-plan, double-height foyer with seating and dining areas including The Sports Bar, and survey the views across the Firth of Tay. On the lower level you can find the newly refurbished and extensive Spa and access to the Conference and Meeting Suites.

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Beautiful Scenery Scotland offers much by way of grand scenery, beautiful Lochs and Mountains and some unique sights such as the Castles at Edinburgh and Stirling, the Wallace Monument, and Palaces at Holyrood (Edinburgh), Scone and Glamis (both Perth) and Inverlochy (Fort William), not to mention the Queen’s former Yacht RMS Britannia (berthed in Edinburgh). The Edinburgh International Arts Festival (one of the largest in the World) takes place in August, with one of its highlights being the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, hosted on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. Photos used with the kind permission of St Andrews Golf Tours and the Old Course Hotel By John White http://www.standrews-golftours.com


Prof essiona l : Mi l li on D oll ar Holi d ay s

Elite Traveler: 101 Top Hotel/Resort Suites

‘Elite Traveler’ is a magazine for precisely those described in the title. As the editor states in the magazine, the readers do not see money as an issue worth worrying about at all. Instead, their aims involve prestige and experiencing the best. In an age where budget airlines are the most popular and competition amongst travel organisations is huge in terms of offering the best price, it is worthy of interest to take a look at the elite layer of the worldwide tourism industry for a short while. Last year the magazine came up with the world’s most expensive hotels, in its study of the 101 most interesting May, 2009

resorts. Naturally, price served only as an incentive rather than a minus point. Despite the current trend toward 'staycations' for much of the population, the Super-Rich continue to traverse the globe on private jets, experiencing the best the world has to offer in terms of hotel and resort accommodations, shopping, and living the private jet lifestyle. Elite Traveler readers average 41 trips per year, including 10 intercontinental trips. The world’s most expensive hotel is the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva in Switzerland, where one of the luxury suites will set you back $52,000 per night. The Geneva luxury is closely followed by the Grand Resort Lagonissi in Attica, Greece which charges an average of $50,000 per night. The bronze medalist for having the highest price is some way behind, in France at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome charging a mere $21,000 per night. In the USA, the most expensive hotel is the Ty Warner Penthouse Four Seasons Hotel in New York, which sets visitors back $30,000 per night. In Asia, the two most expensive hotels are to be found in Delhi, India. In a land tortured by disease and poverty, it is possible to find accommodation for $5,000 per day in the capital. The next most expensive accommodation available in Asia is to be found in Malaysia. The magazine ‘Elite Traveler’ strives to visit and review these luxurious locations for the benefit of readers who see spending huge amounts of money on hotels to be a positive aspect of holiday time.

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"We keep track of all luxury properties that are opening and renovating and visit them throughout the year," says Editorial Director Laura Hughes. "Our readers spend more than $400,000 per year at hotels and resorts, so price isn't an issue to them  – we just want to alert them to the most unique design styles, best services, and new amenities in the most amazing locations, whatever the price." "101 Top Suites" was compiled by the editors of Elite Traveler and a panel of celebrity readers including Barry Manilow, Lindsay Davenport, Sean Combs, and Kelly Ripa. http://www.tourism-review.com http://www.hotel-online.com


Prof essiona l : Mi l li on D oll ar Holi d ay s

India: Grand and Fabulous

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ndia is fast becoming the top tourist, shopping and even a medical / surgical destination offering a unique blend of colonial and modern experiences, from the Royal Palaces to the luxurious hotels and some amazing sights. Your India sojourn can include the following cities: Mumbai – stay at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower renowned the world over as one of the legendary hotels of the Orient. Situated on the waterfront, its stunning edifice, built at the turn of the century, evokes an old charm that cannot be duplicated. Visit Prince of Wales Museum and Hanging Gardens. From Gateway of India sail to Elephanta islands, you visit the unique cave temple with three faced Shiva Sculpture.

May, 2009

Udaipur – The Oberoi Udai Vilas, conceived as a traditional Indian palace, showcases the rich heritage of Mewar region of Rajasthan. Take an enchanting boat ride across Lake Pichola. Visit the picturesque City Palace and enjoy the Lake Palace Hotel, “Octyopussy James Bond Fame”. Visit Devi Garh palace in the village of Delwara where Elizabeth Hurley got married. The fort was constructed in the 1760s under Raghudev Singh II. The rulers followed Raghudev Sigh further added new structures to the fort palace. Jodhpur – Stay at the golden-yellow sandstone Umaid Bhawan Palace perched high above the desert capital of Jodpur conceived on the grandest possible scale in the fashionable Art Deco style of that time. Visit Mehrangarh Fort in the ancient town of Thar Desert, oasis with 16 Brahamani and Jain temples. Jaipur (Pink City) – Come stay as a royal in luxury and extravagance at The Rambagh Palace. It evokes images of erstwhile royalty. Known as the “Jewel of Jaipur”, it remained the home of the Jaipur royal family until 1957. Excursions to Amber Fort and Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar, an observatory. Samode – Samode Palace, a fairy tale palace and villages, is one of India's most charming and romantic hotels. It offers a quiet, elegant and luxurious atmosphere.

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Ranthambore National Park – Stay nestled in the natural beauty of the wilds at the Oberoi Vanyavilas. The perfect base from which to explore the territory of the majestic tiger. Agra – Enjoy the luxury of your own private view of the greatest monument to Love, the Taj Mahal. The Oberoi Amar Vilas offers a breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal. The resort takes you back to an era of Emperors and Princes. New Delhi (India’s bustling Capitol) – Reckoned amongst Asia’s finest hotels, The Imperial is a legend that offers a unique experience embracing facets of India’s history. Visit the Lotus Temple this distinctive lotus shaped marvel in marble is a peace symbol, an evening light and sound show at Red Fort, Swaminarayan Akshardham, epitomizes 10,000 years of India culture in all its breathtaking grandeur. By Pinnacle Luxury Tours (Company specializing in tailor-made (group & private) luxury tours to India) http://www.pinnacleluxurytours.com


Active/Adventure Getting Naked on the Way Warning: unclad people on display here! Nudism or naturism (or even FKK in German) is growing in popularity especially in some region. Read about the famous Haulover Beach in Florida, nude Greece as well as about the troubles Swiss villagers experience with hikers “au naturel�.


Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way

Naturism All around the World

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rowing from a health and fitness movement in the early part of the 20th century, naturism, or nudism as it is called in some parts of the world, has grown to become a worldwide movement of like-minded people who find a lifestyle without clothing a benefit to mind and body alike. The International Naturist Federation (INF-FNI), which co-ordinates a group of some 30 national federations, has now over 2.5 million card carrying May, 2009

members. However, added to that is the greater number of people who for reasons of climate or work commitments can only enjoy the naturist lifestyle for their holiday period and that figure then grows to over 10 million people who would consider themselves frequent naturists. For the vast majority of these the idea of a holiday confined to the itchy prison of a bathing suit would be unthinkable and as a result there has been a growing trend of holiday locations setting up areas

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or centres to cater for such guests. Feedback from such centres shows that the naturist holidaymaker is a group apart, considerate of their fellow guests, careful in the use of the accommodation and extremely aware of the environmental issues surrounding tourism. Often the comment from a hotel or holiday resort offering their first naturist friendly session is that “they are the nicest and friendliest people we have ever met” and bookings of further sessions are renewed quickly. Leading destinations in Europe include Spain, France and Croatia, countries with a warm climate, attracting those who live in the more intemperate parts. Spain has developed recently with its liberal law on nudity and now boasts 500 beaches and 40 private centres catering for naturist guests. In the area of Vera Playa in Almería, for example, there are in excess of 10,000 beds in fully naturist accommodations France has established a naturist tradition over many years with clubs and centres now on the coasts, and in mountains and today there are few major towns in France which do not have one or more naturist centres. These vary from the traditional where tranquility is the rule to vast townships offering every amenity. Croatia has also established itself as a firm favourite and on its coast from Savudrija to Dubrovnik you can find centres and beaches set aside for the naturist visitor. Further afield there is a growing interest in such locations as Australia and New Zealand, offering both centres and an increasing network of homesteads which offer family style accommodation to the naturist or equally the Caribbean


Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way

where a number of centres have become established and popular. In the United States naturism arrived in the 1900s and the American Sunbathing Association, now known as the American Association for Nude Recreation was formed as early as 1931. According to the Roper Organization, some 40 million Ameri-

May, 2009

cans have skinny-dipped in mixed company. Today the AANR represents over 260 clubs, resorts and linked organizations in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. In fact to meet the growing demand over 30 new centres have formed during the past few years and clothes-free or clothing optional cruises have increased from one in 1992 to over seven cruises in 2005. It is estimated that nude recreation is a $440 million industry in the States annually. It remains a proud boast that membership of the AANR in the States or indeed any national federation of the INF can be purchased for less than the cost of a bathing suit. While naturist tourism started out as mainly a camping location, the pressures of modern living mean that more and more guests seek a comfortable location with proper facilities and for these they are willing to pay. Just this past year, the 31st Naturist World Congress was convened outside the United States and Europe and was held in Brazil at the Tambaba beach area, for the first time. This was a major event in South America jointly sponsored by the Brazilian government to promote this new tourist location. This demonstrates that, far from being the pastime of a few, naturism is moving into the mainstream of the tourist world and governments, in developing areas, are very aware of this and of the income which this green tourism can bring. Entry to a naturist location is easiest and often discounted if the visitor holds an International Naturist Federation card which can be obtained from any national federation or direct from the INF-FNI

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itself. The website www.inf-fni.org also lists a database of holiday locations world- wide to guide potential visitors to enter the world of the naturist. Photo: AANR, TR archive By George Volak http://www.inf-fni.org


Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way

Florida’s Haulover Beach: A Touch of the Riviera in America

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quiz: the Netherlands (41,543 km2) has 160 of them, while the state of Florida (151,670 km2) in the USA has only one. What could that be? The answer isn’t windmills or tulip farms; it’s designated clothing-optional beaches, where you can swim or sunbathe au naturel. (At least officially and May, 2009

publicly: Florida has a few remote, unsanctioned beaches naturists use, and dozens of private nudist resorts.) It may seem odd to most Europeans that in the “Sunshine State” of the “Land of the Free” that “skinny-dipping” – the American term for swim-

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ming in your own skin – is so limited. Really odd, since so many prominent Americans of the past indulged in nudism: founding fathers (Benjamin Franklin), U.S. Presidents (J. Q. Adams and Theodore Roosevelt), and cultural icons (Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman). As Whitman said, “There comes moods when clothes of ours are not only too irksome to wear, but are themselves indecent.” And what an affront to Nature and to Nature’s God! But there’s one place in Florida where naturists have openly declared their independence. The designated clothing-optional or naturist area of Haulover Beach Park is a 0.65 kilometer stretch of beautiful Atlantic shoreline where your bare skin is the most fashionable thing to wear, and where no one will question your choice. It’s visited by thousands each day, a mix of local residents and tourists; many tourists are here in South Florida largely because of this beach, and would otherwise be vacationing elsewhere in the Caribbean, or the Greek islands, or on the French Riviera. Unlike as at many unsanctioned nude beaches in America, you don’t have to park and hike 3 kilometers, or rappel down a three hundred meter cliff to get to the beach. This naturist beach is only a few hundred meters from convenient parking. (Use of the beach is free; parking costs $5 per car.) Nor do you need to keep your clothes handy to dress temporarily in case park rangers or law officers appear; when the police drive by at Haulover, just wave and smile, and they’ll smile back at you.


Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way

The clothing-optional area at Haulover was established in 1991 by South Florida Free Beaches, a local naturist group affiliated with America’s national Naturist Society (www.naturistsociety.com). It took a few years for local government and community leaders to realize the naturist beach was not a threat to public order and morality, but a provision beneficial to the community and accepted by a majority of citizens. Former Sunny Isles Beach Mayor David Samson in fact noted in 2002 that “the presence of naturist families significantly cleaned up and improved the area.” Within fifteen years, May, 2009

Haulover Beach usage quadrupled, with significant benefits to the local economy. Today at Haulover’s naturist beach area you’ll find a concession offering food and beach chair and umbrella rentals. There are lifeguards and fresh water showers. The naturist organization B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation offers fresh fruit, ice cream, and naturist literature and souvenirs during the weekend, and periodic beach festivals during the year. The water’s a warm 30°C (86°F) in the summer, seldom dipping below 21°C (70°F) even

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in the coolest months. Haulover is a few miles north of Miami Beach’s South Beach, famous for its nightlife and laid-back tropical atmosphere. Cosmopolitan Miami Beach allows women to sunbathe top-free, but for total freedom Haulover Beach is the place to be. America’s a strange place. You can steal millions from investors and wind up with a slap on the wrist, or (maybe) a brief vacation at a “country-club” prison, but take off your clothes to go swimming? Is this small beach in South Florida the only area of sanity and reason left in America? Information on Haulover’s naturist beach is available on the web sites of South Florida Free Beaches at www.sffb.com and of Beach Education Advocates for Culture, Health, Environment and Safety (B.E.A.C.H.E.S.) Foundation Institute at www.beachesfoundation.org. Photo: SFFB (David Baum, Grey Vanaman), TR archive By Michael Kush


Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way

NUDE HIKERS CAUSE A STIR IN THE SWISS ALPS

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any people tend to make the connection between public nudity and the nudist beach. This is understandable, yet the beach is not the only place where one can find nudists. Indeed, there has been quite a stir in the Swiss Alps recently ever since the Swiss police caught a nude hiker last autumn in the small canton of Appenzell. The immediate reaction, in accordance with the conservative attitudes of many Alpine village areas, was to take action against this person, until the police realised that there was absolutely nothing they could do. There is no law in Switzerland, which states that public nudity is not allowed as long as it is not of a sexual nature. However, let’s not forget that women were allowed the vote only in 1990 in this part of the world and Swiss villages are known for their conservative attitudes. Furthermore, Switzerland is not a large country. For example, it is possible to hike for weeks in Canada without meeting another human being. This is not the case in central Europe. Groups of nudists are certain to meet other people on their trips. It is unavoidable. It seems that the famous

i

F ly Naked in G ermany ?

FKK (Freikörperkultur – Free Body Culture) has a very long tradition in Germany. There are many nude clubs, societies and groups for singles, couples and even families with children. Especially in the pre-1989 era of split Germany, naked bathing and sunbathing belonged to popular leisure activities and the freedom of nakedness at least partially substituted for the lack of political, social and personal freedom. There were even plans for a “nude airline” to the FKK-Mecca, the island of Usedom, yet there were (of course) objections and so the experiment had to be given up. The official reason was “moral doubts”.

May, 2009

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Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way notion of Swiss secrecy applies only to banking and not the body. The hikers themselves claim that being nude in the Alps is the only way to enjoy the famous mountain range. Wearing just hiking boots and backpacks is for them apparently the most natural way to indulge in some of Europe’s most beautiful places. As long as no law is put in place, they will continue to hike in the nude, even in winter. Despite the local government efforts it seems that Appenzell, the second smallest of Switzerland's 26 cantons, is becoming a nude-hiking mecca. To oppose this trend the local government drafted a new law against public nudity that would give the police power to fine unclad hikers $160. The proposal will be voted at the end of April when all eligible citizens will express their opinion on naked visitors in their picturesque canton. The authorities want to act quickly, before the hiking season begins to avoid the last year’s influx of nude hikers. http://www.tourism-review.com

May, 2009

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Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way

Where to Go for Nude Holiday? Greece!

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aturist vacations, while once seen as a narrow travel niche for the over 50’s, has now grown into a $400 million dollar industry with a new trend of young professionals now taking part and enjoying this ever growing market. Naturist options run from rustic camping retreats to upscale resorts offering the very best in fine dining, spa services and guest accommodation. Most resorts are family friendly, some offering specialised kids programs. You’ll also find naturist cruises, spas, and special events. The International Naturist Federation, which represents millions of naturists around the world, describes naturism (or nudism) as: "A way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment." Naturism as a pastime is thought to be both beneficial for health and wellbeing. Naturism is recreating in the nude, i.e. swimming, sunbathing, exercising or whatever people wish to do. Naturism does not include sexual activities; this is then labelled hedonism and is not part of a standard naturist lifestyle. Naturist resorts have been in existence as far back as 1891 and were started in British India. Now there are resorts and clubs all over the world with the largest numbers distributed throughout France, Spain and Croatia. France has innumerable naturist camping resorts, the largest being the ‘city’ of Cap D’Agde

May, 2009

in the south of France thought to hold over 3000 visitors staying in a wide range of accommodation from camping and static homes to hotels rooms and bungalows. France is a favourite for family naturists with a range of large well equipped resorts offering activities for the whole family. Euronat and La Jenny being two popular choices with families. Spain is also prevalent with naturist resorts along its southern coast, but it’s the Spanish Canary Is-

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lands that are often the most popular tourist destination due to their yearlong seasons and miles of sand dune beaches. Magnolias Natura was instantly popular because it was challenging the norm of very large resorts in France and Spain by offering a smaller more friendly location. This resort has a large number of returning guests year on year and is difficult to book at certain times of the year. This show a lack of options for the natur-


Ac ti v e / A dv ent u re : G e tting Nake d on the Way ists and when they find a good resort they tend to return. Greece with its wide range of beautiful islands is one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations, yet the Greeks are somewhat behind when it comes to offering this growing tourist market the opportunity to participate in naturist holidays. Vritromartis on the Greek island of Crete was opened in 1985 by a very forward thinking Greek. It is a beautiful resort with 85 rooms and apartments which are operated on a half board basis and is the key to offering naturists another country to holiday in. One of the newest resorts is Vassaliki Naturist Club which was opened by a young British couple on the Greek island of Kefalonia in 2007. With only 12 apartments, this allows the focus to be on quality and service. By also offering a number of activities such as boat trips and group meals, they have found that by their third year, one third of their bookings are by repeat guests. Opening of this resort and the countless number of stunning and unoccupied beaches that can be found on any Greek island, have helped to make Greece the fourth best naturist destination in Europe, below France, Spain and Croatia. Plus Greece is believed to be one of the countries to have the most potential for growing its naturist market in the future. With this in mind both Vritromartis and Vassaliki have plans to open new resorts in the near future. The luxury market for naturism has to be in the Caribbean and Mexico. Club Orient on the Caribbean island of St Martin offers guests some of the best quality accommodation and luxury service. A room can cost from €135 to €800 per night and vary

May, 2009

from wooden studios sleeping 3 near the beach to a 3 bedroom luxury garden villa which sleeps seven. Mexico has one of the best adult only all inclusive resorts. 18 of the 42 rooms offer oceanfront swim up suites and food is available from 6am to 10pm from the restaurant with drinks on offer at the swim up bar. With society becoming more open to nudity and the naked body, Naturism is on the up. From the old nudist colonies we now have a

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new and exciting future with the standard of resorts improving all the time and new resorts on the horizon. It won’t be long before this once niche holiday will be on sale at all good travel agents! By Mark and Samantha Taylor (Vigla Natura Ltd @ Vassaliki Naturist Club) http://www.viglanatura.com/


Ethical/Religious Ecotourist? Welcome to the Club Being eco and green might already seem a complete clichĂŠ for some as this color appears to flood all news about tourism. Yet, there is a point in it so get familiar with some intriguing ecotourism projects like ecoDestinations, read about Ecuadorian agrotourism or Belize that is soon to be hosting a Responsible Tourism Conference. What more, did you know that green tourism actually help to fight the recession?


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

Belize: Pushing Responsible Tourism Forward

Image Copyright 2009 – Tony Rath-tonyrath.com

As

Belize passes me by through the window of an old yellow school bus, it is apparent that this is the tropical paradise I have been searching for; palm trees line the side of the dusty road and the heat of the sun sends me into a peaceful sleep as we head to the clear waters of the Caribbean. May, 2009

Belize borders Guatemala to the West and Mexico to the North. It also lies on the Caribbean Sea with the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretching into its territory. Its population is around 320,000 and is a multicultural society consisting of Creoles, Garifuna, Mestizos, Maya,

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Mennonite, Anglo-European, Middle Eastern and Asian. Belize is varied in its natural landscape, with terrain changing from mountains and jungle to the vibrant coral reef. Certain areas in land and in the sea have been made into National Parks to preserve the environment and its inhabitants as different effects have an impact, and with its National Parks and cultural influences Belize has a growing tourist industry. This has brought a lot of money into the country proving great for the economy, but as the demand for more tourist facilities and second homes increase there are concerns over the negative consequences. Responsible tourism has become an important topic throughout the world, but Belize is pushing the issue to the forefront, and as the country prepares to host the third International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations in May this year, its commitment to this will be highlighted. The conference will be hosted by the ICRT-Belize, Ministry of Tourism, Belize Tourist Board and various stakeholders. In April 2008 the International Centre for Responsible Tourism-Belize was founded, as the sister organisation of the ICRT-UK. Originally founded by Harold Goodwin at Leeds Metropolitan University the ICRT network works in “developing and promoting the concept of Responsible Tourism”, through advocacy, education, training, research and consultancy. There are other centres which include Canada, Germany, India, South Africa and West Africa.


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

Image Copyright 2009 – Juan-Carlos Cuellar-tonyrath.com

The ICRT-Belize works to promote responsible tourism and oversee that tour operators make this a priority and its development in the Caribbean and Central America. They are in partnership with various charities and organisations to improve Belize and keep its culture and country intact. These include The Belize Hotel Association (BHA), the Belize Tourism Industry Association and the National Institute of culture and history. The BHA manages The Green Hotels Initiative, which through training, evaluation, assessment and marketing of hotels, restaurants, tour operators and auxiliary businesses can implement greener management practices, May, 2009

which can reduce costs and improve the company’s social benefits. This year the government of Belize has committed to a four-year, $13.5-million plan to promote and practice responsible tourism development in the country. This will outline the infrastructure of long-term projects that focus on the preservation of Belize’s natural resources and developments in San Ignacio in the Cayo District, Placencia in the Stann Creek District, San Pedro on Ambergris Caye and Belize City. The Belize Tourism Board is also working to implement initiatives for responsible tourism. The Toucan Trail is a group of over 100 small hotels

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that emphasize responsible tourism that benefits the local communities as well as the visitors. The hotels are required to meet a specific criteria set by the Belize Tourism Board and sign a pledge of good business practice in order to be a part of the Toucan Trail and receive support and assistance to improve their hotel. The Belize Tourism Board is a statutory body within the Ministry of Tourism that represents a strategic partnership between government and the private sector to “develop, market, and implement tourism programs that will fulfill the emerging needs of our local industries and the international tourism marketplace for the benefit of Belize and Belizeans.” By Rosie Davis (Writer for Responsible Travel News) Rosie live and works in Brighton and writes for www.responsibletravelnews.com Responsible Travel News was created as place where all of us involved in tourism, whether industry, media or education, who care passionately about travel, conservation and sustainable development can come together to ask questions and get answers, have a rant or rave, and make contact with others in the industry who may have valuable experiences to share. Photos: Belize Tourist Board http://www.responsibletravel.com


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

ecoDestinations: Travel the World & Help Protect Amazing Destinations At the core of this new project is TIES’ belief that when executed mindfully, and with the minimum impact, travel can inspire cultural awareness, tolerance, and commitment to environmental responsibility, and encourage people to live more joyful, meaningful lives. TIES encourages conscious travelers to travel more, and gain extraordinary experiences that will inspire them – and people around them – to help save the natural and cultural heritage of our beautiful planet. Each month, TIES features a new destination, highlighting a handful of the most stellar examples of ecotourism businesses and initiatives, through TIES website and online charity auction. Supporting TIES’ efforts to educate consumers and industry, ecoDestinations also serves as an interactive online platform providing up-to-date information on ecotourism development, destination management, environmental issues and community needs.

Opportunities for Travelers:

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aunched in February 2009, ecoDestinations is The International Ecotourism Society’s (TIES) new approach to promoting ecotourism as an effective tool for bio-cultural conservation and sustainable community development.

May, 2009

With the vision of creating “a world in which all tourism is ecotourism,” ecoDestinations is a travel auction with a vision, connecting travelers with inspiring ecotourism initiatives from around the world.

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ecoDestinations provides unique opportunities for travelers to browse through exclusive selections of sustainable travel packages, and purchase exemplary ecotourism trips, with the peace of mind that the money is being invested in a travel experience that positively impacts the destination and its people.


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club Each month, TIES also offers neatly packaged (with minimum carbon footprint!) information about the featured destination, put together by TIES expert team in collaboration with local partners. By being active members of TIES online ecoDestinations community, travelers can learn about the latest best practice examples, new ecotourism initiatives, and ways to be the change and help protect extraordinary travel experiences for generations to come.

Opportunities for Local Community Initiatives:

Opportunities for Businesses:

"5% for COMMUNITIES"–As part of TIES’ commitment to supporting visionary grass-roots efforts and investing in a sustainable future, each month TIES contributes 5% of the funds raised through ecoDestinations to one organization selected from the featured destination. February 2009 (Costa Rica): Yorkin Community, supporting rural community tourism March 2009 (UK): Mosaic, sharing the benefits of national parks with minority groups ecoDestinations support fundraising efforts to sustain TIES programs. Uniting communities, conservation and sustainable travel, TIES promotes responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. TIES’ ambitions through ecoDestinations are: • Inspiring everyone to make the travel choice that makes a difference every time. • Uniting communities, conservation, and extraordinary travel experiences. • Promoting ecotourism as a force to positively transform the way the world travels.

Participating ecolodges and sustainable tourism operators benefit from one continuous month of promotion from the universally trusted source on ecotourism, and increased visibility through the cMarket site, a charitable auction community with over 87,000 active bidders. Providing a unique marketing platform, ecoDestinations is a perfect way for businesses committed

By The International Ecotourism Society (Ecotourism businesses, as well as DMO’s, tourism offices and CBV’s interested in participating in ecoDestinations are encouraged to contact TIES at: ecoDestinations@ecotourism.org.) http://www.ecotourism.org

Opportunities for Destinations: An innovative interactive online community platform, ecoDestinations provides the featured destination with the prime opportunity to showcase ecotourism initiatives, and to support and strengthen the networks of individuals and organizations dedicated to ecotourism within the destination. The featured destination will be, for an entire month, in the global spotlight through TIES highly visible website and newsletters. TIES takes a systematic approach to selecting featured destinations, and remains open to new possibilities and approaches for the selection of future destinations. TIES members and partners are encouraged to play an active role in promoting their destinations through ecoDestinations. In the coming months, TIES plans to feature the following destinations: Western US, Brazil, India, Mexico and Japan.

May, 2009

to the principles of ecotourism to showcase their initiatives raising the bar of what it means to be stewards ensuring a sustainable future of the tourism industry.

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E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

Greenbox: How Green Can Ireland Get? A

country already famous around the world for being green has taken another step forward towards becoming even greener.

What is the Greenbox? The Greenbox (An tEispéiras Glas ) is Ireland’s first ecotourism destination. A cross-border initiative located in the North-Western part of the Island. It comprises Counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, West Cavan, North Sligo, South Donegal and North West Monaghan. The membership based organisation is at the forefront of developing the Eco tourism product for Ireland.

Who makes up this new Eco Tourism Project? Its 120 active business members most of whom were already involved in the tourism industry have embraced genuine ecotourism standards. They have embarked upon a programme that has included professional and academic training

i

W hat is E c otou rism ?

Ecotourism is travel which is small scale, low impact, culturally sensitive, community orientated, primarily nature based, educational and capable of broadening peoples minds and enlivening their souls by providing a unique experience, firmly grounded in sustainable principles and practices.

May, 2009

through two local colleges, got over 40 accommodation providers approved for the EU Flower, is currently delivering EU Flower training for Hotels in the Republic of Ireland for Failte Ireland and finally created its own Eco label for Activity based tourism.

Why is this significant? The Greenbox as well as being a first in itself has established or co-facilitated many other firsts for Ireland: The first EU Flower (A Europe wide standard for Eco accommodation) The first National Certificated Eco Tourism Courses The First Eco Standards for Activity based tourism The first training programme for hotel EU Flower standards The first delivery of capital grant to upgrade existing properties to Eco standards and develop new Eco Designed projects as Flag Ship projects. One must remember that the Greenbox operates in a remote, rural, depopulated part of Ireland with until recently poor internet access, considerable geographic distances from major airports and has only just emerged from a prolonged period of political conflict. Its no wonder the area previously only received a tiny fraction of tourism business for Ireland North and South.

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Why is the Greenbox significant to small scale tourism operators? One such small business, Orchard Acre Farm, which operates in North West Fermanagh, was a recipient of Greenbox capital funding. The Greenbox provided funding, training and the all important networking. This has enabled the new eco tourism business Orchard Acre Barn to get off the ground and successfully operate year round eco based activities. Although a small scale Eco tourism business, it has none the less created employment for 1 full


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

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E U F l ower E c o - l abe l

The European Flower Eco-Label for tourist accommodation service was created in 1993 to reward accommodation services who respect the environment. It signals good environmental performance and gives an assurance of added quality for consumers choosing accommodation. To achieve the label, the tourist accommodation must satisfy certain standards. For example, at least 22% of the accommodations electricity must come from a renewable energy resource if available, the accommodation must separate and recycle waste produced on the premises and steps must be taken to ensure that the water flow from taps and showers has been reduced where necessary.

time and 1 part time position and drawn down £200,000 pound sterling into the local economy. This is significant especially in the current economic climate.

the owner herself added a further accolade to the Eco Tourism business when she received the NI Inspirational Business Woman’s Award from the NI Business Women’s Network.

Are the efforts by Greenbox members recognised beyond the Greenbox region?

Not enough to receive awards

In recent times the project has been recognised for its eco design when the owner Teresa O’Hare received Eco Awards for the Barn’s Eco design. The award came from The Royal Town Planning Institute for Ireland and RSPB (part of Birdlife International) for the best Northern Ireland Sustainable Building in February 2009. This was on the back of the Green Building Award for Ireland presented earlier in December 2008. At the beginning of April

May, 2009

Whilst these awards are indeed just recognition of the Greenbox initiative in Ireland, they will not be enough to put Eco Tourism in Ireland on the global map. The Greenbox is seen as a model of best practice and now other areas of Ireland aspire to developing the Eco Tourism model. To succeed the Eco tourism industry in Ireland will require the full support of mainstream tourism bodies North and South to promote what will become another part of the suite of “tourism products” on offer from Ireland.

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A final word from a small scale eco tourism operator in the Greenbox Ireland Only Eco Tourism destination: “My eco tourism business is just that  – a business. That said I don’t conduct my business as if I am offering “a product”. I work and live to a set of high environment standards. I embrace a way of life which is culturally rich and sensitive to the needs of my local community and local environment. I know I am not on my own when I say that the members of Greenbox Ireland, are clear we do not want to exploit our Eco tourism product, we only want to share it. By Teresa O’Hare (Eco Tourism operator) http://www.OrchardAcreFarm.com http://www.greenbox.ie/


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

Agrotourism – An Alternative for Development T

his tourism branch provides knowledge about the rural culture and offers at the same time entertainment for a society that is evermore disconnected from tradition. Agrotourism was born as a means to provide an alternative income basis for farmers. What makes agrotourism so special is the possibility to spend time in the house of farmers, who may focus on stock breeding, agriculture or forestry. Additionally, it serves as a tool to boost the economy in areas, which are run-down because of receptive operations and the incursion of the rural population into the direct commercialization of their agricultural and handcrafted goods. Agrotourism encourages the integration of the rural family and protects/preserves its traditions with the purpose to show/display it to the visitors. This variety of tourism is more selective due to the fact that the homes of the host families only have a limited capacity. However, in return the tourists have the possibility to enjoy a quite and relaxed time with familiar attention and direct contact to the rural and natural world. The rural communities and its organizations appreciate agrotourism as an important economic alternative. It generates new employment opportunities to attend an increasing tourism market consisting of families with children, individual backpackers, couples or groups of friends. Agrotourism represents an activity, which has the potential to support the development of Ecuador,

May, 2009

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E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

in particular on account of the great response from banana, cacao and coffee plantations in the Coast and from farms in the mountains (“sierra”), which cultivate wheat, tuber vegetables and above of all flowers. Therefore, a noticeable number of farmhouses are improving their facilities and services for accommodation and food. Simultaneously, they promote the restoration of their architectural and cultural heritage. One of the most impressive examples of agrotourism in Ecuador is the Rio Muchacho Farm, situated

May, 2009

35 kilometers north of Bahía de Caráquez, canton San Vicente (Manabí). This initiative offers experiences, which include harvesting vegetables in the gardens, grinding cacao beans to make chocolate and feeding the animals. Moreover, Rio Muchacho is the first farm on the coast, which is certified for implementing sustainable standards, especially in the production of food without chemicals. Rio Muchacho started off as common farm for livestock breeding until it decided in 1989 to dedicate itself strictly to sustainable practices regarding

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environmental regeneration, reforestation, sound agriculture and agrotourism. To achieve this goal it integrated the neighboring communities. Ethnical tourism is a concept deeply rooted in this operation. Tourists are attracted by four significant elements: ecology, cultura montubia, adventure and environmental management. Other programs, which they promote on this farm, are Spanish lessons for foreigners and voluntary work in rural communities as well as tours around the farm to teach the tourists the planting process. All that is left to point out is that all those actions in agrotourism should include professionals for rural development and tourism to guarantee a cautious and respectful way in developing this type of service. By: Carmen Cabrera (Ecuadorian Ecotourism Association) http://www.ecoturismo.org.ec


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

Credit Crunch and Green Tourism

The

deepening recession looks set to make Britain more environmentally friendly, maintain experts. Academics studying the impact of the global financial crisis on company practices claim that far

May, 2009

from ending the green dream it will inject a new wave of enthusiasm for saving money which could actually help save the planet. ”Skeptics who suggest that the recession will put an end to enthusiasm among consumers and companies

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for the environment are guilty of muddled thinking,” said Professor Ken Peattie of Cardiff University. “It assumes that being ‘green’ is more expensive, whereas in many cases it involves using fewer resources, using them more efficiently and avoiding waste – all things which save money,” said the Professor who is Director of the Centre for Business Relationships Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS). “The premise that firms will give up environmental policies also ignores the opportunities that developing cleaner technologies and products can provide for investment and employment.” ”President Obama’s election campaign included a pledge to invest $150 billion in clean energy projects, creating 5 million ‘green collar’ jobs. It was unsustainable lending to support unsustainable levels of consumption that got us into the credit crunch mess in the first place. If we just scramble to get back to the same economic activity we had before then all we will do is line ourselves up for another disaster when oil supplies decline and climate disruption impacts on business activity.” A climate change report from Sir Nicholas Stern, current economic advisor to the Government, highlighted that its impacts threaten to shrink the global economy by 20 per cent. The Green Tourism Business Scheme, Britain’s leading independently verified accreditation body, has seen membership numbers soar in recent months. ”We’ve seen a huge increase in enquiries from businesses looking for help to cut their operational costs,” said Andrea Nicholas, Director of the GTBS which has more than 2,000 members across the UK. ”Despite the credit crunch we are still seeing an increase in membership and no evidence of a slow down.” The Green Tourism Business Scheme, which is now operational in all regions of England and


E thic a l / R e l igiou s : E cotour i st? Wel come to the Club

Scotland, ensures members have to meet rigorous minimal standards from over 150 measures of best practice before being awarded a bronze, silver or gold award. The measures include a range of actions from efficient lighting and heating, to nature conservation, renewable energy, use of local produce and community involvement. Far from loosing money studies by Leeds Metropolitan University into green hotels and B&Bs in the UK have shown that they enjoy repeat custom from between 40 and 50 per cent of their visitors, May, 2009

far higher than enjoyed by regular accommodation providers. “There is no danger of the credit crunch spelling the end of the green dream because a lot of the green movement actually leads to eco-savings. If anything the culture will move towards making more efficient use of resources, in terms of water, waste and energy, which will make the eco-movement stronger than ever,” said Dr Xavier Font, Director of Studies at the International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University.

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“A lot of research has shown that businesses can get the same profit by increasing customers by 5 per cent or by reducing operating costs by 10 per cent. Hotels can reduce water and energy costs by up to 30 per cent with some minimal changes. The Ramada Jarvis chain of hotels put in an environmental management plan and they saw their utility bills go down from £5m to £4m a year. A million pound saving is surely reason enough to do it.” http://www.green-business.co.uk


De st i nat ion Wild Kenya

Vast lands, fascinating wildlife, remarkable culture – all of it is Kenya. But not only. Read about the latest developments in tourism facing not only the economic downturn but also the effects of the last year’s political turmoil. Get to know the safari capital of Africa or a slice of the Kenyan wild and wonderful national parks. By the way have you ever thought about this East African country as a medical tourism destination?


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Kenya: Tourism Proves Resilient in Times of Trouble

M

arketers of Kenya's tourism have their work cut out for them in 2009; last year the sector witnessed its worst performance in four years following the post-election violence that scared off visitors, causing the once-thriving industry to fall on May, 2009

hard times. The industry is bouncing back, with the country slowly managing to rehabilitate its image as a travel destination. But now it's a double whammy with the bearish run expected to continue on the effects of the global financial crisis.

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The Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) estimates for tourist arrivals between January and October 2008 dropped by 34.7%, from 873,000 to 565,000 due to the unrest that jolted the country in the first quarter, and a weakened global economy. Current data


May, 2009

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— 45 —

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Networking Plan ahead by registering early and ensure you know what networking opportunities are available on and off the show floor. Travel Savings Register early and receive savings on flights and hotel bookings.

Register now at: www.arabiantravelmarket.com/register09 Arabian Travel Market Customer Service Helpline: +44 (0)208 271 2158 Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of the Government of Dubai.

Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a

In the Know Find out who’s exhibiting plus more about their products and services with our email newsletters.

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Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a from the Kenya Bureau of Statistics shows the tourism sector declined 34.7% over most of last year. But to dismiss this sector's importance, and indeed its potential, would be ill-advised. Kenya is now stable and international tourism is turning around, thanks to the fact that the country has always been one of the most popular destinations in Africa, drawing 2 million international arrivals in 2007.

Big Earner The sector was growing at historical highs prior to the turmoil – in 2007 revenue was US$1 billion. It accounted for 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it the third largest contributor to GDP after agriculture and manufacturing, and the third largest foreign exchange earner after tea and horticulture. This exceptional performance has been attributed to flurried growth in business and conference tourism as the country reclaimed its position as a leading hub in East and Central Africa. The government's strategy to market the country as a safe tourist and investment destination has been crucial in reviving the sector. Tourism minister Najib Balala, while marketing Kenya in the US at the sidelines of President Barrack Obama's inauguration in February, expressed confidence the industry will be firmly on its feet soon.

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Sudden Drop in Tourist Numbers

Revenue from tourism in 2008 fell by 54 percent compared with 2007 which had seen a record number of up to 1.8 million tourists coming to holiday in an apparently politically stable and fast-growing country. Inter Press S er v i c e

May, 2009

As the country stepped up its campaign to ride on the wave of publicity as the heritage of President Obama, prominent American personalities were endorsing Kenya as the next attraction for American tourists. In June America's Delta Airlines will make its inaugural direct flight to Kenya from the US, providing an awesome opportunity for Kenya to the American tourism market. Balala and the team at KTB – a public body charged with marketing Kenya as a destination – prioritized on getting repeat visitors to come back and confirm to the world the country is still a preferred tourist destination. This strategy bore positive results right from the start even at a time when international media was declaring Kenya a no-go war zone.

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Early in 2008, British couple Tina and Craig Washbrook was planning their wedding in Kenya, at a time when many tourists were canceling their holidays. After the ceremony held in picturesque Ngong Hills, 41 year old Tina, who had previously visited the country, told reporters: "I have come to Kenya because it is a country that I really love...the impression we got from the media is that everything has come to a standstill...now we know this is not true." Repeat visitors like Tina make up 40% of tourists to Kenya and formed the bulk of the 710,804 who visited the country throughout 2008. The Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) says these numbers are a reflection of tourists regaining their confidence in Kenya as a destination. Members of KATO – an association which represents the interests of over 250 tour operators – were severely affected by the crisis. The operators however had remarkably improved business during the Christmas season, largely due to domestic tourism. Kenya has a large and growing middle income group that is increasingly travelling. TembeaKenya Initiative – a public/private initiative aimed at promoting domestic tourism – is bearing fruits but needs some push to get to a level where it can effectively cushion the industry when foreign tourists are scarce. KATO is agitating for a level playing field with neighboring competitors as a measure to protect members from global misfortunes. For starters, tax waivers on tourist vans would remove that financial obligation for the operators during global downturns. As the KTB data rolled in, players in the industry were still optimistic about implementing planned key projects. Mohammed Hersi, the general manager at Sarova Whitesands hotel says the negative publicity has waned and there is more interest in Kenya. Charters from the UK, Kenya's most impor-


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a

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Not a Single Tourist Hurt

After many years of a smooth political transition, having passed peacefully through a contentious constitutional referendum in 2005, and estimated economic growth of six to eight percent Kenya suddenly plunged into a two-month long fit of organized ethnic killings. Over a thousand people were left dead and 350,000 displaced. Not a single tourist was hurt. Most tourists booked for that period did not arrive or diverted to some other destination. Those already in the country left. Thanks to former United Nations chief Kofi Annan’s intervention, political rivals decided to mend fences soon and by the middle of 2008 the industry had recovered slightly. But it was still down by 32 percent against the same period in 2007. Hundreds of lodges and hotels remain closed. Many more Kenyans have lost their jobs. Inter Press S er v i c e

efforts began last year. "The investment made in marketing is proportionate to the rise in tourist arrivals and earnings so a figure of not less than 10% of what the sector earns should be ploughed back in to marketing and promotion to make the country more competitive," says Hersi, who is also the chairman of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers, Coast branch.

Regional Picture tant source of tourists, have resumed though slowly as finding passengers has been a huge challenge. In 2007 when the industry was booming there were over 40 tourist charters destined to hotels including the Whitesands. That number reduced to less than 3 per week at the height of the violence. "We spent a good part of the second half of 2008 May, 2009

working to re-position the destination through various fairs including the World Travel Market in London. In March we were at ITB, the largest fair in Berlin," says Hersi. The task for the government now lies in identifying a sustainable source of funding for tourism development and marketing, to propel the recovery

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From the boom in tourism expected in South Africa due to the 2010 World Cup to the growing popularity of ecotourism, Sub- Saharan Africa has emerged as a popular destination for visitors and investors alike. Travel and tourism capital investment for the region was estimated at US$20.4 billion in 2008, and by 2018 should reach US$42.6 billion, with the UN World Tourism Organization


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a declaring the sector a promising source of development. Tourism which has grown rapidly over the past couple of years slowed down in 2008 in response to the economic crisis. But the estimates for the future look promising with travel and tourism expected to contribute over 9% to the region's GDP over the next decade, a very positive outlook according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Efforts to promote tourism in the region have given rise to many investment opportunities in developing new hotels and recreational properties, expanding existing facilities and upgrading infrastructure. Major hotel groups who have been expanding their operations in the region for years each have their own development strategy. Since each country has its own unique challenges, the emphasis is on governments in sub-Saharan Africa to find ways of encouraging international hospitality investment by removing barriers to entry and offering incentives and long-term support to projects.

Call to Invest Kenya's Tourism Strategic Plan includes raising tourism earnings to Ksh.200 billion (US $2.5 billion),

May, 2009

increasing international tourist arrivals to three million and hotel bed capacity to 65,000, by 2012. Investment experts, however, say heavy investment in supportive sectors commensurate to these projections must be put in place, otherwise the country will miss the target. Investing in Kenya's tourism would be a good move for investors wishing to enter the East African Community (EAC). Nairobi is reclaiming its position as the leading hub for business and conference tourism in east and central Africa. Integration of Rwanda and Burundi into the EAC is also making Kenya a prime location as most of the flights pass through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. The Kenya Investment Authority (KIA) – the agency tasked with marketing Kenya as an investment destination – emphasizes on adding value to tourism destinations and investing heavily across all sectors to make figures in the Strategic Plan achievable. 425 new hotels across the country would be needed to achieve the proposed 65,000 increase in bed capacity. Other supportive infrastructure such as roads and adequate supply of energy will be needed to reduce the cost of doing business in

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the country. KIA estimates the cost of constructing roads leading to important tourist destinations at Ksh.65.9 billion (US$840m). Many of Kenya's direct competitors lack conference facilities yet such an investment would give the country an upper hand. KIA is looking for a strategic partner to invest in such a facility, preferably in Mombasa.

Bright Future? A report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in January contained bleak foreign travel numbers in 2008 due to the global economic slowdown which threatened to reverse historic four-year gains. The tourism body forecasted continued stagnation this year and beyond, though noting that the high degree of economic uncertainty makes predictions of international travel difficult. The downturn is already affecting international tourism. In Kenya, proven resilience in the tourism industry could dictate growth does not come to a halt. By Nelly Nyagah http://allafrica.com


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Nairobi: The Safari Capital of Africa i

Culture & Sports Are Powerful Drivers of Tourism

Kenya’s diverse cultures, comprising 42 ethnic backgrounds, as well as the importance of sport in the country, being amongst the best in the world of athletics, gained prominence as tourism drivers; supported by the Kenya Tourism Board and the recently launched partnership between the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Athletics body in the country. The international limelight enjoyed by athletics is now being used as the best tool for promoting Kenya’s wildlife abroad. Eurom on itor. c om

K

enya’s capital city has risen in a single century from a brackish uninhabited swampland to a thriving modern capital. When railway construction workers reached this area in 1899, they set up a basic camp and supply depot, simply called ‘Mile 327’. The local Maasai called this highland swamp Ewaso Nai’beri – the place of cold water. The camp became a rustic village, and then a shanty town, which by 1907 was the capital of all of British East Africa. It was soon an important centre for the colony and a mecca for ad-

May, 2009

venturers, hunters and travellers from all over the world. Modern Nairobi is still the safari capital of Africa, but the modern world has quickly caught up with the city. A frontier town no more, Nairobi has become one of Africa’s largest, and most interesting cities. Nairobi is a city that never seems to sleep. The entire town has a boundless energy, and is thriving place where all of human life can be found. This is a place of great contrasts where race, tribe and origin all become facets of a unique Nairobi character.

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The city has not lost its sense of the past, with an excellent museum and the historical home of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa open to visitors. This is not a modern capital separated from the great wilderness that surrounds it. Just outside the city is Nairobi National Park, 113 sq kms of plains, cliffs and forest. The park is home to large herds of Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Giraffe and more. Rhino, Cheetah, and a large number of Lions are all found here, living wild within 20 minutes of the centre of town. Further out of town, the spectacular 27 metre deep 'Fourteen Falls' waterfalls at Thika are perfect for a scenic day trip. Nearby Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, is centred on an imposing 2,146 me-


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Film-Making a Marketing Tool for Kenyan Tourism

The Kenya Tourism Board is waking up to the unique potential held by the diverse scenery found all over the country to attract both film-makers and advertising and PR productions. When Uganda hosted the crew of the film “The King of Scotland”, the attractiveness of the country to film lovers led to a great boost to tourism, with many tourists claiming that they decided to visit Uganda for the first time after watching the movie. Kenya’s “Walk with the Lions”, adapted from the famous “Born Free” film and series, was the beginning of a partnership between the film industry and the Kenyan tourism industry, which has every chance of continuing and prospering. Eurom onitor.c om

tre mountain. For the adventurous, take an hour's drive from town and you will find white water rafting on the beautiful Tana River. From the wildlife to the nightlife, Nairobi is a city unlike any other. With a fantastic music scene, excellent international restaurants and an endless and colorful array of shops and markets, there is plenty on offer for the visitor. Nairobi is Kenya’s capital and the arrival point for many visitors. The main airport is Jomo Kenyatta

May, 2009

International, located 15kms out of the centre of town. JKIA handles both International and domestic carriers. Wilson airport, located 11 kms outside of the city centre, is the domestic hub for both scheduled and chartered domestic air traffic. There are countless Matatu stands throughout Nairobi, with continuous arrivals and departures throughout the day. Nairobi is the centre of Kenya's extensive bus network, with many bus companies operating to and from destinations throughout the country. Walking around Nairobi is relatively straightforward, as the city centre is small and accessible. In some areas, there can be a security risk while walking, and it is best to seek local advice before setting out. Taxis are widely available, and convenient.

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They are often parked in the street around hotels and tourist areas of the city. Hotels and restaurants can order taxis if necessary. Nairobi cabs are usually marked with a yellow line along each side. They are not metered, and a price should be agreed with the driver before departure. Ask for local advice or at your hotel for correct rates. Buses operate on set routes throughout the city. The large Kenya Buses run on routes throughout the city on regular schedules. Buses can be boarded at any stop and tickets purchased on board. Matatus (Public Minibuses) also operate on city routes throughout the day, and are the most popular form of local public transport. http://www.magicalkenya.com


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a

Kenya Unveils Massive Tourism Plan

If

it were a race Kenya could probably be miles ahead of Zimbabwe though with no clear indication where the race was heading.

May, 2009

Political Turmoil Kenya’s grand coalition is a year old and Zimbabwe’s inclusive government is just about two

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Marketing Budget Boost

Kenya Tourism Board has been given an additional Kenya Shillings 250 million (€2.5 million) by the government to boost tourism marketing this year. Apart from the magnificent wildlife for which Kenya is best known, and its unspoilt beaches, promotions will also highlight a range of other attractions. Events and sports opportunities a focus, including kite-surfing, the Safari Sevens rugby tournament, the 4WD ‘Rhino Charge’ motor rally, the spectacular annual camel race, and possibly the world’s most gruelling rally, the KCB Safari which is part of the African Safari Championship. Last year Kenya was voted the best ‘undiscovered’ golf destination by the International Golf Travel Writers Association which commended both the standard of Kenya’s courses and the year-round perfect weather. Cultural themes range from the Maasai and Samburu cultures to the Karen Blixen Museum and archaeology (the lost city of Gedi and Fort Jesus in Mombassa). Mess e-B er lin.d e

months old, with both nations having survived bitter political turmoil. Kenya and Zimbabwe have many things in common though. More importantly, both need to push for tangible reforms to placate their restive populace. They also need to quickly craft universally accepted constitutions to open up democratic space and bolster confidence in their sickly economies. In Kenya, the constitutional making process is running six months behind schedule. Kenyans are losing hope as President Mwai Kibaki and his rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, drift apart over how best to manage their marriage of convenience. But despite the despondency across the east African nation, most Kenyans are working hard to turn their country into the pride of Africa through tourism.


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a a gear up to position itself as a key destination for tourists. There are ambitious plans to turn Kogelo in the country’s Kisumu area where Obama’s father was born, into a world heritage site. Although scores of visitors especially from the United States have been flocking to Kogelo, tourism industry players say they are still to assess the overall impact of Obama on the country's tourism. Kenyan authorities say the global financial crisis, which resulted in a 30 to 40 percent dip in tourist arrivals from the major source markets such as Europe and the United States has prompted them to look closer home to Africa for inspiration and possible revival of the tourism industry. Kenya is seeking to lure tourists not only from the 30 African destinations its national airline flies into but to also tap into the largely under-exploited population. And because Kenya relied on mainly Europe and the United States as source markets it meant that the country had to be content with low and high seasons of tourist arrivals, which the ambitious plan now seeks to correct by attracting people from the continent. “Africa is not all disaster,” said Kenya Airways managing director and chief executive, Titus Naikuni.

African Tourists Kenya’s key tourism players recently unveiled an ambitious plan to market the country. They literally invited the whole of Africa to see what their country has to offer. Hordes of travel and tour operators as well as journalists where flown into Nairobi, Kenya, from 20 African nations by the country’s national airline, Kenya Airways, for what might probably be the continent’s biggest tourism promotion yet. Riding on the historic election of Barack Obama, an African-American with Kenyan roots, to head the world’s most powerful nation (the United States), Kenya is not wasting time. The country has moved May, 2009

Free Trade Zone With chances high that the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) could finally become a reality by mid June the east African nation is gearing for the new order which hopes to turn 26 economies into arguably Africa’s largest free trade area. “We have made fantastic progress towards finally establishing COMESA,” said Kenya’s Immigration Minister, Otieno Kajwang in an interview with The Financial Gazette in Nairobi. With COMESA on the horizon Kenya has become one of the early pacesetters by relaxing its visa

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rules. Visa fees have been considerably slashed for adults while children under 16 years are now exempted from paying the fees. Although tourism brands on the continent can be considered as almost similar each country however is unique in one way or the other with Kenya having a distinct advantage over many of its neighbours. Its people, for instance, are in a class of their own. Kenya’s diverse cultures and ethnic groups have managed to resist modernity in the most astonishing way. Mention the word Maasai anywhere in the world and immediately people know you are talking about Kenya. A book titled “The Beautiful People of Kenya”, which describes Kenya as a melting pot of people says: “Kenya’s more than 40 different indigenous groups are as diverse and contrasting as the country’s landscape and equally magnificent.” Even some of the country’s wildlife is also unique to Kenya. Travelling across the equator, tourists are treated to magnificent sights of animal species found nowhere else but Kenya such as the reticulated giraffe. http://www.fingaz.co.zw


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a

National Parks: Get Adventurous in East Africa

of water, the herds move north from the Serengeti in Tanzania in May or June, arriving in Maasai Mara around mid-July. The return to the South usually begins in the middle of October. Accompanying the herds, of course, are their natural predators, so that the migration also brings to Maasai Mara large prides of lion. While the migration period is undoubtedly the best time to visit Maasai Mara, the reserve easily outpaces almost any other park even when the wildebeest are in the South. Many different species of antelope, elephant, leopard, cheetah, rhino, giraffe, and buffalo – virtually all of Africa's big game animals in fact  – can be found in abundance in Maasai Mara.

Amboseli National Park

M

ore than two dozen national parks fall within Kenya's borders, making it the most popular safari destination in all of Africa. The Director of National Parks and Wildlife, the famed paleontologist Dr. Richard Leaky, has done much to ensure that the parks are kept pristine and the poachers are kept out. Consequently, though Kenya's parks are the continent's most visited, they are also among the richest in natural beauty and wildlife.

May, 2009

Maasai Mara Game Reserve Maasai Mara is the Kenyan portion of the great Serengeti Plains, which means that it is quite simply one of the most astounding game parks in the world. Wildlife of all sorts is abundant here, but the particular attraction of the Serengeti has always been the migration of its enormous herds of wildebeest (1.3 million) and zebra (400,000). In search

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The most distinguishing feature of Amboseli is its dramatic setting. Mt. Kilamanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, rises a majestic 19,340 feet (5,895 meters) just across the Tanzanian border, in full view of the park. Most of the game can be found clinging to the swamps and grasslands in the center of the park, an oasis for buffalo, lions, cheetah, and over 420 species of birds. Amboseli is also one of the best parks in Kenya to see elephant, which travel in large herds near Ekongo Narok Swamp.

Lake Nakuru National Park Lake Nakuru is a shallow, alkaline lake, just the sort of place that flamingoes go crazy for. Estimates of the flamingo population of Lake Nakaru vary by the millions – what is certain is that any visitor to Lake Nakuru is likely to encounter flocks large


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a

enough to induce absolute awe. Over four hundred species of birds have been sighted at the park, but it also serves as a sanctuary for the endangered black rhino as well as being home to various other large game species, including leopard.

Mount Kenya National Park Africa's second highest mountain is one of the continent's most popular destinations for mountaineers and trekkers. Its two highest peaks, Batian (17,058 ft./5,199 m.) and Nelion (17,023 ft./5,188 m.), require considerable technical climbing skills. However, the third highest peak, Point Lenana (16,355 ft./4,985 m.), can be reached by hikers who are in reasonably good condition. The climb can be made in three days, the descent in one or two, and May, 2009

Turkana droops down from the Ethiopian border, extending nearly 200 miles from north to south and 30 miles at its widest point. It is Africa's fourth largest lake, fondly called the Jade Sea because of its breathtaking color. Turkana is home to a burgeoning population of crocodiles, who are unmolested by poachers because the lake's waters are heavily alkaline: a trait that makes their skin worthless. Consequently, some of them grow to monstrous sizes, and swimming in the lake is risky. Fishing, however, is of course safe and very good here. The world's largest fresh water fish, the Nile perch, lives in the lake, and it can get up to 400 pounds. There are two national parks in the Lake Turkana region, both of them islands. Three volcanic cones are a major attraction of Central Island, which could just as easily be called Crocodile Island: it has the largest crocodile breeding ground in the world. South Island, the other park, is also volcanic and full of the giant reptiles. One of the most thrilling ways to see the crocs is by night; when a flashlight is shined over the water, their retinas reflect a deep, luminous red over great distances.

the views from the top are as spectacular as you would expect. The most scenic trek, the Chogoria route, takes 5–7 days. While such accessibility presents rare opportunities, it has also resulted in a good deal of misjudgment by casual visitors. The most common error is overly rapid ascent, which can cause headaches, nausea, and even death. Improper preparation for bad weather conditions is another common problem. The best times to make the ascent are from January to March, and September to October, when the weather tends to be warmer and dryer.

Malindi-Watamu, located on the central coast, is one of Kenya's best marine parks. The town of Malindi, in fact, is home to the International Bill Fishing Competition, which takes place every January. The reserve itself begins 100 feet offshore and extends three miles out to sea, its main attraction being its spectacular reef, which starts about a kilometer offshore. A particularly charming way to dive Kenya is from the deck of a dhow, which can be chartered in the ports.

Lake Turkana

Lamu

Surrounded by an arid, extraterrestrial landscape that is often devoid of life, the long body of Lake

— 54 —

Malindi-Watamu Marine Reserve

There is only one automobile on the island-city of Lamu, and it belongs to the District Commission-


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a er. That the next fastest available vehicle here is donkey-drawn cart is testimony to Lamu's biggest charm – its timelessness. The island has changed little over the centuries. Like Zanzibar, it was once a Muslim stronghold, and Islam is still widely practiced on the island. Through its mysterious and narrow streets walk white and black-robed men and women. Though there are plenty of mosques to see, only a few will allow visitors. The resilient beaches of Lamu are some of the best in Kenya, with the finest being at Shela. Offshore scuba diving can be also arranged, and for those interested in taking a dhow voyage, Lamu is an ideal place to charter a boat. It is virtually impossible to look out to sea without seeing one of the elegant and fluttery boats passing by. http://www.geographia.com

May, 2009

— 55 —


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a

Medical Safari: The New frontier in Kenya’s Hospitality Industry

Strong Growth in Spa Tourism A market which is poised to define the future of travel and tourism in Kenya is health and wellness, especially thanks to the growing level of investment in this field in 2006 and 2007. Tourist resorts, mediMay, 2009

cal institutions and recreation centres are offering unique blends of spas and fitness programmes which are beginning to occupy an important niche in the travel and tourism industry in the country. With the Wildfitness centre in Malindi, the mushrooming beach spas along the coast, Nairobi’s plush relaxation spas, the new Karen Hospital and natural hot spas in the Rift Valley, the country is gradually beginning to attract both regional and international tourists interested in spa tourism. Euromonitor. com As early as ten years ago, it was unthinkable for tourists from developed countries to retreat to Africa to seek medical care. Today however, the story is different. "Besides our natural beauty, our continent is also drawing tourists for its advanced medical care!" says Catherine Kariuki, product director of Africa Eco-Safaris and Car Hire (K) limited. Medical tourism, or MT as it is commonly referred to, is a rapidly growing phenomenon where tourists combine adventure with travelling for medical purposes. Countries like India and Singapore attract almost one-third of international medical tourists mainly from the UK, Middle East, Japan and United States.

— 56 —

Medical Tourism in Kenya The increased ease and convenience of overseas travel, and the advancement of technology and facilities in developing and emerging economies has presented medical tourism with an affordable and suitable alternative. The adventure bit comes in when the foreign patient is waiting for admission or recuperating from the ailment. In Kenya, high-status hospitals like Nairobi, Aga Khan, Karen, Mater and Kenyatta (the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa) have some of their strategic thoughts on tourist patients. By upgrading their facilities and ensuring they have highly qualified personnel, it is not surprising that Kenya is geared towards being the preferred medical tourist destination in the East African region and beyond.

Advanced Medical Care However, for medical tourism to succeed more funds need to be pumped in and aggressive marketing campaigns carried out. Experts now predict that hospitals and medicare centres will in the future attract about 8,000 foreign patients from East and Central Africa who would otherwise have travelled to South Africa, Egypt, India or Europe. Developing countries like India, Brazil, Israel, South Africa, China, Thai-


Destination : Wi l d Ke ny a

i

Strong Growth in Spa Tourism

A market which is poised to define the future of travel and tourism in Kenya is health and wellness, especially thanks to the growing level of investment in this field in 2006 and 2007. Tourist resorts, medical institutions and recreation centres are offering unique blends of spas and fitness programmes which are beginning to occupy an important niche in the travel and tourism industry in the country. With the Wildfitness centre in Malindi, the mushrooming beach spas along the coast, Nairobi’s plush relaxation spas, the new Karen Hospital and natural hot spas in the Rift Valley, the country is gradually beginning to attract both regional and international tourists interested in spa tourism. Eurom onitor.c om

land, Mexico, Singapore, Argentina, Philippines, Egypt and South Korea command three-quarters of the world’s medical tourism business. However, the high costs of living and accessing specialized treatment make them unattractive for middle class tourists. The Kenya’s case also looks attractive. We have advanced medical care facilities, highly qualified medical professionals, affordable specialized medical care, and attractive sites to boot. It is no wonder that Kenya is becoming one East African country that medical tourists cannot afford to overlook.

The Case of South Africa Critics who claim medical tourism cannot succeed in Africa need to look at South Africa to re-

May, 2009

vise their opinions. South Africa has grown its reputation as a medical centre thanks to its high technology cosmetic surgery clinics and specialised health services, all of which offer quality treatment. The South African government and the private sector have partnered to develop and market medical tourism. In Kenya, for medical tourism to succeed, a working pact needs to be developed by the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with stakeholders in the industry and those in the health and medical sector. By Mwingirwa Kithure http://www.eastandard.net

— 57 —


Fairs & Exhibitions T ravel / T ourism

in

M AY

2 0 0 9

by

regions


Fairs & E x hibitions : M ay, 2009

Western Europe

Crossroads Milan – Paragon Business Travel Conference & Expo Location

Milan / Italy

Start / End

14 May 2009 / 15 May 2009

Provider

NBTA

Contact

info@nbta.org

Global Spa Summit Location

Interlaken / Switzerland

Start / End

17 May 2009 / 19 May 2009

Provider

Global Spa Summit

Contact

betsy@rbicom.com

Travel Distribution Summit Europe

Coach Tourism Show

Location

London / Switzerland

Start / End

19 May 2009 / 20 May 2009

Provider

EyeforTravel

Contact

tim@eyefortravel.com

ANTOR Mice Event

Location

Coventry / UK

Location

Zeist / Netherlands

Start / End

01 May 2009 / 01 May 2009

Start / End

19 May 2009 / 19 May 2009

Provider

Expo Management Ltd.

Provider

MICE Nederland

Contact

info@coachtourism.com

Contact

info@micenederland.nl

EXPOVACACIONES - Expo of Tourism & Leisure Time

IMEX 2009 Location

Messe Frankfurt / Germany

Location

Bilbao / Spain

26 May 2009 / 28 May 2009

Start / End

Start / End

07 May 2009 / 10 May 2009

Regent Exhibitions

Provider

Provider

Bilbao Exhibition Centre

Contact

foreign@bec.eu

info@imex-frankfurt.com

Contact

ATLAS: Experiencing Difference Changing Tourism and Germany Travel Mart

Tourists’ Experiences

Location

Rostock / Germany

Location

Interlaken / Switzerland

Start / End

10 May 2009 / 12 May 2009

Start / End

17 May 2009 / 19 May 2009

Provider

GNTB

Provider

Global Spa Summit

Contact

messen@d-z-t.com

Contact

betsy@rbicom.com

More events related to Travel/Tourism can be found here   If you are an event provider you may consider to place your event in the above category, please click here   If your event already is in the list you may consider using the enhanced listing. For replacement just click here

— 59 —


Fairs & E x hibitions : M ay, 2009

CENTR AL Europe

Hotel & Catering Location

Cluj-Napoca / Romania

Start / End

19 May 2009 / 22 May 2009

Provider

Expo Transilvania SA

Contact

expo@expo-transilvania.ro

LATO - Fair of Tourism and Recreation Location

Warsaw / Poland

Start / End

24 May 2009 / 26 May 2009

Provider

MT Polska

Contact

lato@mtpolska.com.pl

Rest & Entertainment EXPO Location

Yerevan / Armenia

Start / End

02 May 2009 / 04 May 2009

Provider

LOGOS EXPO

Contact

international@expo.am

Pristhina Travel Fair Location

Prishtina / Kosovo

Start / End

06 May 2009 / 08 May 2009

Provider

CEO shpk & Prishtina Fair

Contact

lulzim@ceokos.com

MITF Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition Location

Moscow / Russia

Start / End

11 May 2009 / 14 May 2009

Provider

RTE Moscow

Contact

mitf@ugol.ru

More events related to Travel/Tourism can be found here   If you are an event provider you may consider to place your event in the above category, please click here   If your event already is in the list you may consider using the enhanced listing. For replacement just click here

— 60 —


Fairs & E x hibitions : M ay, 2009

Africa/MIDDLE EAST

INDABA Travel & Tourism Trade Show Location

Durban / South Africa

Start / End

09 May 2009 / 12 May 2009

Provider

Kagiso Exhibitions (Pty) Ltd.

Contact

info@rai.co.za

Arabian Travel Market 2009 Africa Travel Association’s 34th Annual Congress

5–8 May 2009 Dubai International CairoConvention / Egypt and Exhibition Centre Location

Start / End

17 May 2009 / 22 May 2009

Provider

Africa Travel Association

info@africatravelassociation.org One Event, Unlimited Destinations

Contact

Iran Food & Hospitality Location

Tehran / Iran

Start / End

24 May 2009 / 27 May 2009

Provider

Fairtrade Messe und Ausstellungs GmbH

Contact

info@fairtrade-messe.de

The Hotel Show Dubai Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

Location

Dubai / United Arab Emirates

Location

Dubai / United Arab Emirates

Start / End

24 May 2009 / 26 May 2009

Start / End

02 May 2009 / 04 May 2009

Provider

dmg world media

Provider

Bench Events / MEED

Contact

Nathalie@theshamalgroup.com

Contact

Diana.Gregory@meed-dubai.com

KWTE: Kuwait World Travel Expo 2009

Arabian Travel Market

The leading travel exhibition for the Kuwait City / Kuwait Middle East pan Arab region 26 May and 2009 / 30 May 2009 Start / End Location

Location

Dubai / United Arab Emirates

Provider

Start / End

05 May 2009 / 08 May 2009

Contact

Provider

Reed Travel Exhibitions

Contact

chris.chackal@reedexpo.co.uk

Middle East & North Africa Travel Awards 2009 Location

Dubai / United Arab Emirates

Start / End

07 May 2009 / 07 May 2009

Provider

CHA International

Contact

marwa@menatravelawards.com.

Kuwait International Fair Company

Register Todayinfo@kif.net and Unlock Your Middle East Business Potential

In the Know Find out who’s exhibiting plus more about their products and services with our email newsletters.

Content Driven Be the first to know what seminars, press conferences and launches are scheduled at the event.

Plan Ahead Find exhibitors who meet your needs

Save Time Avoid the queues onsite, registering

Arabian Travel Market 2009 5–8 May 2009 appointments. and start scheduling online means you get your badge via email. Dubai International Conventionalmost andinstantly Exhibition Centre

Networking Plan ahead by registering early and ensure you know what networking opportunities are available on and off the show floor. Travel Savings Register early and receive savings on flights and hotel bookings.

Register now at: www.arabiantravelmarket.com/register09 Arabian Travel Market Customer Service Helpline: +44 (0)208 271 2158 Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of the Government of Dubai.

One Event, Unlimited Destinations

More events related to Travel/Tourism can be found here   If you are an event provider you may consider to place your event in the above category, please click here   If your event already is in the list you may consider using the enhanced listing. For replacement just click here

www.arabiantravelmarket.com

— 61 —


Fairs & E x hibitions : M ay, 2009

North America

Tampa Bay Travel, Adventure & Culinary Experience Location

Tampa Bay, FL / United States of America

Start / End

22 May 2009 / 24 May 2009

Provider

Rocket Star Shows

Contact

kelly@rocketstarshows.com

Eco-Aviation Conference Location

Washington, D.C. / United States of America

Start / End

26 May 2009 / 28 May 2009

Provider

Air Transport World, Leeham Company

Contact

allison.mlawsky@penton.com

National Tourism Week Location

Nationwide / United States of America

Start / End

09 May 2009 / 17 May 2009

Provider

Travel Industry Association of America

Contact

lhorsley@tia.org

HD 2009 Expo & Conference Location

Las Vegas, NV / United States of America

Start / End

14 May 2009 / 16 May 2009

Provider

Nielsen Business Media

Contact

hdexpo@cdsreg.com

International Pow Wow Location

Miami, FL / United States of America

Start / End

16 May 2009 / 20 May 2009

Provider

Travel Industry Association

Contact

meetings@tia.org

More events related to Travel/Tourism can be found here   If you are an event provider you may consider to place your event in the above category, please click here   If your event already is in the list you may consider using the enhanced listing. For replacement just click here

— 62 —


Fairs & E x hibitions : M ay, 2009

Asia & Pacific

InCoMTHU ‘09: International Conference on Muslim Tourism, Hajj and Umrah Location

Kuala Lumpur / Malaysia

Start / End

14 May 2009 / 14 May 2009

Provider

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents

Contact

secretariat@incomthu.com

Hosfair Location

Guangzhou / China

Start / End

21 May 2009 / 23 May 2009

Provider

Guangzhou Huazhan Exhibition Company Limited, Canton Universal Fair Group Limited

Contact

hosfair@hosfair.com

Qingdao Internatioanl Tourism Expo 2009

Hofex Location

Hong Kong / China

Start / End

06 May 2009 / 09 May 2009

Provider

Hong Kong Exhibition Services Ltd

Contact

hofex@oesallworld.com

Location

Qingdao / China

Start / End

22 May 2009 / 24 May 2009

Provider

Qingdao International Exhibition & Trade Co.,LTD

Contact

wangsh@qdicec.com.cn

China Travel Innovation Summit Location

Beijing / China

Start / End

12 May 2009 / 13 May 2009

Provider

TravelDaily

Contact

register@traveldaily.cn

Seoul Food & Hotel Location

Seoul / Korea

Start / End

13 May 2009 / 16 May 2009

Provider

Allworld Exhibitions

Contact

exhibit@oesallworld.com

More events related to Travel/Tourism can be found here   If you are an event provider you may consider to place your event in the above category, please click here   If your event already is in the list you may consider using the enhanced listing. For replacement just click here

— 63 —


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People

Events

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TR Partner

Media Partner

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Advice

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