#Cambodia - Unesco, ministry vow stronger cooperation

Unesco pledged to continue working closely with the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism to promote the conservation and sustainable development of Cambodia’s ecotourism sector and support government plans to develop tourism sites in Siem Reap province, including the Angkor Archaeological Park.

During a meeting with Thong Khon, the Cambodian Minister of Tourism, Sardar Umar Alam, Unesco’s new representative to Cambodia, said that, under the leadership of the Cambodian government, his organisation is collaborating successfully with the ministries of Tourism and Culture, the Apsara Authority and the World Tourism Organisation.

He promised to deepen this collaboration to make the Angkor Archaeological Park and surrounding areas, including the Tonle Sap and Prek Toal, into top tourist attractions and biodiversity areas in the region.

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Mr Umar Alam also provided suggestions on improving the conservation of the Tonle Sap, Kulen Mountain, Preah Vihear Temple, Koh Ker, Beng Mealea, and Sambor Prei Kuk, which, he said, can be added to travel packages that include ecotourism sites in the country’s southwest and northeast.

Mr Umar Alam said his organisation will continue to organise programmes to promote the development of Cambodia’s ecotourism and culture sectors, while supporting the Integrated Development Master Plan in Siem Reap, Angkor and surrounding areas.

Source - Khmer Times

Travel plans to Laos ?

Laos has announced it will begin offering electronic visas (eVisa) to foreign tourists and travelers from June this year.

Establishment of the eVisa program will commence in mid-2019, according to a Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs notice issued earlier this month dated March 11.

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The move comes as the government takes steps to modernize and ensure visa procedures are faster and more convenient for tourist visa applicants, according to the notice.

It is also another means by which the government hopes to attract more tourism to the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular office is working with all other ministries and departments to ensure the comprehensive and timely development of the eVisa program.

The eVisa program, it is hoped, will allow foreign visitors greater access to information and more convenience in visa processing, and will assist in making the country more widely known among tourists.

It comes as policymakers and the private sector seek to capitalize on the benefits of improved connectivity and widen the range of offerings to attract valuable tourism and travel-related income and investment.

Course -  The Laotian Times

#Vietnam - UK experts explore underground mystery in Son Doong Cave

 U.K. cave experts presume that a subterranean river in Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave could link to another cave.

The journey to explore this river system, estimated to stretch 600 meters in the Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh Province, is expected to last for a week starting Monday.

Dr Howard Limbert, an expert with the British Cave Research Association, who has 30 years of experience exploring caves in Vietnam, including the Son Doong Cave, said it is possible that the underground river of Son Doong links up with the Thung Cave, which was discovered in 1994.

Since Son Doong was discovered in 2009, experts have only explored its dry part and left alone its river system, he said.

The four divers that will take on the latest quest are those who joined the team to rescue the 12 boys trapped with their football coach in a labyrinthine flooded cave complex in northern Thailand in July last year.

They will not dive together at the same time. One would go down first and swim for 200 meters, using a rope to mark the place and return before another continues from that part for another 200 meters.

The work will go on until they reach the other side of the river.

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Rick Stanton, one of the divers, said that each diver will carry two diving cylinders connected with a circulation device that allows them to breathe underwater for six hours straight.

This is the same method they had used when saving the Thai boys.

The group said there will definitely be unexpected difficulties, and that how the situation develops will depend a lot on the real conditions of the river system.

If it is proved that the underground river connects the two caves, Thung will then become a part of Son Doong, raising the current total length of Son Doong from nine km (six miles) to 12.3 km and its total volume will rise from 38.5 million to 40.1 million cubic meters.

Nguyen Chau A, CEO of Oxalis, now the only company licensed to bring tourists to Son Doong, said if this effort succeeds, Quang Binh could lure more science movie producers to the cave.

He also said that the latest diving effort carries more scientific import, rather than serving tourism.

Son Doong opened to tourists in 2013, four years after members of the British Cave Research Association finished their exploration and declared it the world’s largest.

Local resident Ho Khanh first discovered the cave in 1991, and rediscovered it almost 20 years later, opening it up for exploration.

U.K.-based travel guide publisher Lonely Planet said in January that Son Doong Cave is among the best places to visit in 2019, and warns that the trip has to be booked early due to limited slots. The government of Quang Binh Province, known as the kingdom of caves, recently raised the limit for number of tourists allowed to visit the cave from 640 to 900.

The province has over the past years proposed several developments, including a cable car system to boost tourism in the area, but these have met with strong opposition from environmentalists and the public.

Source - VN EXPRESS

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#Cambodia - Government creates ‘great tourism zones’

Tourists visit the Wat Phnom historic site in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A sub-decree issued Thursday coined ‘great tourism zones’, a term for areas where a wide range of tourism-related services is available.

In last week’s sub-decree, the government describes the zones as areas that have accommodation, food and beverage services, entertainment complexes, sports facilities, gardens, parks, health care centres, and other tourism-related facilities.

Great tourism zones must cover at least 100 hectares, according to the sub-decree.

Investors that wish to create great tourism zones in any part of the country must first submit an application to the Tourism Development Committee of the Ministry of Tourism, who will study and evaluate the project and submit a report to the government, the sub-decree said.

Top Sopheak, spokesman at the Ministry of Tourism, told Khmer Times that the concept of great tourism zones is modelled after special economic zones, areas that bring together facilities needed to streamline manufacturing activity.

“In Khmer, the word ‘great’ (piseth) has a similar meaning to the term ‘special’. That’s why the government chose this word,” Mr Sopheak said.

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“Great tourism zones are hubs that offer all tourism-related services. It is based on the same idea that special economic zones, which focus on manufacturing,” he said.

Mr Sopheak said great tourism zones cannot be established in existing tourism sites but only in new locations that show great tourism potential.

Source - Khmer Times

#Indonesia - Mount Slamet to welcome hikers starting this weekend

The hiking trail to Mount Slamet through Bambangan, Kutabawa village in Karangreja district, Purbalingga, is set to be reopened on March 2 following improved weather and ecosystem recovery efforts over the past few months.

"Based on the consideration of weather and hiking trails that have been improved, we have decided to reopen the hiking trail to Mount Slamet through Bambangan in Kutabawa starting March 2," Prayitno, tourism department head of the Purbalingga Tourism, Sports and Youth Agency, told kompas.com on Friday. 

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The trail had previously been closed since Jan. 10 as part of an effort to improve the ecosystem balance in the area and preserve the flora and fauna.

"Following massive hiking activities over New Year's Eve, the trail needed to be rehabilitated, hence it was closed temporarily," said Prayitno.

The agency is said to have deployed two workers to guard the first hiking post and attend to cleanup activities and the maintenance of plants. 

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Vietnam - Ha Long Bay footage on American channel wows viewers

 A short video-clip on Ha Long Bay aired by ABC News drew admiring comments and ‘likes’ from viewers.

The video of limestone karst mountains rising spectacularly from turquoise waters in the northern province of Quang Ninh was broadcast by the American channel Tuesday.

The footage was filmed by reporter David Muir, who commented: "And looking out the window, the incredible sight. The limestone formations as far as we could see. And from the ground, the tour boats dwarfed by those formations."

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Viewers were impressed too. As of Friday, the video had been watched by 4,000 people.

"Thank you for sharing the beauty of Vietnam," said Victoria Heim.

"My wife and I had our second honeymoon there. The place looks so beautiful from September to November. We booked a luxury tour boat and spent 3 days there," said Frank.

"Looks just beautiful, UNESCO heritage sites are always worth the time to visit," wrote Stella Bar.

Ha Long Bay has been one of Vietnam's biggest tourism magnets for some time now. U.S. travel guide site Smarter Travel has described it as one of the best ecological spots in the world, while Business Insider has advised that an overnight Ha Long cruise trip is a "must-try" travel experience in Asia.

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The bay was a shooting site for Hollywood blockbuster "Kong: Skull Island" which hit local theaters in 2017.

Americans are among the top foreign visitors to Vietnam, with 687,226 arrivals last year, an 11 percent year-on-year increase.

Thanks to simplified visa requirements, Vietnam has emerged among the fastest-growing international travel destinations for Americans, who are big spenders in the country, shelling out on average $3,233 per trip, according to a survey released last year by travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth.

Source - VN Express

#Brazil tops TripAdvisor ranking of best beaches 2019

Brazil has bagged bragging rights to being home to best beach in the world thanks to Baia do Sancho, which took the top spot on TripAdvisor's annual Travelers' Choice Awards. 

The ranking is based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches over a 12-month period. 

Baia do Sancho outranked 352 beaches for the top spot and is described by TripAdvisor members as "magical," "extraordinary" and "paradisiac." 

The top 10 beaches are distributed throughout the Western part of the world, with the conspicuous absence of any destinations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East or Oceania. 

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Here are the top 10 beaches 2019 according to TripAdvisor: 

1. Baia do Sancho, Brazil
2. Varadero Beach, Cuba 
3. Eagle Beach, Aruba
4. La Concha Beach, Spain
5. Grace Bay Beach, Turks & Caicos
6. Clearwater Beach, Florida
7. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Sicily
8. Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
9. Playa Norte, Mexico
10. Seven Mile Beach, Jamaica  

Source - TheJakartaPost 

#Indonesia - Bromo park closes volcano to all visitors for Nyepi

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) is closing all public access to Mount Bromo for 24 hours from 5 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) on March 7 to 5 a.m. on March 8 to respect the local Hindu observance of Nyepi (Day of Silence).

Mount Bromo is home to the Tengger indigenous tribe, which follows a unique form of Hinduism that shares some similarities with Balinese Hinduism.

"The closure of all tourism at Mount Bromo is to respect all Hindus who are observing Nyepi," TNBTS agency head John Kenedie said in a statement on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.

The closure affects all access to the mountain, including the entrance gates of the National Park Management Resort (RPTN) Cemorolawang in Tengger Laut Pasir (Tengger Sand Sea), the RPTN Mount Pananjakan and the RPTN Coban Trisula.

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Access routes will be closed to Mount Bromo from Ngadas village in Sukapura district, Probolinggo, and Wonokitri village in Tosari district, Pasuruan. Access routes from Malang and Lumajang to Blok Jemplang will also be closed.

The closure applies to public access points within an 8-kilometer radius of Bromo, from the entrance gates in Ngadas village, Wonokitri village and Blok Jemplang to the Sand Sea. 

Mount Bromo is an active volcano that stands at a height of 2,329 meters above sea level area in the Tengger massif, which stretches across the four regencies of Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Lumajang and Malang. 

Source - TheJakartaPost

Sky high at #Myanmar’s Inle Lake

Myanmar’s Inle Lake has enchanted tourists for decades with its floating gardens and graceful leg-rowing fisherman, but experts warn it’s drying up and urgent action is needed to avoid disaster. Each year around 200,000 foreigners and one million locals visit Inle.

Many criss-cross the lake on small wooden boats to visit stilted villages of the Intha ethnic minority, others glide overhead in hot-air balloons.

But there is a darker side to this seemingly bucolic idyll, says Martin Michalon – a researcher into the impact of development on the lake – as farmers race to produce higher yields, pesticides and fertilisers slowly poison the water.

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Source - PhnomPenhPost

#Cambodia - Japanese eye hospitality investment in Kampot province

Kampot province welcomed 1.6 million tourists last year.

Japanese investors announced yesterday their intention to invest in a bungalow development covering four hectares of land in Kampot province.

The delegation of Japanese businesspeople announced their plans during a meeting with Chea Tay, the governor of Kampot province.

The project will be located in Traeuy Kaoh commune in Kampot district.

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The provincial governor supported the project, adding that he wants to see more projects in the hospitality sector to meet rising demand from tourists.

Soy Sinol, director of Kampot’s tourism department, confirmed the investment plans but had no details to share.

“All we know is that they have a clear intention to invest in the project, but they haven’t told us any details about the project itself, such as the groundbreaking date or the capital that will be invested,”  he said.

“It is possible that they just need more time to study the project and that when they finish they will reveal more.

“We hope the project will serve to attract more tourists from Japan as we are now focusing on making Kampot more beautiful and green,” Mr Sinol added.

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Kampot city – together with Battambang, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, Kep, Kampong Cham, and Doun Penh, a district of Phnom Penh – all received the top accolade, three romdul flowers, at this year’s edition of the government’s National Clean City Contest.

In 2018, Kampot province received 1.6 million tourists, 10 percent of which were foreign nationals, according to Mr Sinol.

Source - Khmer Times

#Vietnam - Son Doong Cave an incredible find

The Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh Province is among the most incredible places in the world recently found, The Telegraph says.

The cave, part of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam, is the world’s largest, but it did not feature on Vietnam’s tourism map until it was opened for tourists in 2013.

The Telegraph has included the once-hidden cave on the list of 11 newly-discovered places that are worth an amazing exploration journey.

Son Doong opened to tourists in 2013, four years after members of the British Cave Research Association concluded their initial exploration and declared it the world's largest cave.

The five kilometer-long system, which is 150 meters high and 200 meters wide, contains at least 150 individual caves, a dense subterranean jungle and several underground rivers.

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 Due to limited space, registration for Son Doong tours must be made well in advance. According to Oxalis, now the only company licensed to bring tourists to the cave, only 300 spaces are available for 2019 tours.

A four-day expedition costs $3,000, and there are bus routes running from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, the capital town of Quang Binh, and then to the park.

The Quang Binh government recently raised the limit for number of tourists allowed to visit the cave from 640 to 900 a year.

Other incredible places that are recent finds include the Pico da Neblina mountain in Brazil, Xianren Bridge in China, Cape Melville in Australia, Machu Picchu citadel in Peru and Mount Mabu in Mozambique.

Last month, the U.K.-based travel guide publisher, Lonely Planet, named Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh among the best places to visit in 2019.

The New York Times has named it among the world’s top eight travel destinations, while the National Geographic has called it a "natural wonder."

 Source - VN Express

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#Cambodia - Siem Reap welcomes plans for aquarium, sanctuary

Siem Reap will be home to a $70-million aquarium and wildlife sanctuary project that seeks to become a new tourist draw for the province.

Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium, a joint venture of Cambodian, Japanese and US investors, announced the project on Monday during a meeting with Siem Reap’s governor Tea Seiha.

Roger Reynolds, member of the board of directors at Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium, said the project will comprise freshwater and saltwater fish displays as well as a wildlife sanctuary.

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The project will be located on 100 hectares on land in Sout Nikom district.

“The project will provide employment for many local people,” Mr Reynolds said.

“It is divided into three phases. Phase 1 will use $20 million. Construction of this phase will start in March and will be operational by the end of 2020.

“Besides helping to develop the national economy, the project will educate local and international visitors about the environment and the conservation of natural resources by introducing guests to rare aquatic species so that they can see and understand the natural resources of the country,” Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Seiha said Siem Reap welcomes the project.

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“The company must now cooperate with relevant departments and authorities to move forward. It must review the location of the project to avoid delays in construction in the future and it must ensure it adheres to the law.”

Source - Khmer Times

Chinese diplomats demand improved #Pattaya safety

                                 A delegation of Chinese Embassy diplomats from Bangkok visited Pattaya on Tuesday to seek more information and request upgrades on safety for Chinese citizens when visiting the city.

The visit follows a concerning rise in the number of deaths from Chinese people drowning around Pattaya.

Manager Online reported that diplomat Zhou Guangxu spoke to Pattaya tourist police yesterday, saying that a large number of Chinese people would be visiting over Chinese New Year from February 4-10 and is seeking better care of his compatriots, especially swimmers, people on tour boats or those doing water sports. He also called for safety checks on boats and buses.

He noted that 80 per cent of drowning victims in Pattaya were Chinese.

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In response, the Pattaya authorities and police promised better signage, especially on speedboats, and improved communication advising Chinese tourists about any dangers.

Zhou asked for shops renting motorbikes to only rent to tourists with proper international licences. And he requested that more officials be brought in that could speak Chinese as few Chinese visitors spoke Thai or English.

Source - TheNation

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#Cambodia - Close to the edge: Hair raising pictures from Kulen Mountain

A new hair raising attraction on Kulen Mountain has finally opened to the public, with people flocking to the protruding cliff edge overlooking green mountainous forests to take photographs.

The giant overhanging rock is situated in an area known as Mahendraparvata – an ancient city of the Khmer Empire era in Cambodia only uncovered in 2012 – with views extending over the beautiful and luscious Phnom Kulen National Park. Its moon-like cratered surface only adds to the otherworldly feel.

Van Vorng, 35, a security guard stationed near the attraction, warns families with children and those suffering from acrophobia (a fear of heights) to be cautious.

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“We are worried about people’s safety because the cliff is quite high. People could easily become too bold and fall off, especially when taking photographs carelessly,” he said.

Vorng, a resident of a village on Kulen Mountain, said a popular activity among tourists and locals is a night time picnic and camping under the stars.

“If tourists are worried about their safety at night, they can ask for us to stand guard. Everyone who comes here must clean up after themselves to protect the environment,” he said.

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Kulen Mountain is formed of sandstone and is an isolated chain of small mountain plateau’s lying south of the Dangrek Mountains, 48km north of Siem Reap town in Siem Reap province.

The range stretches for approximately 40km and its highest point is 487m.

This site was added to Cambodia’s national Tentative List for World Heritage on September 1, 1992, is being considered for World Heritage criteria. The effort continued in 2016 when over 300 families were removed from already crowded areas and existing facilities for tourists were upgraded.

Source - PnhomPenhPost

Tourists flee Thai islands as Tropical Storm Pabuk looms

Tens of thousands of tourists have fled the Thai resort islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in a mass exodus ahead of Tropical Storm Pabuk which is set to bring heavy rains, wind and seven-meter waves, officials said Thursday.

The islands, hugely popular with holiday-makers especially during the peak Christmas and New Year season, have emptied out since Wednesday as tourists packed onto ferries bound for the southern Thai mainland, with swimming banned and boats set to suspend services.

Pabuk, Thailand's first tropical storm in the area outside of the monsoon season for around 30 years, is poised to batter Koh Phangan and Koh Tao as well as Koh Samui on Friday night, before cutting into the mainland.

No official evacuation order has been given but tourists are leaving in droves.

"I think the islands are almost empty... between 30,000 to 50,000 have left since the New Year's Eve countdown parties," Krikkrai Songthanee, Koh Phangnan district chief, told AFP.

The acting mayor of Koh Tao, one of Southeast Asia's finest diving spots, said boats to Chumphon on the mainland were crammed with tourists, but several thousand guests were still on the island likely to brave the storm.

Pabuk was packing winds of 104 kilometers per hour (65 mph) but was unlikely to intensify into a full blown typhoon, according to forecasters.

"But we expect waves as high as five or seven meters near the eye of the storm. Normally in the Gulf of Thailand there are only two metre high waves," Phuwieng Prakammaintara, director general at the Thai Meteorological Department, told reporters.

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"It's difficult to predict the severity of the storm so people should comply with authorities' recommendations."

On Koh Samui, the closest of the trio of islands, a Russian man drowned on Wednesday after his family ignored warnings not to go into the sea.

"A family of three went swimming but the strong current caught a 56-year-old man who drowned," Police Captain Boonnam Srinarat of Samui Police told AFP.

"Island officials announced the warning and put up the red 'danger' flags... but maybe the family did not think the situation was that serious."

Authorities on the island said they were preparing shelters for any tourists who decide to wait out the storm.

Pabuk, which means a giant catfish in Lao, is also expected to dump heavy rain across the south, including tourist hotspots in the Andaman Sea such as Krabi and the southernmost provinces bordering Malaysia of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Relieve your holiday stress with seven simple steps

The holidays are an exciting time for many, but for others, it’s a time filled with a lot of stress. Whether grappling with never-ending to-do lists, shopping for gifts or decorating your home, things can quickly get overwhelming.

According to the American global health insurance company Cigna’s 360° Well-Being Survey for 2018, Indonesia is one of the world’s least-stressed nations. Only 75 percent of people say they suffer from stress, compared to a global average of 86 percent. But this percentage often goes up during the holiday season.

If you’re currently feeling the holiday stress, look no further. We’ll cover seven steps you can take to keep your holiday stress in check.

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Start with a plan

Planning for the holiday season is the first step to reducing stress. Speaking of the gift-exchange tradition, you may want to avoid last-minute shopping sprees, so that you can spend more time with your loved ones.

Buy your gifts a few weeks before the holidays. Decide which stores you’ll visit and how much time you’ll spend shopping. If you plan on buying online, order everything days in advance to avoid shipping delays.

Traveling during the holidays? Be sure to plan for that as well. Despite the rainy and slightly higher temperatures in December, places like Bali and Jakarta become crowded during the holiday season.

Give yourself enough time to plan how you will travel, where you will stay and what activities you’ll do. Stick to your plan as closely as possible, but be flexible to change your plan if something doesn’t go right.

Keep your finances in check

The holiday season is also a time when everyone expects to spend a lot of money. Even though spending money during this time of year is inevitable, you can keep things under control by creating a budget.

Take some time to review your finances and figure out how much you can spend on gifts. Don’t buy expensive items that could affect your ability to cover your bills. You can also think of creative gifts that don’t involve money.

For example, you can offer to help a family member set up decoration or babysit your friend’s child for a weekend, so they can spend quality time with their partner. They’ll appreciate you for it.

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Set aside time for yourself

Giving yourself some alone time is another excellent way to manage seasonal stress. You need to set some time during the day to relax and clear your mind. Even if it's just 30 minutes, you’ll feel a lot better when you allow yourself some alone time.

There are many ways to unwind. You can go out to a park and enjoy nature, find a quiet place in your home, or listen to music. It doesn’t matter what you do. Just find something that will get your mind off all the commotion of the holidays.

If you live in Jakarta, you can visit mangrove forest in Pantai Indah Kapuk to get some alone time. The place has a relaxing atmosphere and is perfect for escaping the holiday crowd in the city center. Or better yet, you can go to Bogor for a quick escape.

Get physical

Exercise might be the last thing on your mind during the holiday season, but it can help you reduce your stress level and improve your mood. You don’t have to do intense, long workouts to feel the benefits of exercise.

Start with a goal of doing at least 15 minutes of physical activity at least three times a week. You can pick any exercise you want — whether it's walking, jogging, biking, swimming or other sport. Stick to a routine, and you’ll notice yourself feeling a lot more relaxed during the holidays.

If you don’t have a gym membership, you can also use the holiday season as a reason to get one. Instead of waiting for the new year, start your membership weeks before the holidays begin. Doing so will help you build the habit of exercise into your daily schedule.

Watch what you eat

While it’s important to keep your body in shape, you should also keep track of what you eat. It’s very tempting to overindulge in unhealthy food when you’re feeling stressed out, but this can do more harm than good.

Instead of filling up on unhealthy snacks and fatty foods, add some fruits and vegetables to your diet. If you’re hosting a holiday dinner, you can also change your recipe to offer your guests healthier options.

Eating an occasional candy bar or dessert is okay. Just don’t overdo it. Keep your consumption of junk food moderate and you’ll feel a lot better about yourself.

Express more gratitude

One way to feel less stressed during the holidays is to think about all the people and things that make you feel grateful. Research shows that people who practice daily gratitude live happier and healthier lives.

Gratitude also helps you build stronger relationships and enjoy positive experiences. There’s always something to be grateful for, whether it's your family, friends, community or pets.

The more you can appreciate what you already have, the less stress you’ll feel over the holidays. You’ll also be able to put everything into perspective and see that things aren’t as bad as you imagine them to be.

Get professional help if you need it

If you’ve tried everything you can but still end up feeling stressed and irritable, then it may be a sign of a bigger problem, such as depression. In this case, the best option would be to contact a doctor or mental health professional.

Your doctor will be able to explain different strategies you can use to improve your mood and prescribe medication if needed.

Summing up the above, you should be ready that things may not always go as you wish during the holidays. That’s okay — you don’t need to drive yourself crazy trying to make everything perfect. Take the pressure off yourself and accept things as they happen.

If you’re unable to visit your friends or family over the holiday season for whatever reason, you can still keep in touch with them through technology. Send a thoughtful text message, call them or use social media to stay in touch.

Surrounding yourself with those who care about you will not only put you in the holiday spirit, but it will also relieve your stress quickly.

Source - TheJakartaPost

First ever ‘Elephant Travel Mart 2018’ to promote ecotourism in Thailand

A new ecotourism event, Elephant Travel Mart 2018, jointly hosted by ‘Save Elephant Foundation’ and ‘Asian Elephant Projects’, aims to bring together ethical elephant tour operators and tour agencies in Chiang Mai on December 14.

The event, taking place at Khum Kan Toke, Chiang Mai, is conceived by the founder of ‘Save Elephant Foundation’, Sangduen Chailert (Lek), who works tirelessly for the wellbeing of Thailand’s elephants.

Elephant tourism has long been associated with Thailand by travelers from around the globe and helps to attract millions of visitors to the country each year. However, there has been a growing trend away from traditional forms of elephant tourism (such as elephant riding and circus shows) towards ethical elephant tours offering programs that are sustainable and make the well-being of elephants a priority.

Ecotourism values promoting modes of travel with minimal impact on the environment are becoming more widespread, particularly among young people. A growing concern for the environment and for the welfare of animals is changing the landscape of tourism across many tourist destinations throughout the world – a positive change that presents significant opportunities.

A key goal of Elephant Travel Mart 2018 is to provide a venue to bring people together to discuss how the travel industry can continue to adapt to respond to this trend and better meet the shifting demands of travelers.

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Lek Chailert suggests that, “If ethical tour operators using environmentally sound practices and tour agencies work together in response to the demand for sustainable ecotourism in Thailand, a mutually beneficial relationship can be achieved that will create widespread benefits for the elephants, the environment, small communities, and the Thai economy.”

The event will begin with a thank you address to the audience by Lek, followed by an opening ceremony, including a performance by the Chiang Mai College of Dramatic Arts. Elephant tour operators and travel agencies will then meet to discuss potential opportunities for working together.

At the event, there will be 30 booths representing the ‘Saddle Off’ projects promoted by Asian Elephant Projects. Each booth will provide details about their project and hand out brochures and souvenirs to visitors. There will also be lucky draw prizes offering free gift vouchers to visit the various ‘Saddle Off’ projects throughout Chiang Mai province.

In the evening, dinner will be served and entertainment provided by various Thai stars including Rose Sirinthip, Baitoey R-SIAM, King The Star, and Bow Benjasiri. The winners of the lucky prize draw will then be announced. The event will end with a closing address by Prof. Prayat Vorapreecha, Honorary Counselor of Save Elephant Foundation.

It is hoped that this event will provide an important opportunity to exchange and develop ideas as well as build relationships between members of the travel industry in order to take full advantage of the growing popularity of ecotourism.

“The success of this event holds the potential to positively impact the welfare of elephants in Thailand, protect and improve the environment, and provide support to local communities,” concludes Ms. Chailert.

For more information visit saveelephant.org, asianelephantprojects.com. 

Source - TheThager

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Maya Bay made famous by The Beach film closed indefinitely to tourists

A beach in Thailand made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film is to close indefinitely.

Authorities in the country announced earlier this year that they were closing Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi island for four months in a bid to help it recover from the effects of tourism.

However following a survey, it was found that in order for the island to fully cover from erosion and pollution, the beach would have to close indefinitely.

A statement from the Department of National Parks said: “The ecosystem and the beach’s physical structure have yet returned to its full condition until natural resources return to normal.”

The spot on the island was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, directed by Danny Boyle. It’s become a bucket list location for those travelling to Thailand.

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Environmentalists say that heavy traffic from boats and increasing numbers of visitors have damaged the beach and surrounding area’s ecosystem. 

Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat from Bangkok’s Kasetsart University told the South China Morning Post: “When I first came here 38 years ago, this place was heaven. This was all coral once but now there is nothing.”

Up until its closure, the island was seeing up to 5,000 tourists visiting the spot each day.

The news comes as the Philippines prepares to reopen Boracay after it also became inundated with tourists.

Boracay has been closed for six months and is set to officially reopen on October 26.

An environment official said that only 19,000 tourists will be allowed in Boracay on any given day.

Water and leisure activities including drinking on the beach will be prohibited.

Source - Evening Standard

#Thailand - Bid to replant Maya Bay coral hit by monsoon

EFFORTS to restore coral at Maya Bay have been hampered by a strong monsoon and rough sea conditions, resulting in the survival of only 10 per cent of replanted coral.

Two months ago the bay area – one of Thailand’s most famous tourist attractions at Had Nopparat Tara- Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi – was closed to all visitors in an effort to re-grow the heavily damaged coral reef.

 The transplanting operation has not met expectations, says the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP). However, other efforts to restore the environment and plan for properly managed tourism activities are going according to plan.

The bay was closed to all tourism activities on June 1, following an agreement between the DNP and local tourism operators. It is hoped that the four-month closure will heal some of the environmental damage to the bay and the surrounding area caused by excessive tourism.

Maya Bay once had a large, colorful, and biologically diverse coral reef. But heavy boat traffic in recent years, combined with excessive tourism activities nearby, have nearly annihilated the entire coral reef. A key part of the recovery effort is aimed at regenerating the coral reefs lying just metres under the waters of the beach, which became famous as the location for the 2000 film “The Beach”.
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Park officers and marine biology experts are working hard to encourage regrowth of the rich marine ecosystems and allow the natural beauty to again bloom for the reopening in October, says Worapoj Lomlim, chief of Had Nopparat Tara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. 

Worapoj says that, so far, the officers have achieved satisfactory progress on the natural regeneration on land. However, the underwater part of the operation has faced major problems from strong monsoons and rough seas, which have damaged most of the replanted coral and eroded the bay’s signature white sandy beach.

Their first try at transplanting produced mixed results.

 The team has successfully replanted 512 colonies of coral in the bay, says Thikamphon Wongthawatchai, a marine biologist at Marine National Parks Operation Centre 3, who was worked on the coral reef restoration since the operation began.

“We replanted corals by collecting the living branches of broken corals from nearby areas and then attaching them to rocks, which we placed on the sandy floor of the bay, so the corals would grow,” Thikamphon explained.

“However, the unexpected strong waves during this monsoon season have washed the corals from the rocks and buried them in the sand, so most of the replanted corals died. Only around 10 per cent of corals, which were replanted deep enough to escape the force of waves, survived.”

Despite the high mortality rate of the replanted coral at Maya Bay, he says there was still hope for restoring the bay’s coral reef. 

 Even after the bay reopens to visitors in October, all boats are prohibited from entering the bay. Saved from the daily assault of boat traffic, the coral reefs might naturally regenerate and gradually recolonise the bay to their previous abundance.

Thikamphon said the coral replanting task would continue until October. Having learned from the mistakes of the first two months, the team was confident that future patches of replanted coral would have a higher survival rate.

Meanwhile, on the issue of managing tourism after the bay reopens, Worapoj says the national park would not allow boats to enter the bay and tourist boats will be required to dock at a new floating pier in Loh Sama Bay. Passengers could reach Maya beach from the rear.

“We have not decided on the final plan of the new pier yet, but … the pier will be a floating pier, which would be large enough to moor eight boats at a time. There will be no solid structure built into the sea,” he said.

“We also have a plan to limit the number of tourists at Maya Bay, but we have not reached a conclusion on this issue yet.”

Sourse - TheNation

Forget Aspen. Carbondale is Colorado’s hottest summer playground

Barely 30 miles northwest of Aspen, in the shadow of the majestic Elk Mountains, tiny Carbondale is becoming Colorado’s most exciting summer destination.

True, the town has more family-owned cattle ranches than Michelin stars, and there are still more farm stands than white tablecloth spots. The restaurant best poised to elevate the town’s status doesn’t even have a proper dining room.

Instead, at the Guest House, French Laundry alumna Seth O’Donovan serves her experimental farm dinners outdoors, usually next to a horse paddock or in a roomy tree house that surveys 1,200 acres of pristine Colorado pastures. Meals include savory links of deer sausage served with soft, house-made cheese and a mind-bending dessert of carrots with butter and cinnamon, cooked to the point where they almost resemble pie filling. 

Those who come for her experimental, starlit dinners can roll into an assortment of rustic cabins on the property, many of which date back to the 1940s. In two years, O’Donovan aims to turn the main house on her property into a five-star, eight-room hotel.

Some of Aspen’s best chefs are catching on. Down on Main Street, a new izakaya is soon to be opened by Aspen sushi master Kenichi Kanada. Down the same road, Mladen Todorovic and Kyle Raymond, two transplants from Aspen’s seafood-centric Grey Lady and brunch favorite Over Easy—are collaborating on Roosters, which will soon serve crepes in the morning and rotisserie-based entrees by night. “The produce that we can get in the summer in Colorado is amazing. We want to accentuate that,” Raymond told the Sopris Sun, a Carbondale newsweekly.

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