'Red lights' as over-tourism threatens Corsican nature reserve

Tourists wait for tour boats on the port of Porto, near Ota, on August 19, 2019, to go on a cruise in the Scandola Nature Reserve, on the western coast of the French Mediterranean island of Corsica.

 "It's nature's magical design," says a tourist guide, waxing poetic as he comments on the impressive red cliffs plunging into a turquoise sea at the Scandola nature reserve on France's Corsica island.

"Amazing!" exclaims Irena Snydrova, a Czech tourist visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site with her family, along with groups from Italy, Spain and France.

Their boat sidles up to the Steps of Paradise, rocks shaped into a stairway some 15 meters long, then glides on to Bad Luck Pass, a former pirates' redoubt.

The ages have sculpted the volcanic cliffs into myriad shapes that beguile the visitor, who might imagine a kissing couple here, a horse's head there, Napoleon's two-cornered hat further on...

The park, created in 1975, is an ecological dream, being a nature reserve and a protected marine zone that is listed by France's coastal protection agency and Natura 2000, in addition to its recognition by UNESCO.

It is a prime destination for the some three million people who visit Corsica each year, 75 percent of them in the summer.

The paradox is that growing numbers of tourists are drawn to Scandola's pristine waters and stunning geological vistas, endangering its fragile ecosystem.

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 The park, reached only by boat some 40 minutes from the tiny port of Porto, stretches over 10 square kilometers of sea, and a somewhat smaller area of land.

"The reserve is a jewel for Corsica and the Mediterranean, but several red lights are flashing," says marine biologist Charles-Francois Boudouresque, listing flora and fauna at risk, including ospreys, seagrass and fish species such as the brown meagre.

The tourist season coincides with the ospreys' mating season, notes Boudouresque, an emeritus professor at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography.

Because of over-tourism, ospreys' "reproductive success is zero or near zero, with either no chicks or just one chick" per year, he says.

 

 Golden egg'

 

Since last month, at the urging of the scientific council, boats must keep a distance of at least 250 meters from ospreys' nests during the breeding season. 

"It's a good start," Boudouresque says.

As for the marine park's fish species, Boudouresque says he thinks the thrumming of the tourist boats is scaring them away.

But a crew member, who gave his name only as Diego, blamed groupers for the declining population of corb. "They eat everything," he told AFP.

Boudouresque says the seagrass "is not in the best shape," blaming the anchors dropped by the many boats -- some of them private vessels without authorized guides.

"It's bizarre for a nature reserve to see all these boats," said Pierre Gilibert, a 65-year-old doctor, who is a regular visitor. "It might be wise to allow access only to professional boats."

Many share the opinion that private boats are not sufficiently monitored or informed of ecological concerns. 

"This morning we saw people climbing on the rocks and berthing their boats in narrow passageways, which is not allowed," said Gabriel Pelcot, chief mechanic on a cruise ship of the Corsican company Nave Va.

Nave Va, as well as rival Via Mare, uses hybrid vessels: they are powered by diesel up to the edge of the marine park, then switch to electric for a quieter and less polluting presence.

Pelcot notes that this green option is 30 percent more expensive, but he expects it to catch on.

"We must find a compromise between the need for tourists to enjoy this natural treasure and that of not killing the goose that laid the golden egg," Boudouresque says.

The marine biologist is optimistic that general awareness of the problems is growing.

He envisions ways to marry tourism with preservation. One example, he says, would be to focus cameras on ospreys' nests so that they can be observed without being disturbed.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Ivory Coast's 'Floating Island' points to greener tourism

View of the resort on an artificial island made with around 700 000 recycled plastic waste collected in the surrounding area, on the Ebrie Lagoon in Abidjan, on August 6, 2019. 

 The seaside resort offers visitors a cool drink or tasty meal, a dip in a pool, a karaoke session or an overnight stay, all with a view.

Nothing much new there, you may say -- creature comforts like this are pretty much standard in tropical hotels.

The big difference, though, is that this mini resort is also a moveable island that floats on plastic bottles.

Riding on the laguna in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic hub, the unusual complex floats on a platform made from 700,000 discarded bottles and other buoyant debris.

Its inventor, Frenchman Eric Becker, says his creation can help greener, more mobile tourism -- something less harmful to seas and coastlines than traditional fixed, concrete resorts.

His "Ile Flottante" -- French for "Floating Island" -- comprises two thatched bungalows and a restaurant with a bar, two small pools, trees and shrubs and a circular walkway, spread out over 1,000 square meters.

Visitors are brought to the moored island by a boat. Water is provided by a pipe from the shore. Electricity is supplied by solar panels, backed by a generator.

The island is bigger than a moored boat and handier than a jetty as it can also be taken to other locations, Becker told AFP.

"It really is an artificial island that floats -- you can move it."

Becker, a former computer entrepreneur, first toyed with the idea of building a catamaran.

But it was when he came to Abidjan and saw the lagoon that the vision of a floating, moveable island came into his mind -- and he sold everything he owned to achieve it.

The first step was to forage for everything floatable -- "plastic bottles, bits of polystyrene, even beach sandals". 

Bemused locals gave him the nickname of "Eric Bidon" -- a word that has a subtle dual meaning of jerrycan and phoney.

"We bought disused bottles off people, we foraged for them in the lagoon. After a while, we learned to follow the wind and find the places where floating rubbish accumulates," he said.

Eco-break

After living on his island for a number of years, Becker turned it into a hotel last year.

He has around 100 customers a week, mostly curious Ivorians or ecologically-friendly tourists.

Others want a relaxing break from the bustling city and to use its swimming pools -- taking a dip in the lagoon, fouled by industrial pollution and sewage outflows is an act for the foolhardy.

"When you're competing with major hotels, you need an original idea like a floating island. It's become a tourist attraction," said Mathurin Yao Saky, a friend who has been advising Becker on the scheme.

Charles Moliere, a 28-year-old Frenchman who works in Ivory Coast for a large corporation, read about the resort in a guidebook.

"It's very original, it's a very untypical place -- I've seen nothing like it elsewhere," he said.

"I think it's a neat idea to give a second life to plastic like this and to make a kind of small technical breakthrough. I like this place a lot."

The island charges 15,000 CFA francs ($25, 23 euros) per person per day, which includes a meal and the ferry, and 60,000 CFA francs for a night. 

Hamed Kone, a computer engineer, said he was visiting the complex after discovering it online.

"It's the ecological qualities which impress me most -- these days, people are talking more and more about the environment," he said.

Becker "has transformed city rubbish into a pleasant place," said Kone. "It's an idea whose time has come. I hope it inspires other people."

Becker says his 200-tonne island could be a prototype for all sorts of projects.

It is ideal for the sheltered waters of lagoons -- shallow bodies of water separated from the ocean by narrow reefs or barrier islands.

 "People could live (on floating islands) in lagoons that are pollution-free, and live from fish farming," he said.

Green and greener

Anything that involves human activity always carries an environmental cost, and Becker readily acknowledged that his idea was not totally green, but greener.

One concern is that the scheme also adds to the lagoon's chronic pollution problem.

The city of Abidjan releases untreated effluent into the lagoon -- the mini resort does the same right now, although Becker is testing technology intended to turn human waste into compost.

Even clearing the lagoon of all the floating plastic and debris is not enough, Becker said.

"But what is nice about this concept is that we are taking something negative -- plastic bottle pollution -- and turning it into something positive. If only all of us could do this on an individual scale."

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Russia to introduce free e-visa for Saint Petersburg area from October

European travelers will soon be able to visit Saint Petersburg and the surrounding areas with an e-visa, the finer administrative details of which should be finalized imminently.

Following a new decree seeking to lighten the bureaucratic load of entering and departing the Russian Federation for foreigners, travelers heading to Russia for tourist, humanitarian or business reasons can visit Peter the Great's former imperial capital by applying online for a free visa, which will be valid for 30 days, and allow an eight-day stay in the Saint Petersburg area. The list of eligible European nationalities has not yet been revealed.

With the launch of the new visa, Russia continues to open its borders to tourism. This follows the introduction of a visa opening the doors to the Kaliningrad enclave, located between Poland and Lithuania. A total of 53 nationalities are eligible for the latter, while citizens of 18 non-European countries (such as Japan and Qatar) are eligible for the Vladivostok area e-visa.

Generally speaking, travelers can visit Russia by applying for a visa through their local Russian diplomatic missions. The document is valid for a maximum stay of thirty days, and conditional upon proof of hotel arrangements from an authorized Russian travel company, or directly from a Russian hotel with the reference number and confirmation number for the visa.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Cambodia - Day TripPER on Ten Bucks

It is a Friday night and you are feeling blue, stressed out after five days of work. A day trip over your long-awaited weekend would effectually bring you back to life. Yet, you have busted your budget this month and think you can’t afford the journey. So, you remain indoors all weekend listening to the off-key neighbour doing karaoke. Fact is, a good trip in and around Phnom Penh doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Taing Rinith sets his compass for a one-day trip. The price, he attests, is only 10 dollars.

Packing the night before

This $10-budget plan for a person is based on one assumption: that you have a vehicle with a tank optimistically half-full to avoid spending during your journey. Therefore, you should more cash on you in addition to the banknote bearing the portrait of Alexander Hamilton.

It is wise to prepare for your trip before setting off in the morning. Carrying too much weight can cause discomfort. Items recommended are: fill a small backpack with one change of outfit, a hand towel, a swimsuit, a bottle of water and a raincoat, and maybe your favourite book or e-reader. You should also bring a picnic blanket or a small mat with you. Sleep early because you will need a lot of energy tomorrow.

7:00am-9:00am

An artistic Breakfast

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 Begin your day by visiting the Royal University of Fine Arts, just across from the National Museum. The oldest university in Cambodia and the heart of the Art Street, RUFA can also be described as a museum without an entrance fee. In its peaceful and quiet compound, you can admire the artworks crafted by its outstanding graduates. Even during the weekends, you are able to see the industrious students working on their sculptures and paintings and listening to their nice music. Yet, don’t do that until you have slurped down a $1.5 bowl of Kuy Teav (Chinese noodle) with beef and meatball in the university canteen, which is filling and a famed delicacy in the locale. Don’t forget to order a bento of takeout rice with fried chicken and egg, also $1.5, for your lunch.

9:00am-10:30am

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Next, you have to head to Koh Dach, a natural isle on the Mekong River. To reach it from Phnom Penh, drive to Chroy Chongvar peninsular and then board a ferry at the pier about 5km from the Chroy Chongvar bridge. The ride, costing only 1,000 riels, itself is quite enjoyable with a simple but fetching view of the mighty river, especially from the top of the ferry. It takes only about 10 minutes. On the island, you will also find driving along the concrete road, lined with tropical trees and flowers, plantations and country houses, another pleasant experience.

10:30am-3:00pm

Lunch bites at the Love Plantation

Your next destination is Chomkar Sneh (translates as Love Plantation), a resort popular among cyclists. Entrance fee is only $0.50 for local and $1 for foreigner. Although it is designed to attract lovey-dovey singles, others too will find the visit worthwhile. Apart from lovely trees and flowers, there is a mini zoo, a swimming pool, sculptures and more. At noon, you can have your bento lunch in one of the huts built high from the ground, modelled after ethnic housing in the northern region of the country.

3:00am-5:00pm

Life is a Beach

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Yes, you heard right. A beach just outside of Phnom Penh. From Chomkar Sneh and after a rest, head back to the pier and then go south. After about 30 minutes, you will reach Koh Dach Beach Resort. The white sand of the natural beach on the tip of the island, just off the big parking lot near the entrance, is utterly beautiful, even superior to some crowded and spoiled beaches within the country’s coastal region. There are small huts on the beach or on stilts in the water. They are usually free on non-holiday weekdays. But on weekends or holidays, you are likely to pay $5 a hut. However, you do not need to pay anything apart from the $1 entrance fee. Instead, stay on your mat or picnic blanket under a big tree and enjoy a dip in the Mekong.

5:00pm-7:00pm

Fare thee well on a river cruise

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If you strictly follow our plan, you should still have around $5 in your one-day budget, which should be enough for a cruise along the riverfront. Boats will leave from along the bank of the Tonle Sap, cruise out, across the Tonle Sap, past the southern tip of Chruoy Changvar and traverse the waters of the Mekong River. From there, the vessels cruise along the far bank of the Mekong before circling around and slowly return to Phnom Penh. The sail takes around an hour and-a-half, and if you squint into that little red rubber ball on the horizon, you can just about see all your troubles riding off into the sunset.

Source - Khmer Post

#Laos - Pakxong – a fine place to chill out

 

People who are lucky enough to spend a few days on the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos always want to return because of the pleasant climate – it never gets really hot, either in the dry or wet seasons.

The Bolaven Plateau, which is often referred to simply as Pakxong, is located in the hills of Champassak province. I feel I know the area pretty well.

A long time ago I made many visits there when my wife was working for a coffee project in Pakxong. I have never forgotten it and liked this place very much as it was always cool throughout the year, both day and night.

The town of Pakxong is about 50 kilometres from the provincial capital Pakxe. I once went there in April when it’s usually extremely hot in Laos, especially in the south. 

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I stayed at km 35 and always felt comfortable but as soon as I ventured beyond Pakxong, the temperate spiked and it was really hot.

At that time of the year, many people can’t sleep because of the hot weather. Residents of large towns such as Vientiane and Pakxe have to use air conditioning to help them sleep.

But in Pakxong there is no need to use an artificial cooling device and Mother Nature will ensure you remain comfortable. The fresh air that surrounds you throughout the night will keep you refreshed so you don’t wake up feeling exhausted.

Some Thai visitors have been known to say they don’t need to go to Europe to enjoy a cool climate but can come to Pakxong district instead.

I don’t know if things are still the same in Pakxong because I haven’t been there for 15 years. But some people who have spent time in this beautiful area recently tell me that it’s as pleasing as ever.

The Bolaven Plateau runs through Champassak province’s Pakxong district, Saravan province’s Lao-ngam, and Xekong province’s Thataeng district, and boasts a wealth of scenic beauty.

Some of the most dramatic waterfalls in Champassak are Nheuang, Fan, Phasuam, Nong Luang and Champee Nang Sida.
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There are also three more waterfalls of note in Saravan province, namely Lo, Hang and Xeset, and then there is the Sinouk Resort in Xekong province, which are all very popular with both local and foreign visitors.

The Bolaven Plateau is set to be developed as the country’s top agri-business and agri-tourism destination thanks to its year round temperate climate and picturesque landscape.

When visiting Champassak province over the past few years, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has advised officials to seek more investment from domestic and overseas sources so that the coffee industry can be further developed and other crops can be cultivated on the Bolaven Plateau and nearby.

From Vientiane, tourists can reach Champassak by either road or air transport. And thanks to shared borders with Thailand and Cambodia, there are close tourist links with both those countries.

The local food is another attraction, with a wide variety of dishes on offer that will satisfy all palates. Set a date for a visit soon!

Source - Vientiane Times

Helicopters high over Halong Bay, #Vietnam

Your visit to Vietnam’s Halong Bay, a cruising Mecca for half a century, can now be enjoyed from above. The Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company will now provide scenic flights over the famous bay, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam.

Flights will start at $125 (3,920 baht) for a 12 minute flight – that will take you over six tourist sites, including Thien Cung cave, Titop island and Bai Tu Long Bay.

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You can choose to take flights up to 40 minutes in length which will cost you $396 (12,400 baht) which will take you over 17 different landmarks around the Bay.

Halong Bay was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List 25 years ago and is filled with more than 1,600 limestone islands and islets, a similar landscape to Phang Nga Bay, north of Phuket in Thailand.

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Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

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Two Bell 505 helicopters service the Halong Bay Scenic Flight service. Flights depart from and arriving at Tuan Chau island, which is about 170 kilometres from the country’s capital Hanoi. The helicopters will carry up to three passengers per flight and promise breathtaking views thought large windows adapted for the scenic flights.

Hai Au Aviation is also operating scenic flights over Halong Bay, this time by seaplane. The 25 minute flights takes off and land from the water at Tuan Chau Island Marina. The costs for the scenic flights by seaplane are also up around the $120 (3,750 baht) mark, depending on the season and includes views of Dau Be Island, Cong Do Island and Bo Hon Island.

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Source - The Thaiger

#Vietnam - New helicopter allows aerial enjoyment of Ha Long Bay

A helicopter tour launched by a Vietnamese firm adds an extra dimension to the enjoyment of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

Starting May 10, visitors have been invited to book the Ha Long Heli Tours through Fastsky, the country’s first helicopter ride-sharing service run by ride-hailing firm FastGo.

The tour, provided by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company, uses two U.S.-made Bell-505 helicopters with five seats each.

The journey will start from the Tuan Chau heliport and go over famous Ha Long Bay attractions including the Thien Cung Cave and Ti Top Island, as well as Bai Tu Long, a lesser-known neighbor of Ha Long Bay.

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Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

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The trips, which start at $125 for a 12-minute journey, aim to tap the growing number of tourists to Vietnam, mainly from China, the world's second biggest economy, the company stated.

China has been Vietnam's main source of tourists in recent years, accounting for one third of all foreign visitors. More than four million Chinese visitors arrived in Vietnam last year, up 48.6 percent year-on-year.

Chinese visitors have also been encouraged by a new policy that allows groups to visit the border province of Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam, home to the popular Ha Long Bay, for up to three days without a visa.

The Vietnamese government has also allowed Chinese nationals to apply for 30-day single-entry electronic visas for holidays and business trips.

Visitors have two other options - 25-minute and 40-minute journeys, costing VND4 million ($172) to VND7 million ($301).

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Around four hours drive to the east of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay was recognized as world heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO, and voted among the world’s seven new natural wonders by Swiss organization New Open World in 2011.

Recent events that have heightened the bay’s attraction include the filming of "Kong: Skull Island", a Hollywood blockbuster, in 2017; and the launch of Vietnam's first private airport Van Don International Airport late last year, providing foreign tourists with easier access.

Improved infrastructure makes the UNESCO-listed bay increasingly accessible.

However, the tourism boom has also left the once-pristine bay under mounting pressure, threatened by overcrowding and trash pollution that have sparked great concern among environmentalists and heritage experts.

U.K. travel site Rough Guides recently included Ha Long Bay in the top ten UNESCO heritage sites in Asia.

In 2015 the bay was hailed by U.S. travel guide site Smarter Travel as one of the best ecological spots in the world. U.S. news site Business Insider has described an overnight Ha Long cruise trip a "must-try" travel experience in Asia.

Source - VN Expess