Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 27 — China is making multipronged efforts to ensure safe and smooth trips for passengers during the upcoming National Day holiday, the Ministry of Transport said on Friday.
In the country, the annual National Day holiday is marked by mass family reunions and a surge in travel. This year, the country’s transport sector is expected to handle over 1.9 billion passenger trips nationwide during the week-long holiday starting on Oct. 1, said Vice Minister Li Yang during a press conference.
This translates to a daily average of 277 million passenger trips during the holiday, a 19.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019, according to Li.
Specifically, Li noted that over 80 percent of these trips are expected to be made by private vehicles, while also anticipating a rising demand for mid- and long-distance travel.
Since 2012, China has waived tolls for passenger cars during major holidays, including the Spring Festival, the Tomb-Sweeping Day, the Labor Day and the National Day. The policy has significantly stimulated demand for holiday road trips.
This policy will remain effective during this year’s National Day holiday to enhance passengers’ travel experience, Li said, adding that efforts will also be made to improve facilities and services at highway rest areas.
For instance, transport authorities nationwide are accelerating the installation of charging facilities to accommodate the country’s growing number of new-energy vehicles.
A case in point is the southwest province of Sichuan, where 98.3 percent of highway rest areas had been equipped with charging poles as of August 2024, providing an overall capacity of 190,000 kilowatts.
Given the length of the holiday, cross-regional travel is expected to be prevalent during the period, with popular destinations including Beijing, Shanxi, Sichuan and Xinjiang, Li said.
Fueled by the recent blockbuster video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” north China’s Shanxi has seen a phenomenal travel boom as it is home to many of the stunning locations featured in the game. Highway travel routes encompassing many of these locations, including ancient temples, towers and pagodas, have gone viral online.
To ensure safe and smooth road transport, the local transport department has overhauled roads and transport facilities around popular tourist spots to eliminate safety risks. It has also worked with traffic bureaus to create contingency plans in case of congestion.
At the national level, Li said that the transport ministry has provided targeted instructions for local departments nationwide on developing strategies to maximize transport capacity ahead of the tourist influx.
In terms of public transport, efforts are underway to further streamline the ticket purchasing process, especially for the elderly and foreign passengers, Li added.
China’s passenger transport has been robust since the beginning of this year, with nearly 44 billion passenger trips recorded during the first eight months. The figure marked a 6.1 percent increase from the same period last year, according to data from the transport ministry.
The cultural event themed “Meet China: Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” was held Friday afternoon at Waisenhaus Square in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
Showcasing traditional Chinese culture through art performances and cultural exhibits, the “Meet China” festival is an annual celebration that began in 2015 aimed at promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding. .
Mao Jun, the charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Switzerland, highlighted the importance of “Meet China” festival in fostering China-Switzerland cultural exchanges, saying the event helps nurture the innovative partnership between the two nations, ensuring its continued healthy growth.
Mao noted that by organizing a diverse array of cultural activities, the festival provides Swiss people with more opportunities to learn about Chinese traditions and development achievements, ultimately enhancing mutual appreciation and respect between the two peoples.
The festival featured a variety of cultural performances, including Chinese dancing lions and dragons, Sichuan Opera face-changing, Chinese calligraphy, traditional musical instruments, martial arts, tea ceremonies, and Chinese cuisine. The event also included a Swiss Alphorn performance.
The festival drew hundreds of attendees, including local residents, tourists, students, and members of the Chinese community in Switzerland.
Tamara Dubach, an eighth-grade student who attended the event with her Chinese friends, told Xinhua that these activities “look very cool” and are very novel to her. “I’ll definitely come back for the next ‘Meet China’ festival,” she added.
Yu Mei, one of the event organizers, said the festival not only relieved the homesickness of the Chinese living in Switzerland, but also spread Chinese culture throughout the country. “This event helps more people understand China better,” Yu added.
Participants of the World DanceSport Festival. [photo provided to China.org.cn]
The 12th World DanceSport Festival held in Jinniu district of Chengdu, Sichuan province, from Sept. 21 to 22, provided not only local residents with an opportunity to enjoy the charms of dancing performance and sport, but also a chance for the participants of the event from around the world to experience local culture and arts.
The district government invited these participants of the event to visit the places of interests in Jinniu, including the scenic spots, entertainment parks and a regional clothing customization center. The dancers also experienced some intangible cultural heritages, learned calligraphy and played some traditional Chinese instruments during the trips.
The event and these activities represent the Jinniu government’s latest efforts to merge sport, culture, art and tourism in its endeavors to promote the district’s comprehensive socioeconomic development.
NEW YORK, 27 September 2024 – On the sidelines of the Seventy-Ninth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) convened their Sixteenth Ministerial Meeting. Co-chaired by Malaysia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the event highlighted the enduring spirit of friendship and robust cooperation between two geopolitically significant and dynamic regions.
The meeting brought together Foreign Ministers and high-level representatives from ASEAN and ECO Member States, as well as the Secretary-General of ECO and DeputySecretary-General of ASEAN. The meeting served as an opportunity to review the cooperation framework established by the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)between the ASEAN and ECO Secretariats, with a view to strengthening engagement and expanding collaboration between the two regional organisations.
In response to the challenges confronting the global community, the meeting underscored the importance of multilateralism and international law in promoting dialogue and cooperation for global peace, stability and sustainable development, as well as the need to strengthen ASEAN-ECO partnership across global and regional fora, including, among others, the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the Global South for the benefit of our peoples. In this respect, the meeting emphasised the need to enhance the ASEAN-ECO cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including finance, trade and investment, new and emerging technologies, connectivity, sustainable development, sustainable energy security and transition, agriculture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
A key milestone achieved during the meeting was the enhancement of the Framework of Cooperation (FOC) (2024-2028) between ASEAN and ECO to include the agriculture sector. The enhanced FOC will serve to foster future cooperation, particularly in areas such as halal food and food security as well as strengthen the capacity of both regions to address emerging challenges and seize new opportunities.
The meeting concluded with a call to action for both Secretariats to continue coordination towards effectively implementing the FOC. This collaboration is crucial to ensure the partnership not only thrives but also delivers tangible benefits to the peoples of both regions.
The post Advancing Together: ASEAN and ECO Commit to Enhanced Regional Collaboration appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
0:15 How investment advice is changing – ‘The film is a rollercoaster ride into the last few years of how technology is changing our relationship to money’, says Chris Temple, director of This Is Not Financial Advice, a documentary that follows four online investors, including one who made – and lost – millions in crypto.
5:56 New tech reveals the impacts of climate change – Using AI, we can process Earth Observation (EO) data faster. Helping us monitor disaster impact in hours, not days. AI is also improving climate and weather forecast models. Through AR and VR, engineers are transforming these complex datasets into interactive, intuitive experiences that can help leaders make climate decisions.
7:39 This debt plan can save coral reefs – The deal reduces Indonesia’s debt repayments to the US by $35 million over the next 9 years and redirects those payments towards reef conservation instead. Indonesia is home to 16% of the world’s coral reefs and around 60% of the world’s coral species. Its reefs generate around $1.6 billion in value every year through fisheries, coastline protection and tourism. But Indonesia’s reefs face a range of threats.
9:21 Ray Dalio on funding climate action – By 2050, climate damage could cost between $1.7 trillion and $3.1 trillion per year. However, the costs of inaction could be even greater, says Ray Dalio, the founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. Right now, climate action is hugely under-financed.
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The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On September 25, 2024, during a working visit to Donetsk, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev held a meeting with participants of the University Shifts project.
The rector met with the director’s advisor for educational work at secondary school No. 9 in the city of Snezhnoye, Tatyana Pilipenko, and the physical education teacher at Shakhtyorsky secondary school No. 18, Alina Shandyuk.
Let us recall that for a number of years, the staff of the State University of Management headed by Vladimir Stroyev has been creating methodological support for youth tourism for school teachers from the DPR within the framework of the project “University Shifts”. Tatyana Pilipenko and Alina Shandyuk have been cooperating with the State University of Management since the very first “University Shift” that took place at our university, helping to develop methodological recommendations as part of working groups.
As a result of the discussion, it was decided to expand the range of scientific and practical developments for the system of higher and additional education to implement the national task of training personnel to improve management in the tourism sector. The decision was made in accordance with the current task of achieving value sovereignty through the study of the history of Russia and the constituent elements of the cultural code of a Russian.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/28/2024
в ходе рабочего визита в Донецк ректор Государственного университета управления Владимир Строев провёл встречу с участницами проекта «Университетские смены»….” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/Визит-в-ДНР.-Универсмены.jpg” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%b8%d1%80-%d1%81%d1%82%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%b2-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b2%d1%91%d0%bb-%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b1%d0%be%d1%87%d1%83%d1%8e-%d0%b2%d1%81%d1%82%d1%80%d0%b5/”>
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Six-Day Gujarat media tour to Assam concludes with meeting with the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Shri Sonowal highlights Assam’s progress under PM Modi’s leadership to visiting Gujarat journalists
Posted On: 28 SEP 2024 7:51PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, today felicitated journalists from Gujarat at a special event in Dibrugarh, marking the conclusion of a six-day media tour from Gujarat to Assam. The tour, organized by the Press Information Bureau, aimed to foster a deeper understanding of Assam’s development and cultural heritage.
In his address, Shri Sonowal highlighted the remarkable progress Assam and the North Eastern region have achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He emphasized the broad spectrum of development, covering sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, and connectivity. “Under PM Modi’s vision, the North East has been at the forefront of national development. This growth is evident in sectors such as roads, waterways, railways, airports, and digital infrastructure,” he remarked.
Shri Sonowal also underscored the significant strides in the development of inland waterways in Assam and across India, citing it as a game-changer for regional connectivity and economic development. “The Brahmaputra River, as part of India’s inland waterway network, is not only connecting the people of Assam but also boosting trade, tourism, and job creation across the entire country,” the Minister stated.
The Minister further emphasized the importance of recognizing and preserving Assam’s rich history and cultural heritage. He pointed to initiatives such as the recent addition of Charaideo Moidams to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as the national celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Ahom-General Lachit Borphukan.
The six-day tour allowed the Gujarat media delegation to witness Assam’s progress firsthand. They visited important cultural and historical landmarks, including the iconic Kamakhya Temple, the Purabi Dairy facility, the historical town of Sivasagar, and Charaideo Moidams, known for its royal burial grounds. They also explored the rich textile heritage of Sualkuchi and natural beauty of Kaziranga National Park.
In closing, Shri Sonowal appreciated the role of the media in building bridges between states and fostering mutual understanding. He praised the efforts of the visiting journalists in showcasing Assam’s development journey to the people of Gujarat and the rest of the country.
The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony, where Shri Sonowal honored the journalists for their contributions to journalism and for strengthening ties between Assam and Gujarat.
Shri Rameswar Teli, Rajya Sabha MP; Shri Prasanta Phukan, MLA Dibrugarh and representatives of PIB Guwahati and Ahemdabad were also present.
PM to lay foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to nation various projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs. 11,200 crore on 29 September PM to inaugurate Pune Metro section of District Court to Swargate
PM to dedicate to nation Bidkin Industrial Area
PM to inaugurate Solapur Airport
Posted On: 28 SEP 2024 6:59PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation various projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs. 11,200 crore at around 12:30 PM on 29 September, through video conferencing.
Prime Minister will inaugurate the Pune Metro section of District Court to Swargate which will also mark the completion of Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase-1). The cost of the underground section between District Court to Swargate is around Rs 1,810 crore.
Further, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for Swargate-Katraj Extension of Pune Metro Phase-1 to be developed at the cost of around Rs 2,955 crore. This southern extension of around 5.46 km is completely underground with three stations namely Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj.
Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Bidkin Industrial Area, a transformative project covering an expansive 7,855 acres under the National Industrial Corridor Development Program of Govt. of India, situated 20 kms south of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. The project developed under Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor holds immense potential as a vibrant economic hub in the Marathwada region. Central Government has approved this project with an overall project cost of over Rs. 6,400 crore for development in 3 phases.
Prime Minister will inaugurate the Solapur Airport which would significantly improve connectivity, making Solapur more accessible to tourists, business travellers and investors. The existing terminal Building of Solapur has been revamped to serve around 4.1 lakh passengers annually.
Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the Memorial for Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule’s First Girls’ School at Bhidewada.
Union Minister Sh. Nitin Gadkari’s Vision for Amrit Mahotsav Park Takes Shape: A Bird Habitat and Recreation Space Near Nagpur’s Ring Road Sh. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Oxygen Bird Park in Nagpur, Maharashtra
Eco-Friendly Park Combines Bird Habitat and Recreation Across 8.23 Hectares, with 2.5 Hectares Reserved for Social Forestry
Bird Park to Feature Rare Trees, Lotus Pond, Reed Bed, Bambusetum, and Palm Plantation to Attract Birds and Enhance Ecology
Posted On: 28 SEP 2024 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Sh. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) along the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway-44 in Nagpur, Maharashtra today.
📍जामठा क्लोवर लीफ, जामठा, नागपुर
हरित विकास की दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाते हुए हरित क्षेत्र स्थापित करने और विभिन्न प्रकार की पक्षी प्रजातियों के लिए एक सुरक्षित और प्राकृतिक आवास प्रदान करने के उद्येश्य से राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग-44 के नागपुर-हैदराबाद सेक्शन पर नागपुर के जामठा… pic.twitter.com/yZdeCUbOL6
Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) is an eco-initiative developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) near Jamtha, along the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway-44. Covering a total area of 8.23 hectares, including 2.5 hectares dedicated to social forestry, the park is designed to serve both as a natural bird habitat and as a recreational space for locals and tourists. The project, which integrates environmental sustainability and recreational facilities, was formally approved in March 2023 with a development cost of ₹14.31 crores.
The idea for the park originated from a suggestion by Union Minister Sh. Nitin Gadkari to RO Nagpur to develop a Amrit Mahotsav Park on NHAI land parcel for observing the variety of birds found in this part of Central India as well as recreation of citizens. The vision was to establish a green space provide a safe and natural habitat for a wide variety of bird species. Located in an environment designed to mimic natural ecosystems, the park aims to conserve both local and migratory bird populations. This initiative has been included as an additional work in the broader infrastructural project of developing a four-lane standalone ring road around Nagpur city, with the park located at the Clover Leaf intersection near the Jamtha International Cricket Stadium.
Background
Ecological Features of the Park:
The bird park will feature several distinct areas aimed at conservation and ecological enhancement.
Rare and Endangered Trees Area: This section will showcase and preserve rare and endangered tree species native to Central India. Species include the Vulnerable Indian Bael, Gum Karaya and the Endangered Yellow Flame of the Forest.
Lotus/Lily Pad Pond: The pond will be home to various lotus and water lilies, providing habitat for water birds and recharging underground aquifers. It will also create a microhabitat with increased humidity. Since the waterbody is deep it has the potential to attract both resident and migrant ducks. The migrant ducks attracted are both diving ducks like pochards and dabbling ducks.
Reed Bed: Located behind the pond, this reed bed will provide an ideal habitat for birds such as waterhens, moorhens, and reed warblers, especially during migration.
Bambusetum: This area will feature native Indian bamboo species. Bamboo will help reduce dust and noise pollution, absorb vehicle emissions, and improve soil quality through its leaf litter.
Plantation Area: Extending beyond the 6-hectare park, this area will include native tree species and shrubs. It will attract wildlife, reduce noise and dust, and enhance air quality by mimicking natural forest conditions.
Palm Plantation: Behind the lake, native Indian palms such as phoenix date palm and toddy palm will be planted. These palms will offer nesting sites for various bird species and small mammals, and support species like hornbills and weaver birds.
Attracting Birds: The park’s flora includes a variety of trees, reeds, aquatic plants, shrubs, and bushes specifically chosen to support local wildlife and enhance biodiversity. Notable species include Neem, Indian Coral Tree, Water Lilies, Lotus, Wild Jasmine, and Karonda.
Visitor Infrastructure
The park offers a range of amenities including a ticket counter, food court, modern toilets, internal pathways, a jogging/cycling track, an amphitheatre with an increased plinth height, watch towers, and cast-iron benches. Landscaping features expanded lawns, green pockets, and an irrigation system. Utilities are well-integrated, including a 200 kVA transformer and additional borewells.
Features of the Oxygen Bird Park
Feature
Details
Food Court
1 nos Designated area offering a variety of food options
Restrooms
Conveniently located restrooms for visitors
Walking Paths
Well-designed pathways for leisurely walks
Jogging and Cycling Tracks
Dedicated tracks for jogging and cycling
Watchtowers
2 nos Elevated towers for panoramic views of the park
Amphitheater Platforms
1 nos Spaces designed for small gatherings or performances
Children’s Play Area
Dedicated space for kids to play and explore
Naturally Formed Pond
Scenic pond blending seamlessly with the natural landscape
Architectural Entrance Gate
Aesthetically designed entrance gate with striking architecture
Landscaped Surroundings
Thoughtfully planned landscaping to enhance the park’s visual appeal
Dense Vegetation Development
2 hectares dedicated to oxygen-generating tree species
Water Recharge Pits
30 pits for water management and groundwater recharge
Sustainability Initiatives
The park incorporates solar energy through solar panels, which support lighting, water features, and other facilities. This approach reduces reliance on conventional energy sources and promotes environmental sustainability.
Environmental Focus
A core element of the park is its emphasis on sustainability, highlighted by its “Oxygen Park” feature. The planting of fast-growing, oxygen-producing trees aims to combat air pollution and foster a healthier environment. The Social Forestry Division of Nagpur plays a key role in developing and maintaining these green spaces.
The event was attended by Sh.Shyam Kumar Barve, MP, Sh. Tekchand Sawarkar, MLA, Sh.Ashish Jaiswal, MLA, Sh. Vikas Kumbhare, Sh. Sudhakar Kohale and Sh. Anurag Jain, Secretary, MoRTH and Senior Officials of ministry and NHAI.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Explore ceramic-making techniques in Liling of central China’s Hunan
Updated: September 29, 2024 08:05Xinhua
Tourists visit a ceramics low-price shopping area in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province, Sept. 26, 2024. Liling of Hunan Province boasts a long history of ceramic production. The city now has more than 650 ceramic production enterprises and nearly 200,000 related employees. In recent years, local ceramic production enterprises have intensified their efforts to improve the making techniques. Some of them have also organized ceramics making experience activities and low-price shopping areas to attract tourists. In the first half of 2024, Liling has received over 4.3 million tourists, with a year-on-year increase of 51.34 percent. [Photo/Xinhua]Children take part in a ceramics making course in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit a ceramics low-price shopping area in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province, Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit a ceramics museum in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Workers make ceramics at a company in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 26, 2024 shows a view of China ceramics valley in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]Chen Li, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor, makes a ceramic ware in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 27, 2024 shows a view of China ceramics valley in Liling City, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
A thematic creative program was prepared at VDNKh in honor of International Music Day, which is celebrated annually on October 1. The events will last the entire month. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.
“The Worker and Kolkhoz Woman pavilion will host concerts, lectures and performances for Muscovites and tourists. For example, visitors will hear works by classics – Rachmaninov, Glinka, Bizet and Mozart,” said Natalia Sergunina.
The play “The Sign of the Opera” staged by the Moscow Puppet Theatre will be presented on October 2 at 19:00. The audience will travel through four famous stories – “The Magic Flute” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, “Ivan Susanin” by Mikhail Glinka, “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Christoph Gluck and “Carmen” by Georges Bizet.
On October 3 at 19:00 there will be a musical program “Russian Basses”. Arias and romances from the repertoire of the singer Fyodor Chaliapin will be performed by soloists of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia and the Moscow Academic Musical Theater named after K.S. Stanislavsky and V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko.
The Gnessin Baroque ensemble will perform ancient compositions from the 17th century on October 5 at 19:00.
On October 9 at 19:00 there will be a concert “Sounding Canvases: Roerich” with sand animation inspired by the works of the famous artist. Guests will hear Armenian folk and liturgical melodies, as well as music performed on the duduk.
On October 12 at 6:00 p.m. guests will be invited to the lecture “The Unearthly Beauty of the Soprano: From Ariadne to the Queen of Shemakha” from the series “The Opera Voice in History: Changing and Unchanging”.
Listeners will get acquainted with the late works of the famous Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and his last work, “Symphonic Dances,” at a lecture that will take place on October 27 at 16:00.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144532073/
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
The history of World Tourism Day begins in 1925, when the International Congress of Official Tourism Organizations was created in The Hague, which is now called the World Tourism Organization (United Nations World Tourism Organization – UNWTO). It was this organization that established World Tourism Day in 1979, which has been celebrated in our country since 1983.
The holiday is intended to draw attention to the possibilities of developing international cooperation in the field of travel. Currently, about 6% of the world’s gross national product comes from tourism, and the approximate number of tourist trips around the world reaches 1.3 billion.
The State University of Management congratulates the Department of Management in International Business and Tourism Industry on the holiday. We wish the teachers talented students, the students – good studies, and the graduates – an interesting and eventful working life in the context of the active development of domestic tourism and the search for new destinations for foreign tours. To all other travel lovers – many unforgettable impressions and bright photos against the backdrop of the beauty of nature and architectural monuments.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 09/27/2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Veduchi Resort in the Chechen Republic
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov spoke about the development of the domestic tourism industry and its achievements.
“Today, the tourism sector in Russia unites more than 200 thousand companies, employing over 1 million people. The national project “Tourism and Hospitality Industry” helps to create new resorts, points of attraction and make travel around the country safer, more accessible and more comfortable. More than 50 thousand hotel rooms are being built under the preferential lending program alone. Another 70 thousand will appear during the construction of federal year-round seaside resorts within the framework of the “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” project, which is being implemented on behalf of President Vladimir Putin,” noted Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that almost 58.5 million tourist trips were made in Russia in the first eight months of this year, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. In July and August, the number of tourist trips was the highest in the history of statistical observations – 10 million monthly.
It is expected that by the end of the year the number of tourist trips within the country will reach a record 91 million.
By 2030, the tourist flow in the country should grow to 140 million trips per year – this is the goal set by President Vladimir Putin.
Today, tourism is becoming a driver for other industries, as well as a growth point for regional economies. Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov noted that investments in the industry exceeded 800 billion rubles last year alone.
Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
“Today we are seeing a real investment boom in the tourism market. In the first half of the year, the volume of investments amounted to 377 billion rubles, which is 64% more than last year. These figures include new hotels, new ski resorts, amusement parks, and tourist attractions. This year alone, we will allocate over 30 billion rubles under three key programs of the national project – the preferential lending program, support for the construction of modular hotels, and a single subsidy. We are currently finalizing the updated national project “Tourism and Hospitality”. The national project retained the support measures that have already proven themselves well. We have finalized the rules taking into account current tasks. For example, for the development of car tourism, we determined that projects related to the development of infrastructure for priority automobile tourist routes will receive additional points. This way, we will be able to more actively develop infrastructure that will make car travel more comfortable and safer. The industry has excellent prospects,” concluded Maxim Reshetnikov.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
http://government.ru/nevs/52812/
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
China is poised to experience an estimated 1.94 billion cross-regional trips during the upcoming week-long National Day holiday, starting Tuesday, Li Yang, vice-minister for transport, said in Beijing on Friday. This translates to an average of 277 million daily trips, reflecting a 0.7 percent increase from last year and a significant 19.4 percent rise compared to 2019. Notably, around 80 percent of these journeys will be made via self-driving vehicles, amounting to about 1.53 billion road trips. The remaining 20 percent will utilize commercial public transportation options, including trains, planes, and ferries. Family travel is expected to dominate domestic tourism, with inter-provincial trips becoming increasingly common. Anticipated popular destinations include major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Chongqing and the provinces of Shanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan. In terms of international travel, neighboring Southeast Asian countries are forecast to attract a significant number of travelers. As the holiday approaches, Li emphasized that the transportation sector is prepared to meet the anticipated challenges, aiming to fulfill traveler expectations and government mandates. Preparations are already underway to implement effective travel support plans designed to enhance safety and convenience for all holiday travelers.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez
September 27, 2024
Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez
September 27, 2024
Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez
September 27, 2024
Delcy Rodriguez, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela, in a meeting with Alexander Novak
September 27, 2024
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Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak held a meeting with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, and Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the international forum “Russian Energy Week”.
“Venezuela remains a reliable partner and ally of Russia in Latin America and in the world as a whole. The strategic nature of our relations is based on a mutual desire to build a more just polycentric world order, coincidence of positions on most issues on the global agenda, mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade and economic, credit and financial, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
The parties discussed cooperation in the oil and gas sectors, including coordination of positions within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and OPEC, terms of equipment supply for industrial projects in the Venezuelan fuel and energy complex, as well as prospects for implementing joint projects in the non-energy applications of nuclear technologies to solve problems in medicine, agriculture, education and industry as part of expanding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The meeting participants touched upon the topic of promoting trade with settlements in national currencies and issues of financial and credit relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the positive trend in bilateral trade, the volume of which has grown by almost 50% over the past six years. In January-July of this year, Russian-Venezuelan trade turnover increased by 80% compared to the same period last year. The volume of tourist flow from Russia to Margarita Island also increased over this period to 12 thousand people.
Alexander Novak invited a delegation from Venezuela to participate as guests of honor in the International Export Forum “Made in Russia”, which will be held on October 14, 2024 in Moscow.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
http://government.ru/nevs/52815/
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India launched a national responsible tourism initiative by the name of ‘Paryatan Mitra & Paryatan Didi’ on September 27th, World Tourism Day,
Based on the vision of the Prime Minister for enabling tourism as a vehicle for social inclusion, employment, and economic progress – Ministry of Tourism piloted Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi in 6 tourist destinations across India namely – Orchha (Madhya Pradesh), Gandikota (Andhra Pradesh) Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Aizawl (Mizoram), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), and Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Through this initiative, Ministry of Tourism aims to elevate the overall experience for tourists in destinations, by having them meet ‘tourist-friendly’ people who are proud Ambassadors & Storytellers for their destination. This is being done by providing tourism related training and awareness to all individuals who interact and engage with tourists in a destination.
Driven by ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’, cab drivers, auto drivers, staff at railway stations, airports, bus stations, hotel staff, restaurant workers, homestay owners, tour guides, police personnel, street vendors, shop keepers, students, and many more were provided training and awareness on the importance of tourism, general cleanliness, safety, sustainability, and also on the importance of providing tourists with the highest standards of hospitality and care.
These individuals were also made aware of the local stories of the destination along with its lesser-known tourism wonders, so that every person a tourist interacts with in these destinations, turn out to be local Ambassadors and Storytellers, who strive to create a positive tourist experience in every manner.
Through Paryatan Mitra & Paryatan Didi, special emphasis is being placed on the training of women and youth to enable them to develop new tourism products & experiences like heritage walks, food tours, craft tours, nature treks, homestay experiences, and other innovative tourism products based on the potential of the destination. It is also envisioned that locals leverage these skills to obtain gainful employment going forward as homestay owners, food & cuisine experience providers, cultural guides, natural guides, adventure guides, and other roles in tourism.
Tourism-specific training is being followed by general training in digital literacy and digital tools to ensure that the experiences they create are discoverable and visible to tourists, nationally and globally. Since the pilot of this program on August 15th this year, around 3,000 people have been trained in the 6 pilot destinations on the importance of creating a positive experience for tourists, thereby being a Paryatan Mitra.
Impact
Due to the efforts of Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi, there has been visible enthusiasm from locals to be a part of tourism training programs and become a part of the tourism ecosystem.
Going forward, the Ministry will be recognizing Paryatan Mitra’s & Didi’s in destinations with a dedicated badge and identity, offering tourists a way to be assured of an incredible experience when with a Paryatan Mitra.
On World Tourism Day 2024, Ministry of Tourism has launched Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi across the following 50 tourist destinations in the country:
State/Union Territory
Destination 1
Destination 2
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Sri Vijaya Puram
Andhra Pradesh
Gandikota
Tirupati
Arunachal Pradesh
Tawang
Assam
Guwahati
Bihar
Bodhgaya
Nalanda
Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chhattisgarh
Raipur
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Daman
Delhi
Delhi
Goa
Goa
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
Kevadia
Haryana
Kurukshetra
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla
Jammu & Kashmir
Srinagar
Jharkhand
Ranchi
Karnataka
Hampi
Mysore
Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram
Kochi
Ladakh
Leh
Lakshadweep
Kavaratti
Madhya Pradesh
Orchha
Ujjain
Maharashtra
Aurangabad
Nasik
Manipur
Imphal
Meghalaya
Shillong
Mizoram
Aizawl
Nagaland
Dimapur
Odisha
Puri
Puducherry
Puducherry
Punjab
Amritsar
Patiala
Rajasthan
Jodhpur
Jaipur
Sikkim
Gangtok
Tamil Nadu
Mahabalipuram
Thanjavur
Tripura
Agartala
Telangana
Hyderabad
Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi
Agra
Uttar Pradesh
Ayodhya
Uttarakhand
Haridwar
Rishikesh
West Bengal
Darjeeling
Kolkata
The vision of Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi is to welcome one and all to experience Incredible India through Incredible Indians, thereby creating a more welcoming, hospitable, and memorable experience for tourists when in India.
Central Institutes of Hotel Management (CIHMs) under the purview of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, entered dedicated Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with 8 leading national and global hospitality groups – Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, ITC Group of Hotels, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, Radisson Group of Hotels, and Lemon Tree Hotels, on 27th September, 2024, the World Tourism Day.
These MoUs were signed and exchanged in the presence of national heads of leading hospitality chains and senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
With an objective to go global with Indian hospitality and skill in India for the world, in tourism and hospitality, Ministry of Tourism invited interest from hospitality groups across the country to become ‘Industry Partners’ for Institutes of Hotel Management to facilitate student engagement & mentorship, faculty development & exposure, and institutional development. In the 1st phase, 8 hospitality groups were chosen to be declared as ‘Industry Partners’ for specific Central Institutes of Hotel Management.
As part of the MoU, indicative areas of collaboration and suggestive activities between the ‘Industry Partner’ and the ‘Institute’ have been provided, with the parties free to choose amongst areas of collaboration and suggestive activities, while also adding new areas of collaboration and activities as deemed fit. A snapshot of the same is shared below:
Area of Collaboration
Suggestive Activities
Student Engagement
Pairing of students with industry mentors and mentoring sessions
Periodic classroom sessions on industry specific skills by experts
Masterclasses and bootcamps
On-site learning by doing sessions
Offering career guidance and counselling
Facilitating internships and placement opportunities for students
Any other activities to boost quality of skilling & education at ‘Institute’ as per industry needs and requirements
Faculty Development
Training & industry exposure sessions for faculty members
Short-term refresher courses for faculty
Facilitating access to manuals, guidelines, and case studies that outline best practices in the hospitality and homestays industry
Research collaborations with faculty members
Any other activity to ensure development of faculty from time to time as per industry trends and requirements
Conduct of short-term courses on tourism & hospitality from time to time for various stakeholders – homestays, MSMEs, local hotels & restaurants, Self Help Groups, faculty of other tourism & hospitality institutes, etc.
Institutional & Infrastructural Development
Assisting in identifying resources and opportunities to improve infrastructure and upgrading facilities as per industry standards
Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives within the institutes
Taking up concerns for effectively addressing issues of providing satisfying work environment and compensation at entry level for students
Developing recommendations and reforms to develop the institute into a Global Centre of Excellence for tourism & hospitality skilling in India, for the world
The transformation that has taken place in the last decade by doubling the number of airports, having world-class infrastructure for connectivity railroads, various facets of it, highways, expressways highways that match the best in the world.
Diplomats, grateful for your gracious presence, all stakeholders in tourism, and distinguished audience. On the occasion of World Tourism Day, it is very significant for the entire planet because it connects those bonds of humanity which are much needed at the moment, my greetings.
This is an event to celebrate the profound impact of tourism on global economic development, social progress, and cultural exchange. Friends, these are just not words, you realise them on the ground. They are reflected tangibly, economic development is intertwined with the tourist industry, with tourism.
The theme this year is very thoughtful and bears huge contemporary relevance, tourism and peace. The theme underlines something very deep. It connects amongst human resources, connects amongst people, and people-to-people contact. That is conducive to harmony and generates an ecosystem of exchange of ideas. Therefore, rightly so, tourism contributes massively to peace, the theme is not a day too soon, the entire world is yearning for peace.
We are traumatised by conflagrations, any conflagration in any part of the globe is torture to every part of the land. It disrupts supply chains, disrupts planning, a pain and therefore, tourism and peace have great relevance.
The theme is particularly befitting for Bharat, the largest, vibrant, and functional democracy, home to one-sixth of humanity, tourism globally is a thriving industry. It is so thriving that some countries thrive only on tourism, their economy is sustained by tourism, it is the spine of their economy when it comes to Bharat. A statement was made, taking note of the phenomenal, exponential progress this nation has witnessed in a decade.
I go back to more than three decades when I was a Member of Parliament in 1989 and a Minister in the Union Government then, the size of our economy was smaller than that of the city of Paris and London. When I went to Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, as part of the Council of Ministers, I could not see more than dozens of people on the streets, We were staying at a hotel by Dull lake and now imagine where we have come. Two crore people visited Kashmir as tourists last year.
The economy today of Bharat has traversed in a decade from a fragile five to the five largest global economies. In the next two years, by all indications, we will be ahead of Japan and Germany to be the third. That is where Bharat is at the moment. So much has changed in the ecosystem by affirmative governance, technological advancement, transparent, accountable mechanisms in place for every governmental dealing that the International Monetary Fund reflected. India is a favourite global destination for investment and opportunity.
India, that is Bharat, is favourite global destination for tourism, go to any part of India, and the diplomats present here who have been to various parts, I am sure, will bear me out. We have tourism for all seasons, come to this land of spirituality, land of sublimity, land of knowledge, land of Vedas, and the civilisational ethos of 5000 years. Any time of the year, you will have the occasion to feast on tourist destinations.
The economic growth engine of this nation, destined to reach 2047 as a developed nation, will be fuelled majorly by tourism and I have no doubt you will leave no effort to tap the potential waiting to be exploited. And why not? All that is needed for the exploitation of our tourist resources and tourism destinations is, one, you need an image of the nation.
An image of Bharat in the world is very different from what it was a decade ago, the leadership of Bharat is recognised globally. Which other economy in the world of this size can claim to be rising around 8% GDP annually? and so, predicted for many years to come. Look at 1.4 billion people being serviced with last-mile delivery with respect to toilets, electricity, internet, education, and tap water. ‘हर घर नल, हर नल में जल, जल निश्चित रूप से, जल क्वालिटी का होI, tested him stringently when he called upon me to inaugurate one of his pilot projects.
I said Mr. Minister, go to Jhunjhunu, my home district, click off the button, go to my Tehsil Chirawa click off the button, I said, go to my village, Kithana click off the button and tell me how many houses have नल with जल. My house had, the name was there. Some houses did not have, and faithfully, they were also reflected with one indicator, the work is in progress.
Moved by this great achievement, accomplishment, and credentials, he has now been given the daunting task where he will have to deal with everyone. He is very tactful, go to the Civil Aviation Minister here. He will get the Railway Minister, you will have to get all the Ministers. Because, if I say
Ministry of Tourism announces Winners of Best Tourism Villages Competition-2024 36 villages recognized as winners across 8 categories
Posted On: 27 SEP 2024 2:38PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India announced winners of the Best Tourism Villages Competition 2024, today, on 27th September, 2024, on the occasion of World Tourism Day.
To promote tourism to the Soul of India (India’s villages), the Best Tourism Villages Competition was introduced in 2023. The focus was to identify and recognize villages which preserve and promote cultural and natural assets through community-based values and commitment to sustainability in all aspects.
The first edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition in 2023 saw applications from 795 villages. In the second edition of the Best Tourism Villages Competition, a total of 991 applications were received from 30 States and UTs, out of which 36 villages were recognized as winners across 8 categories of the Best Tourism Villages competition 2024.
Government to Install Tourist Feedback Mechanism at Airports and Railway Stations across the Country
Posted On: 27 SEP 2024 2:43PM by PIB Delhi
In a bid to engage and involve citizens in tourism development and growth, Ministry of Tourism is introducing mechanisms at airports and railway stations across the country, for tourists to provide their feedback on their visits to tourist attractions and destinations in India.
Feedback and rating of experiences by is travellers is being done by enabling them to scan a QR code placed at relevant points at airports and railway stations, while spending around 30 seconds to rate their tourist experience and provide any feedback.
This feedback will be real-time and dynamic in nature allowing the Ministry to address issues in a proactive manner in collaboration with various stakeholders. This will also prove to be a rich source of data and insights for tourism development.
By installing the QR code provided by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India and Ministry of Railways, Government of India are collaborating with Ministry of Tourism for setting up of these mechanisms at airports and railway stations across the country, so that over time, they become a reliable source of insight and information for tourism policy and strategy.
The Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MDoNER) successfully organised Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow in Bengaluru today. The event commenced on a highly positive note, captured significant attention and attracted a substantial number of participants. The event was graced by Hon’ble Minister of Communications and MDoNER, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, along with senior government officials from the Ministry and eight North Eastern States.
Hon’ble Minister Shri Jyotiraditya. M. Scindia while underlining the immense potential of the North Eastern Region, emphasized that the region holds a tremendous future for Viksit Bharat. He highlighted that under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister, North Eastern Region is the focus point of the Government of India, as a result of which various initiatives such as Act East Policy, UNNATI etc. have been taken for the holistic development of the region. Further, continuous efforts are being made by the Government of India toward strengthening connectivity whether it is rail, road, air, waterways and telecommunication. He mentioned that the fund flow to the region has increased tremendously during the last ten years. The region has huge potential in Agriculture, Healthcare, IT& ITeS, Education, Tourism & Hospitality; Energy; Entertainment & Sports. The North East is home to incredible sporting talent, particularly in boxing, archery, and football, with athletes from the region excelling on national and international stages. Government of India aims to promote regional sports leagues to harness this potential. In tourism, each state in the North East is a jewel. The MDoNER is committed to developing world-class infrastructure in the North Eastern Region. He referred that Bengaluru being the silicon valley of India, has lot of opportunities to explore and replicate in the North Eastern Region in the IT & ITeS sector like IT hubs, centers of excellence in emerging technologies, and opportunities in data analytics etc.
Shri Chanchal Kumar, Secretary of MDoNER, addressed the gathering saying all eight states provide unique opportunities under the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Act East Policy initiative. In the last 10 years, the connectivity in the North Eastern Region has increased manifold. He emphasized that the region has enabling investment ecosystem, which can facilitate the investors. Further, MDoNER as well as the North Eastern States Governments are set to commit for extending necessary support for investing in the region.
Ms. Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary of MDoNER, in her address on advantage North East and Opportunities for Investment and Trade emphasized that North Eastern Region has rich untapped potential. Over the past decade, the government has successfully completed numerous pending projects, benefiting local communities and millions of people through various schemes/initiatives. She also highlighted the opportunities in the region in various sectors like Education, Healthcare, Tourism, IT&ITes, Energy, Sports etc. She state that MDoNER is dedicated to facilitating investment opportunities and enhancing the region’s investment ecosystem. The Northeast region is confident for growth, with strategic investments, and can emerge as a leader in various sectors, benefiting both the local population and the nation as a whole.
Government officials from North Eastern States, alongside representatives from FICCI (Industry Partner), and Invest India (Investment Facilitation Partner), shared valuable insights into opportunities across focus sectors. Each state presented comprehensive overviews of their unique investment prospects. The event attracted active participation from multiple leading businesses, highlighting strong interest in the region’s investment landscape.
The North East Region boasts a strategic location with easy access to ASEAN economies, offering lucrative opportunities for businesses. Rapid infrastructure development is underway, with the establishment of new technology hubs and industrial parks, further enhancing business potential of the region.
As part of this summit, successful roundtable events have taken place with various states, including Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Nagaland. Previous roadshows in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata garnered encouraging participation, while the State Seminar at Vibrant Gujarat attracted significant interest from potential investors.
The Bengaluru Roadshow generated considerable interest from investors. Anticipated as a transformative event, the Roadshow in Bengaluru witnessed several B2G meetings generating potential interest from investors in the North Eastern States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Nagaland.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 28th Conference of Parties COP 28 decision to transition away from fossil fuels,
although did not go as far as we the most vulnerable countries wanted, it is the beginning of the end for Fossil Fuels.
The doubling of energy efficiency and tripling of renewable energy as part of the COP 28 decision, we hope will turbo charge the transition with financial flows to the needed private and public sector, innovation and availability of efficient technology, policy changes to support affordability and accessibility of such goods and services to the general public, and more importantly, in keeping the 1.5% temperature goal alive and help to stop us from signing our people and planet’s death certificates.
Transitioning away from dependence on fossil fuel is a key priority for Samoa and for the Pacific as a whole. It has been the Pacific and small island developing states biggest concern since the signing of the UNFCCC in 1992, for even back then, we had already witnessed first- hand the impacts of climate change on our islands, economies, and people.
So it is quite encouraging to be part of this summit and to hear from experts in the sector, the practical aspects that we need to be
addressing, the solutions that we need to be elevating, so that we are not too far off from what my country and our region have been asking for – a cleaner and sustainable development pathway.
Global Level
My attendance here is an opportunity for me to share views from the various ‘hats’ Samoa wears, which are very much interlinked to the discussions today. Samoa is currently the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), so in that capacity, Samoa is responsible for amplifying the voices of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from around the world. Samoa is also the Pacific Political Climate Champion for Mitigation consolidating the Pacific voices across all relevant forums including the UNFCCC and opportunities like this.
As small island developing states, we are very clear that phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is a scientific fact. More importantly, it is about ensuring that the future of our nations remain secure. So these summits where we showcase practical solutions to this issue that continues to be debated at the global level, is critical. It highlights that the solutions are there and instead of ‘talking’ we need to be actioning them.
Regional Level
At the regional level, our Leaders aspire to a Just and Equitable Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific. Given the diversity of our region, they also acknowledge that the pathway to achieving this is not immediate nor is it one-size fits all.
The discussions today and tomorrow is something that I am very much looking forward to. It looks at the full spectrum of issues that need to be considered in order to harness the potential opportunities renewable energy presents. We are hearing from practitioners who have gone through the trials and errors that we can learn from and inform our vision of a fossil fuel free Pacific.
Though this summit only focuses on the Electricity sector, it is the
innovation and the problem solving that is important and has the
potential to be replicated across other sectors. For the Pacific, the
transportation sector is one of the largest sectors highly dependent on fossil fuel and presents a potential opportunity for more efficient and greener models. National Level In the context of electricity – the Pacific presents a diverse landscape.
Access to electricity can be as low as 12% of the total population for some of our countries and up to more than 95% for others. Not all of our countries have hydro and wind power capabilities. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) could present potential opportunities but is very much untried and the economics is still very risky. Solar energy is common across the region, but even this can be a challenge for small motu or coral atolls with limited land. But in presenting these statistics, the opportunities to work with the Pacific is immense.
Some of our countries have set a goal of 100% renewable by 2020 while others have set their goal to 2030. For Samoa, we have an energy sector plan that will be implemented over a five-year period and currently is up to 2028. We have explored different kinds of renewable sources including wind, biomass, solar and hydro. Petroleum products make up 70% of Samoa’s total energy supply of which the transport sector accounts for 60% while the electricity sector accounts for 25%.
Samoa’s Pathway for sustainable development 2022 – 2026, sets a
target of 70% of renewable energy use by 2031 with the aim to provide affordable, reliable, safe, and clear energy supply for all in the long term.
However, we note the transition to renewable energy is not without its challenges. Samoa like other Pacific Islands, is uniquely challenged in its decarbonization efforts given its geographical isolation, financial and technological constraints, and high vulnerability to climate impacts.
To address these challenges, Samoa is committed to collaborating closely with international partners and interested investors to develop robust policy and regulatory strategies as well as upgrading of these infrastructures. Samoa’s Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, and Sector is leading the implementation of the Pacific Green Transformation Project in Samoa which aims to decarbonize the transport sector, a priority action under our Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS).
I am also pleased to share that our Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is scheduled to launch its Renewable Energy Rebate Scheme this year with the aim to accelerate decarbonization of the transport sector, the tourism sector and community sector through schools and community centers with the support of the New Zealand Government. Moreover, a National Carbon Offset Programme is also in the pipeline and will provide for an innovative financial avenue to promote green and renewable energy projects at the community level as part of our campaign to create sustainable communities in the long term.
On raising awareness around renewable energy and its contribution to climate change mitigation. Every year, Samoa celebrates Renewable Energy Day in December to showcase our government’s commitment to accelerate sustainable energy transition for our people. This annual event brings together our Energy sector stakeholders, partners and communities to reflect on the importance of renewable energy on our fight against climate change.
Like the rest of the Pacific, Samoa is doing its part to increase its
ambition, to meet the urgency of the climate crisis, despite our negligible global emissions. In this regard, Samoa’s 3rd Nationally Determined Contribution or NDC will continue to enhance emissions reductions and renewable energy adoption towards a low carbon economy. More focus will also be on adaptation approaches as we consider also including Loss and Damage as part of our NDCs.
Conclusion
Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you again for the opportunity to be part of this summit. I look forward to learning more over the next 2 days and I do hope that this conversation continues and involves more of our Pacific islands. And more importantly finding partners that can help us accelerate our transition to clean energy.
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on the occasion of World Tourism Day, on 27th September, 2024 launched the Incredible India Content Hub on the revamped Incredible India digital portal (www.incredibleindia.gov.in). The Incredible India Content Hub is a comprehensive digital repository, featuring a rich collection of high-quality images, films, brochures, and newsletters related to tourism in India. This repository is intended for the use of a diverse range of stakeholders, including tour operators, journalists, students, researchers, film makers, authors, influencers, content creators, government officials, and ambassadors.
The Content Hub, which is part of the new Incredible India digital portal intends to make it easy and convenient for travel trade (travel media, tour operators, travel agents) across the globe to access everything they might need on Incredible India at one place, so that they can amplify Incredible India in all their marketing and promotional efforts. The Content Hub has around 5,000 content assets currently. The content available on the repository is a product of a collaborative effort by multiple organizations, including the Ministry of Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture and others.
The Incredible India Digital Portal is a tourist-centric, one-stop digital solution designed to enhance the travel experience for visitors to India. The revamped portal offers essential information and services to travellers at every stage of their journey, from discovery and research to planning, booking, travelling, and return.
The revamped portal offers a wealth of information on destinations, attractions, crafts, festivals, travel diaries, itineraries, and more, utilizing multimedia content such as videos, images, and digital maps. The platform’s ‘Book Your Travel’ feature provides booking facility for flights, hotels, cabs, buses, and monuments, thereby enhancing accessibility for travellers. Additionally, an AI-powered chatbot functions as a virtual assistant to answer queries and provide real-time information to travellers. Other features include weather information, tour operator details, currency converter, airport information, visa-guide, and more.
Ministry of Tourism will continue to improve and develop the portal to include new features, add additional content through crowdsourcing, and partner with relevant organisations and institutions to make the digital portal a continual source of inspiration for all those who search and seek Incredible India.
In a bid to engage and involve citizens in tourism development and growth, Ministry of Tourism is introducing mechanisms at airports and railway stations across the country, for tourists to provide their feedback on their visits to tourist attractions and destinations in India.
Feedback and rating of experiences by is travellers is being done by enabling them to scan a QR code placed at relevant points at airports and railway stations, while spending around 30 seconds to rate their tourist experience and provide any feedback.
This feedback will be real-time and dynamic in nature allowing the Ministry to address issues in a proactive manner in collaboration with various stakeholders. This will also prove to be a rich source of data and insights for tourism development.
By installing the QR code provided by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India and Ministry of Railways, Government of India are collaborating with Ministry of Tourism for setting up of these mechanisms at airports and railway stations across the country, so that over time, they become a reliable source of insight and information for tourism policy and strategy.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is today undertaking a working visit to Ireland to reinforce South Africa’s historic and warm bilateral relations with the nation.
The Deputy President is expected to meet his Irish counterpart, Prime Minister Simon Harris, to reaffirm the strong political and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
According to the Presidency, South Africa and Ireland established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago and relations between both nations encompass a broad spectrum of cooperation, such as trade and investment, education, science and innovation and gender equality.
“Ireland’s developmental programmes have greatly assisted many initiatives in South Africa since 1994, and the partnership continues to this day,” the statement read.
During the visit, the Deputy President will participate in the South Africa-Ireland Trade and Investment Round Table with Irish companies that are already invested in or intend to invest in South Africa.
He is also expected to deliver remarks at the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship by fostering connections between the South African and Irish tech ecosystems.
The Deputy President will be accompanied to Ireland by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Andrew Whitfield.
Once he wraps up his Ireland visit, the country’s second-in-command will then proceed to the United Kingdom from Saturday, 29 September to Friday, 4 October 2024.
“The visit will focus on showcasing South Africa as an investment destination of choice and strive to identify and create new trade opportunities for South African businesses, especially small and medium enterprises.”
The island nation is also one of South Africa’s most significant bilateral partners in the northern hemisphere, particularly in trade, investment, skills development, science, innovation, the Just Energy Transition and tourism, among others.
The Deputy President is expected to engage selected investors and trade partners invited in cooperation with economic partners in the United Kingdom and deliver a lecture at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University in London, focusing on South Africa’s forthcoming Presidency of the G20.
“The Deputy President will also pay a courtesy call on the Duke of Edinburgh, and meet the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Angela Rayner.”
He will be accompanied by the International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni Abrahams and some of the Deputy Ministers from various departments. – SAnews.gov.za
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On World Tourism Day, PJSC NK Rosneft, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism of the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Ministry of Economic Development, Investment, Tourism and Foreign Relations of the Orenburg Region presented the interregional motorway route “Power of Nature” connecting Ufa and Orenburg.
The presentation took place at the Bashneft petrol stations in Bashkortostan and the Orenburg region. Representatives of the Company and the expert tourism community told car travellers about the unique and memorable places along the route, which are located between the regional centres.
Rosneft actively supports initiatives to develop domestic tourism and aims to create comfortable conditions for motorists. The development of roadside service and improving the level of customer service provided at Rosneft filling stations is one of the Company’s priority areas of activity.
The main part of the route “Power of Nature”, the length of which is almost 700 km, is laid along the federal highway R-240. Passing the entire route with stops will take a car tourist from 2 to 5 days one way. Depending on the wishes of travelers, locations can be combined in different ways. Along the route there are Bashneft gas stations, which allows tourists not only to fill up with high-quality fuel, but also to have a snack on the road, receive the necessary services – for example, to pump up tires. Bashneft gas stations are located along the entire route, every 30-50 kilometers, which gives even more confidence and comfort to travelers.
The Power of Nature auto route unites iconic places of tourist interest for every taste: a reservoir, salt lakes and mineral springs; a natural park and landscape-botanical monument; a reserve where conditions have been created for preserving the population of Przewalski’s horses; a modern art center around an old copper smelter – a cultural heritage site.
People go to Sol-Iletsk primarily for the famous salt lakes, the water in which has beneficial properties for health. The only complex of 6 lakes in the Urals is comparable in its characteristics and healing effect to the resorts of the Dead Sea.
On the territory of the Orenburgsky Nature Reserve, a project is being implemented to create a semi-free population of the wild Przewalski’s horse in Russia, listed in the Red Book of Russia. The Muradymovskoye Gorge is famous for its steep cliffs, picturesque sharp turns of the mountain river Ik and 46 caves. In the Staromuradymovskaya Cave there are rock carvings
tylized drawings of a man made more than 8 thousand years ago in the early Neolithic era. Andreevskie cones – hills, as if covered with velvet, are part of a ridge “sawed” by tributaries of the Bolshoy Ik River.
The Nugush Reservoir is located at the lower reaches of the Nugush River on the territory of the Bashkiria National Park. The reservoir is one of the cleanest in the region and is popular among both locals and tourists.
Voskresensky Zavod is the oldest copper smelter in the Southern Urals, it began operating in 1745 and was one of the largest suppliers of copper in the Russian Empire. Today, the plant has become an art object and a center of attraction for art lovers.
The sea peak is the Toratau shihan, the remains of a barrier reef that rose from the bottom of the ancient Permian Sea about 300 million years ago. Near Toratau there are two more shihans – Kushtau and Yuraktau. Here you can see fossilized sea creatures – sponges, corals, algae, echinoderms.
People come to the village of Krasnousolskoye for mineral and hydrogen sulphide water – there are more than 250 springs along the banks of the Usolka River. The Krasnousolsk balneological resort is also located here, which is famous for its medicinal baths and silt mud.
In the future, it is planned to develop and present new tours in the Ural-Volga region to popularize the beauty and uniqueness of the nature of the regions of Russia and stimulate the development of domestic autotourism.
Reference:
The retail network of NK Rosneft is the largest in the Russian Federation in terms of geographic coverage and number of stations, and the Rosneft gas station brand is one of the leaders in Russia in terms of recognition and fuel quality. In total, the Company operates about 3,000 gas stations.
There are 358 Bashneft filling stations in the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Orenburg region.
Rosneft in the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Orenburg Region is also represented by a complex of full-cycle production enterprises: oil and gas production, drilling, oil and gas processing, petrochemistry, scientific and design support, as well as a retail network. Rosneft’s key asset in Bashkortostan is the Bashneft company. The Company’s largest research and design institute also operates here. Rosneft’s main oil producing asset in the Orenburg Region is Orenburgneft.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft September 27, 2024
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220851/
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.
New York, 25 September 2024 – ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance welcomed the Ministerial Meeting between the two regional mechanisms during the 7th ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting, held on 25 September 2024 on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, USA. The Meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, and H.E. Alberto van Klaveren, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile and was the first high level in-person interaction between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance after their last Ministerial Meeting in September 2019.
Acknowledging global challenges including post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change and disruptive technologies, the Ministers stressed the importance of continued inter-regional cooperation in mutually beneficial areas for the peoples of the two regions. In particular, the Ministers emphasised the importance of promoting free trade, digital economy, and people-to-people exchange. They also expressed continued support to the Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) as a vital driving force of the economies of both regions.
The Ministers reviewed the progress of the implementation of the ASEAN-Pacific Alliance (PA) Work Plan (2021-2025), following its adoption in November 2021, and underscored the need to further enhance ASEAN-Pacific Alliance cooperation in the areas of mutual interest, as may be mutually agreed, including trade and investment, digital economy, MSMEs, tourism, education and cultural exchange, people-to-people engagement, science and technology, and sustainable development. The Ministers also took special note of the virtual forum held on 26 June 2024, under the working theme “Mainstreaming Gender Equality: Sharing best practices between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Pacific Alliance”, where both regional blocs reviewed the importance of sex disaggregated data to push forward women’s economic empowerment, and shared the efforts made to mainstreaming the gender perspective in our regions, including the main regional strategies on inclusive trade.
The Ministers updated the ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Framework Agreement for Cooperation (FAC), adopted in September 2016, by endorsing the addendum to formally acknowledge that the National Coordinators of the Pacific Alliance subsumed the role of the Group of External Relations of the Pacific Alliance since July 2019. Both sides shared the relevance of institutionalizing the changes by revisiting the FAC periodically.
The Ministers noted the recent developments in ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance, including the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings in July 2024, the upcoming 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in October 2024 and the Pacific Alliance Presidential Summit next December in Chile, and the progress on the accession process of Costa Rica as a PA member and Singapore as a PA-associated state.
The post Co-Chairs’ Press Release 7th ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
The Northern Cape has something new to offer tourists and it is a first for the African continent, says Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
“Beyond all the history, culture and beauty the Northern Cape has to offer, we are here today to launch something new the Northern Cape has to offer — Astronomy or Astro Tourism. We at the Department of Tourism, along with the Department of Science and Innovation, are launching the National Astro-Tourism Strategy, the first country on the African continent to do so,” said the Minister.
She was speaking at the launch of the National Astro-Tourism Strategy on National World Tourism Day on Friday in Carnarvon, in the Northern Cape.
“The Astro Tourism Strategy also aims to enhance the synergy between humans and conservation and a creative link between our origins of life on earth and the origins of the universe,” said the Minister.
The Astro Tourism Strategy, she said, is expected to position South Africa as a world-class astro-tourism destination, focusing on infrastructure development, the optimal functioning of astronomy-tourism streams and community transformation.
The Gazetting Notice was published today.
“We invite the public, including the tourism and astronomy stakeholders to participate and contribute towards to strengthening this very important work by submitting their comments.
“Collaboration and partnership are critically important to take this work forward and we are thankful for national, provincial and local government working together as well as the private sector to ensure sustainable growth and local community development,” said the Minister.
She said the Square Kilometre Array telescope, the largest radio telescope in the world, was a remarkable leap towards the future, and all on African soil.
She said it was exciting that the province was leading South Africa’s proactive stance in leveraging the significant advances made in the development of the world’s largest space telescope array, with a comprehensive astro-tourism strategy.
“Today, we are here to cast the spotlight on these experiences and more and to invite South Africans, and indeed visitors from the rest of the world, to come explore this province and to engage with living cultures and traditions that continue to thrive here in the Northern Cape.
“We want to use the SKA and the Astro Tourism as a catalyst to develop the Karoo and provide opportunities for rural tourism as well as agri-tourism to develop rural areas further. The Northern Cape is the prime location to launch this strategy as 50% of the world’s population cannot see the beauty of the night sky but the African sky still remains at an advantage, by having the clearest and darkest night sky.”
The vision of the Astro Tourism strategy aims to develop and position an inclusive Astro-Tourism sector that will yield sustainable benefit-sharing opportunities by maximising on marketing efforts and enhancing visitor experience in South Africa.
The National Astro-Tourism strategic pillars were developed through a multi-discipline consultancy process involving both the tourism and astronomy stakeholders in South Africa.
The Implementation Plan’s goal is to grow astro-tourism in South Africa will be implemented, monitored and evaluated according to the three strategic pillars:
· Pillar One: Indigenous Celestial Narratives and Human Capacity Development
· Pillar Two: Infrastructure Development
· Pillar Three: Inclusive Tourism Growth and Partnerships
“There is so much untapped potential in our tourism market and we must work together on all levels of government, with the private to promote our hidden gems and give more business to SMEs and community tourism,” added the Minister. – SAnews.gov.za
Support for four Cape Breton businesses enhances year-round visitor experience
Support for four Cape Breton businesses enhances year-round visitor experience
September 27, 2024 · Ingonish, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Tourism plays a vital role in Atlantic Canada, driving local economies, creating jobs and strengthening communities. Tourism also helps preserve, promote and celebrate the region’s diverse cultural heritage – fostering awareness and understanding of the many peoples who call this place home. The Government of Canada is investing to help four tourism operators in Ingonish expand their winter offerings, extending the region’s tourism season.
Escape to winter in Cape Breton
Today, Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria announced a total investment of $1,262,165 to support growing tourism in Ingonish. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.
This investment will help Cape Smokey, the Cabot Snowmobile Club, Ingonish Harbour-View Chalets, and MacKinnon House ltd. improve recreation, and accommodation options in the region, making it an even more desireable destination for visitors and helping to boost the economy all year long. Please see the attached backgrounder for more information on the businesses and projects.
Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting a diverse tourism industry in rural communities.
Quotes
“From breathtaking vistas, to vibrant culture, and the friendliest people, Ingonish is ready for you to explore all year long. And this magical region sees folks returning again and again to explore more and more. It’s World Tourism Day, so make sure you plan to discover all that this incredible community has to offer.”
– The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
“Tourism is a powerful economic driver that supports job creation, local businesses and community growth. These projects will give visitors the fantastic outdoor experiences they seek, while filling demand for more high-quality, four-season accommodations in the area.”
– Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria
“Victoria County Council has made trails development a strategic priority and we are excited to see this investment into a key piece of the Victoria County Trails development plan. This plan is working to connect communities and their businesses with the Highlands Trail system to improve access and user experience for all participants. Victoria County is proud to work with strong volunteer driven organizations like Cabot Snowmobile Club and recognize the unique skills and passion these clubs bring to trail development.”
– Bruce J Morrison, Warden of Victoria County
“This new infrastructure will significantly increase our snowmaking capabilities, allowing us to produce more snow, more quickly. This will provide visitors with the certainty they need to confidently book their winter holidays here, knowing they’ll be able to ski or snowboard. This will also help ensure that accommodations are fully booked and that restaurants in the area can operate smoothly. In other words, it’s the spark that ignites the fire for the entire winter season.”
– Martin Kejval, CEO of Cape Smokey
“The new trail officially connects Ingonish with the SANS Cape Breton Highlands Trail System. It establishes Ingonish as both a recreational launch point and destination for year-round tourism. The project will not only enhance the snowmobiler’s experience with more awesome groomed trails and a new destination but also promote other recreation such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter wilderness camping, ATV’ing, bird watching, hiking, mountain biking, and more. The assistance to this community project is greatly appreciated!”
– Gordon LeBlanc, Cabot Snowmobile Club Member
“We are grateful to ACOA for supporting our small business with access to funding! Their support will allow us to realize a dream of being entrepreneurs and open luxury accommodations in our home town of Ingonish. We are excited to open, provide job opportunities, and help the community increase supply of four season accommodations.”
– Juanita Butler, Co-owner of Ingonish Harbour-View Chalets
“I am very excited to see this development happening in this place of historical significance to myself and my family. Thanks to ACOA for helping to make this happen!”
– Perry MacKinnon, Owner of MacKinnon House Ltd.
Quick facts
Related products
Contacts
Connor Burton Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
September 27, 2024 · Ingonish, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Cape Breton’s welcoming culture, outdoor experiences and exceptional scenery draws visitors from around the globe. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is investing a total of $1,262,165 to support winter activities and expand accommodation options in Ingonish, helping to extend the region’s tourism season.
Cape Smokey Holding ltd. is receiving a repayable contribution of $578,575 through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program to upgrade its power capacity. Power poles, three phase electrical lines and modern systems will be installed from the mid-point to the top of the ski hill, and a control room building will be constructed. This will help Cape Smokey meet the electricity demands for its current amenities and future tourism projects, and significantly increase snowmaking capabilities, ensuring consistent conditions for visitors. It will also allow the business to stop daily use of its diesel generator, leading to cleaner air and less noise.
Cape Smokey is located in Ingonish along the Cabot Trail and within the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It was built in the 1970s and was operated for many years by local community volunteers. In 2019, new owners purchased the property and began work to turn it into a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to the ski resort and gondola, plans for the site include a tree top walk, accommodation and residential development, and marina.
The Cabot Snowmobile Club of Cape Breton Island (CSC) is receiving a non-repayable contribution of $299,840 through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) to accomplish phase two of improvements to trail #758, also known as the Mary Barker Trail, from Ingonish to Wreck Cove. With this phase, the Club will undertake stump removal, rough and fine grading, culvert installations, ditch and drainage work, silt and sediment control and resurfacing as required. This work will provide a more functional trail to be used all year round by locals and tourists, helping to establish Ingonish as a launch point for year-round tourism activities.
The CSC was incorporated in 1973 as a not-for-profit society and currently includes 90 members. It is a member of the Snowmobilers Association of Nova Scotia (SANS). The CSC is responsible for maintaining and grooming more than 200 kms of SANS trails in the Cape Breton Highlands and is one of six snowmobile clubs in Cape Breton that work together to maintain and groom the trail system. It relies heavily on volunteer members to upgrade, maintain and service the trail system which attracts visitors and locals year-round.
Ingonish Harbour-View Chalets is receiving a repayable contribution of $233,750 through the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) to build two A-frame chalets, each with the capacity to sleep eight people. The chalets will be two kilometers away from Cape Smokey, at the head of the harbour, and directly on the world-famous Cabot Trail. These cabins will fill the need for year-round accomodations that are suitable for larger groups.
Cabot Chalets is a new business, owned by Juanita Butler and her brother, Patrick Barron. Having grown up in Ingonish, the pair know the availability of winter accommodations throughout Victoria County is scarce. The goal for the business is to become a preferred destination for tourists, by offering luxury accommodations with high end amenities, while also focusing on providing unparalleled customer service.
MacKinnon House Ltd. is receiving a repayable contribution of $150,000 through the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) to contruct five new visitor accommodation cottages near the site of MacKinnon House in Ingonish. The cottages will operate under the name Smokey Cove Cottages. They will accommodate small and large groups, helping increase capacity of four-season tourist accommodations while providing a home base to explore Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Cabot Trail.
MacKinnon House Ltd. is owned and operated by Perry MacKinnon on a property that was once the site of a lighthouse operated by Perry’s grandfather until 1956. MacKinnon House is a four-bedroom, year-round tourism operation on the Cabot Trail, near Cape Smokey Mountain.
Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Clifford AuCoin President Cabot Snowmobile Club of Cape Breton Island ftaucoin@hotmail.com 902-563-6749