World's Most Dangerous Road

Starting high in the rarefied air of the Bolivian Andes, the steep and bumpy La Paz-to-Coroico road plunges down almost 3,600 meters on its spectacular 64-km path to the lush, sub-tropical Yungas and the sleepy town of Coroico. The narrow -- occasionally very narrow -- track hugs the walls of the sheer valley as it snakes its way beneath waterfalls and rocky overhangs. A fatal accident every fortnight is not uncommon on the Coroico road. The July disaster brought the death toll during the previous eight months to 55. In 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank dubbed the La Paz-to-Coroico route "the world's most dangerous road."

Read full story here
By Martin Li is a freelance travel writer

Pakistan Tourism Ministry’s big plans for 2007

LAHORE: Tourism Ministry will begin ‘Destination Pakistan 2007’ programme from December 15 in Islamabad to promote the cultural heritage and scenic beauty of the country, Federal Tourism Minister Nelofar Bakhtiar said on Saturday.

Talking to reporters, she said that the programme would give a unique blend to tourists from all over the world. She said the government has planned a number of activities for the coming year to attract tourists. “Special packages will be offered to overseas Pakistanis and their children for visiting Pakistan,” she added.

The minister also highlighted measures taken by the government for the promotion of tourism in the country.

“Ranging from snow-covered mountains in the north to vast lush fields and forest resorts, Pakistan is also a destination for religious tourism,” she said. She urged tour operators, leading businessmen and people from different walks of life to play their role in promoting the soft image of Pakistan.

She said the government was promoting religious tourism. A large number of Buddhists and Sikhs visited their religious places in Pakistan every year.

She said Pakistan had the famous Silk Route, six out of eight highest peaks in the world and the Indus Valley civilisation. She also appreciated the efforts of Prince Karim Aga Khan for building hotels and resorts in northern Pakistan, adding that more hotel chains were willing to operate in the major cities, especially in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

She said Pakistan was a hospitable country and the people of Pakistan wanted to share their culture, cuisine, music and art with the rest of the world. Full Story

2008 Beijing Olympics tours

BEIJING 2008
Games of the XXIX Olympiad
From the 8th August to 24th August 2008

more about 2008 Beijing Olympics Games: http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/beijing/

Tours:
http://www.infohub.com/vacation_packages/201.html
http://www.mgtourco.com/4461080_21859.htm
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/beijing-olympic/
Pre-Registration: http://travel.ec-t.com/CityTravel/olympic_support.aspx

Maral

Maral (red deer)

Zaire

Zaire (spelled Zaïre in French) was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between October 27, 1971 and May 17, 1997. Although it came into use in 1971, the name Zaire is often still used for the portion of the Congo controlled by Mobutu since 1965.


Musee National de Kinshasa (National Museum)
The National Museum of Kinshasa holds the largest collection of Zarian artefacts and crafts. It is situated in the capital of Congo , Kinshasa .

Kisanto Botanical Gardens
A 2-hour drive from south of Kinshasa is the Kisanto Botanical Gardens in Matadi. It features a collection of 100-year old trees from all over the world and rivers. Visitors can take a dip in the rivers.

Upemba National Park
Upemba National Park is situated in the south and straddles the River Lualaba. It features several lakes inhabited by hippos, crocodiles and numerous aquatic birds.

Virunga National Park
With an area of 12,000 square metres, the Virunga National Park covers a lot of area which is inhabited by numerous lions, elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, hippos and colorful aquatic birds. This huge plain bounded by two jagged mountain ranges serves as a natural enclosure for animals that roam its natural reserve.

Zaire, useful links and resources
Transports in Zaire http://www.africanet.com/africanet/country/zaire/getthere.htm
Introduction to Congolese Life and Culture http://www.congo-pages.org/
Accommodations in Zaire http://www.africaguide.com/country/zaire/
Health Policy and Guidelines for Travel http://www.dh.gov.uk/
Eco-tours http://www.gocongo.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaire
http://www.africaguide.com/country/zaire/

Niagara Falls

To more than 12 million annual visitors, Niagara is magic. To many, Niagara is the awe inspiring spectacle of Niagara Falls. To some, Niagara is the aroma of ripening grapes and the taste of succulent fresh fruit.

There is something about Niagara Falls, Canada that appeals to the lover, daredevil and poet in everyone. Over the years Niagara Falls has evolved from a strategic military post to a prosperous trade centre, and finally into a world class year-round travel destination.

Nature has left an indelible mark on the Niagara region. The Canadian Falls, with a height of 54 metres (177ft), and the American Falls, at 56 metres (184ft) high, are true wonders of nature. Royalty, poets, and celebrities have all come to Niagara to experience its awe inspiring wonders.

Today Niagara Falls, Canada features world class attractions such as Casino Niagara, IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls, Niagara Helicopters, Marineland, and the popular new Butterfly Conservatory.

Niagara Falls is a set of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River in eastern North America, on the border between the United States and Canada. Niagara Falls (French: les Chutes du Niagara) comprises three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls (sometimes called the Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the smaller, adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide. With more than 6 million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falling over the crestline every minute in high flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average, it is the most powerful waterfall in North America and possibly the best-known in the world.

Some sources erroneously quote Niagara as having an average flow of about 12 million cubic feet per minute (200,000 cu ft/sec) or even slightly more. This figure is derived from the average rate of flow (202,000 cu ft/sec) of the Niagara river. This volume would pass over the falls if there were no hydroelectric water diversion upstream from the falls, however, water is diverted continuously from Niagara and this figure is approximately three times the actual average flow volume over the falls.

Niagara Falls is renowned for its beauty, and is both a valuable source of hydroelectric power and a challenging project for environmental preservation. A popular tourist site for over a century, the natural wonder is shared between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York.

More Info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls

Lut Desert

Persian Dasht-e Lut, also spelled Dasht-i Lut, desert in eastern Iran. It stretches about 200 miles (320 km) from northwest to southeast and is about 100 miles wide. In the east a great massif of dunes and sand rises, while in the west an extensive area of high ridges is separated by wind-swept corridors. In its lowest, salt-filled depression—less than 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level—the summer heat and low humidity are believed to be unsurpassed anywhere.

Encyclopædia Britannica Article: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9049425
Google image results: http://images.google.ca/images?q=lut%20desert

The Bahamas

Sun, Sand and See
The Islands Of The Bahamas is a 100,000-sq-mile archipelago that extends over 500 miles of the clearest water in the world. These 700 islands, including uninhabited cays and large rocks, total an estimated land area of 5,382 sq miles, and register a highest land elevation of 206 ft.
Most notable, however, is that each island has its own diversity that continues beyond geography, carrying through to the heart of The Bahamas, the Bahamian people.

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is an independent English-speaking nation in the West Indies. The Bahamas is located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida and the United States, north of Cuba and the Caribbean, and northwest of the British dependency of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamas
http://www.bahamas.com/

Impalila Island

This unique island is situated at the meeting place of two mighty African rivers, the Chobe and Zambezi, and four countries, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. This is the only place in the world where four countries meet. Impalila Island forms the north-eastern tip of Namibia and lies just 70km's west of Victoria Falls. The surrounding area is an amazing mosaic of waterways, floodplains and bushveld:- host to exceptional birdlife, game viewing and assorted vegetation - and in the waters outstanding fishing opportunities.

This island is situated at the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers at the place where 4 countries meet - from the air an amazing mosaic of waterways, floodplains and bushveld - on the ground exceptional birdlife, game viewing and assorted vegetation - and in the waters outstanding fishing opportunities. Impalila is also the most secluded and remote of the Chobe destinations but close enough to offer guests the very best of the Chobe river – that is game viewing by boat.

More:
http://www.islandsinafrica.com/impalila.htm
http://www.e-gnu.com/impalila_island_lodge_namibia.html
http://namibia.gamelodges.co.za/nambia-game-lodges-impalila-island_location.html

ISLANDS IN AFRICA

These Aferican countries have Islands:
1 Djibouti, 2 Equatorial Guinea, 3 Eritrea, 4 Ethiopia, 5 Guinea-Bissau, 6 Kenya, 7 Liberia, 8 Madagascar, 9 Malawi, 10 Mauritius, 11 Mozambique, 12 Namibia, 13 Réunion, 14 São Tomé and Príncipe, 15 Senegal, 16 Seychelles, 17 Sierra Leone, 18 Somalia, 19 South Africa, 20 Sudan, 21 Tanzania, 22 Tunisia, 23 Uganda

List of islands of Africa:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Africa

Seychelles

Seychelles …
Situated in warm azure waters of the Indian Ocean well outside the cyclone belt, Seychelles boasts one of the most pristine natural environments on the planet and offers a holiday experience that represents a powerful antidote to the demands of every day living.

With 115 islands scattered over 1,400,000 square kilometres of warm crystal clear waters, Seychelles offers an ever-expanding kaleidoscope of experiences to the visitor seeking quality and diversity. From sculpted granite boulders, coral reefs, untouched forests and bird sanctuaries to private resorts and exotic hideaways, visitors are ‘spoiled for choice’ when it comes to visiting easily accessible island venues.

Seychelles ’ vibrant but tranquil island society also nurtures a pristine ecosystem that harbours flora and fauna so spectacular that almost 50% of land area has been set aside as natural reserves. Renowned for having some of the most breath-taking beaches on earth, Seychelles also offers world-beating opportunities for diving, sailing, fishing, trekking and island-hopping.

In a resounding expression of confidence in the country’s future, leading foreign airlines such as Emirates and Qatar have, during the course of the past six months, commenced operations to Seychelles with more airlines scheduled to come on line before long. Through their legendary marketing prowess, an increasing number of potential visitors are being introduced to the magic of these tropical island jewels.

Echo ing this growing belief in Seychelles, such prestigious hotel companies as Banyan Tree, Constance, Le Méridien, and Taj already enjoy a presence on the islands with others such as Four Seasons, Southern Sun, the Crown and Champa Group, Universal Enterprises and Per Aquum set to follow suit in the near future with an enticing assortment of accommodation products and services.

We remain confident that this groundswell of interest and investment in the future of Seychelles ’ tourism, combined with Government’s determination to create a user-friendly, enabling environment on the ground, will usher in a new era of promise and prosperity for our beautiful islands that will allow us to fulfil our collective dream of becoming an outstanding world tourism destination.

More info:
http://www.virtualseychelles.sc
http://www.seychelles.com

CVB preps for Travel Expo

The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau is using its home field advantage to help book a new round of business from tour operators.

Buffalo is hosting the annual Travel Expo New York gathering, set for Aug. 29 and 30, at the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo and will be using the two-day event as a chance to show off some of the best that the region has to offer.

The annual tourism industry gathering is expected to attract 130 exhibitors and an estimated 650 tour group leaders - everyone from bus operators to those who book trips for church and educational groups along with youth and senior citizens groups.

For the Buffalo Niagara CVB, this marks the fourth time since 1986 and the first since 2000, it has hosted the event. The group meets in late summer annually to book tours for the coming 12 months.
Buffalo outbid Syracuse and Corning for this year's event, which by mandate must be held in a New York location.

While the exhibitors come from across the Northeast and East Coast, the true advantage for the host city is being able to physically show off its tourism industry hot spots, officials said.

Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies

By: Charles R. Goeldner, 8th Edition
The number 1 introduction to tourism principles and practices, updated and expanded for today’s growing industry.

Now in its eighth edition, Tourism provides a comprehensive introduction to the world’s most rapidly growing industry. Tens of thousands of hospitality and tourism students worldwide have used previous editions of this classic text to launch their professional careers. Written by three internationally recognized experts, the book looks at the travel and tourism industry from a global perspective, offering insights into the economic, political, and social forces that drive and shape tourism.
Important changes in the Eighth Edition of Tourism include an increased emphasis on the economic impact of tourism around the world, a new chapter devoted to the important topic of formulating tourism policy, and greater coverage of environmental issues.

New student-focused pedagogy has also been added, such as many new readings, Internet excerises, and a directory of Internet sites in each chapter. In six parts, Tourism looks at how different components of the industry work together to cre! ate a unified, successful travel experience:

• Overview and career opportunities
• Tourism businesses and services
• Understanding travel behavior
• Tourism supply and demand; planning and development
• Tourism marketing and research
• Tourism prospects

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0471322105

Tourism Words

attraction - a place, event, building or area which tourists want to visit
biodiversity - a variety of wildlife in an area
business plan - an action plan that entrepreneurs draw up for the purpose of starting a business; a guide to running one's business
component - a constituent part
culture - people's customs, clothing, food, houses, language, dancing, music, drama, literature and religion
destination - the end point of a journey
diversity - variety; multiplicity; range; assortment
domestic - within one's own country. A domestic tourist is a person who engages in tourism in his/her own country; domestic flights are those within the airline's own country.
economy - wealth of resources of a community
ecosystem - an area where living and non-living things interact
eco-tourism - a combination of tourism and the environment (e.g. planning before development; sustainability of resources; economic viability of a tourism product; no negative impact on either the environment or local communities; responsibility for the environment from developers, the tourism industry and tourists; environmentally-friendly practices by all parties concerned and economic benefits flowing to local communities)
endangered species - in severe danger of becoming extinct in the near future unless immediate steps are taken to protect the species
environment - the diverse community activities and cultures of a country's inhabitants, as well as its scarce and sensitive natural resources
event - an occurrence of importance
excursionist - a temporary visitor, staying less than 24 hours, including cruise travellers but excluding travellers in transit
fauna - all the animals of a particular area
flora - all the plants of a particular area
gateway - the point of access to a country or region, usually an airport or seaport, although certain frontier points and railway stations can be given the designation
global - worldwide
Greenwich meridian - the meridian of longitude that passes through Greenwich (London) and from which all other meridians are numbered; also known as the prime meridian or the zero meridian
heritage - a very broad expression that describes anything that has a link with some past event or person (e.g. cultural heritage refers to past customs and traditions with the unspoken implication that these are worthwhile or creditable)
heritage site - a place that capitalises on its connection with heritage
human-made attraction - an attraction created by people
icon - a symbol representing something
inbound tourist - tourist coming into a country from another country
international tourist - tourist travelling to and between foreign countries
itinerary - the written details of a customer's travel arrangements in the form of dates, times and destinations
local - belonging to a particular place or region
macro business - a large, formal business that employs many people
micro business - a small, often informal, business that employs very few people
natural attraction - a tourist attraction that has not been made or created by people
natural disaster - a destructive force (e.g. earthquake, flood, volcanic eruption)
outbound tourist - a tourist departing to a destination beyond the borders of the country of residence
profitability - capacity to make profit
region - an area of land having more or less definable boundaries
sector - a part or branch of the whole industry that provides particular goods and/or services
service - work done for the benefit of another
service delivery - the manner in which customer needs are met
service provider - a person or company that supplies a particular service
souvenir - a product purchased by a tourist as a reminder of a holiday
sustainable - something which can be kept in the same or a better condition for the future
tourism - the all-embracing term for the movement of people to destinations away from their place of residence for any reason other than following an occupation, remunerated from within the country visited, for a period of 24 hours or more
tourism geography - the knowledge of countries, regions, major cities, gateways, famous icons, monuments, building structures, and geographical features such as rivers, seas, mountains, deserts and time zones
tourism industry - a group of businesses that provide services and facilities for consumption by tourists
tourism infrastructure - roads, railway lines, harbours, airport runways, water, electricity, other power supplies, sewerage disposal systems and other utilities to serve not only the local residents but also the tourist influx (suitable accommodation, restaurants and passenger transport terminals form the superstructure of the region)
tourism product - different things to the various members of the tourism industry. To the hotel it is `guest- nights'. To the airline it is the `seats flown' and the `passenger miles'. To the museum, art gallery or archaeological site, the product is measured in terms of the number of visitors. For the tourist the product is the complete experience resulting from the package tour or travel facility purchased, from the time they leave home until their return.
tourist - one who travels for a period of 24 hours or more in a place other than that in which he or she usually resides, whose purpose could be classified as leisure (whether for recreation, health, sport, holiday, study or religion), business, family, mission or meeting
tourist facility - a feature created for utilisation by tourists
tourist route - a route developed to attract tourists to an area to view or experience something unique to that area (e.g. wine route, whale route, heritage route, battlefield route)
tourist trend - a general tendency to visit a country, region or destination or to pursue a specific tourist activity
world heritage site - a site designated by UNESCO as being of special historical, cultural or natural importance

Some useful tourism related websites

World Tourism Organization (WTO)
Global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.
www.world-tourism.org

World Travel and Tourism Council
WTTC - an international organization of travel industry executives promoting travel and tourism worldwide. www.wttc.org

Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory
TOWD is a guide to official tourist information sources: government tourism offices, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, and similar organizations that provide free, accurate, and unbiased travel information to the public. Businesses such as travel agents, tour operators, and hotels are not included. www.towd.com

Hospitality Club
Free network of people around the world who offer free accommodation, advice and help when they are traveling - hospitality exchange. Free membership. www.hospitalityclub.org

Definitions of tourism

Definitions of tourism on the Web:
Occupation of providing local services such as entertainment, accommodation and catering for tourists. www.reefed.edu.au/glossary/t.html

Comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. www.nscb.gov.ph/glossary/tourism.asp

Industry promoting sightseeing by people with money. "Tourism is often regarded by the host community as an economic necessity but a social evil." Sometimes used as an excuse to restrict the freedom of locals as with decreasing statutory holidays for NZ shop assistants. www.embassy.org.nz/encycl/t3encyc.htm

Tourism is a service based industry comprising a number of tangible and intangible components. The tangible elements include transport, foods and beverages, tours, souvenirs and accommodation, while the intangible elements involve education, culture, adventure or simply escape and relaxation. Tourism in Victoria caters for travellers from Melbourne, regional Victoria, interstate and overseas. www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education/tourism_parks/da3.htm

the all-embracing term for the movement of people to destinations away from their place of residence for any reason other than following an occupation, remunerated from within the country visited, for a period of 24 hours or more http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/SA_NCS_Tourism:Glossary

The act of visiting places for the purpose of enjoyment. www.tldsb.on.ca/schools/huntsvilleps/99/lessons/trade/dictionary.htm

a source of income for a state/country or business based on peoples travel habits/patterns/purchases www.radford.edu/~geog-web/alliance/vaworld/midgloss.html

the business of providing services to tourists; "Tourism is a major business in Bermuda" http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. A tourist is someone who travels at least eighty kilometres (fifty miles) from home for the purpose of recreation, as defined by the World Tourism Organization (a United Nations body). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism

Tourism is Roxette's fourth album, released in 1992. It was recorded during their Joyride world tour and is a mixture of live and studio tracks. Some tracks were even recorded in a hotel room, using a suitcase instead of drums. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_(album)