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Seychelles to host FINA World Junior Open Water Championship in 2020

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Seychelles will next year host the FINA World Junior Open Water Championship 2020, making it the first African country and small island nation to organize this event. Additionally, following the resounding triumph of the first-ever FINA/Hosa Marathon Swim World Series held on our beautiful shores in 2018, Seychelles will once again host the second leg of the prestigious swimming competition in May this year.

These official announcements were made during a press conference held on January 17, 2019, at the Savoy Resort and Spa in the presence of Mr. Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, the Minister for Finance, Trade, Investment, and Economic Planning, Principal Secretary for Youth and Sports Mr. Fabian Palmyre.


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The press conference hosted by the chairperson of the Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA), Mr. David Vidot, also saw the participation of the two core governmental partners in the presence of Mrs. Sherin Francis the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive and Mr. Jean Larue, Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC).

The FINA World Junior Open Water Championship is an international swimming competition that brings together boys and girls between the age of 14 and 19, to race at the highest level.

“This is another historical moment for Seychelles as we are pioneering open water not only in Seychelles but also in the African continent,” said Mr. Vidot.

During her intervention STB Chief Executive Mrs. Francis commented that as a faithful partner of the open water competitions, STB will give its support to the event, adding that such sports competitions provide a great boost to the tourism industry.

“Such big events are broadcasted by major television channels and this is a way for people to indirectly discover the destination for the first time. We have noticed in the past that having international press cover such events has allowed us to receive more leverage and visibility as a small country with little resources,” said Mrs. Francis.
She added that all stakeholders in the tourism industry stand to benefit from such an event.

Commenting on the financial commitment of the event, the Minister for Finance, Trade, Investment, and Economic Planning stated that the government of Seychelles is giving its full support for the hosting of the event. He also took the opportunity to invite local businesses to join the initiative as sponsors and partners.

“It is important that Seychelles hosts such events to make sure that it remains relevant on the international scene as a country that is serious and engaged in sport. Sport brings about peace and most of all it develops the youth and places them on the right track in life,” said Mr. Loustau-Lalanne.

Mr. Loustau-Lalanne also added that the exact costing for the event has not been established yet, but that for the moment an estimation of about five to six million Seychelles rupees has been made for the event.

Mr. Vidot mentioned that ongoing discussions are still being held with FINA to establish the exact date that the junior championship will take place. He explained that the junior championship might be hosted during the week that follows the final race of the FINA/Hosa Marathon Swim World Series’ second leg. There will be three age groups and three distances – 3km, 5km, and 7.5km – under which participants will be able to compete.

The FINA/Hosa Marathon Swim World Series, which is anticipated for May 11 and May 12 this year, will be the second event of a four-year agreement with FINA for the international swimming event.

“At the moment, we are hoping to host it back to back with the world cup series as both events will be hosted at Beau Vallon. This will allow us to make the most out of our resources,” said Mr. Vidot.

In 2018, the first Seychelles edition of the FINA/Hosa Marathon Swim World Series was won by an Italians duo Arianna Bridi and Simone Ruffini who came out as the winners of the women’s and men’s race, respectively; leaving around 50 other world class swimmers from around the world envious of winning in the pristine waters.

Short Treks in the Himalayas

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Short and Easy Trekking in Nepal is intended for those with no encounters of trekking previously and for occupied individuals who need to have a Himalayan climbing background amid their short occasion or the individuals who need to appreciate with lovely mou,ntain situations in a comfortable stroll with their companions or families additionally those individuals who don’t have physical wellness to go to high height mountains.

Everest View Trek

Everest View Trek is six days moderate excursion begins and finishes at Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla (2860 m). The strolling trail goes through the UNESCO world legacy site, Sagarmatha National Park, and Dudh Kosi River Valley. The Mount Everest (8848 m) can see past Hillary Bridge, Army encampment of Namche Bazaar (3441 m), and Tengboche Village (3860 m). A differing scene, vegetation, fauna, Sherpa way of life, Buddhist culture, dialect, sustenance propensity, dress, mountain celebration, and natural air are very fascinating in the Everest Mini Trek.

Annapurna Panorama Trek

The Annapurna Panorama Trek is reasonable for voyagers who need to watch the great Annapurna region, yet don’t have sufficient energy or experience for testing month long treks. Other than an extraordinary landscape, including all encompassing perspectives of the Annapurna I and Annapurna South, and a wonderful climbing knowledge, this trek additionally gives you understanding into the nearby individuals’ lives and culture.

Chisapani Nagarkot Trek

Nagarkot Chisapani Trekking is a simple trek taking you along the edges of the Kathmandu Valley, offering removed perspectives of frigid mountains and gives you a thought of normal Nepali wide open life and ethnic culture. Nagarkot Chisapani Trekking is most appropriate to families with youngsters or for understudies who appreciate open air camping, however who don’t possess enough energy for longer treks into the high mountains. Nagarkot Chisapani Trekking is a standout amongst the best trekking goal who doesn’t have time and who likes to family happiness they can complete two days trek.

Jomsom Muktinath Trek

Jomsom Muktinath Trek are two of the most well known and Trekked regions in Nepal. At Team Himalaya, we have cautiously handmade a trekking agenda to offer you the best of the two universes. The 14-day-long Jomsom Muktinath Trek includes around northwestern Nepal’s Mustang and Myagdi locale. Horse – otherwise called the Land past the Himalayas misleads the north of entrancing Himalayan extents like Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Jomsom – Mustangs headquarter lies at a rise of 2,700m, while, the holy place of worship of Muktinath lies a height of 3,710m. Another principle feature of the trek is the climb to Pun Hill (3,210m), a renowned perspective in the Annapurna region that will concede you the entrancing perspectives of more than 20 taking off excellent mountains.

Balthali Village Trek

Balthali village visit is quite prevalent visit around Kathmandu valley, which is found east of Kathmandu. It is one of the rich social and little yet delightful settlement village named Balthali village simply outside Kopasi and Panauti town, 40km a long way from Kathmandu. The village is encompassing by thickly forested with abundant verdures, brilliant sprouting rhododendron and Sal trees cover the hill.The Balthali Village Tour offers a dawn in the east, the guessing Himalayan scope of Manaslu, Langtang and Everest in the north, and incalculable rice patios in the west and immense streaming green woodland of the Mahabharata go in the South. You will inspire an odds to know culture, custom and ways of life of nearby individuals.

Jomsom Muktinath Trek

Jomsom-Muktinath trek is one of the holiest trekking courses in Nepal that prompts the critical and verifiable place which conveys indispensable parts of Hindu and Buddhist culture and custom. Jomsom-Muktinath trek lies in the middle of the Annapurna and Mustang regions of Nepal. Both the place offers with the unmistakable assortment of scene and way of life of individuals. Jomsom-Muktinath trekking bundle will likewise be the ideal decision for the general population hunting down the family excursion or trekking.

Ghana welcomes back people of African origin this year

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by Apolinari Tairo

Targeting to attract people of the African origin to visit their continent of origin, Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo has designated the year 2019 as the “Year of Return” to commemorate the resilience of Africans forced into slavery and to encourage their descendants to come home.

“We know of the extraordinary achievements and contributions Africans in the Diaspora made to the lives of the Americans, and it is important that this symbolic year, 400 years later, we commemorate their existence and their sacrifices,” President Nana said earlier in September last year.

His timing was based on the first recorded landing of a ship carrying Africans in Virginia, US, in August 1619 according to historians.

The Ghanaian president proclaimed 2019 as the “Year of Return” for all Diaspora descendants of Africans who were captured and transported into the Americas as slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Titled, “Year of Return, Ghana 2019”, the proclamation was read in September last year at a ceremony held at the United States National Press Club in Washington DC to formally launch a program of activities marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to English North America in 1619.

The Year of Return seeks to make Ghana the focus for millions of African descendants reacting to their marginalization by tracing their ancestry and identity. By this, Ghana becomes the beacon for African people living on the continent and the Diaspora.

The Proclamation recognizes Ghana’s unique position as the location for 75 percent of the slave dungeons built on the west coast of Africa and the current President’s policy making it a national priority to extend a hand of welcome back home to Africans in the Diaspora.

As well as taking note of the fact that “Ghana has more African Americans living in the country than any other African country,” it also expressed happiness about Ghana’s Right of Abode immigration law that grants freedom to persons with this right “to live and to come and go into and from the country without let or hindrance.”

Another factor influencing the Proclamation is the 115th US Congress Resolution (HR 1242) establishing the 400 Years African American History Commission to commemorate the anniversary.

With the Washington universal launch, Ghana is thus empowered to proceed with its intention to undertake activities throughout the year, 2019, to commemorate the event.

Speaking at the launch, President Akufo-Addo recalled Ghana’s early Pan African leadership role and pledged that “under my leadership, Ghana will continue to ensure that our hard-won Pan African reputation is not lost.”

“Making Ghana the focus of activities to commemorate the landing of the first enslaved Africans in the English colonies in North America is, therefore, a huge opportunity to entrench Ghana’s leadership,” President  Akufo-Addo said.

The Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr. Akwasi Agyemang, situated the “Right of Return” within the context of the Christian Bible in which the people of biblical Israel were promised a return to their rightful land after 400 years in exile.

“In the year 2019, we open our arms even wider to welcome home our brothers and sisters in what will become a birthright journey home for the global African family,” he said.

Celebrities including supermodel Naomi Campbell and actors Idris Elba and Rosario Dawson kicked off the year-long program by attending the Full Circle Festival in Accra in late in December.

Ghana is still dotted with dungeons and castles established during the slave trade, which serve as a powerful reminder of the past to educate citizens and foreign visitors about slavery.

US former president Barack Obama and his family visited the Cape Coast Castle in 2009 and described it as a place of “profound sadness.”

“It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it’s also possible to overcome,” Obama told reporters during the tour of the landmark, with its infamous “door of no return” in the dungeon.

In 2000, Ghana passed legislation designed to make it easier for people from the African Diaspora to live and work in this African country. President Akufo-Addo has pledged to simplify the visa process.

Tourism Minister Catherine Abelema Afeku is organizing music and culture festivals, including Ghana independence celebrations in March this year including Panafest, a theatre festival aimed at bringing together Africans on the continent and those in the Diaspora to celebrate then discuss the issues of slavery.

Antigua and Barbuda receives over one million visitors for 2018

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Antigua and Barbuda welcomed over one million visitors to the destination in 2018, topping 2017 figures and leading Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism the Honourable Charles Fernandez to call 2018, “A record-setting year for Antigua and Barbuda.”

This is following the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s Budget Speech on Thursday 17 January, when Prime Minister, The Honourable Gaston Browne made the announcement of the “impressive” tourism arrivals.

The destination attracted a total of 1,081,365 visitors in 2018. This is an increase in arrivals from 2017, when Antigua and Barbuda hit the one million visitor mark for the first time with, 1,059,924 visitors.

The most impressive growth was seen in stayover (air) arrivals, where the destination attracted over 20,000 more stayover visitors in 2018 than in 2017.  This brought the total number of stayover visitors who arrived via the V.C. Bird International Airport to 268,949. This represents an 8.75% increase in stayover arrivals for the year 2018.

The destination also received more cruise visitors, with cruise arrivals totaling 792,873 while arrivals by yacht totaled 19,543.

Minister Fernandez said, “We have had a very strong year of growth.  Very early in 2018, the teams were tasked with re-grouping and working more strategically to attract more stayover visitors to the destination.”

“Our teams were relentless and our tourism performance for 2018 has been exceptional.  So much so, that the 2018 stayover figures surpassed not only the 2017 figures but the 2016, 2015, and 2014 arrivals.”

The destination experienced month-on-month stayover growth for the majority of the year, with a strong finish in December 2018, when demand for the destination rose by 6% during that month compared to the previous December.

Overall stayover arrivals for the year, showed the strongest growth from the Canadian market with a 66% increase in arrivals.  The US Market where most of the destination’s visitors were derived saw an 8% growth while the UK Market, the second largest source market held its own; remaining flat mainly due to the uncertainties of Brexit that have suppressed outbound travel from the UK.  The Caribbean market also recorded an increase. 

CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin C. James has said: “We are optimistic about another year of growth for 2019, with the destination expected to benefit further from upgrades to our tourism infrastructure, new room stock and airlift.”

James also noted, that the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is set to launch a global summer marketing campaign that will focus on creating demand for the destination during the traditional summer off-season, with value-added offers. This will boost visitor arrivals to the destination at a time when many hotels have excess capacity.

Antigua and Barbuda has seen the tangible results of growth in tourism with the country recording economic growth of 5.3% in 2018, making the destination the fastest growing in the entire CARICOM area.

ABOUT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Voted the World Travel Awards 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination, the twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches – one for every day of the year. The largest of the Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua’s tourism events calendar includes the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, and the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 17 mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.  Find information on Antigua & Barbuda at: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com or follow us on Twitter. http://twitter.com/antiguabarbuda  Facebook www.facebook.com/antiguabarbuda; Instagram: www.instagram.com/AntiguaandBarbuda

For Antigua and Barbuda media queries, contact:

Maria Blackman

Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority

T: 1 268 464 7601 /1 268 562 7600

E: Maria.blackman@visitaandb.com

Explore untamed wilderness in Hokkaido with Oku Japan

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Oku Japan, the tour company specializing in soft adventure in rural Japan, is proud to announce its first tour visiting Hokkaido, exploring the vast wilderness of the Japan’s northernmost island and featuring destinations not found on other itineraries. On this new tour, Oku Japan invites guests to see a Hokkaido unreachable for most and truly off-the-beaten-track.

On this 9-day small group guided adventure, guests travel from Kushiro on Hokkaido’s eastern Pacific coast to the Shiretoko Peninsula stretching out into the Sea of Okhotsk. Throughout the tour they will see untouched nature, visit UNESCO wetland nature reserves, experience spectacular landscapes formed by volcanoes, and enjoy flora and fauna special to Hokkaido. This tour features relaxing Onsen hot springs after each day’s walk and wonderful regional cuisine known to be some of the freshest in Japan, along with the opportunity to learn the history of Hokkaido’s indigenous peoples, the Ainu.

Sustainability is core to Oku Japan’s beliefs, and this tour aligns with the company’s ongoing efforts to encourage visitation to more remote and rural areas that remain unknown on the international stage, battling against overtourism and supporting locally-owned businesses.

Learn more about the Wild Lands of Eastern Hokkaido here: https://www.okujapan.com/trips/wild-lands-of-eastern-hokkaido-140