World News | forimmediaterelease.net

... press releases & Breaking World News

British Africa or South America? African Tourism Board welcomes St. Helena

by

The African Tourism Board declares St. Helena as part of Africa and welcomes Destination Management Company Island Images as their first member on that remote British Island Territory in the Atlantic Ocean. St. Helena is an important stopover for ships sailing to Europe from Asia and South Africa for centuries, and adds a unique unexplored component to the African Travel and Tourism Industry.

The Island of St Helena, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom is located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It’s of volcanic origin and has an area of 47 square miles. It is almost 5,000 miles from the UK, 700 miles south-east of Ascension Island, and 1,900 miles NNW from South Africa (Cape Town).  2,500 miles east of Rio de Janeiro and 1,210 mi west of the mouth of the Cunene River, which marks the border between Namibia and Angola. The island’s total population is around 4,000, of whom about 900 live in the capital, Jamestown.


eTN Chatroom for Readers (join us)

With its uniquely rich diversity of heritage-based attractions, both built and natural, St Helena offers many things to see and lots to do — from visiting the Georgian town to the rugged coastline, from the rolling hills to the stark yet striking geology at Sandy Bay. That’s the thing about this destination here’s so much more to the island than you may think. St Helena is home to the most varied heritage and nature, breathtaking views from the highest peaks, inviting waters, and 100% quaintness. St Helena beckons you to a true discovery.

The first member joining the African Tourism Board is Island Images.

Island Images is a locally owned and operated Destination Management Company, delivering a number of services, including a Receptive Tour Operator and are professionally qualified by and affiliated to the South African Tourism Services Association.

GOT NEWS? click here

possible to reach millions worldwide
Google News, Bing News, Yahoo News, 200+ publications

Director Derek Richards told eTN: Whether you’re simply looking for somewhere off the beaten path St Helena offers adventure for everyone.  The Island biodiversity has fascinated and influenced scientists and explorers Walking, rambling and hiking are amongst the most popular activities St Helena is home to over 1,000 species, of which over 400 are endemic to the Island.”

Marine life is equally outstanding, from a variety of dolphins, whales and the whale sharks.

Alain St. Ange, president of the African Tourism Board voiced his excitement to add St. Helena to the organization fast-growing portfolio of countries and regions. African Tourism Board is where Africa Becomes One Tourism Destination of choice in the world.

More information on African Tourism Board and how to become part of the organization visit www.africantourismboard.com

MEDIA CONTACT: TravelMarketingNetwork, 954 Lexington Ave. #1037, New York, NY 10021 USA, PH: (+1) 718-374-6816, marketing@travelmarketingnetwork.com   

St. Martin shines at CTO’s Caribbean Week in New York City

by

The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s, (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York is the largest regional tourism activity in North America. Artists, celebrity chefs,  investors and other strategic partners join government officials and the media for a week of festivities designed to promote the region and for tourism leaders, to conduct bi-lateral meeting on the industry.

In that regard, the Hon. Valérie Damaseau attended the CTO Board of Directors Meeting, the Council of Tourism Ministers and Commissioners Meeting, and the Marketing Conference that was hosted by CTO Allied Members, who presented the latest cutting-edge marketing trends.  During the seminars and other business development meetings Minister Damaseau raised awareness on St. Martin’s tourism product and gave critical updates to further enhance the destination.

At Media Marketplace, representatives from St. Martin had the opportunity to discuss destination updates with trade and consumer media and share information on new developments on island, sharing that 75% of the hotels have reopened, which accounts for approximately 1,200 rooms, while some 65% of the villas have been renovated. St. Martin saw an impressive 118% increase in the total number of stayover arrivals for the month January 2019. In January 2018, the island welcomed 12,028 visitors and that number more than doubled, reaching 26,258 visitors in 2019. 

Hon. Valérie Damaseau participated in one-on-one interviews with select media outlets and television journalists. In speaking with the media, the Minister shared,  “I would like to congratulate our team at the St. Martin Tourist Office as well as our esteemed partners at CTO for their dedication and continuous support in promoting our country.  Participating in these meetings allow us to network, exchange ideas, and help ensure a successful year in the tourism industry”.  She continued, ‘Success comes from hard work so we will always apply ourselves to guarantee that the momentum in visitor arrivals continues”. She also provided information on new brands that are coming to the destination in 2020 and 2021 such as Secret Resorts, Planet Hollywood & The Morgan.

ABOUT ST. MARTIN

With duty-free shops, an eclectic array of restaurants, properties and loads of water sports, St. Martin is for action-oriented vacationers. With its blend of warm hospitality and European style, St. Martin is one of the Caribbean’s more attention-grabbing spots. The destination offers visitors the opportunity to discover beautiful beaches, savor traditional French and West Indian cuisine, and explore an abundance of attractions.

To find information on St. Martin please visit: https://www.st-martin.org/  or follow on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iledesaintmartin/

Instagram: @discoversaintmartin Twitter @ilesaintmartin

MEDIA CONTACT: Nana Delatour, Nana.d@pmgroup.bz

African Tourism Board Safety and Travel Security Expert Statement on TOPP

by

African Tourism Board Safety and Security expert Dr. Peter Tarlow reminded all ATB members, security incidents around the world once again underline the need for African nations to promote and provide the best tourism security possible.

African Tourism Board President Alain St. Ange mentioned that after recent security challenges in Kenya, it remains the duty of Africa to stand with Kenya’s Minister Najib Balala, the CS for Tourism and with the Government of Kenya after the recent kidnapping of Doctors and Bomb Threats.

“Tourism is a success story in Kenya and they need, more than ever, their fellow friends and neighbors to spread this successes story,” the ATB president added.

Dr. Tarlow explained: “The best way for the African tourism industry to aid countries not only Sudan and Kenya as they face new tourism security challenge is by helping each nation in Africa to create a well funded and organized tourism security unit.

Each tourism security unit of TOPPs (tourism-oriented policing and protection services) will be experts not only in security but also safety and seek to protect a nation’s visitors along with its reputation and economies.

These units, be they composed of public or private security agents or private-private partnership, will help to assure tourists from around the world that travel to Africa is safe and secure.

They will be major players in promoting African tourism and when security mishaps occur they will aid their local tourism industry in a demonstration to the world that these are the exceptions and not the norm.

It is important to remember where that security is an essential element in tourism.  It is our moral duty and good business to work with both local governments and international organizations to assure travelers that Africa will receive them with open arms and a loving heart.

“Today, the African Tourism Board confirms that they stand with Africa ans specially now with Minister Balala the Kenyan Government and People of Kenya and will work with them as and when called upon”, concluded St.Ange.

Reference:
www.africantourismboard.com

www.safertourism.com 

Travel News | eTurboNews

State of the Air: Hawaii boasts some of the best air quality in the nation

by

The American Lung Association’s 2019 “State of the Air” report found that Hawaii has some of the cleanest air in the U.S. and Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina are two of the cleanest areas in the country. Honolulu County had a new record low for an annual average of particle pollution, and less than half the highest ever level recorded in 2009-2011.

Each year the “State of the Air” provides a report card on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution, also known as smog, and particle pollution, also called soot. The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: through average annual particle pollution levels and short-term spikes in particle pollution. Both ozone and particle pollution are dangerous to public health and can increase the risk of premature death and other serious health effects such as lung cancer, asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage, and developmental and reproductive harm.

“People in Hawaii are breathing some of the cleanest air in the nation, but increasing climate change is threatening our air quality,” said Kahala Howser, Executive Director for the American Lung Association in Hawaii. “While we are very happy with this report, Hawaiians must remain vigilant when we have vog episodes. Additionally, more than four in 10 Americans are living with unhealthy air, and we’re heading in the wrong direction when it comes to protecting public health and people’s lives.”

Honolulu had no unhealthy air days for ozone pollution. Nationally, this year’s report showed that ozone levels increased in most cities nationwide, in large part due to the record-breaking global heat experienced in the three years tracked in the report.

While the report examined data from 2015-2017, this 20th annual report online provides information on air pollution trends back to the first report. Learn more about Hawaii’s rankings, as well as air quality across and the nation, in the 2019 “State of the Air” report at Lung.org/sota. For media interested in speaking with an expert about lung health, healthy air, and threats to air quality, contact Holly Harvey at Holly.Harvey@Lung.org or 206-512-3292.

2019 Cleanest Cities

Cleanest cities in the U.S (on all three categories of cleanest cities described below)

• Bangor, ME
• Burlington-South Burlington, VT
• Honolulu, HI
• Lincoln-Beatrice, NE
• Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
• Wilmington, NC

Cleanest for Ozone Pollution (zero unhealthy air days – all counties)

• Anchorage, AK
• Bellingham, WA
• Casper, WY
• Fairbanks, AK
• Idaho Falls-Rexburg-Blackfoot, ID
• Honolulu, HI

Cleanest for Short-term Particle Pollution (zero unhealthy air days – all counties)

• Honolulu, HI

Cleanest Cities for Year-Round Particle Pollution (twenty-five cities with the lowest annual levels)

1. Cheyenne, WY (tie)
1. Honolulu, HI (tie)
1. Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (tie)
4. Casper, WY (tie)
4. St. George, UT (tie)
6. Elmira-Corning, NY
7. Duluth, MN-WI (tie)
7. Pueblo-Canon City, CO (tie)
9. Bismarck, ND (tie)
10. Bellingham, WA (tie)
10. Syracuse-Auburn, NY (tie)

Travel News | eTurboNews

African Tourism Board President St.Ange: African Tourism is together here

by

The new president of the African Tourism Board is not a newcomer in the African travel and tourism industry. Alain St. Ange was the minister of Tourism for Seychelles and prior to that the head of the Seychelles Tourism Board.
He had made a name for all of Africa when he started the Victoria Carnival for Africa and the world.
Commenting on his new position he stated: “When I took up the position of President of the African Tourism Board, this brought the world of African Tourism together as I received calls from so many tourism ministers and heads of tourism-related bodies from across Africa, and it clearly showed the importance of tourism for the continent.
Even the Seychelles President, Mr. Danny Faure, sent words of congratulations after I assumed my role as President of the African Tourism Board, as did the island’s former President Mr. James Michel.
For Seychelles, the importance of tourism as the industry respected as the pillar of the economy, is known and accepted.
But Seychelles is no different to the rest of Africa because a buoyant tourism industry can only help consolidate the economies of so many countries on the continent.
We are now planning the next meeting where together we can look at the challenges we are facing and share success stories and learnings.
The newly-appointed CEO of the African Tourism Board, Doris Woerfel, who is based in Pretoria, South Africa, sees huge potential for Africa from China and is already concentrating to build a broad membership base in Africa for ATB.
She is now moving to contact industry players across Africa to plan the next meeting which will probably be held in August of this year.
The press from across Africa will be invited to attend because success for the African Tourism Board is so dependent on them.”
He concluded in saying: May I urge everyone in the public and private sector to rally behind African Tourism Board to make Africa one Tourist Destination and join.

More information on the African Tourism Board and to join visit www.africantourismboard.com 

Travel News | eTurboNews