Silversea Cruises | Silver Nova Season Begins in Asia Pacific on 27th September 2024

Silversea Cruises, the prestigious ultra – luxury and expedition travel brand founded in 1994 by the Lefrbvre family and Vlasov Group, with its headquarters in the Principality of Monaco, will kick off the Silver Nova season in Asia Pacific from 27th September 2024.

Silver Nova, well-known luxury cruise ship, the 12th ship in service of the Silversea Cruises group, ordered in 2018 and completed in 2023 represents the first ship of the company's new Evolution class has been designed with the intent of an eco-sustainable cruise highlighted by its innovative asymmetrical design boasting a brand new selection of stylish,  spacious suites and nine dining venues.

Silver Nova's season in the Asia-Pacific region will begin with two cruises departing from Japan and then moving through Australia and New Zealand until the end of February 2025.

Silver Nova's inaugural season in Asia Pacific will mark the introduction of Silversea Group's pioneering culinary program called S.A.L.T., an acronym for Sea and Land Taste in Australia and New Zealand, while also offering S.A.L.T. shore excursions to Japan for the first time, information reported in a note from the company.

These exclusive new dining experiences hosted both on board Silver Nova and ashore are essentially inspired by the destination and are created exclusively for Silversea Cruises' S.A.L.T. program and will offer guests to travel deeper with these enticing experiences.

At the end of February, after sailing on the oceanic continent, Silver Nova will return to Asia where it will remain until the end of April 2025.

Link - https://www.ttgitalia.com/tour-operator/silversea-da-fine-settembre-la-stagione-in-asia-pacifico-di-silver-nova-DG21054869

Athens – Greece | Stop Issuing Licences to open New Short-Term Rentals from 1st January 2025

Athens, heart of ancient Greece, site which was the cradle of a powerful civilization and empire, a city dominated by 5th – century landmarks including the iconic Acropolis and ancient buildings as the colonnaded Parthenon temple through the Greek Government and following in the footsteps of the Mayor of the Spanish city Barcelona has announced that starting from 1st January 2025 no new licenses will be issued to open new tourist locations in the Greek capital.

This firm decision wants to some extent to remedy the housing and real estate emergency that is intensely affecting the Hellenic metropolis, which has become the target of the common phenomenon that afflicts several destinations particularly beaten by mass tourism.

Greece's Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni declared that the time has come to find a new balance between the need of the tourism industry to generate profits and the needs of local communities.

In parallel with the stop of new licenses for the opening of new tourist rentals traveldailynews.com the famous daily travel & tourism portal for the International for the travel trade market since 1999, the Greek Government will increase the tourist tax for those who decide and choose to stay overnight in non-hotel facilities.

As reported, the tourist tax will go from € 1.5 to € 8.0 during the high tourist season from April to October and from € 0.50 to € 2.0 in the winter period.

As an additional relevant note, it is emphasized that these revenues will be reinvested in actions concerning the actions against the effects of climate change.

Link - https://www.ttgitalia.com/notizie-estere/grecia-stop-agli-affitti-brevi-ad-atene-GG21054367

Panama | Action Plan to strengthen the Conservation of Coiba Island

 

Panama, well known country situated on the isthmus linking Central and South America, famous for its Canal, a renowned feat of human engineering, cuts through its centre linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to create an essential shipping route through the Panamanian Minister of the Environment Juan Carlos Navarro has announced an Action Plan to strengthen the conservation of Coiba Island.

The Minister who visited the island reported an immediate action plan with the primary objectives of improving facilities, infrastructures, promoting scientific research and strengthening conservation in this territory considered a key site for Panama's biodiversity to ensure more efficient management and greater protection of this natural heritage.

Coiba island off the country's Pacific Coast in the Gulf of Chiriqui is well known to be a world - class diving destination on the same corridor of the Galapagos Islands offering a wide access to the beautiful Bahia Damas Reed, the largest reef on the western coastline of the American Continent and site of the Isla Coiba National Park,  Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This Park with over 270,000 hectares of island and marine areas is one of the most important parks in the Panama protected area system, considered a unique site in the Eastern Tropical Marine Corridor that was once home to the largest coral reefs in Panama and which boasts a unique biodiversity.

Also part of the patrimony of this island in the province of Veraguas in the Montijo District are many endemic subspecies including the Coiba spinetail, the Coiba Island howler monkey and 1.450 species of vascular plants with the presence of abundant ceiba specimens.

The Minister then commented that all the actors involved work together to protect this natural treasure that does not belong only to Panama but is a patrimony of the whole world.

Link https://www.expreso.info/noticias/internacional/102491_panama_disena_un_plan_de_accion_para_fortalecer_conservacion_en_isla

Chile | National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism 2035, Essential Activity for the Country

 

Chile Southernmost nation in the world, closest to Antarctica stretching along South Americas's western edge with more than 6000 kilometres of Pacific coastline and surrounded by the Andes relies heavily on the so-called "Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2035" which basically aims to ensure that tourism continues to be an essential activity for the country.

Chile has long had a strong commitment to sustainable tourism and linked to all that the Andean country has been recognized twice with the Best Green Tourism in the World award as part of the WTA, World Travel Awards known as the Oscars of tourism.

Geographically, Chile has a privileged ecosystem that transforms every corner of its territory into a new world to be discovered: just think of the imposing mountain range of the Andes Mountains, the vast, arid Atacama Desert, the wonderful and numerous, long beaches on the Pacific Ocean, the fascinating Chilean Patagonia, its attractive valleys with vineyards and picturesque hills in green areas.

For all that, the Authorities and Entities of Chile consider it essential that tourism is committed to the environment and in this context the Strategy for Sustainable Tourism 2035 was born.

After a process that saw more than 2000 participants take part in the project, the Sustainable Tourism Strategy proposes a series of pillars for tourism to be a fundamental activity for the development of the country.

The primary objective is that Chile continues to be known for its sustainable tourism that contributes to communities, environmental conservation and economic growth.

The strategy takes into strong consideration several tools to achieve the objectives set in terms of sustainable tourism and among these there is the Sustainable Tourism Distinction known as S Seal which distinguishes accommodation facilities and services that meet the criteria of tourism sustainability.

In addition there is also the Tourist Destination Saturation Index which meticulously tries to monitor the places that may be affected by a large number of visitors and in light of all that the country tries to promote seasonally adjusted tourism and diversify the destinations to be promoted.

The Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2035 is also based on identifying the most vulnerable destinations to climate change that may be particularly affected by environmental emergencies with the aim of promoting prevention actions that actively involve tourism.

The Strategy aims to ensure that tourism continues to be an essential activity for the country, destinations such as Viña del Mar – Concón, La Serena ede Araucania Lacustrine, the capital Santiago with its surroundings and the Litoral de los Poetas attract millions of visitors every year while Rapa Nui, San Pedro de Atacama and Torre del Paine continue to consolidate themselves as preferred destinations for international travellers.

Tourism in all its essence can be a contribution to the protection of biodiversity by providing resources from natural areas and local communities as well as standardizing awareness of environmental care.

Link - https://www.expreso.info/noticias/internacional/102498_chile_comprometido_con_el_turismo_sostenible