World News

Formentera has launched an initiative aimed at raising funds to conserve the Posidonia, an oceanic marine plant vital to the local ecosystem. Each of the island's 76,500,000 square meters of Posidonia are available to sponsor and name, for just €1 per square metre.

In October (12-15), the 'Save Posidonia Festival' will take place to raise awareness of sustainable tourism and the natural environment. The festival will include a number of watersport events including a stand up paddle boarding (SUP) 'loop' where visitors can travel around the entire coastline of Formentera. There will also be a series of Formentera Blue Round Tables with discussions and presentations focusing on the local environment and the 'Posidonia Project'.

Each morning at 10am during the festival visitors will be able to try a SUP yoga class, a relaxing way to start the day and learn more about Formentera's coastline.

Other events during the festival include the 'Posidonia Boulevard' - taking place in the main square of the small village of Sant Francesc Xavier - where brands and associations linked to the protection of the oceans and the Posidonia can offer their products and services to visitors. There will also be 'live art' exhibitions, including an auction of an exclusive Save Posidonia Project Surf Table by renowned surf artist Sergi Flama, music events, cinema screenings and a public beach clean-up encouraging kids and families to take part and learn about the environment. The 'Save Posidonia Project' coincides with the UN's Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development in 2017. As well as this, all events held in Formentera during 2017 will contribute to the Save Posidonia Project through donations.

Posidonia is a marine plant, endemic in the Mediterranean, and since 1999 the 'meadow of the Natural Park of Ses Salines d'Eivissa and Formentera' has been declared a World Heritage Site. The Posidonia meadows help to protect the beaches from erosion and are the habitat for more than 400 species of marine plants and 1,000 species of marine animals.

The quality of water is key to future tourism in the Balearic Islands, with the project aiming to conserve the ecosystem and allow the islands to remain a sustainable tourist destination for years to come. The project also aims to bring together locals and tourists, encouraging them to take action to protect the natural ecosystem of the Balearic Islands.

The Acajou Beach Resort has become the latest tourism establishment to be awarded the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label (SSTL), after it was successfully assessed and certified as a resort that is integrating sustainability practices in its business operation.

The Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne presented the Chairman of Acajou Beach Resort, Hugh Payet with the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Label certificate on Tuesday, July 11.

The ceremony was attended by the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Anne Lafortune and the Tourism Department’s Director for Product development, Sinha Levkovic.

Mr. Loustau-Lalanne congratulated Acajou Beach Resort for the hard work displayed in attaining the certification and thanked them for adopting sustainable practices.

“The certificate could not have been awarded in a better year, you are being awarded with this certificate in the year for sustainable tourism for developments. The message is clear,” said Mr. Loustau-Lalanne.

Applicable to hotels of all sizes, the SSTL is a voluntary sustainable tourism management and certification program, designed to encourage more efficient and sustainable ways of doing business.

The SSTL, which was recently recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), works on a point-based system. All hotels have to satisfy 24 “must” criteria, and depending on their size, the hotels have to score additional points in each of eight theme areas – Management, Waste, Water, Energy, Staff, Conservation, Community and Guests. Scoring an additional six points in any area, is the third criteria that has to be fulfilled to obtain certification. The criteria are specifically designed to ensure that minimum standards are met by each establishment.

Acajou Beach Resort is a Seychellois-owned business that labels itself as Praslin’s Green hotel in the Seychelles. The resort has invested heavily in two specific areas in order to push its business model towards a greener approach, which has helped towards accumulating the desired points required for the SSTL certification.

A photovoltaic system (PV) installed at the hotel presently caters for over 50 percent of the energy requirements of the whole establishment, while a new Sewage Treatment Plant is up and running producing recycled water for the hotel’s garden. Further to this, the hotel also has an in-house energy management system.

The Chairman of Acajou Beach Resort, Hugh Payet, said he was happy and proud to join the list of Seychelles hotels that have achieved SSTL certification.

“We are extremely happy and our investment is paying off, considering we invested over 7 million rupees in total to meet our green objectives,” said Payet.

“It’s not only about winning the certificate but now we need to maintain the standard,” he added.

Established in 1996, the Acajou Beach Resort presently has 52 rooms spread across five different room categories. Located at Cote d’Or, Praslin, the hotel is surrounded by lush green tropical vegetation, and offers guests a great view of the nearby sandy shore and clear turquoise ocean.

The resort is known for its eco-friendly initiatives, including tree planting activities involving its employees in conjunction with a Praslin-based non-governmental organization – the Terrestrial Action Society of Seychelles (TRASS).

Commenting on the added benefit of the SSTL certification, Mr. Payet said: “This certificate provides the hotel with a lot more credentials, which we will use in all our marketing efforts.” He has also dedicated the recognition to all the hotel’s staff, clients and the whole of Praslin island.

Gfinity, a global esports company, has announced that it has acquired CEVO Inc., a well-respected American provider of technology and services to the global esports market, for a total of $2.7 million USD payable in cash and shares.

Founded in 2004, CEVO has built an excellent reputation for the operation of its own esports competitions and as a provider of leading edge, world class technology and services to a client base of blue-chip organisations.

CEVO’s own proprietary tournament platform has proved very popular to the esports community and is used for its own tournaments and in partnership with other esports promotors.  Its technology includes a tournament management system, an anti-cheat system and dynamic broadcast software, which will strengthen Gfinity’s position as a leader in the esports sector.

Having already worked with CEVO for three years, the acquisition is part of Gfinity’s strategy of delivering premium esports events to fans across the globe thanks to a superlative team of experienced esports operators. The company has delivered successful events in the UK, Mexico, France and the USA since the beginning of 2017 and has plans to roll out more in the coming years.

Neville Upton, Chief Executive of Gfinity, said:

“We are delighted to have acquired one of the most reputable esports businesses in the industry, which further strengthens our position as a market leader in esports technology. It is also demonstrative of our ambition to become a global player in the industry having previously delivered events in the UK, France, Mexico and USA since the start of this year.

“CEVO’s combined experience of 50 years in the market supplements our existing team of talented individuals – with some of the most experienced esports operators in the industry – leaving us well positioned to take advantage of a growing number of esports opportunities in future.”

A six year, US$100 million renaissance orchestrated by Parisian interior designer Studio MHNA has brought the age of Morocco's Saadian dynasty to architectural life in the dramatic form of the new landmark Mövenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech. Comprehensively reconfigured as a modern reinterpretation of the traditional architectural hallmarks found in noble Moroccan mansions of the 16th century, the hotel's design features include a central fountain, cloistered gardens and peripheral double gallery, while the iconic interiors feature contemporary variations on traditional Moroccan decorative arts. Inspired by the notional journey of a nomad discovering the refuge of Ahmed Al Mansour Eddahbi, Sultan of the Saadian dynasty from 1578 to 1603, Studio MHNA's innovative design draws guests through a series of differing, complementary spaces, to the majestic central 'oasis' or lobby.

On arrival, guests are plunged into the world of an imaginary oasis, passing through a promenade lined with gardens; various inviting lounges, fountains and water features; an 'airlock' overlooking a monumental door; and finally a majestic lobby with the 'oasis' at its heart.

Crowning the lobby, beneath a cupola, is a magnificent nine metre high chandelier, made using a high-tech stamping technique from the aeronautical industry. Ambient lighting includes a stunning feature wall adorned with 1200 bespoke LED lamps, developed especially over two years by Studio MHNA to recreate the luminous flicker of candlelight – conjuring not just a magical warm atmosphere, but also significant reductions in energy consumption.

With the hotel adjoining the city's largest and most important convention centre, the Palais des Congrès, Studio MHNA also had to ensure its design was suitable to simultaneously accommodate two very different types of guests, providing an equally appropriate and warm welcome for leisure and business clientele. In order to achieve this, two distinct guest journeys were created, each taking its own path to a separate, dedicated lobby. Each type of clientele is thus able to enjoy a tailored, privileged welcome experience: the group lobby is designed to smoothly manage large flows of people, whilst the individual guest lobby offers a more private service.

A new luxury tourist train in Japan has launched on 21st July 2017, offering visitors the chance to ride in style from Yokohama (near Tokyo) to the Izu Peninsula – full of hot springs and picturesque coastlines.

The Royal Express - Japan's latest addition to its ever-growing number of luxury sightseeing trains - has been designed by Eiji Mitooka, designer of the Seven Stars Kyushu sightseeing cruise train, from the smart royal blue of the train's exterior down to the staff uniforms.

The train will offer passengers the chance to enjoy an elegant experience on their way between Yokohama and the Izu Peninsula, featuring opportunities for dining and live musical performances while on board. At around 100 people, it also has one of the highest passenger capacities of any tourist train in Japan.

Passengers can choose from either one-way tickets with a meal included or a selection of three different “cruise plans”, each including a return train journey, meals, overnight accommodation and sightseeing activities in Izu. Meals are curated by chefs Chikara Yamada in the Yokohama-Izu direction and Michiyo Kawano on the way from Izu to Yokohama.

While the Royal Express's “cruise plans” are only open to groups with children aged thirteen and above, its family-friendly Gold Class carriages feature specially designed family seats where parents and small children can sit together, and there is also a ballpond and library of children's books on board.

Passengers will also be available to avail themselves of purpose-built facilities at Yokohama station before boarding: a private waiting room (The Royal Lounge) which is only open to Royal Express passengers and a cafe (The Royal Cafe, business hours: 7am until 10pm) which is also open to members of the public.

The train runs between JR Yokohama station in Yokohama and Itokyu Shimoda station in Shimoda City at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula. The service is being operated jointly by Tokyo Corporation, which manages several lines in the commuter belt around Tokyo, and Izukyu Corporation, which operates the main Izukyu Line down the Izu Peninsula's scenic eastern coast.

An online marketplace for African safari tours, carried out a study to ascertain the best African safari country in 2017. More than 2,500 reviews by safari tourists and African travel experts were examined, with Tanzania being declared the overall winner. It is Africa's leading country for a safari.

Tanzania also swept away challenges from other sub-Saharan African nations in our original analysis in 2013. It is the second time the country has been awarded SafariBookings.com's overall winner of best African country for a safari.

Zambia also stood out for its excellence in safaris. It rated the number one country for a bush experience – both experts and safari-goers agreed that there is something special about the bush landscapes in Zambia. The country was very popular with safari-goers, generally, who also rated it the best country for birdlife.

A closer inspection of our review-analysis, reveals: Tanzania was also the best country overall for wildlife, while Namibia and Kenya were the overall winners in the scenic beauty and bird categories respectively.

A new tented camp is being opened in southwest Cambodia with the tagline, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing.”

Guests staying at the Cardamom Tented Camp will be sustaining a conservation-friendly business that was set up to help keep an 18,000-hectare (180 km²) concession out of the hands of loggers, poachers and sand mining operations. The tract of land in Botum Sakor National Park, part of a vital elephant migration corridor, is managed by Wildlife Alliance, a Cambodia-based organisation involved in wildlife rescue and forest conservation.

Wildlife Alliance is supported by the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, an initiative of the Minor Group.

The nature conservation concession includes diverse habitats: seaside mangroves, lowland tropical forests, and triple-tiered canopy in the hills, which reach up to 335 metres (1,100ft) elevation. Asian elephants, dhole, clouded leopards, hog badgers, sun bears, mouse deer and pangolin all rely on the mature forest habitat around the camp.

Neighbouring concessions have been taken over by companies that cut indigenous timber and replace it with rubber or palm oil monoculture trees that cannot sustain wildlife diversity. The new camp is making a stand against that trend.

Guests at the new lodge on the Preak Tachan river will be able to take guided day hikes and river trips with local rangers. While walking, guests will be able to spot wildlife and learn about the mangrove and rainforest ecosystems and the challenges of keeping naturally mature forests standing in face of pressure to ‘develop’.

Visitors can also help by replanting indigenous trees in degraded parts of the concession, go kayaking, help rangers on patrols with their camera traps, or engage in other conservation activities.

At the eco-camp, which is a three way initiative between the Minor Group, YAANA Ventures and Wildlife Alliance, a percentage of the revenue will go directly to Wildlife Alliance. Any profits will be reinvested locally.

“When we tell guests, ‘Your stay keeps the forest standing,’ we 100% mean it,” says John Roberts the Minor Group’s Group Director of Sustainability and Conservation. The Minor Group’s Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation has been fully funding the ranger protection efforts for the past four years at the site.

A condition of holding the concession from the Cambodian government is that economic activity must take place. Drawing on successful ecotourism models from across the world, a low impact tented camp was chosen by the stakeholders as the best sustainable option.

Bangkok-based YAANA Ventures was invited to create the camp, based on its previous experience running the Banteay Chhmar community tented camp in Banteay Meanchey, Cambodia and the Anurak Lodge at Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand.

“The tented camp sets an example for the local and national economy as a sustainable alternative to illegal logging, poaching and habitat destruction,” says Willem Niemeijer, CEO of YAANA Ventures. “The combined expertise of the stakeholders makes this a uniquely qualified project.”

The Cardamom Tented Camp will soft open 1 September with nine comfortable, furnished tented accommodations, each with an en-suite bathroom and a large patio area.

The camp, with a riverside restaurant, is off grid and largely powered by solar panels.

Cardamom Tented Camp can be reached by road from Phnom Penh, while Trat airport and Koh Chang in Thailand is less than a four-hour drive away.

The Lake District is now officially a World Heritage Site putting it alongside iconic Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon as a site of global, cultural and historical significance.

Not only is it the only UK National Park that is entirely a World Heritage Site, but it's also the UK's largest World Heritage Site at an immense 229,200 hectares and Cumbria is now home to TWO UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the north of the country, Hadrian's Wall forms the Frontiers of the Roman Empire site so there has never been a better time to explore Cumbria and immerse yourself in two of the most unique and inspiring regions you're likely to find anywhere on the planet.

Why is the Lake District is a special place?

The diversity of our landscape; natural landforms overlaid with thousands of years of human activity have made the Lakes the iconic scene it is today, the iconic scene which UNESCO have rewarded with World Heritage Status.

• Lakes, tarns and rivers … of course! It's in the name. The lakes and tarns in our county give the Lake District a quality of scenery found nowhere else in the UK.
• Ancient woodlands Our landscape has plenty of natural and semi-natural woodlands, adding colour texture and variety to the mountains, fells and lakeshores. The presence of the wood pasture, pollards and old coppice woodland form part of the rich industrial, agricultural and cultural legacy of the Lake District National Park.
• Wealth of wildlife The Lake District is unique in England for its abundant and varied habitats for wildlife fresh water, mires, limestone pavement, upland heaths, screes, lakeshores, wetlands, estuaries, coastal heaths and dunes.
• Opportunities to explore the outdoors The region has the highest concentration of outdoor activity centres in the UK. It is the birthplace of British mountaineering and there is a tradition of unrestricted access to the fells. Recreational walking can be traced from William Wordsworth's 'Guide to the Lakes' to the guides of more recent writers such as Alfred Wainwright.
• Celebrated cultural traditions Philosophers and environmentalists have campaigned for landscape protection, with the Lake District playing a strong role in the formation of the National Trust Artists and writers such as Turner, Heaton Cooper, Kurt Schwitters, Wordsworth, Coleridge and De Quincey have gained inspiration from the area, as well as children's authors Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter. The area also has its own dialects and distinctive sports such as hound trailing, fell running, and Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.
• Complex geology With the largest and deepest lakes and highest peak in England, the Lake District's rocks provide a dramatic record of nearly 500 million years, with evidence of colliding continents, deep oceans, tropic seas and kilometre-thick ice sheets.
• Rich archaeology & distinctive settlement character There have been people in the Lake District since the end of the last Ice Age and the landscape now reflects a long history of human settlement. Stone circles and Roman forts/roads of huge international importance can be found throughout the area.

Edinburgh Fringe venue, Dynamic Earth will host a fully immersive musical extravaganza inspired by Pink Floyd's much loved album, The Dark Side of the Moon.

As part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe the Pink Floyd inspired musical will be projected in Scotland's only 360° cinema and features explosive 10.2 surround sound. Featuring the entire 1973 Dark Side of the Moon album, the spell binding abstract projections and mesmerising visualisations create an unforgettable experience.

The show, produced by Starlight Productions, also features music from Pink Floyd's famed album, The Wall.

The Dark Side of the Moon forms part of Dynamic Earth's programme of Double Dome nights and will run twice a night at 6pm and 8.30pm, every weekend throughout August. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £8 for children. Before and after shows, visitors can relax and enjoy refreshments in Dynamic Earth's Fringe pop up bar.

Pleased to be announcing the show, Eilidh Massie, marketing manager at Dynamic Earth, said: “We enjoy being part of the Fringe every year and this year is no exception, and we are extremely excited to be welcoming the hugely successful production of The Dark Side of the Moon. This will no doubt be a sell-out event so visitors should get their tickets before it's too late!”

The ultra-luxurious Baraza Resort & Spa voted among the Top 20 Luxury Hotels in the World and part of The Zanzibar Collection is enhancing its wellness offering by launching 'Yoga in Paradise'. This exceptional yoga programme takes place over seven days and includes accommodation in a two- bedroomed villa (based on two sharing) at Baraza Resort & Spa, located on one of the Top 30 Island Beaches in the World, on an all-inclusive basis.

Zanzibar is an exceptionally affordable Indian Ocean destination and 'Yoga in Paradise' offers participants the ability to practice the ancient form of Hatha Yoga in a luxurious and tranquil environment. Yoga sessions are not restricted to a single location and can take place on the pure white, sugar soft beach with the gentle sound of the Indian Ocean in the background.  With two classes, daily: at 7.30am and at 5.30pm, each session lasts approximately one hour and is led by the resident Yogi Master, who expertly guides attendees through an energising session of Hatha Yoga, followed by a guided meditation. The yoga sessions are guaranteed to harmonise the body and mind.

“Seeking to inspire our guests, wellness was a major initiative for 2017.  The Zanzibar Collection aims to encourage guests to engage in Hatha Yoga, a discipline that leads to harmony and peace, both within and outside oneself. With spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, gourmet on-site restaurants and the exceptional Frangipani Spa which offers bespoke treatments, 'Yoga in Paradise' at Baraza Resort & Spa is the perfect yogi escape.” Comments The Zanzibar Collection.

Malawi is a country of great variety and many influences. Its spectacular lake is like an inland sea and its beaches a tropical paradise. Its scenery is varied from highland heathers to wild savannah. In fact, Malawi has a little bit of everything for everyone, and has a world's worth of attractions within its compact borders. So what are you waiting for? Make 2017 your year to explore this varied and fascinating country.

Huntington House, a boutique lodge set in the heart of Satemwa Estate, has just 5 suites exuding colonial charm and a unique character. This magnificent house is surrounded by sprawling manicured gardens with secret patios and terraces waiting to be discovered. Afternoon tea is available in the beautiful estate gardens with only in-season and regionally grown produce used, and the milk and cream from the estate's own cows, you know everything you're eating is fresh and local. A spot of croquet can follow afternoon tea on the lawn.

In huge contrast to the strong Lake Malawi, a visit to Lake Chilwa in Eastern Malawi on the border with Mozambique would have you thinking you're in South East Asia! The lake has stilted and floating villages and the people here live off the lake much the same way as their ancestors did 100 years ago. The lake has an abundance of fish and attracts huge numbers of water birds. In a further nod to its South East Asian feel, its fertile wetlands provide Malawi with 50% of its rice harvest.

Explore beneath the surface of Grenada’s pristine blue waters during the first ever Pure Dive Fest taking place from October 11 –14. From free beach dives and beginner lessons to charity dives and a closing party, this four-day festival appeals to divers, visitors and spectators wishing to support Grenada’s diving industry. In addition to the robust schedule of activities, the event is also designed to increase awareness of the island’s marine environment and sustainable tourism efforts.

The festival commences with the launch of an underwater photography competition at Coconut Beach Restaurant. The competition will run for the duration of the festival and prizes will be distributed for most creative selfie, best reef picture, best wreck picture, and many more categories at the closing party. The second day of the festival is divided into either a wreck diving day for experienced divers or a local diving day for those who are ready to make the plunge for the first time with professional instructors.

One of the unique events is an Environmental Day with Marine Protected Area Diving on October 13 in collaboration with Project AWARE—a campaign that focuses on global ocean protection and conservation through sustainable, eco-friendly, and conservation-conscious dive practices. In the morning, dive centers will participate in community and school outreach sessions in order to share information on scuba diving and freediving in Grenada as well as details on marine biology and conservation. Afternoon activities will include dive centers participating in a “Dive Against Debris” event to collect as much ocean trash as possible.

The festival concludes on Saturday, October 14, also designated “Invasive Caribbean Lionfish Day” with a boat parade and send off at the Morne Rouge Bay/BBC Beach. In the evening, there will be a final party at Coconut Beach Restaurant, where Lionfish will be served and photos from the underwater photography competition will be on display, along with a few surprises throughout the night.

For more information about the Pure Dive Fest and to stay updated, visit https://www.facebook.com/grenadadiving/ and be sure to follow the Instagram and Twitter pages.

The Fourth Nigerian Direct Diaspora Investment Summit (NDDIS), set to take place in London next month has received major backing from former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, where three initiatives are planned to be unveiled.

NDDIS 2017 will focus on developing government plans to diversify the Nigerian economy to end dependancy on oil. Aiming to tap into the potential of the diaspora as well as foreign direct investors, they will link them with the federal and Nigerian state governments.

Among those who will be attending will be Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Senator Lanre Tejuosho, the chairman of the senate committee on health; Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on diaspora affairs and the chair of the Diaspora Committee at the House of Representatives, Hon Rita Orji. Now Chief Obasanjo has said he will send Ayo Aderinwale, the deputy coordinator of the Obasanjo Library to represent him at the event.

One of Chief Obasanjo's initiatives, the African Leadership Forum (ALF) will be representedby Dr Olumide Ajayi, Chief Executive of the organisation. Set up in 1988 to improve the quality of leadership across Africa while also training the next generation of leaders for the continent.

NDDIS chairman Chief Bimbo Afolayan said: "The overall name for the initiative is Diiss but it is made up of three parts. This includes the diaspora adaptive programme, the portfolio investment scheme and the direct business ownership scheme.

"Taking place at the School of Oriental Studies (Soas) in central London on July 13 and 14, NDDIS has identified 250 existing diasporan businesses that will like to set up their models in Nigeria to provide employment. It will be followed by a summit dinner on Saturday 15th July and among those supporting the event are UK Trade & Investment, the Afford UK, Soas, the British African Business Alliance and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."

Chief Afolayan called on anyone willing to register for the event to visit www.nddis.com where they will be able to purchase their tickets online. He added that, the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has shown an interest in the summit and will be sending a delegation if he is unable to attend.