Bordered by Romania in the western part. Moldova has the unfortunate distinction of being the poorest country in Europe.

Moldova should be explored and appreciated for its history. Every year many people come to this place to cherish its beauty. If you are planning a trip to Moldova soon with family, friends or alone. Definitely, start planning, book turkish airline reservations in any class and save up to 45% on round trips on every flight. To help you, let us provide you with some interesting facts about Moldova so that you can plan your next vacation after you finish reading this article.

In Moldova, where to go and what to do are the main questions.

Orheiul Vechi is the name of the city in Romania

In recent years, Orheiul Vechi has been named the most popular tourist attraction in Moldova. Located in Moldova, it is an archaeological complex that has existed for about two thousand years. In the 10th century, the Mongols took over the area, and the Golden Horde settled there in the 14th century. A better understanding of Orheiul Vechi’s past is possible thanks to the many monasteries, caves, ruins, hot springs and museums that can be discovered within its boundaries.

Chisinau

Located in the north of the country, the capital of Moldova is called Chisinau. There are many parks and historic structures throughout the city. On top of that, there are plenty of casinos, spas, nightclubs, art galleries, and restaurants nearby. You must visit the Nativity Cathedral, the Triumphal Arch and the Natural History Museum of Moldova during your stay in Moldova to fully appreciate the country.

Saharna

There is a thriving Moldavian community in Saharna. This region is home to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Saharna. The “Gipsy hole” waterfall is the best known of the 22 waterfalls along the Saharna River. The city of Saharna in Moldova is a popular destination for Moldavian pilgrims because of a rock print believed to be that of the Virgin Mary. Saharna is an ideal place for people who love hiking and spending time outdoors.

Cricova

At Cricova, don’t forget to bring your camera! It’s up there with the world’s best wine storage facilities! 1.3 million bottles, 30 million liters of wine, between 6 and 8 tons of wine in each gigantic barrel, as well as dozens of various cognacs and wines, are all buried under a surface 120 miles long. Take this opportunity to stock up on Moldovan wine.

municipal church of tipova

This monastery is one of the largest in Europe due to its size. Three different constructions make up the monastery, which was carved into the rock. The view of the Dniester River from here is truly magnificent. As a result, the oldest churches in the area are the 11th century Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, the 14th century Church of St Nicholas and the 16th century Church of the Horodist. Despite the fact that there is room for 700 monks, barely twenty live there. You can visit a beautiful waterfall not far from here.

Gagauzia

Gagauzia is an autonomous region of Moldova located in the south of the country. They only speak Gagauz, and neither Romanian nor Moldavian. The culture of this region, made up of three cities and 27 villages, is strongly influenced by Turkish influences. Although their ancestors fled persecution as Muslims, the people living there today are Christians. Visit the Comrat History Museum to learn more about the area’s past and the people who lived there.

Culinary traditions

Moldavian Zeamă soup is traditionally cooked with homemade vermicelli. Put your hands over your eyes and imagine yourself tasting it. A traditional beef stew, Toscana, is served alongside Mămăliga, which is a dish of polenta sliced ​​with thread and topped with Moldavian cheese and fresh cream. With a thin layer of puff pastry, we make classic Romanian pies called Plăcintele, which can be filled with a range of different ingredients according to your desire. Mouth watering? You will feel more at home in our country even if you do not feel touched by the warmth of our people.

Drink wine, lots of wine, and then more wine

Try some of our award-winning Moldovan blends and vintage varietals to get a taste of our beautiful country. Have you ever thought about better understanding the history of wine? Take a tour of our vast wine cellars, which stretch for tens of kilometers and contain millions of bottles of wine in a variety of vintages. A number of these wineries have been recognized for their achievements by the Guinness Book of World Records. It is understandable that you wonder how such wealth can exist in such a small country.

Conclusion

Because most people think there’s nothing exciting to see or do in Moldova, the country doesn’t get too many visitors. However, a number of interesting places to visit in this small country located between Romania and Ukraine. It is a good idea to know what to do in Moldova. So why wait? Book your trip to Europe with AirlinesMap for a hassle-free vacation experience. Have a good trip.. !

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An amphibious tour bus crashed into the fence at 24 Sussex Drive, the Prime Minister’s unoccupied official residence, this morning.

Etienne Cameron, co-owner of Lady Dive Tours in Ottawa, says the company is investigating the accident involving one of its vehicles. The driver, whom he did not immediately identify, was the only person on board.

The driver would not give his name at the scene of the crash, but said he was perfectly fine and even the bus suffered very little damage.

Photos posted to social media this morning show a red ‘Amphibus’ appearing to have swerved off the east side of Sussex Drive onto the pavement and crashed into the black metal and stone fence outside the residence.

Much of the fence had been completely knocked down, and rocks and rubble were strewn across the ground.

Cameron says the crash happened during a routine “morning check” in which a driver takes the bus out for a spin before tourists board.

Ottawa police say they received a call about a single motor vehicle collision involving a commercial vehicle at 9:21 a.m. and confirmed no injuries were reported.

Shortly after noon, a heavy tow truck towed the bus.

Police tape was stretched around the scene and staff from the National Capital Commission, which is the crown corporation responsible for the preservation of the capital region, were on the scene as the teams erected a temporary fence to close the hole.

“The NCC is cooperating with the police investigation into the matter. In the meantime, we will work to secure the site,” NCC spokeswoman Dominique Huras said in a statement.

Bad timing for the tourist season

Lady Dive Tours operations manager Leon Harris, who remained at the scene, said it was still unclear how the accident happened.

“Something happened and the bus lost control,” he said.

He said the bus will be towed to a garage for examination and will be off the road for the season. The tour company only has one other amphibious bus and it will be difficult to operate without the other, he said, as August is a busy tourist season.

Nothing like this has ever happened before, he added.

The amphibious bus is designed to move on roads and in water. It typically carries tourists past major downtown Ottawa attractions, including the Prime Minister’s Residence and Parliament Hill, and into the Ottawa River.

The residence is not occupied by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau due to the need for major repairs. He lives at Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Rideau Hall, although he is currently vacationing in Costa Rica.

The accident was one of two bizarre incidents in downtown Ottawa on Wednesday morning. Earlier Wednesday, a vehicle slammed into a gate on Parliament Hill.

Should going on vacation be a privilege? What is the value of the free time we have these days? Who benefits from the fact that travel is cheap, whether through an abundance of available accommodation or reduced travel costs? Are sustainable development and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples compatible with tourism megaprojects? The articles we’ve compiled for your summer reading explore all of these questions and more.

Mexico needs (more) vacations

By Gerard Soler

In Mexico, going on vacation is a privilege that remains out of reach for most workers.

According to the country’s federal labor law, which dates back to 1970, Mexican workers are entitled to six vacation days after the first year of service, which are increased by two days for each subsequent year, up to a maximum of 12 .

According to statistics from the World Policy Center, those first six days of paid annual leave make Mexico one of the countries with the lowest paid vacations in the world. But things are starting to change. The rise of teleworking triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of mental health in the workplace and the first steps are being taken to change a work culture characterized by long hours at the office and a low productivity.

Read the full article at Equal times

There is no silver bullet to the current crisis in the aviation industry

By Eoin Coates

Photo: Koen van Weel/ANP MAG/ANP via AFP

NOTICE | In the spring of 2020, the world was hit by both the COVID-19 pandemic and an unprecedented wave of economic disruption. All sectors of the economy have been affected, but none more than the aviation industry.

Before COVID, a legacy of glamor still resonated among the traveling public, who had visions of cabin crew and pilots traveling the world in neat uniforms, just as they did in the 1960s. he aviation industry was a good place to work and in some cases it was. Most of the time, however, the “Pan Am effect” of glamorization only served to cover up the deep scars of liberalization that the sector had suffered for decades.

Read the full article at Equal times

Time has lost its value, how can we get it back?

By Maria Jose Carmona

Time is like a screw box. Pure commodity. It’s been that way ever since clocks came down from steeples and into factories.

We sell our time to our bosses, we use it to pay the bills, for our food and our little luxuries. We don’t waste time, we waste it or sell it for less than it’s worth. Sometimes in exchange for insufficient wages. To others, in exchange for precarious, irregular working hours that are difficult to reconcile with our personal and family lives.

“Time insecurity is on the rise and manifests itself in the growing inability to plan one’s working hours. People have very little control over their time, they cannot plan their life and this affects their sleep, their eating habits, their health and increases the level of conflict within the family”, explains Tomás Cano, sociologist and researcher at the Goethe University of Frankfurt.

Read the full article at Equal times

Civil society is sounding the alarm over Mandalika, Indonesia’s $3 billion tourism project

By Nithin Coke

A tourism development project in Indonesia backed by the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is being criticized for enabling human rights abuses against locals and indigenous peoples and for, until ‘now failing to take meaningful action in response to civil society and community concerns.

“It says a lot that AIIB’s first standalone project in Indonesia had to become a public stain for the bank to commit to a substantial – albeit flawed – response,” says Wawa Wang, senior adviser at VedvarendeEnergi, an NGO Danish company focused on development and the environment. problems.

The Mandalika project, located on the island of Lombok, is one of the “10 New Balis” initiatives announced by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in 2017, to build tourist hubs across the country to attract both foreign investment and tourists. The AIIB is one of the major backers of the US$3 billion project.

Read the full article at Equal times

There are flowers growing in abundance along the paths leading to the cabins and chalets. On one side, umbrellas hang from strings overhead, creating a lovely view in the shade, and of course stopping for visitors to take photos.

There are several buildings there, one of which is a one-story restaurant, where hearty dishes and traditional dishes are served on request. The ambience is warm, with comfortable seating and a breeze blowing from the open space outside. The view is of rice fields and villages in the distance.

In the morning, Mount Kinabalu can be seen in the distance from Karanahan View. There are beautiful photographs of the majestic mountain captured from this site.

Owner Michael Asik shares this area which was once just rice paddies, tended by him and his mother.

Michael

It was like any other field where they worked and sweated in the hot sun, plowing the fields and making them suitable for planting.

The mother and the child planted the paddy plants in a row as fast as they could to make the paddy grow evenly.

“I planted paddy very quickly and got praised for it,” said Michael, reminiscing about the past.

Karanahan view.

Guests making paddy bund.

Sunset over Karanahan view.

He was very close to his mother, he shared, as his father passed away some time ago. He went everywhere with his mother to take care of the field and generally worked the land with her.

He did, however, go to school and got paid employment as a civil servant. Sadly, her mother had since passed away.

“The land was fallow, so I had the idea to make a fish pond there. I didn’t originally intend to make it accessible to the public, but it generated a lot of interest , with people walking by, coming in and watching me feed the fish,” he shares.

Electric car journeys.

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Traditional kitchen.

Panjaram – a signature cake of Kota Belud.

“Friends have encouraged me to further develop the place because it can be turned into an attraction,” they said.

“So I started looking to develop the land into something more attractive than it originally was.

“We started to develop the winding path, to build huts and chalets. We have gazebos and shades for picnics and children who come to use the pool.

“We have chalets for those who wish to stay. The people who come here are usually those who want to rest for a while away from their home or workplace.

“We have hosted international visitors in the past, before the pandemic, and we hope to do so again.”

Visitors to Karanahan View, which is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., will usually be greeted by a group of young people in traditional Dusun costumes and beating gongs.

They will be introduced for a welcome drink and rest before embarking on one of the activities.

“Those who just want to have fun in the pool can do so, while others go on the pedal boat. They can choose the inflatable boat if they want. The remote control boat is also very popular as well as the remote control car.

“Bicycles are also available for those who wish to cycle. One of the best times to cycle is in the morning when Mount Kinabalu is clearly visible. Learning to fly a kite is also very interesting, and one can flourish here.

Bike ready for cyclist.

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The swimming pool.

“For those who wish to commemorate the occasion of their visits, they can borrow traditional costume there for just RM25 and pose for as many photos as they wish.

“There are many other activities here that can be of great interest to customers, such as activities in the rice fields and fishing,” he enthuses.

The 1.5 acre land where Karanahan View is located is only part of a land that Michael owns, and he will continue to expand his tourist site. He also runs a six-bedroom homestay nearby. The rooms are clean and comfortable.

The houses are surrounded by the natural environment of a village, so that guests can experience a real homestay.

Karanahan View is an example of the ingenuity of an innovative landowner who wants to participate in the tourism industry, even when there is no particular landmark nearby.

He sculpts the beauty of a paddy field and maintains the fields around the site to enhance its appeal.

The fields will serve as a reminder to people of their heritage and past livelihoods, while the tourist site will showcase man-made wonders.

“Do you mean Capri?

This is the most common response when you tell people you are going to the Italian island of Capraia. But the inhabitants of this mountainous raft between the Tuscan coast and Corsica are not bothered by the confusion. It suits them perfectly. They know that intrepid visitors making the long ferry crossing from Livorno don’t tick the boxes for a grand tour of Italy. They land here precisely because it’s not Capri.

Both islands most likely derive their name from the Italian word for goat: “capra”. Both are rugged places of rugged beauty – except one – Capri – was discovered by the Italian and international jet set and has become synonymous with Mediterranean glamor and luxury, while the other – Capraia – remained simple and relatively unexplored.

One explanation for this is that Capraia is not the easiest place to get to. The ferry from Livorno takes nearly three hours, and even in high season there are only nine crossings a week, making day trips virtually impossible. The other reason why Capraia has remained off Italy’s tourist radar for so long has to do with the fact that until 1986 two-thirds of the island was occupied by a penal colony. Although there were also “regular” islanders, the “prison island” tag was a detour for all but the most adventurous visitors.

Why now is the time to visit

Although Capraia is still considered an offbeat island destination, even by most Italians, it’s a secret shared by a growing group of enthusiasts. An attraction is the very thing that was once a deterrent: the old penal colony. Active for more than a century, it was a fairly open prison: the prisoners cultivated the terraces and even went fishing on a boat commanded by guards. After its closure, the settlement’s 19th-century buildings, cultivated terraces and acres of wilderness became an evocative destination in their own right for walkers and mountain bikers. Along with the seas surrounding the island, they now enjoy protected national park status, meaning no Club Meds or luxury resorts will be setting up there anytime soon.

LOUISA, Va. (WWBT) — If you’re looking to explore the many fun activities Louisa County has to offer, the new “Visit Louisa” mobile app recently made it easier.

The app offers interactive maps that display different attractions and places to discover. This new tool was designed by the Louisa County Department of Parks and Recreation and Tourism with Visit Widget.

Visit Louisa has a breakdown of the different categories, including – but not limited to – wineries, tours and trails, shopping, breweries, golf, and cider houses.

For those wishing to visit Louisa, you can plan your entire trip using the app. You can also share these plans with friends via social networks.

“Louisa is full of gems,” Supervisory Board Chairman Duane Adams said in a press release. “This new app helps shed light on area businesses and events that make great day trips for residents of nearby counties or add to the experiences of our weekend visitors.”

Louisa residents are also encouraged to use the app in order to get the latest updates on unique experiences popping up in the county.

Copyright 2022 WWBT. All rights reserved.

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It’s time to update contact lists as destinations and properties add new positions and people to their leadership lists.

The Anguilla Tourist Office named Chantelle Richardson assistant director of tourism.

Previously, Richardson held various board positions during his 15-year career in tourism and marketing. His private sector experience included positions at Malliouhana Hotel & Spa Anguilla and Viceroy Anguilla, now Four Seasons Resort & Residences Anguilla.

Mia Lange has been appointed director of marketing for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. This is a new position created to strengthen the destination’s presence in key international source markets.

Mia Lange

Lange most recently served as Executive Director of Global Communications for the Bahamas Department of Tourism.

Marriott International named Brock Hochhalter as Regional General Manager for the Dominican Republic and Haiti markets. He is based at the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel & Casino in Santo Domingo.

Hochhalter’s most recent role was vice president of operations for Marriott’s Caribbean and Latin America portfolio.

Christopher Eastmond

Christopher Eastmond has been appointed general manager of the O2 Beach Club & Spa in Barbados, which opened last fall.

Eastmond has over 20 years of experience in the boutique hotel and luxury private residence niche in the Caribbean and most recently served as General Manager of Belle Mont Farm Resort at Kittitian Hill in St. Kitts.

Devon Liburd was appointed CEO of the Nevis Tourism Authority. Liburd had served as interim CEO since February and has been on the authority since its inception in 2001.

The winner of New York’s 19th congressional district will gain just four months in office, filling the seat vacated by Democrat Antonio Delgado when he became New York’s lieutenant governor.

But the Aug. 23 contest — the first battleground House election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade — could turn out to be far more consequential, giving the clearest indication yet as to whether abortion will be the issue that decides congressional scrutiny.

Ryan, whose campaign has also focused on other recent Supreme Court rulings related to climate change and the overturned New York concealed carry law, launched its first campaign ad an hour after the court issued its abortion decision in June.

“We’ll be looking back on this week – or this 48 hours really of these decisions – as a real moment when the county woke up in terms of what’s at stake, where we could go if we don’t step in and change. not the trajectory,” he said in an interview at his campaign office in Kingston.

Molinaro has previously supported removing New York’s abortion law from the criminal code, but he opposed 2019 legislation to codify abortion protections.

On Wednesday, Ryan challenged Molinaro to a debate focused solely on the issue.

“This public debate on abortion rights would give Molinaro a chance to break his silence and correct his position – or explain to voters why the federal government should restrict women’s basic human rights,” he said. he said in a statement.

Molinaro focused on the economy as he made his case to the electorate.

“There’s no doubt voters in upstate New York are focused on the rising cost of living and crime,” he said in an interview after meeting with law enforcement. order in the hamlet of Howes Cave, a regular tourist spot known for its extensive caverns. . “People are living in the present, and right now they can’t afford to make ends meet – they’re racking up credit card bills to cover rising expenses, they’re worried about heating oil prices for home heating.”

“They’re making desperate choices, and frankly, that’s what voters are concerned about.”

In many ways it is the most competitive high-profile race in the country – in the months when the candidates generally polish their messages before November.

And it’s happening under unusual circumstances: Molinaro and Ryan are competing to complete the final months of Delgado’s term in a seat that stretches from the suburb of Poughkeepsie to Cooperstown. Then they will be on the November ballot for separate seats due to new district lines.

The race pits two rising stars who live on opposite sides of the Hudson River against each other.

Molinaro became the nation’s youngest mayor when he won an election in the Poughkeepsie suburb of Tivoli aged 19 in 1995, but lost a quixotic gubernatorial campaign to Andrew Cuomo in 2018. Still, he edged out other Republicans in his swing county and was long considered Republicans’ best chance to retake the congressional seat Delgado won in 2018.

Ryan, a graduate of nearby West Point, finished second in the seven-man primary won by Delgado that year. When Ryan ran for county executive in 2019, he won 78% of the vote for a position where the last Democratic nominee got just 57%. It was open to application for a position statewide as Cuomo’s demise began last year.

Regardless of how August goes, the two return to the campaign trail for the November contests in two newly drawn districts that contain pieces of the siege they are currently vying for. These two newly drawn seats are potentially competitive, and one candidate will run with incumbent benefits while the other will enter with a recent loser’s mark.

But more immediately, the August contest will offer a glimpse of how current party messaging might resonate in the fall. Both have many topics that are discussed in their public appearances, but the heart of their campaigns rests on the issues that are at the center of the national debate.

“The economic and financial challenge for upstate farmers, families and small businesses is going to get even tougher,” Molinaro said at an event outside a Schoharie Mobil gas station last week. “US inflation is 2 to 4 percentage points ahead of European nations. Why? Because of reckless spending and dangerous policies emanating from Washington. »

He urged his listeners to encourage their acquaintances to vote in August, even if they “initially decide that gas is a bit too expensive to get in the car and drive to the polls”.

There is no better seat in New York to determine how these belligerent messages might resonate. Ever since a little-known lawyer named Kirsten Gillibrand stunned Republican Rep. John Sweeney in a predecessor district in 2006, he was among the most contested in the state.

The right and left have since traded control. Republican Chris Gibson took the seat by 5.6 percentage points in 2012, fellow Republican John Faso took it by 8.2 points in 2016. Then Delgado won by 5.2 points and 11.6 points in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Joe Biden won the district with less than 51% of the vote two years ago.

Even as the abortion message resonates, few expect the national climate to be as good for Democrats as it was in the years when Delgado won the seat with some wiggle room. There is ample evidence that Democratic voters are nowhere near as enthusiastic as they were when Donald Trump was in the White House.

But there’s a critical factor on Ryan’s side that’s been lost in some of the national race predictions: Democratic enthusiasm has cooled less in recent years in this neighborhood than anywhere else in New York.

Consider the November 2021 local elections. These were among the worst on record for Democrats in places like Long Island. But the party performed extremely well in the middle of the Hudson Valley, increasing its majority in the Ulster County Legislative Assembly to its highest level ever. Democrats won the sheriff’s office in neighboring Columbia County for the first time in most observers’ memory.

In June, more Democrats voted in the Assembly primary for a seat centered in Kingston than in any other district in the state. And while Democratic turnout in last month’s gubernatorial primary fell across the board from 2018, six of the 10 counties with the smallest drop are in the congressional district.

In communities “really focused on driving change and progress” in recent years, Ryan said, “that flame is burning bright. … And Supreme Court decisions are fueling that flame.

Much of this continued progressive energy can be traced to a single trend in the district.

Woodstock, Hudson and Kingston have grown over the past few decades as popular destinations for Brooklyn and Manhattan residents looking to get away from crowded New York City. There was an effort ahead of Delgado’s 2018 win to encourage residents of deep blue neighborhoods to register to vote in their second homes at the purple seat.

That change went into hyperdrive two years later when the Covid-19 pandemic turned life in a crowded city into a health risk. Tens of thousands of New York residents have moved to the area since March 2020. Overall, they are Democrats.

That might not be enough to completely reshape the district’s political landscape. But it could certainly compensate for impartial Democrats walking away from the polls there.

The baseline in the district could be somewhere between Faso’s 8.2-point win in 2016 and Delgado’s average winning margin of 8.4 points – making the race about as tough as it gets .

Ryan shared an internal poll showing Molinaro ahead by 3 points. When voters are told Molinaro “opposed guaranteed abortion rights,” Ryan said he was up 12 points.

These are believable numbers. But they don’t consider where voters will land if they’re familiar with Molinaro’s stance on abortion as well as a relentless message that Democrats like Ryan aren’t doing enough to fight the inflation.

“There are enough Democrats who agree with Democrats in state and federal government right now to have a pragmatic Republican who has lived the upstate New York life,” Molinaro said. .

“I knew Pat, we’re friends – well, we were until at least a few months ago, hopefully later,” Molinaro said. “And I think right now more than ever, we just need someone who’s really going to hold Washington and Albany accountable. And Pat can’t do that, he’s not. It will be another vote for the Democratic majority in the House.

So which sites have seen the greatest disparity between Texans and tourists, and where do these two groups tend to match?

In Texas, the biggest disagreement between locals and tourists centered on the Congress Avenue Bridge Austin bat attraction, with a 0.29 gap between the two groups, according to the report, with locals having awarded the tourist attraction 4.23 stars out of five, while tourists rated it 4.52.

On the other hand, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens was the site where Texans and tourists expressed more similar sentiments.

Nationally, the attraction with the largest disagreement gap between locals and tourists was the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota with a rating difference of 0.43, followed by the Pedestrian Bridge Bob Kerrey in Nebraska (0.38), Wrigley Field in Illinois (0.34), Venice Beach in California (0.34), and Mount Mariah Cemetery in South Dakota (0.32).

The top three top attractions in the United States rated by locals were Bryan Canon National Park in Utah, the United States Air Force National Museum in Ohio, and Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. .

To determine the sites, the report’s authors looked at the 20 most-reviewed “things to do” and ranked those attractions with at least 980 foreign tourist reviews and 20 local reviews in the state.

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Spanish caver and diver Vicente Fito explores the cave system known as the Garra de Jaguar (Jaguar Claw), near the construction site of Section 5 South of the Mayan Train between the resorts of Playa del Carmen and Tulum – Copyright AFP MIGUEL RIOPA

Mexico has resumed construction of part of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s flagship tourist train project, an official said Monday, despite a judge suspending construction of that section on environmental grounds.

A judge indefinitely suspended construction of part of the Mayan Train in the Yucatan Peninsula in late May.

The decision follows a legal challenge brought by opponents, including divers, who are concerned about the train’s effects on wildlife, caves and water-filled sinkholes called cenotes.

But construction resumed on July 13 under a measure implemented in November that branded the government’s major infrastructure works as “national security”.

Under the order, Lopez Obrador intends to protect the train and other projects from lawsuits that have delayed construction, as well as expedite obtaining permits and licenses.

The Mayan train “is a work of national security because of the railways,” said Javier May, director of the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism, the government agency overseeing the project, on Monday.

The Public Safety and Interior Departments are determined to resume construction of the 60-kilometer (37-mile) stretch between the resorts of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, May said.

Lopez Obrador hopes to inaugurate the approximately 1,500 kilometer rail loop linking popular Caribbean resorts and archaeological ruins by the end of 2023.

In the May ruling, the federal judge cited the “imminent danger” of causing “irreversible damage” to ecosystems, according to one of the plaintiffs, the non-governmental group Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment

It was found that the authorities had not carried out the necessary environmental impact studies before starting construction of the section, one of many being built by the army, the NGO said in a statement. .

The government appealed the decision.

On Monday, environmental organizations Greenpeace and Save Me from the Train separately warned that the Mexican government had returned to work without waiting for the appeal process to be completed, which they say violates the law and poses a major risk to the ecosystems of the Riviera Maya.

Lopez Obrador insisted the railroad would not affect the cenotes and alleged environmentalists had been infiltrated by “imposters”.

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Madhya Pradesh Tourism Quiz Competition-2022′ is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board with the aim of acquainting students with tourism in the state and developing the process of learning through tourism. Principal Tourism Secretary and Director General of Tourism Board, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, informed that the competition will increase tourism related information among children as well as attraction to different regions of Madhya Pradesh for tourism. Government, Non-Government, CBSE and Kendriya Vidyalayas Class IX to XII students will be eligible to participate in the competition. The winning and finalist teams of the competition will receive certificates and medals as well as tourism packages from the hotels of Tourism Corporation. This competition is organized each year by the Tourist Office outside the Covid period.

The tourism quiz competition will take place on two levels. In the first phase, the district-level competition will take place on August 24. In this case, interested students may submit the registration form to the District Education Officer, Principal, District School of Excellence, or District Tourism Promotion Board Office (Collectorate ) before August 5. The three-member team participating in the district-level contest will be selected by the principal of the related school in the school-level contest. The top three winning teams from each district will receive a voucher for 2 nights and 3 days and the three finalist teams will receive a free stay at the Tourism Development Corporation hotel for one night and two days. This will include the cost of travel, food, local excursions, etc. to the tourist spot. The team that comes out on top at the district level will compete in the state level competition in the second phase.

The district-level competition will be held in two phases. Phase I will consist of a written quiz and Phase II will consist of audio-visual questions. The 6 teams obtaining the best marks in the written quiz will be admitted to the audiovisual stage. In both phases there will be issues related to state tourism and the tourism sector, art, promotion, spirituality, historical heritage, natural and cultural environment and films shot in the state, etc. In ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, issues regarding places related to Madhya Pradesh freedom struggle and freedom fighters will also be included.

This competition is organized by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board in collaboration with the School Education Tourism Development Corporation, the district administration and the District Archaeological Council of Tourism and Culture.

Through the competition, students will learn about the rich history, traditions, historical heritage, cultural colors, local art, natural wealth, great men and possibilities of tourist significance, etc.

File photo: Hot air balloon flight over Luxor, Egypt. PA

Cairo comes second in the trending list while Luxor is 16th among a list of cities that also includes destinations in Australia, Mexico and Brazil.

Moreover, Cairo also became the ninth best destination for city lovers in 2022, while Hurghada was named the 10th most popular destination.

These destinations have seen the strongest year-over-year growth in search traffic, according to a recent Tripadvisor survey. Tripadvisor’s methodology for “The Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards” focuses on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews and ratings on their platform over the 12-month period between November 1, 2020 and October 21, 2021 , the website said.

Tripadvisor describes Cairo as an ancient city that also happens to be a modern metropolis, stating that it is one of the greatest cities in the Middle East and a splendid place to explore Egyptian history and culture. It is the city of a thousand minarets and includes unique and distinguished archaeological sites and tourist attractions, as Tripadvisor said.

As for Luxor, Tripadvisor offers various tourist activities such as hot air ballooning over the Valley of the Kings, the archaeological sites on its eastern and western banks, as well as the pleasant cruises on the Nile.

In April, the British news site Daily Mail selected Egypt as one of the best tourist destinations for spring and summer, taking second place on the list of top holiday destinations for 2022.

The website picked Cairo, Marsa Alam, Luxor and Hurghada as top destinations to visit in Egypt, adding that with the opening of the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum, visiting Cairo is a must.

This comes at a time when Egypt’s tourism sector is struggling to recover under pressure from the Omicron wave of the coronavirus pandemic and, more recently, the Ukraine-Russia war, from which Egypt draws much of its income. its share of tourism.

In June, Egypt announced it was lifting all COVID-related entry restrictions for all travelers, whether Egyptian nationals or foreigners, according to a Cabinet statement.

The Egyptian tourism sector had gained momentum in 2021 thanks to the return of Russian tourists to Sinai in August and also to the international events organized.

In 2021, Egypt hosted two gala events. The first was the Parade of the Golden Pharaohs on April 3, when 22 royal mummies marched through Cairo from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to their destination, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The second was “Luxor…The Avenue of the Sphinx”, on November 25, which was the reopening of the Avenue of the Sphinx after renovation to promote tourism in Luxor.

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July 9 marks the ninth anniversary of the BTS army (specifically, the official announcement of his name). As Twitter celebrates the anniversary, Google has released a new Street View experience through its Arts & Culture platform in conjunction with the group. The BTS x Street Galleries offers viewers a virtual tour of the group’s favorite works.

Each member has curated a virtual gallery, with their selections placed in various public locations that will be highly recognizable to BTS fans. J-Hope decorated the United Nations General Assembly, where BTS gave a speech and shot a music video last year; RM guides fans through Seoul’s Namdaemun, where BTS performed for the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival.

Some BTS members are known art enthusiasts (including frontman RM, who recently spoke about his collection on the Art Basel podcast), but others haven’t yet been so public about their tastes. While there are minor issues here and there, the experience offers an interesting look at each member’s artistic interests mixed with a healthy dose of personality. V describes a photo of a rowboat as “my kind of jam”. “Everyone knows I’m handsome, just like that handsome Adonis,” Jin wrote of Antonio Corradini’s film. Adonis. “I love taking pictures of clouds because each cloud is completely different from the next,” Jungkook comments, which is the most Jungkook remark a person can make.

The Arts & Culture platform includes a number of online tours of famous galleries, as well as other tourist attractions, including the Alhambra and the Pyramids of Giza. As part of the “Experiments” section, where artists can try out more eclectic ideas, BTS x Street Galleries sounds like an interesting view – and potential conversation starter – for the role of art in public space.

Holidaymakers to and from the European continent are being warned of a growing incidence of coronavirus, particularly in tourist hotspots, which is likely to hamper travel plans.

Health officials are in some cases calling for a reintroduction of face masks and other measures, and urging travelers to exercise personal responsibility, warning that an escalation in the virus could lead to the rapid return of restrictions.

Greece, Spain, France and Germany – as well as more distant destinations such as the Caribbean islands, Morocco and Tunisia – are all seeing a significant increase in cases.

As holidaymakers study national coronavirus infection rates before embarking on their trips, despite difficulties in making comparisons due to the different ways nations test, those who have not yet been fully vaccinated – with a double dose and one or two booster shots, depending on their age or risk factors – are advised by healthcare professionals to obtain the recommended protection before travelling.

Greece is among the countries to have reported an increase in cases in recent weeks. Those most affected at present are people between the ages of 18 and 24, and cases are most concentrated in popular tourist regions, the Greek health ministry said. Last weekend, around 11,700 new infections were reported within 24 hours, nearly triple the previous week.

The number of new infections on the islands of Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea has increased in recent weeks. Crete, the Attica region including the Greek capital Athens, the South Aegean including islands such as Mykonos and Paros, as well as the islands of Rhodes and Kos are also very much on the radar. authorities.

Greece abolished the majority of its coronavirus measures in May. However, face masks are still mandatory in public indoor spaces, including hospitals as well as on public transport and cruise ships.

Experts across Europe also speak of a high number of unreported or under-reported cases, as the legal obligation to report infections in many places has been dropped.

Across Spain, cases are up more than 60% from last month, although they are still only a fraction of what they were at the start of the year. The virus is particularly felt on the islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, favorite destinations for the British, Germans and Scandinavians. Doctors there have called the current level ‘alarming’, with local media reporting that a boundless appetite for concentrated gatherings to party, after years of pandemic restrictions, is creating ‘idyllic’ conditions for the spread of the highly contagious variant of Omicron BA.5, which is helping to fuel a new wave.

Currently, 80% of all infections are of the BA.5 variety, according to Antonio Oliver, chief virologist at Son Espases Hospital, Mallorca’s largest hospital. He said his experience mirrored what was happening on the Spanish mainland as well as in the Canary Islands.

Infected people are no longer required to self-isolate in Spain, but the requirement to wear a mask in indoor public spaces and on public transport remains in place.

On a positive note, Oliver said as the region experienced its seventh wave, “it is true that this wave is less visible than was the case with previous episodes of infection.” He attributed this to two main reasons: vaccines mean that the number of serious illnesses is lower, and the authorities no longer closely control the systematic spread of the disease. The seven-day incidence rate is now only assessed for those over 60, who are statistically much more likely to end up being treated for their symptoms in hospital.

Nationwide in Spain, around 10,000 people are currently being treated for Covid-19, representing 8% of all hospital bed capacity. This is very low compared to when the virus was at its peak, but still high enough to cause considerable pressure on resources.

France has recorded a growing number of cases, up almost 80% in just over two weeks. But a reintroduction of restrictions has no popular support. The requirement to wear a face mask was recently scrapped, although Health Minister Brigitte Bourguignon called for people’s “civic duty” to continue to do so on public transport and other crowded places .

Italy has seen a record number of cases in five months and continues to insist on mask-wearing on public transport. Roberto Speranza, the Minister of Health, urged those infected to “do their duty” and stay at home.

Portugal is considered a higher-risk destination after a rise in cases, and travelers are still required to show proof of being vaccinated, tested or recovered and to wear masks. The seven-day incidence rate remains high compared to most neighboring countries, at 1,150 per 100,000 population.

As cases rise in Germany due to the spread of the BA.5 Omicron subvariant, Covid deaths currently number around 500 per week, which health authorities describe as an unacceptable level. Cases in intensive care units are up 12% from a week ago.

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, who is renowned for his blunt statements on the virus, said that while he hoped the summer holidays would lead to his confinement, it was also to be expected that the country must be prepared for some of the “very serious variants” that would return from abroad with holidaymakers and be felt in the fall.

People are urged to adopt a new vaccine designed to deal with the Omicron variant from September. The German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, did not hesitate to admit that wearing a mask could become compulsory again in the coming autumn and winter. Currently in Germany people are required to wear FFP2 medical masks on public transport and in hospitals and medical practices. Those infected must self-isolate for at least five days, after which they are free to leave their homes if they test negative.

German and Austrian holidaymakers concerned that their holiday could be disrupted by illness or virus-related cancellations are advised to take out travel cancellation insurance against the coronavirus. Such uncertainty is likely to fuel domestic tourism again across Europe.

Anke Herrmann, owner of a travel agency in Leipzig, said the insurance was proving particularly popular with customers traveling in the Mediterranean and helping people already nervous about booking due to the virus to go from before. “Some people are understandably scared as well because of the war in Europe and rising inflation – they wonder if they should do it at all,” she said.

Michael Stürmer, a virologist from Frankfurt, said most people no longer need to worry about the course of the disease if they get sick, but rather about the risk of getting stuck. “Those flying should be as consistent as possible in wearing a mask and avoiding crowds,” he told broadcaster Hessenschau. “It’s hard to do much more than that. You just need to be aware of the risks and the fact that it can easily backfire.

Christian Drosten, a virologist who played a leading role in explaining the virus to Germans, warned against advice being spread via social media urging people to deliberately catch the virus in the summer in order to be immune to it. him during the harsher winter months. .

“It’s total nonsense,” he told Der Spiegel. “You will never manage to infect as many people in the summer as it would keep the cases low in the winter anyway… No one should be infected deliberately, this should continue to be avoided as much as possible, especially because of the risk of long Covid.

Drosten said that, for his part, he would enjoy a camping vacation.

Sabah Tourism will continue its mission to promote Sabah as a favorite destination for Malaysians

Published on: Tuesday 05 July 2022

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PENANG: The Sabah Tourism Board, along with four travel agents, were at the Spice Convention Center to showcase Sabah as one of Malaysia’s hidden gems at the Malaysia International Travel Mart (MITM) 2022 travel fair in Penang. Vacation packages were offered during the fair from the most wanted islands in Semporna waters to others like Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and Kinabalu Park among others. The islands off Semporna have been a popular hit for agents and consumers alike as many outbound agents offer Semporna outside of other international destinations and buyers always linger at the Sabah Tourism booth towards the late hours of the first day .

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The showcased products that were gaining momentum were the rural tourism product where visitors can experience the natural theme park and find out how the people of these areas are connected through community tourism inside Sabah, such as in Tenom. Sabah Tourism has also partnered with one of the country’s e-wallet providers, Boost, to add value to the consumer experience during the show with a RM100 e-wallet voucher. Sabah Tourism Board Director General Noredah Othman said Sabah Tourism will continue its mission to promote Sabah as a favorite destination for Malaysians at the upcoming MITM Fair in Kuala Lumpur.

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“Please visit and support us at the Mid Valley Exhibition Center July 8-10. Many attractive packages will be offered by our travel partners,” added Noredah. In support of the MTCA Sabah chapter, seven MTCA members will participate with the Sabah Tourism Board in the MITM fair in Kuala Lumpur.
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Historic Environment Scotland (HES) said staffing issues were causing problems for a number of its properties, with 15 sites yet to open due to pandemic-related issues.

Those yet to open after the pandemic include Dunkeld Cathedral, Kilmartin Crosses in Argyll, Balvenie Castle in Moray, Tolquhon Castle in Aberdeenshire and Kisimul Castle in Barra.

HES said it hoped the 15 properties still closed due to Covid would open on a rolling basis over the summer.

The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) has launched a recruitment campaign after research last month found that 55% of 850 attractions were having difficulty recruiting.

A spokeswoman for HES said staff normally employed in seasonal roles had found work in other areas after the lockdown.

She said: “While 80% of our attractions are now open to visitors, we are still facing challenges in reopening our seasonal sites, one of the main factors being the availability of staff, with many former seasonal colleagues now employed, post-pandemic, in other areas.

“This is having a detrimental effect in terms of impacting our wider industry, highlighted recently by the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions which launched a recruitment drive to attract people to the industry.”

Other factors delayed the reopening of some properties after the lockdown, such as the need for electrical checks, flushing of drains and condition inspections.

Additionally, 50 historic sites supported by HES remain closed to the public while emergency surveys are conducted to assess the condition and safety of structures.

Climate change is contributing to the deterioration of some historic sites, including the castles of Lochleven, Aberdour, Tantallon and St Andrews, Linlithgow Palace and Melrose Abbey.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said three of its properties remained closed.

The Binns’ home in Linlithgow is closed for renovation – although the grounds remain open – while the Arduaine Garden near Oban is closed due to repairs to storm damage.

Souter Johnnie’s Cottage in Ayrshire is closed due to staffing issues.

NTS said it supported ASVA’s recruitment campaign and said it had recently achieved “great results” in recruiting new employees. ASVA said the tourist attractions sector provides around 17,000 jobs, with a common misconception that working in tourism “is a job, not a career”.

It comes as the Isle of Skye is also suffering from a hospitality staff crisis as the holiday season begins.

Simon Cousins, a spokesperson for Skye Connect, which works to support the development of a robust tourism economy, said businesses were being forced to cut hours due to staffing levels.

The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) said there were 230,000 tourism jobs north of the border, part-time, full-time or in the direct supply chain.

As of May 23, the vacancy rate was 20%, or the equivalent of 45,000 jobs.

According to the STA, summer bookings are seen by businesses as having been affected by a range of factors, including the rising cost of living in the UK, the allure of overseas holidays and people making decisions late for holidays. Scotland’s inability to compete internationally on price and value for money has also been cited as a factor.

The survey also laid bare the cost of doing business for companies in Scotland’s tourism sector.

Rising energy bills, rising supplier costs, and recruitment and staffing issues were identified as the top three challenges facing the industry.

The survey also revealed that 60% of hotels, 43% of tourist attractions and 45% of bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes and takeaways said they were unable to trade effectively with the number of staff they had. currently have.

It will be called PerfectSwell® and the waves will look like this – all day, every day and even late into the night!

The developer of Australia’s first Steve Irwin Way approved surf pool, Glenview, has revealed the name of the highly anticipated attraction.

Also, the world leader in artificial waves, American Wave Machines (AWM), has confirmed Sunny Coast Newsit had signed an exclusive agreement with Sanad Capital for its patented technology to be used in the Queensland project.

The Sunshine Coast pool, expected to cost $40 million, will use the same technology as surf pools currently in operation in Shizunami, Japan, and in the United States in Waco, Texas, and DreamWorks Water Park in New Jersey. The Japanese facility has attracted attention as the official training site for the Tokyo Olympics.

PerfectSwell® will be one of three key components of Sanad Capital’s $130 million integrated tourism centerpiece.

The state-of-the-art surf pool will be joined by the Actventure water park and the 160-villa Invigorate family resort.

Together they will transform a 25-hectare plot on the Sunshine Coast tourist route, 90km north of Brisbane and 22km south of Maroochydore, into the region’s first major themed attraction in over three decades.

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Shadforth, a leading civil construction company, has been retained to complete the civil works, which will start in the coming weeks after being delayed by recent bad weather.

Despite concerns about the availability of trades and materials, developer Sanad Capital is working towards opening all three elements in late 2023.

AWM Business Development Manager Willy McFarland says the Glenview attraction will be his company’s first PerfectSwell® surf pool in Australia.

“AWM has an extensive patent portfolio covering a myriad of wave pool technologies and features. PerfectSwell® surf technology is AWM’s large-scale, out-of-the-ocean surf site technology,” said McFarland.

“Preferred by the grassroots surfing community for its high performance, it has been recognized worldwide by surf enthusiasts of all skill levels as a world-class surfing experience,” he said.

Mr McFarland said the Sunshine Coast attraction would contain the same patented technology as swimming pools in Japan and the United States.

However, he said each AWM specification was unique per location and there would be many distinguishing factors for the Australian site.

As for the timing, Mr McFarland had this to say: “Hopefully we’ll be surfing in late 2023.”

“The surf site is built alongside the overall construction project in most cases,” he said.

“It is possible that the surf site itself will be built in a year and the surf will be available as soon as the pool is filled with water.

“For example, PerfectSwell® Shizunami was built and the site fully completed in less than a year, during a pandemic. AWM is strongly involved throughout the process.

Mr McFarland said wave height and travel time were flexible thanks to the versatile technology.

He said he could cater for “first-day beginners”, right through to elite surf athletes.

“PerfectSwell® was the training platform for the Tokyo Olympics. Let’s not forget that the Olympics are coming to town in 2032 and AWM will be bringing their full line of competitive waves to the venue as well.

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Sanad Capital Managing Director Bradley P. Sutherland said he was delighted that AWM literally came on board.

Mr Sutherland said Sanad Capital had worked closely with the Sunshine Coast Council to deliver the project for several years and looked forward to working with AWM to deliver Australia’s first surf pool to the Sunshine Coast.

He said the pool would be 288m long and 80m wide and produce “epic waves all day, every day and even into the night”.

“These guys are the best in the world at what they do and their cutting-edge technology has revolutionized the industry,” he said.

“PerfectSwell® is going to be a great attraction that will fit perfectly into the Sunshine Coast, its vibe and lifestyle.

“Combined with the Actventure Water Park and Invigorate Resort it will attract locals and tourists alike and be something very special for the area.”

Developer Sanad Capital’s plans for the Glenview site also include 51 two- and three-bedroom ‘lakeside’ apartments, 23 three-bedroom ‘surfside’ short-term accommodation units, retail outlets and food and retail outlets, a microbrewery and an outdoor cinema.

The attraction is expected to be open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Once fully operational, it is estimated that Actventure, Invigorate Resort and PerfectSwell® will support approximately 320 jobs, many of which are youth-friendly.

The drawable map is set to become the Sunshine Coast’s first major new themed attraction in 33 years, with Aussie World and SEA LIFE’s history dating back to 1989, the Big Kart Track to 1983 and Australia Zoo to 1970 , when it was the Reptile Beerwah and Wildlife Park.

Summer is here. And people are starting to travel again. However, in recent weeks, tens of thousands of travelers have found themselves stranded at airports due to flight delays and cancellations. And for almost everyone, rising gas prices and travel costs in general have become a major obstacle to taking that dream vacation.

Luckily, upstate New York families can get away to budget vacation destinations that aren’t so far away that they devastate an already dwindling bank account. There are many amazing and some world class places to visit locally. Whether you crave an adventurous getaway, a relaxing lakeside beach, unparalleled fishing, great entertainment, or a few days of luxurious living, you can make just about any vacation summer you want here. And you can enhance your travel experience by researching local destinations in advance.

Sometimes we forget that we live in an area with literally millions of acres of publicly accessible land. We have amazing parks, recreation areas and stretches of state land nearby, many with inexpensive campsites, and a few that still offer free backcountry camping.

Adirondack Park alone covers over 9,000 square miles and contains approximately 3,000 lakes, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 2,000 miles of hiking trails. Hikers can climb one of 46 mountain peaks above 4,000 feet or enjoy several short trails leading to magnificent views and hidden natural wonders. And throughout the region, there are also hundreds of towns and villages to explore.

There’s no need to travel great distances, when we live in an area known around the world for its majestic mountains, scenic rural landscapes and world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, the Adirondack North Country is not just a place where people go, it’s a place where people experience relaxation, as well as exhilarating activities, delicious restaurants, a exciting nightlife, intriguing points of interest and a wealth of opportunities to discover the off-the-beaten-path places where the locals go.

Vacationers can hike, drive or boat through scenic landscapes in and around Adirondack Park or along the St. Lawrence River and/or Lake Ontario, as well as Lake Champlain and/or Lake George . And what about canoeing or kayaking on one or more of the countless other lakes, ponds, rivers and streams that are here to enjoy.

Cornell University students hiking in the Adirondacks. (Picture Cornell University)

There are countless tourist sites and museums in the area for tourists and history buffs to explore (eg Ausable Chasm, Fort Ticonderoga, The Wild Center and Wild Walk, Lake Placid Olympic Museum, John Brown Farm, Uihlein Sugar Maple Research and Extension Field Station, Almanzo Wilder Homestead, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake (Adirondack Experience), The Saranac Laboratory Museum (Trudeau Laboratory), North Creek Depot Museum, The Alice T. Miner Museum, Hyde Collection Art Museum and Historic House, Akwesasne Cultural Center Museum, Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory).

For less thinking and more fun, there are casinos offering games, meals and live music. There are summer music series and festivals featuring everything from bluegrass to jazz, chamber music to zydeco (e.g. Songs on Mirror Lake, Norwood Village Green Concert Series, Alexandria Bay Summer Concert Series, Potsdam Community Performance Series, Lake George Music Festival, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, County Fairs, The Great New York State Fair).

There are also water parks and amusement parks nearby (eg Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark, Thunder Island Amusement Park, Lake George Expedition Park, Santa’s Workshop).

The variety of food and beverage businesses in the region is vast and diverse. You can discover great craft beverages from North Country microbrewers, winemakers, and distillers, chat with artisan owners about their operations, see up close how great beer, wine, and spirits are made, and buy directly from producers. .

Or, you can enjoy their mindfully crafted products with a meal at a local restaurant. Almost every town has at least a few local restaurants and/or restaurant bars. Look for those that use local ingredients. Also select these places for takeout. And while you’re there, check out the locally made baked goods. And buy your produce and meat from local farmers. Buying food locally is one of the best ways to support local economies.

Visit and shop at local businesses. Check out local galleries. And, before you leave, take home a souvenir made by a local artist or artisan.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) recognizes the value of building and maintaining strong, vibrant communities across the state. And CCE educators always strive to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in the counties they serve. They know that where and how we choose to spend our hard-earned dollars can actually dictate whether we strengthen local economies, resulting in more prosperous communities; or reduce opportunities for small business growth and development, which inevitably devastates local economies over time.

As a retired CCE educator, I would like to encourage everyone to vacation locally this summer. And to support local small businesses and, in doing so, play a part in building and maintaining strong, vital and vibrant local communities that work well for everyone.

Top photo: Climbing in the Adirondacks. (Picture Cornell University)

After a rather slow start to the season, players in the Eastern Townships tourism industry are hoping for a busier summer.

Simon Proulx is the owner of Minton’s restaurant and co-owner of a food truck in Hatley, Quebec, a township in the Memphremagog Regional County Municipality. He said this spring has been a disaster for both of his businesses, and despite the easing of pandemic restrictions, things are not looking up for him yet.

“Unfortunately the season is starting very slowly. I think there are a number of factors involved, including the price of petrol, which is very high and slowing people down,” he said.

Despite this, tourism operators are confident they will see an upsurge in visitors in the coming months. The Eastern Townships are known for attracting people from outside who come to enjoy the region’s panoramic views, numerous parks and trails, heritage sites, local businesses and the abundance of outdoor recreation. air.

“We do not have precise data on the reservation rate of American customers. What we know from the past is that they arrive a little later in the summer, unlike the Ontario clientele we’ve already heard about here,” said Annie Langevin, General Manager of Tourisme Cantons- from the east.

A spokesperson for Destination Sherbrooke, the city’s municipal tourism department, shares those sentiments.

“We believe that the tourist season will be interesting, very beautiful. It’s a slow start, but that’s nothing new for Sherbrooke. Often, we see that it starts around July 5, 6, or even July 10, ”said Amélie Boissonneau.

Rely on locals

If Destination Sherbrooke affirms that sports tourism and the many festivals offered in the region should attract visitors, its objective is also to keep Sherbrooke residents in the city.

“They want to go out, so we are in seduction mode with them. Moreover, we recently launched an attraction passport campaign, a kind of package with lots of activities, to tell people to stay in Sherbrooke, because there is a lot to do. “, said Boissonneau.

Foreign visitors now represent only 5% of tourism in the region, which is why tourist operators say it is important to think about domestic tourism.

“I think during the pandemic, people in the Eastern Townships have rediscovered their region, found activities, favorite things to do that they will continue to do,” Langevin said.

“You have to remember that in the Townships, 95% of our four-season tourist clientele comes from Quebec.