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Showing 9 of 96 news items in Tourism & Remote Work

Tourism & Remote WorkFebruary 20, 2024

Europa Nostra: The Cycladic islands are at risk from overtourism and uncontrolled construction

Excerpt and Photo from greekcitytimes.com The international organisation Europa Nostra issued a danger signal for the islands of the Cyclades, especially Sifnos, Serifos and Folegandros. According to a related announcement at the end of last month, the Greek Cyclades Islands entered the preliminary list of 11 of Europa Nostra and their candidacy is supported by ELLET, so they are in the final selection of the seven threatened monuments and cultural heritage sites of Europe. The purpose is to protect them from over-tourism and uncontrolled construction. “The Cyclades, renowned for their unique charm and rich culture, find themselves grappling with a myriad of challenges posed by the surge in tourism development and rampant construction. Despite driving economic growth, this brings along a host of environmental, cultural, and social issues, including the degradation of natural resources, damage to cultural and natural heritage, water scarcity, waste management problems, and socio-economic disparities. The islands are at risk of losing their exceptional and authentic character as increasing tourist-oriented construction threatens to overshadow their inherent allure,” a relevant announcement emphasises.

Tourism & Remote WorkFebruary 13, 2024

Nanikaai village launches innovative Community-Based Tourism to Complement Fisheries Management Initiative

Excerpt and photo from southpacificislands.travel Situated in South Tarawa, Kiribati, Nanikaai village is home to the **Friends in Nanikaai (FIN)**, a mother community formed by several small communities. FIN predominantly is the first village in South Tarawa to champion the community-based fisheries management initiative as a way of improving their livelihood through the management of their marine resources. From January 29th to 31st January, 2024, FIN launched its Community-Based Fisheries Management Plan (CBFMP). This plan serves as a guide for the effective management of the Nanikaai Marine Protected Area (MPA). The event included a programme which featured a clean-up campaign and community awareness focusing on plastic repurposing training. This training program was organized by the Tourism Authority of Kiribati in collaboration with the Environment and Conservation Division as an initiative for this community to look at the plastic bottles differently. The event culminated with the MPA Tour in a bid to raise awareness and inspire interest in learning about the MPA. The activities seek to balance conservation efforts with economic opportunities, promoting sustainable development rooted in social-cultural values, environmental conservation and economic prosperity.

Tourism & Remote WorkJanuary 30, 2024

Protecting the world’s most densely populated island from mass tourism

Photo: JAVIER SULÉ ORTEGA. Retrieved from english.elpais.com Adrián Caraballo is happy and grateful to live on the tiny, 2.5 acre-island he shares with 825 other people. “We feel this deep connection with the ocean. And even though we’re in this little place, we’ve got the vast sea around us, full of all sorts of marine life,” said the 25-year-old community and environmental leader from Santa Cruz del Islote, a tiny Caribbean island about 10 miles from the Colombian mainland. Many people say it’s the most densely populated island in the world. Although there’s no official data, the island attracts hundreds of daily tourists, causing division among the locals and raising [environmental concerns](https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-06-24/colombias-forests-silent-victims-of-the-war-on-drugs.html). “I don’t want us to be known for this because many tourists look down on us and think there’s poverty and overcrowding here,” said Caraballo. “But they don’t know that we’re actually rich — we have the sea! We live peacefully together. No one here has more than anyone else, and we all share whatever little we have. It’s all about island solidarity.” “Those of us who care about the environment don’t want the island to be marketed that way. And honestly, I don’t even know who claims that we’re the most densely populated island. There are no statistics or Guinness world records to back it up — it’s all just speculation,” said Alexander Atencio, a teacher for 18 years at the island’s only school. Colombia’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Research ([Invemar](https://www.invemar.org.co/)) acknowledged the lack of official data verifying the island as the world’s most densely populated. However, it has long been regarded as such.

Tourism & Remote WorkJanuary 30, 2024

Dominican Republic to trial four-day work week: Can it work globally?

In February, the Dominican Republic will become the first Caribbean nation to test a [four-day work week](https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/2023/5/31/is-the-4-day-week-the-future-of-work), following similar trials in countries such as the [United Kingdom](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/21/four-day-workweek-trial-in-uk-shorter-hours-happier-employees). The six-month pilot will be voluntary for companies and will not involve a pay cut for participating employees. Growing calls for a shorter work week have stemmed from COVID-19-era discussions and anecdotes that long and in-person work hours do not necessarily guarantee higher productivity. So what is the four-day work week trial in the Dominican Republic, and has it had success elsewhere? Beginning in February, organisations in the [Caribbean nation](https://www.aljazeera.com/where/dominican-republic/) can choose whether to implement a six-month-long trial of a four-day work week.

Tourism & Remote WorkJanuary 9, 2024

In the Remote Marquesas Islands, Nature Is at Its Most Intimidating—And Irresistible

Photo credit: Brad Torchia. Retrieved from cntraveler.com The Polynesian name for the Marquesas is Te Fenua ‘Enata, the Land of Men. This volcanic archipelago of 12 islands is located 900 miles northeast of [Tahiti](https://www.cntraveler.com/tag/tahiti) and 2,340 miles from anywhere else. Only six islands are populated. They are so remote that they were one of the last places on earth to be colonized. They are so rugged that before the French brought baguettes and téléphones, each of their many distinct, walled-in valleys had its own tribe. The island my wife, Kim, and I were on was Nuku Hiva, the largest in the chain. We planned to spend three nights here, then move on to the smaller islands of ‘Ua Pou and Hiva Oa. This morning we had taken a boat in rough seas to get to the Hakaui Valley, where we hoped to hike up to a waterfall called Vaipō. Maria, our guide for the day, glanced at the phone booth. “Do you want to call your grandmother?” she asked, her eyes sparkling. I was also learning that the Marquesan sense of humor is as relentless as the trade winds. Maria was a descendant of the valley’s original tribe and was related to everyone who lived here. “That’d be tough,” I said. “My grandmother is in heaven.”

Tourism & Remote WorkJanuary 9, 2024

Oahu’s Battle with Over-tourism: The Need for Responsible Travel

Excerpt and Photo from bnnbreaking.com As one of Hawaii’s most beloved islands, Oahu is a vibrant tapestry of stunning natural landscapes, including the iconic Waikiki Beach, the surfer’s paradise of the North Shore, the verdant Manoa Valley, and the majestic Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges. These breathtaking sights attract tourists from across the globe, but as travel picks up post-COVID-19 pandemic, the island wrestles with the challenges of over-tourism. While tourism is a vital engine for Oahu’s economy, it is equally essential for visitors to consider their environmental and cultural impacts. A recent incident involving a baby humpback whale off Waikiki, which showed signs of distress and attempted to beach itself, sparked a renewed conversation about responsible tourism. The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) reminded visitors to respect wildlife and notify authorities if they encounter distressed or injured marine animals.

Tourism & Remote WorkDecember 17, 2023

Residents of lush La Gomera Island aim to protect it from over-tourism

Excerpt and Photo from theworld.org It’s hard not to think of Jurassic Park in the Laurel forest. The forest is vibrant green and shrouded in clouds. Ferns blanket the floor. The trunks of trees are carpeted in moss. It’s otherworldly — one feels transported back in time. Until you stumble upon a discarded plastic cup. “Someone here has finished their coffee, said Audrey Fava, a local trekking guide. “And they just tossed their cup on the path. It doesn’t happen too often, but we do find litter regularly in the parking lot.” Fava stuffed the cup in her backpack. In a way, the garbage and Fava’s frustration with it say a lot about La Gomera today — the state of tourism and how locals feel about visitors and their impact. It’s not a problem … yet. “This forest is very important,” Fava said. “They were once found across Europe, up until the last Ice Age. This one survived.” In fact, the forest has made it through various global freezes and mass extinctions, partly because the maritime climate has remained more or less unchanged. And because the place is so isolated. Not all of the Canary Islands fit that description. The beach boardwalk on the island of Tenerife is just a 45-minute ferry ride away. But it’s packed with partiers, all-inclusive hotels and souvenir shops. “It’s the loud neighbor [that] La Gomera doesn’t want to become,” said Conchi Facundo, sitting in a quiet courtyard a short drive from the Laurel Forest. Facundo manages public access to the forest, which is in a big national park called Garajonay.

Tourism & Remote WorkDecember 17, 2023

Paradise cost: the Pacific islands changing the future of tourism

Photograph: Suliane Favennec/The Guardian. Retrieved from theguardian.com The resort lies on the fringes of one of the world’s largest barrier reefs. Powered by solar energy, in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, there are no air conditioners or pools. Most food is grown in its gardens or fished from the sea, and all the employees are hired from local villages. This is Nukubati on the north coast of Fiji’s Vanua Levu island and at the forefront of a growing movement to change Pacific tourism. “Our aim is really to improve our environment rather than extract from it,” says Nukubati’s director, Jenny Leewai Bourke. Nukubati is a member of Duavata, a collective of Fijian tourism businesses who say their industry should enhance the environment and cultural heritage. But the issue is complicated. Pacific island countries – among the most vulnerable in the world to the climate crisis – are wrestling with how to balance the environmental and cultural impact of tourism with economic need. There is no enforceable, region-wide agreement on sustainable practices, just a patchwork of guidelines and initiatives. Tourism, the backbone of many island economies, has begun to rebound from devastation levelled by the Covid pandemic. The influx of visitors has prompted calls for change.

Tourism & Remote WorkDecember 5, 2023

Mafia: ‘Hidden’ island becoming popular eco-tourism destination

Excerpt and Photo from thecitizen.co.tz Located in the western Indian Ocean and overshadowed by the reputation of Zanzibar, the Mafia Archipelago remains little-visited, its natural resources and culture unspoiled. These ‘hidden’ islands have much potential to be one of Tanzania’s leading eco-tourism destinations. I sat down with Mr Peter Byrne, an economist who, 30 years ago, began creating Kinasi Lodge as an ‘island life’ destination at the beginning of Tanzania’s tourism renaissance. Optimism and imagination ruled over being a ‘good investment’ as the number of visitors slowly grew and challenges presented themselves—building on an island with only dhow transport and fluctuations in tourism source markets emerged. But today, he is as determined as ever that, with the archipelago’s unique natural attractions, it has so much to offer Tanzania’s tourism. “I first went to Mafia in 1984 and worked there between 1986 and 1987 for a company that had coconut plantations and various other businesses,” Peter said when explaining his background.