_HPFeature
Malaria Elimination Maps Highlight Progress and Prospects
October 17, 2011
The Shrinking Malaria Map A new global atlas charts prospects for malaria elimination by offering the firstfull-color, detailed depiction of a disease now declining in many parts of the globe. The “Atlas of Malaria-Eliminating Countries” spotlights countries successfully moving toward eliminating the disease and provides a visual tool to help focus resources where they are needed most. Created by the Global Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), with funding from the ExxonMobil Foundation, and in partnership with the Malaria Atlas Project at the University of Oxford, the new atlas will be released on Oct. 17, 2011, coinciding with the second Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria Forum in Seattle, “Optimism and Urgency.” A companion publication, the “Atlas of the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network,” is being released on the same day. Every year, some 225 million people in 99 countries contract malaria and over three quarters of a million... Read More →
World Events & Adventure Travel _HPFeature
International Conference to Focus on Libyan Heritage Sites Endangered by Current Conflict
June 30, 2011
Dr. Serenella Ensoli, Project Director for GHF Cyrene, to Speak About Africa’s Largest Ancient Greek Site Palo Alto, CA — Global Heritage Fund (GHF), an international conservancy devoted to saving endangered cultural heritage sites in developing countries, will be represented by Dr. Serenella Ensoli, Project Director for GHF Cyrene, and John Hurd, Director of International Conservation, at a conference focusing on Libyan heritage sites endangered by current conflict in the region. The conference, to be held July 1-2 in Naples, will take place in two parts, with the first day devoted to archaeological missions in Libya and the second day to the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage. Dr. Ensoli, a professor at the Second University of Naples, will speak about Cyrene, where she has been working for 25 years, as well as moderate a discussion about possible interventions and future prospects for Libya’s heritage sites. Cyrene, Africa’s largest ancient Greek site,... Read More →
World Events & Adventure Travel _HPFeature
Travel Firm Expedia Says Japan’s Tourism ‘Will Recover’
May 15, 2011
(Photo: Shubert Ciencia) In a recent BBC news interview, Expedia President Scott Durchslag predicts Japan’s ailing tourism industry will recover what he considers a temporary setback and will “normalize” in a timeframe only slightly longer than the several months he notes most major disasters take to recover regional tourism numbers. He also reports a “real change of travel behavior” displaying a “pent-up demand” for travel from China and India, which is experiencing a very strong rupee, and discusses the concerns in the Asian region of Google search dominance. To watch the brief video interview, go to the BBC article. Read More →
World Events & Adventure Travel _HPFeature
WTTC President & CEO Visits Japan to Assess Tourism Situation and Offer Support
May 10, 2011
President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), David Scowsill, has just returned from Tokyo where he held key meetings with the government, airlines and travel leaders to discuss how WTTC could help to kick-start the recovery in inbound, domestic and outbound Travel & Tourism. The main message that Scowsill is delivering to foreign governments is that their travel advisories need to more accurately reflect the status of the country in terms of safety and security, with Tokyo and the rest of Japan (including Hokkaido, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe) all currently deemed safe to visit. David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “The situation is clearly serious, with cancellations forcing hotels to cut costs and operate with skeleton staffing, airlines cancelling flights and running low load factors, and restaurants struggling as Japanese consumers continue to cancel trips and stay at home”. “Although there are still a number of... Read More →
World Events & Adventure Travel _HPFeature
Japan Crisis Ripples Through Global Tourism Industry
April 12, 2011
Japan Tourism Struggles Internally… © Takver - flickr Fears around infrastructure issues and nuclear radiation have seen sharp decreases in inbound tourism to Japan, which is responsible for 2.2% of Japan’s GDP and 2.3% of employment this year (according to the WTTC, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal). Meanwhile, most major airlines have reduced the size of aircraft serving Japan outbound, while hotel construction plans remain unchanged. Read the full article, Many Tourists Cancel Trips to Japan While the Disaster has a Ripple Effect Across the Globe Another WSJ update traces the impact of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear leakage across multiple financial and manufacturing economies across the Asian region. While many sectors are expected to recover quickly, Other industries, like tourism, may find it harder to adjust. In Thailand, for instance, as many as 70,000 travelers have already canceled bookings for travel to Japan because of fears over radiation leaks, said... Read More →
World Events & Adventure Travel _HPFeature
World Crises Wallop Travel Industry, CNN Reports
March 23, 2011
The following excerpts are from a CNN article on the impact that the recent world events – political turbulence in Africa and the Middle East and the tsunami and earthquake in Japan – have wreaked on the global travel industry. The events have been taking major tolls on tourism related businesses, small and large alike. The article details how Delta Airlines is reducing flights to Japan to accommodate the drop in demand: The airline is reducing its capacity in Japan by 15 to 20% through May by cutting the number of flights to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport — a Delta hub — and suspending service at the city’s Haneda Airport, Bastian said Tuesday at the J.P. Morgan Aviation Transportation and Defense Conference in New York. The Tokyo market generates more than $2 billion a year for Delta, so the disruption may cost the company up to $400 million, Bastian said. The airline is monitoring the demand, however, and is ready to boost service as... Read More →
