"Dar locks foreign investors out of tourism sector"

As reported by Mike Mande, at The EastAfrican, "In a move that confirms the growing resentment of foreign investors in Tanzania’s tourism sector, the government plans to introduce legislation to bar foreigners from engaging in tourism related businesses in the country.
The new legislation — expected to come into effect as early as next year — proposes to restrict the participation of foreign investors in areas such as travel agency business, mountain climbing, trekking or owning tour and travel operations in the country.
While the minister in charge of tourism will retain powers and discretion to grant exemptions, especially with regard to existing business, the expectation is that some of the business people will be asked to leave." Read more>>

"Unified tourism authority planned"

According to The Japan Times Online, "The transport ministry is planning to integrate its tourism-related divisions into a single authority in fiscal 2008 to better attract international visitors and help reinvigorate local areas through tourism, officials said Tuesday.
Under the goal of making tourism a major industry, the government is trying to increase the annual number of foreign tourists to 10 million by 2010, and the planned authority would help spur those efforts, the officials said.
The launch of such an authority has been urged by both Diet chambers in resolutions following the enactment in December of a basic tourism promotion law, as well as by the travel and transport industries.
About 7.33 million foreign tourists visited Japan in 2006, compared with about 17.53 million Japanese tourists going abroad, which the government aims to increase by 2010 to 20 million."

Tsunami Recovery Program

Four international organisations have given the green light to a natural restoration of the coastal areas in Asia. The goal is to rehabilitate the ecosystems in these areas and, as a result, to guarantee the local population income from natural resources and a safe living environment. The project was developed in response to the tsunami that hit the region on 26 December 2004. In places where mangroves, coastal forests and coral reefs were still intact, the effects were less disastrous. Through this project, the organisations want to work with governments and the local population to achieve sound coastal development. For details see
http://www.wetlands.org/greencoast/en/news.aspx?id=f634f6f1-27d3-43ae-8f9f-9b8435fa88d8

(Originally posted by Michael Wukoschitz)

Potential Growth in EU Tourism Employment

A Commission Communication of 28 April reports that 2.2m-3.3m extra jobs could be created in the EU by 2010, if a positive climate for investment is encouraged. The Commission proposes a three stranded strategy - better use of information, easier information facilities, and structured consultation with relevant bodies. 9m jobs in the EU are in the tourism industry, in 2m businesses. It generates 5.5% of overall GDP, 6% of employment and 30% of external trade in services. [IP/99/267]

(Originally posted by Jason Campbell)

Tsunami Recovery Program

The World Travel and Tourism Council has reported that the economic slump in South East Asia led to a loss of approximately 2m jobs in the industry and at least $7billion. At the ASEAN meeting in Singapore, the Minister for Trade and Industry. Lee Yock Suan, urged the public and private sectors to work closely together to promote the region's attractions, as tourism is critical to the region's recovery.

(Originally posted John Downes)

Heathrow Airport Extension

The four-year public enquiry into the building of a fifth terminal at Heathrow Airport ended on 17 March 1999. The cost of the enquiry is estimated at £80m ($128m), with over 700 witnesses and yet a decision on whether to go ahead with the terminal will not be made until after the report is submitted in March 2001. The earliest possible date for completion of the terminal is 2006.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Trans-European Transport Networks

Significant progress has been made and, on completion, the programme is expected to increase EU GDP by 0.5bn ecu by 2030 and create 600 000 jobs. The Vienna European Council emphasised the importance of protecting funding for this despite the need for cuts in public expenditure.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

England/Stansted Airport

The British Airports Authority has announced £200m plans for Stansted Airport in the South East of England. It will also be seeking permission to boost the number of flights from the current 120,000 to 185,000 thus increasing capacity from 8m to 15m per year. (20/10/98)

(Originally posted by John Downes)