Latest news with #Disneyland-like
New York Post
30-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Mexico to slap cruise passengers with tourist tax starting this week
Cruise passengers docking in Mexico will be forced to cough up a tourist tax starting this week as government officials blast major cruise lines for not paying their fair share into local communities. Industry giant Royal Caribbean, along with other cruise operators, has fought hard against the plan, arguing it drops off passengers who patronize Mexican businesses. Starting Tuesday, cruise passengers will face a $5 fee – which will jump to $21 over the next three years – when their ship stops at a Mexican port. It will be added to the cost of the cruise. 3 Starting Tuesday, cruise passengers will face a $5 fee when their ship stops at a Mexican port. Edgar Photosapiens – That's been negotiated down from a $42 tariff initially proposed by the Mexican government. The new tax stacks on top of port fees that cruise lines have already paid for years, averaging $28.85 per passenger in Cozumel, according to an analysis from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. About 3,300 cruise shops are expected to stop in Mexican ports this year, bringing about 10 million passengers with them, according to the FCCA. Many airlines already fold a Mexican tourist tax into the cost of plane tickets. 'The Mexican government's perspective is: 'OK, fine, you bring prosperity. But you need to pay accordingly, like other tourists pay when they come via an airplane,'' Rubén Olmos Rodríguez, who has participated in the tax talks and runs advisory firm Global Nexus, told the Wall Street Journal. Local business owners, however, have raised concerns that the tax could discourage tourists from booking cruises that stop in Mexico. 'We, as business owners, were very concerned, because Cozumel lives on cruise tourism,' said Carmen Joaquín, who owns a duty-free shop and serves as president of Cozumel's business coordinating council. The new tax has heated up tensions between the Mexican government and Royal Caribbean, which is planning to build a massive private resort in Mahahual, a Mexican seaside village. Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment. 3 A Carnival cruise ship in a Mexican port. Mariakray – For months, the cruise operator has tangled with local officials over taxation, hiring and local investment requirements, as government officials pressure the company to employ more Mexican workers and use more Mexican products across its supply chain. Royal Caribbean is expected to make millions from its Perfect Day Mexico resort, which will feature the world's longest lazy river, as well as a huge swim-up bar, party cabana and sombrero-themed slide. The 200-acre resort, expected to open in 2027, will be able to accommodate about 15,000 people a day, according to analysts from Stifel. Local Mahahual business owners are fearful that the Disneyland-like resort will prevent cruise passengers from spending money at local businesses. 'It sounds like they want to keep all the cake for themselves,' Amelie Gautier, a restaurant owner in the area, told the Journal. 3 Royal Caribbean is expected to make millions from its Perfect Day Mexico resort. Wollwerth Imagery – Royal Caribbean estimates it will cost around $292 million to buy the land needed for Perfect Day Mexico, and boasted that the project will create more than 1,000 construction jobs and employ more than 2,000 people, according to a company representative. The new tax on cruise passengers is expected to weigh on Royal Caribbean's earnings, though the resort could still add more than $125 million annually to earnings before interest, taxes and other items, according to Stifel analysts. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum saw the tourist tax as a way to lower the nation's budget deficit without having to slash social programs. But it has worsened relations between cruise operators and local Mexican officials, who at one point disinvited Royal Caribbean executives from a meeting, according to the Journal. Michele Page, chief executive of the FCCA, said the industry and the Mexican government are trying to 'get our relationship back on track.' The trade group is seeking a meeting between the chief executives of major cruise lines and Sheinbaum.
Deccan Herald
22-05-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
Shelve ill-conceived amusement park
The Karnataka High Court's notice to the central and state governments regarding the Disneyland-like amusement park proposed near the Krishnaraja Sagar dam (KRS) has raised fresh concerns about the project's viability. This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, slated to cover 198 acres with a staggering Rs 2,663 crore investment, proposes an array of attractions, including water parks, roller coasters, a Goddess Cauvery statue, and even a penguin park. However, the petitioners argue that the 20-km radius around the century-old dam is a protected area, where commercial activities that threaten the integrity of the structure are strictly prohibited. Their Public Interest Litigation (PIL) asserts that the government has failed to secure mandatory clearances from the National Dam Safety Authority or invite public suggestions. Moreover, the existing Brindavan Gardens, a heritage park adjacent to the dam, lies in a state of neglect. Instead of allocating resources to the amusement park, the government should revive this historical perils posed by the proposed amusement park are multifaceted and grave. The KRS dam was constructed between 1911 and 1932 – it is inherently susceptible to age-related vulnerabilities, including the weakening of sluice gates and seepage. The constant vibrations from heavy construction activities, including pile-driving and deep excavations, could induce stress and cracks in the dam's masonry and foundation. Furthermore, the constant operation of high-decibel rides and the presence of thousands of visitors daily would further destabilise the structure. With the amusement park situated directly in front of a massive dam holding enormous volumes of water, a structural failure could trigger a disaster of unimaginable proportions, putting countless lives at risk. The environmental impact of this project cannot be ignored. The park will generate massive amounts of waste, including plastic and chemical-laden water from the rides, which will inevitably flow into the Cauvery river. The contaminated water will reach Mandya, Karnataka's rice bowl, threatening agricultural output and livelihoods of park represents a case of misplaced priorities, especially when farmers in the Cauvery basin have long demanded investments in canal modernisation and improved water storage infrastructure. Rather than proceeding with this ill-conceived project, the government should invest in long-term water security. If an amusement park must be built, it should be located far from critical water reservoirs, ensuring no risk to the dam or public safety. It is time to shelve this dangerous project before irreversible damage is done.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Farmers move Karnataka HC against Brindavan Garden makeover
BENGALURU: Farmers of Mandya district have moved the Karnataka High Court against the state government's decision to transform Brindavan Garden at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam into a Disneyland-like space. Their public interest litigation alleged that the project is detrimental to the farming community. A vacation division bench of Justices BM Shyam Prasad and KV Aravind issued notices to various authorities of the state and central governments, including the Jal Shakti ministry, National Dam Authority, state chief secretary, water resources, agriculture, forest and ecology departments, Kaveri Neeravari Nigam Ltd and other authorities of Mandya district. This was after they heard the petition filed by K Boraiah and four others from KRS village and other surrounding villages, questioning the tenders issued to set up the amusement park in the name of Brindavan Garden Upgradation without statutory clearance, including from the gram panchayat. The government's decision is contrary to Articles 48-A and 53A of the constitution, Karnataka Forest Act, Environmental Protection Act 1986, and Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, they said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
California Science Center opens free interactive sports exhibits
Former UCLA softball pitcher Rachel Garcia stands in the batting cage as the digital Rachel Garcia pitches to visitors at the new Game On! exhibition, which opens Thursday at the California Science Center. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) There's a new interactive exhibit opening on Thursday at the California Science Center across the street from the Coliseum that will provide Disneyland-like sports entertainment for all ages, and it's free. Using censors, cameras and 21st century technology, "Game On!" takes up 17,000 square feet formally occupied by the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit. It allows visitors to learn about science, sports and movement. You get to actively participate by hitting a softball against pitcher Rachel Garcia, take batting practice instructions from Freddie Freeman and kick a soccer ball into a goal while learning from Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. All are mentors. Advertisement Yet there's so much more. You get to try swimming strokes, skateboarding, snowboarding, cycling. There's climbing, yoga, dancing and challenging your senses during an exhibit that tests your quickness trying to block a hockey puck. There's a basketball exhibit where you shoot a ball toward the basket and learn if your form is good or not. One of the murals at the new interactive sports exhibition at California Science Center. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) "There's something for everybody," said Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation that helped provide funding along with the Dodgers Foundation and Walter Family Foundation. She's not embellishing. Parents, children, adults, teenagers — they're all going to be smiling. Don't be surprised if nearby USC students discover a new place to enjoy an hour break for fun and laughter from studying by walking over to the exhibition hall when it opens at 10 a.m. The California Science Center new interactive sports exhibit — "Game On!" — opens on Thursday. It's free. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) It's supposed to be open through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but don't be surprised if popularity creates momentum to keep it around longer. Advertisement "It's really cool," said Garcia, a former UCLA All-American softball pitcher who appears on a screen showing off her 60 mph pitch as a participant swings a real bat trying to hit an imaginary ball as a light trail moves down a rail toward the batter. "I think it's phenomenal. It's going to get a lot of kids engaged." Garcia even tried to hit against herself. "I missed the first time," she said. The batting cage where Freeman is providing hitting advice has a real soft ball and bat. It will be popular for all ages. The rock climbing exhibit still has not been completed, but participants will wear a harness as they climb toward the ceiling. Advertisement While kids will be the most enthusiastic, a dinner recently held at the facility that had adults dressed in tuxedos and dresses resulted in them trying out the exhibits and acting like teenagers again. Using science to teach lessons could provide inspiration for non-sports visitors. There's sound effects throughout and most important, pushing a button doesn't just mean you watch and listen. It means you get to participate, whether hitting a baseball or softball, trying to make a free throw, trying to swim or skateboard. Don't be surprised when word gets out how fun this exhibition creates. There will be lines. The only question will it be kids lining up or adults? Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
California Science Center opens free interactive sports exhibits
There's a new interactive exhibit opening on Thursday at the California Science Center across the street from the Coliseum that will provide Disneyland-like sports entertainment for all ages, and it's free. Using censors, cameras and 21st century technology, 'Game On!' takes up 17,000 square feet formally occupied by the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit. It allows visitors to learn about science, sports and movement. You get to actively participate by hitting a softball against pitcher Rachel Garcia, take batting practice instructions from Freddie Freeman and kick a soccer ball into a goal while learning from Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. All are mentors. Yet there's so much more. You get to try swimming strokes, skateboarding, snowboarding, cycling. There's climbing, yoga, dancing and challenging your senses during an exhibit that tests your quickness trying to block a hockey puck. There's a basketball exhibit where you shoot a ball toward the basket and learn if your form is good or not. 'There's something for everybody,' said Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation that helped provide funding along with the Dodgers Foundation and Walter Family Foundation. She's not embellishing. Parents, children, adults, teenagers — they're all going to be smiling. Don't be surprised if nearby USC students discover a new place to enjoy an hour break for fun and laughter from studying by walking over to the exhibition hall when it opens at 10 a.m. It's supposed to be open through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but don't be surprised if popularity creates momentum to keep it around longer. 'It's really cool,' said Garcia, a former UCLA All-American softball pitcher who appears on a screen showing off her 60 mph pitch as a participant swings a real bat trying to hit an imaginary ball as a light trail moves down a rail toward the batter. 'I think it's phenomenal. It's going to get a lot of kids engaged.' Garcia even tried to hit against herself. 'I missed the first time,' she said. The batting cage where Freeman is providing hitting advice has a real soft ball and bat. It will be popular for all ages. The rock climbing exhibit still has not been completed, but participants will wear a harness as they climb toward the ceiling. While kids will be the most enthusiastic, a dinner recently held at the facility that had adults dressed in tuxedos and dresses resulted in them trying out the exhibits and acting like teenagers again. Using science to teach lessons could provide inspiration for non-sports visitors. There's sound effects throughout and most important, pushing a button doesn't just mean you watch and listen. It means you get to participate, whether hitting a baseball or softball, trying to make a free throw, trying to swim or skateboard. Don't be surprised when word gets out how fun this exhibition creates. There will be lines. The only question will it be kids lining up or adults?
